News & Notes: April 23

Charges against alderman dropped

A month before Oak Creek Alderman Michael Toman was set to go to trial, the felony battery charges against him have been dismissed.

Toman was charged with aggravated battery in December, after shoving Martin Pietruszynski of Oak Creek outside of Oelschlaeger-Dallmann American Legion Post 434, 9327 S. Shepard Ave. Pietruszynski, 64, suffered severe head injuries. He remains in a coma and is not expected to recover.

Charges were dismissed April 17, in an effort to aid the Pietruszynski family in their pursuit of a civil lawsuit against Toman, which was filed in February.

"The family's avenues of recovery are greatly enhanced by the ability to go against Toman's homeowner's insurance policy," explained Merrick Domnitz, the family's attorney.

A clause in that insurance policy, however, would prevent the family from collecting any damages if Toman were convicted, Domnitz added.

Toman declined to comment.

Foreign language offerings vary by school

The Oak Creek-Franklin School District's world languages curriculum will begin at the first-grade level with the 2009-10 school year.

The School Board on April 20 approved a proposal to teach 20-minute lessons twice a week in Spanish, German and Chinese to first- and second-graders.

Cedar Hills and Shepard Hills elementaries will offer Spanish. Carollton and Edgewood will offer German, and Deerfield and Meadowview will offer Chinese.

Summer school registration deadline approaches

The registration deadline for the Oak Creek-Franklin School District's summer school program is Friday, May 1.

The first term is June 17 through July 2, and the second term is July 6 through 22. Classes are held Monday through Thursday.

Elementary classes will be held at Deerfield and Edgewood elementaries, and the middle school program will be held at East Middle School.

For information, call the district office at (414) 768-5880.