The Springfield public schools will host kindergarten information night from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Enrollment for 2008-09 is open to students who will turn 5 years old by Sept. 1.

Springfield public schools will be open for registration Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 8-9, for the 2007-08 term. All students entering kindergarten through fifth grade, students transferring to new schools and students new to District 186 must register at the school they will be attending.

By PETE SHERMAN STAFF WRITER Three creators of a plan to open a college-preparatory academy targeting low-performing Washington Middle School students are blaming the Springfield School Board for the idea's apparent collapse.

Tom Bertrand, the school superintendent in Rochester, works down the road from the Springfield public schools. So he can take a close- up, yet objective, view of the Springfield School Board's search for a superintendent.

Springfield public schools will be open for registration Wednesday and Thursday for the 2006-07 term. All students entering kindergarten through fifth grade, students transferring to new schools and students new to District 186 must register at the school they will be attending.