ROCKFORD, Michigan (WZZM) - Many parents in the Rockford School District are upset by the district's decision to eliminate the Middle School Spanish Immersion program.

In a letter sent home to parents Tuesday, the district lists off several reasons why it eliminated the program for sixth graders. Those reasons include the fact that state funding will be $6,846 per student for the 2012-13 school year. That's less than the district received seven years ago.

Another reason for the cut is the fact that Rockford is moving to all-day kindergarten in 2012-13 because of a state mandate. The all-day kindergarten will cost the district another $1.8 million. Superintendent Shibler says if Rockford did not provide all-day kindergarten, the district could lose $2.4 million in revenue from the state.

This weekend, there are at least four Relay for Life events around West Michigan.  WZZM can only get out to one of them to be LIVE during their Friday evening newscast between 5:30 and 6:30pm.

Go to the WZZM13.com homepage and scroll down to the Poll 13 to vote for the event to be visited - LIVE!

The choices are Comstock Park, East Grand Rapids, Forest Hills Central and Rockford.

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - Deb Myers will participate in this Saturday's Walk for Mental Health. She will then "walk" at Forest Hills Central High School's graduation on Monday in honor of her son, Zach.   

Zach would have graduated this year - but he took his own life two years ago. "I think it's probably the worst thing a parent could ever experience," Myers said Monday, as she and other FHC students prepared for graduation and Saturday's walk.

The walk is sponsored by the Mental Health Foundation. Christy Buck of the Foundation said, "Research shows that the only way you're going to actually decrease the amount of suicides is by increasing awareness and by talking about it." The Walk is one way to get those conversations started.