Dear School Community,

As the 2025-26 school year begins, we want to take this opportunity to welcome students, staff and all school families. It is wonderful to see our classrooms and hallways filled with energy and enthusiasm for another exciting year of learning and growth.

We are reaching out today to provide our school community with an update on public school funding in Michigan that has the potential to impact our students and school operations in the coming months. Michigan lawmakers have missed the July 1 deadline to approve the K-12 school funding budget and this causes a great deal of uncertainty for every local school district in our region. This impacts everything from our daily decision-making to state funding for vital programs and services that support student learning.

This continued legislative delay puts our schools – and most importantly, our students – at risk. A reason for the deadlock appears to be proposals to redirect money from the School Aid Fund to other priorities, including road repairs. While we recognize the need to fund other initiatives, that money should not come at the expense of our students and schools.

If lawmakers do not pass a budget, districts may miss out on their first scheduled state aid payment in October. For our schools, that payment is a major part of the resources we rely on to:

● Compensate staff who work directly with students

● Maintain class sizes and student support services

● Maintain bus operations and keep classrooms supplied

● Fund academic programs, arts, athletics and student activities

We cannot operate indefinitely without these resources. The solution is simple: lawmakers should approve a K-12 budget that safeguards School Aid Fund dollars for their original purpose – educating our children.

Our leadership teams are actively monitoring the situation and collaborating with our legislative partners to advocate for a swift resolution that prioritizes the needs of our students and schools. If you feel inclined to reach out to our representatives in Lansing, you may submit comments directly to your legislator using their contact information located online at house.mi.gov or senate.michigan.gov.

Our students deserve a stable, fully funded school year.

In Service,

Tara Mager, Ph.D., Superintendent, Northwest Education Services
Andrew Apps, Interim Superintendent, Alba Public School

Terry Starr, Superintendent, Bellaire Public Schools

Jessica Harrand, Superintendent, Buckley Community Schools

Brent Miller, Superintendent, Crawford School, Excelsior District #1

Bryan McKenna, Superintendent, Elk Rapids Schools

Mike Moran, Superintendent, Forest Area Community Schools

Jeff Tousley, Superintendent, Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools

Jason Misner, Superintendent, Glen Lake Community Schools

Rick Heitmeyer, Superintendent, Kalkaska Public Schools

Josh Rothwell, Superintendent, Kingsley Area Schools

Ryan Huppert, Superintendent, Leland Public School

Tina Frollo, Superintendent, Mancelona Public Schools

Neil Wetherbee, Superintendent, Northport Public School

Renee Kolle, Superintendent, Old Mission Peninsula School

Casey Petz, Superintendent, Suttons Bay Public Schools

John VanWagoner, Ph.D., Superintendent, Traverse City Area Public Schools

School Funding Letter

Alba Public School

School Funding Letter

Remind History/SS 7,8,9,10