Dear Families,

It is hard to believe, but this is the last edition of MacGregor's Message for the 2023-2024 school year. In this edition:

• Graduation Season
• Bond Project Update
• Air Force JROTC Accomplishments
• Summer Meal Programs
• Backpacks for Kids Event in August
• Livingston ESA Special Education Millage
  
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Last night, we celebrated the Innovation Academy Class of 2024 during their graduation ceremony. It is always exciting to see our students reach this milestone in their educational journey and to hear about their future plans. Next Friday, we will celebrate the Howell High School Class of 2024. When I started in the district, this year's seniors were starting fourth grade, and it has been so fun watching them grow and develop into incredible young adults. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for them, as I know they will do amazing things.

At its meeting on Monday, May 13, the Board of Education approved bids for three projects that will be at least partially funded by the Our Kids, Our Community, Our Future bond. The biggest of the projects is the construction of new youth community baseball and softball fields at Three Fires Elementary. This project is necessary because the construction of the replacement Northwest Elementary will displace the current youth baseball and softball fields. Also approved was replacing the Parker Middle School stadium turf field, used by Howell High School's boys' and girls' soccer and lacrosse teams and Parker Middle School physical education classes. The final project is the replacement of the building automation controls at Three Fires Elementary. This system allows for remote monitoring and adjustments to the heating and cooling systems at the school, enabling us to be more energy efficient. To read more about these projects, please visit HowellSchools.com/Bond.

Our Air Force JROTC program has recently had some outstanding accomplishments. The program's archery team recently claimed the JROTC Bullseye and 3D tournament championships at the National Archery in the Schools Program Eastern Nationals Championships. Cadet Ethan Stiller claimed first place in the JROTC 3D Challenge at the event. Additionally, our Air Force JROTC unit has earned the Air Force's Distinguished Unit Award with Merit, Distinguished Unit Award, and Outstanding Organization Award for 2023-2024. These awards recognize the cadets' personal growth and accomplishments, the instructors' contributions as mentors, and the support of the school and local community. The unit also earned the "Silver Star" Community Service Excellence Award for 2023-2024. This prestigious award recognizes the top five percent of all Air Force JROTC units based on community service to their schools and local communities.

Again this summer, the Salvation Army will run its Summer Lunch Bunch meal program at locations across our district and county starting June 10. The Summer Lunch Bunch provides an essential source of meals during the summer months. Additionally, families can pick up pantry packs and fresh produce boxes at the various locations. To view this year's Summer Lunch Bunch flyer with all the stops listed, please visit https://bit.ly/3QZlRYF. Gleaners Community Food Bank will also continue to host its mobile food pantry on the third Thursday of each month from 4 to 5 p.m. in the bus lot between Highlander Way and the Freshman Campus.

Mark your calendars for the annual Backpacks for Kids event, which will be held on Thursday, August 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Howell High School 10-12 Building in the south (Grand River) parking lot. This annual event, held in partnership with the Livingston ESA, provides backpacks and school supplies to families in need. To learn more about the event, please visit https://bit.ly/3ACumSa.

Recently, our Board of Education passed a resolution in support of the Livingston ESA placing a special education millage renewal and Headlee restoration on the November ballot. Voters in our county first approved this millage in 2015, and it will expire in 2025 unless renewed. All of its funds go directly to the county's public schools. This year, the millage provided our district with approximately $3.7 million to help offset the costs of special education programs. Since 2015, the Headlee Amendment requiring local governments to reduce ("rollback") their millage rates if property value growth exceeds inflation has reduced the amount Livingston ESA can levy, which is why the ballot proposal will be for renewal of the millage and a Headlee restoration. While the resolution passed by our Board is non-binding, the Livingston ESA Board will vote to call for an election at its next meeting.

Please remember that there is no school on Monday, May 27, in honor of Memorial Day, and Thursday, May 30, is our last day of school. As has been our tradition, we have created last day of school signs, which you can download at https://bit.ly/4aBt1th.

I hope you have a great weekend, an outstanding last week of school, and a wonderful summer break.

Sincerely,
Erin J. MacGregor, Ed.S.
Superintendent
Howell Public Schools