Inland Lakes District Newsletter

Dear Inland Lakes Families,

As we approach Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for our Inland Lakes community. This time of year reminds us to pause and reflect on the many blessings we share, and I am truly thankful for our dedicated staff, hardworking students, and supportive families who make our district such a special place.

May your Thanksgiving holiday be filled with joy, warmth, and cherished moments with loved ones. Whether you are traveling or celebrating at home, I hope you find time to relax and create lasting memories.

I am also delighted to begin this December newsletter by welcoming three new members to our Inland Lakes Schools team!

• James Mier has joined us as our new Head of Maintenance and is already hard at work ensuring our facilities remain safe and well-maintained.
• Steve Irish is stepping into a dual role, supporting our district in Maintenance, Transportation, and as a Paraprofessional, bringing flexibility and dedication to his varied responsibilities.
• Paul DeSimone is our new Secondary Performing Arts Teacher, and we are excited for the creativity and expertise he brings to our students in music and theater.

We are thrilled to have James, Steve, and Paul on board and are confident they will make significant contributions to our district. Please join me in giving them a warm Inland Lakes welcome!

As we move into the holiday season, I want to highlight one of the most exciting traditions of the year: our holiday concerts! These events are a wonderful showcase of student talent and a celebration of the season. We hope to see you at these upcoming performances:

• Secondary Holiday Program
  Date: Monday, December 16th
  Time: 7:00 PM
  Location: Secondary Gym

• Elementary Holiday Concerts
  Tuesday, December 17th: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grades
  Wednesday, December 18th: Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 4th, and 5th Grades

Additional information about scheduled times for each grade level will be shared through Remind to help families plan accordingly.

Before we head into the holidays, please note that Friday, December 20th, will be a half day for students. Dismissal will occur at the usual half-day times.

Our Holiday Break officially begins on Monday, December 23rd, and school will resume on Monday, January 6th. We hope this time allows you and your family to relax, recharge, and enjoy special moments together.

Thank you for your continued support of Inland Lakes Schools. Wishing you all a joyful and peaceful holiday season and a Thanksgiving filled with gratitude!

Warm regards,
Elizabeth Fairbanks

Superintendent

Inland Lakes Schools

Dear Indian River Community,

I’m writing to inform you about an important change in the way Inland Lakes Schools will collect taxes. Starting in the summer of 2025, we will shift from our current winter-only tax levy to collecting taxes twice a year—once in the summer and once in the winter.

While the total amount of taxes you pay will remain the same, this new approach will allow us to better manage our finances throughout the year. This shift aligns with a growing trend among Michigan school districts to adopt dual tax levies, as it provides significant financial advantages. By spreading the tax collection over two periods, we can maintain a steadier cash flow throughout the year and avoid cash shortfalls that force us to borrow from the state.

Currently, relying on a winter-only tax levy means we often need to request state aid during the summer and fall months. This requires taking out loans that come with, at times, high interest payments. This adds unnecessary costs to our district's budget. By switching to a dual tax levy, we can reduce or eliminate the need for these loans & interest payments allowing us to continue our priority of fiscal responsibility. This also ensures that more of our financial resources are directed toward the high-quality services and programs that benefit our students and staff.

This decision not only allows us to be more efficient with our resources but also places us in a stronger financial position to support future initiatives and needs without relying on borrowing. It's truly the best decision for the long-term financial health of our district.

We appreciate your understanding and ongoing support as we make this transition to a more sustainable and cost-effective system.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Fairbanks, Superintendent

Tim Burg, School Board President

Dear Inland Lakes Community,

I am incredibly proud to congratulate our Varsity Football Team on a successful season that carried them all the way to the State Semi-Finals for 8-Man Football! While the season may not have ended in the State Final, the team’s remarkable accomplishments, perseverance, and determination have inspired us all.

To our athletes, your leadership, hard work, and sportsmanship on and off the field have made us all proud. You’ve demonstrated what it truly means to be Bulldogs, and your achievements will be celebrated for years to come.

I would also like to recognize and thank our cheerleading athletes, who brought enthusiasm, energy, and unwavering support to every game. Your dedication to uplifting the team and creating a vibrant atmosphere at games did not go unnoticed—you are an important part of this incredible season.

A special thank you goes out to Coach Travis Meyer for leading the team with passion and determination and to Athletic Director Lee Nash for your tireless efforts in ensuring the success of all our athletic programs. Your leadership and commitment to excellence have made a lasting impact.

To the families, fans, and community members, your support throughout the season was a key part of this journey. Thank you for showing up, cheering loudly, and being the heart of Bulldog pride.

This season was filled with unforgettable moments and valuable lessons, and although it didn’t end with a championship, the unity and pride you’ve brought to our community are truly championship-worthy. Thank you for making this a season to remember!

Go Bulldogs!

With Bulldog Pride,
Beth Fairbanks
Superintendent
Inland Lakes Schools

🎭 Calling All Inland Lakes High School Students! 🎶

Harbor Springs High School invites you to join the 2025 spring musical, Mamma Mia! 🌟

📅 Auditions: December 9-10, 2024
📍 Location: Harbor Springs High School
🎤 Performances: March 14-16, 2025

➡️ Find audition requirements and sign up for your audition slot here: https://forms.gle/kisMWVuqa6Kz2o2B6

Have questions? Contact HSHS director Ms. Shaw at 📧 kshaw@harborps.org.

Don’t miss your chance to shine on stage! 🌟 #MammaMia #HarborSpringsTheater

We are incredibly grateful for your support in passing the May 2024 bond! Thanks to your generosity, we’ve been able to equip our classrooms with new BenQ interactive boards, which are already making a huge difference in student engagement and learning.

These boards are bringing lessons to life, sparking creativity, and allowing for more interactive, hands-on learning. Your commitment to our schools is helping us build a brighter future for all of our students.

Thank you again for your ongoing support! GO BULLDOGS!

We’re excited to welcome a new school bus to our fleet! This addition will provide safer, more reliable transportation for our students every day.

Thank you, Inland Lakes, for your continued support! Together, we’re making a difference. Go Bulldogs!

Email: efairbanks@inlandlakes.org
Website: https://www.inlandlakes.org/
Location: 4363 South Straits Highway, Indian River, MI, USA
Phone: 2312386868
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ilsecondary