Post- Election MIdweek UPdate

Join me in congratulating newly elected WLPS Board of Education members Lindsey Collins and Kelly Henning. They will fill the spots vacated by current board members Bob Henry and Laura Schwennesen who did not seek re-election. I’ll have more words of thanks for their service in future UPdates as they wrap up their terms.

While both Lindsey and Kelly have distinguishing strengths and accomplishments, collectively we are lucky to be welcoming two very knowledgeable and dedicated members of the Whitmore Lake community. Both Lindsey and Kelly are WLPS parents. Lindsey’s children currently attend our schools and Kelly’s have all graduated from WLHS. They are enthusiastically involved in all things WLPS. I’ll make a more detailed introduction when we officially welcome them to the board in January.

Meanwhile, join me in welcoming their voices, ideas, and dedication to our WLPS team as we continue to provide an exceptional, personalized education to every student.

I want to extend our deepest gratitude to our community for their continued support in renewing the special education millage. Your commitment to ensuring every learner has what they need to succeed demonstrates our community’s values and its dedication to equity and inclusion for all.

This renewal will directly impact every classroom in every school district across Washtenaw County - including and especially here in Whitmore Lake Public Schools. This renewal also preserves critical general fund dollars, and it will allow us to sustain essential special education services and invest in critical supports that benefit all students, such as mental health resources, school safety initiatives, extracurricular activities, and enhanced learning environments.

While we are disappointed to share that the sinking fund proposal did not pass (52% no to 48% yes), we remain committed to ensuring our schools are safe, well-maintained, and conducive to learning. The sinking fund would have provided dedicated support for critical building repairs and upgrades, and we are now working to evaluate our options moving forward. In the coming weeks, we’ll engage with our Board of Education and community to gather input and explore alternative funding solutions to address our district’s facility needs.

I’m confident that together, we’ll find the best path forward for our students and for our community. We always do.