MIdweek UPdate

Thank you for choosing Whitmore Lake Public Schools. We are off to another great start to the school year. Each year has its challenges, but we don’t let them get in the way of our job. The obstacles are part of the job. None of us in public education chose it as a career because it is easy. We chose it because it matters. Your children matter, your family matters, and our community matters.

I’m pleased to share the ways our school and community continues to move forward despite the obstacles we face. Every day and every year we strive to improve our district in the areas of academic programs, safety and well being, facility quality and financial stability. My MIdweek UPdate will be hitting your inbox each month sharing our status and progress in those four areas. I look forward to partnering with you and your students to make this year another great school year to be a Trojan.

The Hamilton Health Clinic (10 Jennings Road) opened its doors to the public this week. This new clinic operates in conjunction with Hamilton Community Health Network, Whitmore Lake Area Human Services and University of Michigan School of Nursing and offers comprehensive health care, including primary care, behavioral health, and wellness visits. The clinic services people of all ages and accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance. Check them out at HamiltonCHN.org.

WLPS staff has been working with community and county organizations on this project for a few years. A special thanks to the Washtenaw County Health Department and Whitmore Lake Area Human Services for working with us to realize this vision. We are proud it has come to fruition with the clinic opening this week.

As many know, our community voted down our bond proposal in August. While that was disappointing, the needs still exist. In just the first few weeks of the school year, we’ve already replaced a broken air conditioning unit in the Whitmore Lake Elementary School cafeteria, cleaned three classrooms at WLES for mold remediation due to HVAC issues, and evacuated three classrooms at the Main Street Campus due to flooding from heavy rains. Our students and staff deserve better.

Given these ongoing challenges and the community feedback on the bond, our Board of Education voted to place a new Sinking Fund proposal on the November 5, 2024 ballot. It is a lower tax for fewer years with a smaller scope addressing just the urgent needs. Here are the basics:

Over the next 10 years, the funds will be used for:

• HVAC & Lighting Systems ($5 million):

• Install a new district-wide HVAC control system. Current systems are only partially working.

• Replace and repair select univents, the main source of heating/cooling/ventilation in classrooms.

• Upgrade to energy-efficient lighting.

• Parking Lots & Walkways ($3 million):

• Replace parking lots, sidewalks, and curbing at Whitmore Lake Elementary School and Main Street Campus.

• Repair select areas at Whitmore Lake Middle & High School

• Safety & Security Enhancements ($2 million):

• Reconfigure the Elementary School entrance to improve security.

• Improve exterior entrance security on all campuses.

• Ongoing Repairs and Buses ($2 million)

• Address other critical issues as they arise, based on our district-wide Facility Assessment.

• Purchase new buses as needed.

Unlike a bond, which is a large loan the district can use right away to make a significantly positive impact quickly, a Sinking Fund provides a set amount of revenue each year to chip away at the list slowly. It is more affordable for the community since there are no interest payments. This Sinking Fund would allow us to address many of the issues getting in the way of providing our students with warm, safe and dry learning environments over the next ten years.