Board of Education Meeting RECAP

• Weisenborn Junior High and Studebaker Preschool were the school spotlights for this month.

• Sinclair CCP MOUs were approved.

• The Scope of Work for the WHS engineering lab renovations, led by Prodigy Building Solutions, was approved.

• School safety grant application was approved.

• The 2025-2026 Preschool calendar was approved.

• An MOU between the Board and HHEA was approved regarding the June 1 Staff Development Day pay date.

• The FY26 cost-savings package, estimated at $7.3 million, was approved.

• School Spotlight: Studebaker Preschool - Dr. Wallace and members of her staff shared “A Day in the Life of a Preschool Student.” Highlights included daily routines, academic resources, skill development, social interactions, related services, assessments/outcomes, OT/PT/speech services, and family engagement opportunities.

• School Spotlight: Weisenborn Junior High - Mr. Thompson reviewed building goals of improving student achievement and developing a positive culture/climate. The building has focused on its tiered support classes driven by district assessment results, with data supporting their success. Restorative practice, student organizations, student voice, and continued emphasis on PBIS are priorities for improved culture and climate.

• HHCS renewed the partnership with Sinclair Community College to provide CCP courses to WHS students. The MOUs were approved regarding both the agreement and revised payment rates/textbook subsidy for 2025-2026.

• The next phase of the CTE grant-funded renovations at WHS, which includes the comprehensive Scope of Work from Prodigy Building Solutions, was approved by the Board. Renovations are anticipated to be completed for the 2025-2026 school year, which updates the current engineering lab and renovates storage space for an additional lab/classroom. These rooms will service the PLTW engineering pathways courses.

• State funds were recently made available for safety and security via grant applications. The Board authorized the operations department to submit an application that will provide updates to hardware due to be replaced in the near future.

• The 2025-2026 Preschool calendar was approved.

• An MOU was approved between the Board and HHEA authorizing the final contract date for retirees, June 1, to be paid on March 28, pending completion of the required professional development hours.

• The Board approved the FY26 Cost-Savings Package pending the outcome of the May 6 election. HHCS is on the ballot for a 6.9-mill operating levy, which will generate $7.8 million annually. Without the additional revenue, the district is projected to deficit spend by $6.7 million in FY26. This reduction package would eliminate the deficit spending projected if additional revenue from the operating levy is not approved.

Mr. Enix provided an update on recent advocacy efforts made with our local legislators. As the state biennium budget process is underway, HHCS had the opportunity to be the featured district in a presentation made to our legislators at a county superintendent/treasurer meeting on February 7. School funding has been a hot topic, and the importance of state funding increases for school districts was a primary focus of the meeting.

HHCS is funded ~47% from the state and ~32% from local revenue (~12% federal, ~8% other). As school funding is a partnership between the state and local communities, the work of the biennium budget plays a crucial role in the ongoing challenges to fund school operations. HHCS is requesting additional local support this May and, without any revenue increase, is facing a projected $6.7M deficit in FY26. The deficit grows yearly throughout the five-year forecast. Mr. Enix shared his appreciation for the opportunity to speak at this event, as well as for the ongoing commitment from our local legislators to meet with district leaders so that we can continue to educate and advocate for public school districts in our county and throughout the state.