Highland agrees to one-year pact with school district

The Highland Township Board of Trustees has decided to move forward with a contract to have the Huron Valley Recreation and Community Education program supply the township senior center with an activities coordinator.

The township board voted to enter such a contract at a Wednesday, Jan. 12 meeting.

The recreation and community education program proposed to enter into a one-year trial contract with the township for $18,000. It would provide an activities coordinator who would work 30 hours per week at the senior center, in addition to two different software resources. One program would be for facility scheduling while the other would deal with registration for recreation activities.

The registration software will also enable the senior center to receive feedback on how many people participate in each activity. Township Clerk Mary McDonell said that currently the senior center documents such records by hand, which is often a “tedious process.”

The senior center will also benefit from the agreement by having access to a wide range of facilities, programs and activities, such as computer classes, health and fitness programs, and an enhanced partnership with the Huron Valley School District.

Highland Supervisor Triscia Pilchowski said the pact will expand Highland seniors’ opportunities by promoting more to them and encouraging participation among younger seniors.

McDonell said she also believes the arrangement will be a “win-win situation for the senior population.”

“I think this is a really good opportunity for (the program and the senior center) to enter into this partnership. (The program) brings a lot to the table for us, while we offer an audience and the center,” she said.

Jeffrey Muck, director of Recreation and Community Education for the Huron Valley School District, is also enthusiastic about the arrangement.

“We are really excited about the partnership with Highland,” he said. “We will be able to provide opportunities not only to the active older adults but to the whole Highland community. It’s a good example of local government agencies working together to streamline and make programs and services more effective for their residents.”