HVS compliance with new state law nets district $1M

An article by Leslie Shepard    No Comments

The Huron Valley Schools Board of Education recently approved a resolution certifying that the district has complied with the “best practices” requirements under Michigan law, in a move that positions the district to receive an addition $100 per-pupil incentive payment from the state, totaling approximately $1 million.

“From a budgeting standpoint, we view the incentive payments as a way to off-set a portion of the significant reductions in state aid that we’ve absorbed over the past several years,” said Superintendent Jackie Johnston.

As required by law, the district met four of five criteria in order to become eligible for the incentive payments, including holding the medical benefit plan policy; transparent school data with specific indicators (such as student scores on statewide assessments, the ACT College Readiness Report, and graduation dropout results); obtaining competitive bids on non-instructional services; and developing and implementing a service consolidation plan.

Some examples in the consolidation plan include a new Internet connection, an innovative alternative high school program, and newly obtained food service nutrition analysis software in collaboration with nine other Oakland County school districts.

“Currently we receive our Internet connection from the (Oakland Intermediate School District) as part of their services to locals,” said Huron Valley Director of Communications and Community Relations Kim Root. “They have recently connected to MERIT, which allows us to access other districts and ISDs (intermediate school districts) through their Internet connection. We are now accessing our finance and student management software through the Internet, since it is provided through a neighboring ISD. Previously, we accessed the software through a T-1 (Internet connection) line which involved a monthly fee.”

During 2011, the district began participating in a new alternative high school program through the ISD. The Widening Advancements for Youth program (W-A-Y) provides a personalized learning experience for students who struggle with traditional high school.

“We knew we would complete these best practices,” Root said. “It’s not a windfall and doesn’t change the budget that was built last spring.”

The $1 million in incentives from the state was already included in the district’s 2012 spending plan of $84.3 million. The district extracted $500,000 from its fund balance to offset a budget deficit, leaving an expected $13.8 million in the fund balance as of June 30, 2012.

The school board approved the best practices resolution at its meeting on Monday, Jan. 23.