Grand Haven, MI (WGHN) – The Grand Haven Area Public Schools Board of Education met on June 15, 2026, at the Education Service Center.
Superintendent Kristin Perkowski stopped int o the WGHN studios. Hear the interview below:
Recognitions and Celebrations
The Board began the evening by recognizing several outstanding students, staff members, and community contributors.
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Congrats to the Grand Haven High School Boys Volleyball team and coaching staff: Secured the inaugural MHSAA State Championship for the sport. The team completed a remarkable season and brought home the first state title in program history.
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Grand Haven High School junior Luka Hammond: Recently earned his second consecutive MHSAA Division 1 state championship in the 1600-meter run.
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Andrew Ratke – Ferry STEM Teacher and Homegrown Program Coordinator: Recipient of the American Legion Teacher of the Year Award.
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Dennis Threadgill – Performing Arts Center Coordinator and Digital Content Creator: Recently completed the Grand Haven Chamber’s Leadership Connect program.
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MASB Awards: Several members of the Board of Education for earning new levels of achievement through the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) Board Member Award program.
Teaching and Learning Update
Executive Director of Instructional Services Mary Jane Evink provided the Board with an update on district benchmark assessment results. The presentation highlighted continued growth in both reading and mathematics as measured through i-Ready assessments. District data showed improvements from fall to spring and demonstrated performance that continues to compare favorably to national benchmarks.
The Board also approved several curriculum and instructional resources, including:
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Adoption of Subject, a new online curriculum platform for Grand Haven Cyber School and alternative education programming.
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Renewal of the district’s U.S. History instructional materials.
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Adoption of Wayfinder, a learner readiness and career development resource designed to support students through Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 interventions while aligning with the district’s learner traits.
Finance and Operations
The Board approved several annual financial actions, including the district’s 2026 tax levy, final 2025-26 budget amendment, proposed 2026-27 budget, and annual banking authorizations.
Key budget highlights include:
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Public schools receive most of their operating funding from the State of Michigan through a per-pupil foundation allowance. Those dollars are intended to support educational programs and services during that school year.
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This money is collected from state and local taxes and distributed by the State of Michigan to school districts throughout the state.
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Part of this funding – the 18-mill non-homestead millage – must be renewed regularly by each community in order for schools to receive the full amount of state funding each year.
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School districts also maintain a fund balance, which serves as a financial reserve that helps manage unexpected expenses, enrollment fluctuations, changes in state funding, and other unforeseen costs while helping avoid sudden disruptions to student programs and services.
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Our district’s final amended 2025-26 budget projects approximately $90.4 million in revenues and $92.9 million in expenditures, resulting in a projected year-end fund balance of approximately $6.8 million.
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The proposed 2026-27 budget projects approximately $89.2 million in revenues and $89.5 million in expenditures, with an estimated year-end fund balance of approximately $6.6 million, representing 7.32% of annual expenditures.
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Maintaining an appropriate fund balance is a common best practice in school finance and helps support long-term financial stability while ensuring resources remain available to serve students.
Personnel and Labor Updates
The Board approved employment contracts for two second-grade teachers (one at Lake Hills and one at Ferry Elementary), as well as Michael Barnett as Assistant Principal for White Pines.
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The Board approved employment contracts for several new staff members and approved annual compensation adjustments for administrators and non-association employees.
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The Board approved new three-year collective bargaining agreements with the Grand Haven Education Association (GHEA), Secretaries’ Association, and Grand Haven Area Public Schools Administrators Association (GHAPSAA). Reaching multi-year agreements with all three employee groups provides long-term stability for staff and the district while reflecting a shared commitment to supporting students and schools through June 30, 2029.
Board Policy
The Board approved the second reading and adoption of several board policy updates, including:
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Policy 4203 – Corporal Punishment and Limited Use of Reasonable Force
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Policy 3303.01 – Memorials and Retirement Commemorations
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Policy 3116.01 – District Social Media Accounts and Moderation
District Planning
District leaders provided an update on the ongoing facilities master planning process, which is designed to create a responsible, long-term roadmap for future investments in GHAPS facilities, programs, and learning environments.
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Since the planning process began, the district has reviewed facility assessments, enrollment projections, educational programming needs, financial considerations, and community feedback to help shape a comprehensive long-term vision for GHAPS.
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Community engagement has remained a central part of the process. During the 2025-26 school year, district leaders have participated in more than 100 community engagement touchpoints, including surveys, focus groups, presentations, listening sessions, staff meetings, parent meetings, student discussions, and community conversations.
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The Board reviewed the timeline and work completed to date, including facility assessments, strategic planning efforts, stakeholder engagement, and the refinement of potential project priorities and phasing options.
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District leaders noted that the planning process remains focused on balancing educational needs, facility conditions, community priorities, and long-term financial responsibility as recommendations are finalized.
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The Board is expected to consider a final facilities master plan recommendation at its July 20 meeting, which would establish the framework for future facilities planning and potential bond proposals.
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