[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6462723,"mediaKeyId","5796940-96b04bb8c08ec4a9194af974615ad9be","parentId",5796940,"title","Waterford superintendent urges community advocacy as Michigan budget delay risks school aid; teachers describe burnout and staffing uncertainty","audioSeconds",1236,"startMs",1304000,"endMs",2540000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5796940-96b04bb8c08ec4a9194af974615ad9be&start=1304&end=2540","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5796940-96b04bb8c08ec4a9194af974615ad9be/thumbnail_1304000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6462723/Michigan/Waterford-superintendent-urges-community-advocacy-as-Michigan-budget-delay-risks-school-aid-teachers-describe-burnout-and-staffing-uncertainty","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462723-9e69b00c7ba203bbe8cf8cd837c24e1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140306&Signature=Biys28nK91h5vUMFXnaqWZhbOnHXOSZlNnQD~iCnGdnANCEedqnFShIPpxQVSfgqk9zLjafFSG7nGUMRxkrBaUHI2A5KHzVsv7LveaB13y5OUPulEtatD7CIKqEgvtwsdcyEYJY-p8z4vLDPlB0G9QptkLuIi6wNe2WYJOkJGNKLVes9RQPUZlkXZeJDO1djhh2ha44l5y~x2KAY6s73i572a0CLKurtwcl2UqW-nzFVrKUmXj8SfKhgLpJpElLV~9u4D2~XlkvZMkKZTZpqLrCw8h1sh6uky~23uEJDpOzMrFmeSc0mPXJ-mVlxbZwjw9WmMsrf~O46ivFL8I~3PQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waterford School District","date","2025-09-19T12:30:59Z","article","Superintendent Martin told the Waterford School District Board of Education that Michigan had not passed a state budget and that delay in the school-aid fund is creating uncertainty for district planning and staffing.

“Frankly, our legislation, all of them, have failed to do their job,” Martin said. He described the timing: the governor released a budget on Feb. 5, the senate released its version May 14 and the house released a different version Aug. 26. He said the three proposals differ in per-pupil increases and in treatment of categoricals: the governor’s plan proposed a $392 per-pupil increase, the senate $400 and the house $417 with a proposal to bundle categoricals into a single block grant.

Martin said the district must plan for the Oct. 22 school-aid disbursement and that a state shutdown or missed payment would harm districts. “If there is a state shutdown, absolutely, and we miss a payment that's absolutely gonna impact us, impact our students,” he said. He urged residents to contact Michigan House Republican Leader Matt Hall, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and local representatives Brenda Scott, Jeremy Moss, Jim Runstad and Mike Harris.

Public speakers at the meeting echoed urgency and described local effects. Lori Tunick, identifying a lobbying day on Sept. 24 organized by the Michigan Education Association, urged the board and community to attend. “House Republican leader Matt Hall and senate majority leader Winnie Brink's need to get to the table, resolve their differences, and pass a school budget now,” Tunick said.

Multiple teachers and staff used public comment to describe workplace strain and uncertainty tied to budget, contract and policy rollouts. Mott teacher Mackenzie Ogden praised colleagues and student leaders and said staff work long hours. Heather Wickman, a 26-year district veteran, said teachers are already “burnt out” after repeated curriculum rollouts and inadequate professional development and criticized new mandated tasks that reduce instructional time. Heather Cipinari, a 30-year teacher, said morale is at a three-decade low and asked leaders to trust teachers’ professional judgment and provide training, reasonable calendars and contract protections.

Trustees and staff framed categoricals — state-targeted funding for special education, transportation and other designated needs — as central to equity. Trustee MacGregor described categoricals as “protected classes of funding” and warned that bundling them into a single allotment could force districts to choose how to allocate scarce resources among special education, transportation and other needs.

Board members repeatedly called for constituent advocacy. Martin and trustees asked families and community members to contact the named state leaders and local representatives and to participate in organized lobbying days. The board did not take formal action on the budget; Martin said the district is monitoring state developments and will rely on local revenues and fund balance if a shortfall occurs but cautioned those reserves are limited.

Public commenters also raised other community concerns at the meeting: environmental worries about a concrete crusher near Kettering High School and attendance challenges that participants said are undermining instruction. Several speakers urged the board to prioritize supports to reduce teacher overload and absenteeism and to restore positions cut in recent years.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Waterford Board of Education Meeting 9-19-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent Martin told the Waterford board that Michigan had not passed a state budget and delay in the school-aid fund is creating planning and staffing uncertainty for the district; he urged community advocacy toward legislative leaders.","taxTitle","Waterford School District, School Boards, Michigan","taxId",38223,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6462728,"Waterford plans replacement options for aging bus shop hoist; pit cleanup and funding from bond planned",99,1065000,1164000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5796940-96b04bb8c08ec4a9194af974615ad9be&start=1065&end=1164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5796940-96b04bb8c08ec4a9194af974615ad9be/thumbnail_1065000.jpg","/articles/6462728/Michigan/Waterford-plans-replacement-options-for-aging-bus-shop-hoist-pit-cleanup-and-funding-from-bond-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462728-e435d07cd140e20b4498a10d07a96ee8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140306&Signature=CIMARYSXD629k5OcmtvZGsT2X8rwC~s00qdzLLxKWjm8BTK8yWa4yBsM-GoEwa3N9EYu39mb-grpBfOpex4PrpvKUleQjGXBrOaVcpztb2gb98I6er~pKM9-9cltJP0KoRquihiEib7MMXIi45q0UUc7Oar7aiSjj1STUPPtWAwdmNw28lUjc4vj~UXDija9O7jMh3nEcew16jUPD9xYwOa-nFXbd3BBSDqhFK5nDv28acKtaieWN-zMOSivRlEiSibQ7hchi6Iv-A0URRB5MK515lIz6S7gqKKltOSutZnSmIyrKwNkBQBcU86TBShVplKSGJVnIVuN-U5LBZ4i3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assistant Superintendent Hildebrandt told the board that the district's in-ground vehicle hoist at the transportation facility, originally installed in 1999, has been out of service for about six weeks and is beyond its useful life.

Hildebrandt said, “The original in ground hoist was put into operation in 1999, so it is beyond its life. It has formally it is fully out of commission now. It has not worked for 6 weeks. So we're looking at replacement options and we have different options to consider.”

Staff described four broad replacement options: replacing the in-ground hoist with the same style, buying mobile column lifts, installing surface-mounted lifts or installing a parallelogram or scissor-style lift. Hildebrandt said mechanics have been consulted and two vendors are providing consortium pricing.

Hildebrandt also said the existing pit contains about 20 inches of accumulated fluid and will require decommissioning and environmental cleanup. “There's 20 inches of fluid that is in the bottom of it from all the years of use. So we know that that needs to be cleaned up, decommissioned, and taken care of,” she said. Board members asked about environmental remediation plans and Hildebrandt said the district is having drawings produced to plan for safe decommissioning.

Funding for the replacement will be drawn from the 2020 bond; Hildebrandt said the project had been planned in the bond but the failure happened earlier than expected. She told trustees she will return with a formal recommendation, pricing and a preferred option at the next meeting for action.

No vote was taken at the meeting; trustees asked staff to continue gathering vendor pricing and environmental plans and to present a formal recommendation when ready.","District staff told trustees the in-ground vehicle hoist at the transportation facility has failed after decades of use; options being considered include in-ground replacement, mobile column lifts and surface-mounted lifts; funding will come from a 2020 bond allocation and staff will bring a formal recommendation to the next meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6462730,"Waterford district to fix playground hills at Beaumont and Donaldson Hills after safety concerns; cost estimated at $37,000",384,364000,748000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5796940-96b04bb8c08ec4a9194af974615ad9be&start=364&end=748","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5796940-96b04bb8c08ec4a9194af974615ad9be/thumbnail_364000.jpg","/articles/6462730/Michigan/Waterford-district-to-fix-playground-hills-at-Beaumont-and-Donaldson-Hills-after-safety-concerns-cost-estimated-at-37000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462730-206b0e4ec53e745098e941be01409167/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140306&Signature=Ftao2nNgfydnHNtBpt8qd4ali6FMESgeH-pJ0Btlc1kTFkJoxB~S4mQsIkvuJfCzZrNzPt1PwZikgTgnRmMbdw6owPh386JXmYpEvv1JvDHOwKDjUO~4Ar-~B38F-3-Ybg2uZBE8Qjj7mZlpbxxLSqLc1u~ffXz4saZ8Wm9K7mvYdpbLODKnECP0lcE6GdM2di7RsqjQ7fN2pKcGlVdcl1SljIgq3-ghX4IVpa0FI1p1bFhVMNAmqRgY21aIRWYEuMlQLxAM0eDfX-ALI4CuUgUJbXeu1IDzuMuskh1-RV1o-Ft17CAxlfC3bDPA2o1aiAGr9mYWjxKiS0JfgKxrjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assistant Superintendent Hildebrandt said the Waterford School District will remove and regrade mound-style playground features at Beaumont and Donaldson Hills and replace a slide at Beaumont after students exposed structural elements and created deep holes in the soil.

Hildebrandt said, “Beaumont and Donaldson Hills were both renovated with new playgrounds in the 2024. Each of those sites have moundy hills that are just not conducive to grass growing…At Beaumont, there's actually a built in hillside slide…that slide originally from the bonded monies…was $5,017. …That slide…kids are digging in underneath that slide…exposing some of the bars underneath.”

The district estimates the preferred solution would be to remove the mounds, level the sites, seed or amend the soil and install a walk-up slide at Beaumont. “That walk up slide would be consortium priced at about $11,000. And the site work to level it down and to plant seed that could grow up and over this season is $26,500 for both sites inclusive,” Hildebrandt said. She summarized the total need as about $37,000.

Trustees pressed staff on whether the design or contractors could be held responsible. Member Donoghue asked whether the architect or oversight firm could be asked to take responsibility for the work and its cost. Hildebrandt said the playground equipment was procured through consortium pricing, the design was by French and Associates, and Barton Mallow provided construction oversight; she said the district has asked whether contractors will provide remedies but had not reported an agreement. “So we've looked at that…It is a design issue. It doesn't preclude me from continuing to push on that to look for some relief to the district,” Hildebrandt said.

Trustees and staff discussed alternatives such as engineered wood fiber, synthetic turf and other surfacing. Hildebrandt said engineered wood fiber would blow around on the slopes and synthetic turf was cost-prohibitive. She also told trustees the work would be covered from bond dollars and remaining contingency in the playground allocation. “No. It will come from the bond dollars. It's actually some of the contingency that was remaining,” Hildebrandt said.

Board members expressed frustration that recently completed bond-funded work is already producing unanticipated expenses. Member Donoghue and others said they would like the district to pursue conversations with legal counsel and the design firms about remedies. Hildebrandt said she would continue pursuing options and would keep the board informed.

The item was presented as an information item; no formal vote was taken. Hildebrandt said staff would bring back action or further recommendations when pricing and any contractor responses are finalized.","Assistant Superintendent Hildebrandt told the Waterford School District board that playground mounds installed in 2024 at Beaumont and Donaldson Hills are not supporting grass, have become muddy and unsafe and will be leveled and replaced; district plans to use bond contingency funds for an estimated $37,000 in work.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6462718,"Board approves revised 2025–26 meeting schedule and certifies MASB delegates; both motions pass 7-0",104,2308000,2412000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5796940-96b04bb8c08ec4a9194af974615ad9be&start=2308&end=2412","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5796940-96b04bb8c08ec4a9194af974615ad9be/thumbnail_2308000.jpg","/articles/6462718/Michigan/Board-approves-revised-202526-meeting-schedule-and-certifies-MASB-delegates-both-motions-pass-7-0","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462718-5bed584a25756f8b33826a50dac353df/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140306&Signature=A6f3AAfqhFurKGqwsIX6KhxNayjfpSYLK7-KIkQ51qPDIJaVN0r8RoCJvzEEMncpLPkT7-ZIQvh8RdH-HLt-~FUWsUVmIkmqJYorOEIk9qXh41vjURauJVX~RgYD1p4tq7BwjubvXopa3QPEXeSzzw8Occ9XBdd8~ilq6EZVTGCcCCbmRPySmxLZBx~HJ-MYVdW7tGPt0KLt2-n44rI9TuQLeGnaEVI6TJLtxq1Sx85nNKHY6gL9z26ygAz8~nbStwzbSPGlFceOLnN54B3H71Rv2u6ud8EeN6VQ3M~nMSBQBzVOiAY99S0Nz7FZmWN1lbbPnKzMM6zJoOi7u756cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the meeting trustees voted on two action items and approved both motions by a 7-0 roll call.

The board approved Recommendation 11-25-26, revisions to the 2025–26 schedule for regular meetings and committee-of-the-whole meetings. The revisions included moving the Dec. 4, 2025 meeting to a regular meeting and canceling the Dec. 18, 2025 and April 2, 2026 meetings; board members noted the April 2 cancellation was for spring break scheduling.

The board also approved Recommendation 12-25-26, certifying Elizabeth McGregor and Kim Sonicrant as delegates to the MASB (Michigan Association of School Boards) delegate assembly representing the Waterford School District. The board noted both designees will attend the conference in October.

Both motions were moved, supported and carried by a 7-0 vote. The meeting recorded the motions as moved and supported and the president called for members to indicate approval by raising their hand; the clerk confirmed the 7-0 tally.","The Waterford School District Board of Education approved revisions to the 2025–26 meeting calendar and certified two MASB delegates, Elizabeth McGregor and Kim Sonicrant, by unanimous vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Waterford superintendent urges community advocacy as Michigan budget delay risks school aid; teachers describe burnout and staffing uncertainty

Waterford plans replacement options for aging bus shop hoist; pit cleanup and funding from bond planned

Waterford district to fix playground hills at Beaumont and Donaldson Hills after safety concerns; cost estimated at $37,000

Board approves revised 2025–26 meeting schedule and certifies MASB delegates; both motions pass 7-0