Walled Lake board urges timely K‑12 budget, approves literacy purchase and routine business

WALLED LAKE, Mich. — The Walled Lake Consolidated Schools Board of Education on Sept. 4 adopted a resolution calling on the Michigan Legislature to pass a timely K‑12 budget, approved several district business items including a classroom library purchase paid from a 35j literacy grant, and heard public comments pressing the district and state leaders to address special‑education staffing and classroom conditions.

The board’s resolution, introduced and read aloud during the meeting, urged lawmakers to "pass a full and fair K‑12 school aid budget immediately" and to protect the school aid fund for its original purpose of supporting public education. State Representative Noah Arbitt, attending in the public‑comment portion, told the board students and staff “are beginning a new school year without a state budget, leaving you as a board to budget in the dark.”

Why it matters: Without a state K‑12 appropriation, districts face delayed state aid payments and uncertainty about sustaining staff, programs and transportation. Board members emphasized the urgency because the late or reduced state budget could affect payroll and services as the year progresses.

The board also approved a purchase of classroom library collections (pre‑K through grade 5) from the vendor BookSource for $461,858.39 to be paid from funds in the district’s 35j literacy grant. Chief academic staff described the purchase as filling “critical gaps” in early elementary texts, providing high‑interest and decodable materials to support literacy instruction. Board member Susan West said she would vote against the purchase because a question raised about whether some titles include certain pronoun usages had not been resolved; the purchase passed on a 5–1 vote.

Other business approved by the board included:

- Consent agenda approvals (minutes, personnel recommendations, and financial reports including disbursements of $20,972,928) — motion carried 6–0. - Appointment of Jacob Hess as assistant principal at Clifford Smart Middle School, effective Sept. 8, 2025 — motion carried 6–0. - Annual designation of banks and financial institutions as depositories for district funds — motion carried 6–0. - Authorization for the business office to invest available district funds consistent with the Michigan Revised School Code — motion carried 6–0. - A proclamation declaring October 2025 as Cancer Awareness Month in the district; the proclamation enumerated planned school activities across the three high schools and other units.

Public comment: Several residents and staff used the meeting’s public‑comment segment to raise concerns about staffing and student supports. Parent Lisa Young described repeated inconsistency in her daughter’s special‑education services and said, “Our special education kids are being shorted, and we need we need to do better.” Karen Mitchell, a parent of an eighth grader, and other speakers urged the board to secure a fair contract for teachers and to fill vacancies in special‑education and paraeducator positions. Instructional specialist Christine Titus thanked district leaders for building visits but also raised classroom‑level visibility as a priority.

Community support and recognitions: Walled Lake Schools Federal Credit Union donated $50,000 to the district PTSA council; Credit Union representative Brian Felpoche said the board of directors decided to divide the gift so “every unit of the Walled Lake School District will be getting a $2,500 check.” The board also presented Golden Apple awards to Danielle Hager, a first‑grade teacher at Loon Lake Elementary, and Ashley Ramirez, a kindergarten teacher at Dublin Elementary, for classroom and colleague support.

What the board directed next: The resolution requests the superintendent communicate the board’s position to the governor, legislative leaders and the Oakland County delegation. District staff said they will provide the board with follow‑up on the BookSource titles if members identify specific concerns about particular books. Several board members urged community members to contact legislators about the state budget.

Meeting context: Board members repeatedly said the start of the school year showed strong staff effort and energy in buildings despite concerns about state funding, building vacancies, and construction timing. The business‑session votes were routine budget and governance items, while the purchase from the 35j grant drew the most substantive debate and the lone dissenting vote.