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Votes at a glance: Harper Creek board approves organizational officers, annual designations, summer tax levy, large donation and AP Lit trip
Summary
The Harper Creek Board of Education approved its 2025 officers and committees, annual account designations, a summer tax levy request, a $50,000 matching donation for the high‑school weight room and an AP Literature one‑day trip to Chicago; all recorded votes were unanimous (7–0).
The Harper Creek Board of Education approved a slate of organizational and action items during its January meeting, recording unanimous roll‑call votes on each motion.
What the board approved
- Election of 2025 board officers: President (named in motion as) President Bobess; Vice President Barry Smith; Treasurer Sarah Wallace; Secretary Erin Allert. Motion moved by Barry Smith and supported by Ashley Watterson. Vote: 7–0 (motion carries).
- Annual designations and authorizations: bank depositories (Southern Michigan National Bank and Michigan Liquid Asset Fund), account signatories (board treasurer, board president, superintendent or finance director as applicable), meeting schedule (second Monday of each month at 6 p.m.), assignment of duties (treasurer responsibilities to finance director; recording secretary to district recording secretary), investment and copyright designees, and retention of Troon Law Firm for specified services with a not‑to‑exceed fee of $25,100. Motion moved by Barry Smith, supported by Sarah Wallace. Vote: 7–0.
- Consent agenda: approval of warrants for the general fund, school services fund, school lunch and student activity funds, plus minutes for the Dec. 9, 2024 regular and closed meeting minutes and Jan. 9, 2025 budget committee meeting minutes. Motion moved by Brad Halverson and seconded by Sarah Wallace (per record). Vote: 7–0.
- Summer tax levy resolution: the board authorized the superintendent or designee to request that cities and townships collect a summer tax levy equal to 100% of annual school property taxes, including debt service, for 2025 and to negotiate reasonable collection expenses under the Revised School Code; the board will review any such agreements. Motion moved and seconded; roll call: 7–0. (Board materials note the levy is used to avoid borrowing in September and preserve cash flow.)
- Donation: the board accepted a $50,000 matching donation to the Harper Creek Champions weight‑room project from Duckworth Construction and Concrete (Josh and Rebecca Duckworth). Motion led by Sarah Wallace; roll call: 7–0. The agenda also noted a separate $5,000 gift from Rebecca and David Weisler toward the same project.
- AP Literature Chicago trip: the board approved a one‑day field trip for the AP Literature class to Chicago on Feb. 10, 2025 (theater visit and Navy Pier) for 16 students with five chaperones; student cost listed at $100. Motion moved by Sarah Wallace; roll call: 7–0.
Each approved motion was read into the record by the chair or secretary and recorded with a roll‑call vote. No items failed or were tabled during the meeting.
What the votes mean
The summer tax levy resolution is an administrative tool the district uses to secure local tax receipts earlier in the fiscal year so the district avoids short‑term borrowing. The Duckworth matching donation advances a privately funded renovation project for the high‑school weight room; the board accepted the gift and discussed recognition and donor preferences. The AP Lit trip was approved as an educational field experience; the board asked that standard chaperone and safety protocols be followed.
The board voted unanimously on each listed item. Several agenda items—most notably the high‑school schedule discussion and strategic‑plan refinement—remained in discussion rather than being put to a vote.
