Forest Hills board hears 2024–25 budget pitch, adopts appropriations and approves contracts and hires

Assistant Superintendent Julie Davis presented the district’s proposed 2024–25 budget at the Forest Hills Board of Education’s July 20 special meeting and answered prolonged questions about grant expirations, staffing and fund‑balance projections. After presentation and discussion, the board individually considered and approved amendments and appropriations, several facilities contracts and a slate of administrative hires.

Davis told the board the budget uses current state proposals and local estimates while the Michigan Legislature’s conference committee completes action. "We are going with the governor's $2 per pupil increase to the foundation allowance," Davis said, adding that for Forest Hills that equates to roughly $2.1 million. She also said the district projects an enrollment decline of about 145 students, a loss of roughly $1.4 million, which produces a near‑term net revenue gain in the draft of about $700,000 after those two items are combined.

Davis warned that federal ESSER funding will largely drop out of next year’s revenue picture: "ESSER III will be ending at 09/30/2024," she said, and estimated approximately $5.4 million of ESSER‑funded revenue will not recur. On the expenditure side, the presentation shows expected reductions through attrition — about 6.4 elementary, 3.8 middle and 5.4 high‑school teaching positions — estimated to reduce expenses by about $2.4 million. Davis also said roughly $2.5 million of costs will return to the general fund as ESSER support for some teachers ends.

The presentation included fund‑balance projections: current ending fund balance of about $17.9 million, a proposed amendment that would raise this year’s projected balance to about $19.5 million, and an anticipated use of roughly $1.5 million of fund balance in the 2024–25 draft, leaving an estimated balance near $18 million at year end.

Board members pressed administration for more itemized detail and earlier briefings. One board member (Speaker 4) argued for further trimming of budget categories now and asked the board to consider more public, collaborative review with the incoming superintendent; other members responded that many staffing changes occur through attrition or negotiations and urged a strategic review rather than last‑minute cuts. The board discussed the impact of retiring long‑time staff on programs, specifically naming music and theater programming associated with a retiring teacher (Dave Howard) as an example of a role members considered difficult to replace.

On motions, the board moved to consider each approval separately rather than using a consent agenda. Key actions recorded in the meeting minutes and taken by roll call include:

- Adoption of the 2024–25 general fund appropriations (available funds and appropriations figures were presented in the motion). The board took a roll‑call vote; the meeting record shows a majority in favor and at least one dissenting vote on the general fund appropriation resolution.

- Approval of an amendment to the special revenue fund appropriations (available funds $15,886,975; appropriations $9,498,326) by roll call.

- Authorization of asbestos abatement at Ada Vista Elementary by TES Environmental for $118,600; approved by roll call.

- Purchase of a replacement digital sign from Daktronics for an amount not to exceed $48,000; approved by roll call.

- Purchase of new playground equipment for Nat Forest Elementary from Game Time Sinclair Recreation, amount not to exceed $100,000; approved by roll call.

- Approval to hire and issue an administrative contract to Heather McKinney Rehua for 2024–25, and board approval of multiple new hires (Sophie Brown, Laura Engelberg, Jordan George, Melissa McNeil, Lauren Trotter, Ross Van Beldhear, Alexander Webster and Andrea Yang) for the 2024–25 school year; those personnel motions passed by roll call.

Administrators also reported informational items: several resignations across buildings were noted, and the interim superintendent thanked the board and referenced participation by the incoming superintendent, Ben (named in the meeting), in recent finalist interviews for internal principal placements. The board opened the public‑comment period; no community members spoke. The meeting was adjourned after the scheduled business.

What happens next: the district will finalize the budget documents consistent with state law and bring any necessary budget amendments to the board for formal ratification; board members asked administration to provide deeper category‑level information and earlier finance briefings with the incoming superintendent to inform future strategic budgeting decisions.