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Harper Creek Board approves 2025 tax levy, sets budget hearing; hires new principal and approves mural
Summary
The Harper Creek Board of Education set the district tax levy (18 mills non-homestead; 7.12 mills debt), scheduled a June 23 budget hearing, approved five new hires including a high school principal starting July 1, and approved a high school drama mural. All formal motions passed unanimously.
The Harper Creek Board of Education on Wednesday approved the district's 2025 tax levy, set a budget hearing for June 23 and confirmed personnel and facilities actions, the board said.
Chair called for and the board approved a motion to set the district's non-homestead operating millage at 18 mills and a debt-retirement millage of 7.12 mills for the 2025 tax collection year, covering the City of Veil Creek and the townships of Emmett, Fredonia, Leroy, Marshall, Newton and Pentate. The motion passed on a roll-call vote recorded as 7'0.
The tax-levy action was introduced as an L-4029 filing to set the taxable rates for next year; administration noted continuing the current approach is expected to allow the district's outstanding debt to be retired earlier than previously scheduled.
The board also approved a recommended budget hearing date of June 23, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. and discussed the requirement to advertise the public hearing before it occurs.
On athletics policy, trustees unanimously approved the district's annual Michigan High School Athletic Association membership resolution for 2025'026, which allows teams to participate in MHSAA tournaments and provides access to the association's catastrophic insurance for covered athletic events.
Personnel items approved included five hires presented to the board. The district approved Amber Vandy (third grade, Bowling Elementary), Bobby Van Wormer (fourth grade, Sonoma Elementary), Anna Cleary (second grade, Wallace Park Elementary), Holly Morris (sixth grade, middle school) and Stephanie Howard as high school principal; administrators said Howard will begin on July 1 and will be invited to the July board meeting.
Trustees also approved a proposed drama mural for the high school's stage back wall. Administrators described the mural as a commemorative, non-public-facing piece designed to display program history and said they would work to ensure the installation is neat and durable.
In non-action updates to the board, administration reported summer programming is underway and available to students and community children (district staff noted a summer program partnership and that free meals are served to anyone 18 and under). Facilities staff described an ongoing, district-wide building assessment that the team expects to finish in July and later present to a steering committee and the board; they also said a district-owned rental house currently has no tenant and is being priced for potential demolition pending abatement work. Finance reported roughly $295,000 in interest earned year-to-date and an estimate that accelerating bond payback could realize substantial interest savings.
The meeting concluded with no public comments on agenda items; the board adjourned at 6:33 p.m.
The board will hold the advertised budget hearing on June 23, 2025, and will receive the facility-assessment recommendations later this year.
