Hartland board approves budgets, contracts and labor deals; postpones sheriff road‑patrol extension
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Summary
Trustees approved the district's financial report and a slate of contracts, including LESA's 2025‑26 budget, a five‑year natural‑gas price agreement and teacher and affiliate extension agreements, and postponed a proposed sheriff road‑patrol extension to allow further staffing and cost analysis.
The Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education on May 12 approved multiple budget and contract items intended to stabilize operations and personnel costs while postponing a proposed extension of a township sheriff road‑patrol partnership for further study.
On routine finance items the board authorized payment of invoices totaling $2,117,341.83 and payroll obligations totaling $4,789,511.24, approving the financial report as of April 30, 2025. Superintendent Chuck Hughes told trustees the district expects to end the fiscal year with a roughly 29% fund balance, a figure he described as the result of cautious, deliberate spending.
The board approved the LESA (education service agency) 2025‑26 budget after LASA/LESA leadership explained a purposeful one‑year spend‑down in the special education fund to staff additional behavior supports; the work is expected to be backfilled later with restored special‑education millage. The board also authorized Kristen Coleman to represent Hartland at the LESA election June 2, 2025, with Megan Glabach as alternate and directed them to cast votes for Harold Fryer, Cindy Mishnowitz and Lisa Marcella O'Leary.
Trustees approved a resolution to extend the district's natural gas purchasing arrangement through BP Energy Holdings from July 2025 through June 2030 at a price not to exceed $4.10 per MMBtu for about 85% of estimated need, a move administration and consultants said would provide five‑year budget stability. Rob Bernardi of Executive Energy Services answered technical questions about hedging and the 85/15 structure for remaining purchases at spot market prices.
Labor and operations agreements passed as well. The board approved an extension agreement with the Heartland Education Association (HEA) providing pay increases and a reconfiguration of certain front‑office staffing; two trustees abstained from that vote for conflict reasons. The board also approved an extension for ABM cleaning services covering the middle and high school.
A separate item—an extension of Livingston County sheriff road‑patrol services negotiated through the township—drawn significant debate. Proponents emphasized directed patrols, weekend coverage and additional presence at parking lots and events; opponents questioned whether the same funds could better support a school‑based safety officer or additional RSOs/SSOs under district control. After extended discussion trustees voted to postpone that contract to allow Rachel (chief financial officer) and administration to model three‑year costs and options.
Other approved capital and facilities items included purchase of replacement gymnasium scoreboards paid from bond funds and masonry repairs at Lakes Elementary. The board received reports that the 2020 bond projects are about 90% complete.
The board set future meeting dates and adjourned.
Votes at a glance (selected): - Payment of invoices and payroll (motion by Kristen Coleman, supported by Mrs. Shaw): passed (recorded yes votes by all trustees present). - LESA 2025‑26 budget (motion by Mrs. Shaw, supported by Mrs. Coleman): passed (recorded yes votes). - LESA election resolution appointing Coleman as district representative and Glabach as alternate (motion by Coleman, supported by Shaw): passed (recorded yes votes). - Natural gas purchase through BP Energy Holdings (price not to exceed $4.10/MMBtu, July 2025–June 2030): passed (recorded yes votes). - HEA extension agreement (teacher contract extension): passed (two abstentions recorded; motion carried). - ABM cleaning services extension: passed (recorded yes votes). - Livingston County sheriff road‑patrol extension: motion to postpone passed (majority recorded in favor; item not adopted tonight). - High school scoreboard purchase (bond funds): passed (recorded yes votes). - Lakes Elementary masonry repair (base bid): passed (recorded yes votes).
