Forest Hills Public Schools’ board received a curriculum and finance update on Jan. 12 that covered high-school course-catalog changes, multi-fund budget amendments, recommended contract awards for capital projects and a vendor purchase to upgrade door access controls.

Curriculum and course catalog: The district presented proposed course deletions (noting low enrollment in intermediate/advanced French sequences including French 4 and AP French at Eastern) and several additions and revisions across the three high schools. Planned additions and changes included concepts of geometry at Central, AP Research (as a partner to AP Seminar) at Eastern and Central, a new AI Foundations and Ethics course (initially offered at Northern), AP cybersecurity at all three high schools, an AP business & personal finance year-long option, entrepreneurial thinking at Northern, and a West Michigan History elective at Central. The district also described a health careers certificate program to be offered on-site through a partnership with Ferris; presenters said about 10 students are already enrolled and that a $1,000 scholarship was available as described in the meeting.

Budget and capital projects: The finance update showed no outliers in multi-year financial statements and several capital projects moving forward. The district reported recommended low-bid contract awards including an Eastern High School auxiliary turf project with recommendations not to exceed $3,288,497 and an Ada Elementary project recommended at not to exceed $9,077,465 (presenters described the Ada project as a roughly two-year timeline). The board was also presented with a recommendation to purchase an upgraded door access-control system (keyless entry and real-time monitoring features) from Motorola Solutions for an amount not to exceed $1,981,289. The district noted a single property-tax reimbursement to Kent County for $30,573.74.

Budget amendments reflected increased revenue—largely from a slightly higher state foundational allowance per pupil and enrollment gains (the presenter said almost 100 additional students, citing JK as a contributor)—resulting in about $3,000,000 more revenue than anticipated and reducing a previously projected deficit to roughly $5,000,000 with a projected end-year fund balance near 16.2%. Presenters emphasized personnel costs remain the largest share of spending (about 85%+).

Procedural and consent items: Payment of bills was pulled from the consent agenda so a board member could abstain because of a conflict of interest tied in the packet to a vendor identified in the transcript as "Pottery Lane." A motion to approve payment of bills was made (the mover is recorded in the meeting transcript), but the transcript did not include a vote tally or final outcome for that motion.

Public comment: During public comment, Vincent Monomar raised concerns about sexually explicit material in the district media center and asked the board to revert the district’s media-reconsideration policy to a 2024 version that he said would make it easier for parents to partner with administration to review materials. The board thanked speakers and said district staff would follow up with those requesting it.

The board proceeded to additional business and then adjourned.