Forest Area superintendent reports district has opted out of disputed "31aa" funding; highlights new state law on hunting certification

Superintendent Mike Moran told the Forest Area Community Schools Board on Jan. 12 that the district has "opted out of the funding" tied to a program referenced in the meeting as "31aa" after state and federal courts had not made a decision by the Dec. 31, 2025 deadline. Moran said the district may opt back in if conditions change.

Moran, speaking during the superintendent's update, also confirmed that HB4285, signed in December, authorizes the Michigan Department of Education in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources to allow a hunting-certification course to be taught in public schools; he described it as a voluntary elective should the district choose to offer it.

Moran noted the district is halfway through the school year and reminded the public that strategic-planning surveys were distributed the previous week and will remain open through Jan. 19, 2026. He also said Matt Olson will meet with the board on Feb. 28 for follow-up discussions.

The statements about the court timeline and the district's decision to opt out were presented as an administrative update; the board did not take a separate recorded vote on that opt-out during the meeting. The transcript did not provide details on the specific programs or dollar amounts affected by the "31aa" funding status, and the superintendent described the move as reversible if circumstances change.

The board did not debate or vote on adopting the optional hunting-certification course during this meeting. Any decision to introduce that elective would require separate staff recommendations and a future board action.