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Houghton Lake Community Schools board approves 2026–27 budget, personnel contracts and capital projects
Summary
At its June 22 meeting the Houghton Lake Community Schools Board adopted a 2025–26 budget amendment and the 2026–27 General Appropriations Act, and approved a slate of contracts and capital purchases including a superintendent contract, athletic trainer services, library paving and band uniforms. No public comment was received.
The Houghton Lake Community Schools Board of Education on June 22 adopted an amended 2025–26 budget and approved the district’s 2026–27 General Appropriations Act and related fund budgets, and voted to approve multiple personnel contracts and capital expenditures.
Superintendent Ben Williams reported that the 2025–26 budget is finishing in a strong position and that the proposed 2026–27 budget also looks strong. Business Manager Leanna Hartman presented both the final 2025–26 amendment and the proposed 2026–27 budget to the board; there was no public comment during the budget hearing.
The board approved the 2025–26 final amendment for multiple funds: General Fund revenues of $17,436,149 and expenditures of $17,112,906; Food Service revenues of $1,130,374 and expenditures of $1,075,696; Debt Service revenues of $550,180 and expenditures of $519,150; Capital Projects revenues of $38,000 and expenditures of $560,000; and Student Activities revenues of $122,000 and expenditures of $190,900. The motion to adopt the amendment (moved by Christian, supported by Oster) passed on a roll‑call vote, 5–0.
The board then approved the General Appropriations Act Resolution adopting the 2026–27 budgets for the General Fund, Food Service, Debt Service, Capital Projects and School Activity Fund. That motion (moved by Whittington, supported by Boals) passed on a roll‑call vote, 5–0.
Votes at a glance: all motions listed below passed by roll call majority as recorded in the minutes unless noted otherwise.
- Policies adopted (second reading): 0100, 1410, 2370.01, 4210, 5136, 6320, 6325, 7540.09, 8402 (motion by Boals, supported by Oster; passed 5–0). - Athletic Trainer Services Agreement with MyMichigan Medical Center for $21,500 (General Fund) (motion by Oster; passed 5–0). - Rieth‑Riley Construction Company quote to pave an additional 1,371 square yards at the Houghton Lake Public Library parking lot for $33,031 (Capital Projects Fund) (motion by Christian; passed 5–0). - Fruhauf quote for band uniforms for $40,568.20 (General Fund) (motion by Oster; passed 5–0).
The board also approved a series of multi‑year personnel contracts and wage scale actions, including: a 2026–29 superintendent contract for Ben Williams with a 2026–27 salary of $137,904; a 2026–28 finance director contract for Leanna Hartman with a 2026–27 salary of $98,362; a 2026–28 contract for Jr./Sr. High principal Jeffrey Goodwin ($106,475 for 2026–27); a 2026–28 contract for Jr./Sr. High assistant principal Chad Watson ($101,118 for 2026–27); a 2026–28 Collins Elementary principal contract for Alicia Thompson ($105,495 for 2026–27); a 2026–28 Collins assistant principal contract for Cheryl Plainte ($95,124 for 2026–27); a 2026–28 transportation director contract for Karen Weirauch ($65,093 for 2026–27); a 2026–27 operations contract for George Rieger ($76,493 for 2026–27); a 2026–28 technology director contract for Eric Sawicki ($87,419 for 2026–27); a 2026–28 student support specialist contract for Brooke Souder ($48,452.18 for 2026–27); and approval of the 2026–2027 non‑affiliated wage scale.
One personnel vote recorded an abstention: the board approved the 2026–28 Student Support Network Coordinator contract for Ashley Jeske (salary $57,907 for 2026–27; Title, At‑Risk). The motion (moved by Christian, supported by Oster) recorded Ayes — Christian, Boals, Oster, Whittington; Abstain — Jeske; motion passed (recorded 4–0, one abstention).
Other business and reports: principals provided end‑of‑year updates for Collins Elementary and Community Education programs. The superintendent’s report noted preparations for a PALM cycling event expected to bring about 450 cyclists, completion of concrete work for a new Collins Elementary walk‑in freezer, and plans to expand the board office parking lot and relocate a culvert to improve drainage. The board reached consensus to adopt policies 2417 and 2418 'as written' at the next meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:54 PM.
The minutes record no public comments and show all listed motions approved as recorded; where the minutes list only last names for board members, the article follows the minutes’ attributions (for example, motion makers and supporters are recorded by the names or last names used in the minutes).
