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New Buffalo Area Schools board declines opt-in to Section 31aa school-safety funds
Summary
At its Oct. 27 meeting the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to decline opting into Section 31aa of the State School Aid Act — a program that directs $321 million statewide for school safety and student mental health. The board cited potential legal/privacy tradeoffs and set no further action.
At its Oct. 27, 2025 regular meeting the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education voted to decline opting in to Section 31aa of the State School Aid Act, which the agenda described as allocating "$321 million statewide for school safety and student mental health initiatives." President Lisa Werner moved to adopt Resolution B to decline participation; Denise Churchill seconded and the motion passed with all ayes. Board member Jennifer Summers was recorded absent.
Board materials and the meeting agenda flagged a short decision window: the district must notify the state by Nov. 12, 2025. The agenda language cautioned that accepting the money could require the district to "potentially waiv[e] privileges" and "could potentially mean serious consequences," language the board relied on when discussing the item during the meeting. The board recorded no conditions or follow-up direction after approving the decline.
The vote was framed as a procedural decision rather than an endorsement of any specific safety program; the board did not adopt an alternate plan for school-safety or student-mental-health investments during the meeting. The resolution and the board’s roll-call vote were entered into the minutes as the final action on the item.
