[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6181427,"mediaKeyId","5113015-d8b19df9e33ac4988f31127b15019489","parentId",5113015,"title","After bond defeat, Midland board pauses new vote, plans community-driven strategic process and proceeds with robotics facility purchase","audioSeconds",3271,"startMs",3567000,"endMs",6838000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113015-d8b19df9e33ac4988f31127b15019489&start=3567&end=6838","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113015-d8b19df9e33ac4988f31127b15019489/thumbnail_3567000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6181427/Michigan/After-bond-defeat-Midland-board-pauses-new-vote-plans-community-driven-strategic-process-and-proceeds-with-robotics-facility-purchase","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181427-d726e64b3843cd1d93b9d08558c50354/orig.mp4?Expires=1770572912&Signature=N5kvDn0Elm9SO7INnGGmUnMlPkzmAxxwsJZHtIVg1Wh7mC4-2PrG6JlNLIRTNYSPzm~r3mvRh9lPoei6dlXCTNTLKj4NDrIqYhAVEs6sIXWw9NbpSgNrkOvEHFxVX1yq1xGTbBm6Q1JvPL2NA3lo4ah4jTmduds3MAOGtoYW4XNpNPtNHgHftWBZLsFT6LlcrP8B3GIAsJOav5Ni6l4VRhGJHlGmrbzaoi7CZFEQ-4XrQSL6rSNoXC3LNT1Kr9p7niANKqjKBDB1jegqmCKQxCyUIi9fF6NRhrT13wUfsttIfU2ulZf6J5IYdg5BP~~y2IqWpg9q--qmS8B5G~FElA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Midland Public Schools","date","2025-06-17T00:00:00Z","article","Midland Public Schools leaders said June 16 they will step back from immediately pursuing another facilities bond and instead launch a community-centered strategic planning process to define student outcomes and align facility proposals to those goals.

President Rausch and Penny Miller Nelson told the board they had begun seeking an independent facilitator to lead broad-based community engagement. Rausch said the district needs \"comprehensive engagement from our community\" and that any ballot timeline for November would be too compressed: \"to get something on the November ballot, we would have to have any application completed, August 10,\" a deadline the board said was too soon to run a deliberative outreach process.

Why it matters

The May bond proposal was defeated in the community. Board members and public commenters said that defeat reflects a gap in trust and in the district's outreach; speakers at the meeting urged transparent planning, clearer spending plans and more inclusive engagement. The board's stated intention is to use the strategic-planning process to define student-centered outcomes first and then design facilities that match those outcomes.

Specific next steps and facility actions

- Facilitator and strategic planning: The board directed administrators to return with a proposal for hiring an outside facilitator who can conduct an independent community engagement and strategic-planning process; the board emphasized the facilitator should be experienced in community engagement and change-management work.

- No immediate ballot push: Trustees said they are not comfortable rushing a new sinking-fund or bond question onto the November ballot; they cited both the required application timeline (August 10) and a need for deeper public work.

- Fast Ice property purchase: Penny Miller Nelson announced the administration is moving forward with purchase of the Fast Ice property to develop a robotics facility; a due-diligence environmental assessment was completed and the district negotiated a $20,000 price reduction. Penny and Phil (board/administration) were authorized to sign an amendment clarifying a June 30 closing date. (Penny said the district is \"on track for that closing date.\")

Public concerns voiced at the meeting

Several residents raised facility-maintenance and trust issues. Rosemary Roberts described leaks and electrical problems at Northeast Junior High and asked when repairs would happen; the board noted ongoing maintenance and said an engineering study indicated replacement could be cheaper than continued repairs. Don Hinkle and Artie Lamas urged the board to treat the bond defeat as an opportunity to reassess and to provide clearer spending plans. Deb Laver asked for clarity on what projects were completed under prior bonds and urged transparency about who would be affected by potential preschool expansion.

Distinction: discussion vs. direction vs. formal action

- Discussion: Board members and staff discussed community engagement, timelines and the need to align facilities to student outcomes.

- Direction/assignment: The board directed staff to return with a proposal to hire an independent facilitator and to present an engagement plan and timeline; Penny and Phil will complete the Fast Ice purchase process (amendment to purchase agreement, clarified closing date and price adjustment).

- Formal action: No formal vote was recorded on reissuing a bond; instead the board recorded decisions to pause immediate ballot activity and to pursue facilitated strategic planning and a property purchase process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Regular Meeting - June 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After the May bond defeat, Midland Public Schools trustees said June 16 they will not immediately return to the ballot and will instead pursue a facilitated, community-driven strategic planning process before proposing new facility funding.","taxTitle","Midland Public Schools, School Boards, Michigan","taxId",38797,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6181432,"Midland Public Schools board adopts 2025-26 operating budget, approves final 2024-25 amendment",3436,63000,3499000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113015-d8b19df9e33ac4988f31127b15019489&start=63&end=3499","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113015-d8b19df9e33ac4988f31127b15019489/thumbnail_63000.jpg","/articles/6181432/Michigan/Midland-Public-Schools-board-adopts-2025-26-operating-budget-approves-final-2024-25-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181432-fc424246aaf2176cec97811d014aee5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770572912&Signature=iNyxTXoUDMOtnuJq4lFfliElq7OduJv0lIbZRssVIHZfDtayxt4hG1GqZ21Wu2FyIAwS-Qza8ulzFIoKJj2DhIqIo~ySTuP4pZNsDcCc6xooxo-7W4TtIgw8svDPfPqYkoRaScSNvdkOvOL1HC~~1PnnqY3euHhQkz6LvLQ0f3IcEwQBWmLOAhIi0WtMktuZyXyb40Hv76skUcUTm-am-OQArK-mVFBexYfUHl-VsWY1aU7S5uHe8YJv175WEEL87K0xJ8q-V7igw8ssMqhVVaVjXihbYNKB9hYLT6VH3EzygdSAKHOJ~gucAFi9-ecasB3A~KKUohFiH1erx-dzog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Midland Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously June 16 to adopt the district's 2025-26 general operating budget and to approve a final amendment to the 2024-25 budget.

Board action follows a staff presentation that said state budget numbers were not final and that the district's projections were locked on June 9. Anna (finance staff) told the board, \"A reminder that a 1% variance of this budget is approximately $1,140,000,\" and warned that audit adjustments in July could change final fund-balance figures.

The budget and amendment matter because they set the district's spending plan, the millage requested from local taxpayers and the uses of one-time fund balances. The administration presented revenue assumptions used in the 2025-26 proposal, including a per-pupil foundation increase of $392 (producing a projected foundation allowance of $10,122) and an enrollment estimate held at about 7,400 pupils. The presentation showed the general fund revenue for 2025-26 estimated at roughly $107.6 million, with about 70.1% expected from the state, 19.4% from local property taxes and 1.4% federal.

Key budget decisions and figures

- The board approved the 2024-25 final budget amendment, which showed an increase in revenues of about $4.2 million primarily from the sale of the Esalon property, various grants and increased 147 categorical funds; related expenditures increased by about $2.2 million. Motion: Ringgold; support: McFarland. Roll call: 6-0 yes.

- The board adopted the 2025-26 general operating budget as presented. Motion: McFarland; support: Ringgold. Roll call: 6-0 yes.

- Millage and tax-rate actions: Staff recommended levying half of the district's hold-harmless and bond mills on the City of Midland's summer tax roll (splitting certain mills 50/50 between summer and winter collections). The board later approved the summer tax-rate resolution (motion by McFarland, supported by Ringgold; roll call yes).

- Fund balance and set-asides: The amendment included dedicated transfers setting aside $250,000 for future technology (bringing the total technology set-aside to $2,000,000) and $200,000 for bus replacement (bringing bus reserves to $1,000,000). The district reported a projected full fund balance of about 27.1% for the current year, with a projected reduction to roughly 25% under the proposed 2025-26 budget.

Discussion points and public comment

Public comment at the Truth in Budgeting hearing focused on transparency and the timing of availability of detailed financial records. Renita Bonadies pressed for more detailed and more timely online budget disclosures, including more current check registers and employee total compensation above $100,000. Joey Store and other community members urged more time for public scrutiny of budget line items before board votes.

Board members emphasized conservative budgeting given state revenue uncertainty and noted prior use of federal ESSER funds to support staffing. Several trustees said retaining a healthy fund balance had allowed the district to maintain programs after ESSER funding ended.

What the board decided and what happens next

The board's formal votes approved both the final 2024-25 amendment and the 2025-26 budget; staff will finalize figures after the July audit and update fund-balance numbers as needed. The administration flagged that audit adjustments could change the fund-balance estimate and reminded the public that budget figures could be amended later if actual revenues or expenditures differ from projections.

Members of the public who offered comments were told the board will continue to accept feedback and to work with state legislators as budgets evolve.","The Midland Public Schools Board of Education voted 6-0 June 16 to adopt the district's 2025-26 general operating budget and to approve a final amendment to the 2024-25 budget; staff outlined revenue assumptions, millage rates and set-asides for technology and buses.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6181422,"Board approves $165,000 AV upgrade, 3D printers and other operational purchases funded from grants, bond savings and gifts",226,5918000,6144000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113015-d8b19df9e33ac4988f31127b15019489&start=5918&end=6144","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113015-d8b19df9e33ac4988f31127b15019489/thumbnail_5918000.jpg","/articles/6181422/Michigan/Board-approves-165000-AV-upgrade-3D-printers-and-other-operational-purchases-funded-from-grants-bond-savings-and-gifts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181422-b0ff80f2ede363469600bb827bd7205a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770572912&Signature=aUN4j3mJSSbSO1a4B3woc9wCLn0scwNWNNS3NxMdx-3kUt256k4JTg~tWMV-uWHDPVGRcADoYa87Wa5Gg6tFkew3aAQTiEaa6pI74-U~O7EFZEGOQWFuQxFxG7qVIHnIHrEFh6h7UO9HMdiWjQa6WD03~VIen3smRNwcVt8UFMr1tm-IEE2ntBeyxqrlECG8X1TNxyftIzP~7JcWrjfPuHnQH-LQxNhFze9Za--iZ4rUvARLU3nvsKzGTPUgXTK-jIHJMDkmQBiQTMG9mPGYLFKIHWR3R8X5Osx4~G5Niv79QEfI-y6EAJAj4AI7IRptrz7hTGtRqm9wKXtnu7tfqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Midland Public Schools Board of Education approved a package of operational and capital purchases June 16, including repairs and replacements for audiovisual equipment in district conference rooms and the boardroom, upgrades for CTE labs and insurance renewals.

Administration recommended a $165,065.44 purchase order to AVI Systems to replace failing AV equipment in conference rooms A-D and the boardroom. Anna (finance staff) told trustees the equipment is roughly 10 years old and has \"increasingly frequent failures,\" and that pricing was secured through an REMC bid. The administration said the project will be funded from bond-series 3 savings realized from a recent telecommunications project. Dave (operations staff) described problems such as loud back-corner equipment, audio failures during meetings, and the trip hazard from floor monitors; trustees said the upgrade will improve both in-room and at-home viewing experiences.

Other approved items

- 3D printers: The board approved $48,730.50 to CDW-G to buy 15 Bamboo Lab X1 Carbon Pro 3D printers for high-school CTE programs; funding will come from a STEM grant and pricing was obtained via REMC bid.

- Portable press box: A purchase order of $36,250 to Aluminum Athletic Equipment Company for a portable press box at HH Dow High School was approved; the cost will be covered by a donation from the HH Dow High Sports Boosters.

- Insurance renewals and workers'comp: The board approved renewal of workers'compensation coverage with the YIDA Insurance Agency for $129,210 and property/casualty coverage with SETSEG for $399,711.

Votes and procurement compliance

Each purchase and renewal was approved by motion during the meeting and the administration said competitive bids or price quotes, or REMC bid vehicles, were used where required under board purchasing policy.

Board discussion focused on usage and justification for the AV purchase given its cost; trustees and staff emphasized the AV equipment's daily use beyond board meetings (training, orientations, large presentations) and cited recurring audio failures and safety improvements (removing trip-hazard monitors) as drivers.

What this means for the district

The AV upgrade and equipment purchases aim to reduce recurring operational failures, improve accessibility for remote participants and support career-technical education. Funding sources vary by item: bond savings for the AV project, a STEM grant for the 3D printers and booster gifts for the press box. The board recorded approvals and directed staff to proceed with procurement and implementation.","The Midland Public Schools Board on June 16 approved multiple purchases and renewals including a $165,065 AV replacement for district meeting spaces, 15 carbon-pro 3D printers for CTE programs ($48,730.50), and a $36,250 portable press box funded by boosters; the AV project will be paid from bond-series savings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

After bond defeat, Midland board pauses new vote, plans community-driven strategic process and proceeds with robotics facility purchase

Midland Public Schools board adopts 2025-26 operating budget, approves final 2024-25 amendment

Board approves $165,000 AV upgrade, 3D printers and other operational purchases funded from grants, bond savings and gifts