Dear Families,

From innovative programs and student experiences to resources that support families, there are many exciting things happening across Highlander Nation.

In this edition of MacGregor’s Message

• Innovative Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP) piloted in Howell

• Superintendent’s Student Advisory Panel

• School meal update

• Great Start Livingston family workshops

• Statewide early literacy survey

• Transportation update

Over the summer, Howell High School participated in a pilot of the Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP). SWEP is an innovative initiative built on the idea of learning by doing. At its core, the program provides students with hands-on, work-based learning in professional environments, career exploration opportunities to discover potential paths and interests, and coaching and activities that foster self-advocacy and confidence in navigating both the workplace and academics on the path to a high school diploma or certificate of completion. Early feedback from students, families, and employers has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the impact of blending education with work experience. To read more about the program, please visit https://bit.ly/4nwrBan. 

I am excited to invite interested ninth-grade students to apply for the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. This group brings together student leaders from Howell High School and Innovation Academy to provide input on important district issues, serve as a liaison between students and the superintendent, and represent Howell Public Schools in the community. For more information about the council, please visit https://bit.ly/3K1A32M. If your student is interested in applying, please encourage them to complete the application when it is emailed to them or have them visit https://bit.ly/4pkLoel. Students must be logged in to their Howell Public Schools Google account to access the form.

Lawmakers in Lansing are still working to adopt a state budget. Due to this, it is unclear whether the Michigan School Meals program, which provides universal free meals for all students, will continue past Sept. 30. To ensure eligible students continue receiving free or reduced-price school meals if the program does not continue, we encourage families to complete the Child Nutrition, Education Benefits, and Summer EBT Application at HowellSchools.com/Food. In addition to school meals, completing the application unlocks other benefits such as the Summer Sun Bucks EBT program for qualifying families. It also helps ensure the district receives the correct amount of Title I and At-Risk funding from the state and federal governments.

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) is conducting a statewide survey about literacy skills and programs. Families with children ages 0–10 are invited to take part in the survey, which takes just 5–7 minutes to complete. Participants may choose to be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card. Please take a moment to share your feedback by completing the survey at https://bit.ly/MiLEAP-SurveyEnglish before Sept. 30.

This fall, parents and caregivers of children ages 0–8 are invited to take part in a free Parenting Class Series offered by Great Start Livingston. Each session includes dinner, childcare, a children’s book to take home, and a $5 gas card for your family. Topics range from potty training and positive discipline to screen time and brain development. The series will be held at the Livingston Educational Service Agency, beginning Tuesday, September 23, and continuing weekly through October 14. Families are welcome to attend one or all of the sessions. To learn more or save your spot, please visit https://bit.ly/FY26FallClasses. 

This summer, Howell and several other school districts in Livingston County launched a coordinated bus driver recruitment campaign to help address the shortage affecting many districts. The effort included advertising, in-person events, social media outreach, and a video campaign. We received a strong response, and I am pleased to share that once all of our new hires complete their training, the Transportation Department should be fully staffed. While this does not guarantee that routes will never be canceled, it will significantly reduce the likelihood of cancellations due to staffing issues. I want to thank our transportation staff for their dedication and hard work over the past few years, as they went above and beyond to keep routes running despite the challenges of the driver shortage.

I hope you have a great weekend. Go Highlanders!

Sincerely,

Erin J. MacGregor, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Howell Public Schools