Dear families,

I hope you have had a chance to enjoy the warmer weather we have been experiencing. 

In this edition of MacGregor’s Message

• Our Kids, Our Community, Our Future bond update

• Parker Middle School musical

• Preschool enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year

• Howell High School basketball player named to McDonald’s All-American Team

• MI Student Voice survey

• 2026 Got Art exhibit

• Livingston ESA Career and Technical Education survey

Winter weather has not slowed progress on projects funded by the Our Kids, Our Community, Our Future bond. In preparation for the new community center, we are reviewing bids to extend and repave the circular drive on the north side of Howell High School. Once completed, the drive will extend farther west toward the future community center site. We are currently accepting bids for the steel structure that will house the community center and finalizing interior design elements. The project remains on schedule, with construction expected to begin this fall. At Highlander Way Middle School, interior renovations to select special education classrooms are complete, and construction continues on the south band room addition and the north academic addition. At the replacement Northwest and Southwest elementary school sites, masonry work is ongoing, and in some areas, roof trusses and metal roof decking are being installed. Please visit HowellSchools.com/Bond for updates on all bond projects.

Next month, Parker Middle School will present The SpongeBob Musical. The show will run March 12-14 at the Howell High School Rod Bushey Performing Arts Center. The cast and crew have been working hard since October to bring this fun, family friendly musical to life. The musical follows SpongeBob and his friends as they try to find a way to save their beloved town from an erupting volcano. Tickets can be purchased online at ParkerMiddleSchool.Ludus.com or at the door. All tickets are $15. To read more about the production, please visit https://bit.ly/3MvGIE7. 

Enrollment is now open for the 2026/27 school year for both our three-year-old preschool and Pre-K for All, our free four-year-old preschool option. Three-year-old preschool offers a nurturing, play-based environment that helps children build confidence, routines, and early language and social skills, with flexible two-, three-, or five-day options available. Pre-K for All, offered at no cost through the Great Start Readiness Program, prepares children academically, socially, and emotionally for kindergarten in a structured, engaging setting. To learn more or to begin the enrollment process, please visit https://bit.ly/4rSx1OW. 

Howell High School senior Lilly Williams has been selected to compete in the 49th Annual McDonald’s All American Games, recognizing her as one of the nation’s top 24 high school girls basketball players. Chosen by an independent selection committee from more than 700 nominees nationwide, Lilly joins an elite group of athletes who will compete on Tuesday, March 31, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Lily was presented with her McDonald’s All-American jersey at a special ceremony on Thursday, February 19. In other athletic news, Brayden Cotton has qualified for the MHSAA Sking State Finals in Slalom and Giant Slalom, and the girls basketball team has claimed the KLAA West Championship. 

Again this year, we will participate in the MI Student Voice Perception Survey, which provides valuable insights to support and guide our district and school improvement efforts. By joining other districts across Michigan in administering the survey, we are able to evaluate our progress and compare results statewide. The survey will be administered to students in grades 5–12 and offers insight into the student experience beyond test scores, including topics such as engagement and belonging. It does not include questions about drug or alcohol use, intimate relationships, political or religious affiliations, or other personal information. Families may review the survey questions at https://bit.ly/4tHardS. If you prefer that your child not participate, please complete the opt-out form at https://bit.ly/4aO9PL4 by Friday, March 6, 2026. Students will take the survey between March 9 and March 27. In addition, the MI Student Voice Family Perception Survey will be emailed to families during the week of March 9.

The Livingston Arts Council will host its annual Got Art Exhibit next month at the Howell Opera House. The exhibit showcases artwork from students representing schools across Livingston County. The elementary exhibit will be on display from March 3–8, and the secondary exhibit will run from March 10–15. Exhibit hours for both shows are Tuesday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m.

The Livingston Educational Service Agency (LESA) and Hanover Research are conducting a survey to understand families' perceptions and experiences with Career and Technical Education (CTE) and access to community college in Livingston County. Your feedback is completely confidential, only takes 6-8 minutes to complete, and will help LESA identify ways to support students and improve access to educational opportunities. Please visit https://bit.ly/4kMPIl1 to share your thoughts. The survey closes February 27, 2026.

I hope you have a great weekend. Go Highlanders!

Sincerely,

Erin J. MacGregor, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Howell Public Schools