Dear Families,

I hope your family’s school year is off to a great start. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been out in our schools and around the district, and I have loved seeing the excitement and energy of our students and staff as we begin a new year full of possibilities.

In this edition of MacGregor’s Message:

• GoGuardian Parent App

• Howell Public Schools reaches new agreements with bargaining units 

• Voyager receives Meemic Grant

• Non-Homestead Renewal Information

• Highlander Reading Express

At the end of last school year, our Coordinated School Health and Wellness Committee reviewed technology use across the district. As part of that work, we conducted a family survey and held forums to hear directly from parents about cell phones in schools and student device usage. One key takeaway was that families wanted more control over their child’s school-issued device outside of school hours. In response, we are pleased to launch access to the GoGuardian Parent application, which provides families with insight into their child’s activity on a school-issued Chromebook. Families can view browsing activity and, during non-school hours beginning at 4 p.m., block specific websites, pause internet access, or create recurring internet schedules. For instructions on how to set up and begin using the GoGuardian Parent application, please visit https://bit.ly/4y8OGFm.

Last Monday, the Board of Education approved new contracts with three of our employee collective bargaining units. The agreements are the result of collaborative negotiations between the district and the Howell Education Association, Howell Educational Support Personnel Association, and Maintenance and Custodial Association. Each agreement includes wage increases and step advancements for eligible employees. The agreements recognize the dedication, talent, and hard work of our staff while allowing the district to remain fiscally responsible stewards of taxpayer funds. To read more about the agreements, please visit https://bit.ly/4qCPfV8. I’d like to thank the negotiation teams from the district and each association for the time and effort they dedicated to reaching these agreements.

On Tuesday, the Meemic Insurance Foundation presented Voyager Elementary kindergarten teacher Ms. Wuench and Principal Ms. Graf with a $1,000 check. Ms. Wuench applied for a grant from the Meemic Insurance Foundation and was selected as a recipient. The Voyager kindergarten team plans to use the funds to support early literacy efforts by purchasing enrichment materials that complement the district’s elementary English Language Arts curriculum. The grant was presented by Howell Public Schools alumnus Adam Hukkala, who now operates his own insurance agency.

When district residents head to the polls this November, they will be asked to vote on the renewal and restoration of the district’s non-homestead operating millage. But what is the non-homestead operating millage, and what does it do? In this case, a homestead is an owner-occupied primary residence, and the non-homestead operating millage does not apply to these properties. Instead, it is levied on non-homestead properties, which can include businesses, rental homes, and second homes. The millage helps fund the district’s general operating expenses, including salaries, supplies, and classroom materials. Like all Michigan school districts, Howell Public Schools is required to levy 18 mills on non-homestead properties to receive its full per-pupil funding established by the state. For Howell Public Schools, the non-homestead operating millage generates approximately $20 million each year, representing about 20 percent of the district’s operating budget. To learn more about the non-homestead operating millage and the November 3 ballot proposals, please visit HowellSchools.com/Renewal.

We had an incredible summer with the Highlander Reading Express! With more than 25 staff members, teachers, and administrators volunteering to drive the Reading Express, we checked out over 1,100 books, bringing a love of reading and summer fun to students and families across the district. It’s hard to believe this was our eighth summer with the Highlander Reading Express, and it’s wonderful to see the excitement it continues to bring to our students and families. If your child or family still has books from the Reading Express, please return them to your school office so they can make their way back to the bus. I’d like to extend a big thank you to all of our families who visited this summer and to the Highlander team members who volunteered their time to make another summer of the Reading Express a success.

I hope you have a great weekend. Go Highlanders!

Sincerely,

Erin J. MacGregor, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Howell Public Schools