Harper Creek Community School District

The Board discussed and approved the Application for Preliminary Qualification of Bonds for a $28 million bond proposal to be voted on in August 2026. A presentation on the Facility Assessment Master Plan was provided by Kingscott Associates, Inc., detailing infrastructure and technology upgrades across school facilities. Additionally, the Board approved the purchase of a new monument sign from Fritz Signs. A closed session was held to discuss attorney-client privileged communication.

The discussion focused on scheduling and intervention frameworks for elementary and secondary levels. Key topics included a proposal for a protected, three-tiered intervention system that guarantees daily access to data-driven support without interrupting core instruction. This model is designed to accelerate learning by addressing skill deficits through targeted priority standards aligned with common formative assessment data. The discussion also covered the specific purposes of Protected Tier 2 Intervention and Protected Tier 3 Intensive Services, emphasizing the benefits of meeting students at their academic level while ensuring staffing efficiency and financial responsibility for the District.

Key discussions during the meeting included the addition of items to the agenda concerning the Superintendent Contract and a Bus Purchase. Communications covered upcoming events such as parent/teacher conferences, spring count day, the Joint Board of Education Meeting, and various student concerts. The high school principal provided feedback on the new traditional schedule implemented with student advisory committee input. The Wattles Park Men's Club presented its mission to provide sports opportunities for students, noting needs for volunteers and social media assistance. Updates were provided on curriculum (student achievement indicators and intervention systems), facilities (cold weather response and salt shortage), finance (interest earnings and state aid allocation for educator compensation), and technology (Helpdesk ticket trends). In action items, the Board approved participation in the School of Choice Program for the 2026-27 school year, approved the hiring of a 1st-grade teacher, re-appointed a representative to the Willard Library Board, nominated a candidate for the MASB Region 6 Board of Directors Election, approved the superintendent contract, and authorized the purchase of two 2027 International buses.

This joint board meeting primarily focused on the introduction and plans for implementation of a STEM/Fab Lab program in collaboration with Ford Philanthropy and Dev X. Key discussion points included the theoretical versus practical application of skills, the integration of essential and technical skills like creative problem-solving, and the structure of the Ford Future Builder Lab, which involves receiving significant equipment and two years of consultation and professional development for teachers. Implementation plans detailed classroom project rollouts, cross-curriculum opportunities, and embedding relevant units across content areas. Board members inquired extensively about the two-year support structure, the plan for scaling the program to middle and elementary schools post-support, and the long-term sustainability plan requiring districts to budget for consumables.

The meeting began with a presentation from sixth-grade teachers and students regarding the sixth-grade camp experience. A significant portion of the session was dedicated to the Organizational Meeting, which included the election of the 2026 Board Officers (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary) and the establishment of Board Committees and specific Board Assignments. Annual Authorizations were approved, covering depository banks, signatory authorities, designation of regular meeting times, and retention of legal counsel. District updates covered curriculum focusing on strategic plan alignment and early warning indicators, facility updates including progress on the Bond Program and confirmation that The Wall That Heals will return in August 2026, finance reports showing increased interest earnings, and technology concerns regarding aging projectors. Key actions included the approval of the Bond Programming application to authorize bond qualification, approval of the 2025-2026 Revised Budget, and approval of a new hire for a high school math teacher position.