As my tenure with HVS winds down, I want to take this opportunity to thank the parents, students, staff and community for the high level of support provided to our District. HVS has been my home for 16 years, so moving on is bittersweet. However, I leave knowing that the District is in good hands.

The L'Anse Creuse Public Schools Board of Education has selected Huron Valley Schools' Superintendent Jackie Johnston as their top choice for superintendent. Johnston has served HVS for 16 years in various positions, most recently for six years as superintendent.

Short Version

Michigan Compiled Law, MCL 388.1618(2), requires school districts and intermediate school districts to post certain budget and financial information on the district's website within 30 days after the board adopts its annual operating budget or any subsequent revisions to that budget. The Budget and Salary / Compensation Transparency Reporting is an opportunity to communicate to our community how we utilize the resources that are provided to us.

• Huron Valley Schools is one of the largest school districts in the state with approximately 10,000 students.
• The District is also the second largest employer in our community with a budget of $84 million, 1600 employees and 18 buildings in operation.
• Approximately 83% of our expenses are personnel related.

The transparency icon on the home page of our website www.huronvalley.k12.mi.us hosts a tremendous amount of information regarding our expenditures. A 99-page budget book for the current school year contains multiple pieces of information, including:

• District's Strategic Plan
• Budget assumptions
• Special education costs
• Summary of the budget reductions made for the 2011-12 school year.

The district is committed to operating under sound financial principles with a consistent strategy toward facilities management. One of the district's primary goals for the 2011-12 school year reads as follows:

Implement strategies that enhance the integrity and efficiency of resources through revenue maximization, cost containment, facilities management and employee relations.

In an effort to meet that goal, the district's leadership is directing multiple activities that include but are not limited to the following:

• Assess vacant buildings to understand current condition, including structural integrity and costs of repurposing for other district programs, as well as programs that are operated by non-profits and institutions of higher education.
• Investigate land sale, redevelopment opportunities by private entities and costs of demolition.

Short Version

• Huron Valley Schools' GRAD 100 program encourages all students to reach higher, challenge themselves and achieve their personal best in order to be successful adults.
• Expanding opportunities for high school students increases achievement.
• HVS offers a variety of specialized programming to help students succeed including:
  -International Academy West
  -MyChinese
  -Advanced Placement courses
  -Dual enrollment
  -School to Work Internships
  -Harbor High School
  -Oakland Opportunity Academy
  -WAY program
  -Oakland Technical Campuses
• Expanded opportunities including technology integration is critical to student success.
• HVS students are achieving at high levels:
  -2011 test results show 74.5% of HVS Advanced Placement students achieved a 3 or higher on the AP tests (required to earn college credit) versus only 65.5% of total Michigan students and only 60.2% of students internationally. The numbers of AP students have grown from 400 in 2007 to over 700 in 2011.
  -HVS students (including IAW students) increased the 2011 ACT average score to 21.6 compared to 20.8 in 2010. The 2011 state average is 20.0.
  -HVS students earned nearly double the credits during the 2011 summer school compared to the 2010 summer school program.
  -95% of IAW students earned their IB diploma (up from 92% last year) and outpaced their global peers of which only 76% earned their IB diploma.
• By continuing to offer a variety of learning opportunities coupled with integrated technology and challenging programs, we will maintain our commitment to GRAD 100 and its overall goal of preparing students to be successful adults in the 21st century global community.