Sept. 12, 2025
Dear HVS Families,
We hope this communication finds you well as we navigate the beginning of the school year. We
truly value and enjoy having our community children back in school and are passionate about
ensuring they have a happy, healthy and safe school year with tremendous learning and
relationship building.
We had hoped not to have to release this communication but unfortunately we are at a critical
point as a community and need your assistance regarding the lack of a State Budget. By law,
Huron Valley Schools must pass a budget no later than June 30 each year. Similarly, the state
legislature must approve a K-12 School Aid Budget before July 1 so that school districts can
plan appropriately, prepare student programming, purchase curriculum resources, hire staff and
manage day-to-day operations. Unfortunately, the legislature has not yet reached an agreement
on the General Fund Budget or the School Aid Budget.
While we understand the many complexities of balancing a budget, this delay has placed Huron
Valley Schools—and all Michigan districts—in a difficult position. If a budget is not passed by
September 30, the state will face a government shutdown. Here are a few of the potential
impacts to our local community school district:
● Operating funds: HVS has about 8 weeks of resources to continue operating without a
State Budget. If the shutdown exceeds this timeline, we may need to borrow funds and
take an array of potential other actions to remain financially solvent. Borrowing funds to
make payroll will come with unnecessary interest costs that tax payers should not have
to endure.
● School meals: Beginning September 30, 2025, the State of Michigan will no longer
provide funding for free breakfast and lunch for all students. At HVS, we remain
committed to ensuring children have access to healthy meals each day. To that end, we
will use our Food Service Fund surplus to continue offering free breakfast and lunch to
all students for as long as possible. We know that children learn best when they are
nourished, and we will do everything we can to prevent students from going without
meals.
● Student supports: Some of our school safety programming and mental health services
are funded through state budget line items, which would require reevaluation if funding is
disrupted.
● State Aid payment: Our first scheduled State Aid payment is scheduled for October 20,
2025. A delay in receiving this critical funding could significantly disrupt operations.
Dr. Paul Salah, Superintendent
248-684-8000 t • 248-684-8235 f • www.hvs.org • 2390 S. Milford Rd. Highland, MI 48357
Public school districts cannot operate indefinitely without these resources. We know legislators
do not want to harm children, but the current delay is unhelpful and places our students in the
middle of political disagreements.
On behalf of every child in Huron Valley Schools, we urge you to contact your elected officials
and encourage them to finalize a budget that provides adequate and equitable funding for public
education as soon as possible. We are including the information of our locally elected officials
as well as the Governor’s contact information. Please reach out and ask that they work
collaboratively to finish a budget that puts students first.
Representative Matt Maddock E-mail:MattMaddock@house.mi.gov Phone (517) 373-1780
Representative Ann Bollin E-mail:AnnBollin@house.mi.gov Phone (517) 373-7515
Senator Jim Runestad E-mail: SenJRunestad@senate.michigan.gov Phone: (517) 373-1758
Governor Gretchen Whitmer Email Governor Phone: (517) 335-7858
Thank you as always, for your partnership and support.
Dr. Paul Salah, Superintendent Laura Dodd, HVS School Board President