WHITEHALL — Whitehall superintendent CJ Van Wieren complimented the
school's food service team during Monday's regular school board meeting
for their help with summer meal distribution.
Van Wieren said the six weeks of pickups saw over 33,000 meals distributed under a federal program.
The
superintendent also gave mention to the state budget issue; school
districts are bracing for a state government shutdown as the fiscal year
begins Oct. 1. Van Wieren said he is hopeful the issue can be settled
soon after that and mentioned that the first state aid payment to school
districts usually arrives by Oct. 20.
Van Wieren gave a brief
presentation about the bond proposal that is on this November's ballot,
sharing information that has been disbursed by the district at past
public meetings. The bond request is for $30 million, which would
restore the millage rate of five mills that it had in 2024. This year's
rate is 3.2 mills; from 2001-23, the millage rate was seven mills.
The
district identified current and future needs that would cost $87
million to meet during the process, Van Wieren said, then narrowed down
the highest-priority needs to the final $30 million mark. "Safe. Warm.
Dry." is the slogan the district is employing in its request to the
community.
Secretary Paula Martin said she is planning to make
periodic trips to the high school, with other board members potentially
joining her, to solicit feedback and share information from the board.
