I wanted to take a moment to share a few important updates about our district, including recent action on the state budget, progress on the bond projects, and our annual school climate survey.

School Budget Update

As you may have heard, the Michigan House and Senate reached a budget agreement and sent it to the governor’s desk early last Friday morning. Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bill 166 into law on October 7. Thank you to everyone who reached out to legislators and encouraged them to finalize the budget.

Here are a few key highlights from the new state budget:

School Meals: Funding for free school meals has been continued. Bath Community Schools will remain in the program, ensuring that all students continue to have access to free breakfast and lunch.
Increased At-Risk Funding: Bath Community Schools is expected to see an increase in funding under Section 31a. This funding is specifically targeted to support students who are behind academically. We are in the early stages of determining how best to use these additional resources to support our students.
Per-Pupil Funding: The state increased the per-pupil foundation allowance by $442, which is welcome news. However, some categorical funding was eliminated—funding that helped offset ongoing costs we still face. While the overall budget is positive, we are still reviewing the details to understand the full impact for our district.

Bond Update
In August, our community overwhelmingly approved the Bath Community Schools bond proposal to address our district’s facility needs. While the process may feel slow to start, I wanted to share an update on where we are and what’s next.

Since August, we have been preparing for the sale of the bonds. We have been working with Moody’s, Stifel, and our financial advisor, PFM, to review the district’s credit rating and compile the due diligence information investors require before purchasing our bonds. We anticipate that the bond proceeds will be available in mid to late November.

On the project planning side, we are prioritizing which projects to begin first. While we continue to research and prepare for all approved projects, our immediate focus is on roof replacements and school safety improvements. We hope to put these projects out to bid soon so the community can begin to see the benefits of its continued investment in our schools.

Bus Garage Location
We are aware of community interest and concern regarding the location of the new bus garage. I want to be clear that no decision has been made at this time. We are currently studying the feasibility of multiple potential sites.

One of the sites under consideration is on Sleight Road. I would like to address a few rumors about this location and share the design principles guiding any possible development there:

Tree preservation and natural aesthetics – If this site is selected, it will not be clear-cut. The site plan would be designed to limit the number of trees removed and include appropriate setbacks to maintain the natural look and feel of the area.
Cross-country trail protection – The proposed transportation building would not interfere with Bath’s cross-country trail. We understand that this course is recognized as one of the best in the state, and we intend to preserve it.

Other locations remain under review. Once a full analysis is complete, the Board of Education will review the options and make a decision. We are still in the early stages of evaluating options and are not yet ready to bring a recommendation to the Board.

School Climate Survey
Each year, Bath Community Schools seeks input from students in grades 3-12, staff, and parents through our anonymous School Climate Survey. The results of this survey, which will be shared later this fall, help us plan and make decisions about changes for the future.

The survey questions for students are available on our website at https://www.bathschools.net/page/student-surveys. Please review them if you wish. If you prefer that your student not participate, contact your school principal. Student surveys will be administered during the week of October 13.

Parents are also encouraged to share feedback by completing the Parent Climate Survey. Thank you for taking the time to help us strengthen our schools and community.

Elementary: Family Survey

Middle School: Family Survey

High School: Family Survey

Sincerely,

Chris Hodges
Superintendent
Bath Community Schools