August 22, 2025
Dear Families and Staff,
As we start the 2025-26 school year, I want to update you on an important issue in Lansing that could impact our students, staff, and programs in the coming months.
State law mandates that lawmakers approve a K-12 school funding budget by July 1 each year so we can plan and operate with certainty. That deadline has passed, and no agreement has been reached. Without a budget, there's a risk of a state government shutdown on September 30, which could delay funding that we depend on to operate.
At the heart of the deadlock is a proposal to redirect dollars from the School Aid Fund – the fund voters were promised would be dedicated to K-12 education – to other priorities, including road repairs. Many believe this violates the original intent of the system voters approved in 1994 to provide fair, statewide funding for public schools.
If the Legislature does not pass a budget, districts will miss out on their first scheduled state aid payment on October 20, 2025. For our schools, that payment is a critical resource we rely on to:
- Compensate teachers and staff who work directly with students.
- Maintain class sizes and student support services.
- Maintain bus operations and keep classrooms supplied.
- Fund academic programs, arts, athletics, and student activities.
We cannot operate without these resources. Maple Valley has a small fund balance of roughly 5% which prevents us from maintaining operations without loans from the state. The solution is simple: lawmakers should approve a K-12 budget that safeguards School Aid Fund dollars for their original purpose – educating Michigan’s children.
Please join me in urging our elected officials to reach a quick agreement and keep K-12 funding secure. You can contact your state lawmakers in the House and Senate at Contact Your Legislator and explain why timely, protected school funding is important to you and your family.
Our students deserve a stable, fully funded school year. Together, we can guarantee their learning proceeds without interruption.
Sincerely,
Dr. Katherine Bertolini
Superintendent
