The Grass Lake Community Schools Board of Education held a regular meeting on Monday, March 9, 2026, at George Long Elementary Media Center. Board President Amy Humbarger presided. All seven board members were present: Shari Hein, Kyle McClure, Janey Bisard, Joe DeBoe, Chris Maynard, and Mark Rankin.

The board unanimously approved February 2026 bills totaling $1,020,146.21. It also approved the hiring of Willis and Jurasek as the district's auditing services firm following a review of five bids submitted in response to a request for proposals.

Four staffing changes were approved for middle school track. Craig Vitale resigned his coaching position, which the board accepted. The board then hired Corey Knight, Anne Guerrero, and Mary Magos—two coaches and one assistant—to fill vacancies created by the resignations of Vitale and Bonnie Henley. High numbers of middle school track athletes (over 100 participants) prompted the addition of a new assistant position.

The board gave unanimous approval for a 2027 eighth-grade field trip to Washington, D.C., and Gettysburg. The proposal was presented by Cherie Yudt. Absentee voting for a May 5th bond proposal opens March 26th; virtual postcards and letters are being sent to families and the 16 chaperones attending the D.C. trip. Voters in Sharon and Grass Lake townships will cast ballots at Grass Lake Township.

During the special presentations section, cheer coach Haley Neuland discussed her team's successful season and emphasized the cultural shift the program achieved. Middle school and high school administrators Brian Thompson and Andrea Clark presented the Future Forward Pathway, an alternative high school program designed to integrate academics with mandatory career training, real-world work experience, and post-secondary planning for students interested in skilled trades or early career entry.

Administrative reports highlighted Reading Month activities at the elementary level, including a book night bingo and dress-up days. On March 11th, an elementary administrator will participate in Lobby Day in Lansing to advocate for public education. On March 12th, the Eco Club will visit the Creature Conservancy for hands-on wildlife learning. The middle school competed at the MatchCounts math competition and held a successful Math Night with over 170 students attending. High school students earned top ratings at the district choir festival, and the Jazz Band scored perfectly at their competition for the sixth consecutive year. The Forensics Tournament hosted approximately 200 students and 13 teams. Several staff and students also received recognitions, including Marielle Schafran as the first individual state bowling champion in district history and Sue Schinck as one of the top 10 Jackson County teachers.

The board entered a closed session at 8:22 p.m. to discuss pending litigation and adjourned at 8:41 p.m. The next regular meeting date was not specified in the minutes.

Generated automatically from the district's official minutes — see the original PDF (6 pages) for voting records and any legal questions.