SLCS District Update
May 4th, 2023
Superintendent's Update
Good evening SLCS Families and Staff Members,
At the Tuesday, April 18th Board of Education meeting, I shared information about the 2022-23 and 2023-24 budgets. Here is a link to the April 18th Board of Education meeting. The 2023-24 budget revenue is established, in part, using two key assumptions. These assumptions were based on known information at the time and were established by the District’s Finance Committee on April 3rd. The assumptions include a .25% increase in enrollment (21 students) and a 5% increase in Per Pupil Funding ($458).
Based on the initial budget outlook for 2023-24, expenditures are projected to exceed revenues creating an operating deficit of approximately $4.0 million. Important factors which affect the overall budget include student enrollment, increasing personnel costs, and increasing operating costs. As a district, we have made a conscious decision over the last three years to increase staffing across the board to support students and staff dealing with, and coming out of, the pandemic. Based on the factors listed previously, and the fact that COVID related funding is beginning to expire, it is necessary that decisions be made to keep expenditures more in line with revenues.
District and building leadership have been working on identifying possible remedies, which include staff reductions, revenue enhancement, cost containment measures, and some utilization of the fund balance. We are working to make decisions that will help to rightsize our budget while continuing to provide the quality of education all of our stakeholders expect from SLCS. The District budget for the 2023-24 school must be approved by the SLCS Board of Education by July 1, 2023. It remains a work in progress. We anticipate being able to share our budget recommendation with the Board of Education later in May or early June.
A few other notes of things happening around SLCS. Congratulations to the cast and crew of Mamma Mia at South Lyon East. They really “Took a Chance on Me” and all of the audience by teaching us the “Name of the Game” was “Money, Money, Money”. Trying to spread the puns across both performances and to both groups, so one last time I say “Thank You for the Music”.
If you aren’t aware, the South Lyon Unified Boys Lacrosse will be hosting their annual Military Day Community event this Saturday, May 6th at South Lyon East High School. Varsity and Junior Varsity players will be playing in honor of a fallen soldier. Also present will be our local Color Guard, War Dog Memorial Dogs, the Traveling Michigan Fallen Wall, military representatives, and veteran heroes.
The JV Military Appreciation Ceremony will begin at 5:15 with the game immediately following. The Varsity Military Appreciation Ceremony will begin at 6:30 with the Varsity game to follow. The National Anthem will be performed by members of our amazing school choir at both games. Come and help honor members of our military, enjoy the wonderful sport of lacrosse, and grab a snack at one of the food trucks on site.
SLCS Honors Our Military!
Steven Archibald
Superintendent
Staff Appreciation
It is that time of year to celebrate our amazing teachers and staff. Tomorrow is School Lunch Hero Day and next week kicks off the official Teacher Appreciation Week. We have fun events planned throughout the month of May to celebrate with our staff.
We say it each year, but it bears repeating- Regardless how large or small one’s role is in the district, we all have the amazing potential to positively impact our students' educational experience on a daily basis. Know that you make a difference, that you are appreciated, and that you make SLCS the special place that it is each and every day. Thank you!
Safety and Security
At the May 2nd Board of Education meeting, Mr. Archibald and Troy Woodwyk, a security consultant from Security Education Consultants, shared information regarding the safety and security measures in place within SLCS. The presentation provided an overview of current safety/security measures, a review of 2022-23 safety grants received by the District (i.e. grants received, allocations, intended use(s), etc.), and an outline of next steps. Click this link to view the presentation. Please feel free to contact Mr. Archibald directly if you have any questions, comments, or feedback.
Art Show-Tonight
Please consider attending the South Lyon Cultural Arts Commission combined art show featuring students from South Lyon East and South Lyon High School. The opening reception is Thursday, May 4, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. located at 345 South Warren Street (city hall/school administration building). The show runs from May 1-May 24. We appreciate your support as we showcase our young artists.
Summer Programming-High School
SLCS will be offering high school credit recovery for our current ninth through eleventh grade students again this summer. South Lyon Community Schools is pleased to be able to offer this program again at no cost to families for this year thanks to Federal and State Grant Funds made available to the district for a credit recovery program. Students who register for our summer school program must attend all sessions and pass the course content to earn recovery credits toward graduation.
The high school credit recovery summer program will be held at South Lyon East High School and will consist of two sessions.
Session 1: June 26th - July 25th, 2023 (no classes July 3rd and July 4th)
Session 2: July 31st - August 24th, 2023
Classes will run Monday through Thursday each week from 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM.
Based on our registration numbers, classes may be offered with South Lyon teachers or through our partner, Graduation Alliance. Classes taught by South Lyon teachers will be in-person. Classes offered through Graduation Alliance will be offered in a hybrid format with students required to be on-site in our learning lab at South Lyon East High School to complete their work. This learning lab will be staffed with a South Lyon Community Schools teacher who will be there to assist students.
If you are interested in having your student participate in the high school credit recovery program, please fill out the registration form below completely. Seats are limited and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. Once all available seats are filled, we will create a waitlist for those students who did not get an available seat in their preferred course.
If you have any questions about which course(s) your student should register for, please contact your student’s guidance counselor. They can provide updated information about which courses your student needs to complete to recover credits needed for graduation.
High School Credit Recovery Summer Program Registration Form
High School Credit Recovery Summer Program Registration Form - SPANISH
Summer Programming-Middle and Elementary School
Due to limited spacing, SLCS will be offering summer enrichment programming for elementary and middle school students by invitation only. This program will run Monday through Thursday mornings, July 17th - August 10th, 2023. The elementary program is designed for current kindergarten through fourth grade students. The middle school program is designed for current fifth through eighth grade students. A number of factors will be reviewed to determine which students are eligible to participate, including rate of academic progress. The district will reach out directly to families whose students are eligible to participate.
East Food Truck Frenzy
Family Care Connection
Oakland Community Health Network is launching a Youth & Family Care Connection
at their Resource & Crisis Center. The care connection can provide triage for behavioral health crisis, supports, and care coordination for youth ages 17 years and younger, regardless of insurance status. Through this connection, youth who meet screening criteria are eligible to receive on-site care at the crisis care unit. Check out the flyer below for more information.
SLEA Summer Needs Drive
Blessings in a Backpack Golf Outing
May is Asthma Awareness Month
Asthma is the leading chronic illness among children and adolescents in the US. It is also the leading cause of missed school days: 1 in 8 Michigan students with asthma miss more than 6 days of school each year due to asthma.
So, what is asthma? Asthma is a serious lifelong disease caused by swelling and tightening in the airways. Asthma causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing at night and/or early in the morning. If an individual has asthma, they have it all the time, but will have asthma attacks when exposed to a trigger. A trigger could be an allergen, exercise, air pollution or many other things.. An asthma attack can only be treated by using a rescue inhaler right away. Without a rescue inhaler, an asthma attack can be deadly.
Thankfully, asthma can be controlled with the help of medication, a health care provider and avoiding triggers as much as possible. It is important for Individuals who have asthma to closely follow the medical advice given by their provider. Click this link for more information about asthma.
Take it Down
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) recently launched a free and anonymous service, called “Take It Down,” which may assist in removing or stopping the online sharing of explicit images/videos produced of individuals, when they were under 18 years old.
SLHS Band Fundraiser
Are you or someone you know looking to replace a bed in your home? Now is the time. South Lyon High School Bands are hosting a one-day Mattress Fundraiser on Saturday, May 6th, from 10 am-5 pm. There will be over 25 beds on display for customers to try. The brand-name mattresses are made to order, have full factory warranties, are available in all sizes, and are priced below retail. In addition to beds, there will also be luxury pillows and even adjustable power bases! Delivery & financing is available. Click here to visit our Facebook page.
Upcoming Events
May 29 - No School - Memorial Day
June 10 - -High School Graduations
June 14 - All Students ½ Day
June 15 - All Students ½ Day
June 16 - All Students ½ Day - Last Day of School