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Forest Hills Public Schools is cutting $4.2 million — here are the programs affected and when the board votes

Updated 2026-06-24  ·  0 primary sources linked  ·  All sides presented

Forest Hills Public Schools is cutting $4.2 million — here are the programs affected and when the board votes

FHPS is closing a $4.2 million budget gap driven by declining enrollment (which cuts per-pupil state funding) and rising MPSERS retirement costs. Proposed cuts: extracurricular bus service reduced 40%, 6 instructional coach positions eliminated, summer enrichment program cut. The Board of Education votes on the final budget by June 30, 2026. Parents can comment at board meetings before the vote.

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Should Forest Hills Public Schools prioritize protecting classroom teachers and core academics over extracurricular programs in the $4.2 million budget reduction?


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What Is Happening

Forest Hills Public Schools is reducing its operating budget by $4.2 million for the 2026–27 school year. The cuts follow a gap between the state's per-pupil foundation allowance and the district's actual per-pupil costs, compounded by declining enrollment and expiration of federal pandemic relief funds (ESSER).

The Board of Education voted on the final budget in June 2026. Some reductions are permanent; others are structured as one-year reductions that the board can revisit if the state increases per-pupil funding in the 2027 legislative session.

Source: FHPS Budget Documents — fhps.net

What Is Being Cut
  • Extracurricular bussing (40% reduction): Students in after-school activities will need alternative transportation home more days per week. This is the largest single line item.
  • Some paraprofessional positions: Classroom aide hours reduced in elementary schools. Special education paraprofessionals are not affected under IDEA requirements.
  • Technology refresh cycle: Chromebook and device replacement extended from 4 years to 6 years.
  • Professional development days: Reduced from 5 to 3 district-wide days; building-level PD is preserved.
  • Athletic department: JV sports participation fees increased; no programs eliminated.

Not cut: Core classroom staffing, special education services, mental health counselors (funded by the 2024 bond), or the Wellness Rooms.

The Two Sides
For the cuts
  • State per-pupil funding hasn't kept pace with inflation — the district can't manufacture revenue that doesn't exist.
  • Cutting peripheral programs protects core instruction. Classroom teachers are not being reduced.
  • ESSER funds were always temporary; the district should have wound down reliance on them.
Against the cuts
  • Bussing cuts disproportionately affect working families who can't provide after-school transportation.
  • FHPS property values and school district reputation are linked — cuts to extracurriculars affect both.
  • The district should have gone to voters for an operating millage before cutting programs.
How to Weigh In

Public comment is available at every Board of Education meeting. You can also email the board at board@fhps.net or contact your building's principal. The FHPS budget is a public document — request it at the district office or download it from fhps.net/departments/business-services/budget.

What to Watch
  • July 2026 — Board votes on the final FY2027 budget; the $4.2M reduction decisions become official at this meeting
  • July–August 2026 — Candidate filing for November 2026 board elections opens; watch for who is running on a platform of restoring cuts
  • August 4, 2026 — Michigan primary; board races are non-partisan and on the November ballot, but the primary result shapes the political landscape
  • November 3, 2026 — Three FHPS board seats on the ballot; the new board inherits the budget decisions made this summer

See the full guide: FHPS Board Elections 2026 →

Sources: FHPS Board of Education · Kent County Clerk