Overview
Three seats on the Forest Hills Public Schools Board of Education are up for election on November 3, 2026. The board is a 7-member elected body that sets district policy, approves the annual budget, hires and evaluates the superintendent, and oversees major capital programs.
The 2026 races are unusually consequential: the board is mid-stream in a $4.2 million operating budget reduction, overseeing a $62 million bond program, and navigating AI policy for 16 school buildings. The decisions made by whoever wins these seats will affect Forest Hills families for at least four years.
Candidate filing for November 2026 school board elections in Michigan opens in mid-July and closes in mid-August. This page will be updated as candidates declare.
Source: Michigan Secretary of State — School Board Election Calendar
What the Board Actually Controls
The FHPS Board of Education has authority over:
- Operating budget — approves the annual ~$105M general fund budget; the current $4.2M reduction is a board decision
- Superintendent hire/evaluation — the board sets goals, evaluates performance, and makes the hire/fire decision for the district's top administrator
- Bond program oversight — the $62M bond (approved by voters in 2024) is managed by the board; they approve contracts and monitor construction timelines
- Curriculum policy — approves graduation requirements, course offerings, and major curriculum adoptions
- Personnel policy — sets collective bargaining priorities with the FHEA (teachers union) and other employee groups
- AI and technology policy — approved the district's AI policy in 2025; the board will update it as AI tools evolve in classrooms
- Facilities — approves school closures, boundary changes, and major capital expenditures
The board does not control state funding formulas, teacher certification requirements, or statewide testing standards — those are set by the Michigan Legislature and Department of Education.
The Three Seats on the Ballot
Michigan school board members serve 6-year terms. The three seats expiring in November 2026 were last contested in November 2020. FHPS board elections are non-partisan and appear on the November general election ballot — separate from the August primary.
| Seat | Term | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Trustee Seat 1 | 6 years (2026–2032) | Candidates filing Jul–Aug 2026 |
| Trustee Seat 2 | 6 years (2026–2032) | Candidates filing Jul–Aug 2026 |
| Trustee Seat 3 | 6 years (2026–2032) | Candidates filing Jul–Aug 2026 |
Incumbent board members whose seats are up have not yet declared whether they will seek re-election. This page will be updated when candidates file. Candidate filing opens mid-July 2026.
Key Issues in the 2026 Races
- How to absorb $4.2M in cuts without eliminating classroom positions
- Oversight of the $62M bond — on budget and on schedule?
- State funding formula uncertainty beyond FY2027
- Mental health counselors: keep all six middle school positions permanent?
- Extracurricular programs threatened by budget reductions
- Special education staffing levels
- Updating AI classroom policy as tools become more capable
- Device lifecycle and 1:1 computing program maintenance
- Cybersecurity — school districts are frequent ransomware targets
- School of choice enrollment changes affecting per-pupil revenue
- Ada Township and Cascade Township residential development adding students
- Long-range facilities planning as demographics shift
What to Watch
- Mid-July 2026 — Candidate filing opens for November school board races in Michigan
- Mid-August 2026 — Candidate filing closes; official candidate list available from Kent County Clerk
- September–October 2026 — Candidate forums typically organized by the Forest Hills Education Association or parent groups
- November 3, 2026 — General election; school board seats decided alongside state and federal races
- July 2026 — FHPS Board votes on the final FY2027 budget; candidates' positions on the cut decisions will become a campaign issue
How to register: Michigan voters can register online at michigan.gov/vote up to 15 days before the election, or in-person at any Secretary of State office through election day.
Sources: Kent County Clerk · FHPS Board of Education