HANCOCK - A $100,000 donation to Hancock Public Schools is going to come in handy during this period of reduced state aid, and Monica Healy wants to officially thank the family of the donors.
During the regular meeting of the Hancock Schools Board of Education Monday, Healy, who is superintendent, said the schools received the donation from Marijan and Ingrid Markul just before she became superintendent in July 2009. At the time the donation was received, it was placed in an interest-bearing certificate of deposit account.
Healy said Ingrid Markul was a Michigan Technological University graduate, and the couple had ties to Hancock.
Article Photos
Kurt Hauglie/Daily Mining Gazette
The Hancock Public Schools Board of Education met Monday. It heard Superintendent Monica Healy discuss a $100,000 donation made to the schools in 2009.
The donation can be used for whatever school officials think is necessary, Healy said.
"There are no strings attached," she said.
Healy wanted to inform the board members about the donation and let them know she was going to send a letter of appreciation to the Markul family.
On another money issue, when asked by Board Member Mark Peters about the situation regarding Gov. Rick Snyder's proposed $470-per pupil cut in state aid to schools, Healy said the issue isn't a certainty, yet, because the proposal is still in the Legislature.
"It may happen," she said of the proposed cuts. "If it does, we'll have to adjust."
As has been the situation for several years, Healy said the Hancock Public Schools, like all public school districts in Michigan, have to take a wait-and-see attitude as far as making their next budgets.
Although Snyder has said there will be policy reforms which are intended to go along with the proposed cuts to school funding, Healy said those are unknown now, also.
During public comment period before the board meeting began, parent John Haeussler spoke about his concerns about the behavior of some drivers during the time for dropping off and particularly the picking up of students in front of Gordon G. Barkell Elementary School.
Haeussler said many of those coming to pick up students drive erratically, cutting other drivers off or blocking movement. Some drivers use the bus lane and even drive onto walkways at a time when there are many children walking.
He came to the board meeting to ask if something could be done about the erratic drivers and traffic flow situation at the school, Haeussler said, and he didn't blame them for the situation.
"You guys aren't responsible for people being poor drivers," he said.
Peters said the traffic situation in front of the school has been a problem for years, and the current design was intended to remedy an even worse situation.
"It was an absolute fiasco before," he said.
Board Chairman Daryll Williams said the situation is being examined.
"It's a work in progress," he said.