Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette HPTS High School Principal Tiffany Scullion and Elementary School Principal Cole Klein gave reports regarding the return to school to the HPTS School Board.

HOUGHTON — The Houghton Portage Township School District’s non homestead operating millage renewal, which will be on the November ballot, was reviewed at the district’s board of education meeting Monday. Superintendent Anders Hill gave the updates to the election and other school items. “It (millage renewal) doesn’t impact taxes on primary residents and is required to get full school funding since Proposal A in 1994,” he said. “So all school districts have to levy that 18 mills or bring that to voters, or just the state won’t make it up. So HPTS will be looking at that and bringing that to voters straight renewal of 17.1103 and we’ll be asking voters to renew that in November.”

Hill said the millage funds around 12 percent of the school district’s annual budget, adding the rate is among the lowest in the U.P. He said they are working on getting more information out to the public regarding the renewal which will include mail and media coverage.

In other business Hill reported H-PTS is close to finalizing plans for the school’s flex space, secure entry, STEM lab and fire alarm upgrades for the elementary school. “The goal will be to start publicizing bid openings in December with work to begin at the elementary school in the spring and summer. So thank you to teachers, administrators and our board members that helped us refine that design,” Hill said.

HPTS has almost doubled its mentoring program according Hill. He gave a strategic planning update saying 21 students were involved from the high school who work with middle and elementary school students. Three students who were involved in last year’s program will be pursuing education studies.

Elementary School Principal Cole Klein said the first couple of weeks of the school year have been focused on relationship building and behavior expectations. He explained the school has started a new social emotional program called the Positivity Project which focuses on character building. On the academic side, the school has been testing students using accidence benchmark assessments and will look to identify students who need additional support.

High School Principal Tiffany Scullion reported the change in cell phone policy has been noticeable and received positive feedback from teachers. Students must now store their phones in lockers after school begins but can take them out for lunch. Afterwards phones must return to their lockers but can be taken out again after school. An exception to this rule is when phones are deemed necessary for class activities or projects and students can provide evidence of permission.