Houghton-Portage Township Schools Superintendent Anders Hill, pictured with Board President Amanda Massaway during Monday’s monthly meeting, received an effective ranking in Monday’s evaluation, the highest one available under the revamped state ranking system. (Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Houghton-Portage Township Schools Superintendent Anders Hill received an “overwhelmingly positive” evaluation from the district board at Monday’s monthly meeting. 

The board gave Hill a rating of effective. The rating is the highest of three available under a revamped evaluation process signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2023 and taking effect this school year. Developing and needing support, in descending order, round out the options. 

Hill had been rated highly effective under the four-tiered system previously used in Michigan, where it was the highest level on a scale that also included effective, minimally effective and ineffective.

“I’m really, really thankful that the board continues to have confidence in me, and thankful fro such a supportive board,” he said after the meeting. “Certainly we have a lot going on, and it hasn’t always been easy in the last year, but there’s a lot of good things happening in our district. So I’m really proud to be part of it, and thankful for the evaluation.”

This year’s rating triggers a clause that after three consecutive years of highly effective or effective ratings, the superintendent only needs to be evaluated by the board once every two years. 

“Thanks for your support, and I’m thankful that I can save you all some paperwork next year,” Hill told the board. “That’s a win for everybody.”

Board President Amanda Massaway told Hill “all the comments that came were overwhelmingly positive.”

She also provided items for Hill to work into the district’s strategic focuses for the next year: an executive summary on the financials, facilities planning, increasing student voice, refreshing the strategy objectives and modernizing financial transactions. 

“Thank you very much,” Massaway said. “It’s been a great year, and you’ve had a lot of successes.”

In other action, the board:

• Heard from Student Council President Cece Butler and Interact Club President Emi Fay about this year’s second annual Gremsgiving program. Students and staff are raising money for several local non-profits. Each grade has endorsed a charity: the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home for seniors, the Angel Mission for juniors, Omega House for sophomores and the Copper Country Humane Society for freshmen. 

The district has become the biggest Toys for Tots donator in the area, Butler said. This years. This year, the middle school gym will serve as the center where families come in and get the toys. 

The fundraiser overlaps with the Canathon and Toys for Tots fundraisers; the Canathon continues until Dec. 3, while the others end Dec. 12. 

• Approved the district audit report prepared by Anderson, Tackman & Co. The district’s government-wide net position — which takes into account long-term debt, long-term liabilities such as pensions and fixed assets — is an $11.5 million deficit, though that was an increase of $3.7 million from the previous year. 

Looking strictly at funds, the district had total balances of $7.5 million, “which is quite healthy for a school district of your size,” said auditor Lynn Sadowski. That represented a $23,000 increase over the previous year.

The debt service and capital project bond funds decreased, as Sadowski expected. She had been surprised by the decrease in the food service fund. That came as the result of a state directive to spend down district funds, Hill said; those funds went towards improvements in the high school kitchen.

• Heard a presentation on the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps’ eSports program from advisor Sgt. Maj. Randal Meyer. The team was opened up to the full student body, growing to 23 players. For the majority of players, it’s their sole extracurricular activity, Meyer said. Meyer said the team will look at fundraising to be able to travel to playoffs downstate in Flint. 

• Approved a memorandum of agreement with Upper Great Lakes Family Health Clinic to collaborate and support the operation of the on-site Child and Adolescent Health Center. 

• Approved new coaches: Rod Wakeham, assistant for hockey; Will Stier, volunteer assistant for hockey; George Butvilas, volunteer assistant for boys basketball.