The Wayland Board of Education has set a target date for Thursday evening, July 30, for a belated commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020.
Graduation exercises customarily would have been held later this month, but the pandemic has caused their cancellations nationwide. However, the Senior Class Grad Bash Parents group is planning a special parade for this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. on West and East Superior Street with special police and fire escorts.
Pat Velie, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, said the recent spate of rains has temporarily delayed work on the Ron Stehouwer football stadium and installation of artificial turf. However, she said he believes the football field and track will be ready for the seniors and the ceremony.
The only other question is whether health restrictions now place will be lifted to accommodate such a gathering.
In other business at Monday night’s meeting, the Wayland Board of Education:
- Was told by Supt. Norman Taylor that the local winners of this year’s Outstanding People for Education awards were Kathy Chesebro, Julie Mulder and Russ Porteous.
- Learned from Pat Velie, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, that virtually all school districts in Michigan are bracing for cuts in state revenue sharing because of the COVID-19 crisis.
“We believe we’re going to start the next academic year with reductions in revenue,” she said. “I think we’ll need to prepare to amend (the budget).”
- Was told by Velie the school district in November will seek renewal of an 18.387-mill levy for non-Homestead properties. A portion of the request includes a rollback of the Headlee Amendment.
Velie stressed that the millage affects only businesses and second and third homes of residents.
- Learned the district stands to get a rebate from the Environmental Protection Agency for work done on the new middle school.
- Was told by Teresa Fulk, assistant superintendent for instruction, that the 30th Little Free Library in the community was installed this week at Windsor Wood.