Dear Panther Community,
The year has flown by, and I am proud of the steady progress we’ve made together across our district. While there is always more work ahead, the growth we’ve seen reflects a shared commitment to continuous improvement—and we will stay the course through these final weeks and beyond.
This month, we will celebrate the hard work and achievements of so many students through Senior Honors Night, KAMSC and PHS graduation ceremonies, end-of-year awards events, and the recognition of hundreds of students earning a place on our honor rolls. Each of these milestones is a testament to our students’ dedication, resilience, and perseverance.
In our buildings, we are seeing encouraging signs of positive momentum. Attendance has improved thanks to intentional efforts by both staff and families. We have also seen an increase in positive student choices, leading to a meaningful reduction in misbehavior. At the same time, our focus on high-quality instruction remains strong, with staff engaging in instructional rounds across buildings to support continuous improvement. While there is still room to grow, we are clearly moving in the right direction.
Our partnerships with families continue to strengthen through increased communication and collaboration, which are essential to student success. The 2026–2027 school year will mark the full transition to PowerSchool as our official student information system. Between now and then, we will complete final preparations and provide clear guidance for families on setting up parent portal accounts, linking students, and completing required forms online. This transition will make it easier to access important information and stay connected.
We will also roll out the School Status communication platform districtwide, creating a more consistent and streamlined messaging experience for students and families across all buildings. These improvements reflect our ongoing commitment to strengthening communication and engagement. In addition, we will continue expanding opportunities for meaningful connection through updated parent-teacher conference structures, volunteer opportunities, and community events.
Behind the scenes, it takes an entire team to make a school district successful. In Parchment, we are fortunate to have more than 300 dedicated employees—each playing a vital role in providing the best possible educational experience for our students. Our Operations Team, in particular, keeps our district running each day. This winter brought nearly daily HVAC challenges, yet thanks to their quick thinking and dedication, our schools remained open and operational.
We are also making important strides in improving systems and infrastructure. Through thoughtful use of grants and local resources, our teams have pursued innovative funding solutions. Our district was one of 27 in Michigan to receive a Clean Bus Energy Grant, allowing us to replace 3 of our older diesel buses with cleaner, more environmentally friendly options. This investment supports healthier air quality for our students and community while helping us address transportation needs despite limited funding. Additionally, Safety and Mental Health grant funds have been used to upgrade failing alarm systems in three of our buildings—an important step in maintaining safe learning environments.
Looking ahead, we are actively developing a long-term plan for facility maintenance and improvements. I would like to thank our Steering Committee for their thoughtful work in shaping recommendations for a potential bond proposal. This proposal, expected to move forward for Board consideration in May and to the Department of Treasury in June, includes an innovative approach to improving efficiency, enhancing student programming, and sustaining our facilities for years to come. If approved, it would allow for the consolidation of schools and programs while addressing the needs presented by our oldest facilities.
The progress we’ve made this year would not be possible without the support, dedication, and partnership of our entire Panther community. Together, we are building a stronger future for our students—one grounded in growth, opportunity, and pride.
Thank you for your continued support.
With appreciation,
