Milan Board Closes Year with Thanks, Budget Decisions

The Milan Area Schools Board of Education closed out the school year by honoring retiring staff, thanking student representative Virginia Heikka and approving budget-related items district officials said will continue to evolve.

Years of Service

The board recognized 11 retirees whose work touched classrooms, student services, food service, transportation, nursing and administrative offices.

The retirees recognized were Dawn Hynds, Anna Arroyo, Ronda Cissney, Lon Smith, Jenny Drozdowski, Teresa Howe, Dawn Werstein, Deborah Hosler, Denise Rednour, Melanie Wilson and Molly Jeppesen.

Superintendent Ryan McMahon said the group represented 282 years of service in education, including 225 years with Milan Area Schools.

“That goes back generations and impacts lots of kids in our community,” McMahon said.

Trustee Carrie Gutierrez said the years of service reflected the district culture Milan hopes to continue building, where “excellent teachers, excellent support staff, want to come and want to stay.”

Trustee Michelle Heikka thanked the retirees and gave special recognition to Jeppesen, who she said helped lead a first- and second-grade program at Paddock Elementary School that two of her children attended.

“It was a jewel,” Michelle Heikka said. “I just want to thank you because that was a very special program in the district that you ran, and I really appreciated it.”

Board President Thomas Faro also thanked Virginia Heikka, who was not present, for her year of service as student representative.

“She’s been a great advocate for our students,” Faro said. “I think student board members really bring value to our discussions.”

Budget Remains Preliminary

The board also unanimously approved the district’s preliminary 2026-27 general fund budget.

As previously reported by STN, the preliminary budget projects about $31.7 million in revenue and $33.7 million in expenditures. If those numbers hold, the district would use about $1.9 million from fund balance, leaving an estimated ending fund balance of $708,939, or 2.11% of expenditures.

Krista Hendrix, executive director of finance, said the district is required to adopt a budget before the end of the fiscal year, even though several major factors remain unknown.

“Please understand that the budget that has been presented to you is preliminary,” Hendrix said.

Faro told STN the board will continue receiving updates on revised revenue and expense assumptions, significant variances and possible budget amendments during the 2026-27 fiscal year. He also said the finance committee will be used “in a more formal way.”

Gutierrez said the preliminary budget should not be read as the district’s goal.

“This budget is not our goal,” Gutierrez said. “This budget is a plan for the rest of the year as we are continuing to gain more information.”

Staffing Reduction Approved

The board also approved the layoff of one Milan Education Association member, effective June 30.

McMahon said the district had already reduced staffing through resignations and retirements, but needed to reduce further because of projected budget constraints, enrollment and staffing needs for 2026-27.

“This is part of the job that I don’t appreciate doing, but it’s a necessity that comes with the business of education,” McMahon said.

He said the district met its legal obligations and notified both the MEA and the affected staff member.

“We don’t want to lose this individual,” McMahon said. “He’s terrific. It’s just a requirement at this point.”

Sidewalks, SEAB and Student Work

In other business, the board approved up to $63,100 for sidewalk and concrete replacement at Milan High School with Budd’s General Contracting.

“Right now, our sidewalks are in real bad shape,” McMahon said, adding that the work is intended “to make our sidewalks, our pedestrian walkways, a little safer and bring them up to date.”

The board also approved policy updates, updated sexual health education materials recommended by the Sex Education Advisory Board and the 2026-27 SEAB membership and co-chairs. State law requires districts that offer sex education to maintain a SEAB and send materials through public review and board approval.

McMahon said the materials update involves 13 updated videos used in the existing high school curriculum.

“It doesn’t change your curriculum,” McMahon said. “It doesn’t add or subtract or move grade levels.”

Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Bookout also noted eighth graders completed a Milan Middle School pollinator garden, connecting local business support, science curriculum and hands-on student work.