Community Curiosities for March 2026

At Spring Lake Public Schools, we believe that a strong community isn’t built on silence or assumptions—it’s built on curiosity. We created Community Curiosities as a dedicated space for the "deep dives." In a world where social media often favors quickness, we wanted to offer something different: a place where you can ask the big questions, and we can provide the nuance and clarity you deserve.

Why we do this:

• To Build Trust: We know that when you see a tree coming down or a new line item on a ballot, it’s natural to wonder "Why?" We want to provide those answers directly.

• To Stay Accountable: Your questions help us see where we can improve our communication and where we might have "gaps" in the information we’ve shared.

• To Focus on Students: We aim to make our decisions centered on the student experience. This forum helps us explain that connection clearly.

Thank you to everyone who submitted questions this month. Whether you’re curious about the physical changes on our campus or the mechanics of school funding, your engagement helps us remain a fiscally responsible and student-centered district.

Let’s dive into your questions for March.

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"What’s with all the downed trees near the parking lot?" -Kelly & "Why did they cut down all the trees around the high school?" -Kaeden

First off, Kelly and Kaeden, thank you so much for your curiosity! We truly appreciate you reaching out to understand the "why" behind the changes on campus. We also want to apologize if we haven't been as clear as we could have been from the start regarding the landscaping changes.

The tree removal is part of the larger May 2023 bond construction project, which many of you know brought us the Laker Athletic Center and the new Safe & Secure Entry at the high school. Here is the breakdown of why those specific trees came down:

• New Parking: We are adding additional parking to the south side of the high school’s main entry.

• Tennis Court Addition: This new parking is necessary because we are losing parking spots on the north side of the main entry to make room for four brand-new tennis courts, giving us twelve total on the high school campus.

• Capacity Needs: Between daily student parking and large-scale community events, these extra spaces are vital for keeping traffic moving safely and efficiently (or as efficiently as possible).

Construction in front of the high school will continue throughout the summer, and—fingers crossed—we hope to see our athletes on those new courts by autumn!

What’s happening in the back?

You may also notice work and trees coming down behind the school, north of the Laker Athletic Center. This will be the new home of Hickman Field, which is moving from the middle school to the high school and being upgraded with synthetic turf. Additionally, Wanrooy Field (our softball diamond) is also receiving a synthetic turf upgrade.

A Note on Preservation

We know many in our community value our natural canopy. We do, too, and we acknowledge the challenge of growing the district facility needs with keeping care of our natural surroundings. We are incredibly fortunate to have a highly active Nature Club at the high school. They are in regular communication with our administration to ensure environmental efforts remain a priority. To see some of their fantastic work, check out this recent article on their bird banding efforts here.

Please see the image to understand the placement of the new courts, the new parking spaces, and the new Hickman Field.

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Isn’t there a vote coming up? Could you tell us more about it? -David

David, thank you for asking! It’s always the right time to stay informed about how our schools are funded.

The upcoming vote on the May 5 ballot is for our Non-Homestead Operating Millage Renewal.

This Non-Homestead Operating Millage Renewal vote does come around every so often. If you don't know about it, here are three "must-know" facts about this vote:

1. It is not a tax increase on your primary home: This millage only applies to "non-homestead" properties, such as businesses, rental properties, and second homes.

2. In Michigan, school districts are required to levy these 18 mills on non-homestead property to receive their full allowance from the state. Without this renewal, the state does not "make up" the difference, which would lead to a significant budget gap.

3. It’s a renewal, not a new tax. This millage has been in place for years and would allow us to keep our daily operations running smoothly.

Voting is the ideal place for our community to use their voice. Please do so via absentee ballot or on Tuesday, May 5. 

Thank you!

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Thank you again to Kelly, Kaeden, and David for helping us kick off this month’s conversation. We know that when you see downed trees or new ballot language, it can spark a lot of questions—and we are committed to being the place where you find the answers.

Our goal is to keep this "Community Curiosity" loop going. If you’re seeing something on campus that piques your interest, or if you have a "why" question about district operations, please don't hesitate to reach out. We’ll be gathering your questions all through the next few weeks for our April update.

Have a question for next month? Click here to submit your curiosity. We look forward to diving deep with you again soon!