Refinancing Saving Hartland School District Millions; Expelled Student Readmitted; Mom Supports Creekside Principal

The Hartland School District is expected save $8.8 million from its long-term debt after the board approved a $30 million refinancing Wednesday.

"The taxpayers are gaining but the district is not gaining any more spending," said Treasurer Charlie Aberasturi.

The savings could eventually mean a lower tax bill several years from now depending on other factors including whether voters future approve additional bond proposals and the value of properties, said Scott Bacon, assistant superintendent of business and operations.

Taxpayers within the district currently pay a 7.6 millage rate to repay the facilities debt that's projected over the next 25 years.

The deal — which dropped interest rates from 5.13 percent to 4.43 percent on this set of bonds — is the second step in a refinancing effort that began almost a year ago that's now projected to saved taxpayers about $20 million.

The district had hoped for as much as $48 million when it originally authorized the move but interest rates weren't as low once the district was eligible to refinance the bonds.

The refinancing affects $67 million of bonds that were originally sold in 2001 to build , and refurbish the old High School, which is now the .

The district's long-term debt — which includes principle and interest from all outstanding bond sales — was about $232 million before the sales, according to Hartland Patch archives.

Expelled student reinstated

The school board unanimously voted to readmit a student to Hartland High School who had been expelled during the 2009-10 for violating school's controlled substance policy after successfully completing counseling.

"I just hope the student appreciates the chance" and takes advantage of it, said Trustee Michelle Hutchinson.

Students who are expelled can reapply to their districts after 150 days and it's up to the board to decide whether to allow them back, said Scott VanEpps, assistant superintendent of personnel and student services.

Mom supports Creekside principal

Julie Van Houten, whose 12-year-old son Kyle has muscular dystrophy, praised the job performance of Creekside Elementary School Principal Tracey Sahouri, who is that she knowingly allowed underage drinking at her child's graduation party.

Van Houten said Sahouri was invaluable to her family during a difficult time when Kyle was first diagnosed and helped him later transition from Creekside to Farms Intermediate School.

"My family, we were under a lot of stress. We didn't understand what was going on," she said. "Mrs. Sahouri was very patient with us, very understanding. She was able to explain situations that were going on with our son and she was able to make accommodations both in the classroom and with the busing situation and help us in many areas that we didn't even know were available in the school system to support Kyle."

Sahouri, who was at the meeting, has pleaded not guilty to the charge and the case could take months to resolve and district officials have decided after reviewing the police report and conducting its own investigation to wait for the outcome before taking any employment action.

But the move has upset some Hartland Patch users who have argued in comments that she should be on administrative leave while others, similar to Van Houten, has expressed support for the principal.

"I just want to let her know that there's support in the community," Van Houten said in an interview after speaking. "She's been very good for families at Creekside."

School of Choice numbers look promising

About 150 students from outside the Hartland School District have applied so far under the School of Choice program, officials said Wednesday — a number that's a good sign for stable enrollment or slight growth.

"It continues to creep up," VanEpps said. "It's very encouraging."

A similar bump of more than 200 students transferring to Hartland last year helped the district increase its population by 1 percent last year that brought money that's now being used to offset nearly several millions of dollars in state cuts this year.

The state bases its funding on a per-student basis. The key count for enrollment is on Oct. 5.

Officials are already predicting a 50 student drop in kindergarten numbers from within the district and are hopeful the incoming students will help offset that and any other losses. The district has about 5,500 students.