Northville's Board of Education will meet Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at Old Village School, 405 W. Main St. It's the first board session since voters locked in $11.8 million a year for the district on Aug. 4, and it comes just 19 days before the first day of school.

The meeting agenda had not been posted to the district's BoardBook page as of Aug. 7. With the 10-year Non-Homestead Operating Millage Replacement now secured and classes starting Monday, Aug. 31, the session carries weight for families watching how the district spends the weeks before doors open.

What the millage victory means

Voters approved the 18-mill replacement by 69% in Wayne County and 65% in Oakland County, as we reported Aug. 5. The levy applies only to non-homestead properties like commercial buildings, rental units and vacation homes. Primary homeowners pay nothing extra.

The $11.8 million represents about 11.3% of the district's roughly $100 million operating budget. About 87% of that budget goes to staff salaries and benefits, according to district materials.

"We have a budget of $100 million, so that means 11% of our general fund money would be gone," Superintendent RJ Webber told The Oakland Press in July, explaining what a failed vote would have meant. "The impact that would have, because about 87% of our money is spent on human capital, would mean the very real potential of class sizes going up significantly, services being cut."

The 10-year levy runs through 2036.

Pre-Labor Day start still on track

The district's Back to School Hub confirms Aug. 31 as the first day of classes, one week before Labor Day on Sept. 7. Michigan law generally bars public schools from starting before Labor Day without a state waiver. Northville held the required public hearing on July 29 at Old Village School, as we reported earlier this summer.

No official state approval document has been published, but the district continues to list Aug. 31 on its calendar.

Recent board actions

The board's July 7 meeting included new staff hires, a change order for the Northville High School STEAM project and adoption of Anti-Bullying Policy 5207. At its June 23 meeting, the board adopted the 2026-27 budget, renewed Webber's contract through 2029 and approved an AI tool selection for the coming school year.

The Aug. 12 meeting is open to the public.