In case you missed this week’s Regular Board of Education meeting on May 11…

* Student Rep Gabe Prast delivered his final update to the board: softball is going strong with the Lady Bulldogs having won the GAC 4 years in a row as of Monday. The Seniors’ Decision Day last Friday was a success, caps and gowns were distributed on Monday 5/11, their last day is Thursday, 5/14, and Prom is this Saturday with 70 tickets already sold. Kadynce Hurlburt took 1st place in long-jump at the league track meet that we hosted! The BHS band concert is Wednesday, 5/13 and BMS band concert is Thursday, 5/14. Finally, students appreciated the administration bringing a drug-trained K-9 dog in to sniff backpacks, and it was a clean sweep.
School Nurse Laura Angus spoke to the Board about the State’s efforts toward allowing tourniquet use in the event of a traumatic injury and the district’s efforts to ensure that first aid supplies are readily available at each building.

* There was a special presentation by For-Mar’s Chief Park Naturalist Nicole Ferguson, Environmental Education Assistant and Day Camp Director Emily Buccaneer, and Bentley’s Early Childhood Director Chelsea Horton regarding the nature-based preschool program that we offer. Key points from their presentation include:

-- For our children, the Genesee County Parks shouldn't be a "field trip destination"—it should be part of their home. Developing a "sense of place" is a fundamental human need. Research shows that children who feel a deep connection to their local environment have higher levels of self-worth, civic belonging, and academic resilience.

-- Nature-based learning isn’t just "play"—it is corrective therapy for the Digital Age. Recent studies show that children with high screen exposure score significantly lower in locomotor skills (running/jumping) and object control (catching/throwing). Every 30 minutes of active outdoor play predicts a measurable increase in a child’s fundamental motor skills—skills that are currently declining in inner-city youth who spend less than 40 minutes a week outdoors.

--Today, only 27% of children play outside regularly compared to 80% in the previous generation. Consequently, we are witnessing a physical and social developmental crisis disguised as 'staying safe inside'.

-- This partnership with For-Mar isn't a luxury—it's an equity bridge. It ensures that 'zip code' does not determine a child’s right to a healthy brain and a strong body. Additionally, our partnership benefits our families, too. We intentionally host Family days on the For-Mar property to create a vested interest in the green community around them. Their shared love and joy of this partnership is what continues to help it grow.

* The Board approved moving forward with a part-time secondary academic coach; we already have a part-time literacy coach at Barhitte. They also approved a resolution encouraging lawmakers to refine the language associated with the 31aa grant money for school safety and they approved a resolution supporting the GISD 2026-27 proposed budget.

Click here for the pdf: https://aptg.co/D_cs3K

BECOME A BENTLEY BULLDOG!

Get smart and have fun doing it! Small class sizes - Amazing staff

• PreK - 12th Grade:
  Bentley Little Bulldogs: Free Preschool for 4-Year-Olds
  Barhitte Elementary School: Kindergarten to 5th grades
  Bentley Middle School: 6th-8th grades
  Bentley High School: 9th-12th grades

• Academics:
  Advanced Placement, American Sign Language, Dual Enrollment, Early Middle College, Genesee Career Institute, Yearbook, and more!

• Co- and Extra-Curricular Opportunities:
  Cooking, Marching Band, National Honor Society, Robotics, Skeet, Student Council, Tabletop Games, Theater, and more!

• Athletics - Genesee Area Conference:
  Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cheer, Football, Power Lifting, Softball, Track, and Volleyball.

ENROLL OR REGISTER NOW FOR 2026/2027!

For More Information:

Click: https://www.bentleyschools.org/page/enrollment-and-registration-information

Call: (810) 591-9100

Scan: QR code

In case you missed this week’s Regular Board of Education meeting…

* The Board discussed the possibility of the City of Burton beginning a youth advisory board, composed of several students from each of the three public school districts. The Board likes the idea of increasing communication between the City and the school districts as well as providing our youth the opportunity to work with other youth from across the city, refining their voice and increasing their agency.

* The proposed policy updates were read for the second time.

* The Bentley Community Resource Fair will be Wednesday, June 10 from 4:30-6:30 PM with the generous support of Genesee County Community Mental Health Millage funds. The theme of the event is Unplug and Play. We will be providing dinner to those who come; there will be an inflatable obstacle course and numerous give-aways; and importantly, there will be access to numerous community resources for mental and physical health. It will be the perfect way to launch summer!

* Shelley Wooley of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) presented the possible placement of a Career Tech Education lab at one of the buildings donated by McLaren Health. The goal of the SME Education Foundation is to bridge the existing manufacturing community with the education community. They start with a regional market analysis and workforce needs assessment – what can the school offer and what jobs are needed. They use that information to determine the best manufacturing pathway to help the school develop: industrial maintenance, machining and fabrication, mechatronics/robotics, and welding. They have served 12K students in grades 9-12 and are in 133 schools, across 27 states. They help with the funding to provide the machines, curriculum, and professional learning for the teachers. The district pays for the teachers and provides the space. It’s an exciting opportunity for our students and the broader community.

Click here to see whole file: https://aptg.co/5VXlNk

In case you missed this week’s Regular Board of Education meeting on April 13, 2026…

• Burton historian Mona Ballge addressed the board, sharing highlights of the area and especially for Bentley. She also talked about the book she authored: Our Hidden Settlement: Atherton to Burton, Then and Now, which she generously provided two copies to the district.

• BHS Student Representative Gabe Prast reported that state testing has started with the PSAT and SAT. Spring sports are underway: girls softball, boys baseball, track and field, and boys volleyball. There are 23 more days left for seniors. Students interested in Ferris State University took a field trip there last Thursday and there was another field trip on Friday, though to the Holocaust Museum. This coming Saturday is a “Just Because” lock in–details can be found on Facebook. Finally, seniors are beginning to paint their senior wall square.

• The 2025-26 budget amendment was shared and the board approved.

• We reviewed the new proposed policies from Neola. The second reading will occur at the next board meeting.

• The board approved the contract to move forward with Paradise Dogs for our emotional support dogs. We expect to get two dogs at the beginning of September and the third dog in winter 2027.

• There was a special presentation about Public Act 146, commonly referred to as the dyslexia law, though it is actually a re-writing of the Read by Grade 3 law. The presentation included an explanation of the law, requirements, timelines, and an introduction to the science of reading.

Click here to see whole file: https://aptg.co/YN5F2k

Bentley High School will be hosting a Just Because Lock-In Saturday, April 18th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Eighth graders are welcome and encouraged to come! Tickets will be sold for $10 during A and B lunches and will also be available at the door for $15. There will be games and concessions as well as open gym, so bring your quarters and a game to play with a friend. Come join us for an evening of fun and friends! See any student council member for more information.

In case you missed this week’s Workshop Board of Education meeting…
* Our new Director of Special Services, Ms. Diane Zedan, was introduced to the board.
* Our partner, Genesee Education Consultant Services (GECS), is providing a $3,000 scholarship to a graduating senior, which the Board acknowledged with profound gratitude.
* A change order for Bentley Little Bulldog was approved allowing the north gate to close securely.
* The Board decided to move forward with strategic planning, incrementally and in-house.
* President Mobley shared highlights from her recent MASB class, which focused on the use of Robert’s Rules of Order.

Thursday | Mar 26 | End of 3rd Marking Period
Friday | Mar 27 | No School - Spring Recess Begins
Tuesday | Apr 7 | School Resumes
Saturday | Apr 11 | Mother-Son Bowling Event, Richfield Lane 1:00-3:30 PM
Wednesday | Apr 15 | Student half-day, staff professional learning