Barhitte Elementary School

Pease read the following letter that was co-written by all Genesee County superintendents regarding the absence of a state education budget.

Thank you,
Dr. Kristy Spann
Superintendent of Bentley Community School District

3 days ago, Bentley Community Schools

Dear Families and Staff, We know you may have seen recent headlines and media reports about the uncertainty surrounding Michigan’s state budget. Understandably, these stories may raise questions and concerns about how schools, including those here in Genesee County, could be affected. As your educational leaders, we believe it is important to provide you with clear, direct information so that you know what is happening, what it could mean for our schools, and how we can work together to advocate for the resources our students and staff need. That is why, as we begin the 2025–26 school year, we are sharing this update on behalf of the Genesee Intermediate School District (GISD) and the 21 public school districts across Genesee County — so you have timely information and confidence that we are monitoring these developments closely to protect our students, staff, and programs. Budget Deadline Missed By law, the State must approve a K–12 school funding budget by July 1 each year so districts can plan with certainty. This year, that deadline passed with no agreement in place. If lawmakers do not act, a state government shutdown on September 30 could delay the funding schools depend on to operate. Why This Matters • In a recent statewide survey, 89% of voters supported requiring lawmakers to pass a budget before the school year begins. • The current deadlock involves a proposal to divert dollars from the School Aid Fund — money voters were promised in 1994 would be dedicated to K–12 education — to other priorities such as road repairs. • According to the same survey, 85.7% of voters oppose using School Aid Fund dollars for fixing roads. Current Impact to Districts According to a survey released by Michigan School Business Officials, one in ten Michigan school districts has already made staffing cuts ahead of this academic year due to budget uncertainty: • 11% of districts had classroom personnel layoffs • 15% had non-classroom personnel layoffs • 42% reduced staff through attrition • 27% made non-staff spending cuts

Districts also reported delaying building maintenance, increasing workloads for staff, and raising class sizes — all of which have direct impacts on students. Future Impact on Districts If a budget is not passed, we could miss our first scheduled state aid payment on October 20, 2025. That payment is critical for: • Compensating teachers and staff who work directly with students • Maintaining class sizes and student support services • Operating buses and supplying classrooms • Funding academic programs, arts, athletics, and activities, including early childhood programs Our schools cannot operate indefinitely without these resources, or the confidence that they will be available. What Needs to Happen The solution is clear: lawmakers must approve a K–12 budget that protects the School Aid Fund for its original purpose — educating Michigan’s children. How You Can Help Please join us in urging our elected officials to act quickly. You can contact your state lawmakers with this information and share with them why timely, protected school funding matters to you and your family. • Michigan Senate https://senate.michigan.gov/ • Michigan House of Representatives https://www.house.mi.gov/Index Our students deserve a stable, fully- funded school year. Together, as a county, we can ensure their learning continues without interruption. On behalf of the Genesee Intermediate School District and the 21 public school districts of Genesee County, thank you for your partnership and support. Sincerely, Tina Case, Superintendent, Atherton Community Schools Dr. Jendayi Gardner, Superintendent, Beecher Community Schools Trisha Cherveny, Superintendent, Bendle Public Schools Dr. Kristy Spann, Superintendent, Bentley Community School District Gina Ryan, Superintendent, Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools Lisa Taylor, Superintendent, Clio Area Schools Matthew Lobban, Superintendent, Davison Community Schools Dr. Doug Busch, Superintendent, Fenton Area Public Schools Matthew Shanafelt, Superintendent, Flushing Community Schools Kevelin Jones, Superintendent, Flint Community Schools Brett Young, Superintendent, Genesee School District Dr. Steven Tunnicliff, Superintendent, Genesee Intermediate School District Mike Baszler, Superintendent, Goodrich Area Schools Dr. Trevor Alward, Superintendent, Grand Blanc Community Schools

Paul Gaudard Superintendent, Kearsley Community Schools Julie Williams, Superintendent, Lake Fenton Community Schools Dr. James Yake, Superintendent, LakeVille Community School District Russ Ciesielski, Superintendent, Linden Community Schools Dr. Linden Moore, Superintendent, Montrose Community School District Mickie Kujat, Superintendent, Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools James Kitchen, Interim Superintendent, Swartz Creek Community Schools Leslie Key, Superintendent, Westwood Heights Schools

Bond 2025 Progress

Follow the construction progress of the new Bentley Little Bulldogs Preschool!

https://www.bentleyschools.org/page/bond-2025-overview

4 days ago, Bentley Community Schools

Excavator earthwork at the new Bentley Little Bulldogs Preschool!

These Kindergartners had a great first week and are ready for a great year!

9 days ago, Debbi Gooch

Barhitte students enjoying their first recess and lunch for the year!

12 days ago, Debbi Gooch

BCS - All FINAL Bus Routes for Monday

There were some minor updates. These are the FINAL route stops starting Monday (Tomorrow). Any new requests that could not be verified by 6pm today did not get added. Please check your email for the details.

If you have not received the “All FINAL Bus Routes for Monday” email by 06:15 pm on the evening of August 24th (Today), you should assume that your student has not been assigned to a route and that other arrangements for transportation will be necessary.

CHECK YOUR JUNK/SPAM EMAIL FOLDERS JUST IN CASE!!!

See the Transportation webpage (https://www.bentleyschools.org/page/transportation) for details on how to ensure that your student is properly registered for transportation requests in the future.

14 days ago, Transportation

BCS - All Bus Routes

NOTE: All Bus Routes have new updates so be sure to review this information!

All routes will begin on the morning of Monday, August 25th (Monday). There may also be another announcement later in the day on August 24th (Today) that will include any late additions that have occurred since this morning. If you have not receive any notifications by the evening of August 24th (Today), you should assume that your student has not been assigned to a route and that other arrangements for transportation will be necessary.

CHECK YOUR JUNK/SPAM EMAIL FOLDERS JUST IN CASE!!!

If you did not receive the email, it is imperative that you always update school officials with all your most recent contact information (https://www.bentleyschools.org). For security reasons, specific bus stop information will no longer be posted to the website or sent via mobile text.

Transportation Dept.:
https://www.bentleyschools.org/page/transportation
(810) 591-9045

15 days ago, Transportation

BCS - BES Bus Routes

All routes will begin on the morning of Monday, August 25th (Monday). Currently, only BES stop information has been sent out. BMS/BHS routes should be finished by some time tomorrow (Saturday). There may also be another announcement on August 24th (Sunday) that will include any late additions, enrollments, or registrations that have occurred since yesterday (Thursday). If you have not receive any notifications by the evening of August 24th (Sunday), you should assume that your student has not been assigned to a route and that other arrangements for transportation will be necessary.

If you did not receive the email, it is imperative that you always update school officials with all your most recent contact information (https://www.bentleyschools.org). For security reasons, specific bus stop information will no longer be posted to the website or sent via mobile text.

Transportation Dept.:
https://www.bentleyschools.org/page/transportation
(810) 591-9045

16 days ago, Transportation

All parents/guardians that have requested transportation for their students must ensure that the following information is accurate in our systems, either by using ParentVUE or calling the Transportation Department:

* Primary Contact's Mobile Phone Number
* Primary Contact's Email Address
* Student Pick Up & Drop Off Addresses

If ANY of this information is incorrect in any way, you will NOT receive bus stop information and your student will NOT be transported!

As soon as bus routes are complete, a notification will be sent via Mobile SMS Text Message informing you to check your Email for the actual bus stop information.

ParentVUE:
https://www.bentleyschools.org/page/app-store

Transportation Dept.:
https://www.bentleyschools.org/page/transportation
(810) 591-9045

18 days ago, Transportation

Jersey Mike’s on Irish Rd is helping Bentley Bulldog families with Back-to-School shopping on Wed. 08/20/25 from 4P-7P at the middle & high school campus...WOOHOO!!

They’ll be handing out backpacks, school supplies, & gift cards while supplies last.

Owners Josh Johnson & Jason Tamez are Bentley ALUM and love to help their Bulldog Community.

19 days ago, Bentley Community Schools

Jersey Mike’s on Irish Rd is helping Bentley Bulldog families with Back-to-School shopping on Wed. 08/20/25 from 4P-7P at the middle & high school campus...WOOHOO!! They’ll be handing out backpacks, school supplies, & gift cards while supplies last. Owners Josh Johnson & Jason Tamez are Bentley ALUM and love to help their Bulldog Community.

Bentley Little Bulldogs Learning Center construction has begun!

Preschool classes will be located within other Bentley buildings until construction is complete, so ENROLL NOW!

https://www.bentleyschools.org/o/blb/page/enrollment

What We Offer:

* FREE PreK for all 4-year-old children (age 4 by December 1st)
* Hands-on, project-based learning
* Partnership with For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum for nature-based learning
* Transportation for Bentley area students
* Before and after care opportunities available

19 days ago, Bentley Community Schools

Bentley Little Bulldogs Learning Center - Enrollment QR Code and Plan Overview

Bentley Little Bulldogs Learning Center - Construction

Back to School Night at Barhitte will be held 4 - 6 pm on Wednesday, August 20th. Class lists will be posted and you and your child(ren) can meet the teachers! Kona Ice will be available for purchase during this time frame. The truck will be located in the bus loop. Please make sure you have completed online registration prior to this event. Your child will not be assigned a teacher until it is complete. Thank you!

25 days ago, Debbi Gooch

Reminder...if you haven't registered your child(ren) for this coming school year, please do so no later than this Friday, 8/15. If you need assistance, call the Barhitte office number. No one will answer because our office is still under construction, but someone will call you back if you leave a message.

27 days ago, Debbi Gooch

Become a Bentley Bulldog!
Click here to enroll & register: https://www.bentleyschools.org/page/enrollment-and-registration-information

about 1 month ago, Bentley Community Schools

Become a Bentley Bulldog Get smart and have fun doing it! Small class sizes - Amazing staff - Football Basketball Volleyball Band Robotics Powerlifting Skeet Track Baseball Softball Early Middle College Tutoring Cooking Club Bowling Baseball National Honor Society Student Council Theater and more...

QR code to the Bentley Community School District enrollment and registration page

Reminder....if you haven't registered your child(ren) for the 25-26 school year, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you!

about 1 month ago, Debbi Gooch

What incredible dedication! After 11 years of tirelessly moderating the Bentley Parent Facebook page, its amazing creator, Dawn McDaniel, has decided to close it down.

When she started the page, it filled a specific need that, thankfully, no longer exists. Running a Facebook group for over a decade, 365 days a year (that's 4,015 days!), is a monumental undertaking, and we are so incredibly grateful for her unwavering commitment to our community. Thank you for everything you've done!

Here are the best ways to contact Bentley with questions:

Bentley App: https://www.bentleyschools.org/page/app-store
Call us: (810) 591-9120
Email us: dslusarz@bentleyschools.org

about 1 month ago, Bentley Community Schools

Summer school students wrapped up the first session by cooling down with a water war!!💦💦

2 months ago, Debbi Gooch

Summer break just began, but we are posting supply lists in case you want to hit the "Back to School" sales that I'm sure will be starting soon.

2 months ago, Debbi Gooch

Summer school students are having a blast with all kinds of learning activities. They got to make water gel pets compliments of Miss Cobb... thank you! Aaaand listen to some great fluency and expression from Ms. Smith's students who performed a Reader's Theater. 🌞

3 months ago, Debbi Gooch

Students in Mrs. Jensen's summer school class show off the flyers they created to entertain and persuade other students to attend the Fun Fest they are planning. All students attending summer school voted for their favorite flyer and Oliver and Ariana won!

3 months ago, Debbi Gooch

If your student has medication in the office at the school, please pick that up by tomorrow at 2:45 PM at BMS & BHS and by 3:30 PM at BES.

3 months ago, Bentley Community Schools