Transparency Reporting

Michigan State School Aid Act

Section 18 (2) of the Public Act 94 of 1979, The State School Aid Act, has been amended, which requires each school district and intermediate school district to post certain information on its website within 30 days after a board adopts it annual operating budget or any subsequent revision to that budget. The Annual Budget & Transparency Reporting is an opportunity to communicate with our community on how we utilize the resources that are provided to us.

The following information is required to be posted on our website:

1. The annual operating budget, subsequent budget revisions, and a projection of revenues and expenditures for the following year.

2. Using data that has already been collected and submitted to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), a summary of district or intermediate district expenditures for the most recent fiscal year for which they are available, expressed in the following two (2) pie charts which were provided for the general fund of the district or intermediate district by the Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI):

(a) A chart of personnel expenditures broken down into the following subcategories:

(1) Salaries and Wages
(2) Employee benefit costs, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and long term care benefits.
(3) Retirement benefits costs
(4) All other personnel costs

(b) A chart of all district expenditures, broken into the following subcategories:

(1) Instruction
(2) Support Services
(3) Business and administration
(4) Operations and Maintenance

3. Links to all of the following:

(a) The current collective bargaining agreement for each bargaining unit
(b) Each health care benefits plan, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, disability, long-term care, or any other type of benefits that would constitute health care services, offered to any bargaining unit or employee in the district
(c) Medical benefit plan bids
(d) The audit report of the audit conducted for the most recent fiscal year for which it is available

4. The total salary and a description and cost of each fringe benefit included in the compensation package for the superintendent of the district or intermediate district and for each employee of the district whose salary exceeds $100,000

5. The annual amount spent on dues paid to associations

6. The annual amount spent on lobbying services

7. Long term debt information

Standard Response Protocol

Michigan K–12 schools are required to use the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) developed by the "I Love U Guys" Foundation. This framework uses five common-sense, action-based commands designed to unify communication between students, school staff, and local first responders during an emergency.

The Five Standard Actions

Hold ("In Your Room or Area"): Used when hallways need to be kept clear.
- Students and staff stay in their rooms or areas, and business as usual continues.
  - Students are trained to:
    - Clear the hallways and remain in their area or room until the “All Clear” is announced
    - Do business as usual
  - Adults and staff are trained to:
    - Close and lock the door
    - Account for students and adults
    - Do business as usual
Secure ("Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors"): Used when there is a potential threat or hazard outside the building. Outside doors are locked, and everyone remains inside while class continues normally.
- Students are trained to:
  - Return to inside of building
  - Do business as usual
- Adults and staff are trained to:
  - Bring everyone indoors
  - Lock the outside doors
  - Increase situational awareness
  - Account for students and adults
  - Do business as usual
Lockdown ("Locks, Lights, Out of Sight"): Used when there is a threat inside the building. Classroom doors are locked, lights are turned off, occupants move out of sight, and silence is maintained.
- Students are trained to:
  - Move away from sight
  - Maintain silence
  - Do not open the door
- Adults and staff are trained to:
  - Recover students from hallway if possible
  - Lock the classroom door
  - Turn out the lights
  - Move away from sight
  - Maintain silence
  - Do not open the door
  - Prepare to evade or defend
Evacuate ("To a Location"): Used to move students and staff from one location to another inside or outside the building due to safety reasons like a fire or hazard.
- Students are trained to:
  - Leave stuff behind if required to
  - If possible, bring their phone
  - Follow instructions
- Adults and staff are trained to:
  - Bring roll sheet and Go Bag (unless instructed not to bring anything with them, dependent on reason for evacuation.)
  - Lead students to Evacuation location
  - Account for students and adults
  - Report injuries or problems using Red Card/Green Card method.
Shelter ("For Hazard and Safety Strategy"): Used for severe weather, hazardous materials, or other specific environmental threats, pairing the command with the appropriate safety strategy.
- Hazards might include:
  - Tornado
  - Hazmat
  - Earthquake
  - Tsunami
- Safety Strategies might include:
  - Evacuate to shelter area
  - Seal the room
  - Drop, cover and hold
  - Get to high ground
- Students are trained in:
  - Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies
- Adults and staff are trained in:
  - Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies
  - Accounting for students and adults
  - Report injuries or problems using Red Card/Green Card method.

PARENT GUIDANCE

In the event of a live incident, parents may have questions about their role.

SECURE

“Get Inside. Lock outside doors”

Secure is called when there is something dangerous outside of the building. Students and staff are brought into the building and the outside doors will be locked. The school might display the Building is Secured poster on entry doors or nearby windows. Inside, it will be business as usual.

SHOULD PARENTS COME TO THE SCHOOL DURING A SECURE EVENT?
- Probably not.
- Every effort is made to conduct classes as normal during a secure event.
- Additionally, parents may be asked to stay outside during a Secure event.
WHAT IF PARENTS NEED TO PICK UP THEIR STUDENT?
- Depending on the situation, it may not be safe to release the student.
- As the situation evolves, Secure might change to a Monitored Entry and/or Controlled Release.
WILL PARENTS BE NOTIFIED WHEN A SCHOOL GOES INTO SECURE?
- When a secure event is brief or the hazard is non-violent, like a wild animal on the playground, there may not be a need to notify parents while the Secure is in place.
- With longer or more dangerous events, the school should notify parents that the school has increased their security.

LOCKDOWN

“Locks, Lights, Out of Sight”

A Lockdown is called when there is something dangerous inside of the building. Students and staff are trained to enter or remain in a room that can be locked, and maintain silence. A Lockdown is only initiated when there is an active threat inside or very close to the building.

SHOULD PARENTS COME TO THE SCHOOL DURING A LOCKDOWN?
- The natural inclination for parents is to go to the school during a Lockdown.
- Understandable, but perhaps problematic.
- If there is a threat inside the building, law enforcement will be responding.
- It is unlikely that parents will be granted access to the building or even the campus.
- If parents are already in the school, they will be instructed to Lockdown as well.
SHOULD PARENTS TEXT THEIR STUDENTS?
- The school recognizes the importance of communication between parents and students during a Lockdown event.
- Parents should be aware though, during the initial period of a Lockdown, it may not be safe for students to text their parents.
- As the situation resolves, students may be asked to update their parents on a regular basis.
- In some cases, students may be evacuated and transported off-site for a student-parent reunification.
WHAT ABOUT UNANNOUNCED DRILLS?
- The school may conduct unscheduled drills, however it is highly discouraged to conduct one without announcing that it as a drill.
- That’s called an unannounced drill and can cause undue concern and stress.
- Parents should recognize that the school will always inform students that it is a drill during the initial announcement.
- It’s important to differentiate between a drill and an exercise.
  - A drill is used to create the “Muscle Memory” associated with a practiced action.
  - There is no simulation of an event; this is simply performing the action.
  - An exercise simulates an actual event to test the capacity of personnel and equipment.

Available Reports

Continuity of Learning Plan:

Section 31 Annual District Transparency Reports

2025-2026 31a Transparency Report

Section 31 Annual District Transparency Reports

FY 26 Section 164k(e) District Notification

Budget Reports:

Summary of Expenditures Expressed in Pie Charts:

Collective Bargaining Agreements:

VEA Collective Bargaining Agreement
VPA Collective Bargaining Agreement
VESPA Agreement
Administrative Employees have no Collective Bargaining Agreement

Health Care Plans:

Medical Benefit Plan Bids:

2021 All Employee Groups

District Audit:

Salary and Benefit Description of Superintendent and Employees with Salary Exceeding $100,000:

Calendar Year 2023 Compensation Report

Annual Amount Spent on Dues paid to Associations:

2023-2024 Association Dues

Annual Amount Spent on Lobbying or Lobbying Services:

None

Approved Deficit Elimination Plan:

The district has not incurred a deficit

District Credit Card Information:

2023-2024 Credit Card Holders

District-paid out-of-state travel information:

The school district did not pay for any out-of-state travel expenses on behalf of administrators during the 2023-2024 school year.

Procurement Policy:

District Procurement Policy

Expense Reimbursement Policy:

District Expense Reimbursement Policy

Statement of Reimbursed Expenses:

The District reimbursed $62,520 to its employees and board members in the 2023-2024 year.

Observation/Evaluation Tools:

Teacher Evaluation Tools: Charlotte Danielson's Framework for Teaching
Administrator Evaluation Tools: MASA’s School Advance Administrator Evaluation Instrument
Superintendent Evaluation Tools: MSAB Evaluation Rubric, Process and Requirements

Michigan Cell Phone Law

Michigan enacted a statewide law requiring public and charter K-12 school districts to adopt policies banning smartphone use during classroom instructional time starting with the 2026–27 school year. Individual school districts decide local enforcement methods, and the rule permits basic non-smartphones, medical monitors, and emergency exceptions.

Key Details of the Law:

Effective Date: Begins with the school year starting in August 2026.
Scope: Applies to all public and charter K-12 schools.
Local Control: Individual school boards decide how to enforce the ban (such as requiring phones in lockers, backpacks, or specialized pouches).
Exemptions: Allows medically necessary tech (like glucose monitors), special education plans, teacher-approved instructional tasks, and safety protocols during emergencies.

Please see the handbooks for each VCS building for specific details.

Emergency Drill Results Current Year

Michigan House Bill 4713 requires school districts to post documentation of completed safety drills.

The emergency drill reports posted on our site cover fire safety drills, tornado safety drills and stage three "lock-down" drills, which simulate an intruder gaining entry into a school building.

To view reports, make a selection from the District buildings listed below:

VHS Emergency Drill Documentation Forms

VMS Emergency Drill Documentation Forms

Pathways High School Emergency Drill Documentation Forms

Indian Lake Emergency Drill Documentation Forms

Sunset Lake Emergency Drill Documentation Forms

Tobey Emergency Drill Documentation Forms

Emergency Drill Results - Previous Years

Pathways HS

Available Surveys

In accordance with the Michigan State School Aid Act, section 164K, Vicksburg Community Schools will notify all parents and guardians of all student surveys and post them to our District website.

Click the links below to view current surveys: