About Us
Harper Creek Community Schools serves students from Developmental Kindergarten through 12th grade in the greater Battle Creek area of Calhoun County, Michigan. We are proud to educate more than 2,700 students from the townships of Emmett, Rredonia, Leroy, Marshall, Newton, and Pennfield.
Our district is home to five schools: Harper Creek High School, Harper Creek Middle School, Beadle Lake Elementary School, Sonoma Elementary School, and Wattles Park Elementary School, where dedicated educators and staff work together to provide a supportive, engaging, and high-quality learning environment.
Guided by our mission to Educate, Empower, Equip Students for Life, we prepare learners not only for academic success but also for meaningful contributions to their communities and the world beyond.
Casino Revenue PILT
Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT)
Fire Keepers Casino Hotel opened in Emmett Township, Michigan, in the fall of 2009. Since 2010, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and Fire Keepers Casino Hotel have made Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) to compensate local government for the presence of the tribal casino. These payments are based on the net wins from Class III electronic games at the casino. Harper Creek Community Schools receives a part of PILT paid out and distributed through the Local Revenue Sharing Board. The LRSB is made up of seven local officials representing governmental agencies that are affected by the casino.
The funds from PILT allow HCCS to keep up with schools in the State and our neighbors in Calhoun County by increasing our revenue per student per year. Approximately 80% of per-student revenue comes from the State, with approximately 5% coming from PILT, 12% from local, and 1.2% from Federal.
Each year, HCCS can provide improved safety measures, update technology, and offer support services without raising taxes. 30% of the funds goes into the general fund. The rest of PILT, 70%, is dedicated to student-centered services, including a school nurse, health aides at all schools, school resource officers, upgrades to buses and transportation, technology devices for students, uniforms for student activities, and building maintenance and repairs.
Harper Creek Community Schools is grateful for the continued support from the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and Fire Keepers Casino Hotel for their continued support of our students and community, enabling us to further of mission to Educate, Empower, Equip Students for Life.
Informativie PILT Video
PILT 2025 - 2026 Budget
PILT Check Total $2,220,000
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Projects | $1,560,000 |
| School Resource Officers | $200,000 |
| Health Aid/School Nurse | $305,000 |
| 25-26 Uniforms | $20,000 |
| HS HVAC Payment | $300,000 |
| Buses | $250,000 |
| Weight Room Project | $10,000 |
| Technology Devices | $200,000 |
| Maintenance Projects | $200,000 |
| Future Needs (savings) | $75,000 |
| General Fund | $660,000 |
PILT 2024 - 2025
PILT Check Total $2,290,000
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Projects | |
| School Resource Officers | $200,000 |
| Health Aide/School Nurse | $280,000 |
| Uniforms(Sports, Band, etc) | $20,000 |
| HS HVAC Payment | $300,000 |
| Buses | $210,000 |
| Technology Devices | $385,000 |
| Finish Turf | $191,500 |
| Maintenance Projects | $127,000 |
| General Fund | $687,000 |
PILT 2023 -2024
PILT Check Total $2,330,000
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Projects | |
| School Resource Officers | $188,000 |
| Health Aide/School Nurse | $233,000 |
| Uniforms (Sports, Band, etc) | $20,000 |
| HS HVAC Payment | $305,000 |
| Buses | $152,000 |
| Technology Devices | $111,800 |
| Turf | $406,000 |
| Maintenance Projects | $866,200 |
| General Fund | $746,000 |
Superintendent
Assistant Superintendent of Instruction
