The Hastings Banner — Thursday, February 29, 2024 — Page 3wonderful thing. I’m glad I’ve been a part of
it for so long.”
Goebel led the district through an incredi-
bly challenging era of public education for
schools nationwide. Taking over as interim
superintendent several months into the
COVID-19 pandemic, Goebel took the reins
as the district navigated state mask mandates,
social distancing protocols and online learn-
ing initiatives.
In 2023, voters approved a $17 million
bond proposal paying for critical infrastruc-
ture repairs throughout the district. The suc-
cessful bond campaign came as a triumph for
the district after six similar proposals had
been turned down by voters between 2017
and 2023. Goebel and school board members
made a concerted effort to pass the bond cam-
paign, making a push to collect community
feedback and support.
The bond funds will pay for several proj-
ects throughout the district. Replacement
roofs for the high school and middle school,
new lockers at Star Elementary, digital sig-
nage and new playground equipment through-
out the district are all slated to be implement-
ed this summer. Renovations to the high
school cafeteria, commons, media room and
locker rooms are slated to begin next year.
Goebel has overseen the planning and
beginning phases of this year’s bond projects,
which he’ll continue to assist with until his
departure in June. He said he’s glad to be
leaving the district in such a good state as he
steps back from his role.
“I’m really proud of that,” he said. “I think
it’s perfect timing. I’m planning and leading
the way, and then I’ll be able to create a
smooth transition for the next superintendent
as they come in. It will also provide me some
time to communicate, sit down with and pro-
vide some support for the new superintendent
since we’ll have a few months in transition.”
Goebel will also be working with the district
to inform voters about the district’s sinking
fund, which will be up for renewal this year.
The sinking fund is one of three funding mech-
anisms used by the district to pay for its oper-
ations, alongside bond funds and the general
fund. The sinking fund allows the district to
pay for emergency repairs without making cuts
to staff or programming, with the sinking fund
paying for a replacement roof at Star Elemen-
tary in 2022 and the demolition of the Central
Elementary Annex building this summer.
“Coming up this year is renewing that
sinking fund, so we can really establish finan-
cial reliability, most likely for a decade to
come,” Goebel said. “If we get that into
place, we won’t have to go back to the voters
for a substantial amount of time.”
His last contributions to the district will
likely be providing some guidance on a new
five-year plan for the district, he said.
“I’ll probably be kind of helping out with
the beginning of that, and then I’ll be step-
ping away,” he said.
Hastings school board members announced
Goebel would be retiring from his position
and the board would be initiating a search for
a new superintendent Monday. Board presi-
dent Luke Haywood thanked Goebel for his
years of service and assistance in securing a
new superintendent.
“I’d like to thank Matt for his help the last12 years, and also for the help in the transi-
tion of this difficult task ahead of us,” Hay-
wood said. “He’s been helping every step of
the way.”
Haywood said the board received a letter
from Goebel regarding his retirement on Feb.- Board members approved hiring the
Flint-based Michigan Leadership Institute for
$6,600 to assist in the search for a new super-
intendent. The search will be led by MLI
consultant Peter Haines, a Hastings alumnus
and former superintendent of Greenville Pub-
lic Schools and Ottawa Area Intermediate
School District.
The district posted the job vacancy follow-
ing Monday night’s meeting, and Haywood
provided a tentative timeline for the hiring of
a new top administrator. The district aims to
collect all of their applications by the end of
March, performing interviews shortly after
and wrapping up by early May. The district
hopes to have a new administrator by June 1.
“We’ll be involving the community with
questions, surveys and seeking feedback from
you on what you’d like to see for our next
superintendent,” Haywood said. “So as we
continue down this path, please keep your eyes
open for the opportunity to submit your input
because we’d love to hear from you and have
you involved throughout this entire process.”
Barry County Career Fest
connects students, employers
Hunter McLaren
Staff Writer
Barry County students gathered in Hast-
ings High School to explore local careers last
week.
Barry County Career Fest, organized by
the Barry County Chamber of Commerce
and Economic Development Alliance,
returned to Hastings on Friday. Students
were able to chat directly with local employ-
ers, much like last year’s inaugural event.
The event provides a unique environment
for students and local businesses to mingle.
Employers set up booths with interactive
displays in the high school, with students
being provided time to ask questions about
various fields and careers.
Hastings High School juniors and seniors
were provided time to tour the booths in the
morning and afternoon, while other Barry
County districts were able to attend in the
middle of the school day. Aside from con-
necting students with careers, the event acts
as a community building program, too.
Nichole Lyke, Economic Development
Director for the Chamber, said around 150
students from Delton alone attended this
year’s Career Fest. This year’s event generat-
ed interest in schools throughout Barry
County who are interested in hosting similar
events at their schools, Lyke said.
“It’s beneficial for them because it helps
visualize (how the event works),” she said.
“If you’ve never done an event like this, it
can be hard to visualize the logistics and the
setup of something like this.”
For Amy Graham, business solutions rep-
resentative for West Michigan Works,
Career Fest is a great way to find out more
about employer needs in the community.
Graham connected with employers through-
out the day, finding out what career oppor-
tunities they had available and how she
could best assist in finding employees to
tackle those needs.
In turn, Graham can better assist young
jobseekers who come through her office.
Through the Michigan Works summer work
program, 14 to 26-year-olds can be placed
with an employer for six weeks to get on-the-
job experience.
“What we try to do is align them with an
employer that kind of follows their career
path,” Graham said. “It will probably be only
the first step (in that path), but it will give
them some hands-on work experience so
they can get a feel for it.”
Graham spent some time chatting with
students, too. She hoped to be able to
broaden students’ horizons by getting them
to think of the roles that those unfamiliar
with the world of work might forget about
- like those in human resources, accounting
or marketing.
“It’s just kind of helping them open their
eyes to what these companies do beyond
the initial manufacturing or healthcare, or
the other roles within an organization that
are available,” she said.
While the event provides students a
chance to network, businesses can poten-
tially inspire the next generation of leaders
in their field by pitching their field to curi-
ous students. Of course, there are more
immediate, practical results too – students
find a way to earn some cash over the sum-
mer, and local businesses get summer help.
It’s a win-win.
Summer help is key for Barry County
Road Commission, when crews get to work
while roads are clear of snow and ice before
the next Michigan winter. Dylan Kennedy,
who started at BCRC as a part-time summer
employee himself before moving on to a full
time position, said part-time summer employ-
ees are vital to their operations. BCRC is
looking to hire for 25 part-time positions this
summer, he said.“We’ve been around a long time. They
might not like (doing the) flagging and all
that, but it keeps us all safe,” Kennedy said.
“It’s really important to us.
Scott Schantz, equipment superintendent
for BCRC, said finding local talent is key to
the department’s continued success.
“If we can foster some interest in that type
of work here locally, that would be very ben-
eficial for us in the future,” Schantz said.QUESTIONS:
ASK US... Sisters Fabrics218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-
OPEN: Monday-Friday 8 am-5:30 pm;
Saturday 9 am-3 pmQUESTIONS:
ASK US...
Sisters Fabrics
218 E. State St., Hastings • 945-
OPEN: Monday-Thursday 8 am-5:30 pm;
Friday 8 am-7 pm; Saturday 9 am-5:30 pmIt's time to
start
Grad Quilts
**_- New Collections
- Hulst Cleaners Pickup Station
- Linus Project Drop Off_**
PRAIRIEVILLE TOWNSHIP
BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGANNOTICE OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT PUBLIC HEARING
RICH LANE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT 2023-
TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF
PRAIRIEVILLE, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN AND ANY OTHER
INTERESTED PERSONS:PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, the Township Board of Prairieville Township,
as authorized by PA 188 of 1954, as amended, proposes to undertake a private road
improvement project (including paving and related improvements) on Rich Lane in
Prairieville Township as more particularly described below and to create a special
assessment district for the recovery of the costs thereof by special assessment against the
properties benefited.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the special assessment district
within which the foregoing improvements are proposed to be made and within which the
costs thereof are to be specially assessed includes with frontage on Rich Lane, including
the following tax parcel numbers:RICH LANE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT 2023-2 - PROPOSED
DISTRICT:The properties indicated by parcel numbers:12-036-014-10 12-040-003-00 12-040-013-00 12-050-001-
12-036-022-00 12-040-004-00 12-040-014-00 12-050-001-
12-036-025-00 12-040-005-00 12-040-015-00 12-050-004-
12-036-028-00 12-040-006-00 12-040-016-00 12-050-005-
12-036-031-00 12-040-007-00 12-040-017-00 12-050-006-
12-036-031-10 12-040-008-00 12-040-018-00 12-050-007-
12-036-032-00 12-040-009-00 12-040-019-10 12-050-008-
12-040-001-00 12-040-010-00 12-040-020-00 12-036-013-
12-040-002-00 12-040-012-00 12-040-021-00 12-036-034-PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Township Board has received plans
showing the proposed road paving project and associated activities, together with an
estimate of the cost of the project in the amount of $55,237, which includes administrative
costs. The cost of the project is proposed to be raised by special assessment on parcels in
the proposed district. The Prairieville Township Board has passed a resolution tentatively
declaring its intention to undertake such project and to create the afore-described special
assessment district.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Township Board has placed the project
plans and costs estimate on file with the Township Clerk and said plans, cost estimates
and special assessment district may be examined at the Township Clerk’s office from the
date of this Notice to the date of the public hearing and may further be examined at such
public hearing.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Township Board proposes to make a
per-parcel special assessment each year for a period of four years (2024-2027 inclusive)
of approximately $460.61 per year. Additionally, the Township Board reserves the right
to levy a lesser assessment in any year that there are more funds in the special assessment
district fund than the amount needed.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a public hearing on the plans, district, and
cost estimates will be held at Prairieville Township Hall, 10115 S. Norris Road, Delton,
Michigan, on March 13, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.At the hearing, the Board will consider any written objections and comments to any of the
foregoing matters which are filed with the Township Clerk at or before the hearing, and
any objections or comments raised at the hearing; and at the hearing (or any adjournment
of the hearing which may be made without further notice), the township board may revise,
correct, amend or change the plans, cost estimates or special assessment district.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that if written objections to the project are filed
with the Township Board at or before the hearing, signed by the record owners of more
than 20% of the total road frontage proposed for improvement, the township board may
not proceed unless petitions in support of the project, signed by record owners of more
than 50% of the total road frontage proposed for improvement and for inclusion in the
special assessment district, are filed with the township. Written comments or objections
may be filed with the clerks at the address set out below.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that appearance and protest at the public hearing
is required in order to appeal the amount of the special assessment to the State Tax
Tribunal within 30 days after the special assessment roll is confirmed. An owner or party
in interest, or his or her agent, may appear in person at the hearing to protest the special
assessment, or shall be permitted to file at or before the hearing his or her appearance or
protest by letter and his or her personal appearance shall not be required. All interested
persons are invited to be present in person or by representative and to express their views
at the public hearing.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that if the township board determines to proceed
with the special assessment, the board will cause a special assessment roll to be prepared
and another hearing will be held, after notice to record owners of property proposed to be
specially assessed, to hear public comments concerning the proposed special assessment.Prairieville Township will provide necessary reasonable aids and services to individuals
with disabilities at the hearing upon four (4) days’ notice to the Township Clerk at the
address below.
Rod Goebel, Clerk
Prairieville Township
10115 S. Norris Road
Delton, MI 49046
(269) 623-
212990RETIRING, continued from page 1 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
“Working for Hastings over the last nearly 12 years
here in the district has been the highlight of my
career. Working with not only the students and
staff, but the community — and such a generous
and giving community — has just been just an
awesome, wonderful thing.”— Matt Goebel, Superintendent, Hastings Area School SystemMegan Muma, camp director at YMCA of Barry County, spoke with students about
summer job opportunities at the organization. (Photos by Hunter McLaren)Victoria Jones of Trumble Insurance Agency brought a Barbie house with all the
amenities to showcase different insurable assets: home, auto, life, businesses and
even pets.