News from Thrun Law

The State School Aid Act establishes two student count days each school year to determine the amount of state aid distributed to a school: the first Wednesday in October and the second Wednesday in February. The 2026 spring (supplemental) count day is Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

School officials must strictly follow Pupil Accounting Manual requirements to count students in membership and must ensure that:

• each...

As school officials approach contract negotiations with teacher or support staff unions, thorough preparation is essential to achieving a fair, sustainable, and legally compliant collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Effective preparation not only helps to ensure that the school’s goals are clearly defined and collectively supported, but it also promotes positive labor-management relations and reduces the risk of disputes after ratification. 

Review the Current CBA and Identify...

For 2026, the regular election dates for millage or bond proposals are:

May 5
August 4
November 3

Because schools are responsible for any “added costs” of an election, placing proposals on the ballots during an even-year statewide primary election in August or the general election in November can significantly reduce expenses. Schools should contact their election attorney to discuss how different election dates may affect costs and overall...

Thrun Law Firm announces the retirement of our colleague and friend Jeff Soles, who will retire at the end of this year after more than three decades of dedicated service to the Firm and to Michigan schools.

Since joining the Firm in 1994, Jeff’s practice has focused on public finance and elections, where his careful analysis and steady judgment have made him a...