001[Music] All right, we're going to call to order our September 22nd, 2025 meeting. If everyone could rise for the pledge. >> No. Yes. Ice to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Let the record show all members are present this evening. Is everyone okay with the agenda? >> Do we have any communications? >> We do not. Item seven, board committee update. A, finance committee. Mrs. Saunders. Thank you, Madam President. Um, President, all committee members were present at the finance committee tonight. We were joined by Miss Williamson and Mr. Fiser. Mr. Obisnooki shared that they're looking at how the rate cut last week, the Federal Reserve, is going to affect how they refinance the bond.
002There be strategy meetings later on this week. Um the rumor is that there may be two more rate cuts this year. We're not sure. So stay tuned for more of that. And they're working with Gallagher on the plan offerings ahead of a health insurance open enrollment in November. Um the auditors were out last week from YoYo. We said it went very smoothly. Um couple of items are outstanding and are working on that right now. Scheduled to be presented at the October 27th board meeting. Um not seeing a lot of movement on the state budget which is still unresolved. Um Mr. Waznooki feels that our fund balance and the other revenues that we have incoming to the district that we're in a good position through the end of the year. And that was it. Thank you.
003Item B, policy and focus committee. Mrs. Madam President, we uh had our policy committee meeting today. Um we had a few different topics that came up as we were discussing. Uh we first started talking about the Miller Johnson school policy uh memo that came out in August to everybody in uh this year. We we looked at the policy again. um some of the recommendations we had already discussed it at our last policy meeting um we have had decided against on um several of the the policy changes Dr. Stan is going to not policy I take that back sorry uh minister of regulations that um we have we discussed today so Dr. understand is going to circulate the recommended changes um for all of us to to review. Um some of the other things that we
004talked about today, one was um just the consistency in the execution and enforcement of uniforms in the schools um for the sports. Some some of the clubs and teams are being told some some contradictory things. So wanted to discuss that and get some some uh clarification on on those policies. Um and then also we talked a little bit about the same same kind of situation with the attendance policy at the high school. Um you know between it being a a an absence five minutes if you're five minutes or more or late um opposed to leaving 30 minutes or an early dismissal. So, some of the things that we were just trying to get a little bit more clarification on uh to move forward and um all of the members of our policy committee were in
005attendance tonight. Thank you. Item eight, comments from the audience focused on today's agenda and we have none. Item nine, approval of the general general consent agenda items. A, regular meeting minutes of September 8th, 2025. B, building committee minutes of September 8th, 2025. C, Curriculum committee minutes of September 8th, 2025. And D, bills payable. Motion is in order. >> All in favor? >> Any oppose. Motion passes. Item 10, new business, human resource report. Mrs. Williamson. >> Thank you, Madam President. Tonight's human resources report includes the onboarding of one pair professional along with two teachers. We also received a request for a leave of absence from a teacher for second semester. And then we also received notice of one resignation. So if there are no questions, I recommend the human resources report be accepted as presented. >>
006Motion has in order. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay, motion passes. Moving on to item 11. Comments from the audience. And again, we have none this evening. Item 12 review and recommendations. Superintendent, other central office admin. >> Madame President, thank you. I do have a field trip, a out of uh state field trip. This is from Garden City Middle School and uh they are ahead of the curve in their uh request. This is a departure date of uh 65 2026. Uh this is for uh the Cedar Cedar Point trip. Um so they that is out of out of um an outofstate trip and this will be uh co-shaperon by uh the admin team at Garden City Middle School, Miss Boswell and Miss Recoi. They're expecting around 200 students to attend. Uh
007and this is part of the PBIS uh initiatives. So you know barring any board concern what we'll do is we will check with the insurance of the uh the coach company because we we're a little ahead of the game here. So, we'll make sure that their insurance is up to date when the time comes. But barring any board concern, um, I'll let them know that this trip is approved. Um, strategic plan process. I want to thank uh the many individuals from across the community who participated in the process. So far, we've had multiple input sessions that have included input from students, staff, board members, uh, community at large, and then administration. So, we had two another two sessions tonight. Um that'll wrap up the input sessions. The survey is still active. That survey will close
008at the end of the month. Uh feedback from our MASB consultant uh Dr. Kaminsky as we've done a lot of good work in getting the feedback both from you know straight from stakeholders in the input sessions and then through the the survey. So we're wellarmed with good data and good information to move forward. Our next piece will be that um all day meeting on October Saturday, October 18th. Uh that'll be at Garden City Middle School. That'll be the strategic planning retreat day from 8:30 to 4:30. Uh we've put invites out and we'll continue to reach out to folks uh to get around 35 to 40 stakeholders participating in that effort. And of course, we'll keep the board up to date on that as we move forward. Uh again the uh anticipation uh and sort of
009focus is to have a document a strategic plan draft to bring to the board on Monday December 8th our final board meeting of this calendar year for board approval. Um I do want to share that our auditors from yo and yo were in district last week and I want to thank the the business office led by our CFO Mr. Wiznooki for the good work uh and certainly with our business office manager Mr. Brett Mesa and everything that they did to prepare for the audit. I had a great conversation with the lead auditor uh and it was shared how impressed they were with our business office specific to even getting them information early so before they even came on site they were well prepared. So hats off to Mr. Wasnki and his team in the business
010office for the good work and audit prep and having all those many documents and line item uh entries, journal entries and uh receipts, everything in order uh to prove our good financial standing. So Steve, thank you for that good work. Well, speaking of audits and budgets, I would like to again address concerns, shared concerns from superintendent, school boards, and informed and thoughtful residents regarding the school budget, school aid budget. As I have shared previously, and as most folks that are well informed know, there's a statutory obligation for the Michigan legislature to deliver a school budget by July 1. It is now September 22nd and we still do not have a budget. Rumors are that they're getting close. Thank goodness. Hopefully they're not uh certainly they're more than a day late. Hopefully they're not a dollar
011short. Uh what I will share is the K12 Alliance, one of the advocacy groups um that makes up six counties in southeast Michigan, they delivered a pledge to members of the state legislature. And that pledge was fairly reasonable. One is to bring a reasonable foundation allowance uh which would be at least $10,000 per pupil which is relatively consistent with what we're receiving to not take too much money or and to adequately fund categoricals. Uh, one of the big things was to actually deliver a school budget on or before October 1st, which is it's late, but please get it to us by October 1st when this state's fiscal year starts. Uh, and then the other big piece was please do not dip $1.5 billion out of the school aid fund and divert that the roads. Now,
012if memory serves, we have around uh I think 110 members of the um House, Michigan House, and 30 members in the Senate. Sadly, those who have signed the pledge are are few. And what I do want to do is recognize them for their school aid and and and their focus on public school and public school advocacy. I will share that our house rep, our own house rep, Mr. Dylan Wgula signed the pledge, who was among the first or second individual to do so. Rep. Regina Weiss, Rep. Natalie Price, Rep. Lori Poetsky out of Leavonia signed, Rep. Veronica PZ, Rep. Mike McFall, Rep. Sharon McDonald, Rep. Matt Kolazar, former teacher out of Northville Township, Emily Deendorf, and Rep. Noah Arbett. Those are the folks that signed off. We're missing a lot of House reps there. There's
013a lot of folks who want to make public schools a political football. And sadly, the the Senate has not signed off at all. So, board members, I will continue to keep you informed, but I thought it worthy to recognize those folks who are willing to put their money where their mouth is and had the hutbah to stand up for doing what's right for our kids. And those were those names that I read. So, if there's somebody's name that isn't on there, it might be worthy of a phone call from one of you because uh I again once in a while it doesn't hurt to remind members of the legislature that they are elected officials. And who do they work for? They work for us. They work for the people of Michigan, including our school kids.
014So, if their name wasn't on that list, I think they could do better collectively. So, I'm going to take a deep breath and share some other good things. Um, I will share that our next regular board meeting is on Monday, October 13th. That is an away game 7 p.m. that is hosted at Memorial. We're excited about that board meeting because I do believe, Miss Dford, we've got some recognitions coming because we've got Shining Star students and above and beyond staff members to recognize. So, board members, I know we'll be excited for that. So we we can recognize some students and staff with that. Cabinet team members, any commentary from our our cabinet team folks at all? Anything you want to share? I will give a shout out though. We had some very solid professional development.
015So again, thanks to Mr. English and your work involved with that. Dr. Dr. Stan, I want to thank you again for your good work involving uh everything related to enrollment, schools of choice, counting those students, getting them into the classrooms. Miss Williamson, thank you again for the staffing. We had a few there. We can't come in late uh late, but they're they're they're in there in their classrooms. And I know we've got some parapro placements you're working on. And board members, I believe that will conclude my commentary. Thank you. Okay. Item 13, review and recommendations. Members of the board, does anyone have anything? Okay. Item 14, adjournment. >> Um, Madam President, >> Mrs. Ry, >> I move that we adjourn. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? All right. Thank you everyone for
016coming.