001All the meeting to order. >> All rise for the pledge. I pledge algiance 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. >> All right. Do we have a roll call? >> Yes. Wonder >> here. Hibbore >> here. >> Sephus >> here. Hardin present. Campell >> here. Dehan >> here. and has been here. >> Welcome back, Mr. Son. >> Thank you. We have a quorum. Please note, as a courtesy of members of the audience and the board of education, please silence your cell phone. Uh public will only be able to speak during public comment if signed on. Any forms? Fantastic. All right. Item number one, approval of the agenda. Can I get a motion? >> So
002moved. >> Support. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. Number two, West Elementary presentation. >> Yes. So we are very excited to have Mr. Wonderjam and some wonderful kids from West Elementary here. So take her away. >> Do you need this? >> I think we got All right, perfect. Well, thank you everybody. Again, I'm John Wonderjam, principal here at West Elementary. Um, very excited with a group of third graders here tonight um so that we can present on a really awesome reading engagement initiative that we started this year um called the Rough Readers um in third grade. Um so, if you guys wouldn't mind, you guys just want to share your names to the board really quick. Let's just go in order. How about you, young lady? Share with the board. Well, look
003at them. What's your name? Go ahead. >> Yeah. >> Go ahead. >> Ow. >> Aiden and Owen. Yeah. So, these third graders, especially, I mean, all of our third graders have really loved um this program that we started this year. Um but when I reached out to teachers, too, it's really you guys that they said really stood out as as kids. They get really excited about that every Friday. So, we wanted you to come and share a little bit more about that excitement with us here tonight. Um and then one more person too that I just need to introduce. This is Panda Leaf. Um she her granddaughter used to attend West. Now as we got out of the district, she's also um a family friend as well. And she is with West Michigan Therapy Dogs.
004That kind of is our connection to getting this started. Um Pam, I don't know if you wouldn't mind just maybe sharing a little bit about just the program and you know what you guys do. >> Sure. So um first of all, uh West Michigan Therapy Dog, uh we have to do eight weeks of training uh to become certified uh therapy dog and certified handler. Um, Rough Readers is one of their main programs and I just feel that it's it's really important. Um, it has not infiltrated Granville schools yet and I wanted to be able to do that. And so getting with with John and making that happen has just been, I think, just really inspirational for us and for the kids. And I'm hoping to get more grand and be involved with it. And we
005didn't introduce this is Gus. >> And this is Gus. Gus is a three-year-old mini birdie doodle >> and he loves to read with kids. Adorable. >> Yeah. And what what And I can talk a little bit, of course, we'll get into it, but when we started, we thought maybe we'd have three to five teams. Every other Friday per class we take turns, right? One class per month, you know, twice a month, third grade. Um, but what I think you found too, >> we've got eight or nine teams now that >> every single week. So, your folks have really been enjoying it too, coming in with our kids. Um, which I think speaks, you know, huge volumes of our building and our kids and our teachers. Um, and so all all third graders get to go
006every single session because we have >> because we originally thought it was just going to be one class >> to roll kids through. >> So, but we've gotten so many teams that we've been able to run through both third grade classes. >> Yeah, that's great. Yeah. So, well, I'll I'll dive into it then just to the presentation then. So, so just a few things. um the four items, but I think we'll move rather quickly here. Um just a background as to why like why we felt like at West we wanted to implement this um why with our third grade group and then kind of the research that goes behind why this might be an effective thing, a good thing for our kids. You'll find too that a lot of what our why was heading in
007the research just naturally matches up with it. So we were very pleased to see that. Um we'll just describe a little bit about what the structure looks like. Um got some pictures. um of course we want to see that and then just a chance for our students to share a little bit more about the experience with it. So so just heading into kind of the why um we felt like this was the right thing to implement and then for this group. So um Pam had actually reached out in the fall about this um and we're of course really interested and and excited about implementing it um but just a matter of time right in getting the school year going. So, right after winter break, um we felt like our current group of third graders, um
008you know, all of our kids, we're just so incredibly proud of and the growth that they make. Um but this group in particular across the board from kindergarten to where they are now, um have shown tremendous tremendous growth. Um reading and math, our academics, a lot of our behavior measures, just really everything. I'm incredibly proud of of their growth. Um I'm not talking the mic because I don't have to hear one of them. Um, but just very very proud of them. And so we wanted to find a way to keep that engagement up, to keep that love of reading up. Um, and just to again to it's foster a love of reading. So I'm really excited about that. Um, and it just it makes reading more comfortable. It makes it more fun. It makes it
009more relaxed. And any way that we can just engage our kids with literacy in a different way we want to do it to find what's going to what's going to work, what's going to click for every single one of our kids. So a lot of the why then kind of matches um along with some of the research behind it. So you know reading to a dog reading to not an inanimate object but just a p someone that's not a person right a dog that's not a person um helps kids reduce things I builds confidence in their reading. Um they just they have that person they have that thing that makes them feel comfortable and to read to and to speak out loud to. Um, and I and I while they're not I think they are
010getting feedback in a lot of the cuddles and a lot of the pets and a lot of those, you know, just nice interactions that dogs give us. Um, we also can see too um improvements in a lot of the skills behind reading. Um, fluency, comprehension, there's not those interruptions that maybe take place naturally with teachers, right? Our our job is to give feedback and rightly so, but they're just reading. they're just talking and the dog is there and they're just going um and they're feeling good about it and and the better they feel. The more that you're doing it, the more practice you get with reading, the better you get, right? It's so true with so many things. Um and increase motivation. The more that you're doing things like this, it just helps create positive
011associations with reading. It makes reading something fun and something you want to do more, right? And so again, a lot of the reasons why we want to do this matched up with the research behind why it's a good thing. So, how it looks is that every other Friday, um, we have groups of our, um, our teams of our certified handlers and their therapy dogs. They come in um, we set up our library. Our library is not being used on Friday, so it's a big wide open space to have our kids come down. Um, they spread themselves out around the library. Um, before they come in, if they can kind of do their business outside, we do that on the front lawn. We had fire clean out. >> Yeah, we did. We had uh we had
012a fire joke for example on Friday and that all went very smooth. So you know Pam was on a cruise so she wasn't here on Friday. Um but everything went very well. Um the handlers are always always so great to work with. Um again love being in the building. Um so they'll come down and they set themselves up and then we usually rotate about 8 to 10 minutes. Our teachers just send the kids down. They know right where to go. They just find the dog that they want to match up with for the day that's available and they just start reading and going and then the next group of kids comes down and bumps them out back to class. It's just a really smooth thing. I'd say probably what you know about 1:45 to 3.
013>> Yeah. Start at 1:45. We're always depending on how many dogs, but we're always done by 3. >> Yeah. So, it's I mean for a Friday afternoon too, you know, anything on a Friday that way is just a nice relaxed way to end the week. um Friday afternoon the kids are still engaged in reading activities right um near the end of the day I think that's a pretty cool thing too as the week comes to a close um so yeah that that's basically our structure um and yeah we we talked about that asterisk there of we plan for each class initially so many teams that want to come in every week that are we've got we we're rolling every kid through every session which is really cool and I got some pictures there maybe you
014guys are in these Aiden I see you right there. That's you with Gus, isn't it? >> Right there on the right. >> Yep. Oh, yeah. Gus is all smoothed up, isn't he? >> Yeah. So, you can see we got a variety of dogs, variety of breeds that come in. >> Oh, Maya, there's there's >> Gus is very popular. >> Guess is the star. I actually got a sticker from Miss Pam that I put in my window in my office. I'll have to show you guys. He's very popular. He's all over the hill. So, that's just, you know, a little bit of a snapshot into what it looks like. But, I mean, Amaya, I think that's an awesome picture, right? Just just smiles, happiness, right? >> Around reading, >> being with the dogs. Do you remember
015what that Amaya? Do you remember what that fella's name is? >> Slash. Oh, that's cool. >> Slash. >> Yeah, >> that's awesome. >> And it's fun. Every week they walk in kind of in like a parade. They walk in through the front door parade. They always walk out in a fun parade. So, it's a really cool parade. >> Okay. So, that's basically everything that I have. But the most important part, we want to hear from you guys. Okay. So, I got one of three qu you can answer all these questions. You can answer one of these questions. But here's what I'm wondering from you guys. Why do you enjoy reading with the dog? Okay, that's one thing. You could say which dog is your favorite either by name or by breed. Okay? because it's hard
016to remember all the answing to dogs make it more enjoyable to you. So, who would like to go first? Owen, step on up, buddy. Yeah. What do you want to say? >> You can you you may do it however. >> Yeah, you do whatever you need. You want chair? >> That's right. You got her. >> Okay, Owen's going to answer all three. >> Okay. >> Um, I enjoy reading with the dogs because um it you have somebody else to read with and pet with while you read um which makes it more enjoyable. >> And my favorite my favorite dog is Arlo. And why is because um it because I've had him a bunch of times at the library. I'm at Granville Library and and I've done Yeah. And how and reading to dogs is more
017um enjoyable because you um Oh, that that's basically the same question. >> It is basically the same. >> It's the same question. Okay. Who else? Who's next? Who wants the chair? You can come to the microphone. You can just use a big voice. >> Ma, what do you think? Come on up. You can stand, kneel on the chair. What do you think? I enjoy reading with the dogs because I like seeing all the different dogs and being able to read with them. And my favorite dog is Cooper because every time I see him, he jumps up and says hi to me. >> Who's next? One Maya. >> She was close. Anyway, >> which dog's your favorite? >> Um, my favorite dog is Izzy. >> Izzy. >> Oh, describe to them. What does Izzy look like?
018>> He looks like a husky. >> Looks like a husky. Is he big though or little? >> He's a little dog. Yeah. Kind of like a mix of like a cordy and a husky with really big smiles. really big smile. Nice. Thank you. Who else? Jameson and Edboy. What do you got? >> I like slash because he's just like there and he's not just like all over. Some just like to chill. Chill. >> Excellent. If I had my dog there, my golden retriever, she'd be all over you. Who else? So, I got two left. >> Okay, Salem, what do you got? I like enjoying um reading with adults cuz um cuz it's it makes reading a lot funnier cuz you get to read the dogs when it's fun with them >> and they just and
019then um my favorite dog is um Slash and Gus cuz um I like them cuz um Slash always just likes he whenever um I look at him he's always like 49 like he like puts his paw on the book and like he's like looking at the pictures and then um I like guess cuz he's really cute and he really like it's really cute is kind of like a teacher >> excuse me may I interject something real quick >> please >> just to let you know actually in our training and where you saw Gus us laying on the book and the dogs, we actually train the dogs to read a book, so to speak, >> and that is by taking treats and rubbing them on book pages. >> And then we sit with the dog and
020tell them to read and then that makes them not. Do they always do it? >> No. But just to let you know, that's how um our training goes and that's how we train the dogs to read with the kids. >> Very neat. >> Okay, last but not least, Mr. your name down there. What do you think? >> Why you like reading with the dogs or what your favorite dog is? >> Every dog that you like that you like that energy just having fun while you're there, read. >> Yeah. Yep. I do too. I do too. Wonderful. Great answers everybody. Um before we wrap up, does anybody any of the members of our board have any questions for me or have any questions for our third graders? >> Do you have dogs at home that you
021read to now? >> No, I don't read. >> No, that was very fast. >> A cat. >> Goldfish. >> Jameson, you do. >> I have a dog. >> Oh, I think it's time. I think it's time. >> Oh my goodness. >> There's something fun about reading to a dog. Over spring break, there was a stray dog where we were staying and I would go out in the morning and read a book and about day two or three, they started to snuggle up next to me in the chair and just kind of wanted to be there, wanted to be around. >> I think your dogs want to read. >> Yeah. >> So, what's the dog's favorite book? What dogs or what book do the dogs really like? >> Elvin and Pig. >> Elen Piggy. All right,
022there we go. Sounds like a winner. >> I like those books, too. >> Anything else? >> Nice job, guys. Thanks for sharing. >> Yes, thank you. Great. Thank you. >> All right. On the reports agenda, board member reports, Mr. Dhan. >> All right. Uh well, first great to have Joel backs back uh back with us. Um few few general things is like from the 31 AAA money um I don't know if I mentioned it before but I had contacted Luke Mirman who's my representative >> and you know they said that they would look into it and and so on but I' I've found out that he's not running anymore >> for reelection um and the so there's another candidate that is having a meet and greet tomorrow night out in the Allenale area. So I'm
023going to go I plan to go meet with I'm going to go ask his question about that and see if he's ever heard about it. So that going to do that tomorrow night. Um I've mentioned this before but traveling for work last week I was in Denuba California and like after work I want to try and find a place to walk. So a lot of times I'll try and find a high school and walk their track and it's it's surprising like Denuba I went to the high school at 6:00 at night. The parking lot's locked fence you know 10 foot high fence all the way around the whole campus. Nobody in there can't get in. It's crazy how that is. And it was that way in Florida also that uh the difference between like our
024community here and what we can do and our facilities versus Florida and California, the two places that recently that I've been. Um so it's nice to do that here. And then just uh following up on Michelle Thomas, uh I follow the cheer boosters on Facebook, but um just to call out their their the parents like they're constantly posting in there that they're working at Vanal. I don't know if they have a booth that they they do every event, but it seems like they're at almost every event. And so, I mean, I know that from the cheer standpoint with everything they they do, it has to take an incredible amount of money. And that's a lot of dedication from the parents to uh do that to to do that fundraising. So, a shout out to them.
025So, that's it. It's funny that you mentioned that because um I'm missing a hockey booster meeting right now and I just brought that idea to the hockey boosters and we are actually going to start working because now they've opened up the amphitheater in the soccer stadium. So those opportunities are >> are extremely lucrative for for teams and so we're really looking forward to it and >> you know you can go work for somebody. So if you want to come work for them or the cheerleaders, right? So and it goes towards their right? It goes towards the group and it really is it's cheerleading. All of them are very expensive, but it it's a really great way to uh work with people. So, awesome. >> So, I know from the football boosters, I mean, people wouldn't
026realize it unless you're part of it, but for the football boosters, I think we needed to raise 30 to $35,000 a year just to provide >> the the things that the students and the coaches get to do. So, >> cheers probably way more than that. >> Yeah. Mr. Gardine, why don't you go continue? >> Sure. Um, so besides that, they are having their meeting this evening to kick off hockey for the summer, which all of our, you know, all of our sports are constantly going. So, I'm really proud of all of our sports. Um, kids had SATs last week. Um, so lots of stressed out kids with AP exams coming up in a couple weeks. Um, uh, I'm wearing my Chicago teen edition. It is the teen edition. Um, play is this Thursday through Sunday.
027So, they also are doing this really cool thing this year where they're doing VIP tickets. They've taken out the seats where the pit usually would play and they're putting up threeperson chair tables and you get like snacks and you get front row and you get to be kind of a part of the play and it's just it's a really great I mean the tickets are more expensive and it's just a such a smart way to engage the audience. I just I just love that they're doing that. So, if you haven't gotten tickets, there's still some available. Um, art and chocolate walk is also next week, which is another thing with the band and the jazz band comes out and um my son is going to be playing his saxophone along the street if you want
028to, you know, listen to him and toss him a buck. Um, also, I'm super proud of um our saxophone quartet at the high school that also Lewis was the lead saxophone on. They received MSBOA's outstanding ensemble award last week. So what that means is first they have to make it through like contest regional contest then they go to state contest then that judge recommends them for this contest um to go on towards the state. Then there is a whole panel of judges that listen to that and decide who the best is of in all the state and then they're invited to Oakland University and they're going to be performing on May 8th. So, it's a it's a really big deal. The I think um three or four um groups or individuals in this in Granville
029have ever received it. So, >> really proud of that. Our our band kids are outstanding. So, um that's what I've got right now. >> Thank you. >> Joe, welcome back. >> Well, um thank you very much. I appreciate that. It feels good to be back. Um, I've been out of the game for a while. So, I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for your thoughts and your prayers over the last month and a half or so. So, I appreciate that. Um, other than that, I don't have a whole lot to offer. So, all right. Thank you guys. Appreciate >> having >> no report. >> Sally, >> um, I have had the chance to go to a bunch of the girls soccer games, which has been a lot of fun. We're soccer
030people in our family and so I've taken my my grandsons with me cuz they love to watch soccer and critique so even though they're this high but anyway so that's been fun. They've been doing really well. I've never been to a game at the new field >> um because when my kids were playing soccer they were over at Graan View. So that's kind of cool. Nicely done there. >> Um I am two going to the teen version of Chicago and I'm looking forward to that. And then this week, I'm also going to be going with my grandson from South and we're going to be going um for uh one of his days of week-long experience immersion at the Grand Rapids Art Museum or not, not art museum, public museum. >> So, I'm super excited about
031that. >> Um the only other thing that I just would like to comment on um publicly is just how much I appreciate um all the input that we've had regarding, you know, get hiring our new superintendent. Um I think it's been very positive to do that. I would like to re-emphasize um something that I had a chance to share um with you Jason in our one of our conversations that I I want us to remember that teachers when they bring to light concerns they know full well this is not going to affect you know increase their pay the and and the only reason that they're saying this I truly believe is because teachers want to be able to be supported to do the best job that they can. Being a teacher, teaching their kids, getting
032their students to learn and to be successful learners. I know what that feels like. There is nothing in the world as a teacher being able to look in the eyes of your student after you've worked with them hard and they suddenly get it. I mean, that is magic time. And so I just want us to continue and I know we will with our new superintendent to push towards um making sure our teachers are supported and with everything that they need to be able to bring those kids to that place of getting it and uh growing. Yeah. >> Thank you, >> Amy. >> Yeah. Um, I just wanted to acknowledge our PTC's, um, because, you know, they've been doing they do fundraising every single year. Um, and I am honestly amazed that our PTC's continue to
033raise quite a bit of funds for their schools. Um, everybody knows that finances are tight for everyone right now. um and the fact that they can continue to be able to raise quite a bit of money to support our schools and fun activities for our students. Um that's a significant workload. Um and the fact that they continue to do that I think really needs to be acknowledged because it is a lot and that's the same with our boosters. Um it is uh a lot of work and I really appreciate that people are willing to do that. Um, other thing I wanted to make note of was the testing. Um, not just that, you know, nobody's excited about state testing or the SATs. Um, but I did notice how well the testing schedules were organized um,
034for students. Um, it is hard to pull that off where you can have students take the SAT or the PSAT or the MSTEP in a school setting. um you know when there's other kids in the building and not be sort of disrupted. It's very complicated. Um and I I just was really impressed with that. I uh told my daughter when I had to take the ACT back then I said we used to have to come in on a Saturday >> and do that. Um and it's it's impressive. It takes a lot of organization. Um and so that that I was I was happy to see that >> and a lot of tech support too. Yes, the tech support, uh, the Chromebooks, it's it's a lot. So, um, yeah, so that's all they have. >> Great.
035Thank you very much. Um, again, just welcome back, Joe. It's great to have you back. It is good to see you here. So, appreciate that. >> Good to see you. Um, they had an opportunity, gosh, one, uh, I don't know, Tuesday night or so, got went over to the high school and I got women's girls tennis in, watched some of that against Jennison. That was fun. went over, walked over to the baseball field, watched the boys play uh Gold Lake, walked past the the big stadium and rugby. I think was playing East Kwood, I think is what it was, and then into the high school to watch uh some the boys volleyball play West Ottawa. So, I was able to kill a whole bunch of them at once. So, that was But it's just so
036fun to see. I mean, spring, I know it happens all year round, right? But, I mean, with spring in the air and everything like that, to see so much activity at the high school and so many things going on. Um, I tried to get over to the theater to see if they were practicing, but it didn't look like anybody was practicing at that point. I'm sure they were all playing sports and they were >> until 11:30 tonight. >> Yeah, exactly. I think I think that's the thing. So, that's the neat thing is so many of these kids are involved in other things, too. It's not just theater. I'm sure they were probably out at a game somewhere just to come back and and go to practice afterwards. So, it's uh it's really cool to see
037that stuff. I can't believe graduation is right around the corner. I mean, I got my first grad invite today uh um or announcement today. So, that's going to be coming quick and and and heavy on us. So, um, buckle up because it's a it's a busy next month and a half. >> Mhm. >> So, that's all I got. >> Okay. >> Raj. >> Yeah. So, I want to start off saying, Joe, it's so great to have you back in, uh, you know, the thoughts and prayers I know were there, but you uh, man, you did an amazing job with what you went through and we're just, you know, showed that bulldog spirit without question. So, we're just so happy uh, to have you back. Um, I'm happy to be back. I had an amazing vacation,
038better than it could have been and thank you so much for for supporting that. Uh it took me a few days to uh which was good practice for coming up here in July, but you know that phone you just const you know so used to 24/7 that phone and uh it took me a little bit of time but I broke away from that and uh it was good to do that and I just appreciate our uh administrative team. I I didn't I I mean I didn't have to worry at all and I knew that but you guys are just phenomenal. Thanks so much. Uh yeah, so here we are. Uh race to the finish. There's so, you know, especially, you know, we had the rain and now the weather's going to start getting a little
039nicer and boy, the activities are boom boom boom boom all along. And it's just going to it's just a nice culmination to uh a wonderful year. So really looking forward to that. And I know tomorrow I'll be doing what you did, be jumping around, see the different things that are going on, and just very very excited um about that. So, uh, you'll see in your board updates from here on out. I'll try to put as many activities that are coming for you as possible so you can keep them on your radar as far as, you know, uh, senior awards, graduation, all those things that come at this time of year. So, try to try to keep you posted, but if you have any questions about anything, give us a holler as well. Okay. So, looking
040forward to it. It's going to be a great uh, six weeks here. So, >> great. Thank you very much. All right. Uh, any old business? >> No business. >> Consent action agenda. Can I get a motion? >> So moved. >> Support. >> All those in favor? Yes. >> Opposed? >> Passes. Our regular action agenda 6A. The internet filter renewal. It is recommended the board of education approve the renewal of 5800 uh three-year securely internet filtering licenses for a total purchase of $53,418. Can I get a motion? So moved >> support discussion. >> Of course, Walt's here to fill us in. >> Yep. Um so this is the renewal of the district's internet filtering system. Um part of that it to be in compliance with the federal government reimbures us for a portion of our internet
041connection. Um to be in compliance with that, we are required to filter that internet connection. uh securely provides a uh children's online protection act compliant filter. Um it also in addition to just basic internet filtering, it does I noted it a little bit there, but it does a lot of other stuff as far as monitoring for things like uh cyber bullying, self harm monitoring, all of that kind of thing. Sending alerts to administrators when that kind of activity happens on uh Granville device. So it does a lot of other things than just filtering the internet. Um, this is a three-year renewal because it ends up saving us just over $6,000 when we do a three-year renewal. So, >> so we've been with this for a while. >> We have. Yeah. >> And you don't you
042haven't you haven't even shaken from it, so you're really happy with it? >> Yeah. Um, part of it is um, as with a lot of things in technology, they kind of get you in their ecosystem. So, as I mentioned, we have the, you know, the monitoring system that goes along with it. Um, some of the the high school and the middle school are using things like the electronic hall pass system that's along the same or from the same company. Um, so there's a number of products that we use from security that all kind of become an ecosystem. So, >> um, because of that, do we get any um house discount? Right. Um, we do get a discount when we as we add additional products. Um, off the top of my head, I don't know what
043that percentage is. >> I don't need to know it as long as they appreciate the relationship that we have with them. >> They do. >> Okay, great. How do the notifications work? >> Uh, so building administrators will receive an email notification when um the system detects, you know, certain keywords um certain activities. As with all things these days, there's AI that happens there in the back end that kind of monitors activities and sends an alert via an email to the building administrators. >> So, it just so something happens to a 10th grader. Is it just the building administrators at the high school that get notified or do all of the administrators get notified? >> No, it's just the the building ad the principles and assistant principal. >> Okay. been with Adam a few times when
044it's it's happened and it's uh it's really cool to get that because you can do so much so you know you don't have to wait till that next day or next morning you can do a lot right then and then yeah it's a great great thing to have >> I'm familiar with gaggle which is similar that thing >> I just wondered how securely worked >> yep very similar >> thanks Sure. Any other questions? All right. All those in favor? >> Yes. >> Opposed? >> Motion passes. >> On to 6B. The Cisco firewall appliance upgrade has recommended the board of education approve the purchase of two Cisco 3130 firewall appliances for a total purchase price of $270,153.96 from Peopledriven Technology. Can I get a motion >> support >> discussion? So as opposed to the internet filter,
045this is a network firewall appliance. Um so a little bit different there. This actually monitors the network and internet traffic in the district that comes in in and out the internet connection and scans it for things like security threats, malware, that type of thing. Um the existing firewalls that we have are still functioning. However, um they were originally purchased back in 2020 and with all things technology um they are no longer going to be supported. So obviously a critical piece of network equipment like the firewall is something we want to be able to receive updates for so that it can be on top of those um network security threats. So this purchase would um purchase two firewall appliances, we run two appliances for redundancy. Um just like we run two internet connections, we have two
046firewall appliances. So that uh with as critical as internet connectivity is in the district for you know basically all types of communication these days if one of those firewall appliances go down then it automatically fails over to the the secondary appliance. >> Did you say the initial was purchased in 2020? >> Correct. >> 6 years that's how seven years is already done. >> Okay. >> Is that how long these would expected to last then? >> Uh obviously I can't predict how long Cisco is going to provide support but I would hope we would get at least that amount of time out of the >> seems like a lot from Cisco. Yeah, I feel I feel great. Um, with regard to the firewall and how just a just a couple sentences is all I need. Well,
047um, with the amount of negative activity, I'll just say it that way. That's the nicest way to say it that is going on out there. Um, how comfortable are you that our systems are going to be held harmless for the most part? >> Obviously, >> I said for the most part, >> I will still say nothing is ever perfect. Um, but I think Cisco does a great job as far as keeping on top. I mean, this the the firewall appliance every night is downloading new updates as far as what internet threats are out there and be sure that it can block those threats from entering Granville's network. Um, not to say that we're better than other districts, but some other districts have had run different brands of firewall appliances and have had some vulnerabilities not
048get caught by their firewall appliance, whereas a Cisco firewall appliance does. So that's one of the reasons why I recommend them. >> Who does Rockford have? >> I don't know that off the top of my head. I can get that answer for you. >> No, it's okay. It's just something happened at Rockford. So >> I was wondering um you know, you have that one package, the professional services package for the um 1155 >> and then you had a number of things that were not included in the grand total. Are there is there anything off of that list that if you know your wish list that you would have included on that? >> Um, not necessarily. The I the things that I left off I didn't feel were necessary. The professional services. So there's pieces of
049network equipment in the district that myself and my team are comfortable implementing. So like a network switch fails at a building in a closet, my team is comfortable swapping that out and make programming it and getting it up and running. Again, for something as critical as this, I want to make sure that when we're swapping it off to a new piece of hardware, the professional services team from um people driven is, you know, might know something that I don't necessarily know. We want to be sure we get that piece of equipment set up correctly. >> Sure. >> But there wasn't anything else on that list that you, you know, if in a perfect world you would have added to your >> No, I'm I'm confident with with what we're >> Thanks. >> Yeah. So securely
050is a software and this is the hardware >> kind of. Yeah. Um securely is a cloud-based filtering solution. So um and then this is is a physical piece of hardware that lives here at the data center. Gotcha. Any other questions? All right. All those in uh let's take a roll call for the because of the amount of this. >> Okay. Veneck, yes. >> Campo, >> yes. >> Hibbore, >> yes. >> Stephus, >> yes. >> Cardin, >> yes. >> Wonderam, >> yes. >> And Dehan, >> yes. >> Motion passes. Thank you very much. Thanks, Walt. Um, item number uh 6C, it is recommended that the board select four members to represent KASB board of directors. Discussion. I'm sorry. Can I get a motion? Sorry. So >> support >> and this is a common uh thing that
051pops up uh for us. You can see the candidate pages there with the candidates. Um you can see there's six open seats with four candidates running. Uh which means there's two vacant seats there. uh the four people that are mentioned. Of course, you have uh their candidate uh pages here so that you're able to have a a decent idea of who they are and what they do and what they're about. So, um so yeah, any questions? So, not about selecting the four people for the six seat obviously. Uh, but I I'm curious there with two vacant seats. Is there an advantage? Um, I just think about collaboration with other boards in terms of learning new information, different things that one of us sort of maybe look to go to one of those board seats, those
052vacant seats. I I'm just curious is if people find that beneficial, have we ever done that? We've had uh Tim Gerhorse was on the ISD >> board. Steve Zinger. That's it. >> Yep. >> Was on the ISD board. And you know, separate board. Obviously, if you're on that board, you're not on this board. But I think it's very uh I you know, my experience uh being at their their board meetings and the dialogue with some of their uh their administration and their board there that I mean obviously it's very helpful for West Michigan. It's always good to have a local flavor on that board. I mean, I think Tim and and Bob, I think you can speak uh to this probably better than any of us. Uh Tim always had really good big picture West
053Michigan insight and yet he could provide them with that local flavor of uh different components. So, uh especially when it comes to the west side of 131, >> right? Right. That that's one of the things I was curious about. Although there is someone a board member from Canwell Hills, so that does >> there's someone somewhat uh nearby, but and they they usually have a pretty uh diverse group of people from different places. But um yeah, I I think it's always good to have people nearby and to have a local flavor if possible um on that board. I think it's very beneficial for >> for the local district to be heard and for us to be able to get insight from somebody we know that is in our community. >> Right. Right. And is this I'm
054assuming this is sort of a subgroup of MASB or is this separate from MASB? >> Yeah, it's they >> completely separate. >> Okay. Okay. So this is like Kent's association of school boards. It's not >> it's the association from the 19 school districts. Are you obviously excited? You want to You're going to volunt her name in >> No, I was I was I just thought I would I thought it I was curious and I said I thought, "Oh, is this something that's beneficial for us to have that kind of information?" Um >> I had not heard of this before. >> Was Tim formerly on the the Granville School Board and then he moved on towards Okay. All right. Tim was also on the Ottawa County Road Commission. So Tim is a >> all over the
055place. >> Tim's a good steward. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Kind of. >> Mhm. >> He's out there for everybody. >> That's just who Tim is. >> Well, and I'm assuming this isn't the school board for Kent ISD. This is the association of school. >> It's the associations board. >> So it's Okay. I just want to make sure. And essentially what they do is they plan all the different meetings for the most part that >> Okay. >> happen. Gotcha. So obviously being four candidates and we choose four. I mean >> really not much to do, right? I mean do we just uh we need vote to approve all four or do we vote individually? I mean >> how do we trying to think how do we do this when it's >> Well, you select four
056members. >> Yeah. The board gets >> everybody selects four members. One vote, >> right? >> Yeah. >> So, do you want a separate recommendation? >> No. >> All right. So, these are the four members to approve these four members. All right. >> All those in favor of approving these four members as the board or as the Kent Intermediate Associated School Board Board of Directors. >> All those in favor say yes. >> Yes. Yes. >> Opposed say nay. >> Yes. Is added. All right. There we go. >> 101. All right. High school CAD lab. That is uh 6D. Uh it is recommended the board of education approve the purchase of 31 HPZ2 uh CAD workstation computers from CDW-G in the amount of $63,952.7. Can I get a motion? So move more discussion. >> I'm back. Um
057so this is the replacement of the high school uh has a computer aided design uh class u multiple classes actually and this is the replacement of the computer hardware in that classroom. Um the computers that are in that classroom right now were originally purchased in during the summer of 2017. So, we've gotten quite a bit of mileage out of them. Um, because CAD is something that's it's still pretty, you know, high-tech, cutting edge, we want to be sure that we have the latest computer hardware in there um so that it can support the latest software that that kids are using to to learn those skills. >> Um, these this is just the replacement of the uh CPU. The computer monitors that are in there um are still they're 4K monitors. They're still pretty pretty state-of-the-art.
058And the mouse and keyboard that go along with those are are in good shape, too. So, this is just the replacement of the computer hardware. So, >> I mean, we got our money's worth. >> Yeah, we're getting to a point with the ones that are in there where we're having a hard time finding parts and stuff to keep them going. So, this that's why they >> What's the reliability? The fact that you're saying that we're trying to get parts. Are the are they overall reliable machines still? Yeah, they I mean they're overall reliable machines. We've had good luck with the the HPZ2 platform, which is why we're kind of sticking with that product line, but um >> we don't tend to have a lot of failures in there, but with the age of the machines
059now, we're starting to see some failures there where like a graphics card is going out. We can't find a graphics card that fits in that machine anymore. So, >> and we haven't had any issues with software compatibility on the current systems. Not yet. The current version of AutoCAD and the other CAD software Solid Works still runs on the hardware, but >> okay, >> that was just, you know, be my question. How what is this? How does this connect to other pieces of equipment we have in there? I assume maybe do we have this hooked up to like 3D printers and so forth and what's the next domino to fall when it cuz unfortunately, right, nothing ever stays compatible as time goes on. >> Um, there is an individual 3D printer in there. It's not directly
060hooked to these machines. So they do things like they design something, they'll put it on a thumb drive and then take it over and plug it into the 3D printer. Um there is a big, you know, large format printer that they do design work and then they print out that that should continue to to work. It's pretty it's more recent actually than the machines that we're replacing. >> Okay. Brent, I'm going to ask you put you on the spot. How much longer will CAD be, you know, CAD operators be around before it's taken over? Well, we all all of our engineers do their own CAD work. We have very few like we have when I started I didn't I didn't do CAD at all. I mean, we just had a CAD group that did it
061and we've transitioned that probably 20 years ago that all the engineers did all of their own CAD work and then we have just a handful of CAD experts that can fix things that engineers break. But um it's like when we interview people now for engineering positions, it's pretty much just expected that they know some form of a CAD and I don't see it going away. >> Yeah. The calculations that the engineers used to do, right, are now kind of built in all >> CAD module. So it's it's all in one. >> Yeah. Like ours is the conveyor systems and the stuff that they used we used to do by hand or with a separate program. It's all built into the drawing package. Now do >> you see AI taking over some of that is, you
062know, because they talk about coding going away because >> that's that's something that we've really been talking a lot about there. It it's it it will have to, but a lot of our work deals with so many of our product lines that are 20 or 25 years old and retrofits and things like that. So, I don't know. It'll take a while, but that's defin I mean, our company is investing a lot of money into doing that >> to reduce the number of engineers we need. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, just Yeah. But it's a huge advantage for students to have this coming out of high school because >> from you know interviewing people that are going into engineering in college like I don't know that they necessarily even have CAD classes in college. Their colleges
063just expect that they know a CAD software or they teach it themselves. >> Cool. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? All right. Let's do a roll call again. >> Okay. Jan. Yes. >> VC. Yes. Camp. >> Yes. >> Winter Jim. >> Yes. >> Gardine. Yes. Stephus. >> Yes. >> Highore. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Motion passes. Thank you. Uh 6E. Qualifying professional development committee. It is recommended the board of education approve the following staff members to serve on our district qualifying professional development QDP or QPD committee. You can read them all there. Can I get a motion? >> So moved. >> Support. >> All right. So gonna turn things over to Scott and he's gonna talk a little bit about this. >> This was certainly a team effort. Uh we all worked closely
064on on putting this together. Our request today is um uh out of Michigan statute requires the board of education to simply approve the committee. Here is our committee. Uh we're excited about this work. Obviously, we've planned professional development for years. This uh puts a little structure to it in terms of what the state of Michigan considers a qualifying professional development committee. Uh we always like the idea of collaboration and engagement with our staff. So um you'll see there uh our goal for creating this committee was um to include a wide variety uh of stakeholders as much as we could. The one of the main requirements for the QPD committee is that it does have to be made up of a majority of teachers a andor non-instructional staff. So, uh obviously we will have administrative representation
065from central office. John and I are listed on the committee as well as some uh building principles. Um but we look for a good cross-section of teachers from every building and or grade level. And that's um the reason for the size of the committee which we see some advantage in um that uh everybody will will have some voice. It will be important. Often times we plan professional development as you can imagine at elementary versus secondary but at the same time we want this committee we're all driving in the same direction to be a part of that and understand how uh work at the secondary level particularly in around our our professional learning communities work uh mirrors what happens at the elementary it mirrors what happens in PE our PE teachers at the elementary level have
066done incredible work this year around uh their professional learning community uh design around their standard, their teaching standards. Same thing that's happening in high school social studies, um how they're digging into uh the four questions of the PLC. So, this committee will meet this spring uh once approved and we'll plan out all of the uh put a skeleton together for the professional development for next year um and have that uh good to go before the school year starts and have that plan to roll into. Scott, how are the teachers selected? >> Uh, so two ways. Uh, mainly with uh the building admin. I worked with each uh building administrator to ask for kind of recommendations and then they were invited um those that had the capacity and desire to join this committee. >> Okay, great.
067Thank you. Are there are your parapros are they invited to PD days or is that >> sometimes? >> Okay. Sometimes they are. >> Yeah. So, uh, great question, Joe. It's a gray area because it's not built into their contract. Okay. >> But then if there are things that because it would be added time for them. So if there are things that as we're planning PD or as things come up that they need to be a part of, then that's a conversation we have. When we did Alice training, for example, right, it was one of those things where everybody needs to be there. We need to prioritize those things. >> Right. I just didn't see any on the list. I just wondered if maybe they were >> a separate training or something. >> Great. Great. committee
068more yeah more specific to the instructional practices for our teachers so that >> once we approve the the group and then the group selects PD um if for some reason we get down the road remember a while back we I think it was west couldn't have school because the dump truck went down the road with his bin up and knocked out power >> so if we had six snow days and West had a seven because of power these are hours that we could use to cover those six hours for that school day and not have to have West come back if we can't get forgiveness from the state for that day. Right? So, it gives us a little bit of flexibility should we need to use that at our high school when they do testing.
069Um, this gives us some flexibility for our students that are not testing to be able to be home because this can qualify as instructional time because it's created by a committee predominantly because of by teachers and we have to be able to prove that at least 75% of our folks participated in that PD for us to be able to count. So, it's really designed around the ability to count as instructional >> from a teaching standpoint, from a human standpoint. Makes sense. Will >> will this group have a means of being able to evaluate um the PT PD that occurs and stuff? And so will they do that together as a group? >> Yeah. So that's actually one of our priorities coming out of our MTSS committee. It's been one of our low areas on our
070our district capacity assessment is our evaluation of PD. So that's absolutely one of the things we're trying to task them with is um uh creating a process for that. >> Okay. >> Evaluation. Okay. Did anybody was is this a is this a committee that people want to be on or they get volunttoled or I mean tell me about this committee. >> I'll restate they were invited. >> Okay. You're invited. >> This list of people accepted that invitation. >> Did did anybody want to be on it that didn't get Was there anybody raising hand? >> Said hey I didn't get asked could I be part of it? >> Okay good. >> Uh but there were some as always right which is completely understandable. There there were a number of people who just said my plate is
071full. like I have to right now and you certainly understand and respect that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> That's a big list. Yeah, it is. >> Yeah, I was thinking about that. I was like, that's a lot of people. >> I I started creating a list. I circled back to John. I was like, it's getting big. But then as we talked about it, we thought it it kind of needs to be in order to get the scope of representation that we want. And we find that a lot, right? When when especially when when we want somebody from every grade level and somebody from every building and And you have greats >> cross-section like you said between you know special education interventionist social workers teachers >> and we all know those names. They're great people. They're
072great participants. They come with great voice and some credibility to to bring the pulse and then bring it back to staff. I think the power in it is the front end of that meeting we're able to say these are all the things that we're doing >> and then we can break off in smaller groups and you can have a 712 group talk about all right 712 what does this look like because we know even inside of departments at the high school and middle school we're in different places right so how do you do that sort of planning how do you do that for K or K6 how do you do that for 56 how do you do that for K4 um and so I like it's a big approved. But once the framework is set
073that says here's for our half days and for our monthly 1 hour PD days, here's what we're going to be looking at. Then they get a chance to help define what that is. Um and so right at the start of the year, all our building leaders going into the summer know what that schedule looks like. All our teachers will know here's what we're doing on each one of those half days. Here's what that looks like in between there for one hour. And it should be flexible and tight enough that you can do that K4 56 712 or 78 912. >> Okay. >> Any other questions, discussion? All right. All those in favor? Yes. Opposed? >> Motion passes. >> 6F. The Google Workspace for Education users license as recommended the board of education approve a three-year
074user license agreement for Google Workspace for Education that will be build annually at $34,020. The benefit of the three-year agreement is to lock in pricing. Can I get a motion? >> Absolutely. >> Support. >> And because we like to see Walt go back and forth, so he had to do it. So Walt, take her away. Um, this is the renewal of the district's Google Workspace for Education licensing. So, way back in 2011 or the 2011 2012 school year, we first implemented Google as our email solution. Um, at the time that was a nocost email solution. Um, over time, Google added more and more features. You know, Google Docs, Google Drive, all of that stuff. Um, when we implemented one to one, we implemented Google Chromebooks. So students use all of those Google tools on a
075daily basis. Um in 2020 and 2021 during COVID um we elected to purchase some more premium features um with Google Workspace. Um so teachers uh took advantage of those features to educate students during during COVID and use uh educate students effectively using their Chromebook. Um over time, Google has added more and more features to the Google Workspace for Education license. Um to the point that a lot of those features are critical now. So for example, um Google Workspace for Education licensing gives me some security tools as far as email and how we use our Google system that allows me to keep all of those documents and systems secure. Um there's more storage that gets added when you have that that Google Workspace licensing that teachers, you know, store documents up in the cloud. So there's
076a lot of things that teachers you and students use on a daily basis that um becomes licensed with the Google Workspace for educa education licensing. So this is the renewal of those features. Well um so in the in the description here 3 years sub 10k is 10k the number of licenses >> correct yeah >> so we can have up to 10,000 licenses for that cost >> no so we're purchasing um so the way they license thing and again Google changes things as time goes on but when we purchased licensing during co the way they licensed things were based on the number of student licenses that you purchased so we purchased uh you know for our licenses for our students. Staff licenses were free. Since then, Google has changed that. So staff licenses unfortunately are no
077longer free. So we're basing the number of licenses that we're purchasing there at 5,800 to have our student population and some some wiggle room in there. And then staff licenses with the number of staff accounts that we have in the system. >> Um so that's why the the 1,200 and the 5800 there. The 10K I think that you're seeing there is if we have purchased more than 10,000 student licenses, but that's probably the discount ceiling. >> Got it. >> All right. >> The extra features that you talk about, are those all a cart or is it like come in a clump of you buy it's four you got to buy the extra or >> Yeah. So they're Google Workspace for Education pricing. they their pricing model is kind of complicated but um all of the
078features that we're used to that we purchased during co are under the work Google workspace for education licensing there are some additional there's like plus features that you can buy on top of it um some of which are additional AI capabilities for students things like that but um I'm confident with the Google Workspace for Education licensing that we're using now I think it's the most cost effective way to know of like something like the Google meets right I didn't know how much that's actually being used still, right? I mean, what I mean would have been that is that >> with CO gone, right? Is it still being used? I know they were using it for some of the u um parent teacher conferences, but I thought that stopped. So, I just didn't know how much
079like that one was being used. >> Yeah, I can get some statistics on that. >> It's okay as long as it's being used. Okay. All right. Freely Okay, that's fine. her. >> We did eliminate our Zoom licenses. >> Correct. Yeah. During co we had purchased some Zoom video conferencing licenses. So we have eliminated those and and primarily used >> for a while there was a little bit of a redeyed stepchild that wasn't very good. So right >> yeah it's gotten much better. >> Yeah. >> Any other discussion? >> All right. All those in favor? >> Yes. opposed. Motion passes. >> Thanks, Paul. >> Thanks, Walt. Discussion items 7A bulletin 1014 presentation. >> Yes. So, uh we receive a lot of data and out of uh transparency sharing and letting you know a little bit about
080you know how we utilize some of these things. Um thought we would share some tonight. So Heather has some of the data uh pieces and I think you'll think you'll uh enjoy this. So take her away, Heather. >> Okay. So um this slideshow is everything where we ranked in different categories for the 2425 school year. So it's always old. And you know we bring you the audit end of Septemberish, sometimes October. Um, after that, our office is tasked with sending all of the financial data to the state in a format that they require us to have it in. And so, the bulletin 1014 is compiled at the state level and is typically available by the end of February of the following year. Um, this is a presentation that I've brought in the past and um,
081one that we update annually. So, it's a lot of here's the subgroup and here's where Granville ranks within that subgroup. So, I do want you guys just to ask questions as we go along. Um, and if at some point you want to see something different, um, I can work with Jason and we can pull in something different, but these are pretty much the main subgroups um, and highlights that I want to share with you. Um, and if that's not big enough, I can make it bigger. >> Oh, it's good. >> Is it okay? Um so this first is our peer group and this is the peer group based on how the state considers or what the state considers of our peer group. So areas like Chipoa Valley, you see Grand Haven in there. This has
082to do with how what our demographics are like. Um similar free and reduced count, similar federal funding, that type of of thing. So um and as we go through the local, state and federal and total revenue, it'll be very I find it very interesting to see how we fit in different um in different groups. So within this group, um you can see that, you know, we're 383 out of the 820, but you can also see how we land within the group. Um, I think the number that will hopefully stick out pretty positively throughout all of this is where we land on um our um instructional programming overall and our teacher salaries um from a benchmark standpoint. Um 45 um out of 820 when you look at um us statewide. So, um, and as as we
083go across each slide, Granville will be highlighted in in the red bar there. So, um, >> can I ask you about the >> the teacher salaries data? >> Yep. >> Uh, so we're, it says we're ranked 45, right? And when they refer to teacher salaries, are they just like, is the are we talking like overall, right? So if they just say what's the average teacher salary in this district right which is oftent times impacted by when you have teachers who stay a long time because they make a lot of money right or is that like starting teachers pay pay? >> No this is so this is this is what was Granville's cost >> overall teacher salaries for the 2425 school year >> makes sense. Thank you. Now, to your point about the longer you stay,
084right, obviously um your your costs go up. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. >> When you look at if you take cuz we have 30 steps in our contract and if you take it and you go 1 through 10, 11 through 20, >> we are pretty much a third, a third, a third. Makes sense. >> Which I think is actually pretty awesome considering that, >> you know, that's where you >> the number of people we are, right? So, >> um, no, that's a good question. >> Um, and now, now we look at, um, out of Kent County and how we rank out of Kent County and and so in again 2425, everybody is negotiating their contracts at different points in time. Um, so, you know, one year you we you might look at us and we're like
085third, the next year you might look at us and we're five. That that type of thing. So, um, but, uh, we, as you know, we have a very high tax base. So, our local revenue. There's only two other, um, districts that have more than us, um, being Grand Rapids and then Godwin Heights. So, we rank third there, but overall total revenue, we're in the middle of the pack out of the the 19 districts. So, um, and then teacher salaries for 2425 came in third. And I I'd say pretty decent all the way across when you look at instructional salaries, um, instructional support, operations, transportation. >> Can you can you give a quick blurb on business administration? >> Uh, yeah, business and administration. So, that's the business office. Um, it's the 252s and the 241s. So
086you're looking at um principles, uh business, HR, um and again those are ones that will that will fluctuate as well. So no formal uh negotiated agreements there, but built into um a roadmap structure um that we have. So, >> so when you look at like a a Godwin Heights, is that because they have a lot of new teachers per se or is it just their contracts? >> The their contract they're they have been traditionally have been one of the higher salaried contracts in in in the county. They all >> my mother-in-law talked there. Yeah. >> So 40 years ago you wanted to teach at East Grand Rapids or God of the Heights. God because they had GM money and East Grand Rapids because they had invested money. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> That's how she described
087it. >> Yeah. >> Um but so they they've been in that place for a really long time and so they've continued to to push in that direction uh from a salary standpoint and it's a way that they are able to retain their staff, right? So, if their staff want to go, um, then they've got to look they've got to look at what they're potentially be able to make elsewhere. Got it. >> That's interesting. And um on this slide I kind of want to focus on I mean the bar graph is is nice but really the table at the top when we're looking at um general fund expenditures on a per pupil basis. um here um we we obviously regularly we compare ourselves to Kent and Ottawa, not so much the state average, but um so
088from an expenditure standpoint um per pupil, we're spending around 155. Um the Ottawa County average is 164. Kent County average um we're we're very close to that 159 and then the state average is higher as well. Um and when we look at revenues you'll see that we we typically have to balance that out and so that's part of the reason why we are lower on a per people expenditure basis than the other averages. >> So can you explain this one just a little bit more? So is lower good that we're not spending as much budget based. >> It is bud. It is budget. It's budget based. And so I mean >> what we we we can't control that. Right. >> Okay. That's why Okay. Just got it. This is what we're receiving. >> Yeah. Yeah.
089I mean it's almost >> you're balancing your budget mostly kind of thing. >> Yeah. So um uh well it jumps the salaries sorry. So and you can see then too based on the averages how we land um not only in 2425 but the last 5 years as well. Um business and admin talked about that one a little bit. and then operations and maintenance as well. Um, we I think we do a really good job of taking care of our facilities and I think that is reflected there too when you look at some of those averages um across across the county. >> It hasn't really Can you go back? >> Yep. Sorry. >> It hasn't really changed much. So if you look at the amount of investment we have done in facilities in the last 15
090years that amount has not >> we've used we've gone after efficiencies wherever we can in those facilities. >> Yeah. >> Cuz that really hasn't grown that much based on how what we've done with our facilities. Yeah. To your point, based on the square footage we've added, >> right? >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Um, similar with transportation. Um, we are 40 square mile district, so it's pretty large. Um, so, and then we look at the total revenue. Now, um the total expenditure per pupil, I believe, was 155. And you look at our total revenue per pupil, it was 154. Um Ottawa County has um just more more money. >> Um you know, they're just they're going to get more revenue. um we're pretty close to the Kent County average and um just uh not quite
091as close to the state average or Ottawa County. So, so I think sometimes when um when John and I when when we're looking and working with staff on like new contracts and such um it is difficult to compare when to a Hudsonville >> when you're not getting the revenue that Hudsonville is getting. >> Yeah. >> Right. So, um, >> so to tie it back to one of the first ones, we said our tax base, we were third >> In Kent County. Yep. >> On local. And when I say we're talking local taxes, right? >> So remember that's that is your taxable value on what your 18 mills is living on. >> So a prime example of why we are higher would be our mall. And then our federal revenue too. Um it, you know, a
092lot of that federal revenue is based on on your free and reduced population, your census poverty. Um and we I think we're running around 30% now. >> Um for our free and reduced um percentages. So, you know, when you've got Grand Rapids, obviously Grand Rapids public too and Kent County and some of the larger ones for the states that Yeah. Yeah. It makes sense from that standpoint. Um, and when you look at state revenue, a lot of um that is those extra categoricals that um we don't qualify for. again because um you know like I think about the amount of at risk that um a west Ottawa a Wyoming receives and I know just from talking to people there that do what I do they their struggle to be able to spend that right but
093that comes through on the state revenue side and you know it's not that we don't have needs we do um we just don't have as many. So, um and there there you can see see on the local revenue side, but again that is based primarily on that um what our taxable value is within in the district lines there. So, um, but that is what I wanted to share with you and just kind of like what we are looking at collectively as a cabinet um, when we're trying to make some of those spending decisions. And >> yeah, Heather, can you touch on a little bit? So, give it give maybe I mean, you just gave one, but maybe give another uh, as far as transparency. Who else would have this data? >> Um, we I mean,
094it's on the state's website. Um, we put it you know, we have our own transparency website page, too. Um, I've given it to our teachers. Um, you know, anybody I mean, I'm willing to give it to anybody who would like to see it. We I mean, like there's some other categories, too, so we could break those down differently if you need it. But, um, Kent County, like the ISD, also takes all the county data and spits out a document for us, too. Um, but yeah, it it's the hard part with it is unfortunately you know what's going on in your district and you know what it looks like year to year, but when you compare to others, you have to wait for that aggregated data to come out. So, >> do you ever hear from
095uh the Meno Center for any summary information or do they publish any reports? >> Not in a long time. To my knowledge, they're still grabbing it. They're now grabbing it off of like my school data and stuff like that. >> Okay. It's been a long time. You know, when they first came into play, they were >> they were in your face. They were in your face. They were in your face. And now it's like you rarely hear from them at all, even when they publish reports. >> And so, I think that's a key point, too. because I don't know where they're pulling their data and I've seen recently some of their data which makes me pause because it doesn't necessarily match >> my show was exactly I don't know what they're >> they could be
096three years back in some parts of it and they could be two years back or four years back and those inconsistencies just make the whole report go why am I reading this >> the other funny the other funny thing is that they've got this they got a whole section of just superintendent compensation but then they have another section for state employees which superintendents show up in that one as well. They don't match >> the numbers for like this year doesn't match the same number in the state employee. It's bonkers, >> right? Because what year did they pick it, right? This is what they like. Yeah. >> And that's why the macro center has lost a little bit of credibility. >> You can even look at the numbers and then if there's a most recent contract
097link, click on that link and the contract numbers and the numbers they have are different. You're like, Yes. Well, it is though. I mean, I don't want to defend the Mina Center per se with because their data is all over the place, but it is hard to pull data from districts when you go to their transparency reporting. Like, you'll pull up a report on something and one district will have it presented one way, >> right, >> and then another one and a completely different way. And so when you're trying to collect data from publicly available sources, it can be really challenging to try and put it into a system where you can compare because usually apples to app they could take some benefit and they throw that into salary when in effect it doesn't categorize
098it. They're just bundling up because it's easier for them get the get the report and there's no accountability at a higher level >> to make sure all the aggregates clean, >> right? Exactly. Exactly. And no one has time to go >> sift through all the contract. >> Oh, okay. Anomaly. >> Yep. Mhm. >> Yep. >> Seems like the state would have more accurate data collection. Well, I mean I like I said, this comes directly from that, but >> the and I'm not sure exactly when it's updated, but like the my my school data. >> Yeah. >> Um there's a link on there should there should be a link on every district's transparency page that takes you to that. And that essentially is what you're looking at is stuff like this on there >> that we've
099all reported um to the state by the November one deadline. Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. That all >> Thanks, Heather. Thanks. >> Nice summary. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Um so no public comment. All right. Um the next workshop board meeting of the Granville Board of Education will be Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, 7 p.m. at the administration building. We are adjourned.