001Yeah, we'll call the regular board meeting of the Calonia Board of Education, May 18, 2026. Please join me in honoring our country with the pledge. I aliance 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. >> So tonight we uh were short our uh regular secretary. So, I've appointed Jennifer Nichols to act in her function until she until Jessica arrives today. So, please call the role. >> Barbara Garcia >> here. Brando >> here. >> Clement Collins >> here. >> Con Morris >> here. >> Nicholls here. >> Thank you. On to item number four, public comment. have Renee Topalsski and Kim Frederick. Come on. >> Hi everyone. Um my name is Renee Tapolski. I have um a
002daughter who is a sophomore at the high school. And then did you want to go ahead and >> Yep. I'm Kim Frederick. I'm the coach for the Calonia High School questioning team. Um, so we just wanted to talk for a few minutes tonight. So, uh, my daughter is a writer on the equestrian team. Um, she has been involved since she was in fifth grade. Um, and over the past three years, we've tried to work with the school administration about the possibility of the students receiving varsity letters for being members of the equestrian team. Um, so we've worked with the previous athletic director, the current athletic director, um, the high school principal, and then the superintendent. Um, and we've kind of felt like the communications have always been like, oh, that's something we should be able
003to do. We'll check and we'll see like what other schools are doing around varsity letters. Um, you know, uh, it really probably shouldn't be a big deal. We'll get back to you. and we've sort of felt like, you know, we've been put off and off and off. Um the last communication that I received was that the equestrian team um the school wasn't going to change the status of the team. Um we are a club sport. We don't want our status to change. We understand why we're a club sport. We're not asking for that. Um that the team wouldn't come under the athletic department. Again, we aren't asking for that. And for those reasons, we would not be eligible for varsity letters. Um, the question we have is we know that there are other organizations that
004receive varsity letters that are not MHSA sports like choir and band um and the dance team. And so we're just looking for the same type of recognition. Our riders really, really work hard. Um, in the last six years, we've been state champions four times and reserve champions twice. So, we've placed either first or second since 2020 every single year. Um, last year we were in 2025, we were state champions. Um, and it's not that easy to be a state champion, right? So, we go up against 10 other schools. Um, my daughter personally placed first in three of her classes. She was against 40 riders. So to able to be able to actually get the state champion title is a lot of work and these kids put in a ton of hours both in the off
005season and the on season. Um we've offered to pay for the letters because we don't receive any sort of school funding. We do everything with through businesses and sponsorships and fundraisers. We're good paying for the letters. It's just the ability for our students to be able to put it on their college applications that they were able to letter. Um, for some of the kids it would probably make a big difference. Like my daughter's interested in going to MSU, um, doing ecoin studies and then hopefully getting accepted into their equin uh, vet veterinary program and she plans to ride on the MSU equestrian teams. And so for her to be able to put it on a college application that she lettered um, might make the difference between a scholarship. So we just wanted to bring it
006to your attention. we feel like we've done all of the proper channels through the administration um and we're not being really heard. So, we just thought that we would um come to this meeting tonight. And so, we have a couple of other parents who are planning on talking as well. And then Kim is our head coach. And so, if you want to >> I just feel like even my daughter, she was on the team as well. She felt if she could have gotten a letter, not necessarily the patch for the letter, but the recognition, she could do better on an equestrian team through college. she could get on to more classes, higher up, show a different level. She would just I think would help each person become a better writer student to have the ability.
007>> So, I don't know if there's normally questions or anything. >> Typically, we don't dialogue with with public comment, but I can assure you've been heard and we'll make sure you get a response. >> Okay, great. Thank you so much. >> Thank you for sharing tonight. >> Thanks. Okay, next uh is Liz Bernest. Is that right? >> Welcome. >> Thank you. >> My name is Liz Bernest and I'm a parent of a writer on the Calonia Equestrian Team. And so I'm here to respectfully ask the board to allow the Calonia Equestrian Team to establish a varsity letter program for student riders with recognition through the Calonia High School. Um the equestrian team has been part of the district for more than 20 years and competes through the Michigan Interscolastic Horsemen Association or MIHA, the governing
008body for junior high and high school equestrian competition here in the state. Our team has followed established bylaws, coaching standards, and participation requirements to compete at district, regional, and state levels. Like traditional athletes, equestrian riders commit to practice, competitions, fundraising, and team activities. They dedicate years to representing Calonia and contributing to team success. Calonia High School has already shown meaningful support of this program. Equestrian achievements are recognized through the trophy displays, social media coverage, and even a championship flag hangs in the gymnasium. A varsity letter program feels like a natural extension of this kind of recognition and support. So, we're not asking um to change the team's club status or move under the athletic department. We're simply asking for the opportunity to implement and manage a varsity letter program through the coaches and parent board
009so student riders can earn recognition for their commitment and accomplishments. Now tomorrow, my daughter Sophie will graduate from the high school after five years on the equestrian team. She rode in middle school and then four years for high school. She helped Calonia earn two state championships and two reserve state championships. She didn't rise to the recognition, but simply acknowledging the dedication, discipline, and time these students like my daughter invest through varsity letter would be meaningful and we feel like certainly appropriate. So my hope is that current and future Calonia equestrian team writers will have the opportunity to earn that recognition. Thanks for your consideration. >> Thank you very much. Sorry. >> Okay. On to consent agenda number A, letter A. April 20, 2026 board meeting minutes. April 27 board workshop minutes. May 11, 2026, committee
010of the whole minutes. May 11, 2026, close session minutes. April 2026, payables. May 2026 personnel report. Is there a motion? >> I move that the board of education approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Um I just wanted to make one comment which is in reviewing the personnel report. I noticed that we have a number of um really longtime Calonia teachers who are retiring this year and just wanted to take a moment to recognize them and thank them. Um, perhaps I feel it most personally because some of them are my teachers. Um, and so I'm just particularly grateful. I just wanted to say thank you to them for their many years of dedicated service. >> For sure. >> Okay. Any other discussions? Seeing none, please call the role. >> Robert
011Garcia, >> yes. >> Nicholls, yes. Collins, >> yes. >> Clement, oh, sorry. Con, >> yes. >> Brando, >> yes. Morris. >> Yes. Consent agenda passes. Going to take step in here and now ask that we turn the secretarial position over to >> Makes sense. I can't handle it. >> You did great. Thank you so much. >> It's okay. >> All right. On to item seven, superintendent report. >> All right. Just a couple of items. Uh first of all, we are very much looking forward to tomorrow night and uh the graduation here of the class of 2026. So it's going to be very exciting and uh it's always one of the highlights of the year. So um look forward to that for tomorrow night. Um we also uh wanted to announce tonight that we will be
012doing a special parent information night uh on the topic of artificial intelligence uh coming up a week from this Thursday. That will be Thursday, May 28th. Uh the uh individual coming is a guy by the name of John Carlo Brolo and uh his he will be speaking on raising AI ready kids and that will take place in the South Learning Commons at the high school uh from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. So uh this was just finalized uh this afternoon. So we will be pushing that out on social media here and our other uh communication channels in the next couple of days. Um the um consensus revenue conference took place last Friday and uh and your board notes have provided some updates on that. Um in general uh terms the state budget for on the school
013fund side uh remains to have moderate growth. Uh nothing um huge um but uh some moderate growth not even probably keeping up with inflation but um relatively close. The big problems are on the other half of the state budget which is the general fund side and uh so we will be uh talking about this more next month as we look at our uh own budget for Cal schools here uh next month. So just um letting you recap that if we have any questions on that. We'll try to do our best to answer that. So uh with that the state budget process can begin uh to be finalized as uh the house and senate will now uh take those actual numbers and those are the basis for their decisions. And then uh just finally tonight, I
014wanted to also uh take a moment not only to thank all those uh staff who are retiring this year, but also right over here is Amy Stutters, uh our director of special programs. And uh Amy is um going to be leaving us. This will be her last meeting uh with us as she uh is moving back to Massachusetts. And uh just wanted to publicly thank Amy for uh her time, her efforts, uh just her real dedication to Calonia and just the impact that she's made over the two years that she's been with us. And you will be sorely missed Amy. So just wanted to thank you again for all you've done. >> And if I you may um I just want to say thank you on kids and we don't want you to leave walking
015away thinking you didn't. Best of luck, please. >> And that's it for me. >> All right. On to action items. These are items we've discussed at length, some at nauseium. Um, so we'll begin with 8A, NEOA policy revisions, first reading. >> Did you guys all see in the board memo that I only have to read the numbers? Get excited. Um, I move that the board conduct a first reading of the following bylaw 01000 and policies 14102370.01 3120.09 to delete 4120.09. To delete 4210 754.09 9 8120.09 and 8402. >> Is there any discussion? >> I'll just say this is the first reading. So we got one more pass at this which will be coming up in June. So seeing there's no further discussion, please call the RO. >> So on the action items, it also shows
016the budget next. Do I wait to do that motion? >> Okay, I'm just separate. >> Separate separate. Okay, there's just Okay, I'm gonna make the names then. So, here we go. >> Uh, Barbara Garcia, >> yes. >> Nicholls, >> yes. >> Collins, >> yes. >> Con, yes. Brando, >> yes. >> Morris, >> yes. First reading of the policies is >> approved. Next is 8B 202627 KISSD budget for a motion. >> I move that the board approve the resolution to support the 2026 2027 Kent ISD budget. >> Second. Is there discussion on the item? I'll just mention for the public benefit that this is a um we are required under the law to um look at the ISD budget and then to approve it uh annually. So this is that standard action that we take. >>
017Garcia, yes. Nicholls, >> yes. Collins, >> yes. >> Cone, yes. Brando, >> yes. >> Morris, >> yes. ASD 2026 27 budget approved from this board. On to item 8 C, early childhood center flooring. Is there a motion? I move that the board contract with the River City Flooring Company for the supply and installation of flooring at the Duncan Lake Early Childhood Center at a cost of $280,146. Second. >> Any discussion? >> So, these funds are coming out of the public improvement funds. These are not going to be bond funds that are used to uh pay for these improvements. And we are also um already uh made the contract for painting as well. So, both of those things will be taking place this summer at the ECC. >> Great. Please go >> con. Yes. Brando, >>
018yes. >> Barbara Garcia, >> yes. Nicholls, yes. Collins, >> yes. >> Morris, >> yes. >> Early childhood center flooring is approved as well as painting. And um this is a welldeserved facelift. It's going to make a big difference in uh the early childhood center. So, thank you board members. Item 8 D, synthetic turf replacement at Scotland Yard. Is there s motion? >> I moved it screwed up. >> I move that the board contract with AstroTurf Great Lakes for the replacement of the synthetic turf at the current Scotland facility at a cost of $782,000. Sorry. 782. Yeah. 1,64.90. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion on the motion? Seeing none. Please call the role. >> Collins. >> Yes. >> Con. Yes. Brando. >> Yes. >> Robert Garcia. >> Yes. Nicholls. >> Yes. Morris. Yes. >> So,
019the turf replacement is approved and I believe that's going to get started soon. >> Yeah, that'll uh begin right at the end of June and we'll be ready for the fall athletic season. >> Great. >> And uh again, then we will be continuing to move forward with the design as the other additional Scott New York field. >> Great. Thank you. Item E, Kaledon operations group contract. I move that the board approve the negotiated contract for the Calonia Operations Group. Second. >> Any discussion from the board? We talked about this in close session last week, so I don't have any questions. How about the rest of you? Right. Please call the RO. >> Randall, >> yes. Collins, >> yes. >> Con, yes. Nicholls, >> yes. Robert Garcia, >> yes. Morris, >> yes. >> Contract is approved
020with our operations group. On item nine, discussion items. These are anticipated considerations for next month and June 15. 9A, final 2025 26 budget amendment. Sarah. >> So, yes, next month we will be having um our final budget that we'll bring to the board to finish this fiscal year out um and have those discussions. That will be a a voting item at next month's meeting. >> Any questions from the board? Patrick, >> no, I don't think so. >> Okay. >> 9B 202627 budget adoption. >> And part of the meeting as well is going to be our public hearing um which we're required to have and that will um be the budget for the next fiscal year 2627. So, we'll have those conversations and that will be another voting item at next month's meeting. >> Great. Thank
021you. So Sarah's hard at work uh trying to work on these things and uh we're joking she's going to go into her own little retreat uh over the next couple of weeks to finish that all up in preparation. So appreciate her work on that. >> Yes, for sure. Can you speak a little bit more to just um kind of how we're waiting on the numbers from the state and when we some of the additional information we have had or we've gained over the past week and kind of how that's impacting the predictions right now. >> Um jump in as you see fit, sir. So, um I I think one of the things that is always a stressor for us is that we're required by law to have a budget in place by June 30th. And
022um usually that's done without the state budget being finished. And so we have to make educated guesses about where that might end up. Last year was an anomaly in that they did not finish the budget until October 3rd, I think it was. Uh which went beyond where they're supposed to have it by October 1st. So um we are we do our best every year to try and anticipate where that's going to be. There are a lot of other unknowns with any budget process. Uh and that also includes for instance we our funding is based on the number of students that we have and that's of course another variable that we do not know until the fall. So uh as we enter into these things this is why it's um a lot of work and a
023lot of trying to anticipate and figure things out. Um just one other comment in general then talk a couple specifics. Uh that's why we do these budget amendments through the year um to keep um drawing in where we are on the current year as well. Um because just like with any home budget, as time goes on, you have to adjust as you go. Um so um in specifics, I guess the only other thing I would say beyond what I said previously is just to emphasize the fact that the state's general fund budget is in very rough shape. And uh over the last several years, there's been a uh gradual um well, it's been quite a few years that the state has gradually taken more and more funding from what used to be reserved for K12
024education. And they gradually took more of that and first channeled it to community colleges to the point where all community college funding from the state now comes out of what used to be solely K12 um funding. And the same process now is uh it appears underway for universities. And uh that is uh disheartening to say the least. Um when voters back with proposal A back um almost three decades ago now um made this change uh to try and improve um funding for local school districts for their kids K12 education. Now that was not what was intended. Um but this has been what's been being done and uh so um the I I'm just afraid that process is only going to continue because the state's general fund budget is under a great deal of pressure and
025um obviously they're reluctant to raise taxes and they're reluctant to cut spending. So uh unfortunately that's where they're choosing to draw money from. anything do you want to add sir? >> And so typically for this proposed budget that I bring to the board in June um since we don't have a lot of the answers yet in the state budget isn't passed the the big factors what I look at is um for the foundation allowance and what the increase looks like and right now they're looking very similar at this point across the board. So probably that would be somewhat of an estimate estimate but >> and that would be about a 2 and a half% increase is what they are talking about. >> So unless something surprising comes out or so forth um that's going to
026be the biggest part of the budget and then if there's things with categoricals and so forth I'll typically update that as more is known when we do our first budget amendment. Um, and we have in the past if there are large changes that take place that we did not anticipate, then we can always bring a budget amendment to the board sooner than what we typically do and we've brought before in August um, when things are, you know, changed significantly. So, that's always something that we can do if there are significant changes. and all that too that I I believe and correct me if I'm wrong regarding the university uh their growth rate of funding is higher than the public schools. And that's that's very alarming to me to to see a fund that is dedicated
027to helping kids in the primary education being taken away. That's one thing. But to grow it so quickly and leaving us here with a rate that doesn't even compete with inflation year after year really puts us behind. So, and I guess you're you're having to deal with that, right? And it's a tough it's a tough situation to be in. >> Yeah. The three different proposals on the table right now at the state level, uh the governor puts forth one, um and then the house puts forth another one, then the senate puts forth another. All three of them vary in that amount for universities and so we will have to that's one of the things that we'll have to see what shakes out. Um Sarah referred to categorical grants is another big part of uh our
028funding and there are hugely different proposals on the table uh with regard to those. So that's those are the kinds of things we just at this point don't know and um yeah but the 2 and a.5% on the base uh foundational allowance seems to be pretty agreed upon across the board by the three different budgets. >> Do we know the reason for the the shift? Is it is it like what's the reasoning behind shifting some of the funds to college? Is there like a philosophical reason? Is there a budget reason? Is I mean, and I know it's maybe it's your opinion, but like >> Yeah. >> No, it's some of both. Um the language um originally when passed in proposal A was thought to this is what it meant. Um, and then when the state
029budget began to get tighter, and I'm thinking 15 years ago or so, Governor Granholm was it was under Governor Granholm that it happened the first time that a loan was made from the school aid fund to the general fund uh to help them balance their budget on the general fund side. that loan was never repaid and um since then every year they have just kept doing it and uh those numbers increase every year. There have been decisions made uh and other uh things that happen. Uh obviously the state budget operates off of taxation is part of it. Um and so every time that something is done within uh the tax realm or there's a big part of it that has to do with economics as well um because economics drives your tax revenue. So if
030income is down, income tax collection is down. If uh purchasing is down, sales tax collection goes down. Uh this past year, one of the changes that was made was that they um again changed the way the taxes were set up in proposal A where the uh school aid fund we receive a portion um well we received all of the additional 2 cents that were added to the sales tax back there in proposal A. We went from four to 6 cents. That was earmarked for K12 education. Um that included a sales tax on fuel. Um, this past budget cycle they eliminated the sales tax on fuel, but then they said that they would hold the school aid fund harmless by money coming out of the general fund to equate to that amount. Seems like an interesting
031gymnastics there. Um, actually that has turned out in this current year now to be potentially costing the general fund more than it might otherwise have cost. Um because with higher gas prices um the sales tax on that is a 6%. So that would have floated with the higher gas prices. Instead the tax they shifted to on fuel is a flat certain amount of cents. So therefore that stays constant where the what they have to reimburse the school aid fund increased. So the general fund is actually hurt even more by making that shift. Um, so there's a whole bunch of different factors that go into this and um, I think what has happened is that the school aid funds source of revenue has been more stable than the general funds and so they see that as
032a pot of money and um, you know, there's a movement here it would appear to just be able to flow money between the two different parts of the state budget without any restrictions is what it you know looks like on the surface >> and a fun lobbyist with big endowment funds. I'll end with that. So, >> so we should talk to our legislators about those schools who have very large endowment funds that might not need the aid as well, right? Which we should >> You're talking about universities. >> Yeah. >> We should be talking to our legislators about some caps or something like >> Yeah. and leadership >> for sure. Okay, we beat this to death. >> We'll have next month to complain about it too. >> Okay, 3D or C, I'm sorry. I C
033school loan revolving fund. So, another part of what will be coming to you next month is the resolution and our estimated amount we are looking to borrow to make our bianual um debt payments on prior bonds. And so, that will be coming to the board as well next month. >> Great. And that's a year yearly routine. >> Yes. Routine yearly annual resolution. >> All right. to 9D un uninterruptible power source. >> I did such a poor job of doing this at committee the whole so figure Scott can fill you in on >> I'm sure you did just fine. Uh this report does come from both the technology and operations departments. Uh this is a an electrical component that would sit in the district technology data center. And what it does is it provides as its
034name implies uninterrupted power to all of the technology equipment in the event um the power goes out the consumer's supplied power. And then this device keeps everything running while the transfer occurs from the street provided power to the generator that is located at Duncan Lake. Um, and while that should only take a matter of seconds for that power to flip over to the generator, the equipment that is in the data center consumes a very large amount of power. Um so that is why this unit is so large and has a um inconsequential price tag on it. Uh but it is vital to the operations of everything within the school data network. Um phones, Wi-Fi, mass notification. Um if it's got a blinking light on it, um it comes out of that route. Um and we
035have had some power outages in the last year where these pieces have not functioned um exactly as they should and at times when that happens uh the whole network can come down at once. Um can equate that to turning your engine off going 80 miles an hour down the highway. It's not the way you want to slow your cow car down and bring it to a stop. So that is what this piece of equipment does and why it is as critical as it is. Um we will have pricing for the next uh committee of the whole meeting. I do know Matt has been in conversations with Vice Electric. They'll be out to uh do a physical survey of the equipment on site um this week and then provide that pricing which we will share next
036month. >> Any questions? What can we expect being different between the one that we currently have? Any differences that power capacity? >> The power capacity is actually less than what the current one is and that is attributable to the fact that we have far fewer physical components in the data center. Uh just the way technology has evolved since that was put in. Um there are far fewer devices. Um but nonetheless, the devices that are there are as critical. Um it is a third the size of the one that's there now. Um this is a 30 KVA. The one we're purchasing will be a 10. And we can increase that up to a 20 just by adding additional batteries to that. >> All right. How old is the one that we currently have in place. >>
037I do not have an original purchase date on that. Uh it is probably 10 to 15 years old. I'm going to say >> big acid batteries. >> Um I do not know. I can find that out for you. >> I don't I don't need to know. I just want to know that we can recycle them and >> Oh, yeah. it it will be removed um by wasted and recycled um environmentally friendly ways, right? >> And this is due to more stuff being hosted in the cloud, right? Is why we have fewer onsite um devices than we once did. So warranties and stuff, right? That'll be warranties on the >> Yes. I believe it's five years, but I will double check that. Any other questions for >> I just saw it says in the report that
038the delivery time is 30 weeks. >> Yes. >> Wow. >> Is there high demand? >> Uh they are it's the type of things that are going into data centers. >> Um and it's not uncommon on the construction side of things and the meetings I sit through. um those kind of electrical components uh transformers for like New Dutton >> took you know >> a year >> or a year and a half to get. >> Um it's just one of those things that >> yeah supply does not keep up with demand. >> Got it. >> Yeah. I think the same goes for the transformer that's going in out at Calplex because um they literally ordered that the day after the board approved back way back when it was done in the fall and uh it isn't here
039yet. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> On to Craft Metals auxiliary gym renovation. >> Right. So, uh, we discussed this at, uh, the committee meeting, uh, but the, uh, Craft Meadows admin has asked that, uh, we create a wall where, uh, in the auxiliary gym, there used to be a stage al cove, uh, for what, uh, had originally been sort of a gym, uh, kind of setup. And uh the there is a curtain there uh currently um spanning that space but uh they requested a more permanent and more secure uh barrier um so that the space can be used for storage and such because right now it's not being used for much and they do have a storage need and uh this would create a safer uh and more secure
040space. We will have pricing for that uh for you next month as the next couple items too. >> Great. Thank you. F Duncan Lake Middle School Performing Arts Center acoustical shells. >> Yeah. So, these are the shells that go behind our performing groups um to help with sound projection and the ones at Duncan Lake been there a long time and are at the they're really past the uh their lifespan. And uh so we need to replace those. And uh this will be coming out of public improvement funds and we will have that amount for you uh next month. It may be such that it does not even need to come for board approval uh given the amount that's in the current bids that we're still uh evaluating. >> Any questions from board members? Okay, moving
041on to 9G complex road paving. >> All right. Uh we also had discussion on this at the committee and um so based on that discussion uh we've taken that back to the design team and uh we think that with that some of what was uh discussed the other night was the cost associated with additional drainage and working of the areas up closer to um the community center. uh without doing that and just focusing on the road itself, we do think we're going to be able to reduce the price significantly on that road paving and just let it be uh sort of draining off the side of that roadway. And so we will be having a revised price for you uh next month for your approval. >> Any questions on the item? All right, we'll move
042on to 9H MHSA resolution. Okay, and this is another of the annual authorizations. And each year uh we the board needs to pass the resolution to officially join the MHSA uh for another year. And so this is an annual action. And that's that's that. anything changed in their agreement with participating districts? >> No, not that I'm aware of. >> Any questions from board members? Comments? >> Seeing none, we'll move on to nine. I other items. >> Nothing on our list at this point. Okay, we're move on to 10 board comments. Board members, anything on your minds? >> I'm looking forward to commencements tomorrow. This is my second one. I'm excited about that. So, looking forward to seeing the seniors graduate and move on. for sure. Those uh I know there are some board members that
043can't make the ceremonies, but for those of you that can, um we do have a list of graduates, so we're not playing the game during pre-eremony. You know what I mean, right, everyone? So, please use that list and come prepared to decide as a group who's going to be handing out to who because we all have friends and of parents and students. So, and then my last item is the adopt road just finished. Now it's coming up again in July. It is uh the 18th and the 25th of July. So, give that some thought. I don't pick the dates, by the way. The county does. So, I'm going to be pinging you back to say what works for all of you. I just want to put that in front of you. And Kyle already knows
044it. They started with him first. So, all right. On to item 11, which is public comment. And I think we've been through that already, right? >> Okay. And on to item 12. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> So move. >> Second. >> All those in favor indicate by saying I. >> Those opposed. We are journ.