001Monday, June 8th, 2026 to order. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance followed by Igian 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. >> Thank you. Mr. Herson, >> Mrs. Risner is absent. Mrs. Wat >> here, >> Mrs. Alward, I'm here. Mrs. Wallace >> here. >> Mr. Smith >> here, >> and Mr. Bess. >> We have a quum with six members present. >> Thank you for that, Mr. agenda. >> There are no modifications to the agenda, sir. and we will start with president's remarks. Um, I just noticed that our agenda says June 8th, 2025. It is in fact 2026. So, we're just pointing that out. Make sure everyone not in the wrong year. Um, good
002evening to all those in the audience and those online. Um, hope everybody has had a good start to the summer. that we look forward to breaking tonight. >> Yeah. So to start with, I have quite a few just calendar dates. So we started summer school today and that will run through July 2nd at the high school both K8 as well as our country for high school. Um and things that are coming up. So June 9th I I'm doing a tomorrow morning beer 79. So join me for breakfast. I'll talk to you about the bond issue coming up. Um, I'm going to the farmers market um on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. in downtown Bible Creek. Uh, one thing that I know that John, our food service director, wanted me to mention is our summer feeding is
003what we call meet up to eat up. It's a little different this year. The food is 7 days worth of food and they're they are doing that at the varsity hall entrance to the high school on Thursdays from 11 to 1. And it's any child, any family with a child 18 and younger. So 18 all the way to zero are eligible. You don't have to be a Harvard student. So if you have family visiting from town, that would be eligible. Um and if you have someone that's under school age, the family would also be eligible. So they basically get a week's worth of breakfast and lunch every Thursday. Uh school choice window closes on um Friday. Uh something you may not know, we are hosting What to Do Theater in the High School auditorium. They're
004going to do a program from June 15th and with a performance on June 21st. So that is coming up as you see a lot of cars in the parking lot. Um another community meet and greet. Um this one is going to be at the Moonreaker from noon to 1:30. Uh budget hearing June 22nd. We do need to set the time tonight. um July 3rd, the administrative office will be closed and then our schooler choice window for kindergarten closes on July 31st. A couple congratulations. So, first DJ Wood, he is a track athlete. He ended up the state champion in 110 hurdles. So, congratulations to DJ. It's a really huge accomplishment. >> And I I've mentioned this a couple times, but not publicly at the board meeting. Um, Kennedy Halverson will be pay playing in the
005uh the softball all-star game. And just so you know, that's for the state of Michigan. It's not just for our division. It's for all classes. So, it's a lot of kids potentially. She was selected out of 30 with 30 other players. >> Oh, that's awesome. >> The uh game is at U of M and it is next Monday, a week from today, 4:00, the home run derby followed by I think the game around 6:30. >> Is she excited? Oh, that's awesome. daughter. She's very worthy of this that that when I say a state champion, this is probably similar in softball because team sports state championships are just different. They're different ways to do it. So, this is kind of the individual part of it. I do want to call a policy meeting. Um we will
006get a hold of all the people on the policy committee uh to see what's a good time. The trune um policies are going to come out this week. So, it's time to go through that process. So, >> exciting times. obviously who's not here. It is fun time. >> Um and then the budget hearing time. Do we want to set it now? I do have to say out loud we need to reserve time um just in case we might need to do an employee discipline hearing which is unfortunate but we might need to. So on the same day if we could do let's say a 5:30 budget hearing and a six o'clock discipline hearing the discipline hearing is only if need necessary. Monday, June 22nd at 5:00 pm, right? >> Is uh logic. >> We already
007said that. >> No, I mean, if we could start at like 4:30. I have a 5:30 hard stop because I have to be in Marshall at 6, but you guys can go on without me. >> I can do earlier. >> I can do 4 uh 22. Well, let's say takes me 22 minutes to get here from work. So, >> okay. So, we will edit that to 4:30. >> 4:30. Yes. Okay. >> And then those that can make it, we would have a discipline hearing after. >> Okay. >> Um I believe Oh, we are doing high school vice principal second round interviews um next Monday. People have asked about that a little bit. Uh we actually did two sets of first round interviews. We did one maybe three weeks ago and then we did another one
008last week. Just trying to get the best candidate. uh one of them happens to be out of state and they'll be in town that week. So that's helpful that we can interview you in person. It's just a much better way to do it. And I believe that is everything that I have right now. Madam Secretary, do you have anything to share? >> Nothing tonight. >> Thank you. And move on to district updates. And Jane, >> yep. U my report is going to be relatively quick today as well. Um, I asked Rob not to pull up the early warning indicators or the NWA. You're more than welcome to look at those if you'd like, but you're going to see no real changes in our early warning indicators. The only thing that you would see is high
009school drop off in in attendance the last month, which is pretty normal, especially in the senior class. Um, I mean, that that number, the senior class looks crazy of like 70% of students, but of course they are because they're getting out >> weeks before on the school year. um NWA, our NWA report is going to tell us that um well, it gives us pretty decent correlation score of where our MSTEP scores are going to be this year. I will have an in-depth MSTEP uh report for you in um July. Um so we'll have a pretty good idea of where we we're going to score in the fall. Um just uh again to keep you up to date on um last week the high school counseling two of two counselors from the high school and myself
010went and met with um Battle Creek Lake View to talk about um how they're doing dual enrollment in house. That was wonderful. So we've came up with rough plan of how we'd like to move forward there, but it is still in motion. Um, when I say in motion, we still need to find a teacher that is going to be able to teach that for us and hoping to get something up and running 2728 school year for that. So, just just so you know, um, our middle school and our, um, elementary um, instructional coaches have been doing a wonderful job along with the administrative team to get us up and running for our new schedules that are in motion um, next school year. So, a lot of work has been done behind the scenes of what
011tier 2 and tier three intervention groups would look like. Um, so I'm really actually quite excited about that. Me personally, I've started two buildings and made the changes in the middle of the school year. We have put the changes in and then practice them before we start next year. So, I'm hoping for a smoother start. Um, I I'm really quite excited about it, honestly. Um, I mention it to you every single time. the sex ed advisory board. We're meeting again this Thursday. Um I am kind of excited that I'll have actually have the curriculum and everything ready to present to the advisory board. If they like it, if they like the plan, then you will see that relatively shortly as well. So kind of excited to um really start moving forward with that. Um yeah,
012the other is just um a lot of good work to finish strong and I'm I'm feeling good of uh how we're finishing, but really how we're finishing this year to have a really smooth start for the beginning of next year. >> Do you have any questions at all for me? >> I know that you're working on like a um like a a uniform app foration. How are we doing with that? Um really the gentleman is working doing a lot of work on that. It's right in the middle of grant season. So I would say to you um well basically said as soon as we come back from July um from the 4th of July that'll be a push from that point forward. Um we have an outline of it and it's actually moving along quite
013well. But to to have it to present it to you right now >> um yeah well really what we're doing with the um parent communication portion of it that will be um if you go on to our our web page where you'll have you know staff members where you hit staff and you'd see all the staff members in there. There'll be another box right there that will be like basically the standards in which we teach and what we could also do at home to help us along with it. So it should look quite good. I think it'll look really really nice with that. And then we're also working on just kind of standards of communication of what we can expect for our teachers, what we can expect for our building administrators, what we can expect
014from me. So, we're still working on all of that as well. So, >> I was that was actually I was going to ask about the landing page for um parents, too. So, you both of my >> Yep. Well, we we originally thought that that was going to be a whole separate page. Yeah. >> But it's kind of working better and works better that I mean, we'll have a whole bunch of links that it's just going to link back to that page. >> Yeah. Um so, it go right back to our homepage. Awesome. >> Yeah. All right, nothing further. We got facilities and Mr. Jimson. >> Thank you. Um, just a couple of topics to talk about. First of all, uh, graduation went off. I mean, we've talked about a little bit. I think it went
015off as smooth as we could have done it. Uh, special thanks to Leah Pete for just taking charge of that from the high school and just did an amazing job along Stephanie, but Leah just took it by the horns and ran with it. She's done that for a couple years in a row now. So, she makes my life a lot easier when there's a lot of coordination done. So, um but it was a great event. We had no issues as we spoke about earlier in the safety committee meeting. I don't think we had anything major. So, that was a good thing. Um couple other items. I believe you guys all have the uh wall that heals information in your packets. Um so, we're excited to get be getting that. Uh that is getting closer and
016closer each and every day. So, um, we're pushing hard for that. And then, um, we're going to talk about projects later on today. And those are the big ones. Custodial's rolling away right now. Maintenance is moving along. Um, already in summer mode. So, and we have, like today, the high school was full full um with with kiddos and and we have some at lake along with child care as well at Pet Lake. You had said we had quite a few athletes also in varsity hall this morning. >> Over a hundred this morning. I think it was like 120 maybe. >> Working out or >> Yes. >> Love that. >> Yes. >> Okay. Oh, for the is it for the summer like the um Tara Kingsons or is it they just come? >> Terra has her
017own thing going. She had a gym full of youngans. She had youngans today. Yeah. >> She had the I want to say K through five or six today. I believe that's the next 3 days. >> And Jim, you are still looking for volunteers to help. >> Yes. So, if you see that, go on the website if you would be so kind to do that if you know you or your family members. Um there's a a volunteer meeting that is I believe it's the 19th where you would meet there. Um at least sign up for that and then you could fit you in anywhere. Um it's really important we get people on that list. Um because Washington DC is looking at it hard and if we don't have a certain amount of a percentage of volunteers
018by a certain date they could possibly say you guys aren't pulling your weight. I don't think that will happen but um there is that possibility. >> Where are we like advertising? I know there's people that just follow the wall of heels like they'll already know about it but like where are are we allowed to like advertise that we're bringing it here? Like are we putting >> the Cong Red, White, and Blue Foundation is doing all of that. Okay. So yeah, they are so far they've been to every VFW, American Legion, um places of all around Southwest Michigan right now. And then uh they're they have their Facebook page out that is posting stuff non-stop. >> Um so and then they have a Facebook they have a they have they've been out to the VA several
019times. >> Um then they also have a >> a Facebook page. They have a they have a little bit of everything. They have a media they have a marketing guy who's just doing the marketing for that. >> And then the Huey project across the street is a separate >> uh >> Yeah. >> item, but it's that's going to be really neat, too. >> How many volunteers do you need? >> They need hundreds. >> Where is it? >> Well, because it's you you have to remember it's open 24 hours a day. Okay. So, >> the more the marrier. You can never have too many. a lot of openings. >> I found mine >> and the setup side of things is is couple hundred as well. >> Oh, yeah. Okay. >> Yeah, they're being a little more
020selective about that one. So, I know they've talked to like some of the I believe they talked to Mrs. Fasel and some of the other athletic directors in the area and they're trying to get some of the athletic teams to kind of be in uniform and show up and >> meet. Is there somewhere that we're advertising though for volunteering locally? >> I am not. Oh, they are just on the website and on the Facebook page. >> Are we allowed to >> could I would say could we >> I I would have to ask cuz that's a red, white, and blue foundation thing. >> We could use our Facebook >> or even could we use our Facebook to share their volunteering opportunities. >> Yeah. It's a little >> it's a little hard to know that you
021need to volunteer because >> No, I I thank you. Yeah. >> Yeah. It's just a little deep in here. >> I think I have a meeting next week on it, too. So >> well dear >> Jim I see some work you have done here at the corner. >> Yes they have the demolitions going. We're still kind of waiting on a blessing by the state but we're hoping soon but we'll see that >> they're getting everything ready though. >> It's yeah they're having everything prepped. So as soon as it gets here they're going to start >> which government will say yes at state >> state. I don't know it's building code instructions you know building codes. >> Is this lake road a state road? Yes, >> that's why >> part of their part and the state
022and >> so but I'm on them every day just so you know between them King Scott and everybody we're just trying to kick in the can as far as I can. >> All right. Uh Miss Ginger Finance. >> All right. my normal board reports. Um I have my cash board breakdown. Um >> here's some good news, Mrs. >> All right. So um on the 22nd I'll be bringing the new budget and it will be better than this negative794,000. I'm not completely finished with it yet, but um I might be bringing it to use slightly in the negative, but I because I have to be conservative, it should be slightly in the positive. after the autumn >> this year's >> in this year's budget >> and uh the the breakdown I mean everything is on track.
023It just it'll it'll look better on the 22nd with better information for you. The cash balance report we're in good shape. Um, one thing you'll notice is for the MYAF, there isn't money in there anymore. Uh, because Southern Michigan, who um is our local bank, uh, finally upped our percentage for, uh, our regular checking, they've offered good rates for CDs, but not for our regular checking. So, that's why I switched it away. Um, and they have upped it to the US Treasury rate uh, each month, and that is what my does. So I I put it back local um cuz we're going to get So it's currently 3.62%. Uh which is great compared to the8% uh that we were getting before. >> Good news. >> Uh we got a little bit we got around 20,000
024um in interest last. It went down slightly because as you'll notice the debt fund went down and that was 4 million the month before >> from back to 53 >> but the month before. Yeah. Um the other thing I wanted to talk a little bit about we had I know you've heard Mr. Ridgeway say it a few times that um grant funds or the casino money doesn't make us rich. It just brings us up to um other schools really. And so we actually ran the number and it's not a foolproof way. It's a little it's a little bit generic, but we used the TW 2025 audited revenue um for Harper Creek, Marshall, Battle Creek, and Lake View in Penfield. And then uh did it per pupil. And with even with the casino money, we are
025less than all but one school uh revenue-wise. So, we get $15,22 uh per pupil in revenue. Marshall gets 17,600. Battle Creek gets 20,200. Penfield was one that uh gets a little bit less, 14,400. And I I think I I'd have to deep dive on that a little bit, but it's probably because of the local revenue. they probably don't get nearly as much local revenue as us, meaning um t taxes and um even just like uh miscellaneous gate gate um what am I trying to say? Fees for gates for athletics. Thank you. Good. And then Lake View gets right around the same as us 15,66 but it's still more than us even with our um so if we didn't get the um casino money we would be below everyone 14,500. So basically I ask Ginger to
026say okay what all in take our entire revenue in the district divide it by number of students what's our revenue per kid student and then do that with all the other ones just to compare to show that we are at or below although know we found out Penfield was a little bit below us >> but even if you take away the casino money that does put us way below everybody yeah just so that's that level >> what was the number I'm sorry after the casino without the casino >> uh 15,500 >> and when >> uh 15,22 >> and that's really all I have. My big long one will be on the 22nd. >> You'll get all all kinds of fun for me then. >> All right. >> I can't wait to hear. >> Yeah, >>
027me too. >> All right. Uh >> well, I started with the good news this time. Um, based on our discussion last time about the wildest part gym, I put together a breakdown of another system we did recently. So, we put a conference room projection thing in middle school and I kind of took some of the large pieces of that and wrote down how much we paid for them and how much they basically would have cost if we had just bought them new or at the time. So, you can see there's quite a bit of savings. Some of the stuff has pretty significant savings. Um, that's usually when I buy something on eBay. You see priced like $80 versus 1,200. Um, sometimes you can buy the previous model, save a lot of money. Um, sometimes this
028price goes up because everything's going up. So, that was kind of the the good news there. And like this obviously is not all inclusive. There's tables and doodads, but that's, you know, nickel and dime stuff on Amazon. So, it's kind of just gives you an idea how much money we can save by doing these things in house. Um, which just for comparison, the microphones that are catching us for the stream tonight, these ceiling tile microphones are about $80 a piece. That's the old model. The new one is about $4,000. So, they work fine. Nobody's complaining about the audio. So, that's kind of a So, that was the the positive lead into the next topic with our high school student devices, which are tring to be unicorns that we're hard time finding. Um, basically it's the
029the AI and data center buildout because of AI that's causing computer prices to rise up. It's memory, hard drives, and CPUs. And so they're very difficult to get. And the small um student Windows devices that we usually get, that market segment is hit particularly hard. So the devices that we got bid for and approved are no longer available. The manufacturer discontinued them. Um, we're working with the vendor who we who got the low bid because, hey, you guys awarded, you know, we awarded you the low bid, you know, please deliver. So, they are trying to find an alternative device that we can get for ideally the same price. I talked to them this morning and they're still they're still waiting for hearback and another another vendor trying to get a or another manufacturer trying to
030get us something. So, we're hopeful that they come through. Um, our alternative option is we reuse the devices we collected from the seniors and until we get something better, which which we could do, and that's kind of our backup plan at this point if the vendor doesn't come through. But we're hoping um what I've been told is supply is going to stabilize later this year. It'll be kind of late for us to make an order. Although prices are going to stay, we don't anticipate this shortage going away anytime soon. And it's the demand is high and the supply is non-existent. doing legal grounds with the the award that >> I don't know. Um they sent us a letter they got from the manufacturer basically saying, "Hey, this device we tried to order it and they're
031telling us they can't deliver it." So, it's kind of where we're stuck on that one. Um I'm still waiting to hear back when they get me some concrete answer on what we can do um as far as devices. So, we're kind of just in a holding pattern at this point, waiting, hoping. Um but I did put some numbers in here. Uh, under the rem purchasing contract, there's a model by Dell, which is the next cheapest one in our in our category. It's about $500 a piece. So, I guess I don't actually have the updated with the numbers, but it would work out to uh yeah, >> quite a bit more. 72,000 to 106. And then if we wanted to get something into the next tier up, it would be more like what we buy for
032the teachers, the bigger computers with the bigger processors. And then you're getting, you know, $7 $800 a piece and up, which is a little outside our range for something we last paid 267 for. >> So Jim, I get emails from through the my heart board account from Dell directly, some some gentleman that works for the count representative. Have we ever tried that route to see if we can get any type of good deals or not? >> Well, we can check. I mean, usually the REMC purchasing contract is the pre-bid state contract. Usually that's going to be your best price. And Dell has two models on there, one at 497 and one at 515. And uh I emailed them and the one either of them they anticipating at least August before they'd have availability. >> I
033just wonder if this gentleman might be away. >> We'll try anything at this. >> I I can forward an email with his name on it. It's just worth a worth a chat. So yeah, essentially just the parts are not available because they've shifted all their production to make the more lucrative stuff for the for the data center AI computers questions. Thank you for your extreme frugality. I'd like to go garage selling something. >> Do it. >> All right. Uh we'll move on to comments related to agenda items. Nothing for this segment. >> All right. Consent agenda. Madam Secretary, >> chair calls for a motion that the Harper Creek Board of Education approve the consent agenda as follows. Approve the general fund check, school service fund check, school lunch, and student school activity fund checks in
034accordance with the list discussed. Approve the following minutes as reviewed. May 11th, 2026, regular board of education meeting minutes. June 1st, 2026, building committee meeting minutes. June 4th, 2026, budget committee meeting minutes. >> So moved and supported. Do we have discussion? Hearing seen, please call the role. >> Mr. Herson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Alred, I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace. >> Yes. >> Mr. Smith, >> yes. >> Mr. Best, >> yes. >> Motion carries 6. >> Thank you. >> All right. Information, discussion, school safety update, Mr. >> The first thing and most important um Em Township had contacted us about potentially um placing a gun safe at the high school within the SR office. And I wanted to make sure you know the board of education a was aware and b
035um was in favor of that before we move forward. And so we talked about at the safety committee meeting. I believe that there and I and I believe in my individual conversations with board members. I didn't have much any push back for it. The biggest question is where are we going to do that at other buildings. Um right now we had said out loud we'll do it as a pilot at the high school. I'll make sure everything is good and it's it's it's all in good good um order. And then if we were to add another one it would go to the middle school and then elementary class. And I need to talk to, you know, Chief Mackey about this further, but I intend to tell him that we were okay. The other question that
036came up is who has access and at this point it would be EMTT Township officers. That includes our SRO at this point in time. Um, I don't know if there were any other specific questions that came up from from individually from board members, but if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer. >> I mean, I I can't see why we wouldn't have that at every bill. >> That that was a comment that did come forward. And so, I did tell that to uh Chief Mackey. Um, and he said, "Well, you know, we've got one that we're ready to place whenever you guys say it's okay." >> Yeah. I my only I mean, I don't know what your pilot, right? It's it's a safe and building and so I think if there's general agreement,
037I would be in favor of having that safety at all. >> I appreciate Chief Mackey and his insight and perspective. He gives us a perspective that we certainly, I don't think, immediately think of when we're talking about school safety. So, I appreciate his his, you know, thought process. >> Good catch. >> Yeah. This came directly from the safety issue at the high school at the end of the year when we had the bomb threat. Um, swatting bomb threat, I guess I called it. Uh, the officers on site had mentioned that, you know, if if this was a real situation, all I have is the pistol, which apparently, you know, is I'm not in law enforcement. I don't really know about these things, but is not as good as a But want to make sure everybody's
038aware. Um, >> are there other schools or districts areas around here that we know how to do? >> I have no idea. That's a good question. >> I would think would be a trend setter in this situation. >> Jane, >> yeah, I don't know. We did not have that in Calonia. It was talked about. >> I don't know. I don't know the answer. My my thought would be is that considering we are a little bit more rural in some areas even at the high school here in response time and having have a officer exit the building when something's going on. Go get a long gun that's going to have more grounds for second or minute and come back in. This all makes sense to me >> in those cases. >> I'll check those see if
039I >> Yeah, just random curiosity. >> It's been talked about. But I know the MSBO about it too facilities. >> Other other topics I'll just go through real quickly. So we were asked to be part of a camera system promotional video. And if you remember if we use the rave alert uh for the 911 dispatch, our camera comes on wherever that phone is, you know, GPS located. And so that is a very unique. It's actually very unique in the United States. And so um the county would like to do a promotional video about that because they're pretty proud. So I said yes that we would be interested in being part of that. Um talked a little bit about the bomb threat again and the secretaries and what they need at their desk when that happens.
040Our secretary did a wonderful job of getting information during that during that period. I'm going to audit the the emergency operation plan to make sure it's up to snuff in terms of legally. We had a new one put in last year. I just want to double check that we have everything in place. Um, we are going to help pay for the SRO national conference. So, send our SRO's there. Um, and then we talked about a few things about graduation. It was a hot, so water would have been nice. Golf, more golf carts, that would have been nice. Officer Pierce brought up the safety film that's in the bond issue um to make sure people understand how important that is. And then Jim talked a little bit about the wall that he was coming. We did
041not talk about the um potential of having a dedicated person that is over safety. So they want to continue that conversation. >> Yeah, we've talked to we talked about it internally for sure about what that looks like. It's a little bit of a delicate conversation with you know EMTT and everybody else to make sure. I do think the model is something we should look at. >> We have somebody doing school safety basically as their job. That'd be awesome, you know. So, our SRO's great, but they're not running the safety meetings. They're not, you know, up front. I would say more reactive than proactive. We have a proactive person. That would be great. So, I do want to keep that conversation going, but I do also want to have conversations with officer Chief Mackie and anybody
042else who's involved. Chris Young also is the >> What did Chris get back with us today on >> the promotional video? >> Promotional video. >> Yeah, Chris is our emergency manager. >> For calendar, >> he comes to most of our meetings, but he didn't have to be. >> All right. Uh, no questions. We move on to strategic plan update >> right in your if you want to follow along in your packet I do have a copy of the strategic plan and when I say follow along I'm not going to read it to you today but the pillars that are on there drive achievement creative culture collaboration and so forth I'm going to kind of go through each one I I typically say okay these two or three things are happening but I think I was
043missing a little bit we have a lot more happening than two or three things so I sat down with our admin team and said okay let's brainstorm all the stuff that we're doing so here we go dry student achievement so we've had a lot of work done on our curriculum resources. The board has approved ELA math. They did high school math this year. Much of that has been implemented. High school math will be in next year. And I really think, you know, having a constant curriculum throughout our elementary education, our middle school education, and now towards the high school that we will see those achievement scores really, really rise. So that that would be number one driving student achievement. the schedule change that Jane talked about that's happening at the elementary, middle school, and even
044in the high school to make sure that we have intervention time for kids. And I talk about these things that might be educational speak, but tier two would be kids that are a little bit behind or tier three kids that are way behind. Having time built in the school day to um intervene for both of those groups along with getting regular instruction. So sometimes regular instruction is happening and we pull kids out. We want to keep the kids in regular instruction and have a different time for these other things and Jame has brought that to our district and and led that change and that will start at the beginning of next year. Uh we are bringing in some gurus from solution tree for professional learning communities twice next year. So two of our professional development
045days will have people coming in to help us improve and statistically that is the best way that we're going to be able well one of the best ways to improve student achievement. Um just continuing on that process that we started a long time ago. And then celebrations, you know, we celebrate a lot at the end of the year. Uh we do, you know, monthly students of months. Um just lots of times, you know, I thought the senior was pretty good. I mean, Brad had a senior this year. I thought it was a pretty good event. >> And then we did another event for our scholarship fun just trying to really, you know, push kids up. And graduation, of course, I think was was pretty good. uh moving on to create a culture of collaboration. The
046early release release Wednesdays is really the time that happens. It gives people the time and opportunity so that they can ensure that they are talking about kids learning look at data and see what can we do differently or what can we do better to improve our instruction. Um I asked I had a evaluation with one of the principles today and she said yeah that that is the thing that is really helping our improvement. um having that time. Uh over the summer, we're going to really look at our volunteer framework um the backbone technology portion. So my mind, my vision of I think I said it before the board is I want to volunteer. I push a button on our website that says volunteer and it goes right through a process of okay where what and
047it goes to that school and there's a person at the school then that picks the phone up or contacts the person to say okay we've got you this is what you're going to do and this is how you're going to do it. Another back end of it though is we need to make sure that we're welcoming the volunteers. I've heard sometimes we're not as welcoming as we could be. So we've got to get better at that. um business partnerships. Now, we're going to get better at the business part. We're pretty good at the nonprofit part. So, for example, KCC, we're talking about hosting dual enrollment courses at Harper Creek. Um again, Jame is is in conversation with Dr. Watson. Um we brought U of M in uh to help us with our onboarding process to
048take a hard look at the way we onboard employees to get better at that. Um so, that's another partnership. We have a cohort for educational leadership. People want to be principles or assistant principles. So, we have four people in the cohort with Western Michigan University. The wait room project that we completed, we're very proud of. That was a nice business involvement. We do a decent job of grants from our our foundations throughout the throughout the community. But we really need to get into the business world and get a little bit of that. And so, you know, Jame and I have talked and it's something that um we're researching to say who does it really well, how can we do it really well. uh so that we have that roadmap if we want if we have
049a corporation or a company that wants to vol or not volunteer but donate specifically that we have pathways to make that happen. So still still a work in progress. Communications I'm not going to steal the thunder that we already talked about it. Uh the curriculum council talked about or asked basically parents surveyed and asked what is it that you want from us? Um, and one of the things was we need to know what our kids are learning and how to help them at home. And so that's the I'll call I call it depository that's not the word >> Repository >> of information sorry um that is being created. So we listen in that area. The second area was communication being having a regular cadence at the teacher level, the building level and the district level.
050And so that group is also saying what is required or what is expected I guess the better word to say of that communication and what should that look like. And so I I do appreciate the work that's coming out of the curriculum council. I think that is going to improve our communications. Um also has to be a parent friendly language. That was something that we asked our staff is yeah you can give us the stuff you're doing but if you write it as a educational speak nobody's going to understand it. So we're really working hard at making it friendly language. Um, I do think the brand uh enhancement through K12 media is going pretty well. I guess you you you'd have to tell me. The Bond stuff that's out there is are people seeing it
051or is it is pretty regular? I think it's been good. It's not necessarily too in your face, but there's videos. There's all kinds of things are happening all the time. >> I still really wish they were not all videos. Uh we need static information that's coming out that people can quick and read because otherwise you got to be somewhere that you can turn on a video they can see it. We need little bits of information. >> You haven't seen those too. >> I haven't seen as many of those as I have videos. Mostly videos. >> I'll give them that information because we we have a little bit of both. >> Okay. I really to that point I haven't seen I don't remember seeing anything static but I've seen Okay. >> Yeah. Lots of videos. >>
052All right. And then really quick going back to the parents and community are we at one point we were doing surveys at the end of the year like to communication did we do I don't remember seeing a survey at the end of the year of like how did the year end how did it go from parents perspective I thought we were doing something but maybe I >> like I know during conferences we we do those surveys but I can't remember if we've done it during the end of the year but I do feel like we did them I will say like more often than than we have in the most like in the last two years for sure. >> Yeah. >> All right. Then we did we did the perception survey in February I think
053that Shay is mentioning but I don't know I don't think it's something that we have done. The reason why I'm thinking is I'm thinking like, okay, it's end of the year. Um, and just kind of knowing how did the communication go for the year, you know, nothing real specific, but even like I >> Yeah. >> So many teachers were very communicative. So many teachers maybe weren't very communicative. It might just be helpful for you and the principles to know offhand who was being more communicative >> and what worked. >> Yeah. what was good and and really >> make sure we get positives to those >> in a short window. We got to get get it done quickly while people have it in their minds. >> Yeah. Yeah. It might be too late for this. Maybe
054not. >> I think so. It's only been really two days out of school. >> Oh, yeah. That's true. >> Feels like summer's been so long already. It's been a day. >> And then um sorry, is anybody off on that? >> We invest in our people. So, the grow your own program. You've heard a lot about I want to hammer it, but tonight we're we are hiring seven teachers through the program, which is pretty cool. Um, so that that will be coming up a little bit later, but we also have a lot of staff that earned a secondary certification that are already teachers and they've moved in different locations around the district. And so I think that's really really good. That's part of succession planning. >> Um, we're looking really hard at future leaders. Now, we
055don't always have a person for position all the time, but trying to have it set up where people have the opportunity to move up in the organization, I think, is critical. Um, and continuing to do that with the educational leadership program that we have four different people enrolled in at the current time. And then celebrating our success, you know, trying to celebrate our staff success also in social media newsletters. If you remember, we do the thankful and thoughtful awards every November, which you may or may not know because it's internal, but it is a huge deal. Thousand I would say over a thousand different way times where somebody recognize another staff member. It really is probably the most positive thing to see. I would say thank you, Carl and Rebecca, you're up. Uh, and then
056creating our future. My primary focus is the bond issue. um and getting out. I don't need to talk about what I'm doing, but I will be out and about as much as possible. Fiscal responsibility. I wanted Jinger to say out loud that we think more than likely if everything works out, we'll finish in the positive this year. That's really a big deal as money gets tight, especially. And then um early learning. So if if the bond were to pass and we were to get more space, we could certainly add at least two if not three early learning classrooms to the district and there is need out there. I talked to the folks that are doing the GSRP program currently. Um and they tell me there is much more kids in Harper Creek that are asking
057for preschool that are getting it here hopefully. Okay. Well, that's my strategic plan update. something that we strongly look at at our administrative meetings to ensure that we are doing things. >> That was a nice update. Thank >> you. >> Not to Oh, go ahead. >> So, I'm just I mean a lot of progress and thanks to you and your team for keeping it alive and in front of I mean that's the way we improve. This should this should drive everything we do. And I I'm assuming this, but just I probably one of the reasons you you're continuing to make progress is that all the initiatives that are underneath here have a specific owner and a specific timeline associated with them, right? I assume that's >> Yeah, I I can't take credit for all this.
058Like I said, I just kept talking about the bond and the things I was doing. These are all things that everybody around the district. >> Thanks to the whole team. >> Yeah. And there's not just them, all of our folks that are coordinators and supervisors, principles. >> Two super quick things. One, and I don't know if this is like technically should be like a comment to the the board as a parent, but um I just wanted to as you talk about celebrating people, um I you know have a middle schooler. Well, she will be a freshman next year, but um I just want to give like a huge thank you to specifically not not only but like specifically Minnie Johnson. Um she's an admin team. Her and the admin team in general and the teachers
059this year um have really worked to celebrate the students in the middle school have have I I know there's some hiccups, but there were activities for them to be doing. There were things there were things to get them involved with each other that I hadn't seen previously. and this is my second middle schooler and so um huge thank you um and kudos to them for pulling this together. Mindy and specifically Mindy I know is has a huge um part in the student of the month celebrations. The eighth grade celebration was amazing like all of these things that she does. I mean there has to be planning outside of the time that she's obviously with the students in in the office, right? And so I felt my best go unnoticed because I feel like for a
060long time it kind of blessed and they were just kind of notable students and they didn't get really anything and this year I think they got a lot of a lot of um time. And then also just an idea which I know is never actually just an idea but like how cool was a way for us to connect with our community would be to have an openhouse with all of our new staff for the community to come and meet. So, like I was thinking because this is a huge group of grow your own, right? And I'm like, "Oh my gosh, we should throw them an open house." And then I'm like, "Wait, we we have incoming people, right? Or even if it's their first year, they're hired in the the middle of the the school
061year um for the community to come and meet them. Um and not just your teacher, right? Because not everybody can make meet the teacher, but for everyone to come and see like what we're doing at Harper and who's leading the charge at Harper Creek." And so, again, I know it's not like a small thing. I know inviting the public in and you know there's so much that goes into it but I just think that would be a really cool idea. So yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh tax levy request. All right. This is quick and simple. So uh we're going to keep the we're asking the board to keep the tax levy the same. Rotate this later. make that. >> So, this is Oh, shoot. >> I'm not sure. Uh, this is a form
062that all governmental agencies do and we would be, if you can see it, 18 mills for nonhomestead. And for those people in the audience are at home, nonhomestead are second homes and or businesses. So, there's an 18 mil tax is for operations. So, in the district and it's standard throughout Michigan in terms of schools. There's nothing new to or new to Harper Creek. One thing you need do need to know is this was voted in 2018 for 10 years. We will have to in um go back to voters and ask them to renew the operating millage. If you don't get the operating it has nothing to do with facilities. If you don't renew the operating millage, you lose the money. So it's significant amount of money. And then the other I'm sorry, the other millage
063rate is the in bonded indebtedness of 7.12 mills. that is the same as it's been since I've been here. Um, and as we look at the bond proposal, that's what we would say that we would go to next year. 7.12 same no increase. Um, and then we would be able to raise about $28 million by extending the bond. So tonight though, we're asking the board to approve the millage rates of 18 mills for non Homestead and 7.12 for bondage and um for next year's tax collection. >> That's reasonable and customary, right? reasonable, customary, nothing extra. The board has not raised that tax rate um that in in in the history um to to pay back our bonds. And actually, we're paying back our bonds three years early for a savings of about $15 million. That's
064your point number five. >> We did a lot of refinancing early on um in my career here and Carol Davis and the board. So recommending we approve the military. >> All right. Information discussion item D summer facility projects. >> All right. You you have it in your board book, but I also put it in your packet. It's kind of a green I call it red. Uh these are the projects the building committee took a look at. Uh the budget, this is for PILT projects. PILt is the casino revenue. Um and Jim had a a budget of 200,000. The projects listed on the paper all add up to 182,000. So under budget, um we said if there is extra money, we would look at parking lot repairs that aren't being repaired within this budget. So I'm
065going to run through them. We don't have to talk about each one, but just so you have an idea. So, we have to replace the trash compactor at the high school. It's a $40,000 item and it was bidded out and we're going to hopefully approve that bid. But out of this money, the Pilt money, we only need to spend 9,888 because the rest is food service. Okay. So, the state has approved us to spend 75% to pay for it. The other part is going to be uh place to drive and add a drain at Wild Park Elementary. That is a budget number, not a bid number. So, we will put that out to bid. Um, so if you have a wild child, it is as you go to the school, it's on the south side
066or south side or the left side, replacing the drive all the way back to the back and add a drain from the bad puddle that crap out of every year. Cafeteria condensing unit at Wild Park Elementary, it went out. So, the air conditioner is not working in the cafeteria current moment. So, that would be a fairly large number. um building signage. And this is not like electronic signs. These are signs outside classrooms. We did we did the high school already last year and now we would do the rest of the buildings to upgrade our signs at every building. Um the property house demo is is a different color and that's because it's a priority two project. We could wait on it. The building committee thought we should move forward with it. Um that is the
067house that is next to the stadium that we own that property. there. There's nobody living there is empty. Um it's the land that we have. I think it's time to move forward with it. The tennis court needs to be fixed. The the all the poles are broken apparently. Um so get that fixed. Playground bedding or mulch I would call it at every elementary. That's an ongoing annual installation. And then finally uh if we have the money we would do 8ft tables, those white tables you might buy at Sam's Club. 10 each at each building, Beetle Lake, Sonoma, Wild Park, and the middle school. Right now, gyms people are transporting tables all over the district almost every day. >> And they're and they're from 2012. So, they're rather beat up. >> All right. So, I am
068asking the board approve um those projects and then also the trash compactors been bidded. So, we'll approve that. >> We are doing all projects. Correct. Right now, we are moving forward with all projects that are on the list. Even though, you know, we had prioritized them out, we are under budget at this point. So, I think we're going to do them all. If the bids come in better, for example, we will do more parking lot repairs. >> And just add that the property house becomes more of a liability if you don't take care of it sooner than later. So, >> there is no gas or electric hooked up to it. Now, we've already have that taken care of. We've also had the appropriate inspections made a couple years back to when we first discussed demolition.
069>> That 25,000 is not a bidded number yet. Correct? >> No, sir. >> All right. Uh nothing further on that. We're going to move to new items. >> All right. This is actually really good news. Um these are um teachers that we um like to hire and you can see where they all are at. I'll run through them very quickly. They all would be at the BA1 level. also don't need to talk about that part. So, Avery Cable, fourth grade teacher at Waddles Park Elementary. Tory Duke, kindergarten teacher at Be Lake Elementary. Miranda Hefron, fifth, sixth grade ELA teacher in the middle school. Grace Hernandez, third grade teacher at Wattles Park. Riley Huniger, first grade teacher at Wattles Park. And Alyssa Peak, first grade teacher at Snow Elementary. And Jamie Whitmore, fifth and sixth grade
070math teacher um at the middle school. Uh we met with all of these folks, Jame and I, last week. I go through a it's an onboarding process really talking about expectations, talking about what our core values are as a district. Um getting to know them a little bit more about what their why is and and you know what they're all about. I always want to have good relationship with all of our staff. So it's good to sit down with them and say, "Okay, why do you want to be a teacher? What what is your goals in and after, you know, long-term goals?" All those types of things. I was really happy with this group. They've worked really hard to get where they're at. I know Tammy's in the audience and you know she's been there
071overseer for this entire project and I know that she's really proud of the fact that we have these folks around to hire. >> We have at least one Harvard graduate at the top of her page there. >> Nice to see that cycle back through. >> I'm pretty sure Jamie's >> I think Riley is too >> Miranda. Wow, that's awesome. >> Very cool. >> Yeah, when I was up at Moon Raker on Thursday doing the bond, >> I saw Miranda's father. She was pretty proud. >> I would recommend that we move forward with hiring these seven um individuals as much from the audience. One of each one uh Valerie Good evening. My name's Valerie Bener. My address. I just wanted to say thank you. Um, so this is gratitude expressed to part of it for Mr.
072Rididgeway. I uh I know I'm not a parent, but I have grandkids here. And you know, I remember and reflect back to when I was in high school and watching my kids going through high school. I never saw a school superintendent as physically present and actively involved with his students as I've seen demonstrated by Mr. Rinway. And that that says a lot. And I know I don't see everything and I haven't been at every school but I've seen a lot and that I just wanted the board to hear that. Um it's very very important and thank you for that. I really appreciate it and for the board. Um graduation was just amazing. It was hot. We were in the sun section but it was it it was amazing. and for the board, for those of
073you that were able to go, I can't tell you how much it meant to me to see you there. I It just meant a lot. I here again, I've never had the experience of having a a board like you. I haven't had the opportunity to interact with everybody, we've got some new board members this year, but I just thank you so much. Thank you for your heart. Thank you for the way you work. Thank you for supporting these students. I just I really appreciate it and thank you for giving me an opportunity to speak. >> Thank you. >> Well, in my 11 and a half years, I think that's the nicest. We we appreciate those kind comments. Um Mr. Ridgeway has been omniresent for his 11 and a half years here. I think everybody recognizes
074it and um we appreciate you pointing it out and I think all seven of us were at the at the graduation. So we actually all get along really well and like each other. That's a that's a nice nice uh group. just pointed out. Um, all right. We'll move on to action items and tax levy request. >> Tier calls for a motion that the Harbor Creek Board of Education set the school district's tax levy at 18 mills for the operating purposes on nonhomestead properties, 7.12 mills for debt retirement purposes on both homestead and non-homestead properties for the 2026 tax collection year. in the taxing units of the city of Battle Creek and the townships of EMTT, Fredonia, Leroy, Marshall, Newton, and Penfield. >> So moved. >> It's been moved and supported. Who we're going to give
075support to? >> I'm writing down for discussion. Miss, please call the RO. >> Mr. Halverson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Albert, I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace, >> yes. Mr. Smith. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bess. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. 16. >> Thank you for that. Uh, summer facility projects. >> Chair calls for a motion at the Harper Creek Board of Education approved the priority summer projects list as well as the low bidder kpack at $40,663 for the high school trash compactor as discussed and reviewed. So move support. >> All right. It's been moved and supported. Do we have discussion? >> See, please call the role. >> Mr. Halverson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Alward, I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace, >> I vote yes. >> Mr. Smith, >>
076yes. >> Mr. Best, >> I vote yes. >> Motion carries 6. >> Thank you. >> And action item C, new hires. Chair calls for a motion that the Harper Creek Board of Education approve the following new hires. Avery Cable, Waltz Park Elementary, fourth grade bachelor's degree, Western Michigan University and Public Relations, Alternative Pathways to Teaching, Teachers of Tomorrow, Grow Your Own, BA1. Tori Duke, Beetle Lake Elementary kindergartenner, kindergarten, bachelor's degree, Western Michigan University, elementary education, grow your own BA1. Miranda Hefron, middle school, fifth sixth grade, ELA, bachelor's degree, Western Michigan University, elementary education, grow your own BA1. Alysia Peak Sonoma first grade bachelor's degree Western Michigan University elementary education grow your own BA1 Riley Hunksticker Watts Park Elementary first grade bachelor's degree Western Michigan University elementary education grow your own BA1 Jamie Whitmore middle school
077fifth sixth grade math bachelor's degree Western Michigan University elementary education grow your own BA1 one and Grace Hernandez, Waddles Park Elementary, third grade, bachelor's degree, elementary education, grow your own, Western Michigan University, BA1. >> So moved. >> So far, there's been moved and supported. Do we have discussion? Congratulations to all these folks here. All BA1. That's impressive. >> And all grow your own. I was going to say, is that the first time we've had all of our hires from the grow your own program? >> Oh, for sure. >> We'll have some more hires beyond this group. >> What is our staffing right now? Like how many openings do we have across? >> We have because of some movement that's happened right in the district. Probably we have four or five openings. >> I think we
078have three right now. >> Oh, nice. >> Should we maybe do a little article about this? Put this out there. Know I pat ourselves on the back. got them on the back to the grant horn and all the work that happened to get the grant all your hard work on this >> three four years in December >> September >> and remind me did any other districts get this >> uh not around here >> not around here >> not locally not locally you know there were a few that got >> they don't count >> people reached out to Tammy to actually look at the grant >> locally but I I mean what a wonderful problem to have to have this many >> internal candidates. >> We have we have more wonderful >> it's amazing. >> I
079mean truly >> percentage grows the fabric of our district. >> I messed up your discussion though. Sorry. >> All right. Any further discussion? >> All right. Please call. >> Mr. Halverson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Wat. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Alward. I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace. >> Yes. >> Mr. Smith, >> yes. >> And Mr. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you for that item for the next meeting. Please join at 7:01 p.m.