Harper Creek Community Schools Board of Education Meeting 4-13-2026

001like to call the Upper Creek Board of Education regular meeting for Monday, April 13, 2026 to order. Please rise to the pledge of allegiance followed by a short moment of silence. 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. >> Thank you. >> Madam Secretary, please call the role. >> Mr. Halverson, >> here. >> Mrs. Risyner, >> here. >> Mrs. Wat >> here. >> Mrs. Albert, I'm here. Mrs. Wallace, >> here. >> Mr. Smith >> here >> and Mr. Best >> here. >> Everyone is present. >> All right. It is my understand we have a modification to the agenda this evening. >> We do. Um I would like to add G summer school

002to action. >> We'll use that if we decide to. >> All right. Madam Secretary, please call a motion. >> Chair calls for a motion the Harper Creek Board of Education approve adding action item G 2026 summer school approval to the agenda. Support move is supported. Do we have discussion? See now, please call the RO. >> Mr. Hverson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Risner, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Alward, I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Smith, >> yes. and Mr. Best >> vote. Yes. Motion carries. >> All right. Move on to communication. Start with president's remarks. Good evening to everybody in our audience and everybody watching online. Um we truly appreciate you guys coming in and spending all the time with us. Spring sports and activities are in full bloom.

003Please check out the website for all the upcoming events and uh we look forward to a great meeting tonight. An exciting event on Wednesday. Please consider uh coming to the uniting community building our future meeting uh building our future meeting on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in a high school media center. And with that, I will pass it over to administration and Mr. Ridgeway. >> Yeah. Some interesting news in in the athletic world. Uh we were pushed up to class A next year. It doesn't mean as much as it used to mean in terms of sports uh because most sports are set up where they take the number of teams with sports divide it by four and that's that is your divisions used to be you it would be something where you play class A schools

004and the reason is the threshold went all the way down to 783 for a class A school to kind of put in perspective it used to be 1,200 and so there's that many small charter schools um private schools that is causing ausing the uh class A to actually go down that much. So, we're we're sitting at 815 in the high school. So, we're pretty solid in in class A at this point. Uh community meeting is tomorrow. I'm excited. There's some buzz. Some people are not exactly sure what it's about. We really want to talk about some of the difficult topics in Harper Creek. School of Choice, casino money, and um our master facility plan so that our community is informed. We want to be transparent. It's part of our strategic plan. And I really hope

005you can make it because it's going to be great information for all involved staff um community as well as students. >> And that is Wednesday, right? >> Wednesday. Did I say tomorrow? >> You said tomorrow. >> Oh, you're [laughter] very I am ready for >> on top of things. >> Thank you. Um a few events coming up. Beetle Lake Elementary is having their second grade author's museum um coming up. The middle school musical Matilda Jr. is April 24th, 25th, and 26th. End of the month. Kindergarten testing is also coming up April 27th, April 28th, and 29th. Be variety is back on May 1st. We hadn't had that for a minute. It is uh a talent show, I guess, would be the best way to call it. Uh it really was a fun event. Uh May

0061st at 6:30 in the high school auditorium. Uh Beetle Lake is also going to do Travel the World Art Gallery on May 4th at 1:30. Soma's doing their art galla. Theirs is called Welcome to the Jungle and that's on May 15th. Uh we did um have our distinguished alumni, distinguished citizen um selection. The ceremony is on May 29th at 3:00. Uh and then graduation is May 29th at 6:00 p.m. I'm still in process of notifying all of the award winners. So the suspense will will will hit for just a little bit longer till that. But we had our committee meeting uh last week and that is all the announcements that I have. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Rididgeway. Um, the secretary in communication >> um, two donations to make you aware of. The Harper

007Creek Board of Education received a generous donation from Lori McPek to the Harper Creek Theater Program and another generous donation for the theater program from Wesley and Lindsay Rristen. >> Thank you to each of them for their generous donations. U move on to the grow your own graduates recognition. Mr. Rididgeway, >> I'm going to take over. We're going to walk to the front to do this. We can hand out some certificates as we're doing it. >> All right. So, this is really a a proud moment um for Harper Creek. We've we've had uh students in the grow your own program for quite some time. Um this is not our first group of graduates, but is our largest group of graduates that we have. These folks are going to be graduating. I'll probably get the date

008wrong. May 2nd from from Western. There's a couple in the summer, but for the most part, May 2nd. But it's an opportunity that probably wouldn't have happened for many of the folks that that that are going to get these awards. They're getting their mostly bachelor's degree. There's a master's degree in there as well, but they're also going to get their teacher certificate so they can become teachers. So, we're really proud as a school district and we want to give their due and award them tonight. So, I'm going to call you up one at a time and we'll try to stay up here to get a picture once you get your award. So, uh [laughter] first Danny Buyers. [applause] >> Thank you. >> Let me just Tori Duke. [applause] Next is Miranda Efron, [applause] Riley Huner,

009[applause] Alicia P. [applause] Well, here. Sorry. >> Jamie Whitmore. [applause] >> Grace Hernandez. [applause] >> Thank you. Congratulations. >> And then we have Lindsay Hy is earning her master's degree. [applause] And we have Tammy Chapman. Well, you can take a picture, aren't you? But let's have Tammy come up after she gets a picture. >> I'll squeeze in. >> Tammy, when you come up to >> You're gonna be in the picture. [laughter] >> I'm smiling for that. Congratulations. [applause] >> Thank you. >> A lot of work, a lot of effort. You made it. >> Sorry about that, guys. And before we're done, there are a few others that were unable to make it tonight. So, just uh recognize Trista Odell, >> Penny Durban, >> and Shannon Vonber. [applause] All right, we are going to keep the

010meeting rolling here with the middle school student council presentation and uh Miss Whitler. >> Got it. >> Bible writing. >> Um so just a little pre-intro um these kids have been doing amazing work and they're going to share some of that with you. Um but really Mr. Rididgeway asked us to come run you guys through an activity. So, I don't know if he he gave you any sort of heads up on that. >> But, uh, what we've [laughter] been doing as of late is, uh, this year we've been presenting kind of opening up our staff meetings at the middle school. Um, just to bring a little bit of, I don't know, a little bit of spice to what we've what we've always done and and always hearing from our kids is just it's it's a

011blessing. So, um, they're going to go ahead and pop up, but, um, we are involved in all sorts of extracurriculars, even outside of our school district. Um, we have, uh, Boy Scouts. Um, our president like literally came from her match at tennis, um, and scooted over here. Coach worked with us to be able to, um, so she could go first to be able to get out here. So, a lot of great collaboration and um so I think you'll really enjoy what they have to present. [laughter] >> Hi. Um we're at HMS Student Council. We're excited to be here today and today we'll be doing four main things. Introductions, student code values, activity, how low can you go, and debrief. I'll kick us off with introductions. My name is Shelby Barnes and I'm the student council

012president and I'm in eighth grade. >> I'm Brinley Hard. I'm the secretary and I'm in eighth grade. >> I'm Ky Jose. >> I'm Lillian Gy and I'm post treasurer. >> I'm John Davis. I'm a member. >> Hi, I'm Franchesca Path. I'm a member. >> So, we're going to be speaking about our core values today. Our first core value is leadership. Leadership empowers students to take initiative, make responsible decisions, and positively influence their school environment. Our second core value is service. Service fosters a sense of responsibility and compassion to encouraging students to give back and make a meaningful impact on their community. Our third pillar is kindness. Kindness builds a respectful and supportive school culture which encourages students to feel safe and encouraged to be their best self. Um and lastly, inclusion. Inclusion ensures every student

013feels seen, heard, and valued, creating a school community where everyone belongs. >> [clears throat] >> So, for our leadership pillar this year, um, with our core value of leadership, we attended leadership training in Grand Rapids. We've facilitated staff meetings. We've put on pep assemblies, and we've listened to speakers at the Pistons. We've had lots of opportunities to show and improve our leadership skills. So throughout the year we have had plenty of service opportunities like we've adopted a family during uh about Christmas time. We uh helped them financially throughout the hard season. We had helped build hygiene bags which supported over 85 people with the majority of them being children. We als we also uh wrapped many Christmas presents and gave them out to families that couldn't have as good of a Christmas as most people.

014We went over and went caroling at the retirement homes. We run our uh lead tickets and support and show who has been [clears throat] doing amazing job throughout the school year. We have We're also planning on having service day coming up soon on May 1st. >> For kindness, this year we've done a dance in the name of kindness. That's just that was just about like being kind. Um we've also done a lot of kindness like shout outs to staff and students and we gave them awards for it. Um we've done kindness t-shirts. We've done a lot of like teacher appreciation. >> Um and inclusion ensures all people are seen and involved. Um we have a big involvement of special Olympics. Um changing pep assemblies for all teams and organizations, spirit week for inclusion. We celebrated

015quiz bowl. We provided equipment to represent women's sports. Um and we did shout outs for other team sports and education. Now we're going to do our activity. >> We're It's called mingle. When the music plays, you mingle. When the music stops, quickly get in a group of the indicated number. Music plays, you mingle. When the music stops, quickly get in a group with new people of the indicated number and answer the question we get. >> Everybody up. for you guys. >> Do you guys know I love to make >> Oh, >> I think so. Yeah. Oh, they are not back here. >> Thank you. >> [music] >> Everybody, >> congratulations. >> I like the dance part though. >> Three. Would [laughter] you rather be sticky or itchy forever? >> [laughter] >> Have a dance party.

016groups of [laughter] two. >> There we go. >> If you were a piece of furniture, what would you be? >> If you were a piece of furniture, what would you be a couch? >> Don't lay on. >> [laughter] >> How do you follow that? >> You can use me for a lot of different things. >> [laughter] >> You guys like it? >> Tell me about the first driver. My car $150 a long time ago. Oh yeah. >> Thank you. I would like [laughter] >> this will be our next game in your group of six and it's called How Low Can You Go? You guys will each have a ruler and the goal is to have two index fingers below the ruler and the ruler will be resting on top. No outside forces may be used.

017The goal is to stand up with the ruler and get it while standing begin at waist height and lower ruler to the ground. The rule if at any point someone's finger loses contact of the ruler the group must restart back at waist height. Can you demonstrate? >> Okay. [laughter] If I take my finger away, we have to restart. >> Yeah. >> Are we going down or down? [laughter] >> It's going to take forever. >> I DON'T KNOW. >> [laughter] >> Why is this >> too? >> No. >> [laughter] >> down. >> Oh, you're already touching it. >> I KNOW. IT'S LIKE he's going down and going [laughter] up. What's going on? [laughter] Looks like [laughter] you can do it. >> Oh, YOUR FINGER'S NOT EVEN TOUCHING IT. >> Pause for one second. >> Just pause.

018Um, so I think we might have made a little mistake in the way we were explaining things. So just going to correct it real quick. So when you get when you start waist height and then you're going to go down, >> not up. >> We were trying all down. [laughter] >> We were all trying down. >> It wasn't your Give another 30 seconds. >> We were riding the struggle bus. All right. [laughter] >> OUT OF HER HAND. >> [laughter] >> Back up, guys. [music] Squat. contest. [laughter] >> Thank you. [applause] [cheering] Winners [singing and music] Are we done or are should we be back up? >> I just left the team so they could do it without me. >> We need to go down. >> Thank you. I was like rightful. What was the trick?

019>> All right, so first of all, thank you for participating. It was uh fun, not only for me, but also for the kids to really see what it looks like to be engaged um and see adults go through similar struggles we go through in the classroom sometimes. I saw maybe some people kind of tapping out a little early or wait, no, no, no. And then I've seen rulers fly to the ceiling, all sorts of things. Um so the trick is uh it's not that it's impossible but that's not the point. The point is how you interact with the team. Um and also uh integrity. So when we do uh the ruler because it's so difficult to do uh this this is actually called floating ruler. Um the more integrity um and honesty you have either

020you're going to keep resetting or your ruler is going to keep floating. So, if you thought you were big- time failure because that ruler kept going up, that's that's a good sign. Actually, >> I was blaming you. [laughter] >> I'm right. I'm wrong. I'm right. I just can't stop. >> I thought I just pile direct. >> I was [laughter] I was I'm not good at taking direction. >> You did a great job. [laughter] >> What's that? >> You did great. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Yes. I I love to see uh the joy too that it brought. I mean, it outweighed the frustration, I think. Um but yeah, so just being honest with yourself, honest when you see someone else. Um and just kind of making sure that you're doing what is right

021because it is right. Um and then uh we have a couple of processing questions um that we just want you to just pause and think about. Um if you have something to jot down, it always helps to kind of write write some ideas down. Um but kids will take it back up. >> So we're going to get back up and mingle again. When the music plays, you mingle. When the music stops, quickly get in groups of two or [clears throat] three. >> We'll leave we'll leave them seated for this. >> Oh, okay. >> Okay. You can stay where you're at. >> Um, so what are three things that you observed or felt during this activity? >> Oh, frustration. >> Oh, I'm like I like meeting new people. [laughter] >> [laughter] >> And like honestly you

022guys like grown-ups don't have to team build like that very often anymore. So like that was something completely not completely different but like that's kind of new for us all over again. >> Yeah. >> Emphasizes to the importance of like collaboration in the true sense and being able to work with with different different types of people and how diversity can really uh really improve a situation. What are two things that someone did that helped the group? >> If you'd like to shout things out, you're more than welcome to. >> Oh, we had the student council badgering us about how high. [laughter] >> The poor recent graduate just kept being like, "This is how we do it." And we were like, "No. communication definitely can make or break groups and we can see that especially in

023that you know I heard heard some people say hey let's let's try it this way or you know lots of new ideas brought to the table getting on the same page encouragement um those are all great and then also I mean the questions not asked but there are things that bring groups down and um but also being curious about why they're bringing the group down. So, it's not I didn't want to participate anymore. It's, you know, you take it a step further with why what's going on. Um because a lot of times, uh we see within our own our own groups and within our schools that uh sometimes people are on the out outside looking in and we just make sometimes we make assumptions about that. So, um being able to bring them in. So

024for our last question, what is one takeaway from this activity >> that there are some things that are impossible? [laughter] >> I should have blame Brad. [laughter] >> Play individual sports. >> Have fun. >> Yeah, I think that >> communicate. Yeah. All right. So, that uh is a wrap. We want to thank you uh for having us and letting us I won't say torture you, but um definitely bringing a little bit of uh fun hopefully to tonight. And of course, >> there's always snacks. >> Wow. >> Thank you so much. You're just [laughter] letting him >> No, I don't. >> You want mine, Rob? >> No, I know. That's what I said. I was like, >> thank you. >> I heard you were on a diet. >> Hi, friend. >> Great job, GUYS. [applause] >>

025Snag a picture real quick. That's okay. [laughter and gasps] >> [laughter] >> Do you wanna Do you want to be in the picture? >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Come back next year. See if we can do it better. >> Oh man. [laughter] Thank you. [applause] >> Come back again, guys, but with an easier game for ask. >> Thank you, guys. >> All right. Uh we will move on to district updates. Finance. >> Where's Mrs. M? Mrs. Overland. >> Not used to being the first. [laughter] >> Where is Mr. >> Oh, Mr. Robinson is being celebrated. He's at a lacrosse game today and they're celebrating uh military appreciation night. >> And so he was going to talk to the team and they were doing a little bit of a I think pregame um recognition and they had

026to be eager after. >> For those that don't know, Mr. Robinson used to be our head uh varsity cost coach. [cough and clears throat] >> Does seem pretty scary. >> All right, >> leave it up. >> All right. Uh my [snorts] board book has the regular uh reports that I normally have. Um it's getting towards the [clears throat] end, so but everything's in line with what you would expect. Um, we've gotten six out of the 11 state aid uh payments, which is 55% and we're at 60%. And most of that is uh the extra would be grants that we just haven't spent yet. Um, the next page uh would be the cash balance report. We received 32,000 in interest revenue. Um, next, this looks like the typical one that you're used to seeing. Next, um,

027month you'll see we have a like a little over $4 million payment due for that millillage. So, that'll that'll go down. >> That'll go down to almost zero after next month. >> Very close [clears throat] to zero. Um and um hopefully probably [clears throat] not next month but the month after we'll receive the casino money so the the future needs will go up a little bit but everything is as expected. We're in a good uh place uh with cash flow. Uh and then I have the regular uh check registers. the finance uh committee that meets on Thursdays gets the detail of that and asks any questions. Um I that's all I have on my reports if anyone has any questions on that. And then I did want to just mention that um we have been

028looking at the 2627 budget and I presented that to Mr. Rididgeway and the finance committee uh last week. We're currently looking at about a negative 1.5 million and that's with without doing anything. That was just a um with the spring count with the normal increases with um no cuts. So then coming up we'll take a look uh Mr. Rididgeway and I will specifically will be looking at different savings options. There might be things that um I can adjust for um and and present a budget to you in June like normal. >> And then this year, sorry, >> what assumptions did you use on the um FTE? >> The it was the same as the spring count um off the top of my head. >> Okay. And [snorts] then what was the what was the um

029>> foundation? Foundation loan >> 10,300 which is what the governor uh came up with. >> Okay. We were at right now was at 10,50. >> So an increase of 250. >> 250. >> And that still leaves us a million and a half short. >> Yes. >> To start with. And our goal budget committee wise is we want to get at least where we were last year about negative 800,000 to start >> because that's where we were >> and we're always conservative >> last year. Yep. On purpose >> in the back of your mind. >> And then um negative 800. And actually, I did an updated uh just rough budget, not the one that I'm going to bring to you necessarily, but we're uh with no changes, negative 383,000, which is better than the negative 800,000

030that I brought to you in January. >> It's about half better. >> So, good news on this year's budget. We, you know, we know we start at a certain spot and we usually end well. Um but we want to make sure you're at the worst case scenario as we All right, >> that's what I got for tonight unless anyone has questions. >> Thank you. >> All right, thank you for that. Move on to curriculum and >> yes, um just going through my report. Uh early warning indicators, um we can see that attendance percentages are starting to creep up, especially at the high school level or secondary level, which is not uncommon. Some of the nice thing is they're either holding firm or going down slightly, which is good, but we know that um the secondary

031level weekend um some of our kids will check out near the end of the year, especially our seniors. Behavior referrals are pretty much holding their own. Um not moving a ton. There's some blips that are going on in there, but again, we're paying attention, doing the best that we can. And then our course proficiency, you can look at that as well. And you can kind of see as our students get older. This is something that we'll have to address of just beginning to check out a little bit more and more and more. So that's going on with our early warning indicators. If I go to culture and collaboration, you can also look at that whiteboard because I haven't erased it since the last DCC meeting. um that really we're working on for um we have

032three different areas that we're working on um within DCC. Um one thing that came out in our parent survey was that parents want to be able to help but they don't necessarily know exactly what their students are doing on um a given time. So we're working on um we're building a a repository or potentially an open website which kind of goes through um you know what students are learning in any given month. Um and um also with that, you know, how parents can also help. So we're in the process of building that and creating it together. Um which dcc will be presented with a rough framework of that tomorrow um to see if they like it or what we can add and move around. And then the last bullet you'll just see is culture, climate

033and culture. Really what does it mean to be um a Harper Creek student? So really trying to have some vertical articulation all the way through from DK all the way up through the high school. Um I'm going to skip all the way to information and act action items. So in middle school uh it was presented to you uh in a in a sub meeting but then also talked about in our last meeting of our ELA and math learning labs. Um again if you um you can click on that if you'd like for definition but really think of um learning labs is a tier 2 intervention. So students that need extra help, um we were providing that in a different way last year than what we will be providing it next year. So this is a

034course offering. Um so picture a student needing a little bit more help in ELA. They could be scheduled for an ELA class and then also be scheduled for a 9-week class to get them back at grade level. Um and we'll be calling that learning lab. You'll also see another class in there called learning lab resource. that is a special ed resource class, meaning a student that has um per their IEP needs um special ed services. Um they could also be pulled out of a class and have um be pulled out and taught by a special ed teacher. Um, the middle school before had all an entire push-in model and we felt like we could better meet the needs of our students and have a a bigger array of how we're aligning to all of our

035student needs by having um pull out special ed as well. I am asking um for the high school we have the the math department. We presented the presentation or the high school uh math team along with um Miss Howard presented last board meeting of the math curriculum that they would like to go ahead and purchase. So, I will be asking you to adopt that later in the meeting. And then also, you'll see an AP pre AP pre-calc um class in there as well. And that is something that the high school and also the the high school and the counselors believe that that would really kind of help us keep our students here with us and not have so many students looking to take classes elsewhere. Um so, this is a way that we're trying to

036span that gap of keeping them in. Um, you can see and it's a rough estimate for books and things of that nature be somewhere around $3,500 for the cost of the textbook for the class. Um, and you can see the book choice. It's written up there on the bottom as well. >> Um, and beyond that, um, would do you have any questions about that before I move to summer school? >> I have two questions. Yes, ma'am. >> Is what is dcc? >> Oh, district curriculum council. So, picture [clears throat] Yep. Yep. Sorry, I'm throwing out. >> That's okay. That's great. Um, and then I wasn't going to ask because I didn't want to look silly, but then I was like, I don't know. Um, and then when you say like taking classes elsewhere, do you

037mean like math and science center elsewhere? >> Math and science center, Kellogg Community College, just all of the classes where you know students at times are leaving the high school, which I've heard over and over and lived it before. Um, of what really happens at times is a good majority of our 11th to 12th graders end up outside of our own school setting. And sometimes that's our top 10, 15, 20% of our students, which creates a culture gap as well. So the more we can keep things inhouse, the better for that >> keeping our culture. >> Okay. >> Yep. Any other questions? >> I was not here last week, but I did present or um prepare um because it was asked uh a summer school proposal. So, in that I just kind of want to

038point out the logistics of that um because it will look what was proposed um was a summer school that would take place for 16 total days. So, 4 weeks, 4 days a week would go from 8:15 a.m. to 12:45. So, yes, we'd service or have lunch, breakfast, and lunch um capacity of 80 students. And of course, this is just the rough idea of all of this um with a cost of of DK through 8th grade of $61,500 to service the 800 students. And then um high school credit recovery, which needs to be run every year just to make sure our students can graduate on [clears throat] time. You can see that as well for for a grand total of $72,900 to run summer school. Do want to point out to you, I guess, two things

039with it. one, what was presented is it's not really near what summer school has been in the past. It's it's it's not um what was kind of designed here would be much more based on like the intervention model of this is where we know your gaps are. This is where we need to. And what I'm trying to say in that is [sighs] parents and students are going, if you approve it, parents and students are going to it'll be a vastly different summer school process. I mean, at least of what is designed here at this point. Um and the last was just um percentages and information of the effect that summer school had on the last few years of our students that attended it. >> Any questions that you have on that document? >> No, I

040just I just like to say like I think it's I think that it's great that we have found a way to still have summer school availability. Um, it is summertime and so like I'm maybe I'm super naive, but I hope that there's a way that the teachers and the the facilitators can find some ways to bring some fun into it and and give those kids who need that extra help a little bit of >> something more than just sitting in a classroom during the summer, you know. Um, but I think overall, right, we want to see the results and we want to see it it mean something and actually support them on to the next grade. Um, and so I think, you know, I guess I I I'm very interested to see what it looks

041like this year. Um, and not even compared to the last few years because that's been very summer campy, less summer schooly. >> Um, so I'm just excited to see what the results look like, what the growth is, and and kind of what what our facilitators can do with what they've got. >> I think you said it perfectly. I I I do believe our educators will be able to create some fun in it. Yeah, >> but it definitely won't look summer campy. That's I'm glad I actually used that term the past couple weeks. >> Yeah. >> Um >> it'll be much more look like school than summer camp. >> Yeah. Nobody wants to be the bad guy and say like sorry guys, you're not going to have fun, but like also we want to make sure

042you're prepared to move on to the next grade. >> Agreed. And I do want to point out that in years past this was taken out of grants and this year it's not taken out of grants because that >> you're all shaking heads like you know that. So it'll be coming out of the general fund. >> Yeah. We just want to make sure general public people you know that hopefully are watching online or maybe watch the meeting later. Um you know we had sent the message out I sent the message out that we weren't able to do it because of grant funding. We don't have the grant funding to do summer school this year. So, if we were to move forward with this, it would be a $61,500 ad to our general fund budget. You heard

043Miss Over Meyer talk about where we are at. We're better than than we were um in February. So, that's great. Uh it would add another 61,500 to do it. I know the budget committee met and had a conversation and I feel like they felt like it was probably the right thing to do this year um because we want to make sure that we're not just pulling the rug out. But if we were to do this with general fund dollars, it's not something we could more than likely continue in the future. Um we would continue to look for grant funds. We we've been very fortunate. Um we had grant funds after CO to make sure kids had didn't fall behind and catch them up. Then we had state grant funds that came in after that. And

044so it was it was great. It was great while we had [music] it. And hopefully in the future there'll be money available. And if it is, it's a really nice thing to have. Um, but we may not be able to offer in the future. I do want to make sure I say that. But the board was committed and they heard the community and said, you know, let's put together a summer school even if it's not as robust, but it can still help kids in >> What are other school districts doing for for summer school? >> Yeah, I had Miss Overmire look into it. Can you speak to that? Yeah, I called uh four different schools uh area schools. Um everyone was doing something a little bit different. One school does two weeks worth uh or

045eight days. Um every single school uses grant funding uh currently. No one has it hit their uh general fund at all. Um but uh you know, Battle Creek Public has a has a bigger >> Sure. >> Um >> like kind of like what we've done in the past. Uh my understanding is Lake is doing something a little bit different this year where they're just having like one like three different days and it's just like fun days. It's not like sit down in a classroom and do um school work. And then uh Marshall Public only does it for one of their elementary school buildings, the one that's located in Melben, and it's a four-week program, four or six week program uh similar to this field. So it sounds like ours is going to offer a lot

046more rigor and maybe we didn't qualify for grant dollars any place else and so we're going to go out of general fund. >> Okay. >> I think it's a positive. I mean we it's a lot of people were disappointed staff as well because you know many work summer school as part of their summer summertime. We won't have as many openings but we will have 10 uh different positions that will be available if we move forward. We did put an action in case you wanted to take action to on the 61,000. The other part was already in the budget. The recovery. [clears throat] >> Yeah. >> Okay. We will move on to facilities. And Mr. Ridgeway, I assume you pinch it from Mr. Robinson. >> Yeah. Mr. Robinson sent his report. Um, he says that every

047meeting, right? >> Yes, he does. Uh what I think the biggest project I want to talk about is the um the school sign and a couple things I want to clarify since our our last meeting in which this was was approved. First of all, we um are going to use a PIL fund which is casino revenue to um do do this project. This project was part of our strategic plan. the strategic [clears throat] plan and one area where we feel like we fall down as a school district is getting information to community members who are not connected to the school. So let's say that you're not a parent, might be a grandparent, but you might just be a community member in Harvard Creek. How do I get information? Most people aren't reading the papers like

048they used to. That was probably our go-to prior. We [snorts] do the newsletters in the shoppers, so that's a piece of it. But having an electron sign where we can put and um mark it and tell people what's going on might be helpful. Like we had a school musical a couple weeks ago. It was outstanding. I would love to have the auditorium full if people knew that that was happening. But I would guess if I wasn't a parent, a grandparent, um I probably didn't even know that the musical was happening as an example. So that is the biggest project. It looks like that that project will be done in June, but I can't say exactly where. Right now it is at the permitting stage at the state of Michigan. So I think B is it

049B drive north is a state road or be lake one of those. So we have to get the permitting done through the through the state of Michigan. Um I know near and dear to Jimard is the Walden Hills. It will be here this summer. Um the American Legion is also bringing in helicopters that they're going to give uh I give I think for rides in the helicopters. that it's >> called great. Um, so they're doing that as well at the same time. So, we're really excited about that coming in. Uh, they're in process of testing in every building, but at the high school, we have to bring in tables and chairs and all kinds of different things to to to do it correctly with the SAT. Um, and so they're in process of ensuring everybody

050has it what they need. And then finally, graduation is coming up on May 29th and getting everything ready for graduation. Um, >> questions. [clears throat] Big deal to get the wall of heels. It's such a such an honor. >> Yeah, I thought the customians did a really good job over spring break. Um, you I was doing spot checking and much much better. I I felt really good about where we were at with our our cleaning and throughout the district during spring break. >> Where's the site going? spot right out where that where the sign is now. >> The one out front here, right? Okay. >> Yep. Right on the corner of the B drive. >> We'll connect with our much much in so many areas. >> All right. If nothing further, we'll move on to

051technology and >> Okay. Uh two items on here tonight. one was um just a little overview of what kind of technology we're asking for in the bond local that voters will get this summer. Um specifically classroom technology. So that's an area where we've identified a lot of needs. Um for instance, our projector fleet is is from very new to very old. We won't even say how old some of them are. Um, so if the bond passes, there's money in there to either replace all of those with new projector or possibly some sort of interactive display. Um, which we've been looking at. So that's really exciting to know that'll that'll make everything consistent and same and new and visible and everything else. Um, classroom audio specifically does a microphone all the teachers wear or are able

052to wear if they need to. Those have been helpful when they're helpful, but we've found since we deployed them that you can't buy batteries for them. They're not replaceable. Um, and they have a nice habit of connecting to whichever room is closest when you turn it on. So, we didn't know that either before we deploy them. So, we are looking to get something new and better in that regard. Um, another thing is the document camera. So, that's like it's almost like a webcam that you can put papers under it and it projects it. Those are we've heard various um concerns with those blurriness, focus, low light ability. So, we're have planned for something [snorts] new in that regard. Um and then beyond the classroom, the wireless network that we've had, you know, concerns with in

053the past. Um the entire thing would get replaced, all of the hardware, all of the controls for the whole thing would get replaced as well as our firewall, which is actually um basically due for replacement anyway. Um, it's I believe it's eight years old now, which is old for a firewall. And then something we really need, it's not as exciting, but it's the air conditioning in the server room, which fails at least once a semester at this point, and it causes all sorts of issues when that happens. So, we are we are excited for that. So, that's just a 20,000 foot view of some of the things we're asking for in the technology budget portion of the bond proposal. Um, and second, this is something we'll be asking for you to take action on tonight,

054is the high school student devices. Last meeting we talked about the middle school elementary school devices. Um, those are going to be on the well, they were on the state contract price that expired in April 1st and they went up a whole bunch. So, thankfully that we were able to purchase those and we have them here now. But the high school devices are not part of a state contract. So, we did our own bidding and that wasn't done at the time. And we had a number of bids come back. There's the model we bought this year and there's a newer version. The newer version was nearly $600 a piece. For comparison, when we started buying these, we were paying $200 a piece for them. Um, the current model that we have, which is more than

055sufficient to continue the program, came in the low bid was $334, which is up from, I believe it was three, it might have been 304 or 267 the last time we bought them. Um, we buy them occasionally and so we're hoping to buy those. Um, we got that price on the bid, but the prices are volatile at this time and they say they can hold it for now, but if we want to lock in the price, our best bet would be to make a purchase now instead of waiting and hoping. >> Jim, are we going to get priced out of one to one based on the trajectory of cost? >> Well, I think it's something we need to look at. And I also think we've been working really hard to get the middle school and

056elementary, especially the middle school onto carts. And so we we have done that now with the computers we bought will get us to newer computers. And I think we could slow our roll a little bit on the purchases for those in the future. We're going to have to start looking at their expiration dates, for lack of a better word, and just building out a forecast for how many we need each year. It may not be a whole grade level. Um because Google supports a Chromebook for basically 10 years. I think it's 10 years. 10 years from when they started manufacturing that model, not from when you buy it. So, they all come with an inbuilt date. It's like an iPhone. At some point, they might decide they don't want to allow new software on it.

057We can't update it. It still works, but usually the the hiccup comes when they're testing applications for the state tests. They won't support the old software, and it kind of forces our hand. >> So, we want to balance that out. Otherwise, we we should, you know, continuously look at the program and how it's being used and effectiveness and and what that might mean. But right now, this would carry us through next year and give us time to have those conversations. >> Very well. >> All right. Thank you for that. Move on to comments related to agenda items. >> Nothing at this time. >> Nobody has any comments related to agenda items. All right. >> All right. uh move on to the consent agenda which we have looks like six different items and a couple close

058sessions in there. If you are ready to call the motion. Chair calls for a motion that the Harper Creek Board of Education approve the current agenda, the consent agenda as follows. Approve the general fund check, school service fund check, school lunch, and student school activity fund checks in accordance with the list discussed. Approve the following minutes as reviewed. March 9th, 2026 close session meeting minutes. March 9th, 2026 regular board of education meeting minutes. March 23rd, 2026, special board meeting minutes. March 23rd, 2026, close meeting minute, close session meeting minutes. And April 9th, 2026 budget committee meeting minutes. >> So moved. >> Moved and supported. Do we have discussion? [clears throat] Please call the role. >> Mr. Herson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Risner, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wat, >> yes. Mrs. Alred, I vote yes. Mrs.

059Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Smith, >> yes. >> And Mr. F, >> I vote yes. >> Motion carries seven. [clears throat] Information discussion item A, school safety update, Mr. May. >> Okay, I'll just kind of go quickly. Um, we had a couple of things that came up from the community. So, we did have a discussion uh specifically was Wildspark Elementary and as the buses are leaving in the morning and how they're exiting and and traffic is getting backed up a little bit. I had conversation with our transportation director um last Friday about this and the safety committee agreed um that we'll have the buses wait till 850 to leave the parking lot except if a bus has students on. So we have a GSRP which is the preschool bus that needs to continue on its

060path. And in general in the district we don't want to just look at Wild Park. We want to have that same idea is that if a bus is empty, it doesn't necessarily have to have that early lead. But if it's got students or is heading to its run in the morning. So like the middle school, high school, middle school buses drop off, they're empty, but they're heading out to their elementary run, they would have a priority of getting out. But if a bus is just coming back to the bus garage, they would make sure they wait. The only time it's really a problem is in the morning. And I think maybe Wild Spark and Beetle are the two spots that are have shared driveways is what we [snorts] said. And so we just want to

061make sure that we are not competing and being good neighbors. Uh we did talk about the SRO. Um we I informed the board that we are currently at two SRO's. Officer King is at Soma Mobile Beetle in High School and Officer Pierce is at middle school in Wilds Park. We talked about that, but we also had a conversation about what the future would look like, you know, um with the three SRO's or some other model. I had said, and I'll say it to anybody who will listen to me, anytime we have somebody that leaves the district, it's time for us to um ensure we do our due diligence in that replacement. Do we need the position? And if so, what does that position look like? Do we need to make any changes? And that's for

062any position within the district. Uh we talked a little bit about graduation that's coming up. Um the uh new EOP we noticed does not have our bloodborne pathogen crisis team debriefing uh committee things in it. So we are going to create another document that has all that information posted. Um because that's more local information than it would be a district information. Um we talked a little bit about residency checks for people who sign affidavit of residency to ensure that people who say they live in the district do live in the district for um student enrollment. And then we talked a little bit about a noise complaint um regarding our uh dust collector at the high school. Mr. Robinson did inform me, I think after the meeting, that there is a broken part that they are

063working on fixing. I'm not sure anybody else has heard it, but apparently it's a pretty loud worrying sound that people are hearing throughout the community and so we did have a noise that we are working on. >> What is it inside? >> Outside. Okay. So, if you pull up to the high school, it's right there and it's where the wood shop is and it collects dust from all the equipment. >> Okay. >> But it's an outside motor, but there's something on the motor he said that they have to have to get fixed. He's called the manufacturer. >> Okay. I was thinking inside dust collector [laughter] was very confused. >> I should have done over. >> That's okay. Nope. Everybody else. >> That was the safety committee today. >> All right. Thank you for that update.

064Um, information discussion item B, strategic plan update. >> Okay. I just want people to know that it's really important um within our district. Our strategic plan is really driving what we do in terms of decisions and as well as how we do things. One thing we want to really work on is improving communication. And I know that uh Mr. Abraham had talked a little earlier about the repository for for parents so they can see how to help their children. That was something we heard and they're in process of doing that. I don't want to read repeat everything that he said but I think it's really good that when we do a survey when we do get information that we take action and this is one piece one piece of the pie. We used to have

065a hub that did that during co if you remember and you would go to the hub push the button and you get the information for your student. it would be very very similar but they're designing it so hopefully it'll be awesome when it's done um uh creating a culture of collaboration um the professional development plan for next year I believe is getting past draft form so we'll know exactly what's going to happen on all of our professional development days we we do plan on bringing solution tree who is the folks that did the professional learning communities back into the district on one of one of those days we do have the county um professional well day that we are hosting that's another piece of the pie. And then I can't remember what the third day

066was. I think we have had a day where the buildings were going to do in building work. They ensure that everything's ready for this week. >> We've talked about briefly talked about safety and security. >> Safety and security as well. Continuing that process. [snorts] And then finally, um creating our future, you know, the work on the bond, the meeting on Wednesday, I think is is critical. I I really hope a lot of people come. Um I hope it's driven some conversation. and we've tried really hard to market it uh because I want people to hear and then ask the tough questions um there so that we as a district can can move forward in the way that our community wants to. And you heard Mr. um Mayard talk about a proposed bond project. The board

067has not approved that, but we would um like to go to voters in August and ask for priority needs that we have identified through a long um I would say six to eightmonth process of facility assessment, gathering input, data, and then putting that all together. So, we've been in process for a long time and the community's like, "Oh, wow. We got something coming up." And so, on Wednesday, we'll talk about that a little bit on our master facility. And then of course drafting the budget is also part of our creating our future. We need to continue to be good stewards of the money because when I got when I became a superintendent, oh jeez, almost 20 years ago now, the first thing a community member told me is you can mess up a lot of

068stuff, but do not mess up the budget. So we know how important it is for the budget, the budget to be where it needs to be. >> And that is the strategic plan update. questions, comments, >> you know, Rob, just a comment. Thank you again for having it on this on the agenda every month. I think we've had strategic plans in in the past were very nice posters, but [clears throat] the fact that you continue and I'm [snorts] sure you're talking about the strategic plan in the staff meetings. I mean, that that document was created to drive what we do, how we do it. So, thank you. Thank you for keeping that front and center. I promise I won't talk for like the next four meetings, but I just was going to say I know

069that we are really um want in-person uh attendance to these meetings that we're holding these community meetings is is like top priority and very important and so much better to be there in person, right? But with spring sports in full swing and parents like car pooling and everything else going on, um something that I've done at at previous or at employers or previous places is um maybe having almost like a portal for people to submit questions into ahead of time and then we can even if we don't answer all of the questions in almost like a town hall type of thing. even if we don't answer all the questions that are sent to us, we could list kind of like an FAQ somewhere. Um, and also, I know it can be a little dangerous and

070so maybe not doing live questions at the town hall, but somehow getting that conversation still going with the people who can't quite make it to the inerson. >> That's a good idea. >> So, very good idea. We we are behind the scenes working on a FAQ document and getting the website ready. I was informed today by our communication director that >> um one of our partners that is doing the the website work, they're ready, >> but the FAQ is pretty general at this point. Now we need to get the specific for questions, school choice, casino, those two things. >> Um and making sure that those are I appreciate that. That's a great idea to do it ahead of time and answer those questions that people might have that I I'm not anticipating. >> And I

071assume this won't be the last. No, I'm gonna I'm going to announce on [clears throat] Wednesday that I have scheduled I don't know exactly how many, six at least like coffees and or lunches at Beetle Lake Diner because that's in the district. We will use that as coffees and the Moon Raker for lunches where people can come in and drop in but also you know more town hall type meetings >> and that would happen throughout the summer really May, June and July. I mean, I think it's this the amount of the amount of opportunities you're giving people to to see not only the plans, but like see you in person have these conversations with you, I think is is is amazing. Like I I don't think I think we didn't see this as much as

072the last one proposal, but I think also like I don't see this much from other superintendent. So like kudos to you for really trying to put yourself out there for for all this. >> Yep. We're going to try try really hard to make sure everybody gets the information. If if the board on May 11th, our next board meetings, um does in fact call the election, which is the anticipated date, then we will send out um information in the mail to every resident right away so everybody has it in hand, right? Great. >> All right. Uh let's move on to the CISD preliminary proposed budget 2627. Yes, that's what I want. Now, these are sometimes hard for folks to read it. And so each year we have to either we have to act upon the ISP's

073general fund budget. Um we really have three choices. We can approve it, we can approve it with comments, or we can um disapprove it. And so if you look at the budget that's above my head, they have the actual 2425 budget. Um, and I believe these were their revisions for the 20 the preliminary and the revision for 2526. And then this is the preliminary budget for 2627. You finance like to use like letters. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Preliminary budget. >> What's up with the revenue substantially less? I mean, what's a >> grants? They have less grants coming in next year is what they explain. So if you you're kind of comparing across would be um what this year's revision was and where they're at now. They also budget conservatively. So So we'll give that. But

074let's let's just say the revenue is estimated at 28 million. And then the expenses down here a little bit further. Total expenses 29 million. So you can see that they are purposefully spending about a million dollars or so in fund balance and that they they would tell you that they have listened to boards um across the county saying hey your fund balance is very large. Um and even with the um spending of a million dollars of fund balance they would still be sitting at about 54.8% 8% fund balance. As comparison, we sit at Was that >> nothing? Go ahead. >> We we sit at about 15%. Here. Um there's some differences though in ISC. They they can't go out to buy. They can't ask voters for mailers to build stuff. So, they have to ensure

075that they have money set aside if they have any building needs or any, you know, maintenance and and all of those different things that that may come up with. So, I do want to put that caveat out there. Um, I do know that they've listened a lot in terms of special education, but this is not the special education budget. Just so you know, this is not where special education resides. There is a separate budget because there's a millage in the county for special education. Um, and that budget is separate, but they have been spending more money out of the special education budget to support schools than they previously had even a year ago. >> Yes. >> Much more than two years ago. Um, one of those is, oh, I keep thinking at risk. That's not

076the right word. >> Indirect funding. >> So, there's indirect funding that we're going to be able to capture this year to the tune of 200 >> 300,000. >> Oh, about $300,000 that will offset our special cost. So, they have been listening. I know that as we look at fund balances and we look at 15% 20% is kind of where we want to be. They look at a lot larger in terms of fund balances. Um they do if you notice on their fund balance assignment they they have assigned a million dollars of capital outlay projects like I said maintenance type like projects u and they have future liabilities there would be things that they have to pay for but they don't pay for them in that budget they have to pay for them in a separate

077budget maybe a grant is is expiring at a different date and time so their total unassigned fund balance is that 14.7 >> Rob do they have any major facilities needs or any planning. >> Yeah, but I can't remember exactly what it was. There's something with like their I want to say like their heating and cooling in the in the building that they're currently in, like their administration building. I think they needed to redo. >> Yeah, that's true. They have a heating a large heating and cooling um project at the main campus in Marshall. They would also, you know, if you think about all their buildings, and I'll probably miss one, you know, I don't necessarily work there, but the ISD, the actual building, they have the doors closer center >> repair at doors closing, too.

078I just can't remember. [clears throat] >> Uh, and then they rent facilities throughout and they have to upkeep like the rooms they rent from us. They supply all the furniture and upkeep of that room. We do the basics, the heating, the cooling, the cleaning, but they would do any of the upkeep that that that may happen. And so that's I can't say they're going to build a building, but if you ask the group of superintendent, we want to ensure we have a continuum of learning for special education students and that may cause something to be built in the future because we think with the behaviors of kids that we're seeing that some kids might need more help than they currently need. [snorts] >> But again, the listening I think it's that part is much better.

079I I'm here also to to not talk so much and and write out any questions that you might have for them that we can get responses to. >> I'd love to say that we have another month to do this, but this has to be approved, I believe, by May 5th. Good. >> I I I should probably be able to like spell this off because I sit on the ISD board, but like I think it would maybe be helpful to kind of have a better idea of like maybe not even for us, but like for the public, like what the what this even means, like what the ISD like why are we why do we care about their budget? Like what do they do for us? And I know they include this insert for us. Um,

080and I can come back and even ask I can reach out and say, but like I think it'd be cool if people could see like all of the all of the what do they call it? Service components that they offer that we partner with them on like why the ISD is important to Harper Creek Community Schools. why we have to do the budget. Just a little bit of background information um just because we're talking about it during the public meeting and again I probably know but because I give feedback that we have the list in front of you that you can look through but in some cases you may not understand what that means >> right? >> Yeah. >> And we could probably get a flavor if we looked at the list and went through

081this is big this is big. >> Yeah. Like I see college board as something that we partner with them on but then like I see college board on our budget. So like how does that trans you know like what does that mean for Yeah. >> What I would say is that they run the um sex center and so we have kids taking dual enrollment classes there. So that that would be part of >> so there's stuff like that. There's um they're the edgy staff user group. So, um we pay for edgy staff subs, but they're kind of the ones who organize it and house it. >> The um like our software, a lot of our uh smart software, things like that, finance wise, uh DNA, things like that, >> they actually um charge us for,

082but they are charging us currently uh half the price of a normal. So, since it is larger, they're able to offer [clears throat] a discount. So like Smart for example, I can't remember the exact cost, but it but it's half the cost of what it would be if >> and like like the you know like um like the Wi-Fi or you know like that kind of stuff. I just >> so and like I said I sit on the board I should probably know these things but like to me it's confusing to see it on >> they offer it but we're still paying for it. So maybe just a little more information for for our public to see >> I know last year we kind of pushed back on budget fun and the time he suggested

083that and I know Jerry's the new secretary Jackson >> and you know he's got a lot of ground to cover but um one of the his key constituents it wouldn't be bad I would one one meeting a year maybe he comes and just and >> nothing big you 10-minute presentation about relationship with Harper Creek, the key areas of collaboration. And >> again, nothing don't have to get way into the weeds, but just a better understanding for us and for this for our community how >> that's great. But and just so you know, they do uh they changed it actually this year with Jerry. uh they started presenting they've always presented to superintendent but now they're also presenting to the finance committee so that we can um give a little a little bit more information just

084so you guys know that that's >> been nice because I've always looked it over but like hearing the why and I can ask questions because I know what this means and so it's nice because I can ask questions and and feel it out. >> I mean Jerry's been a lot more involved. I know he's using he's a regular at the beyond the bowl meeting. So [clears throat] again maybe throw that invite him to >> meeting and Rob as as you're the uh most tenured and veteran superintendent in Gall County. Um, where do you see ISD meeting our needs and the rest of the of the districts out there? And how does group of the superintendents feel the ISD is at right now with us? >> I I think in in terms of the curriculum group,

085I think that's solid, very solid there. They're uh all the folks that do curriculum in all of the schools in the county um maybe meet not just meet monthly, but they work together. They're they're together group. I think the leader of that at the ISD is out front. I think she is always trying to be helpful of what can we do. Right now dyslexia law is really big and you know it's in the background but it's coming fairly quickly 27 28 and that group has designed and is ready to implement the dyslexia law. So me I haven't put a lot of time and effort into it because they are doing that work. That's that's an example. um how our superintendent right now we are taking a look at the special education plan in Khome County

086the superintendent group is and we are taking a look to see what potential changes we could make to make it better for all we're seeing these behaviors right I talk about that a lot of meetings and we're trying to say what is it that we could do as a ISD that could help with that piece of the pie because not all the kids are special are identified with an IE and special education so how can we be more flexible in in that arena. Um you may have heard of the fiber optic um uh network that we have for schools. So you you can see that what is it T-Mobile's putting theirs in and AT&T's putting theirs in, but we've had a fiber optic network that's been supported by the ISD for 20 years since I've

087been a superintendent. So it's been in the ground and doing that and we continue to add to it. So this summer at no cost to Harper Creek or any other school, they're going to connect Soma Elementary to um East Laura Elementary. And the reason they're doing that, which are they're probably five miles apart, it will create redundancy. So if our fiber goes down in Battle Creek, we still can pick up fiber from the south. Okay. So those things are happening that really nobody knows about, you know, publicly. Um technology is a tricky one. Um, you know, we don't use the student information software that the ISD supports. So, we're kind of on our own a little bit with six other districts. That's an area where I would hope we could get some more support with.

088Um, where other districts would get more because they use it. They don't use powers school. They use Skyward is called the IC supports Skyward. It was a decision that was made almost 15 years ago, but we were asking say, "Hey, we want support, too, just like the finance software that Ginger was referring to because if something goes down here, there's five or six people to come help." >> Okay. Or if Ginger >> if I got hit by a bus, >> then somebody would come and for a payroll per I mean, if that's something, >> it's just think that things that could happen. So there there's a few examples. No, we're going to go in much more detail, but I do think if Jerry could come to a meeting and talk for five or 10 minutes

089about those things, it would be really helpful to you because then you'll say, "Okay, I get it's more than just they have a huge fund balance and [clears throat] someone to expose. >> All right, thank you [snorts] for that. Uh, high school math resource." Okay. So, at the last meeting, we had a presentation from the high school um and they are asking formally to move forward with the resource. The resource would be for algebra 1, geometry, and algebra 2. If I'm not mistaken, the cost is $41,979. Um, and basically, we have been looking at math curriculum oh, I don't know, at least seven years. So, it's really time for us to move forward. Uh I guess what I would say is if you think about what we did in elementary and in middle school, we've

090seen great gains in our math um achievement scores because we've made investments in the actual curriculum. And so this the similar similarly we would do this with the high school for those courses. Well, really the research is when you look at math in high school, you want to have say less courses, but you want you want to be really specific. algebra, algebra 2 and geometry, pre-calc and calc. You don't want to have too many courses where you're are offering, okay, we have algebra for the high kids and algebra for the low kids. I'm telling you, algebra is algebra. It doesn't change. It just ch what the what the variable is is what age are you going to take the class? You going to take it in sixth grade or in 12th grade whenever you're happen

091to be ready to do algebra. So, anything else, Mr. Abraham like? >> No. No. [clears throat] I was happy with how the MAC team presented that um at our last board meeting. I think they're kind of really excited to move ahead with well PLC and then also an investment in their department. [snorts] Um it's been seven years for a new curriculum. I think they're excited to have something new and to move forward with it. And the nice thing is we've been um we're using this curriculum all this school year. So next year should be not necessarily a brand new year for us. We've been using it this year. So it should dovtail pretty nicely going into next year if we move ahead with it. >> And it's called illustrative math. >> Mhm. >> Bridges. >>

092I know. Trust me. >> Bridges mid school math. Illustrative math. >> And it's like more like applied math. Like it's going to do like scenarios and stuff like that, right? Okay. >> It's I guess how do I want to say this? It's hard for some of our high school students because they weren't brought up in that that manner. But the kids that are currently in elementary and middle school, they've been brought up like that all the way along. It'll be easier. And then, you know, we'll talk next about the AP pre-calculus scores. We already have AP calculus. That is the natural progression for for our students within our school district. >> Let's move on right to AP pre-calculus course. >> Yeah. So, AP pre-calc, I think most people know advanced placement. Um, they are courses

093that you can take. you can earn college credit, but you have to pass the test. That that is caveat versus dual enrollment classes. You take the class and you pass the class and you get college credit. Um what AP precise does is it makes the rigor be similar to any other school in in America. And then we already have AP Cal. Most we feel like most of the kids that are taking AP Cal are going to take AP precal as well. and it would be a better way for our kids to be prepared that are moving on to the college level. AP3 precal is not a required class. So don't worry about about that. Everybody has to take it. Everybody has to take algebra 2 currently. But when you get to the pre-cal and calc

094that is self selected like the cost was about how much for the books? Yeah, be between $3500 and $4,000 total. 3500 just for the students books and then of course we'll have a you know a staff member will have to have a textbook as well. So somewhere between $3500 and $4,000 >> that one section. >> It would be that would be 30 books. So it'll be enough for a section. We probably won't have 30 kids in that class, but it's it's possible. And again, just to kind of go like I believe the oh well I don't believe the idea is is what classes can we offer to keep our kids in our school and not constantly looking to [snorts] get the other outside sources. So what can we do to keep our high-end kids here

095and to help build our culture. >> Yeah. And that will save us money in the long haul as well. >> All right. Nothing further there. Let's move on to bus routing software. >> All right. uh sent this bit sheet out. Um and I do appreciate the um transportation department. I know we got Stacy and Sean are in in the back there to answer any questions that that might come up. They looked at three different softwares. Transfinder, Tyler technology and safety routes and transfinder was the low bidder. Um but from my conversations with Mrs. Henden as well as um Mrs. Sutherland, they really felt that transfinder was the best product. Um and what this will do it is it will do our routing. It'll do our field trips. Um, it'll do fleet management. It will also

096have an app for parents and so they can push out push out notifications to parents. And then it can also have GPS in which it can follow. Now, we could do the the we could select option one without GPS, but I really believe our constituents want want to be able to know where their kids are on their buses. One thing that came up in the in the budget committee was we talk about cell phones on buses and could we remove them? And I said, "Well, one issue that parents have is they want to know where their kids are. So, if we have the opportunity where they knew where their kids were on the bus, it may give us an opportunity to limit the cell phone use on buses." I did I'm going to try to

097put this up here as quickly as I can. I did want to show you the screen. Um, a 15sec video about the parent app. If I can find it, >> you know, Sty today. So, here's their website. They're going to come up with a bunch of contact stuff, but right here, hopefully it's loud enough. Kind of hurts. And when you get iPhone, >> wouldn't it be great if you always knew where the school bus was? Well, thanks to an app called Stopfinder, you'll know your child is safe in real time. You can also set up an alert zone, and Stopfinder will let you know when the bus is getting close. With Stopfinder, you'll have direct two-way communication with your school's transportation department. You'll know if the bus is running late and you'll be notified of

098any changes. Stop wondering. Go to stopfinder.com. >> And we just think that would be really nice for our families. >> Um because we do get a lot of calls >> your school's >> uh Sean is our dispatcher and she she feels I think most of the calls that come in and a lot of times it's you know is the child is 10 minutes from late and what's going on. This way they could have the app and hopefully it would help people feel more secure. >> How do we is it is it by invitation only for the parents >> the app? >> Um >> I mean how do we keep bad guys away from knowing where our buses are at? >> I don't know you know that one >> question and they can get you an

099answer. It is it is they have to sign up and they have to have their power school number to sign up through that to get their information will only be their number. So not not only parents but grandparents could could sign up as well if they >> you have to be invited in >> by who invites is it >> us we have who can see that [snorts] curious about see how those details work out in the long haul. I [clears throat] wouldn't want this to be something that really backfires on us, but I'm assuming it's up and going that it's something that's >> Yeah. What other districts are using it? >> G Lake. G Lake. >> What are the districts again? You remember >> Lake? I don't think G Lake is using this one. Um

100[snorts] sent me a list. I know that Pittsburgh schools is using it now. K Rea is looking at going to it. Um Will [clears throat] Lake is using something similar. um Ray Rivers um I think Loma so there's several in this southwest Michigan area that are using it but how you would control it there will be an admin portal [cough and clears throat] and I believe that admin portal could be shared with the schools so theoretically on our end we could see all the buses on there parents can see the their thought on that? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> I'm just briefly wondering because like power school is brought up could possibly give rights to whoever the parents give rights to in power school. So yes, grandma could, yes, so and so could and that'd

101be potentially easy way so it doesn't just get to Joe Blow. And >> you want to have a measured approach, you know, just the people who need it, right? And cost of this um it would be 38,995 on in year one which is quite a bit. That would include five um tablets. Yes. >> And the five tablets we decided, you know, Stacey recommended would be for our subbus drivers and give them turnbyturn directions. >> Now, if we wanted to go all out and get tablets for every single bus, the price would obviously go up. Um, and it would do turn byturn directions for all of our buses, but it would be good probably for trips also is my guess. >> When people are going outside of the area, >> what's the cost per per? >>

102Uh, I thought it was somewhere around was it a thousand each or is that am I too much? >> You think you're right in the ballpark? >> I don't remember exactly. >> For five tablets, I believe we were looking at right around $15,200. that wasn't including the installing or the brackets. >> Yeah. And then we have training also in involved. And then the other annual the annual cost after that would be right at 28,856. >> And those are in the budget numbers that I talked about just so you know. >> All right. If nothing further, let's move on to marching band field trip. All right. So, our band was invited to play at the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day parade um in this December. Uh they've gone through quite a process to see if they you

103know families can can you do this? We make it happen. So, they are starting have started fundraising. It is a fairly expensive trip. Obviously, there's lots of chaperons that have um said that they would like to go. We would have 44 students maximum if all of our marching band students went and it's about $1,850 a piece excluding the transportation cost. >> It was $1,800 with transportation. That'd be a great deal. We don't know. [laughter] >> Yeah. I I would call this one kind of a once in a lifetime. And we I've never had any trip like this. Usually the band goes to New York City or maybe maybe to Disney World in the past. But >> what led them to being invited? >> I don't know to be honest. I'm not sure what what if

104it was an application that we put in our director put in. I don't didn't ask that question. I know he told us a few months ago he said, "Well, we have an opportunity that we potentially go to Hawaii for this." I didn't really go deeper and say, "Okay, well, how did you how did that happen?" >> Cool. I think it's a great experience if if we can make this up. The only negative more than likely is the gone from December 4th to December 9th and that's obviously during the school year. >> That's $1,850 per student. >> Per student. >> Yeah. When I looked at this, I think I think the price is right around 3,200. And then they have to do >> except they do. Um well they've got almost under eight months to >>

105do all the money. So >> I would recommend it's a once in a lifetime and if we can get our kids do something like that [snorts] as well. >> All right. Uh high school student devices. >> I think Jim talked about it quite a bit but the cost I don't think he mentioned. Um so if we bought 215 of the laps and these are laps not promo if we bought 215 of them the cost is at 725. Um we have estimated Jinger and I with the um casino revenue. We call it hill at the at the board meetings but we'll say casino revenue so everybody understands what we're talking about. Um he has about a $200,000 budget this year and this puts him at about 180 some counting elementary and high school devices. So there's

106still a little bit of room left for technology. >> All right, comments from the audience. I know we have one >> Valerie. Please state your name and address for the record. Is this on? No, >> Jim. >> The battery's dead. >> Oh, no. >> I'll speak aloud. Valerie Vanuser, 6 East Fing Avenue in Battle Creek. I just wanted to say two things. Uh, I've been absent for a while and I've missed all of you. A couple of new faces I haven't met before. So, looking forward to continued participation in the evening. And I also wanted to provide a shout out to a couple of your educators as well as one of your administration support people. So, Miss Hurley and Mr. Borders and what Miss Hurley calls the performing arts, not just theater, but band. I

107just so impressed with those two educators and the amount of effort and energy and support that they put in to the programs and in specifically the students and watching the students interact with those two educators. You can see how much that they have been cared for and supported in that program. I I just I wanted to give that verbal recognition to the board. I think it's important that you know that. Uh so thank you for everything that you do as a board to help support our students and uh thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right, let's move to action. Um start with the CISD preliminary proposed budget 202627. >> Chair calls for a motion. The Harper Creek Community School Board of Education approved the projected 2026 2027 general fund budget for the Calhoun Intermediate

108School District as reviewed and discussed. >> So moved and supported. Do we have discussion? >> I will put the comments or the question I guess there are both questions and comments um along with the proposal when I will talk to Jerry first. Yep. Good. Any other comment? All right. Please call the RO. >> Mr. Hverson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Risner, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Alward, I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Smith, >> yes. >> And Mr. Best, >> I vote yes. >> Motion carries 70. >> Uh, move on to high school math resource. >> Chair calls for a motion. of the Harper Creek Board of Education approved the purchase of a new high school math curriculum illustrative math at a cost of $41,879.80 as reviewed and discussed

109for move and supported. Do we have discussion? >> Please call the role. >> Mr. Halverson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Risner, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Albert, I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace. >> Yes. >> Mr. Smith. >> Yes. >> Mr. Beck. >> I [clears throat] vote yes. >> Motion carries 70. >> And next up, AP pre-calculus course approval. >> Chair calls for a motion that the Harper Creek Board of Education approve the high school AP pre-calculus course for students who have successfully completed algebra 2 as reviewed and discussed. [snorts] Mr. [laughter] >> I'm gonna put as a motion supported [laughter] by W. >> At least you didn't say ear. [laughter] >> All right. >> Very forward thinking. >> Besides that confusion, [laughter] >> you guys are making me look good with us.

110Oh, the other one screw it up. All right, please call the poll. >> Mr. Hverson, yes. >> I appreciate your support. >> Mrs. Risner, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Albert, I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Smith, >> yes. >> And Mr. Bus, >> I vote yes. >> Motion carries 70. >> Action item D, bus routing software. Chair calls for a motion that the Harper Creek Board of Education approve the purchase of bus routing software using the recommended vendor Transfinder with the GPS Love Parent app option year 1 at a cost of $38,995 then annually reoccurring cost of $28,856 as discussed and reviewed. >> I excitedly motion for support. Can I ask a clarifying question? So 38 hits us in this >> this year. Yes. >> And then no

11128 this year but beginning next year. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> It sounds like we'll start training fairly soon is what the competition sounds like. >> I really like the thought of this software. >> Yeah. Peace of mind. >> We need a support. >> Support. >> First we had one. Now we can't >> how do we have any other um discussion? I mean we talked a bit about how parents use the app and >> I think we got that has to be very clearly document. >> Yeah. I think a little demo would be fine. >> Yeah. >> Not no one has to come in. Just like a little demo. >> Yeah. >> Anybody's help already approved it. [clears throat] >> All right. >> Mr. Herson. >> Yes. Mrs. Risner, >> yes. >> Mrs.

112Wat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Alward, I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Smith, >> yes. >> Mr. Best, >> I vote yes. >> 70. >> Thank you. Um, high school, wait. Marching band field trip Hawaii. Sorry. Chair calls for a motion that the Harbor Creek Board of Education approve the marching band field trip to Hawaii from December 4th, 2026 through December 9th, 2026 to perform at the Pearl Harbor Parade at the USS Missouri as reviewed and discussed. So move in support we have discussion >> Mr. Halverson >> yes >> Mrs. Risner >> yes >> Mrs. Wat >> yes >> Mrs. Alward I vote yes Mrs. Wallace >> yes >> Mr. Smith >> yes >> and Mr. Best >> I vote yes. >> Motion carries 70. >> Thank you. Action ite high school student

113devices. >> Chair call for a motion. The Harper Creek Board of Education approve. Nope, I don't have one for see. Chair calls for a motion that the Harbor Creek Board of Education approve the purchase of the student >> 215 >> device. Did you say 200? >> 215. Chair calls for a motion that the Harper Creek Board of Education device purchases for the 2026 2027 school year of $72,25 for 215 G4 Lenova TS 100W. >> Sounds good. >> From Adorama as discussed and reviewed. >> So moved. >> All right. It's been moved and supported. Do we have discussion? Can see please call the RO. >> Mr. Halverson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Risner, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Alward, I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Smith, >> yes. >> Mr.

114Bess, >> yes. >> Motion carries. [snorts] >> And our last added action item, um, G, summer school. >> Chair calls for a motion. The Harper Creek Board of Education approved the 2026 K12 summer school programming at an additional cost of $61,500 as discussed and reviewed. So, >> support do we have discussion? [snorts] Please call the roll. >> Mr. Herson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Risner, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Alward, I vote yes. Mrs. Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Smith, >> yes. >> And Mr. Best, >> I vote yes. >> Motion carries. 70. >> Thank you for that. And um as usual, do you have anything for the next meeting that anybody would like to see? I will reach out by text and email. Feel free to text or call in between.

115And if not, we will return a meeting at 7:43 p.m. Good evening.