2025-05-07 | Regular Board Meeting

001Thank you. I'd like to call the regular board meeting for Wednesday, May 7th, 2025 to order at 6 p.m. Uh Kathy Fields >> here. >> Linda Morris here. Uh Mr. Murderski, >> Mr. Morris >> present. >> Mr. Shoefeld >> here. >> Mr. West >> here. >> And block is excused. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republics nation for all. Thank you. >> Okay. First on the the list we have Oh, okay. Thank you. Uh please note that Mr. Barkski um arrived at 601. Um we have a student representative from Meyer Elementary and I believe Mrs. Hall is here. Start off. >> Yeah, I'm short. So, hello everyone. My name is Stacy Hall and I am the principal of the

002new Meyers and we have some very excited kiddos here. I know a lot more wanted to be here today, but we're unable due to transportation, but we have a handful here today. I'm just going to go over um the team list for the boys. Um, Tyreek Harsh and Carson McMillan, Kamari Hope, Pierre Cunningham, JCon Grady, Josiah Meyers, Abel Smith, Carter Walker, Adonis Alexander, Jay Vieier Grady, Michael Jones, Javier Paisley, Isaiah Young, and we had Michaela Tucker, team manager. and videographer to help them um make awesome plays and good decisions in the game. We have our amazing coaches that dedicated so much time and effort and they really worked with my staff and myself um about not just being good sportsmanship and good athletes but good humans and we really appreciate that. So this is Miss

003Bass or Coach Bass and Coach Mohamd. So for the biddy ball that Myers, they were always underst staffed. They only had sometimes six, seven kids. One time they'd have 10. But the coaching staff, I mean, I couldn't thank you enough for the guys, the work you guys done. I mean, they had their parents to where we talked to our kids, you get them after game, during the game, they're mine. And they couldn't come up to the bench. It caused so much made things run so much easier just how structured they were, how nice it was and it, you know, it made me feel good because I didn't have to worry about okay parents doing this or you know kids going up in the stands and whatnot. But it was definitely a breath of fresh air

004having these guys coach these kids and I really hope you guys come back and do it again. But uh made my job a lot easier and I just want to thank you guys extremely extremely very much. Thank you and congratulations. >> It still don't want to say anything. >> We promise they didn't have to. Oh, buddy. >> What do you want to say? Say thank you for having us. >> Um, what do you want to say? Did you like playing basketball? >> Yes. >> What did you like about basketball? >> What was your favorite part? >> Shooting. >> Yes. And you know why I know that? >> Why? >> Cuz even in the lecture, we like to shoot all your garbage in the garbage can, right? >> Yes. >> Because you're practicing every day. >>

005First of all, thank you all very much for this opportunity. But I want to say a big thank you to Mrs. hall for having faith. Uh the parents um everybody for having faith in the program. I was really was a really honor and a privilege. I want to thank Coach Bass. This is her first year coaching. She stepped right in and she did a great job with these kids. And last but not least, the AD. Hey, he had to get on me a couple of times. told me to learn the rules. I think we finally got it right in the championship round. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Great job. >> Yep. That's what we like to hear. Fun part of board meeting. Uh next, excuse me. Um students learn leading

006students with Amanda Simmons. Hello everybody. So I am Amanda Simmons. I am the students leading students advisor. This is Kaylee Long. She is one of the students leading students members that also attended the conference this year. Um, and she would like to introduce who she's holding. >> This is Happy. >> Who's Happy? >> Happy is a award that we get for being the most joyous and outgoing members during conference. >> Y, as you can tell, a Happy is decked out in his Griffin gear. Um, and he has a little backpack with him with all of the other homes that he has been to along with a little book that comes with him. So, it's actually really cool to see, you know, the history of Happy. >> Where does he go next? >> Well, we bring

007him back up to conference next year as long as you guys let us go and then um other schools have the opportunity to win Happy, but we're hoping that he'll just stay with us. >> I agree. >> All right. >> Can you um share with us anything else? your favorite part of the weekend or the most or the the the conference >> or what you learned or I mean some something tell us something. >> So we have a slideshow. >> Oh, perfect. We have better >> although it's nice public speaking there. >> Thanks. >> Okay. Okay. So our group is um some of you may not know students leading students is a diverse group that is mixed between all grade levels. There is no requirement to join students leading students which is really cool. So

008you don't need um like any behavioral concerns or anything like that. They can just join um as long as they stay on track once they're in our group. Um so there are multiple schools throughout the state of Michigan that have a students leading students group including Clarenceville Athetherton and Summit Academy. They were also part of the conference that we went to. Um, so Kaylee is going to be the one that's gonna do the half of the presentation and then I'm gonna step back in for the second half. The 2025 SLS conference allowed many students all across Michigan to experience fun, inspiring, and educating weekend. We focused on we focused on student leadership, mental health, and safety. During the conference, we got to hear D from dynamic speakers such as Miss Oakland County 2024, Alexis Ol,

009who talked about preventing eating disorders on college campuses. Sergeant Kendall K, who taught us how to be safe both online and in real life, and more. We got to learn leadership skills and meet others who care about making their schools safer and more supportive. Some of the topics we learned about include mental health, peer pressure, social media, safety, healthy relationships, and making good choices. We got to do team building activities and share our own voices and stories without the fear of being judged or bullied. Whether it was you, whether it was you had been before or was your first time like me, you are still able to experience something new. Conference proved that when students lead the way, schools become stronger, kinder, and safer places for everyone. During conference, we all got to get together

010and do workshops, which are kind of like fun little hands-on lessons, such as my personal favorite, transition tales, which taught us the importance of being an ally and advocating for yourself and others through life stories from a special guest. These help provide us with useful skills and life lessons we will hold on to for possibly our entire lives. Other workshops in other workshops included Lego for ego which taught us about confidence and teamwork and then phone FOMO which taught us the importance of online safety and managing screen time. All of which taught us importance important lessons and gave us useful advice for the future. These were some of the things I loved during conference and I am so glad I got to experience these along with meeting so many new people along the way. I'm

011going to start talking about the speakers that were there to present. Um, so the student's favorite was Anthony Grapedo. He is a magician and he also tied magic into overcoming depression and anxiety. It was really cool. Um, he's a um, winner of America's Got Talent. He has been watched over 200 million times on YouTube and we got to see him at the conference live in person. He also did one of the workshops as well. So the students were able to meet him in a more intimate setting and kind of ask him some questions and we're actually working on trying to get him to come to the high school to do a assembly with us because we thought it would be really cool. And then we had a sergeant Kendall Cretchmer and he was talking about

012the school safety and he really focused a lot on social media and why it's important to not obsess over social media because people can use that information to track where you're at, who you're with, what you look like at that time and that's very dangerous. So he really worked a lot on the school safety and trying to make sure that the students are more aware and mindful of what they're putting out there on the internet. And then Michelle Turner, which is also somebody that was a part of SLS during her high school career, um she talked about dumpster fires in life, which was my personal favorite because some days as adults, we feel like we're just navigating through the dumpster fires of life. But what she did was to turn it into a more positive

013way. And the biggest thing that she taught me was when you say you're gonna fake it till you make it, you got to change that mentality. And it's face it till you make it. And I've been telling my kids that and it seems to really kind of make sense, make more sense, I guess. Um, and then Alexis Elmer, which was Miss Oakland County, she talked a lot about eating disorders and her own struggles throughout life. um and really talked about how Food Freedom um is a organization that she started and college campuses to prevent eating disorders to help more um to educate the students more on the dangers of eating disorders and really talk about how social media also impacts how teenagers view themselves and what they're supposed to look like. Okay. So, some of

014the conference traditions um is that you got to listen to some of the students. So, the conference was held by the student advisory board, SAB, which is made up of different students throughout the different schools that have SLS. So, it's not all from one school. Um and they did they were able to run the conference. They did their own workshops. They did ice breakers which was a lot of fun. Um, one of them is actually up there. It was a giant Jenga and you had to do the activity that was read on the block. And mine was to draw a bunny while blindfolded. And the kids loved it because mine did not look like a bunny when it was drawn, but it's hanging up in my office because I'm proud of it. Um you also

015got to engage with the other students in the other schools which was really cool and got to see how other schools do different things and um at the very end they did a presentation. Each school got to present on different things. You got to pick your own topic. Um and then whoever the SAB felt did the best won a $500 gift certificate towards their present or towards like their idea which is really cool. We also did a big dance party, which if you look in the middle, that is our group costume. We did the Winnie the Pooh characters. Um, the kids actually came up with the idea, which I thought was really cool. In the upper right corner, you see that Happy is getting a nice manicure during his first full day at Taylor High

016School because sometimes those days are a little rough. And then in the upper left corner is Perky. Unfortunately, we did not win him back. We thought we were going to. We were really excited. Didn't happen. and we got happy instead, which is okay. And then we did door decorating and different celebrations. These are some more photos um from the conference. It was a lot of fun. The kids had an absolute blast. They really loved it. And it's just it's such a fun time to just watch them be kids in a safe environment and interact with other kids in another safe environment. Um, okay. So, their idea that they came up with was vape facts. So, vaping has become a serious issue in high schools across the count the country, including ours. Despite policies and monitoring,

017many students still find opportunities to use vapes in unsupervised locations such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and even classrooms. This behavior not only violates school rules, but also exposes students to dangerous health risks, including nicotine addiction, lung damage, and mental health issues. Many students do not feel comfortable coming forward and seeking help. The current system is reactive rather than proactive and often centers around punishment rather than prevention or support. The students are flushing vapes down our toilets and leaving before administrators or security guards get there. We are just disciplining them and not even trying to help. Vaping has no positive outcome. Quitting is the best option, but everyone tells you to stop. No one gives you ways to stop. That's where SLS comes in. A vape box is a secure locked container placed in a discrete

018but accessible location where students can anonymously and voluntarily dispose of vape pens, cartridges, and other nicotine devices. But vape box but the vape box is designed to remove the stigma and fear associated with getting caught. It's a harm reduction strategy aimed at encouraging students to make healthier choices without the fear of disciplinary action. The idea is root is rooted in personal accountability and student and gives students the opportunity to quit without fear or judgment. >> Well, I know this is long. I am so sorry. But last but not least, our students took it another step further and we joined a students versus stigma group that is a Wayne County group made up through different schools. Um we have about six or seven students that are a part of that group. We meet once a month

019with our own groups and then we meet once a month with the entire group as well. And what we decided to do is we decided to make a website where all of the mental health resources will be available to the students with just a click. The students built the website all on their own, got all the information all on their own, and as soon as it is finished, we're going to push it out to you guys so you can view it and be just as in awe of it as I am. Um, and with that, we are done. So, thank you so much. Thank you very much and thanks for taking the time to go the extra mile for our kids. And >> I do want to say real quick like way back when I

020was an assistant principal at Truman and this group kind of formed as we were closing Kennedy and we were merging the two high schools together and it first formed as a way of trying to write studentwide expectations. what were the behavior expectations going to be when two schools came together and then it morphed into what it is now under the leadership of Miss Pluke and now Miss Simmons and I just absolutely love everything that uh you guys have taken it to from that beginnings of that very specific need and now it's meeting all sorts of needs for students. I love it. >> Yeah, it's fabulous. Thank you. All right, next we have need my glasses. Um By State Bowlers with Mr. Diamonds. >> Hello again. So, first time that we've actually had a all state

021female bowler as the new high school in Taylor. Um, we have a young lady here that is a junior. Um, give you a little background. She's a great student, A's and B's. Um, freshman year she did real well bowling. Sophomore year she hurt a wrist. She had to take the season off in rehab. Came back this year as her junior year. Um, and she ended up at the very end finishing for the last spot for the girls state title. So, as an individual lady bowler, she is our first one. and something the athletic department and your coach um coach Jess. So, we went ahead and this is going to be for you. This is something for you to hold on to. But we went out and got you your first first female all state bowler.

022So, I wanted to honor her today just because of I mean it takes a lot to be to take a team to the state which the bowling team went to the state last year but to have someone actually finish in the top to be one of the elite in the state of Michigan and coming from Taylor as a junior hopefully she can do it again as a senior but uh definitely puts Taylor on the map and that's one of the good things that, you know, we do and how hard she worked to come back after that injury and even made herself better. Uh, shows her dedication and, um, from the athletic department and her coach, you know, we can't thank her enough for all she's done. So, once again, I want to thank you and,

023uh, want to definitely get a picture with all of us so we can post that. >> Fair enough. >> Yeah, we'd like to see your your plaque, too. When you're finished with pictures, you can just, you know, go around, come up and walk around in front of us. That's awesome. Congrats. >> Congratulations. >> Yeah. Ara is one of the one of the elite. That's for sure. >> Good job. >> Coach, got anything to add about your about your star player? >> Yes. Yes. Her dad is correct. Her freshman year, she was second all state. She's placed top 16 in the state her freshman year. So, I can only imagine if she did not get injured that she probably would have won this year. So, I'm very proud of her, very excited to see what she

024can do her senior year. Oh, I think we have one more that we didn't get on. I think it's Meliss. >> Yep. Um, actually, Miss Lowers is online, too. So, if we can unmute her with Robert, >> you got this. Robert, >> you can go ahead and introduce him. >> Okay. Is he here? >> Yeah, he's here. >> Okay. Robert, please come forward. Sorry, I don't know what's going on. I'm unusual myself. there. >> Can you all hear me? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> You could turn You could turn on my camera if you wanted. I don't know if anybody you guys can see anything. >> Um, we have a slideshow to display. >> Oh, perfect. No problem. >> Um, so just recently our school hosted a decision day for us seniors and I actually

025loved it. And I think I can speak for our whole class when I say everybody enjoyed it. Um we we played a lot of activities and then um when we first walked in, they had uh all the colleges that we all applied to. There wasn't one left out um where we all applied to and we got to stand by that place. So it was kind of cool to look around and see, you know, where my fellow classmates applied. Um there was also many other games that they had for us to play with each other after the fact. So it was kind of like a a last recess for us, you know, because we're growing up. We're going to be adults. Um, and they also had um, you know, food and drinks for us to just

026chill and talk to each other, catch up. Um, a lot of great memories were made uh, that day. I'm going to miss high school a little bit. But, um, they also had our yearbook at the end um, where we also got to go around and, you know, uh, sign that we were all in one place, so it worked perfectly. Um, but the games were fun. I enjoyed it. They had, uh, two guests come and sing to us. that was fun and enjoyable to watch. Um I I enjoyed the whole experience. >> And for those if there's anyone in the the audience doesn't know what decision day is, it's where students pick their seniors pick their you know college or their future plans. Did I get that right? >> Y >> um I don't really know

027what else to say. I don't know if she has >> Thanks, Robert. No, you did a good job. >> Great job. So flowers, >> sorry I can't see you all that well. I can just see some people clapping. Thank you, Robert. So um yes, thanks. So I am Mrs. Lowers. I'm Jennifer Lowers. I'm one of the counselors at the high school. Um one of the many people on the team that helped to put decision day together. Um decision day is really the culminating activity for our seniors. They go through this very long process where they, you know, figure out their post-secary plan. They figure out how to pay for it. They um let us know. They make sure they follow through with the steps. And then decision day, you know, for some schools is about,

028you know, telling where they want to go to college. But for us, we broaden that. We want all post-secondary plans whether it's a cosmetology school, military, skilled trades, you know, we want everybody to be represented because they all uh do have a plan of some sort. We know that it's, you know, not just your diploma, but your diploma plus something is that's how you can um you know, get, as the kids say, get their money, you know. So, um we put that together. So, we start off with the big parade. that goes through the school because a lot of the teachers and staff members and other kids, you know, their siblings and other friends and other grades, they want to see where all the kids have uh chosen to go. So, u Miss Scope led

029that out and with the band and it was all through the school. Then they um came back in. Um Miss Leo, our college adviser who helped put this together as well, uh she had some local artists come uh and do some performances for the kids. And then really it was just about getting back to basics with some fun things. Big tugof-war we did um musical chairs which was kind of fun. U Mr. Buoie, one of the staff members did uh uh was a DJ. You can kind of see him back there in the picture. Uh and then and then they kind of separated. They had some some food, some of which was donated, some of which we bought with our grant. And then over time, we just collected all these big games, you know, cuz

030they're big kids still, you know, before they walk out across the stage. So, we wanted them to have, we really do call it the last recess, the time where they're really spending time with their with their friends and um collecting their yearbooks, memories. A lot of them writing on each other's shirts. I mean, you never know how it goes, but um and then they're just kind of released. And it's a it's a it's a great culminating activity. you know, they'll have prom tomorrow, they have their exams next week, and then that's going to be graduation. Um, our career counselor, uh, was very helpful. She's from Resa, her name is, uh, Tangi Lily. She also meets with the kids, um, once a week in the library who ever needs help like with their career options. So,

031we have a college adviser. Unfortunately, that position was, you know, cut uh through Americanore, but um you know, we'll carry on traditions and good things when we do it again next year. Um it's a team re um effort and it was just overall fun. So, I I'm glad that the kids seem to like it. >> Thank you, Miss Lowers. I do want to add that the um Rhysa rep that was there said that she had attended multiple different decision days and that um ours was truly like a last recess and um she was just amazed by it and I just like that all the kids um I was just kind of walking around like watching and listening and they were all incl like just the groups were like one was playing basketball then they would

032jump over and play volleyball and it was just really cool and I just thought it was such a nice way to honor those students that have worked all these years and you know it's a little emotional for me because I have a senior so um they've worked really hard and this is a big deal for them. Some of them are going away, some of them are going out of state. Some of them have made big decisions to go into the army or go right to the workforce or whatever it may have been and they got to announce that they got to wear it proudly and they all wore it proud. Whatever it was, they were proud of themselves. So, I just wanted to make sure we honored them and and the teachers and the staff

033that put it together, they did a really great job. So, I want to say um because I know our Rhysa career counselor also uh works with my wife at her building and so I can go home tonight and say ours was better. >> Yeah, she said it. I was standing there. It was true. >> But anything else on decision day? Any comments? No. Well, congratulations and we're proud of proud of all of you, Robert. and look forward to seeing you on the 27th. All right. Um the agenda the board and board Oh, this is you. >> Moving on to the agenda board and uh discussion items. Re is there um revisions or approval of the agenda policy number 0166. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Mr. Morris. Is there a second? >> Support by

034Miss Fields. >> Miss Moore, >> yes. >> Mr. Madarski, >> yes. >> Mr. Morris, >> yes. >> Miss Shufeld, is a yes. Mr. Westfall, >> yes. >> Miss Block is not here. Miss Fields, >> yes. >> That passes 6. >> Great. U moving on to the committee updates. I had not typed up our um notes from the curriculum committee, but I'm going to tell you, I walked out the door and I was just pleased, pleased, pleased to see what types of things we're going to be offering um moving forward with our kids and um really pleased to see that we've allotted in our budget um half a million dollars each year for curriculum renewal. So, it's been quite a few years since that happened and excited to see us moving forward with that. As can

035you uh Mr. Can you run through the programs for me? I have some of them, but I won't. That the new ones, the cosmetology and so on. >> So, going into the 2526 school year, I've been working very closely with Miss Barnard to um ramp up the offerings that we have for our CTE center as you mentioned before and Mrs. Block's not here, but I know last year during commencement as we were sitting on the stage of listening to how many students were walking across the stage going, we're going to cosmetology. we're going to beauty school. And I looked at Miss Block, I'm like, I think it's time to bring back cosmetology. So going into the 2526 school year, we are going to be partnering up with Dorsy School of Beauty and starting year one

036cohort of students working towards your 1500 hours of cosmetology get their certification over two years. So we have that opportunity for our high school students. We also are partnering up with Wayne County Community College to bring back auto mechanics. We are going to be using their campus where they have 14 bays sitting there at their campus and during the day they just sit empty. So partnering up with Wayne County Community College just on the road where we're sitting right now to bring back auto. We're also bringing back uh or introducing HVAC. So it's another class that we're going to be offering. And another class that we're going to be offering is is a service technology class. And what this class is for is for students, they can earn up to six to eight certifications on

037like the Chromebooks we have and the HP laptop tops that you have in front of you for them to learn how to earn the different certifications and repair the different types of devices that you have in front of you. So those are some of the things that we've added going into next year for our career technical education program. >> Yeah. And you talked also about um a flight or >> Oh yes, very involved. >> Y >> it's an understatement how involved I am. >> Uh Wayne Gresa is in the process process of accumulating a grant to implement an aviation program and that's either for students to learn get their pilots's license to actually fly a plane or a drones pilot license and be certified to be able to operate an unmanned aircraft. So going into

038the 26 27th school year. So we got another year to plan on this because again we're partnering partnering with Wayne Resa. We are actually identified as a central tarmac because it broke it up into four regions in Wayne County knowing that we are partnering with El Park, Lincoln Park, Trillium some academy as part of our consortium. Plus we have had a look at the schools that are neighboring us wanted to partner up as well. So that news will be coming along the way here shortly. But we will be identified with so Taylor the schools that I just mentioned Romulus Van Beern Plymouth Canton missing somebody westlight yes thank you so we'll all be part of the central tarmac area and identifying which schools will be either offering the pilot's license or the drone licenses and

039then the students once they complete the two-year program can then either go to a flight academy and start working on leaving the ground. So, they'll do all the ground work with us because we don't want to have to worry about the liability of putting the student in a plane and have them take off. So, you partner with an aviation academy and I kind of know a person that's getting ready to open up an aviation academy over at Willow Run. He's actually looking to open up two, one at Willow Run and one at the private airfield over in Playwood Catton. So we'd be able to send students once they've completed that program to right now fly a plane. So So there's that component. Yes. Very nice. >> And then also with the drone program working with

040um Wayne County Community College where they're located with the Ted Scott campus over in Van Beern. It's different flight restrictions in regards to how high they can fly. So once the students complete that program going into their senior year, especially their second semester, they would be going over to Ted Scott and working on I want to say it's a 107 certification. The the the FAA regulations is like talking with special education. They have their own alphabet suit. So trying to memorize their numbers and their certifications is is a is a handful. But that's another program that we're looking to add on. and also looking forward to the 26 27 school year is looking at electricians and plumbing and working with um Mr. Murray and his students and expanding those programs there. So looking at at

041at going along with my mission statement that I continue to say is providing hope for our students and preparing them for opportunities to have careers, not jobs. It's another way for us to get opportunities for our students to expand beyond. I mean it's great about decision day the students are going on to the universities but this is another pathway for students to go and really build on to what we have currently I know like Mr. Murray's classes class because I know we're getting ready to get that project started because I know we moved board approved for us to expand our welding program. So next year hopefully we're going to have two welding labs not just a one welding lab and I know Mr. Murray's in the process of building his barn. So, he's being able

042to expand and do some of the projects that he wants to do. So, really focusing on what can we do to provide students hope opportunities so for post high school graduation. They have a career pathway of either joining and being an apprentice somewhere or expanding on. So that's just a handful of things we were working on curriculum wise on top of the regular ELA, math, science, and social studies curriculums, but expanding those opportunities for our students. >> Well, thank you. We uh appreciate that and I'm really excited. I really wish that some of these programs have been available when my middle son was in uh was in high school. He he's a graduate of Kennedy. Um and Mrs. Graham, would you like to add anything about elementary? >> Okay. Well, I don't have anything nearly

043as exciting. Um, but we are fortifying our MTSS structure now that Marleene is on board. We're trying to coordinate that. We I'm sure I was in Lancing today, but I'm sure we had a very robust MTSS meeting. We um are finishing up our first year of implementation of the I Ready curriculum and then finishing up a pilot for ELA. Um, and we'll have a new ELA uh purchase curriculum all through grants. Um, and we're really excited about that. So, we're looking forward to doing some transitional work over the summer. Um, and that's about it for us right now. >> Well, I appreciate you sharing out with the rest of the board and the audience and uh to to the board. Get my minutes done. But anyway, wonderful things happening. Why don't we move on now

044to >> Oh, yeah. Go right ahead. >> Yes. I work I work with previous all over the place. Thank you. Hey, Mrs. Fields is going to talk about the finance committee. >> Um, we had the finance committee. Um, some procedural issues that, excuse me, um, I wanted to address and Dr. Hill was kind enough to clear them up for me. Uh, the big thing was Stacy, can you present what we discussed and what you're working on, please? >> Put her on the spot. >> She knows. >> No, I did not. No, I was going to be put on the spot, but that's okay. I I I can do this on the fly. So, it's actually going to come up as part of the board presentation tonight is we're looking at ways to change our policy

045for procurement. Right now, the threshold for our district is $5,000, which when you look at our economy and some of the things that we have to purchase is quite low. So, anything over $5,000, we have to procure three quotes. And when you're looking at curriculum materials, that's very hard because most of the time they're very niche. You know, if you're looking for like a bus or services like construction, you can outsource and get bids for those types of services. But like tonight, I'm going to bring forward um a professional development opportunity, some software, and usually those things are what we call soul soul source. So, you can only get them from one type of company because they're proprietary. So, we were asking for the board to maybe review that policy um through the policy committee.

046The state allows us up to a little bit over $30,000 before we have to do a formal bid. So, we're still trying to work through that through the policy committee. So, >> and we have another um meeting scheduled. Is it the 30th? >> Yes. May 30th. >> May 30th. >> Yes. >> Um and then we'll be discussing budget. Correct. >> Discuss the budget. >> Correct. So, that that meeting was short and sweet and so is my other one. Do you want me to go into the facilities and grounds? >> That makes sense. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um facilities and grounds. Mark and I sat on it with uh the director Jack Drod and um assistant director Patrick Nesllet. Uh there was concerns expressed about eating in the classrooms, especially at Kenyon for for rodent

047issues. They're on top of it, but the eating in the classroom promotes that. Um they're they're doing bids bids are out for the boiler on Randall. And don't forget this this was on April 17th. So, a lot of this may have already been completed. Um, they're working on quotes to replace some of the Randall windows. Uh, Hoover and West roof replacements should have started April 21st. Are those >> They're underway. Um, I think Hoover's is getting closer to being done right now, but they're both underway. Yes. >> Okay. Uh they're currently working on uh bids for the ceiling tiles at west and then we discussed the grounds and um a lot of issues with parking lots and that's not old news. I mean that's not new news. So that has to be addressed. And recently

048four tons of coal patch was used just at Johnson and two and a half tons were used at the high school. um catch basin at the high school was collapsing due to age and that's been replaced. And for the improvements report discussion, we're waiting to begin working with uh owner's rep on the or they're waiting to begin working with the owner's rep on the high school remodel. >> Thank you. Anything else? Any questions for Mrs. Fields? >> Okay, we'll move on. Um did you want to do finance or policy. >> Yeah, go right ahead. There you go. >> So, yeah, with uh Miss Black uh being excused tonight, I'll cover the policy committee. We had our first meeting. Uh one of the things about policy committee, you're going to see the actions because they're going

049to come forward like they are tonight. You'll see in our agenda tonight, we have lots of policies that uh the board is going to uh consider. So uh the biggest thing that took up most of our time in the policy committee is we do have a contract with a company called Neiola and what Nola provides to us is they will go through and continually give us recommendations on where we need to update certain policies. Typically what their uh recommendations are is when policies need to change because there has been a significant change in either federal law or state law or any of those issues. That's what Neiola's job is. They come forward and they make those recommendations to us. So you'll see tonight, and I'll mention this more when we get into the discussion items,

050quite a bit of what we're bringing forward is falls into that category under the updates. And so typically one to two times a year, Neiola will give us a package of policies that they're saying like these are things that need adjustment. These are what we need you to work on. And um that's what we covered most of our time. The other time we had on there we spent on talking about um some individual policies that we wanted to change at our level. So these weren't ones that we're getting a recommendation from the because there's the legal change. These are the ones that we're making a change because we feel it's a better way of doing it, a better process. And again there's uh four of them that I'll talk about more when we get to

051the discussion items. I will say we have, excuse me, we have roughly uh two or three more out there that we are still considering on the policy committee that I expect that we should be able to bring forward either at the next meeting or at the next couple meetings. One of them being the recommendation out of the finance committee about changing what our threshold is for going out and getting bids. Um, I do appreciate the work of the finance committee as they have provided us with a couple different options at this point of different districts and what they do that we're going to review and look at >> been the one that's >> Oh, yeah. >> So, uh, that's one of the ones that'll be coming. One of the ones that we're working on as

052well is uh knowing how in athletics sometimes we do have issues with being able to uh considering we get short staffed with bus drivers and that sometimes we run into issues with going ahead and getting students to those athletic contests. So, we're in the process of reviewing that policy to find a way that we are covered by having a form. Let's say if a parent wants to take their kid themselves to that sporting event, we're covered by having a form for them to sign off on and agree to that prior to a season or prior to certain events. But that one we're still looking at a couple other districts and we're trying to compare and find the best way that we can write that. So I would look pretty much in the in the future

053that those be the next two policies that you're going to see come out of the policy committee recommendation. I think I said the others I'll be talking about more in a minute. All right. Any questions, Mr. Wagger? Okay. Then we'll move on to discussion items. >> Uh, do I do this one? Okay. Um, overnight field trip. Are you sure this is my job and not yours? >> This is just a discussion. So, we just say like discussion items and then >> um they take it over from there. So, Mr. Simons will come up and talk about his. >> Okay. See, you gone for a few weeks and you forget everything. Especially for me. Uh, Mr. assignments. >> Thank you. Um so for those know usually athletics in the summer we try to keep our kids

054busy. Some of the things I'm trying to implement is that you know back when we go year round usually went to Phoenix every summer for three days I'm going to tie one and two together. Um, basically what what this does, it allows our students to go either emergency or college to get a little bit feel for college campus. uh stay in the dorms for one or two nights and get a feel like a walk on campus different facilities. Um obviously learn to competitive cheer basketball skills playing and going against other school that are on the west side of state culture um kids and what they do. coaches also had meetings with other coaches when there sh our sports programs to go away some to do something overnight do some kind of bonding learn get the

055kids out um out in different areas so they can see what else out there want to go to college I know we talked about stuff that will talk about plans coming Don't be scared to go away. On top of also better understand experience for the kids who have not a lot of you know outside experience for a lot of our kids. That's wonderful. >> I have a question um for the basketball one. Is it I see there's only 12 kids. Is it limited number of kids that can go or would it be opened to more kids like if they were interested in basketball? How is that a limited number? >> Um not necessarily a limited number. Um we do have you know we usually gear it towards your upper classman because those are the ones

056that are going to be heading to college soon. >> Okay. >> Um so we kind of stay within the varsity level. Same thing like competitive cheer, you know, it's the varsity cheer team. Some freshman on it. Obviously, we're real young in competitive cheer. Um, but usually we gear towards the upper classman just because their next couple steps is going to be making those decisions. So, but also too, the cost is um, you know, they do fundraising for that and then also too, you know, they do their own individual stuff that comes out of their student account or their their own accounts for basketball and cheer and so forth. So it doesn't put a burden on them and everything's included. So food, uh, lodging and so forth. So >> thank you. >> All right. Um, overnight

057conference requests. Uh, Mr. Wagger. >> I believe I'm on for the next two as overnight conference requests. So, >> um, I have two requests before you. Uh, and I know I kind of covered these as well in the Friday update that I sent out to the board, but I'm requesting to be able to attend the MASSA conference in September at Traverse City at Grand Traverse Resort. And I am requesting to again attend the uh, National Superintendent Conference, which will be held in Nashville, Tennessee in February of this year. Uh both of these events have been things that I have been able to bring back different opportunities. I know especially after I came back from the national conference this year, I know a lot of directors I think were sick of seeing me come around as

058I was like, "Oh, I got this great idea for you. Can you look into this?" And was hitting up every office uh after I had come back from there. Um and it's the same as with Traverse City as well. one of many of the initiatives that we're trying to roll out. This is where we get those ideas. And like I know the one that has stuck with me the most from Traverse City last year was uh seeing a presentation about how some of the other districts around the state are approaching alternative education and I think that we need to do some better work in that regard and we need to find uh different opportunities for our students in the realm of alternative education. I think people always just assume that alternative education is just, you

059know, a place where students who can't behave in school, that's where they end up. That's not the true meaning of alternative education. It is really that opportunity to find ways for kids who learn differently to find the right way for them to learn. Be that through a virtual option, be that through an in-person option that includes some career tech items. But I think we have some work to do. And that is one of the things I came out of Traverse City with uh last year and that's why I really want that opportunity to be able to go and find more of those things than models to learn from. >> Will you be training for the 5K this summer? >> Yeah. Well, I don't think I'm doing that. >> You're not going to do that. >>

060So, um the national conference I do want to say as well, I have put in a proposal to present again. I did present at uh this past national conference on our student superintendent advisory uh process and uh it went really well. I think that national conference was one of the the best opportunities because they broke things down into smaller roundt sessions and so when I got to present it was really just with eight other people in each session and you truly got to interact and share those things and learn from them as well and uh I think it was one of the greatest opportunities I've had in my career and I'm looking forward to uh hopefully having that opportunity to present again uh at that national conference. Have >> any questions for Mr. Wagger? for

061anyone? Nope. Then we will move on. >> I think it's me again. >> Yeah, you're right. So, >> keep going. >> All right. Next item I have for your consideration is the uh agreement to contract with the collaborative uh as the architecture firm for our work on renovating uh Taylor High School. Uh in your packet, you do have the recommendation. you have the outline of the different scope and the different services uh that they would provide to us. Uh ultimately their fee that is included in here is based at 6% of what we're estimating the cost of work would be. Uh and that would come at $4.8 million roughly a little above that and uh but this is work that would come from the bond funds as they would be doing the architecture work as

062we proceed with the the renovation of the high school. >> Okay. Now, um Kathy, do you want to have some questions on this or you did not have any >> and I did ask to be here? >> Ask him to come up and I asked all my questions. >> Oh, you already for the for the benefit of the rest of us. >> Yeah. >> Um you know this this does I guess end with working with my >> No, this is uh would be the individual contract with the collaborative as the architecture. >> Okay. Yes. And can I ask a question about what what was earlier said about the EQ? Uh yeah, I can answer that to some degree. Um so I know I was reaching out and communicating with board members individually today and uh

063we are in the process obviously of what we need to do to be able to start this renovation process. One of them is that we do need to get a amended PQ application into the state treasury department. They take about a two-month process to review what changes would be in there. We've already been in contact with the Treasury Department over the course of the past year and they are very willing to work with us because they understand the uniqueness of our our situation. Um they've kind of given that saying that it's most likely going to go through but we still have to follow the exact process. So, uh, what I was reaching out to to the board was to verify like when we start this process of getting the amended PQ application in, we have

064to assign so much money to each individual building in the district. And to be able to do work with bond dollars at each building, you have to have some sort of money attached to each site. Um, I know that the biggest item that we have to talk about is how much money goes to the high school because that's going to be the the biggest cost. uh out of what comes forward. So, uh what I was kind of thinking after I'd been in those conversations with different board members uh and in that communication, I'm really thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea if we had a committee as a whole before the next meeting to just kind of verify what we would like to see in the in the future >> before the next meeting or

065at the time of the next meeting. >> No, like so it would be like the five o'clock time before the meeting. So, yeah, >> kind of like what we've done meetings. >> So, I think that'd be the best way because then everybody can share, everyone kind of give their thoughts, but essentially we have to kind of just kind of put that number is are we going to say 80 million goes into the PQ application right off the bat to say the renovation? Are we going to say 95 million goes right off the bat? But like I said, it is in the best interest that you save some money for all the other sites so that in case something would arise or we had an emergency where we needed to replace windows or a roof at

066a site, we may have bond dollars available to us. >> That was one of my questions is are we adding these additional schools? We earmarked money for the high school and you know some of the others is do we have to have a dollar amount? Is that why we're attaching it? >> Correct. And and the big thing is when the original PQ application was filed um because the intent was to merge West and Hoover into the current Taylor High School building. West and Hoover were never put on the original PQ application. So there is at this point without the state reviewing and giving us the approval. We can only do things at those two buildings through general fund money. So by changing this and having the state give us that opportunity, it is going to

067change where we're at. utilization flexibility and um and so on. >> Go ahead, Debbie. The the utilization plan didn't come up until after the bond had already passed. >> Yeah, correct. >> So, the original bond that was to to be on the high school campus. >> Yeah, that's that's why and that's why there was always money built in for the current Taylor High School um because of that reasoning. But West and Uber were left completely up. So we won't >> there's no man rush in getting this to the treasury. You said it it takes a couple of months. >> Correct. >> Once it gets there, right? >> Yeah. >> Like once we get them the P then it'll take a couple months for them to approve it. So it's kind of >> that's a longer

068estimate because it depends on what Treasury is reviewing at that time. >> But we're just putting everything together now. >> Correct. So that's not something that because you and I had the discussion on my concern on how things are written up. >> Yeah. >> So there's a whole process here. It's not something we have to do tonight. >> Correct. >> No, we don't have to do it. >> Absolutely. >> I think though >> and that's why I want to do the committee the whole and we can have the >> discussions. Yeah. I think sooner rather than later because if it takes two months we we would like the the summer months and be you know to to come up with the plan and that's going to take a while. >> We don't need the money

069to have plans. >> We don't need the money to >> we just need to have allocation. We need to have like the approval that like >> and are consulting with all of our different entities and all the people involved uh the companies we are contracted with. They're all recommending that we wouldn't sell any actual bonds until probably spring of next year because again, if we sell them right now, we put ourselves on that clock towards arbitrage, which we've been trying to avoid from the first sale. So, you'd want to make sure that we have a plan in place before, you know, putting ourselves on the clock >> sounds, >> right? Well, one thing to keep in mind on that though, I do you think we need because we talked about this on the phone? >>

070Yeah. So the whole concept of bonds is they're tax exempt, right? In the reconciliation plan before the US House, they may strip tax exemption as early as September. >> If they do that, keep in mind you would have to sell the bonds >> in the next couple of months. Yeah. >> So if they pass that, you are on a very quick shot clock. You can't wait till the spring or you're going to have interest, taxable interest on these bonds. So just just keep that in mind. >> That's part of why the good to have a discussion at at before the next meeting. I think >> yeah because you know the original plan was to get it done before July. That would have beat the clock if the if the US House does this. >> Yeah.

071>> Just saying we we might have >> Yeah, >> we might be out of time very quickly. >> Yeah. >> My vision is that we're we're moving in the right direction or the direction that we want to go. It doesn't have to be overnight. Um that would be my vision, but I'm just one board member up here. Um last question regarding this. If we allow um plant Moran to help with the PQ that does that in any way can they come back and say no, you have to work with us now. >> Not that I could foresee. But I but I can uh I I would consult with the our legal to make sure. But I >> just just is there anyway because that would I think cause some issues. >> Correct. Okay, thank you.

072Um, Miss Piny. Oh, wait. Miss Piny. >> Okay, as we briefly discussed earlier, the board's not necessarily approving the purchases like the amount. It's because um in order to get these through our finance procurement procedures uh we don't have three quotes because these are single source items that are allowed all allowable under uniform grant guidance but again our board policy requires three quotes unless prior approval. So the first one is for Brisk. Brisk is an AI um feedback and instructional system and like always I feel like sometimes videos do a better job than I will. So, I have three brief videos explaining all of these. This is in the amount of $16,250. A lot of our teachers are already using the free version, so they're very excited about upgrading to this version. So, go ahead.

073>> What did you do after school yesterday? >> Imagine if your free time was actually free. With Brisk, you'll get at least 10 hours of free time back every week. Imagine what you can do with that. >> Access over 30 timesaving tools from the side of your screen. Instantly craft slides, quizzes, lesson plans, resources, and more from anywhere you are on the internet. Leave feedback on that pile of essays before lunch is over. Share any online content, articles, YouTube videos, and more directly to students and create safe, interactive learning experiences with Risk Boost. See a video playback of your students writing process from start to finish. >> Time's on your side with risking the free Chrome extension for educators. >> What's really fun about this one and all all of our students out there that

074I know are watching this this board meeting, so be aware is uh it'll it can tell if a student has copied and pasted like from an AI source because it tracks real time how long it takes for them to complete an essay. So it'll show that in real time to to teachers. So there's your warning. Next one, please. Intensified algebra. So intensified algebra again will be paid for out of grant funds. It is an in an algebra support for our struggling students. That is in the amount of $25,296 uh to support algebra 1 at the high school. Go ahead. You know, I look at the story of students who that may have struggled with high school or may not be graduating. And often that story when you go back to where a difficult time occurred,

075algebra is usually a part of that story. >> Intensified is a double blocked period. So I have the same students for two periods in a row. Having that second period is really helpful. We spend the first few weeks of school really talking about the fact that we're all math learners. And being good or bad at math is not something that's genetic or inherent. It's that effort and time are really the things that make us better. >> Middle school, I kind of to be honest, I did not like math. Like math was like one of my least favorite subjects. Even in elementary, I struggled a lot in math. But this class, it helps me a lot. like there is a big impact on my math experience. >> I like that there's two periods to do it

076so we can get all our work done cuz we stop to make sure that everyone understands it. Everyone, you know, takes their time so they get it and we can all move on together as a class and we come back next day ready to go for a new lesson. >> We're all in like the same place. We work together, figure it out, take our time on it, slowly stepping up and learning more. Before this class, I heavily disliked math, but I genuinely enjoy doing math now. Personally, I would like to take a harder math next year. I feel more confident in my learning and my growth during this year. I guess it helped boost my confidence in like other subjects as well. Realizing that I can go from here to here in one subject made

077me realize I could probably do that with my other classes. I am currently taking honors geometry. We're learning new units like every month. And I realized that people are asking me for help, which makes me feel good because it's just like I used to grow up thinking I could never do anything in math. But then now I can. >> Now instead of saying like, you know what, that's as far as I can get, I say, I can go farther than that. I can do much better than this. And I push myself to do better for not just math, but everything. I'm ready for whatever comes next. You know, that algebra is such a little course in a high schooler's career. It's really like a make or break that really sets the tone as a ninth

078grader. So, we identified about 80 students that we'll be able to offer this to next year. We're partnering it with Griffin Hour. So, what whoever their Griffin Hour teacher is, they'll have first hour intensified algebra and move right into that second hour algebra. So, we're excited about uh being able to offer that potentially to our students. I just have a quick um question. So >> um just to confirm, so this will work like a secondary class for them on top of like their original math class, >> right? It's a twob block math. So to do it the researchbased way, you have to have a certain time aotment. So buddying it up with Griffin hour was the best way to do that. Um, I just I don't know if this is the same kind of program,

079but I know that um, personally my son struggled with math in middle school and they did kind of a similar thing. I don't know the specific name to it, but he now has an A+ in math. So, it definitely works. >> Yep. I've seen it work in that district as well. So, >> yeah. >> And if I could add on to this, uh, we sat through two different presentations on this. So, one of the presentations with Ann Arbor public schools where the director and lady actually push and brought this to Ann Arbor schools saw a 60% increase amount of students that were passing algebra their freshman year so they can stay on track graduate on time um Bill Somerville's been very involved with this math department has clearly been involved they presentation they're all on

080board they're excited about doing professional development on this so it's not like something that we're getting like hey math teachers check this out no they are part of the process process of looking at this program and saying yes let's let's do it let's move forward so it it is coming from the teachers as well for wanting us to move forward on this >> I mean it works especially if we have already identified students that need the help I mean personally I went from struggling with my own child at home getting barely a C minus to I mean a high A+ this year is and he like loves math now so >> and to piggyback I know um Miss Graham mentioned about our MTSS uh PD today and teamwork activities. There was a lot of eyeopening

081things going on. We were able to bring teachers in today and that was one of the things that we talk about was that like that intensified algebra and being able to provide that. So exciting stuff was going on. So the last one is bringing in professional development as our opening day PD on building culture within the schools and also working with our admin teams on culture building activities within the schools. Um being able to foster community and along with uh building those relationships among staff and students alike. So go ahead. >> Every one of you in this room is a culturizer. Every one of you in this room is a community builder. Every one of you in this room has the opportunity every day to be in purposeful in your engagement with children, your colleagues,

082your co-workers. Build a community that currently doesn't exist just because you were intentional about it. Because it's a reminder that this if you feel tired, if you feel fatigued, the only way you can fill your cup is not to wait for others to come fill it for you. You take the initiative because the more you give, the more you'll get back. See, when you fill the cup, your cup is filled, too. >> So, this would be bringing in Mr. Cassis in the amount of $24,000 for services to all of our staff within the district. Um, I've worked with him previously. Uh, I actually told Mr. Hall from Hoover that we were bringing him in. He's like, "That is a good kit." He is amazing. He's so excited. He's got his staff pumped up already. We

083have a hype video from Mr. Castus that'll go out to the district later on this summer. So, we're really excited to bring him in. Um, he's very available. He's written several books. So, if we ever decide to do a book study, he's more than happy to, you know, hop on a Zoom with us and share resources and knowledge. So, we're super excited to bring him in this this fall. >> How are we going to carry over um what we've learned that day and and have it become, you know, we want it to be embedded in part and this is what what we do and how we behave. >> So again, knowing that he's written several books about that, that would be the next step is like having him lay that groundwork and he's going to

084continue working with our administrative staff throughout the year. So that will be continuous and then using that book study throughout the year with our staff is another way to do that. >> Yeah. But if we, you know, and I I'm just talking just based on my years of experience in the two there's 50 people coming in, we start a new initiative and then, you know, the flavor of the day. Um, but this is one that we that really we need to have ingrained. So I don't know how you not just at a teacher PD, but how do we promote this moving, you know, promote this district wide with everybody, >> right? And one of our um areas in the strategic plan is culture. So this will help lay that groundwork for that that those goals

085throughout the year. So that's kind of like the kickoff initiative to our strategic plan and being able to carry his message there. I think there's six pillars. I can't name them off the top of my head, but one of them is carrying the banner. So how can we all work together to promote positivity throughout the district? >> Too much negativity over the past, you know, 10, 12 years. >> Yeah, we got to start off positive and there's no better man to do that. I've seen like, you know, I did leave the Taylor School District and I went and was principal at John Glenn High School. I was the fifth principal at John Bluff High School in a four-year span. And that culture was broken. And I have to say, the more attention you give to

086culture, the better the results are. like you're never going to see academic gains. You're never going to see the turnaround in behavior unless you address culture at it. And though by doing so that we started to see better gains of when I was there >> and one of the things in our strategic plan is talking about wellness not just for students but also for staff. So he talks a lot about you know taking care of yourself because you can't do that until you can't take care of others until you take care of yourself. So he really brings that message across as well. >> Speak back and tap on some of that. There's things that you want that they were able to do. >> They're fabulous in terms of bringing things into the district. >> Yep.

087Lots of exciting things potentially. >> Working with Jimmy in the past. I know M Miss Brie and I worked with him in our previous districts. We've brought them in and did a neighboring district presentation. It's not just a sit and get. It's all right. Talk now is plan. What are your next steps? How you going to follow through with it? And put give yourself an accountability partner and do those types of things. So, like you were saying, it's not just a one and done. Congratulations, we're out the door. No, it's almost like the strategic planning process of put together your goals. What are you going to do? Here's your timeline. Put together make get an accountability partner. How are you doing on that? And Jimmy's fantastic about if you set send him a text, send

088him an email, he'll reply within minutes if he's not doing a keynote somewhere else. But it's something that we we want to carry on. Yeah. >> Well, that that was my sustainability. And one of the things that we've noticed quite a bit is how and our teachers talked about it today is this working in silos, not just amongst the teachers within the buildings, but the schools themselves. Like we're a district of schools rather than a collaborative school district. So it's really setting that tone for everyone rowing the boat in the same direction. >> Questions from the board. >> Thank you. Agenda again. Now we have policy. Back to you. Thank goodness. >> Busy night tonight. >> Yeah. >> So, this next section, uh, discussion items seven, eight, and nine are the items that did come

089out of the policy committee. So, uh, action item seven, these were some of those NEOLA updates that they had brought to us in a package. These particular policies were brought in a package together because I know Miss Vespie just uh referenced it, but essentially, you know, under federal law, they have the uniform grant guidance and there were changes to what that uniform grant guidance is. And so these are all the district policies that were affected by the changes that were made to that law. And so what Niola did is they went through they found where everything needed to be tweaked, where they needed to be shifted to match the changes at that level. So any one of these policies and like I said there is quite a bit in there is simply because uh it's

090the to make sure it's in line with the uniform grant guidance. The second group um number eight discussion number eight this was the uh their package of their other kind of updates they bring forward. They package this one differently because this covers a variety of items. Again, most of these are to bring things into compliance with ships and law, ships and state policy. Um, but some of them are even as minor as they go back and they realize, oh, there was a typo here or, oh, this uh we really should change um the uh pronoun that was used in this spot. And so all the ones under number eight again follow that policy. Um the only one in number eight that is uh somewhat of a new addition to what we're doing is the guidance

091on artificial intelligence um that Nola is recommending. So essentially whether you like AI, whether you dislike AI, it's not going anywhere and it's time to have it reflected somewhere in policy like how we approach it in that. So what the artificial intelligence the AI policy is embracing that it can be used as a tool for learning like it can absolutely help uh students who learn differently. Um students to be able to express themselves that may not have found that other way but it also needs to be clarified that it cannot be used in place of true academic work. So the policy is saying, hey, we embrace it as this tool for learning, but at the same token, it's not like you can just go ahead and still plagiarize items. You can still do those things.

092Um, essentially, I know that's what we're uh prey had that in there as well without having that ability to check and go like, oh, that was just copy and pasted by AI. We're still going to be able to do that part of still embracing that there is a benefit to having it there. Um the next one, discussion items number nine. These are just at a local level policies that we felt needed to be changes. These did not come from NEOLA. The first one, policy 0142.5 concerns uh vacancies on the board of education. So when we have that time where we may have a board member who resigns their position uh on the school board, this is clarifying what that process looks like. Uh we really liked the way that the process went the last time

093we had a vacancy where we did the actual ranking of the candidates where we had a really set procedure to it. So the policy committee is recommending that we adopt that exact practice that we use and therefore it's in the policy and we know next time this is just how we do it. So that would be a a huge update to to what we've done. Policy 1619.01 this is uh concerning self-funded group health plans. Uh we are removing vision insurance from there. Um, this was a throwback to, I believe, when the Taylor Federation of Teachers still had a as part of their negotiations, they had a reimbursement that the school district would give to um staff members for vision costs. So, we did away with that and it went to where the Taylor Federation of

094Teachers now is on NVA like our other uh bargaining units. So, therefore, it is not required that we list out that as an item for their healthcare. Uh policy 2340 field and other district sponsored trips. Uh this is we would like to going forward when we have field trips that are becoming for the board for approval that they go into the consent agenda. Um in the time I've sat here and I'm sure all the times we've been sitting here, I don't think I've ever seen a student field trip get voted down by a board of education. So why not ease the process and put that into the the consent agenda going forward? >> Uh >> just to clarify though the out of state and overnight have to still come in front of the board >>

095because that's a whole other level. Yes, you are right. >> Uh and policy 6550 uh travel authorization payment uh and reimbursement. This change here is also in regards to grantf funed conferences. Again, I have yet to see and I'm sure over the course of the years that we've seen a conference that an employee is going to that is coming out of a grant fun. I don't even think I've ever seen a dissenting vote. Uh or maybe it's very rare that we've seen a dissenting vote. So, it's folding that into the consent agenda as well for efficiency, >> but general funded ones, >> correct? General funded would still come before the board uh as that would like say as a cost off of our fund balance. Like for example, my request tonight, um even though I

096have to maintain my licenses as a school administrator and as a teacher, uh because my role as superintendent, I no longer can have grant funding to use when I go to these conferences. So mine would still have to come before the board because they would still be well, I should rephrase that. They all come before the board. uh but mine would have to come out for the debate and the discussion items and I'd have to present because I'm a general funded position and uh but others would go in the consent agenda because of grants being able to cover it. >> Yeah, that's policy piece. I know I got the next one too. >> Okay, so keep going. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh in your packets, we do have um employment contracts that we are

097asking for approval for uh two of our administrative assistants for the human resources department. Uh this is much like uh a couple weeks ago we brought forth the administrative assistant contract uh for the administrative assistant to the superintendent. We are have been in the process of negotiating with exempt positions uh because of changes that came down as a result of some lawsuits that were filed on behalf of superintendent across the state. essentially um you had some of these exempt employees that were going up for retirement and when they were filing for their retirement they weren't being given the same amount that was promised to them their most careers and it has ended up in a whole lawsuit. So the recommendation now that uh that those court cases are getting settled is that any exempt employee

098should really have in their contracts a salary schedule much like you see in union contracts and then it's clearly defined this is what this person gets this year this is what this person gets this year and it's going to help them so when they hit that retirement they're not going to hit that road. So essentially we've been in the process of working through this and adding this to um multiple contracts that we have. >> Any other questions or any questions? Oh, I I just wanted to comment then while some of these policy issues are good, >> they're a major revision to everything that we're doing here and you know they affect the public a lot and they couldn't help but notice you still couldn't see this on the public agenda when I logged on at

09910 in the morning. So, I would like to see this postponed, see it published and vote on it the following meeting. Yeah. Other than that, I'm gonna be voting no because we can't we can't be doing this and expecting people to read it the day off. >> I >> that that's and until we start voting no is going to keep happening. And the policy, let me finish. Let me finish the policy. >> Let Let me finish. The policy we should be bringing is actual deadlines that the agenda gets published to the public by Friday. Yeah. It was not published at 10 in the morning. No, it was not today. No, it was not. >> Let me say this about the policies. The policies have to have a second reading. Correct. >> Correct. So, we're not

100voting on any of the policies tonight and it'll be open for discussion within the next one. >> And that is exactly why policy uh do require the two readings for that opportunity. >> No, fair enough. But let's try to get them on the agenda for people for the next time. I was referring to the second reading. >> Oh, that doesn't happen. I get what you're saying. >> Yeah. If if this repeats us all for the second reading, >> that's where my issue comes. That's what I say. >> Enough time to look at the meeting at the next meeting. >> Yeah. That's what I was >> I should have said the word second reading. That's the only thing I didn't say. So that was Yeah. >> Okay. And in terms of the agenda, I guess we

101as a board we need to make a decision. Most times when the agenda doesn't come out till Monday, it's because we haven't got materials from, for example, the collaborative. Not saying they ever have or the attorney or or somebody like that. Do we want a an agenda that Sean can send out on Friday that's incomplete or not real sure? I mean, what what's the will of the board? I suppose we want to send out something of what we have done on on Friday, but we don't know, you know. >> Well, well, my opinion >> I mean, I think Sean has been doing a good job of saying like this is what we have ready. I'm going to send more X Y and Z, but it is Mike, correct me if I'm wrong. It's not like

102we are not legally obligated to pro post everything in the agenda online. >> Correct. And that's we are following the practices that uh most other school districts use and how we we do that. Like we do reach out, talk to other districts and get their advice on how they handle these items. Um I would say like yes I've made a very much more concerted effort because I've heard the will of the board um over the past few months to say hey especially like if it's a contract if it's somebody's employment give it to me with more than two or three days and we've been really trying to to honor that uh at least from my end of it. I'd say typically the things that we're not having on Friday when that first one goes out

103to you guys. Uh it's typically the items like the field trips, the conference requests, the things like that where we're reliant on getting those in and those are some of the times things that get on at that last minute. And I think some of this policy change helps with that process. >> The open meeting act addresses hosting of the meeting. Correct. You don't have to have the agenda. >> Okay. If I may respond, I've never said you're violating state law. I'm saying we should set transparency standards that are better than state law. And you set a Friday deadline. And you know what happens if it's not ready on Friday? It goes to the next meeting. You make the deadline known to the public. If you're an attorney, if you're whatever your job is, you tell

104them that's their deadline. Because how is it they can make make a Tuesday deadline but not a Friday deadline? that you just say this is a deadline person doing this and if they miss a deadline they go to the next meeting. That's how deadlines work. >> So I would agree for 90% of our business like I I hear what you're saying that like yeah if it's something like we know a contract is coming and I don't get it to you guys in time it needs to wait. Understood that part. Where I do give the push back is if it is something student related like a field trip or an item like that and if we miss that day, that is that part where I would ask that we would have an exception to that and

105be able to get those on there because I don't want to cost kids the opportunity to >> Oh, I'm fine with that. I'm mostly talking about like you said contracts. Somebody said legal opinions. These are coming from professionals. Yeah. >> Who should architect SH firms? You tell them a Friday deadline, they have to meet it. My kids are different. I completely agree. disagreement there at all. Um so what I ask Shauna when she when she returns um is that that we have something on Friday as best we can do. Um we can continue to talk about the you know the deadline things and I don't think that's a bad thing to implement is that they've got to be you know if you want it on the agenda it's got to be here by Friday unless

106other people disagree. >> Well it used to be that way but as every administration changes they the setup of how they're do how they do stuff. >> Yep. >> So, it used to be that there was a deadline and if you missed it's like you said >> if you missed it, you had to wait till the next board meeting. >> Yeah. You recall when we did that? >> Yeah. With the exception of student activities, of course. I would >> There's always an exception. >> And we don't want to be calling special board meetings. >> Correct. That's what I don't want us to get into. >> Yeah. I I don't want to get into that practice either. Um is it we, you know, we can discuss it and then maybe I don't know add it to

107the agenda to vote on. >> Well, a lot of that is just internal practice and that's what I would have to because and my role of being the dayto-day. >> Okay. >> But the whole thing is is follow through. If somebody is late, I don't want an email saying, "Oh, well, this person's late. I don't care." >> Yeah. Yep. >> Understood. >> I agree. >> Yeah. We have pushed several things to the next agenda because of that particularly because we haven't got the information in time. >> So, okay. And I'll ask just to wrap up. I'll have Shauna send it out on Friday to the best of her ability or to the information that he has, but know that there could be changes in, you know, field trips and things like that. Um, on Monday,

108so always get the second one, I guess, too. >> What else? Mr. Grible. >> Okay, Mr. Grible. >> Student reinstatements. >> They're all the way down there. >> Yes. Thank you, President. >> They are. >> So, board members, in your packet, you have two reinstatements. You have student one and number and student number two. Again, um for board members that were at those reinstatements, you need to make sure we're referring to them as student one, student two. if you have any comments or anything you have to play safe about the students to make sure that we're keeping our identity confidential. So, student number one, you can see the packet there and if you scroll down, read down at the bottom, you'll see the panel recommendation for student number one. >> Is this me again? Sorry.

109>> No, he's just >> listening, but I'm waiting. I'm not very good at the answer. just tell me to shut up and and move forward. Go ahead. >> Or as I've been informed of by one of board members, I have a tendency to talk real fast. So if I if I slow that could have asked, >> not sure, but I have a tendency to talk fast. So I will make sure that I slow down and make sure that everybody understands what I'm saying. So again, student number one, you can see their information there. You can see the board panel is on there. You can see that I did skills put down there on how everybody voted as you requested. It was unanimous vote unanimous vote for the panel's recommendation. So that is student number one.

110And then if you turn the pages to student number two and one thing I want to say once she gets done reading that I'll take for eye contact. Um Mrs. and Sheld I'm sure you are all in agreement if you if I make the statement that about student number two student number two is a model student of what we expect of I don't want to say rehabilitated but went through the process student one did everything that we asked that person to do and when we asked the student's parent at that meeting what do you think of the student sitt next to you. They even said, "I don't even recognize this person. This person is completely changed." It it's it's what we really expect when we have a discipline hearing like this for these students to

111make the necessary changes that this student would definitely be a model student to come back and talk to some of our our current students. >> I definitely suggested that they come and be like a mentor of some sort or like a a speech of some sort to like explain, share, >> it would be make an impact. >> He definitely made an impact on me and I followed from start to finish with this child and >> Y and you've seen student number two two times now. >> Yep. >> And see the student they made into that this young lady sitting next to me as I refer to as my sister. Um it goes along with what she has been trying to do since she's been here with the idea of what we do for the resilience

112and restoriveness and stuff like that. Student number two is a model of it does work. >> I also saw parental support and determination on the child that that kid worked hard. >> So those are the two reinstatement packets you have. Again, you see the recommendations on the back pages for you to vote on when we get to that part. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. All right. We're now into the public comment. This first public comment is for anyone wishing to address the board regarding items that uh that that we discussed for action. Is there anyone interested in addressing the board? >> Oh, my wait time. Oh, >> so in the last time around we really went through and we followed uh recommendations from MASB and what they put out there as to how

113to fill a vacancy on a school board. So it's we already have a set where you have to, you know, have the certain deadline where you get it out right away to get the applicants. That doesn't change at all. Having the interview day doesn't change at all. So all those parts stay with what has been there. The biggest change is that once the candidates come in and interview, the board is essentially going to have a very open uh discussion about which candidate that they preferred, which one was the one that they liked, and then they're going to rating system of each and that way there is kind of a a very mathematical look to know like this is who who was preferred that's the biggest change all the other parts of there what's it the

114board votes like essentially it's >> get to the point the most points so for example each board member gets to or chooses two people so their number one choice will get two points their number two two choice will get one point correct and then you mathematically and who has the most points uh is is >> it's a variation of something called rank choice voting. And if you watch the last meeting or not not the last meeting but the meeting where we uh appointed that gentleman there, you can actually watch it live. Um it worked pretty good. Yeah, it was rank choice voting is what it was. Really? >> It did work. It was very >> Yeah, absolutely. Oh, I see what you're saying. So, there's no changes to that part of it essentially. Yeah, they're

115in there till the election of that that particular person that they're taking the vacated seat is. That's when their election would come up. So, if there was a year left on the term, they got a year left. If it's three years left, they have three years on the term. And then it goes back to the electorate. Yes, absolutely. Sorry, I didn't realize like where Yeah. So, Any online? >> I don't think any anyone and nobody else wants >> any online. >> What was that? >> Oh, okay. Cut that out. Confuses me. But of course, >> we get it's all good. All right. Um, I'm going move on to let her take over. >> Moving on to the action items. Number one is the overnight field trip request for Elma College policy number 2340 and policy

116number 8640. It is recommended the board of education approve the following overnight field trip request for the Taylor High School and Middle School cheer camp at Elma College in Elma, Michigan, July 18th through 20th, 2025. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Miss Fields. Is there a second? >> Second by Mr. Madski. Mr. Mr. Madarkski. >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris. >> Yes. >> Miss Shoefeld is a yes. Mr. Westfall. >> Yes. >> Miss Block is absent. Miss Fields. >> Yes. >> Miss Moore. >> Yes. >> That passes 6. Number two is another overnight field trip request for Adrian College. Policy number 2340 and policy number 8640. It is recommended the board of education approve the following overnight field trip request for the Taylor High School basketball camp to Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan, June 27th

117through the 29th, 2025. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Miss Moore. Is there a second? >> Support by Mr. Morris. Mr. Morris. >> Yes. >> Miss Shufelt is a yes. Mr. Wesall? >> Yes. >> Miss Block is absent. Miss Fields, >> yes. >> Miss Moore, >> yes. >> Mr. Madarkski, >> yes. >> That passes 6. >> Number three is an overnight conference request for the Michigan Association of Superintendent and Administrators, MASSA, policy number 6550. It is recommended the board of education approve the overnight conference request for Michael Wager to attend the Michigan Association of Superintendent and Administrators 2025 fall conference in Traverse City, Michigan September 16th through the 19th, 2025. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Mr. Morris. Is there a second? >> Support by Miss Moore. Miss Shout is a yes. Mr.

118Westall, >> yes. Miss Black is absent. Miss Fields. >> Yes. >> Miss Moore. >> Yes. >> Mr. Madarski. >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris. >> Yes. >> That passes 6. Number four is an overnight outofstate conference request. A AFA National Conference of Education policy number 6550. It is recommended the board of education approve the overnight out ofstate conference request for Michael Wagger to attend AASA National Conference and education in Nashville, Tennessee, February 9th through the 14th in 2026. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Mr. Morris. Is there a second? >> Second by Mr. Madarski. >> Mr. West? >> Yes. >> Miss Block is absent. Miss Fields. >> Yes. Miss Moore, >> yes. >> Mr. Madarkski, >> yes. >> Mr. Morris, >> yes. >> Miss Shufelt, is a yes. That passes six. >> And can I

119just say one real quick thank you uh Mike for for taking Taylor nationally and and making us shine. >> Yeah, I appreciate this. >> Yep. >> Number five, the collaborative group policy number 6320. It is recommended the board of education approve to enter in a AIAB132-209 standard form of agreement between owner of and architect as modified with the collaborative architect. Is there a motion? >> No. Listen closely. Motion >> because I thought that >> I know >> she said no. Wait, we didn't get there yet. >> Is there a second? >> If Kathy said yes, second. >> Morris. >> Miss Block is absent. Miss Fields? >> Yes. >> Miss Moore? >> Yes. >> Mr. Madarski? >> No. >> Mr. Morris? >> Yes. >> Miss Shufelt is a yes. Mr. Wes, >> yes. >> That passes.

12051. Number six, Brisk Teaching Policy number 6320. It is recommended the board of education approve the purchase of contracted services from Brisk Teaching in the amount of $16,250 for at risk section 31A grant funds from not for sorry. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Miss Moore. >> Support by Miss Fields. Miss Fields, >> yes. >> Miss Moore, >> yes. >> Mr. Madarski, >> yes. >> Mr. Morris, >> yes. >> Miss Shufelt, is a yes. Mr. Wesaw, >> yes. >> That passes 6. Number seven, is it agile? >> Agile. Okay. Agile minds policy number 6320. It is recommended the board of education approve the purchase of materials and contracted services from Agayio Mine in the amount of $25,296 from at risk section 31A grant funds. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Miss Fields. Is

121there a second? >> Uh support. >> Support by Mr. Morris. >> Miss Moore. >> Yes. >> Mr. Madarski. >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris. >> Yes. Missel is a yes. Miss Mr. Westfall, >> yes. >> Miss Block is absent. Miss Fields, >> yes. >> That passes 6. >> Number eight is J. Catha and Associates policy number 6320. It is recommended the board of education approve the purchase of contracted services from J Cassa and Associates in the amount of $24,000 from title 2 funds. Is there a motion? Motion >> motion by Miss Moore. Is there a second? >> Support by Miss Fields. >> Mr. Madarski? >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris? >> Yes. >> Miss Shoefeld is a yes. Mr. Westfall. >> Yes. >> Miss Block is absent. Miss Fields. >> Yes. >> Miss Moore. >> Yes. >>

122That passes 6. Number nine, the contract renewal administrative assistant for human resources. Number two, policy number 4120. It is recommended the board of education approve the two-year contract renewal for Miss Rebecca Rawlings for the position exempt administrative assistant for human resources and labor relations number two. 12 month position effective July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2027. salary for the position will be $61,31268 for the 2025 20226 school year and $63,14022 for the 2026 2027 school year. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Miss Moore. Is there a second? >> Second by Mr. Madarski. Miss Mr. Morris. >> Yes. Missel is a yes. Mr. Westall, >> yes. >> Miss Block is absent. Miss Fields, >> yes. >> Miss Moore, >> yes. >> Mr. Madski, >> yes. >> That passes six. Number 10 is the contact contract

123renewal administrative assistant for human resources. Number three, policy number 4120. It is recommended the board of education approve the one-year contract renewal for Miss Patricia James for the position exempt administrative assistant for human resources and labor relations number three. It is a 12-month position effective July 1st 2025 through June 30th 2026. Salary for the position will be $61,31268 for the 2025 2026 school year. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Miss Fields. Is there support? >> Support by Mr. Westall. Miss Shufelt is a yes. Mr. Westfall? >> Yes. >> Miss Block is absent. Miss Fields. >> Yes. >> Miss Moore. >> Yes. >> Mr. Madarski? >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris? >> Yes. That passes 6. Number 11, student reinstatement number 01 0507 2025, policy number 5610.03. The review committee is recommending the board of education

124approve the conditional reinstatement of student number one 05072025. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Mr. Morris. Is there support? >> Support by Miss Fields. Mr. Westfall. >> Yes. >> Miss Block is absent. Miss Fields. >> Mr. Miss Moore. >> Yes. >> Mr. Madarkski? >> No. >> Mr. Morris? >> Yes. >> Miss Shoefeld is a yes. That path is 51. Number 12, student reinstatement number two 0507205. Policy number 5610.03. The review committee is recommending the board of education approve the conditional reinstatement of student number two 05072025. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Miss Fields. >> Support by Mr. Morris. >> Miss Black is absent. Miss Fields. >> Yes. >> Miss Moore. >> Yes. >> Mr. Madarski? >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris? >> Yes. >> Miss Shufelt is a yes. Mr. Westfall? Yes, >> that

125passes six on to Mr. Wager. >> Right. Thank you everybody. Um few just quick things I want to touch on tonight. Um now that we have hit May. This is the obviously a big time for uh that wrapping up of a school year. And I know you're really going through a lot of this, Miss Shoe Felt, right now because the seniors are very, very busy people right now. And I find it hard to believe that we already have senior exams next week. Man, >> they have lose my mind. >> Yeah, prom tomorrow. Like crying. I'm literally a mess right now. So, >> uh, I just want to remind everybody to take the opportunities to to where you can celebrate the work that these seniors have put in and and what they're going to do next

126with their lives. Uh, I really really really need to uh put in a plug for the farewell parade that is going to be taking place at Heritage Park on the 20th. Uh, I know we have all these great opportunities to celebrate these seniors like the honors night and graduation, but those are the things where you have to have an invite and it's because there's limited seating and we we can only really at capacity hit that. That parade is open to everybody and you don't need a ticket. You don't need to be to be invited. It's come out, celebrate the achievements, the accomplishments of our senior class, and that will be taking place at Heritage Park. And it's a just a great opportunity to to be there. >> 5:30 the parade starts. >> Yeah, it's fun.

127May >> So I I encourage anyone who get out there. I think, you know, it's hard to say about good things that came out of CO because there were a lot that did not. This is one of the good things that came out of CO. I think this was a good reinvention from the days where we used to have the farewell assembly during the day. I think this was one of the greatest kind of reinventions that came out of it. And I encourage everybody in the community, please go out, support these seniors. Um, and as I've been saying for weeks now, seniors, we know it's wrapping up. Be safe, make good choices, especially you got prom tomorrow night. Make the make the smart choices tomorrow. Uh, second thing I want to throw out there is,

128um, we have really dedicated ourselves to trying to improve our communication with the community. And so I know we have put out our latest edition of our newsletter that we're putting out from uh, the superintendent's office and we've been trying to list all of the important dates each month. And when I put those important dates in there, it's not necessarily the days kids have off of school because you can click the link that goes to our district calendar in there. these are those for these kind of events knowing that there is this special assembly happening or there's a band concert at Hoover coming up. We're really trying to be able to promote and let the community know that's there. And the next step I've been working on is how do I take this that we're

129doing a good job right now of getting out to our own people, but how do we get that out beyond our walls? And so I know I've been working with some contacts uh with some of our local municipalities of hey is there a way we can get it out sent out through your means as well or we can post it out uh on their social media that so I'm hoping we'll see some more of that cooperation to get get out the message beyond uh our own walls. But please take a look at that. We've been really trying to update the community every month. >> Mr. Wager, can I ask you a question real quick since you're talking about calendars? >> Yeah. Um, is there any way that we can because I know that there's been

130some conflicts in the calendars with our middle schools and our high school and some of their events whereas like there's an eighth grade >> event along with like a senior event at the same time or within half hour of each other. So if our middle schools or even the elementary schools that might be hosting like a spring concert or a winter concert, they could talk to each other so that these don't line up because we do have a parent that I seen on social media that was >> her eighth graders having their event, honors event at 5, senior event is the exact same night at 6. >> And that's a hard >> Oh, I Yes, absolutely. We saw that today with the art um art class once the 20th >> which No, I know. Absolutely.

131Right. Yes. >> And I know like the senior calendar is out at the very beginning of the year. So I don't know if there's a way that >> the principal there to the other buildings they can work. >> Yep. So they could just all work together instead of that would be great. >> No, I think that would be the best way to get that because trust me I'm here saying about how much I love this parade and all that. My son has his final band concert on the 20th as well and I'm like for for eighth grade and I'm like how am I going to pull off being at the parade to start and then get there too. So I'm coordinating how I'm going to park and drive very quickly without getting a ticket. Yes.

132>> So uh last thing I want to put on there is I want to thank all of our teachers uh out there as this is teacher appreciation week. We know obviously we can't do this work uh without teachers in the classrooms and working directly with our students and uh I am very appreciative of all the work that uh our staff puts in on a daily basis. Uh it truly is what has made Taylor great. Uh I'm going to say this and I I know I've said it many times. Um I in my time that I left the Taylor School for five years, one of the things that became very apparent to me is it is in the strength of the people who are in the buildings. it is in the the strength of all the

133positions in the buildings. That's what makes us strong and uh I want to recognize that and uh thank everyone out there for what they do every day. >> Thank you. >> So where are they holding prom at >> prom is at the Grecian Center. >> Grecian center. That's what >> it's usually one of the two50 chance. >> Any other questions? Uh we'll move on to >> uh the consent agenda policy number 0166.1 and policy number 6470 minutes from the regular board meeting from April 16th 2025 and the consolidated items payment of current bills certified non-certified and administrative reports. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Mr. Morris. Is there a second? >> Second. support by Miss Field. Miss Fields, >> yes. >> Mr. Miss Moore, >> yes. >> Mr. Madarski, >> yes. >> Mr. Morris,

134>> yes. >> Miss Shuels is a yes. Mr. Westfall, >> yes. >> Miss Black is absent. That passes 6. >> Back to you, >> Yeah. And I was I got called Mr. Moore a whole lot and I didn't have any hair. So, >> well, we need to separate you and Mr. Madarski. They're >> funny. All right. Now we have the general comments. Um, welcome to the Taylor School District. We're doing I assume we have people want to talk to you have to address the item before the >> Oh, the item for the next >> item for the next scheduled meeting are good news. State representatives from Holland will be here. Thank you. >> No problem. >> Okay. Um, welcome everyone to the Taylor School District regularly scheduled board meeting where our mission statement is to

135educate, engage, and empower those we serve. And our vision statement is that we will be in be the innovative destination district for all succeed. Um, thank you to all of you who came with to be with us tonight who understand the importance of continuing to keep you informed and providing an opportunity for you to be heard. Public comment will begin with those in person and then move to our online audience. For those in persons, please step up to the microphone, state your name at and address for the record. After the inperson comment, our online audience will need to find the raise your hand symbol um for for our moderator to recognize and you uh please take into consideration common courtesy. Refrain from any personal attacks and keep your comments to three minutes or less. We

136will provide and assist with time keep each guest will be able to monitor their own time and know when to conclude. So all who wish to speak will have an equal opportunity to do so. As a reminder, if there are any questions at this meeting or by some other or by some other avenue, Mr. Superintendent Wager or his design will work on getting those answers in a timely manner. Um, and I think we can move forward with inerson speakers. >> Good. My name is Courtney Prout. My address is 9846 Catherine, Taylor, Michigan 4180. >> Can you move the mic up a little bit? Courtney Prout, 9846 Katherine, Taylor, Michigan 48180. Um, I'm here today to address the board. I already sent an email out. I didn't get a response until 10:18 last night by um

137Mr. Morris. So, that was something that was not addressed in a personal manner. I was hoping that I could just solve that in an email, but it was unable to be done. So, I'm bringing it here above to the board anyways, which is good because I do want to bring advocacy to the community around. Um, my daughter goes to Kenyon Elementary School here in Taylor and she received a vision exam through Wayne County. Um, to make this long, very long story short, um, Wayne County comes through the school district, I'm sure you know, in the odd number of grades. Kids get it in first, third, fifth grade vision screenings. Um, the what happened this year was that vision to learn actually came in a um,ou was signed with Mr. for WGER. Upon some digging for

138myself and I've I had to dig down this on my own because your district representation has nothing on the website, nothing about this company. I had to call Wayne County myself um and speak to somebody at the DHS office to figure out the partnership with Wayne County and Vision to Learn and the Taylor School District. Um long story short, my daughter received vision care from the school district. Um, they took her outside of school, put her into a vision to learn van, did an a medical eye exam, and then prescribed her prescription strength glasses, all without my knowledge. Um, the district claims from the superintendent's office. Emily Graham, um, is the the head at the bottom of it, um, that it's an opt- out form, and opt- out forms are legal binding pieces of paper

139that the district is working off of. Um, but this to me is very concerning. As a parent who did not receive this, as a parent who's on PTO, who's a as a parent who's a cheer coach in the school, um, I miss this. I miss this opt- out form. It was not in my child's backpack. I have no recollection of this form other than what was given to me after a formal foyer request was documented from the district. Um, I was I was told originally that I wasn't allowed to speak to Mike. I wasn't allowed to um, speak to anybody other than Emily Graham um, because she was the one at the bottom of it, but she didn't have any information on this. So I had to do a formal foyer request through Shauna. Got

140that information, but it was not clearly stated. Anything was it was not written out the way that it should have been. I was given just pieces of paper and places to go look and not actually a document piece on how this happened and where this came from. But the issues that are here um I'm bringing to you guys is that a my child I feel that was she was put into danger. She was pulled from her classroom, took into a van. We did not know who those people were. I was not aware of that. So, the concern that I had the most was that I don't know what happened in that van as a parent. Um, I don't there was not an adult from the school building that was required to go out there with

141my child that day. So, my child walked out to that van, got a vision exam, got her glasses or chose her frames, I'm sorry. Then she walked out of school on August 4th with a pair of glasses on her face. So, I asked her where they came from. Um, because Vision to Learn is the company that you guys partnered with. They sent home just this. There's no bag. There's no instructions. there's no nothing on my child other than pair of glasses on her face and a box in her hand. And so again, I had to do all that digging on my own. Um, and it wasn't until I finally realized that the opt out form was supposed to be sent home with with my daughter. I was supposed to have received that and that would

142have explained the entire process and the entire policy. Um, but unfortunately for for me that was missed. Um, and there was multiple other parents. I actually have 14 other parents that have stepped forward with me. All of them are not here today to speak out because they're afraid of retaliation against their child, which is very sad. But there are 14 other parents who also have their child with glasses throughout the district, not just Kenyan. Um, and their children are not wearing these glasses either. They have since tossed them. Um, and to me, that's a I don't know who pays for these, but this is a waste of whoever pays for these. If we're all just throwing them away anyways, what was the point in that? Um and then I took my daughter in yesterday was

143her final um you know vision exam and the the the entire vision exam is incorrect. So not only was my child given an exam, they went a step further which in my opinion is an complete overreach on my apprential rights. I did not have a right to make that medical decision for my child. And then not only did they make that medical decision for me, but they did it wrong. So now I have an to take my daughter and explain to her that the glasses that she chose are wrong. She can't wear them. and we have to now see a pediatric specialist because the new vision place says that there's not anything significant wrong with her eyes because vision to learn has stated in their so we are going to do a third followup just

144to be safe because it is my child that is her medical and I have that right as a parent to make um that choice but we we are very concerned as parents that the school let our child out of her classroom to a van did not tell us anything about it in this entire process um and then speaking to a couple other parents from other school districts it's a different story. So, their principal told them something completely different than the principal at Kenyon has told me. And honestly, I I love my daughter's school. I love the principal. I love the staff members there. Everybody there has been completely understanding of the situation when I say, you know, this is me as a parent. This is my child, and I'm worried for my own my own

145child's safety. Um, but it's concerning to me that every single person has a different story. So, every principal tells me that they they either knew this or they didn't know this, and nobody is lined up. So for me to to look at transparency, this is a top- end issue. Nobody has came from the top and given a clear direction to these par to these teachers and principles on what's supposed to happen if nobody can give me the same story across the board. So I and I know I I'm out of time here, but I just I want to make it very clear that this is not okay. Um and if if I asked in house to try to get this solved, Emily Gran stonewalled me multiple times without letting me speak to Mike Wagger in

146the beginning to get an answer. Um, and then it wasn't until I, you know, I began with the FOYA and the FURPA and the the actual law-abiding pieces of paper that that someone actually spoke to me and to me that speaks a lot on transparency and we don't have that in the district anymore and it's very upsetting as a parent. So, I do just want to bring that out to you guys and let you know that these are things that and it's not only vision. And I mean, I've seen the same opt- out form going around the school for again under Emily Graham's signature for HIV, AIDS, abstinence, this whole sexed class or fifth graders in the form of an opt out form, which again to me is very concerning because I have four of

147them that I found on the floor at the gym, which means there are four uninformed parents that their kids went through that class and their parents did not know because that opt out form was the only way that the school sent out that communication. >> Obviously, we need to make some changes in terms of I would notify um the community and parents um about these special things. I I would be upset too if everybody had taken my child. Uh so I understand. >> I apologize for not getting back. Yeah. I was out of town. You have my phone number. >> You have issues pick up the phone. >> Yep. And and I I know that and I just I feel like it should be something that's very transparent. And like I said, when I look

148through Taylor's website, I mean, as a parent, even a simple Google search, of course, I you know, I I grew up in this district. I worked in this district. I love this district. My students still here for a reason. But it's it's when I looked back in the the the district website, there's nothing transparent. I can't find anything from Taylor that connects vision to learn. There's not a single thing anywhere. I had to do my own research. I had to dig because I was again stonewalled and not given any direction. I was told to go check my child's CA60 if I wanted to find more information. So here I am as a person. Luckily, I know what these things are. I'm a teacher, right? So I know to where the CA60 is found. I know

149where all these things are at. I know my rights. But I shouldn't have had to, you know, I should have had to legally put these piece of paperwork out there for you guys to actually give me answers. >> And that's that's a struggle. >> I assume we're already thinking of plans on how >> I was going to say and I as I told you in our meeting today, I will be following up with a email outlining uh the steps that I'm going to be taking over the next uh couple months uh to address your concerns. And I appreciate that and I look forward to to seeing what what things you guys have, you know, hopefully some policy changes get made and we can see those things as a community >> processes and procedures. Yep. So

150on >> I appreciate it. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> James Crow 9846 Katherine Taylor, Michigan 48180. Uh I just want to speak to what she was talking to about we had what we felt was a productive meeting today with uh Mr. lawyer and hopefully we can see some things change in that process. I think it's we're walking a fine line with some of these policies and and and yeah, this time it's the innocence of classes and how you don't have to put them on and just throw them away, but you know, the next time what is it? You know, it doesn't have to be a thing where a kid gets hurt or a kid goes missing or or something happens. Oh, now we need to change. Um I think in the beginning

151uh through the board of education we were met with some resistance and they were automatically on the defensive because a little emotional dealing with your daughter and trying to portray emotional feelings and I could see how it could get defensive originally but genuinely after sitting down with Wagger we just wanted some answers and clarity on how all this works. uh just so we're more informed and we're able to make better decisions for our daughter and also like she said, we we love this district. Both of us are from here. Uh we still have our kids here. I as of now plan to have another one going through the school district. Um so we'd like to be an advocate for some of that change and bring that up and kind of seeing some facial expressions. Some

152of this stuff obviously wasn't known by you guys. So it's definitely something we need to make a change on. Thank you. >> Is there is there anyone else wishing to address the board? Can you check online for me? Dear >> Okay. Um, let me see. How do I do this? Sorry, I'm not hearing. Do you want to mute her? >> She does. Y >> Okay. So, I don't have to point anything, but Go ahead, Caroline. I see you're still muted, though. She's still muted. >> Her hand is raised. Can you unmute it? >> Yeah. Can you unmute Caroline Patch? >> Can you hear me? >> There we go. >> Thank you. Um, good evening everyone. This is Caroline Pats, uh, 6860 Jackson. Um, first off, I just want to say that, you know, communication throughout

153my whole career in uh in education going through to the Taylor schools has been on the back burner. Um, it seems like communication is always the the thing that happens when you need something done, it doesn't happen. Um, but I want to communicate with you right now to let you know that I'm also um involved with the Taylor Historical Society. And I don't know how much you know of uh field trips and when students go on field trips, but we have the one room schoolhouse in Heritage Park and George Gruth who was um for many many years he did school visits um Taylor and outside of Taylor and it stopped after a while and then he got sick and then he passed away. So, we have not done it in a long time. We started

154it back up last year. We're going to work on trying to get the communication part out to all of the second grade teachers um better than we did this year because we've only had three classes this year. We had two classes from Meyers came um the end of April and then we had our final one today from McDow who did not have to have a bus or pay for a bus or organized to have a bus because they walked from McDow to the school to the one house school one room schoolhouse. And so what we do is we usually split them up. Half go into the schoolhouse and half go into our museum. They were able to go into the Goodwill Garden. Um, uh, Judge Shackleford has had given one of our members a key

155so she could unlock the the Goodwill garden and the students were able to go in there. Um, and they we do a little tour kind of thing uh from the schoolhouse to the museum and and back. So, the kids really learned a lot. Um, if you want to talk to Mrs. Godfrey, um, Mrs. Glenn and Mrs. Davidson are the three teachers that came with their students. They I'm sure will tell you exactly how well the students were behaved and how they learned from 1882 how to cipher and how to read um and some of the things that are in our one room schoolhouse that of course Mr. Morris has inventoried for us when he was on our historical society. Um and so you know I just wanted to share all of this with you some

156good news um that that's going on. Maybe you don't know about it, but it is going on and next year we're hoping to have more than the three um classes come. The thing is the when it gets communicated to the the principles um then it gets down to the teacher. Sometimes the teachers don't get that information or they get it and they don't do anything with it and then by the time their field trips are um buses are all booked up so they can't come to the um heritage park. Um but like I said, McDall was able to come at the last minute because they were able to walk. So hopefully it would be something that we could do. I don't know how we could uh work together and get more of our second grade

157classes to come to Heritage Park for a field trip. Thank you. >> Thank you, Caroline. >> Uh Debbie, did we have a card filled out by somebody else who was going to speak or did they just drop that off? >> Oh, right here. >> Yeah. >> Hi. Uh excuse me. Uh my name is Chris Rosen. Uh, I live in Taylor School District. Uh, if you want my specific address, I'd rather give that afterwards if that's all right. Um, first of all, I just want to acknowledge, uh, Mr. Gil, man, it's been a long time. Uh, and, uh, Forest Elementary has not been the same since you left. Uh, I think this whole aviation thing is is really great idea and a lot of people are going to be super excited about it. Um unfortunately I'm

158uh here on uh not very positive um issues um here kind of supporting uh Mr. Proud and his wife with regards to this this opt out notice that is being sent out. Uh and I know like we make mistakes. We're only human. Um you know we have to show each other grace here and there. Uh we typically try to have the best of intentions for everybody. It's really difficult to make everybody happy and as a school board I I'm willing to bet that you guys are torn back and forth every which way. Uh just trying to make the majority or you know the minorities happy or whoever it may be. So I I understand where you're at and what you're trying to do. Um however uh I was made privy to a comment and I'm

159not going to name names but in this comment they were saying that part of the decision behind this opt out notice that would by default opt people in um was something along of socioeconomic statuses where it was saying well we don't you know given that we're a title one or whatever school district uh that well the people in this school district don't make a lot of money and therefore the assumption was made they don't check their kids' school bags. They don't look they don't pull the papers out as if they don't care. The parents are apathetic. And I'll be honest that that really kind of uh hit me pretty hard making that sort of assumption because we don't want to have school board members uh or anybody that are making sort of discriminity comments. Um,

160I mean, what if that, you know, comment was like, well, you know what, uh, they're, uh, person of color, so they're not going to do this or that, or, um, they, uh, affiliate with LGBTQ, and therefore they're, you know, going to be aligned this way or that way, or they're religious, and therefore we're going to assume that they're going to do this and that. As a school board, you have to be absolutely neutral on everything that you do. Otherwise, it would be looked at as script discriminatory. And I'm even pretty sure that your uh policy manual bylaws actually explicitly prohibit that sort of thing. In fact, I believe it's uh PO0145 that says discriminatory harassment and that it is strictly forbidden any person who is found to have uh violated this policy will be subject

161to discipline in accordance with law. and it's Michigan compiled laws and I understand that socioeconomic status is not something that's typically covered by laws. However, in the Elliot Larson Larson uh Civil Rights Act that is and it goes a little farther and I just want to say just air on the side of caution whenever you're making a policy. Don't make it explicit for an opt out sort of thing because you might actually infringe upon somebody's civil liberties when you do that. Uh, so just air on the side of caution because you don't want to make an assumption that, you know, I understand, you know, what was probably trying to be done. I know I'm going over time here and I appreciate you giving me a little bit of extra time with this. Um, it it's

162better to just assume that you might infringe on someone's civil liberties rather than saying, well, you know, they're not going to pull this out of their backpack and make a decision on their own, right? um because that could then potentially put this school district uh at the hands of a lawsuit. And obviously you don't want that, right? And you don't want to make people feel like they're not heard or uh feel like their choices, their freedoms are, you know, not important to you, right? So, uh, just, you know, moving forward, you know, don't assume that people are just going to like what you're doing and going to try and include them or their kids because I mean, you might be the school board, but you're not their parents. And I'm sure you wouldn't like someone

163else making a choice for your kids. So, uh, thank you for your time. >> And Chris, you did, uh, submit your contact information for me to reach out. >> Thank you. All right. Anyone else wishing to address the board? No. All right. Um, go ahead. I'll let you take over. >> Moving on to the adjournment to close session policy number 0137.2 pursuant to Michigan's open meetings act being public act 20 267 of 1976. And as amended, I move the board convene to in close session pursuant to HC negotiations and HS materials exempt from disclosure by state or federal statute. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Mr. Morris. Is there support? >> Support by Miss Fields. Miss Moore. >> Yes. >> Mr. Madarski? >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris? >> Yes. >> Miss Shoefeld? Is a

164yes. Mr. Westfall? >> Yes. >> Miss Block is absent. Miss Fields. That passes 6. We move the board into close session at 8:14 p.m. >> Thank you. >> Okay, thank you. I closed my computer. Um, action after close. >> We return from close session at 9:39 p.m. >> Thank you, Secretary. Yes. >> Yep. And now actions. After close session, >> I would like to make a motion to direct superintendent to draft a policy to present to the policy committee that requires the board to annually review and approve all administrator employment contracts that include rolling evergreen plazas. Where's he at? I was going to say that includes his. Is that Do we have a motion? That is my motion. >> I don't like >> Do we have like support for that motion? >> That would be

165Gory. >> And do we have a second? >> Second, third. >> There was there was I know you made a motion for like a voting. So then you have to have a first and a second support. >> So like this is the motion. >> There should only be one support and then we vote. kind of agree with that. >> Yeah. It's fine. Yeah. Somebody down for a motion. Kathy down for the motion. Somebody for >> Kathy made the motion for this and then we have to >> and then Corey supports it. >> Okay. >> And I guess the only weird thing is we don't have a spot that says open business. I think that's what's a little confusing. Yeah. >> Well, and then I have to fill it all out. >> Yeah. >> I'm just

166going to st it. That's perfect. >> Okay. Uh, Madarski, >> yes. >> Mr. Morris, >> yes. >> Miss Shu, yes. Mr. West, >> Miss Block is absent. Miss Fields, >> yes. >> Miss Moore, >> yes. >> That passes 6. >> Okay. Are there any board member comments? >> Happy Teachers Appreciation Week. >> Great. >> Happy Teachers Appreciation Week. >> I second that. >> Anybody? Nobody else? Okay, we need a motion for adjournment. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion by Kathy, second by Mr. Murki. Uh Morris, >> yes. >> Dupelt, >> yes. >> Westfall, >> yes. >> Black is excused. Fields. >> Yes. >> Moore is a yes. And Murdarski, >> yes. >> And we are Anybody see what time it is? >> 9:41. We are ajourned. Okay. Yeah.