001to the Taylor. Welcome everyone to the Taylor School District regularly scheduled board meeting of January 22nd, 2024, 2025, excuse me, where our mission statement is to educate, engage, and empower those we serve and our vision statement is that we will be the innovative destination district where all succeed. I'm going to call this meeting at 6:02. Um, and uh I'll do the roll call. I am here. Um, let's see. Shoefeld is not here. Uh, board member right >> here. >> Board member block >> here. >> Board member Fields >> here. >> Board member Moore, it's not here. Board member Mas Morarski >> here. >> Okay, we have a quorum of five members. If everyone could join in us and rise for the pledge of allegiance. Pledge to the flag of the United States of America and
002to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Uh we're going to move on to good news. Starting off with the Kenyon girls basketball group. Well, I'd like to start off by congratulating the Kenyon girls basketball team on winning the district championship for the second year in a row. They were determined to um to repeat and they did not disappoint. Um they finished the regular season undefeated. They breezed through the um end of the season tournament. Um a couple interesting statistics about this team because I'm a stats geek. Um they outscored their opponents 162 to 42 on the season. It's an average score of 20 to five. Um, and the other interesting one, they haven't lost a game in 444 days. >> Let's just
003say that the future of Lady Griffin's basketball is in good shape with these girls. >> And congratulations. Um, not everyone's here um due to the weather, but we have Maddie McFaden, we have we have Sophia Sadler, we have Espano, we have Pengali, and then we have Mayi. Can we can we have them come up and stand up front so we can get a photo? Sure. >> All right. With the coaches as well. They're important. Awesome. >> Well, that is really great news. Uh and congratulations again. We'll move on to the second portion of the good news uh agenda. CT construction students uh featuring Bob Murray. >> Bob Murray. I've never been featured, but that's cool. So, I guess I am featured on a uh slideshow here that we have. None of my students are here.
004The ones that did respond to my Remind said, "No way, Miss Marie. It's way too cold. You know, we don't like the cold." So, uh they wanted me to add this to the slide presentation. Uh, I really am not familiar with Bob the Builder except that's what they like to call me every once in a while being that they're a pretty smart and smart ale. So, go ahead and ask. Thanks, man. All right. So, uh, we have students a month just like every program at CTE and if they were here, we can kind of acknowledge them. So, uh, both these guys are are big-time leaders. Cody actually, uh, won uh, in the marketing for DECA, right? So he's in two programs, CTE. Uh the other young man is Dylan Grim, who is actually part of
005our CTE advisory committee. We're required to have a committee of business professionals and a student. And he's such a mature kid. Uh they thought he was like a 25 year old kid, but he's not 25, he's 18. Not even 18, but great kid, great worker. So those are my September students of the month. October Yasin Elj is is a junior was from Taylor. Jaden Morgan uh as they like to call him Jay Dog uh is is another leader. Mom works in the district as well. Both very very good workers in November is Jasmine Serrano. I had her older brother. He also went to Trillium a couple of years ago. Uh she does a great job. Certainly not intimidated. Goes right in. doesn't mind telling the boys what they should be doing because if uh you
006don't know girls are way more mature than boys at this age. Uh the other one is Hayden Reich Snider. Uh a kid who is uh really just excel last year a real quiet kid. He he has turned into just a real stud. Make sure everything's done and done properly all the time. December uh Ryel Win uh and Sean Beij both again second year kids have done really really well and from the first year to the second year when I pop in in the first year class you really see the growth and maturity of these kids and not only that what they're doing is better quality but they're more confident and that's really the whole idea of having a second year program is to have them experience some things they didn't do the first year and
007these are kids that are actually interested in doing this for a living. They're not. They're just taking a class because it kind of satisfies some of the requirements. At the beginning of year, uh we helped out u 26M and uh the administration at both of these schools. Hollow McDow, if you remember, they weren't open on time because we had so much work that had to be done over the summer. I volunteered our guys, which they kind of like, kind of don't like, but I volunteered them to go over there and spend the whole day over there working under the direction of whomever was in charge. And the principles certainly appreciate it. And uh kids had a good time going back. Some some of them back to their own, you know, I went here, you know,
008eight years ago type thing. Kind of cool for them to go back. Uh this here is what we did over the transportation department. Uh they have these portables that we're familiar without the district. Uh some of the wood so so rotted that you could actually put your hand through and touch the drywall on the inside. Uh we rehung the gutter. Uh replaced a whole bunch of wood, replaced the railing. We replaced the steps there a couple years ago. You see the rotted wood the top middle picture of all the that was kind of like the wood everywhere just rotted. Replaced that. Painted everything. Cocked it. On the bottom, we have an access hole that we put in. That white skirting on the middle bottom is skirting we put around the entire uh uh transportation department
009last year uh because again it was so rotted the animals were getting through there and what have you. Mechanical mechanicals exposed. We did that last year. This year we put in the access hole so somebody could crawl in and actually do some work under there. Uh, I can't find my one picture says before, but that's Taylor High School. Um, so you see before. So what we did is we installed benches. So we had to pour concrete over there. Uh, it's their first experience doing the concrete. Didn't have to be 100% smooth because the bench is going over, but we put in 10 benches there. You see the kids working in the middle. Before was the walkway walking up to where the main office is, uh, where the flag pole is. The right side was the
010front area where the buses pull up and now they have 10 benches the kids are actually utilizing versus sitting on the grass or waiting inside. Kids had a great time doing that. This here is at our building. Our wonderful leader, Miss Bernard, always finds things for me to do around there. This here uh is a board. This is a board that we put up and it just it recognizes different programs. Soon as you walk in, it's kind of like a business atmosphere. You walk in, it's it's organized, it's clear where to go and what have you. So, kids kids did that. This here was a dilemma that we had at the chopping block or CVS cafe they call it now. There was a leak. If you look at the left picture, there's a uh um
011a refrigerator for like pop or what have you. Right behind there is a pipe coming down and it had a 4ft crack in it. Had been leaking and leaking and leaking. So they came in one day and they walked in. It was like a sponge on the floor. Uh obviously it was it was leaking so bad it was leaking out into the hallway. So we we we removed the rotted wood and then on the left side you see the kids laying the glue to put the tile down. And on the right side you see the end picture. Uh that was VCT tile which is vinyl composition tile which is a commercial use. Lowe's gave us probably about a hundred boxes like three years ago. So unbelievable donation. Why not use it there? It's a good
012application. It looks beautiful. Maintenance did a beautiful job waxing. I think it looks very professional. Kids put up code base, which is the stuff you see around buildings. Kids enjoy doing that. This was here like a three-year uh project. Uh that is a pavilion that we built uh in between both buildings at the career center. And uh we had the metal roof donated and uh probably about two three years ago and just because of the fact that this is really like only the second year we actually had just a a sole second year program. It's always been a combined. It was hard to get four or five kids out on the roof when the other kids want to do something too and you can only have so many kids up on the roof. So the
013second year kids actually finished the roof. They put up the peak is what they did. So, it felt good to accomplish getting that metal cap done. Right at that pavilion is a grill that we've been working on for a couple years. That stone is is obviously it's it's it's what we call faux stone. It's it's or aux. It's however you want to say it, I suppose. But, uh they they built the grill. So, we had the welding kids build us the great so we can actually have a picnic out there. And it's an area that a lot of the classes use in the in the springtime when it gets warmer. We hung up some uh strips for hanging uh artwork or what have you. We did that down by medical. They ordered like 100 feet
014of it. So, we put that up for them so they can hang whatever they're doing and show the rest of the pro uh programs what they do down there. It's a kind of an easy project. This is uh something that we got some notoriety with. Uh, and thanks to the police department, they had approached me about building a simulation room and I didn't know what that was. So, we've all seen where SWAT comes in, kicks in the door, and they go back to back and, you know, they're raiding a house. Well, they don't have any place to practice that. And they too need training just like we all need training. So, at the old fire department, which is behind the city hall, uh, they had this area which was, I think, bunks and cooking or
015what have you. So we turned that in from empty rooms to we built walls and now they they can actually go in there use as training. So they're they were so appreciative. The kids love going there. Uh and again us having a leazison officer in the in the schools is is just a great dynamic. Um so you see in the next picture here they actually threw a a pizza party for the kids. All right. They threw a p a pizza party for the kids. They gave them certificate. They met uh uh police uh Chief Blair. Um they talked about uh what that's going to be used for. And I know the kids had fun doing the project, but when they got to hear why it's so important and and the brutal honesty was they said,
016"If you're interested in becoming a cop, even if you don't like some of the things that you see that are happening on TV or video or TikTok or what have you, it's your opportunity to spend some time with us and if you're maybe interested in doing this for a living, come talk to us." And I had two students talk to them, which is cool. So they they're all getting pictures taken. They're getting their certificate. Uh we had a pizza party. There's only one kid not in the picture who had to run home and he's not there but uh I have 11 kids in the afternoon 10 in the morning. All right. So PRC which is that building that's that blue building. What is that blue building out in the parking lot of the high school?
017It's PRC professional resource center. back in the day they did uh die cuts printing and and we still have printing going over there but it's it's changed as to maybe it's the majority of its purpose. So it's a building that hasn't had a whole bunch of attention. Um bottom right hand picture was the the impetus for us to even go over there. They have a hyo that they used to move things in and out, computers, parts or what have you. And underneath the door the concrete was so buckled they couldn't get the high low out the door. They couldn't get things in, couldn't get things out. They'd have to carry them in. So, we started doing that. And when I met Mr. Ross over there, he came up with a whole list of things that
018we can be doing. You see top right almost to the end there. We're actually taking a bathroom. It's not being utilized. And we tore up the ceramic tile there. And the kids are going to put in ceramic tile on the floor. The walls were also ceramic tile, but as soon as we touched them, they just kind of literally fell. Uh, so we're we're putting paneling on the walls, batten board, uh, new new ceramic tile, new toilet, and a new, uh, vanity in in there. Some other things were kind of like just concerns to me. There's some exit doors that didn't have exit signs, so we re reran wire to that, got that hooked up, sanded some rooms, took some junk out of there. Um, so we got probably about another week over there. We got
019to paint the office area. Um, all right. Next, uh, we were asked by TBLA to help them assemble some bookshelves that they got, uh, a couple months ago. So, uh, being that we don't have enough people to do everything in every school, we certainly have no problem doing something like this. So, we put five shelves together in the TBLA area. And then for Sandra Clark, I we had two or three kids stay the next day with the supervision of Sandra and I forget the other lady, but they put two or three more together in another room adjacent to TBLA. All right. So, in the past, we've done some things in the community left. You see, we did a pergola for a Taylor resident, which is super cool for the kids to actually re I mean,
020we talk about real world going to the district and doing something on transportation, but this is for a customer with a customer there. Did that. We did a ticket booth at Roashad a couple years ago. We did a shed for a Taylor resident and we did a pergola. Same thing like we did in the in the first picture there in the community. And we get calls all the time. Usually it's uh can you help like help us move stuff to the garage for a garage sale? and we're not available for those. All right. So, future projects. So, I've been working close with Mr. Gribble here over the last couple months. Um hopefully, you know, we can build a storage building. Uh we've talked in the past about doing something over at McDow, which has been
021started. We just haven't gotten any further than that. Holland. And then I have down here, if you're familiar with the U Edgewood Elementary, used to be over by the bridge. It's kind of near the old Hall Brothers or whatever it's called now. Uh the rental place in Marathon gas station near the Blue Bridge. Uh Bob Hartpull, who was a longtime employee here, and his wife, he built nine houses on 10 lots. That 10th lot has never been built on. It's been sitting there for 10 years. We maintain it. We we do the snow. We do the grass. And probably about four or five years ago, some people from the board uh asked me, can we can we finish doing that? And my answer was certainly let's do that. So we're kind of working towards that
022is what we'd like to do is finish that 10th house on the corner, get rid of the property, make some money doing it. Then the last one is tiny house community. You can go to the next picture if you want. I went last year uh to an area in Detroit off the lodge and they had 32 houses, all little or tiny houses. Every one of them's different. Every single one. and they have an architect who's gratus to sitting down with people and coming up with a plan for them. Now, tiny is probably like, you know, 15 16 feet by 30 feet or what have you. These are people that are are in this house are people who couldn't qualify for a mortgage. Uh I've talked to Mr. Zymeck from the city. Uh we're kind of
023talking about things in regards to vets and what have you. So maybe that's an option. you know, uh, each one of those houses is built by somebody. It might be Habitat for Humanity, might be Chase Bank that went out there. It might be whatever, but they also had two schools go out there and do those >> and they're in Detroit. And those schools that went out there are not in Detroit, >> but they got excused for like a week or two or whatever it was. And that's really how long it takes for them to do that. They have a, you know, kids go out there all day and work on that. I think that's a great thing for the community. the bot on the right side. Uh we went out and visited uh Lenway ISD
024and they build tiny houses, but they build them on a trailer and they're mobile. >> That cost them about $55,000 to to to build and last year they had two that were bought, one in Florida and I forget where the other one was. And they l they came from Florida and wherever the other state was, they came and picked them up and bought them. and they only bought them for like a $5,000 profit. But again, the kids get the experience. The other thing that's happening is kind of interesting is uh the Department of Natural Resources and the state of Michigan have campgrounds, which we're all aware of. They have different types of housing there. Uh there's another one I forgot what what uh what school it is, but they they have built these little cabins,
025tiny cabins, and they this the state has purchased them from them, and they cost about 15 or 20 to build, and they're selling to the state for like 35 or 40. They're making $20,000. The kids get the experience. So, those are things that, you know, we're kind of looking at doing. Um I wish the kids were here to talk. I should I'm sure they would be proud of what they do, but they're not. So, they have a good time doing it. Uh, so anything you guys have for me, I'd be more than happy to answer them. >> Other than thank you. I know Bob, you've been working tirelessly on trying to provide opportunities and get the secondyear program started, which has been around for two years now, right? >> Yeah. So by itself, two years.
026Yep. So, just thank you for the work that you put in and thank you for continuing to look for opportunities to provide our students, especially with the real world. >> Thank you. >> Sure. Actually, I have a question. You mentioned metal roofing. Yep. So, I'll tap your knowledge base. I have some neighbors who are looking at that. Is that kind of the way to go for residential now or no? >> Yes and no. You'll hear you'll hear a lot of people uh a lot of companies advertising if you want a free roof, give us a call. It is. I mean, and not only is it metal roof, like ours is a commercial use where you see it ribbed and it's 15 feet long. They have shingles that actually look like shingles. I mean, it's it's
027metal and you put them in. So, but it costs two or three times the cost of regular roof and and and I just heard on the way here, you know, these companies are giving you a lifetime warranty, you know, 50-year warranty, blah blah blah. So, it's it's really what you prefer. I like shingles. You know, I like the look of the shingles. metal shingle is not going to look like a a real shingle no matter what. >> Well, thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. >> Okay, moving on to uh the agenda board and discussion items. Actually, I think that's our interim secretary. >> Yes, I'm assuming the duty one last time. Our secretary is out. Um, so item number four on the agenda is the revision approval of the agenda policy
0280166. Are there any revisions? There is one revision. We're going to be striking um agenda item five >> from our list. Other than that, I think we're good to go. >> Under discussion and action, >> uh, agenda board and discussion item uh, item B. Yeah, not in the discussion items but in the >> Oh, like Randall. Okay. >> I was like, oh, okay. >> Both areas session and voting. >> We're removing item number five, student representatives. That's what >> Okay. >> So, Roman numeral number five essentially. Okay. Yeah, I see what you mean. U like to add Uh, and that's where I got the number five. Under eight, the discussion items and under the action items, the number five, the athletics construction manager until the next meeting. I just received the information on the company
029and as a school board member, I have a meeting with my friend on Friday. So, I'm voting on something that I'm going to learn about after the fact and I'm not comfortable with that. So, I'm requesting this be removed and put on the agenda at the next board meeting. >> I support you on that as well for the same reasons actually. Yes. >> Is >> so removed and brought back or just table it? What's the preference? >> Bring it back. Okay. >> Because I understand that there may be another meeting regarding a bond and and whatever. Yeah. >> So, no, I don't want I absolutely do not want it removed. I just want it off tonight because >> Yeah, absolutely. That's what I wanted to clarify that we could also consider tableabling because then you
030would be allowed to bring it back at the next meeting >> or a motion to postpone too. >> Yeah, I was going to say but I just want to clarify off till next meeting. >> Y >> is there any other discussion? All right. With that, is there a motion to approve the agenda with the revisions as stated? >> Motion by Miss Fields. Is there support? >> Support by Mr. Madarkski. Miss Shufelt is not here. Mr. Ritzy, yes. Miss Black, >> yes. >> Miss Fields, >> yes. >> Mr. Moore or Mrs. Moore is not here. Mr. Madarkski, >> yes. Mr. Morris. >> Yes. >> That carries five to zero. >> I said yeah. >> Okay. Um we're going to move ahead to uh item six, the superintendent student advisory representatives. >> So uh tonight I did
031ask uh some representatives from the student advisory that we had started to come and kind of update the board. I know this is kind of taking a progression of if they're taking that role of being the voice of students and how we govern and how we lead. I think it's right that they can have that opportunity to come and kind of give the board a taste of what we've been working on. So, I really appreciate that Israel and Robert were both willing to come tonight even though we had a cold day today. I you know, Bob didn't have his kids come. I was worried mine weren't coming either, but they they showed up. So, I I'll hand it on over. Um, well, SSA is actually like one of the clubs that one of the many
032clubs that me and Robert are on. And to me personally, I feel like it's one of the more impactful clubs that I'm on. Um, I feel like I have the most voice in this club. And with being on like so many other ones, I I genuinely feel like this is making a change. And that's why I joined so many clubs in the first place because I want to make a change in our um in our community. And also with just certain I've been on like both sides of like I guess being like a a good kid and being a bad kid. And I can have I have freedom of not freedom but um an input to give that will be heard um of just how it feels to be on both sides of those spectrum.
033And do you have anything to say about that? >> Okay. >> Um, my very first year at Taylor High, I wasn't really a a club kind of person. Um, and then, you know, I started seeing things around our school that I didn't like. Um, so I was looking for more clubs that, you know, I could, you know, suggest things to make our school better. And, um, my very first meeting with Mr. Wagger, I was very impressed. I was heard. I loved every moment of it. Um, everyone had great ideas and I'm looking forward to being here longer and hope making sure the school is better than what it is now for the next class. Um like along with the stuff that we've been talking about in SSA, um one of our more important things that
034we're actually putting action to right now is we had a guest speaker um come in from the organization of No Place for Hate. And she basically talked to us about how it is to run an organi an organization like that across your um school district basically. And given with us taking it back as a student's perspective, we saw that maybe in implementing um the no place for hate into our district wouldn't more so be I guess more successful if we implemented in all our grade levels. So, we decided as SSA members that it might be a better option if we start this at our lower levels of like elementary and take it from our elementary as those graduating classes. They go on to middle school and high school and it's taken from there. So, seeing
035it from our side is that it won't be as um yeah effective and taken seriously um because it hasn't been brought up with us, you know. So it's this yeah it's this new concept that we're just like what's going on you know so we thought of course this is a great this is great for our school district but it'll be um more success successful if we started at our lower grade levels um along with other things genuinely just being on SSA I love that we include not just like um it being at one place we include the yeah all schools We also um include >> different grade levels, different clubs, different classes. Um especially also we were talking about what's going on with adding our bond money to the athletics department in the high school
036and um being a varsity um athlete at our high school with one of the like more I guess unseen and like underrated clubs which is tennis. Um, I would love to come back on another meeting and talk more about that um, with you guys as well. So, we've talked about that. We've had great input because there's more than just um, me as an athlete. There's tons of different athlete kids, tons of different clubs. Um, and they've all put our um, input on on what we should do with that as well. Um I just feel like we've been having a good time with it as long as as well as um it kind of felt this is me and Robert's first year. Yeah. >> So when we did um meet Mr. Wagler, we were just about
037well you know it's a little like stereotypical like oh you know it's a superintendent and it's like scary but it's not. It is so welcoming um and inviting and I feel like um this should just be advertised to more kids um especially not just our seen as like good kids with you know straight A's and stuff. We I think that kids who have been suspended and kids who have failing grades should have voice too um because >> it's good to get both sides. >> Yes. and it's good to know what they feel like they need to succeed as well. Um, so overall, I really enjoy the club and I really like the stuff that we're implementing with it as well. Um, and I know Robert does >> sums it up and I enjoyed every moment
038of it also. So, >> yeah. So, thank you for listening to us. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you all for being here. Yes. >> Thank you. And I'll say this, my cabinet knows I look forward to it every month because it's the it's the moment I feel like I'm back in the classroom and I really feel like it's back to where I started. So I it it fills my bucket every every month. So >> okay. Uh moving on to item seven, uh scheduled reports, uh Taylor Public School Foundation for Educational Excellence, uh with Armando and Kimber. >> That's a tough act to follow, but great one. That's a good segue into what we do. And I want to thank you guys for letting us come up here and talk a little bit about what
039we do and what we're going to be doing in the future. I'm going to let Armando start with some of our items that we're going to be talking about. >> Okay. Go ahead and thanks uh thanks for having us this evening. Uh few things we did want to uh cover with you as the uh agenda that we had uh put on the table. We had gotten a $10,000 donation from BJ's the warehouse company here in town. Uh we we actually uh Rhonda Dai used to work there and actually the only people that can actually have uh an ability to apply the grant is somebody that works there. So she got that started for us. Uh and the way the grant was put together was the $10,000 is going to be used for uh supporting the
040grant process we have within the school where teachers actually ask for funds for programs in their in their classroom. Um, and getting on to that, the next item on the list, actually, we gave out uh $14,000 in grants uh in December uh to 27 uh teachers or principles in the school district. The checks were delivered uh I think at the end of November and actually each one had a photo taken with one of these big checks in front of them and they were all posted on our Facebook. So, it's gotten quite a few contacts in that way. Uh the other thing we have going, you have a flyer in front of you is a dinner at the famous stage. It's going to be on Thursday uh February 27th. Uh we had one in the fall
041that was on Wednesday. Happened to be one of your meeting nights actually. Well, this isn't. This will be on a Thursday night. And again, it actually covers from lunch noon till 8:00 p.m. And we get 20% of the uh proceeds. The other thing that happened too, it turns out, which I didn't even think about, Wednesday is not a dinner night. Thursday is a lot more of a dinner night and they get a lot more people. I think the last the previous time we did it was on a Thursday and there were quite a few people that showed up at the at the restaurant. So hopefully you can join us on the uh 27th. Uh the other thing on the agenda, actually there's something that's not on the agenda I forgot that we forgot to put
042on. We we're part of the Michigan Foundation. We they have meetings every once in a while. We interact and uh network with other groups around the state. We learn quite a bit from them. One of the ideas we got from them u uh is to actually have a welcome kit to new kindergarten students. I had a meeting with uh Emily before the holidays and she's helped set up a meeting with Liz Bidd. I've got a meeting with her next week to see how we might be able to promote that to the incoming uh students coming September. And basically what it is is pretty interesting. Um they uh have a lawn sign that shows what school the students going to. The lawn sign hopefully has somebody who's sponsoring it so it pays for the course of
043the lawn sign. The other cute thing is they give out a t-shirt to each of the students and rather than trying to find out the size of every one of these different students, they give all of them a large, they put on the front of it the year that they're going to graduate and so that they can grow into the t-shirt as they get into high school. It's a really cute idea. So, we're going to try to duplicate that. Also, the other thing we learned about was what the next item is. It's uh something we've never done before. We had a meeting with the Trenton Group, Trenton Foundation. They've done it for 13 years already. Uh and what it is, it's honoring uh people in the community who've done significant things for the school system.
044Uh not just donating money, but really applying quite a bit of time and effort and and helping out the school system. We've got a uh in front of you there should be a sheet that gives you a little more detail as to what that is. Also the criteria that to go by to make a nomination. Uh I was hoping by now we'd have it on our web page. We're having a little bit of an issue web page wise. So it's not on our web page yet, but we'll be taking nominations uh based on the um criteria have set. And then there's also a uh selection committee that's going to be evaluating them. And this is where Kimber starts. >> So from from the selection, thank you Armando. Uh from the selection, we're going to have
045three members from our foundation be a part of that selection committee and then we need two school board members selected from from you guys. Um we would like to have on that selection committee and then one administration person decided by the school administration. Um so we're looking forward to trying to pull this together. is to raise a lot of money that goes towards our grants and our scholarships that goes to our students such as the ones that you had here for all types of things that I've seen tonight that they they do for our community. Um talk a little bit about our scholarships. Um our scholarships are going um we're starting the process to award the scholarships. Um they will be done they will be due in the first week of February. Um we've given
046out uh what was it last year? >> Last year we gave out 43 scholarships that equated to $41,000. So um we want to keep moving that number up. So um that's why we're do trying to do a lot of these gallas fundraisers. Even if they're just getting launched, it all helps out. And then um February 13th is the state of the city um uh address that the Taylor Rotary puts on and the mayor does a state of the city address um as a uh feature speaker. Um right now we have um we are the foundation sponsors two uh tables and uh one of the tables right now is for Kelly's high school history government class and then um I know that there's a little change but we'll have another table that we're going to decide
047on how we're going to represent students or this uh school district as well. Um, and then the last thing I want to um just I want to invite any any school member that would like to come to our our meetings. We have them once a month. We're kind of switching them from an evening to a morning every other month. So, I'll be glad to give you the schedule. Kyle was uh kind enough to join us last month and he's joined us before on occasion and it and it's just nice um just to kind of have that partnership because at the end of the day, we're all wanting the same thing for students and and the community. So, thank you again for letting me letting us uh come up here and speak and um if you
048have any questions, you can always reach Armando and myself. Thank you. >> Absolutely. >> And thank you for all the work you're continuing to do. >> Um moving on to agenda item eight, uh discussion items. Um and we will begin with uh overnight conference request uh MIAA conference with uh Jason Gri. Uh good evening and thank you. So this conference is for Chris Simons. The MIA AAA stands for the Michigan Scholastic Athletic Administrators Association. So just like all administrators in our district belong to a different M group. This is the state M group for athletic directors. and knowing that Chris has been on staff for I think it's a year now and he finally just celebrated his year full-time anniversary. So, this gives Chris an opportunity to go up to the conference, meet with other
049athletic directors, get meet with the MHSA and get up to date with all the things that are going on when it within athletics, especially knowing there's a lot of new title N stuff that's going through. So, it gives him an opportunity to go to the conference. Also, part of this conference is classes for him. He's working on the CAA which is a certified athletic administrator. So it gives him an opportunity to attend some of those classes and work towards a certification for his CIA. So that is the Michigan intercolic athletic administrator association conference in Trevor City. And yes it is grant fun. >> I was just going to say is it title two? >> Title two. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I say at our last uh county superintendent meeting, there was
050uh lots of talk about the things that are coming down. They had a representative from the MHSAA there there are lots of things coming down the pipe that are changing drastically in the world of athletics. And so I think it's absolutely essential that uh Chris has that ability to stay on top and be aware of what those changes are uh that are more than likely going to be coming. >> Somebody asked if it was grandfathered. Can someone elaborate on that? Grant funded. Okay. Grant >> fun. >> Yeah. We pay for it out of our >> Excellent. Okay. >> I guess just for info for the board members that are added on just a description of what title two is because I know like I asked like >> so every year we get money allocated to
051us. Dr. Hill if you're fine with me doing this >> since I have some experience in this area. So the federal federal government gives us federal dollars every year to use for different things. So for title one it's usually for our at risk schools that are qualified to give them additional dollar amounts for money money to purchase things for at risk. Title two for this from the federals is designed for professional development. So that's why Mr. Wright was asking where is this coming from? It comes of our title two budget. So we get allocated amount that we can use as a district pay for professional development if we bring in guest speakers again. and teachers and administrators conferences. Uh the only money that can't be spent on title two is our superintendent. But um anybody
052else within for professional development, that money goes there. Title three is used for our immigrants and our ELLL students, that money goes there. And then title four is used for gifted and talented. We can use that money for paying for AP tests, enrichment, sending students to go do college visits, paying those types of types of things that we could use for that. But that's what we could use our federal dollars for. But there are regulations for each one of those categories. >> All right. Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you very much. Uh moving on to the second in the discussion items list. Overnight conference request uh for Michigan music conference uh with Marquita Moore. I believe they are on Zoom waiting for us. Okay. Yep. Hello. This is Marquita. Can you
053hear me? >> Yep. >> Yes. I'm uh I'm here to um request approval to attend the Michigan Music Educators Conference uh which is um Thursday and Friday or tomorrow and Friday of this week in Grand Rapids. Um it is uh it is like the it's the largest music teacher conference in the state and um it's an opportunity to uh attend workshops and sessions to help us provide um the best up-to-date highquality instruction. Um get tips, tech tips and new things to use within the classroom. And uh it's just a wonderful it's also a wonderful opportunity to network with other um teachers in the field and share best practices. And uh I think five other uh Taylor District teachers are attending but I did not get my paperwork in on time so I'm um here today
054to request approval. >> Any questions? >> I see it's title two funded. That's it. >> Thank you very much. Um, let's see. Moving on to item three, Taylor Sportslex event agreement um with uh Bridget Jarvis. >> I believe I'm going to fill in for Bridget today. So, good evening. Um the uh Special Olympics is coming up and uh we would like to utilize the Taylor Sportslex to host our event again. Um we are requesting that the board approved the payment of $600, which is general fund money for the Sportslex agreement for the 2025 Olympics. The remaining $900 will be paid through fundraising and other donations. >> Is this the same amount as last year? >> I believe so. Yes. Okay. Any other questions? >> Thank you very much, Angel. >> Uh, let's see. Item four,
055IDA full funding resolution. Um, >> all right. So, um, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the IDA legislation that was passed for students with special needs. IDA was groundbreaking legislation and that was going to be bring about the leveling the playing field and giving every student that fair opportunity even those that have disabilities or other needs. And in this 50th anniversary of IDA, we still see very often that it is not fully funded from the federal level. And so we are asking a resolution to come forward. There's a copy of the resolution in your packet and I will read it here in a moment. But it's just imploring that that we take the steps in the 50th anniversary of IDA to fully fund what we need. And this is extremely important to our school
056district because we do have the third highest uh number of special education students in Wayne County. Uh and I always point out to people it's quite telling because we are not the third largest district in Wayne County, but we have the third largest population of special education students. So every bit of that funding that we can get is essential. It is important to our operations and what we can do uh to make sure we're helping to level that playing field as IDA was intended. So the resolution we're bringing forth says whereas public education is the cornerstone of our democracy providing fundamental skills and opportunity to children across the United States. And whereas in the decade following the great recession, students across the US lost nearly $600 billion from the state's disinvestment in their public schools.
057And whereas prior to the CO 19 pandemic, both state and federal funding for public schools was already failing to meet the critical needs of students across the country. And whereas since the CO 19 pandemic, students have needed additional academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs being met through targeted programming and additional personnel, enhanced professional development opportunities, new technology, as well as critical updates to school facilities. And whereas research has consistently shown that increased education funding positively affects academic performance, increases graduation rates, and impacts future earnings. And whereas when individuals with disabilities education act was passed in 1975, the federal government committed to pay 40% of the average per pupil expenditure for special education to ensure that every child with a disability has access to a highquality education. And whereas the financial pledge for IDA has
058never been met and is currently funded at approximately 10.7% leaving a gap of billions of dollars needed for students. And whereas the Taylor School District is proud to serve a student population that includes 26% of students with disabilities. And whereas when the Taylor School District's costs to deliver the important services required under IDA are not properly funded by the federal government, it requires us to reallocate money from other programs to make up for it. And whereas the federal underfunding of IDA has negatively impacted the academic opportunities of all students for generations, not just those with disabilities. Now therefore, be it resolved by the Taylor School District as follows. The Taylor School District Board of Education calls on Congress to immediately pass the IDEIDA full funding act, which would create a 10-year mandatory path to fully
059fund IDA. And the Taylor School District Board of Education calls on the state legislature to provide adequate, equitable, and sustainable funding increases to districts to mitigate the harm caused by decades of underfunded schools. Is this like a resolution that like all school districts are passing? >> Yes, it's statewide. Okay. This has been the push statewide. >> I was wondering if it was a state initiative. >> Correct. Yeah, absolutely. Okay. >> Yeah. So, I guess my only concern is that um you know, we're asking Congress to spend money. There's a massive deficit including a trillion dollar debt. I would like to study the act more and look at potential funding mechanisms. Plus, there is looking at some new tax policy changes at the federal level. I'm not sure where this money would come from. I like
060the intention, don't get me wrong, but to support a piece of federal legislation that's probably hundreds of pages long. I haven't read yet, I'm not comfortable doing that at this time. >> Any other questions or comments on the resolution? Okay. And then we have uh our athletics construction manager and we have Gary C. >> That was oh removed my apologies. Okay. >> Um then we are done with discussion items. Um so in the act of transparency we are having an an additional public comment section. Um it's happening right here. And let me read the Here we go. Thank you everyone for your patience. Thank you to all who are here who are able to be here with us in person and online tonight. We understand the importance of continuing to keep you all informed and
061provide an opportunity for you to be heard. Tonight's audience participation will be for all who wish to speak, whether it be in person or online. We will begin with those in person. If you would like to address the board, please step up to the microphone and state your name and address for the record. After all those in person have had the opportunity to speak, um that opportunity will be given to those online. Please take into consideration common courtesy and keep your comments to 3 minutes or less. We will provide and assist with timekeeping so that each speaker 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. If there are any questions at this meeting or by some
062other avenue, uh, Superintendent Michael Wagger or his designate will work on getting those answers in a timely manner. Um, and just to let everyone know for this section of public comment, this is exclusively talking about the agenda items at hand. The second public comment uh section will be for general public comment. Um, with that being said, we'll start with those in person. Would anyone like here like to address the board about the agenda at hand? No. Um, we will look towards uh those on Zoom. Would anyone online like to share any comments or have any question um about the agenda items at hand? Okay. Um we will move on to uh our inter interim secretary. >> All right. Item number 10 on the agenda is action items. First we have the overnight conference request MIAA
063conference policy 6550. It is recommended the board of education approve the overnight conference request for Chris Simons to attend the MIAA conference in Acme, Michigan March 12th through the 15th, 2025. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Mr. Morris. Is there support? >> Second. >> Support by Mr. Modarski. >> Mr. Wright. Yes. Miss Block. >> Yes. >> Miss Fields. >> Yes. Miss Moore is absent. Mr. Madarkski, >> yes. >> Mr. Morris, >> yes. >> Shufelt is absent. That carries. 52. Item number two, overnight conference request. Michigan Music Conference policy 6550. It is recommended the board of education approve the overnight conference request for Marquita Moore to attend the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, January 23rd through the 24th, 2025. Is there a motion? Motion >> motion by Mr. Morris. Is there support? >>
064Support by Mrs. Fields. >> Miss Block. >> Miss Fields. >> Yes. >> Miss Moore is absent. Mr. Madarkski. >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris. >> Yes. >> Miss Shufeld is absent. Mr. Wright is a yes. That carries. 5. Item number three, Taylor Sports Flex Event Contract Policy 6320. It is recommended the board of education approve the payment of $600 towards the sportslex agreement for the 2025 Special Olympics. The remaining $900 will be paid for through fundraising and/or donations. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Mr. Madarsski. Is there support? >> Support by Miss Fields. Miss Fields. >> Yes. >> Mor absent. Mr. Madarkski. >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris. >> Yes. >> Shoefeld is absent. Mr. Wright is yes. Miss Block. >> Yes. >> That carries five to zero. Item number four, IDA full funding resolution policy
0656320. It is recommended the board of education approve the resolution for full permanent funding for IDA. Is there a motion? Motion by Miss Fields. Is there support? >> Support by Miss Block. Mor is absent. Mr. Madarski, >> no. >> Mr. Morris, >> yes. >> Miss Shufeld is absent. Mr. Wright, yes. Miss Block, >> yes. >> Miss Fields, >> yes. >> That carries. Four to one. >> Okay, I believe that brings us to um the superintendent's report. >> All right. Good evening, everybody. Um, so, uh, this was going to be one of those nights where I had lots of legal ease reading, uh, because we had the resolution in the action items, but I have another resolution that I am bringing forward to you, but this one I don't need a vote on because this was
066voted on by Rhysa's, uh, board. So, Wayne Resa has passed along to us, the recognition of local school district board of education members. So, I'm going to read to you the resolution that they have uh passed in honor of all the board members who serve throughout Wayne County. Uh whereas education is essential to the future of the 43 communities across Wayne County, as well as to the prosperity of our state and our nation, and the boards of education that represent the more than 260,000 students across Wayne County play a vital role in providing highquality education for each student attending their schools. And whereas these dedicated public servants demonstrate an unwavering commitment to their responsibilities, voluntarily contributing countless hours of service on behalf of the students, parents, educators, and community members of Wayne County, making thoughtful
067and informed decisions on policies, programs, and resources that affect the quality of education. And whereas Wayne County schoolboard members as local citizens exhibit exceptional leadership and vision, advocating for the needs of students in their communities and engaging with policymakers in Lancing and Washington DC. And whereas Wayne County school boards understand the importance of ensuring access, opportunity, equity, and excellence in education. They are dedicated to advancing student achievement and well-being while ensuring schools remain safe, supportive, and inclusive. And whereas the mission of public schools is to meet the diverse educational needs of all students and empower them to become informed and productive contributors to society in an everchanging world. And whereas the state of Michigan and the state board of education have declared January 2025 as schoolboard recognition month providing an opportunity to celebrate the commitment,
068passion, and resilience of schoolboard members. And whereas schoolboard recognition month highlights the champions serving on Wayne County Boards of Education who oversee pre kindergarten through 12th grade and beyond, preparing students for success in a globally competitive society. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency Board of Education in honor of Schoolboard Recognition Month recognizes and celebrates the valuable contributions and exemplary leadership of the Wayne County School Boards of Education presented and AD and adopted this 18th day of December 2024 by the Wayne Rhysa Board of Education. So on behalf of Wayne Resa, on behalf of our students and staff, I want to thank you as well for taking the time out of your busy lives to serve in this capacity as schoolboard members. Um the decisions you make, the time
069you dedicate to it is all for the students and for the betterment of, you know, the education we provide here in Taylor and I appreciate and thank you for that support. The only other part I have for my superintendence report tonight is I want to put out the reminder that we have been putting out the communications that we are in the process of our strategic uh plan development. So this is that we are working with the Michigan Association of School Boards and we are going to be developing a plan that will be have goals and action items that should help us move towards those goals over the next three to five years. uh and I want to bring it up tonight because we do have our very first input sessions will be taking place uh
070tomorrow here at the board of education office. So from 1 to 2:00 uh we do have a session and that is for our secondary staff members only. Uh from 2:15 to 3:15 will be our administration staff throughout the school district. From 3:45 to 4:45 will be the opportunity for our elementary staff to come and present their their thoughts. From 5:00 to 6 will be with our board of education. And then from 6:15 to 7:15 will be the open uh public uh for anybody any community member be it parents be it students be it uh you know just if you live in the Taylor Schools community it's your opportunity to come and voice your thoughts. There is also in our communications that we've put out there if you are not able to attend a session that
071we do have the ability that if you go to the link you go to the QR code you can present and fill out the survey there and give your input and have a voice there as well. We do have a second date where we have another input session that is going to be February 13th. So on February 13th from 11:30 to 12:30 is going to be uh student input. uh it's going to be my student advisory and then the advisories that have started at uh West Hoover and Taylor High, they will be sending students to to that session and then from 3 to 4:00 we will have another open to the public any community member session. So I really want to encourage anyone out there please take part in this. This is a very uh
072important step steps for us to be able to lead and move forward and to to really reflect what the community wants us to do as a school district. So, it's your opportunity. Give us that voice and and weigh in on where we should go. So, thank you. >> Just one quick question. Um, would there be a way of getting a handout to the fam or to the parents in the next like 24 48 hours with the QR code and little explanation of how they could submit comments? >> Oh yeah, absolutely. >> Just make sure it's nice and streamlined because not everyone uses the website and everything. So >> yeah, the only part we were kind of struggling is because with our communications, we're able to get it pretty easily to anybody. If you're a parent,
073if you're a staff member, if you're it's the difficulty is getting it beyond our wall. So we've been we've been trying to do that as well. Yes, absolutely. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, moving on to item 12, the consent agenda. Uh, policy 0166.1 and policy 6470. Uh, number one. Oh, guess uh I can just approve the entire thing at once, right? Or like motion to get that through. Not motion, but >> what you have to read the whole >> Oh, the read. Oh, okay. Yes. >> Good. Good to know. Actually, no, I don't. That's the secret. >> I was letting you do it. I was like, "All right, >> I got ahead of myself. My apologies." >> So, item number 12 on the agenda is consent agenda policy 0166.1 and policy 6470. First,
074we have the minutes from the regular board meeting of December 18th, 2024. Second, we have the minutes from the organizational meeting of January 8th, 2025. Number three, we have consolidated items. Payment of current bills, certified, non-certified, and administrative reports. Motion made by Miss Fields. Is there support? >> Support by Mr. Morris. Mr. Morris. >> Yes. >> Shoealt absent. Miss Block. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wright is a yes. >> Miss Fields. Yes, >> Morris is absent. Mr. Madarkski. >> Yes, >> that carries. Five. >> Back to you. >> Thank you. Uh, so item 13, items scheduled for next agenda, Wednesday, February 5th, 2025. Um, good news. And then the student representatives from uh, CTE. >> Shouldn't we add the construction thing back on there like we talked about? Um >> yeah, the number five I think
075we called it. >> Yeah. Yep. >> Yeah. >> Uh we when we file the uh paperwork, we'll have that listed as well. >> Excellent. >> Um okay, back to public comment again. >> Probably clarify in the future now we're doing this twice whether you got to read that twice. It's a good, you know, a lot of work. >> We're working out the uh the kinks. >> Okay. So, this is general public comment. Thank you all for who Thank you to all who are able to be here with us in person online tonight. We understand the importance of continuing to keep you all informed and provide an opportunity for you to be heard. Tonight's audience participation will be for all who wish to speak, whether it be in person or online. We will begin with those
076in person. If you would like to address the board, please step up to the microphone and state your name and address for the record. After all those in person have the opportunity to speak, that opportunity will be given to those online. Please take into consideration common courtesy and keep your comments to three minutes or less, who will provide assistance uh with timekeeping so that each speaker will be able to monitor their own time and know how to conclude. So all who wish to speak will have an equal opportunity to do so. If there are any questions at this meeting or by some other avenue, Superintendent Michael Wager >> Wait, it is Wager. Okay, thank or his designate will work on getting those answers in a timely manner. We will start with those in person. Um,
077moving on to those online voice. Uh, there is no public comment for today. Okay. Um, moving on to back to where I'm supposed to be. >> Item adjournment for uh to close session. Actually, no, that's my apologies. >> Item number 15, adjournment to close session policy 0137.2 pursuant to Michigan's open meeting act being public act 267 of 1976. And as amended, I move the board convene in close session pursuant to employee discipline. Is there a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Motion by Mr. Morris. Second by Mr. Madarski. >> She felt absent. Mr. Right. Yes. Miss Block. >> Yes. >> Miss Fields. More is absent. Mr. Madarski. >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris. >> Yes. >> That carries. 520. We will go into close session at 7:07 p.m. >> Bory, we're not in >> What's up?
078>> We're not in >> Yeah, but we're you're on the back. >> Yeah, we're on the back camera. >> Um, return from close session at 9:21. Um, moving on to action item uh XBI computers. I will share with you. All right, we have item gosh. Item number 16, action after close session. We do have one action item. We have uh motion to approve an unpaid suspension of 15 days and the placement on a last chance agreement for 26M employee Deborah Lucas. Is there a motion? Motion >> motion by Mr. Morris. Is there support? Second. >> Support by Mr. Morarski. >> Mr. Wright is a yes. Miss Black. >> Yes. >> Miss Fields. >> As a past 26M union president who who has represented the said employee, I abstain from this vote. >> All right. Miss
079Morris absent. Mr. Madarkski. >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris. Yes, >> she felt is absent. That carries four to zero. >> Okay. Um, moving on to board member comments. Um, do we have any comments from the board? This time it does not look like it. So, we will move on to adjournment. Looking for a motion. >> One more time. >> Okay. Motion by uh Miss Fields. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Second by Mr. Morarski. Um uh Miss Block. >> Yes. >> Miss Fields. >> Yes. >> Uh Miss Moore is not here. Uh Mr. Mardarkski. >> Yes. >> I am a yes. Miss Trufeld is not here. Mr. Wright, >> yes. >> Okay. Uh that carries 5 and the board of education regular meeting for January 22 uh 2025 adjourns at 9:23 9:24