001Welcome everyone to the Taylor School District resole. First one that I have ever been involved in meeting of October 16, 2024 where our mission statement is to educate, engage, and empower those we serve. And our vision statement is that we be the innovative destination district where all succeed. The committee of the whole meeting is called to order at 6:00. Mr. Morris >> here. >> Mr. Thomas is absent. Mrs. Thomas >> here. >> Mrs. Shufelt >> here. >> Mr. Wright here. >> Miss Black is here. Mr. Heath >> here. There are six people on the board here. Um, will everyone please stand for the pledge of allegiance? >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
002justice for all. Okay. Yep. I will. All right. We haven't had a committee of the whole meeting in a long, long time. Uh they always turned into special meetings because there was something important that had to be discussed. So committee of whole is a little bit different than our open meetings. we will uh step away from the fact that uh we don't answer back right away. Most of the talking will be done by our superintendent. And if we don't have an answer for you right away, it's because we don't have an answer for you right away. We will limit everyone to three minutes period because we're going to stick to this meeting being six to seven because we have a business meeting after this with a lot of business that needs to be done and
003handled. Um, we will be sticking to a small focus. We will not be talking about the hund00 million. We will be talking about the 19.5 million that is still on the table. Uh we will get to people online if we have time, but we will stick to that three minutes. I will ask you to please step away from the microphone. Okay. All right, Mr. Wright. >> All right. Item number three on the agenda, the revision approval of the agenda policy 0166. Is there a motion to approve the agenda as is? >> Motion by Mr. Heath. Is there support? >> Support. Support by Mr. Morris. Mr. Thomas is not here. Mrs. Thomas, >> yes. >> Miss Shufeld, >> yes. >> Mr. Ritz, yes. Miss Blau, >> yes. >> Mr. Heath, >> yes. >> Mr. Morris, >>
004yes. >> That carries 6. >> Okay. Discussion items. Bond funds update. Yeah. So, we are going to have a presentation before we get to audience participation that will be uh from representatives from the collaborative and from plant moran. Uh primarily this is going to be from the collaborative. They're the ones who've been working on the plans. They've been the ones who have kind of started to have an outline of some ideas on where we can go and and to spend this $19.5 million that we still have from the very first bond sale. So, we're going to have them come up, kind of run through what they've initially put on paper, and then that's when we'll get to the audience participation and have feedback and can ask questions and kind of go from there on uh
005what they've presented tonight. Uh I will say as well, like uh for the school district side, I'm going to be the one answering the majority of the questions. Um but if it is something directly related to the plan or things that were brought up, then uh those representatives, they will be uh the ones to speak to it. So, I will hand it over to them at this point. >> All right. Evening everybody. Can you hear me? This doesn't sound like it's working, so I can talk louder. Let's talk louder. All right. Evening everybody. First off, I just want to thank all of you for coming out. I want thank you for the opportunity to present in front of all of you tonight. You know, like Mike had led in, we're going to go over this
006next portion of the 19.5 million dollars to spend and our plan moving forward. We have a little presentation for you that I'll keep short so we can be respectful of all community members time and >> Yeah. Yeah. If it's working. Oh, yeah. There we go. Perfect. Thank you. All right. So, let's get right into this. And we're basically for this 19.5 million, you'll see that we're focusing these efforts in two main groups. One is going to be athletic improvements and one is going to be warm, dry, and safe improvements. We're going to talk about the athletics and then we'll go over warm, dry, and safe, which will total up into the $19.5 million being targeted for this initiative. Getting into the athletics, what you'll see on screen is a general concept of what we've put
007together for it. Not saying this is the concept that's going to happen because it's not. This is nowhere near what's going to happen. It's just an initial thought to try to get some pricing basis off of with this. You'll start to see in the list I have to the left, we're looking at a football field, soccerfield improvement, which is replacing the existing football field with turf. By doing so, it allow for future soccer opportunities on the field as well. The track is in good shape. The bleachers are in good shape. The press box is really focused on football for the field and for any of the equipment associated with that. Getting down into baseball and softball, we'd be looking at reorienting those fields and turfing the infield while leaving the outfield as a grass system.
008This would also include any of the fencing, press box, bleacher. Sorry, this keeps going out on me. Um, and items for the football and softball fields. The next item on the list is the tennis court complex. This is going to be more of a demolition of the pavement for the tennis courts as they exist today. So, not a full renovation to those, demoing them out so they could be used as a lay down, parking, what have you type area for maybe future improvements to come. The next item is the track events. This is relocated for discus and shotput. And that's going to be mainly for the reorganization that we're showing in this plan, which may still flex around, but just trying to account for that as we think about cost with the athletics improvements. And
009the miscellaneous items that you'll see on here is the concessions, toilet building expansion. So that's an addition to the existing concessions for toilets, concession area, as well as entry and ticketing into the complex. We're looking at practice field improvements, ornamental fence improvements around the perimeter, which has been noted as a very important item for safety and security for all those attending the athletic events. We want to make sure we can encapsulate that area while also allowing for various lighting opportunities around the perimeter so you have good visual access to the entire complex. And then finally, it would be heartscape improvements for accessibility throughout the entire site, as well as thinking about storm water improvements. It's a little bit soggy out there. So, trying to mitigate that issue and give you great playing surfaces for the
010future. Al together, we've gone through these items working with the team to total up around 10.5 million for the athletic improvements noted. As we get into kind of a comprehensive slide to show you the cost making up the 19.5, you'll see the $10.5 million assigned for athletics. And then what we're calling warm, dry, and safe our various parking lot, roof, and deferred maintenance projects throughout the district for buildings. We've looked holistically at the buildings and average together some of the issues that may be there and tried to come up with a total where maybe we could do improvements to potentially four buildings on site. But a lot of that would be determined and discussed, you know, with the board, with the team, really all of you. Um, but that comes up to about $8.3 million
011totaling just over the 19 and a half. We're at, you know, 19.8 million right now for these various improvements. Now, the last slide I'm going to show you, and I'll fly through it quickly here, is really going to be on a schedule. And this is going to be a critical item as we talk. You know, tonight leading out into the future of in order to make a time frame we have established of trying to get everything bid and award by April 25, we need to start looking at getting these initiatives going as far as design. It's going to take us till the end of the year to do things like um surveying, geotechnical reports, percolation reports, all the initial civil engineering items that are needed to come up with how this storm water management is
012associated as well as your grading and your site utilities. In addition, we need to think about permitting. So, we're looking at really a lot of the field verification and design time happening by the end of the year, which would leave about till midFebruary to put designs together to go out to bid and be awarded by April, at which point permitting would start. State of Michigan's a little bit rough. You got the building code compliance. It's about two months for review and building uh Bureau of Fire Services, I'm sorry, which takes about three months for review. In addition, we need to start thinking about county review for storm water management, which is the most difficult portion. That's we're putting in six months for, but a lot of projects go longer than that six-month mark. So, a
013lot of these lines you see extending out are really driven by when we can get approvals from the various entities for each of these projects and get the construction going. A lot of that's still in flex. Once we bid everything out, get a construction manager on board, we'd be able to really solidify the logistics of the plan as well as schedule leading into it. So, with that, it's our short presentation to go over these initiatives. I'll turn it back over to Mike and we can be here for questions. So, I do want to clarify because I I know we had the timeline up there and I know this was in the communication that we sent out to the community. The reason that April deadline is so important to get everything bid out and actual contract
014signed is if we go beyond that, we would face uh an arbitrage penalty from the federal government for not spending the bonds within the timeline that the federal government puts out there. Now, that penalty is not something that is large. It's not like it would be a big chunk out of what's out there, but it is certainly not something that we want to have to face. We want to make sure that we are being good stewards of the money that we were given and that is why that April deadline has become so important and that's why there is that importance on being able to get things out for review by the county such as the storm water uh runoff such as many of the other items that have to be permitted and approved by the
015county. So, I just wanted to clarify that because I know uh Rich said that, but it's that is really the biggest push of why April is such a big point in there. I also do do want to clarify that we did have this presentation looked over by our bond council, our bond attorney uh to make sure that anything that we've put in there was is within the bounds of the current PQ application and within the bounds of the ballot language uh that was approved by the voters. uh he has given it his seal that everything in here matches what is uh allowable uh by those items. So I did want to clarify uh those pieces for everybody. So with that said uh if we're good >> turn it over >> the next part. >> Yep.
016We'll turn it over to audience participation. Thank you all for Thank you to all 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 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 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, that opportunity will be given to those in line online. And remember that we do have an hour deadline. Please take into consideration common courtesy and keep your comments to three minutes or
017less. 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 other avenue, Superintendent Michael Wagger or his design will work on getting those answers in a timely manner. We will start with those in person. >> Hi, my name is Aaron Hansen and I was >> State your name and address. >> Aaron Hansen, 15315 Ford line, Southgate, Michigan 48195. I was a student at Taylor Public Schools for about 10 years. There is no excuse for a seven-year-old who is non-verbal and autistic and a seven-year-old to be unsupervised and unaccounted for to the point of elopement during recess.
018Why was no headcount taken? This is not only an act of negligence, it is a blatant violation of disability laws and clearly proves you need to better train and vet your staff and teachers. This family will not be silent and frankly neither will I. As a person who has been failed and was ignored by the Taylor School District for 10 years, I was a student here for preschool up until 9th grade. It wasn't until I switched disc districts as a high school sophomore that my mental health and learning disabilities were addressed. I suffered for years feeling ostracized, bullied, failing assignments, and ultimately having daily non-epileptic seizures, all due to undiagnosed learning disabilities, and mishandled social situations. I personally know dozens of kids from my graduating year of 23 alone, who suffered the same neglect at
019the hands of the system, including my sister from 2015. Thank you. Children who need educational accommodation should not have to fight so hard to be evaluated. Their families should know which resources are available to them and staff should be trained and available to handle these needs. I have been out of Taylor since 2019 and clearly you are still failing students. You need to test children for disabilities. You need to monitor kids physically and mentally. And to the teachers who are actively working to bring traumainformed care into practice, thank you. Help this district do better. >> Thank you for your comments. They'll they'll reset the clock. >> No, that's fine. >> My name is Tessa Martinez, 8126 Party, Taylor, Michigan. As you just heard, the lady before me, a child escaped from McDow, and was lost
020for 45 minutes. I think it is absolutely crazy and a slap in the face that you guys want to put a fence in for safety at sports events when our schools now that have special education rooms do not even have any fencing. We have no funds for the special education. I contacted Erica Smith asking her can my team at Johnson get walks so for alopement issues and for resources. She says that's something I need to ask my principal for. I emailed my principal and I said can we get these walkies for these reasons? She said we have no funding. That is something you need to ask the special education. So who do I ask for these resources? We have therapy and ASD kids sharing the same room. How can these kids have their therapies while
021we have an ASD kiddo having an issue and a meltdown? How does that work? I'm wondering my You talk about repaving sports complexes. Johnson was granted to have a new parking lot and I had a kid fall out of a wheelchair because the sidewalk is broken and uneven just getting to the bus. So, it's kind of crazy that when we talk about this amount of money, we choose to spend it on sports. And don't get me wrong, I think every kid should have new things. I think it would be great. But I also think there is other things that we need to look at. We talked about putting in new playgrounds. Half of these schools don't have fences. You want to talk about safety fencing for sure. You want to talk about uh Blair Moody.
022They put in a new playground, you guys put wood chips in there. How can the kids with wheelchairs get up the ramp with wood chips? They now have dirt sitting in there waiting for this to get done. It was supposed to be done over the summer. We have a pophided playground that the kids just sit in the wheelchairs on the grass because there is no swings. The sidewalk is all broken. How can they play? And yes, I know you can say that. Oh, it's winter coming. We can do it over the summer. This is their time in school. They're sitting on the grass. So, I just ask you guys to care like we care. We have kids that are getting suspended from ASD and crosscat rooms for the behavior. Did we not just have a
023district-wide uh meeting about how you can't suspend or send kids home for behavioral issues due to their diagnosis? I have parents asking me, "What would you like me to tell them?" >> Thank you. said it. >> My name is John Mandelka. My address is 12246 Syracuse. I am a parent of the Taylor School District. My son's name is Jackson and he is a 5-year-old who currently attends McDall Elementary School in the kindergarten through second grade cross classroom. Jackson has been attending the Taylor School District for three years. He completed two and a half years at the Johnson Early Childhood Center. specifically the ECSE program where he thrived. Jackson had three IEP administered by the district, the most recent one displaying signs of ASD, and we were told he would be treated as such by the
024district until we can get his medical diagnosis and evaluation, which we're currently in the process of getting. We were assured by the staff at Johnson that everything was in place for a smooth transition to Mcdow and that they had a great staff that would be able to meet Jackson's needs. A month into the school year and has been nothing short of a total failure. Jackson has been sent home a total of seven days in the first four weeks of school and suspended once today, roughly 40% of the school year so far. each time for needing redirection, which is a ASD symptom. Due to the behavior issues, Erica Smith, who has basically been Jackson's only advocate through this whole process I've been going through over this past month, designated him for an individual parapro. Since having
025his individual parapro, Jackson's come home from school three separate occasions with bikes marks and bruises, breaking the skin. He was suspended today due to needing too much redirection while his teacher is off which is again a sign of ASD leading me to believe that he is in fact not getting the individual parapro care that has been designated for him by the district and by the state. We were told over and over that the issue is short staffing but appears to me that the issue is the resources for these kids. The current staff throws their hands up and says that there's nothing we can do about it. The only thing hanging in the balance right now is my son's education and the right to his education. Something at McDonald is not being done properly and I
026feel you all should be made aware of it. The rights of these special needs children is being overlooked and I think it needs to be fixed. Finding out about this child that went missing last week, now it's to the point to where I feel like a bad father sending my son to McDow. I just I feel like I'm putting him at risk because he's not being treated right and they're apparently not being watched properly. So, I just wanted to make sure you guys were aware of that situation. That's all I have. >> Thank you, >> Caroline. Pat, 6860 Jackson. Um, those are very, very important things and I'm very glad that they came out and spoke, but I think that was for the next meeting um comments because this meeting I believe is is talking
027about the renovations and the um 18 million or eight Pardon? So anyways, but thank you for coming out and speaking. Um my questions are with the 8.3 million, will that cover all of the warm, dry, and safety throughout the whole district? So are you talking including uh heating, um air conditioning, are we adding air conditioning into the buildings? Um if so, you know, are they how do you determine what building, what parking lot, what drive, sidewalk or whatever gets done first? That was one of the questions. >> No, that's a great question. Um basically, you know, when we were having these meetings to go over what we are going to um be dedicating the money to, uh we had uh Mr. Simons, our athletic director. We had uh Mr. JRo, our uh director of operations
028in the conversation and we were prioritizing like what are the ones that are going to need the most uh addressing really quick. So, uh I know we put in there a general like this is how much we'd have for roofing, but we are also going to prioritize like uh let's say for example that um we know that um McDow needs a roof and not saying that they do, right? But let's say that's the one that's in the worst shape. Then that is the one where we would start and we would start using that pot of money for that. Then we would move on to say Kenyon. If we know that that's the next one. So it's really going to be a lot of prioritizing what are the ones that need the most attention and what
029are the ones that are going to need the the most uh help at that point. So that's part of why again we came up with this average piece and we're saying we could probably get about four buildings done, but it's going to depend on which ones need to have. you you have a certain amount that's going to be just for roofing. A certain amount just for correct parking lot or whatever cuz I know around the drive around, you know, Taylor High is horrendous. You know, lights in the parking lot, you can't see when you're coming out of a game in the light, you know, in the parking lot at for safety reasons, that kind of a thing, too. >> And I do want to come back to because I know you said heating and cooling.
030Um, heating and cooling we would not be able to get done by that April deadline. It was something that we discussed, we've had in those conversations, but the fact of what the lead times are for getting things uh approved, getting things that would come in on time, uh those are the things that we would just not be able to get to. And that's why the focus was really uh about the the roofs being first, the parking lots, windows, items like that that we know we will have the lead time to to be there in April. And I'm sorry, Caroline, if I'm using up your time. >> I know. I was just looking. >> Yeah, sorry. >> That's okay. Um, one other thing is is all of the buildings that um, things that are happening right
031now with renovations and all that kind of stuff, is that coming out of the money that we are using right now. Um, you know, for example, Johnson and I know you guys are at a stop right now. You know, I'm talking about West turning into sixth grade and middle school going over here and you know, is that money included in this too that if you don't use it up for everything here, then you can possibly renovate now Eureka Heights for Johnson and then move Kenya. I mean, you know, you know what I'm saying? Is this money also for all of those things that you talked about once before? >> So, I would say that the issue that we're running into there is that um 19.5 million probably isn't getting us to be able to do
032all those pieces either. And those are going to be other discussions uh when we start to talk about that other hundred million, that pot of uh what's still on the table. So, and I know I've said many times like I want to when we get into strategic planning have a a grand discussion of how we use that money. Um, but there's going to be a those are things I think we're going to have to talk about. >> So, schools won't be closing next year. Those are the things I'm asking because that was in the process before, but now possibly, you know, not having the money. >> As of now, we are we're still on what the timeline would be. So, as of now, I'll say. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Paz.
033I kind of came in late, so I'm just going to kind of assume what everybody else did. My address is 9347 Mueller. My name is Autumn. Um, at home, I am mom and for many others, I am auntie or I am a TT. I graduated from Kennedy in 2014. As many of you know, this week I posted a video that has since gone viral about my nephew who is special needs aloping. As of today, they put a plan in place for his safety. But my fight is not just for him. It is for the hundreds of other parents in the Taylor School District that have voiced their concerns and shared their stories with me. Since my video was posted, I have heard countless stories similar to what we experienced this week. Um, I'm sorry. I'm
034trying not to get emotional. I want to share that my own fears as a parent that if this bond money goes towards anything, it should go towards the special needs children. There is far not enough resources. There is far not enough things going on for children that need the help. One in 34 children a year are diagnosed with autism. So if you take a look around this room, odds are one of them is somewhere on that ASD spectrum. >> [snorts] >> The lack of resources is actually astounding. I think that there needs to be more help for parents of the children's with special needs as well as there needs to be more help for the children that have those special needs. I think that uh I'm I'm not going to touch on or the bond
035or anything of that nature. I just want to know that when my children or any of my friends children are being sent to school that they can have trust in their school to provide their child the bare minimum which is to keep them safe. And I think that safety is the number one priority and always should children that have autism. Um his behavior is is common for children with special needs. And if you have a or you know somebody that has special needs at all, you know that this is not abnormal behavior and this could have been absolutely prevented. My issue lies with the lack of accountability that this district has taken. Um other than what I have posted and what his mother has posted on social media, there was nothing from the school. Nobody
036released an email. My children do not attend Taylor School District. However, any situation that happens within their school, an email is immediately sent out. There was no notification and the parent should not have heard about this situation coming from me or his mother. That is all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you, Otto. >> Mary Souza, 26640 Beverly Road. Um, my concern is the amount I'm all for sports. I'm going to start that. start out with that. My concern is the amount of money that you're spending on sport on the athletic field versus what you could do for the schools themselves. Obviously, from what I'm hearing, there's a great need within these schools to have them fixed, whether it's fencing or HVAC, you know, fixing the air conditioning, putting air conditioning in, and you're spending
037it on turf. You're spending it on things that I feel might be spent better by fixing the schools first. The bond to me, as you know, superintendent, I voted for the bond for a new high school, not for a new athletic field, not for some of this other stuff that, you know, I call candy. That's what I voted for. And if we can't do that, then the schools that are in desperate need, not just roofing in a new parking lot, they need to be taken care of first and foremost before anything else gets done on the athletic field. You know, I mean, they obviously play and they do okay with what they have. Let's wait on that and like I said, just put it all into the schools. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh
038I'm Kelly Chapman. My address is 8111 Pine Street. Um I wrote that Hello, my name is Kelly and I am the PTO president at Randall Elementary. I have been involved as a volunteer in the school for six years, beginning when my oldest was a kindergartener. I now have a fifth grader, third grader, and kindergartener. All proud Randall Mustangs. You might say I have a big interest in the future of our school district. I've had a unique experience within my elementary. One, as a parent, two, as the administrator of our online Randall parent club Facebook group, which is very active, and three, as somebody who volunteers year long within the school. I have had close interactions with staff members, sometimes on a daily basis. I joined the bond committee a few years back because I felt
039passionate about helping and I believed in its goals fullheartedly. Over this past summer, I even considered running for school board just to stretch my impact further. I ended up deciding against that due to my own personal concerns over if I would be able to fulfill the responsibilities of such of such an important role during a crucial time. Because of the many hats I wear, I have been able to hear thoughts, feelings, and concerns from families and people working in our school. I've heard many different perspectives about the bond and the upcoming or current school closures and rearrangements. And of course, I have my own feelings, too. I remember how excited I was to vote for our current school board. Their campaigning was effective and truly spoke to me. I felt like they were people I
040could relate to, and they had the same passion for students and giving back that I did. I felt confident that they would make choices and the best interest for our students. And despite everything currently going on, I do still believe they have tried their best and are trying to fix many problems that this current administration did not cause. I met Kyle Wright for the first time during my time on the bond committee and who I have since done quite a few school events with and he has become a person I admire and appreciate. Getting to know not only the parents at my school but also some members of the school board. I still truly believe that things have been done with good intentions and have been done with a good heart. However, we are at
041a point now where even the most positive people like myself are worried. What I do know is that the number one most important thing that we must take care of is the high school situation. We might not be able to build a new one, but we can certainly make vast improvements to the one we currently have. Specifically, in my opinion, adding um something like a state-of-the-art auditorium. I've seen this spoken about online and from other parents that I know. And building structural improvements, which we've heard a lot of tonight. Athletics improvement was part of the bond proposal and so we do have to make some improvements there as well because that is what we voted on. Unfortunately, these are issues I do not personally know enough about on how to solve them. And I believe
042that this is what we should entrust with our school board. This is who we voted for. This is who I voted for. I should say. One thing I do know a lot about is Randall Elementary. I understand the importance of our current utilization plan and the growing financial strain that our district is facing that needs to be solved. But I don't believe closing Randall is a good idea. >> Our school community is strong. >> Thank you, Mrs. Chapman. Oh, thank you. >> Um, Renee Briggs 15542 leader. All right. So, I have some questions on when are we going to be able to discuss about the additional 100 million because that to me >> should be part of before they discuss the I'm all for the track and field and everything. But if we're going to
043use that 100 million to move the career center, build a career center, build a gymnasium or an auditorium, is that going to affect the placement of the track and field? And then are we running into overruns again? because oh we updated our nice new facilities but then oh no we're going to add the gymnasium to them and know guess what we got to move the track and field so that's one of my concerns the second one is >> I can answer that a little bit like like does that's kind of the what we're trying to do so >> um I will say the complication is that April deadline um because when the discussion any further discussions with that hundred million will come when we start to doing uh strategic planning as a school district and
044that's something we want to start in January. In fact, it's on the agenda for the regular meeting tonight to approve the contract to to start that process. Okay? >> And uh so it's going to be hard to line that up because of this needs an April deadline and that's why we have to start moving on some things. So I hear you. It's not ideal, but that is truly where where the difference lies. >> Okay. And then why are we getting rid of the tennis courts? We were we were promised a state-of-the-art sports facility. Yeah. All the other districts have tennis courts. Why are you getting rid of ours? >> So, currently the tennis courts at Taylor High are not playable. >> I know. That's why I'm asking. >> And that essentially the ones that are
045in better shape are the ones that are outside here, the the former John F. Kennedy ones. >> Okay. So, you're going to So, you're you're getting rid of you're going to get rid of the Taylor ones and you're going to have them perform over here. Correct. >> That is where we would be at right now. And part of that decision- making right now is that um the turnout of how many players we have for tennis is that we're not even feeling a boys team currently and it's a small team for the girls. Okay. We can use the facilities here uh as they are right now. >> Okay. Um I don't have much time. Kathy Stephanie I am disappointed and you too and the other school board members that ran they're not here today. Correct. Just
046you and Stephanie are correct. The other ones that ran. So, I'm disappointed in them. Two. I'm disappointed in our the city of Taylor itself. You guys posted this everywhere. There was 5,000 comments on it and we got what how many people here? Hardly any. That's that's a shame in itself. And then um so yes, I know they have concerns and I get that it's not in the bond. I I get that. But you also got to remember people are comparing >> our sports facilities to other districts. >> Kathy Fields 22670 Wood Creek. Um, I had asked Mr. Wagger before. Uh, he got back to me and he didn't have an answer because he said it was in the attorney's hands. But I want to know, and I and I know it's the wrong verbiage, are
047you going to keep the same site manager that cost this district how many hundreds of thousands by mistakes, uh, missing equipment, um, destroyed equipment, um, asbestous mess. reassure me we're not using that same company to oversee what has to be spent by April. >> I would say where we currently are, we would be operating with uh our current representatives that we have right now. >> Why would you do that when it's already cost us money and I haven't heard anything about getting that reimbured? Well, that is something we can definitely consider, but I as of now I the answer would be we are still with the same representatives. >> Um, one last thing and and it's probably not the right spot to to say it, but I am anyway. Um, looking around here, I didn't
048recognize any of our elected city government here tonight. And I would have thought with the negative comments made by a few of them in public at a city council meeting about our school district leaders and board regarding the high school and the bond issue. Uh going public giving their opinions and uninformed advice to our residents that they would be here with questions, ideas, and concerns so that they would have informed answers. Their absence tells me a lot about their character and I personally will take that with me to the polls in 2025 in their re-election and >> and please reconsider getting another company or you're going to be out even more Honey, >> Jennifer Ferguson, Behringer, 23636 Irving Taylor. Um, is we know the situation we're already in with the high school and not being
049able to build it. I was part of the bond committee. Um I was hard to hear from over there, but did I hear correctly that as far as the like what was just propo, excuse me, proposed tonight that there may not be enough money with that 19 million to cover it completely. >> Say that again. >> I when there was some part of the questions and answers and stuff as far as the 19 million that right now that we're looking to spend. Yeah. >> The proposal that was up here tonight, do we have enough to cover that or did you say that it may not be? The estimate where they came in at is at 19.8. What we have in left over is 19.5. So it is over by 300,000. Now I will say when
050we started these discussions and we had the collaborative start looking at that we did tell them to take the most conservative like go on the high end of what you think this will cost. So that number is inflated to cover in case there is other items with inflation or some of the other things we've experienced. Um, and correct me if I'm wrong, uh, Rich and Dave, like there was also close to a million dollars in contingency on top of already setting that number higher. Um, so that we were being as reasonable as we could with what we'd expect to see >> because whatever it is that we decide to do, I mean, we need to make sure that we can deliver on it, you know, that the district delivers on it. That's exactly >> and
051that we don't disappoint people again because we're going to have to pass another bond at some point in time to be able to do upgrades to the buildings to do everything else that we need to do and we've got to get the community's trust back in order to do that. Um I remember some of the language with the bond committee that there's restrictions on how some of that money can be spent. So like I know there were questions tonight as far as special ed and can we do fencing and can we do all of these different things. Can you talk a little bit please about what falls under that warm, safe, and dry and what we can spend the B bond money on maybe to accomplish some of the things that people are looking for
052to help our students, our buildings, and our special ed kids? >> Yeah, absolutely. So, uh, site work, uh, I'd have to run this through, uh, Jim Crowley, our bond attorney, to be 100% certain, but the way I read the ballot language and the current PQ application, site work is included in what was voted through. So things, improvements to fencing, improvements to playgrounds, improvements to sidewalks, uh those would be allowable. Where we run into what is not allowable by what was in the bond language is adding additions on the current facilities with the exception of building the brand new high school because that was clearly expressed in the bond language. But adding additions to current facilities are things that would not. So site work items absolutely can be uh included on. So with this or with
053the other 100,000 at whatever point that's discussed, we could remodel the current high school building or the career center, but we couldn't do an addition to them using that bond money. >> Correct. Now, when we were going through the process of having these discussions on uh what other possibilities were out there, we did consult with the Michigan Department of Treasury. Uh the Michigan Department of Treasury allows you to amend the PQ application, but obviously you cannot amend the ballot language. So amending the PQ application, they were okay with which allows us to change what buildings we can work on. Uh and they did give us that that they would be open to that possibility. The part that becomes the issue is the bond language itself, the ballot language itself is where the additions cannot go
054in. And that was uh somewhat what we ran. So, we couldn't use it like to build an auditorium at the current high school. >> It would have to be within the footprint of what's currently there. >> Okay. Thank you, Mrs. Ferguson. Beher, thank you. >> I Okay. >> If there are no other in person right now, you can go again. >> All right. So just to clarify because I was that's what I was thinking that if we had the additional bond money we could add additions to the high school and you're saying that that can't happen. >> Not under what the ballot language is that that was the previous attorney opinion. >> That was the previous attorney opinion that we've received. Uh >> so we we can't say okay we got this money and now
055we can't do like the pool or a new gymnasium or anything. We can't we can upgrade it but we can't add additions. >> Correct. Under what's in the ballot language. >> Can we get that changed? >> That's the part where like I said we can amend the PQ application part which is the locations. >> Okay. >> We can't amend what's in the ballot language and that's going to be the drawback. >> All right. So then what she's saying it would have to go back to the voters for us to approve additions to the existing buildings. >> That I would need a legal opinion on. I couldn't answer that at this moment. >> All right. Thank you. >> Can I one suggestion really quick? >> As far as like the discussions and stuff tonight, if there's
056anybody that you're getting back with and actually going forward, if you don't have any of the the um >> regular board meetings, >> a lot of times people ask questions that everyone wants to know the answer to. So when people get a response back, okay, Amber finds out what she was asking, but nobody else knows and they wanted to know. Is there a maybe on the website with the minutes or something we can pull. >> You are getting ahead of my superintendence report tonight because I was going to talk about that. We just created a FAQ page that has been added to the um the schoolboard members section of our website and we are going to start posting the the stuff like that. So, uh we put it up today, I believe. Correct, Shauna? So,
057yes, we're going to get that going. >> I just have one more question. I'm sorry. I appreciate everything that you guys have done thus far as I financials aren't my thing. Uh >> what is your guys's plan for special education going forward? >> And is it included in this bond? >> So I guess I need a little more specifics. Are we talking because when you're talking about what would be in here for special education from the bond money, bond money is for the facilities itself. >> Correct. So, um, that is something that, uh, I wouldn't say that everything we're talking about is directly towards special education, but making sure we have warm, safe, and dry buildings is what's good for all kids, including our special education population. >> I appreciate that. My concern is the
058lack of paraprofessionals. My concern is the lack of teachers, the lack of eyes on students. And it's not just my nephew. It's it's multiple students. There are a lot of non-verbal autistic children within the Taylor School District. My question is, what are you guys planning to do to help better their situation? Because right now, it seems just based off the video that I posted, which obviously I'm kind of an outside source to this. I want to know because I know you guys aren't adding on to buildings, what are you doing inside the buildings for these children? And does this bond cover that? >> No, bond cannot. As I said, bond is just we're talking about facilities, buildings. >> So, the bond that was voted on in 2021, we now have $19 million left. Can you
059tell me where the rest of that money is? >> The other of the >> Yeah. Where was it spent? >> It was spent on the work we did over the summer at Meyers, Holland, and McDow. It's been spent on playground equipment. It's been uh spent on site and >> Why didn't McDow get a fence? Why didn't McDow get a fence? If you guys spent all of this money, fencing kind of seems low on the totem pole of things that should have been done to ensure that our children are safe. And I I I could be completely out of my ballpark here, but I'm just curious on what your guys' plans are going forward to help aid parents better care for their children and help aid these teachers to keep their students safe. Well, and I'll
060say we this week we've already had a contractor out. >> It shouldn't have taken this to happen. >> I'm trying so hard to to maintain my composure, but this is close to home for me. >> Yep. Understand. But I'm just I'm just clarifying. >> Putting a band-aid as of today after a week has gone by is insane. And no one can give us answers for the plan for these children going forward. And that's all I want to know is what is your guys's plan for special education going forward because right now it's not working or no answer. That was a question. I'm sorry. >> Get it. What I'm getting at is no. No. Absolutely not. No. >> We're just kind This is to be a discussion about what we're talking about with bond and that.
061What I will say is that we have lots of different services, lots of different items that we have put in place. Um, it sounds like from the concerns I'm hearing, we have to look into a little bit more of it sounds like more from >> what has been put in place. >> Say from a professional development piece is what I'm hearing more from the feedback that I'm receiving tonight. So >> yeah, >> I understand. >> And to me that's that's in a training and professional development piece that we have to talk. >> Not only that, but you you're not providing us any answers. Like as parents, this worries us. This is a safety concern. If my nephew had ended up dead, this would be a different conversation. We as parents, if that had happened on
062our watch, we would have CPS crawling up our butt wondering how we let our child go missing. And you you guys aren't providing us any sort of reassurance, no accountability, no responsibility for what had happened other than today, which I'm sorry, day late, dollar short, man. Like I I >> Okay, Autumn, we had three minutes again. I'm sorry. I just want to know what the point of telling us that there was going to be a bond was for. Because if you're going to tell us that there is a specific large amount of money going towards children and their well-beings, this is not about you. This is not about what you want to spend money on. This is about the children. This is about the children that you are completely and utterly neglecting and that you
063are literally disobeying disability laws against. You are blatantly acting as if you haven't done anything wrong. Why won't you answer questions towards special needs department? Why won't you answer questions about this subject in general? Is it because this is about money? Yeah, it's about money. >> Hello, my name is Michael Brandt. I live at 10700 Morton View. Um, a question I have is about uh the board when they put this millillage together. Who was all here when this mill was voted? You guys put together this millillage to go be voted on. Are all you people involved with that? >> Nobody here. >> none of them. Really? >> So, basically the people that put this millage together, >> you're talking about the bond. >> Yeah, the bond. I'm sorry. The bond >> the when you when
064the uh when you voted it in for the millillage to pass for the bond. >> Okay. >> Um the people that put this together are none of them here on the board right now. >> You are. Okay. on the bond committee, but yes, I sat on the board. >> Okay. So, were you guys are you aware of the laws of this so-called millillage that uh if it didn't work, I mean, you had to spend the money. There was no way reversing it. Were you aware of that? Does that make sense? >> Can I clarify clarifying question? Are you saying about bonds that were sold because the other part of it you don't have to touch necessarily and that's why that other hundred million is sitting on the table. >> I know I'm trying to get
065back to the very beginning when this is put be voted on by the taxpayers. Okay. So it's $130 million. Okay. Everybody agreed on it. So I was asking is what board members were involved putting this whole thing together to be voted on? Who was sitting on the board at that time? sitting on the board. >> Okay. You two were Okay. So, were you aware of the legal rights of saying because what the thing you're in right now is we can't get this money back because you're not building a school, right? We got to go through with this >> money cannot be spent in except >> on those items that you had on the millillage. Correct. So, so basically >> which it was in the bond itself on the ballot is how it had to be.
066>> Right. Exactly. So basically >> that's where you come into legalities. >> Yeah. So the taxpayers of city of Taylor gave the school board a open checkbook to spend on all these things these these items that were five items. >> So I just hope that you guys can uh spend it wisely. >> I would just like to clarify real quickly if I could. Um 100 million has not been taxed upon the citizens yet. >> Yeah, I know. >> At this moment it's not going to be um >> with the current board makeup. So then what what is the exact like direction of your question? >> Well, I mean we're on the hook for $130 million. The taxpayers are or no? >> Not currently. Only 30. >> Only 30. >> 30. >> The other 100 has
067not been sold. So there's nobody on the hook. That hasn't affected. >> All right. I guess the question I as is that does that do you have to sell those going down the road moving forward? >> No. No, they don't. >> Okay. Then I then I failed to be corrected and I I apologize. No, >> it's all good. I didn't know that. Yeah. Thank you. I just want you guys to know that I know we're getting off topic about the bond, but you have parents here tonight that this is their last stitch effort and trying to communicate with you guys. So, if they come in hot and they feel you guys feel like you're being attacked. I can understand that. But this is their only avenue. They came up here today to talk to you
068guys. And I understand that we're talking about a bond and there's another meeting. But seriously, it's not if, it's when you guys are going to get sued for accidents that are happening. So, it's something to take into great consideration. They're frustrated. I And we talk about getting money from students. These these parents want to leave. We got to do something different. Seriously, I want you guys to care like we care because these kids deserve an education. And I don't want to see them pushed aside, pushed through the system. It's something I'm super passionate about and they're frustrated and they came in hot and I understand that, but we talk about, you know, putting fencing in and stuff and I understand there's shortage and staffing issues, but really the you're going to get in some big
069trouble if we don't fix this issue for real. For real. So, I just want everyone to please take into consideration we have kids that are missing out on school getting suspended. We're talking about kindergarteners getting suspended for normal typical ASD behavior. It's not their fault that their kid ran off the playground for real. >> Okay. If you want to speak, you have to go to the mic. Okay. >> Okay. I'm speaking opportunity. >> I'm speaking at the mic now and I'm telling you that >> he doesn't want to send his child to school because he is suspended. The kid's been in school for a month and has missed seven days and is now suspended. That as kiddo is not going to understand why they're suspended and we just had a big meeting about behavioral issues.
070So, I don't what's going to happen for them? I that's what they want to know. Are there any online? Okay, we'll take the first one online. We have how many how much time? >> Five minutes. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, please state your name and >> Yep, no problem. My name is Phil Somerville. My address is 22405 South Point, Woodhaven, Michigan. So, uh, I did have a question. And I I think um the superintendent did sort of ask it. Um but I did want to clarify a little bit. Um so I used to coach tennis and Taylor and uh one of the things that I obviously noticed in the presentation was the removal of the tennis courts and I understand uh what the superintendent is saying um about the lack of participation. Um
071but I would I would well there's two things to that. There hasn't been a boys team since I coached. Um, but I also don't think that there's been any attempt to resurrect that team. I think that's been part of the issue and I think the facilities is the other issue. So I I'm curious did you know I know that we're dealing with a limited amount of money. Um, but was there a estimate of what it would cost to redo the tennis courts? >> Yeah, actually uh because like I said, we were looking at lots of different things. We were moving things around trying to prioritize the need. Uh we do have a cost associated. We did get that priced out as to what the um what that would run. Um Rich, do you uh have
072that remember that what that was offhand for the tennis courts uh if we were to renovate them? >> I don't know the exact number offhand, but it was just shy of a million dollar. So we're looking around like $8 to $900,000 to do the full renovation. So, we had the demolition accounted for. >> Thank you, Rich. >> Wow. Okay. I mean, I I'm actually surprised. I figured that if you had to dig those things up and redo all of them, it would be more than that. Um that's but that's just me uh spitballing. I don't really know if that's if that's the case, but um but yeah, I mean, I just I wanted to make that known that I I feel like that if there was a push uh to start a program up again,
073um if there was new facilities, I think that, you know, we could uh probably start a team again. I think that that's something that could be considered maybe not in this round but you know long term. So I don't know if there's uh I don't know if by demoing them uh does that leave the possibility to redo them >> as long as we'd have the land there like that would be a possibility to go forward at that point. Um and again like I said it was one of those things where we're trying to fit as much as we could into the you know the $19.5 million. So that was one of the projects that we said that if we wanted to, we could if we could stretch the money far enough, but as we were,
074it it couldn't fit into the money we were talking about. >> Understood. And that's I and I understand. And that's my last comment about everything. Um, you know, there's been some negativity about, you know, uh, putting the money in the sports. Well, you know, being around this district as long as I have, I can tell you that a lot of people have left the district because we have subpar athletic facilities. A lot of students leave our school district for athletics and other school districts. So, um I I do think that we're on the right track with this. >> We were at what? 658. >> Oh, we have one more minute. We can take one more call. No, there aren't anymore. Okay, thank you very much for attending everyone. >> It won't be long. >> You
075only have three minutes. >> Okay. Lynette Snider, 7287 Mayfair Street. I just wanted to say I know that the um athletics is being looked at. Um the pool has been there for like 60 years and nothing's been done on it. Um we don't have matching lane lines. The landlines are breaking. We don't have a scoreboard. um we barely got um we just got um computerized stuff so we can actually keep score and stuff. So um I'm just throwing that out there. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Now everyone, this is the first of a cow that we are also thinking about having town hall meetings. So this is not the first and only time. This is a big issue. Um so stay tuned. We will have other meetings. Please think about attending. We will
076be starting our formal business meeting now. Anyone who'd like to stay can. Anyone who wants to leave can do so too. >> Do we have to admit? >> We're going to take a five minute break. >> You have to close. >> Oh, go ahead. >> Okay. Adjournment. Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Who was first? >> Stephanie. Stephanie Shufelt and second is Mr. Heath. >> Second >> Mr. >> I can't hear Thomas isn't here. Mrs. Shu felt >> yes. >> Miss Mr. Wright. >> Oh, sorry that about that. Mrs. Thomas, >> I'm confused. >> Okay, I screwed up. Mrs. Thomas, >> yes. >> Mrs. Shuel, >> yes. >> Miss Black or Mr. Wright? Yes, >> Miss Black is a yes. Mr. Heath, >> yes. >> Mr. Morris, >> yes. >> And Mr. Thomas
077is excused. That closes 6. The motion is carried. And what time? >> 7:01.