2025-11-05 | Committee of the Whole Meeting

001I'd like to call the November 5th, 2025 committee of the whole meeting to get to order for the Taylor School District. Uh call to order at 6:00. Fields >> here. >> Moore is here. Morarski is absent. Morris >> present. >> Shoefeld >> here. >> Westfall here. >> Black here. >> Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic which stands. >> Thank you. We're going to start with good news. Emily, would you like to talk about the U of M environmental field trip? Reminds me of my college days. It's 5 a.m. out there in the morning, mosquitoes and everything, but it was wonderful experience. >> Um, hello. I just wanted to give the board a brief presentation on the U of

002M environmental field trips that every one of our fourth grade students gets to go on um during their fourth grade school year. Uh, pond life explorers undercovering local ecosystems. Um, I was able to actually attend the field trip with Meyers Elementary and I joined Mrs. Craig and Mr. Dod's classrooms. Um, I went out with the kids. We walked through the the woods and we went to a man-made pond area where the kids were given directions to take their nets and scoop. They had field guides that were where they were able to identify um the insects and the different plant life that was in the ponds. It was so well organized and it was just a fantastic experience for the kids. Um the kids learned about the ecosystem health of the area. Um and they did

003lots of different observing and charting and data uh data uh organizing and then there was a kind of a a concerted effort to help the kids understand how these skills will help them to preserve our planet. And I'd like to give a huge thank you to Kyle Wright, who is a former uh school board president. He donated um the money from his campaign so that every fourth grader in the district is able to attend this field trip for the next two years completely free of charge. So, this is just a shout out to that donation and to him um and to say that our fourth graders had a wonderful time. >> Thank you. Any questions for Emily? No. We'll move on to Kathy Field and her food food drive. >> Um on the 15th and

00416th of November, we will have a bus to park on um Home Depot. Good name. >> Yes, I am >> the Home Depot parking lot. Uh from a from 11 to 3, uh our our school's pantries are either depleted or getting depleted. Uh so we're we asked the buildings to put a food collection box in the buildings. Uh we're going to have the drive on those two days and hopefully we'll be able to build up all of our buildings. um food pantries to help uh what the parents aren't receiving anymore. So >> yeah, the SNAP benefit benefits have been um discontinued during the shutdown and so our students don't have this will fulfill needs for the weekends. Is that correct? Am I wrong? Okay. >> Correct. >> Um weekend needs for students so they have

005food. Anything else, Kathy? >> No, I mean they get they get free breakfast and free lunch, but what about dinner? What about weekends? And what about when school's not in session? Correct. >> And and that's where they were depending on the federal funding to to help them. Now they don't have that and you can't teach a hungry child. So that's correct. >> I do want to clarify Home Depot on telegraph. >> Telegraph. >> Clarify. Correct. >> Why? What did I say? >> You said just said Home Depot. >> I just want it is the one on telegraph. There's two in Taylor. >> Wherever there's a big yellow bus. >> Yeah. There you go. Just go on in. >> Let the record uh reflect that Mr. Morski arrived at 601. >> Okay. On to you. >>

006Moving on to the agenda. Uh revision approval of the agenda policy 0166. Is there a motion? >> I I have a revision. >> All right. Um uh number three with the board pro the boardroom projector system from digital age technologies that also will include the audio that's number three under the action items and I think it's number three under discussion too. >> Yeah that's correct. >> Okay. So we have a motion to add the audio to discussion item number three. Action item number three. All right. Is there a motion to add that for our revisions? >> Motion by Mr. Westall. Support by Miss Fields. Miss Morris, >> yes. >> Mr. Minorski, >> yes. >> Mr. Morris, >> yes. >> Miss Shufeld, yes. Mr. Westfall, >> yes. >> Miss Block, >> yes. >> Miss Fields, >>

007yes. That passes 70. >> Student representatives, Randall Elementary. We have our Randall Elementary people up. Good evening. Um, we have one of our student representatives who would like to share a little bit more about um, Randall Elementary's Beta Club. >> Hi, my name is Aubrey and I am one of the Beta members at Randall Elementary. The National Beta Club began in 1934 in South Carolina. Randall Elementary inducted their first membership in December of 2003, and we have been serving the community of Taylor ever since. The Beta Club at Randall is one of the 9,600 schools throughout the nation and internationally. We are one of only nine clubs in Wayne County. We have the mission to promote the ideals of academic achievement, character, service, and leadership among elementary and secondary school students. We are specifically chosen

008by our teachers as being model Randle students who focus on all the qualities embedded in the beta mission statement. This year we have been busy inducting the new fourth graders into our membership. Our membership is currently at 31 members. This year we this year we we will be partnering with our student council to combine efforts to help our school and community even more. We will be hosting a food fight to bring in food donations for the district food pantry. Collecting pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit, accepting donations from for the Taylor Animal Shelter, helping our PE teacher host Jump for Heart, and so much more. Thank you for your time and recognition. >> Thank you very much. I'd like to mention too in good news. I attended um and participated at Kenyan's

009trunk retreat and steam night um last week. I think it was Wednesday, Thursday, I don't remember. Um good attendance and it looks like kids were having a great time inside with steam. I don't know if Emily was there or not, but they uh all looked like they were having a great time. Good attendance as well. Anyone else have any good news? Okay. Uh, where am I at here? Scheduled reports, facilities, grounds, improvements, and transportation committee. Kathy Fields. >> Um, we had our committee meeting on the 16th. And um, under the facilities, the first ceiling pile bid went out, but there were there were no takers. A second bid has gone out now. Uh the basketball backboards at West have been repaired. Okay. Uh the heating and cooling controls for Hoover have been ordered and the

010company is currently working on the high school controls. Uh the grounds report was a bid went out for moving the E heights playground equipment. Um the uh let's see. And then the the the improvements I don't do on this report because we're involved with uh Barton Melo and the collaborative on on our bond issue. uh transportation. One of our buses had been in an accident and because we're waiting for the cameras to be put on the new buses, which can't be on the road until then, um our mechanics, which a shout out to those gentlemen, were able to get it back on the road on the same day. They they had it repaired and back on the road. So, we're still waiting for the county to make their decision as to how the finances will

011be distributed. So that that's holding us up getting the new buses on the road. So um I just want to say thank you to the uh transportation mechanics. That's all I have. >> Thank you. Any questions for Kathy and move on to curriculum committee and that's me and I'm going to say a few things and then I'm going to turn it over to Emily because she has so much more enthusiasm than I do. Um great meeting. Um, I'm impressed with all the things that are going on across the district. Um, we have u uh pilots in place for for different curriculum. The career center looks fabulous and and why don't I turn it over to you? You're much better at this than I am. >> Thank you. Um, we had a wonderful professional development day.

012I know our meeting was before that, but our PD day was wonderful yesterday. Um, we were able to get the secretaries together to do some professional learning. Um, and then the rest of the district was either learning about their content area things or deepening their knowledge about our MTSS system. Um, we have an intensified algebra pilot that's going on that's to attempt to help our algebra 1 pass rates. Um we have uh some data student data tracking that is happening in various uh buildings across the district. Our data walks are continuing where um teachers are getting into other teachers classrooms to see certain district-wide goals that we want to see met. Um our MTSS team met today and we're continuing to revise the handbook. Um, and then all of the buildings are really deeply working

013with the building school improvement teams um, in order to get all of that up and running. Um, our CTE courses, as um, Miss Moore mentioned, are uh, going strong. I'd like to mention a couple of the courses that are new this year and some of the the um, enrollment rates. Our automotive class has 52 students enrolled in it. Cosmetology, we're at 16. Our HVAC is at 24. and then our new computer repair class was at 23 students. Um, so we're loving that we're bringing those to the kids. And then, uh, we were also recognized as one of the districts that made, uh, the most gains in reducing chronic absenteeism, um, in the county. And, uh, we've been recognized for that. And then the county has actually asked us to come and present some of our

014strategies for reducing that. um which we know we have some attendance agents in place and some reminds that go out through parent square um reminding the parents in the community how important attendance is. Um and I think that's it. We will update you more next meeting. >> Thank you. >> Cory, did you want to add anything? You were meeting. >> Oh, sure. Yeah. I just think it's awesome that we have nearly 700 students in our high school in various CTE programs and that we're uh you know, we're getting them ready for the workforce. Thank you everyone. >> Thank you. Any questions? All right, we will move on to discussion items. Uh, Myers Acoustics and Holland window replacement. >> Jason Powers. >> Yeah, Jason Powers. Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. Uh, Jason Powers with Barton

015Melo. It's nice to meet some of you. Uh, some friendly faces I've seen before, but I'll get to meet all of you more as we get through the bond. Um, I'm here tonight uh to talk about the Meyers and the uh Holland uh new scope that just got bid out in mid October. Um not a big scope, but definitely going to make an impact. Uh the Meyers was new acoustical baffles for the steam room. Um we took in about uh six bids, which was great. Um the bids were anywhere from 38K to around two 278K. I don't know what that person was thinking. Um but uh we're here to uh ask for your approval on the award to Clark Contracting. Um the second was Holland window replacement for about approximately 25 windows. Um we're asking

016for Trenco Glass out of Lancing to or out of Warren, sorry. Uh we're asking your approval for for their uh bid of 4285 with their alternates. Uh they had two bids were received. They were the low of the two. And uh um both of these were we post bid uh all the three low biders for Holland and the two low biders for uh for Holland and the the three low biders for Meyers. And we found everything to be in order. And unless there's any questions, >> this was to correct what wasn't done correctly the first time under a different company. Correct. >> That's my understanding. I don't have >> history on that. >> The history piece. I'm going to say part of it. Yes. I'm going to say that the acoustic baffles at Meyers was

017not necessarily the case because um essentially when they went through their design processes, each building kind of made their own choices in that and um the team that was in place at that building at Myers at the time chose not to do the acoustic baffling, whereas McDow did choose to do that. Um but what we've learned is it's pretty loud in that room, pretty hectic, and it it should have had this from the beginning. And that's where that that's why that's a correction. But you are correct. I would say the windows that went in at Holland um they have egress like they open as required so that students can get out in the case of an emergency in case of a fire that but there is no good way of opening them for the circulation

018for the ventilation that is uh needed on hot days and without air conditioning in that building and it's to correct that. You are correct. >> Thank you for the history. Oh yeah, absolutely. >> Any any questions from the board? >> Thank you. >> Change to district courses. That's going to be Shauna Maynard. >> Good afternoon. Um I'm here tonight to ask the board to approve or reapprove all of our district courses that we offer um throughout all of our buildings. Uh the reason that I'm coming to you to ask for this is because we received a new auditor this year and one of the things that she will be requesting is board minutes as to when our um courses have been approved. Um some of our courses were probably approved in the 70s and 80s

019and good luck finding them in our minutes. So we thought it would just be a good idea to bring all of our district courses to the board and ask them to approve them. Um they I'm sure they have already all been approved at one point. This would just make it more readily available for us if the auditor does ask for them. And then moving forward, we would like to um ask we do this every year just to make sure we are up to date. I don't think that would stop us if an individual course would still need to come before you, but this would just be all of our courses at one time to come. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> I look at the timing of this in the future as typically this time

020of year, we're rewriting and revising the uh course guide for the high school and so that the students can start making their selections in January and February. So, I think this is usually the perfect time of year for us to to do that piece because this is the time of year that we're updating and putting what's necessary into that document as well. >> Okay. Any questions or comments from the board? >> Thank you, Sha. >> Boardroom projector system digital age technologies. Thank you. >> Good morning. I'm here seeking approval for a revamp of our audio and video system here in this room. Um the goal is to have two projectors, one up for the front of the screen for the audience >> a little bit. Speak up a little bit. >> Uh one projector in

021the back of the room for you guys. Um there's only one screen on the quote. That's because the back of the room is white. So there's no reason for an extra screen. Um that will also be replaced. Uh I'm not really sure if it still works. Um, we'll also add a camera in the back so we don't have to have individual laptops out if you guys don't want them. Um, we also plan on replacing all the mics for uh each of you, including this mic. There's going to be a spare mic, two new speakers, three stage mics for performances, um, the uh, sound equipment and electrical work that needs to be added as well. This is all coming out of general funds under REMC pricing. >> There are other questions from the board. >> How

022long? >> Yeah. How long before it's done? >> Um, depends on how quickly it gets approved. >> I'll say if it gets approved today. >> I don't know, but I'd assume about a month after PO. >> Thank you. >> Yep. Okay, we'll move on to Sae um co-chair. >> All right, thank you very much. Um we have been in the process of reestablishing our sex ed advisory board. Uh a little while back we put out applications to the community and uh seeking anybody who was interested in a serving on the committee and b there was a question on there whether they wanted to serve as a co-chair of that committee. Uh by law we do have to have two co-chairs. One is an employee of the school district and the other is a parent of

023the school district. And uh so tonight we're going to walk through the process of selecting the co-chairs. Uh what we did is when we had the applications come in uh we redacted any personal information uh we simply just labeled it candidate number one for the employee spot, candidate number two for the employee spot and we gave that information uh to you to the board to review those documents in preparation for this meeting. Uh I also uh had copies put into your packets tonight. So if you wanted to revisit anything, you wanted to look at anything, uh you have that in front of you as well. Uh we did specify that uh you know it is recommended that one of the the co-chair positions have a medical background although not required. That is one of those

024uh recommended pieces. So uh we did flag that as well uh on the applications that I gave you and uh on the documents in your packet. So we tried to make this as anonymous as humanly possible for you since you are making the decision tonight. So it was also recommended when we were in the policy committee meeting and we were updating our admin rags regarding the CAB uh to make this like we would if we were filling a vacancy on the board of education. So what we did is we are using the exact same uh process except for it's not interview style. It's simply looking over the applications and then doing a ranking just like we did last time. There was a vacancy. So, we're going to kind of walk through that process and uh

025by the end of tonight, we will have our two co-chairs elected uh to get the CADB back up. I will say this as well uh in terms of the other applicants, I know I said this two weeks ago or three weeks ago, sorry, we were off one of them. Uh, but I'm going to reiterate it tonight that the 17 applicants that we had all complied with what our makeup needs to be by law. So, we are going to proceed that anyone who applied for being on the committee is on the committee. So, really, we're just choosing the co-chairs. There were two spots that are required legally that we still need to go and recruit somebody to fill because by law we do have to have a clergy person and by law we have to have

026a student representative. uh tomorrow. In fact, I'm meeting with my uh student advisory board. It is one of the topics we are going to talk about uh at the student advisory board tomorrow to get that student spot filled. Uh in terms of the clergy, we do have to reach out to a clergy member in the community and get that in place. I think we'll be able to do so. So, essentially, the the CAB will have 19 members when it is done and we'll have the two co-chairs that we picked tonight. So, all right. With that said, I'm going to start kind of walking through this. Uh the first one is for the employee candidates. You had two candidates that applied that were employees. And uh we're basically if you need a few moments to look

027over in the applications, I'll let you do that. And then I will go down and ask you to give two points to the candidate that's your first choice and one point to the candidate that is your second choice. >> We're going to do that under discussion. >> Correct. And then when we get to the action, we'll take the vote to approve. Okay. >> But we're going to do this part here where we're we're doing the the process. >> Well, I just wanted to say during discussion, I was on the policy committee and and this is not even close to what I envisioned. I imagine we'd be um being interviewed the candidates, being able to talk to them. I never wanted this to be anonymous. Normally, you vote on people, not on number one, number two,

028or number three. So, I guess I'm stuck going along with it, but I really think we should have voted on this before because there is nothing in the state law that requires us to be anonymous. It it's not there. This was kind of made up at the last minute to um in my opinion pushed a process towards certain people versus others. So, there's no reason this is anonymous and there's no reason to do it this way. I I disagree only because if it's anonymous, then the board as a whole can't be accused of favoritism or picking or excluding someone they don't want because they don't know who they are. They're looking at qualifications only. >> Agreed. >> Well, but then you can't ask the people questions. I mean, look, I was told this would be

029like when we select a candidate for the board, the vacancy, right? And we had people come for the board vacancy. We got to ask them questions. That was to me the most fundamental part of it. It's like the wheels on a car. So if you're going to say it's like the board interview process, you need to interview the people and you can't interview them if you want them anonymous. This this really makes no sense doing it this way. I understand what you're saying. I mean, it's a factually correct statement, but I I think we need to be able to interview the people and ask them what they really think. So that's keeping it anonymous really doesn't make a lot of sense to me. And by the way, when they win, we're going to know their

030name anyway. So, you know, >> that is correct. >> Okay, let's move on to the >> All right. Does anybody need time to look over any of the packets in front of them or do they feel comfortable in going to the rankings? >> I'm comfortable. Looked at mine earlier. Anyone else uncomfortable moving forward right now? >> No. >> All right. >> Nope. So, uh, first, Miss Moore, >> um, employee. >> So, >> applicant number one >> for the first choice. >> First choice. Applicant number two for my second choice. >> All right, Mr. Morris. >> Uh, candidate one, two points. Candidate two, one point. >> Miss Shuko. >> Candidate number one, two points. Candidate number two, one point. >> Miss Fields. uh candidate one or candidate for two points number one and then the second

031choice was number two >> Miss Block >> candidate number one two points candidate number two one point >> Mr. Madarski >> candidate number two is my first choice number one is my second choice >> Mr. Westall. >> Uh, candidate number one is my first choice and number two is my second. >> So the rankings were there were 13 points for candidate one and eight points for candidate two. Okay. >> So, now that we have that narrowed down, this is uh Miss Moore. Of those two candidates, who would you like to see us moving forward? >> Can't remember. >> I didn't see I don't listen to >> Mr. Morris. of the two now that we got them ranked. >> Miss Shufelt, >> I'm sorry. >> Of the two because we narrowed it down so that the

032number one had 13 points, number two had eight. Which of the two would you like to see when we pull over? >> Candidate number one. >> And this will make more sense on this next one because we have seven uh candidates for the second seat. So, I know it seems like it's an obvious thing when we've already put out the points, but this will make more sense when we go to that process. And I wanted to keep it the same. >> I wanted to keep it the same for uh Miss Fields. Of the two candidates, who would you like to bring forth? >> Number one, >> Miss Walk. >> Number one, >> Mr. Madarski. Number one, >> Mr. Wessle. >> Number one. >> All right. So when we get to the actions, we'll be bringing

033forward candidate one for the approval. >> All right, the second one. I know we had more applicants because this is the parent uh piece. We had seven candidates here and uh we're going to do the same process, but I'm going to ask does anybody need time to look at any applications first? Do we need a moment? Um feel free if you do need that. Hey, give me a minute. >> Yep, you got it. All right. >> So, same process. Uh, tell me which candidate you would like for your first choice, which would be two points, and one point for the second choice, and then we will narrow from there. So, Miss Moore, >> uh, candidate number five gets two points. Candidate number three gets one. >> All right, Mr. Morris. >> Uh, candidate one gets

034two points, and candidate four gets. >> Miss Shuel, >> candidate number one gets two points. Candidate number seven gets one point. >> Miss Fields. >> Candidate number one for two points. Candidate number two for one point. >> You said candidate number two, correct? >> Yes. >> Thank you, Miss Black. >> Candidate number one, two points. Candidate number five, >> Mr. Madarski. >> Candidate number six, how many points can I uh give to >> uh two for the first choice, for the second? >> And then candidate number three, one >> and then Mr. Westful. >> Candidate number one, two points. Candidate number two, one point. Give me a moment to tally. So, the number one candidate would be candidate number one with 10 points. And the second candidate would be candidate five with three. So Miss

035Moore, candidate one or candidate five, which would you like to see brought forward? >> Candidate five. >> Mr. Morris. >> Candidate one. Miss Shufelt >> number candidate number one >> Miss Fields >> Miss Block >> number one >> Mr. Madarski >> five >> and then Mr. request number one. >> So this is candidate one. All right. When we get to the action section, um I will uh obviously because we have to read in the record through the names of who was appointed and we bring that uh forward when we get to the action. >> Thank you very much. >> Public comment. Now we're um if anyone would like to address the board regarding um items um that we've disc about discussion items, please approach the podium and we will anyone wishing to address the board

036regarding items that were we've discussed actually dur during discussion items. >> Yep. Just anything on the agenda. >> You want to say anything for our speaker or no? Uh you need your name and address. >> Courtney Prout 9846 Katherine. Um I just want to speak out and say that it's kind of crazy that the board members are the ones that have the final to say on this decision. It's pretty astonishing to me because you allowed the previous committees to operate out of compliance and never recognized it until I brought it forward. Um and now you guys are the last people that I feel should be making the final decision on anything that has to do with CB because quite frankly none of you understood the law when it came to it prior to this. It's

037all that I want to say. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Anybody online? Nope. Okay, then we'll move forward. And this is action items. Company. Moving on to the action item. Action item number one, the Meyers Acoustic and Holland window replacement. It is recommended the board of education approve the award of Meyers Elementary School acoustics and Holland Elementary School window replacement through Twinkle Glass and Clark's Contracting Services for $90,915. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Miss Fields. Is there a second? >> Second by Mr. Westall. >> Mr. Morris? >> Yes. >> Miss Fela? Yes. Mr. Westall? >> Yes. Miss Block, >> yes. >> Miss Fields, >> yes. >> Miss Moore, >> yes. >> Mr. Madarski, >> yes. >> That passes 70. Number two is the district courses. It is recommended the board of education to

038make the changes to the district courses as discussed above. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Miss Block. Is there a second? >> Support by Miss Fields. Mr. Madarski. Yes, >> Mr. Morris. >> Yes, >> Miss Shufelt is a yes, Mr. Westfall. >> Yes, >> Miss Block. >> Yes, >> Miss Fields. >> Yes, >> Miss Moore. >> Yes, >> that passes 70. >> Number three is the boardroom projector system digital age technology. >> We need updated numbers on this. Perfect. >> Um, as well as the added audio. It is recommended the board of education approve the purchase of the boardroom projection system through the digital age technology for the total amount of $62,714. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Miss Fields. Is there a second? >> Support by Mr. Madarski. >> Mr. Morris. >>

039Yes. >> Miss Shuvelt is a yes. Mr. Westfall. >> Yes. Miss Block, >> yes. >> Miss Fields, >> yes. >> Miss Moore, >> yes. >> Mr. Madarski, >> yes. >> That passes 70. >> You're going to need my addition here, right? >> Yes. >> All right. For the candidate for the CAP co-chair the employee uh spot, it is Briana Ver. Did I say that right? And that is w a c h t. >> I'm sorry. Can you spell that again? >> Oh, absolutely. Uh w a e c h t. >> Okay. Number four is the seab co-chair employee. It is recommended the board of education approve the employee seab co-chair. Candidate number one, Briana Walker. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Miss Fields. Is there a second? >> Support by Miss Moore. >> Miss

040Shufeld, is a yes. Mr. Westfall? >> Yes. >> Miss Block? >> Yes. >> Miss Fields? >> Yes. >> Miss Moore? >> Yes. >> Mr. Madarski? >> No. >> Mr. Morris? >> Yes. >> That passes six to one. DAB co-chair parent >> the candidate number one was Jennifer Ferguson Behringer. >> Okay. Dehab co-chair parent. It is recommended the board of education approve the parent co-chair candidate number one Jennifer Ferguson Behringer. Is there a motion? >> Motion. Motion by Miss Fields. Is there support? >> Support by Miss Black. >> Mr. Westfall? >> Yes. >> Miss Block? >> Yes. >> Miss Fields? >> Yes. >> Miss Moore? >> Yes. >> Mr. Madarkski? >> No. >> Mr. Morris? >> Yes. >> Miss? Yes. That passes 6 to one. >> All right. We'll move on to the superintendence report. Mr.

041Wer, >> thank you. Give me just a moment to organize myself. Okay. Uh just two things I wanted to go over tonight. Um the first one being uh a update on our strategic plan process. I feel like I have not uh been able to get that out to you guys in a little bit and I wanted to make sure we had that on there and I know we just updated the form and uploaded it to the website today as well. Uh some of these are still in positions where we're still moving them along or they haven't made as much progress. So I probably won't talk about those in particular tonight, but I do want to talk about the ones that we have definitely made progress on since uh I last spoke of this back in

042October. Uh the first one in our academics and programs goals, the first one regarding class size reduction. Uh, I'm going to say since the last time we spoke, we did complete the first quarter objective, which was to review our K12 class sizes. Uh, I'd say right now we are in progress with the second quarter goal, which was to research programs, grants, physical needs, other options to be able to lower our K2 class sizes. Um, I will say that in that process of when we did the review, we were able to maintain a lot of our positions at the numbers that they currently were. And in some of our buildings, they were pretty uh low for for the current class size. And we are now planning on our third quarter goal in this regard which is

043consulting with building leadership and union leadership that so that when we work on the process of developing master schedules we are going to do so in a way that can help try to maintain some lower class sizes and particularly focusing on the K2 uh level class sizes. Um, I think it's our goal to look at them at all levels, but for sure we definitely want to to be focused on the K2 class size numbers, but that's kind of where we're at with that uh goal within our strategic plan. The next one I have an update on is our implementing a comprehensive MTSS structure. Uh, we are still in progress on the first quarter goal, which was finalizing the MTSS handbook and rolling out the training on that. We have taken some major steps even as

044of today where we know that we are about 95% complete with where that handbook is and we are in the process of planning out the training and PD part that goes along with it. Uh I can also say that we have moved into the second goal as well which is clarifying assessments for students to indicate when students are off track either behaviorally or academically. And we have started the process of looking at the cut scores. we have started the process of establishing what that's going to look like to determine those things. So, um even though we're still finishing up that first quarter goal, we have already kind of blended into the second quarter goal in that regard. Um we had a goal as well in the same section about screening students for mental health needs

045and using data to guide those decisions. A while back, I know Miss Scott came before the board, presented uh surveys that were going to be teacher facing and then surveys at the secondary level that were going to be studentf facing. And we did put those surveys at that time after she presented on our website for parents to review and to be able to see exactly what was going to be seen from this regard. So since that presentation and since putting those on the website, we did identify the screener tool. We did pilot the screener tool and that has something that has been rolled out and progress has been made. So we are into the third quarter goal of where we're now going to start uh looking into and disagregating the data and seeing what needs

046we have from there. Nope, I already talked about that one. The next one that we have made progress on since the last time uh we brought this up is regarding our finding appropriate online programs to support our HR hiring process. We have put together a committee that has been working uh with many different stakeholders on looking at different websites, different software that we can use that can uh expedite and make it more efficient in what we do on our onboarding end of the HR process. Uh I'm really excited that we have one that we've really d had a dive into. We've even had a team that went to uh Wood Haven Brownstone schools to take a look at because they use the tool to see how it works to see how it it helps them

047and helps their process. So we've made a lot of progress and we're hoping that soon we'll get into that second quarter goal of where we're going to select what portal we choose. But I think we've seen a lot of good things about the frontline program, especially since it's something we already use for our applications. It's something we already use for other uh items like our attendance management uh here in the school district. So, the fact that it has these other capabilities is something that can make it more efficient for us. And the last two I want to update on are in the operations uh section of the strategic plan. Um, we reported out last time that we were kind of complete in assessing what our needs are as a district. I know that our new

048partners, Barton Mallow, they came out, they helped us put together those assessments and now we've been working through the next steps from there. And one of those goals we had was to improve building curb appeal. Um, just today, uh, myself, uh, Miss Ves Peremy, our director of state and federal programs, uh, Miss Hill, our, uh, or I should say Dr. Hill, our CFO, and uh Jack Gerrod and Patrick Nedlick from our operations department. We met to start kind of prioritizing what we can get out there and what pots of money we can use. And the big one we talked about today was the 12D grant that we received as a school from the state of Michigan. So, the 12D grant is $4 million that was granted just to the Taylor School District for our infrastructure

049needs. And uh we were really looking into what was the best use of that money today. And some of that is going to help us with this curb appeal piece. Uh I think those of you definitely those at Moody and Johnson can attest to how bad the parking lots are and how desperate they are to to be upgraded right now. So that is one of the conversations we had today that should we be using this money for from this grant to start working on those parking lots and that is one of the areas that that we talked about which definitely fits into the strategic plan goal of updating our curb appeal. And I know I see Mr. Hall here. He'll be very happy that we talked about gutting all of Hoover's HVAC to date too.

050So, uh, yes, we we had lots of conversations, but, uh, in terms of the curb appeal, we really talked about parking lots today because they they desperately need some upgrades, uh, in there. And the final one that we had in terms of the operations was uh, revolving roof replacement. Uh, we already did a big round of roofs this past summer and at the end of last school year. Uh, I was very happy to hear that Jack and Patrick put out the next round of roofs. We have about five more buildings that need that uh in there as well. And uh we are seeking a different state grant that is coming out for infrastructure that could be able to pay for that because the state is giving out money to school districts and a competitive grant

051that will fund their priority is for districts that have roof needs and HVAC needs, which is us. So, we're definitely going to be applying for that and finishing that piece up. But all those roofs are out for bid and I'm excited that we are going to get that going and we should be able to completely close out this uh goal pretty soon if we're able to get that forward which is fantastic. Our our buildings need that uh little extra love and care right now and I'm glad to see we're moving on. Any questions on strategic plan before I go one of my last speaks? So, um, the last thing I want to talk about is I recently sent out a communication, uh, in regards to, uh, kind of my thoughts on social emotional learning in

052schools. And I wanted to kind of just reiterate some of those things I put in that letter tonight. Um, I was very vulnerable, very open with people, which is not usually my style when I put that letter together. Um but I really needed to drive home a point of there are times when we don't know the struggles that a student is facing or we our family is facing and sometimes it's the place of the school to step in and to fill that need to fill that gap and the example I use is from my own personal life and you know when I was in junior high school my parents got divorced and my father uh was unemployed at the time and to the point that unemployment benefits stopped and there wasn't renewals. So there was

053no income coming in from that point from my father. And my mother worked a round a minimum wage job working at Jacobson's department store in Dearbornne. And quite honestly they were just trying at that point to find any way to make the ends meet and and to just make sure we were surviving and we had what we had. So they weren't able to find that place for myself or my brother to go when we were struggling with the fact that they were recently divorced and that we were going through this as a family. And that's when the school recognized cuz I know at that time it was the only time in my life that I struggled with my grades. It's the only time in my life that I was getting sent to the office. I

054was on a firstname basis with my assistant principal. something I remembered when I became an assistant principal that you never know what that kid on the other side of you is is going through at that time. But it really was the school who stepped in, noticed I was struggling and then was like, "Hey, we have these support groups for kids that are going recently through divorce. We have these items." And I'm always thankful that that is exactly what the school did because I was able to turn it around. I was able to get myself back on track and to do the things that that I've done now in my life, which I believe to be a fairly successful life at this point. And I know that at that moment, if it wasn't for the school

055taking those steps, recognizing those steps, it may not have turned out this way. So I I just say that to say we have to look out for everyone within our community and the need is always going to be different and sometimes it is in this place of providing those social emotional learning supports and to finding places for parents to seek extra resources or to have those things. And I just kind of wanted to put that out there uh as why it is something that I feel is so valuable and so important for for our kids. And I will close it on that. >> Thank you. >> All right, we'll move on to board member comments. Um, and it's important reminder that the views and opinions expressed by individual board members during this meeting are their

056own and do not necessarily reflect the official position or consensus of the entire um, board of education. I'm going to start out with just a short comment with regard to one of the many conspiracy theories that are floating around Facebook. and I'm not on Facebook. So, I was kind of surprised to see that there was a comment that that I personally would protect a teacher over um a student. Um because I was the former president of Taylor Federation of Teachers, I find that comment appalling, disgusting, and slanderous. There is no way that myself or anyone else sitting up on this board would protect a parent or an adult over a student. And I just want to make that very very clear. Thank you. Anyone else have board comments? >> No, that's about it. >> You

057got it pretty well covered. >> Well, I I have one, but it's not nearly that important, but um a lot of people are sending me stuff on Google Drive and sometimes I write back. I can't open Google Drive, so just send it as a PDF. So, um just just putting on the record, please don't send me things on Google Drive and think, hey, I read that. I cannot get it to work. So, >> I've had the same problem. If you scroll down a little bit, it's right there. You just click on it. >> Yeah. But I'm just having other issues which I want to like get into now with with the Google Drive. >> Can't get on Google Drive either. >> Okay. >> So, all I do is scroll down a little bit and it's

058printed out right there. You click on that and you can read it. >> No, some of them are. You're right. But some of them are Google Drive only and that's the ones I'm having is >> I have Yeah. No, I have I know what you're saying on that. Okay. >> Okay. Anyone else have comments? No. Then we will move on to >> the consent agenda. >> Thank you. >> Consent agenda. Agenda. Policy number 0166.1, policy number 6470, policy number 8640, and policy number 2304. Minutes from the regular board meeting from of October 15, 2025. Consolidated items. payment of current bills, certified, non-certified, and administrative reports, out of state overnight field trips, and out of state overnight grant funded conferences. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Mr. Morris. >> Is there a second? >> Support

059by Miss Fields. Miss Block? >> Yes. >> Miss Fields? >> Yes. >> Miss Moore? >> Yes. >> Mr. Madarski? >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris? >> Yes. >> Miss Shoefeld is a yes. Mr. Westfall, >> yes. That passes 70. >> Okay. Items scheduled for the next agenda. Good news. Recognition of the retirees and an audit update report. Um, now we'll move on to general public comment. At this point, we can anyone wishing to address the board about anything are welcome to step up to the podium. And I forgot to read my script last time, so I'll let you have be patient with me. Come on up. I have to read my script. >> Okay. need glasses for that. Welcome everyone to the Taylor School District regularly scheduled board meeting of November 5th, 2025, where our mission

060statement is to educate with purpose, engage with passion, empower the future, and our vision statement is that we will create a welcoming and innovative learning environment that nurtures the whole child, empowering every student to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Thank you to all of you who came to be with us tonight. We understand the importance of continuing to keep you informed and providing an opportunity for you to be heard. Public comment will begin with those in person and then move on to our online audience. For those in person, please step up to the microphone, state your name and address for the record. After the in-person comment, our online audience will need to find the raise hand symbol for a moderator to recognize and unmute you. Please take into consideration common courtesy, refrain from any personal

061attacks, and keep your comments to three minutes or less. We will provide and assist with timekeeping. So each guest will be able to monitor their own time and know when to conclude so all who wish to speak um will have an equal opportunity to do so. As a reminder, if you have any questions arise during this meeting or through other avenues, Superintendent Wagger or his designate will work to provide answers in a timely manner. Please note that the views and opinions expressed by individual board members are their own and do not necessarily represent the official position or consensus um of the board of education. Thank you. >> Hello, my name is Jennifer Miller. My address is 6551 Troy Street. I am the Taylor Middle School cheer program head coach. And I'm actually coming today to

062find out or to ask you guys to please keep or allow us to have the tumbling coach that has worked with our program for the last four years and raise our tumbling skills from forward roles to I have numerous skills or numerous girls working foss right now. If you guys don't know what that is, that is a girl flipping backwards and twisting fully around and then landing on her feet. Um, this is a a very hard skill and my middle school program has has numerous girls working towards this. We've been working with our tumbling coach for four years now and unfortunately the varsity head coach does not want us to stay with him and wants us to move with a different program. This program would be coming into Titan on Sundays for the middle school

063program and there is nothing there for them to really work on where our tumbling coach has offered for us to go to his gym and the girls pay out of their own pockets for us to go to this tumbling coach where he has stuff at his facility that is obviously building our program. This is what we want right now as a middle school program and I'm just asking that you guys allow us to do that. >> I'm not familiar with this history, Mr. Wagger. Are you? >> Yes, I am. But I I can update you when we do the next board update. Have that. Yes. >> Where is this facility located? >> Uh, it's in Taylor. It's at the Champion Force gym. The tumbling coach is coach Earl Angel Wings tumbling and he has been

064running our program for the past four years. >> Uh my question is if you're coming in on Sundays, is that also an out-of- pocket expense for the parents that you have to pay for? >> Yes, all tumbling is out of pocket expense and all parents have to do it as a whole. So tumbling is required for our cheer program to put onto the mat. That's one of the items that we have to put on the mat. So, as a program, the parents pay for this as a team. So, each parent pays individually for this. The new tumbling program is an hour and a half and it is $72 total for the month where the old program and where we would like to stay is $69 for anywhere between an hour and a half to two

065hours and 15 minutes. with the tumbling coach that we're with. >> Is that also per month? >> Yes, that is also per month. >> Um, just to clarify for those, this is for the competitive team. >> Yes. >> But both programs do use the same tumbling coach. Both the sideline and competitive team do. Um, but competitive is the one that has to have it. >> It's required by the state for competitive side. >> Well, we can't. you have to tumble on the mat. That's part of the skills that we have to perform on the mat. So, I would assume it is something required. I wouldn't want to put something on the mat where they don't have a coach teaching them how to do it and timing and everything. So, I would assume that is yes.

066>> So, the skills required but not necessarily x amount of hours of instruction. Is that what you're saying? >> Yes. >> Okay, that's just clarifying. >> Thank you for coming up here. Uh, were you given a reason for the change in coaching? >> That the head varsity coach wants the whole program underneath one coach and I just don't personally I've been with this coach for four years and why change something that is doing so well with our middle school program. So, thank you guys very much. >> Thank you. >> Hello, my name is Emily Porter. I feel as if my direct address isn't necessary, but I live in the Randall neighborhood. Um, my children, they go to Randall. Um, October 9th, transportation and the faculty at Randall lost my child. I feel like since it

067has been empty promises, and I'm sorry, since then, I feel like it's been empty promises on communication back and I'll make sure you get a call back, all of the things. and I feel like it's trying to be swept under the rug. Unfortunately for myself, I went through a parent's worst nightmare, not knowing where your kid is, waiting there. She never came out of school. I was told by a teacher that she was on the radio. I heard her in front of me say, "Do not let her off the bus. Mom is coming." That bus driver indeed let my daughter off the bus. No parent present. And I was searching my neighborhood looking for her. Thankfully, she's alive. She's great. She's doing well. Since then, I feel like I can't trust the Taylor School District

068in the safety of my child. Furthermore, she has some medical issues in regards to a um what's the word? Like a bathroom schedule. I've asked Miss Mazeris several times for a meeting, for an IEP, for a medical form, any of the sorts. And it's been over a month. I haven't had any communication back besides I believe Miss Graham had called me, told me she called me back. I never got a call. I messaged you on an email. You responded that that's not your area, which I understand. >> Y >> I'm not looking to come up here to be nasty to anybody, but as you can tell, I'm an upset mother. >> Yeah. >> And to be quite honest, how would anybody in this room feel if they did not 100% know where their child was

069and if she was okay? So that's essentially what I'm up here for is some answers, maybe a game plan because at this point I have to put a location device on my doctor. >> So yes, I will absolutely tomorrow start reaching out and I try to find you those answers and go from there. Absolutely. >> I appreciate it. >> Yeah, absolutely. Not a problem. >> Like I sign her into school. She has therapy once a week. I sign her into school. I'm face to face with the people in the office and I keep telling them I'm waiting on Miss Mazerus. I'm not hearing anything and like her teacher was off on a medical so it was a substitute. I understand it's unforeseen circumstances. That's not my problem. >> I understand everybody spread thin. You do

070a hard job. I appreciate it >> but this is the safety of my child and her well-being. And at this point like there's two situations. the medical and misplacement of my child, but even just let alone the medical form. I feel like I shouldn't have to fight this hard just to make sure my child's medical needs are taken care of. Like I'm at my wit's end at this point. >> So I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Oh, absolutely. I will definitely be >> and of course the safety of our students is the number one priority. Anyone else? Go ahead. Hi, my name is Ashley Pierce. I live at 11067 Ziggler Street. Um, I am a parent of a West Middle School cheerleader. Um, I also graduated from this district a little while ago. Um, but

071I'm just here to also express my concerns about the coaching um, and the fact that they are being asked to do tumbling in a gym without the equipment. Um because these tumbling skills, quite frankly, they're dangerous and I am not comfortable as a parent with my child being asked to try to do these tumbling skills without the proper equipment. Um and I'm also not willing to pay for her to be at risk um to do these things without the proper equipment. Um, and I was happy to hear you speak on the social emotional because also I think what's really important for our girls is to order in order to build these skills. They need to trust and they need to feel comfortable with the person who is coaching them and they're not going to get

072that from somebody new. They already have it. They're established. My daughter is one of the children who didn't couldn't even do a backbend walkover last year. Um, and now she's getting ready to throw tux. And I don't know if you know the difference in those skills, but it's huge. Um, and she's learned that in less than a year. So, I'm just really asking for you guys to take into consideration what is best for the middle school. Um, and I mean, I don't know if you guys went to any competitions last year, but our Taylor Middle School girls were recognized by schools everywhere we went. Our program is phenomenal. And to just like take that away from them feels kind of punitive to me. And again, I'm just asking for you to um let us continue

073tumbling where we are. >> Thank you. Hello Taylor school board and everyone. My name is Kyra Jennifer and I am a part of the Wayne County Civic Youth Council. I go I live in Taylor but I go to school in Detroit. The most important issue to me is mental health for everyone from young to old. In 2023, according to the World Health Organization, globally one in seven 10 to 19 year olds experience mental health disorder. Depression, anxiety, behavioral disorders are among the leading cause of illness and disability among adolesccents. For instance, during CO 19, mental health for many had decreased. The isolization from the outside world, friends, family, activities and etc. For many people, this caused loneliness and for some people are still affected by the lockdown today. I believe mental health should be talked

074about more in the government and society as a whole. I would like to propose the idea that mental health days should be in implemented in all tailor schools once a semester with fun activities for all students. The goal to help students know that it's okay to take breaks. And remember that investing in the future is investing in the mental health of the youth. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hi, my name's Amanda. Um, I was just wondering if we could utilize a electronic clock in and clock out after my time sheet was uh put down for a time that was 12:15 when I clocked out at 11:30 because the person that was underneath me thought put it on the wrong spot. And then later on it was said if you were caught lying on your

075time sheet that you would be terminated. And then I just ran into her and found out that she works at another school. So, if we could figure out a way to utilize an electronic time in and time out so that we can keep track of our hours and our pay and not have to worry about somebody scribbling out our times or changing our times, that would be great. >> Thank you. >> Hello, my name is Mary Hayes and my address is 24761 Churnick. I also have a child in the cheer program at Taylor Schools. She um knows and trusts her current tumbling coach who's been working with her to do amazing things. And I would hope that you guys will reconsider us having to be forced to go to a different tumbling coach and let

076us stay with the gentleman who our children trust and has gotten them skills that are far beyond what we can teach them and we appreciate all his help. >> Coach Earl, >> if you had to go to the other coach, do you have to pay for that one, too? >> Yes. >> So, you're forced to pay either way or get it. >> Yes. It's part of um having your child a part of sports and but it helps them get the skills that um takes them further um in competition and we look good. >> What is the reasoning of why they want you to move? I think that it is the head coach of the high school um is somehow in control over middle school also cheer and I just I I don't know what her

077reason is. She's not a very approachable person and um does not contact or have a lot of um doesn't reach out to us. You would think that she would come be a part of our little our smaller programs to try to encourage them to come to the high school and cheer for her in the future years and she hasn't. She's and from what I go to all the competitions I am part of the little league program in the city with the Taylor Seahawks. We have cheerleaders starting at three years old up to 13 and we feed into the middle school and high school program. She does nothing to even come to our littles to try to encourage them to stay in the school district and continue on to cheer for her at competitive level. I've

078been to competitions. Our middle school coaches have done great things and built our program where these girls want to stay in the city of Taylor and continue cheering. And I feel like the high school coach is not continuing that excitement and building the program. Um, I don't know why she wants to go to a different coach. I don't know if it's somebody she knows personally, but I just know that being with Coach Earl has really brought our girls far. Um, so I I don't know. I don't have a relationship with >> Are we talking How many is in the group? >> Um, our middle school program has about 30. We have two teams. We have a sixth grade team and then a seventh and eighth grade team. Jenny would know better. She's the coach. I'm

079kind of a team mom. Um but I want to say it's about 30 to 35 um participants per team in that program. >> Thank you. >> Yes. But I I would love to share that our middle school program, our cheerleaders look amazing at competition whereas high school struggles. And I think it all starts with the coaching. Thank you. >> Thank you. Hi, I'm uh Erica Bane. My address is 6624. Um I just wanted to show my support with the other cheer. I'm a cheer parent. My daughter goes to Hoover. Um she started cheering since she was in fourth grade at Randall. And yeah, it's always been a big thing with that competition. It got the girls excited to be part of cheer and to be part of something. And the cheer coaches made sure in

080middle school to carry that on. And so now we got these girls all excited about cheer and they're feeling good and it brings that self-esteem and I want to see that carry on and I don't know if it will carry on in the high school. I'll deal with that when my daughter gets to high school next year. But for right now, we are the parents, we pay for this tumbling. We should have a say of where our kids are getting tumbled at. My daughter again, she barely had a back walkover and she's working on her back tuck. Thinking about maybe possibly scholarships in the future. Wouldn't that be amazing? I mean, these girls who get these foss and these twists, they get looked at by colleges. There is many girls who did get some scholarships

081um you know to school craft or even some of the bigger colleges. Um and I just I don't see that happening with no equipment. It's dangerous for one. It is. And to be at a facility where there's equipment and a trained trainer, that's where I want to be. I mean, I had my daughter go down river. I took her out of it cuz she didn't learn anything down river. And here we've got a phenomenal coach and now he's they want to take them away. It's just it's unfair. And there's many people who are mad and are taking their kids out of district to go to other schools like Allen Park and Wood Haven that have an excellent competitive cheer team. And them girls aren't embarrassed at the mat. Last year, our girls were embarrassed crying

082off that mat. That destroys their self-confidence. It really does. Thank you. >> Hi, I am Emily Ramirez. I live at 22332 Brian Street and I'm going to piggyback off of the last couple moms and our coach for this middle school cheer program. So, our middle school team won multiple trophies last year, whereas the high school has not. It shows the determination that these girls have due to their coaching and as well as the tumbling coach. If we do move coaches, I fear that this program is going to crumble and especially with Taylor sports. I'm a product of Taylor sports as well. not going to mention how long ago, but it's sad seeing students leave the district because they are talented and I don't want that for my kids. I My daughter is one of those

083that is able to do a FO at this point and I know she wants to go to college for cheer. If she is pulled and she's unable to do this in high school, then she's going to be devastated and she's only a seventh grader. So, I just want you guys to really listen to us and hopefully, you know, really just keep this program where it needs to be. >> Thank you. >> I just want to add you guys are doing your part by coming to us and sharing this issue. So, thank you. >> Good evening. I'm Ginger the grandmother. I have a couple grandkids in your high school this year and I appreciate your comment on the social emotional um help or learning. I'm not I just don't want indoctrination. I think we can agree

084with that. I absolutely I came from a broken home. I had teen parents and I was a middle child. I know brokenness and I had teachers that helped do that as well, but they did not try to indoctrinate me into being a boy, for example. So, yes, there is that fine line. Secondly, I have to agree with Justin and Courtney about the process of how we came together to get the co-chair and of the sex education. I know you guys already know this, but I have to repeat myself. Um, I don't think we should be teaching sex ed in the way that we're doing it, not just here in this school, but the law does not require us to teach it in the way that these schools have somehow came around to do this. I

085personally believe as a nurse, a mother, a grandmother, a citizen, a patriot, we could add in the other subject matters in other subjects like your biologies and things of that nature. And I know that's so far off. I'm just putting it out there because I have to say it. I will also say I am so discouraged, not by what you guys are doing necessarily with the voting and elections that went on in our country yesterday. I'm just so discouraged even to stand here. I even debated to even come and voice because there's not enough of our voices. I'm happy to see a lot of people here for this cheering tumbling thing. It's wonderful. I wish this place was packed with parents who really gave a a crap. Okay, that's what I really wish. However, I

086feel like with the process of the way that you're doing it, um what what's the word where you're not seeing it? Um anonymous. >> Help me. Thank you anonymously. Yes. And the reason why is because I feel like everybody should be able to stand and own who they're choosing. If we cannot stand to own who what our ideals are, what we expect you guys and us for what you all expect out of the parents and out of the students and what we should expect out of the administration and the the board. We have to start doing that as a people in our country too. If we can't do it with the school board and the parents, screwed, okay? I'm I'm just going to be honest. We need to start doing this for one another. It's

087not us against you guys. I'm I'm not here to do that at all. There's a lot of things I don't agree with with different things that go on in different systems. I'm I just want I I want a voice. That's all. I I want you guys to continue to do what you're doing, but stand in who you're choosing for these positions, whether it's this sexual education process thing or some other thing that you might be faced with in the future. Please consider that and stand in what you're doing. And for the parents, I know my time's up, but don't be so hard on when they do do that. Let them stand in their truth of why they chose who they chose. Let's all be nice to each other. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Anyone online?

088>> Oh, we got more. Oh, one more. >> Two more, I think. >> Oh, two more. Okay. >> Good evening. My name is Stephanie Smolinsky. Many of you may know me from a social media post I made about my concerns that were dismissed at a prior board meeting regarding the replacement of core curriculum with mental health. I want to not only clear the air but clarify my stance and explain what led to my concerns. My stepchild came home mentioning a man was in our classroom who had never been there before. He mentioned to the class his place of work and that people came to see him for therapy. Ben went on talking about safety and his types of interest and what interests the children. Obviously concerned, I called Holland Elementary and was told he was

089brought in by Corwell Health. concerned. I contacted another par parent, a friend who had dealt with a similar issue last year. After speaking with her, I learned that parents were supposed to receive an opt-in opt out forms for medical related programs. Yet, when I asked the school, I was told there was none because this was part of their curriculum. I searched the T tsd website, nothing. Contacted the school board, no answer. The other parent also tried contacting the school board. The assistant superintendent of elementary curriculum finally reached out in a way I felt was not to address my questions, but because my Facebook post had gained attention and stated by her it was misleading. She claimed forums hadn't been sent out because the facilitators were just introducing themselves. Parents deserve to know when non-school staffs

090are entering the classrooms before it happens, not after. Things worsened when she and the school gave conflicting statements. Then she instructed the principal not to speak to me regarding my my concerns. I have messages and emails to prove this. Shortly after a rushed out opto form was sent without a district letter head. When I contacted school board president, you had stated uh you had just learned about the program that it was above your pre pay grade pay grade. I'm sorry. And if uh I disagreed, I could get an attorney. You also compared it to a a union negotiation. It was clear the district was being protective, not of parents or of students. When I requested to review the curriculum, it was scheduled during a parent pickup and my request to move it was denied. I

091had to keep my kids home from school to attend. Many parents also couldn't make it. This has been handled dishonestly and without transparency. Parents have a right to know who's in their child's classroom and when it what is being taught regardless of assurances that the person is safe. Every board member here has c was copied on my emails yet none of you responded and or held leadership accountable. That's unacceptable. If proper MDE guidelines and parent notification pro protocols had been followed, none of this would have even happened. Okay. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Stacy Best Preeie. Uh, I could give several averages here in Taylor because I've lived here for over 40 years and just recently moved. I can actually tell you what year Miss Ramirez graduated, but I won't because I had

092her in class, so that would put me in an awkward position as well in terms of age. But I started my career here in 1998. I left for a little bit and returned. So I just wanted to come up here kind of as an employee, but kind of a a lifelong community member here. So what I've seen online lately tells me that our community is struggling. Not just our kids, but our adults, too. The behavior we see on social media has been at best uninformed and at worst cruel. I don't want to blame anyone. I say it be I say it because it reveals something deeper. Adults who who are themselves may be hurting, frustrated, overwhelmed, angry, and emotionally drained. And if the adults are struggling, how can we expect our kids to do any

093better? I understand the community's frustration about not getting a new high school. I was here and voted on it, too. But the people in front of us now had nothing to do with those early planning days. They're trying to do the best they can with what was left behind. Again, the attacks on social media aren't going to get us a new high school. What will move us forward are the partnerships, conversations, and plans already underway. And I'm encouraged by the new renderings and collaborative efforts taking shape. Social media should be a place where we seek to understand and make connections, not seek to a place to persecute, bully, or harass. None of us are here to do harm. We're here because we care about kids and want to solve problems. But that can't happen if

094our default mode is attack instead of empathy. We are raising children in a society that says forget your feelings. But I believe now more than ever we can't ignore them. When we do, we end up with children who grow into emotionally unregulated adults. People suffering from anxiety, depression, even physical health issues tied to stress. where just a little over a month ago, a presenter told us one and a one out of five of our students have contemplated suicide. This isn't about weakness, it's about humanity. Please understand that isn't a program, it's life. Every story we read has emotion at its core. I mean, who hasn't cried at Charlotte's Web? Every math problem about sharing is a lesson in compassion. Every science discovery from Ruri Cury to today's pioneers is rooted in perseverance. Every history lesson

095asks us to reckon with the emotional consequences of our past. Art and music are outlets for emotion and we even see character character traits in gym through teamwork and cooperation. Instead of channeling our frustration and anger online, let's channel it into something positive for our district. Come volunteer. Help a child learn to read or play a math game. Support our food pantry as families face reduced benefits and rising costs. Mentor a student, coach an activity, or simply show up to cheer. Every positive adult interaction matters. Use your passion to help shape solutions productively. So, let's stop pretending feelings don't don't belong in school. though the foundation of learning, of relationships, and of community. If we want regulated, compassionate, resilient kids, we have to model that as adults. I implore our tailor learning community to stop

096asking how can we and wonder how can we not because the truth is it starts with us. >> Thank you. So, I had this Matt Hall, principal of Hoover 27101, Beverly had this amazing speech, but I cannot How can you follow that? So, I I'm not even going to try. Thank you for that passionate speech, Mike. I I just came by to I'm sorry, Mr. Wagger. I came by >> We've known each other a long time. I get it. >> My apologies. I just came by because I wanted to let you know the vulnerability that you put in that letter resonated with many people, not just myself and my colleagues, but uh bus drivers, maintenance, people that I've talked to, teachers, you you've shown as a leader being vulnerable opens up discussions and it's it's

097awesome to see and I just wanted you to know that because not all the time do you get to hear that kind of stuff. Next, wasn't so I didn't wasn't expecting the whole thing with the HVAC at Hoover. So, I don't think there's any Hoover staff here tonight. Can we all and I checked online. Can we And I know we have some parents here. Can we keep a secret just for a little bit so I can surprise them? >> All right. And then um I know my time's running short. I want to say thank you for that. and also for the food pantry and the food drive and all that wonderful stuff. Thank you because I know many of many people on the board are pushing that charge too. So I do appreciate that. And

098then um there was one thing I was going to say. Oh, and the last thing I was going to say, middle school is unpredictable social emotional health. And I'm not going to get in, you know, but I'm going to tell you boots on the ground. This is your principles principal speaking right now. I some of the stuff that we're seeing now is is pretty wild and I've had some pretty tough conversations with parents. Lots of crying, lots of things like that, but we're all there to support each other. Um, with that being said, uh, we've had some great partnerships in the past with Taylor Teen Center and many others and those partnerships have lasted many, many years. I mean, I've been here for 31 years. These are that's a great organization. So, I just want

099to say that. Last but not least, it's a full moon. Middle school principles know that. Elementary principles know that. Everybody knows that. So, I was talking to our tech director today and he he will vouch for this. The power went out at Hoover. The power never goes out at Hoover. I mean, it goes out maybe for like 20 seconds, but it was 16 minutes. It was 16 minutes. So, after it, I had a time to reflect. And I'm like, I got to reflect because my blood pressure is up. And I reflected and we were all talking and everyone did what they were supposed to do. Okay, my head maintenance is calling Jack. My security is calling Michelle Marshall. I'm calling Mike. Laura is calling Mike. But what was cool about it is, get this, everybody

100answered the phone. Everybody answered that phone. And everybody worked together. And look, 60 minutes the power went back on. We had a plan. Things were working great, but thank you. I don't want to take any more time, but thank you for all you do. And thank you, board. Appreciate. >> Thank you. >> Hey, Matt, that's probably up there with when I worked at Hoover and we had the pipes burst and flood 10 classrooms in the morning and panic, panic, panic. Yes, I got you. >> Anyone else wishing to address the board in person? be proud. 9846 Katherine. Um, so I'm the parent that Stephanie Solinsky um, reached out to. Obviously, um, I made it very clear that the district failed my child last spring and I will not allow another parent or family to experience

101that same fear that I did. Following that incident, the district promised transparency. Mr. Wger, with the TSD lawyer present, committed to doing better. From that came the implementation of parent connect. A system meant to ensure parents are informed about everything with opt-in and optout forms digitally sent. In the superintendent's own words, this system would allow him to see who opened the forms who personally notifi and personally notify anyone who hadn't. That sounds great if it were actually implemented and used to inform parents before concerns arise. Yet, once again, that promise of transparency has been broken. The tsd failed to inform parents before allowing outside individuals into children's classrooms. Parents deserve to know who is coming into our schools. before they enter, not after concerns are raised by parents. Now, regarding the anti-bullying program being taught

102by the Taylor Teen Health Center, this program, when done correctly, requires trained educators. According to the Committee for Children, the company behind Second Step, it's highly recommended that classroom teachers be the primary presenters of this program. With school counselors and other staff members playing supporting roles, they also note that the entire school staff should be trained to ensure students receive a consistent message throughout their day. that this plan allows non-certified outsiders to teach 30-inute lessons each week. When Mr. Wger emailed parents stating this is not a district approved curriculum, it raised even more concerns for me. If it isn't approved, it's unlikely staff are not being trained. Without trained staff across the building, consistency and effectiveness are lost. So my question is this. Is this program truly being implemented as intended? Or is there another

103agenda behind allowing an outside organization to come in and teach it? As an educator, I know understanding a curriculum is essential to doing it right. If the district truly values outside of Mr. Wger's personal experiences stated in his communication last Thursday, programs like this must be more than supplemental. They must be implemented properly by trained educators, not outsourced visitors. And I question why the response to a concerned parent is get a lawyer and file a lawsuit instead of holding accountable those not following MDE protocol, the cabinet. This is not a parent problem. This is the board of education not holding the district leadership accountable problem. This district has failed to follow protocol with vision to learn, violated MDE law with the sex education advisory board, and now is allowing outside visitors to teach mental health

104curriculum without parental consent or board approval. As the board of education, it is your job to hold these members of the cabinet accountable. You are failing to do that and it is impacting our children and our community. It's very obvious. If your heart is no longer in this work, then I'm not sure why you're sitting up there. There are community members who do care deeply about our children, who want to see this district thrive, who have been here throughout it all, and we are not afraid to hold leadership accountable. I urge the board of education to do your job and hold the district accountable. As Taylor residents, we elected you to do just that. >> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to address the board in person? Okay, let's move on to online. Hey, I think

105it's my turn. Can everybody hear me? Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Hi, my name is Kim Berkkey. I am an employee of the Taylor School District. However, I live in Monroe and I apologize I could not be back in time um in person for the board meeting. So, I'm here virtually. So, I generally come to you um to showcase a group of children or a program that I'm particularly proud of. Um tonight, I would like to discuss something different. I have been an educator for 35 years. The last 10 of those years have been with the Taylor School District. During that time, I've been a classroom teacher, a technology media specialist, a school improvement coach, and I'm currently a school improvement coordinator for our district. Throughout my tenure, I've worked under 12 different administrators. Of

106those 12, three have been exemplary in my opinion. I'd like to talk about one of those three tonight. For the last few years, I've had the absolute privilege of working with Miss Emily Graham. In a very short time, she has brought or strengthened some of our most valuable district initiatives such as resilient coaches, the MTSS structure, tiered supports, and instructional coaches. Each and every student from TSD benefits from having access to these initiatives. I've had a front row seat to watch Emily Graham in action. She advocates fiercely for the rights and the well-being of all children. She is continually in our school buildings working side by side with staff to understand their needs and to problem solve. and she partners with families to provide empathy, compassion, and support. Emily is an amazing educational leader and

107a very caring human being. We are the luckiest district around to have her energy and enthusiasm leading us to improving current and future experiences for all members of our district. So, I'd like to close by saying thank you, Emily, for being fair, for being equitable, for being open and honest, for being brave, and for being you. Thank you. Anyone else online? Mr. Prow, you can go ahead. Is that his neck? Yeah. hand up. >> Yeah. Good evening. My name is James Prout. I live at 9846 Katherine and I am a parent in this district. I'm here tonight because my wife and I are exhausted. We are done being told to trust the process while our child and many others fall further behind. We have asked we have asked for transparency. We have asked for academic

108focus. We have followed the chain of command, sent emails, attended meetings, and tried to work with this district. In return, we have been given half answers, deflection, excuses, and justifications from personal experiences. Let's be honest, our students are not being taught at the level they deserve. Classroom time is being diluted with programs and ideological initiatives that have nothing to do with reading, writing, math, or science. When parents raise concerns, we are pushed toward outside tutors, third party platforms, or private supplemental resources. That is not acceptable. We should not have to find a separate education for our kids. That is literally what we are sending them sending them there for. Maybe the focus should be on academics inside the school. And if a student needs emotional or social support beyond basic classroom expectations, parents should be

109referred to qualified SEAL resources or licensed professionals outside of school. Not have the teachers attempt to take on roles they are not trained or licensed to handle. The math problems reiterating compassion are not the issue. It's the constant extra programs that go far beyond that. We keep hearing that everything is fine. It it's not. Uh performance data doesn't lie. Grades don't lie. The number of struggling students doesn't lie. Parents are not confused. We are concerned. The lack of communication is intentional. Decisions are hidden behind closed doors and parents are expected to accept them without question. That is not transparency. That is control. Let me be clear. I support teachers. My wife is a teacher. She's an amazing teacher, an even better person that cares more about children than any of you could fathom. But had

110to leave the brick and mortar because teachers are being buried under shifting priorities and forced to navigate non-academic agendas instead of teaching. They deserve leadership that stands behind them and removes distractions, not leadership that keeps adding more. This isn't complicated. If you want to improve the outcomes, teach the basics consistently and without distraction. And let me leave you with this. Our children get one chance at a solid education. We will not sit quiet while the chance is wasted. Our children's social development, emotional conditioning are not the responsibilities of this district. We don't co-parent with the district. Your DEI initiatives and ideological programs are distractions, not education. Stop inserting them into classrooms. Teach academics the responsibility of prepar preparing our kids for the real world. Real world belongs to us, the parents. We are expecting action,

111not more talking points. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else online? Nope. Hey, we will close audience participation. We're at here. Ajournment to Oh, that's you Stephanie. Ajournment to close session. We are preserved to Michigan's Open Meetings Act being public act 267 of 1976. And as amended, I move the board to convene and close session pursuant to material consent pursuant to section 8 of the open meeting. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Miss Field. Is there a second? >> Seconded by Mr. West. >> Just question. What um what is what section is this under? What what's negotiations? >> Negotiations. Okay. Correct. A lot of people don't know when you site section number. So, it's negotiations. Okay. >> Thank you, >> Miss Fields. >> Yes. >> Miss Moore, >> yes. >> Mr. Morarski, >> yes.

112>> Mr. Morris, >> yes. >> Miss, yes. Mr. Westfall, >> yes. >> Miss Black, >> yes. >> That passes seven. >> We are now adjourned at 7:37 to go into close session. >> Taylor, board. >> Oh, okay. Thank you. I'd like to call the um comm or the uh committee of the whole meeting for November 5th um back to order at uh somebody >> 8:44. Thank you. Um sorry I'm out of thing here. >> We have action after close session. The action after close session is going to be a memorandum of understanding between the Taylor School District and the Taylor Principles Association AFSA local. >> The Taylor School District and the Taylor Principles Association agreed to the following regarding the oversight of the graduation alliance program with the Taylor School District. Is there a motion?

113>> Motion by Miss Moore. Is there a second? >> Second by Mr. Morris. >> Miss Moore? >> Yes. >> Mr. Madarski? >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris? >> Yes. >> Miss Shufelt is a yes. Mr. Westfall? >> Yes. >> Miss Block? >> Yes. >> Miss Fields? >> Yes. >> That passes 70. >> Thank you. Now we need to entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion by Shuo. >> Second. >> For by Murdki and then Thank you. Murdarski. >> Yes. >> Morris. Yes. >> Shoefeld. >> Yes. >> Westfall. >> Yes. >> Block. >> Yes. >> Fields. >> Yes. >> More is a yes. That passes 70. And we are adjourned at what time? >> 8:45. >> Everyone have a wonderful evening. Thank you.