001It's always awkward. >> [laughter] >> Okay, I like to bring this meeting to order. Good evening, everyone. I like to call this meeting of Westwood Heights School Board of Education to order. On behalf of the Board of Education, thank you for being there here this evening and for your continued support of our students, staff, and schools. This is an official meeting of the Board of Education held in public for the purposes of conducting the business of the school district. It is not a communication forum. However, time for public comments, public participation, is provided as indicated on the agenda under the public comments. Before we begin, I'd like to remind our guests that a sign-in sheet and copies of tonight's agenda are available and on the front table. For those joining us online, you may subscribe
002to the meeting postings and the agenda through the district's website at hamdyhawks.net. At this time, I invite everyone please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Mission statement from somebody, please. >> The district will provide high-quality education and guidance to all students delivered by educators with a passion to see every student succeed. >> Thank you, Ms. Johnson. Roll call, Ms. Bridget. >> Here. >> Johnson Here. >> Roberts >> Here. >> Thank you, Ms. Bridget. For the benefit of the audience, please online, please take raise your right hand and when your name is called we didn't do that, so we would
003not have to worry about that, but the quorum has been established. You are now in the part where we need the meeting chair. Before we proceed, there are con- corrections to the board agenda as as required before we move to vote it in. Second page. There be no corrections? Can I get a motion? I'll consider agenda. >> Oh, okay. I move that the Board of Education approve the meeting agenda for as presented. >> Support. >> Moved by Ms. Roberts, supported by Mr. Walker. Any discussion? There'll be none. All those in favor raise your right hand and say aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed? There's none, the motion carried 6-0. Number two. >> I move that the Board of Education approve the meeting minutes of June 3rd, 2026 as presented. >> Support. >> Moved by Ms. Roberts,
004supported by Mr. Walker. Any discussion? There'll be none. As it presented all those in favor raise your right hand say aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed? No one opposed. The motion carried 6-0. Public comments for the action items only. Public comments for action items only. Public comments for action items third time. Thank you for your participation. Oh, okay. All right. >> Do I need to spell my name or state my >> Uh, just name. Just your name. >> Brenda Georges. That's it? No address, phone number, something like that before? >> The address is required. >> It is, right? >> Yes. >> 7146 Timberlane Drive, Flint, Michigan 48507. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> I can go. Good evening, everyone. Thank you for allowing me to address you. I come before you respectfully and with
005full recognition recognition of the difficult decisions that boards of education must sometimes make regarding staffing and finances. I understand that paragraph 22 of my contract permits a layoff when there's a reduction in administrative personnel. I'm not here to dispute the board's authority. Rather, I'm asking the board to carefully examine whether the circumstances before you constitute the type of reduction contemplated by paragraph 22. Do you guys know what paragraph 22 is? Um >> I don't. >> No, I do. It's about >> Okay, paragraph 22 in my contract states about layoffs. And so, that would be what paragraph 22 is. The recommendation before you states that my layoff is based upon budgetary constraints, anticipated staffing requirements, and declining enrollment. It further states that the recommendation is not based upon performance. If this recommendation is truly unrelated to
006performance, then I respectfully ask several questions. Do you believe that 9 days constitutes advanced notice? In the contract on December on paragraph 22, it states that um you know, if you guys can't afford to have the administrator, then you have to give them advanced notice that you can't afford them anymore, basically. Has the district actually reduced administrative personnel or is the district reorganizing administrative functions into newly created positions? At a recent board meeting, new positions were approved that will be funded through grant money, thereby reducing our um general fund by $304,000. If the district is creating new opportunities while simultaneously eliminating my employment, I respectfully ask whether all options were fully considered before recommending layoff. I'm not asking for special treatment. I'm asking for consistency. I'm asking for fairness. I'm asking for the board to
007ensure that paragraph 22 is being applied exactly as it was intended. Usually people are notified at least 30 days in advance. I also ask the board to consider the timing of events leading to this recommendation. Earlier this year, concerns were raised by me to the HR department regarding my future employment after a secretary, Karen Armor, made a comment that nobody likes me and they would be getting rid of me at the end of the year. That was long before the current recommendation was presented to me on June 9th. I reported >> Ms. Georges, please. You can't mention people's name personally, okay? Yep, got it. >> I reported these concerns through appropriate channels because I believe transparency and professionalism required me to do so. Today, I'm asking for that same transparency. If this is truly a
008financial decision, then I respectfully request information showing the reduction in administrative personnel, the analysis of reassignment options, the consideration given to newly approved positions, and the objective criteria used in selecting my position for elimination. I have dedicated myself to serving students, families, staff, and this community. I remain willing and able to continue serving this district. Accordingly, I respectfully request that the board postpone action on this recommendation until it has fully reviewed whether reassignment opportunities exist and whether this recommendation constitutes a true reduction in administrative personnel under paragraph 22 of my contract. Thank you for your time and and your service and your consideration. >> Thank you, Ms. Georges. >> Thank you. >> You know further further no further public comment, no discussion? Move on to the next item on the agenda. >> Personnel. >> Okay.
009You want me to make the motion? >> Yes, please. >> Okay. I move that the board of education approve the layoff resolution for one administrator due to budgetary reasons as presented. >> I get a support? >> Support. >> Moved by Ms. Johnson, supported by Ms. Roberts. Discussion? >> I have a question. All options have been reviewed. If you know what you came to this conclusion that an administrator need to be um >> Every administrator was put on the board and every position was looked at. Every administrator including the superintendent. Any more discussion, any more questions? >> Yeah, I got one. Is some of our layoff due to student enrollment or >> Definitely that. >> Go ahead. Was [clears throat] there Was there like an opportunity or anything presented for said individual to work in capacity
010at all or did we exhaust >> We explored that as well. At the end of the day, it doesn't alleviate the budget at the end of the day, right? So, we can reassign or put her in a different position, but we still have to pay the pay the funds and so that is part of the elimination process. Any more questions at this time? If there be none, all those in favor raise your right hand and say I. I. >> I. >> Opposed? Beg your pardon? >> I said I. >> Any others opposed? Motion carried five to one. Accepted. Ms. Carter, did you vote? >> You have to vote. Why is Why is there there You have to vote, Ms. Carter. >> Okay. I I know I have to vote. And I just You gone through
011and I My hand went up and you making your You know what you >> You got to say something. >> I know I have to say something. I didn't say anything, so you need to make way to try to say it. Okay. So um uh It's a yes vote. >> So the motion carried by the one. Okay. by the one. >> Can I say something? >> It's part of the discussion. >> Sorry, I missed it. Okay. >> But but you know >> Carry on. >> I'm very I'm very I'm very liberal about >> [laughter] >> Just carry on. Carry on. Yeah, we voted. >> Okay. Policy. >> I move that the Board of Education graciously accept the donation from Dort Federal $500 and the Valley Area Agency on >> Aging. >> Is that the Valley
012A- Oh, it's not on there. Okay, Aging $300 for the band. >> Support. >> Been moved by Ms. Roberts, supported by Mr. Johnson. Discussion. >> I do have a question. Would this solely go to the band or would this be allocated elsewhere? >> All donations raised by the band goes to the band. >> Yeah, has to. >> It's like grant money. >> Yeah, allocated. >> Any further discussions? If you have no further discussions, all those in favor raise your right hand and say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Let it be known that the motion carried six to zero. This time we have public comments on non-agenda items. Oh, excuse me. We have superintendent. Does the superintendent have anything he wants to say? >> The only thing I got to say is that our band will
013be marching in the Juneteenth parade on Friday uh starting at Max Brandon Park. And I believe they'll end up downtown. If you guys get the chance, what is the exact time they'll be marching or starting that? >> Uh we usually start at We have about a I don't have 5:00. Okay. >> 5:00, so. >> Where's that park at? >> Uh right there on uh it's the old uh Old Forest Park. >> Okay. Is that all the way downtown? >> Yes, sir. They'll stop up They'll have a break on the way. >> So, the break will be They They will start at um Max Brandon. They will make their The The route is Max Brandon, Pasadena, Pasadena to Martin Luther King. They get a stop at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where they get to eat,
014take a bathroom break, rest, and then it's not just for them, it's for everyone else. And then they will continue to march. >> Thank you, Miss >> The band? Oh, the band director is here. >> Do you have something you want to say, sir? >> That's all I have. >> Public comments on non-agenda items available. Once, public comments on non-agenda items available twice. Public comments on non-agenda items three times. At this time, I'd like to recommend the board Yes. Is excused.