April 22, 2026 - Regular Board Meeting

001Call the order of the pledge of allegiance. Please stand. >> States to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. All right. Thank you very much. Uh, Mr. Ventelli, do the roll call, please. >> Yes. Uh, Mr. Covert, >> here. >> Uh, Miss Knox, >> here. >> Mr. Sunnyberger, >> here. >> Mr. Vanitelli is here. Miss Burkemeer >> here. Mr. Powers >> here. Mr. Richards, >> I here. >> Everybody is here. >> Thank you. Um, I'd like to get approval on the agenda with just two slight modifications. Um, I'd like to move the approval of the agenda up um to letter C. And I'd also would like to add a NRA uh field trip to our new business be item line item three, letter D for a

002new field trip for the NRA show. With those changes, would anyone entertain a motion to approve the agenda as presented? >> I will make the motion with those changes. >> I'll support, >> Mr. Corbert. Okay. Any questions, comments, or concerns? No. All right. Hearing none, call the roll, please. Thank you. Miss Knox, >> yes. >> Mr. Covert, >> yes. >> Uh, Mr. Sunnyberger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Benzi, yes. Miss Burkmire, >> yes. >> Mr. Powers, >> yes. >> And Mr. Richards, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> Okay, perfect. Okay, moving on. Um, we have an MICI curriculum presentation by the Special Education Department. Can you guys hear me? All right. Awesome. Okay. So, uh, Mr. Kuzmano is just passing out copies, um, for all of you of the presentation that's up on the screen because

003there are just a couple of pieces that it might be nice to see up close. So, we thought we'd make some extra copies. Um, and we are very fortunate to have a lot of parents and a lot of staff here um, tonight. So, um, we do have staff. I know last year when we talked about the adoption of the uls curriculum and that went through um through the v board vote uh we had mentioned that we would come back and we'd love to share what it looks like how the first year with the curriculum went um so we did ask some staff if they are interested if they wanted to stop in today they are here as well but we collected some feedback and we just wanted to share updates with you all about how

004it's going uh with the first year of implementation. So, just to give you all a little overview, it's been a while, it's been a year. Um, but the unique learning system is the name of the MYSI curriculum that we adopted last year. It is being utilized by our ECSE preschool programs all the way through our high school myite programs. And it is a comprehensive and flexible curriculum. It allows us to do a lot of different adapted activities, accommodated work, differentiated levels, all with um providing hands-on learning opportunities. So, we have a couple pictures throughout. Uh this was a really great picture of one of our elementary programs utilizing one of the cooking lessons that's involved within the math portion of the curriculum. We thought we'd break it down a little bit for you um into

005the components that are included in the curriculum. there are there is the academic curriculum itself and then there are a lot of subcomponents that are also being utilized by our staff in some really awesome ways. So today we're going to talk a little bit about the academic portion the symbolsticks prime portion which supports our students who are not able to communicate verbally so that they have access to the curriculum and are equally able to participate and um answer questions and follow along and learn from the units. uh positivity, which is more of a behavior-based add-on to the program, transition, which is being utilized by our high school program to support like work-based skills and kind of getting students ready for the workforce, and then our you news to you component, which is our current event

006option that is tied on to the middle school levels of our program. So, we're going to go into a little detail about each of them. If you have any questions and want us to pause and explain, we get too much into special education wording here, please pause us and we will gladly answer and give you a little more context. So, the academic curriculum is the core piece we talked a lot about last year. Um, it is organized in monthly units and what's really great about it is that each grade level grade band covers the same topic but in a more or less complex way. So across the district, we're we're sort of following the same thematic units throughout the year. So it really is great for vertical alignment for our staff. Uh the standards are

007woven into all the lessons. It works with the uh common core essential elements which are the adapted standards. Um assessments. Staff are allowed to give pre and post assessments. There's also benchmark assessments along the way that allow us to collect data and really make decisions for supporting students IEPs and IEP goals on an individualized basis. And there's a really awesome student dashboard. You'll see a couple pictures throughout of students interacting with the online portion of the program as well. Symbolsticks Prime is a wonderful addition. Um, this is something that we were able to also incorporate with our district behaviorist. Uh, she's able to come in and use the symbol sticks prime to create charts for students, personalize individual schedules for students, um, rewards charts, all sorts of different ways to help us foster communication for

008all of our students. So, Symbolsticks Prime really focuses on um, supporting communication, but also supporting communication through symbols that are familiar and similar across all grade bands. So all students are able to from preschool up see some commonality between what they are working with and what the lessons incorporate. Positivity I think is probably a big hit for some people in this room. Um it has been a new add-on that we were able to explore this year and the purpose of it is for behavior and engagement support. So, this is not necessarily just to jump in and handle difficult behaviors with students, but also just to help engage all of our learners. So, I won't bore you with reading off of the slides, but I did include a little bit on here about what it is

009and how it works. Um, what I would love to point out is it has some really great options of visuals that we can provide for our students to allow them if a break is needed or if a calming strategy might need to happen before we move on to the next thing. We have options embedded right into our curriculum that a teacher can just send a student in live time if they're starting to see that maybe they're getting frustrated and they're working on an assessment, they can send a break to their screen or they can send a calming strategy right to their screen that allows them to sort of pause and reset and get started again. What we've noticed uh based on feedback from our staff and some observations as we've visited rooms is that the

010engagement has increased immensely. um we're not on the computers the entire time. There's a lot of hands-on learning involved, too. But even when students are left to do independent work, the engagement has really flourished because we feel as though our teachers have a better consistent grasp on being able to give differentiated supports throughout their lessons. Um the next one is transition and this is something that our high school team once we started working through the curriculum really wanted to explore further. Uh one of our big focuses at the 9th through 12th grade level is transition. What are we going to do after high school and how are we going to get there? What's really great about this curriculum is there is a component embedded right in that allows them to really work on just life

011skills, work skills, resume building, um banking, functional math, um functional reading. Some of the units will include how to navigate a map, how to navigate a map on Google, how to navigate a map on a phone, and really working with students on independent skills to work through um the skills they may need when they are after high school and out on their own and navigating transition in their individualized way. And then news to you, this is being utilized by our middle school program and a couple of our high school classes as well. Uh this component is really interesting. It will cover current events, but it'll cover it in an adapted way where the staff can differentiate the news articles. They can differentiate the questions or the prompts to really learn a little bit about what's

012going on in their world and how their world impacts them. It allows them to reflect. It allows the educators in our classes to really hone in on some real world world application for our students without having to search for a bunch of different resources. it's all within one um one all-encompassing program. So, these are the components of ULS that our staff have found to be the the most appropriate for their students that they're using on a day-to-day basis. Um what Mr. Kusamano and I were most excited about was the opportunity to really look at data. We have this curriculum. We're using it across the board. Uh we wanted to pull a sample set of data for you guys. uh we decided to pull data from our middle school group because they're sort of right in

013the middle and we wanted to see what what does it look like since we've implemented this for um the first school year. Are we seeing any trends? What direction is it trending in and how are our students responding in regards to actually maintaining the content that we're teaching? So on the next slide you will see a little comparison of data. Um the slide on the left or the the diagram on the left will show you student scores from fall of 24 to this fall. And this is uh reading and math all-encompassing. All of the little symbols are a different student and a different score that they have received on the NWA their growth within those two periods of time. So this quadrant is really nice. Um, one thing I like to point out is this

014is looking at achievement versus growth. So, low achievement, low growth is that bottom left red square. And you can see that that's sort of what we were seeing in that first box. Um, the quadrant on the right will show you or the diagram on the right will show you where data is showing us right now. So, this is the same sample of students um just a new testing session. And you'll notice that majority of the symbols have moved up to the top left. That quadrant is considered to have high growth. So we're not necessarily always just looking at achievement. We know that we have to meet our students where they are for achievement levels. We're looking at their individual growth. And this quadrant sort of shows you how our bundle of students went from low

015growth to high growth since we have adopted this curriculum. So, we were pretty excited to share that >> Through the winter. Yes. So, um when spring is finished, we can run some more reports if you're interested. But that is our latest sample of data that we were pretty excited to show today. Um and then we also collected some feedback from staff, from students, from parents. Um and so we wanted to share that with you as well. So that's embedded in the next few slides. Um staff feedback. I just included a few quotes. It was really exciting to sort of hear some of the things that the staff had to say. Uh when Mr. Kuzmano and I went through this, I think a few of our favorites were just the complex topics. We keep hearing like,

016"Oh, they're learning these really complex topics. They're they're engaging in algebra and they're able to adapt it to their needs and to their levels and show growth and and see themselves learning and be proud of that." Um I know there was a couple you pointed out as well. Yeah, you know, uh, we're we're always conscious of writing individualized plans for our students and the the program gives a variety of suggestions and it offers a variety of ways that we can continue to target our efforts and, you know, for teachers that have to craft curriculum and lesson plans, it is nice to have a program that helps with the crafting of these IEP documents as well. >> Absolutely. Um, the next one has student feedback. um our high school program decided they wanted to send out

017student surveys knowing that we were coming to the meeting um in April. They asked their students a few different questions. Um and then we had some some pictures of students at different grade levels interacting with the curriculum. You can see a little bit of what uh a large group lesson might look like projected on the board on the picture on the right and a little bit of what an individualized book may look like that a student could be working on at their particular level on the left. Um I really enjoyed the first one. I like learning different things. I'm learning about triangles. So, we have some geometry happening. Um, and then one student gave it five stars. It was just really exciting to read the student feedback. Some of them just said yes or no

018to the questions. And then some students added a little bit of um commentary. So, I wanted to include that. It's always exciting to hear what they like about it. A lot of the feedback was, I like that the directions and answers are read to me. I don't have to have a teacher come over and read it to me. I can just move on and do my work and and have it read to me right on there. So, that was really I thought really sweet. Um, and then we did receive a little bit of parent feedback. These are just parents who either have reached out to us or they have said something to a teacher along the way and the teacher felt it was necessary to share with us and we always appreciate hearing that um

019because we know that parents are the biggest champions of their students and we we like to know what they're thinking about what we're doing as well. So, um, a lot of these comments focused around my student is reading and I'm so excited that my student is reading. Um, that was really incredible to read. Um, some parents even indicated the fact that time management skills have improved. Um, a lot of that may have to do with maybe some of the positivity options of separate schedules for the students and all of those wonderful components that are embedded. So, our purpose of coming up here today was we just wanted to thank you guys for supporting us in this endeavor and give you a little heads up on where we're at right now and how it's going. Um,

020we do have to renew our license every year. So, I know that's on the agenda later today and we thought it just made sense to give you an update on how it's going before that has to be a consideration. So, um, I think the next slide is just if you guys have any questions. Are you going to be here later when we do this on the agenda to renew it? Okay, I'll ask question then. >> I do have a one quick question. Um, when you look at the um the overall special education program here at Ankor Bay, is there anything that that we lack or we can do better for the program? >> Oh, I I think we're always encountering areas where we can make improvements. Um staff have provided tremendous feedback about what's working,

021what is hindering the efforts maybe in terms of technology, what could we what could we do to improve access? Um whether it's for whole group instruction, individualized, you know, with students using their tech devices. Um so it is definitely a work in progress. Um and we've already started making considerations um to uh have some of those improvements. Uh, so but yes. Yes. Short answer is yes. >> Other than renewing the license tonight, right? All right. >> Um, I echo your sentiment that it it seems like there's a lot of technology embedded in this curriculum. I am I echo your sentiment that we don't want our kids on our computers 100% of the time, but it is an important component. Um, do we have a goal going forward of getting our special education rooms at North

022their own dedicated chrome carts? That is a great question. Um, we actually have sent uh surveys out to our staff. We're wanting to make sure we know what forms of devices students are utilizing. What's nice about ULS is you can use different um devices. You can use iPads, you can use Chromebooks. Uh, each program is very individualized on what they prefer. So, um, we have sort of started now that we have are in full year of implementation and we know how often it's being used, we've started asking our staff, okay, what form of devices do your students need? What do you have access to? what do you not have access to? So, um, short answer to that one is yes. We will probably have to have further discussion about that, but we're wanting to make

023sure that we are tailoring it specific to each room. >> Is there a timeline on that at all? >> Um, great question. >> I I say I I know that we have brought this up um at director's meetings, we've we've had curriculum uh discussions, we've had uh committee meetings. So, uh it is ongoing. Our hope is, you know, leading into next year, we already have some improvements. >> Our building administrators have been very supportive with the curriculum as well. So, we often if we hear of a concern, we'll go to them and ask like, is there a cart that's available? Is there devices that are available? The tech department has been great of responding and coming out and testing our projectors and making sure everything's calibrated and appropriate to work. So, props to you guys,

024too. Um, so yeah, it's a work in progress, but we're moving as quickly as we can because it really there are components of it where that tech use is is crucial for assessment pieces especially. >> Yeah. And just to jump in on that, so at the beginning of the year, um, the building principles at the middle school, they ask like their staff, what do you need? How often do you need it? Part of this is now this was a pilot program. So now we're asking for like kind of like formal approval to continue it. And then as part of that, then we'll we'll have the resources to commit to it. All right, great. Any other questions? I >> just say one additional thought. Uh I think in addition to having something concrete and structured for

025our self-contained programs, having uh the ability to tie these lessons to standards has given us the opportunity to inform our gened staff as well about what we're doing and what we're working on to make, you know, opportunities and then in the gened setting with these students more meaningful. um the chasm isn't quite so large to go from one room now to another potentially. Um some of the curriculum exposure is is familiar. Um so I think that's been pretty impressive to us is um informing other educators of what we're doing. So it is not so mysterious of what's going on in these rooms. How how are we u meeting the needs of our diverse learners. So um I found that to be pretty remarkable too. >> All right. Great. Any other questions? Thank you very much.

026Sure. >> Thank you. >> All right. Moving down the agenda. Uh the next item on the list is the Anchor Bay Community Foundation. And we're Um, Sounds better. Yes. Government I What's Thank you very much. It's great story. Okay, moving down the list. The next item is going to be bowling students recognition by the athletic supervisor. Thank I know that That leg is now open. Oh, I feel like I am here that must be healthy. Thank you, >> Mom. Uh, can we at least bring your daughter up for a picture? And from a board perspective, I do apologize for what you went through. And I do ask Mr. Jankowski for a full investigation. I should not be we should not be having this conversation tonight. We have a full-time athletic director. We have a full-time

027assistant athletic director. This should not be happening. So, please, Mr. Chakowski, I'd like to full report to the entire board on what what transpired. With that being said, can we please come up and have a picture of your daughter? Just have a quick pause while we have a mic issue. Okay, next item on the agenda is going to be a student congress update. Good evening, President Richards, members of the board of education, and superintendent Janowski. Today's student congress meeting was held at Anchor Bay High School and our special guest was Mr. Djanowski. Mr. Dr. Janowski was kind enough to stay for over an hour answering all of our students questions from snow days to what college he attended and even more. The students were very inquisitive and the meeting was both informational and very fun.

028Here are this month's building updates. At Lighthouse, the SMEL sale begins on April 27th and they will be sold until they are all out. The cost is $2 each. And the fourth grade that won the quarter wars and will be receiving an extra recess and a special treat. The school raised over $900 at Lah Elementary. The final vote is in for the schoolwide adopted animal, and the winner is a river otter. Today, there was an Earth Day sale, and all items were sold for $1 each. At Great Oaks, this week is Earth Day spirit week. Student council members are working on creating posters for staff appreciation for the first week of May. At Mccons, grade level field trips have started. Third grade went to a farm. There will be a ceremony for fourth graders on

029June 4th. At Ashley Elementary, students are finishing the MSTEP testing, and the salmon that were hatched in Mrs. Samri's class are scheduled to be be released at Brandenburg Park on May 7th. At Nulit, the yearbook sales will end on April 26th. The cost is $12 each and order forms are available in the school office. There will be a ceremony for fourth grade students on June 4th to include a musical performance by the students. And on May 8th, the first grade students will be taking a field trip to the Metro Nature Center. At middle school north, the sixth graders will be going to a Tiger game, I believe, tomorrow. And the fifth graders have a trip planned to go to Brandenburg Park. At middle school south, April 16th, students took the PSAT. April 30th, students are

030leaving for the annual trip to Washington DC. And at the high school, our juniors just finished their SAT and win testing, as well as the MSTEP. The sophomore class has earned a field day that will be held on May 1st during fourth and fifth hours. The students will be celebrating the staff during the first week of May for staff appreciation and DECA will be attending ICDC in Atlanta. They leave tomorrow. That is all I have for you this evening. Thank you so much. >> Thank you very much and enjoy your trip. >> Can we back up a second? What? You said something about a river otter. Are we Can you >> um at Lah Elementary? >> Yeah, I'm just excited. I'm sorry. Yeah, at L Elementary they are adopting an animal at the zoo and

031they're adopting a river otter. So, I believe they're sponsoring part of the river otter. >> Wonderful. Is one of the perks of being a board that I get to pet the otter? >> I mean, you're going to have to ask Lahi, but I wouldn't be opposed to you petting the otter. >> Can you work on that for me, please? >> I will do my very best. >> Thank you very much. Uh, next item on the agenda is a superintendent update. Okay, Trevor is going to bring up my presentation. Basically, um, three aspects of the, um, we're going to go over current bond work. We'll go over the next phase that we're asking you to approve. This is a carryover from last year or last month, I should say, the fire suppression for South. And then

032we'll talk about it's kind of part of my legislative update is we have budget proposals from the state finally as of yesterday. So we'll walk through that. Next slide please. So bond update. Um right now we are starting it's the beginning of the largest phase of the bond will be construction on three buildings but by the time the through the next two years it'll be eight buildings. We'll have construction at some point in time. Next slide. So, if you after spring break, if you came back, you probably notice construction fencing. This is Ashley that's in place. Um, this will be this area of the school will be where the additions are for um the new classrooms. And again, the plan is to build the new classrooms. We'll shift students to the new classrooms and then

033we'll work on the other parts of the building. Next slide. This is in the front of the building where they're getting ready. This will be the new media center area. Um, and you can see if you look in the back middle section there, they're already that'll be the entrance from the school. So, they're clearing out those classrooms. They're already clearing out um some of the walls on the interior and they're getting ready to dig for the foundation for that. Um, and that'll be coming up here pretty quickly. Next slide. NERT kind of the same thing. They're getting prepared for construction there. So, a lot of the construction fencing is going up. Next slide. And the students were excited when I went over there because they were all wanted to stay and watch as they were

034taking up the sidewalks and everything for that area. Next slide. And they were excited that it looked like this after they were done. Just for reference, what we're they're working on now is going to be um in the middle there where the baseball field. That'll ultimately be a parking lot and the the bus loop um or actually the parent drop off loop because we'll separate that from where the buses are. But in the meantime, we'll put a temporary lot because when we do the next phase of this project and they're adding the new media center, it'll come out into the parking lot and so we'll lose some of the parking spaces. So, they're getting ready to do the temporary one first and then they'll close off the rest of it in the summer. Next slide.

035This is actually this is the old counseling area at South. You can see they they've done demolition. They're actually starting the framing. What this will be is um the new business classroom is in the back on the other side of there. And then there'll be a school store to the left. And then the classroom that it I took the picture from will be a foreign language. And then next slide. And then this will also be a foreign language classrooms because we're as we're moving our foreign language offerings down somewhat. So then out of this area, you can see if you if you have ever been in counseling there, it was very um compartmentalized, had fairly low ceilings. You can see kind of how um much space was actually there once they got in and did

036the demolition. Next slide. This is actually the will be the new office area. And basically that's it's the wing that kind of sticks out between the two parking lots. And now what they're doing is they're they're removing all of the walls that needed to be removed. Then there's steel that's going to go in um that'll extend out for the awning on the front that we're anticipating to arrive any day here. Next slide. They're also patching in where there were windows before into the hallway that used to exist there. So, they're patching in that as well. And just in preparation, they'll end up pouring um the new footings and filling in the flooring as well before they end up putting um the new partitions in. Next slide. Then then any questions on where we're at with

037the the construction? Okay. You it will go pretty quick with um the demolition that should be done. Um what we can do we'll do during school and then around the school day and then um once school gets out in the two weeks right after school gets out most of the demolition will be complete at that point. So the next phase and what we're asking for approval, this will be on the agenda later is the bond up the fire suppression approval for South. Next slide. What you see here is basically this is everything that we've done that's been approved kind of and I'm I'll I'll walk you through all of these. It's so we get to this April award um and it'll highlight each section. So we'll just kind of spell that out. Next slide. So

038again, when we first did the initial bond and we set a budget for it, for all of the work that we wanted to complete, the anticipated budget was um $47,639,320. So that was from our worklist. Next slide. So then the January award, we did uh a major portion of that. That was 34 million. Um but we were under um where we were at and there were some things that we were looking at that were alternates that we received um budgets for in order to um and that was shared at the January meeting that then we went out and we got bids and so on in order to kind of move forward with those such as additional classrooms at Ashley Nulret and then now this is the the south portion of it. So next slide. So

039in March we had the board had approved um 9.3 million and that was those additional classrooms and at that point we knew that we were still waiting on to get bids from um our vendors for the uh fire suppression system. So that's next slide. So if you look at the the next slide here. So this is um fire suppression. But one thing that we came that came up was in December we had asked as part of the the um energy bond to the board approved for lighting to be done. And then the as we talk to the contractors, the the issue becomes kind of coordinating between those contractors because if we have one whole company doing the ceilings and another one installing the all the piping that has to go through the main hallways, then

040are we going to be able to coordinate that? Because if they can't get within like a few days of each other, it's really going to hurt our timeline. So what we are proposing here is basically that um Barton Mallow will pick up the um the lighting portion. So we're just going to take that from the energy bond, put that into the construction bond so that they can coordinate both and that'll keep the timeline and they'll be able to handle that. So we already the board had approved lighting. We're just asking now for that to be part of this package. um to have that. So again, it'll the amount that we're asking will be 2.1 million. Um still puts us overall, we're still under overall budget for the project that you'll see on the next slide,

041please. So this is the April award that we're asking. We will see some savings through other things because that still has to be determined because the codes had changed from the time that we began the planning to for fire suppression. Now, we were going to have to add all these doors in the hallway. So, instead of having an open hallway, you'd have to have something basically we'd have to add six sets of double doors throughout the hallway to that. We'll now be able if this is approved, we can pull that out as savings. Um, and that'll go, but we don't we don't have that totally calculated yet. That'll come a as we get approval for um from the state for the plants. Next slide. So, overall, if you look at everything, we anticipated that we'd

042have 47.6 million for the entire project. We've been able to do that. Now, we can add fire suppression for south. we can add those additional classrooms and collaboration spaces and we'll still came in at 46.1 million and we'll still have about a million and a half of savings um by and have fire suppression which for South will really help us in the long run as we have future um if we as we make future changes because we won't have to worry about all those partitions and everything. questions on this. >> The transfer of the lighting to Bart Mano, did that cost us any money? >> No. Well, it's we're just moving roughly. It's the same amount that's just over there and we'll probably see a savings. >> Do they have a customer loyalty program? Because

043we could really use one. >> Well, they they've been doing well keeping us under budget. So, that's what our our goal is. It's trying to balance on schedule and um under budget. Okay, next slide. Okay, state budget. Um, it's always an adventure. We'll kind of give a quick history of the budget and how things work and where we're at and why things are the way they are and then what the proposal is. So, next slide. So, this is a big year for Michigan because you have the election coming up. All 148 legislative seats are up, plus the governor, secretary of state, attorney general, the senate, all congressional seats, and you have to have it every so many years, the constitutional convention ballot question. So there's definitely compared to last year where they didn't approve the

044budget until middle of October, they have incentive to try and get this done. Typically the goal is to get it done by July 1st. Then they will go on um break basically they call it and it's really their campaigning for all these positions. So nobody will be around until um they'll have like five days of session just in case anything pops up until after the election. Then they'll be lame duck. If there's anything in lame duck that is because typically if you have split control then there's no incentive. It depends on how the election comes out. All right. If it's if either one goes to if it's still split or either one's taking full control, then they won't really do much of anything because they'll just wait until the the session ends and the new

045group comes in and then they'll kind of they there's no incentive for them to agree to anything. So, we're hoping that that means the budget will be on schedule, but if it's not, then we're going to be in a world of hurt because they don't plan on coming back. soon. Okay, next slide. So, in a normal budget year, which we haven't seen many of these lately, January kicks off the budget season with what's called the crack. It's the consensus revenue estimating conference. So, they say, "Okay, we anticipated getting this amount of money. This is the all three branches get together and say, "Hey, this is what we're getting." Um then the governor puts out her proposal and then typically very shortly after that we'll get the House and Senate. Again, we didn't get that until

046yesterday. Now everything's rolled out. So we'll go through those in a second. Then they kind of come out with a baseline budget based off of the January crack. Then they do another one which is the final one before the budget in May. It's always the second Friday in May and they'll get together and say, "Here's the numbers since January and this is what we think." And then now they depending on how that goes. If there's more funding or less funding, they'll sharpen the budget based off of that. They'll negotiate. It'll typically go through budget negotiations. What has happened over the last few years is it's only been about six people that get in a room and it's it's roughly two from the Senate, two from the House, two from the governors that really have a

047say, and then voila, they come out with a budget. Um, and the goal is to have the budget complete. They have not hit the July 1st one in that'll be seven, eight years now. And um, but there's hope this year. Next slide. So, just to re um review the governor's proposal, her um budget was 88.1 billion. And this is a general fund and school aid fund. We'll get into that in a second with a 1.8 billion shortfall um that she was planning to cover through 800 million in new revenue. Part of that were sin taxes because it's kind of what they did last year with the um marijuana tax, but it would be on gambling, would be on um various different things, alcohol, gambling, smoking, things like that. Um then 400 million from the state

048reserves and then they would transfer basically 561. really it's from it's a shell game in that instead of normally the general fund would pay for the college funding but the general fund wouldn't do it. They would pull it out of the school aid fund which is really a de facto transfer from the school aid fund to the general fund. So that was her budget and she'd make a bunch of other small cuts like they have it was something like 3,000 positions that they haven't been able to fill. They would just eliminate those because they're in the budget but then they never filled them. So that would they would take that as savings among other things. Next slide. So why the shortfall? One, general fund revenues are falling. Um a lot of that we'll kind of

049get into. It's um but they're basically we have expenses are going up. Medicaid, food stamps, cost increases that you normally have through inflation, which has been um running higher for the last few years and is starting to tick up again a little bit. Next slide. So then part of this is the federal um budget. So there's the one big beautiful bill that was passed and part of that is it takes effect after the um upcoming federal election. 450 million would come out of um Medicaid. And then there's also cuts to SNAP, which is the supplemental nutrition program, and other rule changes that basically came through all of that. Um that would add another 100 million on top of that. So that kind of went into that thing, plus your cost increases. Next slide. So basically

050your general fund revenues are falling while expenditures are increasing and Medicaid is really Michigan's largest single expenditure. Be um people are probably not aware and this is most states in Michigan 25%. So one out of four people are on Medicaid. So there's concern from both sides of the aisle basically. What are we going to do? We're going to pay for this one way or another. How do we kind of come up with the shortfall of all of these people are are could be moved off of that? And it has residual effects. So many of our title programs, title one, title two, um at risk funding and all that comes as an offshoot of Medicaid funding because the number one way you you 85% of the students that qualify as at risk for the additional funding

051are qualify through Medicaid. Okay, so they see all of these and so they're just calculating the top line of this is what it's going to cost because they really can't figure out what the um ripple effects will be yet. Next slide. So this is kind of an overview if you look um so it's back to 2324 and then where we think we'll be based off this is off of the January crack. So if you look at the school aid fund that has been going up the general fund you can see has been in decline and um so how are they going to handle that? We'll look at the other proposals next slide. So just so you can see if you were just to take um the school aid fund and all that. So the blue

052is what goes to schools. Remember if you remember back in 1994 when they did this plan the whole promise was all this should be one big blue circle. All K12 funding would come out of the school aid fund. Community colleges and universities were taken out of the general fund entirely. In fact back at that time not only because they always say they'll hold harmless districts. Not only did they all of it come out of school aid fund, but the general fund contributed about 63 million to the school aid fund in order to keep districts whole and then slowly that is now kind of eroded and it's really accelerated over the last few years. Next slide. So you can see this is last year's budget. So you see that gray sliver has gotten larger. And then

053next slide. And you can see it's going to go up by about a third again in the proposed um budget right now from the governor. Next slide. And then part of that is um what they've been kind of using to justify this and we went over this in in depth. I think it was last fall or it might have been last spring where we talked about how are they doing this through there was the healthcare funding. If you remember, each individual who works in the school district is paying 3% towards it. That became fully funded. In fact, it's about 140% funded now. So, they don't have to take the 3%. That was the big contention with the budget last year was they eliminated that so people didn't have to contribute that, but they still want

054the money coming in so then they can shift it over through that. So, what they do is they move that cost onto the district. And so, we cover 2.8% 8% of what of that and that's really the to pay down retirement debt which is already overfunded on what's called OPAB. It's the other postemployment benefits healthcare, vision, dental for retirees. Next slide. So as you can see this goes all the way back to 2009. And if you look at it, the third column there, that's you can see now that it's basically just over $1900 per student goes to the universities and the community college funding. So for if they were still under the same funding formula for us, that would be just about $11 million that we would have additionally, but that's now being shifted to

055the universities. Next slide. So, the House came out. Basically, they're going to match the um foundation allowance increase, which is which is good for us because we use that to start budgeting. And you'll see the Senate does the same thing. So, everybody's in agreement. That at least will help us get our budget because last year, as you know, by law, we have to have our budget set by June 30th. And we don't know, we didn't know what we were going to get from the state until October. Interestingly, the House is not doing weighted funding. Their proposal is basically they're just going to do across the board increase for at risk in English language learners. Um and then basically everything would be proportional to student counts. Then they're taking on they want to do um approved

056math curriculum like they did with reading. So they would give five approved curriculums. We'd have to pick one. Um same thing with the literacy what they had. We received this grant and that was approved a couple months ago by the board and we just received all the things for the literacy, but a lot of districts didn't because they didn't put the grant out until the last 10 days of the budget cycle. And so now they want to give some districts because they put it in this year's budget, you have to do it or you'd lose 5% of your funding. And districts were like, well, we didn't put in for the grant because it was only 10 days and we didn't know. So putting that back in also STEM curricula that they're looking at as well.

057And then for letters training which is also literacy training. This would be mandated. We'll get into that a little bit. Next slide. They also want to this is a continuation of the high impact tutoring um for atrisisk districts. There's also they want to make a deposit in whereas the governor was taking money from the budget stabilization they want to put money into it to build that rainy day fund. Then the big question is 31a which you remember there was all of that going back forth. So the governor has the same language in the budget her proposal as last year. This would actually tighten the definition of a mass casualty event um where it would be an intentional act that results in fatality of three or more serious injuries and basically it would allow individuals to

058maintain privilege which is a constitutional right just not the institution itself um which is a much better um approach. Then it would eliminate the grow your own. There's a we we have several people that are in this where we have pair of pros if they want to go back in education. We work with the state so they can get um $10,000 towards their degree. And interestingly, they're maintaining the free meals, the declining enrollment, and transportation funding at current levels, which um we receive all of those already. Next slide. They also are putting in um 40 million for private tutoring for at risk students in grade bands. So grades four through six and the district would reimburse the parents. 30 million for CTE for non-resident students and transportation costs. This is basically a counter to um

059certain counties. MCOME doesn't have this, but other counties have a countywide CTE um millillage. And so that becomes a problem because if you want to do schools cho schools of choice across county lines, the money doesn't follow you. And if the money doesn't follow you, those students if they want to be in a CT program cannot participate because they're not getting that. So this would help solve that problem. Um then 350,000 for an accountability system to go back to letter grades to publish each district's promotion retention policy and then publish the number of students who are not proficient but promoted to fourth grade. Um next slide. They also have 1 million for MD to secure a vendor for teacher and student growth reports. that more than likely this is going to be EVOS which we've

060used for a few years ago. But then then two years ago they got rid of it because they didn't want a a vendor bill. So they wiped out all the vendor bills and then last year they didn't bring it back because the budget was late and then they added some vendor bills and like letters would be considered a vendor bill. You can only go to one provider and we'll we'll get into that a little bit more. They' also put penalties in of 22B. That's your discretionary funding. It's a separate um account instead of your overall um foundation allowance for DEI programs, transgender girls and girl sports, multi-stall unisex bathrooms, and then you'd have to notify parents of student requests pronoun changes and it would maintain um the 164k requirements. That's um part of retirement and

061things like that. and adds all students must now take the presidential fitness test. Next slide. So, this is the Senate side of it. Again, like I mentioned, they're m they're putting in a $250 foundation allowance increase. They are keeping a weighted increase and they're increasing the amount for that um which is the 25% increase over current year funding. They are actually enhancing this is a 22b which is discretionary funding where basically they want to the house kind of tried to do this last year when they said we're going to do $12,000. We're just going to get rid of all the categoricals put them in one amount. So they're going they're making a move towards that as well. So there is some agreement between the House and Senate on that. instead of doing the declining um

062enrollment funding, they would basically move your pupil count to a three-year running average, which will would would equate to the same thing. Then they're adding at 60 million to reimburse students for dual enrollment and then 300 million for 31A, which we talked about. This one would actually wave eliminate all of the privilege waiverss and then it would change the mass casualty where the house said it was three fatalities. This would be targeted violence with at least one fatality. Then the state could come in and investigate. Next slide. They would actually increase from 125 million to 150 million the transportation funding. They would include another, this is a 27L, which you're going to be asked to approve the agreements we have with the unions for bonuses. Um, that would be 150 million. And one thing that

063they made a mistake because there last time it was subject to retirement holdings, which again, we we've talked about that before. Um, kind of eats into that bonus amount. And then this one actually repeals the 164K line item. and then also keeps free meals, literacy coaches, and then it would also freeze retirement rates because one thing they did last year, like I mentioned, they move those retirement costs over. So, they aren't going to undo what they did. They're just going to keep it the same going forward, which helps to to some extent. >> Next slide. Then they also have their approach for accountability of the they're right now it's just going to come up with um there the discussion is really around what accountability things what weighted funding what um both sides kind of talk

064about the culture war items of like we talked about with um you know sex education will be one things like that. So, that's what they're all holding out for in the boilerplate language. And then the federal tax credit optin, which Michigan has not opted in yet. Um, that the governor has the opportunity to do that, but that'll probably factor into this as well. The other big issue is going to be the draw down from reserve funds. Okay. So, are they going to put more money into the savings or are they going to take it out? Um, and then the higher ed costs, that's going to be the House wants to move less money um than the governor out of the school aid fund for colleges. But there's also on the table for basically all three

065are property tax cuts. Some of which would be um the House proposal was to eliminate the six mill um property tax that is for schools. Um the governor has one. In fact, I think I have it on the next slide. Next slide. So, letter training, that's another bill that's up there. Um as you can see, the House, the governor is on letters. Senate's on letters. The House is like, "No, it'll have to be some training because doesn't necessarily have to be letters. Letters is like a 28 day program. They don't know if they have enough trainers in order to do all of it and get everybody through." Um they're still working on changes. They're looking at what um flexibility, what staff. My guess is if I had to predict it's going to be like K2

066because they can't do they originally want to do K8. They just there's just not enough people to get it done in the time that they want. Um then teacher prep programs, they want to work on that because that's the whole push back that we've had is if you want to get this done with everybody, put it in the college and have everybody get it when they get their degree and then they'll have it as they go forward and then as time moves on, you'll have everybody there instead of trying to force this into um compliance right away when you know you don't have the people to provide the training. Next slide. So, property taxes, this is where it's at. So, to get rid of the school education tax, that's about 2.7 billion. Um, 18 mil

067non-homestead is another one. They haven't really talked about that. That's the one that you have to move up. Um, you have to have people vote on. It's non- homestead. So, it's not the people who live in your district. It's businesses or people who have second homes in your district. Personal property taxes. Um, as well, they're also looking to do something with a pop-up mechanism because right now, if you stay in your house, the property taxes can only go up by 5% max or whatever um inflation is, but when you sell it, it pops up to market value, which for some people, it it could triple your property taxes. And they feel that a lot of that is keeping people from moving and people from buying homes because you look at it and you're like, "Hey,

068the property taxes are five grand or something." Then you move in and all a sudden it's 15,000 because the pop-up tax hits. So they're looking at all of that for elimination. The govern um her plan was to do a tax credit for seniors only. That would be about 90 million. Um the Senate plan is to expand on the governor's plan and but open up for more seniors at 300 million. Um next slide. Oh go just go back one. The house which got cut off here is basically they want to exchange the property tax for a sales tax on services which I think it was 2008 they did the sales tax on service and then they repealed it three months later. Um, so that's there's a lot there's a lot of agreement as you see on

069the basic funding. So the 250 we can budget on that. Everything else still has um yet to be seen and it's the costs like what costs are they going to put in? Are they going to increase retirement costs? Are they going to increase everything else? But there's there's hope. They have what 10 weeks in order to get this done. Questions on this? I know it's a it's a lot, but we'll be talking about this probably for the next two months at least. >> Have a couple of questions. >> Out of curiosity, what is the presidential fitness test? And we have to conduct this to get uh grant money for is that >> Well, this would actually there'd be some penalty for that, which they didn't spell out in their thing. Presidential Fitness, if you remember

070back in the day, they used to have um originally started, I think it was in the late 70s, and then you there were certain things you had to do, sit-ups and run a mile and all that stuff, and then um and you get a certificate and a lot of they ended it at the federal thing um somewhat, but now they want to be able to bring that back because like you might remember there's commercials with um it was Bruce Jenner originally, then it was Arnold Schwarzenegger and so on um that were the head of it as they went through. >> Okay. And so this is something that the house is proposing that if we do or if we don't do we get >> if you don't do you get penalized. >> Don't do it if

071we get penalized. So is this something that we can support as a district? >> Um it you do it in your gym class. It's not like a huge thing. It depend the as they say it's always the devil's in the details. What do we have to do? Do we have to are there if a kid doesn't hit certain marks? What do we need to do? Are they going to keep a database on the kids and how they scored and all that stuff? That's when we would have to really make a decision because I don't know if parents necessarily want that. Hey, my kid can't do 15 pull-ups in, you know, five minutes, so they're going to put in a database and, you know, >> right? Yeah. I can't do 15 pull-ups either. So, >> yeah.

072So, we just have to see. It's right now these are all concepts. And I'll tell you twothirds of those things will end up being tossed aside. >> Okay. Uh now what about 25 million for additional transportation funding as proposed by the Senate? How I guess in a chance from like 1 to 10 of that being implemented the final budget because that that I believe would position us pretty well. >> Yeah, that would as a larger you know district square miles wide and the that would help us because what they've done is like when they first put it in at 125 million our buses go a lot further. So, like there's a district at the south end, same number of students, four square miles. Their buses do not go what ours do at a 36 square

073mile district. And because of that, um, this is meant to be an offset for that to to equal the the playing field. So, the first year they did this, they told us at the beginning of the year, hey, we put this in, you will get 760,000. Okay? Went through, that's what we put in the budget. We're supposed to see that. That's what they gave to us. And then it was the budget closes June 30th and you might recall this and then it was about I don't know third week of July and I like hey we didn't budget enough for this so we're going to take I think it was $68,000 back which the year's over the budget we were already going through the audit at that point. So then you have to do something with

074the next year's budget. That's happened every year. At least this would probably I think that's what this is meant to resolve is the fact that they're clawing back money after the budget year ends. >> Sure. Okay. >> Any other questions? >> Um I had a question if you could clarify. You said we receive all three um free meals, declining enrollment and transportation. Can you clarify declining enrollment? Declining enrollment is basically as um as we've talked about quite a bit especially when we did um strategic planning. There's the state has 1.4 million kids in school. That is the lowest since 1940 just for um and this is all schools. This isn't just it's not like they're going to private schools. There's just birth rates have dropped. And so the the problem is you don't know that

075until your count days. So you do your budget and then they come in and then all a sudden you have to cut and it's never like hey 30 kids from one grade are are back so we can just basically cut one section. It's two kids from each class across the entire district. And so you have to run those programs. So they put that in in order to offset that. Um especially for districts where they're seeing 10 or 15% declines in a year. Mr. J, I have a question. Um, more or less around the the bond. Um, during the construction at the high school, we allowed the CT uh students to walk around. We going to do the same itself. >> Yeah, they they have they've been walking through the um classes that we've been using

076um the maker space kids and so on and the engineering, the bridge building kids and so on have been going through there. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Okay, moving on down the agenda. Uh the next item is hearing of the public. Those who wish to address the board on agenda items must complete a brief request stating their name, address, and the subject of their comments. Remarks about specific employees should be directed to them personally and not included in the public forum. Administration will follow up with the concerns within 48 hours of the board meeting. Uh the first parent that has requested to speak is Christina Ross. Good evening. I would consider myself somewhat of a regular at these meetings. Someone who prides myself on being aware of policy and practice that

077affect not only my daughter Railen who is in kindergarten and has autism, but many other students and families in this district as well. So it comes as a huge surprise to me that I am here speaking about a fundamental issue regarding the rights of students with disabilities that I have only recently discovered yet is likely the issue uh has likely been to the one which has most affected Ry and frankly overall the educational culture as in our district. This is the issue of deciding educational placement for students with disabilities in what is called the least restrictive environment where the general education environment with a full range of supplementary supports and services is the very first placement an IEP team must consider for a child who is eligible to receive special education services. I am here

078with some friends to share what through a chance connection with a volunteer advocate from outside of the state we have learned over the past two months. If understanding this basic provision in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is new to us as parents with children with disabilities, it is likely also new to you schoolboard members. First, it is important to understand that under federal law, the law, the least restrictive environment or LRE determination starts at the age of three. So, we are talking preschool here. As I mentioned, the general education environment with a full range of supplementary supports and services must be considered as the students placement before considering placing the child in a more restrictive environment such as a self-contained special education class. Supplementary supports and services are wide ranging and include pull out

079to resource room, push-in supports to a regular classroom from a special education teacher, and a one-on-one pair in support in a regular kindergarten class. Did you know that students with disabilities are not required to keep up with grade level learning standards? They may, if necessary, receive modifications to the curriculum in the general ed education setting in accordance to the least restrictive environment provision. In fact, a perfect example of what I'm referring to by modifications is the unique learning curriculum that was presented earlier. This system can also be utilized in regular classrooms. Like Frank referenced, the LRE is considered at least annually for each student um with an IEP. What is crucial to understand is that the law says an IEP meeting for a child must include not less than one regular education teacher of such

080child if the child is or may be participating in a regular education environment. When Anchor Bay does not invite a regular education teacher to an IEP meeting, the district is essentially declaring ahead of the meeting that there will be no possibility that the child will participate in a regular education environment. So for my daughter and many others who have never had a general education at any IEP meeting, we now understand that their segregated placement has been predetermined, which is a violation of their educational rights and legal IEP process, and that if the proper supplementary supports had ever been considered, they could have and should have been learning alongside their typ typically developing peers. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, next parent, Julia Coker. Hello, I am Julia Coker and I am the mother of

081two amazing sons. The older one being Wyatt, who is in kindergarten at our neighborhood zone school. Like Tina's daughter, there has never been a general education teacher invited to any of Wyatt's IEP meetings for the past three years since he was found eligible for special education services. I never thought anything of it. It was only until It was only because a volunteer advocate recently took a look at why it's preschool to kindergarten IEP and thought there must be a clerical mistake because the box for a general education teacher being at the annual IEP meeting wasn't checked off. My eyes began to open to a serious problem in Anker Bay. We called an IEP meeting in late February, and soon there were questions that went unanswered by the school district about whether there had ever been

082a general education teacher at any of Wyatt's IEP meetings. The advocate asked to see Wyatt's preschool IEPs and saw that the general education teacher box had never been checked, meaning that there was never a general education teacher even invited to a single one of his meetings. This is when the advocate asked if we knew other parents whose kids had IEPs so she could check if Wyatt's case was just a bizarre one-off case. She had never encountered in the hundreds of IEP meetings she has attended in the multitude of states around this country a general education teacher not invited to an annual review meeting for an IEP where it is a requirement to first consider placement in the general education environment with supplementary supports and services. I asked several friends about this and here is what

083we figured out. Every single one of us had never had an IEP with a gened teacher for preschool, even if it was a child with an IEP for a mild physical disability. The advocate looked up data some data report on the Michigan Department of Education website that Inker Bay is required to send to the state and saw that not only had our district not met any of its inclusion targets, but that preschool inclusion was reported as 0%. 0%. So, even though there is a law that says the general education preschool environment with supports like a one-on-one aid is what the IEP team must first consider, not one IEP team decided on this placement according to the latest data report submitted from the 2023 2024 school year. We parents then learned about predetermination. This is where

084an educational placement is determined by the district before an IEP meeting has taken place. So, the absence of a general education teacher means before the IEP team ever meets, the school district is officially signaling that there is no possibility a child will have any time in the general education setting. Uh Cindy is going to talk about what happens after preschool to all these students with IEPs who have spent no time learning alongside their typically developing peers. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, next parent, Cindy Goring. >> Hello, I'm Cindy Goring and like Julia, I have two amazing sons. Both boys had been found eligible for special education services in this district and both started with IEPs in preschool. Like Raylin and Wyatt, there was never a general education teacher for either Jason, who is now

085eight, or Jax, who's now six, when it came to preschool educational placement. So, both boys attended the segregated special education preschools, and we thought, just like Railen and Wyatt's parents, that this is where kids with IEPs go so they can get their IEP programming. Here's where, now, looking back, things are different for our boys. Jason went from preschool to kindergarten three years ago and continued in a segregated classroom for what is labeled CI, which stands for cognitively impaired. This is the same class that Ray and Wyatt currently attend. And like them, Jason did not have a general education teacher invited to attend the preschool um invited to attend uh the preschool to kindergarten annual IEP meeting that determined his educational placement for kindergarten. But our son Jax did. He had one invited to his kindergarten

086placement meeting and he ended up at our neighborhood school where there is no CI program and now he doesn't even have an IEP. He entered preschool with an IEP for a mild physical disability and he's now in a regular kindergarten class. So to think about what Julia was talking about um the predetermination. Jax, who ended up in a regular kindergarten at his own school, had general education teacher at his kindergarten placement IEP meeting. And Jason, like Ray and Wyatt, didn't. And they were all placed in a self-contained special education program for kindergarten. So, could Ray, Wyatt, Jason, and Jax attended a regular preschool program with a full range of supports and services like one-on-one aid, OT, PT, speech, pushin. Kids like them all around the nation do where districts are following the basics of IDA

087law regarding the least restrictive environment. And as Tina had mentioned about modifications, the idea law states the following. A child with a disability is not removed from education in age appropriate regular classrooms solely because of needed modifications in the general education curriculum. Lawful inclusion affects kids without disabilities just as much as kids with disabilities. Outcomes like higher test scores, improved problem solving, and greater empathy all improve or are the same when students with disabilities are properly supported in the general education setting. That's why the law is the way it is because decades of research prove that everyone benefits when supports are brought into general education classes at students neighborhood zone schools. Next, my friend Terry will be talking about how the systemic non-compliance through early predetermined educational placement decisions have hurt all of our children

088and how we can work together to change the course of our entrenched system which has for years been stuck unnecessarily segregating students with disabilities. It's time for change. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh the next parent, and I apologize if I pronounce this incorrectly, Tara Cunningham. Good evening, board members. Thank you for the opportunity to share our collective concerns. I'm here today to add my voice and newfound knowledge to provide more information to you regarding the systemic failings of our district and how we can work together to uphold all of our children's educational rights. As Cindy said, unnecessary segregation affects not only students with disabilities, but also the students without disabilities in our entire community. My son, Maverick, is slated to enter the self-contained supportive kindergarten program this fall after being in segregated preschool. Just

089like all the other kids you have heard about. At his IEP meeting in March, there was no general education teacher. Even though the IEP says that the IEP team considered the option of, and I quote, in the fall general education kindergarten with resource room support with no general education uh teacher even invited to attend the meeting, it is actually not possible to consider the least restrictive environment of a regular classroom with a supplement supplementary service like pull out to resource. So again, there's a clear example of predetermination where the district by not inviting a general education teacher was set in its decision to place Maverick in a self-contained classroom away from his neighborhood school instead of what the law requires, which is the first consideration to bring the supports and services he needs into his

090classroom at his neighborhood's own school. It turns out that I and we all signed our kids inclusive rights away at the initial IEP meeting when we agreed that the only option we were even given was a segregated preschool program. We want to offer a solution to turn our district around. We believe that there should be a special education task force established to include parents, teachers, and administrators in our district to explore and address the issue we have raised along with several other major concerns involving non-compliance of IDA, IDA, and ADA in our district. There are organizations that partner with school districts to transform them from being legally non-compliant to legally inclusive. We believe that prioritizing this kind of approach would be a good start to regaining the trust of parents like us and transforming Ankorbay

091into a modelincclusive school district. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Next item on the agenda is the consent agenda. Items on the consent agenda are recurring nature and are voted on as a single item. Any board member may request an item be removed without a vote of the board and it will be discussed and voted upon individually. I believe the consent agenda was in your board packet. On the consent agenda, we're going to talk or I'm sorry, on the consent agenda, we have approval of the minutes, personnel report, financial report, and bills payable. I would entertain a motion to that effect. >> So much support. All right, we have by a motion by Miss Knox, supported by Miss Covert. Any comments, questions, or concerns? >> No. Then call the RO. Okay. Miss Knox, >> yes. >>

092Mr. Cobert, >> yes. >> Mr. Sunnyberger, >> yes. >> Mr. Benelli, yes. Miss Burkmeer, >> yes. >> Mr. Powers, >> yes. And Mr. Richards, >> yes. Motion passes. Great. Moving on to new business. Uh the first item on new business is the unique learning system MICI curriculum renewal. Last year, the board of education approved the purchase of the unique learning system curriculum. ULS is an evidence-based curriculum to support students in alignment to the Michigan Common Core essential element standards designed to support instruction within within mild conj I apologize conjally impaired classroom programs. The ULS curriculum has been an effective additional to our anchorbased staff contained MICI programs based on the successful implementation of ULS during the 202526 school year. staff input in student progress and special education department would like to propose a renewal of

093the ULS curriculum for the 2627 school year. The department feels confident that our special education our special I'm sorry. The department feels confident that our special needs population will continue to benefit from ULS due to the level of support and curricular resources this program provides. It is recommended that the board of education approve the renewal of the MICI curriculum unique learning as presented. I would like to entertain a motion to that effect. >> So moved. >> Support. >> Motion by Mr. Powers, supported by Miss Knox. Any comments, questions, or concerns? >> The only question I had on on the quote has to do with the number of licenses um that we're purchasing and making sure that that's sufficient to cover all of our needs. Are is that is that all the licenses we could possibly

094need or would we benefit from purchasing additional licenses? Okay. Still the uh the And then the additional start and the simple stick. All right. Any other questions? Call a roll, please. >> Okay. Uh, Mr. Powers. >> Yes. >> Miss Burkmire, I'm sorry, Miss Knox. >> Yes. >> Uh, Mr. Ventelli, yes. Miss Burkemire, >> yes. >> Mr. Richards, >> yes. >> Mr. Cobert, >> yes. >> Mr. Sunnyberger, >> yes. Thank you. Motion passes. >> All right. Next item on new business is the approval of the 27L compensation and close is the offer related to 27A compensation. All bargaining units have agreed to the compensation as presented as presented. Administration is working to get final signatures on the tenative agreements for all groups. The TA will be shared with the board in advance of the board meeting.

095It is recommended that the board of education approve the 27L compensation tenative agreement as presented. I would like to entertain a motion to that effect. So move support. Right. Motion by Mr. Powers, support by Mr. Covert. Any comments, questions, concerns? >> Um on the signing page there's the one missing. >> I was about to ask that too. We have verbal agreement group >> national. Okay. Um just for clarification for anyone watching it's the school age child care employees is missing and that's because we have to go to a national level because the local has or the state level has disbanded. So that is the answer to our question. All right any other questions comments? No. All right. Call the roll please. Okay. >> Mr. Powers. >> Yes. >> Mr. Covert. Yes, >> Miss Burkmeer. >>

096Yes, >> Mr. Richards. >> Yes, >> Miss Knox. >> Yes, >> Mr. Sunnyberger. >> Yes, >> Mr. Venito. Yes, and motion passes. Thank you. >> I know a lot of work went into that. So, thank you everyone. All right, next item uh is going to be field trips. The first field trip I have in front of me is uh the boys basketball Cedar Point trip. The boys basketball will be traveling to Cedar Point for a shootout camp June 8th and 9th, 2026 with 26 students and four chaperones. The recommended action is that the board of education approve the boys basketball Cedar Point trip June 8th and 9th, 2026 with 26 students and four chaperones. I'd like to entertain a motion to that effect. >> So moved. >> Support. >> Motion by Mr. Covert, supported by

097Mrs. Knox. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, call, please. Okay. Mr. Cobert, >> yes. >> Miss Knox, >> yes. >> Mr. Powers, >> yes. Mr. Richards, >> yes. >> Mr. Sunnyberger, >> yes. >> Mr. Venanti, yes. Miss Burkmeer, yes. Motion passes. All right, moving on to the next field trip is going to be uh boys basketball 2026 championship team camp. Looks like they're doing a lot of traveling. Boys basketball will be traveling to Albian College June 12th and 14th, 2026 with 26 students. That's both JV and varsity with three chaperones for the 2026 championship team camp. It is recommended that the board of education approve travel to Albian All right. Thank you. Albian College for the boys basketball 2026 championship team camp June 12th through the 14th with 26 students and three chaperones. I would

098entertain a motion to that effect. >> I'll make the motion. >> Support. >> All right. Motion by Miss Knox, supported by Mr. Colbert. Any comments, questions, suggestions? >> Um, yes. I may have missed it when you read it or maybe it wasn't in there. Boys basketball. Is this varsity JV? Is this like everybody or Okay. Varsity and JV. All right. Thank you. >> There's There's 26 students for both JB and varsity teams included. >> Okay. Right. Any other questions? Call the roll, please. Right. Miss Knox, >> yes. >> Mr. Cobert, >> yes. >> Mr. Richards, >> yes. >> Mr. Sunnyberger, >> yes. >> Mr. Venotelli, yes. Miss Burkmire, >> yes. >> And Mr. Powers, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> All right, moving on. Next field trip is DECA Michigan OTSO officer summit. Uh the

099workshop for Vivian Jane's role at Michigan DECA state president elect and dearborn May 16th to the 18th 2026. The Michigan DECA rep will chaperon. It is recommended that the board of education approve the workshop for Vivian May 16th through the 18th and Dearbornne. I would entertain a motion to that effect. So moved >> support >> hard to see. >> Okay, I'll start. >> That's a good idea. Wave flag. >> Yeah, we have to separate you too. >> Have a different kind of pitch here. >> Yeah. All right. Motion by Mr. Powers. Poor Miss Knox. Any comments, questions, or suggestions? Uh, one quick comment and I know we've had the same issue in the past u where we've had one chaperone and one student and not implying that there's anything wrong with that individual chaperone but

100I think we've always coupled them with two individual chaprons in case any accusations are made there's a second person to sort of confirm or deny those accusations. >> Yeah. So this is actually remember last month president. So there's actually the DECA he's actually going there and it's team leadership that's so there will be more it's just going to be it's not an employee it's he signed up for the back people. >> Gotcha. >> So there will be a group of students they'll there's a whole he's president vice treasure all that you will probably several of these over the next year just if you remember his brother went through the same thing and so it's part of being president >> understood >> also I think um to your point when when we instituted kind of feeling

101that we should send two adults was more for overnight um I believe this one's in Dearborn um it is okay that's Vivant Vivant trying. All right. Any other comments, questions? All right. Call the roll, please. All right. Mr. Powers, >> yes. >> Miss Knox, >> yes. >> Miss Burkemeer, >> yes. >> Mr. Ventos, yes. Uh, Mr. Sunnyberger, >> yes. >> Mr. Covert, >> yes. >> And Mr. Richards, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> All right. Next field trip, uh, the NRA show. Four students with one chaperone like to attend the National Restaurant Association show on May 16th through the 18th, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. The board of education is recommended the board of education approve the store manager class to attend the National Restaurant Association Show May 16th through the 18th in Chicago, Illinois. I

102would like to entertain a motion to that effect. Some moved. >> Support. >> All right. Motion by Miss Knox, supported by Mr. Cobert. >> I was watching that time too. >> Yeah. Any comments, questions, concerns? I believe looking at this too, Mr. Yo is going to Chicago the same week as the airborne or same weekend as Dearborn. That may have also changed some chaperon, too. So, all right, call the roll, please. Okay. Uh, Miss Knox, >> yes. >> Mr. Colbert, >> yes. >> Miss Burkmeer, >> yes. >> Mr. Venatelli, yes. Uh, Mr. Sunnyberger, >> yes. >> Mr. Richards, >> yes. >> And Mr. Powers, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> Fantastic. All right, moving on. Uh, award recommendations. Award recommendations. Middle school cell fire suppression. Administration is asking for approval of the award recommendation in

103the amount of 2,160,53. This includes a fire suppression for middle school south as well as a continu continue I apologize contingency for such. Additionally, the lighting in the ceiling below the areas of the fire suppression will be replaced by Barton MO and are included in the award. The lighting was initially included in the energy bond, but in the interest of completing the project, the prior start of school, we're asking Barton MO to replace the lighting rather than Centrics. The money freed up in the energy bond will be used to reform other projects with Centrics. It is recommended that the board of education approve the award recommendation amount of $2,160,53. I'd like to entertain a motion to that effect. >> A motion. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Motion by Mr. Sunnyburgger, supported by Mr. Powers.

104Any comments, questions, or concerns? >> Do we have any um projects in mind for Centrics to complete? >> Yeah, there's there will be additional things as it goes forward. Yes, >> we brought this up in uh the finance committee meeting, but I just want to say it publicly on the record. When Centrics does these things for the energy bond, they guarantee the efficiency savings of the project. We're not losing any of that guarantee by sourcing this through Bart and Malow instead of Centrics. Correct. >> No, it'll it'll kind of prorrate that for just the hallway lighting, but it >> with with the lighting that's the largest savings that we'll we'll probably get because it's still going to LED, >> right? Okay. >> All right. Any other questions? Call the RO, please. >> All right, Mr.

105Sunnyberger. Yes, Mr. Powers. Yes, Mr. Ventelli. Yes, Mr. Richards. >> Yes. >> Uh, Miss Knox. >> Yes, >> Mr. Covert. >> Yes. Uh, and Miss Burkmire. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. All right. The last award recommendation is Furn for Ashley NRI Middle in Middle School South. Uh, the bond team recommends awarding a contract to NBS Commercial Interiors in the amount of $425,329.73 cents for the purchase of select furniture at Ashley Naldrit and I'm sorry at Ashley Naldrit and Middle School South is recommended that the board of education award MBS Commercial Interiors the contract to provide and install furniture as stated in specifications the amount of $425,329.73 as presented. I would like to entertain a motion to that effect. >> So moved. >> Support. >> All right. Motion by Miss Knox, supported by Mr. Sunnyburgger. Any

106comments, questions? >> Are these um funds coming from the bond? >> Yes, this is >> We usually Yeah, it's usually stipulated. So that's why I asked. >> Thank you. Could you go over with us the process for I assume we're getting rid of the old furniture. Obviously, we don't just dispose of this. We try to retain as much money as we can from this keep. >> Yeah. Depending on the state of the furniture and so on. We will try and do that or we'll put it on um the the public auction site and see if anybody um typically you'll sell it lots because I mean you can sell like old desks. if anybody bids on it, you're getting like $10 for like a classroom of of desks. if the especially the age that these will

107be. Um so if it's just not presentable or anything like that um then then the last resort is we will um end up just um pitching them and if we can't get any funds from >> right and and that's after obviously a very extensive trying to capitalize the amount of money that we can get out of this material and it's only as a last resort because we can't store it anywhere. It cost us more money to store it. we then dispose of it because we have to get rid of it essentially. >> Yeah. And Yes. And then and you might recall we've tried the other way too to save on the even the purchasing side like we did a few years ago. Um try to buy directly from the manufacturers and so on um from

108the factories and all of that. And then this is also just to point out this is part of it's a cooperative service where all the furniture people put bids in and so then you're getting a statewide price for it. So then that's how the bids work. So it's through that process in order to try and minimize costs as well. >> The reason I asked because I know there was some concern that um I was notified of of uh on social media where individuals were concerned that we were buying new furniture and get getting rid of also new furniture. Uh which is entirely not the case. And so I think I don't I guess maybe more of a question. Do you think it would be appropriate then to after we go through all of our ability

109to try to get rid of it as a last ditch effort post on social media to see if anybody at that point wants it? >> Um, yeah, we can. We can do that as well. >> Okay. I mentioned it before, but can we make sure Mrs. Sheridan's old chair goes straight to the dumpster? >> Okay. Thank you. >> Can you ballpark uh the age of Ashley's furniture? Just curious. Daniel um 30, 40. >> Yeah, I it depends on on the area. I can tell you um cafeteria furniture might be 50 years old or something like that. Um classroom furniture, some of the desks there are probably at least 30 35, right? >> Um but there's probably some pieces that are 50 years old, right? >> Because part of the other thing that we'll have later

110that a future meeting will be we're going to do the cafeteria furniture at both middle schools. Um, and again that we did check because we can't even get pieces to repair it because it's it's older than me. >> Um, I understand Dom's point, I'm sorry, Mr. Ventatelli's point of uh putting on social media. I would prefer if we had a place on our website and let people know periodically you can go there and check it out so we don't look like an auction house but a school. >> There are a couple auction houses too. Um, one other follow-up question too. On here it notated that um that the furniture um is going to be installed. So that means that they're also going to put it together and install the furniture. >> Yes. >> By the

111All right. Right. Any other questions? Got to beat this one. All right. Call the RO, please. >> Okay. Miss Knox. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sunnyberger. >> Yes. Mr. Richards. Yes, >> Mr. Covert. >> Yes, >> Mr. Powers. >> Yes, >> Miss Burkmire. >> Yes, >> Mr. Ventelli is a yes. Motion passes. All right. Fantastic. Uh, next item on the agenda is going to be points of pride and I'll start with Mr. Sunnyburgger today. Just real quick, I attended the CTE night that we had not too long ago and an hour and a half was not enough time to make make it through everything. One of the disappointing things was I was standing in the construction room and I said to myself, this would be a great thing for a kid to go through even if

112they don't want to be a construction worker to do your own DYI, your own house, whatever you need. But then I'm thinking, but my kid also wants to spend two hours in the auto shop. It's like we almost have too many choices, which I didn't say that out loud, but it was a great program and I really proud of the uh offerings that we have right now and hopefully they do nothing but expand those offerings. >> All right. Thank you very much, Mr. Colbert. All right. Thank you, Mr. P. Uh, a couple things. Um, you know, the the F Bowling award recognition turned into something that I did not see coming. I wasn't wasn't aware that that had happened. And it's it's disappointing because that's twice now this year. It happened in the fall with

113the football players who didn't get uh their recognition from uh their MAC awards and now it happened to to one of our uh athletes on the bowling team with her all state award. And it's these are just like self-inflicted mistakes. It's like uh you know, if you're a fan of the Simpsons and you're familiar with Sideshow Bob always stepping on the rake, that's that's us with these things. And it it shouldn't happen. Uh there there has to be a simple way at the beginning of the year to just cross-check through all of our sports programs to ensure all the administrative work is done to be in compliance with all the various groups and organizations that you have to be a member of in order to ensure that our our athletes are eligible for the awards.

114So let's let's get a process in place so that this is the last year um we have these. I know some of you guys poke fun at me for how how many board meetings I watch from other districts, but I do watch a lot of board meetings from other districts and I do not see this happening uh at those other districts. Um and then secondly, I do want to thank all the parents that that spoke up tonight. That's not an easy thing to do and um appreciate the issues that they brought to light. And I guess I I would just like some more information for the board as to um this idea of what's going on at the IEP meetings with with um who's present and who's not present and and whether or not there's

115any predetermination going on because that's a little bit different than the information. We did receive some information prior to the meeting about some concerns and that was not one of them that that was shared with us. So I'd like some more information on on what's going on there. Uh other than that, uh thank you. Have a good night. >> Thank you, Mr. Powers. Miss Knox. >> Um, I also wanted to build on what Mr. Powers is saying. Um, I appreciate the thoughtful and respectful presentation by the parents of our special education students. Um, during their presentation, they off also offered a potential solution at the end and I appreciate that. I appreciate when people don't just bring issues but also bring solutions. So, I think that's going to be a great starting point to work

116together to um figure this out. Uh my second point of pride is Miss Hoover. I'm not sure that there is anyone in Anker Bay who doesn't know what the Ankor Bay Community Foundation is. So you guys have done a phenomenal job. I appreciate you coming out here today and uh thank you so much. >> Thank you, Miss Knox. Miss Venitelli. >> Uh thank you. I'd just like to make a couple of comments regards to the state budget. I do appreciate the house. I know it's a very difficult conversation to have especially different difficult thing to put into a budget because it is such a um provocative and perhaps um insightful uh concept um or or rather just you know battleground of ideas. Uh but the idea of having no boys and girl sports is entirely

117obvious. I've spoken about this in the past. There is a genetic difference between boys and girls obviously and you're ruining the athletic nature of these sports by having people identify as girls even though they are biological males. Putting themselves in a position where they're competing against biological girls. Obviously that's ruining the comp competitive spirit of those sports as well as not telling parents about their kids pronouns. Parents have a right to know they are the ultimate authority of their kids' education. They're not being told about these items. it is a um considered a crime against them and obviously they should be notified and I think um obviously these schools if they are doing these sort of actions should be penalized for this. I think that's that's something that's very appropriate. I hope that I see

118that in the final budget. >> Thank you, Mr. Vincelli. Miss Bergmire, >> um I also just want to thank Miss Hoover um for presenting. I know when I first ran for the school board, which was almost eight years ago, um but I have missed some meetings. So, you do definitely have me be um I actually um met with uh to be honest, I don't know if he's still a member of your board, but um a member of your board. Um and one of his biggest um requests to to me as somebody who was running at the time was um to get participation, you know, from schoolboard member, current schoolboard members in the district at some of your events. Um at the time, um I don't I don't believe TasteFest is still going. Do Yeah. Right.

119Um, but I do know that you guys do put on some um events as well um to to raise money and to kind of continue your efforts. So, that's just something I thought I would share um to, you know, take a look at their website and um because they are always giving back to our students and um do a lot of wonderful things. Um so, I appreciate that you came um to come. >> Well, there you go. It sounds like we're all invited. Um I'm gonna say that out loud because she's not on the mic. 80s party in September. >> Um also I I did not get a chance to um attend the CTE event. I was hoping to um I and then with the reschedule I wasn't able to do that. Um, one thing

120that actually, um, especially having two, um, middle schooler, seventh and eighth graders, um, and neither of my kids were able to attend it, um, on the rescheduled day either, but something that actually both of them asked, um, and that maybe we could look towards in the future is to maybe um, run it during the day or do something in the future to where the kids can get bust over um, and kind of go during during the school day or something or maybe bring it to South or something like that. Um so that they so that all the kids, you know, regardless can maybe get some exposure at least. Um or even, you know, and same with maybe 9th graders that maybe haven't chose a pathway yet or something. Um maybe there's some classes that can

121take some field trips or something during the day to get some exposure to some of it. Um because they were really looking forward to it. And so I know just you're never going to appease everybody with after school schedules and activities, but uh just an idea to throw out there. Um but that's all I got for today. >> Thank you, Miss Burke. And Miss Hoover, just so you know, the Anchor Bay band boosters does a taste festival. We have to make sure you uh get invited to that as well, too. So get you. So I did start off a little short just for the record and I added a couple things just based off the discussion. So I do apologize. It is a little lengthy. So, so kindergarten transition night started tonight at Great Oaks.

122Uh, lighthouse is on the 29th. Ashley at the 30th. On the 30th, NRA in Mccons on May 6th. I'll start at 5:00 p.m. Uh, Lah is May 7th at 5:30 p.m. I'd like to thank the Anker Bay Pit Stop Diner for hosting Anchor Bay baseball team dinner. Thank you for your support. New student registration and school of choice registration is open for kindergarten through 12th graders. Relay for Life is having Taco Thursday tomorrow at the VFW. My wife's out of town, so I will be attending um at the VFW 23 mile road. It's 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Donations $10 at the door. Uh benefits American American Cancer Society. The Shoreliner is hosting Mother's Day brunch. I did sign up for that also. May 7th from 9:30 to 12:30 p.m. Reservations are mandatory. The Anchor Bay

123band banquet is Tuesday, May 26 at 8:30 p.m. at Zucaros. Ticket bits are 35 bucks. Uh Saturday, June 6th is trucks for a cure at the middle school south, I'm sorry, middle school, it's at middle school north from 1 to four, sponsored by the Relay for Life. Uh congratulations to Middle School North fifth grade students of the month, Abigail Hewitt, Braden Renwalt, and Wayne Hall. Um my points of pride tonight just, you know, Anchor Bay Community Foundation came out tonight. Thank you very much for coming out. Um the special education tonight here very touching for me having them sign the ple doing the signing the pledge. Um the parents came out tonight also to talk. Thank you very much. It's great to hear from the community. You know there are some valid concerns. So thank

124you for coming out and and speaking. Um great points of pride. Mr. uh P already mentioned it to the bowling award to All State U Madison. Um, you know, I I know I mentioned something, um, you know, after mom spoke about the whole event, and I agree, Mr. P 100%. To me, it's unexcusable. We went from a part-time athletic director who split his time as an assistant principal and athletic director, and I don't recall any of these issues happening. We go to a full-time athletic director, including another um, assistant athletic director, and I I seemed that we have, you know, ongoing issues. Um, I'm not sure where the breakdown is, but I would like to get it resolved. Um, Miss Burkmeer mentioned like some of her campaigning experience. I'm not at that eighth year yet.

125Um, but I do recall I went door to door and I spoke to parents that were putting saw out on their lawn and um the the dad spoke to me and it was basically in tears. His daughter broke I can't remember if it was a state record or school record, but broke a record uh in swimming and received no recognition and and the dad was in tears. So tonight hearing from that mom, I I'm emotional just hearing that because I told that dad I would not let that happen again. And here I am, you know, I'm very upset myself that that I'm hearing this happen. Those are things that I ran on to change and I will I will pursue that and and I once again it's unexcusable. So that's my two cents. And moving

126on uh next is uh legislative updates >> unless there it's really was the budget that was Yeah. >> Uh any board committee updates? >> Um just the policy committee met before this meeting um reviewing policies that will come before the board in the future. Um just some policy updates in general. Also um we had an attorney present. We were asking and looking um for guidance on how to adjust um expulsion reinstatements um for you know future behavior issues potentially for those students. And then also um looking at you know revamping our vaping policy um and guidance on uh discipline for vaping and a little bit more in possibly in accordance towards like the cell phone policy um streamlining things a little bit. So uh we're going to be looking further at that. no actual like

127decisions made or anything coming out immediately yet, but um so there'll just be some ongoing work. >> Uh Miss Burkit Meyer, what specifically about the expulsion policy and reinstatement or you could elaborate on that a little bit? Um just looking at um when a student is reinstated following expulsion. Um and just kind of discussing like what our legally um options are or if if our current policies fall short um in terms of remediating that same student's future behavior like of new issues without getting into too much detail. >> Thank you. Uh, building committee met u as well as finance. Uh, building committee I trying to struggling to remember because a lot of these projects kind of blur together. I believe in this one we may have discussed the HVAC units uh boilers being updated and

128energy savings will eventually actually save us more money having replaced them now instead of waiting for these units to break down later to then replace them at that point. uh as well as the additional funds uh to then be used by Centrics as we kind of voted on today. I believe that's what will be discussed this month building. >> Very great. Thank you. All right. And to wrap up this evening's adjournment. Um would anyone like to make an a motion to adjourn tonight? >> Motion to adjurnn. Second. >> Mr. Sunnyburgger. Sunnyburgger supported by Mr. Powers. >> Mr. Covert's twin, Mr. Powers. >> Yeah. Yeah. All those in favor signal I. >> I. >> All those that say nay say nay. Thank you very much everyone.