001Call to order the board of education meeting for Monday, February 23rd at 7 p.m. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance and moment of silence. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call, please. Heather Arnell Roberts >> here. Jenner here. Amber Bracket here. Andy Boule >> here. >> Cole Emry here. >> John High Street >> here. >> William, Mr. President. Um, so I guess we'll start out with our >> y recognition president. Yep. Uh, today very excited to have our peer-to-peer group here from the elementary and so uh, they are the students are my superstar students of the month and their mentors are the employee superstars of the month. So I'm going
002to turn it over to Mrs. Leage, the building principal, so she could tell you a little bit about the program and introduce these folks. So, kids, why don't you guys come up here around the podium and um we're super excited to have our peer-to-peer group here tonight. um they're pretty special to our school and it's been really fun watching the group grow this entire school year. If you're not familiar with it, what this group is is it's all about inclusion and friendship. They focus on um the chance to build uh real true friendships and social skills and just solve problems together. But mostly it's about making sure that all types of learners feel like they belong in a way. This group has about 70 students total, but we chose 10 superstars to represent our whole
003group. And we're missing one because his brother had a basketball game, so I think they're trying to rush here after that. Um they meet every Friday during their special. So, we have a double special each week and um it's on Friday so they don't miss out on their regular specials time, but they get to come per grade level and they meet. They do fun activities like their friendship bracelets that they're all wearing. I think you guys made them last week, right? Yep. So, they do fun things together. Sometimes it's crafts, sometimes it's skill building, problem solving. Um and they just really do a great job. We also have our staff. Mrs. Gatler, she's our school social worker. Mrs. Lairi is our school nurse and Mrs. Brenner, she's our speech pathologist. And this is not even
004in their general work category. So, they do all their job and then they plan this every single week for the kids and um you know, they make sure their case loads and everything are seen either before, after, earlier in the week. So, this is truly an a passion of theirs and they they go extra just to get this done. Um, so we're very proud of our group and they make Alangquin a very special place. So, I'm going to go through and say their names and give them a certificate. So, you guys will then once you get your certificates and you can go around and shake the hands of the board members. So, I'll have the staff go first. So, I think let's see. Um, Elena Gler, Pauline, >> Alexis Brener, >> Ryan Come around this
005way. >> Roll it. >> I just want to wait. Come on. Let's keep going. Let's go. Let's go around this way. >> Wait, Gary, you're going too fast. Congratulations. >> Thank you. Sure. >> We have all the peer kids both back here so we can take a picture. where you want >> and uh parents that brought your peers here with you today and family, you are more than welcome to stick around for the rest of this exciting board meeting where you can grab a cookie and head to the door. So, thank you very much for coming. Um uh next up today we have uh the Elgenac Little League here to talk about some future projects. So Dan Gino is here as president to support Dan. >> I don't have to introduce myself anymore. Uh this
006is Phil and this is Robert. Phil is a VP of baseball. He's been a while. Robert treasure league. And we want to propose a uh indoor facility for the kids not only for league but high school, middle school, any of the kids in the community to be able to use. And I think uh you know as a league we are uh our numbers are down a little bit now the age brackets. everybody else around two years for another travel team or not travel team but same team right and I think if we build something like this 120 by 150 something big enough for the high school kids playing as well just looking to see if you guys will use the property I think we're going to have to get along for this you know it's
007going to be This is a very very big project. >> We couldn't even go to the bank first because banks usually require you either own the property or you have a sub lease on the property. Um so there's a lot of moving uh parts and a lot of logistics that we would have to discuss. Um, >> so building I also have background in the building. Uh, I've done a couple of projects this size what we're looking at is roughly a 15,000 foot building. And kind of what where we're going at is we want to even see if it's feasible to use a school property or not. And you know before we start even doing it cuz that's >> it. >> At Elquin. >> Yes. >> Okay. We have right in front of where the concession
008stand would be where the old skating race. >> Oh people people. room like there I think if I'm not mistaken >> kind of where the lights the lights are but we want to before we start throwing money at this we want to make sure that it's something that we can even start conversation on obviously >> we don't expect to answer tonight it's something takes a lot of thought processing >> but >> oh that's Nikki >> kind of what we want Yeah, you know, if we if we end up coming to an agreement, things that the school would want to look at as far as aesthetics, you know, to make sure that we have our basis covered so once we start this, we have a solid budget and solid plan that we're not going back at
009the end and say, well, hey, we need another quarter of a million dollars where this is coming from. So this we have once we get some sort of approval >> or denial, we can either, you know, see where else we can go or to try to do this or start moving along with the process, get somebody on doing drawings and get some sort of plan put in place and start going from there to when we can even start approaching a bank for loans. trying to get grants. U like said probably looking at somewhere between a million and a million and a half dollar project. It's is not going to be, you know, some to where like with the pavilion kind of this, you know, everything wet. This is going to make sure everything's all approved
010drawings are done and everything, you know, anything that has to go in. If it needs fire suppression, you know, every facility was kind of like we have an account, we have investors, we have the money, and we went and did it. This is what this is a little bit more. I think you guys maybe realize that us talking up here, but guys, we're losing kid after kid out of our program. Year after year, we're losing kids out of our school system leaving to go to other schools because they have a place for the indoor they for their basketball, for the football, for their their baseball uh leagues to play in during the winter. And they're beating beating us on every forefront in our sports for that reason. Well, and that that's one of the things
011they're kind of touching on. So, literally, we you know, we used to be able to this drill from our area and now they're opening up the age brackets. Right now, I think it's through eight eight year olds, correct? >> Yes. >> So, the 8-year-old can go play at any little league. and they go play. So you could have a student that's supposed to be playing for Elmac Little League, they can now if they're eight years and under, they can now go over to IRA and play or go to St. Clair and play. They can go to >> and they are they're leaving because St. Clair has an facility. Ira has one, Bur City has one. >> We're we're kind of left behind. >> So and the age brackets are slowly opening up. So and they
012can also take their siblings with them. So if you have a 8-year-old that goes to Portra to play, they might have a allstar that for a brother or sister for softball that now is eligible to go play in Port. So we can start drawing in for more than this the elmac area to where our consistency has been. And I mean that's I think this year we're at 170 >> 170 kids and I mean >> which is good. I mean, normally about probably 6, seven years ago, 8 years ago, we were at 250, 240. You know what I'm saying? So, numbers have gone down. The kids are still, we still got good teams. We still got enough teams to play. It's It's no big deal. But obviously, we're geared highly towards baseball and softball, but there's
013other options in there, too. would do pickle ball courts or volleyball courts or stuff like that where everybody else could have time in there too. We would structure it with a like kind of like a keypad lock and it would be on a internet system for time logs and all that stuff. So it would pretty much be open to everything. Everybody the only thing we would want is our uh winter time, you know. And and one touch on that uh blocking times off. I don't know if anybody here is familiar with Dandy's sports on a 26 milei road of Green City Little League is affiliated with them. What they do is they block off hour and a half times. So let's say we have four different uh batting cages and outside people come in to
014use that. That's $100 an hour per batting cage all day long, every single day. So it would be bringing in revenue in that aspect. And what one of our our board members ideas was to give back to the school um as far as bringing some of that revenue in and going back to the school into other projects that you will >> once it once it gets there once once it gets that >> with uh you guys had mentioned like um Lake Marine City and some of these other groups that already have them in place. Do you guys know anything in terms of um what their arrangement with the school is in terms of are they leasing property? Are they just using property? >> They're not school property. >> What's that? >> They're not school property.
015>> Okay. Okay. Um and I even think like I know like over at um Ankor Bay they have the big soccer plaza or whatever right off of their high school. But I know that one I think there's an arrangement with the school that they have. I was just curious if you guys had any knew anything about >> Well, St. Clair owns their own fields. The Little Lake Field off Fredmore Highway. They like bought their own piece of property and built like >> they got their own field >> and for Marine City Marine City basically for that, >> but they still it's still open. He keeps all the slots open for Marine City. >> A lot of the funding from Marine City >> for that family's facility came directly from Little League and grants and things
016like that. So it was promoted through their little league. It's just we're trying to do something similar to follow suit. It's just >> so like all all the maintenance and utilities and all that kind of stuff like that. >> Little y. >> So all you need is the property is what you're saying. No no cost to the school district at all. >> Correct. And that's the whole reason why we're approaching the schools because all the fields are on the school property. So instead of having it >> ideally instead of having it at a different location, it's right with the fields and >> and it's a perfect location really. >> I'm sure there's there's ideas you guys can come up to. I mean the school can use it during school hours. I mean there's all kinds
017of opportunities there that >> soccer practice center. >> Yeah. Because gym time is not always easy to come by. Are there grant are there grant opportunities available that you're aware of or >> Yes. Yes, there is. So, the Michigan uh Baseball Foundation of Michigan, I think there was another one um CJ and our rights. >> We're not looking into them, but >> most of them are like 10 to$15,000 at a time. Um and it seems like we've gone over that time limit right now. I think it was February February 22nd was the date for that. We're not even close to to to approve to applying for it yet, but we've definitely been looking into it. >> Well, I definitely the first good first step, you know, that way we can start some dialogue, too. And
018I just mentioned to Dan, I'd like to talk with him a little bit about you, get together and meet and maybe talk a little bit more, you know, drill down a little bit and start talking some, you know, potential timelines if we were going to do something like this and, you know, how that might look cuz um, you know, that would be uh that be pretty good. What do you guys have kind of in the back of your mind like uh when you would be thinking would be a break ground kind of? I'd love to start after the season. >> They're a little bit more ambitious than I am. >> I would say I mean it'd be nice to if we could move forward probably I'm going to say by the time everything all the
019drawings are done by the time we get to financing and start looking at grants I would say probably at least a year. >> 90% of the buildings are That's probably more realistic. >> But I mean, it's >> it's always good to dream. >> It is. It is. I've I've always been want pushed as well. I mean, that's I the guys that I've had work for me, you know, they why why do you give us 12 hours work in an 8 hour day? Well, because if you have 8 hours of work, you're going to work 8 hours and be done. If you have 12 hours, you can get So, I mean, there there is some push that can go into it, but it's I know when you start dealing with banks, architects, engineers, they they have
020their own timelines. So, >> well, I I I certainly appreciate you guys taking some time coming out today. Uh, you know, our our relationship for those of you guys have been around for a while and work with the Alanac Little League's always been excellent. Every project that they've done out at those fields has been um quality and it's always been good lines of communication. So, certainly appreciate uh you guys coming out talking to the board tonight a little bit. I'll reach out to you guys and maybe we could get together, talk a little bit uh a little bit further on it and uh also get some dialogue going with the board as well. Um I know you know it it's uh it's a lot to digest because it is a it's a big uh big
021project but at the same time um you know sometimes dreaming big's a good thing. So >> I was a part of the next part too. So we thought it wasn't we thought it was impossible we did. So Thank you guys for your time. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thanks. >> Thanks. >> Uh and then one more present tonight. One more presentation tonight. Um brought this up before um Joe Olivie who's our assistant principal. Many of you know Joe. Um, one of the things that, uh, he had started to look into a little bit, you know, we always talk about with the trades and and how difficult sometime it is to get kids to know what the rate, you know, we talk about, well, you know, there's jobs if you want to be
022a welder, if you want to be this, but getting kids to actually explore that within the confines of the school sometimes a little bit difficult. We've got the tech program and St. Clare Techch and that kind of stuff. But, um, you know, I think what we're figuring out about a lot of our population is we do have kids that are hard workers and and, uh, but I I don't know that we always have the four-year university kids. Kids are looking to go different paths. And so, we've really started Tahoe over the past few years about exposing kids to trades and at least getting them involved where they know what it is that they be getting into. Um Joe saw an opportunity to uh land a grant to get a trades wall and Joe spent some
023time this weekend working on our trades well. We got all the information from the state he was granted uh granted the amount of money for the trades well. Uh went to Grand Rapids Grand Rapids right to uh for the uh presentation on how to put it together and what to do from there. And then uh stuff came in and Joe put the trade wall up. So it's right down in the commons area and it's it's pretty cool. I I would really uh suggest you go take a walk back down there and Joe's going to talk a little bit about that. I don't want to tell too much about it. >> That's it. Sorry. Go ahead. Thank you. >> I guess just to kind of give a little bit of background on it. Uh we were
024in I think Pinkney for a volleyball tournament in the fall and you know we were in the high school whenever you know we go to different schools and stuff. I always kind of look around to see what other people are doing and uh they had this trade ball thing. I'm like okay that's cool. And then just kind of that's something cool that they did. And then we were out a couple weekend or a couple weekends later in Mount Morris and they had to you know the same kind of thing and I thought okay something's going on here that we don't know about. Um so played a little bit of phone tag with um the head and so it's uh kind of a group that partnered with the MDE to you know bring awareness to the
025trades into and apprenticeships into schools. Um, so finally got a hold of uh people at the they call it the trade conduit um and put in for a grant and the grant actually covered uh for me to go to this workshop in Grand Rapids uh the hotel stay the wall um and then what it does is not only is it a wall with all of you know apprenticeship opportunities uh but there actually are local trade unions. So, it's not like, you know, you're going to call the national, you know, center or whatever. Um, it's the locals. And every single one out there has two QR codes that the kids can walk up to in school or, you know, at lunch or even parents coming in for sporting events, public coming in for when, you know,
026we're a polling location. Um, and those are live QR codes that will take them and put them in touch with somebody to get into the trades for apprenticeships that they, you know, desire. Um, the the workshop in Grand Rapids was fantastic. There's a lot of opportunities that are starting to open up that we're going to be able to provide for our students in terms of, you know, uh, apprenticeships and, um, potentially starting that stuff even before they leave here. Um, so we're kind of that's one step in the process that's done. Um, we have a community event night coming up on March 12th from 3 to 5. Um, invited some local businesses from the MDE. Uh, we have some media outlets coming. You all are invited to come. Um it's just going to be a
027a time to learn about the law, learn about apprenticeship opportunities. Um it should be an informative session. Um other than that, yeah, feel free to go down and take a walk if you want. If you don't, I have a picture on my phone. It's pretty just got it finished getting it up yesterday. Um if you want to pass it around. So, it's it's right uh in the athletic commons. So, if you're looking out of the concession stand window, >> it's that far. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um so, you can see there's like the all the QR codes and and in fact, even today, kids were scanning on it. So, it like it went to use immediately. >> So, pretty neat stuff. Do we have more interest than we have spaces spots I guess at tech
028for that stuff? >> Yeah, we always >> Okay. So, we have kids that want to but they can't get into the programs. >> We always do. In fact, we Alganex kind of got a reputation for taking whatever slots are left because we they do it by percentage in the county. >> Yeah. >> So, you know, that leaves us generally with somewhere in the 12% range of slots, which for most programs is usually two or three slots. Um, but there's, you know, oftentimes there's programs that other districts don't fill other slots and we're always they do a lottery, but we it's been pretty fortunate because they do um, you know, they are aware that we've got kids down here. So, um, yeah, >> I think it's >> is there room to expand it if other trades
029wanted to be be a part of it or how does that work? >> That's a good question. I don't know. Um, >> like physical. It'd be nice if we could um let me reach out to them and and find out cuz you have potential to build on. >> We have we have a seafarers union right here in town that >> and I'm surprised that wasn't included on it. >> And they have their own school out in Piny Point, Maryland. And you know, we we a lot of kids from Alen over the years have gone there. >> Okay. Um, so it's >> maybe even we could look into getting a separate piece added on >> and one of one of the guests uh Joe has coming from the MDE. It's kind of a the one that
030does the like kind of the organizer, right Joe? The whole program kind of so to speak. >> And not only that, but like the registered apprenticeships that the kids get into. So >> So she'll be out here, but Joe's got a contact with her. So, kind of like anytime we apply for anything grant-wise, she's kind of the person that approves them and certainly, you know, kind of told Joe that we'll make sure you get on the right path if you're not going down the right path to get you guys where you need to go. So, yeah, it's uh I I it's pretty exciting for us and I think again going to benefit our kids going forward. A lot of kids just wanting want to know even more about particular trades. So, yeah, it's a it's
031a great thing. >> I think it's a great idea. I think a lot of kids say I'm going to go into the trades and have no idea really what that is and what all that includes because it's not just electrician or you know this there's >> a wide variety of it that they didn't even think. Yeah. So I think that's fantastic and to give them a direct line of information >> and unlike you know it and different technical things whatever the stuff can't be outsourced to China or India or anywhere else that you got to have boots on the ground here literally to do that work. So been there done that you know >> good job. >> Thanks. >> Any other questions for Joe? >> Nice job. And Mr. This is Adrien Logenbach. Was that
032one? >> Yes, she did. She said she was going to send that with you. I thought she was going to quit bothering me. I don't I believe this. I don't believe that. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> All right. That was really great. All the recognitions and >> Yeah. >> Uh okay, we'll move forward with consent agenda items. Anybody want to make a motion? I'll make the motion that the board of education approves all consent agenda items including agenda, minutes, personnel items, treasures report, and bills listed bills as listed A through C. >> In support is any discussion? Right. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? Informational items are Moody's ratings report. >> I'll let Dorothy talk about Moody's today. you get the fun stuff. >> So, this is the Moody's global rating. Um,
033it is used by investors to buy bonds. So, our rating continues to be A2 from last year. Um, the ratings go from A's, B's, there's like six in A's, six in B's, and six in C's. So, we're in the middle of the A's, which is good. Um, we're in prime, which is also good, but it's for bonded debt, not singing. They, you know, it's just a we and it has to be done each year. They It's It's a must. >> Great. >> Thank you. >> To our administrative reports on Mr. Mos. >> Yeah. Well, to start off with, we've had a a couple good weeks here for some of our sporting events here. first of all are team wrestling not this past weekend but the weekend before won the regionals pretty handily and and so
034they go to uh they go to states and Kazoo this coming weekend uh they're in the elite 8 they fig they're going to take on eat rapids uh they're going to leave on Friday so anybody's interested on at 11:30 on Friday we're going to do our kind of state march with the band um out of the building there on on Friday at 11:30 then uh this past weekend our individual wrestlers uh we had we We have a bunch that are moving on to state. So they'll be going not this coming weekend but next weekend to Ford Field. We had three winners at regionals. Vinnie Finn, Jasmine Walker, and Julian Walker. They're all regional champs. So they move on to the states. And as well as Jack Reyes, Christian Brown, Nate Clemens, AJ Brown, Trevor Jarby,
035they all advanced as well. So good portion there. So we got good representation. Um our wrestling program is obviously doing very well both as a team and as individuals. And then cheer, they came in fourth uh this past weekend in districts and so they're moving on to regionals this Saturday against no Y. Uh so they've moved on which is nice to see. Uh this Wednesday we have a curriculum night here in the library. Uh again, anybody in the school is welcome to attend 7 to 12 parents. uh just kind of kind of again go kind of go over uh the programs that that the kids have uh options with be it tech uh IB dual enrollment bluewater middle college those will be all out there and discussed at the at the meeting. So any parents
036or students that are interested about any of those to go to get more information again it'll be from 5:30 to 8 here in the library on Wednesday. Uh NHS is running their second blood drive which will be on March 3rd. Uh our the band is going to have a pre-festival band concert on March fe March 5th at 7 pm in the main gym. And uh last but not least, our our art program. The BWAC is having their third annual art festival. It'll be at Yale. It'll be in the week of May 16th through the 25th. Uh so again, we'll have a lot of our student work that'll be posted in in Yale school there along with the other BWAC schools. So, anybody who's interested, wants to see a lot of great pieces our kids put
037together, feel free to go out there and you can see what other high schools are doing as well. >> Thank you. >> Stage. >> Um, so we came back from a nice break. I think that was needed for everybody the midweather break, but we also had our fifth grade camp parent meeting. So parents were able to get some interest, answer some questions, and we're hoping that the overnight gets approved today at the board meeting. Um, also, Mrs. Dowski just learned today that she's the recipient of two separate grants. Um, one was for $49 for four kick nets to help them with their pond study endeavors outside. And then also um Cat Harson's Island Cattails awarded her $1,800 to get a classroom set of board text binoculars. So that was pretty exciting emails today. Also, Milside
038and Aangquin, we're planning our reading months together. There's a few different fun activities, but we're trying a couple new things because we want to really start getting more um parent involvement into the school and that. So, we're going to be walking um in the schools with families before on Tuesdays before school, I'm sorry. And then also, we're going to be hosting a family bingo night uh March 9th in the cafeteria. So, we're hoping to see a lot of people there. And also, we're just starting to plan for MSTEP. Um this will be our first year that we're going to be able to um take it all on our Chromebooks. we have enough. Our, you know, Wi-Fi has been doing really great. So, we're going to try it and make it like more of an event.
039So, instead of it consuming two full months like it has in the past because we're trying to test one, you know, grade level or two classes at a time, we're going to try and do everybody on the same days and, you know, um have like a nice breakfast and, you know, a celebration or like a relaxing afternoons after they take it. So hopefully that will go good and the staff's pretty excited about planning it that way too so it doesn't consume our entire spring. >> Thank you. >> February has been a short but busy month for us at Millside. Um thanks to Mrs. Lair, both Milside and Alakin were able to participate in the kids heart challenge which was like a week of wellness where they learned about heart health and were also able to
040raise funds for the American Heart Association. Um, we also met in grade levels to review our middle of the year data. We celebrated some growth and brainstorm strategies for continued improvement. Amongst all of our learning, we did include some fun, too. Kindergarten embraced the winter weather and took to sledding on our playground hill. Um, David got some foot on a sled. No problem. >> First grade had their own winter Olympics in the gym and they had a ball with that. Um, we were also fortunate to have a lot of parent volunteers come in and donate time and materials to help us celebrate friendship. with a variety of treats and activities. Today, kindergarten celebrated 100 days of learning by dressing 100 years old. Um, tomorrow, first grade celebrate 101 days of learning. And then looking ahead,
041we do have all those shared activities for reading month. Um, we also hope that you'll consider stopping by to be a mystery reader. That is our theme this year. And plus, we always welcome you to come in and read a good book with any of our classes. Mrs. Mahala has planned our music programs for March 11th. So, kindergarten will perform at 6 p.m. First grade will be at 700 p.m. Um, and kindergarten roundup is going to be a little bit earlier this year. We're looking forward to that on the 12th, the 13th, and the 18th of March. We'll have the book fair set up a lot as well during that time. And then last but not least, students will have the opportunity to do a virtual visit with Colate. So, all of our classrooms will
042be able to zoom in and get some dental health awareness. Mrs. Belle, >> we have a busy month of March coming up. Since it is reading month, um the Scholastic Book Fair will be coming to our building the week of March 16th. To encourage reading at home, we are doing a reading caterpillar. Families are given circles to fill out once they read a book with their child, and we will hang them up in our walls to see how big of a caterpillar we can make together as a building. Um the classroom to read the most books with their family. Families will receive a pizza party. Um, we have spring pictures that are scheduled for March 18th and 19th. And preschool is trying something new this year. Um, they're having a spring concert on March 24th.
043>> So, Sanders, >> so February was also a really great month for adult learning as well. So, our staff had quite a bit of learning this month. Um, we have a dyslexia task force at the county level and Alan has a team to represent that of the new dyslexia law that's going to be rolling out. Um what we're seeing right now is that we're in really good shape in Ogat. We have the curriculum that's already approved by the state for reading um at the elementary level. So we're looking at fine-tuning some of the things that we do. But just wanted to keep you up to date on that that we are sitting out on the county um task force for that and we're we're in good shape for that so far. Um along with that
044is the science of reading training that comes but we have another cohort of letters in the state training and Alggonac has through the years every year we've had staff members join that letters training. I bring this up because it's 125 hours of training. >> It is a lot. And so we have some staff members that have already completed the coursework and are fully trained. And then we have quite a few that are in the cycles being trained. So, I just want to put a shout out to people that are are doing that currently within our system. We had countywide PD last week um where we met as a county level up at Port Huron and teachers went to different sessions that they chose. The focus was on AI um within schools and what that might
045look like, how that might enhance teaching um and definitely some of those tutoring aspects that it can bring to personalized discussion. It was also nice because they could meet with county teachers that taught the same subject area or grade level that they did. So they were able to facilitate some of those discussions. So overall the day was um positive and I think there was a lot. So that was great. In Algenac we have a portrait of graduate leadership team. We met again this last week talking about the roll out, how we're going to get that information to staff and more out to the community. So uh lots of things going there. So, we'll see that start to roll out in the spring here before the end of the year, but that team is working on
046that. And today was the AI task force at the county as well that I was able to sit on. There's lots of things going on at the county level trying to prepare for what that looks like in our schools and at the county level. So, lots of good things going on. Great. Thank you. Um, so on to our board report. So, there is an MASD election. Um, there's two candidates. if you got to look over their information. Um, we have Richard Hill from Kersley Community Schools in Jennese County and James Johnson from Kerman Ainsworth Community Schools in Jennese County. Um, if you we have to pick a candidate and report it. So, does anybody have any to say about either one after looking at their information? >> I would like to choose James Johnson. >>
047I agree. James was he he came to one of our meetings months or two ago. I'm good with him. Does anybody else have any any opposition to going with that? >> All right. So, we're all agreed what we're going to go with James Johnson. >> We have that. >> All right. Um other board reports and I went to the SECB meeting last wait last week. Yeah. >> Thursday. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um, so there was a good meeting there. It was well attended. Um, there was a lot of stuff about the upcoming budget that um, was fun to listen to. Um, I mean, I'm not going to get into it because I I'll screw it all up, but if you keep your eye on MASB stuff and if they have any legislative updates, definitely sign up
048for it because um there's going to be some some stuff coming down the line that >> I think that there at very least I think there um a July one budget. Not that it's going to be a good budget, but I I think it's likely this year based on the disaster of last year. Um I think that they've heard loud and clear that that you know what that did to schools and and how uh you know not having that budget until October put a lot of people in bad positions and um so anyway uh I think it'll be done by July 1. Now at this point we've just got to look at the governor's budget. um still haven't got anything from this but but I I assume we'll get a look at the uh the
049house probably relatively quickly and um hopefully uh have all three of the budgets and hopefully um the governor's budget's not um it's not awful. I I mean it's I guess that's the best best way to say there's some there's some things missing in there that obviously would concern us a little bit but um there's still some pretty decent buy into. So we'll we'll see what happens with that. >> Do the House or Senate fiscal agencies have ideas or thoughts of what they're looking at yet? >> Haven't even heard them tip a hand yet. Um but uh usually they kind of they'll work off of off of the governor's budget. The only thing obviously that's a concern and something that we continue to fight and we've been fighting for a lot of years is the rate
050on K12 money because um there even in her budget there's about 800 more thousand that's aimed to come out of the school aid K12 budget to go back to higher ed and it's over a billion dollars a year that they raid from that budget and it's been going on. It started as a one-time thing back in 2012 and it's never turned around. It's just gotten bigger and I I think you know just even with like um K12 Alliance MASA, you know, one of our big things is we need to we got to put an end to that because right now everybody's budget's going to be down. The only one that has a little bit of a surplus is K12 and they're going to come for that money because it's out there. And so, um, it's
051kind of disheartening when you see that because that money is earmarked for kids. It's earmarked for K12 kids and it goes out the door every single year and has been for, like I said, since 2012. So, >> I think this will end up being a u a topic discussed during the November election for governor and what have you. Um, >> they're latching on. >> They're already starting to talk about it. So, that's that's good for us. It is. It is. >> It's very good for us. >> As a matter of fact, I saw the candidate uh screening where they all kind of and they were tripping over each other to talk about that K12 money and how it belongs at K12. So, um yes, that is a good sign. But >> you know, saying it
052and doing it. >> Yeah. >> Right. So, >> um any other board reports? >> All right. >> A couple things. Um Jared Steinhower from Chartwells was uh officially hired um out here for Alganac schools. He was an assistant over in East China and has now come come our way and um pretty excited to have him in charge as you know as I told before um Steve Lante took a different job um left Chartwells, worked his last couple weeks here and then um transition was pretty quick because we have somebody that was a Chartwells employee. He was able to get over here and get started real quickly. Um, I'm going to ask him to come in and meet everybody next board meeting. Uh, he's been around talking to the principles and seems very positive. He's got
053a lot of energy. He's excited. Um, does uh he's a big fan of the Discovery Kitchens. I mean, there's there's a lot of stuff he's got plans for. So, um, like said, seems pretty enthusiastic and, um, I think he's got some good ideas for us. So, excited about that. kind of with that same breath. Um we are at the part of the year where um we are preparing our renewal language for the contract. Remember there's four renewals left that gets sent to the state. They approve it and then they send it back to us. That either comes to you guys as the board to vote on the renewal >> for or for food service. >> For food service >> or we would be going out you know, we've talked about if there's a need to
054go out for a bid. If we're looking to go out for a bid, that's something we probably need to be doing like now. Um if we uh you know, I I personally um having met with Chartwells, this has been probably the best year that I could just in terms of communication with that group. Um I think that their um their corporate heard loud and clear that we there were some things that we had concerns about. They've been um meeting with us pretty regularly. I'm pretty excited about uh Jared coming on and um like I said what I think he can do with our program. Um, but if uh if we've got concerns, we we should probably start having those discussions like sooner than later because we're going to get get ourselves into, you know, the
055park real what what do we take that usually in May? Does that come to the board for approval? The uh >> the renewal? Yes. because the um it's due in gems Mars by April 1st and then it waits in the hopper and they get to 531 schools and then they give it back to us to take to the board. So it usually comes May or sometimes even June depending on how soon we get it back in there into the hopper. >> So >> the terms of the contracts you know that was approved. So >> yeah, they just it's more of a over the check to make sure that the prices are in line with what the state increases are. >> So anyway, pretty excited about um you know, having met with Jared and just kind
056of getting some of his ideas. I think that uh I I feel like they're in a good spot and I think he's got good support, too. they're going to make sure that he's successful here. So, um Wednesday I will be in Lancing for the um state of the state. Uh actually, uh K12 Alliance, we do a do a lunch over there from like 11 till 2:00 and we do it because basically everybody that's in Lancing is in the city on that day. And so they sit around and they wait cuz the you know the address isn't until like 7 o'clock. So they kind of sit around all day and don't have a lot to do. So we put a free lunch on for them and gives us not they it's usually pretty well attended. So
057we get a lot of facetime with uh you know some of our representatives and get a little bit of a chance to chew on them a little bit about the things they're not doing and >> that's good. >> Pat them on the back about the good stuff. So um yeah, we'll that's where I'll be on Wednesday. >> You get many from our district. >> Yeah. You know, last year we got a couple it so it was it was okay. Lot for Mcome they had quite a few and so it depends. They they kind of uh you know they they try to slide in and slide out pretty quick. But >> it's it's good because they know that we're >> you don't like get them in there and like >> lock the doors? No. No. We
058let them get out pretty easy. But no, we had uh last year was it's worth it because we get I mean there's really more that pop in than you think would. So, it's a it's a good day. So, I will be there Wednesday. And then the only other thing I have just so uh next month, um we'll be bringing some bids in for uh looking at sinking fund money for this spring and summer. Um big projects that are out there. Our last roof that has not been done is at Millside. So, actually, I take that back. Millside and the auxiliary gym here. So if you think back that's getting on 20 years old or well 17 years old and we're starting to see some leaks over there and so we're going to do that gym
059over on this and then uh Bill sides roof and that will be all the roofs for we'll be good. We won't have to deal with roofs for 25 more years. So good. So that those are two of the things. Um also looking at uh resurfacing the floors. the these floors have it's been a long we resurface them a lot but we never strip them and so we've got about what we figure 20 years worth of buildup on these floors out here are supposed to be white when you walk out and look in the hallway they're they're like the yellow they really are white and so um this company that came over and did the floors and they um tech has the exact same floors as we do and you walk in there and this is
060the company that did that, but it's quite a process of stripping it all down and and that kind of stuff. So, um, we looked at it last year, weren't able to fit it in, but we will. That that's one of the things we're going to look at this year. And then lastly, we're going to resurface the lots again according to um, you know, we've got a couple more redos on the lots before we're going to have to go all the way down to gravel. So, we'll take advantage of our last few years and make it work because the price difference in resurfacing and painting versus grinding down and redoing is >> a lot. So, so that's kind of what's going to be on the docket for uh those will go out to bid probably this
061month. Um Evan's working on a few of them now. And then um we had a guy come out and take a look at the roof at Millsite. They had a couple little problems over there. Um, but we're meeting tomorrow with them to figure out a plan for there and he's got a few options for us. >> So, is the tennis thing still a while away? >> That's going to be we're going to be doing uh that's going to be on our um seeking fund list out >> we have been on homestead >> this year too now. Still, no. >> That's how long how much longer we have on that now? Oh, >> we just did it last year. We just did that last year. So, >> yeah, we just did it last year. >> We
062did it three. I think we're out. We I don't think we got to go out next year. I think we go out the year after that. >> So, did we decide what we were doing for the sinking funnel? >> Last that we talked about was in August. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. >> And so, um >> that's still the plan. Yeah, we can still that can still be um in August that could still be just a renewal. >> Yeah, >> that's it. >> Yep, that's all. >> Any visitor? >> No, they will go on to our action items. All right. >> I'll make a motion that the board of education approves the overnight trip request for the fifth grade camp to fifth grade to attend camp at How Nature Center in How Michigan from April
06329th to May 1st, 2026. The cost for the camp will be paid by fundraising and parents. There will be no cost to the district. >> Move any discussion. >> All in favor say I. I. >> Any oppose? >> That passes. >> Motion to adjurnn court. All in favor? >> Any oppos? >> All right. Good night.