APS Board Meeting July 28th 2025

001The one from the uh reported here house Oh, it's on the far side. >> Yeah. Okay, that's not that's Okay, it's 5:30. I will call the meeting to order and ask everyone to please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Give you a couple extra minutes to review our consent agenda items. A quick question for D and H. Anna, are we able to separate those vote for them separately or does that have to be all together? Do I have to amend the agenda for that or is that not necessary? >> D and H in tonight's agenda. >> Yeah, we can um we can

002do that when we go down to the next things for Yeah. For the approving the Well, just when we get down to the next item, the approving the meeting meeting agenda. >> Okay. >> But just for the consent agenda items here, I'll just wrap up here. >> Anyone need more time with the consent agenda items? >> Okay. All right. Then we'll move on to uh the next item which is approving the meeting agenda uh for this evening and then vote for you. >> So I'll make a motion to approve the agenda as presented with D and H all separate individual votes support. Any further conversation? We'll so separate item D all into separate votes and H will also all go into separate votes. Motion made by Monica, support by Sarah Fritz. Anything further? All in

003favor? Show of hands, please. Okay, thank you. That's uh all six guesses. Okay. Uh, we would need a motion to elect Superintendent Rabido as temporary chairperson until the election of the board president. >> So moved. Support. >> Anything further? Okay. Uh, all in favor, show of hands. I think you get six yeses. Okay. Now it's you. >> Okay. Uh I will then open the floor for nominations of the office of president of the Alpena Public Schools Board of Education. >> I would like to nominate Eric Lawson. >> I would like to nominate Anna Minhart. >> Eric, do you a second? Do you accept, Eric? >> Yes, I will accept. Okay. Um, I'm actually, thank you, sir, but I'm going to decline. Um, I've served as president for two and a half years, and it's been

004very enjoyable. I just think over like the past six, seven months, um, the board's shifting in a direction that's more challenging for me and items that come up that I don't necessarily support. And I believe that the role of the board president and spokesperson should would be better served by someone um in the majority who who feels differently. It's just been um added stress and time for me behind the scenes when I have to um I guess work on items that the board wishes to have worked on that I don't personally support like having a new attorney. the um uh like the school the bid that we passed that was outside of the state code discussing you know having policies that potentially um ACLU were getting involved with it just um it added a lot

005for me and I feel like someone else who's more um in favor of those directions uh would be better served in this position. So thank you but declining. >> Anyone else? Oh, I guess you're running the show. Any other nominations? Okay, hearing none, I think we still do need to do a ballot. Um, so you have in front of you um the ballots. If you'd write your name at the top and then Eric Lawson is the candidate um and cast your vote either for Eric or an alternative and then I'll read the uh ballots. So when you're done, pass them this way. >> Sorry. >> Um, >> thank you. So, why aren't I? Um, you want to record that since I don't know how to record on there? All right. So, then we have a

006a variety uh of check and no check. Um, so I guess I'll just confirm as I go around. Um, for president, Sarah, uh, Fritz voted no. >> Nope. >> Uh, for president, Eric Lawson voted for Eric Lawson. Uh, AJ, you didn't check it, but you're voting for Eric Lawson. AJ voted for Eric Lawson. Uh, Monica voted for Eric Lawson. Uh, Eric Hansen voted for Eric Lawson. >> And that's a nope. >> Correct. >> Uh, Anna Minehart did not vote for Eric Lawson. So, we have one, two, three, four, uh, votes for Eric and two no votes. All right. So, uh, with that, Eric Lawson is elected the president. So, come on over. Congratulations. >> I try not to make too much. >> Give these to you. So need to save those. >> You want this

007policy for uh the >> Thank you, sir. like musical chairs >> there. All right, glasses. >> I don't know if I need to officially turn it over to you, but the next order of business is the uh newly elected president. We'll open the floor for nominations for the offices of vice president and treasurer. >> Okay. Um, we'll begin with the office of vice president. Uh, and we'll entertain nominations for that position. >> I'd like to see Eric Henson stay. >> I really appreciate the offer. Unfortunately, I have fairly significant time uh requirements of me in in other places and I unfortunately cannot dedicate the time that's necessary to really do this justice. And so unfortunately I will not accept the nomination but thank you. >> I'd like to nominate AJ for vice president. >> What

008are the time uh constraints that you are referring to Eric? How much extra time? I don't know what you and Anna have to do. I mean I know Anna puts in way more time but >> Yeah. No, honestly, uh Anna put in the bulk of the time. It's substantial hours, uh for what she puts in. Um so it's it's nothing uh in that at all. Um mostly for the vice president, uh you take a look over the agenda, uh ensure that that's um in line with the way it should be. And occasionally on some issues that come up, whether it be legal or disciplinary or staff, there's extra meetings that you have to attend from time to time. So, it's really impossible to put a a time on that because it it changes based on

009what's going on in the district. >> Okay. >> So, I don't know if that's a good answer or not, but that's the best I have. >> And I would say it probably depends too on Dr. Lawson and how much he wants or needs to lean into you. I particularly was I utilized Eric quite a bit. He was a great help. So, um probably put more on him than necessary, but >> Well, that's one thing we can talk about as well. Um, I'm not sure we have a well- definfined policy about executive committee specifically. I I don't remember seeing one. Um, that's a possibility that we could define what that looks like. Uh, or we can continue to do it sort of, you know, ad hoc uh, as it comes up. But, um, >> well, I

010guess I I will accept, but we can always I can always throw in the towel and say we need to revote this. >> You don't seem like that kind of guy, but Okay. Uh, well, I I would give it my best first, but if I'm for some reason not fulfilling what the board needs. >> Okay, so we have a duly accepted nomination. Are there any other nominations? Any other nominations? Going once, going twice. Any other nominations? hearing. None. I'll declare nominations closed and we'll continue to the uh ballot for vice president. >> You might you you might have >> Thanks, Monica. All right. Oh, very very quick. Um, let's see here. Okay. So, that is one of those you handed me. Anna, was that your vote? >> Is that >> um that I if it

011says my name on it, it's my vote. >> Oh, >> I checked it. >> This one there's no name. What did I not write my name? >> Well, >> I started filling out the front. >> Yeah, I'll I'll hand these uh or or Oh, yeah. There's yours. All right. Where's this Where's this other one coming from? >> Might have been on the pile, I guess. Yeah. Well, all right. Um, and uh I don't think I have filled one out yet, which means I'm I'm short one. >> Okay. Do you want me to do this part as well? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, yeah, there are there's another one. Okay. I don't know. I don't know what that is. I have uh uh maybe just going going this way so we can account for everyone. Um

012Sarah Fritz uh for AJ. No. Uh then uh Anna Martin Hart, you have AJ as a yes. Uh then uh then there's my vote. Uh yes for AJ going around Eric Hansen. That's a yes from you. Uh, and uh, Monica, that's a yes for AJ and a yes from AJ. So, I have all members accounted for. I don't know what what this one is. It doesn't have a name. >> Was that the one that was already sitting? I had started filling all of >> Oh, maybe that's it. >> beforehand, but I didn't sign my name. I just wrote the Okay, does write the title of the Yeah, the position. >> That must be it. All right. So, we have everyone accounted for. Um, and uh uh AJ uh has sufficient votes to be our new

013vice president. Congratulations. Um, and >> I was really hoping you'd stay, Eric. >> Come on. >> So, I'll just reuse this one. All right. Uh, so now we can proceed to office of the treasurer. Are there any nominations for treasurer? Let's do this Erica Castain because she's not here. >> I'm not aware of anything in the policy saying you can't elect somebody in absentia. >> I think you're correct. >> Except in if if if she declines, then we would have to go back and do it again. But all right, I have a nomination for Sarah Costain. Are there any other nominations? Any other nominations for treasurer? >> And once again, any other nominations for treasurer? >> Hearing none, I'll declare nominations for treasurer closed. Please complete your ballots. Thank you. All right. Uh, going the

014other way around this time. Um, I have, uh, Eric Hansen as a yes for Sarah Costain. Monica Dinski. Yes. For Sarah Costain for treasure. Um, I have, uh, I have one. >> Oh, did I not say? Yeah, that's my scroll. A yes from AJ for Sarah. And uh going around this way then uh I have a no for Sarah Costain from Anna and a yes from Sarah Fritz for Sarah Costain. So uh Sarah Costain is our newly elected treasurer. Um although if she doesn't show up today, somebody else will have to read the uh the gifts. Um all right, very good. I believe that concludes this portion of our meeting and I'll just leave these here for records. >> Yep. >> All right. Um then that brings us to our first opportunity for citizens uh

015to address the board. And um I uh have this uh nice reminder uh that uh individuals addressing the board will please state their name, address, and or your group affiliation. Shared uh direct all and direct all comments to the board, not staff or other participants. Uh not to make personal attacks against a school board member or a school district employee by name. Uh comments shall be limited to 3 minutes of duration and uh uh people will not speak more than once on the same topic unless all others who wish to speak on that topic uh have been heard and this portion of the meeting will be limited to 30 minutes but the time frame will be extended if necessary so that no one's right to address the board will be denied. Um, hi. My name

016is Vicki Lindseay. I'm a retired APS teacher, um, current, um, substitute teacher and mother to Eric Lindsay. At what cost? I'm here today not just as a concerned community member, but as someone who is watching this board take action after action that raises a fundamental question. At what cost? First, you accepted a higher bid for asphalt over a lower one, an unnecessary expense of taxpayer dollars. At what cost? At the cost of fi fiscal responsibility and public trust. Then you voted down a rain garden, a project that was fully funded by grant monies. No cost to us, but full benefit for our students and environment. You rejected it. At what cost? at the cost of student opportunity, sustainability, and forwardthinking education. Next, this board has discussed instituting a bathroom policy that threatens the dignity and

017privacy of students. At what cost? At the cost of inclusion, legal liability, and the well-being of kids who already face enough challenges. You've also expressed a desire to centralize complaints about books, circumventing established policies, which are in place for a reason. At what cost? At the cost of professional procedure, transparency, and yes, intellectual freedom. You've added a second law firm, one with no experience in public educa, but public education law, but aligned with certain personal and political beliefs. At what cost? at the cost of sound legal advice, credibility, and efficiency. And during the last workshop meeting, a comment was made during dress code discussions about providing as many burkas as you want, like a full burka. That's not just offensive, it's disgraceful. At what cost? At the cost of respect, cultural sensitivity, and basic human

018decency. What will happen tonight? What decision will you make? and at what cost. These decisions, one after another, aren't just missteps. They are signals. They tell us who and what you prioritize. But again, I ask, at what cost? We are watching. We are keeping receipts. And we will continue to ask questions until it is it is answered, not with words, but with responsible action. Anybody else? My name is Diana Okconor and I'm from Alpena. My comments to the board this evening are related to the addition of the Coleman Law Group to the APS payroll. It defies all reasoning to in any way justify this additional expense. But the justification becomes even more obscure and troublesome after a search into the ideologies of the Coleman group. It is fair to say Coleman is not pro-public education.

019And in truth, a fairer statement would be they are anti-public school in education in that their legal efforts are aimed at undermining public schools and channeling public education resources elsewhere, thus diminishing and diluting the efficacy and reach of public schooling. We just hired an extremist law group that works to compromise public schools. What I'd like to point out is that by adding Coleman to the payroll, we are actually funding the anti-public school agenda this group has. Every dollar, every dime that is paid to them will be used to weaken and compromise public schools. This board's efforts should be to support, protect, and enrich public education. But unfortunately, the sabotur on this board align with the Coleman agenda. Should this board plunge our school system into a lawsuit, we would be funneling hundreds of thousands of

020dollars to Coleman, if not millions, but even without the catastrophic financial burden of a lawsuit suit, which this board seems to be considering, just having Coleman on the payroll, will flood money in that direction. The unfortunate truth is we have a group of four on this board who are in alignment with the ideologies of the Coleman group. They have the same agenda. Picking this group was not random. It was very calculated. These four board members would love to channel our tax dollars in any fashion and in any amount to common law there. Therefore, I believe it is crucial the public be made aware of how much money we're paying this group. For instance, did we pay Colin a retainer? If so, how much? Is it possible to have a monthly accounting of our school dollars

021going to this extremist group? How do we access this information? All of this should be made public. It's an atrocity. By the way, this is not a hyperbolic concern. We just hired an extremist law group for APS school system. Thank you. I'm Barbish, a resident of the city of Alpena, and I have grandchildren who attend Alpena public schools. I witnessed the rain garden, which was supported by a grant and designed by reputable architects, be voted down. I've watched the board promote a bathroom policy that was not recommended by ACLU in Trun Law, a law firm that specializes in educational law. I've washed the approval of a contract for Coleman Law, a law firm with a political agenda. A second law firm is not necessary and is a waste of our taxpayer dollars. I recently saw

022a recruitment ad for students who to attend All Saints. It included the following testimonial. Where kids get good grades, good friends, and have a solid shot at saintthood. The testimonial ended with, "We're open to all, but your kids will learn virtues and how not to be jerk." Is this person inferring that children who attend Alpena public schools get bad grades, have bad friends, aren't, and are destined to eternal damnation? Is this person inferring that Alpena public school children are learning to be jerks? I may have been able to scroll past this post if the post was not from someone other than a schoolboard member. This screams conflict of interest. The board's conflict of interest in social media policy states postings to social media should be done in a manner sensitive to the board members responsibilities

023and applicable district policies. I have to wonder why this person feels that way about students who attend Alpena public schools. A school system our governing board should be proud of. Maybe board members whose children don't attend Alpena public schools would better serve the All Saints board. Board members should have skin in the game. We need to have Alpena public school board members who believe in all students and provide direction to all students, even if they don't agree with student choices. At the workshop session last week, a board member offered to buy burkas for girls to wear if they come to school wearing inappropriate clothing. I agree that the dress code is important, but shaming and bullying students can only lead to mental health issues for our students. We do not know what type of clothing

024these students have and we need to be sensitive to that. It's also disrespectful to the Muslim religion to suggest that. I applaud Romeo Bdash for taking students aside discreetly and for donating hoodies to students. The school board just had an educational session that addressed some of these concerns. Please learn from that session. And if your attitude is Alpena public school students get bad grades, have bad friends, and are taught to be jerks, and if you have no skin in the game, maybe you should resign from the board. Anybody else? I'm Yvan Lef Johnson. I live in Alpena Township and I'm a concerned taxpayer and the aunt of several APS students. First, I'd like to thank Anna Minhartt for her service as the board president. Your service to benefit all our students and the community is

025greatly appreciated. I'm here tonight to urge you to renew Thrun Law's annual contract and to decline to renew Colins's leg common legal groups contract. I urge you to take these actions because expertise is not bias. trying to force others to live by your personal, religious, or moral beliefs when you were elected to serve on a non nonpartisan school board is biased. A law firm isn't supposed to tell you what you want to hear. Your general counsel isn't supposed to simply rubber stamp the extremist project 2025 agenda that you're pushing and tell you that it's okay to target vulnerable students. We pay thr advice about what's legal and what isn't. We pay them so you don't take action that lands the school district in court, which will cost many more of our tax dollars at the

026expense of our students. We pay them to advise you so you operate within the law and with the best interest of all APS students and our community in mind. With Thru, we have counsel from the premier law firm for school districts and municipalities in the state. They have nearly 80 years experience in school law. So, it makes sense for our district and for the community to renew their contract. Please do not waste our taxpayer dollars. at the tune of $275 an hour for Coleman to help push a bathroom policy that violates state law, violates your own established policies against discrimination and harassment, and violates the rights of some students. During your May meeting, we were all appalled to hear that the math curriculum was 15 years old. So, I'd like to suggest you spend time

027establishing a system to update all curriculum on a regular scheduled basis and stop wasting your time on an extremist agenda that the community clearly does not support. renew Thrun's contract, drop the potty policy nonsense, and get back to doing the business that the voters and the taxpayers elected you to do, which is serving all our students. This one. All right. Seeing no uh further uh citizens rising for public comment at this time, we'll um move along with our meeting. There will be another opportunity later for uh public comment as well. So uh this brings us to uh the uh approval of the consent agenda items and the uh recommended motion uh is to approve the consent agendum items as presented. >> I would offer that motion. >> Second. >> Okay. And uh by its very

028nature, we typically don't uh discuss uh consented the consent agenda. Um just a reminder, if anyone ever wants anything pulled from the consent agenda, uh then we can discuss that particular item. So uh uh with that, um I believe we can vote. Uh show of hands for uh support of the uh consent agenda items being approved. Any not in support? I think that was everybody. Thank you very much. Uh motion carried. Um that brings us to appointing a board secretary for fiscal year 2526. Um administrative recommendation is to appoint Summer Seagler as the board secretary for the 2526 fiscal year. >> I would also offer that motion >> support. All right. Um, we have a motion with support. Um, any discussion? All right. Um, keep in mind, uh, if anybody ever wants a, uh, roll

029call for any particular item and I haven't already suggested it, just raise your hand and and make that suggestion. Um, at this time, um, all in favor of Senator Cedler as the board secretary, uh, raise your hand. All right. I don't see any. Uh I think that's unanimous. Um I don't see any nose. Uh so Summer, you're it. Thank you very much. >> Thank you for not declining. >> Whoa. Was that even an option? >> Thank you so much. Um all right. Uh that brings us to uh item C. Uh MASBY conferences workshops and CBA classes. I do believe we have uh policy uh 0175.1. >> Yeah, it's >> It's in the packet. All right. Uh so the uh uh board is required to have approval when attending a conference or workshop outside the local

030ESD service area. The administrative recommendation is a motion to approve attendance of board members to MASBY conferences workshops and applicable CBA classes in Michigan. >> Do we to approve the policy? Is that what what you're asking for? >> My my understanding, correct me if I'm off base, Dave, I is that the policy is already existing. uh this is just a perhaps a yearly reaffirmation uh that we uh we want to approve um so that way I think people don't have to get an approval by the board each every time. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I move to approve policy 0175.1 for 202526 school year. >> Is there support? >> Support. Okay. Any discussion? >> I was just curious when the last time we updated some of these prices. Uh, you know, order to buy a

031lunch for $8.50 is going to be somewhat challenging uh in today's world. >> Thought we did. >> We did it in the last year, year and a half. I thought we did. I thought we talked about it cuz I think it was like seven bucks or something. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> 975 $22 for dinner. Oh, so but that was probably done outside of this policy because it looks like the last time this was revised was updated the confidence form. >> Right. Right. >> Yeah. >> It says last res revised August of 2020 at the top. >> What? Oh, >> adopted 94 and then revised. >> Oh, last revised. Oh, yes. It it does it does say that up there as well. That's interesting. Um, but that's still longer ago than than we're talking. So,

032maybe we could put this on the agenda to to just bring it up to date. >> Yeah, we can certainly update the policy. It is on the conference form, correct, Mary? With the right price. And is it in the AG's as well or just the conference form? >> In the AG as well. >> Yeah. So, we just need to clarify it in the policy. >> Yeah. Okay. Well, we'll put this on an agenda and we'll we'll get that brought up to where it should be. Um, all right. We still have a motion on the floor. Um, and uh and a second. Any further discussion? All right. Um, I would say since this involves spending a little money, let's have a roll call for this one. Uh, member Fritz >> I. >> Member Minhart. >> I.

033>> Uh, member Hansen. >> I. >> Member Dazinski. >> No. >> Member MacArthur. >> I. >> Member Lawson. >> I. Uh, motion carries. Um, so, uh, that's taken care of. That brings us to our annual fiscal appointments. Um we uh are dividing these up into uh uh uh individual packets here. So uh number one uh Tron Law Firm uh PC of Lancing. Um the uh I guess I would entertain a motion to uh uh make them uh appoint them as a firm representing our district. I would offer the motion to retain through and law firm uh financing. >> Second. >> All right. Discussion. >> Um it's best practices every 3 to 5 years to do a comparison on these law firms. Look at how much we're spending. Look at other law firms also in Michigan.

034Um I did a quick uh search AI search through all of our meeting minutes. Nothing is found from 2018. So, the last seven years, we've continued to vote for them, which I think it would be a good idea since there are three other gold standard law firms in Michigan to do a comparison and do our due diligence to look at what we are spending and do some comparisons on this. I mean, Miller Canfield has about 300 attorneys um firmwide that specialize in all different areas. uh certain ones in education. They have a breakdown of how many years of education they've done. Um through law, of course, Collins and Blaha and the Clark Hill. All four of those are gold standard for Michigan educational law firms. Thank you for that further discussion. All right. Uh hearing

035hearing none. Um I would say let's have a roll call on this question as well. The motion is to uh renew TR for another year. Uh, member Minhart. >> Hi. >> Member Dazinski. >> No. >> Member Hansen. >> I. >> Member MacArthur. >> I. >> Member Fritz. >> I. >> Member Lawson. >> I. Uh so that uh motion carries, but um I think that uh you make a good point. I perhaps let's work that in uh to uh uh review uh and establish uh a review cycle. Um I think that would be a good move. Um so we'll look at that again. >> I was under the impression that that was the only one in Michigan. >> What' you say? Sorry. >> I your honors can hear you. I was under the impression that they

036were pretty much the only school firm in Michigan. >> There are lots. >> I Yep. Thanks for digging, Monica. I would not have known how many there are. >> I think the the uh from the various reviews of districts who use various firms, what I've noticed is that uh there are are many many districts that do use TRUN, but it's it isn't the only one. So, it might be very interesting to look at that question. All right. Um so then as uh as we've discussed an auxiliary uh uh group to uh put very particular questions perhaps to um the common law group uh would entertain a motion to retain them. Uh my understanding of the contract I think it's in our it was in our packet there is no retainer. Um but uh the fee

037is I believe uh >> 275 per hour. Okay. And uh if anybody has any questions about the contract uh I would think it would be in order to go ahead and discuss those uh at this point if anybody has any questions or issues. >> I well I guess we better you know >> go ahead. >> Uh I move to retain the Coleman Law Group as an auxiliary law firm. >> I'll second it. >> Support. any uh further discussion at this point? >> And uh Dave, I believe you're satisfied now with the contract. >> Yeah. Yep. I had a conversation with him two weeks ago and brought up some of those um uh insignificant changes to the contract and he agrees. >> So they're sat satisfied to your uh your approval. >> All right. Very good.

038Further discussion. I I guess my question would be uh how would the determination be made who handles what and for what purpose? Um you know because there's there's a little bit of gray area there. So I I'm somewhat concerned about that. >> Well, yeah, in the event that we put the same question to both firms, um that would probably just have to be come before the board, >> that particular question. And what if one firm gives us one answer and another firm gives us the other answer? >> That's why it would come to the board. >> I know, but >> and would be discussed, debated, and voted on. I would I would think that would be an appropriate procedure. Dave, do you have any thoughts? No, I I have the same concerns of you know,

039you know, I guess um >> yeah I just questions about how we pose questions, which questions we pose >> and then um what do we do when there is opposing uh points of view or um you know just what do we do in general? So, I think we need to clarify that. Um, you know, we received a letter from a community member about the Office of Civil Rights, um, recent decision or action in Virginia. >> Um, I'm guessing that that's going to be an issue that the board wants Coleman to weigh in on. Um, my concern is I want to make sure I'm conveying the right message and question to Coleman and also back um because in the past there's been misinterpretations, misunderstandings, those sorts of things that you know create a rift here. Uh

040so I just want to be very clear on the board's wish of ask the law firm this specific this is what we're working through those kind of things so that I you know I get the right information that you're looking for. >> Okay. Well that's something to uh I would think also that the two of us uh can make sure that we are uh uh if not completely in agreement at least we have an understanding um and that would I would think help that process along. Yeah. >> Um all right further discussion. Well, from my point of view, the only reason we're looking at this other law firm is because members of the board did not get the answer from Tron that they wanted on the bathroom policy. And that is the only reason that

041we're looking at another. When Trun said that our procedure is fine right now with everything going on in the courts and everything being challenged, our procedure with our bathroom policy, it's not a policy. It's just a procedure in the junior high and the high school is fine. But that was not agreeable to some board members. So then we went hunting for this other law firm to see if they'll give us the answer that members want. And that's just my point of view. >> Thank you. Further discussion. >> No, I think it is good to have a different law firm that specializes in a different area. No expense to us. uh no retainer uh is cheaper than throne per hour as well. Um and I do think this is a good idea because trun could didn't

042even have title 9 in their recommendation. They did not even mention federal law at all on what they sent us and that was the big question. So I don't know if they don't know. I don't know if they left it out. I I don't know. So I think it would be good to have firms that do specialize in different areas. And when we do look at some of these other law firms too, I mean Miller Canfield and this Clark Hill, I mean they have firms, you know, state different states. I mean 300 and some 300 I mean it maybe looking at that might be a good idea and where we wouldn't need Coleman. Just a thought. >> Well, there's also the thing of uh how long did it take for them to respond to you?

043>> Um it's been slow. Yeah, >> it's been challenging and getting a response and you know that's that's from my understanding there's two people uh two lawyers on staff. So um again I'm willing to try it and see but if there's an emergency situation or an urgent matter um that could be a concern. >> Any further discussion? Hearing none. Let's proceed with a roll call. >> Member Dinski. >> I. >> Member Hansen. >> No. >> Member MacArthur. >> I >> member Fritz. >> No. >> Member Minehart. >> No. Member Lawson. >> I All right. I believe when it's a split vote, the motion fails. Correct. >> Uh so uh that uh uh that does not pass. Let's move along to uh uh the auditor stale lamp and line. Um it would be a a motion

044to uh retain straight lamp and crunch line as our auditor. >> I would make that motion >> and I would support that motion. >> Okay. I have a motion and support. Any discussion? hearing. None. Let's proceed with a roll call on that as well. >> Member Hansen, >> I. >> Member MacArthur, >> I. >> Member Fritz, >> I. >> Member Minehart, >> I. >> Member Dazinski, >> I. >> Member Lawson, >> I. Motion carries. And uh that concludes our annual fiscal appointment. Um on to item E, investing school funds. Um we have a uh administrative recommendation uh to authorize the utilization of any investment type allowed by the revised school code and state laws for the purpose of investing school funds during the 2526 fiscal year. I'll make that motion. >> Support. >> Okay. Is

045there any discussion? Hearing none. Um I think this could use a roll call as well. Member MacArthur. >> Hi. >> Member Fritz. >> I. >> Member Minehart. >> I. >> Member Dazinski. >> I. >> Member Hansen. >> I. >> Member Lawson. >> I. Motion carries. Um on to the next item to designate depositories for school funds. The uh recommendation is a motion that the following financial institutions be assigned as depositories for funds for 2526 fiscal year. Huntington Bank, Nicolet Bank, Alpena Alona Area Credit Union, and the Michigan Liquid Asset Fund. >> I'll make that motion. Support. >> All right. Any discussion on that one? These are all the same as in the past, correct? Thank you. >> Yeah, my understanding this is our just sort of annual housekeeping >> changed >> for these sorts of

046items. Um nothing new I don't think discussion going once, going twice. All right. Uh hearing none, let's proceed with a roll call for that as well. Member MacArthur. >> Hi. >> Member Fritz. >> Sorry. >> I sorry. >> Member Minehardt. >> I. >> Member Dazinski. >> I. >> Member Hansen. >> I. >> Member Lawson. >> I. Motion carries. Um, resolution for automated clearing house and electronic transactions. The administrative recommendation is that the board adopt the preamble and resolution authorizing automated clearing house arrangements and electronic transfers. >> So moved >> support. >> Very good. Any uh discussion uh on this one? >> Did we get that or is that just >> We don't have that in the packet >> for a res for to have a resolution. >> Do we? Yeah, it's in there. >> What

047page is >> it's right in front of the high school association. >> Yeah, that page stuck together. I'm sorry. >> Mhm. >> Oh, that's all right. >> Moving on swiftly. >> Choked on my water. >> So, no discussion of this uh item, this resolution hearing. No discussion. Let's proceed with a roll call for that as well since it's a resolution. Member Fritz. >> I. >> Member Minhart. >> I. >> Member Dazinski. >> I. >> Member Hansen. >> I. >> Member MacArthur. >> I. >> Member Lawson. >> I. Motion carried. All right. Item H. Approval of district memberships for uh school year 2526. Uh these will be we we will break down into uh individual votes as well. Uh beginning with uh the Alpena Chamber of Commerce, excuse me, Commerce. Um the uh recommendation is to

048approve the uh uh membership at $1600 build in January of each year. >> I make that motion. >> Support. >> All right. Any discussion? Um, have we been paying this partnership or partner level for how long? At 1,600. >> Uh, I'm not sure how long it's been since I've gotten here. >> Okay. Just >> Yeah, the partnership level. I don't know if the price has gone up in those years, but >> Well, I'm just wondering because there's other levels as well. There's a 250 and a 500, which I mean I I do believe we need to be part of the Alpena Chamber of Commerce, but um, you know, there are different levels to look at as well. I mean, we don't even know what we're going to be getting as far as funding goes. I

049mean, that is quite a bit of money. 1,600. >> What's the You have it pulled up, Monica. >> Yeah, they have a business level at 250. Then they have a sponsor level at 500. Um, which I personally would probably go to that level would be the one down. And then a partner level at 116 or 16. And then let me pull up the rest here. And then it goes higher from there. Leader level 3,200 to 49.99. Chairman level 5,000 plus. >> Dave, are the benefits? Well, let me pause. I'm sorry. What are the difference in benefits there, Monica? And are they worth it >> to you as a >> um enote sponsor four times per year? That's the same discounts on tickets to the annual dinner is in the partner level. Special rates to select

050educational opportunities and chamber events. That's also in the partner level. Um they're pretty similar. for our category. Mary, do you have any insight? I'm just kind of curious. That's actually a legitimate question. >> I've only used them for a couple >> Can you come up to the microphone? Thank you. >> I personally have only used them for a couple webinars, mostly with uh Lara for unemployment and things like that. Um the other thing that we use them for is the um annual dinner um for CTE and stuff like that. It's more of a relationship. I don't know where the that level of sponsorship came in at. It's always been that since I've been here. So, historically, that's what it's been. >> We do host about two events uh a year, at least since I've been

051here, where either they've come to our facilities. Most recently, they came to the high school um and had their um Was that the breakfast or the lunch? I think it was the breakfast. >> Good morning, Alpena. >> Yeah, good morning, Alpena. Um, and then we are the focus of that program. So, we get to share everything that's going on. Um, and then we did another one over at Art in the Loft where we hosted we've hosted at the rink one time. So, um, you know, that's beneficial. I I don't know how you put a price on that, but when we are rolling out what we're doing and building partnerships with the community, it is part of our strategic plan. Um, I would hate to lose those opportunities to, you know, host and and share our

052message, >> but it's build in January and we can certainly dig more uh deeply into what the benefits of the different levels are and and see if we can uh change that and still receive those kind of benefits. >> Could we maybe move it to the next workshop then to look at a little closer? >> I Yeah, I don't see why. >> It was paid in January 25, so it's good through December 25. So the change would be December or January 26. >> Okay. >> So as long as it makes it on our workshop anytime before then we would be okay to >> Yeah. >> take another look. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Is there a motion on the table? >> Yeah. >> Then we would need to move to table this discussion till next

053month. >> Correct. >> Well uh yes. Um, I think we would have to have um >> probably a vote to withdraw the motion. >> I think you >> No, you can just move to table. >> If you t motion to table Trumps the uh >> I believe so. >> Yep. You can move to table something any. >> All right. Well, then it >> then and then we would just come back to it. Yeah. Yep. >> I I move that's the right way. >> Yeah. I move to table the motion to our August workshop. >> Okay. Support. All right. Further discussion of the motion to table. >> No discussion on that one. >> No discussion on that. All right. Well, then uh let's have a show of hands for a motion to table till August. Any

054no votes? Motion carries. All right. That will uh come back a little bit later. Thank you very much. Uh then um Michigan Association of School Boards, $7,374 build in July each year. I actually I think we're probably going to have similar questions on all of these. If Dave maybe you could kind of uh enlighten us what they actually pertain to. I know there something we traditionally just vote on. However, you know, to be good stewards. Uh we'd like to know exactly what this entails. >> Yeah, I think last year you did a good job of summarizing all of them, so hopefully still fresh. I know some of it was in your update, too. >> Yeah. Uh, so I included um the so the Michigan Association um membership provides access to um attorneys at MASB also

055all the the training cataloges that are available um courses things like that. Um there's probably some litigation coverage in there as well um and being a part of that membership for that. Um and then the legal trust fund um sorry so the MESB is separate from then the legal trust fund which does provide a bit of uh coverage there. >> Was our training out of that 7,300 or was that >> in addition to it? Yeah. >> Okay. So we had to cut them another check for last two weeks ago. >> Yeah. Yep. But you have access to them through that membership. >> How much was that? uh $800, $900. >> That was not fun enough for $800. >> Well, isn't this kind of a duplicate then if we're, you know, lawyers and legal advice and

056>> so legal trust fund is >> microphone. >> Thank you, Mary. So the difference between the two, the association is like any other association. The fees you pay towards that. The legal trust fund is what it actually states it's a trust fund. So it builds to reduce the cost in future years. So that's the difference between the two. >> Could you repeat that, Mayor? >> For item number three, she's kind of talking about >> Yep. number three. keep. >> So, you know what a a so a trust fund, right? So, it's you put money into it and it builds and saves and you draw on it and >> use it to offset cost in f offset increased legal costs in future years. So, it's >> where I guess where do we get the draw out

057or when do we get the draw out? >> It it's built on the behalf of school districts. We don't draw out of it. MASB draws out of it to reduce the legal costs that they pass on in >> okay >> the association or if we have to hire a lawyer through them or like that. >> So when Anna called um >> Brad Brad >> um does that come out of the the legal trust fund or does that come out of our association cost? >> It comes out of the legal trust fund. So it's like well it's used to reduce the cost. So it's not like they pay all the lawyers costs out of it. >> But I that's that was a MASB law. >> But I wouldn't have access to calling Brad if you're not

058part of MASB. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> But is Truman then not able to handle that where we had to call Brad? >> Well I um No, they definitely could. But I feel like there's sometimes you get more of a board uh separate attorney than someone that the district has hired, right? I don't know if like if I call Katie from Trune, if she gives me advice, the board advice that's specific to helping the district >> versus Brad who not necessarily invested in the district at all, just giving his legal advice from a board perspective. Isn't that the very same issue that we were just discussing with the other group that we are having uh redundant attorneys and it looks like the cost at least initially for MASBY is much more than Coleman. >> That's

059certainly a valid point. >> Uh >> so if you don't retain your membership in MASB, you will lose the opportunity for those classes. um any legal support that we may need due to an action that the board has taken um you know so there's there's that we're not paying like a retainer fee for them it's the association you know you're in a group they have different protections or different things that they offer to us to use um superintendent um evaluation ations and stuff through is through MASB. Correct. Yes. Um, so I mean there's a lot of other things that they support us in, not just legal matters. When you talk about lawyers, there's lawyers that specialize in family law. There's lawyers that specialize in the board processes and things like that. There's lawyers that specialize

060in Title N or in employment law, you know. So, it just depends on what you get. Um, on behalf of Tron, I would say I have worked with Trune all the years that I've been working for school districts and I think they do an outstanding job. I have had associations with the other ones at trainings at MSBO, Clark Hill, a couple of the other ones. And I will tell you when you compare those presentations to the one that trun the ones that trun there's a vast difference. But I think the question before us right now is MASBY uh which you're associate with. >> But what I'm saying is there's always a need for a differentiation in your law firms because they may specialize it and trun may not specialize in board policy and I mean

061and they do have policy but they in board action and things like that. That's why you call Brad and >> we do have Nola for board policy though because they >> we do have policy through Niola. Yes. Yes. >> MSB also advocates for public schools and school boards in Lancing. Yes. And so that's where a portion of that membership fee cost comes from, >> right? >> Forgive me. Do we have a motion on the floor for this? We do not. Yes. I didn't think so. >> Kind of kind of in limbo here. >> Yeah. >> I certainly think these are all valid concerns and I know we expressed the exact same concerns last year. Um, and I didn't like the answer then. I don't like it now. However, it's it's kind of one of those

062things that is I don't want to say necessary for the function, but uh it allows us to do the things we want and for them to represented us at the district. Um, I mean at the um uh the state. But uh I I'll be honest with you, I I I think that it's a very valid point. The conversation that just occurred with Coleman is the same conversation we're having here. Um, in yeah, it just doesn't sit too well with me, but I guess we'll see where we go. >> I move to renew our membership for the MASB. >> Begrudgingly, I second. >> Is there any discussion? just to keep Dave's evaluation tool. Nothing else. I mean, >> appreciate that. Thanks. I kind of I made a joke about the $800, but I would have thought

063that could have come out of that 7374 for two weeks ago. That seems a little bit salty. That's why it's definitely helpful if we want trainings if we do them like if you sign up individually because it's you don't have travel costs, right? If you can do a virtual training >> or like >> to to ones that >> where they have to come and you know they are in person and >> I didn't think we got an option to do a virtual on this one. >> We always have an option. Yeah. No, no, I mean I would say but on you know a session where we want a trainer to come up um you know that's separate than a >> pre-slated training that's available across the state. >> Well I well she was very good

064and uh she made better money than the lawyers did. further discussion on Mazby as our uh one of our memberships. I have found them very valuable with their trainings and just going to the different um opportunities they offer online to do virtual uh just to find out when I first joined uh when I first was was elected to go on there and and go through all of the uh the different trainings and what was expected of me. It was very enlightening and um it was really good and I still do it. So I would hate to lose that opportunity. Any further discussion hearing? None. Let's proceed with a roll call. >> Member Dazinski. >> No. >> Member Hansen. >> I. >> Member MacArthur. >> I. >> Member Fritz. >> I. >> Member Lawson. >> No.

065>> Oh, sorry. Member Hansen. Did I do you? You did. >> You got You got him. I think you need Anna. >> I think I >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Yes. >> All right. Motion carries. >> Okay. >> Uh, did it? >> I believe. >> Oh, I I thought I heard a a third. I thought it was a split again. I'm sorry. >> No. Um, all right. Then on to the legal fund trust membership build in July each year for to the tune of $292. Since we to do it properly, we should have the motion on the floor before discussion. >> Well, yeah. I mean, we could. Yes, certainly. >> Uh, I move to renew the MASB legal trust membership. >> Okay. >> Support. >> All right. Any discussion >> in in comparison? That's kind

066of small amount. I don't know what is there a percentage Mary that I mean we're we're throwing >> I don't know how they run it or >> Okay what they >> didn't know if anybody had that >> could be a good pond >> we can find out I mean we can we can ask >> that's a small amount in comparison but Any further discussion? >> Hearing none. Even though it's a small amount, it's spending money. We'll we'll do a roll call. >> Member Hansen. >> I. >> Member MacArthur. >> I. >> Member Fritz. >> I. >> Member Minehart. >> I. >> Member Dazinski. >> No. Member Lawson. >> No motion carries. So, uh, we'll move us along to school equity cost caucus, uh, to the tune of $1,125 build in March of each year. Is

067there a motion to renew this membership? Dave, can you tell us the value of this one, please? >> Well, do we want to get a motion before? >> Yeah, I think sometimes when things are agenda items, you know, it's all right to uh to discuss them a little bit, but um AJ's suggestion is is certainly great. Yes, it's good to have a motion on the floor as well. >> Understood. >> I'll make that motion. >> Okay. >> Support. >> All right. Discussion at this point. So to answer your question, the value is that they are advocating on behalf of public schools um primarily around school finance, coming up with equitable finance and we've personally um benefited from their work around transportation. Um you know the disparity in funding um I always use my example in

068my previous school district which was two square miles and we bust zero students. Uh we received the same foundation allowance as Alpena public schools does at 604 square miles busing about 1,200 students uh each day driving over 3,000 m a day and there's there was no recognition until about 3 or 4 years ago um three uh from the state of Michigan. Um school equity caucus was was um paramount in making that um change in lancing. Um, and so there there's other things. Me personally, they send very good updates on when things happen in Lancing, and it's very understandable. They offer conferences and sessions that I can go and attend. Um, but truly the benefit to us is that they're advocating on our behalf. >> So essentially, they're a lobby group then. They're because they're not

069an action group. >> I I think that's the right term. They do lobby, they do um research um into funding and how it affects different schools and things like that. Um you know, just for an example, in in the one presentation I did, Bloomfield Hills, I think, was sitting at $13,000 per per student, you know, so it's that equity that or inequity that they work to help level things out. One of the things also is the isolated districts which yeah gives um districts that are isolated a little bit of extra money so that their staff can attend conferences and stuff to help offset that cost for us to travel or for people to travel from the UP or Beaver Island or Boys Blank or Meno or you know places like that. it gives them those

070districts a little bit of extra money to help offset the added expense of things like that. So that was one of the things that they fought for too. But they do do a lot of research into inequities and different, you know, comparing Michigan to different states and like that. And so we've received what 525 530,000 a year um for transportation above and beyond. >> But I I think it's important to say this group isn't what gave them money. This group is there to lobby for that. You know, I think it's just an important differentiation there to, you know, give them credit for the the money versus lobbying for that. Very very different thing. Yep. >> Yeah. Any further questions or discussion? >> All right, hearing none. Let's have a roll call on that one, too.

071>> Did we get a mo? We did. >> We do have a motion in a second. Yes. >> Sorry. That's right. No, it's always good to check. >> Member MacArthur. >> I. >> Member Fritz. >> I. >> Member Minhart. >> I. >> Member Dazinski. I >> member Hansen. >> No. >> Member Lawson. >> I motion carried. Um that brings us next to Northern Michigan Schools Legislative Association. $991 paid in September of each year. And you know, I was just thinking one we'll we'll look at Robert's rules, but I think when the board feels it needs information to make an appropriate motion or to understand the motion, I think it's appropriate to discuss beforehand. It's always good. Thank you for being our Robert Screw. >> I I don't give me that. I just go off of

072what was kind of drilled into me and that's >> No, that's that's good. Um all right. So um so that is uh the mo the uh recommendation would be to uh renew this membership as well. >> So moved. >> Support. >> Okay. Discussion. >> You want to elaborate Dave? >> Yeah. So, as I put in my update, um, you know, this group I do meet with at least monthly and the same idea, it's a, uh, lobbyist, um, who's advocating on Northern Michigan schools behalf. Um, and so, uh, not only are they there, uh, doing that work, but, also they put me in touch as a superintendent with a lot of people that I wouldn't necessarily have access to. most recent example I shared in my update was um Representative Dbor. >> Where was he out

073of? I didn't know. >> Uh it's a she and she she's out of Holland and she is the head of um whatever committee was responsible for moving the snow day or ice storm day forgiveness forward to the whole house. Um so we I was able to jump on a meeting with her, virtual meeting with her and explain what happened in Alpena. Um, and again, I wouldn't necessarily have that access um to her and that worked out well for us. And then monthly they always have some representative from the state of Michigan. Um, they are almost always Northern Michigan representatives, but sometimes they um pull in others and again it's always around advocating for um Northern Michigan schools. >> Okay. I'm just wondering why you're not able to personally call them. You need to have a

074group of lobbyists to be able to talk to them is what this it's like almost like a that's what I'm I just for almost $1,000 to have another group to be able to get a hold of a representative. They know the system. They have the relationships with the the representatives. Um, yes, I could call. You know, Cam Kabat is very um receptive and I do speak to him on a regular bas not a regular basis, but if I call um he's very responsive. My reach doesn't go down into the other areas of the state and that's where um this group um has those relationships. Any further discussion? >> And I would just say yes. I I could go to Lancing as well, but we're going to eclipse travel costs um of $991 very quickly. >>

075Well, I mean like a phone call or a Zoom meeting though. I mean, a lot of the representatives should be able to get a hold of I mean >> should they should I mean I guess less we have to pay him to talk to you. >> Yeah. Yeah. I don't disagree but I think the value is uh David Lad who's the head of this group has been doing this for years. Um you know he's there daily and he knows the people and he knows their staff and knows their you know likes, dislikes and tendencies and those sorts of things. I think as uh my experience in this area has been when somebody when a lobbyist is the embodiment of a group, it uh uh that person often uh gets they take the call faster um

076and it it carries a little more weight. >> Yep. Any other discussion? All right, roll call on this one as well. >> Member MacArthur. I >> member Fritz >> I >> member Minhart >> I >> member Dinski >> no >> member Hansen >> I >> member Lawson >> I motion carried um all right so that takes care of district memberships um now we uh have item I which is to appoint a board member as the AMA ESD liaison and an alternate liaison recommendation uh to appoint u a regular and a an alternate liaison. Would uh anybody like to volunteer for this? >> I'll do it. >> Yeah, >> Sarah. >> Yeah. >> Anybody want to volunteer to be a uh alternate? >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Who is doing this currently? Do we >> I

077think I'm the alternate. >> Oh, do you want your spot? I'm sorry, AJ. Nope, I'm good. I got moved here. I'm good. >> Okay. >> Well, given that, I would move to appoint Sarah Fritz and Anna Minehart as the AMA ESD liaison. Oh, I'm sorry. Sarah Fritz as the AMA ESD liaison and Anna Minhardt as the alternate liaison. Unless you do want to switch. I don't really care. >> Support second. >> All right. Very good. Any discussion? Uh, hearing none. A show of hands uh for support. Yes. Any opposed? Motion carried. Very good. Thank you uh both of you. Um Mazby voting delegates. Um we have a motion uh recommended motion uh to appoint the board president, vice president, and treasur as the MASBY voting delegates. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion?

078>> Yeah. Did you ever have to vote on anything >> uh on this one? >> Nope. >> I I didn't >> I maybe if I would have attended the um there was something an email I can pass on to Eric too, but no, I never attended any of the sessions in >> person. Okay, that's where that that happens. >> Yeah, I think if you if if that group particularly went to the conference, uh there'd probably be a particular meeting where they would vote on things. Um so that option is always there. If we're if we're going to uh pay them, we might as well go have our say. >> Just remember, you only get $8.50 for your meal. >> Yeah. What is it, Mary? 979. >> Bucks. >> I got 975. >> 97. >> Buy

079a carrot. >> Not everybody's as hungry as you, Eric. I'm >> all right. Um, let's see. Um, yes, we just had a motion and support on that. Very good. Further discussion. No further discussion. Uh show of hands. Uh in support of motion. >> Yes. All right. Any opposed? Motion carries. Um that will be our uh voting delegate team. Um old business. Uh we have the uh uh 2025 code of conduct uh to look at. Uh the recommendation uh from administration is to uh approve the 2025 to 2026 code of conduct. >> So moved support. >> Any discussion on the code of conduct? All right. Hearing none. Um, all in favor of the motion to approve the code of conduct, raise your hand. Any opposed? Doesn't look like it. Motion carried. Thank you. Uh, so that

080takes care of that. Now we have the uh handbooks and they can be uh all lumped into one uh motion um to approve or uh if somebody needs to pull something to discuss that's fine too. >> I know at our last workshop we did say we could approve this while waiting to talk about the cell phones. Is that what we were going to >> Mhm. >> Okay. And I think we discussed cell phone addressing it two months in advance of the second semester. >> Well, I know, but we were going to talk about the junior high lunch. I thought that was >> Katie is here if you want to. >> Did we want to maybe do that and see what she has to say and that if we have to? >> Yes, Katie. Um, if

081you would like to Katie and address that question. Thank you. Thanks for coming. >> What questions do you have? >> Um, when we were talking about the cell phone policy, we had uh questions about removing the cell phone use at lunchtime for the junior high. Does that seem to be a problem there? >> So, lunchtime cell phone use is not a problem. Um, a lot of our issues with cell phones come from Snapchat and cell phone use in the evening. And then kids come to school amped up on because of issues that were arising when they were in social media or using their cell phones nine times out of 10 out of school hours. Um, our cell phone issues don't typically come from something that happened at lunchtime cell phone use. And they are not

082allowed in the classrooms or in our hallways before school during passing time. um or after school. >> They are allowed to be on them though at lunchtime. Correct. >> They're allowed to be on them at lunchtime. Um when in the lunchroom we because students eat lunch and then they have the opportunity to go outside. Um many students do that. They a lot of them even at the junior high level call it recess. Um and so they're outside playing basketball, football, just hanging out with their friends. They also can go to the media center um and utilize that space um or stay in the cafeteria. So most of the time our students are interacting with other kids at lunchtime. >> So then there would be really no incentive to have the cell phones at lunchtime. >>

083There are some students that do use their cell phones. >> I think that would be a question I would pose to the students. >> Eric, Eric, if you don't mind me asking you. I know at our uh workshop you did say that there were concerns that you know personally from cell phone use at lunchtime. >> Well, you know, we had quite a conversation about this last time and you weren't here and that's uh you know, just one of the questions that came up. you know, as we looked at the grade school versus the junior high versus the high school, there's there's differences in the cell phone policy. And um you know, as we as a district took on the uh no cell phones in the classroom, we noticed an improvement in in disciplinary actions. And

084um my concern, I guess, is you know, as we're getting on to high school, of course, there's more leeway. There's more um you know, freedoms that are associated with that. And as you know, at the junior high, uh, I have one. So, uh, I I I can certainly, uh, and I also work with many of these young guys on the football team. So, um, I I know them well. They'll probably get after me for even bringing this up, but most of them won't watch this anyway, so I guess we'll be okay. Um, but my concern is, do they really need to be on it that much? Um, you know, that the developmental stages at this age group is adolescence moving on. Um I I I have to wonder and again we talked about this we

085don't have the data so to to really support it which is why we want to readress it actually look at the data um you know in the coming months but uh I do have concerns why is it necessary you know these kids don't need to be on Snapchat because that's what it is you know I I talk to them they're on Snapchat non-stop so why are we doing that when they're in an educational setting I have to beg the question there's some districts that have taken a zero cell own policy. I'm not proposing that, but at this age group, I have to wonder if it is appropriate. And so, we had requested, you know, you weren't here, so I forgive me. I know you kind of got blindsided, but we had requested that some of

086that information be obtained over the coming months and then readressed uh prior to semester, but we wanted to ask you those questions. Um, you know, it's a tough thing. You know, what's the problem? Well, the problem isn't necessarily just disciplinary. It's it's cognitive development. and it's social development. There's a whole lot of other things to go with it as you guys are well aware. >> Um, and so I, you know, I I've rambled on here, but I think there's a lot more information that we need to obtain and I have to question whether or not it's necessary at that age group. That's all. >> Absolutely. >> My understanding is there is emerging data on this question um because people a lot of people are looking at this. So I think it would be quite appropriate

087to uh to would we say two months before the new next semester? >> Yeah, that's kind of what we talked about. I think that would be that would be a good idea to revisit this. >> Were we doing that at the junior high? I know we're doing that for the high school. I thought that we're kind of separating them though. Or no, >> I would certainly like to see the data at the junior high as well because it is a very different population. >> Yeah, I mean if you want to know >> cell phone data I I did bring it just would you be able to uh police this or is this something >> At lunchtime are you thinking oh my goodness this is >> So there's a a variety of questions. And so in

088the classroom, it's very easy to police, right? And I'm I'm going to say that maybe it's not very easy because there's one teacher and there may be 28 students in the classroom and a student can hide something under the desk. Um but we have a cell phone policy in place that works at the junior high. It's been there um for as long as I can remember. Even when I was a teacher back 8 years ago, um cell phones were not allowed in the classroom. And so the change that we made um when I came on board was the process of how we get the cell phones down to the office before the teacher would take it. and that's a liability for the teacher. And so instead, we have the student come down to the office

089with their cell phone to turn it into the safe. So that way the student is the one putting it in the safe room um or just putting it on the counter to ensure that they feel like their property is being respected and and put in a safe area. And then we call parents, students call parents on the first offense, we call parents on the second offense, and parents have to come pick up the phone. And on the third offense, it's a cell phone plan, and students ultimately should not be bringing their phones to school at that point if they reach the third offense status. And you know, maybe this is more for a um workshop meeting because we know we're kind of a lot coming out here, but you know, we say the cell phone

090policy is working. I I I have to from a disciplinary standpoint, I I understand that it is, but is it working? I have to beg the question, you know, cuz we thought it was working at the high school till we took them away. Then we saw improvements across the country. There's a lot of data coming out that there are significant improvements in education. And you know, as the board, what we should be focusing on is student outcomes as we talked about. And um unfortunately, our data in this age group is is that transition through junior high. The these are the low points. And so maybe that's something a lowhanging fruit that we need to look at. Um and so we certainly need to have further discussion, but I don't think this is the time or

091the place for that. But so thank you very much. >> Absolutely. And so we can um you know approve it now with the understanding uh that we would be addressing this later in the year. Um then at the workshop we can talk about what kind of data you'd like to see and uh we can pull that data pretty readily >> um and then go from there. And I think the board has um you know, you could certainly open the uh the handbook up again um whether there's a note on this night or not. You know, if we need to make an update, we can make an update. Do you feel >> um if the board did decide like no cell phones at the junior high at all, do you feel like that would be uh

092hard to enforce or do you feel like that would be a kind of a sense of relief like you know this is the board took the action. It's not on the administration. Um, do you >> So, um, it's still on us to make the phone calls. >> Um, so it's yes, we can lean on the board. Uh, but it's also the parents that >> are the ones giving the phones. So, you know, it they're the ones that we have to call to address when we take the phone. So, yes, easier to lean on the board and say, "Hey, we're following our policy." Um, parents sometimes don't care about the policy. How's that? >> Understandable. >> Don't we also have to look at what Stephanie brought out at the meeting? Um, some students have their cell

093phones for if they're diabetic cuz that lose their sugar. If they have a mental health issue and they can get in touch or they're having an emergency at home, then we would have to make some sort of accommodation for that if we decided to go down this road. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And I think too when you're looking at cell phones right now, students are not allowed to have them in any part of their day except for lunch. So if we're saying that they're not allowed to have them at lunch, then what would be the point of them having a cell phone in school? And so then you're looking at a schoolwide like you're not allowed to have your cell phone at all. So then if we see a cell phone in a pocket,

094is that a consequence? So there's a lot of questions that go along with those decisions that I think would need to be flushed out as the board is having those conversations. >> I would just have to go with Eric Hansen on this one. 99% of them don't need it. >> At the end of the day, 90% of them have them. It's unbelievable to me how many students have cell phones. >> Yeah. I Well, I'm thinking of my two that are in that age bracket and they love to play on it if they get a get their hands on one, but it's not constructive in any way, >> especially when we're only beginning to see the data on the true effects of this, you know, cognitive development, social development, uh, critical thinking, advent of AI. I

095mean, this this is a whole gamut of things and there's not an easy answer. There absolutely is not. But these are tough things that require tough conversations that we need to address. >> Absolutely. And I think parent education um would be excellent if that's something that we can tap into as a school system because um allowing students to have social media can have a lot of negative consequences that sometimes parents don't even realize until we're making the phone call and their students saw something on Snapchat the night before. So that's definitely something um if we can provide education to our community and to our families just about that. Um we do that in the school system with students and have uh trooper Kunith come in. He's our community state police officer or does community lessons

096um and teaches our students about safeties online and talks about um different consequences and ensuring that they're making sure that they're speaking with people that are appropriate. So just as we're a school district, continued education is the most important not only for our students but our community. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you very much. Um are there other questions or issues with the uh handbooks before we proceed? >> Do we have a motion on the floor to approve all of them? >> I don't think we did yet. >> Okay. I didn't know if we'd lumped them together or >> No, I think we were just sort of exploring that qu that since we talked about that one got us off into the cell phone. >> Sorry. >> Thanks, Monica. I move to approve the

097handbooks for the 2526 school year. >> Is there support or a second? I think you initially support >> that was the the other thing. >> I'll support. >> Okay. >> Support. >> All right. Support from Anna. Um at this point, is there further discussion of the approval of the 2025 26 uh mini uh student parent handbooks? >> Uh one area that we we brought up last time and just to kind of circle around on it is dress code. Um and we actually in my opinion I felt that the policy was actually pretty good. It's the enforcement aspect of it um in uh in the schools which is difficult I understand uh but there you know there are policies and there's expectations and and challenges with that um and I believe we had discussed having a

098letter uh from the board to uh the uh the community and I was just wondering where we are with that process before. >> Sure. Um I dra I did start drafting a letter and had Romeo and Katie on the um Google doc to and I didn't want to finish it up and with knowing that the you know presidential role here would be changing. So I have a draft that I will turn over to you and I've shared it with um Katie and Romeo and Dave and so um you take over on that. >> Okay. Well, take a look. Um would the board like to see that uh at some point before we >> I think it would be appropriate and um you know there are policies on and uh you know as the question was

099posed here um you know it makes it a lot easier on our administrators knowing that uh the policy initiated with us and so we can be the bad guy as you can see we're quite used to being the bad guy and so this is this is not not a problem. Um and so we'll put that out to the community that you know there are policies in place and should be enforced as such. >> And we think that would be an appropriate workshop topic next time. >> Yep. And then we can publish it. Uh it's what uh two weeks in front of studentu or a week before students come back. So >> uh that'd be pretty good timing. >> And Romeo had also shared with me what he had sent to the high school families for

100their update about dress code. So he has communication that he's been sending as well. So um he can probably pass that along to you as well. >> Yes, that would be good perhaps for us to be able to echo uh things that they have already heard from him. >> Yep. >> Yeah. Very good. Thank you. Anything further on handbooks hearing? No further comments. Uh show of hands. Uh, all in favor of approving the handbooks. All right, that looks to be unanimous. Motion carries. Thank you very much. Um this is uh next one is to consider the uh uh MHSA membership resolution uh to adopt the uh preamble and resolution for the 202526 membership. >> I'll make that motion. Support. >> All right. Very good discussion. No. All right. Um, since it's a resolution, uh, let's

101go ahead and have a roll call on that. >> Member Fritz, >> I. >> Member Minhart, >> I. >> Member Dinski, >> I. >> Member Hansen, >> I I believe I need to abstain from this vote. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Member MacArthur. >> I. >> Member Lawson. >> I. Motion carries. All right. Thank you. Moving along. Um Oh, human resources. Hello. All right. Um, go ahead. >> All right. We have our human resources report. We have new hires. Judy Peacock is an instructional assistant at Hanks. We have resignations of Rita Ghoul, special education teacher, Chris Moore, an elementary music teacher, Denise Klingman is a utility B at central office, and Angela Ma Mayan, um, special education teacher at Ella White. And then we have a couple of retirements. Um, Judy Urick, a special education teacher

102at Hanks with two years of service. Donald Schult Schultz, a co custodian at central office at seven years and Teresa Kadroski Kandorski instructional assistant ambassadors for seven years. So just thank you to everyone that put their um years of service with us. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> How did your job fairs go? >> We had eight in attendance and we've hired six already. Oh, great. >> Um we do have a whole list of them that will be coming next month. They just haven't totally cleared yet. So next month you'll have a bigger list. >> Great. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Uh administrative recommendation is to approve the hiring of the new certified staff after proper completion or after completion of proper certification, testing, and other HR requirements. >> I'll make

103that motion. Support. >> All right. Any discussion? All right. Hearing none. All in favor of hiring the aforementioned staff. Uh show hands. Yes. Any any no carried unanimously. Thank you very much. Um so uh this brings us to our next opportunity for citizens or delegations to address the board. Uh Ryan French Alpena. Uh first of all, I want to focus on a positive. I want to thank Tatekea for his amazing job with the boys and girls golf team. Uh my wife Stephanie and I are proud to be able to support both teams through our drive for the for the future foundation that helps underserved high school golf teams across the country. Uh the golf team was an important part of my career at AHS and were lucky to be able to give back. It's hard

104to remember these positives as this community watches certain members of this bo school board continue to put their political views before budgets, teachers, principles, and most importantly students. While I appreciate the board as a whole doing the correct thing and voting common law firm down, it is still concerning that three members of this board voted to approve them despite the facts laid out. They have almost zero experience in schools. They haven't gotten back in a timely manner. They would charge $275 an hour. Although they would be maybe cheaper than thr literally 1 minute prior to this vote, the members voted to retain thr. So the 275 would be an addition to not in place of. It's not cheaper at all. These are the members who haggled over $10 in lawn care bids. And it continues

105a trend of these members not listening to experts, communities, teachers, and students about what is best in the in this school district. Again, let me be clear. No matter how you feel about the views of Kelman, my concern is about the process itself. I would be concerned if members of the board who aligned more closely to me politically tried to vote in a second law firm unnecessarily. And I would be making the same speech if members that aligned with my own political views made decisions based on Google searches instead of trusting experts in specialized fields. I asked the board to listen to all these speeches, read the letters to the editor, go to PTA meetings, teacher union meetings, and understand that a large majority of this community is very frustrated with the direction of this

106board. And I'll remind you that your job is to serve the community. And I hope next school year the board can get back to that. I'm Yvan Lefave Johnson. I still live in Alpena Township. I'm heartened that you renewed True Law's contract and did not engage the Coleman Legal Group for fiscal year 202526. I'm disheartened by the later conversations about the roles that Thrun and other organizations such as MASBY serve on behalf of the district. The efforts to muddy the waters and to somehow suggest that Thrun is incompetent or not serving the district well do not go unnoticed. Clearly, we as a community want you to drop the extremist agenda that puts our students and their education at risk. We're watching. We will continue to watch. We will continue to speak up and continue to

107hold you accountable. Anybody else? Seeing no further public comment, we'll continue. Um, information and proposals, any letters or communications? Yes. Go ahead, Summer. Okay. Uh, this is from Tim Marquette Marquort. Sorry. I am writing. Can everybody hear me? That's better. >> I am writing to voice my support for the board and in its endeavor to bring common sense back to our public schools. A conservative view of getting back to the basics of education and eliminating silly radical ideolog. Thank you. link the trans scam and DEI. These do not belong in our schools. Any staffer that attempts to in to our kids with these ideologies needs to be suspended for their employment terminate or their employment terminated. Focus on the subjects more advertising of our strong CTE department. make US history mandatory starting at the elementary

108level and continue to into junior high and then into high school. It is good to see improvements to the high school grounds. Finally, thank you for our your efforts. It is still necessary to listen to opposing viewpoints, but do not be bullied by radical left efforts. Stand your ground. It is my suspicion that the vast majority of parents in our district believe in a more conservative approach. I'm sure the last national election proved as much. God bless you. The next one is from Joanne Pinkerton. Oh, thank you Alpena School Board for caring about the student education and safety of Alpena schools. You are elected by the majority of voters in Alpena County to fix the failing grades that APS should receive. It is about time illiteracy rates, test scores, truency, and unsafe locker rooms and

109shower policies were addressed. Ignore the bullying and underhanded personal attacks against yourselves, your families, and your businesses that the administration, teachers, and certain other groups in the Alpena area throw at you. They are failing the students with stats that 70% of sixth graders can't read proficiently and that only 31% of eighth graders are reading at or above proficiency. Only 33% of fourth graders are proficient. If I were grading Michigan test scores, I would give them an F. The majority voters in Alpena County voted you in because Alpena schools are failing. The majority of voters in Alpena want you to hold teachers accountable for these failures. Thank you for caring about the students, parents, and taxpayers in Alpena County. >> That it nothing on your end, Dave, in terms of uh other communications. Okay. Uh then

110that brings us to reports and information from the superintendent and staff. Your update? >> All right. I I won't I'll simply mention things that are coming up, not the amount of days until they take place. Um, but our principal team, those that are not year- round principles, do return this Wednesday. Um, so that's a big day that we've been preparing for and it's the kickoff of the 2526 uh, school year season. Uh, new teacher orientation is on the 14th and 15th of August and then all staff does report on the 18th. Um, and then students first day is the 25th. And I did just go over this with my son. That is 4 weeks still left of um summer vacation. So, uh bond work is on schedule. Uh again, if you haven't been by, take

111a look. It's it's changing dramatically on a daily basis over there. Um and then I have a weekly update uh meeting with them again on Wednesday. Um having missed last week with being out of the district. Uh, our principal position at Lincoln is posted and when I wrote this, we had four applicants. I think we're up to six or seven at this point. So, we are um getting some interest there. Um, wish the best of everything to Miss Grounden and her family. Uh, she was a tremendous asset to Alpena Public Schools and we will miss her dearly. Um and then just um when we do meet with the principles uh on Wednesday, we are doing a deep dive into pillars one and two focusing on teacher clarity, PBIS and student achievement data. And uh that's

112sort of setting the tone for everything that comes uh for the school year coming up here. So we are heading into next school year, but still lots of summer left to enjoy. All right. Thank you very much, Dave. Um, information and questions from board members. >> Um, I messed up and I did not respond to Miss Courtman. Did that get covered? >> I believe it has been covered. Yeah, I think uh Sarah and Anna and I are doing those uh >> the reinstatement >> reinstatement hearings August 1st and 2nd, I believe. Is that right? 1st and 2nd. >> Friday and the 1st and the 5th. Okay. Thank you. >> First and the fifth. Yeah. Thank you. Yes, >> it's all covered. >> Okay. Uh curiosity question on that. >> Um I it's in our policy

113that members have to be there, but if the one that I did this winter, the they stated that they don't ever turn somebody down for a reinstatement. There it was in a conversation that that's not a that that typically doesn't happen. So, I was curious what the purpose of having the board there. It wasn't like it was a vote or anything. >> So, >> yeah. >> Um, sure. Come on. >> Yeah. Matt, if you'd like to come address that. Thank you. >> That's not the truth. Um, really. And when we and again for many of us who've been doing this uh for a while, unfortunately, but it's one of those things. It's a basically a scripted process that we go through. Uh we collaborate afterwards. We don't tell the family and folks at that point,

114right? >> We collaborate, make a decision. Quite often there's stipulations that are on it. Um depending on a lot of things, but primarily the results of the parents and the students from the meeting >> and then from there we notify them within 24 hours and let them know what the expectations are and they can be, you know, it's a a wide breath. But there's some um they might their only option may be to go to online. That might be their option. um maybe it's coming back to school, maybe it's coming back with limitations, maybe they can't attend dances. I mean, there's all sorts of things that go with it. Um but online does give us that buffer where if those students, if we don't think that they're setting ready to return to school, they can

115return to school in an alternate setting. Uh which in that case will be online APS online. Some take us up on it, some don't. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I'd say I've never been in one where we've like said you can't come back like you've been it's been declined, but there's, you know, pivot. they've been sure because we have to provide an education but what level of education might it be so it's been you talk about afterwards whether they can go to ACES or pivot and come up with a plan of you know they can come back but the stipulation is no backpack or you know something like that so >> and they're all every one of them's unique I would I you know if they were canned it'd be one thing every single one of

116them is unique >> I'm sure >> depending on the situation >> I think the board members have the most input probably in that process that um was discussed about u you know under what conditions they come back um and uh and how that's to be done um and board members also contribute to the discussion with the students themselves. >> Um and uh I think it's a a positive process. I I think everybody's really uh um I I think we've had I would hope generally good outcomes. Um >> we have uh the majority of them, not all of them, but the majority of them are um you know, they result in good outcomes and we try to update you later on, you know, because it's always a question how they do, you know, and unfortunately usually

117you learn pretty quick. Um but the ones who want to give it a go, they've truly changed and a lot of them they realize where they are and that >> the next option is going to see the superintendent again and the second time those meetings are, you know, usually pretty quick. Um and usually there's a tone that comes out of that. So, >> so, and honestly, thank you because I know these we have a couple long days coming up and I appreciate your patience and um you know, we'll get through it. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. Yep. >> All right. >> Say go ahead, AJ. >> Oh, go ahead. Uh last two weeks ago during our uh workshop, the comment was made and it's actually been made several

118times in our book study about a safe place to discuss things. You know, this is a safe time to discuss things. and it wasn't 24 hours and what was in discussion was already slapped back in the board's face via an email. And then again tonight public comment time. So I really find that comment not not against you Anna but just the seems almost to be a joke to say that and it's uh disappointing how stifling that is. >> Yeah. And I guess I'm in it amongst us like reminder the rest of us like >> Yeah. >> You should be able to say what you want without me attacking you or vice versa. what you know people listening do I obviously have no control over but >> no I just my comment to the presenter two

119weeks ago about there's being a sword ready at all at any and all times is I think a very accurate statement >> that's that's certainly an accurate assessment you know I mean open meetings act everything we do is public which is that's the way it is and that's okay uh we have the workshops which are supposed to be more informal and where we can bounce ideas off each other. We can discuss things. We can have open conversation and then we have this meeting which is where we vote on things. And the challenge is now uh it's it's it is a point where it is very difficult to have open conversation and discuss ideas because of those reasons and that's that's the nature of it. Um it is what it is. But um yeah I I

120I echo your thoughts. There is no safe place and and I think some people think we have discussions behind closed doors. That does not happen. we we discuss nothing outside of this room and so that's u it is challenging and I think it does stifle some conversation you know cuz I mean it's okay to have different viewpoints and discuss it one way or the other um so I agree with AJ on that uh while we're on the uh questions and and comments from board members two things I would like to I guess request as we move forward um and and it was brought up in in that uh that workshop as well I thought it was quite wonderful uh actually I thought it was great training uh brought up great great points of view. Uh

121but uh I would like to see as we move forward on the board agenda a component for development of uh let's say board governance if you will where we start to take a component of each uh monthly agenda and develop a orientation process or we or uh you know uh how the process of the board works. um we have policy but to actually discuss these things and work how the you know it's it's Dave making suggestions to us and I'm not in a bad way Dave but it's still the board's responsibility to implement these things and if we're not talking about them from our standpoint uh and through the book study the other thing that it bring out and we'll be talking about that uh at the the next workshop is the development of uh

122goals which are shared with the district and the board um but that's one area that I don't I don't really feel as though the board was able to establish uh the goals accordingly and we're trusting the process Dave. I talked about this. I'm waiting for you to get that information before we really dig into that. Uh so we're trusting that. But I think as we move forward that those are good discussion points that maybe we can dedicate a small portion of the agenda to that as we move forward. And then the other thing that's in the book report in in or the book study and I think it's a fantastic thing. Um, and unless we uh uh put the boots to the road, if you will, is actually discussing student outcomes a little bit more.

123Um, and cuz we we talk about a lot of stuff and there's business that has to get done. We understand that. Um, and although I don't agree with everything in that book, um, I I think that having discussions about student outcomes is certainly important. and with certain community members shared those points. You know, they're bringing up data and um you know, I think if anyone's honest, those aren't great numbers. And so, you know, we we really do need to have those discussions. They're going to be hard discussions, but we need to have them. And so, I think that uh as we move forward, and Eric, I I guess I kind of look to you at this is um can we develop that into the agenda moving forward? That's just a request on my behalf. >>

124Yes, let me take let me take both uh those in pieces. I think the goals development part will come very organically out of our discussions of the strategic plan and as we go forward. That would be my understanding and I think we're going to get to that point where we I think we had this discussion where if we uh if we're looking uh at uh particular uh maybe subsets of our student population we will say uh this subset of the student population will realize gain of x% in this area you know in this uh in this period of time. Um, and so I think as that and and that seems to be I think what you're kind of looking for is some of those very concrete uh goals. Okay. I think that will come very

125naturally and if it if it doesn't, we'll we'll make sure that we're uh uh refocusing to make sure we get there. The other uh the first point um I wonder if it wouldn't be useful then to just take some uh some of the board governance policies and just have a uh review. um uh the uh mental health board I'm on uh we have a um uh every meeting we have a review of a couple of policies. Uh sometimes we just review them and say, "Hey, uh do we like this policy still?" And another other one we might look at and say, "Hey, let's self-evaluate. Are we really following this policy?" Uh is that kind of what you're talking about? Uh to a point, oh, sorry, a little out. Uh to a point, yes. But you

126know, one of the points that was brought up is we we lack like a formal orientation process. Um, and so when you hire into a new position or a new board or anything, having clear expectations of what your your responsibilities are and then facilitating that and I understand there are self um self-taught classes, we can sign up for those. However, it's still the organization's responsibility to facilitate an orientation process for those that are coming on board. Um, I mean, any business does that if they they certainly should if they don't. uh to bring the the members up to speed and so that's not something that's a part of what we do and I think the development of that would be very helpful um for everyone. I think I got it. I think I've got you

127now. So maybe also in looking at some of the policies regarding board's governance and whatnot, but also maybe as we look at uh powers and responsibilities that the board has um that uh some of those are in statute, but some of them are uh in our policies as well. Is that kind of what you're what you're getting at? >> Certainly point part of it. Yeah. >> Okay, great. Uh yeah, I think that's I think that's certainly possible. >> Yeah. And Eric and I had talked about that before and then she um Kelly had brought it up at our training like and I think Monica you and I even talked about it too just forming even a committee of three um to come up with some sort of formal orientation >> packet or material that could

128be used anytime a new board member comes on it be helpful for someone who's been on the board a while Dave to be on it someone who's been on the board and then PE newer board members who were like, "It would have been really helpful to know XYZ cuz we don't really have an onboarding um process and you know, I think our policy says to meet with Dave, you know, all new board members meet with Dave and he does that, but that's more of a superintendent meet and greet, talk about his strategic plan or whatever it is, not necessarily a true orientation. So, how do you >> We do have an orientation in the bylaws. It's just we're not doing it. So, I think if we look at it and then figure out what we

129want to take out or add because there is already one there, >> but that's that just says the board encourages and uh orientation process and the super is that what you're talking about? >> Yeah. And then I think it log in for Nola. I'm supposed to get all the contracts >> all that and I never received any of that. >> So, that's the point of this. Obviously, we don't need to flesh this out now, but as we move forward, if we can start to address some of these things, I think it would be very helpful for the district in the long run, even after we're all gone. So, yeah, indeed. Indeed. Uh so, uh maybe a beginning of that process is uh Dave and I can look at the bylaws and talk about what we've

130had in place and then talk about where that might go and if it gets to the point where we want to form a committee, uh to flush the process out further, uh we can do that. But, uh I would say we could get on that. >> Yeah. >> Pretty pretty quick. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. Yeah, great. Is there further uh board uh comment, question or information? Uh hearing none, I would just like to uh have a round of applause and thanks uh to Anna for her uh work as president. I I know it's a big job. Um and so I'm I'm I'm very grateful to to you for what you've done up to this point. Thank you. >> Thank you. And thanks for stepping in. Uh, if there's no further comments,

131questions, information from board members, um, who would like to read charitable gifts? >> Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. I'll yield. >> All right. Drive for the future generously donated $700 to the support of students of AHS boys golf team. Drive for the future generously donated $700 to support the students of the AHS girls golf team. Bev Maker donated a beautiful American Eagle patriotic statue valued at $50 to Ellawite Eagles students. Monica Dinski donated a desk lamp, microwave, two camping chairs, two first aid kits valued at $13269 as prizes for the AHS senior night. Not as good as Eric, but there it is. Very good. I would entertain a motion. Oh, you would entertain a motion? >> Yes. Is there a motion uh to accept the gifts listed above with gratitude and thank the donors

132in writing for the generous gifts? >> I'll make that motion. >> Support any discussion hearing none. A show of hands. All in favor of the motion. >> All right. Doesn't look like there are any opposed. Uh motion carries. Thank you very much. All right. Um, this brings us to advanced planning. Uh, August 18th, we have the monthly board workshop which is here. Same bat time, same bat channel. Um, August 25th, uh, the regular board meeting here as well. August 25th, also the, dare I say it, first day of school. Uh, September 15th, our monthly board workshop, uh, and board visitation a couple days later at Hinks and Besser. And um I would imagine we'll be getting in touch with folks to ask you to save the date uh and confirm uh and then the 22nd

133of September, the regular board meeting. And with that, our agenda is complete and we will adjourn the meeting. Thank you all very much. >> Yeah. Okay. >> I think it's the 11th, right? >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yeah, it is. It's incorrect in here. >> Okay. September 11th board visitation, not the 17th. >> Thank you very much. Okay. All right. Anyway, we stand adjourned. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> All right. I've got my little >> What is your pleasure for meeting advance as much as I can like checking agendas and stuff? I'll try to like stay on top of things. >> But we get to town a lot. >> No, in person it's fine. >> Yeah, that's easier. What have you been doing just >> you know? So we share it with

134uh the president and vice president on Wednesday and then of the week prior and then you know share the board on Friday. So um really the week be I guess the Friday two weeks before get that works. >> So so Friday let's see so August Um, are you having a meeting each for the workshop and the and the regular meeting? >> Yeah, not necessarily a meeting, just you know, and we again phone calls, trading texts about what's on the agenda, right? >> Sure. >> Um, so let's see. >> So if uh you said the Friday >> I know exactly >> Friday the week before. So if we're on meeting on the 18th, the draft usually goes to the president, vice president on the that the 13th, the Wednesday. So really Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and we

135can change that process as well. But we like to share the agenda with the board by Friday before any of the meetings. So you know, maybe um Maybe we could do um >> did you want to do like a the Friday before you just kind of do a quick meeting to just say here's what we're looking at for agenda items and then um if there's anything maybe that you weren't expecting or planning on that gives you some time to tinker um and then we would then meet again with the vice president on the that following Wednesday and then everything shared with Yep. >> Okay. >> So, meet on the 8th. You know, we got a week before the draft goes out. >> Okay. Let me The only hitch is I'm going to be out of

136the district on the