6/15/2026 Ferndale Public Schools Regular Board Meeting

001It's 700 p.m. So I am going to call this meeting to order. Good evening everyone. This is a regular meeting of the Parkdale School Board of Education held on Monday, June 15, 2026. Our meeting is being video recorded and will be posted on the Ferndale schools YouTube channel. All meetings in the Ferndale schools are held in public in compliance with the open meetings app. Printed documents discussed at tonight's meeting are available to the public upon request with the exception of any information protected by student or employee privacy. Board meeting information is posted on our website at www.burndale. If you do not have internet access and need information, please contact the board offices at 2485868652 by Thursday, the week prior to the meeting. District staff do their best to work with that. Miss Shepard, let's get

002roll call. here. >> Here >> all right. Uh I know 1.2 the agenda after looking at the agenda. Does anyone have any comments? Um I would like to move to I would like to move item six public comment up to item three. And then move item four, superintendent update up to item four. And then move item 9.1, request to approve the resolution certifying ballot language to action items being 8.1 and to remove action item 8.7 request to approve a new board member as the alternate designate for the West Health Insurance School. Okay. So, the new order at the top, the legislative update and public comment, superintendent update. Any issues with any of those? >> Wait, there was one more thing. You said something about a resolution. >> Uh, I don't 8.7 item on the back

003request to approve me. >> Yeah, the one before that >> it was the uh language >> is it uh Oh, I see it. Consent 79. Move it to 81. Correct. >> Got it. >> Yep. All right. Uh, with that, we'll move on to item two, legislative update. We have Representative Weiss and Representative Scott here, uh, to give us an update on what is happening in. >> Good evening everybody. Thank you for having us here tonight. Um I'm state representative Helena Scott and I represent the 8th house district which includes northwest Detroit, Pleasant Ridge, and also Ferndale. There are several big things happening that will impact the education in Lancing right now. And we're here to kind of reveal some of those things, but the main thing that you need to know, what needs to get

004done before the end of the month is our state budget. Um there's a statutory deadline that the legislative legislature must pass by July 1st. This deadline does not have any penalties for missing it though. But however, last year the legislature blew past that deadline and did not have a final budget agreement until early October. And we're hoping that that's not going to be the case again this year. The July 1st deadline matters because without a budget completed by the time that schools and lo local government are left in limbo on what their budgets will be for the next year. This makes staffing programming decisions very difficult, if not impossible. There may be a there may be a new program that requires implementation time during the summer, but if the budget is not passed by July

0051st, then that will not be possible. There will be a program from a previous budget that school districts are depending on for the next school year and have already built into their plan. But if the budget is not passed on time, that program is not renewed. districts can be left high and dry on really trying to figure out how to fund it. So to try and create pressure, this is what we want to do. We want to create pressure for the speaker to complete the budget on time. My colleagues rep Weiss and I and others in the Dem caucus and also the Detroit caucus, we held a press conference today at AFT Michigan with several education leaders earlier today. We're hopeful that this will work with the continued outreach from all corners of our state

006about the importance of completing the budget on time. We hope sincerely hope that that will have an impact. I also hope that this process this year is much more transparent than it was last year. Especially because we're in the minority, we often are not given much time to review the budget, the final budget before being asked to vote on them. If we are given a few hours and if the and if only the ones only have a small amount of time to vote on them, the general public often receives little to no information before these votes occur. This lack of transparency in the process creates confusion and can lead to technical errors in the budget. And as you can imagine, we don't want any errors in the budget, right? No matter who is in charge

007in lancing, transparency, transparency, and public input should be a pillar for what we do as state legislators. I will now pass it over to my colleague, Representative Regina Weiss, who will talk a little bit more about what we're fighting for included in this year's budget. >> Thank you, Rep. Scott. Um, and thank you all so much for having us here today. Um, I am Representative Regina Weiss. to represent Michigan's fifth house district, which includes the communities of Oak Park, Royal Oak Township, and Northwest Detroit. Um, so a a little bit of good news. Um, building off of what Rep. Scott said, we are at least slightly ahead of where we were at this point last year. Unfortunately, that's not saying much considering where we were at this point last year. Um, but it seems like

008there may now be some issues with reaching agreements between the three groups that you need to pass a budget. Um, we have seen budget proposals and this is we weren't at this point last year. We have now seen budget proposals from both the house, senate, and also the governor, but there has not been an agreement yet between the three on the best ways to compromise on all of those propo proposals. A concern with all three budgets that I have um is that they do not include an inflationary increase for most districts. um that effectively means that our budgets could potentially be and effectively a cut in funding um even if the final numbers are larger than they were last year. Also, we are watching to see if the rate on the school aid fund continues

009in the budget this year. What I mean by that is traditionally the school aid fund has been used to fund K12 education in Michigan. And I think most people when they hear school aid think K12 education. However, per our constitution, we can also use this the school aid fund to fund community colleges and higher education as well. Um, and in recent years, we've seen more and more of a shift into the school aid fund to cover costs of higher education in order to free up more general fund dollars for other priorities. So, it's basically a way to shift costs um by taking money out of schools in order to pay for other priorities. An example of that we saw last year was the roads plan. Um, general fund dollars were shifted away from community colleges

010and universities to help pay for the road steel, but the general f the general fund dollars that were lost were made up for with increases in the amount of funding that universities received through the school aid fund, which effectively meant less money for K12 classrooms. Um, now we believe and uh, Rep. Scott and I both believe that we need to properly properly fund our universities, but we do not believe that we should be taking funding away from our K12 institutions to do that. Um, I'm strongly against any proposal this year that would increase the amount of school a dollars that are given to to universities. Um, I think we should keep it level of with where where we're at right now. Um, really I think we should be rolling that back, but minimally we should

011be keeping it level with where we're at right now. We also saw last year with a lot of the last minute budget things that were done um some last minute language that was added um in the fiscal year budget that resulted in many districts in unfortunately including Ferndale deciding to opt out of critical school safety and mental health dollars due to increased risk of liability and signing away of due process rates. I'm hopeful that the final budget this language this year will amend that to make sure that all of our districts can ase dollars because at the end of the day, we want to make sure that every student in the state has access to those critical school safety and mental health dollars and they shouldn't come with strings like that attached to them. Um,

012finally, I just want to make sure that all of our Ferndale school families are aware of a looming federal threat to public education. So, I want to shift away a little bit from talking about the budget. The budget is very important and we need to be talking about the budget and I appreciate um superintendent. I'm also a parent in the district so I saw your letter and I'm hoping I get a lot of a lot of strongly worded emails from constituents about why we need to get a budget passed on time and I hope every superintendent in the state is doing that. Um so thank you for doing that. Um but I want to shift away from the budget for a minute because there's another federal threat looming that I want to make sure that

013parents um who are listening and watching know about. Um, and this one's really personal for me, not just as a legislator who's very familiar with the budgeting process, especially school finance, not just as a former teacher myself, but also as a parent of two children enrolled here in Ferndale schools who are in special educa who receive special education services. Last year, the federal government approved a federal scholarship program, effectively a voucher program designed to give a tax credit to individuals who make donations to private schools. This program could mean billions upon billions of dollars in reduced federal revenue for public education. Of particular concern is special education funding and title funding. The amount of re reduced revenue, for example, could exceed the amount of money that the federal government currently appropriates to states to fund

014special education. The governor ultimately decides whether or not the state will participate. It's up it's up to the the way it's designed. The governor of every state has to decide to either opt in or opt out. Our governor has said that um she's waiting for guidance in order to make that decision. Um but I believe that um you all are considering or having discussions about potent potentially passing a resolution urging the government to opt out or urging the governor rather to opt out. Um, and I just want to say as both a legisl legislator and as a parent in the district that I fully support you and back you in doing that. This program is designed to do nothing less than to dismantle public education. And I want to make sure that parents and residents

015are aware of it. And if you want to learn more about it, the Michigan Education Justice Coalition is going to be having a virtual public information session about the federal voucher program and what you can do to help ensure that Michigan opts out. It's going to be on January 24th at 7:00. Um, and you can learn more at michiganedjustice.org. Um, but again, uh, we're we are sorry we have to be here today bearing not great news, but I just want to make sure that you all know that, um, and that parents here when you guys are having to make budget decisions right now about what your budgets are going to be for the fall without knowing what the state budget is going to be, that is a incredibly difficult position for this board and for

016every school board across our state to be in. Um, and we are doing everything in our power to try to push things along and get things done. But unfortunately, we have one man who's the speaker, Matt Hall, who has said publicly as of last week that he doesn't intend on necessarily even getting a budget done before November this year. Um, and unfortunately, as the speaker of the house, he has the power to do that. So, um, we are going to be doing everything in our power to try to hold him accountable and we encourage everyone to do the same and to reach out to their legislators and to urge them to get a budget done on time. And I there are questions, we'd be happy to answer questions. >> Representative Weiss, just before questions, um,

017can you clarify the date of the MEJC? >> Yes, it is, uh, June 24th at 7 o'clock. >> Thank you. Any questions for Scott? Thanks for coming out. Uh, thanks for fighting things that I was going to ask you about. So, yeah, really appreciate everything you do. Uh we have a superhuman over there awesome last year for the budget and making sure it all works, but love to put her through this again. Uh as well as everybody else in the state who has to to deal with not knowing how much money actually. >> Yeah, apologies to you as well for having to figure that out. Um we had at our press conference today, we had both labor and um management represented. We had AFT Michigan, DFT231, and Dr. Dr. Bey from Detroit and talking about

018the impact on districts and I'm trying Dr. Bey really hit it the point home on how difficult it is for districts to be able to plan um and set up programs and make staffing decisions not knowing what the budgets are going to be. And last year, um, unfortunately, um, the the final budget was very different than the governor's budget, the Senate's budget, and the executive budget. So, even when districts were doing the right thing, they still got blindsided by a lot of the things that were in that final version of the budget. Um, so I understand how stressful that is. Um, and I just want to say that we we very much appreciate the work that you do and we're going to continue fighting to try to push to get that budget a good budget

019done by July 1st. If I could, there's just um I think three things I'd like to say. So sorry, I'll try to keep it tight. So the first thing is I think it's important that the community understands specifically around the 31A mental health and safety legislation. Um as mentioned, our community did decide to opt out of those funds and I just want to name the impact that that has. Um so that was about um we still received what our allocation would have been that would have been an additional million dollars literally million dollars that we would have been able to invest in mental health supports as well as safety as a result of not having those funds. There were reductions that had to be made last year um to several staff members as a result

020because of that grant going away for us because we had 5,000. So that's the first thing. Oh, and then also right now as it stands in the Senate proposal, the Senate um has worked great with Wayne Resa for my understanding and have completely adopted revised language for 31A. Um and as it is written in the Senate proposal, um it is exactly what we need for it to be. So for those of you that are writing those strongly worded emails, you may have not done it yet, but you will make sure you include the Senate proposal for the 31A fund uh funds is what we need to ensure that is so that's that's number one. I also want to make sure the community understands that the another area of Ferndale specific impact as a result of

021us not having a budget on time. Um we have had um a 2425 we received 23G uh funding um for our after school tutor and we use those funds to provide supports, additional intervention and academic support to our students. All of our um educators in the room, our principles are here can attest to how powerful that experience was. And unfortunately, we were not able to have after school tutoring last school year as a result of those funds being um uh going away for us or not having the budget on time. We didn't start that after school tutoring well into this calendar year as a result of not having those funds. So again, as you're preparing those strongly worded messages, I need for the community to understand the direct impact that it has had on us.

022We we do not know just yet the exact impact that it will have to our achievement scores but I would imagine that there is some impact >> 100% >> is it's is it is very very very serious. It is essentially if we don't have a July one budget, we are gambling for the entire summer until we get that. And as the board has fiduciary responsibilities and fiscal responsibilities, it puts everyone in a very difficult position. Um, so please, if you didn't read my email, um, where I gave a, um, prompt that you can send to your legislators, I urge you, everyone watching, everyone here in this room, I urge you, your voice matters, please send the message. Send the message. It matters. Okay. >> Can I just add one more thing to that really quick?

023I think a lot of times people think like we're we probably if if you're a parent Ferndale, one of us probably represents you more than likely. Um, and I think a lot of times people think, "Well, my rep's already with me. I don't need to contact them." We still encourage you to contact us because even if we're out there every day fighting for it, we need to hear from you because it gives us um more ammunition when we come to the fight to say, "I have 300 parents that send me letters about this in my district that care about this issue, that are worried about their kids and worried about their kids um being able to achieve because that example you just gave was a great example. their after school tutoring program got cancelled because

024we didn't get a budget done on time last year. Um that helps us uh be able to talk to our colleagues and give them more information and and hopefully again that's happening all across the state so every rep in the state is hearing it from their community. >> And then as far as the federal piece that you touched on, really appreciate you acknowledging that as well. also want to give a direct story about um federal funding and the impact that a late budget from them as well had on Ferndale schools. So once we received the budget in October, what we realized is that adult education funding for Ferndale schools have been cut by $300,000. $300,000. During my update, you'll hear from Miss Lee, who is here, who is one of our who's one of our

025graduates, adult graduates from our Tri County Educational Center program. So, you can see how adult ed and adult funding is critical to all of our students, all of them. Um, and they should not be sacrificed because of poor uh I'm going to try to stay professional in what I'm about to say, but it shouldn't happen is what it shouldn't do. Um, so if you have a chance to stay to hear Miss Lean's story, I would encourage you to do so. Um, but it is powerful and necessary. So, another piece just giving everyone talking points as you can prepare your email messages or phone calls. They have um um staff that can accept phone calls. Um, and I am going to stop talking now because I can go on and on and on about this. Um,

026but just I'm very very appreciative. Both of you have been great supports for Ferndale schools. Um I'm sure you could be a lot of places right now, but you're here to give us information. Um and your very Thank you for your support. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. >> Okay, we are going to move to provide item three public comments. >> So this is the time for public participation in the meeting. Board of Education intends for the public to have many opportunities to address the board and administration of their school district. These include email, phone calls, face toface meetings, community gatherings, public hearings, and other public meetings. We welcome individual and group input into the important issues that confront our schools. As noted at the top of the agenda, this is a meeting of the school

027board open to the public. We want to provide fair and impartial guidelines for participation as required by the open meetings act and to encourage transparency and full treatment for everyone in attendance. We also recognize that an effective meeting facilitates better decisions and promotes openness by allowing more people to stay the full length. To meet these goals, please note the following. We ask that you identify yourself and this contact information on a comment sheet to help administrators follow up with you. If you don't wish to do so in writing, please identify yourself at the podium. And if you need a response, please provide contact information administrator after the meeting. Call the people who have completed comment sheets first. Each person will have one opportunity to address the board. two minutes. Comments or questions should be directed

028to the board president. The secretary, Secretary Newman will raise her hand when your time is within a few seconds of expiry. This period of public comments is for both non-aggenda items and issues that are on the agenda. Public comments will end at the close of this part of the agenda. In the event number of people wishing to comment requires longer than 30 minutes, public comment will be temporarily postponed after 30 minutes and time will be added to the end of the meeting for those who did not get a chance to speak. Complaints about staff should be made outside of board meetings and should follow the applause. Please contact the superintendent's office. If you have any questions regarding this item board cannot respond to complaints about employees. This is meant to promote fairness to the staff

029person and the complaint. Berndale public schools commability toward one another. Please help us maintain that tradition during public. I have one uh form for comment uh from Trina Taco. All right. It's the only paper uh comments. Anyone else here for public comment? Could you uh give that to you, Miss Shepard, please? >> Thank you. >> You wouldn't mind introducing yourself. Uh >> hi, I'm Jackie Wnoski. I'm the scout master of Juke 1542. Um Scouting of America, Boy Scouts of America. We also have um PK Hemlinger. She's my troop secretary. Um obviously you can see my support here behind me. They came to um rally with me. Um we are actually here um on behalf of the troop meeting at the high school. Um we've been meeting there for the past eight years. Sorry about that.

030I'm going to actually I'm going to get emotional, so I'm going to turn it over to her. to read because she doesn't get emotional like I do about this. >> Hello everyone. As you said before, I am PK Hemlinger. I've been with food uh 1542 three years. I am the secretary as well as the new membership chair and advancement chair. So this evening we are going to speak about the nest in our location. So like that first scout and develop students through the scouting program young people learn responsibility, teamwork, citizenship, service, outdoor skills and leadership. These are the same qualities that school work hard to instill in their students every day. Meeting at the high school provide our scouts with a welcome central location and age appropriate environment. It reinforces the connection between academic achievement,

031community involvement, and personal growth. Many of our scouts look up to the high school setting as a place where they will continue to learn and lead. Second, our troop contribute positively to the school community. Scouts participate in service project, volunteer activities and community improvement efforts that reflect positively on Ferndale schools. The troop helps build engaged citizens who give back to their community and represent Ferndale with pride. The success of our program can be seen in the young people who have come through our troop during my time in scouting. Eagle Scout, Jacob Trains, David Trains, Jacob Kea and Steve Wazowski have demonstrated the highest level of achievement in scouting. I'd also like to recognize I'm going to take over here for a minute. Um, other scouts and current scouts in the troop, Trevor Landry, Truman Dy,

032Evan Iverson, Quinton Latash, Max DCS. Um, we also have Parker. These are just some examples of why we meet at high school and why continue meeting there. Um, so we just, you know, I guess there's a little bit of things going on that they want to send us to the elementary school. Um, we're not sure why. That's all we know. We don't know why. And it's not feasible for the trip to with our high school students and middle school students. So, yeah. So, we just want to bring it to the board's attention that we want to continue at the high school. um with our partnership and we want to keep it reated that way. >> Thank you all for coming out. I know you have more conversations with the administration. So really appreciate you all

033coming out of this meeting. >> Thank you. >> Uh we have any additional public comment? All right. See now we are going to close public comment and now uh revisend Good evening. Um, so I would like to begin. I already um kind of gave a touch point to um to this um but this evening we have um a guest here um who gave a such a memorable and dynamic speech at our Tri County Educational Center um graduation. Um if you were not there, you missed a treat. Um if I could before I ask her to come forward for acknowledgement um I would like to read just a bit about um about Miss Darlene Lee um and in a piece that she wrote um explaining her journey and why again adult education funding our Tri County

034Educational Center um um program is so important. Um so it reads, "My name is Darlene Lee. I was born on May 23rd, 1957. to Juel and Ruth Patterson. There were eight children in my family, four boys and four girls. I was the sixth oldest with two siblings younger than me. I'm just going to do a piece of it. Um, at the age of 15, I had my first child. I believe I knew more than the teacher. So, I dropped out of school in 1975. Um, I'll go through there was a lot of life that happened in between there, but um, I'll get to the um, she she said, "I've had four heart attacks and was placed on life support. I spent an entire year in the hospital and became my second home. In 2023, I

035contracted a bone disease that resulted in the amputation of my left big toe. Throughout it all, my children and my grandchildren were there for me, helping me, and giving me the moral support I needed from 2022 through 2025. Through everything I have been through, I told myself that I wanted my high school diploma. I wanted to show up for my grandchildren, that you are never too old to accomplish what you set out to do. And at 68 years old, I went back to school to earn my diploma, working through illnesses that were often out of my control. My future plans are to continue walking in faith and focusing on my health, my family, and my personal growth. I want to spend quality time with my children and grandchildren and continue encouraging them in their educ

036education and dreams. I hope my journey inspires others to never give up on themselves no matter their age or the obstacles that they face. So, Miss Lee, please know that you have inspired us all. and we we absolutely had to give you acknowledgement at the board table beyond just you speaking at graduation because you truly did I feel um changed after hearing your story very grateful that we had a piece in your story. So if you wouldn't mind coming forward and receiving this acknowledgement, we would be grateful. Great. >> Hello everyone. >> Hello. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Can you hear me now? No. I just uh I'm grateful for accomplish what I did. I mean, I went through hell, you know, for four years and I made it. >> I made

037it, you know, with the grace of God. My family, they helped me tremendously. And I can't say no more. My husband was there from day one, you know, and I'm proud of myself. should >> I am proud of myself. Something that my babies can look back and say this is what my grandma did. You know what my great grandma did, you know. So, I'm happy. I'm happy. 21 grandb babies, eight great grandb babies. Not sure if any of the board had anything. I'm I don't want to take the the shot if anyone had anything to say. >> Uh I I just want to echo everything that I mean there's not really much to add to that, but that was my first experience going through the graduation. We were there all day and that was absolutely

038the highlight of the day. not to take away from any of the other students which were wonderful but hearing your story it um it really puts into perspective why we do this every day why these why these schools are so important and people like you are incredible so congratulations >> you Um, I also wanted to um um for my superintendent update um it was important that um I touch on um I'm aware of a um reactions to some of the leadership adjustments that have happened throughout the district. um specifically um acknowledging um Mr. Greg who is who is the assistant principal at Ferndale High School and we'll be shifting to the assistant principal at Ferndale Middle School. Um I've been made aware of a petition that has been begun um for Mr. Greg to stay

039at Ferndale High School. Um I just want to acknowledge that um what I've stated um already publicly is that I remain open to continue conversation um as the decision maker around staffing decisions and updates. I am more than happy to discuss um why those decisions happen should there be concerns. Um but just wanted to make sure that I said in another public forum um that um if there are questions, reservations or better understanding that is required about some of those shifts, I remain open to accepting those conversations. I just wanted to acknowledge that. And then finally, Yes, thank you so much. Um, and then finally, um, I, uh, wanted to touch on, uh, I will be requesting the board to approve, um, superintendent goals. Um, there are three or four. Can you scroll up just

040a bit, please? Y, there's the first one. Um so um there's one that will um these are things that are already in place um but implementing a KPI monitoring structure um that is something that is already on the cusp of public display of how we are working towards accomplishing our dynamic plan our dynamic strategic plan KPIs. Um so um it made a lot of sense for that to become a goal of mine. Um and just want to acknowledge that this is these will be goals that will be through the duration of this calendar year. Okay. So um the KPI dashboard is something that I'm very exciting excited to launch. Um so that will be a first goal that I'm hoping that the board will through the second next goal um will be around leadership development

041and and delegation as well as organizational clarity. Um there is um if you know me and my leadership style, I am very much so a roll up your sleeves, let's all do the work together. I'm ready to go. Um but there are oftent times that um there is more delegation needed than um the roll up the sleeves and I haven't found that balance just yet. Um so this goal will be a challenge for me to implement a leadership accountability structure. Um we have already taken steps to clarify roles and responsibilities as well as priority work for said leadership leaders in the organization. Um so I have developed that into a smart goal in hopes that the board will approve as well. Um very timely goal um for my third goal around budget alignment and long-term

042sustainability. Um we are definitely um there is a very strong budget planning process. Um but it is also important that um we are making budgetary decisions that are aligned to our mission, our vision and our goals. Um so there should be a public and a um very um specific way that we are making budgetary decisions. Um those those decisions should be very clear and aligned. So, I am hoping um the board will approve a um a budget planning process that is encompassing of all of our um of our goals as well as our um vision and mission for the district. Um and then finally, um this one involves the board. Um but just um I can do a better job of um providing communication about board governance opportunities. Um that includes but not limited to

043the um development opportunities, retreat opportunities where we need to sync and align better um and just communicating opportunities for the board including myself um to grow and to be aligned um as much as possible. So the goal is around um maintaining regular board communication um as well as agenda planning uh that are aligned to district priorities. So the um the board and the community will will see four goals that I will be requesting that the board approve later on in this evening's meeting. Um but I just wanted to go through in as much quick detail as possible. um did want to note that these goals are um aligned and speak very directly to the mass bean superintendent evaluation tool which is the tool that is used um to evaluate my progress. Um so each of

044these goals would be able to fit very cleanly and clearly um into um that evaluation framework. Um, each of the goals are smart goals, um, specific, >> measurable. Help me out everybody. Actionable. >> Thank you. >> Right. Thank you. So, they are all smart goals. Um, so you can see that the way that they are written, um, they will be able to be monitored, um, and, um, provide support around, um, and feedback around each of these goals. I also included evidence options for each of the goals. That's not limited to those being the only places, the only ways that I can provide evidence. Um, but that was included in my my write up as well. Um, I also included in my board packet, which you know will be able to be public um, shortly. um

045but an evaluation calendar that goes from June 26th up until December, which is when my full evaluation um needs to be completed by statutory law. Um and then there are a number of next steps should the board decide to approve these goals as written. Um so just a very high level overview. I'm very happy to answer any questions the board might have about said goals. >> Any questions for Okay. Um, move to item five, budget hearing. Uh, folks that were here for earlier parts, this is the get to the less fun part of the agenda moving forward. So, don't feel like you have to stay. You're more than welcome to stay the entire meeting. Uh, but, uh, up to you. It's going to get deep now. So, but thank you all for for coming. Good

046evening. >> Um, this is the presentation for the 2627 original budget. We discussed this extensively at the July or June 1st committee of the meeting. Um, the first page is budget assumptions. So the um 2627 budget is based on these assumptions. So, we're using a student enrollment of 3,100 um FTE. Um our blend we're using a blended membership of 9010. The state foundation allowance increase of 250 per pupil to 10,300. Um Nipster's stabilization rate is going to be 13.51. Um and also just reductions in SNAP benefits could reduce the number of families qualifying for free reduced benefits. And there could be possible title funding reduction. Um for expenditures, we're keeping other special pay at 75,000. Unemployment 25,000. An increase of 3% to the legislative hard cap. Retirement rates budgeted at 27.51. Um Mitzer stabilization rate

047is 13.51. The custodial expenditures are budgeted with a $62,000 increase. Um additional staff is three and only step increases were included in this budget. No raises and also um gas remained the same while electricity increased 27%. Um the next um page is is changes. Um we're increasing one art teacher at upper. Um, we're going to increase one third grade teacher at upper, one res resource room teacher at lower, and we're going to increase a science teacher at the FA high school. This is a repeat posting because we couldn't fill it from last year. Um, there's going to be one staff reduced through attrition. Um, possible changes. These are not in the original budget. Um possible special education staff, additional staff depending on gate loads, new principal, elementary um possible contract bargaining agreement changes because no

048changes were in this budget because no um contracts were settled at the time this was prepared. So if you um this is the budget by function by revenue. So our local revenue we're estimating at 8.4 million. Our state revenue is 39.6 million. Our federal revenue is 1.9 million. And the interd district other is 3.4 million for a total revenue of 53.4 million. And then the budget by function by expenditures. Um total instruction is budgeted at 32.2 2 million. Total support services is budgeted at 23.1 million and total expenditures is budgeted at 56.5 million which is um this will come out to we'll have excess expenditures over revenue of about $3 million. And so our estimated beginning fund balance is 10.9 million. So our estimated ending fund balance will be 7.9 million which will be about

04914.8% of fund balance. So the next pages are the primary changes from the prior year budget which um let tax revenue is increased 335,000. The in the state revenue section um it's a decrease in Niper's 148G healthc care offset is decreasing 292,000. There's a decrease in the state prior year adjustments of 559,000. That was onetime funding. Decrease in the 97B clean bus grant that was 1.7 million. That was onetime funding. The decrease in 31A safety mental health grant is four was 445,000. Decrease in 27L educator compensation grant was 453,000. decrease in 31A carryover funds was 224,000 and a decrease in 23G back on track and 35M prior year early lit was 121,000. Now what increased was GSRP which increased by 383,000. The 21H partnership grant was 278,000. There's an increase in 51C Headley special education

050funding of 215,000, an increase in um 22B 22A funding and or property tax, and then a increase in 67F FAFSA of 422,000. That is onetime funding, but there's no um spend out date. Um the federal revenue is decreasing. The Head Start grant ended 6:30. the drug-free coalition grant ended um 6:30 and and then in the other section there was an increase to PA18 special ed funding that comes from Oakland County and there was a decrease in Medicaid funding also from Oakland County. So on the next page, the primary changes from the prior year budget and expenditures. Um there was a decrease in fund balance payout, FEA fund balance payout. There's a decrease in expenditures due to the 27L educator compensation grant that was onetime funding. There was an increase to special education centerbased program cost

051of 210,000. increase in FASA grant 476,000 that's one-time funding um no spend out date there is a increase in operation security 360,000 that's recurring uh decrease in expenses of the clean bus energy grant of 1.78 million that was onetime funding um decrease in the drug-free coalition grant 130,000 and in our health insurance increased roughly 385,000 and also there are steps included in this budget but there's no other uh increases due to contract expiration of the FEA FES AFA and AFCME and ASA um now these could be potential budget adjust adjustments in In the 26 27 year revenue, we could see an increase in $50,000 due to GSRP grant room expansion. That would be one-time funds. Revenue increase could increase by 2.2 million due to the enhancement millage that would be recur reoccurring for six years.

052Um then expenditures, there could be potential salary increases in the FEA, Faes, ASME, and ASA contracts. Um there could be potential increases from repositioning ASPA staff. And as always, if grant funding is reduced, some costs currently covered by the grants may need to be absorbed by the general fund. Any questions? >> Any questions? >> All right. I have one for you, one. Uh, so assume also 31A potential adjustment as well. What would the number be for that estimated? Well, is it 1 million? >> The award letter said, I can't give you the exact figure. It was over a million dollars. >> I assume we will have our first amendment in August just because of contract. We should have contracts at least some of the states. >> Well, I'm not sure. We typically do our first

053budget amendment in December. >> Um, >> I'm sorry. Is that a request? >> No, no. asking um when will we know if we need a special ed teacher? >> It'll it'll be it'll it'll be according to case. So like depending on as students come in and begin or if there's a need that arise, but we've um done something different this year with our budgeting and we assume that we we want to make sure it's there because we assume that we will have to increase result because we have year over year previously. So this time we wanted to make sure that it was already in >> um and then uh you've now done multiple presentations. Uh I think it would be good as a education just generally how we would expect to spend that time not

054down to the team but just be able to start to communicate that >> question came up question 100%. I'll just I'll just name that because um so much right now we know that the um a good chunk of those funds will go likely go towards um staff retention etc etc. Um, I just want the board and the community to understand that there would need to we need to negotiate some parts of it. Um, but we can definitely have at least um, you know, some specifics to what it could look like. I do think that we have a little bit more direction, especially as we progress through negotiations. So, we're happy to do that. >> Excellent. All right. Thank you, >> All right. You're on revised item six, presentation of building Elementary. >> One second. Principal

055present. Presentation. Just want to point out that first picture was taken on the last day of school and that is um a representative from every class. Uh we did a special thing last year. It's our last year as our first year at the new building and so we did a little special thing this year. So that's all those little cuties from everyone's class. Okay. So, um we will go through for um each of the letters tonight for Ferndale lower and uh talk about where we were in the winter, where we're now, and um some updates and looking ahead. Um as you know, um I'll be stepping into a new role. So, I didn't want to go too much into looking ahead because um I will not be the uh proud principal there. So, um, but

056I did put in a few things of what I hope to do in my new position to support. So, um, so it's vague, but it's not. So, um, so this first one, um, relevant and responsive, uh, staff development, we had 84.4, we now have 85. So, that is growth. 85 was our, uh, point to get to, but, know, we want to continue on from there. So, um, we've seen lots of growth, lots of different opportunities. Um but we recognize that um there are diverse roles within our building. So I think that sometimes uh something that we've designed professional development that we had was not for everyone. So we we want to make sure that we're really thinking about that as we're designing and planning so that a PLC meeting does hit everyone not just uh

057the teachers or the essential teachers. So, um, at the end of the year, the, uh, leadership team and I engaged in some intentional reflection and planning about PD, talking about what our needs were across the building. And so, uh, we want to utilize that, utilize each other, uh, so that we can all be learning, um, and being part of teaching and learning. Now, I think that planning ahead, aligning that will, um, support all of that. it'll be meaningful and we can work towards those key performance indicators um with teaching and learning and that we can increase that because I know that people that were taking that that um survey and they just sat through something that maybe wasn't directly aligned to them that may have been taken it down a little bit. So we aim

058to support um everyone in uh the new role that I'm going to have engaged and empower students. Uh so we have the uh survey that we do twice a year. We had 94 in the fall. We did have 1% increase, but we also had um more students. So I feel like we really did grow with that. But it's at the heart of what who we are, what we do. Um placing students first always. So, our highlights that um I've shared before, camp, concerts, relationships, family nights, empowerment, all of that. But, um here's some quotes at the bottom that I uh was able to gather two weeks ago. Um it's very welcoming. Our school family accepts everyone. I like that we share together. Our school family is kind. I like doing the pledge of allegiance together.

059At first, I thought, "Oh man, do I have to put that one in there? Does it really speak to this. And then I thought it does because I do the pledge of allegiance on a video every day. They see me, they know me, I'm present. And um I think that I'm able to encourage them and engage and empower students that way. So I was glad that he said it. Aligning instructional vision. So uh the KPI for this is the uh I Ready benchmark. I just want to make sure that uh we all know that all students take the math for I Ready but only second grade students take the reading for I Ready. So when you look at the top those percentages um might not seem so great but let me point out um the

060great things about it and then we have some visuals to share. So second grade reading and first grade math were in the top quadrant. So high performance and high growth for both of those. That top quadrant is where you want to be and they were way up there. So um reading growth was 40% of students that met their stretch growth and that's 10% above the national average. And then 121% of median growth and 100% is expected. So all of that is beyond what was expected. 61% of tested students for that made typical growth. The math growth 97% median typical progress to typical growth. 100% is the goal. 97 pretty close. We'll keep working on that. 26% met their stretch growth and 43% of those in first grade. We know that first grade has so much

061to learn. It's huge in first grade. Uh and then we have um 67% of first and second grade students moved placement. So they went up that level and that's what we want. Wherever they're at, we're going to take them where they're at and we're going to move them up no matter how low or high how high. And then the big celebration is at the beginning of the year 15% of students were at risk. At the end of the year, we had 4% in that top tier. And that's what I really want to show you um on the next slides. And I know you're not going to be able to see all of those numbers, but you'll be able to see the colors. So on the left um and I'm a visual learner, so this speaks

062to me. So on the left is the beginning of the year. On the right is um I'm sorry, left is winter, right spring. So you can see if you look at the top you have a 53 58% and then um on the right you have that 97%. So you see that growth from winter to spring and then what else you can see is that um you can see how the green, the yellow and the red on the top left is and then how it gets better. The whole idea is to create that foundation and get that foundation really solid. So when you look at the left on the bottom, you see that green, not so big. But when you go over to the next part, that's where we call we flip the triangle. We want

063the bottom big solid, ready to go. We want the middle part to be call that tier two. We want that to be less. And then we want the top to be even smaller than that. So we have 4% on that top. If you look on the bottom, and this is all math. If you look on the bottom, you see that we do not have any of the red at risk for kindergarten. You have a very small percentage of three for first grade and you have 11 for second grade. So, making those flipping that chart. Now, reading, we use I ready, but we use the cadence. The acadence is um the benchmark three times a year for K3. We have the um progress monitoring that we're able to use. We're able to have small groups depending

064on the progress monitoring that's going on. So if you look at those bottom triangles, Aadian shows this same movement. This is still I ready, but Aadian data shows the same. You see how that triangle is flipped? That's what you want. So we've we've decreased gaps. We've taken students where they were, taken them up, and the at risk has shrunk. It's exactly where you want to be and what you want to do. Next one, cultivating and collective pride. So this is about increasing that participation with survey. Not so great. We had 35 parents participate in the uh spring last year, only 26 this year. Uh completing the survey tends to be a struggle. I don't know. There's I think there's so many soccer games and all of that stuff. Spring, we're outside playing, right? Um which

065is what we want. Um we have seen in the past when we tie it to something, an event, a concert, we have higher results. Um this year it was only in a newsletter a few times. So um I take ownership of that. Uh the leadership team did brainstorm on best times and method to increase participation from all families and I would say that um my advice to the new principal is to work on that as well um with my support obviously. Uh and then the last couple uh slides at the end will all be photo evidence of cultivating collective pride. I went a little over. Sorry for that. Whoops. Sorry. uh harnessing data to drive improvement. So uh again we we did better with this. We had a winter survey 20% completed it. This time

066we had about 55% complete it. So uh staff were provided time to do it. Uh the results um were looked at by uh the lower leadership team. I hope to um also guide them in looking at that again as we plan for next year. And then uh be becoming part of teaching and learning. I hope to look at that and use it districtwide. What can we do to support that? Um at a quick glance, our strengths are teacher efficacy, cultural awareness and action and educating all. So who the teachers are, what their core belief is and having that continuity across uh those are the strengths and the growth is for sense of belonging with other adults, professional learning which we talked about earlier and then well-being of self. Teaching is tough these days, but we

067keep at it. Keep at it. So then there's just some fun pictures, all different things, the fun, the learning. If you go to the end slide, that's just since I was here last time and I had to pair it back. I do think that we give the survey at skate night. That would be better. Okay. So, thanks. It's been my um pleasure to be the principal at Ferndale Lower for 12 years. Been part of the school family for 29 here in Ferndale. I look forward to working alongside more stakeholders in new and different avenues of support, you know, Ferndale schools. But I'm definitely going to miss the kids. So, um, working how to figure that out, but so thanks for your support. That's lower. You have a seat. Principal Keith, I'm sorry. >> Yeah. Any

068questions about >> correct this? >> Uh, for siblings, Keith, uh, you've touched so many families by uh, being that entry point into the school district. Uh and I think as you've seen the growth particularly of families uh that are sending their kids to space it's because they had so thank you for everything you've done. Uh do you mind sharing with everybody you kind of alluded to it but sharing the new role that we're really excited for taking? >> Sure. going to be the uh director of elementary student support and services, but I'd like to um say SUB and add success to that. So, um or yeah, so uh just supporting all students uh elementary, but I think we're going to go a little bit into middle school and high school with some systems um getting

069some things set up. Um my background before I became a principal was interventions and adjusting those interventions. So, um I hope to um support students who are at that top tier and take them on down to tier two or tier one and maybe have hardly anything up there, if anything at all. So, >> we're really excited to have you uh tack this picture. >> Um before you have a seat, um we have a little something for you. Um would like to just read this really quickly and have something for you. So tonight, I want to take a moment to recognize Diana Keith for her service as principal of Ferndale Lower Elementary. Some people lead in ways that go beyond the title. Their impact lives in the heart of a school. It lives in the children

070they have loved, the staff they have supported, the families they have reassured, and the many moments where they simply kept showing up. Diana, that has been your leadership. You have given lower flowers, excuse me, more than your time. You have given your heart. You've given your steadiness. You've given your care. And in this work, those are some of the most meaningful things a person can give. The truth is so much of what matters most in school leadership never makes it into a report or onto an agenda. It lives in people. It lives in whether they felt seen, whether they felt supported, and whether they knew someone was carrying the weight with them. You did that. And while tonight is about honoring your service to Flower, it is also about recognizing that your leadership will continue

071to matter in this district. We are excited for what you will bring to your next role, even as we pause to honor what you have meant to this school community. So tonight, we do not just recognize your service. We recognize the love, commitment, and strength you poured into Flower. Diana, thank you for your leadership, your care, and your commitment to Flower. And tonight, we honor what you have given to the school community. We do so with gratitude and with real excitement for what you will bring to your next role. So, we have a small acknowledgement. Like to take a picture, principal Jeffrey, now you're Sorry. >> Good evening. >> Evening. >> I'm happy to present today for the third time this year with some uh little updates. Uh so in our R of reach, our

072relevant and responsive staff development. Uh so like um flower we did meet the um KPI already with 85% and I know we actually have do do have quite good participation um in those surveys uh every month. Um and I think a big celebration this year in in winter I talked a little bit about the flex uh PD where we had staff presenting things that uh they had learned or conferences they had gone to. So I think overall across the year we had a much better distribution of late leadership a shared leadership to staff members who are expert in their content area. Um specifically our two math instructional leaders uh working with open schools Michelle Harris and Jodie Prince led tier one math instructional PD uh using the building thinking classrooms work which our secondary schools

073have been doing for a bit. Uh we had a um enthusiastic group of seven teachers last summer willing to do a book study on the first nine chapters led by Michelle Harris uh who was wellversed in it. Then we sent a number of of staff to the PD this summer and they're going again this coming summer. uh and because of the I think the staff leadership in the PD and the relevance to our staff within like two or two and a half three months in our school I vertical whiteboards were being used like with fidelity within 90% of classrooms uh based on observations. So that to me survey is great but that to me is relevant in actual PL very specific PL on a very serious need. You'll see in our data, it's still a

074very serious need, these math sports. And so we need to increase teacher understanding of teaching math better. Um, and so this was our focus. I could tell you this is going to look the same next year. It's going to be the same or like stay in the course because it is starting to make a difference. Um, and then we also um we did a book study this year. One of the things I did at never been able to finish a book study in one year uh ever. And so I went a round of applause because I did we did the power of moments uh Chip and Dan Heath uh which really just anchored every two-hour staff meeting which is where all of our paras all of our teachers um all of our special ed teachers

075all of our essentials teachers music Spanish were all getting the same message about what it means to work in this building. Uh and that book was fantastic because our uh our motto this year we had strive was our one word but our motto was every moment matters when you really pair down a school day we do not have very minutes of instruction you know within a week it's like 37 hours a week or something like that and some of a lot of them are lunch so when you're when you're looking at that how are you making every single moment in your classroom matter and so that's what the book study was focused on. So, uh, next slide. E, engaged and empowered students, uh, increased the percentage. So, we did go up a little bit from

076winter. Uh, 82% of our students reported that they feel like they belong at school as measured by our annual survey. Um, this uh, specifically, our black and Hispanic student groups had the highest ratings of feeling a sense of belonging in our school. Uh, which I think is a great testament to our whole child focus. Beyond our focus, uh, we also started passion projects. I think I talked briefly about them in um in the winter. This is where teachers chose a passion, kids could sign up and on our half days to try and increase uh it was an attendance initiative but end up being a school culture initiative in the end that contributed this and then the kids got to mix together third fourth fifth monastery kids all together in different passions roller skating uh reading

077room cooking clubs tidy team did the windows uh and so I think these were really cool because they we've been trying for 10 years to really get the kids more mixed together like when there were K6 buildings. Not as easy when you have a smaller grade band. Um we do some cool buddy stuff with lower, but this really did help bring kids together around things they're passionate about. So the principal council, student council, and then the student surveys. Um 55% of kids said this was their favorite thing. So school improvements working on refining it for next year. We'll do it six times and the kids will actually get to switch their passion project halfway through the year. that was their number one survey feedback was they want to do more than just one. They're very

078passionate. Um I also talked about in winter that we had there's clearly a cohort of students like most of our students on the uh panorama surveys that were struggling to feel connected at school were new to our school this year. Um, we had, upon analysis, 71 new students to our district in my building this year and that's massive. That's a 13 or 14% student change. Right. So, >> Jeffrey, I'm sorry. Also, dig into that. Start many started after the first day of school, too. >> Oh, 22 started after January. So the survey data really does like that was really important when we're digging down like gosh we focus so much but it's because it takes time it does take time to acclimate to new culture and so one of the things our school improvement team

079will do this summer is a better onboarding process we have an amazing staff member our liaison Mr. Holly, um our communities and schools um student success advisor, Miss Pway. So, we're going to really focus on our new student cohort in the fall, like how do we immediately get them and passion projects, things like that will help. How do we immediately help them find an adult that can be their point person for those first six weeks? So, um but I felt in the um student responses, one of the best survey results we got was a new student, new fifth grader, which is even the hardest grade to move into. Um and they we had many of those and she said it's just so calm here and I just feel like I can learn and that was

080just very powerful and so now I think how do we also then like get them more into our groups and our clubs when they miss those opportunities or you know in third and fourth grade or second grade let's go. All right a aligned instructional vision. So, Miss Keef kind of went through, you can see the percentages. We've been working with TNL and Superintendent Hibler. The KPI is a tough KPI to really have meaning for a building principal. We didn't really know it when we were creating it. Um, but this is the the 15%, does that mean the kids at 100%, does it mean a 101%. What does that actually mean? So, that's part of why Miss Keef and I also gave you some visuals to actually show the great movement over the course of the

081year. Um overall we had um reading continues to be a bigger strength at our building where math were not seeing as much growth. Uh third and fourth grade students some updates from winter they remained in the top cile high growth and high performance as well in reading uh which is what we want. Uh and they were not there last year in the spring. So that was great to see. Um reading growth 30% of students met stretch growth which is national average with 108% median growth when 100% is expected. uh we had a significant decline in math. So much like Miss Keith was talking about um while we didn't get to our math goals um we did have a really significant decline specifically in third grade uh in tier three. So 39% of our our students

082in third grade started in red and then we were down to 16% um by the end of third and again there were about in that grade 33 new students in third grade this year who were new to us. They've only had actually six, seven months of extra six, seven months of instruction. Sorry, I know it's over, but uh all right. And then reading 56% of students move placement. And I to me more even more impressively when we know we're working on the math. We know we're not there at the proficiency level. So my big f focus with the staff is where's the growth? 60% of our students did move placement in math. So next slide. Very similar to Miss Keeps. you can look at it more in depth and always, you know, feel free to

083send me some questions. But we were around 77% in the winter. So we had great fall to winter growth. Uh we were like threequarters of a school year there in end of January and then we got to 108% uh in of median growth in the winter or the spring. I what I'm happy about is the big bar on who's met stretch growth, typical growth and stretch growth. What I think we still need to work on is I still have a cohort not getting typical growth. So unlike Miss Keith's really great data, you can see that like hers is like this on these bar graphs and mine is like this. So we got to really keep working on the bottom that bottom um percent uh in the red the tier three and reading math. That actually

084looks better. Um, and then our overall placement. What I again want to see, and again, this is a shout out to Flower. If you didn't were not impressed by those data slides, you should have been because if you look at the third grade, so you look at the bottom bar graphs, the third grade is 66% green, 15 and 19. Two years later, so our last or fifth graders are kind of our last COVID kids, kindergarten COVID. um they're at 36% 18% and much bigger 46% red right so that's two things one they still had that COVID impact we know that it's going to be a 10 11year thing all the way through your high school data but two they didn't have the full letters and and teacher training experience at the K2 level when the

085the K2 teachers working on their their knowledge and science of reading and all of the work the literacy coach has done thank you for supporting literacy coach in this district. That is the change. So you could see that those we are cycling that through because hers is even more in the green to 1k, right? So this is very exciting for our district and I think it's specifically in reading. Um you know and the tears look much better as you can see in the spring. I will also say uh Camille and I talk quite a bit and Tom May and I my building starts MSTEP testing in April. So, I want to be very clear that that spring median is really February to April 15th because then we test for 10 weeks. So, I ready fifth

086graders, I would say their cadance shows that they're actually more like 60% proficient. I think they're just really tired by the time they take this test, too. But that's, you know, that's me. Okay, math. All right, math girl. uh 43% at the uh winter. So you can see that was 76% in readings. So we could see we were really we were behind in January on that growth. Um but up to 74%. So we had we still had quite a bit quite a lot of growth. Um my worry here always is because we stopped for MSTEP so much MSTEP testing uh not stopped but it get you know instructions interrupted. Um we don't get through all the units I think we need to get through in math. So that's part of our spring problem. I got

087to we're working on with ILT is figuring out what I'm proud of here in winter to spring is that big gap. So you could see the typical growth the bar graphs now was like this in the winter and now is like this. So that means lots more kids met their typical growth or very close to typical growth which is what we need and we need that stretch growth um as well. And then fall to spring, the pyramid did shift a lot of our students in red to uh yellow. The green also grew pretty significantly, over doubled um across the board. And again, you can see third and fourth grade quite a bit higher than that fifth grade cohort. All right, cultivate cultivating collective pride. Um much like Miss Keith, uh we did not have a

088great survey year. Um, our feedback to TNL is is the same. We really need to be able to give these surveys earlier. They're the window opens for Panorama at the end of May. Um, you know, I'm done as a parent at the end of May, too. I think it's really tough. It's also long and so we have to figure out how to still do those because that's really good nationally. It's a nationally vetted parent survey. I think we need to keep giving. It's not so much about that. What I think we need to do, and so our plan this summer is to provide more mini surveys at things like skate night on the skate night flyer. Um, we did it at the we stole Miss Keep's idea and did the concerts this year and I

089had 88 responses on one on what kind of parent workshops do our families want to see uh from the district because I know the wellness committee, we're all trying to start working on bringing back a parent or family university. um the number one thing they'd like to see is uh support in technology at home by the way. So good data there that we'll share with the team. But so we're going to work on quarterly mini surveys to go along with the panorama to hopefully then be able to disagregate down to get to our underrepresented families specifically at the events we know they attend uh like skate night um like June fair things like that. Okay, last slide. All right. Um, we we're pretty close. Winter, I think we had like a 90% response rate down

090a little bit in spring. Um, my belief on this is we just have to give dedicated time to the teachers to get it done. It's like 130 questions. So, it's very it's long and it needs their dedicated attention. Um my pride point on this is that in our staff which is our non-classroom teachers. So there's two different surveys but it all gets combined in this KPI. Uh that our staff and our our teacher surveys were above the national percentile. So 80th to 90th 99th percentile in every nearly every category top strengths for school leadership teacher self-reflection and staff leadership relationships. I think the teacher selflet reflection um goes back to to that teacher led PL and those opportunities to learn from each other. Um and then obviously the monthly check-ins I do with teachers. I

091think that helps with the staff leadership relationships. Um and so my plan for this one we dip embedded into DPBD time last year to do that again within our some of our closing PLC. And these are my favorite things from this year. The all school morning meetings that we do. Our farmers market, the best event of all time. That's right. Please bring it back again. Uh and then some passion project picture pictures pictures. That's um one of Mr. Davis taught all three Ramsay boys. And that's all of them high school all the way down to the fifth grader. I love that. Um and yeah, it was a great good really good year. That was year 10 for us for both of us. Uh, >> any questions? >> I have It's not really about it. Did

092you say the staff date is 130 questions? >> The panorama. >> Okay. >> Pan I believe the panorama survey is really long. Um, but when given time we had we met the KPI we were like over 90%. So, and it does for me um you know like I said mini quarterly surveys and then how do you do these tri? It's like a trienal presentation, you know, takes a lot of time. >> But but it does drill down really nicely like to say this is a nationally vetted survey to say, "Oh, we're in the 80th to 99th percentile in 10 12 categories." That does, you know, that gives good feedback. Uh to me that we're doing something right on the staff culture level. >> I just um to that question um um hope I'm the cat

093is not out the bag. So time forgive me but um we we will be part of the KPI mentions a revision to said survey. Um, so there are definitely, as Katie mentioned, like really powerful data that it gives us, but let's be honest, 130 130 is just little, you know, so beyond. >> We want to be thoughtful though about which ones we do reduce um, and not just like quickly just focus on it being shorter, but that it is still meaningful. Um, so I mentioned that to say that teaching and learning is taking on. I think that the KPI says we need to meet it by like 2728, but we want to get started on that this year. Um, and I believe that Taiwan Robinson is going to be leading that effort in my speaking.

094Um, so we're getting started a bit early on because Katie sits down and principal Keith, you may um chime in here as well. Um you spoke a little bit this you know this is um think that this is a great opportunity to share a little bit with the board as well as the community some of the things that you've been noticing with our enrollment um and how you seem to continue to see progress academically. So essentially this is your opportunity maybe to share with the board and the community what are some things that are really important for us to be considering as we make budgetary decisions as well as enrollment decisions that will be here for next year before you know it. Um but you kind of started talking a little bit about it but

095would love for you to say a little bit more. She's like are you >> I mean a few things. one obviously you know it's been published we're one of two or something two or three districts in Oakland County who have increased enrollment through the co years uh we we are busting at the seams physically already um which I think speaks to the decision the board made 10 years ago to integrate our elementary schools you know to make the right decisions um I think the decisions over the last several years the hard decisions that have been made do help keep families in the But what I've also noticed as I deep dive in the data because I have an excellent fifth grade team and I also have had attrition of staff over 10 years very little

096but like people do retire they are allowed to and um the data always seems to drop in in fifth grade and some of that I think is social emotional you know some like I don't want to take tests anymore I'm a pre-teen um and and I've seen it in my own children so I I know you know both personally and professionally. Um, but then I really started to look like, wow, we really do shift in and out a large number of students. Um, like we have very solid, stable enrollment, but it's not the same kits. And so one of my uh soap boxes has been that we're and I think we're gonna work on this together TNL, but like we need to really be tracking Ernie Bower, Sandra Duki, you remember years and years ago

097talked about black student achievement in Ferndale and how if you were in Ferndale for a K12 experience, you far out um scored or whatever on the proficiency a typical black student in Oakland County. And a lot of our KPIs do do talk about our black student cohort. And so one of the issues I've been trying to dig into with our MSTOP preliminary data um is who is new and who are the new kids and what are all of the where are they? Who are they? And when I said like shocked at 71 students, that is not an apples when I present to you my MSTEP data next fall, that is not an applesto apples third to fourth grade cohort. That's a like a 12% change. And if we only go down by 3% and 12%

098change, we actually probably went up 6%. But because we don't like dig deep enough uh because it I mean I don't it's t it's going to take me all summer but I I think it's like one of those things we need to look at is students who stay in our district like we used to do. It used to be Oakland schools that provided that additional support. How do we track students who as they as they stay in Ferndale? What does what is their success look like? Because you're in and I've said this to Oakland schools. I've I've been upset about it when I look at data every year because I would put our teaching staff against any dis we've talked like any district and and we still need to so and then that says okay

099then what do you do with the cohort that's different every year and how I talked about that in the surveys right how do we more quickly onboard them and and and get them supports things like that so there's a lot of potential I think dynamic plan elements but we have to look at we have really strong enrollment but it's not always the same kids it's not always the same students. Obviously reducing school choice over time and some of the things that decisions are making that will change that. But I think in the meantime when you look at data you need to get more finite or more um specific to be able to actually say well these ones K4 they've grown this K4 and these ones for two years and then I think we'd have a

100better sense of how our student cohorts grow year to year because instead I'm what I'm finding is I'm just looking at different data every year. I'm looking at different kids within a 10 to 12% range. Can I step out of my lane for just 20 10 seconds? >> Yes. >> Your data is being exported from my star to something else. Right. >> Illuminate. >> To illuminate. >> Illuminate. >> All right. So, make sure they export your registration date. Registration date. >> Yep. It's different than your track entry date. So, a kid in fifth grade would have started kindergarten, fall of >> That's great. fall of 20, fall of something, whatever that year is, >> right? >> Their registration date will have that year in it. And then you can build groups on the registration date.

101It's a date. We can filter it. >> You can you can do that by registration date. >> Love it. >> Did I miss anything? No, I just want to say like one of the things that Katie says pretty often when we're meeting and that I strongly agree with and I know that we can do this is that our district is small enough for us to know every single kid and what they need in order to grow. We are small enough to be able to do it by name and by individual student support. We can do that, but we have to figure out how do we get there. um so that we can continue to see these gains and it'll require us to get as finite as what um Katie is speaking about right now. >>

102Well, and I think that this new role is going to support that >> because student success team is what that's what that is. So, if we're systematic across the district, >> then we know >> A, B, and C, right? And what they need. Y >> and if we don't have what they need then we're going to barriers we have to do >> let's sidebar this on ideas because I think this is like inspiring of like really attacking this so uh and I'm sure that if we look at I'm sure this is not just a huge thing right if you break this data down by school as Well, probably see. >> Well, I think the whole point is is to break it down so we can see, right? Like I I could be wrong. I don't

103think I am because I did fifth grade alone, but I could be wrong. And if I am wrong, that's good data, right? Like that's good data about who where do I need to make some changes like so I think I think the whole point is do it so that we at least know >> and then you know then you can move. >> So technically I did not pay them to say any of these things but I guess kind of but no but um this is really important for them to say it out loud. I hope the wheels are turning. Um, but we have some amazing leaders in this district that are growing in their data analysis and already very data proficient. Um, and we can do it. So, I'm excited for what's to come. Um,

104but I'm sorry I I gave her that question, but it's important for her to name that. >> It's a fantastic answer. Don't follow us. >> Tell the county when they do their dayto-day. Me and Katie rage text when we get the county data. >> Every year >> we text. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you Jeffrey. >> Thank you. >> All right. We are moving to item seven consent agenda. There are 14 items on the consent agenda. I'm going to read each of them. Item 7.1, request to approve minutes of the special meeting committee of the whole Monday, May 4th, 2026. 7.2, request to approve minutes of the regular meeting, Monday, May 18th, 2026. 7.3 Request to approve new hires, resignations, and transfers. 7.4 Request to approve bills and accounts. 7.5 Request to approve Michigan

105Association of Superintendent Administrators membership dues 2026 267 Item 7.6 request to approve Michigan Association of School Board's workbook contract 2026 2027 item 7.7 request to approve Michigan Association membership dues from 2026 2027 item 7.8 Request to approve Michigan High School Athletic Association resolution for 2026. Item 7.9 request to approve 2026 2027 student activity resolution. Item 7.10 request to approve 2026 2027 cafeteria resolution. Item 7.11 request to approve 2026 2027 original budget resolution. Item 7.12 request to approve general fund budget resolution. Item 7.13 request to approve 2025 2026 budget amendment 2 resolution. Item 7.14 request to approve 2025 2026 budget amendment presentation. >> I move second. Uh so move to approve by trusty seconded by any discussion. >> Yes. >> Kaiser. >> Yes. Turner. >> Yes. >> All right. Item 8.1 is request to approve the

106resolution certifying right language uh to operating which addresses commercial properties. Any questions about this? Questions? >> Any questions? >> All right. Roll Shepard. >> We got to move and second. Oh, >> sorry. >> So moved to move by Trusty N, seconded by Trusty CR. Any discussion? >> All right. Roll call. >> Yes. >> President. >> Yes. >> All right. Let's roll up to item 8.2. Request to approve visual displays emergency signage purchase for FHF's FMS construction areas 2026. Evening. >> I'm Drew Holly. I'm the senior technology coordinator for the district. I have with me John Terski. He's a technology manager for IDS. He helps with the uh bond with us. Consulting technology in 2025 and he just got uh we got this item for you. Uh we presented this at the last committee of the

107whole this month. It involves the installing and purchasing of technology items for the construction spaces at high school and middle school happening this summer. um two things or I attached to this uh agenda item is bulletin number 18 which includes the individual costs of each items. I know you had some questions during the presentation. And then also it's attached is the change order number change order number eight. Uh items one through 25 are already approved and completed work under contingency item 26 which is bulletin number 18 which is also attached exceeded or remaining contingency by a little over $32,000 which is the reason uh we're taking this change order. Uh two things I want to clarify from that presentation over earlier this month. Uh one is the language I used talking about the digital clocks.

108Um given that language, it's not just digital clocks. I want to make that clear. It it's multifunctional. It's digital clocks, it's digital signage, and it's also emergency signage uh that's built into our emergency response plans throughout the building. Uh so they are multifunctional. I just like to refer to them as digital clocks just to make it easy. Um, also those digital clocks are integrated with our PA system that we have. Uh, so it's all under one conduct management. Uh, makes it easier for us. So that's one thing I wanted to clear up. And then the other thing I wanted to clear up is the scope of work that's under this change order. Uh, so I did the scope of work that's like the longer detail. And then further on I did a scope summary. it's

109a lot easier to just talk through real quick. Uh number one is the purchase and installation of four interactive displays and the associated AV cabling and mounts for those. Uh so one is going to go into or two are going to go into each art room that's under construction and then the other two are going to go into each team room. Um, also is the purchase and installation of four digital clock displays which are also the emergency signage and stuff like that with the four different spaces which is the scene shop uh the art rooms and uh yeah associated cabling with that. Uh the purchase and installation of amplifiers, microphones for the art rooms. So we have uh voice amplification systems are being installed in art rooms. Uh we have installation of data drops in

110each of the spaces along with three data drops for exterior security cameras out on the exterior of where the seat shop and stuff is being built. Uh included in this scope of work is demolition services and spaces and also miscellaneous cables, hardware, labor and training. Uh the competitive bid process has been achieved utilizing the Ferndale bid process 2022 bid package number T3 and then the funding source for this purchase is 2020 school bond fund the technology allocation portion. Uh so it is our recommendation that the administration board of education approve this change order uh from digital age technologies the following items digital clocks interactive panels purchase configuration installation in the amount of $37,743 with a district funed project in up to $4,000. second by vice president by Kaiser. Any discussion? >> Uh so Andrew graciously

111took me on a tour to see his devices in action. uh since raised concerns um and you know showing the entire system how it works talked to staff about how much they love the PA system piece uh definitely get why this information be valuable I think the push is not on Android push is on team right what we're actually using for right uh and making sure thoughtful what we're putting up when we're putting it up things that to make sure that talk about overall technology there's a purpose where I don't keep it dark and then put up the message so I think that's that's where I >> yes all right not going anywhere so item 8.3 requested for social studies department classroom. This one this one we also uh presented at the um last committee

112of the floor earlier this month. Uh this is for refreshing the classroom Chromebooks in each of the social studies classrooms at the high school. There's five total. uh that department itself received a donation from Alice Jurgensson with the intent of enhancing classroom opportunities, improving student learning. Uh as we met and talked through different initiatives, things that we could uh implement, uh this is one that teachers kind of put forward and uh determined kind of priority that they would like to see. Uh we agreed. So we went out and got an official quote and we looked at different Chromebooks that we could supplement into that class for refreshing. Uh so we were looking at 165 uh quantity of the Nobo 100 each gen 5 touch phone Chromebooks those faces and then associated with management license with

113those totaling $61,000 $875. Um, I wanted to point out the fact that this is timesensitive need. That's why we're bringing it now while we're still discussing the different stuff that these uh teachers and the students in these classrooms in this department. Um so the pricing for these is upon or based upon the REMC statewide competitive brid process and then the funding source for this purchase as Jurgensson fund and is the recommendation administration of port education approved the purchasing of classroom Chromebooks device licensing from Trfera LLC in the amount of $61,875. questions for the team. >> I have one question that kind of goes with the Chromebooks. Could you just tell me what our classroom management tool is? >> Uh Google uh >> like do we use GoG Guardian in the district? >> No, we do

114not. >> Is there a tool that we use for classroom management? >> No, not current. >> We are sorry. Go is kind of like a tool that a teacher can utilize to see what is happening on all of her students Chromebooks during class. Um only curious cuz the tie in of the teachers wanting to have more Chromebooks and a little bit of what Principal Jeffrey was saying with uh parents wanting support at home. But it doesn't have to deal with this purchase. It was just seeing if we had that because I had a recommendation. But I will save that for an email. >> I can address that now if >> Okay. Well, I was going to say, >> um, >> so to answer your question, we we don't currently, however, >> over the past three

115months through Kelsey Perkins direction, we have piloted a couple of of student management platforms. And right now, we are leaning towards an implementation of securely for the fall of of 26 27. Um, that would provide students with the opportunity to to view what students are looking at and have more control over what students are actually accessing when they're expected to be working on on their Chromebooks during class. So, not yet, but it's we just need to make sure that we have the funding to to get in place. But um it is our belief that it's time it's actually past time for us to have a student management platform um for our Chromebooks. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> So moved by Trusty Newman, seconded by Trusty. Any discussion? >> All right, M. Yes.

116>> Turner. >> Yes. >> All right. Item 8.4 request to approve staff device refresh. >> Yep. So, we started pursuing a district-wide staff device refresh uh to address the staff places that district uh they're approaching over five years and and their life cycle increasing the amount of damage that happens to them, how often they go down and uh how offline the teachers. Uh as far as the sta staff device refresh, uh we are looking to refresh all the staff devices in the district, but along with that associated workstation items like monitors and docking stations as long as standard along with standardizing uh the devices that they do receive. Right now as far as monitors are concerned, it's we're not standardized. Uh some teachers have monitors, some don't. So, we're looking to get that uh standardized

117across the board and make a little bit more for teachers and staff from district. Um, something I included on this one that I did not include on the committee of the whole is I wrote down what model actually we're planning to go with each uh staff uh job or uh position. So, building staff uh we're looking at the Delro 16. We select that for them along with docking st station and monitor to go along with their workstation. Administrators were provided uh a choice of three device options to accommodate varing requirements each of their roles. Uh those three device options are Delpro 16 plus, Delpro Max 16 and a Mac Pro. They will also be receiving a docking station at least one. Uh support staff was selected with Dell Chromebook 14s instead of Windows device. Um,

118this model provides enhanced performance compared to just the traditional classroom Chromebooks while meeting the needs of most of the student. I do want to say they do have the option to request device uh if they feel like they're uh require basis. Uh with that said, the competitive bid process will be achieved utilizing the REMC state by competitive bid process for this. Uh the funding source for this purchase is the 2020 school bond fund and technology allocation portion. And then it is recommendation administration of the board of education approve the purchasing of staff devices and related workstation equipment from peopledriven technology in the amount of $556,633.80 80s and then also Apple Incorporated in the amount $24,990 and then we are also looking at district funded projects. >> I think one sorry >> we're looking at if

119we get approved and submit the order pretty soon by this week. We're hoping that they'll come in before the start of school. If they don't and the timeline extends a little bit long, prioritize teachers first and then roll it out. It's hard to say with the lead times on these, but I don't think the survey would like >> Oh, you couldn't. >> It was Yeah, there are. >> Oh, sorry about that. >> No, no, it wouldn't have changed my opinion. I trust one whining about Yeah. Yeah, I'll do it. I instruction for any other questions. >> I'll move second move by Vice President. Any further discussion? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Yes, you're dismissed. Come up to the podium. >> Tried to stay back there. Tried so hard. >> You shouldn't have shown up. >> We

120appreciate you showing up and show us. >> So, M. >> Yes. >> Have a little something for you. Um, I have a few words to begin with before. Um, we have a little something for you. But tonight, we also want to recognize Ma for his service as director of IT field services. Jeff may not have been with us for a long stretch of time. His impact has been extremely meaningful. He stepped into an important role, brought knowledge, steadiness, and professionalism to the work and help strengthen systems that support our staff and students every day. So much of IT work happens behind the scenes, but that does not make it any less important. In many ways, it makes it even more essential. Jeff helped carry that work with consistency and care, and this district is better

121for the time he has spent with us. So, Ma, thank you for your service to Ferndale schools. Thank you for the impact that you have made, for the work that you did, and the way you supported this district and your time here. We are very grateful and we wish you all the best in retirement and in the next chapter. >> Thank you. >> I have radio. It's not going to be a stranger though. >> So Ma, before you before you leave the podium, I many of you don't know this. So when I left Ferndale, I went to Berkeley. Left Berkeley, I went to Oakland schools. And my role was to was in field services. And I was put in three of the most difficult districts assigned to uh Oakland schools uh field service team at

122the time. And one of the districts I was in was under Ma's direction. And one I don't know if you even know this. It was one day I came I was like was one of the roughest days that I was having in that one particular district. And I don't even remember what you said but it was pretty much like they don't know what you know just go in there and do what you got to do. And I did. So every now and again you don't know this. It's like that was one of the it's one of the sticky notes that I have is like they don't know what you know just go out there and do it. So uh thank you and uh congratulations on the next chapter. >> Thank you very much. Thank you

123for the opportunity to serve Ferndale. It's uh been 20 years or so in the making. Uh for many of you who don't know, I used to live on Pinerest. Um when I was a little bit younger and had more hair um and always wondered what the building was like here and the people and I knew some, you know, obviously some of the residents and it's always been a great community and look forward to seeing great things continue here in Ferndale. So I miss my days here. Um, suburbs aren't quite the same. Um, I miss my walk to Queen 71 by far, >> but wish you all the best and thank you again for the opportunity um to serve the district. >> Thank you so much. All right, everybody. There's no no saying we got to

124go. >> Item 8.5 requests to approve the OCS DA amendment to bylaws and resolutions. So I'm sure you all did this just to give my laws just governance change that they are looking to reduced everything is essentially uh CSBA is tying that funding to wing the attorney. that entertain a motion to approve amendment by >> second move by trust second by trusty Kaiser. Any discussion from Ry? >> Yes. Yes. >> Faer. >> Yes. >> Turner. >> Yes. >> President Deliver. >> Yes. Item 8.6 request to approve policy adoption recommendation for electronic communications. >> Mr. Sh. Welcome. >> Good evening everybody. >> Good evening. >> Uh so I have uh yes so I have a recommendation for the board this evening. Adoption of TR policy 5209 student use of wireless communications device. Uh this is an

125edit of an existing policy to comply with changes in legislation. Um uh it was a little bit cleaner than last time I brought it to the committee the whole uh so I apologize for that. But uh uh hopefully it's clear that it's essentially two different policies within one. And working with our district administrative team uh they felt strongly that a different policy was needed for K8 than for 912. Uh so essentially for K8 uh the rule with some exceptions, exceptions for students with IEPs, exceptions for school emergencies, uh K8, uh phones are not allowed at any time in the school day. Uh 912, uh phones are not allowed during instructional time. Uh passing time and lunchtime are um are not included in instructional time. So those are times when students will be allowed to use

126their phones. uh and uh we reviewed this policy carefully with our administrative team uh and feel this is uh this is going to be best for our students and also in compliance with the changing legislation. Also point out that I just got our Trune policy update uh the fall update for the fall uh that I'll be bringing back to you in August. So get ready for that. >> Any questions for Michelle? All right. >> Second. >> All right. >> Second by any further discussion. >> I missed it. >> I missed who moved it. Sorry. >> Oh, >> sorry. >> Hey, Missy. >> Yes. Yes. All right. Item seven, 8.7, excuse me. Request to approve BrightB contract for temporary staffing. Thank you very much. Bringing a proposal to you all this evening for a temporary staffing

127contract uh with a company called Breitb that we've been working with I would say for the better part of a year. We've been talking to them um and uh contract and some information is enclosed in the packet. Uh we've been really impressed with the ability that Breitby would give us in emergency or very urgent situations to uh line up some staffing particularly when it comes to bus drivers and pair of professionals probably our two uh most difficult to fill positions. Uh the contract is a pay as you go contract. So there's no initial obligation. We only pay if we use them. Um and uh we have options uh whether we pay a placement fee which is admittedly a very large fee but send they send somebody to us and they become our employee uh with

128the example of the pair of professionals. We also have the option of pay as you go uh at an elevated hourly rate and then after they've done so many hours with us they would become our employees. So, uh, we like the flexible option that Breby gives us, uh, as well as the ability to be a little bit more responsive in those emergency situations where we need somebody right away. Um, uh, so we bring this contract to you for approval this evening. I'm happy to answer any questions here. questions. Seconded by trustee discussion roll, please >> yes. Okay. Item 8.8, request to approve collective bargaining agreement for transportation. >> Thank you very much. This is my last item this evening I believe for approval. Uh we have been working closely with our bus drivers and transportation

129staff uh for several months and pleased to bring a agreement to you this evening that the ASPIE group remember asked me is our transportation employees or bus drivers maintenance and dispatch. Uh they have ratified this agreement and so we bring it to you for approval this evening. uh our goals with this contract were primarily retention and attraction and I think if you look at some of the finer details of this contract uh you'll see that very clearly. Uh this uh calls for a um increase uh in year one at a dollar amount and then one and a half% for years two and three. Uh more importantly, uh moving drivers uh past a training wage once they have received their training. Uh and those signing referral bonuses provided for in the contract um are going to

130help us uh identify new employees and hold on to them as well as hold on to our existing staff. Um and uh also reduction probationary period and uh reducing the waiting period for medical coverage are other tools that we hope will help us retain folks and and do the right thing by our employees. So happy to answer any questions anybody has, but we're pretty proud of this agreement. I think it's the right thing for bus drivers questions for >> second moved by second by any discussion >> for all the hard work you put into this right was on our team as well and It's been a yes passion project. So, thank you. Thank you to our drivers, our transportation employees. Getting our kids safely transportation such a challenge here in this city in this region.

131Uh being able service is super important. Appreciate you all and the team on their side of being able to put together Get those tracking drivers and chefs. >> Yes. >> Turner. >> Yes. Okay. We are up to item 8.9 request to approve resolution village 2026. >> Hello. >> Hi. >> Okay. This this goes along with the L4029. So the L4029 is an annual form required by the county equalization department that authorizes the district to levy voter approved and legally authorized millages. Approval of this form allows the district to proceed with the July 2026 summer tax levy. So tonight, we are requesting the board's approval of the resolution authorizing the July 2026 summer tax levy in the accompanying L4029 tax rate request. >> Okay, questions? >> No questions, but just uh so no questions. Looking for

132a motion to approve resolution village 2026. >> So move second move by trust seconded by Newman. Any discussion >> roller? >> Yes. President. >> Yes. And now we are looking for a motion to approve L-4029 tax year 2026. >> I'm gonna give that one to Miss Kaiser. >> Trusty Kaiser. >> I'll second. >> Seconded by Vice President Turner. >> Any further discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay. Item 8.11, request to approve Chartwell's contract. >> Good evening. contracts. This is the second year removal of a 5year contract process covering period of 2025 2030 has already been approved by Michigan Department of Education as service management contracts chart staff operational support district service 27 or staff positions. an assistant director production manager position that oversees production and administr increase a strong partner in

133supporting our nutrition program. Any questions for Deputy Superintendent Ray? Seeing none, can we entertain a motion to approve contract renewal for Charles? >> Second. >> Moved by Trusty Carbine, seconded by Secretary Newman. Any further discussion? Seeing none, Miss Sheper. Can I ask for a roll call, please? >> Duki, >> yes. >> Kaiser, yes. >> Yes. Turner, >> yes. Yes. Okay. Item 8.12, request to approve contract renewal for hop skip dry. This is a new brought to my attention. In this instance district drive transportation services from July 1, 2026 through June 307 drive is a transportation provider in Los Angeles California serving schools and government agencies and families since 2014. Ferndale Public Schools has utilized Hot Skip Drive since 2022. to provide transportation for students who needs transportation routes. Services commonly used by this provider or

134common provided by this provider are students experiencing homelessness under foster care transportation requirements. Special education transportation needs another student to transportation circumstances requiring requiring flexible transportation solutions. New contract includes a base fair of $42 per trip which is up for $35 per trip previously. Mileage rate is $2.50 per mile and there may be additional fees for specialized transportation services. Last year over the current fiscal year span was about 148,000. Last year was a little over 150. Year before that 263,000 year before that 125,000. Annual costs fluctuate uh based on student enrollment program placements obligations transportation requirements and specialized transportation needs. questions for deputy superintendent right >> can you vento cover a portion of this for us something as far as I know this is not this is excluded this is excluded so this is completely

135funed by us we build a budget during the zero based budgeting period often times we exceed that influx of students and then special circumstances I think um Kaiser I think that principal Jeffrey speaking about as far as some of the moveins and things that a lot of time what we find is that um the funding that we receive from McKenna Pinto does not match our reality of students that are in need. What we find is that we literally start the year under budget and this always is the piece that ends up that um do we ever do the survey or feedback with students who use the service itself? I think for next year that's something I would like to see just getting a sense of doing any feedback just knowing that like when I was

136at DOT par transit you know the they were providing a service but service any additional questions. Okay. Entertain a motion to renew our contract with Hopskip Drive. I'll >> move. >> Second. >> Moved by Vice President Turner. Seconded by Secretary Newman. Any further discussion? >> Okay. Miss Shepard, roll call again, please. >> Kaiser. Yes. Yes. Turner. >> Yes. Okay. Request to approve the pack representative recommendation. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Um, so I am coming before you to request action um to approve Sarah Martin as the public schools representative at the Oakland County Schools parent advisory community representative for a three-year term. This will be a second term for Miss Barton from 2026 27 school year through the 2829 school year. Um she does hold a position on the Oakland County Pack. currently as

137the chair elect she'll be the chair of the open county pack. Great. Any questions? All right. Entertain a motion to approve Miss Martin as our pack representative. Moved by Trusty Kaiser, seconded by Trusty Commer. No. Any discussion? Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you. >> Item 8.14 request to approve New Zella. >> Good evening every 14. Good evening. >> So, as we transition to the the tech proposals, I do want to address something that was asked of us a couple weeks ago at committee the whole regarding the social studies Chromebook purchase from the Alice Jorgensson Fund. The ask was to reach out to the department to see if in the future we could explore nontech uses for those funds. Uh the department is 100% on board with that. We'll use the rest of the

138funds to support student field trips. For those of you that have been in the district a while, you might remember something called Camp Skyline. the department is interested in bringing back a student leadership retreat similar this guideline using those funds as another potential use. So just wanted to provide that update. >> Are they talking about bringing back the class that goes along with Camp Skyline? >> Well, you know, it won't be exactly the same, but >> just thought I'd ask. Hey, if you're you're volunteering to help out in any way, shape, or form >> by year two, I'll be ready. >> Okay. >> Pardon me. >> So, we're we're still seeing Andrew's presentation. Is that the right? >> Okay. So, in addition to the Chromebook homework that that you sent me off with two weeks

139ago, there were several questions regarding our tech renewal. So, before we get into the actual renewal, did want to address all of those questions, go through those. So, big shout out to Kelsey Perkins who put most of this presentation together, but we wanted to to answer your question and give you our instructional technology big picture. Next slide, please. So, I wanted to ground you in the fact that all of our renewal requests align with the proposed board policy around educational technology and also align with our instructional technology guidance for staff uh that our digital literacy committee helped to develop. Next slide, please. I'm not going to guarantee that that we're answering the questions in the exact order that they were asked two weeks ago, but um one of the the ask was a list of

140what's being renewed, what's not being renewed. So left hand column is the tool, middle column are our licenses for 2526 school year, and then the right hand column is what we're requesting. So you can see for Canvas, we're streamlining from K12 to 612 to not only align more with our usage, but to enforce and reinforce uh having our elementary students not be on devices quite as much. Vocabulary, we were um with a K5 license reducing to a 35 license based on teacher and principal feedback. for Gizmos, which is a science um demonstration program. We're going to keep access at 312 for economic purposes. We actually get a a price break by including students at Fuel. They don't actually use the program at fuel, but we save a few thousand dollars each year by including them

141in in our contract. And by the way, I also want to point out that all of our renewals are one-year renewals moving forward so that we can review usage and impact each year before we commit to another renewal. Il we're reducing from grades 2 through 12 to 6 through 12. I ready reducing from K12 to K5. And as we mentioned a couple weeks ago, want to be clear, we're still administering the I Ready benchmark assessments. What we're reducing is our usage of the personalized pathways and instruction. Next slide, please. Magma Math was a high school intervention program for math. We are discontinuing that in its entirety. We're also discontinuing Near Pod uh which was a supplemental instructional tool really uh online 100%. So we're moving away from that. No longer uh have a need for

142that. Newella ELA reading support program streamlining from 312 to 612 RAZ kids reading a toz elementary literacy and reading support we are discontinuing that in its entirety due to low usage. Next slide please. Seesaw is is a learning management system communication platform that was being used at the elementary level. We are going to narrow that focus to grades K2 and Solara. It's our panorama add-on that supports individual lesson plans and early warning plans. We are renewing. We're asking for renewal for forsellara based on staff requests and also the desire of the teaching learning department to strengthen its use to support student success across the district. You asked for some student feedback. So here's some I ready student feedback from elementary students. staff feedback from for ready. >> Silly question. >> Yeah. What is RR? >>

143Resource room. >> Okay. >> Questions. >> We've got some LL feedback from middle school students. Next slide, please. Let me get into some Well, you asked for the I Ready data privacy policy. There's that. Then we get into some usage data. Numbers are small. So I wanted to just kind of highlight that I at Ferndale High School we had 160 students out of 734 utilize it. Ferndale lower 350 students out of 542 total students were using it. Ferndale Middle School 512 out of 540 and Ferndale Upper 346 out of 542 students were using the program averaging between 3 and 1/2 hours at the low end to about 8 and 1/2 hours uh sorry a little over 10 hours at the high end uh for nailers and that's for literacy and I ready the next slide.

144type will highlight the math usage for I Ready. Similar numbers at each of the buildings. Next slide, we'll get into usage data. What you'll see here is that our heaviest usage was in uh grades six, seven, and eight. So Ferndale Middle School supporting their ask to to have Il renewed for them next year. The data that that is visible here gives us a total time. I did want to share with you that over the course of the 2526 school year, Ferndale Public School students answered 1,74,136 questions that I great teacher usage for 75% for the high school teacher. used. Remember, Il has the content area, four core content areas, as well as standardized test prep are no lower at 18% of the teachers. Middle school 63% of the teachers using upper 44% university high 46%

145of the teachers use the program. Next slide. >> Pardon me. >> St. Paul North. I assume it's just a >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We didn't have a contract. Even though it was listed, they were not part of the contract. Newella usage data. You can see Ferndale High School, Ferndale Middle School had pretty high usage. will say that Ferndale High School utilized New Zella as a part of their targeted supports and intervention improvement plan which was getting at theformational passage part of their improvement plan. See lower usage at Fernell upper and at University High School. I will say this is uh abnormally low for UHS. They've had some really strong usage prior to this, but it is lower this year. So, that's that's kind of the overview of our our usage data. We want to share

146some staff feedback. I think The next slide we will get into the panorama survey concerns in addition to revising the surveys based on the feedback from Miss Keef, Miss Jeffrey. Tonight, I've already emailed the principles asking them for a calendar of events next year so we can better align our survey calendar with school events to increase opportunities for participation. Regarding the surveys themselves, we're in the process of forming a team to review all of the surveys, starting with defining a purpose. Once we have a clearly defined purpose, we will review all of the questions on the surveys to make sure that they align with our purpose and then we will look to consolidate and shorten those surveys into a more reasonable length keeping in mind that you'll balance that need for conciseness with a need

147to to get accurate data and complete data. Okay, the KPI did indicate uh revising the surveys by school year 2728. We're going to try to expedate that process and have something if not this fall. We don't want to switch surveys in the middle of the year, but if we can't have it done by fall of this year, we'll be we'll definitely be ready to go in in fall of next year. And then the last I think it's the last slide you had asked for some Solara success stories. So we wanted to to share three of what were shared with us. Um well if there any uh questions or feedback for Tom and the team on this tech >> just thank you for the data. I really appreciate it. >> It will um a giant step.

148I mean buried the lead a little bit with the instructional technology guides for staff which I think find a different time to to talk through. Um, but I think, you know, fact that you all are hearing us, hearing the community, uh, and, you know, being really transparent with how you're making decisions is fantastic. So, >> thank you for that. >> Uh, really appreciate you putting the time into this. I know August, September conversations on these things, but it's a big it's a big really appreciate this. >> Our pleasure. Thank you. So with that we'll revisit our proposals. >> Yes, please. We'll be quick with with these. We'll take as much time as as we need to to answer questions. So our first request was to renew New Zella Ferndale Middle School. for high school high

149school. Any questions for Tom? >> All right, we'll entertain a motion. >> I'll move. >> Second. >> I will take motion from Vice President Turner, seconded by Trusty Crumb. Any further discussion? >> Shepard, can we get a roll call? >> Turner. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. Item 8.15, request to approve panorama. >> And we talked about this a couple weeks ago. Happy to answer any questions. Any questions for Tom? >> It's late. >> All right. Can I get a motion? >> Second. >> Moved by Secretary. Seconded by Vice President Turner. Any further discussion? >> Yes. >> Turner. >> Yes. >> It's approved. Item 8.16 request to approve I ready renewal. Any questions for Mr. B? Seeing none request uh a motion moved second. >> Moved by trusty seconded by trusty Kaiser. Any discussion? Shepherd, roll

150call, please. >> Yes. And finally, any questions? Item 8.17. Question approve. Any questions for Mr. Bas on hand next time. >> Okay. >> All right. Can I entertain a motion to request the request of LL? >> So moved >> by Trusty Duki. Second. Seconded by trusty Kaiser. Discussion. Cow. Miss Shepard. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. >> Okay. Item 8.18, request to approve superintendent schools. Can we go back and upsend just take All right. So, 14 goals. I know some of this is feedback that we talked about in January. Yes. As well. Um KPIs dashboard development >> or budget alignment or sustainability. I think that's something that obviously there's a lot of variables still into but I want to talk about that uh feedback for okay not seeing it so the assignment uh can entertain a

151motion here to approve moved by Trusty Kaiser, seconded by Trusty Comr. Any discussion? >> Thank you for taking >> All right, Shepard. Roll call. >> Yes. All right, we did it. uh >> board update. Any updates that the board would like to share with community? >> Okay. Um so I just wanted to um what uh Representative Weiss said at the top is a really important time not only to be um talking to our elected officials at every level, certainly the state legislature about adopting a budget quickly. We all heard the reasons. Um, but I really also want to highlight that there's a lot of intense pressure that we need to be putting on uh the governor to do the right thing and um not take those federal vouchers and light our public school system on

152fire. So um I highly urge folks in the community to um send those strongly worded letters and thank you Superintendent Hler for your leadership on that. >> Do you mind sharing information about the town hall about Yes. Uh there will be anformational town hall uh this weekend um at posted at affirmations um Saturday, June 20th um from I want to say it's 5 to 7:00 p.m. Don't quote me on that. I will put it up, make sure we get the um appropriate information. I apologize that I don't have that in front of me, but um we're going to have representatives from the community. Um, I encourage all of you to come. Um, especially if you have time, Superintendent Hler, because I want the community to be able to ask questions. Um, and it is a

153privately hosted event. So, um, we're encouraging folks to ask whatever they want to know about why these are so important. >> Any additional dates? >> I got select. I submitted a proposal for MASBLC and it got picked up. Hey, >> that's in October. >> Where's the topic? >> Making the hard decisions at the board table. >> Nice. >> Right. >> And it was 5 to7. All right. Anything else? All right. Keep rolling informationational items. Let's go. Budget actual. to a report six and in this column we're still using the first amended budget which second but um so yeah everything's moving pretty good the um instructional staff We're spending more money this year due to just the higher grants and the transportation variance. We're spending more this year. Um it's because we bought the bus the

154bus. We paid for that. Any other questions? >> Any questions for >> All right. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Item 11. consideration of any pool agenda items. There were none. Item 12. The next meeting of the hold will be Monday, August 3rd, 2026 at 6 o'm got it. We'll take the month of take the month of July. Um item 13, the next regular board meeting will be Monday, August 17, 2026 at 7 p.m. change as well. Item 14, evil points of pride and comments flash session. >> Yes. >> So special really quick. It is it was um the day of smile and uh for today. So, just wanted to shine some light on Ferndale schools and how they are so intentional on spreading joy to our children, make sure that they have such a bright

155and beautiful day every day. And just a happy smile day to everyone in our community. >> It's going to be broad, but um I just am so proud to live in a community that's so engaged and to work with a team on this board and this administration that um reflects this community and I've loved all the updates on schools pages about pride and all the wonderful commemorations that are um important to the community. So, um I just want to congratulate everyone on the end of school year um working in the schools. I don't know what it was about this year, but it felt like a heavier lift than most. And so, this one was a doozy and uh I'm just excited for everyone to be entering summer and some rest and fun. So, team under

156our belts. Next, I'm going to say it was this year so take time to rest and cover and Thank you everyone. >> It's the end of the year. We've made it. Please take the time to rest, recharge, and be ready for 2627. >> Um, wow. I'm trying not to echo. Um, I just want to um just acknowledge, you know, sometimes the end of the year can get crazy with the amount of celebrations and closeouts and all of the things, but um I'm I'm just super proud of the way that we ended the school year. Um safe communicating. There was a number of updates that came through towards the end of the school year. Um and everyone um has just been um great taking in information and ensuring that we still I like to say keep

157the bank in the main thing which is our um our students um and their success. So um happy summer um I'm going to give it to you too. Uh I think I you know I've been nowhere to uh and see the growth of both you leaders uh see it a lot closer now uh here but I think where we were this year and where we this year you all leaders you know making huge gains just your overall confidence your voice uh vision how you're managing so it's been really impressive to just trickles down. Uh see the May going all because of same thing rest and everything come back. Uh, okay. With that, um, I will entertain a request to go into close session to discuss negotiate to discuss negotiations updates for Superintendent Hitler, Deputy Superintendent

158Right, and Thomas Shelton. >> Second by Secretary. >> Seconded by Trusty Di call. >> Turner. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> At 9:45.