001All right. This meeting is called to order at 7 oh 7 pm. >> Uh, good evening. This is a regular meeting of the Ferndale School Board of Education being held on Monday, September 15th, 2025. Our meeting is uh 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 Act. Printed documents discussed in tonight's meeting are available to the public upon request with the exception of any information protected by student or employee privacy rights. Board meeting information is posted on our website at ferndalechools.org. If you do not have internet access and need information, please contact the board offices at 248-5868652 by Thursday of the week prior to the meeting and district staff will do their best to
002work with you. Um item 1.1, roll call. Miss Shepard. Barn >> here. >> Hart >> here. Molner >> here. Turner >> here. >> Vice President Kler >> here. Thank you. Thank you. Shephard. Item 1.2 approval of agenda. After review of the agenda, are there any items that anyone wants to update? Then without objection and with unanimous consent, the agenda is approved. Uh item two, public comment. Is anyone here for public comment? Okay, moving right along. Item three, consent agenda. Item 3.1, request to approve minutes of the special meeting, Monday, August 11 to 2025. Uh 3.2, request to approve minutes of the special meeting uh committee of the whole August 11, 2025. 3.3 request to approve minutes of the regular meeting Monday, August 18th, 2025. 3.4 4 Request to approve new hires, resignations, retirements, and transfers.
0033.5 Request to approve bills and accounts August 2025. 3.6 Request to approve the permission to pursue the early Head Start uh/Hadstart continuation application. Does anyone wish to remove an item from the consent agenda for questions or discussion later? Being none, I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Moved by Arens, second by Jackie. Uh, roll call, please. Miss Shepard. >> Dear, >> yes. >> Hart, >> yes. >> Owner, >> yes. >> Turner, >> yes. >> Vice President Kaiser, >> yes. >> Thank you. With five yes votes, the motion passes and the consent agenda is approved. Item four, action items. Please note that all action items being voted on tonight were discussed in depth at the committee of the whole meeting held on Monday, September 8th at 6 p.m. We invite encourage
004community members to attend our committee of the whole meetings which are also open to the public. Item 4.1 request to approve the TRUN policy update package. Good evening everybody. >> Good evening Tom. >> Uh here tonight presenting the trune update package uh that was presented at the committee of the whole earlier this month. Uh these are all recommendations that came to us from our policy provider Tron Law Firm uh which provides us um these annual updates. Uh we would expect to see another one this time next year unless there is something emergent or or uh of a more emergency nature that comes up in the meantime. Um of note you will note that one policy policy 3121 was not included. that is for uh specifically school districts that provide uh public school academy authorization which
005we do not. So 3121 is not recommended for adoption tonight. Also policy 5405 the title one parent and family engagement policy um that one is currently under review and will be brought to the board at a later date uh perhaps as early as next month once we've had a chance to review it and u make the necessary edits to it. So, um, other than that, we are presenting the policies as presented at the committee of the whole, uh, for approval this evening. And I'm happy to answer any questions anybody has. >> Okay. Um, I will entertain a motion to approve item 4.1, request to approve the Truman policy update package. So, moved by Jackie. >> I'll second. >> Second by Jonathan. Is there any discussion on the motion? Just want to thank you, Tom, for
006all the work that you put in to uh not only convert us over to Truman, but keeping us updated. >> Keeping us correct. >> You're welcome, Jackie. Thank you. >> Okay, please. >> Yes. >> Leav, >> yes. >> Vice President Kaiser, >> yes. >> Thank you. With five yes votes, the motion passes on item 4.1, request to approve the policy update package is approved. Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Item 4.2, request to approve communities and schools renewal. >> Good evening everyone. As we discussed last Monday, we are requesting approval for a renewal of a contract with communities and schools to support each of our buildings. Um, adding TCE this year, but continuing support for no lower, for no upper, for no middle, Ferno High School, and University High School. >> Okay. I will
007entertain a motion to approve item 4.2 request to approve communities and schools renewal by Aaron. >> Second by Johnson. Uh any discussion on the motion. Okay. >> Yes. Zilla. >> Yes. Vice President Kaiser. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Motion passes. >> Item 54.3 request to approve baseball and softball field renovations. >> Right. Thank you so much. Good evening. >> Again, this item was discussed at the committee of the whole. Um the school district seeks to engage Shaw Sports Turf or site improvements on its varsity ba baseball and softball fields at Ferndale High School. The proposed amount of $1,969,028 plus 10% tending for the total amount not to exceed $2,165,930. The district will uh take advantage of an existing contract under uh its consortium membership of Sourcewell um which has already been competitively bid. Right. I
008will entertain a motion to approve item 4.3 request to approve baseball and softball field renovations. >> So moved >> by Mark. >> Second second by Jackie. Any discussion on the motion? >> Excited to see this happen for these families. >> I also want to say it was really nice to hear from the coaches how excited they are last week's meeting. What's that about? >> I saw that curriculum night and they also Let's talk about it some more. >> All right. Roll call. >> Turner. >> Yes. >> Bill, >> yes. >> Hart, >> yes. >> Vice President K. >> Yes. >> Thank you. With five yes votes, the motion passes. And item 4.3, request to approve baseball and softball field renovations. Uh, all right. Item five, superintendent's update. >> Good evening. Um, >> so, um, for
009my update, um, I was able to articulate, um, that this past week was probably my first week this school year where I came down from like 5,000 ft. So, lots of times in buildings, um, uh, cabinet 101 ones, principal 101 ones, actually at PTO meetings engaging with families. So felt really good to actually engage um directly. Um so I felt very reaffirmed and all of the things for this week. Um want to put a special highlight also on a principal meeting discussion in just a second. I would love to um share some of the feedback that I received about board um board representatives after a discussion with the principles. Um so that was also a highlight to they to see some of the excitement and the engagement about and kind of seeing the possibilities for
010the board representative representatives was also a highlight from last week. Um and then finally partnerships um we are moving right along with our very very close to solidifying with um BMEA. um had a chance to have a meeting not only with BMEA team, but BMEA had a chance to present to the UHS students um and about the possibilities for the youth leadership development program where the ninth and tth grade high school students will serve as mentors for uh students at Ferndale Upper Elementary and they will get paid for that opportunity. So there was lots of excitement in the room. Um there was a one question um uh application um and just watching some of the and it was just why are you interested and just seeing some of the uh the responses. Um there was
011one that set up it was like I feel like I'm great and I can share my greatness with uh younger students and just um seeing the excitement from a lot of the discussions we've been having about this partnership has been great. Um so we have a goal a targeted start date um the last week of September to begin um those partnership um mentoring opportunities with our well it'll start first with the training of the mentors. So it'll be quite some time before they begin with the mentees um but just beginning this process um applications is they're very eager. The last I checked there were over um 30 applicants and there's only 10 spots. So um that in itself is great. We'll have to kind of talk about what other possibilities may be sooner than I
012expected. So I hope it's the same energy um for the fuel students. Um so I will definitely keep the board updated. Very excited about that. Um I also would like to update the board and the community on our partnership with United Way. um they are dealing with some of the potential grants slashfunding um concerns that many organizations and um government a governmental agencies are dealing with right now and there was a possibility that we were not going to be able to continue our partnership because of their funding source. However, um they've been able to confirm that their funding source is going to allow them to take this year as a planning year. So, um, they were very excited to learn more about our dynamic plan and it actually seems like taking a year to fully
013plan it will ensure that the goals are as deeply aligned to our dynamic plan as possible. Um, so I'm actually excited about the part the possibility to plan for a year and then implement the next year. That sounds great. So, we're just excited that they still want to continue to partner and they were able to secure those funds because that'll be great for all of us. Um and then also just highlighting the continued budgetary discussions. Um they are continuous. I wish that there were some more conclusions. Um but um just continuing to discuss what our possibilities are, what our options are um and communicating them in as much real time with our community as possible. Um so that is um my superintendent update and I will pause if there were are any questions for I
014will continue on and just discuss very briefly about the board representative and I would like to point the board to a particular area in my board report. It is on the second page and it says new element internal student circles. So at a high level um I shared the actual board proposal that I submitted to to the board with the principles for their feedback and for discussion. Okay. Um the first um conversation was there was some concern about would a third grader as a advisory member feel comfortable speaking up. It's kind of some of the things that we brought up at this table. would they feel comfortable truly speaking up at um around high school students and things of that sort. So, one of the principles had a great idea of like, well, what if
015we had if there was an true actual agenda topic that the board truly wanted feedback around and we take that topic in advance and hold a a circle discussion kind of like how we do with our restorative circles. we have a circle discussion about said topic and it could either be recorded. There could be the president or the vice president could be participating in the circle. There's a couple ways that we could see that happening, but just wondering if there would we would actually get viable feedback from students if they're in a more comfortable setting with people that they know was an idea that came up um from the principles. So, I'm gonna I'm just going to pause right there just to see if there's any reactions to that. Any follow-up questions that I can
016maybe answer or just want to hover over that one really quickly to see if there's any any feedback from I like that idea and I would like for us to maybe in addition to or in place of that go back to our meet and greets with the students. We would rotate to different schools and >> a group of students would be selected to have pizza with few members of the board and just kind of we could listen and hear any suggestions they may have. We could center it around a board topic, any requests. >> I love that because that actually solves another concern that they brought up which was like who will be facil like how will this be facilitated? It felt when I when I um engaged them around the possibility of like, well,
017what if it lives in the student council class or the student government classes, then that kind of leans towards the students that are in that class and not truly giving us a representative set um instead of just those students that are in that class. So, they were just like, well, where would it fit? Who would facilitate it? And I think like you mentioned that that would absolutely solve that concern. in itself. I I would see that as possibly being monthly um and we would just have to engage how what that tour would look like and where we would be to have those discussion. >> Yeah. >> In the past, how were students selected for those? >> Um I think it was based on principal recommendation, but we could certainly come up with some criteria as
018a board for the students that we'd want to hear from. Yeah, I really like the idea of us taking on to move another thing for staff to do that. >> I love that. That was actually um I was feeling a little guilty coming without a solution, but I I wasn't sure what the best fit for that, but that would be wonderful. Um so I did update just slightly adjusted the implementation timeline to reflect. Um so you'll notice that the new timeline suggests the first p the first circle will take place in October which is still timely but does give enough time for us to determine what the topic will be um who will be a part of the advisory council um etc etc. So if the board is is okay, I think possibly a next
019step could be um us determining two things. What our next topics the the potential topic for their circle if there's once we build our actual agenda for October committee of the whole as well as the October regular board meeting. I think that there may be some topics that bubble up from that. Am I thinking the right way when I think you should just even without knowing the topic go ahead and schedule? >> Okay. >> Yep. Have a schedule. Okay. >> I think there's things that we have. I mean just look at food contract and maintenance contract. Two things approved last year. That's we can just use that even though it was just like house right housing. So >> plenty of things. >> Yeah. I'm sure if you just say how clean is it and how's
020the food that'll It's a four month conversation right there. So, >> you are that's very very true. >> Okay. >> And as you're saying that, Mark, I'm thinking like normally we would have pizza with the students, but maybe one of the meetings we meet the high school students in the cafeteria and have lunch with with them. I love that. Eat with >> not even just high school, all of them. I mean, we certainly meet them in the cafeteria and have lunch. don't have an experience that actually I love the kind of empathy. Um so then with that said I think the next what I will plan to include in our my weekly update is the form that I will use to kind of collect information. I um if if the board is okay I would
021like to do a combination of students can apply on their own as well as push it out in the newsletters. I would like teacher recommendation as well but it is it should be an it's an open very open-ended one question application have my margin orders. Thank you so much for the feedback. Great. Uh moving on to item number six,formational item 6.1, budget to actual report. >> Good evening everyone. >> Um this is the budget to actual report for August uh 2025 and we're just two months into the um new school year so there's not too much to report on. Um, does anyone have any questions? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Item number seven, consideration of any pulled consent agenda items. There were none. Item eight, uh, the next committee of the whole meeting is Monday,
022October 6, 2025 at 6 PM. Uh, item nine, the next regular board meeting is Monday, October 20th, 2025 at 7 PM. Item 10, Eagle Points of Pride and Comments. >> I'll go. >> Oh, I would like to highlight that it is school attendance awareness month and that being here in our schools does matter. And then I'm proud of the effort and commitment that our schools is taking to ensure that we're having a great attendance for our students. That's all. Uh I'll jump in. Um so last week uh got the opportunity to attend the elementary PTA meeting. Superintendent was there, Principal Key, Principal Jeffrey. Uh I just want to call out Kirsten uh who's the president. She is on year seven of being president of the PTA. >> Um there will come a time probably where
023she is no longer president and we'll figure figure that out. But we obviously are lucky here to have have a lot of volunteers but I mean I think she represents best best of the best uh of you know how much time she has given to our district uh at least over the last seven years >> and it turnout was fantastic. >> Uh a lot of energy. Uh it was weird talking to kindergarten parents and then asking like what's a school board and I was just like oh this is what it's like I remember that time but uh a lot of great energy in the room you just sort of see you know you know the continuing to see at least elementary side you know these these big numbers you know parents really really excited about
024the future here so and so much bond talk so it's fantastic >> um for me I'm just really uh proud of the the positive media coverage you've gotten lately uh from over the summer being on I think it was the Sunday it's not dine but I can't think flashoint you was on that and then free press article and the bridge article so it's just really nice to start telling our story and I hope that we continue to do that with our new um communication specialists to be proactive and get in front of the messaging Although I so social medias too much. Um, but in one of the mom's groups recently, like this past week, I saw somebody asking about, you know, local school districts and what would be um like the best blend of strong
025social emotional learning and good community feel and academics and extracurriculars and so many people responded Ferndale. Um, and that's one of the things I just love about about sending my own kids to Ferndale schools is that it's very well-rounded. We excel in a lot of different areas and give kids a lot of different opportunities. Um, my little one is starting bands now with percussion and he is like so into it. >> We're hearing we're hearing the percussion all the time. Um, but it's just really cool. There's lots of um lots of opportunities for our kids to get exposed to different things like also specifically highlighted the focus on social exceptionally well that screening crowds on social media. you would like. >> Um I I don't know how to narrow it down just to one, but
026I really want to call out this month, Department of Student Transportation. >> Um they have really um outdone themselves, right? So significant amount of change in the department with new leadership, new dispatchers, new drivers, and they've really pulled together to get the job done. So I' I've had fortunate opportunity of serving as dispatcher weeks and just to hear all the coordination you know over the over the radio and it's just really positive and it's a really welloiled machine just um also very difficult but this um week well this month my eagle excellence goes to the class of 2026 They have started off the year with some wonderful new traditions and celebration. Um FHS did a wonderful um um it was a fundraiser where the seniors are able to paint their parking spots and I can
027it was actually last month's um board meeting and I'm driving home and I'm like literally about to call Principal Griffin like um then I realized like oh they're just painting their parking spots but it was just um they were so into it and if you ever get a chance drive through the student parking uh they're actually beautiful just the time that they put into it and um you can just tell that they're very excited to be seniors. So, I just love that. Also, Ferndale High School had their senior sunrise, which is a new tradition that I had never heard of until about last year, but they are on the trend. They were there with their blankets and just all there watching the sunrise. It was just a be, beautiful celebration. And then finally, UHS last
028week had their senior pinning activity. I love the early pinning ceremony. Um, get them excited, get them ready to go. Um, and so I'm just really, really proud and excited for the class of 2026. And I'm want them to keep that momentum going as well as the adviserss and the parents. >> Um, mine is uh related to Jackie. It has to do with the um the article that was in Bridge, Michigan. Um the fact that uh Forndale public schools have one of the state's biggest jumps in third grade literacy uh I thought was a huge deal. Um and it has so much to do with our pillar of data as a flashlight and our um >> just the intentionality that we have and using data to make real gains for our kids and with our
029kids is is just very powerful. Um, people talk about data all the time, but you have to use it with intentionality. And we're seeing real results. Yeah. Uh, yeah. Of doing that. So, I'm just I'm proud of that work. So, good job. Um, and with that, uh, item 11. This meeting is adjourned at 7:27