001Okay. The meeting of the board of education is now called to order. Please stand and join us in the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you and welcome everybody. Uh we first our first order of business is to approve our agenda on page two. Is there a motion please? >> Mr. President, I move that the board of education approve the agenda. >> Thank you. Terry is our second. >> Thank you. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. Opposed. Uh the motion passes. We'll get started with our agenda and we'll start with the superintendent's report. All right. So, first of all, thank you everyone
002for being here tonight. Um, usually the bond project update goes to our assistant superintendent of operations and Russ started officially last Monday and I think it fair for him to try to get up and provide a a bond project update. Um, he is getting himself acclimated to our district and we're trying to do a nice handoff. So, I'm going to handle the bond project update since I'm a little more closely aligned with some of the work. Uh, more specifically, um, last Tuesday, our teachers at Central L and Haver Hill returned to their new buildings for some on-site professional development and work. That was the teachers first opportunity seeing the new school since the spring. And obviously uh we walked into the building with lots of smiles and also lots of dust and cleaning and things
003are still occurring. So I'll give a general update which will comp uh comprise of both schools. Uh if you were to enter either site, you can see that work is still being done on the exterior related to the parking lot. Uh all the concrete and sidewalks for the most part have been installed. There's one exception at Central L where they're still working on a walkway um to to be installed. Parking lots are in in both schools. The parking lots have been lined. In a regular scenario, we will want those parking lots to be unbothered for 30 days. It allows the lines to stay on. So, there's the opportunity that maybe next summer we may have to come back and repaint the lines because we don't have the ability for that parking lot to sit uh
004for 30 days. in this scenario. Uh but teachers have been in their classrooms and their spaces beyond the professional development. They've been unboxing and prepping their classrooms. Uh officially teachers return tomorrow, but we worked out an agreement with our association for those teachers at Central and Haverill specifically to come back on Tuesday uh before their official start date. Uh both principles have been working with their secretaries as well as their entire building for all the different rules and regulations related to the opening. Uh we are passing all of our inspections as we go. Uh we still have an expect inspection related to the health code that's going to occur for the schools tomorrow or so. But all looks well. Tomorrow starts our open houses uh for our elementary schools, specifically Central and Haver Hill. of
005Woodland because you know it's on the same campus as Haver Hill. Their open house will be on Wednesday night and that is so that we don't have families from both schools on the site at the same time. Teachers have also been able to return at Woodland uh which is at the old Haver Hill and they've been unboxing their build their boxes as well prepping for the first day of school. So we are truly excited for the first day. We're really excited for these open houses tomorrow and then obviously um in the coming weeks will be ribbon cutings or grand openings for both buildings and I think those will occur prior to our next board meeting if I'm not mistaken. So I just want the public and the board to know we'll be doing those official
006ribbon cutings. And last but not least, this is my first official opening week and on Thursday is our opening day for our staff. Uh we will kick off at Porter Central High School uh in the auditorium at approximately 8:15 uh with the Porter Central Band and we have a nice speaker coming in who speaks all over the country. I'll host a meet and greet for staff at 3:00 in the lobby or the welcome center. And then at 6 PM on Thursday, I'll host a community meet and greet uh at the Portage Zang Senior Center. All are welcome to attend. parents, students, community members, and uh we're looking forward to a fun and festive week. So, that concludes my superintendent report for the bond and some other items. So, I'll be happy to answer any questions
007of the board. >> It's very exciting. >> It is. It is very exciting. >> And uh next up is an update on our summer programs. U Michelle Carpinsky will give us an overview of what we offered this summer. >> Okay, got it. >> Good evening, trustees. Superintendent Edwards still getting saying that. Um before I get into this year's uh just update about our summer camp programs, I just wanted to give you a little background. probably for the last three or four years now, maybe three, four, um we have uh made an effort to consolidate the summer camp programs and community relations has facilitated um things like registration, marketing, helping the coaches with their flyers and that sort of thing. And the purpose of that was to really um first of all relieve them from that
008um that kind of additional work so they could concentrate on coaching. And for those of you who have been around for a while, you probably can remember uh the crumpled up papers coming home with, you know, summer camp information and and you know, you sent the check back hoping it got there. So, this eliminates that because we've been able to do online registration right up to the day of camp. We're able to facilitate t-shirts um with sizes and everything. And so, um we've we finally it took a few years of uh kind of testing it out here, but I think we finally got it dialed in this year. So, I just wanted to give you a little update on where we were this year. So, summer camps ran from June through August. We did not
009have any camps the week of the 4th of July, and that's pretty typical. We don't usually have any um activities around the district. That was kind of a a dead week. We offered 53 distinct sessions for just over 2,000 students served. Mostly they're Portage students. The camps are open to any student, but typically because a lot of these are like feeder camps for our athletics, mostly it's portage students. We don't really have statistics on that, but you know, just from our experience, uh we served all the ages from K through 12 and we brought in just under $100,000 in revenues. So these are all the different camps we had. Uh baseball, basketball, cheerleading, football, soccer, all of those. Um and then in addition to that we hosted uh three Portage Education Foundation choices uh from
010the Air Zoo, there was an art camp and the Kesa future meet. We did those at 12 street uh during the same time that summer learning was happening. Uh one of the real highlights of the summer was uh the learn to swim camp. you know, that's been something we've really been trying to figure out how we get more kids into the pool. And so, our swim coach offered Learn to Swim for a week this summer. And at the end of that week, she came into the office and she's like, "Can I add another camp? This was so popular. Can I do another one?" And we're like, "Yeah, but we won't have time to market it." She's like, "I can fill it." So, uh, we worked with facilities and everything. And, uh, so we filled two
011learn to swim camps instead of just one. And so, they were very successful. And and the cool thing about these camps is a lot of times it's our older students who are actually assisting the coaches um with the younger students. So you get a really good good connection there. Um so learn to swim was a real highlight this year. And there's some of the kids um floating around here. Uh portage education camps. Mark, you'll uh correct me if anything's wrong here, but the ones on campus, they offered num uh numerous ones throughout the community, but the ones we did here in Portage, I ran June 16th through July 17th at 12 Street. There were eight sessions. I mentioned the zoo art kesa. Those camps are free, offered by the Portage Education Foundation with just a
012$10 kind of fee just to cover some of the overhead expenses uh for the registration, that kind of stuff. And that I was notified by PEF this year that this is the last year. Are you doing them at all? No. So this is the last year for the portage um step camps um which have been going on for many years. I don't know how many before I was here, so at least 10 years. And I think you know things run their course. And I think the PAF has said they've got other priorities they want to focus on. So we'll continue to offer the um the sports camps. And honestly, if there was a coach or teacher who wanted to offer a different kind of camp as well, they certainly would be able to do that
013through us. Um, we tend we get we start going just after the beginning of the year. We get proposals in really it's all up to the coaches on what they want to do and we just facilitate uh the registrations and the marketing and all of that. So, I think it's really um been working well. And if you have any other questions or just a few other shots from our camps this summer, be happy to answer them. >> Thanks for the update, Michelle. >> Sure. >> To know what was going on here this large. >> Thank you. >> Uh we'll now move to our comments and communications section. Is there anyone who wishes to address the board this evening? And we have one person, Diana Smith. Uh, welcome. >> That'd be great. >> I'm not a
014public speaker. >> Um, sorry. Sorry. Sorry. >> Don't worry about it. >> The one that does that. >> You're good. >> Okay. um the Portage District School Board. Uh my name is Dina Smith. To those that don't know me, I'm a mother of three Portage Northern graduates, 2010, 12, and 16. I'm a current resident of Portage Public Schools District, and I'm the former Portidge Northern High School varsity tennis coach for both men's and women's tennis teams. Um, I've been involved with the tennis teams at Portage Northern in some capacity since the fall of 2006, except for a couple years when I was in California helping my mom care um care for my mom when she was sick when my eldest was a freshman on the varsity team. I came in in 2006. I have been
015the varsity assistant coach, junior varsity coach, and then the varsity coach from 2019 until my retirement after the men's season in the fall of 2023. I still help help out both teams as a volunteer when asked. I've been involved in tennis since I was about five. As an adult, I play USA Leagues, was a member of the Midwest intersectional team, captain of many four five travel teams, served on the USA league committee, and in 2003, my mother and I won the indoor nationals, and were ranked number one in the country. Um, I've been a tower official at the boys nationals, site director at conference and regional tournaments and worked many MSH um, AAA state tournaments and just recently received the community service award from the boys national tournaments. As you can see, I've been around
016tennis a lot. I just have one question for you. When will the bathrooms and any water facilities be put at Northern Tennis Courts? The only school that I can think of that do not have bathrooms is Battle Creek Central. All the other schools that I have traveled to or played at my career, there's at least one bathroom. I have been told for years that it is in the works. I thought I would come down tonight and tell you personally the necessity for these things. Many of you and maybe all of you are not aware that there's not even a drinking fountain at the tennis courts anymore. when the courts were built, I believe in 2008, a very nice one, um was built at the same time. Unfortunately, middle schoolers thought it was a great fun
017to stick lunchbox drink straws in the holes, but for the most part, it worked fine. When it stopped working um in the spring one year, um the way it was supposed to, and water was shooting out, it was turned off. the next school year and asking the construction workers when it might be repaired. I was told it would never be repaired since the water lane ca water line came from the old middle school and when that closed we could no longer get water. The old middle school was there. We were able to go in and use the bathrooms when needed after school. During tournaments on the weekend, we would go and open the soccer bathrooms that were available over closer to Milum for people to use. When they decided to build the new middle school,
018I wrote to every current board member at the time asking if they would please put in bathrooms that we could access during practices and especially tournaments. Have an access from the outside, lock the doors to the school so no one could access the school. Several schools have this when we travel. Okamus High School comes to mind. We got nothing. Actually, we got less than nothing. We no longer had a drinking fountain and we get to use portaotties for bathrooms. Not sure if you know this, but some of our tournaments go for 10 to 12 hours at a time. And as a coach, you never get to leave because you usually have somebody on the tennis court at some point in time during those hours. You don't get a break. Lucky me, I got to use
019portaotties all day along with my players, parents, spectators, and players from other schools. Tomorrow, I'm helping out the PC tennis team, and I'm the s site director of the Portish Northern um courts for the Port Central Tennis Tournament. I get to use portaotties. Lucky me. Um, some things you may not be aware of about the portaotties. Not ADA accessible. Over the years I've coached, there have been three wheelchair players from other schools. Wilshshire accessible tennis is growing and it is wonderful for those who play. Where do they get to go? What about spectators? You get the idea. There is no running water. That's right. Nobody gets to wash their hands. If you're lucky, there might be some hand sanitizer, but you can't wash your hands. So, for everybody on the school board, please go tomorrow
020for 12 hours and never wash your hands. Feminine hygiene. Don't think you all need a lecture on feminine hygiene, but remember, you can't wash your hands. Can't maybe clean a uniform. You get the picture. You also can't change your clothes in the bathroom. Over the years, I've had several students with underlying health issues, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, with portaotties. The issue of the water is not a want, but a need. Since they took the water away, the trainer brings out a large Gatorade cooler of water. Just this past week, I was helping out on the first day of sports with the men's team, and the trainer was not able to get to the water out to the courts until 5:15. We started at 4. Rightly so, she was busy with football, putting
021a player into an ambulance. The heat overwhelmed a play player so badly that an ambulance was called. Do you realize that the tennis courts are hotter than the football field? We usually they'll come and register the heat index at the courts before they go anywhere else. Granted, we do not play with helmet and pads, but we play on hot asphalt court. No water was available for the kids to replenish the water they brought brought. Luckily, I had a case in my car and bought it to those that needed it. But what if I wasn't there? What if I didn't have it? Um, we actually ended up having to stop our challenge matches because the heat index rose above 104 degrees. So, those challenge matches that were being played were somewhere between probably 95 degrees and
022103 until we've had a stop. That means these kids are out there with no water in this heat. That is not the only time. trainers have had family emergencies, been sick, etc., and not been at school that day, we get no water. I also know that when we are not the only ones using the jug of water that comes out. Later last week, um the men's coach told me that the marching band was coming over to get the to help use the water because they don't have water accessible. We've also had tournaments where we have run out of water. Luckily, a parent has gone to get some, but what if there isn't a parent? My first year I coached the boys team, there were only two parents that came to matches and I was one
023of them. Porch Central is lucky in that their tennis courts are next to the stable, the auxiliary gym at PC so that they have bathrooms to use. In the past several years, we've had North Middle School, Portage Northern Notorium, and two very large pole buildings. I believe they are storage units for the drama department built around the tennis courts, but no bathrooms or drinking water for the tennis team. Here's the thing with the tennis team. We don't get much attention. We don't squeak the wheel. Are you aware? Since 2006, when I first began here at Northern, we've had three state champions, two state finalists, which is second place. About six state semi-finalists. Every season we make all state academic, and I would say 75% of the time the seniors make all state academic since it
024was incorporated, which I fought many years for um to have. Those that don't make it are usually those that take honor classes or Camy kids, but the coaches association does not allow weighted grades. In all my years of coaching, I've only had one player become academically ineligible. I'm here tonight to squeak the wheel. I think these kids are the cream of the crop, and I think they deserve a bathroom in water. >> Thank you very much. >> We have a copy of your remark. >> You may have this. >> Our board secretary. Yeah. >> Oh, I've got it at home on >> No, but I'll scan it. >> Oh, thank you. >> Thank you for shining a light on this issue and thank you for your continued involvement with Portage Tennis. We appreciate that. That's
025a long That's a long commitment. Thank you. >> It's a great sport >> for sure. Thank you. >> One of your guys on my team. >> Thanks for speaking. Okay, we'll move to comments by board trustees. >> Uh from me, Randy, just a quick comment of of thanks for our special meeting tonight. Uh it was a closed session, so I won't speak extensively about it, but it was a really good discussion uh from all uh colleagues on the board and the superintendent on that. So, appreciate that. >> Yes, go ahead. >> I just have a quick comment. I wanted to just let the board know that um Terry and I received an email from a parent northern whose kids have graduated. She was a volunteer in the Husky Helper program with us at Portage Northern
026and she let us know that there was a day of learning on anti-semitism that was hosted by the Michigan Department of Education, the um ADL and Brandeise University and another organization called Boundless. And the purpose was to share resources and best practices with school administrators, teachers, anyone involved in education. And it was free. So I had a free Thursday. I went over to LCC and it was really interesting. And um there was a lecture on anti-semitism and h how it came about, you know, over the years. It was very detailed. Um, and they really provided everybody with the knowledge and tools and resources to just ensure that our schools are inclusive environments. Um, whether it's for students that are Jewish or kids of color or whatever, you know, and to how to create safe spaces.
027And the Michigan Department of Education has a link on their website and a student organizational group that has been working for years on that. Um, Dr. Rice did one of the beginning speeches and he was there all day and it culminated with a presentation of three high school students who've been involved in his student success program um over the years and they have posted their document online that anyone can use and provide some guidance um from their experience and their years talking with kids and other schools all over the state. So it was it was quite worthwhile. So, I appreciate that somebody reached out and let us know what was happening. >> Thank you. Anyone else this evening? >> Well, welcome back everybody after a light summer and we're just getting excited about school starting
028and new new person in charge here and we can't wait to see uh and hear your speeches on Thursday. I'm looking forward to interacting with teachers on Thursday and seeing their excitement at being back. >> Anyone else? >> Okay, we'll move to our consent agenda. And page five, we just have minutes this evening. Uh, our consent agenda is to prove approve the minutes of the July 21st, 2025 special meeting, regular business meeting in close session, and the August 7th, 2025 special meeting. Are there any exceptions to the consent agenda as presented? Uh, hearing none, the consent agenda is approved and we can move to our first action item, which is on page 12 to approve the nursing services contract. I believe Brad's gonna explain that to us. >> Yes. [Music] >> Good evening, Superintendent Edwards,
029trustees. Good to be with you again. I will try and make this as quick as possible. So, um, here again to talk about nursing services and asking a renewal again for uh with HealthBar LLC to provide nursing services to the Portage Public Schools. So I think most of you would recall we have been using HealthBar LLC uh for the last three years. So this will be year four with them. Uh and they provide we have three nurses through HealthBar that work in all of our different buildings. though, and we have a different schedule worked out with them where they're in every building at least once per week. And they they provide not only on on hand assistance with students when they're there, but also put our systems together really well, making sure that we have
030all the right medication tracking, all of those kind of things. And they're really good at their training as well. They love training our staff. Um they do in services for us and all kinds of different things. So, we're recommending that we re we renew with health bar for a fourth year. I will let the board know um Dr. Gordon and I have already kind of started conversations around looking at is this the best model for us moving forward as well. So, we may have bring bring a different model forward in future years, but we want to maintain the consistency right now and keep health bar on on for now. >> Any questions for Brad? Very good. There's a motion, please, on page 12 to approve the contract. >> Mr. President, I move that the board
031of education approve as presented, renewing the contract for nursing services between Portage Public Schools and Health Bar LLC in the amount of 320,616 using funding from 31A for the 2025 26 school year. >> Thank you, Mark. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Kimberly. All in favor of approving the nursing services contract, please say I. >> I oppose. >> Uh the motion passes. The contract is approved. Brad again for the new teacher appointment. He's sick of me again. So here we are. So as promised last month when I brought the giant list of teacher recommendations for your approval, I said there will be a smaller one next month. Here we are. And I will tell you I will be here again in September with another list because I have people I have hired
032since I published this list that will come to you next month as well. Um but again we have um been working hard. So compliments to the principles and my HR team for getting people in. Um just to give you an example, we did um we had some internal shifting happenings. So we had a third grade opening that we posted last Wednesday. We offered the job this morning. We have the acceptance letter in hand a half hour after extending the job offer verbally and that new teacher will be in her classroom for open house Wednesday night because it's at one of the Wednesday night buildings. So, um uh we are working working feverishly to make sure we get our teacher openings filled. As we as I walked in this morning, we had one opening because we
033did get declined by a candidate that we had. Um, I had a resignation waiting in my email this morning from a non-classroom teacher. So, we won't have a classroom empty because of that, but it is a teach member of our teaching staff that we will have to backfill. So, we had that job already posted and out. And so, yeah, the work will truly never stop, but here we are. So, I asked the board for approval for the these folks here. >> Very good, Brad. We better get these people in place. >> Want them here? >> Yeah, there's a motion, please. On page 14, >> Mr. Mr. President, I move that the board of education approve the appointment of the following teachers for portage public schools. Monica Monica Yolante, engagement specialist, Angling Road Elementary. Justin Rose,
034French teacher, Central High and Central Middle Schools. Faith Denn Dennis, I'm sorry, first grade teacher, Angling Road Elementary. Jessica Folkart, music teacher, Angling Road Elementary. Christopher Enders, math teacher, Northern High. >> Thank you, Mary Lou. Is there a second, please? >> Second. >> Thanks, Mark. >> Uh, all those in favor of approving the new teacher appointments, please say, "I >> opposed." >> Uh, the new teacher appointments are approved. And we'll now move to action item number three, a new administrator appointment. >> All right. And once again, on board, as promised last month, we have another administrator. This is uh back filling to some extent with Dr. Gordon. So when Dr. Gordon was promoted, we had an internal shift from our our Vixsburg supervisor, Katie Webster, has taken the secondary supervisor role here in Portage. So
035we needed to backfill that one. So this is the one for that. So um as you'll recall, Portage provides the special ed administration for the southern service area. So not only here in Portage, but also Vixsburg Community Schools and Schoolcraft Community Schools. So, and for the last two or three years now, we have had full-time supervisors at both Schoolcraft and Vixsburg. So, Elizabeth Eves, she goes by Liz, will be the new administrator for Vixsburg Community Schools. So, most recently, she was briefly with with Kesa. Um, but prior to that was down in St. Joe County, both as a started as an occupational therapist, but was a special education supervisor and a building principal down there for the ISD. So, um, Liz graduated from Central Michigan University and attained her mers in occupational therapy from Western
036Michigan University and her ed specialist degree from Western Michigan University, at which time she got her special ed certification as well. So, um, excited to have Liz joining us. Unfortunately, Liz had a pres-scheduled trip out of town for tonight, so she couldn't join us here, so we'll have to meet her at a different time. >> Thanks, Brad. I think we should approve her anyway. >> Hope so. There's a motion, please, on page 16. >> Mr. President, I move that the board of education approve the appointment of the following administrator for Portage Public Schools for the 202526 school year. Elizabeth Eves, supervisor for educational supports and intervention for the southern service area of Kesa. >> Thank you, Terry. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. All those in favor of approving the new administrator
037appointment, please say I. I. opposed. Uh the motion passed. The new administrator is approved. Our next item is school meal prices for 2526. Welcome all. >> Thank you. >> Good evening, uh board of ed and superintendent Edwards. I have to get used to saying that so we don't mess that up. Included in your board packet uh this time around is pricing for student breakfast and lunch for next year. As you are aware, we do not have an approved budget from the state yet for our state aid package and breakfast and lunch is currently free through the end of September. October 1 starts the state's new budget year. I am bringing you tonight meal prices as a precautionary measure in the event that it's not included in the state budget if it's passed by the time
038we start school. Um the last time I came to the board for lunch price approval was summer of 2022 for the 2223 school year. So over the last two years they have been free and we have not had to do this compon this component um formality with um one thing I do want to bring to the board's attention um we have to revert back to um gathering um applications for families for uh meal pricing and uh we have as a decision we have made as the exact team and and talking with Susan um anybody that does qualify for reduced pricing we will um grant them the the free option and the food service fund will cover the difference between that. So we are we did offer this a few years ago as well and um
039I think it would really benefit our students. So >> it's a good thing. >> Great. >> Any questions that I might be able to answer or rely on Susan for additional >> when will the budget be passed on? What's the foundation allowance? My crystal ball is not big enough. >> I have no idea. >> Thank you. >> There's a motion to approve the school meal prices on page 18. Please. >> Mr. President, I move that the board of education approve the student meal prices for the 202526 school year as presented. >> Thank you, Mark. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. All those in favor of approving the school meal prices for 2526, please say I. opposed. The motion passes. The meal prices are approved. And our last item of business is a
040discussion item. Excuse me. The MSP delegate assembly of representatives. It's that time of year again. You know, for people going to the annual fall leadership conference, this is an opportunity to serve late into the evening. Uh I don't know if anybody is going to the annual fall leadership conference, but you have until August 29th to register to get the best rates possible. So anyway, I am planning to be there and I am planning to be a delegate the uh representative assembly. So, if there's anybody else who is interested, um, have Barb sign you up to attend the conference and, uh, you can be an alternate for the delegate assembly. Huh, sounds good, doesn't it? Now, the good thing is this is in, uh, Traverse City this year. It's not in in Lancing where it's been
041the past few. So, little nicer dig. So, anyway, uh, let us know. We'll be approving this shortly. So with that um we have reached the end of our agenda and with that that means thank you very much. >> Thank you. [Music] >> Hey man. >> How's it going? You're guilty.