001Oh, no. I forgot. >> Hi. Great. Oh, it's 6:30. >> Are we ready? I talk to Steve. Oh my gosh. >> I came from Cutter. I've been there since 3 cuz it's recital week. We're doing it at >> Oh, that's cool. >> So, I've been there since. And I have some fun stories to share. Are we ready? >> All right. Are we ready? The board of education meeting is called to order. Please rise for 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. >> All right, Secretary Rristitch, will you please take roll call? Currently, we are missing member Danahghue and member Torres, but it is my understanding that member
002Torres will be late. >> All right. Thank you, Secretary Rest. In the absence of treasurer Danahghue, member McGregor will serve as treasurer. All right. We're going to move on to public hearing on proposed 2026 2027 budget and mill rate. During this public hearing, the board welcomes comments from the public relative to the proposed 2026 2027 military and budget, which the board will act on later this evening during the regular meeting. Going to check and see if we have green parts on budget. >> I have um this one, Robin, but it says non-aggenda. >> Yeah, that's I did do one for both. >> Okay. All right. As you are recognized to speak, please move to the microphone at the podium to address the board and state your full name and address for the record. Please be
003reminded that comments are limited to 3 minutes in duration. Members of the public are invited to share comments. However, this is not intended to be a time for questions and answers. Lastly, participants are asked to avoid statements that are personally directed, abusive, or obscene. Robin McGregor 2629 Katerham Waterford. Um after going through the budget in the last week between 2526 26 27 I'd like to thank Karen and the administrators for what they have done to reduce some of the the some of the debt and um keeping helping us assure the bond rating that we're going to be getting because of the hard work and what we've done. Um it is very evident in this budget. So, thank you to everybody that made a difference. All right. Thank you. Do we have any other further public
004comments regarding the budget? All right. Seeing no further public comments on the 2025 2026 military and budget, the public hearing is now closed and we will open the regular meeting. The approval of the agenda. The regular meeting is now called to order and unless there are objections, the agenda will be approved as printed. Are we good? We good? All right. And now we're going to move on to a very important piece of our night, the recognition of achievement for Jane Tequelli, our video production coordinator. Are we having Jane come out? Okay, I'm going to read this and then we'll have Jane come out. I just didn't know she was going to come out from behind the curtain. >> I know. I know. No one ever gets to see Jane because she's behind the wall. This
005evening we have a very special recognition. I would like to invite Jane Tequelli, our video production coordinator, to step out of the booth and join member Patricia over at the podium. Come on, Jane. You got this. WOOHOO. All right, we'll let Jane get down to the podium and I have a few fun things to share. As Jane Tequelli prepares to retire tomorrow, we pause to celebrate an extraordinary career and express our sincere gratitude for her countless contributions to the Waterford School District. For more than 30 years, Jane has been behind the camera capturing the moments that define who we are as a district. While many people have stood in front of the camera, Jane has been behind it, ensuring that our students, staff, families, and community could see and experience the incredible things happening throughout
006Waterford schools. Through her videos, social media content, broadcast, and storytelling, Jane has brought our community inside our classrooms, events, and celebrations. She has shared our successes, highlighted our people, and helped strengthen the connection between our schools and the families we serve. Jane's fingerprints can be found on countless district milestones and memories. She has produced and broadcast board of education meetings, documented high school commencements, brought many opening day celebrations and events to life, captured teacher of the year announcements, communicated bond election campaigns, student achievements, and countless district events and initiatives. Through every season and every chapter of Waterford's history over the last three decades, Jane has been there to share engaging communication and to preserve those moments for future generations. What makes Jane's contribution especially remarkable is that she has done this all from behind the
007scenes. She never sought the spotlight for herself. Instead, she dedicated her career to shining a light a light on others. Our students, our staff, our schools, and our community. Because of Jane's talent, creativity, professionalism, and unwavering commitment, thousands of Waterford families have been able to witness moments they otherwise may have missed. She has not only documented our history, she has shaped how our story is told. Jane, your work has left a lasting legacy on this district. The videos you created, the stories you shared, and the memories you preserved will continue to inspire and connect our community for years to come. On behalf of the board of education, our staff, our students, families, and the entire Waterford community, thank you for the years of dedicated service. We wish you nothing but happiness, good health, and so
008many exciting adventures in your retirement. Please join me in congratulating and thanking Jane Tequelli for her remarkable career and lasting impact on the Waterford School District. And in true Jane fashion, she will not be saying a few words. >> I know. We love you, Jane. >> Picture though, right? >> We do. Yeah. Oh, wait. You at least have to get a picture. You and Rob, the longest standing members >> currently here. A >> I will say one quick thing. >> Okay. >> I thought about it. It's fitting that we are here tonight because as an early college graduate, my first production was in this building. I worked for Comcast and we parked our production truck up at the top of the stairs and ran the cables all the way down. And that was the first
009initiation to Waterford was in this building. and I've enjoyed working with everyone and enjoyed sharing all the positive stories and still in my heart feel we have the best district around. So thank you. >> A thank you. >> We're going to miss you Jane for sure. So you can always come back and just broadcast a board meeting just for the fun of if you'd like to. We we would be happy to have you come. >> Thank you. >> My speaker doesn't work. What do I do? My microphone. >> We'll be texting you. Just kidding. Maybe not. Thanks, Jane. All right, we're going to move on to public comments on action items. I don't believe I have any cards on action items. So, we are going to keep moving on to the consent agenda. So, unless
010there are objections, the consent agenda will be approved as presented. Are we good? All right. Our next item up is our information items. Our graduation report with Assistant Superintendent Wolf. All right. Good evening. I am excited to show some of Jane's amazing work uh just following her recognition here with our grad report uh that she does such a tremendous job on each year. Um, we had our three graduations uh this Sunday, May 31st, where we got to highlight and celebrate our seniors from Mott High School, Ketarine High School, and Durant High School. And on behalf of everybody in the district, I think we can all agree this is the most special day of the year as we get to see those kiddos, many of which have been with us since the the time they were
011in kindergarten, uh, walk across that stage at Oakland University's arena. Uh, and it's an amazing amazing day. And so without further ado, I'm going to present Okay. Heat. Heat. Amen. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Not to be redundant, but just to reinforce some of those stats you saw up there. Uh over 70 Durant students graduated this year, which is a huge, huge increase and a testimony to the work they've done this year uh at that building. When you combine M and Ketarine's scholarships, it's approximately $10 million worth of scholarships offered to our students, which we know we heard at the senior awards ceremony. Um, but it's just really impressive when you think about that number. So, congratulations to all our 2026 high school graduates. All right. Now, we have to operating with Miss Davis. Not as
012fun as graduation, but still incredibly important. >> It's okay. Not everything can be fun. So, good evening board. Like was stated, I'm here to provide an update on the August 4th um election millage campaign that we have going on. Honestly, there's not too much to update you on. is pretty similar to what's been going on. But um as you know, the school year just ended and so we really took those last few weeks to capture that cap that captive parent audience, do um a couple of social media posts, do some emailing to that audience. We also put a millillage ad in and a updated video in our WSD Connect newsletter which goes out to over 10,000 community members. And so, like I said, really tried to those last few weeks capture that attention. Now that
013school's out, we're still doing stuff. Um, we're still doing the social media posts. You may have seen today we did one that was a reminder that the absentee ballot deadline is next Thursday. So again, getting that information out to voters so they know how they can participate and be an active voter in this election. Um, we also, what else we get? Oh, we put in production orders with the printer for the lawn signs and the banners. And as I stated before, after July 4th is where you're really going to start to see that visual marketing campaign. You'll see banners on all of the overpasses. You'll see the lawn signs out um at our school buildings and also some public roadways. We will launch a a paid social media campaign that will specifically target Waterford voters
014for the non-h homestead mill. And again, just those organic social media posts that we've been continuing with will continue as well. Um the next meeting I believe is July July 16th. So that will only be a few weeks before that election day, which is hard to believe. So we will have more of an update for you then. Um just kind of reminding voters that it's coming up soon. Get engaged engage with the the websites that we have out there both for the non-homestead and the enhancement mill. Everything can be found on the district website. And um if you have any questions, I'm here to answer them. >> Colleagues, we have any questions? All right. Well, thank you so much. >> Okay. Thank you. >> We are now going to move on to school meal prices
015for the 2026 27 school year. This isn't Superintendent Hill. >> Good evening, trustees. In front of you in the package is an information item to increase our school meal prices for this upcoming fiscal year by 25 cents per meal. I just want to acknowledge that there is absolutely no increase to any of our families. We are still serving universally free meals. This is just a behindthescene requirement to show that price equity to avoid any penalties or consequences from the state and the federal government. And uh we're just making sure that we're compliant within that. I'll entertain any questions you might have. >> Colleagues, we have any questions? >> Member Patricia, >> I think as well, can we charge more money and we use other money or >> No, it doesn't work that way. Yeah, >>
016that that would be a no. Rob, >> we we do charge for our adult meals and obviously any any catering we would charge for and those proceeds would go in, but this is to help offset and to share that cost for the price increase of the materials that go into producing the meals as well as provide resources to pay our staff accordingly. >> You're welcome. Any questions? members. >> Just want to say thank you for the Q&A um that you included here. It's really helpful. Just uh helping us understand the cost. So, thank you. >> You're welcome. >> I was wondering how she knew I had these questions. >> What about kind of knowing what the rules, but I thought I did. >> Well, that's okay. It's okay to ask. >> Yeah, >> there's nothing
017wrong with asking Rob. >> Oh, cool. >> All right. Well, thank you. >> Thank you. We're now moving on to our policy updates. The board of education has received proposed NEOLA policy updates volume 40 number one. Volume 40 is non-discrimination and volume 40 number two me and number two. So there's number one and number two. Members are asked to review these policy updates over the coming weeks and are welcome to reach out to Superintendent Martin with any questions and the updates will be brought back in the July um board meeting for board action. All right. And now we're on to new business. Superintendent's recommendations. Our lovely secretary. >> All right. New business. Superintendent's recommendation 532526. Administrative appointments. It is recommended that the board of education approve the following administrative appointments. Connor Olirri, assistant athletic director.
018Location Mott High School and Mason Middle School. Effective date June 19th, 2026. Melissa Melissa Elliot, director of food and nutrition services. Location, Kurszman Administration, effective July 1, 2026. Angela Gorgowitz, supervisor, Student Support Services. Location, Kerszman Administration Building, effective July 1st, 2026. Amy Kemer, principal, location, Children's Village School, effective July 1st, 2026. And I so move >> support. All right, the motion has been moved and supported. Are there any comments or questions? All right, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Motion carries 5. Do the math really quick. All right, we will hold our comments or questions or our congratulations until are they are here I believe. Would you like to introduce them Mr. Wolf or and and Miss Milstian and Miss Hilda Brandt. I guess everyone can introduce their people. >> We've
019been doing some hiring. >> Yes. Yes. All all three of you have new hires coming up. >> Absolutely. Uh well, I'll welcome Connor up to the podium here for a moment. Uh Connor Olirri is coming to us from Novi Community Schools uh where he has been a longtime coach there for soccer uh as well as most recently boys volleyball uh and middle school basketball. Uh he has grown up in and around Novvis's athletics I think since he was born uh his entire life. Uh a long history there. Uh he's just finished up an athletic director internship at Novi High School and has just wrapped up his master's in sports administration from Wayne State University. So we're excited to have him. Connor. Yeah, thank you for the opportunity to be here tonight. Uh as Mr. Wolf
020said, uh educational athletics have been a part of my life since I was born. Um, and really what left Elastic Impact on me is not just, you know, the passion and joy that I have for athletics, but uh, what it can do for the individuals that participate in a community at large. So, I really come at it, I've been coaching for a decade. I try and teach four things. I talk about respect, resiliency, integrity, and teamwork. Uh, those are the four things that, uh, I will do all that I can to impart on those that I work with. Uh, and I really believe that, uh, not just, you know, leading the athletic department, but being a part of the community at large, right? I want to be a figure that is yeah known throughout all
021corners of the school not just the world of athletics and the community of waterfront at large. So uh really thankful to be here tonight. Uh I you will see me around quite often and just really thankful for the opportunity I had. Welcome. >> All right. Welcome. >> Well, thank you. Um it's my pleasure to introduce Angela Gorowitz. Uh, Angela has devoted the majority of her career to the Waterford School District. Since 2011, she has served as our special education coordinator, providing steady leadership, supporting buildings, and strengthening our systems to ensure that students receive highquality services. Before moving into the district level work, she served as a teacher consultant at Mott High School and a resource room teacher at Prairie Middle School, bringing her expertise there directly to students and to staff. Her academic preparation for
022this includes a bachelor's degree in secondary education, English and psychology from the University of Michigan, a master's degree in special education, specifically in cognitive impairment from Wayne State University. This strong foundation is reflected in her thoughtful student centered approach to leadership. Angela brings a deep expertise and a passion for teaching and learning and a clear commitment to serving both students and staff. So please I thank you and please join us in welcoming again Angela Gorkitz. >> Thank you Natie. Um I began in the district in 2002 at Ker Middle School as Nine said and it's been my honor to be in Waterford um since then and I really look forward to growing my relationships with um staff, students and families in the future. Um and I want to thank again um the board of education,
023the superintendent, central administration and everyone who has given me this this opportunity and I'm really looking forward um to the next year and many more to come. So thank you. >> Welcome. >> Thank you. Good evening trustees. I am pleased to introduce you to Miss Missy Elliot as our new director of food and nutritional services. Missy has spent her career from initially working in a cafeteria as a service provider all the way up to the director of nutritional services for Armada Community Schools. She is passionate about ensuring children are fed, have choices that were compliant. She has spent a portion of her career serving on the School Nutrition Association of Michigan. She is an advocate for schools. She's an advocate for kids and ensuring that they are fed and have that uh nutrition running through
024them so that they can be the best learners that they can be. Hi, I'm really excited to be here tonight and super excited to join this team. It seems like it's an awesome district already. Um, I'm starting very soon and I'm eager to get going. I'm excited for the challenge and looking forward to meeting all the kids, all the schools. I'm just excited about it and I love people. So, this is just up my alley. Member Patricia, >> what what do you know about turkey spots? >> I know that it's still available. >> Why don't you get it? >> Thank you for the opportunity. >> Welcome. Welcome to our district. We're excited to have you. >> Adam might have hung up in the gym. >> Yes. I'm pleased now to introduce Miss Amy Kemer who
025is being recommended this evening as our next principal of Children's Village School. Amy brings a strong and steady background in special education. She has served as a teacher consultant at Children's Village School since 2003. Before she joined water, she sp Waterford, she spent 20 years in the Udica Community School District. Her ex her experience gives her a deep understanding of student needs and the supports required for success. She holds a bachelor's degree in special education for students with emotional impairment from the Michigan State University and a master's degree in educational leadership from Sagenov Valley State University along with several other certifications. She's known for her commitment to students, her collaborative approach with staff, and her passion for teaching and learning. Amy brings a wealth of experience and a clear drive to support the Children's Village
026School community, and we're confident that she will serve with dedication and care. So, please welcome Amy Keller. >> Thank you. Thank you, Naen. Um, thank you to my cheering section over there. I appreciate you all so much. Um, I'm truly honored and grateful to serve as the next principal of Children's Village. Um, the three years I have spent there have been the most rewarding of my career and I'm very excited for this next chapter. So, thank you to the board, the superintendent, central office administration for the opportunity. Um, I'm excited to continue working with all of you as we serve our students, our staff, and our community. So, thank you so much. Thank you. Colleagues, do we have any questions or comments for our new administrators? >> Member of Stitch. >> Um, I know coming
027up here and introducing yourself, uh, you know, might be a little nerve-wracking, but we really appreciate it. Um, uh, I'm looking, we're looking at these positions, and these are some of the most important positions we have in our district. So, um, uh, the fact that you're here with us and I know it's a long process, the vetting process. So, we know that, um, with tonight's appointments, the cream has risen to the top and, um, welcome, welcome, welcome. Um, lots of, as I'm sure you've heard or know, lots of great things happening in Waterford School District and, um, we're glad to have everyone on your team. So, welcome. >> Absolutely. Please know that we are so appreciative of all of you being here and we're very excited to see all the amazing things that you're going
028to do for our district and for our kids and our families. So, thank you very much. We appreciate it. Anything else? All right, we are going to move on and we're actually going to stay with Secretary Rristitch for our student travel to the UK. >> Oh, yeah. This is an exciting one. Uh, superintendent recommendation 542526 WKHS student travel Great Britain. It is recommended that the board of education approve the proposed Waterford Kettering High School student trip to Great Britain June 13th through June 22nd, 2028. And I happily move. >> All right. The motion has been moved and supported. Are there any comments or questions? Member McGregor. >> I just want to say how important I think that travel can be for our students. it can broaden your mind and you don't know how amazing some
029of these experiences can be until you get there. So, I'm glad that we're offering these opportunities and um I I would welcome more of those opportunities where we can uh make this work for our students. Thank you. >> Member Patricia, >> is this one that you talked about two weeks ago? >> Yes. >> Uh where they have to follow our rules, not necessarily the laws of the country. They can go to enjoy the countryside enjoy things, >> right? >> Other than that, yeah. >> All right. Are there any comments or questions? Any more other? >> All right. All those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Motion carries. 5-0. We're now going to move on to our acting treasurer McGregor for the International Academy 2026 2027 budget. Whereas the revised consortium agreement language related
030to participating district's approval section one of part five under B states the following related to the international academy Oakma campus dates. Each participating district shall have until June 30th to approve, disapprove, or abstain regarding the budget for the insure ensuing financial year by resolution of its board of education and provide notice of its action to the governing board and appropriate fiscal agent. Whereas a participating district that disapproves a budget for the ensuing f fiscal year shall be deemed to have unilaterally withdrawn from its participation in the consortium effective uh at the end of the current consortium fiscal year and its rights and obligations shall be governed by the unilateral withdrawal provisions of article 3 section C3 of this agreement. Budget revisions made during the year will be shared with participating districts. Whereas the tuition rate
031calculation formula, tuition rates, and preliminary budget for the 2026 fiscal year were shared with participating districts. Now therefore, be it resolved, the board of education for Waterford School District by majority vote here hereby approves fiscal year 2027 operating budget for international academy. Um, did I ask? >> Okay. It is recommended that the board of education approve the resolution presented in support of the International Academy fiscal year 2027 budget. I so move. >> Support. >> All right. The motion has been moved and supported. Are there any comments or questions? >> Member McGregor. So I do think international academy is very important but I also want to say that um I I would like us to try to be in the future a little more involved where we can be in in creating some of the budget
032because it is concerning to me that their budget is taking more than their foundation allowance per pupil for each student that goes there. And while I think International Academy is very important, I also think that like it's important for our the all of our students to get those same experiences. And um also like we're technically paying for other teachers outside of our district to make more money than our teachers in our district. So that is concerning to me. Um, so I think where we can be involved in the future, I I think that would be helpful. >> Is that something um, Miss Mrs. Hillbrandt that you could speak to and maybe give us kind of a better understanding of how their who actually I know we we discussed a lot when this came to before
033the board recently, but it might be helpful to kind of go back over it and give us a better understanding of their budget process. >> Absolutely. So Bloomfield Hills is the fiscal agent of the budget. The consortium at the OPMA is an agreement with 11 participating districts. It draws in teachers from a lot of those districts. So there is a variety of teaching scales involved. In fact, a couple years ago, one of our teachers, Amy Casper, was placed there. Um, in terms of the budget development, there is a fiveperson selected committee, a representative of each one of the three campuses, one from Valley, one from Troy, one from Bloomfield Hills, and two members at large that go through and vet that budget. It um it is based on shares that were sold. If it was
034at full capacity, it may not have expected or required that 110% of the foundation allowance. That's the max that could be taken. There were many years that it was below the foundation allowance. And so, it hasn't always been at this. However, the enrollment has changed just like our own enrollment has changed. Um, I think, and I can speak to this just because I came from Bloomfield Hills. At one point the membership at that campus was close to 655 students and I believe right now it's close to 550 or 560 and so it's just the that declining enrollment and so therefore it needs to that foundation allowance is coming in in at the 110%. The goal is to always have 5% fund balance reserves. They are currently projecting I believe like 2 and 12%. They did
035eliminate two positions with this upcoming budget to try to restore that, but that's how that budget is developed. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> And just I I think these are great questions. I think it's important for us to understand as we are approving it. So there this the teacher salaries are based on their home district. Correct. >> Correct. And then that teacher salary credit offsets the tuition from the kiddos that are coming from that district. Okay. the majority of the kids are being um coming in through Bloomfield and Birmingham. So when a district such as Waterford, I believe we have 60 seats and we're uh filling 30 of them, those seats that are not filled are being backfilled by other districts such as Bloomfield or Birmingham, some of it from Rochester. Okay. All
036right. Thank you. I think that definitely helps. Do we have any other questions or comments? All right. All those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Motion carries 5-0. Sorry, I was trying to see past you. All right, we are going to stay with acting treasurer McGregor. >> It is recommended that the board of education approve the 2026 2027 summer tax collection fees as presented. I so move. >> Support. >> All right. The motion has been moved and supported. Are there any are there any comments or questions? Do we have any comments or questions? All right. All those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Motion carries. 5-0. And we're going to say with acting treasurer McGregor. Sorry, I didn't realize there was so much for tonight. >> It's under me. >> Oh,
037I'm sorry. Is it >> the relative >> next is >> sorry I flipped the wrong page. >> Yes, we are going to secretary Rristitch. We are going to give member McGregor a break for a minute. She's got a lot to read. I was moving ahead. >> Superintendent's recommendation 572526. The OCSBA bylaw amendments. It is recommended that the board of education approve all proposed amendments to the association bylaws and directs the executive assistant to the board of education and superintendent to submit the ballot on behalf of the board. And so everyone knows OCSBA is the Oakland County School Board Association. Uh and I so move support. >> All right, the motion has been moved and supported. Are there any comments or questions? >> All right, all those in favor please signify by raising your hand. Motion
038carries 50. We're going to stay with Secretary Restitch for the OCSBA new resolution. >> Superintendent's recommendation 582526 OCSBA new resolutions. It is recommended that the board of education approve the proposed new resolutions as presented and direct the executive assistant to the board of education and superintendent to submit the ballot for approval on behalf of the board. I so move >> support. >> All right, the motion has been moved and supported. Are there any comments or questions? Member McGregor. >> Just a quick thing. So, I think most people don't really know what any of this means. And I think it's important for people to understand that basically by by supporting these resolutions, we're saying that these are the things that we support and that we want Oakland County and our lobbyists to lobby for, right? These
039are things like making sure that we have enough money, making sure our budget gets passed on time, those things. So, that's what all of this means. All right. Are there any other comments or questions? All those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Motion carries. 5-0. And now we're going to move over to acting treasurer McGregor. >> Yeah. Okay. Uh super superintendent's recommendation 59-25-26 resolution for adoption by the board of education of Waterford School District final budget 2025 2026. It is recommended that the board of education approve the 2025 2026 final budget resolution as presented. I so move >> support. >> All right. The motion has been moved and supported. Do we have any comments or questions? member Ritch. >> Just a big shout out to Karen and Amy for uh the really terrific
040presentation a couple weeks ago and for their diligent work on um this budget which is um as we know a moving target and certainly a heavy lift every single time every single year and every single time we vote on these amended budgets. So cheers and thank you so much. >> Member Patricia. Uh so our our total budgets 143 366 159 or somewhere that big millions of dollars. Uh we have people come to us and complain well why aren't we spending money or this or that throughout the year. Nobody ever comes to when we're doing our budget but throughout the year they find fault in what we've done. Um I don't mind them staying away, you know, just stay in their keyboards and put it on Facebook about how terrible we are. But uh I I
041do believe that our staff has it isn't just a group. I've been through a lot of these 27 8 lot. Uh and they haven't always gone well. We we've had to cut. We've had to do things. We've had to find things. Um Karen, you're just making it easier. It's just like, oh, we'll just do this. We'll do this. I I feel so much better about it. I I just You can't imagine this is it. We don't have to fight. We don't have to throw chairs. This is cool. No, thank you for that and for all the staff. I mean, because it isn't just your department. Everyone has to take a hit. They, you know, we have to do less. We have to tighten here and and everyone has fallen in line. And I haven't heard
042anything complaining. So, again, to to all the administrators, to all the staff, I I wish we had more to give people more. We don't. I think we do a wonderful job with what we have. Uh this is one of our biggest things along with hiring and firing superintendent is we kind of set the budget. Uh take great pride. We have a set budget before the deadline. We're not like the state that can I just make a date and we just ignore for a couple two three four months. We don't have to that we get it on time that everyone's able to put it together and do their job. And again I can't thank you enough for that all everyone. I'm just looking at you, but you because you get the credit in your department, but
043everyone has done such a great job in doing that. So, thank you, >> memberstitch. >> Uh, yeah, it's a good reminder um for folks, you know, contacting your legislator, your local legislator, reminding them to pass a budget on time as the law dictates and mandates um is a that helps us. So, um, if you're feeling like, uh, uh, you know, being a big advocate for your local public school, um, we would encourage you to do so, >> 100%. We have to have our budget, which I know this is the amended budget from last year, but our budget for this year has to be in by June 30th. The state doesn't have to follow that same guideline. They should have it to us. But, of course, as we know with last year, they took their time.
044So, it's really important that we advocate for our schools and for our kids and make sure that we push for them to get that budget passed this year on time. All right. Are there any other comments or questions on are we good? All right. All those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Motion carries 6. And we are going to stay with acting treasurer McGregor for the 2026 2027 mill rate. Superintendent's Recommendation 60-25-26 mill rate 2026 2027. It is recommended that the board of education certified the tax levy to the charter townships of Waterford, Independence, White Lake, West Bloomfield, and the city of Lake Angeles for the 2026 2027 school district tax collection. I so move. >> Support. >> The motion has been moved and supported. Are there any comments and questions? Member Patricia,
045>> I'm just want because again this is number monies and things like that. The way that the millillage rate or works 18% we're looking for a uh what are we looking for in August? The uh re >> that's the nonhomestead >> nonh homestead but restrict so we get it up to 18. So we get it back to what it's supposed to be >> because we're we're paying we're collecting 18 mil but we're only getting this back. So when people say well this what 18 what you know >> we're getting like 17 happy to help you. >> Thank you. >> So we're authorized to apply a levy of up to 18 mills on our non-h homestead properties. That would be our secondary homes and businesses. Because of the Headley roll back, we're not able to levy
046that full 18 mills. In fact, it's a little that 177 >> 17.471. Thank you, Amy. Um, and in August, we're going forth with our restoration millage to bring that up to the full 18 mills. That differential between the 18 and the 17 mills, we lose out on. The state assumes that we've collected it locally. So the restoration millillage that is on the August ballot is to restore that. When it passes, we'll be able to levy that little differential with the December levy and then be sure to collect our full foundation allowance. Without that, we're actually shorted. We don't get the $10,300 per pupil. It's actually less than that. >> So again, it's and it restores it and a local homeowner. It doesn't affect them whatsoever. It's >> no impact owners or people like you. So
047yeah, >> but it's it's important to know because again there's the other million coming up in this one here. It doesn't affect it. This is we're supposed to be collecting it and we're not able to. It's money we're losing out on that isn't costing them anything gaining or losing. So it's just something that we need to make sure that we can get back to where we should be. >> Correct. So no impact at all on primary residents, no tax impact, not a penny more. It is on the secondary homes and on the businesses and it's to ensure that we get that full foundation allowance from the state of Michigan. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you, >> member McGregor. >> And just a a point with that. Um so as a financial person,
048can you explain how that compounds and how that impacts us? >> Certainly. So for this closing current year, it impacted us by $295,000. It's now up, if this doesn't pass in pass in August, it'll be up over half million. And so that's a resource that the state assumes that we've received with foundation allowance that we just never get. And so we're not receiving that full foundation allowance and it puts us a little bit behind. We want to restore it so that we're sure to get every penny that we can for our kiddos so we can keep it in the classroom. >> Thank you for the explanation. I definitely think there's confusion. People don't quite understand that it's we're only asking to get what we had already approved. >> Mhm. >> And unfortunately with the Headley
049roll back, we don't get the full amount that our community has already approved. So that is why we are asking for it to be renewed so that we can actually capture the money that the state thinks that we're getting and we're not. >> So this is definitely not a new millage. This is just restoring it to the amount to where we can actually get the money that we are supposed to be getting. So I know there's a lot of misinformation floating around out there. So it's thank you so much for that very clear explanation. I think that's important that we have that. Are there any other comments or questions? All right. All those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Motion carries 6. And we are going to stay with acting treasurer McGregor for
050our 2026 2027. Oh, sorry. I'm reading the wrong thing again. So many pages tonight. >> Recommendations. That's what I've got. All right. The original budget know that. Yes, the original bud resolution. It's >> been a long recital week. I just want to put that out there. Superintendent's recommendation 61-25-26. Resolution for adoption by the board of education of Waterford School District original budget 2026 2027. It is recommended that the board of education approve the 2026 2027 budget resolution as presented. I so move >> support. >> All right. Are there any comments or questions? >> Member Torres. >> Uh just the the fund balance. So it's 19 million. Correct. And then percentage wise uh where's that at? >> 15.6. >> Yeah. >> 15.3. And by standards that's considered fair fairly healthy. >> Correct. >> All right. Thank
051you. >> All right. Are there any other comments or questions? Member McGregor. >> Um, one of the things that I wanted to ask about um is what I emailed you about earlier. So, training um for the school board members. I think that this is really important and um I I wanted to bring that up because especially this year I think it's going to be important uh with Oakland County School Board with government relations committee one of the things that's floating around right now is the idea of vouchers and it is sounding more and more like that could actually happen in Michigan and one of the things so there's I guess there's two things that I'm conflating. So, let me separate that out. So, one thing is the training, one thing is um making sure that
052our schoolboard members who want to take the training can, but another part of it is the conferences. One of the points of the national conference is to actually have the schoolboard members go and lobby for money from our politicians. Um, and I just I wanted to bring this up because I think it's really important because if we don't lobby now, if we get stuck with vouchers, all of public education in Michigan is going to be in a world of hurt. Um, it's it's really concerning because obviously it affects public schools. That money would be going to private schools. It would be going to charter schools if vouchers did get passed. But it's also something that um in other states that have done this, they've had significant holes in their budgets, which our state is already
053pulling from the school aid fund to support other things and we really can't afford to do that. Um so I just I want to bring that up because I I think that is important to consider as we move forward in in adjusting the budget. Obviously there's a lot of things that we don't know right now. We don't have a state budget like we're supposed to have. We we have negotiations ongoing right now with the teachers contracts. So, I know there's a lot of unknowns, but I want to make sure that I bring that up to the rest of the board because I think that's really important right now. If we don't like if we don't lobby for these these things, if we don't advocate against things like vouchers, we're not going to have a budget.
054I mean, that's it is what it is. The good thing is is we had already spoken to Superintendent Martin after our last, you know, last year we kind of we were trying to be very mindful of the fact that we were in the process of, you know, we had to put some restrictions on our own staff with being able to attend conferences and and things. Luckily for the school board, a lot of the classes that we do take that if we choose to take them are reimbursed by um the Michigan Department of Education classes are about 125. MDE will reimburse us about $100, $99 of that. Um, but we did speak last year after we kind of put a little bit pause to make sure that a bunch of us weren't overspending and and and
055going to the conferences that we will make sure that any board member that wants to attend a conference or a class, there's no restrictions on that. So, within the state now, when it comes to the national side, there are scholarships available. I know John Paul has attended national conferences and we were able to get a scholarship to help cover some of those expenses and he also paid for his own travel. So typically from the national side we do have some avenues but when it comes to I want this board to know that if there are classes that you want to attend or instate conferences that we will make sure that it is available to all of our board members so that that's not an issue going forward. So we'll make sure that that's definitely available.
056Last year was a little bit different because we were in unfortunately kind of restructuring through working through a deficit which our staff, our cabinet was amazing at getting us through and we are doing great this year in that respect. But we will make sure that if board members want to continue their education that that that should not be an issue and we also have lots of things between the OCSBA and scholarships available on their behalf. So there's definitely avenues that can help offset some of the costs for sure. All right. Are there any other comments or questions? >> I'll just mention >> Patricia or Torres, sorry. Sorry. so used to Rob asking questions >> to board member McGregor's point and I I think she raises a great point about uh lobby days and and going
057out there and speaking up as school board trustees because they're we're some of the best advocates at the legislature as being right here in this seat uh and talking to them about the uh needs of our students and and the funding uh at the federal level we're way underfunded with the Individuals with Disabilities Act and we've gone to Washington DC a lobbyed for that quite extensively over the years through the Oakland County School Board Association and MASB. Um and then additionally at the state level when it comes to the budget and the per pupil funding, but um and when we go to those too, know that they do spend some time working with you and telling you how to speak to the legislators and how to have your fact sheets together and what to say
058and what kind of points to drive, but we can be some of the most effective uh advocates for our students. So, I think those kinds of things are are extremely important and um when we have those opportunities, we should take those and OC uh as the Oakland School Board Association and MASB, they often times will uh will um set up those days and and get everything organized. But those are some of the best things that we can do as schoolboard members. Thank you. >> Absolutely. And also in in regards to vouchers, thankfully the state has voted that down multiple times and those ballot proposals have come before the voters. So the hope is that we can continue as a state to come together to make sure that does not happen because we need to maintain
059our funding within public education where that's where it needs to be. So definitely we are going to need everyone's help as those issues come up to keep advocating to keep our public um school dollars where they should be. All right. Are there any other comments or questions? All right. Oh, Member McGregor, >> there's one thing I forgot to say. Um, and I I thought this was really important when I went through the numbers. Um, looking at um, let me find it my notes. looking at the debt retirement like that the um the other financing debt and debt moving that down to 4,000 this year it is a significant reduction there and that number I think is really important because what you're doing is setting us up for financial stability and I I greatly appreciate the
060work that's gone into that and and paying attention to those things because saving a lot of money here makes it so that we can spend on the things that are important. So, thank you. All right, any other comments or questions? All those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Motion carry 6. All right, we are now going to move on to our recommendation 62 relative to elementary Chromebook charging cart with acting treasurer McGregor. Superintendent's recommendation 62-25-26. It is recommended that the board of education award the bid to Bloom. I believe that's right. Uh in the amount of uh $273,200 funding is the 2020 bond. I so move >> support. >> All right, the motion has been moved and supported. Are there any comments or questions regarding the classroom Chromebook charging carts? >> We good.
061All right. All those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Motion carry 6. And we are going to stay with acting treasurer McGregor for our recommendation relative to Loot's fire alarm. Superintendent's recommendation 63-25-26 Loots Fire Alarm. It is recommended that the board of education approve the bid award in the amount of 123,000 to the low bidder Great Lakes Power and Lighting Incorporated along with the 10% contingency fee of $12,300 for a total project award of $135,300 funding source 2020 bond fund. I so move >> support. >> All right, the motion has been moved and supported. Are there any comments or questions? All right. All those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Motion carries. 6. And we are now going to move on to the public comment of our our meeting. So, I
062do have two green cards up here. As you make your way to the podium, we can do Miss Mary Crate first. I will go ahead and give our little speech. Please be reminded that comments are limited to 3 minutes in duration. Members of the public are invited to share comments. However, this is not intended to be a time for questions and answers. Lastly, participants may speak only once on the same topic and are asked to avoid statements that are personally directed, abusive, or obscene. Welcome, Miss Crate. >> Good evening. My name is Mary Crate. Um, I am the union president here representing approximately 525 Waterford teachers and almost 7,000 Waterford kids. As I tell anybody, my working conditions are my students learning conditions. And the budget cuts that we've made and where we've gotten stability
063wise is wonderful. But I don't want anybody to think that didn't happen without all of your union employees making a lot of sacrifices in the last few years. I'm not here complaining, but I'm here to tell you in 2022, we made the news. We didn't just make the Oakland press, we made the news. We were everywhere with Waterford and the work we did to make all of our all of our staff here. We made them whole. We gave them back steps. We gave people who came from the outside steps. We did some amazing work. And we brought our whole team to the middle of the 11 school districts that I'm comparing us to. We were right in the middle. As of today, I have the numbers for you and I brought all the salary schedules
064and a comparison of where we are. We are now in the bottom of the 11. The only district behind us now is Aendale. Um, and Aenddale only has 11 steps to get to the top while we have 15. This isn't okay. This isn't how we're going to get the best and the brightest and keep them here. I shouldn't be able to leave the place I love and make 10 $15,000 more cuz I'm worth it. I don't need 15,000 more. But it's a matter of what I deserve. It's a matter of what the young people deserve. When you're at the bottom, when I started in Waterford 40 over 40 years ago now, I made $18,600 and thought I was the richest kid in the world. I got to buy a new car. Pontiac Grand Dam. Go
065for it. They don't even exist anymore. Now, that amount of money, you need at least 46 to $48,000 to be able to compare what that was 40 years ago. and ours at the bottom. We're at 423. So, we're not even giving our young people a chance. Good luck trying to pay off your student loans, buy a car, move out of your parents' house. That that's not going to happen. And at the top, we shouldn't be we shouldn't after all the work we did in 2022 to put ourselves in the middle of the pack. We should not be back at the bottom. It's to me it's disheartening and discouraging and I just don't want anybody to think all of the great work we've done to get now back to over 15% for a fund balance. It
066happened because of a lot of sacrifices by a lot of people and the turnover is going to keep happening and I'm just worried about our kids. We've spent hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars training all of our teachers with the letters. And we were the first district in the state to have every elementary teacher with letters training. They are a hot commodity. They're going to go cuz right next door in Clarkston where the per pupil funding is the same in Clarkston. They're a lot higher than we are on both the BA at the bottom and the masters at the top. So I just have packets for you. Sorry. If you have any questions on this, feel free to contact me or let you contact. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you,
067Miss Crate. We are now going to move on to Miss Robin McGregor. Do I have to restate my name in that? Okay. Um, I'm here to talk about Jane D. Kelly. When I was on the school board, she was a a shining light. But I want to talk about when she first started her and Josh as she talked about the truck being outside this building, doing the township hall meetings, doing the different things at our schools. The truck was always there highlighting the football games, doing the basketball games, the things that they had to do to make a difference to show how many positive things we had in this district. We are very blessed to have somebody like her and Josh who started this program and worked for Media Network and how she has made
068a difference for all of us. I'm honored to call her my friend, a person who's made a difference for every child. The fact that she stood behind the scenes and made a difference in every classroom, for every teacher, for every staff member. I loved when Mary Lou Simmons would see her and just give her a big hug because she was there to highlight the school. Bill Gman the same way. And I know some of you guys don't know them, but they were longtime advocates of this district and still are. Meg Gman is related to Guestman. Our history in our community, she has shaped what people look at us as. And now Sarah's taking that on. So, thank you for making that difference. We have a lot of great things and we need to make that
069difference. So, I'm going to turn to the next thing which is um the Michigan Education Justice Group is very worried about that uh the voucher piece. Uh Whitmer and up at the Meno Center said that she would work with Matt Hall. We are going up there to talk to Mr. Hall about not breaking the law and following the law and passing the budget. Do I believe he's going to listen to people? Absolutely not. But he's going to know that people are going to be there. I'm hoping that the MEA does something or the AFT to get enough people to do a day of advocacy because this is ridiculous. It's not fair to our districts. It's not fair to our students. It's not fair to our staff. And for them to hold it ransom is not
070what Michigan should be about. So, thank you. All right. Thank you. All right. I don't have any other green cards. Is there anyone else that wishes to make public comment tonight? All right. We are now going to move on to our board of education reports. Colleagues, do you have any reports? Member Sonic. The um Waterford Youth Assistant shoe drive will be starting in the next couple weeks even though they've probably already collected over a thousand pair of shoes in the off season. Um, so if you have any shoes that you'd like to donate, there's boxes in front of lots of businesses, call me. I'll come pick them up because I am now on their executive board as the vice chair. So, I'm really excited about that organization. They're doing some really good stuff. >> All
071right. Thank you. Do we have any other board of education reports? Member McGregor. >> Um, so unfortunately, uh, member Donahghue isn't here for this, but, uh, member Sanrant is. Uh last night we had the awards for the Oakland County School Award and um our members got some awards. So Pat Donahghue received the level three uh award of distinction and level four master board member awards and member Sonrant received the level one certified board member and level two award of merit awards. So congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> You weren't wrong. It's very important for us to do the MASSB and the OCSB um programs cuz they're very informative. I've learned a lot. >> All right, colleagues, do we have any other board reports? Member Oh, member Torres. >> Um I had an opportunity to
072attend the uh movies under the moonlight uh here in Waterford with the Chamber of Commerce. It was an excellent event. Now, they was funny cuz I I went to it and I got there and I thought it was at Pierce, but it's not at Pierce anymore. It's at Oakland Yard. Um, so they do it under the dome at Oakland Yard. Uh, which was a good thing because it was raining that night and that's why they do it. Uh, because it's been rained out too many years in a row. So, but it's always a great event. Uh, Chamber of Commerce and, uh, you know, businesses are there, community leadership's there, have tables, pass things out, goodies for the kids. um you know the uh inflatables, kids jump around games. Uh it's just an all-around great community
073event. We've been going for years as a family. Um but uh I really enjoyed that. And then uh I know it's a little late, but the graduation is always such an inspiring uh opportunity and event for us to attend as school board trustees. Feel like it's one of our greatest honors of being able to see especially when we have family that graduates. This year I happen to have a niece and a nephew that graduated. One from Durant, one from Mott. Uh and it's uh my last niece graduated three years ago from Mott. And so my wife came to the event the the graduation this year and she had been 3 years ago. But it's always kind of reinvigorating because I go every year and you know they're all three and we do. uh but for
074her to come back and it's just inspiring to hear you know the see them walking in and I would encourage community partners, school district partners um whenever I see them around I always tell them come to a graduation and see you know um you know Martin Mallow and them I've told them you know you should come check it out cuz it just it's kind of the culmination of of all the work that you do and what it's about uh you know whether you're a teacher you're a building administrator you're part of you know central staff's always there. Um, but uh, it it really is this culmination of all of the the hard work and, you know, sometimes people aren't always nice to you kind of thing, but it all makes up for it when you
075get to shake those hands. And one of the cool things cuz I I did have a nephew, another nephew that graduated from Rochester High this year. And I noticed that at our graduation ceremony that we all the school board trustees shake the hands and they're they they they kind of rotate the school board members. But I don't like that. I I like that we all get to do that. So, I I I just appreciated that even more this year that we line up and all shake the hands. Thank you. >> All right, member Stitch. >> Yeah, really quick. Um uh I just wanted to give a big shout out to the Waterford Foundation for Public Education. Um they had their annual golf outing a couple weeks ago and it was just a a blast. Um
076uh that's such a committed group to recognizing supporting our teachers and recognizing and supporting student achievement. It was a beautiful day. Um and again big shout out to the Fountains uh over on May Road. They're great partners for us, great supporters. Um even got to see Superintendent Martin hit a couple golf balls. Uh left a little bit to be desired, but um just wanted to shout that out. Um and uh congratulations to Jane. We we wish you we wish you nothing but the best in retirement. >> All right. And I would like to point out Superintendent Martin is not with us this evening because he is attending a conference as very very important for him in his job and in advocacy and making sure that he is speaking on our behalf and advocating for the
077things that our district needs to be successful. So it was not his choice not to be here, but he is working hard at this conference. So, we we miss him at our our last school board of the school year or schoolboard meeting of the school year. Which with that being said, I want to wish all of our families, our staff, our teachers, our students a wonderful summer. This has been a great school year. Everyone deserves a little break. I hope you have a wonderful summer off. And for those of you that are working in our our summer school at our Camp WSD, we appreciate you more than ever. We know our families appreciate our our staff that is working hard to make sure our kiddos are continuing to learn, hit those goals, and also for
078all of our staff members that are making sure that our meet up and eat up at all of our locations is happening because we do have buildings open for lunch and for breakfast for our kids. So, we will continue to feed our students throughout the summer. So, if you haven't had a chance to get information on that, definitely check out the website. It'll show you which locations are doing the meet up and eat up. And I also want to thank and congratulate our 2026 grads. As you've heard it from multiple people, graduation is the culmination of everything that we work so hard for. And it's so amazing to see those kids cross that line, be able to get those diplomas and and keep moving on to doing successful things that we know that they will
079do. So, oh, member Son, >> I just want to say I don't know where I've been hiding. There has been this bus or van going through my subdivision every summer. Says sweet. >> Yes. >> I never knew what it was. And two days ago, I got to see and I had no clue. It is the most wonderful thing. All these little kiddos getting books and free ice cream. I was blown away. I thought it was the best thing ever. And it's definitely something that we need to shout out to other districts and brag cuz it's very cool. Definitely check out the sweet reads and we are so great lucky to have that because of the Waterford Foundation of Education and it's such an amazing thing our district has had for many years. So you'll definitely
080see that very cool band driving around and there's also a schedule on the website as well. So it will tell you which neighborhoods and which schools that we'll be stopping at. So lots of fun things. We don't stop working in the summer. We know that, you know, everyone needs a little summer break, but we definitely will continue to do great things for our students. Happy summer, everyone. Congratulations to our graduates. >> Uh, happy Father's Day to board member Patricia and Ris >> and all the dads out there. So, happy Father's Day >> and member Torres as well. Happy Father's Day. >> All right, everybody. Seeing no further business, this meeting is adjourned. Have a great summer.