001All right. >> The board of education meeting is called to order. Please stand 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, can you please take roll call? >> President Wagner, all members are present. >> We are going to move on to the approval of the agenda. Unless there are objections, the agenda will be approved as printed. Any objections? All right. We are now going to move on to public comments on action items. Are there any public comments on our action items? Anything that we'll be voting on this evening? All right, we are going to keep moving on. We're moving on next to
002the consent agenda. Unless there are objections, the consent agenda will be approved as presented. Any objections? I'd also like to thank we had three reinstatement hearings that are part of our consent agenda. I want to thank member McGregor and member Patricia and member Sonant for taking their time out to do that and for member Sonic for joining me and two of them. All right. And next moving on to information items with assistant superintendent Helder for our RFP for contracted special education substitute services. I feel like this mic is reversing a lot, so I apologize that it's super loud out there. >> Good evening, trustees. Included in tonight's package is an information item to go out for a request for proposal for contracted substitute special education services. What we're seeking to do is to receive competitive
003bids with per hourly pricing for the next three years to try to manage our budget exposure and provide resources to fill positions on a temporary basis substitute only for WA positions that we've been unable to fill. member. >> So my understanding is that these um positions would be like legally we have a requirement to fill these positions because the resations we had because they are dealing with things that are special needs. Is that correct? >> That is correct. It's to meet the needs that are identified in our IEPs for our special education students and to make sure that we're compliant with all the MARS rules. There are times that we may have a vacancy. It could be um a WA member that has gone out on a leave of absence and we may not have
004a qualified substitute included in the RFP are the job descriptions the same requirements for our WA members. So the same requirements would hold to any contracted member that's placed within that it would be that shortterm assignment for that leave only. There are other times that we may have had a resignation and we've posted a position. We've looked for internal candidates, external candidates. We're unable to fill it, but we have a requirement to meet the need for the students. So, we're looking for resources with competitive bid pricing to meet these needs. Once again, it's not in place of WA members, but to cover us when we're unable to fill those positions. >> All right. So it's temporarily filling the position. >> Correct. >> So we're still in the process of finding me qualified. >> Correct. Or
005it could be a contracted substitute that's covering during a term of a leave for a WA member. >> Correct. And we're we're hopeful that we're going to be able to secure competitive pricing so that we have a rotation of firms that we can go to with known enlisted pricing per hour, known facts in terms of do they charge for mileage, what other ancillary costs might be embedded so that we understand the all-in cost for each one of the firms. So we're we're hopeful that this might work. >> Member Stitch, >> are other districts having to um make this move as well? >> I don't know. I know that I used this um with my past district as a strategy when we were having difficulty with hard to place positions. It did work for a few
006of those positions. Um and it really is trying to secure that pricing for three years and really have a call a call rotation to go to so that our students needs are met according to our IEPs and the plans as directed. So for with these hard to place positions and understanding what we're asking for our special ed um services in your experience, have have these groups been able to have a pool of educators to draw from themselves? In other words, understanding the the vast shortage of special ed >> there. There have been resources in the past and it really depends on the specialty. There are times that it may be a little more frequent that you could fill a social worker than you might a psychologist. It might be a bit easier to find an
007occupational therapist than a school nurse. What we're looking at are for those hourly rates for each one of the five positions that we seem to have recurring need on and trying to lock in that price. Just another resource. Once again, it's not in place of a WA placement. It's in support of just as a substitute basis to get us through a leave of absence or a vacancy during transition or turnover. >> Does um is Oakland schools aware of our our shortage? >> Yes, they are. And Oakland schools has one agreement out there with one firm. It's called Anthromed, which is a competitive bid that districts can tap into. That's not every one of the specialties that we're looking for. We're doing this in addition to it. We're casting a net. We might catch some, we
008might not. It's It's worth the effort. >> So, Oakland School's recommendation, understanding this would be to find contracted services. >> When you We have a requirement for the IEPs to provide the service. So, we have to find something and Oakland Schools does really try as well as we do. We post the positions. We're looking um going up every avenue. Naen and her team have done a stellar job finding companies that we've gone to. Last year when we talked about what we pay out for contracted services, special education was a component on that. This whole RFP is to try to mitigate the cost and be in control of the rate as best as we can if if possible. >> Yeah. I and I ask only because I I imagine if you were an ISD that was
009just a couple short miles down the street that uh understanding the really important programs we run and understanding the importance of serving this population they would say wow I wonder if we could throw some money behind this to help. That's partly why I asked. Thank you. >> I appreciate the questions. Any other >> member McGregor? Um, so obviously with IEPs, it's really important to have as much continuity and and all those types of things as possible. Um, how do we have that built in when we're looking for who we're going to contract to um for these? Obviously, like if somebody goes on leave, you can't predict that. But, um, right now, while we're kind of hiring and in that process and and even when we can't predict it, how do we make sure that there's
010a system in process or in place to make sure that's done? >> So, if we knew that there was a leave of absence, sometimes leave of absence are known. You may have a staff member that is preparing to have a baby. So, then we can post it out. We can review resumes. we know the potential start in the term date of no no pun intended of that uh leave for that particular staff member. So then we when we reach out to firms and we know the rate, we want to secure the same staff member for the continuity of service for our kids, right? Um, additionally, our case workers, our team members, our WA members have a case load. They have a series of students that they see. So we really do want to be able
011to ensure that it's seamless. We don't want that in and out. That's why this is not a, hey, it's Jane Smith on day one, it's Jon Jones on day two. So, but we would be reviewing those resumes saying how do we meet this need? We do have some other substitutes that can cover or we can switch some case load around when it's that one day, that two-day type need, but when we have a known turnover, we want to be sure that we have that continuity. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Are there any other questions? Thank you so much. We appreciate it. All right, we are going to move on to new business. Superintendent's recommendations with Treasurer Donny Hugh. >> Superintendent's recommendation 102526, new gateways roof repair and replacement. It is recommended that the
012board of education approve roofing replacement for loots to the lowest bidder to specification JD Candler roofing in the amount of $527,500 along with a 10% con contingency of $52,750 for a total award of $580,250 funding of $335,000 from New Gateways and the remainder of 145,250 from the 2020 bond fund. I so move. >> All right. The motion has been moved and supported. Are there any comments or questions? Member McGregor. Um so one of the items on here is that it says completion of all required asbestous related training and certification before um is this normal that that's not done ahead of time or how does how does that work? Can you give me some more information on that? >> I'm going to turn this over to Kyle fromme so he can respond to it along with
013>> So Tip, our director of operations. >> Yes. So there's a there's a settlement agreement that def defines how roofing replacement has to take place if there is asbestous detected in it. this contractor that was the low bid um they did not have the uh the training or the equipment to do it in accordance with this agreement but there we were working with NOVA who's the district's environmental consultant and they were willing to get that training and the equipment to to to um I guess be able to perform it in accordance with with the um current Michigan law. So that's why we said it's contingent on them getting that. We also ask for proof that they get the training and then a documented plan of, you know, hey, so we can double check it with
014NOVA and the district to make sure they're doing everything that they need to do. >> And do we internally have a process in place to make sure that they're following that training given that they don't have that background? >> We planned on asking NOVA at least make a couple visits out there just to check in periodically, you know, especially in the beginning making sure that because it's not the entire roof, it's only some small select areas. Um, so just making sure that they're doing everything as as they need to do, keep everyone safe. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Member Patricia, >> have we used this company before? >> We have not. >> No, >> other districts are familiar with JD Chandler if I recall correctly, Kyle. Correct. So they're known within school districts. Absolutely.
015>> But again, sometimes we've had some roofers overlaid, sometimes we don't. >> I just want to make sure this isn't one of those. This is not the roofer that you have a concern with. >> You're welcome. >> Yeah. >> Member Torres, >> what school districts have used them? >> I believe Udica schools. Um uh I can't they they listed a couple offhand. They they did provide a couple references and we reached out to those and everyone that and I also reached out to some roofing consultants that I know um at other firms and they all stated that they've they are good quality in the field. their their install is very high quality. So >> So like you mentioned Detroit area, Udica. >> Yeah. Done. >> Yes. I um uh I want to say like Sterling
016Heights um they've done some work over there. Yeah. Yes. >> So do you feel pretty confident? >> Yes, very much so. I I think this is a pretty straightforward uh roofing project. There's not too much to it. Okay. Yeah, definitely. >> Are there any other questions? All right. All those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Motion carries 70. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. We appreciate it. All right. We are going to move on to public comment on non-action items. Please be reminded that comments are limited to three 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
017that are personally directed, abusive, or obscene. And we are going to start public comment with Miss Cheryl Campbell. >> Thank you. >> Hello. My name is Cheryl Campbell. I am the president of the MES for one secretaries unit. I spoke to you guys at the cow last cow meeting. Today is August 21st. It marks the 52nd day that we've worked without a contract. Indispensable go-to person. Person who really runs the district. Right-hand person. If it weren't for you, these are a few phrases that were used to describe secretaries at the secretar's PD this past Tuesday. Sting. Instead of feeling complimented, we feel the sting of what was but is now gone. The district has cut our positions. Secretaries, excuse me. We do not make much, but yet the decision was made to cut our our
018positions. Frustration of not having enough time. Worry worry about making mistakes. Upset parents. situations that all secretaries in this district come face to face with every single day, whether it be staff, parents, or students. And yet, we are not essential enough enough to settle a contract. So again, why? Thanks. >> All right. Thank you. We are going to move on now to Joe Humphrey. Thank you, Darren. I appreciate it. Uh, coming to you. I am Joe Humphrey. I am a proud member of the WA bargaining team as well as a 20-year employee of the district and a graduate of Mott High School. I'm coming today because I have a lot of concerns about the negotiations that have been going on. We started off on April 2nd. Our team gave a comprehensive proposal including wages, calendar
019and many other topics on April 2nd and immediately we were told that we were not going to talk about money until July which we understood. It happened last year as well. So we kind of understood where negotiations were starting and going and um understood that most of us at the top which I am one of those would probably be not receiving something on within our um const within our wages that would be constantly occurring. That's a very big big concern because 60% of us are on the top step and many of us uh our places who are being uh replaced are also being hired at the top step as well. So people are constantly not getting raises. It took two months for us to get a counter proposal which consisted of four sessions and two
020canceled sessions. many of the many of the counterpolls that we received were nos and said not going to happen. So we've went back and forth. Since then, we've had a total of five extra sessions, which means there's a total of nine bargaining sessions. And in between time, since we've had the counter proposal, we've been told, we've been had a communication that's put out that said the WA was not releasing the calendar and put put us in a position where our many of our teachers received a lot of feedback from community members, parents that said that we were um not doing what's good for students. also concerned that makes a lot of people feel pressured, you know, not having a consistent raise, worried about why would I want to work here. Um, in closing, I just
021in closing, we I just want to say we're losing teachers left and right. That's been the most consistent thing since I've been in this 20 years. and they've get, you know, many of them, yes, I understand money, financial reasons, but there's also professional courtesies and freedoms such as us having the lowest amount of sick days in open county as well as the only evaluation system that has attendance in it within it. Um just in closing like I said I am a lifelong me community member of Waterford grew up here work here have go to all my appointments all my everything is business is still here and just bring real concerning to see where the direction of all the teachers that we see leaving the constant openings almost every day that we get posted. Thank you.
022>> Thank you. All right we are going to move on to Mary Crate. Good evening. Pardon the way I look. I just left meet and greet at Riverside, which I am now back there. Um, I came tonight and I'm changing what I was going to say. I was able to at staff meeting this morning say to all the young teachers how lucky they were to be here and how lucky I was to be back at Riverside because I celebrated my 10th year teaching in Waterford at Riverside, my 20th year teaching at Riverside, my 30th year and in February it's 40 years with the Waterford School District as a teacher. Mr. Risters was a young man in my school and it was an honor to get to work with his mom and to be part of
023an amazing school. I walked in there and out of the classroom teachers since I left Riverside eight years ago, there's three classroom teachers left. Where's the sense of a school community? Three classroom teachers. And yet tonight at meet and greet as I'm standing there a parent walks through and goes, "Wait, Mrs. Crate, you're back here. Oh my god, you were my teacher." And they're saying to their kids, "This is like the awesome teacher. She was my teacher." One of the boys, the mom says, "Owen, you're not going to believe who this is. Your aunt was in her classroom and she loved Mrs. Crate. I hope you get to work with her." That's what we should want for every single kid. And then I come to the board meeting tonight and I see outsourcing my jobs
024is okay. I knew we were going to be short on speech and language. Mrs. to Miss Tunic and I knew we were going to probably need to outsource two positions at $93 an hour probably because I know previously when they outsourced my jobs that I found out about there were nine jobs and many of the people were getting paid 90 and $100 an hour to do my work. No, I would have talked about this sooner. I just didn't have time to read to read the board packet. It wasn't out before today. I was working. I'm setting up two classrooms because I'm at two different schools running meet and greet tonight. I didn't have union time today because I was busy taking care of our kids. I love this place. I care about Waterford. You won't,
025as I told the teachers the other day at the welcome at the welcome to the new higher lunch. I said, I'm Mary Crate. You won't find anybody who's a bigger Waterford cheerleader than me. There is not one of the people in this room or in this district that can say that. I will stand and fight. And yes, I've emailed Matt Hall. He won't answer me. I can't go to Lancing because I'm here. I emailed Mike Harris and he gave me the whole blah blah blah blah blah. No, it's not okay for you to outsource any of my jobs. And these aren't just substitute jobs. and now it's going to be three years. You want to do that now. Pay my people enough money then you don't have to outsource them. Thank you. All right. Thank
026you. Our next speaker is Miss Lori Tunic. Good evening, members of the board. Negotiations between Waterford School District and its employees have stalled. Not because of a lack of effort on our side, but because your team has told us they have not been given the parameters or authority to bargain financial terms. Without these parameters, there is no true negotiation. And what we have is a delay. Delay is not neutral. It erodess trust. It frustrates employees. And it undermines the stability our students deserve. your students deserve. Every day that passes without progress leave staff working without a contract, unsure of their future, while continuing to give their all for this district. Let me be clear. Failure to provide your team with the authority is more than a stall tactic. It is a failure to bargain in
027good faith. And failure to bargain in good faith is an unfair labor practice under Michigan law. The district often speaks of structural deficit. Let's be honest, that's simply spending money out of your savings account, and families do it all the time. When budgets are tight, the district must also decide how to responsibly use their savings it has built to support its people and programs. My members have put forward thoughtful proposals to improve working and learning conditions. We are ready to discuss solutions and reach an agreement. But your team must be empowered to do the same. Otherwise, negotiations will remain at a standstill and the board, not the employees, will bear the responsibility for prolonging the crisis. I urge you tonight, take responsibility. Direct your team. Give them the authority they need to bargain in good
028faith. Waterford's educator, staff, and most importantly, its students cannot afford further delay. We've waited long enough. Thank you. All right. Thank you. All right. We are now going to move on to board reports this evening. Is there any board member that has a board report? >> I mean, I have one, but I wanted to >> Well, are you sure? >> Can you just off the cuff? >> Okay. Is there anyone else that has a board report? Member Wristitch, >> just wanted to shout out the uh the web program over there at Pierce. Um it's one of these really amazing programs we have to make sure that our sixth graders as they transition from elementary over to middle school. Um they come in uh knowing the expectations, having built a little bit of community. Um and
029it's a it's a really great opportunity for our eighth graders, too. Um they go to a little bit of professional development. They greet the parents um during registration. It's a really great program um that I just thought was the epitome of what um the sort of ethos that we have here in Waterford. How our staff takes care of our students um and how our students just respond so well to big challenges. They they always seem to rise to the occasion. And I just really quick wanted to thank Miss Reneer, Mrs. McDonald, Miss Noble, and Miss Dicker. Just an amazing set of teachers among our really amazing set of uh teachers and staff. So, the where everyone belongs program, I know it's um something that we'll be working on throughout the year. It's it'll be sort
030of woven into I think some of our new advisory courses I I believe. Um so, just a really terrific program. Um and just a couple I want to shout out Taylor Brewer, Noel Stevenson, Sophia Turner, um and then my own sons Oliver and Damian for being a part of it. It was just incredible to watch um these these new eighth graders take on the the great responsibility of walk or welcoming all these new sixth graders to the just a really great program. So, shout out to the web. >> All right. Uh, member McGregor. >> Uh, so one of the programs that helps a lot with our schools um is called fueling kids futures. There are a lot of students who don't have enough to eat at home and um this program provides those students who
031are in need with food. This program needs volunteers to help pack that food on a weekly basis. Um, so if anybody is interested in that, please reach out. Um, and I can connect you with the right people because not all of our kids have what they need and we need to help them get that. So, thank you. >> Member Torres. >> I just wanted to touch base. I did uh reach out and the board did get a update this week on many of the projects that we're working on here in the Waterford School District. Had a lot of uh people who have reached out to me over the past two weeks. People getting nervous as school's getting closer. Um so a number of them were finishing up this week. Uh uh several of them will
032be finishing right uh before school and then a few uh i.e. the ones at Pierce uh I believe will be finishing out in October. Uh so uh you know this is kind of the process every year and um you know all the years up 10 years or so that I've been on the board um we usually do go up to the last minute but it does uh get done and it's quality work at the end of the day. So I just want people to be aware that those projects are the board is looking at those. Superintendent is communicating uh updates on those and we're keeping an eye as we get closer. Um there's a number of playground projects that are being worked on um all types throughout the district. I want to give a shout
033out uh for the meet and greets like Miss Crate just talked about um and the phenomenal work that the teachers do and and going and greeting these kids. Um I was at my daughter's Pierce meet and greet and one of the things that you know I think we we don't always realize is is how nervous these kids are, how nervous these parents are. My daughter's starting a new school this year at Pierce um going from Kulie Elementary and um you know she's nervous about her locker. She's nervous about her teachers. She's nervous about you know is she going to know anybody in her classes? Is it going to be the same group? Um so shout out to the teachers for you guys in in what you're doing and you know calming the the fears of
034the kids and calming the fears of the parents uh and the nervousness because those meet and greets are really important. you know, those kids really planned for that ahead of time. I think my daughter spent the whole day picking out her outfit and doing her hair, you know, to go to the meet and greet for an hour. Uh, she worked on her com uh on a lock that I bought her so that she could figure out the locker combination. So, what you're doing um by by meeting these families and meeting these kids is is much appreciated, I can say. um I mean by the board and myself and parents and the students alike because it goes far beyond just a meeting. It's a lot of planning and a lot of nerves uh and a lot
035of preparation for the first day of school. So thank you. >> All right. And I would like to give a shout out. Um my we were at Matt's registration this past week and I know the high school registrations both were happening and it was very fun. It was always, it's always fun to walk in, see everybody, see all the kids when they get their schedules, starting to try and figure out what classes they're going to try and switch into because they want to be with their friends. But most importantly, it's always that fun anticipation of the year that's coming. It's been a great to drive past Mott and to see the marching band out in the parking lot and they're practicing to see all the pictures I've seen of friends that have posted Ketering football's
036um helmet s you know their ceremony recently. So, it's just that fun time. I know maybe not so much for our kids, but for parents it's a really fun time of year because they're going back to school and getting back into routine. And with that, we have Mott's first home football game is next Thursday, the 28th, but it's also youth football night. So, I wanted to make sure our community was aware of that. Youth football is free to come. Wear your jerseys, highlight your programs. We have our little Corsa. We have the Pierce Pirates and the Mason Mariners. So, it's is always a good time to come out to either one of our high schools to our stadiums to support our community. So, it'll be it'll be a fun week next week as we kick
037off our first day of school. And I want to welcome all of our staff back because I know yesterday was our first official day back. So, welcome. And I'm really excited to see, you know, how the school year despite I know this is a really nervous this is the first time that I can remember in decades that we've started off a school year with so much uncertainty with what's happening with our legislature both state and federally. But I always have faith in this district and the teachers and the staff that are here that our kids are always our priority. And I know despite all of the noise going on around us out hopefully the adults will get to be able to um figure this out before October 1st, but I know this will be a
038great year and I know it's because of all of you. So I do appreciate and we as a board do appreciate our staff very much so. As a parent, I'm super excited to start the school year and kind of see where it takes us. Anyone else? All right, we are going to move on to Superintendent Martin for his report. >> His first official report. >> Is this thing on? >> Yes. >> Uh so, uh I appreciate that and want to echo some of your sentiments. Uh it was nice. Our team was out at the meet and greets this evening and it was uh when kids are back uh everything feels right and it was nice to see the parents and the kids excited uh the teachers all the staff and I just want to commend
039all the staff and all the work to to get us to that point. Uh also we are really looking forward to first day on Monday. Super excited about it. Um hopefully the high schoolers are are getting used to the sleep adjustment because I know they've all been staying late. Um but yes, there's been a ton of work there. Uh and then lastly, I want to talk about uh welcoming back all staff yesterday uh was our our welcome back um with our theme Waterford's winning team. Uh it was an incredible time. I want to shout out a little bit uh the Mott cheerleaders and the M band who welcomed us. Um our communications department putting everything together. Um our food services department which put on a fantastic launch. Um and then our CIA team for developing
040professional development over the last couple years. They did a fantastic job. Uh and it was great to see everybody uh all there together. Uh also want to talk a little bit about the state budget. As we know uh our legislature uh are supposed to by July 1st have a set budget. Um many of us know they do not have that set budget at this point. Um and we're starting to hear some rumors about a risk of a a government shutdown, a state shutdown, which would could happen on September 30th. Uh the crux of this issue really is um what are we going to do with the roads and and using some of the school aid fund to uh divert some of those funds to to the roads. Uh if there is a government government shutdown,
041our first school aid payment comes to us on October 20th. Uh certainly if we miss that, that is going to impact us, impact um compensation, impact class sizes, impact uh how we're able to uh support arts, athletics, and all of those other things. Uh the easy solution is for lawmakers to uh keep the school aid fund for students. Uh that's going to be that is my advocacy. Uh, I met with Representative Mike Harris uh earlier this week and made it clear that uh the money that was supposed to come to education needs to come to education and I was also advocating for more funding. Uh on September 5th, the Oakland County superintendents will be getting together with legislators as well and that will be our advocacy uh after the first week because you know the
042first week has its own thing. You will see um messaging coming from our district in terms of support and advocacy for public education and the school a fund um encouraging our legislators to come to the table, find a solution um and be able to move us forward so we don't have this certainty uh while while we are also supporting public education. And I would encourage those of you who can and have the ability reach out to your legislators. please let them know uh how much uh we need these bud the state budget approved uh and the money to go for our students. Um and last but not least um and sadly the Waterford School District uh was extremely shocked and saddened uh by the recent passing of uh Marty Vespie uh beloved uh bus driver.
043Uh he supported students from Kulie, Pearson, and Ketering. Uh was a real cherished member of our transportation team. Um I was able to speak to some of our our bus drivers and they just commented on nobody had anything bad to say about it. He was the best of the best and if you asked him to do anything was going to do it. Um he's going to be greatly missed and my condolences go to the transportation team and his family as well. Thank you. >> All right, we are now going to move into close session. By roll call vote, the board will move to close session in accordance with sections 8H and 8K of the Open Meetings Act. Secretary Restitch, can you please take roll call vote? >> Member Patricia, >> yes. >> Member Sonrat, >>
044yes. >> Member Torres, >> yes. >> Member Wagner, >> yes. >> Donahghue, >> yes. >> McGregor, >> yes. >> I am a yes. All right, we are going to move into the conference room and we will be back when close session is con completed.