001of the community school board a regular meeting on March 16, 2026 at 7:01 p.m. stand algiance 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. Okay, thank you very much. Next on the agenda is the communication from patrons. Just as a reminder, any communication is required to be limited to existing agenda items. So do we have any public comments tonight? No. Okay. Well, thank you for coming. Okay. Hearing none, we'll move on to the next agenda item. Um we the entire board has received the minutes of the February 9th regular meeting. We have had opportunity to review them. And so I would like to have a motion to accept the meeting minutes from February 9th to
0022026 of our regular board meeting. >> So move second. Second. Thank you. Any further discussion or questions? All in favor say I. >> I opposed. Motion carries. Next we have the approval of personnel changes. >> So we have several several items on here. The first being the employment of Mr. Benis as a junior senior high a um you will see further down the list that we are transferring Miss Castle from that a position to junior senior high school secretary. So that is the reason for that change. Um Mr. been subbing for us quite a bit this school year and he does fabulous in that classroom and he was actually excited to have that opportunity and we're really glad to have him in there. We've seen a couple resignations um retirements actually for Darl. This is
003effective at the end of the school year. She is going to continue to drive bus for us at the school school corporation but she is ready to retire her teaching position and forward to that. So, um told her that that wasn't allowed, but I understand and [laughter] we look forward to seeing her. I think she's hoping to sub and, you know, still be a part of our new schools. So, that's great. But she's ready and she deserves that. So, um we're losing Sydney as our junior senior high secretary and marketing coordinator as she was just getting going with that role. She is stepping out of the schooloration to the corporate world and take a different position. So, um we really miss her. She's been a great asset to the school corporation and it's done really
004well uh for us for quite some time. So, it's bittersweet. Excited for her opportunity, but we will miss her contributions to the school system. And then Jiren Miller, who is the junior high English teacher, will also be retiring at the end of this school year. Mr. weekly has provided a list of coaches for us to review and approve for the spring season and as well as we have a varsity soccer assistant on the end that will happen in the fall. Um, everything else is for softball, track and field, and lacrosse. Those Most of the people on the list got >> and then D was the transfer that I already mentioned. Okay. Can I have a motion to accept all of the personnel changes as provided? So, >> any further discussion. >> All in favor say
005I. >> Opposed. Okay, now we're going to move into the section of our project >> and the heat is on because Mr. Gran has the stomach. So, I'm going to do my best [laughter] to just um capture I should actually I should have is this pocket? >> Okay. So, in your in your electronic packet, you should see the letter of recommendations that um Greg provided for us that goes through all of the bids. So, we have six, seven, and eight um are the bids that have come in for the construction we are getting ready to kick off. We're very familiar with the projects because he has been here to brief us on all of that from the get-go, from the scope of the work all the way through what we are working on. And now
006that the bond process is complete, we were able to open up for bids and we are ready to take motions on those tonight so we can start issuing contracts and getting everything lined up. So, um I feel like we're in a marathon and we're we're not quite happy here, but we're getting a lot closer. We we've made it through that bond process, which as a first process for me, I'm really happy to have that behind me. So, um we'll the tunnel piping replacement. That was project A. We did receive three bids. So, that was exciting to see three people show up. You know, you always kind of wonder, are we going to have people? We're a small corporation and do we entice those people to come in? And so, I felt like our our bids
007went really well. Um, we would like to consider the bid given to us by Core Mechanical Services. The base bid was 771,900 including 87,496 in allowance which was built into the base price. The estimated cost for this project was 355,160. So it is way above what um LWC had estimated. But as you know with the tunnel project, it has been um mystery from the getgo. We've had several people down there. I can say I did the walk through when we when Mechanical was here and I thought they were extremely thorough. We opened up access to them and they did go down in there and bless the bless their hearts, they went down in there and came back out looking like they've been in a tunnel and had taken photos and copious notes and asked some
008really good questions. And so I feel like they've done good due diligence in putting this bid together. Um All bids came in right around the same. So, we don't feel like this was overshooting that bid. I think we just don't quite know the scope of what's to be expected. Um, both Mr. Sper and I felt for a while that 3595 might have been underestimated and we figured that we might get a few surprises. So, we're hoping that this just cuts down on those surprises. So, oh, and I went out of order. Sorry, that's number eight, but it was a on my list. So, Do you want me to go through all of them and then you just motions or do you >> So I'll go to B on my list here for roofing replacement. You
009recall when you gave us the sheets, um those were broken up into a couple different projects. Projects B, C, and E. We received two bids for this work. Um that did make me a little nervous. We thought we were going to have set people come in too. And so was a little nerve-wracking, but then when we opened the bids, everything was pretty good. They came in really close to each other, but we would like to consider the bid for SPT roofing. The base bid was $850,800 including the 63,970 allowance that was built into the bid base. We would like to accept the alternate bids they also placed at 123,600 for alternate one and for alternate two was 63,200. The total contract amount with those both of those alternates will be 1,137,600. This is the lowest
010price considering one or both alternates. It was interesting because the other company had a lower base bid, but the alternates were higher. And so it um it gave us some really good options to look at and he contemplated those for a while and felt like SPG had the best overall. This original estimated cost was 3 million. So that makes up for the over the the tunnel. >> Why so far off? >> So that's a great question. But when we originally did the scope of work for the roof, we were we were basing all of that on complete tear down all the way to nothing. When we reviewed all of that, um, we had Kevin and Greg come back in one day and Ed and I met with him and we felt like there were areas
011of roof that that wasn't necessary for um, but we wanted them to price it that way in case we got into some sections where you just don't know what's under there, which is why we had um, those core samples taken so we would have a better idea. So, we feel like their um, were extremely similar and uh one said they studied the project for quite some time and we're very confident with their goods. So um we feel that that's a good estimate of where it's going to be and of course construction costs of materials has been fluctuating greatly as well. So I think that plays into it when we started this scope of work [clears throat] quite a while ago. It's taken us a while to get to this point. So, um, rather air on
012the on the higher side and get the lower bids. And then the last one is the exterior masonry repairs, which is project D. We had one bid come in for this, but it was a very good company. Um, and Fred was excited that that was who came in for that bid. It's construction and the base bid was 134,500 including the allowance of 70,843. Again, that was estimated and much higher at 36468. If the board awards contracts to these three contractors, we will issue a notice to receive letter to each contractor on Tuesday and begin preparing contracts. So that's that's what any other questions still look like. >> So that was all reviewed in our preid meetings with everybody that came in. They knew the timelines and they were placed in the bid. They know that
013that. So, the masonry we're hoping to get started before the end of the school year up there and get that done, get that complete before the needs to get started and then as soon as school breaks for the school year, we will have um tunnel access ready for them to get going because that's a short window. So, that's the most strategic of the projects at this point. All right. Can I have a motion to approve the bid for the roof repairs $1,137,600 that includes two number two um I won't say this right house construction $134,500 which includes the alternate And last is the consideration of tunnel repairs and that is $771,900. I have a motion. >> All three second. >> Thank you. Does anyone have any further discussion or [cough and clears throat] regarding the
014projects? All in favor on all three say I >> oppos you very much extremely important projects that next on the agenda we have the approval of the latest LWC invoice for the future bond study. Um, we had that invoice in our package to review. Time to take a look at. Does anyone have questions about being inscra? another payment. >> You just have a copy. >> That's all item 11. I don't think this is 31,53. The last one. All right. Um, can I have a motion to approve payment of LWC invoice 19371 for a total of $31,542? So, thank you. Second. Thank you. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I opposed Motion carried. Next we have the approval of ICE Miller invoice for the services through February 26, tax. [clears throat and cough]
015[snorts] Sorry. Thank you. [laughter] >> Oh, perfect. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> Then we have a series of additional LWC invoices for lighting replacements, tunnel piping, roofing and replacement, exterior masonry repairs, and elementary patio area. Those went around for us to review. [cough and clears throat] Excuse me. [clears throat] Sorry, guys. All right. All right. Can I have a motion to approve the Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I carried. Then we have the approval of Michigan contracting pay applications number four and number five replacements. And this includes the retainage. There are two invoices. One for $18,82 one for $29,611 and you know I think the person was $1,800. >> Oh yeah, sorry. $18.92. Sorry. And then 29,6119. Um had
016a chance to review those. not have any questions regarding those invoices. Right. Can I have a motion to approve the two Michigan contracting applications? >> Second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I motion carried. Next, we have the approval of purchase buses for a total of $10,000. >> I would love to tell you those. >> So, we had um we had a bus go down that we thought we weren't going to be able to make a repair on and we went down that road and it was not repable. Basically, not the news you ever want to get from a mechanic. Um it would have required a complete a new engine and a bus that wasn't worth it to. So, we started the search for a used bus. Andy was able to find
017one at Bus Sales and um it is an upgrade from where we were at. It is it is still used and um not brand new, but it is definitely going to fix the problem that we have by losing the bus. Um first are new to it at the moment. So, we just didn't have we didn't have an extra month. So, we had to make make that decision. We have been watching a, you know, being ready to make some purchases. Um, so we're very thankful that had this one and we felt we felt confident in it. Um, I did a walk through with him last week. It definitely is an upgrade. So, we're just going to be happy that that worked out and that they have one available for us and we can get that switched
018around. So, just cracked and I know that we had our capital plan and we attempted to buy a brand new bus several years ago, not too long after I came on board and that was during co canled. So are we at a point where we should resurrect looking? >> Yes. So those are discussions that I have started with both Andy and Kelly to start um replacement where we're looking at that seriously. Not not in a position today to tell you that that's going to happen this year or the next budget year, but at least planning forward to know that we instead of looking all the time options or hoping that we can find a used one to start replacing some of our older ones with the newer ones. Not saying that these aren't good finds
019when we can find them and come across them, but we do need to start moving forward. replacements. All right. I have a motion to purchase for purchase of school busing for a total of $10,000. So, any further discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. opposed. Next, we have the approval of 2026 summer school days and summer school hours. So, we will be offering summer school again this year. Um, a little caveat because of our tunnel piping project that's going to kick off, we are going to be we're going to be struggling a little bit with access to all areas of the building without having open areas. And so we going to have to concentrate summer school into one section of junior high school hallway. Um because our elementary wing will have the open
020tunnel at the Y and North 12 is going to have open access points. There will be some open access points down here. And at this point in time until we start to kick off our construction meetings, I do not know what water access is going to look like. There may period of time where we don't have it at all. Um, and it may be in phases. So, there's a lot of questions there. We but we know that we need to accommodate in order for them to get this work done in the short time frame of summer. So, we are going to run summer school for grades two and three, which is required by law for the ivory recovery reading recovery. Um, anyone who did not pass Ivory, and I have a report on that a
021little bit, be asked to attend and then the third testing opportunity for that test will take place during that time frame. Grade four and five would like to offer math and reading math reading and language arts recovery for those older students. Um as well as grades six, seven, and eight. We are just cutting out K because part of the problem is with that water we don't have rest. So we won't have rest of all summer we'll have restrooms in the auditorium lobby that's very diffult for for the little ones to get down to. So um we feel like for this year at least we need to not have that for safety reasons really. Um we would like to run summer school for the first two weeks of June. This is the same that we did
022last year. We seem to get a little bit better attendance by shortening that up. We would like to run that from 8 to 11:30. 11:30 new this time because of the water situation. Again, we are we're working I'm working with Kelly as well as Melissa Bradley to get the summer food program figured out. That's going to be kind of tricky when you don't have possibly water in your kitchen. We do not want to bring everybody in the cafeteria to eat. So, we're working on a system where it can be grabbed for the kids to take on the way out to cars or buses. Um, and that extra half an hour was always scheduled in there for lunch on premise. That's why the change in time. Junior high band will still be offered. Um Mr. Mills
023sets his own schedule for that because he works individually or with groups for students and as well as the high school uh SAE. So those are more independent and those times dates are set by those instructors. I just ask that we can approve those two weeks of summer school as well. being presented and the classes presented. Okay. Can I have a motion to approve the 2026 summer school days and summer school hours as outlined by Johnson? So any further discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Then we have the approval of 2026 summer schedule. >> So as in previous years we have moved to a 4day work schedule in the summer. Um it's nice because we can harness those energy savings cost and energy savings and and it's a for people
024that are working all summer long. um they get their hours in of the other four days and they work hard um to do so and they enjoy that little bit longer weekends during those months. Um but mostly we we are definitely saving money on just you know not overhead for Friday, Saturdays and Sundays during the month of summer. So, I'm asking that we approve the 4 day work week uh beginning June 1st and ending um actually August 7th prior to our first student day on August 12th. We have a little bit later start this year. Okay. Um and I have a motion to approve the summer work schedule as you second. Thank you. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Next. Kelly. >> Oh, I skipped one. I'm sorry. >>
025How about No. I need to do this. >> I skipped this one. >> Okay. Oh, I see. >> No, no, you're good. It's me. [laughter] >> It's okay. Okay. Next on the agenda is the policy review and recommendation regarding policy 2410. We have all had the opportunity to review that policy and the recommendations prior to this meeting. And does anyone have any further questions? No. Okay. Can I have a motion to approve the recommend recommended changes for policy? Thank you. Second. Thank you. All in favor say I. >> I. [snorts] >> Thank you. >> Now, Kelly, >> how about the plane? I am asking for approval for 10 pages of accounts payable claims in the amount of $76,51767 and three pages of payroll claims totaling $299,645.35 for a total claim bucket of $376,1632. and we
026have all had the opportunity to review the details of the claims in our packets. Does anyone have any questions about the claims? Okay. Can I have a motion to approve the claims with a total of $376,1632 as presented? So, thank you. Second Thank you. Any further discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Next we have the instruction. >> So is and we kicked it off with Irene. Um, and can I say I'm glad I'm not in history in that this year. >> It is a very monotonous thing to sit there and listen over and over, but I'm extremely happy with results that have come in so far. So, this would be, as you know, I've reported on this a couple years now. Um, they have three testing opportunities that has grown.
027It used to be one, then two, now three. So, this is the first round of testing opportunities. Um this year it is mandatory for grade two but we have been on board with that for a couple years and so we are seeing about the same results that we have for the past two years. We had 55 testers in grade two and 23 of them at this current time have passed which which is 42% which is pretty good for second grade and pretty average for what we've seen in the past. 13 of those students are showing as on track. Um the did not pass 13 are on track and 19, but those students are showing at risk. And so now they are being slotted into different types of interventions to help them. And then as we
028just talked about with summer school, all of those students will be invited to attend summer school. Um, and we'll go forward from there with second grade. We see a lot of growth between those two grades. It's nice to get um a chunk of those students kind of over that hurdle and so we can start focusing a little bit heavier on those interventions for the students that aren't quite that far yet. In grade three we had 40 testers. Um 31 of those testers have passed which is 78%. The state has a threshold of they want everybody to be above 70%. So we have met that mark. Five of those kids passed last year in second grade. So that's why it's nice to have that second grade test. Um so that left that leaves us um with
029six that still need to get through that hurdle this year. Um all of them are able to receive the cause exemption if they do not pass the secondary testing. So they will be able to move on with the exception of one student. But they're reporting that they're confident he will probably when he does his second testing opportunity. We have this is the first year that we have had to continue testing students that did not pass in third grade but moved on to fourth grade because of the good cause exemption. We now have to test those students until they reach seventh grade or until they pass. And so there will be students that we see continually to take this test no matter what. We do not have a I guess a exit but unless they pass
030which is unfortunate for some. Um but in fourth grade we had four testers and one of those was able to pass this year. So that's great. Really happy to hear that. Um and they will continue to stay in interventions to receive that extra instruction as well as the extra testing opportunities. So she will update me again. They will test one more time before the end of the school year and then as reported earlier that third testing happens in hope state to your knowledge state. >> Not that we've seen yet. Um they do they do the reporting a little bit differently. when you're in third grade is you pass, you don't pass. Um, in second grade, they they give you some data that returns where it says you're either at risk, you're on track, or you
031pass. And so, it kind of breaks it down in a little bit different manner so you know how to approach those students earlier on, um, like I said, with those different interventions and pieces so that you can hopefully have that here before the the end of third grade to to work through that. And then iron testing, there should be in your electronic packet just the dates that we will be testing this year. That comes comes quick after spring break. Um there will be a go up to students, families, and staff with the dates. Um, I'm going to wait till return from spring break because I feel like if I send it now, it's not going to make an impression on anybody and they won't forget. And the importance of that letter is because of our
032schedule that we run for the junior high, junior senior high with those twohour delay days so that we can get those students tested. Um, it's a really different situation than being in the elementary or even block that time for those students when you're when you're passing periods every 15 those tests. So, um, elementary will be doing English language arts the week of April 21st, hoping to get that done in three days. Um, math will be the following week on April 28th and 29th. And then science and social studies, actually, that one is coming. They're going to do that one first this year. Um, and that usually only takes one day. With the checkpoints that they put together, they were supposed to shorten some of these tests. So, I'm anxious to see if that's happened. Um
033the timing guidance is not indicating that that has happened at this point, but it doesn't they might be they might just be giving us generous timing guidance and we'll see what it actually looks like when we get into it. The junior high schedule we are asking for two-hour delay days on April 20th, 21st, 27th, and 28th. So there's four days. The 20th and 21st is for the English language arts test. The 27th will be for math. that did shorten for that age range down to one testing day. Um and then we are reserving the 28 for makeup testing for any any type of testing students have missed science. They will be able to handle that in uh in the class because it's not level that test. So they work that a little different. So we
034do not need to delay on that on that time frame. And they will be doing that after all the other tests are done. Thank you very much. Next on the screen we will start with the education fund. There we go. have a moment. [laughter] >> I think when you and I met last week, my computer I was fighting with my computer too. >> Um so the education fund this is for uh expenditures through February. We are at the red line there was 16% of the way through and you can see where our education fund we've been 12% of that so far. So we're off to what I would say a good start for the year. Uh pretty steady if you look back pretty comparable to previous years. The year 2023 I'm not sure what was
035going on in that year but I noticed it slides because it's been a pattern. So um it's interesting to look at that education fund in 2023 but then to look on the next side of operations it's way up. So um I think there's just always So far, we're doing well on the education fund. Operations again, we're at the same percent way through the year and that's 12 as well for operations. Now, I intend this to not look so pretty next month because we just So, um we're going to see we're going to see that come out of there and um but that's okay because we we know that that's why it happened. last week. It's better to know why than to have a surprise and try to be figuring out what's going on. So, um
036we have planned, you know, we do have that money in the budget lines and so I feel okay with making that purchase with the bus, but if we start to see a upward trend there for a little bit until we even reserves it. >> I got tired of fighting with those numbers. because it was doing it again. So, I I thought, why don't we just do this in a different format? Um, we can obviously still see that it's growing and um that we're maintaining that cash reserve rate and it's pretty consistent with a year ago. I mean, we're up slightly, but we're the positive there is we're not on a downward trend. So that continues to remain strong at 7,189,738 as well as our rainy day fund. Um again that has you can see it's
037leveled off in 23. Um and we've been able to maintain that consistently as we talk every month. That's where we want to be. um we don't want to go any lower and at this point in time I mean it wouldn't make me sad if that got if that grew but at the same time I know we have needs that that it's not allowing us to do that and as long as we have that for February All right. Do we have any other closing comments for anyone? >> That said, can I have a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:44 p.m. Thank you. Second. Second. Thank you. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. Motion carries. Thank you very much. Thanks for coming. [clears throat]