Hazel Park School District - Board of Education Regular Meeting - July 28, 2025

001Park Board of Education meeting to order on July 28th at 6 p.m. Roll call, please. Becker >> here. >> Present. Fox >> here. >> Boys here. >> Here. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nationy and justice for all. >> I need a motion to approve the agenda. I make a motion to approve the agenda. Um, I'd like to pull a couple items off the consent agenda. I'd like to pull off the minutes from July 22nd. They are incorrect. I'd like to pull off the financial report. They have not been updated. And I would like to pull the um position for the accounts payable to be put the accounts payable I would like to be put as an

002action item please support a motion was made by Heidi to pull the board minutes from July 22nd 2025 the um board financials from June of 2025 and the accounts payable position Under personnel is there discussion. Okay. Roll call, please. >> Yes. Becca, >> yes. >> Boys, >> Yes. Uh, special order of business, we have true law policy presentation. >> All right. Good evening. >> Good evening. Uh, thanks so much for allowing me to be here tonight. I really appreciate your time. My name is Luke Seavoy from Tron Law Firm. I will be joined shortly by my colleague Jennifer Starland. Just got caught in the traffic somewhere between here and Lancing, but she'll be here within a few minutes. I'm here today to talk about the Trune Policy Service, help answer any questions you have. >>

003Can I stop you? Is that mic on? >> Check. Check. Need to lean in a little bit. >> That's better. Thanks for stopping me. Uh I'm here to talk a bit about the True Policy Service, help explain what that transition might look like for you, and just tell you a bit about how we got to where we are today. Uh and I'm going to start with just a general overview of the benefits of the service. So Trun Law Firm has been representing a substantial majority of Michigan's public schools uh for over 75 years now. Uh, our attorneys are quite familiar with reviewing, drafting, and modifying board policies adopted by different Michigan public schools. And today, over 90% of Michigan's public schools and ISDs are true and retainer clients and rely on the expertise of our

004attorneys year round. Uh in the years leading up to 2020, we were receiving just a lot of client requests to review districts uh board policies. And time and time again, we were seeing the same thing, policies that were redundant, incomplete, um not in compliance with the law, hard to understand. And our attorneys realized that the best way forward was just to create a new comprehensive product that could be applied to every Michigan public school district. Uh so our team of 30 attorneys got together and developed the trun policy service and that is why when you go with trun for policy you're not just guaranteeing legal expertise you're guaranteeing uh specific practical knowledge in all areas of Michigan school law. Our policies are created specifically for Michigan public schools by Michigan attorneys and recently we've now

005been endorsed by the Michigan Association of School Boards as their preferred policy provider in Michigan. Uh in just a few short years you've seen almost 200 school districts now rely on TR policy service out of the 500 in Michigan. Essentially unlike other policy services policies were created with Michigan schools in mind. Some other policy service providers are national conglomerates for made up of former superintendent and their their legal counsel and when they have a question when you have a question for them they reach out to their legal counsel to get you an answer. On the flip side if you go with trun for policy uh you're going straight to the source usually speaking directly with the attorney who wrote the policy when you have a question about it. Basically, with over 500 districts on retainer,

006we understand that there's no one-sizefits-all approach to board policy because, of course, that would ignore everyone's size, location, priorities, and challenges. The Trune policies are customizable to match the needs of your school district. Um, we assist you in this process with a few tools, mainly a very detailed checklist that shows you each and every item you need to complete before you can adopt the policies. We focused a lot on making it a very userfriendly service. Minimizing the legal ease within the policies so that it's very easy to understand. Uh reducing the amount of policy series compared to our competitors so we just have the four main policy series and in general just making the update and adoption process very simple and painless. We offer free policy implementation meetings every few months uh virtually. These are

007also recorded and available on our website throughout the year for your reference. This is essentially just always a free opportunity to meet with the attorneys face toface and review any policy that requires any action on your part or anything you have questions about. We have easy annual updates. It's been a uh priority of ours throughout the policy service. Um, particularly we hold everything until June whenever possible. Uh, for a single annual update of everything. There might occasionally be some small midyear updates if there's some pressing updates in the law. We update those materials as soon as possible to get you those when you need them. Otherwise, we hold everything until June. You have flexibility in the online platform you use to host the policies online since we don't require you to go with any platform

008in particular. It's very cost effective, especially considering your retainer client discount. Uh people are often surprised to learn it's uh just a fraction of some of our competitors costs. Uh especially when you include the fact that we don't require you to pay us a subscription fee to edit your policies online. Uh and we don't charge for our title 9 uh training video either which is just include one of the many things included uh as a supplement to the policy service. We offer two optional packages with the policy manual that being the administrative guidelines and forms and the student and employee handbooks. I'm often asked what does it take exactly to switch to policy? The steps are actually pretty simple. You download everything from our website. Use the checklist that we provide to customize all the

009policies as needed. You can attend a policy implementation meeting via Zoom or watch the recorded video. Finalize the policies for presentation to the board. And then we provide you with a sample resolution you can use to repeal and replace all of your policies. to give you an overlook of the policy manual. Here are the five series we use to separate the policies. I like to say four main series because the 1000s is very short, just four policies total. Then you have all of the board bylaws in the 2000s. The 3000s is sort of the hodge podge miscellaneous group. That's operations, finance, and property. Then all of district employment in the 4,000s. all of students and curriculum in the 5000s. To assist with the process of customizing the policies, we provide you with a policy implementation

010checklist. This includes everything within the policy manual that might require any action on your part. This could include just inserting district specific information into a customizable field. There's also some places where there's select option one or option two and you just simply delete the paragraph you don't select. And then there are plenty of policies that are entirely optional. So I think about two dozen policies in total uh are completely up to you. You'll be legally compliant with or without them. To give you an idea of what this looks like, uh here's an example of an optional policy. Student representative on the board. Totally up to the district if you want to adopt this. If you do not adopt the policy, simply replace the title with intentionally left blank. That's our system for just maintaining the

011numbering system so that you don't have to reumber everything depending on which policies you adopt. Similarly, there are some policies that are not optional but have some optional language within them. Here's an example in the board member reimbursement policy. If you don't want to adopt this op optional language in 4B, just put the word reserved after B. Similar system. Here's an example uh in the accounting policy where you choose between option one or option two. Simply delete the option you do not want to select. And then there's also some places where the attorneys include notes and recommendations. Uh here there's in the anti-bullying policy there's a chance for you to insert who the responsible school official is for this policy. There's a recommendation for that being the superintendent but also noted that it is completely

012up to the district. In terms of how the policies would be implemented, I would highly suggest attending one of the policy implementation meetings. These are two two and a half hour meetings on a Thursday and Friday morning via Zoom. The attorneys walk you through the policies one at a time. They share their screen and pay uh particular attention to any policies that require customization. So they go through the checklist items. They take any questions you have and they just make sure you understand anything uh regarding the customization process of the policy manual. Uh these are always free, always available as a resource. In fact, you're available to join without even purchasing the policy manual. So if you ever just want to audit these uh free webinars, just go to trunlaw.com and go to our events

013page. You can uh sign up today even. Uh when you are finished customizing the policies, here's how you would go about actually adopting them. Note that you're not required to schedule a meeting with us or send the policies back to Trune. Once you've finished customizing them, it's essentially all on your own timeline, but you can reach out with any questions you have at any time. You we provide you with a sample resolution you use that will repeal and replace all of your policies at once. So, your your current board policies will remain in place throughout this customization process. And then at the very end, once you're all ready to go, we'll switch them all out at once. Once adopted, you can upload the policies to the online platform of your choice. A lot of people

014use board book offered through MASB already for their board minutes. So, that's a good searchable option, but there's several options out there, a few free ones, but we don't require you to to use any particular platform. Many people just use their district website. There's also no resolution needed uh going forward to update the policies. Every year when you go through the annual update process, you're not required to use resolution, not required to meet with TR, not required to send us back your uh edits, although like I said, we're available for any of those questions or to meet if you uh need to. The timeline for implementation can vary a lot between districts, mostly depending on the level of internal review people want to use uh to customize the policies. But for districts with a consistent

015dedicated effort to customizing the policies, I normally see an adoption in about 3 months. So here's a possible 3-month timeline based on what I've seen in the past. In the first month, you should review the checklist, knock out any of the easy items such as insert uh contact information for this role. Easy enough, just plugging in information. While you're going through the checklist, create a list of questions for our attorneys. Start thinking about where you'll upload the policies online. In the second month, you can either attend one of those free meetings uh designed to walk you through the customization process, or you can watch the recorded video, start working on the more detailed and complex checklist items, and as always, send any questions you have over to me at [email protected], and I'm facilitating those questions

016out to the right attorneys um anytime throughout the adoption process and after the adoption process as well. And finally, in the third month, finalize the policies for presentation to the board. Get everything ready to go. Uh we provide you with a sample resolution that you use to adopt everything and then you upload them to the online platform of your choice. uh to help review the policy update process. I will show you the kind of tools that you're provided uh in June each each year and also also during the smaller policy updated throughout needed throughout the year. Try to hold try to hold everything until June whenever we can to avoid bombarding you with policy updates. Uh so we provide you with a free policy update review video in which the attorneys walk you through each

017of the changes that were made during the last update. This is also a live meeting that's free to join. It's a Zoom meeting. So, you can either join the meeting or watch the recorded video or both. We provide you with a policy update guide to accompany the video. In the video, this contains the policy update summary, which is just a list of the policies that changed and a brief description of the revision. The instructions for implementation go into a little bit more detail about specifically anything you policy update happen policy update happen marked PDF of changes. This is a uh compiled PDF of all of the tracked changes from the last policy update. So we also provide them as separate word docs if you like that. But in a single PDF, you can scroll through,

018use the bookmarks, and just really quickly see exactly what changed in each policy. And the updated award documents are ready for your review with those changes already applied. So, you don't need to go through and make the edits yourself. Those are already applied here in this separate folder. Uh, like I mentioned, we offer two optional packages as part of the policy service. the administrative guidelines and forms. Uh these go hand inhand with the policies. They there are a series of videos on our website um dedicated to the AG's and forms. They have their own page here. And in these videos, the attorneys walk you through the AGS and forms kind of explaining those uh administrative guidelines one at a time. The student and employee handbooks also an optional package of the service. These are sold

019together. uh the student and employee handbooks are designed to go hand in hand with true policy of course and like the AGS and forms your annual update uh fee automatically applies to the handbooks as well. So you won't pay more for annual updates if you opt in for the handbooks or the ages and forms. Those will just be included in your annual policy updates at no additional charge. Here's the pricing of the policy service. uh all your discount as a true and retainer client. Uh the policy manual has a onetime cost of 8,000. The ages and forms has a onetime cost of 4,500 and the handbooks have a onetime cost of 1,500 total. The only recurring cost are the annual updates. That has a maximum possible cost of 2750 per year, but it could be

020less if few updates are needed in a given year. Again, that fee applies to everything. Uh, so your annual update fee won't be higher if you opt in for the AGS and forms. Those will just be rolled into the price of updating your policies. Overall, uh, Trune policies are overall uh, Trune policies are clear, consistent, and customizable. They were created um, you'll see in front of you, I have some in front of you. I have your view, but I'm I'm happy to take any questions as well. and I'm also joined by uh my colleague Jennifer Starland and I just wanted to give her a chance to share some of her thoughts as well. >> Good evening. Thank you for having us. Uh Lucas is really our mastermind of the policies and he uh knows everything

021about the how uh related to the policy service and really does a tremendous lift at our firm with respect to the policy service. uh as one of the attorneys at Trun uh I help write the policies, update the policies, and can answer any questions you have about any of the specific policies or how we approach things. I think one of the important takeaways uh that I like boards and clients to hear is um you know, we developed this policy service out of what we viewed as necessity. We were having clients kind of over the course of years piece meal together their own customized policy set by calling us and saying, "Can you write a policy on this? Can you write a policy on this?" And obviously the cost to do that ends up being pretty

022astronomical if you write them all one at a time with your legal counsel. Um, so we were able to compile some things that we had done over the years and then obviously we had to fill in the gaps on some things that we maybe hadn't done yet. Um but but I think where we landed is a place where it's kind of just right in terms of sizing. It's comprehensive without being um really really really long. Um but I think that we hit the areas that that need to be addressed in policy. Um and then some other areas are are generally left to you know local discretion to handle through the uh handbook. Um some handle it through you know just internal procedures. Uh but I do think that the policy set itself is very isensive.

023You also get the benefit of too many lawyers sitting around lawyering things which means that we from time to time uh look and say wow we could we could really build a better mousetrap on this policy and we fix something if it's causing issues for clients and then you get the benefit of that in the update. What we've also seen since we started this policy service uh five years, it's been five years now. Wow. Um is that occasionally a client calls and they want a policy on a really specific topic and then we write that for them and then the benefit to our policy subscribers is that often then enters the policy manual as an optional policy. we have one client that wanted it, maybe others do. And then that's a kind of a, you

024know, the group gets the benefit of what one client has has raised, has asked for, has pointed out. Um, and then the obvious other benefit is, uh, when you call a TRUN attorney about a trune policy, we don't generally have to say, "Hang on, I'm going to go spend a couple hours reviewing all your policies to see if I can find the answer." We are very familiar with them. um probably too familiar with them after all the hours we've spent around tables writing them. Um so we can usually uh in a lot of cases answer your questions uh pretty quickly. So Lucas is the how in terms of getting the policies off the ground, but if there's any specific questions about the details, I'm more than happy to take those as well. >> Anyone? So,

025if I'm understanding this right, when we go to um do our policy, it's all via Zoom. Like, you help us customize it, but it's via Zoom. >> So, um and I'll answer and then Lucas can fill in any any blanks. Um it's designed where you can do it yourself. We have policy implementation meetings where we go through and you can hear via Zoom us talking and saying on this policy here's what you need to look for on this policy here's your options and here's why we recommended a certain selection or not. If you have then individual follow-up questions, we're always happy to meet with your policy committee. We've done that from time to time. Um or you know take questions specific to a certain policy. Um, but we don't sit down with the entire policy

026committee and go through every single policy and say, "Here's what you might want to do with this one. Here's what you might want to do with that one." >> And we store everything on our website. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Did you have anything else to say, Lucas? Sorry. >> No, you're good. I was just going to say your website or any online platform you'd like to in terms of making them available to the public, but yes, you would receive everything digitally. Now, is there a way for like if somebody was looking at a certain policy and they wanted to see the law that it applies to, is there a link to that that they can see the or go to where there are applicable legal specific legal citations? Those are referenced at the end

027of each policy, what it's based on, um or or at least the controlling law. We don't we don't cite every single case that has ever interpreted something, but you the big ones. Um they're not hyperl though. So, um somebody could type that into Google though and get there pretty easily. It'll have like MCL 380.1310 or this citation or you know Tinker versus De Moines would be you know the case related to student speech. So there are um uh references like that but they're not hyperl. Okay. Are those um if for example we were to meet with the Truan attorney um with a policy committee or as we were implementing and had questions about specific policies, is that inclusive in the fees or is that the true and hourly rate? >> That would be at the

028true and hourly rate. That would be an additional cost. Yep. >> Anyone else? Oh, all right. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much everyone. We appreciate your time tonight. [Applause] Thanks everyone. Thank you. >> Um our next item is the attendance presentation and I know I could do this from my seat. However, my 40-ish years as being a principal and a teacher doesn't allow me to sit and talk. So, um, so, um, I wanted to thank the board and families and staff and, uh, community members for allowing me to share some of the work that that my team and I have done this year in attendance. Um, it is a daunting task and, uh, we've had many hands on deck and I can tell you what we've done so far and where we're

029going in the future. Oh, I have the clicker. I get to I get to do this. maybe. Oh, okay. I am Carla Gresley. I'm the director of community schools. If uh you don't know who I am, um and I took this role last year and started on this journey with attendance last year in July. So, I've been a year in this role. Um first thing I did was um there's a difference between average daily attendance which tells you the percentage overall you see 90% is the ADA um which isn't accurate when you're counting on truency or chronic attendance. Truency is different than chronic attendance which is the first thing I learned. Truency is unexcused absences. It's usually full days and it really relies on, you know, the leg legality of it. When you get into

030truency, a truent officer comes, we, you know, we we sometimes have to go to the court system. Whereas chronic absenteeism, when you are going through the process, we try to break down barriers. It's more community school related. Uh we try to use um positive strategies and we we absolutely try to uh just get the kids to school and help the families. Um but it does count excused, unexcused, suspension, it counts everything. So when you're chronically absent, we count everything except for one thing and that's medical. We do not count the medical. I forget about this. Um so to understand where we are I did pull out national norms and national um statistics and um before our pandemic um the rate was right around uh in nationally about a little under 20% and Michigan was at

031a little over 20%. Um when we came back from the pandemic, you can see that orang-ish one. Uh we shot up um as high as 40 uh% and higher in Michigan and um almost as high in nationally. Um as we've gone, we've we have seen some decreases, but it's not happening quick enough. Um, so this last year, um, I think it was at 20 30 20 33%. I can't really see it, so sorry. 29% 29.5. That's right. 29.5. So it's still high. Um, and I know that it is a national uh discussion in Hazel Park. Uh, we have followed this is only this year. This is 2425. So we are slightly we're 9% higher than both the national and um the Michigan uh rates. Um so we are but we followed the same thing. Our

032rates were lower before pandemic, they went higher after pandemic and um we are working hard to make sure that we get kids to school. I believe last year as a building principal, you know, they were they were much higher and they have come down some, but not fast enough. Um, I know you can't see this very well, so let me uh tell you this is by grade level. So, our preschool students actually um you can see on the end here are uh if they're uh the minus3. So, we've got prek minus 2 minus 3 and kindergarten. So, all of those are a little bit higher and we don't um they are not required to go to school. So, although we don't really do much with preschool because we have no legs to stand on with

033them. We can say, "Hey, you need to get to school. this is good for your child. But, uh, many times, you know, we we really don't have any much to to do with that. Kindergarten even, um, unless they're six years old or older, um, although we call the parents and talk about the the positive effects of going to school, many times we don't have any we can't really say much until they become 6 years old. So, um we do contact them um if we can. Um but you'll also notice um we kind of have so our K12 is um at the top at the green. It it's we've got a bigger middle um there. Um then our like our third, fourth, and fifth tends to have better um attendance. And then we go to middle

034school and our middle school uh is pretty high. Um I know I worked with um the P2P worker over there and we uh worked tirelessly to try to get kids to school and sometimes they miss first hour, they miss last hour, they miss, you know, and and so it was um it was a lot of work and um we're hoping to make better progress with them. And then the high school all of a sudden, you know, these 10th, 11th, and 12th graders, um, their attendance was much better. As far as schools go, um, I have two outliers. I'm not sure why Advantage and Jardan has 100% um, attendance. I'm hoping that's true, but I'm not so sure it is. Um, so I I cannot explain that. It's I took all these numbers from our analytics

035from powers school which was really wonderful. I can really look at it in in many different ways. If I actually click on that 56 I can see who those kids are. So um moving forward this is going to be a really powerful tour tool. Um Edison Webster and Invest schools are hovering right around 60%. Um and so that's above the district level. Whereas the high school is performing better than the district um with a lower rate of absenteeism. And web which is quite the outlier only had uh 28% chronic absenteeism on here and um their attendance was 43%. So they they've done a lot of work and um I was really uh impressed with the work that Corey did and her team did over there as well. Oops. So this is the one I think

036everybody wants to see. This is the busing. Um so what I did was I had 30 kids that actually rode the bus pretty regularly. 21 of those children were kids that we had in 23 24 and 2425. So I looked at their actual attendance sheet. I looked at when they were at school, when they were not at school, when they were tardy, when they were not tardy, all of those things. And you can see um their attendance rate at um on in 23 24 it was 15% at the high level. So those 15% of those kids those 21 kids were there didn't have a an issue with attendance. Um 40% were trending. Um another I wish I wore bif focals. 30% was um nearly chronic. So they had um more more absences and then 15%

037were uh chronic which means they had 18 days or 10% of the school year um where they they missed and many times it was much more than that you know 18 days um would be nice. Sometimes it's 20 25 30 even up to 40. On the other side, I took that same data, those same kids, and I plugged them in and um this is the graph I got. So, you can see that in 2425, those same kids um uh you know, their attendance was much better. uh 15% of them were five that went from 15 to five um chronic absenteeism and um uh even the the trending chronically all moved up to good attendance. Um the other thing I noted which is was the most interesting thing because I poured over these things for hours.

038Um the tardies were down in 2425 from 23 24. Those half days of school where kids don't come to school in 2425 those kids came to school except for one one day and that was March 21st. A lot of them missed March 21st and I can't tell you why. I I want I might have been the day before Easter or spring break or something, but many of them didn't come that day. But the rest of the half days they were there. Um that is a win because I know as a building principal many times it's you know our our building is empty because parents don't want to drop them off and pick them up on those half days. Um, so that was I think the the biggest win for me was the tardies went down

039and those kids really came on those half days because we do teach no matter what. So, um, it was it was good uh good information. Um, so when I wrote the Balmer Grant, when uh Dr. Wilcox and I wrote the Bomber Grant. One of the things we said is with our people that we have coming in, our promise navigators, one of the things that we're going to do is decrease our chronic absenteeism and and 25% over three years. So, if you look at the 25% over three years, uh this is what it would look like. And um year one, you can see at the bottom, we're really building that foundation. We we're trying to put systems together. We're trying to look at our analytics a little bit better. Um, we have letters going out to

040parents early on this year that says, "Hey, you know, there was an attendance issue last year. Let's meet and talk about how we can get your kids to school." Um, and we're, you know, trying to um we're we're at the um hometown huddles, the teachers nights, the enrollment nights talking about attendance. We have um little sleep hygiene kits that were given out u and talking about the importance of sleep and the importance of attendance at our enrollment nights. So um all of those things uh we're trying to kind of preempt some of the things that we're doing. Um next year we're really going to scale our successful practices. We're going to look at what worked and we're going to do it more. Um, we're going to throw away the things that didn't work and we're

041going to really try to get more intensive with our out outreach. I know we have United Way talking about coming in and and doing some things with us and we have our transition to success. So, there's some things that we have in the works that we're really going to try to lean into to help our our absenteeism. Attendance works. This is 25 over three years. Attendance Works wants to do uh 50 and five. I'm all for it. Let's go. You know, I would love to do that. Um in year three, we really want to deepen our supports and sustain um whatever we've gained so far. And the biggest thing is when you get kids coming to school, you'll get them going, you'll get them going, and then you'll go back three months later and suddenly

042they're not going to school anymore. So, we want something that we can sustain that we can really target those gaps and and fix the problem, not just put a band-aid on it. Um, so, whoops, there it is. So, that I've been attending the truency task force and you have one of these. It's not lovely colored like this. Um, but one of the things we do at the truency task force is I've met um lots of people. It is more of the truency side of that. So it's rule following the prosecutors are there the um uh people from um oh think of it the truency officers a lot of Oakland County people there Easter Seals other districts are there and we just talk about you know moving forward with attendance one of the things they talked

043about was this tier three tiered system of truency and so that was a pilot or something that they worked done. We're going to lean more into that and see um how we can uh look at the tiers and hopefully make our work a little bit easier. Um the other thing is is there the truency task force is working in a tri county um uh effort to and they have something called inclass is where it's at. There's a website out there. They have stars that came on. there were commercials and so we're going to try to put that out too because it is an Oakland County thing. So, we're going to try to lean into that as well. So, those are meetings. I learn a lot at them and I've made lots of really good connections.

044Um, our task force is um something we started in July just talking about what do we want what do we want it to look like? Um, who should join it? And it started with a small group. Um what's our purpose? And we want to be proactive. We want to be school-based responsive. And we want to um make sure that we are collaborative with our families and that we are um we're really there to connect with our families and support them. Um the P2P workers, secretaries, principles, community school coordinators, the promise navigators joined at the near the end. the McKenna Vento liaison and myself. Um, even the P2P workers, the supervisors came and were interested in the work we were doing. So, uh, we, you know, worked all year and we would review attendance data and

045we'd address barriers. Sometimes I would go over to each building and we'd talk about, you know, we'd make a home visit or we'd call somebody together and then try to figure out what they had to help the parent and what I had to help the parent. So, um, we might have done sometimes we met with the parent and uh wrote up a contract for the parent and the child and so it was a again it it was a a year of learning. Um, we do want each and every student to feel seen, supported, and we want them to get this pathway back to school. It's super important for us to get these kids in school because we cannot teach them if they are not there. Um, so early intervention, relationship building, and accountability is kind

046of where we go. We're not judgmental. We're not saying parents aren't um uh good parents because they're not bringing their kids to school. there are reasons why kids aren't coming to school and why parents are bringing their kids to school. Um, one of the things we also did is we um all adopted five kids and we would check in and check out kind of like we do sometimes with kids that have some um behavior that they're struggling with. And um uh Sarah Gray over at Hoover um laughed one day when she came on our our meeting and she said, "I forgot to go check in with my one of my students and he came to the office to check up on me." So he um and all we all it is is the kid comes

047in and we say, "Hey, high five. Nice to see you." And I'm just checking in, seeing if you're here. And it's really just a positive, you know, building a relationship with them. So, we're going to try to get more people to do that buddy buddy with these kids that are struggling to come to school. Um, so that's our truency task force and what's next and I will go through this very quickly because I know there's a long agenda, but we are going to um deepen our impact. We really want to get to know our families at a deeper level and see what else we can do for them. We're going to expand our reach. Um, so adding more hands to the pot and adding more people. Um, we're going to also uh we're ensuring long-term

048stability. Like I said, we want to build a system that sustains what we're doing so we don't lose uh ground every year. Um we're going to continue our task force meetings and um focus on early interventions, our summer letters, our stuff that we're doing at enrollment night and um I'm meeting with parents um at uh some of the meet the teacher nights and um and some of their nights at the schools because it's a little than having something here with everybody. it's a little more personal and the promise navigators are doing all this too. Um, we do want to uh refine and expand our tiered system so that we can kind of put kids and and families in tiers. The first level everybody gets the second level it might be that we need to give

049them a little bit more. The third level we really need to go all out and make sure that we're supporting them. Um, and then we're going to ensure all students uh with concerns receive timely support. Again, it is a daunting task. There are a lot of kids and um a lot of families and so sometimes there's not enough hands and so it might be a week, two weeks before we can get to them. But we really want to look at that tiered system and make sure that we're hitting those tier 3es um uh really timely. Um and I already mentioned um United Way is looking into um some supports for us. Um we're also looking to engage the community and um uh share the message and newsletters. you know, attendance is going to be kind

050of our platform um out of my office and um just really pushing attendance and school updates and doing things um throughout the um school. Um we're going to partner with local organizations to help reduce um barriers. We're already in that Oakland County um transition to success. Um we have community school grants. We have a lot of things and hopefully we can open up our community hub to help some of that too. We're going to promote our inschool is where it's at. Um and then I think that um sometimes uh doing some training so secretaries on tracking and response making sure that we're we've got that system in place and it's strong. Principles on the tiered attendance system. So here's what it looks like. um because some of this is new. And then we want to

051support staff um anybody that wants to we want to make sure that we train them and and let them know what home visits look like and outreach looks like and trauma-informed practices. Um I do want to get some friendly user guides and tools and supports for attendance. Um, that's kind of one of the things I'm I've been working on um to um help with the attendance. I know I worked hard with um Thelma on Mckin Vinto. So, this is kind of my next big thing to kind of have something where it says we're going to do this, we're going to do this. And even though families are not always the same, at least we have an avenue to go. Um lastly I think the biggest thing that I want to do is last year we

052were using Google Docs as we were transitioning from myar to powers school. Powers school is um is up and running and the analytics is up and running which it is better than what we were using before where we would have to put it in the Google doc and then we put it in here and then we do this and and then the P2P workers had to put it someplace else. So, this is going to make our job a lot easier. We will be able to really look at, as you saw, I pulled all of that stuff out of out of powers school. So, we can pull all that stuff out. Um uh and then we're going to look at, you know, how many meetings are we having? Uh what are the con uh contracts? Are

053they completed? Did are those kids coming to school? So we're going to do a much better job of tracking what we're doing and making sure that we're touching each and every family. So we're hoping at the very end it says by aligning our efforts with clear measurable data we can better assess what working identifying areas for improvement and ensure every school is every student is supported on their path to success. And that's all I have. Um and uh do you have any questions? >> Sure. Can >> you say when that task force started? >> Pardon me. >> The task force started in July. >> July. I started right away. We didn't start doing our task force. Um the elementary schools actually the junior high too has always been doing collecting this data, but we were

054all kind of doing something different. So by bringing everybody together, we all started doing this and then meeting and talking about no, we're doing this, we're doing this, we're doing this. So we actually took the handbook, I put the process together and said this is what we're doing. This is who's doing this, this is who's doing this, this is who this is when you should do this. So we followed kind of what the handbook said this year. And um then you know we're now we're we want to build on that. >> And what year did we start the busing? Was it >> last year? >> We didn't do it the year before. >> 2425. It's Yeah. >> So the first thing was pre- busing and the second thing was posting. >> I'll show you. >>

055I mean that's >> Yes. Oh, you okay. So the the 24 20 23 24 were were the kids that were at school that year and their attendance the following year those are the same kids that started riding the bus. So did we start the busing in 2425 or 23 24? >> 2425. Okay. And this is kind of a silly question. Do you attribute this attendance solely to the bus or do you attribute it to a combination of efforts? >> Um, I will tell you that I did not have to do I know those I know those names by heart. I don't believe that any of them received any kind of you know some of them received a phone call but the attendance was uh much improved. So our efforts did not necessarily go on these

056kids because they weren't, you know, in our tier three system. But >> that again, my biggest aha was the half days in the tardies. That was my biggest hara because that is not the tardies that they had is not indicated in their absences here. Um there were you know 30 40 t tardies for some kids where the next year not at all. >> Thank you so much. >> You're so welcome. >> Thank you for all that effort. >> Not a problem. A lot of work. >> Thank you. >> Anybody? Um I just have a suggestion that you get in touch with Hazel Park Youth Assistance because our motto is keep kids in the classroom out of the courtroom. Our chairperson is Andy Liro, which is city councilman. Steve Morton, retired teacher, is vice chair, and

057Paul Tisio from Oakland County Courts. I actually met with Paul early in the year. And I would say if we probably have I know that some of the schools we put that in part of our process, but I would agree that we need to lean on them more. I know in the past we have. I'm not sure what you know it kind of has has moved like this but I agree with you 100%. >> So it's a great organization and that's our goal is to the big thing is truency with us. >> Well the next time I do this I will tell you how many that we >> also great presentation a lot of thought put into uh solving the the situation for families. So >> thank you. >> Okay moving on to public comment.

058So this is I just have a little speech here to read that this is a business meeting of the board of education held in public not a public community meeting. The board members will not engage in comments back and forth. Be assured that we are listening carefully. Uh the board has provided two opportunities during the meeting for public to address the board respectfully. So, um you have five minutes and um please state your name and address. And I have Kim Allen. Madame President, while uh she's coming up to the podium, I would like to please remind everyone to talk into the microphone like this when they're talking so that people at home can hear because I was trying to listen to it the other day and it's very difficult to hear. So, you have to

059pretend you're at the government hearings and you have to talk into these little microphones so that they can hear you. >> Thank you. >> Hi, everyone. Um, I'm Camelan. You guys know where I live. I don't want to put my address out there. It's okay. Um, I'm here about accountability tonight. There has been so much being said that we're here for the kids. We're here for the kids. No one on this board is here for the kids. Just Just have to tell you that. um you guys are putting people in positions that are being pawns in those positions. So stuff like this happens. Who's that fair to? It's not fair to the pawn and it's not fair to the children. Um I literally am getting sick of hearing we're about the children. We're about the

060children. about the children when there's no documentation from the school board about anything that we have complained to you about for our children. I live 14 houses away from my grandson's school. He is fourth generation Hazel Park student. If I did not have such a crazy work schedule, my grandchild would no longer be going to Hazel Park schools because of the board. You have taken a coach away from his kids that he literally has done nothing but make them even better in school, in sports, in the community. And now look, you you're using someone as a pawn because you don't like him. He did nothing wrong to you guys. He doesn't like one other person, so you guys don't like him. We have proof. We have documentation. If you guys have any questions about where

061the documentation is, just ask the people in the crowd right now because when we asked you for documentation, you had none. This board could not come up with documentation on this gentleman, but we have it. We have a bunch of documentation. We'll be happy to show it all night. All I know is because of this board, I am ready to leave the city of Hazel Park. I know 10 other families that have already pulled their students out which minimum of 20 children all because of the last three months of this board. >> Thank you. Okay, I have I'm I'm not going to say this name right. Probably miss is it Nang Nying? I don't know if it's a silent I. Sorry. >> I'd also like Hello, my name is Amy. Uh, it's pronounced. >> Okay.

062Thank you. I'm sorry. No, you're good. Um, I'd also like to add on to what Miss Kim said here. I was a student at Hazel Park Schools for maybe from the from first grade to fourth grade. And then I came back my sophomore year. That's how I met Mr. Donald McInness here. Um, and I was pulled out for the same reason that she said because of this school board. Now, I do not know if everyone on the school board was on the same school board when I was pulled out, but you guys were sure here when I was pulled out because when I was pulled out the second time around. Um, I just wanted to say a few words because the way you guys have treated this man this year honestly has hurt my soul

063a lot. I am no longer a student at Hazel Park, but I know what goes on here and I know that what you have done to this man and the kids that he has helped is is unimaginable. It's um so I would just like to say a few words. Um, I'm here today because I don't want to speak as a student athlete, but I want to speak as someone whose life has been touched by Mr. McGinness. Um, wrestling teaches you a lot of stuff. Teach you strength, discipline, mental toughness. But my coach has taught me something deeper. He taught me to believe in myself when I couldn't. He pushed me not just to be better, to be a better athlete, but to be a better person. When I hit some of the lowest moments in

064my life, he was there for me. And he did not turn away. He He listened to me. He was supportive. He created a space for me to be my true self. and to express myself. I'm so sorry that I'm crying. Um but not only so today I I stay here not because for me but for all the other kids who aren't here who have felt the same way that I have because so sorry but I know you guys think that why is she crying it's just a coach but he's not just a coach. He has changed my life in ways that I can't even explain. If it wasn't for him, I don't think I'd be here. Not just standing to you, talking to you, but here. I still wrestle. Even though I I am going

065to be a senior in high school, I still wrestle. I'm captain of my team now. And none of that would have happened if it wasn't for that man sitting right there. And there's a reason why these kids need him. And for you guys to sit here, each and every one of you who continuously, continuously, continuously think everything is that man's fault. He has done nothing nothing but try to help these kids. And you guys are sitting here making him seem basically like a villain. And I just I just can't stand for it. I don't live in Hazel Park anymore. I don't go to Hazel Park schools anymore. I don't. But I made my way here because you guys deserve to listen to me. You need to listen to me. Thank you. I have uh Kayn

066McInness. And you know, state your name so it's on the tape, but addresses are on here. I'm not going to ask for these. they go to the office and um as long as it's on there but state your name please. >> Kayn McInness 1337 East Granite. We reported employee one and employee 2 which was married for having sexual encounters inside the schools. Shortly after that, we started dealing with retaliation from family members and friends of his, to which worked for the school district, to which I did save all the screenshots, snide remarks under posts of the wrestling team, amongst other petty things, which you will see on some of these posters. We voiced our concern that our son Maximus would be wrestling in the junior high as he did the last year and that Donald

067said he'd help take over the junior high position for the time being. He was then told by the AD and HR he can't do both high school and junior high positions, which we have a voice recording of. We didn't want our child to wrestle for employee one, seeing as we'd reported him for his behavior within the school and the many issues with his family and friends. We were promised that he would not be the coach. We had a private meeting and went around the room to all agree only to be let down, forcing our child not to wrestle his seventh grade year. This wrestling season, our foster kid was reported to MHSAA for living with his coach, and we had to hire an attorney to deal with that whole issue. Then my husband was investigated

068by Oakland County Sheriff's because someone reported to okay to say three times. After the second time, they caught on that someone was just trying to come after our family, to which I do have the investigation report. Absolutely disgusting to have grown adults act that way. Employee 1's kid was going around the school calling my husband an Irish buck to some other students. One of the kids came to Max to let him know it was taking place and Max confronted him and told him to stop. Then Max let him know or let me know and I contacted the school. The school did confirm that it took place. I was told that it's not specifically bullying because it only happened once, but given the circumstances, would it ever stop? And this is why we pulled our children

069from Hazel Park schools. I was not going to tolerate this behavior or have my children be harassed or bullied. Another issue is I foyed for two investigations. One for the sexual activity that took place inside the schools with employee one and two and the reported incident made by an employee with a teacher at web and an employee one. And I was met back with the response, "Your request is denied to the extent that the district certifies that it does not have in its possession any such records requested, for they do not exist to the best knowledge of the district." Why did HR say they investigated in a voice recording I took of a conversation we had? I reported it via email on 102324. So, you're either lying that it was investigated or you're hiding something.

070I'm not sure that you should play that. >> It was said. Should it not be played? It It's proof. >> I think you should not, Mr. Patterson. >> Yeah, we both knew of it. I can't do both. There's five or six other schools I call right now that they do both right now. >> Okay. You can't play it too long. It's okay. >> You can't play that. >> Do you not want me to play the recording? >> No, I don't want you to play that. >> Okay. >> Whoever would like to hear it, you can hear it after. Some of the board members have close ties with some of the people that have retaliated against us for reporting. You are just as guilty. You should step down from your positions immediately. You should be ashamed

071of yourselves. Stop trying to kick off board members who won't join the mean girls. Really think about the kids and how it's already affecting them. Then take a good look at yourselves and ask yourself, did we truly make the best decision for the kids or did we just do it out of spite to help get our adult friends into positions they don't deserve? >> Thank you for your time. >> Okay, thank you. Okay, I have uh Nathan is it Goodson? Nathan. Hello, my name is Nathan Goodson. I'm here to speak on behalf of Mr. McInness. Um, he's he's a really good coach and he's even better person and he made me the man I am today. He was a huge part in playing that. I failed my freshman year and I was I was failing

072a few classes in the beginning of my 10th grade year. That's when I joined the wrestling team and McInness showed me tough love and he really motivated me to pass my classes and pass high school. I graduated this year. I completed all the wrestling years. Every year I was in high school. I wrestled all of them. And um I had two car accidents and McInness is there for both of them. He really helped me out. He helped my parents out as well. and he's been a really good role model to all the wrestlers that have joined on the team. And I think it's really unfair that you guys are bashing him and really trying to just pull pull crap out of everywhere to try and get him down. It's it's really unfair. He's a really

073good man and yeah. Um it's just he's a good man. I don't I don't know why guys trying to bash him. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, Andrew. It looks like Andrew, but it's on top of the last name. >> Whitney. Yeah. Andrew. >> Um, hello. I am Andrew Whitney Lanc alumni from Hazel Park High School, class 2025. I am here not to only support my coach, but to share a testament of transformative transformative power of exceptional coaching. As someone who has had the privilege of living with my coach, who has also been a father figure to me, I can confidently attest to my his authenticity and realness of his coaching. What about the college other kids that lives that he impacted? It is a blessing to have had this opportunity and I can assure you

074that it's so much more than just a sport. For many of us is about finding a sense of family and belonging that we may have not have experienced. My coach has been a beacon of support, belief, and respect and is unwavering encouragement. It is heartbreaking to know that he won't be coaching at our high school that we graduated from. Not only me, but him and his wife. But what's more disconcerning is despite being treated unfairly, his commitment to the kids never changed. He put us first and always. For me and my fellow teammates and the entire community. Coach McInness has been a shining example of selflessness and dedication. His legacy extends far beyond the realm of sports. It is about the power, love, unity, and boundless potential that lies within each and every one of

075us. Never will Hazel Park find another coach like McInness. And I firmly believe that they lost an amazing coach. He may have been taken for granted, but his impact will never be forgotten. But there was always coach that was there for me, which is coach McGinness. I was once homeless, wanted to end it all. And my coach that I barely really knew from my sophomore year gave me life. And what I mean by life is taught me how to be a man, how to provide, and also taught me how to take care of was mine. He gave me stability so I can be great. He gave me motivation when I was at my lowest. And if I care for anyone most on this planet, it would be coach McGinness. He has changed my life forever

076and has done countless for for countless others. It's not fair, but he told me that that's life. And now seeing how cruel the world is, I would not be coming back to Hazel Park just like the other alumni. Um, Coach McInness is amazing person and I come up here to speak about him not because he changed my life, but I was a homeless kid on the streets with nothing to eat, not wanting to live. And he only took me in. He uh showed me what it meant to be a man, how to take care of myself. He changed my life around and showed me that the world didn't owe me nothing. Um I didn't grow up with a dad and a lot of other a lot of the other wrestlers didn't grow up with families

077and he's a guy that you can come to no matter what and how bad your life is to help you. Uh this is a coach that I would love to be under for the rest of my life. If somebody can coach me, it would be coach McInness. He is a coach that cannot be replaced. No one can be like McInness. Y'all will not find a coach that loves the kids like McInness. Not only McInness, but his wife. Wrestling is like a family. And everybody here in this crowd is like my family. I love everybody in this crowd. Some of the board members, too. It's more than just a sport. You can't just put new people in there. You can't fire a guy. You can't lay him off. It's wrestling. Wrestling defines way more than anybody

078in here knows. Even I don't know all of that yet. But he showed me what family was. He took me in and changed my life. I was not going to go to college. I wasn't going to have nowhere to stay. I could have been in the streets right now. But instead, he showed me that you need to work for what you want. And now I'm going to Grand Valley State University on a full ride scholarship to play football and pursue my dream. [Applause] And um something else that I want to talk about um when I was homeless um my grades dropped tremendously. I was under a 1.9 GPA. He himself helped me bring my GPA up so I can get into college. Um he helped me become a state placer, top seven in the state

079of Michigan. I'm a ranked seventh wrestler. It's crazy how a man like this can change your life. And what I'm seeing going on with Hazel Park is very selfish. He is someone that can never be replaced. He's somebody that changed my life and I can never go back. I love coach McInness with all my heart and what's going on here is totally wrong and I I pray that he finds a better board because this board here is not made for him. This board doesn't respect him. This board is very selfish. Thank you. [Applause] Uh, thank you, Andrew. Um, I have Katherine Miller. Hello, my name is Katie and I am a two-year wrestler coached by Alan McInness himself. And I wrote something to just kind of put into perspective for you guys how good of

080a coach he really is. I want to share impactful he was as a coach. This past season, he gave a motivational talk in practice about believing in ourselves and achieving something great that Hazel Park hasn't been able to achieve in over a decade or so. After this said speech, I asked him personally if he truly believed that I could make it to states. And without hesitation, he told me absolutely, even though I had only won maybe three matches the season before that and didn't believe in myself. That belief changed a lot for me. I ended the season around a 20 win 12 loss record and made the girls Mcome County third team at 110 lbs. While I didn't make it to states, the dramatic improvement from the season beforehand proves enough for me as to

081how good of a coach McInness really is. And the way that everyone treats him and the entire school district just is wrong. It's not fair to him, to us, because he really did prove a lot to everyone as to how he can improve our team. I came into the wrestling room my my sophomore year of high school not knowing anything and he took me in halfway through the season just before districts and taught me a lot. I wrestled that year at districts even though I knew nothing about wrestling. And he taught me that wrestling is more than just a sport. It's a family. And everyone here I knew nothing about. They all welcomed me with open arms. And now I do a lot for my community. I coach for the Junior Vikings. I help out

082with young wrestlers, role model for a lot of people, and I would have never achieved any of that without the belief of Donald McInness. That's all. Thank you. Next is Maxim Maximus McInness. Hello, I'm Maximus McInness. Uh, as you know, my dad, I've been a wrestler for about a good 10 years by now. I've wrestled ever since I was about four or five. Um, now by the time I got to third grade, I got really fat and I really didn't want to do anything as a little kid until my dad really started helping me out coaching and then I got slimmer and slimmer. I got better and I got better because when I was a little kid, my record was never really good. Probably one win for the whole season and then it kept on

083going on like that until about maybe my fourth grade year and then I uh started getting more wins after that. But what I'm trying to say right now is that um my dad is a really good wrestler, really good coach. Uh you can't really replace him and um yeah, he can really change a lot of people's lives. That's it. >> That's it. Thank you. I have John Pote. John Pe, how's it going? Uh, disgusting. Look up the word in the dictionary, please. What is happening here? Coach McInness was my assistant coach. I coached here. got treated like a third class citizen. Walked in the halls. You can't walk in the halls. You go to talk to kids, you can't talk to kids. They run the high school like a prison and treat the coaches like

084dog It's pathetic and disgusting. >> They watch your words. >> I I'm That won't come out again. >> Thank you. >> These kids deserve a coach. I did it for free. I donated all my money to kids bought them shoes because your school cop and your other people in the school that think they run it think they can make your life miserable. Teachers come in the side door. They want us to go through the front door. They want to treat us like third class citizens. You stay down a little hallway, we're locking the gate. If you're outside the gate, they come over and yell at you. These kids are with the teacher for an hour a day. So, a teacher has them for eight hours. As a wrestling coach, we have these kids for 50

085hours a week. 50 hours a week. And we're not doing it for money or fame. We do it because we love the damn kids. The kids are always number one. It's pathetic the way you treat these kids. Students of mine. Students in mind, students in mind. That's all I ever hear at school. But you know what? That's BS. It's the $10,000 per head you're getting from the kids. What? What about another school loaded with kids that don't speak English? Why aren't these kids allowed to play sports? Sports is a pivotal part of a kid's growing up. And what this school is about, they fired me. I walked away. I coached before. I ref. What I saw in this school was the most disgusting stuff I've ever had. You have a crooked ass attorney over there

086who threatens people. Say it again. >> I'm sorry. Ass is a word. ASP. I'm sorry. It's just a bunch of BS. There's no accountability. They hide behind Jimmy over there and it's a bunch of crap. Treat these kids with respect. >> They're going to have to move on. You can't bring up people specifically like this. >> Okay. Your attorney, the attorney for the school district. I'm sorry. Your paid hand to make crap go away, who comes up with trespassing letters on people and this and that. I would get up at 4:30 in the morning on a Saturday and go pick up kids in Detroit. I would start at 4:30 for free. I'd go by Connor Airport, pick up two, go by Detroit Mercy, pick up three. Go to Westside Detroit, pick up four so that

087they could wrestle. Get home from tournament at 7:00 at night and drop them off so they were safe. Fed them all with my money. Got fired. Donated everything. I'm too old for this stuff. I'm retired. And I only reason I did it. Hazel Park was a wrestling powerhouse and I did not want them to shut the doors is the only reason I took that job. You know what other school districts call you guys? South Park. That's what they refer to Hazel Park School District. South Park. Bravo. With kids in mind. People remember that. It was an honor working with him. He's a great man. Hey, next is Chris Johnson. >> Chris Johnson, 23781 Crosley. Um, I want to talk about documentation. Um, on the last board meeting when Junior Vikings was discussed, it was talked

088about how we were told to remove all of our gear and I reviewed my emails and the documentation that I have and it was clear that I just said removal of the gear. I meant football gear, but it was taken as all the gear. So, that's on me and I apologize for any of the confusion that it may have caused. Uh second thing as similar to documentation is there's been multiple coaches this year that appear to have not known that they need to apply for their job again. I know that some of the coaches to me if if you have a job you have it until you quit or you're fired. And if whatever's going on if the documentation and that could be made known better to the coaches that'd be great so that we

089don't have this happening again in the future. And the third thing that I have for documentation is I actually have a handout that I'm going to pass around to you guys. First is a excerpt of the open meetings act where a meeting of the public body shall not be held unless public notice is given as provided in the section by a person designated by the public body. And it goes on to talk about where it can be posted and how far in advance it has to be posted. Here's a screenshot from the YouTube channel for Hazel Park Schools talking about uh regular meeting on the 21st and a workshop on the 22nd. Here's a screenshot. You guys can all check it out on your phones of the meeting dates. They're not listed. Here's a picture

090of the meeting dates on the door that's posted. The only date on the for July is today. I contacted the Michigan Association of School Boards Association to see if this is a violation of the School Boards Act. And while they said that it's possible, you guys might need want to reconsider anything that you voted on the past two meetings because if someone were to pursue this, it's possible that those votes might get negated. So, thank you for your time. Next is Joseph Hill. Good evening. I come for you today to uh express my uh concerns about uh coaching for wrestling. Um, I volunteered my time uh for many years uh for wrestling because I love kids and kids in mind. We want to see them advance, excel, overcome things, obstacles. Most kids don't have these

091opportunities, you know, for not everybody can volunteer like I can. So, I I appreciate that. Um, that being said, I was here a few years ago. Um the the reign of coaches that's gone that's gone through uh Hazel Park school system is is outrageous. It takes at least two years to implement a system in wrestling for kids to be able to trust you and learn from you and grow from you. I've wrestled my whole life. Um you know I still have friends for you know 35 years uh for wrestling. Um, I've got sons that graduated in 22, 25, and I have my sophomore year who's going to probably take over the state of Michigan in wrestling because he's an animal. He's been ranked as high as second in the state. So, he'll go forward. Whether

092that's with Hazel Park, I'm not certain cuz there's anti-bullying that's I hear about in the school system. However, if I got something to tell you, if if one person tells a lie and a thousand people believe them, it's still a lie. Irregardless of, you know, popularity or anything else, I care about the kids and only the kids. So, nothing else matters. My boys answer to me when they get home. They don't act up in school, so they know better. And wrestling has taught them that. This is the toughest sport there is. The only sport that you sign up for to get your butt kicked every day and come back the next day and get your butt kicked all over again. So don't tell me about camaraderie. It's ridiculous and repulsive to think that you can

093just take away any coach at any time when kids are the ones who trust them, right? They buy into the system. They believe in it. And then you take that away, they have nothing. They got to start over again. Seniors and juniors every year got to start over again. It's ridiculous. It's a revolving door. And it's stupid. It really is. And I will continue to volunteer my time for as long as I got breath in these lungs. I'll tell you what. If if anything if the things don't change in this city, it's not going to last. It really won't because there's too much animosity. It's ridiculous. It's it's it's overboard. And I don't care about popularity. I really don't. I care about smelling wrestling mats and go to school and that's it. The end. Okay.

094Next is Lucilla. >> Hello. My name is Lucila and I am one of the wrestlers from McInness since 2016 2017 since middle school and we held an um what's the word called undefeated record for what for two years right three not just two three of them just from his coaching experiences I believed in him and I still do right um I looked up to him we had a crappy team 2015 15. I'm going to say that. And then he built up a team full of trust, summer camps, wrestling camps, etc. Just for us to have wrestling time, just for us to learn and experience what it is to be a wrestler. It's not a family. Well, it is, but it's it's a lifestyle. And I truly believe it. I've been at it since I was

095four years old. through Razel Park underdogs and it's been a hell of a ride and I can't keep seeing this man being shunned. Kind of bothers my feelings a lot as you can tell in my voice and it's just simply unfair and that's all I got to say. [Applause] Omari and Gray. >> Okay. Thank you, Donald McGinness. [Applause] Donald McInness, 1337 East Granite. If you didn't know, Hazel Park has a wrestling school since we've been dominating wrestling school since 60s. We have more Hall of Famers than any other city in Michigan. We have We are the home of the first ever Olympic gold medalists from Greco Roman. Our team has won over 25 district championships in the time that Hazel Park has had wrestling, which is more than all other sports combined. We have more

096state champions than every other sport. All state placers. We have over 120 state placers on the board. I was a part of that Hazel Park history. In 2004 to 2008, I graduated from Hazel Park with four district championships, two regional championships, two top eight in the states, two captains, four-year wrest varsity wrestler. I have coached in HP since my kid was old enough to wrestle. I have coached for assistant for Michael Flety for two years after. I have coached three years, well, three and a half years at the junior high, three years at the high school. This last year, we have won the district championship, a league championship, a league conference championship, made it to the regional finals, had two state qualifiers, one state placer, and I was coach of the year. I was kind

097of disappointed when the AD didn't present to me the award ceremony of my award that I had to get in the back door of his office after the award ceremony that you guys had for me. There was a plaque made that none of you guys got to see or the kids got to see. I also did not none of those kids knew that they were getting awards that day, nor did I. I have wrestled since I was little from the Webster Wolves all the way up and you know it's I'm going too slow on this but I am nervous for being up here. This is a sad thing. I just want to ask you guys a couple questions because I did apply. I have a I was never told to apply before. So I'm going

098to ask you guys a few questions. Was this the right choice for the kids? Were you thinking about them when you kept forcing me out? Was I set up to fail? 100%. I've been asking these things that I should have been done right away. Like putting up the stickers on the wall that doesn't take two years to do for these kids accomplishment. If you guys didn't know, it took two years to put a sticker on the wall. I've been asking for these things since Tom Ostright and emails and text messages and I believe only some of them just now got done. I've been coaching in Hazel Park High School for 3 years. I was in no email asking for a coaching to return even though I was in contact with every single person I was

099supposed to. I did say that I may not return because of who you guys hired and who you guys promised me as a whole when we were in our meeting. And then you guys talked me in back into staying right after the meet after the state tournament was done. I was asking from then on from March 24th from every week through the AD through the superintendent through the assistant of the AD secretary whatever you want to call it uh with emails, text messages and all that. Never once I had to they said that I wasn't going to get the job. I was asking about open mats. I was asking about camps. I was asking about banners, asking about stickers, asking about these kids getting on the wall that they're supposed to be on the wall.

100I'm asking everything these coachlike questions. Never once it got brought up. I did bring it up to the superintendent when she returned again. I asked for the same things. Those answers are still not answered today. So my question is to you guys now. I don't have enough time uh to come back at the end. I'm just letting you guys know I spent more time than any other coach does. I do three tournaments a weekend up to three. We did 24 tournaments this year. We did practices 5 days a week with two to three hours. And if you guys did that math of what you guys paid me, it is 7 cent an hour. That's what I get paid. Not counting the food, the mouthguards, the shoes, anything else that these kids need to do this

101sport. >> Mr. McInness, your time is up. >> I'll be back. >> Thank you. Omari and Gray >> like to start off by thanking everybody here today. And I'd just like to say Coach McGinness is the best coach that Hizzle Park has had in many years. I just heard that he had over a 100 kids sign up in the previous year. And when I was a junior in 2022, 2021 season, we had barely even 20 kids sign up. We finished with the season with I want to say 11 kids. We barely even had enough to go our district round and put out voids and we still fought our our hearts out in our our place. And he wasn't even there at that point. just to see where the the the program has came in two,

102three years. And we got state placers, we got district champs, we got two district champs as a team, not just people alone. That should say something to you guys. I haven't seen that in my eight years of wrestling in Hazel Park since I was in middle school. I haven't seen I've seen one person get on the wall since. And that's 2016. This has been an amazing coach. I don't know. I had him since sixth grade. I had him to my senior year. Every time, even in the summer when I didn't have him, he was still reaching out, calling, texting my family, my mom, asking how we're doing. He's putting me through the most hell. But the same at the same time, it's the most love and memorable wrestling experiences I've had in my whole life.

103I think about every day I had to do them walls. I had to run back and forth and push myself to be the best wrestler I could be. And everybody else in the room could be. And it wasn't just me alone. It's so many kids here, so many adults here that had the same thing. And this coach right here, man, I I don't know any any other coach in Hazel Park. I I don't want to mention anybody, but Dale didn't do it. Cup didn't do it. Deval didn't do it. McGinness was the one to do it. And he had us for all these years. He wasn't just leaving us high and dry. He was texting us. He was reaching out. He was making sure he stayed in contact with the family. This man grew up

104in Hazel Park. He was raised in Hazel Park. He went overseas and still came back to Hazel Park. If if this ain't a story of a coach that you guys should have in your program, I don't know what you guys should have if I'm being honest. This this this is a man right here. And I love him to death. He's my He's like my pop, my second father. I didn't grow up with a father. He taught me most of my life. Taught me discipline. Taught me how to talk to my mom and be a man to my family. taught me how to grow up and go to work and and do things I was supposed to. Put me through helped me go into my trade school, helped me go to my my my job every

105day, texted me still to this day. I don't know how what else to say at this point. I just wanted to let you guys know this man is a great man. And that's all I have to say. Okay. I have is it Sia Henderson? >> I think I messed it up. S it again. Well, when you >> How everybody doing today? >> What? Is it okay if I speak with my grandson? >> Thank you. Go ahead. You tell me what you Let me tell you. >> Okay. I've been here listening to this. This is >> because could you >> It's I'm sorry. It's making me cry because >> Could you state your name? >> Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Janet Henderson. >> This is Somaya Henderson, my grandson. And I've been here for 10

106years. I've been living here for 10 years. And I brought Somaya's family here to live here because I thought it was a beautiful place to be. And listening to all of this about this person, this is a good man. When my grandson came, we had uh tragedy in our family. I lost both my sons, his uncles, and he didn't have anybody to talk to or help him succeed. This man stepped up and helped my grandson. He wanted to drop school and everything, but he coach McInness told him, "No, you going to wrestle and you going to do good." He told him he was, he was an exceptional wrestler. and he was good and he is doing good now. Okay, he might be a little slow but he's doing good, you know, but he's succeeding, you

107know. He's doing real good. So, I just want to say coach, thank you. I I wasn't intend to get up here and say anything cuz I told my grandson to speak for me, but I need to speak for him. He is a good man. and he helped my grandson. He keep he kept him on the right track and I thank him for that. So, you take over. Thank you. You're welcome. >> Uh I just uh I like to say that Don is a very great man and that he still keeps me on the right track till this day. He's helped me get through so much in my life and I don't know where I would be without him. Thank you. [Applause] have Jennifer Jackson. I'm going to be talking about boring stuff. Sorry, guys. Uh

108my name is Jennifer Jackson. Um, I watched the committee of the whole meeting last week while I was making jam. Um, it was four hours, so they kind of went hand in hand. Um, something struck me as slightly odd when the board and superintendent were discussing raises for administrative employees. There seemed to be a lot of concern about the costs of providing 3% increases. Um, two board members are on record saying flat out they would vote no. Two other board members seem to move toward tableabling the vote for raises to see what the future brings. Um, I wondered if the administrative employees who are caught in the middle of the board's current decisions were the employees who are located at the central office and were some of the some or most of the employees interviewed

109during the investigation into the board's behavior following our superintendent's placement on leave. At the March 20 special meeting, I provided public comment specific to employees rights to engage in protected activity, which includes things like participating in investigations. There uh that there are whistleblower protection laws, participating in a complaint process is protected from retaliation under all circumstances. And according to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, retaliation is the most is is the most frequently alleged basis of discrimination in the federal sector. Um I have some questions. If the teachers, paras, custodians, secretaries have all been given 3% raises across the board and the security and the vendor staff are not receiving the same scrutiny as the administrative staff, why is it so difficult to recognize the work of the administrative staff by matching their pay raises

110to the rest of Hazel Park School District? Why was only one administrative staff p person um worthy of a raise? The staff who whose raises are subject to scrutiny right now, were they present during the reported accusations and interviewed by either uh by either of the law firms during the investigations? Did some or all of those staff share information that is unfavorable to the board of education members as a whole or a select few? Did the one person who is receiving a raise have any direct work with the board members uh that the other staff did not? Does the board typically make financial decisions based on unease toward the future? If yes, why were the decisions made by our board uh for our district to pay for two superintendent for five months, two investigations paying

111two law firms at least $250 an hour for months. Also, where is the information on the investigations? No one's seen it except for the board president, as far as we know. My foyer request to receive information on the investigation was denied as were several other requests made by several other people. Will the investigations that our community paid for be made public? The rule of three dictates that if a specific set of records has been requested three or more times under FOYA, the agency must proactively make those records publicly available. This is intended to streamline the process and make information more readily accessible to the public. Back to those raises. I hope those of you who have communicated your voting no reconsider your stance and pay the people who make the district run. Thank you for

112your time. >> Champion. champions. Uh Janice Howard, um I had a whole speech prepared. But first, I just want to comment on all the kids coming up here um using your voice. Um it's heard and I appreciate it and it just makes me even prouder to call Donald McGinness one of my closest friends and that my son also has him in his life. he no matter where my son is at um what school because we are a set of the parents that also pulled our kid from this district because of the school me board members that are sitting on here today. Um which hurts because my family does bleed HP and some of you sitting here say you bleed HP but what you really mean is you're bleeding HP's heart out of this city on

113the way you are treating people. Donald treats every single kid as his own and he's there. So before I start crying and shaking even more. Just thank you guys for speaking up. Um I'm going to get to my formal speech which I'll have at closing too because I have a long speech. But pretty much how you just saw things go when Miss Kayn McInness um was trying to provide a voicemail of documentation is pretty much how everything is treated here. The superintendent recognizes that her friend is on that voicemail and his documentation for something and immediately legal counsel squashes it because he has become witness as well of the re the retaliation that comes to play when superintendent and her disciples are involved. Each of you repeatedly say you're here for the students, but if

114that's truly the case, it's time to start acting like it. The school board should not be about who you're closest with or who you sit on a boat with and having drinks and gossip about what not and what's best for the children and our staff in our community is what you need to be discussing. I keep hearing excuses that the issues brought forward are just personal vendettas. But when multiple unaffiliated individuals raise the same concerns again and again, it's no longer personal. It's a pattern. And at that point, responsible leadership demands that the board listens and investigates, not dismisses and divides. Tonight I'm here to speak spe sorry specifically about documentation or more accurately the lack of it. I'm not going to read all that. I as you know last year was here because a

115ban was sent on behalf of my husband and an altercation with one of the school board's um spouses. However, you know there's no documentation. I foyed the investigation which I forwarded all the text messages from the superintendent acknowledging this event and her actions of treating me like I was an employee texting me that I needed to get my husband out of the school while we were trying to show support of the junior high volleyball team. Um I sent all those texts to the school board so you guys have those. Um, I foyed that documentation from the legal council and I was responded back that there is no documentation of any alter altercation happening between Randy Howard and this employee. Strange how I can receive a my husband can receive a formal ban letter on behalf

116of the Hazel Park School District, but yet there's no documentation to provide on a FOYA. Not even the ban letter itself, which if you recall at the last school board meeting that I spoke about that the date was wrong. So, not even the lack of documentation that the school district has, the incorrect information that you guys provide on that is also lacking. I also would like to know how did this ban come into play? I've asked and asked I asked the superintendent before she left how this ban came into play, if it was voted on, what the documentation um the documentation, well, the lack of could have been lost that night when HR came to investigate and went out drinking with this employee later that night. Maybe the documentation was done that evening when they

117were having their little friend gathering, but there was no investigation on the field. HR came, took that employee into his athletic office, never once stepped foot onto that football field where there were thousands, hundreds of volunteers that witnessed the altercation. There was also a body camera surveillance that was viewed by HR superintendent and I know that because days later they told me about the waving the employees waving his finger in my face was not aggressive and disregarded the whole altercation. But again, no documentation. So I come just as inquiry and curious how your superintendent can just serve bans to people if there's no documentation. If your HR is not really investigating the situations and there's no documentation, how was a ban served? And you can't say it wasn't served. I sent the text of superintendent

118telling me to kick my husband out until I told her I'm not her employee. I sent those text messages. It's just it's improprietary at its finest. You guys need to come together as a team and start serving this community like you were voted for. Eric Comfort. >> Hi, my name is Eric Comper. For some of you guys don't know me, you can Google my name and look up wrestling afterwards and you'll see that I got multiple videos of almost a million. I'm very well known not only within Hazel Park uh community for wrestling but across the whole entire state and country. Um Hazel Park when we talk about what goes on here with the laughingstock with every other school. Um they cannot believe what goes on here. Um, and through I've seen on Facebook and

119stuff like that that we're not here for the kids three years ago. I had a garage fire. Some of you guys probably remember I lost $30,000. My varsity jacket. It has the ash on it. All my medals, everything that I had in my garage. I lost it all. And instead of picking up double shifts to make up what I lost, I chose to volunteer with no pay to make sure a sport that I love and care about and made me into an actual real man that can stand up for what I believe in. I want to make sure that these kids have it because I see that loss in this generation. These kids are lost. I went to Troy High School D1. I had 1,200 kids in my high school. We had 50 kids on

120our team. Those kids could afford to go to really nice camps. Those kids were good. My dad had cancer in 2004. I have seven other family members who have cancer. I didn't ask for a dime to go to camps. I worked my butt off to go. I left my school practices to come down here to get better. That's where I met Don for the first time and wrestle him and he whooped my butt. We really weren't friends, but I would come down and I would wrestle in Hazel Park because Hazel Park was the school that you wouldn't mess with. That's why I came here. I have 28 years in this sport. Show me another coach that goes to Hazel Park that actually preaches like follows what they preach. There's not another coach in this school

121that's as athletic as I am, that knows nutrition, that knows how to make sure these kids get up another level. Not only that, but I've also brought multiple things to uh to the athletic department about helping these kids get involved with their community to be able to be uh get healthy meals for lunchtime, which I have connections to to get them on a very low end. Also too, the money they make during the summertime can be pushed into those meals and the athletes that are contributing will reap the benefits because they're willing to put in the work. None of that has been brought up to you. I guarantee it. But I've been in that athletic office multiple times trying to get that up and running and just mentioning it. But kids going out and working

122in the community, helping the community clean it up, mowing lawns, shoveling snow to be able to make money to put into their nutrition, which is the most important thing about a wrestler. And if you don't understand that, then you don't understand sports and you shouldn't even be having any any say with which goes on into these coaches. I've been through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. I've been bodybuilding. I've been a cheerleader in college. I've played football. I've played hockey. I've done every single sport that you guys can possibly think of. Wrestling is the most enduring. Teaches you mental toughness. It gives you things that you don't get from regular sports. And all the things that I've said that I've gone through in my life, that's just the tip of the iceberg. Try having half

123a million dollars stripped from you from your own family. And you think you want to be here? No. I'm here because of wrestling. I don't care about anything else. Wrestling made me into a freaking man. It gave me the confidence that I have here. And a lot of you guys are taking that away from these kids by pushing us out. What other coach would just give up their whole entire winter work to come and volunteer for a bunch of kids who really have parents that don't have give him a good household. We had a kid that threatened to shoot up the school, but yet you guys allowed him to come back. The next day he was okay to go to a wrestling tournament where he had an altercation with one of our coaches who then

124got kicked off the team. He also got caught by a referee in the locker room smoking a THC pen as well as a nicotine pen. I immediately threw him off the team. >> Time. Your time, sir. Thank you. [Applause] >> Uh, is it Leysa Cran? Crane. Cran. Hi, my name is Lisha Crumb. Um, some some some may know me Dr. Cresley. Um, and I'm here, but I'm here and speaking for my daughter. So, my daughter name is Taylor Crumb. She was a sophomore wrestling. She dominated this year for her very first time ever wrestling. And it's so crazy because nobody in my family or nobody that she really associated with knew knew that she was even interested in it. But this man right here made sure she did what she was supposed to do. My

125kid is hard at it. She don't listen to nobody. And if anybody, she listens to him. So, and then on top of that, I just signed her up for Sports Illustrated to be on the cover of it. if it wasn't for him, she wouldn't even made it to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated for athlete of the year. So, I just ask that y'all take it in consideration to bring that man back because it ain't nobody out here that you would ever know as a coach that would love their kids like they love it like he love these kids. If you ever been to any of their matches, you watch them wrestle, you watch them all support each other, they clap, they clap, they cheer all they own. Don't don't just don't just don't

126do them bold like that because any other new coach, these kids ain't going to trust them. And if y'all ever play the sport, you know how it is to get on a team and you don't trust nobody. You ain't going to open up. You ain't going to talk to them. You're not going to listen to them. You're not doing none of that. So take that in consideration. That's all I got to say. Thank you. Um, Ed Clature. Good evening, Madame President, members of the school board, members of the administration. My name is Edward Clolobacher. I am city manager of Hazel Park and I'm also on the Junior Vikings board. I'm here tonight to bring you uh a check from the city of Hazel Park to assist the Junior Vikings program to obtain possession and ownership

127of a blocking sled. Uh this blocking sled is a piece of football equipment that's important to the uh football players and junior Vikings so that they can practice their craft with respect to learning how to block and become proficient at that. Uh this blocking sled has been with the Junior Vikings for a period of time since the Junior Vikings football teams started out. Uh but the ownership of the sled was uh in dispute. Given the accounting situation that we had with Junior Vikings in the past, uh it's difficult to completely uh ascertain the actual ownership possession, who bought it, who it belongs to. Again, not willing to fight about it. So, I spoke with Dr. uh Will Cox and uh we made a decision and the uh junior Vikings would pay for half of the

128blocking sled. Again, the city may have paid for it before, but uh again uh I don't want to fight, okay? because I want you all to know that the city of Hazel Park, my mayor, my council, we are committed to this program because we are committed to the kids in the Hazel Park community and giving them an outstanding recreational opportunity. So, we're on keep our promises to the Junior Vikings, and I humbly request of the Hazel Park School District that uh we continue to cooperate so we can do what's in the best interests of the kids. So, I've got this check here and uh I'm going to turn it over to uh Dr. Willox and will make arrangements to pick up this sled. Uh this program was a joint program. It was started by Dr.

129Krooppy and myself with the purpose of providing new uh recreational opportunities for the kids in this community. Somehow unfortunately things have gone terribly wrong and it appears to be uh it's more personal I think than it is policy. people have uh taken sides and uh I think they've taken sides on matters involving personality rather than policy to the detriment of the young people in this community. And uh again, I just want you all to know that I would rather uh rather than fight, I want to solve problems rather than point fingers. I want to find solutions. And you know what? I could have come up here and I could have made a big pitched a big fit about ownership of the sled. Instead, we'll just give you a check. I'll take possession of the sled.

130Junior Vikings will have the sled and [Applause] and the kids will have that recreation opportunity. I hope there's more of that in the future because again, this isn't serving to unite our community. I think back just a scant couple of years ago and everybody was all friends. Some things happened. Each and every one of you need to ask yourself the question, have you been part of the solution or are you part of the division? I want to be part of the solution. My mayor and my council want to make sure the kids in this community have every chance to have the best recreational opportunities that they can. So, I'm going to give you this check and I'm hopeful that uh we can begin the healing process and start putting things in the right direction. Thank

131you all very much. [Applause] Thank you. >> It's actually a a city check. So, we'll make sure that it uh it gets cash and I'll make sure that we uh end up with this sled again which we will share cooperate with too. So, thank you. >> Okay. Next, we have Brandon Hughes. Good evening. Uh my name is Brandon Hughes. I'm uh I'm here not only as a His Park alum, but as a member of the uh last wrestling team I can remember that it was truly great. Uh I've known Donald McGinness quite some time. Yeah, he was a part of that team as well. Uh Hazel Park's wrestling lineage is one for the history books. Not many cities or towns can claim home to an Olympic gold medalist. Not many cities have had the pleasure

132of having an international legend like Masaki to train those wrestlers who wanted to get to the next level. Not many cities have had coaches like Mike Confetti who in his short tenure led our Vikings wrestling team to multiple regional championships. Knowing Donald McInness for 20 years, we've both we were both teammates for from 2004 to 2006, including our 2006 season where we were regional champions. After I graduated, Donald helped lead the team as a captain to not to another regional championship in 2008. Since then, the wrestling team has suffered through a very long rough patch. But like those dedicated enthusiasts of the sport in years past, Donald recently helped restore this team in a very short period of time. From not fielding a full squad at the beginning of his first season to coming up

133just short of reclaiming the title regional champs this year, for the first time in over a decade. As a licensed official for the sport of wrestling of six years, I've had the pleasure of working with some of truly talented, passionate, and downright extraordinary coaches. But the growth of the Hazel Park wrestling team these past few years has been nothing short of miraculous. Something that truly brings me joy to see as a Hazel Park native. But to see what this district and this board have put him through is downright disgusting. I'm not one to air grievances often. Typically, I take it on the chin, move forward. It's just another day. Life isn't always fair. I get it. But to see an injustice being done like this to someone who's always been all about the kids, teaching

134them not just how to wrestle, but valuable life lessons, I can't sit by and remain on the sidelines for this. To take this job from him, a man with the passion and skill to restore this program is absolutely unacceptable. And this board should be ashamed that they're attempting to run him out of town. for a candidate who's not a part who was not a part of wrestling whose experience is only as an unpaid volunteer youth assistant coach for another city and years of MMA experience. MMA experience doesn't translate directly to wrestling skills. Vice versa can be said, but MMA, this isn't fight club. Now, I won't speak to the allegations or reports against this individual, but what I will say is that despite an investigation being conducted, no documents were made available to Mrs. McGinness

135upon her foyer requests. In fact, multiple foyer requests surrounding investigations involving other incidents have not yielded any answers for them either. To me, it appears that this district and this board pro protecting each other is more important than accountability. It truly feels like you've got some things to hide. Foyer requests exist for the purpose of transparency and accountability for those we have chosen to elect to office. You serve the people of this city, not yourselves. What we see instead is things either being completely dismissed or swept under the rug. I've got bad news. It's getting a little full under that rug. It appears family and friends are receiving jobs over qualified candidates. Ladies and gentlemen, only two words come to mind at this moment. Nepatism. Cronyism. And it's truly sad to see in a district

136that I made some of my truly formative me memories in. Something must be done to correct course here. And it begins with restoring Donald McInness to the head coach of the Hazel Park High School wrestling team. But that's that's only the beginning. Your house is dirty and it needs a thorough cleaning. You can't even pick up a copy of the CNG newspaper or Google Hazel Park News without seeing corruption. Fix it. Fix it now. [Applause] Leo Walker. Hello everyone. My name is Kalia Walker and I have been wrestling for the Hazel Park wrestling team for two years. Donald McGinness has helped me throughout everything. I became the captain my second year wrestling. No matter what, he has been there for me. My parents, my family have not been able to see me wrestle once. They

137have not been able to take me any meets or even practices. Each and every time, Donald was already always there. He's like a family member to me. And even more, he's like my father. I love him more than anything. And he is really important to me. And I know that you think these are just a bunch of kids that don't know what they're talking about, but I speak for all of us when I say he is the best coach we've ever had. And I think it's wrong. We all think it's wrong the way you are treating him over some selfish, petty adult business. Think about us, please. We need you to at least this one time. We are important and we want to be heard, which is why every single one of us have spoken

138today. We care about Hazel Park. He cares about Hazel Park. We want to be treated fairly. We want him to be treated fairly. I love my family, my wrestling family, all of these faces here have helped me through everything. I would not be the person I am today. I would not be going into the Navy. >> Okay, >> I would not be myself right now. I wouldn't be happy. I would be lost. I would be just another stupid kid running about the streets of Hazel Park. And I can tell you right now, he has not only helped me, but he has helped both of my brothers, which are so hard-headed and know nothing. But he is there not just for himself and his family, but for all of us. Each and every one of us,

139we say his name and he comes running. He is so openhearted and sometimes it is not the best but but he is truly that kind of man that you sit there and you think about you realize there are not many men like that. He deserves the best. He deserves the best. We deserve the best. Thank you. Um, Payton Howard. >> U, my name is Payton Howard. I've been wrestling ever since I was 5 years old. And, uh, all I can say is Coach Donald is definitely one of the best coaches that I've ever been with. Um, he has, uh, helped me through a lot of things in my life. I've freshman year I was messing around in the classroom. I was not paying attention. I was doing a lot of things I shouldn't have been.

140And if it weren't for him, I'd probably be some stupid kid running around and I wouldn't have that much good grades. I'm also not here to talk about Donald here to talk about my dad. How are you also going to ban a guy who has sat here through his whole life and help out with the community? He had cardiac arrest a month after he came back and helped the kids and he just got banned. No, nothing. Just straight up banned. Um, Coach Donald is definitely a man that I wish I'd have in five more lives of mine. He is like a second father to me. I mean, words cannot explain how great this man is. He has helped me through a lot of things in my life. Made me a way better man. Made me

141as strong as I am today. Uh, that's it. [Applause] Harley Sturgeon. Hello, my name is Karly Sturgeon and I would like to speak on Donald McInness's character. I have lived across the street from him for 2 and 1/2 years now and in that 2 and 1/2 years I have gained not only someone that is always willing to help. Um, but a friend I've watched the kind of father he is to not only his kids, but every neighborhood kid that I've that rides their bike. I've seen welcome there. I've seen them feed children, clothe children when they were not dressed whether appropriate. He is nothing but kind and hardworking. And it not only shows to have a room full of people to talk so highly of someone. I mean, if everyone in this room just had

142one person to say what a whole room full has said about Donald, I mean, I feel like we'd feel pretty good about ourselves and pretty confident in the kind of person that we are. Um, but all in all, I have seen nothing but kindness. I It shows in him. His family is nothing but kind. His kids are always respectful. They are hardworking. I mean, I've never seen a father be as involved or it's to not only his kids, but everyone's, you know, he's kind and it's just really unfair how he's been treated. Thank you. Uh, Andrew Cremehelmer. Good evening. Can you hear me? Okay. We're at home watching it and I want you to know retaliation is real. So if anything happens, I'm hold you all accountable. I can't do it. We're sitting at home

143watching this. You can't do it. All you got sober faces. All you crying, tearing up. We were tearing up at home listening these kids. She's smiling. She's smiling at me. She don't get it. She don't get it. It's that simple. You're all Hazel Barkers. Jimmy, I'm telling you, she don't get it. She don't get what this is about. Everybody knows Don. Every known Everybody knows Patrick. I know Patrick since he's 5 years old. I know his uncle Tony. You hear everybody come up here. Boy's a good hazart guy. Patrick good Park guy. No. I don't even understand why they couldn't work together. I don't know what the hell is that all about. Everybody knows what's wrestling is about and you know the boys got the program going the right direction. What the hell does he

144got problems about? Who ain't giving him money? Why doesn't he get what he wants? Coaching here. I didn't know that. Coaches a freaking year. You kidding me? Right. That's on you. And I know you know even the people m you don't know me, man. We've never I don't I don't think we've ever met. A lot of these people know me since our baby. I've been here over here 100 years. My people have been here 100 years. I was patient zero. If you don't know, patient zero. Patient zero. I left and I said the truth. I took my kid and left. It had to be something so irrefutable, so disgusting. I had to leave. And it happened. And the crap is I have to give her credit. Who knows? He probably ended up better because he

145left. You guys know the story and the story is still continuing, but I don't know what to say. So when you get calls and phone calls and you hear these stories and everything and now you got two guys that know each other outside in the streets, you know that. Stop smiling. This ain't funny. The They know each other on the street. So now you got problems cuz everybody knows each other and everybody's related to each other. But she thinks our culture is dead. That's what she said. First time she ever talked to me in a meeting. Our culture is dead. Yeah. The crap from 1950 is dead. Not what we care about, what we love. Great. She fixed the pool pools. No, I'm not saying her name. I said her name one time. I've been

146allowed to talk. So, here's You know what? Forget all that. Here's my challenge, you guys. Here's the challenge because it's not working, Bev. It's not. We're going to talk. It's not working. You got to you got to figure way as your president to round this board together. And I challenge you to get this to good way it should work. So this never happens no more. We don't lose another family. We don't lose a long lost teacher. What's his name? Acho. Acho left because he couldn't handle the bull crap. Number one teacher that um had Easter. What's the private school on Easter? Anyways, he's their number one teacher. Number one teacher. And he came from us. One of the teachers that taught you left. How many How many more are we just going to line up?

147Monica, I don't know you. I'll just ask you. How many more McInnesses or like from your side? How many more you willing to give up before? You know what? It's just not working. I've told you before. It's not like she's going to be here. My people are going to be here another 100 years. She's leaving. She gets another contract. All you guys should be going bananas. our attendance, our grades, what you guys are supposed to be worrying about. We're competing against Southeastern Michigan. We're competing against Rochester, Troy, all the things we've always known. And there's no excuse cuz before she was there to be excused. There's no excuse because the kid has an IEP. Don's doing something wrestling with him. Obviously, listen to him. And I'm not saying Patrick can't, but these are real people

148that we know that shouldn't be at odds together at all. So if you want to go with Don, go with D. Go with Patrick, go with Patrick. I don't even know why Don even let go. Coach of the year. This is some crazy stuff. I'm just I'm just keeping it real. Like I'm seeing it. So how long you want to go down the rabbit hole? She got three more years. Three more years of this. I know. You guys need to be challenged then. You got to figure it out. You got to figure out. You got to figure it out. She works for you. That's what I got to tell you. There's no way. You guys have a good night. of Mariam Nung. Hello everybody. Uh my name is Miriam and I'm here with my daughter

149Aminata who was uh part of the wrestling team uh last year when they won the I think the district. Okay. So, uh Amy is uh no longer student of the Hezer Park School, but she wanted to come in. I we wanted to come in um to um uh to talk about uh coach Don Megan because of uh the good he has provided to my daughter. uh when I've seen a lot of uh her peers that have spoken about how um stubborn or they didn't want to listen to anybody or they did not do very well in school. So Amy joined the wrestling team pretty much like by mistake as you can. >> Yes. So uh um because um she she was a um uh she left Heather Park for a year because her father still

150living in West Africa, she wanted to spend some times with her father and uh go back went back to Africa for 9th grade. So when she came back for 10th grade um she could not go back to Royal Oak. So uh we did not have any other choice than to let her come back to Hezap and since every sport was already uh filled out there was only wrestling and she came and say mom I only have I I I want to have a sport team and I said okay if there is only wrestling then you're going to do wrestling. So that's how she joined the team. But after like the first couple of uh um praying session she she like pretty much overnight become another person because of one guy which is Don McInness I

151won't be able like in this room I won't be able to tell you my is this guy all I know is the I have met him like every um competition day or every training day but it's it It was either 6:30 in the morning when the kids were getting ready to hop on the bus or like maybe like sometimes 9 10 at night when the snow was piling outside and he was waiting for the last kid to be picked up by their parents. This guy is great. He has provided so much to their kids. And listen closely. You have seen other kids talking about him to their tears dropping on their cheeks. So and then a child don't lie. Listen to these kids. Listen to these kids. This guy is good. He has provided everything.

152You see those kids saying that he has provided like father figure to them. Um with his wife I have seen like my daughter every time that because I am I'm African. I pack her food everywhere that she is going. She said, "Mom, stop packing food for me when I'm going to wrestling because we always have food. We always have whatever we need when we are going to meet. So, please make the right thing. This guy has provided so much for these cities. This guy has provided so much for these kids. more than like me as a pretty much like a single parent have provided for my child because he was there as a big brother. He was there as a teacher. He was there as a father figure. He was there as a friend. So

153we definitely trust this man. Give him his job back. Give him the flowers. He give him his flowers because he deserves something. When I look at my child like in my living room, it's filled with like certificates with um um uh uh shields and everything for his varsity uh jackets, varsity, everything. Last year she was in Royal Oak and um even for Royal Oak they did not win a lot but she was able to provide for her team and I have met someone when I because I was looking at her and I looking for her could not see her and the guy told me who are you looking for and I said I'm looking for Amy. She's like a black. Oh, she said, "Oh, that's that Chinese the tiniest wrestler." And said, "Yes, tiniest wrestler."

154Because she's able to compete even in another school district or another division because of what she has learned from her former coach. So, Coach Dan, we want you back. We will support you and please support him. >> I'd like to say something really, really quickly. I'm so sorry. Sorry, I know we're out of time, but um please could you let me say this? >> Yes, of course. Okay. Um ladies and gentlemen, can we look back over there? Mr. Pat, >> right there. Yes. Can you please stand up for me, please? >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. >> No. Well, still going to do it. >> Yeah, you're right. So, now when Eric Matthew Ford. How you guys doing tonight? My name is Matthew Ford. Um I'm speaking in behalf of Donald McGinness

155as a neighbor, a friend, a family member. Um to see how many people and students, family members that he is has affected. Um, I worked with him for about 2 years and to have someone I I was four credits behind when I first came into the school that I had went to. I didn't go to Hazel Park, but I have been a resident for the past six six years and I grew up in Hazel Park my whole life. This man speaks volumes and loves his city. He has a construction background, but he has put his livelihood and put these students and these children first. And when I came in to my freshman year, I was four credits behind originally. And I've seen a lot of corruptions in the school that I went to. And the

156athletic director didn't give me he they played a lot of favoritisms. So I didn't get the opportunity that he's given these students because of him being a mentor for these students as well. I grew up with both deaf and heart of hearing parents and he has taught me how to work with my hands. Um I've always known how to work with my hands because both my parents have had to speak sign language growing up. Um the voice that he has for these childrens, I don't think there could be another person that could fill his shoes to take this position. That is all. Thank you. Okay, that concludes uh public comment. Everybody had a chance to speak once. Uh the second public comment is at the end for 3 minutes. Um I'd like to thank everybody

157for coming out and participating in democratic process. It was very enlightening and very informative. And I'd like to have a motion for a 10-minute recess. I make the motion for a 10-minute recess. >> Support motion by Mr. Fox, support by uh Debbie. I would like to have discussion, please. >> Um yeah, there was some Yes, there was some discussion made about the open meetings act. So, um during that recess, can we can someone get with Jimmy on that? I question whether or not this meeting that we're participating in tonight is a valid meeting. >> Um cuz if it wasn't posted, anything we discussed during committee of a whole, the motions that we made are not valid and a lot of the stuff that we discussed is in this agenda tonight. I will certainly speak with

158Jimmy, but I believe actually you only have to have it up on the website. So, if it was posted through board books, it's posted. >> So, um I'm glad that you brought up that discussion point and so I think we need to take the recess, I think we need to ask. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Roll call. Fox. >> Yes. >> I just want to be clear. We're voting on a recess, right? Yes, I'm in a recess. Okay. boys. >> Yes. >> Becker, >> yes. >> Back at what is it? 8:35. >> 8:35. >> Thank you. >> Oh, Miss Ton, do you want to go? [Music] Yeah. No. I think I need five more minutes. >> Do I have another? >> Mr. Drew, >> can I have another motion, please, for an additional five minutes?

159Oh, >> I make a motion that we have another five minutes for recess while we get things sorted. Please >> support. >> All in favor? >> I Okay. [Music] >> I make a motion to readjourn the meeting. >> Second. >> Or recalling >> recalling the meeting. Excuse me. >> She knows what I'm doing. All in favor of recalling the meeting reopening the meeting say I I opposed. >> Okay. Motion passes and meeting is readjourned. Um so I got a clarification on the not postings of the open meetings. I mean the the meetings not being posted on the 21st and the 22nd violating the open meetings act which it was posted under current meeting documents and so it is not a violation. Thank you for checking into that. You're welcome. Is there more? >> Yeah, I

160would just say that I to add that it was also posted on the door. The agendas were posted on uh separately from the main long calendar. There were separate um postings of each of those meetings. Thank you. Where am I at on here? Consent agenda. Um I make a motion to approve the consent agenda with the removal of the items that we talked about earlier. Support. Okay. A motion made to accept a consent agenda removing the 7:22 special board meeting, the board financials and the accounts payables. Second um position. Um roll call, please. Oh, well discussion. >> Are we moving them to somewhere else to discuss? >> She said the meeting minutes were incorrect, so they're just pulled. >> You said you just pulled action. >> The one's an action item. The accounts payable. Accounts

161payable. Yes. >> Okay. >> Discussion. Thank you. Accounts payable item will be last. >> Sure. >> Um can after the Junior Vikings facility usage. >> Sure. >> Personal >> or if you want to do it first that's fine too. >> No, we'll put it at the end. >> Okay. All in uh roll call. Fortress, yes. Eaton, >> yes. >> Becker, >> yes. >> Leaf boys, >> yes. Fox, >> Yes. Hinton, >> yes. Uh, new business is the >> Madam Madam President, can I can make a suggestion? We have been in this meeting for already 2 hours and 45 minutes. We have a long meeting to go. These staff members have been here since 78. Is it required that they stay? If >> it's up to the superintendent, >> that's up to them. I don't require

162them to be here. >> Okay. >> So, is the option for them to leave if they >> Of course. >> Okay. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. We have this uh conference for power school and student information services training for $2,67040. Can I have a motion? I move the board of education approve the cost not to exceed $2,670.40 for two staff members to attend the 2005 PSUG fall conference as presented. Support Okay. Motion by Heidi, support by April to uh pay for this conference for two individuals um this fall. Uh roll uh discussion. Roll calls. >> Yes. Payton, >> yes. Becker, >> yes. >> Leaf boys, >> yes. Fox, >> Yes. Hinton, >> yes. Uh, next on the agenda is the school board resolution uh budget delays due to the state of Michigan. Uh, can

163I have a motion? I move the board of education approved the 2025 2026 school aid budget delays resolution as presented. support move by Monica supported by April to uh accept the budget delays resolution and could you read it Mr. Fox? >> Sure. >> As um secretary >> John Okay. Whereas Michigan Constitution requires the Michigan legislature and governor to pass an annual school aid budget for the exclusive purpose of funding public education. And whereas Governor Gretchen Whitmer uh signed public act 160 into law in 2019, which states that the legislature must uh must pass and present general appro appropriation bills for the upcoming fiscal year to the governor on or below July 1st. And whereas the local school districts in Michigan are required by law to pass their own budgets for the upcoming school year by

164July 1st. And whereas the Michigan legislature has failed to meet their July 1st legal deadline to pass a school aid budget appropriation bill or make any meaningful progress towards doing so. And whereas the Hazel Park School Board was forced to adopt a budget for the school year without key funding information due the ongoing lack of state budget. And whereas the fiscal year 2025 2026 school aid budget continues to be delayed by political battles that are unrelated to school funding or the needs of our students. Whereas the ongoing uh delay in funding certainly has already impacted our ability to best plan for the support of our students need and deserve in the upcoming school year. And whereas every day the budget continues to be delayed by lawmakers will only worsen the negative impacts of on our

165schools staff students this fall and beyond. And whereas comments by lawmakers that suggest the school budget uh can or should wait for other budget agreements to fall into place ignore the critical needs of our students. Therefore, be it resolved, the Hazel Park School Board is urging state lawmakers to immediately pass a spending bill that fully allocates the entirety of the funding meant for our schools in a manner that supports the needs of each and every student in Michigan. We had resolved further that the Hazel Park School Board is affirming that the school a funding should not be tied to any other budget deals including ongoing talks about road funding. >> Wow. Thank you. All in favor of that resolution say I. >> I. I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Motion carries. Conference the MASA

166conference for the fall. I need a motion. I move the board of education approve the cost of the MASA fall conference in the amount of $1,520. Support motion by Heidi, second by Debbie to approve the MAS Oh, April, I'm sorry. Second um the conference the MASA conference this fall discussion. I do have a question. It says that Dr. Kurby or Dr. Wilcox is also attending this conference. Is this Did we already approve her to attend the conference? Is this for both parties? >> No, I already approved mine uh at last month's meeting. >> Okay. I thought we did, but I wasn't sure. I just need clarification. >> All right. Good question. Uh any other discussion? Okay. Roll call. >> Cordress. >> Yes. Eden, >> yes. >> Brown boys, >> yes. Fox, >> Yes. And >>

167yes. Uh motion. I need a motion for the AASA focus group. I move the board of education approve the superintendent's participation in AASA focus group planning for the future as presented. Support the board. >> Motion by Heidi, second by Monica to approve the AASA focus group. Um discussion. I would like to the audience if I could please just to share that that is a full paid conference by a essay that I was invited to do future planning uh with superintendents across the country in Boston. So there's no cost to the district. >> What a great place to to go. I know conferences are busy though. It's not sightseeing. >> It's work. Um okay. Uh roll call please. Fortress. >> Yes. Keith, >> yes. Peton, >> yes. >> Boys, >> yes. Fox, >> Yes. Need a

168motion for the Oakland Living and Human Service Agency's rental agreement uh for classes at Webster for rooms. >> I move the board of education approve the OLSA contract for the 202526 school year as presented. >> Support. Motion by Heidi and support by April to uh renew the uh lease agreement with OLSA. Any discussion? Okay, roll call. >> Yes. Deon, >> yes. Becker, >> yes. >> For boys, >> yes. Fox, >> Yes. Need a motion for the Michigan Cyber Academy contract extension. I move the board of education approve the extension of the Michigan Cyber Academy contract through the 2029 school year as presented. Support a motion by Heidi, support by Monica to um extend the contract to the Michigan Cyber Academy. Is there any discussion? Roll call. >> Yes. 13. Yes. >> Payton. >> Yes. Becker.

169>> Yes. >> Leon boys. >> Yes. >> Fox. >> Yes. Need a motion for the great start readiness program contract renewal. I move the board of education approve the great start readiness program for the 2526 school year as presented. Okay. A motion made by Heidi and second by April to to renew the contract for our great start program at Webster. Roll call. Oh, discussion. >> Is there a a enrollment for a slot reduction from last school year? I think we talked about this at committee level. I just don't recall. >> We have approval for the same slot uh amount. >> Okay. Okay. That's what I'm remembering. Thank you. And I know you sent the documents and I know I saw something from Miss Lebrony's. I cannot open those either. I don't know if we can

170fix that going forward. >> We certainly uh Brad is not here at the moment, but we certainly can have you sit down and take a look if you uh can instead of talking about what the problem is here. >> Okay. Um roll call, please. >> Yes. Becker, >> yes. >> The boys, >> yes. Fox, >> yes. Yes. >> Yes. Need a um a motion to for the capping the enrollment of the MVCA uh program. I move the board of education approve the request for a charter charter contract amendment increasing the overall enrollment cap to from 3,460 students to 4,000 students. support. >> Isn't it 400? >> 4,000. >> I thought it was increasing by 400. Okay, >> Fox has the resolution. >> Oh, I didn't realize there was a resolution either. >> We're going to

171get Dar. I I should have paid attention to how long it was first. Um whereas the city of Hazel Park public schools board the authorizer is the authorizing body for the Michigan virtual charter academy referred to as the academy. The public school academy ordered as a nonprofit public school pursuant to the Michigan Revised School Code. And whereas the authorizer and the academy are parters to a charter contract originally dated April 3rd, 2024. And whereas the academy has requested and the authorizer supports an amendment to the charter contract to increase the enrollment cap found in schedule 13 conditional upon the academy working cooperatively with the authorizer to update the educational goals language found in schedule 7. And whereas the authorizer has reviewed the proposed amendment and determined that the amendment is the best interest of the

172academy and consistent with applicable law in the policies of the authorizer. Now therefore, it is be resolved that the city of Hazel Park public schools board hereby delegates the district superintendent to negotiate and execute an amendment to schedule 13, the aging grade range of the charter contract on behalf of the authorizer. This amendment will also include a revision to schedule 7 such that the current educational goals will be replaced by a performance framework to measure school performance. All resolutions and parts of resolutions in so far as they conflict with the provisions of this resolution are hereby rescended. adopted this 28th day of July 2025. Any discussion? Yeah, the board did not get a copy of that resolution. So, I'm thinking we're voting on um increasing the enrollment of their students and that resolution almost stated

173like it was something else. >> That that is in the board packet in board books. Uh the resolution MBCA as of last week, Thursday, it had MCA in there and a correction was made over the weekend and I believe there was an email that came out stating the correction. So it is uh identified increase so that they can do their registration starting here in August and accept more students. I'm okay with the increase. I'm just not okay with everything else that that that stated. Okay. Can we do roll call? >> I didn't get a second on that for the >> Oh, you're right. I just wrote down Heidi. Did you do it? >> Possibly. >> Okay, now we can do roll call. >> Fortress. >> No. >> Yes. >> Becker? >> Yes. >> The Brown

174Boys? >> Yes. Fox, >> yes. >> Rati, yes. >> Yes. Need a motion for the eighth grade Washington DC trip. >> I move the board of education approve the annual trip to Washington DC for the eighth graders. Support. >> Motion by Heidi, support by Monica for the eighth grade Washington trip. Is there any discussion? >> Is there confirmed dates on this yet? >> There is not a confirmed date. Uh the memo states it'll be sometimes in May. >> In May. >> Okay. Roll call. >> Yes. >> Becker, >> yes. >> Farm boys, >> yes. Fox, >> Yes. I need a motion for the athletic de. No, the Yeah. Athletic trainer. I move the board of education approve the athletic trainer services service contract with the Michigan athletic trainer trainers for fall of 2025 at a

175cost not to exceed $3,500 with additional services build as scheduled and agreed upon support motion by Heidi second by Monica for the athletic trainer. there. Um, >> so is this just for the fall semester? >> Yes, that just for the fall semester and then we'll bring one in the winter time as well. >> Perfect. >> Okay. Uh, roll call. >> Forress, >> yes. Ricky, >> yes. >> Becker, >> yes. >> Boys, >> yes. Fox, >> Yes. Um, let's see. Athletic department revenue motion, please. >> I move the board of education approve this selling of banners, passes, and other advertising revenue for the athletic department as presented. Support >> motion by Heidi, support by Monica, and the support of the athletic department revenue. Discussion. I just want to um say cuz I'm not sure if everyone

176has seen this. This is allowing for a family pass for $100 to admit your entire family for the 202526 school year to all home non- tournament athletic events. We also will be developing athletic programs for fall, winter, and spring sports and be selling ads and also redoing our banners out in the field and making contracts for a yearly basis for that. So kudos to the athletic department for getting that going. >> And I just have a comment. Didn't when we got a new school board, didn't it have advertising at the bottom school board in the gym? >> The in the gym and uh we have tried to find that agreement when Mr. Milert was here and uh Chuck is still working on that >> cuz I said that could we could follow up on that

177and that advertising in there too was >> Yeah, but we have to double check to find out how long we had to keep it. One of them is Joe Bar which is no longer there and so uh that is something he's looking into. >> Okay. I just wanted to see if we're following up on it. I have a couple questions on this since this wasn't on our committee of a whole. The family pass it states entire family. Um we know Hazel Park has some very large families and I think there needs to be a clear def definition of what the entire family is. Is it two parents, two kids? Is it I think we need a clear definition of that. >> Well, what what our proposal to you was in um discussing and we're sorry

178we didn't have this on the committee of the whole we wanted to make sure we got it to you though so we could get the fall sports up and going that if you want to bring your whole family and you have six kids by golly let's get them all there for 100 bucks and that we were really excited to have them bring and so we we were going to separate it off into small and decided that that was not a recommendation. Our purpose is to fill those stands and to get people going. If if they have kids and they're attending our schools, they they are free to get in anyway, >> right? They are free to get in anyways. But I'm talking like so I I have families, my mom and dad, my kids. I

179I I think there needs some to be some definition there. >> Like the pass said like six. Like if you come here and say you have six people, then like pass would say six. >> The pass is for parents and children, not grandparents. they can get the free senior citizen pass. >> And what's the age on a cedar senior citizen? Are we saying 62 and over? Are we saying 65 and older? I mean, what's there has to be some type of definition and clarity. A lot of our memos have not been clear and they're they're starting to pose an issue. >> Uh I believe last year it was 65 and um I believe we had that posted out there, but we'll go back and look at what was done in the past several years. And

180I also like to state that um there's a comment in here that um I attended a recent 7 to7 football competition at Royal Oak High School. One noticeable feature of the athletic facility was the president's vibrant vibrant business banners displayed throughout the stadium. Upon following up with their athletic director and booster club so they participate with their booster club. It looks like according to this memo, we also have a booster club that um that we are not utilizing. So with this memo, I would like it to be a collaborative joint venture between our athletic director and our athletic booster club as well. Well, that's that's not the motion. However, I believe that the >> I can change my motion. >> I believe that if um the booster bylaws are still in place that it requires

181the athletic director to attend the meetings as part of the board. Um so that that is part of the athletic boosters um board their bylaws if those are still being followed. >> Well, I would like to see some involvement with the athletic boosters. we've um need to bring that back into our district. So, I would like to amend my motion to um in include them in some way, shape, or form in to this project. >> Is there support for the amendment? >> What do you mean? I'm like I know you want them to back up, but what do you mean by just in this? will bring them back in to have them participate in this fundraising opportunity. You know, they should be involved with, you know, selling the banners and potentially getting the community involved.

182>> I support >> right motion by I think I have to support I second. So, I will support. >> Thank you. Um amended motion by Heidi to include involve uh athletic boosters with the athletic department revenue. Second by Monica. >> Wait >> the amendment. >> I thought she said she didn't say with the revenue. She said with helping sell >> I think facilitating and discussing I think the logistics of it can be worked out between them. that I want the booster club involved in this project. >> So, I'm lost. >> I don't think I don't think that the school board can demand even though several of you are members that that that happens. We can certainly invite them to the table and Mr. Penis or Mr. Rati will be uh have to be in attendance

183of those meetings. I'd ask former athletic directors to also attend those meetings. Well, motion's on the table. Let's vote. >> So, what is the motion now? >> The motion is to have the motion on the table is to have the booster club work with the athletic director department in this area so we can start getting our booster club back into the buildings and back into the schools. We have pushed and pushed and pushed and it it's this is something that every school booster club does and the concession stands were taken away from them and I just think since doing it that it would be a good venture for Hazel Park to consider involving their booster club in. >> So you want to invite the booster club? >> Invite. Sure. >> Yes. Uh, that's what I

184was going to suggest a change of the motion is that um that you ask the athletic director to reach out to the booster club to participate in this process. >> We can't make them that's what I was trying to say. We can't make them but we can ask them to participate. >> Correct. >> Okay. So the motion is >> to invite have the athletic >> correct >> director invite the boosters to participate in the athletic department revenue project. >> Yes. Yeah. >> And I think you may need to amend that a motion and that's not the motion that was approved. So I think you will have to pull off the second amended the proper way so that our minutes are accurately refined. I move the board of education approve the selling of banners, passes, and

185other advertising revenues for the athletic director with the booster club. Athletic booster club of Hazel Park >> support. >> You can't support. >> Oh, I thought we pulled it and we're starting brand new. Okay. >> Okay. Motion and supported by Monica. I'm not repeating all of that. Anything else? Anybody? No. >> No. >> Okay. Um, roll call. >> Fortress, >> yes. >> Eaton. >> Yes. >> Becker, >> yes. >> Leaf boys, >> yes. Fox, >> yes. >> Hinton, >> yes. The next one is a motion for the financial advisory services as a resolution. uh coming from the investigation. >> I move the board of education approve the contract for for financial advisory services support. Motion by Heidi, support by Debbie for the approval of the contract of the financial advisory services. Discussion. Um, I would

186like to say again that we already have Terry here from open schools. Um, they are doing this for free. We got an initial report. That does not mean that it's the last report. Um, the fact of the matter is we have been told and said out loud at Canoe the whole and other meetings that you don't want to give raises. We don't want to spend the money. But this gentleman when we were on the Zoom said for one month, his first month would be over $20,000. That's not the continuous of months. That's not the 18 months that some people wanted. That is one month alone is $20,000. So, I think we need to give Terry a chance to do this work for free. Um, Open Schools has got rid of Truin. Like I said, they

187are not using them anymore. They always said that this is a pyramid scheme between Alen Law and Don Soie and I think >> that's hearsay. >> Sure it is. Um, but Oakland schools did vote so that is not hearsay to get rid of truin. Um, and I think that we need to listen to open schools. That's who we are a part of. And I think that we need to try their free services before committing to this amount of money. I am going to say that we need um we need extreme help. This is part of the plan of assistant and the correction action plan that the board has discussed. um it is in the we need to be collaborative, transparent, and sustainable for the kids to succeed. And right now, I'm not sure if the

188district is sustainable. Um I did read over Terry's papers and she did mention that, you know, it's we need a lot of work and this company has agreed to come in and dig deep and is it at a cost? Absolutely. It's at a cost, but I think it's something that we can't afford not to do. Um, you made some damaging statements about the person that's coming out. He is a CPA licensed to the state of Michigan. The things that you had projected to say if some that was a true statement, they could have filed a complaint with Lara. He has he could lose his license based on the information you said in the last meeting and it was very damaging. Again, we have someone who's sitting here free already. And you're willing to spend money,

189but you won't give. >> That's not that is not her main job. >> She works. She works for every district in Oakland County. >> This is his main job and focus is to help us get sustainable again. And this was part of the plan of assistance. We agreed for a plan of assistance. I asked for a copy of the plan of assistance because it's not been approved in open session and it was related specifically in this conversation about me and so that would be a violation of the open meetings act if you had any plan of assistance for me that has not been presented and given me an opportunity to respond. It hasn't been presented because this this is involved in it because we came out of that closed session and voted 70 that we

190would hire somebody to come in and give some financial assistance because we need it desperately. So, it's part of the plan upon approval of the financial advisory services and the Oakland school. We had a choice between working with the treasury or Oakland schools and we picked the treasury and somehow Oakland schools got involved in this after as a board we vote at 70. We didn't know exactly who would be helping us but this person Heidi made a good point. This is going to be his total focus. We don't have a contract with the person at open schools. We don't know will she be here 1 day, 2 days, 1 month, 3 months. There's nothing concrete and this person will dig he will dig deeper. But my thing, we had a 70 vote to bring someone

191in, not who. So I have one question. If if for some reason you agreed to table this, if we can ask Terry to write up something that tells us what she's going to do, how she's going to do it, and go our free option before spending thousands of dollars. That's literally all I'm asking before. This is a lot of money to spend when everyone at this table keeps saying things that we don't have money, we don't want to give raises, we don't want to do this, but we are willing to spend thousands. The reason why we don't want to do that is because we can't get a clear answer on where we stand financially. We had a budget presented and in the committee of the whole we that was told, "Oh, that's not really a

192good budget. It was just a budget. It's just, you know, you can't really rely on that." Well, I need something I can rely on to make decisions, especially when it becomes our what is our largest expense, which is payroll. I think everybody in this building deserves a raise. However, unless I know we are financially stable, I cannot vote for that. >> Miss, may I please speak to Terry Le's next steps? >> I don't again, this is a part of agreement >> because I think it's biased. This is a board decision. Well, I'll ask then, but have we had a conversation with Terry Les to find out what the options are? Because if if this service is provided through open schools potentially, the ISD, which spells out in in the reports that we got from the

193state, that is one of our options to go through to make amends for the things that need to be fixed. I think it would be prudent for us to at least have a discussion to see what the financial burdens would be on us. Uh how much of it is free and what services can be provided. Uh this report seems thorough to me. It's certainly not all glowing. Uh there's definitely a need for this to take place. But here's >> I'm just questioning if it's if it's worth having a conversation rather than jumping in and spending an an openended amount of money. >> I for a similar >> Terry Les works for Oakland schools. She doesn't work for our district. She's coming in to assist. So I I think I would be comfortable if um I

194mean similar to how we did with the the policy law firms um if there was an option to either I I I'm thinking sort of in different stages. I I would like to see this put to either a presentation or a bid. Um if we're talking about money that is upwards of $20,000 for a single month of services. If this was if this was a capital project or if this was some something like that, we would absolutely put this out for bid and expect people to come in um with with much more in-depth letters than this engagement letter and also provide some some solid financial information uh regarding what we would pay. Um, and then to take that a step further, I if in any motion, um, and and I guess I will say that

195that if if the ISD does provide a similar service, obviously that that could be part of that presentation. Um, it wouldn't necessarily have to be for-profit companies. um if if the ISD offers something like this and they can come in and they can explain to us exactly what their steps are and what level of accountability they could have to the board. Um I would certainly welcome them to do that. Uh but I still would like I would like additional information. I would like additional financial information. I would like additional firms to potentially step in an offer. Um and then if and when that is done, I would like to see a capitated contract. Um, this has been sent to every board member. I believe President Hinton sent it about a month ago. >> Correct. >>

196So, this should have been addressed at this time. It is now in front of the board to make a decision. Dr. Wilcox has been back in our district for at least 45 days and this needs to be addressed. Do we have any updates on I mean, we also review the plan of assistance. that seems to have Do we have any updates on that? >> No, just >> I mean just I mean considering the intersection of these two things. >> No, I got everybody's input. I sent it to everyone and you sent back your ideas of what should be out of it and I did not send out the revised um plan. >> Okay. >> So I I know that I need to do that. I was waiting on this. Um, but I took everybody's points

197into consideration. It's shorter than it was. Um, so anyway, no, you do not have the new revised. >> So, the board's been making decisions uh back and forth to each other about a plan of assistance that's not been discussed for giving me a due process, which is required by the law. >> I don't think we made a decision. and we were just given it and said, "What do you guys think?" I don't think we answered it all together. I know we didn't answer it all together. >> I didn't have any changes to it. I didn't have any input. >> So, you know, we're talking about the contract for the financial advisory services. So, I you know, we heard points of view here. I still go back. We vote at 70. Um that was a decision

198made by the board and so I think we need to stick by what we voted on but um if anybody >> I feel like we are sticking by it even with having a free plan. it it's free and asking for further instruction of what Terry wants to do and where we can be and what can stay free and then looking at other contracts like April said instead of jumping in to spending thousands of dollars. >> I don't think it's jumping in. You guys have had everybody has had the contract um for at least 30 days. It's not jumping in. The last piece that I want to say is at the last meeting, if it is true what Monica said, then for some reason he thinks the superintendent will not be working with him, which sets

199us up in a bad light. In order to do a really great job, you have to bring in somebody that's going to work with the administrative team. I don't know if that's accurate or not. I just listened to what was said, which kind of took me off guard to hear that. >> Well, you know, the working relationship works two ways. So, absolutely. But already there was a conversation about the superintendent being resistance. So I don't know if that's what was shared. I don't know. I don't >> Can I finish? I don't know if that was shared by the board that I was resistance cuz certainly we very much as a matter of fact have Terry who said she would speak with Bev Hidden and >> No, I think that was a conversation that I Monica

200and this gentleman had on the phone that um she was very aggressive in that state and said that that was the case and that was not the case. He seems very willing to work with you. He knows very little except what has been put in the newspaper about our district. I'm going to disagree with that because he said at least 10 times that well if the superintendent will work with me if the superintendent and I stopped him. >> It's a difficult situation that he's in. >> Um >> uh you know that could have been a comment. He's worked with lots of superintendents and so he's ran into issues with some of them. It he may not have been spoking specifically of our superintendent. He sometimes superintendents don't want to work with me. I think it's

201even in the contract like if if if if it doesn't work or I think there's something in there. He knows when he comes in there's a lot of stress. We have a financial situation. I think he meant in general I may have a situation with the superintendent. I don't know. But I think that we need to vote. I think we've heard I I I mean, if you're finished, we could go on and debate. >> A couple comments. I had a problem with that that this is open-ended. There's not a a dollar amount. Can we put a cap on it? Is that a possibility? >> Absolutely. I believe it was $20,000 for the first phase. >> That was just in the first month. He said it would have been if we would have did this before

202it had been August would be the first month and it would be at least $20,000 which include which he has an amendment in here for um travel I believe. Yeah. But absolutely um we can put a cap on it not to exceed let's just say $25,000. I'm okay with that amending my motion to say that. I'd also have another um question. If we were to vote this down, um I would not want to wait till the end of August because there was some very very concerning things in her report. Um including a structural deficit, which I had to Google to find out what that was. Um and so I think the longer we put off help, the worse it will be. So, if we are putting this off, if I would like to have other

203parties in in the next week or two, we have a meeting next week anyways. Um, that would be my request. Well, I do want to say either way, Terry has already been starting to work with Monica and will continue as I mentioned in my weekly notes. um they will be working together and they've already started working together and Terry's been in contact with all of us on a daily basis and is more than happy to come in work hand on hand in hand with our department and within the B+ to help facilitate making sure that we're either doing position based or uh zerobased budgeting based on the further conversations. >> Can we just make it clear that it's that Monica? >> Yes, that's Monica and she's doing it for free and it is approved by

204their board. that's what they're for and Mr. Gutman has uh asked her to come in and do this because we're one of their districts. >> So, I would feel more comfortable with a contract stating her >> she will still work for Oakland school. She will not work for our district. >> She will not work for our board. >> Saying if if she is the people that end up getting voted in, I would like to see a contract before we vote her in either. I'd like to say >> I don't know if we could have a contract with Oakland schools, but >> Oh, you can always have a contract, but we chose not to do that. Remember last time you had a contract with them and they brought in people to serve. Um, she simply we

205can outline even further. What my hope would have been is that after this next week that u President Hinton will have an opportunity to speak with her either way whether you have Mr. Soie here or not so that she can hear that and then we would have a plan about what the next steps are. [Applause] Okay, are we ready to vote? Are you amending your motion? >> Was this on? >> Yes. >> No, it was not. Talk about this. Oh, no. Heidi's mentioned that we had the contract. Yes, we have the contract, but I did not know until this weekend that this was going to be on the agenda today. So, I want to be fair that yes, I had the contract, but I was not aware that this was going to be on the

206agenda today. So the the report that I got from Terry Les that we got which was very informative and the other documents which were very informative uh give me a whole new light on a thought process going forward on how we spend our money and our resources. The the report clearly tells us we need to be careful on our spending. So that's my two cents. I think it is at least warranted to have a conversation with Terry Le and open schools and see what our options are. That's just my two cents. Um because and I agree with you know that and this is pretty open-ended in terms of anything should have a cap. >> We can add a cap to it. That's fine. I I I >> No, I agree. But I'd rather spend no

207money than >> Right. But again, this we've already discussed it multiple times. >> Okay. So, the motion is >> is on the table and I will amend my motion to I move the board of education approve the contract for financial advisory services not to exceed $25,000. Did I support the first motion? >> Yes. So, I'll support the second one. Okay. Discussion is complete. I think we need to vote. So, roll call, please. Cordre. Yes. The brown boys. >> Yes, I I just agree that we need um that if there is another option on the table, we owe it to ourselves, especially with this amount of money, especially considering the $25,000 sounds like it will not even last a full two months, and this is a year-long contract. uh to hear otherwise. We have not had

208the opportunity to do so. >> The contract is no. >> Becker, >> I'm going to echo my sentiment. I said already um this work will still be going on even if this contract isn't approved. Um clearly there needs to be work done. Um, and to the to the point that we agreed on this, we we didn't necessarily agree on this. We agreed that there needed to be a plan with with someone that wasn't determined. So, I'm also No. >> Can I gently remind everyone to speak into their microphones? >> Sorry, Mr. I know that really came from you. >> Yes. No. >> Yes. Motion carries four to three. >> Uh, >> did you say there was a resolution to that? >> Did I say what? >> Did you say there was a resolution? >> There

209isn't. There's a 18-month contract that was approved. >> Um, motion for the web building action. Is that the pipe? >> Yes, it was. I move the or board of education approve the plumbing repairs to web elementary at the cost not to exceed $6,48. Uh motion made to repair the pipe and web and supported by Monica. Any discussion? Do we still have a district plumber? >> We do, but this is not the type of work that could be done by a district plumber. >> So on the Oh, I was just wondering. I wasn't sure if we still had a district plumber or not. Any other discussion? Uh I have a question. This is kind of jumping ahead but kind of not. Um I noticed on another document that there's an infrastructure grant that is paying for

210it. Um >> not for web. >> No, I understand that. Could we use the infrastructure grant for some of these >> fellow's grant that's specifically stated in what it can and can't be used. >> Okay. I thought I didn't realize it was called the I thought it wasn't the same name as 334. So I was okay. >> Okay. Roll call. >> Yes. Becker. >> Yes. >> The boys. Yes. >> Yes. Motion for the concrete work at Edison Web and Webster. I move the board of education approve the concrete work at a cost not to exceed $34,630 as presented. The board miss if I could just point out here that this will be used out of the seeding fund. >> We didn't get a quote for Webster. Can we I didn't see it in the packet

211and right. >> Yeah, we we can forward that to you. >> Okay, that was one question. And what um is it cracked? Is it broken? Is it Why are we replacing contracts? >> Yes, all of the above. Uh the web the Webster is very torn up. Um actually, Greg is here still, I think. Is he not? Okay. Um, and then, uh, there's pictures that, uh, didn't get sent to you that shows the >> I was going to ask if there was pictures. >> We can send you the pictures tomorrow. >> Thank you. >> Can we table this until next Monday? Then we really need to if we're going to get it done before school starts, which is why we moved it here to get it done. But again, this can all be covered by the

212scing fund. >> Any other discussion? I I assume that the the cost the when you went out to get the bids, you're probably using a master bid. >> We don't have to use a master bid because it's underneath the state bidding prices, but he got several quotes. >> We brought to you the best one. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Anybody else? Roll call for this. >> Yes. Yes. Steven, >> yes. Becker, >> yes. >> Brown boys, >> yes. Fox, >> yes. >> Only because it's out of the scing fund. Longfellow concrete and gutters motion. I move the board of education approve the concrete and gutter repairs at Longfellow at a cost not to exceed $50,380 as presented. Support. or work. This this actually is out of the lawnfall grant. So, it's finishing it's tearing up

213the broken asphalt in the back, making a path um and also putting the new gutters on and it's totally covered by the grant. >> So, in the board packet, it said that the gutters were were for it doesn't say on this memo, but it the title is like Roosevelt and Longfellow. >> Oh, no. It says long a long fell of concrete and gutters. This is a brand. This is an extra one. >> It said best. I read it too. >> It did. Okay. >> That's what I was just questioning. >> It did say Roosevelt somewhere. >> Not in this one. >> It's the same company doing the concrete work. >> Well, they called it Gracie or something because that's Grace Keys, formerly Grace Keys. And so when he was doing the work, he brought back

214the old name, which is not in our memo. That's in the bid that they sent. Okay, I have a question about this because um we spent a lot of money at Longfellow and not seen any line item report that this was purchased, air conditioning was this much and we voted at a board meeting for $5,000 for asbestous removal because there wasn't grant money and so now there's grant money. So I would be a no until I see what has actually been purchased and is there really $50,000 Well, um Monica, >> Monica can certainly share that, but but she's the one keeping the spreadsheet. However, the asbestous could not be used in the Longfellow grant. It wasn't that there was not money. You cannot use that in that grant. The state would not approve it, right?

215But this is the final piece of the Longfellow grant and Greg and I reached out. We certainly can send you that spreadsheet, but our assistant superintendent of business has shared the dollars are there. Where is this Ashold court removal? It's in the very back. It is old B. I was told by somebody who said they went to school there when I was chatting with them. It was old basketball court. It's just broken up and back there. Yeah. >> Used to play kickball. >> Yeah. Okay. Kickball. >> It'd be a great thing for a a park grant at some point to do some other things there. Just right now we need to make it safe all the way around and fix that walk out to um what we approved originally to I'm sorry. So, so do

216you know how much money is left in that account just off the top of your head? I'm not going to hold you to it. >> Um there 15,000 back. >> Okay. >> Um but there's one billing possibly. >> But that will be covered by the 15,000. >> Yes. >> You said 1515. >> Yes. >> Or 50 15 >> after this repair. >> Correct. When is Longfellow expected to be up and usable by the community and by people? Well, unfortunately, we're about four months behind uh working with the county and getting people out here. So, while we might be able to open it for some rentals or to utilize it, that plan still needs to be brought ahead of you and I don't perceive it's coming till September or October. What does the the county have

217to do? Like >> Well, the county uh we're utilizing No, no, no. We're utilizing uh services from the county and working with the county to get services in. We may have Ferndale Park District came the other day and might like to do some classes in there. There's potential that the Junior Vikings will wrestle out of there, but the floor has to be finished, which the other things are finished. So, >> I I still I thought we were still on the subject of construction. So, no. Well, they asked they asked when it can be opened. Sorry. So, you said the floors need to be completed and we just did floors at the high school and they were well over $15,000. Is there a plan to >> You already approved the floors for fellow to be done.

218Yes. >> And that's already out of this grant. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> But the other items have to be completed before those floors can be done. >> Okay. Ready? Everybody done? Roll call, please. Portres, >> yes. >> Becker, >> yes. >> Boys, >> yes. Fox, >> Yes. Need a motion for the Jordan air conditioning. >> I move the board of education approve the air conditioning repairs at Jordan at a cost not to exceed $18,500. Support. Motion by Heidi. support by Monica to purchase starown air conditioning discussion >> has this I can't remember from our committee of the whole meeting last week this was already completed >> has this okay >> um it it says on here general fund/syncing fund this expenditure will be covered under the general fund but we can consider using the

219syncing fund once review the balance sheet but we reviewed the balance sheet didn't we get that We we certainly can. There's a there's a balance between remember that is why you have additional funds from the ISD in their fund. It's but really it's Robin Peter to pay Paul. So a decision has to be made whether we want to do syncing fund which would we'll bring a spreadsheet when we start those pieces or if we want it to be out of the center extra fund which then what would happen is the end of next year you would get less that 185 would be less what we would get into our general fund. >> So general fund. Okay. But I Okay. Can Can that be part of the motion or do we >> I you certainly can

220do as you wish. I would I would just suggest that you let us get back to you once we develop that full syncing fund plan where it's going to go either way. It's going to come out of either the center fund or the syncing fund. But that's gen general center fund because there's dollars to do that. >> Okay. Any other discussion? >> Yeah. So maybe we could either get a in your weekly when you decide you can slide that in the weekly notes >> as soon as we get that >> set up. We certainly hope that >> you know that that amount came forward. Yeah. >> All right then. >> Okay. Also roll call. >> Yes. Becker. >> Yes. for boys. >> Yes. Fox, >> yes. >> For I'm sorry, >> yes. Motion for the

221SMX renewal. I move the board of education approve the renewal of FMX at a cost not to exceed $10,227. Support. Motion by Heidi, second by Monica for the SMX renewal. Do you want to say a little bit about that, Dr. Cos? A lot of things. >> We used to have school dude uh and um that did not have the variety of items that has this will have inventory for us. We can put costs in here. Uh there's work orders that are put in place uh for both technology and also custodial and maintenance. Um and then also it's the outside scheduling that will also develop a cost sheet um that we can bill for. It also uploads all the certificate of insurance. Um so it's really comprehensive. Um I think I shared last week that um

222I saw a lot of other districts are removing school dude and and moving toward X FX because it's um so comprehensive. >> Anybody any discussion? >> Um I just have a comment. It says on this um invoice or I think it's invoice Jason Zern is their contact person. We might want to call them. >> Yeah, we're uh we're still getting that from a lot of individuals. I had an invoice that came today for Manetrics that sent it to them and um I am sending that off to them as those come in to let them know he hasn't been with us for almost a year. >> Okay. Is this for the It says the upcoming term. I'm assuming the term is the 24 is it the 25 >> 256 school year. >> Yes. July till June

2233rd. >> Anybody else? No more discussion. Roll call, please. >> Yes. >> Eaton. >> Yes. >> Brown boys, >> Yes. Motion for the EC group incorporated renewal. I move the board of education approve the purchase of the EC school improvement solutions in the amount of $24,641. The board motion made by Heidi in support by Monica for the EC group incorporated renewal. Dr. Dmet, you want to say a little bit about what that is? Sure. when you when you give initials, people like what is that? >> Yes. So, uh the ECRA dashboard is well, we've got two pieces of it. So, currently we have a dashboard on of our website that houses different um data points as well as strategic plan. That's one wing of it. This wing is really around the analytics and this is

224a tool that we can upload a variety of sources of information, MSE data, I ready data, a number of different data sources and it allows us to analyze the data in a little bit different manner than what we normally do. So we can make some very close in predictive goal setting um in terms of our growth for our students and it allows us to really track not only the current data but also historical data because it folds that into the analytics and really helps us do a better job of looking at our history and setting trends and making decisions about where our goals are and how we can measure those. And we can do that um as a district, building level, uh student level, a variety of different ways. And I think one of the

225other pieces that's a benefit to us that we know that we want to get into, we've talked a lot, is to really do some return on investment reports that say, for example, we put these dollars into um one of the ones that we're working on soon is American Reading Company. We put a significant amount of money into that. So we can look at how much money we put into that, what was the return in terms of the academics and then make some decisions about what that impact was. >> Thank you. I I think there's so many great technology tools that help provide organization that saves time and it's all right there in front of you. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Um, I have a quick think that if you add those two numbers, it's

22627,641, not 24,641. 22 + 5 is 27. >> Yes, there was a discussion about it. So, let me correct. >> So, it's so the motion should be 27,641. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yes. I'm I'm just pregnant. You're absolutely correct. >> Um Okay. And when did we first get this tool? How long have we had it? >> A year. >> This is our This will be our second year. >> This will be our second year. >> Okay. >> We started I we've had the dashboard much longer than that. We had the dashboard for the 5,000 for many years. Probably four or five. >> But what does what does the dashboard do versus >> That's how you have your strategic plan online that we have. That's that. And then there's the data analytics which are separate. >>

227Yes. >> The school improvement part is the data that you were discussing. >> Correct. Okay. >> No. No. The school improvement is the data online and then the analytics is looking at all our goals. >> So the data dashboard online is where our school improvement plan. >> No. But you get the information to feed into the school improvement plan off of the school improvement solution based on is that's one piece of our data for our school improvement plan. We also have power school that we pull in there as well. Um this is looking at growth not proficiency over time. >> Okay. Any other discussion? >> I do have a question. So your department Stephanie is the only one that uses this or is this used by other different departments? >> It's used by multiple departments

228can also be used I'm sorry probably not as close enough by building level as well. So building administrators utilize it as well as the district level. >> So it's used on a daily basis, monthly basis. >> Well, I wouldn't say it's on a daily basis because it's really around looking for um we upload data sources to that on a quarter. Like for example, I ready data gets uploaded in the fall, winter, spring. We upload our state assessment data in the fall and then we utilize it throughout the year to look at are we moving toward our goals and how can we also do some predictive analytics about where we should be in the future. Okay. Okay. Roll call, please. Oh, hold on. I need to make a motion. Oh, >> more money. Nope, that's okay.

229>> I would amend my motion to be 27,000 and the amount not to exceed $27,641. I still support. >> Thank you. The motion for the amendment to $27,641 by Heidi and second by Monica. Uh, roll call. >> Fortress, yes. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. Fox, >> Yes. Uh motion for the front line renewal. >> I move the board. May I um It's set is first. I'm sorry. >> What? Oh, I skipped set insurance. Yep. Sorry. >> I move the Are you in it? >> You want me to make a motion? I move the board of education approve the set SEG school year insurance renewal at a cost not to exceed $372,614 support motion by Heidi second by Monica to approve the set um insurance discussion was this one of the things that we discussed in

230the committee of a whole as I We obviously have to have insurance or so that we were going to look at to see if there was are there avenues. >> It would be bid for the 26 27 school year. Correct. Yes. Absolutely. >> Okay. >> That's just a lot of money on the list. >> It those insurance the coverages are a lot of money unfortunately. >> Um and the amount the people that can do it are becoming fewer and fewer. >> I just wanted we are looking into to it. That's all. This is not okay. All right, roll call. >> Yes. Fox, >> Yes. Motion for the frontline renewal. I move the board of education renew frontline employee evaluation management system for the 2526 school year and the total not to exceed $10,50.75 support. >>

231Motion by Heidi, second by Monica to for the front line front line renewal. Any discussion? Roll call. >> Yes. >> Ricky, >> yes. Yes. >> Brown boys, >> yes. Fox, >> Yes. Uh motion to approve the financial reductions. I move the board of education approve the 2526 financial reduction plan at an estimate cost savings of $540,450. The board Motion motion by Heidi and support by Monica to approve the financial reductions. Discussion. >> Yes, these are um just the initial reductions, the additional classrooms. I'm still waiting for the rollover of power school and then to evaluate by each grade level the parents that have actually reenrolled. Um once those happen, we'll automatically do what we've always done is not necessarily fill them and then we'll keep the board updated at the next committee of the whole

232where we are with those. >> So this memo does not in in the spreadsheet that we looked at last week at committee of the whole. This does not include any of those that were the on hold category. >> Correct. And those would be third, you know, number three sections of kindergarten, fourth and fifth grade. And so we're waiting to confirm actual returnees and calls are being made from enrollment for that. >> Can I just request that the Cognia stickers be removed from the buildings before school starts? >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> What stickers were they? >> The the accreditation sticker. They're like decals. >> Okay. >> Like actual stickers. >> Yeah. Did you ask for that to be removed? >> Yeah. >> Not removed from that thing. >> If we're not part of them

233anymore. >> So, it's not savings. If we're not If we're not part of them, it's a savings, >> right? She's asking to remove the stickers, not the not >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> It's getting late. It's 10:00 almost. >> Yeah, it's >> You've got it, guys. You're almost >> four hours. Um, how much do we need to save? This is just the beginning. Do you have a goal? the goal that you're >> the goal was 2.4 million um and we will be continuing to show that um you know with numbers of students and all of that as well as we go along. It's a it's a going to be a work in progress and and you know we're fortunate to know that there is some funding coming back from the federal government. We'll see where

234it is with the state. >> Okay. Uh uh roll callress. >> Yes. >> Ricky, >> yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> Brown boys, >> yes. Fox, >> Yes. Motion for substitute pay increase. >> I move the board of education approve the pay rates for the substitute positions >> is >> support somebody. >> I'll support. >> Okay. Motion by Monica, support by Heidi to increase the substitute pay. >> Is this an increase or just anformational item? justformational >> only increase would be the uh custodial pay because they had a um their custodial rate increase. So it's just matching the same rate >> and we do ask that you approve it every year. We bring it to you. >> So it says action item, but it's not >> It is an action item because they're increasing the custodial

235um >> pay, >> but but not only that, we ask you to certify that pay every year so that we're all on the same page. Um, it's it's something we've done every year. >> I'm confused. So, if we do this one, we they're getting >> pay increase. >> This is substit. >> No, everybody but the custodians. The custodian substitute pay is the base pay of what the custodians have and you have a negotiated agreement with them that sets the base pay. So, this is only matching the base pay of the custodian. Everything else is completely the same from 2024. >> And that's in their contract that says that that's what they're going to get. It >> it's the base pay. We've always matched the subcustodian rate to their base pay. Yes. and and that's uh

236the substitute custodians are it's it's almost like an internship welcome to the school districts until Greg gets uh a feeling that they're able to do the job or the experience is there the hard work and the effort is there so everything else is the same any other discussion uh roll call forress No, >> yes. >> Becker, >> yes. >> Boys. >> Uh, yes. >> Fox, >> yes. >> No. Uh, motion carries 5 to two. Uh, non-union pay increase. Uh, motion. I move the board of education approve the pay increase of the non-union unaffiliated central office and tech employees for the 2526 school year support motion for non-union pay increased by support by Monica discussion I do want to acknowledge that one of these um is the HBCC director which is grant funded so this is

237not going to be coming out of ours at all Which one is grandfunded? >> Gina Williams. >> She's not on this one. >> You're not on. >> Is there any other discussion? I don't have it on. >> Okay. No discussion. Roll call. >> No. Ricky. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> Boys, no. >> Fox, >> yes. >> No. Motion carries three to four. Uh, central office admin. Am I on the right one? >> Yes. Central Office administration increase. >> I move the board of education approve pay increases for the central office administration for the 2025 2026 school year. >> Second motion by Monica, second by Heidi for the central office administration increases discussion. >> I also want to acknowledge that our community schools director is also a grant funded expert. I just want to say

238that um a structural deficit that I mentioned earlier is when your monthly or when your bills exceed your revenue. So things that you can't that you can't change. Like if it was you're talking about your house, it be your electric bill, your gas bill, your water bill, your house payment, whatever, whatever, whatever. And so to me, we're asking for things that are going forward going to raise the amount that we can't change when we're we have to cut that. So, um that's my two cents. >> I want to acknowledge that this is a total increase of $29,000 when we just approved $25,000 that we could have discussed further and got free. >> That's a one-time expense, not a recurrent expense. This is a 29 throughout the whole year for multiple people >> for multiple people

239>> but it's also compounded next year it's going to be 3% on top of that and then the next year it's going to be 3% on top of that and are we really sustainable to be able to handle that >> to on a continuous basis >> I I question if it's worth tableabling this until we have a little more of a clear picture based you know I'm basing on what came out of this report and what we've been told that um the structural deficit is a real thing. >> Can you lean in? Sorry, I can't even hear you. >> I'm sorry. I just question if it's this is something we could potentially table until we have a little clearer picture of what our funding is based on. So I'd like to share what the structural

240def the structural deficit was focused on last year's end of the year report where it's projected to end the school year in a negative amount which is not where we're projected anymore as we've shared with you. Um it was real time changing. Unfortunately, some of the changes that needed to take place we're having to do now, but to not give the administrators a raise and again to do something for free is those people held your district up for four months. >> And I understand that and I appreciate everyone that works in this district. I appreciate all the administrators and all the work that they're putting in here. But we also just talked about our goal for cuts is 2 and a.5 million and right now where we stand we're 500,000 and we don't have a

241clear picture of what our um what we are getting funding from the state and the federal. So I'm just asking if it you know is this something we could potentially table and I'm not you know not saying no to it but just maybe table it for a period of time until we have a clearer picture. I I would like to say you approved a half a million, but we already approved 1.3. So, we are at 1.8 awaiting our student count. So, that was just the additional items that you had approved before to make sure that we were all on the same page about how we were going about it. So, I want to make sure that the community is aware that we've done far greater changes than that. >> I have one more. So, one

242of the people on here is our Webster principal. And I feel like I understand that they are not part of the union, but I feel like our principal has already got raises. And if for some reason this is going to be a turnown vote, if they could be pulled on their own for this race. >> I'm sorry, would you repeat that? The Webster principal is a part of this currently because they are not part of the union and I was wondering if this is going to be turned down if that person could be one that gets pulled to get voted on separately. If I may, I I I know what it is to be in this position, was in it for many years of on pins and needles with, you know, do I get a

243raise or not and do I continue to work until 11 or 12:00 at night for, you know, free. I also agree with Nate that maybe we should just table it. It doesn't mean I mean it would be retroactive as of July, you know, as of this fiscal contract. um you know if we wait just a couple of months to see where we stand you know a little bit easier for us to go ahead and vote tableabling it might be a good idea and then my other question is you know if we had how many students did we um maybe gain this past uh >> we're at 40 our our FTE at the moment is at 3008 >> so I used to always base it on students so you got $30,000 That's three students and we've

244covered that expense by gaining three students, you know, which would help us with that. You know, that's how we also gauge our advertising is, you know, how many students are we going to get uh for advertising on the billboards for $100,000? If we, you know, get x amount of students, we're going to pay for the billboard. So, I I think this is people's livelihood. Um Dr. Kroo, I don't mean to um intrude, but did you you got a raise? >> No, I did not. No, you did not. Okay. And I did not bring that forth at this point. >> Okay. I didn't know. That's why I'm that's why I'm asking. >> Um so I'm like I'm up in the air, you know. I mean I they deserve it. Yes. So, I'm leaning more to tableabling

245it for a month or so, but knowing that they would get it their money, you know, because that's what happened with me, you know, retroactive back. But then I'm like, well, you know, I really I just I don't know. >> Well, I I have to say that these administrators went above and beyond during the time that I was placed on leave and did my job as their jobs. And um I I believe that there's other ways to go about looking at this balance. Um every time there's been a position, we've gathered it together and we've reduced it down, but not paying those that are doing the work for you. Understanding tableabling it. However, you know, that's not the here and now. And remember, it took us forever to catch up with the teachers where they

246said I that's lost money and lost interest. That's not the motion right now anyways, but you know, >> that I think it should be tabled, but I'm okay with tableabling it until after we get the final audited um budget back to see where we actually fall out and come in. That'll be November. >> It's okay. It could be retroactive. It would be nice little Christmas bonus for everybody. >> I went on school district transparency sites because we don't have money. We have an issue here that we need to work through before we give raises. And it's not that we don't want I was in this position in 2015 and we had to lay off 169 people. I keep getting told, don't be afraid of that. This is different now. We're going to have a 3%

247fund balance next month. All of a sudden, we're we're going to have this money. So, I went on transparency. What's other people pay? Hazel Park's budget is $57 million. We have an employee making $131,040. We have Euron Valley is $17 million budget. Their same person is making $50,000. Ours is making $131,000 with the $57 million budget. Bloomfield Hills $110 million. That person is making 111,000. Our person is making $131,000 with a $57 million budget. I went on every district in Oakland County. We pay our people very well. And when somebody has a $107 million budget and the same employees making 50,000 and ours is making 131, we are not behind. I'm tired of hearing that we're always behind in what we pay our people and they will leave. If you check this out, they're not

248going anywhere. I'm telling you, they're not going anywhere. We are well paid over what these district they have $und00 million budgets. We have 57 million. >> We'd have to double check. You have to remember, you have to cross check to see if that was a full-time employee or part-time >> and what their qualifications and years of experience. Well, I'm not going to tell you the positions because we'll embarrass people up here. So, it's not part-time positions and um I think we need to table it. If you don't want to just um say no, then we need to table it. Our finances are not in order. So are we going with propos to table so that we can discuss this further and get these people what they deserve >> table it until can you be more

249specific please? Um, I would like to adjust until next month for now and see what we can come up with with any more decreases and savings and cost effective measures that can come about. >> So, is Monica mending her motion to table? >> Yes, I have to second it. >> So, for now we're tableing at one month. That's the new motion. 30 days. >> That's what I would like to know just to see what other costsaving measures that we can come up with or maybe there's other positions that we could eliminate and figure out. >> Can can I also have Bev share that data so that I can do a cross crosswalk typical to typical and work with my administrators which ones you looked at? Thanks. >> I appreciate that. And I would suggest that

250fellow board members go on every school site and click on the little transparency page and there's a special anybody making over $100,000. You can read everybody in every school district. I also started putting down the number of kids and then I quit doing that because that has it I mean Clarkson has a $130 million budget. They have a lot of kids. So, you know, that's going to affect it, but yes, I will send it to you. Um, so the the amendment is to table the central office administrator increases for 30 days or one month. >> I would like to table that in to at least October >> and have the discussion. >> Well, Monica made the motion. Yeah, I had to second it. So, >> you had to second it. So, now you're amending it

251for longer. >> No, I would like it amended for longer. >> I'm not saying it can't be. I'm saying for now. I would like to see what we come up with. I don't want to keep pushing and pushing and pushing. >> Okay, I'll second it. A motion made to table central office administrators for one month. Is that correct by Monica, second by Heidi? It's amending the motion, the original motion. All in favor roll call. >> Yes. On tableabling it. >> Yes. Becker. >> Yes. >> Le Brown. >> Yes. >> Fox. >> Yes. Uh motion for director of business and operations increase. >> I move the board of education approve the pay increase for the business director for the 2526 school year. Support >> motion by Heidi, second by Monica to increase the director of business

252and operations increase. Discussion. Um, I was accused of I don't know what I was accused of, but I had this pulled separately. I just wanted the public to know that last year when everybody got a 5% raise, she got nothing because she was um not here long enough. So, if these if these other things that were tableabling turned not to pan out, she would get nothing again um for two years, which is why I had her both. She's also had a lot of training and schooling in that amount of time. >> Correct. And I always want to reward people for school. >> I think in all fairness since we're tableabling the central office that this should also be tabled for discussion next month. >> I would I would agree with that. The only reason I

253don't agree is because of exactly what you just said. Like she didn't get it last year. >> Here's our chance to like I'm very proud of how hard you've worked. You literally >> I I do too. >> So I don't want to table this. Anybody else? I don't think it should be tabled either. >> I don't think so. >> Okay. >> Any other discussion? Roll call, please. I think you absolutely do a wonderful job and I have to stay consistent. Um, and I have to vote no. >> Rippy, >> Yes. Becca, >> yes. >> LeBron boys, >> yes. >> Uh, what's the motion? >> Heard you get a raise for the director. $55,000. >> Yes. Motion carries. 61. >> Um, a motion for non-union unaffiliated salary and benefit summary security guards. I move the board

254of education approve the changes to the non-union unaffiliated contracts for security guards for the 2526 school year. Support. We pulled uh the security guards separate from the vendor schools um for our conversation last week. So this is adding another step and raising the starting salary. We have been short security guards and currently I believe we have two at the high school. So I do want to make it clear that some of these are no change at all. Some of them are 30 cent raises, some is 50 cent. So, it's not a major difference, but it helps our security guards. Yes. >> I have a question. How much? Okay. So, if we were I know you can't say how much this would have you, but if if we have how many security cards do we need

255to consider a full >> seven at the high school >> in general? >> Seven at the high school, two at the junior high, and one here at Advantage. Currently we have um yeah we have the advantage security guard um we had two at the junior high currently and then there's only two of the seven um hired at the high school at this time. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, and so rough estimate, I know it's really hard, rough estimate as to how much is cost costing those like the two that are coming back or the I don't know that. >> So, our total cost for the ones that we currently have, the increase is $3,916.80 for the for the employees that are currently employed for them to get their increase. Is that what you're asking? >>

256Yes. $3,9 >> 3,916.80. 80 cents. >> Okay. And then everybody else the other we have >> it would be uh you know times 8 hours times 180 days. >> So that's five. Is everybody else full except for the five at the high school? >> We're missing five at the high school right now. Yes. >> But the junior high has both of theirs. >> The junior high has both of theirs currently hired. >> So we've been we're not saving money by not having them. We've been having um teachers fill in on their prep period because we we can't have unsupervised halls. So, we're not saving anybody but any money by not hiring these positions or by not giving any um increases because we're paying our teaching staff $45 an hour during their prep periods to supervise

257hallways. Any other discussion? Okay, roll call. >> Um, thank you Christie for that explanation. I was going to vote no, but based on what you just said, I will um vote yes. >> Yes. Becker, >> yes. >> Boys, yes. Fox, >> yes. >> No. Uh, vendor schools non-union unaffiliated salary and benefit summaries. I move the board of education approved the changes to the non-union non-affiliated contract for the 2526 school year as presented. Support. So, this is a 3% increase for um vendor alternative staff. We only have a couple of employees that this this affects. Um, we're moving the hourly rate from 2113 to 2176. The total increase for those employees is $1,814.40. I do want to let you know that we will be bringing some salaries from Invest. Um, but all of these dollars come

258out of their own of their revenue of their state aid that they claim. >> So, it's not really an increased for our budget. It's an increase for their >> Yeah. >> Yes. Increase from the revenue because we employ them. There are these are our kids our schools. >> We employ them directly. >> Yes. These are the ones we employ directly. >> Okay. >> And we send invest a bill for them or how does that >> Yes. Well, we don't send them all their state aid that they receive. So, we take a percentage off of that. >> Did anybody make a motion? >> Yeah. I made a motion and I >> and I >> All right. Almost done. >> All right. Motion by Heidi and second by Monica Burress. Yes. >> Yes. >> Meer. >> Yes.

259>> Fox. >> Yes. Motion carries. Chartwells revenue. >> I move the board of education approve the allocation of the Chartwells funds as presented. >> Support. They're moved by Monica and support by Debbie to approve the check wells revenue distribution. Right. >> I'd like to make one change as you are walking through here that the junior Vikings that dollars will be put towards the sled machine for the difference of the of the check that was given tonight. So, um that 675 goes all the way through there. the agreement was half and just writing a check for the portion. So those dollars will just go in the general fund. >> Okay. Any other discussion? All right. Roll call. >> I have a question. >> The agreement was half. So we agreed to pay half the sled and

260they agreed to pay half the sled. >> Yes. And so >> and now we're taking their money. >> No, no, no. He only gave me the half of the sled minus the 675 here. >> That's private agreement. Okay. Roll call. >> Yes. >> Boys, >> Yes. Becker, >> yes. >> I'm a no because I still have questions on that sled. >> Fox, >> Yes. Motion carries six to one. Billboard advert. Um, yes. Billboard advertising. >> I move the board approve the digital billboard advertising for two terms at the cost not to exceed $14,000 as presented. Support by Heidi, support by Monica to approve the billboard advertising. >> Any discussion? >> No, just that uh this is a reduction from what we've done in the past. Um, and we've just tried to hit the two most

261important months that are that are out there and they actually he already has it running for you before August. >> Okay, roll call. So, those days were provided. Sorry. >> How many signs is there? Most of the signs. >> I I think at least two, but do not uh request. I think he said that he will do what he needs to do to help pay a park. So, they're rotating from different signs. Okay. Room call. Oh, sorry. Hi. Before Oh, just one more quick question. I'm so sorry. You said this is not the same as last year. >> No, it's not the same as last year. We had uh a $21,000 um approval and then some other ones along the way that you approved. And so this is all we're at this point in time,

262depending on where we are financially, this is all we're doing. So it is another savings. Okay. To >> I just want to point that out. Yep. >> Thank you. Sorry. Okay. Roll call. >> Yes. >> Eaton. >> Yes. >> Brown boys. >> Yes. Motion carries. Uh cell phone ban. Will you a motion first? I move the board of education approve the cell phone ban for advantage for the 2526 school year with it being reviewed in December. Support anybody >> I'll support. All right. Motion made by Heidi, support by Monica for the cell phone ban. And would you say a few words about that, Dr. Krooppy? How that came about? >> Absolutely. Um well, this is a nationwide trend to ban cell phones in schools. Uh we um when I returned um a couple many of

263my principles asked for this to happen. We decided to pilot at first at um Advantage. As a matter of fact, we met today with the uh POD uh company. It's going to be under $5,000 to get cases for Advantage and maybe Addison. We'll see uh what the center program chooses to do. And so students will walk in uh have to put their cell phones into a case and close it and then when they leave they'll unlock it. Um I did check uh with uh Mr. Smith today. He's excited we're bringing this and we'll see and report back to you how that goes and then that can help us determine if we're moving to another school or not. >> So will we have to we will then have to approve the pods? >> No, it's under

2645,000. >> Okay. >> What do they look like? >> Yeah. It's like a little It's a We'll send you a picture of it. It's just like a little pod and it has a button and they can push it. When the button is green, they're open. When you push it down, the but they're locked. >> So, it it locks the cell phone into this pod. Is it attached to the wall? Do they >> No, no, they can they take it. So, they have their one on site and then any parents that might be concerned. Your locator is still on for your student. So, wherever your student is, they still have that. One of the things that Aendale did is they put scissors in their safety bags. So if there was an emergency, they could cut open

265the pods. Obviously, we'd have to replace them. Then us. So if there was an emergency, support. >> So the pod has like a a timer that it's locked at this time and it gets unlocked at this time. >> Now when the kids walk in, they put it in the container. Like let's just say this is a a container. They put it in the container. They push the button closed. They take it with them. They have it with them all day. So no one's taking their phone. No one's saying anything, but they can't open it up until it's time to leave. And then they click it and it unlocks. >> Okay. kind of like a a clothing store that has a little thing on. >> So the clicker is on the way. I'm just saying if

266they have that pod was to keep them from opening it during the day. >> They can't because you shut those you shut the ability to unlock the scissors for them to open it. So one of the concerns that parent has parents had in Aendale when they went through this is that if there was an emergency, parents would want their kids to be able to contact them. They purchased scissors, very heavy duty scissors to open it up. It can't be just regular scissors. It's got to be pretty heavy duty. >> We're not asking that, are we? >> Huh? >> Are we providing scissors? >> I don't know. I'm just stating to you that parents had concerns and that's one of the items that they talked about. >> But you thought it was in a specific safety

267bag. Correct. If that >> it is in a safety bag. Each phone has a safety bag. Their own safety bag. Each student. >> What if just procedurally I'm thinking like I'm walking through it. What if somebody forgets their hug? >> We don't let them take it home. They do let them in other school districts take it home. Uh Dr. Damage and I had that conversation with them today. I don't believe that would be in our best interest to have them take those home. There's um they leave at different times and they come in together, right? We check their bags. They come through the security piece. They can put their phone in as they walk through there and then when they leave, they can put their contact. I'm envisioning like a container alphabetical for them so

268they get the same one every day and that they don't leave the building and if they do they won't be able to use their phone. >> When I saw it on the news it looked like a clear bank bag. >> It's not. It's black and it's like a >> on the news it show you know like that kind of a >> I have I think it's probably a different brand because I think like it's one or the other. >> So will you just send us a brochure on those? >> We sure will. Thank you. And >> we're reviewing this and when does December use that, Heidi? >> Yeah, I would like a little recap on how it's going. I'd like to hear from maybe the advantage student rep or or Mr. Smith on on how

269it's working out for them. >> And I think at the next meeting we have seven bags so that way we can try them out right here at the board level. We'll lock them down and >> I don't know if we'll have them yet, but okay, we'll try. Maybe not for the court. >> Like that idea. >> Maybe not for the board. >> Okay, roll call. I'm sorry. >> Um, yes. Ricky. >> Yes. Becker. >> Yes. Fox. >> Yes. Motion carries 70. Latch key 2-year-old preschool academy fees. >> I move the board of education approve the latch key 2-year-old and preschool academy fee structure for the 2025 2026 school year. >> So probably you noticed that there was a little bit of a change in this memo from what may have been posted over the weekend.

270We did talk um extensively about participating in the TriShare program as a way to offset some of the costs. However, Dr. Krooppy and I met with someone from Tri Share and there's a little additional piece to it that probably isn't something that we want to walk into. So essentially when you apply for this um you can apply and you you can apply for it and and if you're eligible you can essentially apply those dollars at any place. So anybody in the district could apply for tri share because we would set that up through our district and if they wanted their money to go to their own company or another child care program we would have to do that. It almost becomes a benefit for people. So, of course, that's not the space that we're in.

271So, we do not feel that that tri share is um what would benefit our district at this time. So, that was removed from the memo. But in terms of the actual memo there, we're really coming to you with what we've done for the past couple of years. We are uh hoping that the board would be able to support that free preschool and latch key like we've done in the past for our staff members. and the fee structure is exactly as has been for a number of years. Another thing that um we wanted to make sure we brought forth is that we do still have a pretty big balance in our child care stabilization fund. Monica, was it $385,000 >> is closer to 300. >> It was over. So, so we do do still have some

272of those dollars and uh some of those dollars actually came during co you know we did have a lot of benefit for our families because childcare was very important. So I just wanted to make sure I pointed out that there was change in the memo from what was posted over the weekend. So essentially we're asking for a continuation of free preschool and latch fee for our staff members at the same fee structure um in general the same fee structure. So free preschool for staff members. The fee structure for latch came preschool whether it's a staff member or not would be the same as last year. Do you have an estimated amount or rough amount? I I guess that would be helpful. So we kind of know how much this is costing the district. And I

273do realize we have a 385 in a stabiliz stabil stabilization fund for child care, but I just a rough estimate on maybe or the actual numbers of what we spent last year. So we uh started that we've not been able to finish that with all the other pieces happening because you can't just take how much we spent. you have to t take each individual person, determine if they paid or if they were DHS or they were staff members. And so we really at this point in time need to be focusing on the upcoming audit and the budgets we're trying to do. Um and so while we will absolutely do that, it is not something that we can prioritize in front of the other items. >> Can you tell us if it was over $300,000? Well,

274we did not dig into our child care fund over, you know, it it did not go down that significantly. >> Oh, so you're okay. So, >> it's where it's the same staff that we've had, the same number of staff that we have in the child care piece and we did uh while it dropped, it did not drop substantially. There's still money to go through another year with this, but we may have to either one charge more or look at something different. Uh but doing that at this point in time uh when parents are relying our teachers are relying on child care and we're going to August 1st would be a detriment to our staff. >> No, I just wanted to it won't eat through that 300,000. >> Um not if it functions the same way

275that it did last year. >> Perfect. >> We can give you the this weekend. the difference between what last year was and this year is projected to be. >> Well, I that would be wonderful and I can wait until we can dig into this and see because I'm sure this is something we're going to do to anyways. >> Absolutely. It would be an option on the table for the future, but at this point in time that it would not be something we could recommend to do to our staff. >> So, at some point, I'd like to just see a budget on this program. Any more discussion? >> Just a point of mentioning, I don't think it would generate really really impactful revenue. Um, but after the start of the school year, if there are spaces

276and there is not a wait list for Hazel Park students in the afterchool program at Webster, uh, I think it would be a show of community support as well as possible revenue generation to offer Latchki openings to the kids that are in the Head Start classroom. >> I think it's always full, but that's a great idea. >> Yeah, I think it is, too. But if if it's not um you know a lot of those kids are siblings or live nearby um it would be a show of community support if there was room. I know there was a weight list when I was in it. So I didn't always make it on so I I know >> it's very popular. >> Any other discussion? >> Okay. Roll call. >> Yes. Fortress, >> yes. >> Eaton, >>

277yes. Becker, >> yes. >> Boys, >> yes. Fox, >> yes. >> Uh, board training action item. I move the board of education approve the board training with the addition of a hotel for the annual leadership conference. Support. A motion made by Heidi, second by Debbie to approve the training with the addition of housing. >> Do we know the cost of the housing >> discussion? What's that? >> Do we know the cost of lodging? >> Um well, it's a three 4 day um trip convention. Um and Debbie and I were going to share the room and I believe it was just over $1,000. like thought I looked it up today. $1,3382. I don't know. >> But again, that was um Amy took or Amy took the um educational programs and put it into the grant for

278the treasury and I believe we're getting reimbursed for those this year. We only received $396 from uh revenue last year being reimbured. So, I would not count on full reimbursement of all these items, but we certainly will will turn it in and see what they give us. >> Is that through Oakland schools or the Treasury? >> That's done at the state level. >> And and I think we I just read the other day in our email, but I could be wrong that they're giving one person entry to the thing. So, yeah, you're right. Yes. Also, there was that where you could get money because a financial the district is financially strained. Was that looked into? >> Not yet. >> I want to be clear that I think a lot of us would want to do

279this as well. It's just that I feel like the cost of it and it being in Trevor City is far away. So there would be lodging and things like that that I just figured there was already two going that I wouldn't stray more when we're trying to figure out money in other ways. >> Okay. Anybody else? Uh roll callus. >> Yes. The prim. Yes. I I do just want to continue to recognize that we have we have staff that are waiting on answers about finances and are very much shouting from the rooftops that money needs to be saved. Um, I do think that the training is important um and will support it, but I I I want it to be known that I don't love spending money in this way uh when we have people

280that are working for us every day that are waiting on their own um information about their finances. But yes, back there. >> Yes. Fox. >> No. >> Ricky, >> no. >> Yes. Motion carries. Four to three. >> What? >> April. >> Was it 5 to2? >> Yeah, because I think April voted yes. >> I did vote yes. Um, I think it's it's important that a lot of things happen, but I understand to the staff that it's >> it's really terrible optics and I hate that it does have to be that way. >> On a a related question though, since we do have this still open, um, Dr. Papazian, were you able to attend Mace? Did >> get >> Okay, perfect. Thanks. Freedom of information was justformational. You have the list and the attachments of all

281the requests. And next we have the Junior Vikings facility usage. Um I'd like to make a motion to approve waving the three for a three-year period of time the facility rentals and custodial fees. Um I and included in that is um prior prioritizing the junior Vikings programing program program giving them the first opportunity to reserve the facilities following school sponsored activities. And I would also like that the school um support them in advertising which may include sending out flyers to the schools um supporting them on their website page and um things like that. I believe that they already have taken all their storage out, but if Longfellow gets up and running, I would like them to possibly have access to a room there for storage. I I just have to say there are no extra

282rooms, I believe, because we we would have to go back and look um because they're they're already utilizing rooms for additional storage for the district. So those rooms that are facing um Maple that we're putting the door in, those are all utilized. >> Yes, there's equipment being stored there. Community school stuff being Yes, we were just there. Those rooms have stuff. I don't know that we can we can try but I don't know that we can promise that in a motion >> and then um I would an option for plan B if Longfellow is not open by the time wrestling season is upon us. Well, I I think we need to leave the um decision about what buildings are being used to the administration and how that does and just saying that you would uh

283like us to prioritize them. I just caution you to be careful because if other group organizations that are here ask for the same thing, you have to equally open the building because this is not a hazel park program anymore. I just want to speak caution on that. You open up the doors. I also want to remind you that um we I sent you various examples of potential uh costs for custodial and would like to have that conversation. Um you saw other school districts with a lot more money than we do utilizing custodial for for groups any other group that's not directly with the school district. Um, and so having a conversation a way of one way of money savings also might help facilitate that anytime you're outside the regular day, meaning if the custodians are

284there, there's no charge. But if you're there on a weekend for 10 hours, there's some kind of charge that goes in place. Is one way for us to save on the um overtime that has to be paid out outside of the regular school hours when somebody >> um I know that Heidi wanted this on here. Some of us discussed about tableling that as well and not bringing it forward today. Um I think the fact that you sent out things that we didn't really quite get to look at fully yet. Um, I feel like you've been working well with them. Like Chris emails us, we work together. We're trying to figure this out. As of now, um, maybe looking at those things before we make a full decision. >> No, I'm not willing to do that.

285I'm not willing to change my motion. I've already tabled it once. Um, Mr. Floer was here. To me, I thought that he was um he appeared not to be very happy with the way that we dropped the ball on them. And um I think we need to do our due diligent and in kind and settle this and give them three years to become stable and support them in any way we can. And I'm not quite sure if they had purchased that. Um I called the company today and they did say that was a um youth and I asked if that was junior high age and they said no. And um it was purchased in 2023 where the junior high didn't even have a football team at that point. So, the junior biking started in 22

286and that I have no proof of uh I believe Tom has spoken to as well and he does not recall that being bought to the junior Vikings. There's no proof either way in emails. I tried to do it very clear. It is clear that that um revenue was not ever received from the school district and we have very clear books from 823 uh forward. Um and so uh that was an agreement that was put into place as a compromise that was offered by Mr. Clolobacher. Uh it was his idea and in order to work together we did that. We will also have to spend 3,700 for an additional slide. We didn't have a team because they were they were playing up and so we didn't have enough kids on 823 which was last year. >>

287I from our original discussion the only outstanding question that I think I still have is there there was some question about mandating custodians to work the overtime Um, and if I if we had a backup plan in place in the event that no custodian was willing to work those those particular time slots, >> our negotiated agreement is that you um have to have a custodian on site. So, if the custodians won't work, we would have to cancel any event. We cannot have anything on site. Didn't we have a um in in an email chain that I saw um that we we wouldn't have custodians for Sundays, but we would have them for Saturdays and all the games on Saturdays. Did I see that in email chain? >> That was the seven that was the seven

288on seven pieces that we talked about. And um we did have uh custodians on Saturday night, but they didn't want to work and rightfully so. I don't want to work from 6:00 on on a Sunday night. They did not want to put in that time, but Saturday they did at we asked. >> Did we not get the list from Junior Vikings of the the schedule of games um it for the fall? >> So I was given every game and Mr. Johnson sent an email saying that the league had not given us that yet and that he would get back to me the way it is and we did already agree to work with them on that and I I was the one that came up with the idea of Longfellow as a you know a

289place but if it's not open up yet then there are other elementary schools that we could look at the also the junior high sled which I think is what was trying to be said is a it's a junior high sled for seventh grade and below it is a youth sled so for some of our kids in the seventh and eighth grade it might be too small but it is labeled as for seventh grade and below by the company. >> Okay. So, >> and it's not Heidi, can you please list what you want on your motion? Um, I want the fee the three years, the fee waivers, the three Yep. fee waivers including custodial fees and rental fees. I want them to have priority um fields if we're not using them. And I want them to

290be able to hand out flyers and be supportive of them on our web pages, help them recruit kids. And then if there's space at Longfellow for storage, then that would be great, too. So every 501c3 is given the opportunity to do flyers in the school district. We would never turn that down and Mr. Plonus can always send out information if it's sent to them. >> Okay. That's we've we've done nothing to not include them in this process. >> Okay. So, we're we're voting on fees wave for three years, field priority after district events, um assistance with advertising, and then I think I'm still like where where my question mark then hangs is when we say I would love storage. Like I don't given given that we're currently in a situation with some confusing motions and

291what was meant by it. Um I I would like that to be very clear what that means. um a place for them to store their facil uh the equipment when it's not in use. >> Okay. I um have not heard that that is a request. Um Mr. Clolobacher when he did talk with me about I said let's move I said we probably should move the furniture or the equipment. Mr. Clolobacher said let's give it a year so we can get on our feet and I said okay. So we did not ask them to remove it. >> So can you change your motion? >> I mean is Mr. Johnson still here. Can he just let us know if he needs storage or not? That it would be easier just to know if we even need to

292go back and forth about that. >> I in my mind the question is should we be considering storage in this particular motion? Is that a request that is being reconsidered? Like do you want to move things back or are we are we currently like status quo and the things are good where they are? Okay. So, storage is off the low chain would be very much apparent. >> Okay. >> So, your motion stands at fee waiver for three years field priority and advertising essentially. Yeah. Is that okay? >> Extortive fees and rental fees. >> Okay. Thanks, Heidi. >> Mhm. >> So, it's facility usage, pre fee waivers, and schedule priority. >> Yeah. And then advertising advertising. >> I I um just have to after hearing the audience would request this to be tabled until Mr. Johnson

293and I can sit down and talk to make sure that relations and relations with our staff are one because the staff has addressed some concerns and um I want to make sure that we have a positive motion going forward without disrespect either way. >> I think um that is the goal here Dr. >> has happened in the audience. >> Um well there was a lot of chirping for three months in our audience. I think everybody just needs to settle down. This is a motion on the table. I'm not willing to table it again. >> I'm concerned that we're going to end up in another place where coaches were saying that they were going to leave because of the treatment. So, I would like to have an opportunity to sit down with Mr. Johnson. >> Well,

294that would be a discussion with Mr. Johnson and Mr. Clover um and have make sure that they understand and their volunteers understand that lead with kindness. My motion stands who supported it? >> I believe Mr. Brown boys. >> What was that? I didn't hear you. I don't know if anybody did. They kept a discussion. >> Yeah, >> I support it. >> Any more discussion? >> No, I just feel like we should give Dr. Wilcox and Mr. Johnson a chance to speak. I I do if you think differently. I do feel like she's been communicating well with you on trying to get this all figured out. And I would rather her sit and you tell her exactly what you guys need and what your hopes are so that we can do this at once and no

295arguments, no no disagreements so we can just figure it all out and lay it out for you guys. >> Do you agree with everything that's on the table? >> Nobody will be able to hear you if you don't. Uh thank you. Um, essentially what the motion that Heidi has made is requesting that for 3 years the current facility rental agreement be honored. That's that's all that she's asking because I know that there's been some discussion of whether or not you guys want to change your facility rental agreement. Essentially, all that she's asking is can the current facility rental agreement be applicable to the Junior Vikings for the next three years? Am I supposed to say something? I >> I don't think so. >> Are we supposed to vote? Are we ready to vote? >> Roll

296call. >> All right. Roll call. >> Yes. >> Boys, >> yes. >> Becker, >> yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> Uh, yes. But what was your vote, April? >> Yes. >> Okay. 70. Motion carries. >> Thank you very much. >> You're very welcome. I hope that everybody is appreciative of this and we can all move forward in a positive light. >> Wait, did we have to do the count table thing that we moved? >> That's right. I forgot. And then we have one that we left off that I'd like to bring up a vendor >> personal. >> Yes, I'm sorry. Let me go back to that pile. Um there was um a position change in the um where it looks like they're um changing um it was accounts receivable and accounts payable position. that person resigned

297and now we're making it accounts payable admin assistant to the business office. And normally when there's a job change or a new position like that, we have to be it has to be voted on or it has been in the past because it's it's like you're terminating one position and creating a new one. So I just >> it's not accounts receivable, Heidi. It is accounts payable. So that um well the termination said accounts payable accounts receivable position and then the new hire was accounts payable administration assistant in the business office which I was under the understanding that that position has been terminated. We brought this to the board for conversation uh when we talked about different positions changing and how to bring them together. Um but it is not an additional pay. It's just picking

298up some of the duties that were lost from the assistant superintendent secretary, which um the business office does not have any secretarial um support um if we don't have the accounts payable do some of that. >> Okay. So, they're not doing accounts receivable anymore. >> Accounts receivable. So, that that's what I would like us to perhaps look at the job, but I think either Terry or um Mr. So might make some suggestions about what that format might be changed to. >> And um I'm just kind of curious whether she's making pennies less and how that decision was brought upon. Why why just the pennies? >> That was the uh salary the starting salary that uh we looked at before. So, we didn't uh change that any different to what than what was there. >> Well,

299it says her new role is 2680 and the previous employee was making 2693, >> right? We gave her a raise based upon where she was in the secretarial position to go there. I mean, you certainly can give her more. >> So, is this a secretarial position or is it an accounting position? >> She was in a secretarial position. She was she was the SIS coordinator, which is a secretarial level one position. >> And now she's >> non-un. >> She's non-union. >> Yes. Non-union accounts payable. So we did not >> and accounts payable and administration. >> So we did we did not give her the same pay if she doesn't have the same experience and she's starting out. >> But it's literally 13 cents. It makes no sense to me. >> We can we can give

300her the raise. I I think she should be making what the previous employee rate was since she's kind of taking on two positions. I mean, the board can certainly change what was budgeted into that amount. We'll give everybody that consideration. Does anybody have any questions? I make a motion to um increase the accounts payable admin assistance to the business office at the previous rate of 26.93. I support >> motion made by Heidi and support by Monica to V. Any discussion? Roll call. Forress, >> Yes. Becker, >> yes. Fox, >> yes. Crumb boys. >> Yes. Motion carries 70. Superintendent report. >> Well, I I think we need to also approve the the recommendation then as well because we we approved the increase but not the higher recommendation. >> So because we pulled her from consent, we

301also have to approve the hire. I make a motion to approve the hire of the accounts payable and slash business administration secretary as presented support. >> Thank you April. Motion by ladies hierarchy. >> Is there any discussion? A 13 cent raise. All right. Roll call. >> Yes. Eaton. >> Yes. >> Becker, >> yes. >> Fox, >> yes. >> Now, the superintendent's report. Correct. I guess I'm going to respectfully ask if the board can approve the vendor payments for the afterchool activities which did not um expressly brought to my attention which was Michigan State for 75, Living Arts for 45, Accelerate Kids for 228, YMCA for 9600 with a total of 45,300 which is covered by the discovery grant. There's no district funds and we need to pay them. Summer school is finishing. Um and so

302I apologize for that not being carried over. We talk about that at committee of the whole. >> We did it. >> And we thought it was already approved. >> It did not get carried over. Yes. >> I make a motion to approve the summer school third party vendor items as discussed in the committee of the whole >> support. Not to exceed 45,300. Sorry, not to exceed 45,300. >> Support again. >> All right. Motion for the summer school by uh Heidi and second by Monica. Any discussion? >> No. >> Okay. Vote. >> Yes. >> Ricky, >> Yes. Becker, >> yes. >> Fox, >> Yes. Motion carries 710. >> Now, superintendent's update. Um, first of all, I have to say to all the students that spoke, what a very courageous thing to do. That's very difficult to

303come up and speak to a board of education. So, I I kept writing how eloquent, you know, how impressed. Um, you know, kudos to all the students to stand up and and say what you believe in an appropriate uh way. And that's what we want our students to be able to do, to come up and express how they feel. Um, I also uh wanted to give Carla um my few moments to talk about the hometown huddle. >> Oh no, I'm going on. I turned my mic off. So we are exactly one month away from the hometown huddle which will be Thursday night, August 28th. So anybody listening out there, we're looking for raffle baskets. Um there'll be a kids corner. There'll be a a clinic. Uh the Wayne State Clinic will be there um doing

304um tests on for kidney function and blood pressure and there'll be uh PTAs there and churches and hot dogs and all kinds of stuff. So again, it's one month away 5 to 6:30 right before our football game against Loyola I think. And everybody gets in the football game for free. Is that correct? >> That is correct. >> Okay. I was only working on the stuff before the football game. So, come on down. August 28th. >> Um, are we inviting inviting people to do tables and stuff? >> Yeah. >> Community tables. Can you talk about that? >> I'm sorry. Say that again. >> Can you just talk about a little bit about that? >> Yes. If anybody has not um I know I contacted a pe couple people out there that I have not gotten a

305hold of yet. Um but absolutely contact me. Um we are setting up tables. We have lots and lots of people who already have um confirmed tables. Um so contact me Carla Gresley or contact Ford and they will get you to me. Um so I can make sure to sign you up and everybody's welcome. Is there anything else? >> No, you can write me down for a basket. just let me know what you want. >> Okay. >> Or if the board wants to do one as a whole. >> Sure. >> Because you know we have basket maker. Queen of basket maker. >> I love that. Yes. I will take a basket. I know we've been going from business to business. And I say we, I mean um the Gators, as we call them, the Promise Navigators

306um have been kind of reaching out to the community and we've gotten several donations that way. And we're trying to reach out via email um as well to some of some people that have given baskets in in the past. So yes, we will take baskets. Is the board okay with that donating for a basket for the mayor? >> Yes. Okay. And also we're what what we're asking people to do is we're going to give raffle tickets away. You have to sign, you know, just come up to the table, sign in who who because we want to take that data for some of our grants. So you get the raffle tickets if you just sign in and say, "Hey, I'm here." Okay, perfect. Thank you. The only final thing I have is I think we've said

307we have uh 3008 uh students right now FTE. Um, and so we do have enrollment night this uh, Thursday night from 4:00 to 8:00 if you haven't had a chance to enroll. Um, it took you a little too long last time. We have more people coming to help support uh, Thursday night from 4 to 8. So, please make sure that um, if you are having trouble logging in and to reenroll. Please come up and see. Everybody will be up here to help you. And I believe there might be some bouncy houses back again because it's not supposed to rain. I hope that will rain. And there'll be some some light food. uh fun for everyone involved. >> Wasn't there something else? >> Do we need to do fun? >> My agenda. >> Last thing I

308think is fun. >> Those are just for your review. >> Yeah. >> Comments. >> Yeah, they're really hustling that class of 26. Great job. >> So many fundraisers. >> This is a list. Okay. So, fundraisers, >> we just talked about that. Okay. Um, request for future agenda items. >> The only thing I want to ask is maybe in the future we start um separating the grant funded employees for raises or anything else from the rest. I feel like I can use you for an example. You're right here. Um, yours is grant funded. we should not be taking from you if we're trying to worry about our own. Yours is already covered and paid for. So, I would just hope that maybe we can separate those going further. >> I agree. I thought the same thing.

309>> Again, I'm still would like to pursue a three-year plan for technology, buildings, and grounds, and uh school maintenance. >> Those are scheduled for November 1st. in their >> items that would um they will definitely be there. >> So, November is a big month. We get the budget. >> Well, that's helping us start planning for the following year, the budget, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, we're on request for agenda items. >> I don't have any right now. Um I just would like to vote on policies on Monday on the 4th if we can add that. Sure. >> Do you want to start the meeting a few minutes early because you have a two to three hour meeting with evaluation? So, do you want to start a little bit early? >> The workshop will be

310that long. >> I can't come any earlier than 5:30. >> Yeah, it has to be the complete time to do the certification for evaluation. >> Just just forget it. We'll do later. Um, we're up to public comments. Um, President Hinton, can I just say that we did two hours earlier our public comments and in our policies we have that at regular board meetings, the board should allow a total of 30 minutes to hear persons who desire to make comments. I'm not opposed to hearing more. I just am hoping maybe we can cap it at the 30 minutes as it's after 11:00. >> Um, you know what? I looked it up here too about the 30 minutes. So I think it comes to like uh how many people did I met? Why? This comes to like

31140 minutes worth if everybody does three minutes. So >> I they didn't do three minutes. >> It shouldn't be more than 10 minutes past that. But I agree it's late. >> That's fine. Like I said, I'm not opposed to it. I just want to put that out there because it is after 11. >> Before public comments, do you mind if I um >> take a brief recess? >> We can do that, too. But I made a motion on August 21st regarding this dance and I think it was very unclear. So I would like to make a and I I there's some confusion and I just like to have a brief discussion maybe after we come back from a fivem minute break and correcting that motion. Uh, that's fine. Is that all right with everybody? >>

312If you want to have that, I can I can wait I can wait a couple minutes if you want to do that now. >> Okay. >> Just get it out of the way. So apparently I made a motion and I went back and I looked at the minutes and the motion says the move by fortress supported by ready that the board of education approved the closing of out of district students of the Hazel Park dance team with grandfathering in the current members already on the team as presented. To me that is very wide open and because of that motion and the situation that is occurring and because our board minutes have been approved it and it doesn't say the 12 students that are currently out of district. It just says the current members are already

313on the dance team. Um, I think we need to allow these girls that have been on the dance team for a few years already that had to leave the district, continue dancing, and if they um end up leaving the dance team, it is under the assumption that they cannot return. >> Could I make a friendly suggestion for you, Miss Fortress? >> Sure. that maybe you approve that all current dancers can remain on the dance team for their time that's continuous. But if they, you know, >> if they're going to another school district, then because they were currently on the team, you're allowing them the same way you allowed people that were outside the district coming in. But if they break service, just like you said, then it would be done. So all dancers that are

314currently there, we get the name of them and we would memorialize them. >> Okay. I make a motion to any dancer on the dance team on April 21st, 2025 and remains on the dance team continuously, is grandfathered in >> if they >> to participate in the dance program >> if they >> even if they go out of district. even if they go out of district at that point. >> I'll second the motion. >> Thank you for clearing clearing that up. >> Thank you. I it you know I I saw all the conversations going back and forth and I'm like let me just look at the minutes. I made I know I made the motion. I feel terrible. I you know it's never my intention to uh you know when little dancers are so cute and

315by all means we we don't want to lose people to go to different schools. So that was another reason why we did close so that we could keep our dancers here but I definitely get where it was confusing. >> So did people do that? >> What's our next thing to do? >> I'm sorry. What's our next thing? >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Boy, >> yes. Richie, >> Yes. Motion carries 70. >> Make a motion for five minute recess. >> I mean, I'm happy to just step out if nobody if you want. >> No, I need I need to go. >> Second. All in favor? >> Yes. >> Thank you, Mr. Fox >> and the admin are still welcome to All oppose. meeting back to order. And we are now open for public discussion at 3

316minutes. And the first person I have is Katherine Miller. [Applause] >> Hi, I'm Katie, two-year wrestler at Hazel Park High School. And I just have a few questions for the board. If it wasn't personal that our coach wasn't allowed back this year, then why when we now go into the wrestling room that was once full of photos of our team and our amazing coach winning a district title for the first time in over a decade now taken down? Why are photos from ' 06, '08, and '09 the last years that Hazel Park was able to secure a regional championship now taken down? [Music] And I know some of you may think that it has nothing to do with it being personal, but you may rethink that when I tell you that a photo of our

317girls wrestling team created by Donald McGinness, if I might add, the first the first in Hazel Park history taken the same year as our district photo together, displayed directly next to it in the athletic hallway at the high school is still up and it does not have Donald McInness in it. But all the photos with him in it, including the ones from when he attended the high school, are now removed. Why? I don't believe that this is fair to us wrestlers who worked so hard for that district title. Nor is it fair to any of the wrestlers from back then who put in the work for the regional, the ones who still hold the last known regional title in Hazel Park to this day. No offense to the board, but majority of you don't know

318the hard work and dedication it takes to accomplish something like that. So, with all of that said, if y'all care so much about us, then why take down our accomplishments? Where did they go? There was another one displayed at our banquet that was set to be hung up this year along with the others. They are all gone. Why? What did our team do to you? Our wrestling room was once a representation of all of our accomplishments throughout the years. Now, it's bare. Thank you. have Lilian uh Lillian Kennedy left Margaret Donnelly now everybody keeps standing up. Um so I'm Margaret Donnelly. I'm at 23368 Davyy. Um, I just want to make sure that I say that these are my own opinions and not of any of the groups that I'm in. Um, my family, we've

319recently or we've moved here for a couple years, but I have a daughter who just finished kindergarten and we plan to have our kids here through high school. Um, and I just want to say that I kind of miss being bliss blissfully oblivious to the inner happenings of the schools. uh our introduction to the district was hearing about the superintendent leave and since then I've attended several schoolboard meetings and all I can say is I'm kind of concerned not just kind of concerned I'm very concerned uh I'm concerned the state of our buildings I'm concerned for our financial situation for the safety of our students for the fact that we're expecting too much of our teachers and support staff without investing in their livelihood and uh for the example our board administration sets for our

320kids. It seems there are many biases from all sides of this and it needs to be put aside. I hope that everyone can act the same way that I hope we're teaching our children in schools with honesty, empathy, kindness, and respect. Thank you. [Applause] Uh Randy Howard. Hi, Randy Howard. Um I'm here today to support Donald and the McInnesses. A lot of you know me. Uh me and my wife, we've we've been doing the uh the Junior Vikings for a very long time. Uh here in Hazel Park, I've watched Donald and Caitlin blossom as individuals. Uh and you know, there's not a better couple that I could have asked to to to follow in behind us and uh to to carry the torch that we know that we've it's all we wanted. You know, it's

321like I you know, the whole time, you know, you're trying to build up the community and build everybody around you. I'm not the greatest wrestling coach that ever lived. and I would never tell you that. But what you know what we built all of this on was respect and treating people you know good and being there for the kids and for the parents when they you know and they're you know it's like they're carrying that torch and they're getting chopped off at the knees man. I don't think it's fair. I don't I really don't I don't know what you know I don't even know if you guys can change anything moving forward. But you know I'm going to stand up here and and tell you that you know I've heard like that other wonderful volunteers

322have been chased out of this district. And that's sad. That's just super you know it makes me super sad. You know we've all worked too hard for to to get this to where it was. It was great, you know, when it when everybody was all on the same page and we were all working together. It was great. Everything was fantastic. We had kids and we were helping and that's all gone away now like Ed said. And it's all about too many egos, two adult egos. And it just needs to stop, man. It needs to just go back to, you know, being here. I know, you know, it's like you've heard multiple times, you know, that it's all about the kids and that's all we were ever here for is the kids, you know, and these

323guys stepped up. He's blossomed as these two have blossomed as individuals and just doing an amazing job. He's doing an amazing job at the high school and at the, you know, and at the at these youth levels. You know how many countless hours that the youth sports take and you know you're not paid for any of that. Just volunteer work, man. We hate that. And you just got to see it for what it is. And what's going on is really bad and it sucks. Thank you, Rebecca Ellis. I too am a parent in the area and we've been doing some things with the kids just to kind of create community and things like that. Um, and I appreciate it. There's a saying that says that a good coach can change the game, but a great

324coach can change your life. And I understand that some people's experiences with Don is in that, but mine is not. And while you guys debated on the people who take care of our children's raises tonight, you fought so hard for the city. Have you been to a game and watched the kids pull the turf out that our kids are going to have to play on in the future? My experience with the Junior Vikings is not the same as everyone else's. My son is autistic. He was on the Junior Vikings. He was cussed out by their coach. I removed him from the team and never received any kind of call to see why he left or if we were okay at all. I was told it's not their fault that he's not a starter. Okay? And

325we're talking about the flag football team. Okay? So, my my experience with them is not the same as everyone else's. Um, I just wish we would fight harder for the people who are taking care of our children who are in the district because they've left. They're gone. Now we're coming back and having this argument on TV for the whole community to see and the arguments are just keeping on going on for no reason because we can't reverse what's already been done. Um, the other thing that I would say is it was kind of rhetorical because we voted to spend 25,000 in two months and sign an 18-month contract tonight for someone to come in to do a job that we already have someone to do. So, we're spending that money in addition to that. And

326then two seconds later didn't approve something else because you said we don't have money. Literally, if you rewind the tape, you said it. So for for me watching this, why why as a community are we trusting you guys to make the decisions for our children when you're literally contradicting yourself as we go along in this meeting. Anybody can roll it back and see. And again, my stuff, my thing with Don has not been he's talked about I watched him high-five a boy cuz they thought that he had he had sex with a girl in a pool. That's not a coach to me. the lights and everything when it came up, you know, about the lights and they were removed. I appreciate that. He he described it as them getting sweaty and rolling around together. Sounds

327a lot like sex to me. This is not This is not a coach that I would stand up for, but I do appreciate the kids. What I don't appreciate is I don't think any of the kids came here just on their own tonight. They were called and asked to come. What a predicament to put our own kids in when they have to move forward with this new coach. It's disgusting. Hey, thank you. I have Lucilla. And for the record, I wasn't brought here. I came on my free will. Anyways, um there were kids that fought for this guy to be in here, and they came in here crying, shing their feelings, and how they feel. And I've kind of relate to them because I looked up to coach because he gave me a lot of

328advice especially about a life and and I just simply unfair for him. And I have something written on my phone. Give me one second. I mean, okay. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. When I met coach in 2016, he changed my life. He believed in me when I didn't cuz I was going through my mental troubles as well, and most of the kids have mental problems. And it's a big thing. And he was a good person to talk to, and he still is, and he still cares, which he still checks up on me. me and my brothers and everybody else, which I've heard from other people just just spoke just like me. Um, I mean, I truly believe that we were being screwed over through the wrestling program. We went through five coaches in the

329past seven years, right? Six now. Or I'm the sixth coach. It's It's kind of sad because it takes a while for the program to start and to build a trust. And I believed in coach and I still do and it's just wrongfully taken away from him just for a vendetta. It's personal. I mean I don't think it's right at the end of the day cuz the kids believe in him. I believe in him. Many parents believe in him and his career, his background all checks out pretty well. And it kind of hurts me to say that he might not be coach. And it bothers me because he should be cuz he fought hard for this spot and he made a name for himself and the community is built around. That's all I got to say.

330Max McInness Allen. Rebecca, I understand that you two have an issue, but the new coach that was hired this evening when MMA not translating to wrestling was mentioned. It was heard in the gallery. Do you want to find out? It was also heard, let's see. I was in the second row. The new coach was not. He was in the back row and we heard him up front. Is that who you want with your children? He's making threats towards adults at a school board meeting. And then I sit here and I hear you guys voting in new hires. Where was the vote for this one? Or did HR just go ahead and do it on her own? You don't need to give me a nasty look. Everyone can see it on TV cuz I can do

331nasty looks, too. Were you going to retal retaliate against me now? Just remember, if I get retaliation, I do have a child in my home who has special needs and things will not be pretty. But there's the threat also, if you guys want to take it that way, because I took what the new wrestling coach said as a threat. Don McGinness Don McInness. I want to talk about how I wanted to make sure you guys knew that I did put an application in when I found out. I did not was not tagged in any email stating that I was had to put in an application beforehand. I did not have to do any application in any of the years that I've done before and I could prove that as well. Uh, on top of that,

332I did put application in when I found out when I put an application in. I did screenshot a week later that the job was still open on your guys's website. And I don't know how much longer it was cuz I wasn't actually even posting it yet, taking a screenshot of that cuz that was actually before I even found out who it was before I talked to Dr. Krooppy and them. I'm sorry. Uh, not name. Uh, it was I was set up for failure. I spoke every two weeks with people thing with asking about open mats, about camps, about everything. And what really upsets me about all this is the things that I've been asking for for years now to taken down is even worse. I just found that out today. And on top of that

333note, hearing that another Olympic wrestler calling me saying that he got offered the job without putting an application in, I found that out today. Uh Gary Harrison said he got a call or talked to some uh I don't know if it was superintendent or athletic director. I'm not really sure on that one. uh but talked to and asked if he wanted the job and it would be his. So so my question is how can someone get the job without putting an application in and if so where's the same thing for me? So, it is a personal vendetta 100% and we all know that. But again, just like how he said that he wanted to coach his son in junior high and I couldn't coach the, you know, I couldn't coach the junior high cuz his

334team was on there. He wanted to coach his junior high his kid and now he's moving up to the high school for what what reason? He has no experience in this field. If you look at his resume, which I did for you, he has a youth dad coach card. He got pushed in last year. He went 0 and 10. He went from 25 kids to nine kids, which is hurts my heart the most because I had 100 kids sign up, 60 kids on the roster, and I started off with eight three years ago. This is not the buildup that you guys want to do. He's already shown. And when I asked about his review, the athletic director said one thing to me. He said, "I don't know. I wasn't at the junior high." >> Thank

335you, Eric. >> Eric Comfort. MMA does not filter into wrestling. MMA is striking. I can beat your face in, make you all nice and bloody. I can break bones. I can dislocate elbows. Wrestling is a gentleman's sport. You win and you lose with the same mentality. Head held high, hand raised. You shake your opponent's hand like a man and you walk off with your head held high. Taking everything from the match into the next one. taking all the losses, pushing them into a positive energy to push yourself into practice. We don't strike. We don't wrestle dirty. We teach good collegiate wrestling that transfers over into college. Currently, wrestling is the number one sport for um what's the word? Scholarships. and wrestling. You don't need a team to get scholarships. You need hard work, ethics, accountability,

336all which Don has given to these kids. I saw that and said, you know what? I want to be a part of it. I came in. I bring 28 years of it. And then I was led around with the amount of pay that I was going to get. And then now I start hearing all of this with going in the board. I don't want to be a part of this program. And I'll tell every single person watching this and any kid that thinks that they want to come to Hazel Park and be a part of a wrestling legacy, it ain't going to happen here because the board can't get it together and they can't hold a coach to be able to keep these kids pushing forward. Hazel Park also has open enrollment. Open enroll. another

337school that really cares about wrestling and your athletic future if you want to pursue this and go to college for free because you will not get it here at Hazel Park with the current administration staff that is just going around and using it like a puppet and pulling strings whenever they feel like it. None of you guys have stepped on a wrestling mat. Have you? None of you. The glow wrestling that was mentioned that is a multi-billion dollar industry. Look at flow wrestling. Look how much money it makes. There is a tournament called glow wrestling. All these kids have seen it. They all want to do it. That brings in more people. Guess what? More people in the room means more money. More money means more finances for our wrestlers. being able to send them

338to executive camps to be able to give them the skills they need to go to college for free. And you guys are denying that from them. Shame on you. Shame on all of you. Stand up for what's right and give these kids what they deserve. Stop messing around with them. [Music] [Applause] Hilla Joseph Hill, I'd just like to speak on that. Uh, with the wrestling program, I think it's uh you're doing a disservice to uh these kids who put in a lot of hard work and they keep their grades up. It's really why they strive. I mean, it's this is their goaround. This is their time, you know. these kids are they're real athletes and they're positive role models and that reflects uh even on their smaller peers and so on and so forth. So

339I think to have a system that starts from the youth in the buildup to the high school, it has to come from here as well. You have to show support. You have to understand that differences have to be put aside. If there's no yes man or yes ma'am, right? So we have opinions on how things should be done. There should not be consequences to somebody losing their job, right? Because who loses are the kids and everybody's losing sight of that. And it's ridiculous because you see a lot of angry people, but it's the kids who are who are getting hurt. We had our turn, right? So now it's we have to do something now in order for them so they can, you know, they can reach back when they get older. I mean, I got

340kids that want to coach, so they're going to be darn good at it, too. So, I think uh this is something you really need to consider and look in the mirror because it's not us, it's the kids. That's it. No more, no less. Payton Howard Before I read this speech, I just want to start off by uh I should not be mentioning anybody's names. I don't know why I get brought up or rumors about me when you're grown adults talking about a 16-year-old kid or having your kids talk about me. Let's leave that alone. I'm reading this on behalf of a college wrestler, Elijah Kdar. Hello, my name is Elijah KD and I worked with Donald McInness in the summer of 2023. He asked me and my teammates to run a clinic for the high

341school. When we showed up, not only was he the first one to greet us, but he was making sure that we felt welcomed. My physical appearance, missing teeth, tattoos, has gotten me weird looks in the past, and my wrestling capabilities been questioned. But when I showed up, Coach Donald came up and asked me more about myself. He wanted to learn about me and what kind of person I am without making assumptions about me. This spoke volumes to me as out of the 10 schools I worked for that summer doing camps and clinics, he was the most interested in what I had to offer and took me the most serious. This shows his commitment to getting his wrestlers better. The second thing I want to bring up is the dedication and commitment he has put into

342the program. I graduated in 2019 from Boyok High School, a program that had seven to eight wrestlers, including myself. Needless to say, the program I was a part of was dying and fast. Forward a couple of years and the program is has more kids now. The only reason Royal Oak is flourishing now is because of the people like Coach Donald who give everything they have to the program. Hazel Park was not much better than us when I graduated, but has since turned around and can fill up a lineup of three times over which has unheard of when I was in high school. Not only did Coach Donald fix up the old wrestling room, but he made it feel alive with displaying old team pictures to inspire and show the youth that the school's wrestling heritage

343run deep. I mean, an Olympian was produced at HP for Christ's sake. If administration that has never stepped foot on a mat thinks they know what's best for Hazel Park wrestling, they should rethink it. Third thing I bring up is the fact that Hazel Park means something to me and a lot of other people I personally know. My grandpa and grandma on my mom's side were both teachers and coaches. My mother went to Hazel Park and was an amazing gymnast. I want to see the legacy live on in people I trust like Coach Donald. If it doesn't continue to grow, flourish, then it's going to be noticeable as well as make a lot of alumni upset after they put in all that hard work. And put the banners up. We put a lot of hard

344work into that, please. Thank you, >> Kayn McInness. Kaitlin McGinness. I do want to make the board aware and its viewers that Amya asked that employee to stand because he was making snide remarks while sitting in the back and she heard all of it. That's why she was going to address him in that manner. If we've taught our wrestlers anything, it's to not back down to anyone. no matter your size. What role models are you looking for? I'm so confused. You have parents buying alcohol for underage children, threats in the crowd by an employee at a board meeting while role mod what role models do you really want? If you want um to have us make amends, which we would absolutely love to hold your staff accountable, hold yourselves accountable. Accountability is all we're asking

345for and proper investigations. And to know that things like this will never happen to anyone else. No coach, no child, no volunteer. School employees want to talk about transparency. Where is it? Be transparent. I know for a fact we have been. Being transparent has done nothing but fuel retaliation. You think you're doing the right thing by reporting inappropriate behaviors, but nope. You're bullied by the school employees instead. It's time to grow up and accept accountability. Thanks, uh, Andrew Whitney. Um, my man Jordan. Um, I wanted to come up here and say, um, one of the rumors about the lights in the room that was sexual. Um, I want to come up here and say that I was the one who recommended it because not only is wrestling very tough, wrestling is hard to come to

346every day. You have to get beat up and come back the next day. So, for me, I wanted the wrestling room to feel like home. Uh, I talked to coach about making the room better. We put LED lights in. We bought a new stereo for the room so kids can choose their music to have motivation to work out. Uh, and to hear that it was taken as a sexual act that we're sweaty and wrestling. That's what wrestling is. I mean, we we're in the room working. It's a very physical sport. You have to be physical. You have to be hand to hand. You have to know these things in order to get better at wrestling. So, it's not sexual. It's never been like that. And for adult to think it that way is that's that's

347immature because a child picked the LED lights to be inside the room. It was not Coach McInness. And um about the about the about the Junior Vikings about the Jun the Junior Vikings picking out turf uh messing up the field about the Junior Vikings uh picking at the field and that's discrimination because honestly all the football players do it. It's not just the junior Vikings. That's something that a kid does. It can be corrected and it can be talked about and it can be changed. I don't think that's a reason for them not to be supported because of that one incident. Even if you had a different experience with them, that doesn't define a person. It seems like the definition that like it just it it don't make sense. People are being defined by these

348things that's not even valid. Um you can't define a child by making a mistake. You correct the mistake. That's what an adult does. That's what adult is for. So, I don't like that the junior bikers are getting bashed today because these are a lot of kids that look up to me and the where I'm going in life and I have to come back to Hazel Park and see them going through what I went through the four years I've been to Hazel Park and a lot of these kids really do look up to me and I don't think I'm coming back. That's the sad part only for the fact that it's been problem since I got here. The only reason why I set up the room how I wanted the room to be set up because

349I was a captain. I'm a captain of three different sports, football, wrestling, and track. And I wanted it to be comfortable because I hated going to HP. I did not like one day of going to Hazel Park. The only thing I loved about it was my coaches and the sports that I did. I did that to get out. And for a lot of the junior Vikings, football, wrestling is a way to get out of Hazel Park. Thank you. [Applause] >> Okay, that concludes public comment and we're up to any board member comments. coach who uh put together the mobile clinic for the physicals on August 11th. So if you your kid needs physicals, I know a lot of our kids can't afford them, can't go get them, this is completely free. So kudos to her

350for doing that. Um and I just want to thank everyone in general for coming up speak. No matter who you are, who what your view is, it takes a lot of courage. It's hard um adults, childrens, everyone. It's hard to come up and speak and tell us how you feel. So, I just appreciate it. >> Anyone else? >> Yeah, I think um we've spent three and a half hours probably listening to um wrestling stuff. I think it warrants a 10-minute discussion from the board. Um, I don't know and I really don't I'm not going to say care, but it's I I would I sitting up here for three and a half hours thinking what's a solution? You know, this community people are so so de passionate about it. Whether you're on one side or you're

351on the other, the passion's still there and the love for our community is still there and that has to be the starting point to build this back. I don't know where to start. I don't know. Have we approved um the wrestling coach? Has he been approved? I think the way to move forward is to have an unbiased person come in and re-evaluate what what mishaps we have done incorrectly, what we've done correctly and how we can move forward and did we give Mr. Wright or give everybody the equal opportunity to apply for the position. I have been here through all six changes of the coach. I'm sorry. Public discussion's over. Um, I've been through all six changes and it has been a turmoil. All six coaches. There was one he was there was >> it

352was it's just been bad. Nope. I'm not saying anything. It's just bad. And I see dedication from both both of the individuals that are going are want the position. And I just feel that maybe we didn't give there was no equality there for this. I'm open to have a discussion on how we can correct this. Put it to rest and move forward. I don't think that people talking in the back is appropriate. The stuff online is getting a lot. We have had so many foyer requests for Jimmy. Thank God that you're still here to take care of them. Um I just there has to be some conclusion and some type of end. So I'm open to suggestions and I'm even open to spending capping and having an investigation done to have some type of conclusion

353for this. It's it's there's nobody no employee should be dealing with this. It it it just has to stop. So, I'm open to suggestions. Anybody have any suggestions? >> I think at the very least whether or not there's something to be fixed here or not with that. >> I heard a lot today. >> Yes. >> Uh, you know, people are very passionate and it takes a lot for everyone to come up here and speak and it we hear you. I hear you. At the very least, we need to make sure and there probably are procedures and policies in place in terms of how we how administration and staff go forward in their in the hiring process of coaches and everything. And it's probably there and I I trust, you know, as a board member, we

354hire the superintendent and the superintendent oversees the administration. We trust that that process is being followed. So, am I a little concerned, you know, when I hear some of this stuff? Yeah. So, it's it's a matter, I think, of of uh communication between uh the board and the superintendent and the athletic director to make sure that those processes are being followed cuz I'm I wasn't there, not in the room. But I I do want to say that I really appreciate everyone getting up and speaking on all accounts, no matter what your opinion is. It's a difficult thing to do and it it it shows that you care and we want you to care. So it kind of hurts when I hear, you know, Hazel Park schools getting blasted here. You know, I'm here for the

355Hazel Park Schools. I'm here for the students. I'm here for the staff. I'm here for the community. So I'm sorry, Dr. Wil. >> No, I'm sorry. I I just um I believe that I've shared it before, but I certainly will share it again. The timeline of events. Um but the athletic director makes the determination about who's coaching. Um and there's a list of time frames about how things happened and it is important that we follow our policy and protocol as a board to allow that to happen. And um you know it we it's tough to make decisions, right? And it's not the board's decision to hire the coach. >> It was a decision by the athletic director who followed in my conversation the protocol correctly and it's not appropriate for us to kind of do

356it out here in in this group. But we can certainly if anyone wants to call me instead of putting our administrators on display, I'm happy to talk oneon-one with you about the process. >> I do have one more thing. Um Katie mentioned the banners and stuff. I would really like to know where those are, too, because I don't feel like that's fair. Our kids work really hard. I don't care about anything personal. Our kids work their butts off for everything they accomplish, and nothing should be touched. I >> I think there were several questions that I have in here on my list of things, and that's my job to go to Mr. Fennison and ask some of those questions in the athletic department. Um, and you know, again, I'm happy to talk with you oneon-one.

357I feel confident that Mr. Patterson followed the proper protocol to put in the recommendation um and has appropriate timelines. And so I I think um well, yes, absolutely positions open up after the next season. And there are um I I don't know what positions left. It might be an assistant wrestling coach. I don't know if that's filled yet or not. There was also a junior high wrestling coach that was open. Um but that position has been filled um by our athletic department. >> I just I was when I spoke what I was saying I was speaking to Heidi on how we make sure that this is followed and that's what I'm saying. We trust our processes. We trust that the administration is following. That's it. That's all I'm saying. >> And I'm I'm happy to

358Sunday spend a little bit of time to give you all the data. I've been giving you more than an update on many items that you questioned and we will continue to do so. There has to be resolution. I need I need the community needs the board needs the administration needs resolution. What is the resolution? I I I don't think that's for the board to do as far as approaching. >> Well, we just sat here for three and a half hours and listened to people come to our podium for and against and and positive. There has to be some something that >> I'm hoping that there >> has to be a middle ground. >> I I'm hoping that we're going to move forward in a positive direction, but you cannot circumvent the recommendations of your administration

359and your athletic department when they make a decision that's a slippery slope. I mean, you as a board can do as you wish, but that's a really wrong message to send to your administrative team. And I think it's a really wrong message to send to the community that we're not looking for some way to have resolution. I I believe that Chuck reached out for a resolution, but once a opinion is once a recommendation is made and that recommendation goes forward, there is no reason to pull that recommendation back. And again, I'm happy to outline that process. That would be wrong. So the the resolution has to be on both sides about how to move forward. And I asked meeting with Mr. Johnson in order to talk about Junior Vikings. >> This isn't about Junior Vikings.

360Well, >> that's already settled and that's moving forward. This is about the issue that we spent three and a half hours listening about this evening. >> So I have um I want a resolution, too. This has been absolutely awful and it's a terrible reflection on the district. Um it's it's devastating. Um but when people follow the chain of command and you go to the athletic director, I don't know the principles involved when it comes to sports and then you come to the superintendent, it comes to the board because the board governs the district. And for us to sit here and listen all these hours and say we can't do anything, it that doesn't make sense to me. But I don't know the next step because I don't I haven't had I have 11 years of

361experience and this is deep. This is a lot of learning. So it doesn't make sense to me that they follow the the rules and then they come here and we just don't do anything that and we have to find an answer as a board. These people put us here to listen to them and to represent them and we're not representing them if we don't do anything. So I have struggled with this. I have been all over. I read, I research, I I'm going to talk to people when I go to the conference because I just don't think we just it stops at this table. >> Well, I think your job is to make sure you review the policies. As Nate said, I'm your one employee. Then you have to ask me, you pick up the

362phone and have a conversation with me about why the decision was made by Mr. Patterson. And then you have to trust your athletic department has made the proper decision in the steps that we go through. If a a if a kindergarten teacher is not liked and the community comes out, are you going to remove that kindergarten teacher? No, you're not. There's rules and spots around. It's the same piece here. And I um I think again you as a board can make a vote to do something. That's your right. And we will implement it. And I I sure that we will implement what you do, but it is a slippery slope. And what message are you sending your employees when you begin changing the decisions that have been made by those that are recommending to hire?

363You supported the position. It's the athletic director's role, not mine, about who becomes coach. And I can share to you that the process that was shared and the timelines and the applications and when that position was given to another person is is prepped and I can share all that with you to look at that and reflect on it as a group. If you're going to be looking at all of that information, I feel that only here we should be looking at all of their information as well and comparing it. I can say in my experience since my son coached for a few years, sometimes he had to reapply for the job and other times he did not. That a couple times um maybe it was I don't know when those boobs took effect. I just

364know that in my experience or talking to him that that was not necessarily always followed. Um and I'm not saying it did or didn't happen in this case. I'm just saying in my experience and if we're going to look at one side of evidence, which I think we should, we should also look at the other side. I don't remember voting for the um the person who had the high school position, but I can go back and certainly look because it's midnight and I don't remember a lot of things. So, I I would love to look at evidence from both sides and and bring in all the parties concerned and see how we can resolve this. And and again, I don't know that you could have somebody on there, but that really does not rest with

365the board to do that. Um it is then I guess we have back to Heidi's solution and primary and again that's dollars when you did not approve dollars for your administrative staff who sitting here at midnight. This is you. you are, I'm going to advise you, you're going down a slippery slope when your administrative team makes a recommendation and you as a board's job is to support them. And yes, I understand, but I am happy to talk with you about that process and what went into place. Then then maybe you make your decisions based upon that. But if I don't see both sides of the evidence, if I sorry, if I don't see both sides of the evidence, it's it's a I can't make an informed decision. their decision is is whether or not I

366followed the process. Whether or not I followed the process of hiring >> again and and unless I see what their evidence is, I cannot make that informed decision. I can say what you said happened. It's a he said, she said kind of thing. If I see evidence from both sides and then I have to see what I believe is correct. >> I believe we have an email of the other side as well that they sent. >> Well, they wrote all kinds of posters. I was hoping they could leave them. a lot more. >> I I was if they have all their evidence with it, I was hoping they could make copies and drop it off if that's the route we're going to go. >> American. >> They did. I talked to you. You want to

367know? >> I'm not I'm not going to address this. If you would like to have a conversation with me after the meeting, feel free. Madame President, I would like to just adjourn the meeting. We've been here for long. >> I >> Okay, I know it. >> Have a good night. Thank you everybody. >> Did we vote? We all approve. >> Oh, we have to vote to adjourn. >> We have to vote to adjourn. Make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Did you try that? It's super nice. Oh, what are you feeling?