001Good evening and welcome to today's Lesian School Board of Education meeting of March 5th, 2026. Um, let's stand for pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat] >> As we do this, I'm going to ask for a moment of silence um remembering those who have uh tragically died in the war in Iran. So, if I can have a moment of silence, please. Thank you. Let me see. Uh, Trustee Stro, can you read our U mission statement? >> Yes. The mission statement of the Lancing School District is to provide a high quality education in a culturally safe and nurturing environment that supports all students to live purposeful and
002fulfilling lives. >> Thank you. M Trustee Hurt, can you read the land acknowledgement? We collectively acknowledge that the Lancing School District occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Anishnabek, Three Fires Confederacy of Ojiway, Odawa, and Botawadi peoples. >> Thank you. Uh, roll call, please. >> Dr. Kavanaaugh, >> Mr. Herd, >> present. >> Miss Leia McKisk, >> present. >> Mr. Lopez >> present. >> Mrs. Moore, Mr. Noveske, >> present. >> Dr. Rodriguez, >> Mrs. Strod, >> present. >> Ms. Williams is present. >> Thank you. Um, Trusty Vice President Kavanaaugh is um I believe out of town um with family situations and uh Trusty Moore is running a little bit late. She's had a a meeting that uh she had to stay for. So, she'll be here later in the meeting. Okay. Do we have
003any public comment on agenda items? >> Nope. Okay. Oh, no public comment. Approval of minutes. May I have a motion to approve minutes? >> Is there a second? >> It's been moved and second to approve minutes as presented. All discussion. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Post same sign. Thank you. Reports from officers. Presentations. By the way, excuse me. We have any presentations at this point? No presentations. Wow. Okay. [laughter] Uh, reports from officers, report from the secretary. [clears throat] >> Thank you. Your school's parent organization would love to meet you. So, please contact your school if you would like to join. The first 75 Lancing School District students to register to race using the code LSD ZZ26 will not be charged an entry fee. Run the race for free. The 2026
004LEAF and our local scholarships. The due date for those local scholarships is Thursday, March 26, 2026. If you have questions or you need more information, please contact your high school counselor at 5177750094. On March 20th, there is a PD day, no school. On March 27th, again, no school. We do have spring break. That is March 30th through the 31st and April 1st through the 3rd. Our next board meetings are March 20, March 12th, excuse me. It's a special board meeting. March 19th is our regular board meeting and information study session. And April 9th is our regular board meeting. That concludes their secretar's report. Thank you, sir President. >> Thank you. Uh moving on to uh committees uh equity committee. Uh Trusty Strode. >> Thank you. I do not have an update to report at this
005time. Thank you. Okay. facilities committee. Mr. Lopez. Oh, that's me. Okay. [laughter] Uh, in your packet, you have a number of uh requests for approval of for purchase. Um, I'm going to ask uh Trusty Williams, can you give us a a brief um rundown of of our meeting that we had uh Monday, I believe. So with those bids, um the first two, one being for [clears throat] [snorts] us. I'm sorry about that. You can't hear me. Um the second one is also for FD Hayes. Um they will be doing an intercom system at Kavanaaugh. Um like they have at most of the other places. Um they're also vendor we've used to do this before. by Mackie, we are going to be getting a new F4150 to that's refrigerated to move food from different places so
006that our kids are getting nutritional well-balanced food and that proposal is in here as well. Um we are going to be using if I'm not mistaken food service funds for that. Then you have um districtwide Dell Chromebooks that are being replaced. I think it's about the the price is about 750. I think they it's about 2,000 almost 3,000 Chromebooks that we're replacing and you know how long they've had them. So um then we have um universal service fund for the wireless electronics. Uh yeah, that one, that one, that one. Most that's going to be the PA system if I'm not mistaken for some schools, right, Christina? That's not the PA system. Wait, wait, wait. That's wireless and electronics. I'm sorry. [laughter] Um, then you see something from Lux Construction which is out of Mason. They're
007going to be doing asphalt replacement for Forest View and Lions and I think that's it. But most of these vendors we've used before. Um, I don't foresee that there should be any problems. These are great bids that are coming in and the schools that are getting these services need them. So, we ask that you vote for them. >> Thank you, Trusty Williams. Uh, Christina, was there an additional request? >> That was just the Chromebooks. >> I'm sorry. >> Oh, okay. All right. So, um, if there are any questions, uh, on the report, uh, have a motion. >> He has a question. >> Okay. Yes, sir. >> Trusty Rodriguez. >> Thank you, Trusty. Um it's about the Chromebooks. Is any different between this one or the one they are using now? [clears throat] Is going to
008be how many of those and what grades? Um what is the future of of providing the students with technology? >> It's about 290. It's about 2,900 of them that are being uh purchased to replace some of the ones that are outdated and damaged. So, we're not replacing all of them at this time, just the ones that need that need to be repaired and replaced. So, those are the ones that we're replacing right now. So, um, for example, there were a couple of kids who broke theirs and it's on. Can you hear me? Um, a couple of kids that may have have had damages or can't no longer upgrade or do anything like that. We will swap out with them. So, basically, we're taking the old one and giving them a new one. So, we're not
009replacing everything in the district, though. that we are buying the same kind of Chromebook that they had before. >> Yes. It's a district approved Chromebook that's already been approved by this board in the past. So, there are technology devices that are already approved. So, we're buying the same Chrome but newer versions of the same Chromebook. So, >> any other questions? >> Okay. May I have a motion? I'm would like to make a motion that the board of education accept items A through G as presented. >> Thank you. >> Moved and second. Uh we've had discussion. Is there any other discussion on this matter? >> See none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Thank you. Motion carries. Uh finance committee. Uh Trusty Ninsky. >> Thank you. The detailed treasures report
010for the period of January 1st through January 31st, 2026 is attached to this evening's agenda. The [clears throat] following are the highlights of the report. The beginning cash and investment balance was 62,30,314. Receipts totaled $22,98,235 while dispersements equaled $25,30,541. Net intraf fund transfers totaled $339,743 in interest from fund investments to the student and bond funds as well as journal entries to remove the due to due from and all funds. The monthly transfer to the general fund for bond expenses was $0. The ending general fund cash and investment balance on January 31st, 2026 was 58,758,266. The general fund's cash and investment balance is $19,95,168 less as compared to the same time last year. Uh to highlight donations received during the month of January 2026, which totaled $4,26, we offer our thanks to Tritara for a donation
011to the district athletic banner sponsorship. Patty Ruticelli, Patty Rudacelli to the department uh 212 emergency food purchases and also Dart Bank to the department 212 emergency food purchases. GMA Lopez to the Rift program. Uh Aubrey [clears throat] and Daniel Malcolm Kuwanas of Delta Township and Oasis Realy all to the Sexton Pantry and then several donations from the My School Bucks program and one from the Blackbod and Accenture. Mr. President, this concludes the January 2026 treasures report. >> President, can you can you explain about the $23 million less? What does that mean? >> Which number are you looking at? $23 million less. >> Other fund investment less 20. I don't know if it's less or it's in parenthesis. That means right in page three >> 23. >> Okay. You're looking at [clears throat] it looks like
012on the analysis of liquid assets under the myof general fund cash and investments. >> Yes, I right there. >> Okay. Yes. >> Excuse me. So the other fund investments is the reimbursement to the general fund because we pay everything if it's food service bond uh capital projects everything's paid from the general fund. So when we recognize or um reconcile at month end, this is to reimburse all of the other funds for their portion of investments. >> Is that influenced the general fund, >> general capital projects, um debt funds? It goes to all funds. >> Okay. Any other questions? >> Okay. Um hearing none. Do we um have a motion to to um approve the expenditures? >> I move that education approve the expenditure as presented. >> Second. >> It's been moved to a second. Discussion
013hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Okay. Moving along. Uh personnel committee. Uh Dr. Cavan is not here. Is who is in her committee? Personnel. >> Yeah. But I wasn't there. >> Oh, okay. So there's no report today. >> There's no report that I haven't talked to. >> All right. I Mr. President, >> were you there? No, I I also wasn't present, but we do have the um new hires reports before us. Um and so neither of us were present at the committee. We have the meeting minutes and can ask staff for updates on that. Um but we are asking for board action as we do monthly on the new hires. >> We have a list of new hires. We've seen it. So, um, can I
014make a motion that the board of education approve the new hires from January 5th, 2026 to January 26, 2026 as presented? >> We have moved the second to approve the hires as presented. Are there any questions? >> Um, hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> Oppose, same sign. Motion carries. Thank you. Okay, moving right along. We have now the policy committee. Um, Trusty Stroke. >> Thank you. The policy committee met on Thursday, February 24th here at 11:30. Uh, the meeting was adjourned at 10:07. The following board members were present, myself, Trusty Strode, Dr. Rodriguez, and Trustee Herd. During our meeting, the board policy committees review the following policies. We have 5610, that's emergency removal, suspension, and expulsion of students. 1422, which is non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity, as well as 3122 is the
015same title, non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity. 41:22, non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity. Policy 1422, 3122, and 41:22 will go for the first reading today. The following policies are ready for second reading today, which is 2210, curriculum development approved courses. 2266, non-discrimination on the bias of sex and education programs or activities. the board's policy and grievance procedures for responding to sexual harassment and alleged to have occurred prior to 81 of 24. 2412 is the homebound instruction program 4162 controlled substance and alcohol policy for commercial motor vehicle CMV drivers and other employees who perform safety sensitive functions. 5120 assignment within district 5460 graduation requirements 7540-02 web accessibility content apps and services 7541 resend the electronic data processing disaster recovery plan 8300 continually of organization operations plan 8305 information security. The next policy meeting will be here scheduled
016for April. We will have uh Niola come to provide some of our spring updates and that concludes the policy report. >> Thank you. Are there any discussion on this better? Actually, let me have a motion. >> Yes, sir. Trusty Rodriguez [clears throat] presented. >> Is there a second? >> Second. It's >> been moved and second discussion now. Are there any questions? Uh Trusty Nuiski. >> Yes, Mr. President. Just one on policy 5460 graduation requirements. Um, I support the change to add the uh requirement that the district would ask each student in grade 12 to complete the FASA um with opt- out provisions. I know that was important. I did notice that the way it was written uh drafted was beginning with the class of 2025 because that's when it first came out through the state's
017um incentive I think in the budget items. I just wouldn't want to adopt it with that language because we didn't implement it last year. So, I'm hoping the board would just um have no objection to modifying that to beginning with the class of 2026, which is what we're doing here tonight. But just to make sure that's clear, so we don't put ourselves in a position where someone says we should have done something last year that we didn't have in place. >> Then I move to approve of this friendly amendment. >> Is it possible? >> Second. Okay. All right. Any other discussion on this policies? >> Okay. Uh roll call. >> Mr. Herd. >> Yes. >> Miss Leia McKisc. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lopez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Moore. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nabiski. >> Yes.
018>> Dr. Rodriguez. Yes, >> Mrs. Strode. >> Yes, >> Miss Williams. >> Motion carries. Thank you much. And thank you to the committee for their fine work. Uh next we have those uh recommendation to approve the four policies for three policies for first reading. Um is there a motion? >> Yes. I move that the board of education receive the policies for the first reading as presented. >> It's moved to the second to approve as presented. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> All same sign. Thank you. Motion carries. We're now to recognition at H committee. Uh, Trusty Hurt, >> the recognition committee met on Tuesday, February 24th at Eastern High School. Mr. Gilding provided information about the scoring rubric um that was shared during the meeting. Feedback was shared by committee members.
019Changes to the scoring rubric um will be made and shared with committee members. An update about received nominations was shared. The committee members discussed the proceeding um discussed um procedures if nominees are known by committee members. Um there was a motion to inform um but not recuse if nominees are known by the committee um by a committee member. The committee manual will be updated to add um this change. the committee members discussed the members who haven't attended any committee meetings. A motion to release committee members who have attended no meetings up until now when it's time to vote um was made um and we will proceed that way. The committee agreed to move forward with scoring the applications um received with supporting documentation. Committee members will complete the scoring of candidates. Um the committee is
020set for the following meetings. We will meet on March 10th at Everett and March 24th at Ston. Details of the award ceremony um which we hope will be in the fall were discussed. We agreed to schedule the ceremony for September 24th, 2026 at Eastern High School. >> Thank you very much for the report. Is there any question? Are there any questions for uh Trusty Herd? Okay. Well, thank you very much. Um, we now have um a report from the student achievement committee. Uh, trustee Dr. Rodriguez and Trusty Williams. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, since we had two meetings, last time we report to this um board, then I had Mrs. Williams going first and she will report about our meeting in February. Our February 9th meeting we held here at the board at 3
021not to us at 3:00 to be determined but you are more than welcome to come board members that were present myself and Mr. Um we talked about the current um the current configuration of the LS and how the schools are packed and how they should go and how uh superintendent shared that with us and explain the different pathways of how schools are set up and so hopefully we are going to be moving back into that direction. She also explained the different pathways that were included in that such as IV immersion mand I test the magnets. Um we talked about testing that's coming up in April right after spring break. So, if you're hearing us now, start getting that place with your students. We'll put that out there. Now, um Dr. Millsap came in from CTV.
022She explained the program that were there. She explained her position. Um the numbers that were involved are fire safety, fire academy. and print technology, skills trade and construction, business and risk management programs, patient care tech arts, um and we're talking about the use of AI and that was our meeting. >> Thank you very very much. Good. Um because um this committee met only four times it's very short life. Um we had to understand that we are in a process that is going to take few meetings and few decision from this board but we met again March 2nd at 300 p.m. until 4:20 and Mr. Lopez and Mrs. Williams board member were present and also staff member the superintendent was there Dr. Stalter and the staff member of both secretary Mr. force. Um we again study
023the mission and vision of the of the um not only the the committee but the v mission and mission soon or later has to come in front of this board and the mission every student meet or exceed all standards and objectives per grade level according to the district and state metrics. It's a kind of dream but this is the vision. Um that is the mission. The vision is every student will be prepared to be successful at college and going to college and university skill trade or entering the work the workforce. Um the the superintendent and Dr. Stalter chair of the following information of the committee member. They are working hard in learning and stand align the standards of every grade level. They are the the instructional team are establishing clear expectation for teaching and learning.
024They are aligning the curriculum of science. um expanding academic support for opportunities and they are doing many many other things according with the cult of the curriculum. One of the thing we spent more time was how to establish a learning culture in the schools that the students go to the school and they had the culture of learning and also we spend a lot of time how we are going to prepare oursel the staff the parents and the students for April test that is going to be maybe a turning point and how we are going to prepare our students not for the test but for learning the standards they are in the test. Then we discuss and talk about that. And um we talk a little bit about using data import data for the decision making
025to identify it and remove things that are no good for our student to learn. the more and more we are going also discuss the superintendent 90 days um um vision for the district and how we can the student achievement is really a lot in that report when that's 90 days the how we can put that align together the what the superintendent is proposing and what this board wants they can work together and be aligned Mr. President that conclude this report. Um you heard the report. Any questions from the committee? Just just one thing that I'd like to add is that uh this committee and its uh goals and objectives are going to have to align with our strategic plan which is very important. So, as we move along in the committee, we're keeping in mind
026our current strategic plan and what are the things that we need to to uh tighten up. Some things may already have been done, take them take them out, replace them, but that's for for the current one and and the new one that expires next year. uh well the one that expires next year then we'll have this committee's work and other committees to to prepare for the strategic plan uh the new strategic plan. So I think there's a lot of work that this committee is doing that's going to dovetail with the strategic plan or vice versa. Uh, Trusty Rodriguez, >> thank you very much for this explanation, but also organizing the work of the board, the cabinet and the institution to holistically support the student success. How we the board, the administration and the parents and
027students and teachers are all together that we really had the students be in the level the knowledge that we want them to be and that is it's a new conversation that we have if we don't talk about that never will happen then I am glad to you spend time and And it's not only report is for us to have a good conversation and keep going because our students succeed in their learning is number one priority to have a good cultural learning in every school where the student love to go every morning is has to be aligned all the work together. It's going to take time but the transformation has started. Thank you Mr. President. >> Thank you for that report. [clears throat] So, now we're going to the superintendent's report. Uh, Mrs. Benz, >> good
028evening everyone. Uh, in about 32 minutes, our Sexton boys will be on the uh, floor of the Chelsea gym and they are in regionals. So, we are so happy for our JDubs and to make it that far is incredible. [applause] That's in Fowler tonight. and then they have another game after that pending their win and then they uh will be at the Brereslin Center. So, we're already speaking it into existence, but we're super proud of our Sexton boys. Uh we're also super proud of Olivia Dea Cruz. Um if you don't know her, she is a wonderful young lady that goes to Eastern High School. She is a wrestler and she is in the state finals starting tomorrow at Ford Field. were really impressed by her [applause] at Eastern today. They did a wonderful sendoff for
029her. And so these are just many of the reasons that we are proud to be LSD and we're proud of our students and all of the accomplishments that they have made. Um, in speaking of accomplishments, we had a really wonderful Black History Month. And so, we've put together a compilation so that you can see some of the activities and wonderful experiences that our students in the Lancing School District had during the month of February. >> Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week, which is now Black History Month. and that was to [music] expose people to the accomplishments of black people in America. >> I think it's important for our students to see themselves represented in the things that we're doing. >> We have a very diverse student [music] population and in that we really
030just want to make sure that students voices are heard, that their talents are [music] seen, and that their families are able to come out and witness what they're doing here. This allows us to still celebrate black people in the United States from all the accomplishments they've done over the [music] last 250 years. For our Black [music] History Month celebration, we focused on the students stories from Africa to America, showcasing [music] their talents through engaging monologues, dynamic dances, and band performances [music] so that they could showcase the history of the Africanameans as well as the roots of their ancestors from Africa. And so in that they [music] were able to celebrate through getting on the stage and showcasing their talent as well as focusing on the black community here in Lansancy, [music] Michigan. One of the
031things that we really hope that students took away from that experience is that they were able to step outside [music] of their comfort zone and be able to showcase their talents, but also learn about their roots and their ancestors from Africa, as well as the rich education of [music] African-American history here in the United States of America. >> We've been highlighting a black history person or event every single day and it's led up to today. This is our black history scavenger gallery hunt where parents are allowed to participate with their students during lunch. But we also have a presentation where we introduce Black History Month and we have our music teacher, Miss Lintz, with her choir. [music] She did a couple of songs. The final presentation was me inviting my fraternity from Michigan State to
032come perform a couple of uh steps. The goal is to just expose [music] them to feel like that they could be just as important as the people that we highlighted. Uh, bringing my fraternity was just giving everybody [music] an idea that they could go to college and participate in service organizations [music] to help the community. Also, >> for our Black History Month, um, what we're doing tonight is we're doing a Black History museum. We've given students an [music] assignment in the middle school and also in the elementary school and it is to kind of find some [music] information about individuals from black history. It's a little more basic in the beginning grades where it's kind of [music] more teacher guided and once you get to the middle school level, it's more of, hey y'all, I
033want you to choose an individual black American and tell me about them. And then it's [music] up to the student to choose that individual and argue for why they've been chosen [music] and how much influence they have had. We put everything into our gymnasium. We set it up as a museum and uh people can just go around and view all the amazing work that our students [music] have done. I want students to take away basically that excellence can look like so many different types of people. >> [music] [applause] >> I like to say there's lots of different kinds of wealth and one of the things about the Lancing School District is that we have cultural wealth and um it's something I'm super proud of. You feel the excitement in the video, can't help but smile.
034Um it's contagious and we just have so many things to be proud of here in the Lancing School District. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Superintendent Benvidz. Is are there any questions? Trusty Williams, >> I am so I'm so excited to see that presentation and I've been thinking since you are proud to be proud to be LSD, >> but part of that we're making every day. So I think Who would have thought, you know, our teams are turning around, but we have students that are stepping and we are making history. Thank you for that. Anyone else? Uh just uh comment on on our um on our sports teams. I think that um we should uh be able to recognize them as as they move along. I think not only that, but students, let
035me name change that to students because we also have students that are doing great things like the ones we just saw in the video. But I would like to see if we could establish um uh recognize a student or a student activity at least once a month uh maybe from each of the schools to come in. Um because I think them being in the boardroom will add a lot to to our work and just the presence would be great. Uh maybe we can work on that and see how we could do that. Um, I'm glad you also mentioned the uh the wrestling team at Eastern. I know there's any number of girls who have done very well and I like to bring him to recognize him here at the at the board uh along with
036the Sexton Championship team that we're going to see in a couple of weeks. [laughter] >> Uh, Trusty uh Strode, >> thank you um Mr. president for lifting that. I think that would be a great opportunity for us to see if we can task that to our student achievement committee or an actual committee that already is established. I'm not sure what their plate looks like. Um but giving some opportunity to not uh step on anyone who may already have that thought in mind or to just collaborate um with that committee since it's already established. Thanks. Well, I think it could also go to the um u the recognition committee as well uh because they're about recognizing staff and students, but I think along with what you're doing um and we'll talk about it more, but it's
037just a thought that that we should be bringing students to our board meeting at least to for for recognition. I when we bring the students talk about the learning boards it's great and it brings families in too. So I think anything we can do to continue that and enhance it is is really a plus for us. So we'll talk about it uh continue talking about it and uh Trusty Hart you have an idea. >> Would you take the time to brag about your listening tour? >> It's been the highlight of my weeks. I have to tell you. Uh so as part of my 90-day plan, I am doing a listening tour. Um I started with junior board. I also have a superintendent student roundt. And of course, anytime I'm in schools, I just kind of
038talk to the kids because that that really fills my bucket. I have to be honest. Of course, having been a previous teacher, anytime I can be around kids, it's the highlight of my day. Uh which kind of makes this job perfect for me to be uh uh in those spaces and have the time to be able to do that. So, as part of the 90-day plan, I will be visiting all of our schools in the Lancing School District and programs. Um, I have them actually scheduled from now until just right after spring break. I've met with Ston and Guyer Park and Cumberland, and I'm going to forget some for sure, but I have about seven or eight schools that I've already visited, and let me just tell you, the staff turnout has been tremendous. So,
039that has been really wonderful. The things that we highlight uh when I'm in the school uh listening tours are first what are points of pride for them because we have wonderful things happening in our schools and I think it's a great opportunity for staff to be able to tell me about those things so that I know and then also things that they might not think are going so well. And then lastly, innovative ideas that they've had that they want to see promoted in the Lancing School District. And let me tell you, that last category has been my absolute favorite because they have come up with some phenomenal things that I'm really hopeful that we can implement after the 90-day plan and think about what that could look like in the Lancing School District. So, the
040listening tours, again, I talk about my uh hashtag proud to be LSD because we really are trying to um make everyone understand just how amazing the Lancing School District is and how our staff and students um choose to be here every single day. And so it's got to be a spectacular place to have those spectacular people show up every day. So the listening tour has been really going well and I'm really looking forward to doing this. I will say that um this would be something that I could see being a yearly um activity, not just a first 90 days activity. I think having that time undivided with staff and students to talk about what's going well and also what to improve, then we're all invested, which I think we all are. So thank you for
041for letting me lift that. appreciate it. >> One of the things that we're seeing in this video is really the the strong impact of enrichment um that the Lancing School District offers students already. Could you take some time to talk about in brief your very grand vision for expanding enrichment opportunities including in the performing arts and lancing schools? Let me just take a breath on that one because it is a big it's a big dream for me. Um I will say that next week, no sorry, the um next uh regular board meeting that we have, I believe it's the 19th, uh we will have an ISS with our enrichment team and athletics. So you will be able to hear about the current um vision or current happenings for our enrichment department and our athletics. But
042the dream for me right now as part of my um first 90 days, I'm doing what I'm calling opportunity mapping. And what that means is looking at each of our schools within each of our um pathways. When I say pathways, I mean Sexton, Eastern, and Everett and making sure that we have equitable opportunities for all of our students to be able to perform in the things that they want to. That means um band, choir, robotics, um dance, drama, um visual arts, and we need to make sure that those aren't in isolated pockets across the district. They need to be in a place where every student can access those. whether that means during the school day with an elective or whether that means an after-school activity or perhaps we need to launch a citywide band. So
043there's lots of ideas that I have after we do the opportunity mapping to see where in the district do these opportunities already happen and where do we need to promote those opportunities. Um I had a wonderful conversation with Trusty Herd this past week and we've been talking about various partnerships that are available to us. It doesn't always have to be our staff, right? We have wonderful professionals in our surrounding area from Michigan State to different organizations that several people even around the horseshoe have those connections. And so really building those opportunities that it doesn't always have to be our staff staying after school or creating these afterchool clubs, but we have people that are really invested in wanting to see the arts come alive. Brian uh Maher who is uh oversees our enrichment opportunities. He
044has a great partnership with uh MSU's Wharton Center for example. We're really looking on building the Disney musicals back into schools really robustly. And so right now we're just trying to build those pipelines. But really the dream for me is having kids participate in festival and being able to compete. Um having students be able to perform on big stages um for drama and band and choir and and the like. Um and also just making sure that we have opportunities for them to really shine. So as we build those pipelines because they have to have those from the very early ages in their music classes. And so if we can build those from elementary then to the middle middle years or middle age group and then into the high school, we can have some really great
045opportunities through marching band. And right now we have wonderful programs happening, but they're just starting to bud. And so really looking at across our district, what are those opportunities going to be for students? And then lastly, this is part of enrichment but not necessarily the arts, which is really giving students opportunities to compete academically. We had a program called Matharama many years ago which I am bringing back and it's a wonderful opportunity for students to be able to use those academic skills to be able to compete along with things like science olympiad and quizbowl and and lots of other things so that there's other ways that students can really engage in school. One of the things that one of you said was making school a place where students want to come and one of the
046tenants that I have is bringing joy back into the Lancing school district. When students feel that excitement and that pride in I'm coming to school not just for English and math and science and social studies which a person like me that's one of the reasons I loved coming to school but it was also because I was in band and so to be able to show up and do those things and feel like I have that sense of belonging with another group of individuals we know all the research says that these um schools of um opportunities for the arts and enrichment really thrive help students thrive academically. they're not isolated and we can't think of them in two separate buckets. They're really all one thing. So, I'm really I'm really happy about that because with when
047we had middle schools kind of go away, we've had to be super creative now around our K8 programming and we have to be real about that. And so, in thinking about that now having 10 schools versus three or four, we have to find ways to bring that those equitable opportunities to all of our students. So, I'm really really looking forward to seeing how this flourishes. you Dr. Rodriguez. >> Thank you. That kind of things are difficult to do. That is what leadership is all about. It's just go what is the most important for our student and most difficult thing to do be the leader for that. Then I thanks this board and the superintendent for this new vision and leadership that we can move all together and with our schools to be the number one.
048Thank you. >> Yes. Um you mentioned robotics and uh this month there's robotics competition in the state. I think uh our local region is in Mason. Um, I've uh held to uh judge a couple of years. Uh I'm not finding time to do it this year, but it it's great to see the kids, you know, uh it's like any other competition. They want to win and they put their their best foot forward and so I'm hoping that our students are competing and hopefully they'll come home with some uh some trophies. So, just to let the community know, robotic season is right now, okay? And if you have time to to judge, I can lead you to the person that needs to know your name. So, just let me know. Anybody over there, uh, executive team
049as well. [laughter] All right. Well, thank you very much for that report, uh, Superintendent Benvidas. Appreciate it. And um we we now go into new business board calendar. You have it in front of you. Um so if if there are no changes or questions, uh I'd like to have a motion to approve the board calendar. Mr. President, >> yes. [clears throat] Uh, I move that the board of education amend the previously adopted board calendar uh for 2026 as presented. >> Second. >> It's been moved to second to accept the amended calendar. Questions? Uh, okay. Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> All same sign. Uh, motion carries. We have a calendar. It's it's going to be posted in our website and uh there's going to be u actually a copy of
050this document posted in in the website so people don't have to look at the scroll down for the dates but they can just see it in one document. Okay. >> Mr. President, would you like to explain so that people don't know what >> I mean? Sure. Um, would you like to explain it? >> Sure. >> Okay. >> So, traditionally the board of education has had three meetings a month. Sometimes we tend to go longer. We we dropped our calendar down to two a month. We adopted the third meeting for special meetings, but you will see once our calendar goes up, it will say as needed. So, if there's a star by it, that's as needed. And then during the summer months, our meetings will vary because sometimes there are not things. So you will see
051a double star by that. So please be mindful, but we want you all to know we're still working to make our district as great as it is, if not greater. >> Thank you for that explanation, Trusty Williams. Appreciate it. Thank you very much. Okay. Uh now we're into public comment from for non-aggenda items. We don't have any public comment. Okay. Uh comment from the board, comments from the board. Uh let's start with uh Trusty Lemieux Mckis. [laughter] >> I don't have any comments. Thank you. >> Okay, Trusty Hart. >> I think I would be more convinced than ever um if I was teeter tottering about sending my students to Lancing schools. In fact, I've got one on her way in the fall because I'm convinced that this it's high time that you come home. Dr.
052Rodriguez, >> thank you. And I think they are coming. Thank you very much. But I'm I'm so happy to see that we are celebrating the African-American month and and involve everybody, not only in the school, but the families and the city. Um, it's not African-American math for the schools. It's for everybody and for all of us. and this board also is happy to celebrate this African-American month also and everybody else but also um the 29th is on I mean this month and the end of this month is going to be the celebration for the Chavez and that is another opportunity to know history for our students they all together we can build history and and learn from the past and do better. >> Thank you, Madam President. Trusty Stro, no comment. Okay, Trusty Whiskey. >>
053Uh, yes. Just want to inform the board and the public that the Lancing 360 meetings continue on Wednesdays from 12 to 1. Um, those are now going to be in person again. They had their first in-person meeting this week along with the Zoom option. And u there will likely be a um evening or Saturday meeting scheduled for March as well. So look for those details from the Lancing Empowerment Network. And also just wanted to share I sent the board my report from the MASB labor relations workshop with the the highlights that I had and also the slides that were sharable. A few of them are available through TRUN if you'd like to request those. And I will ask the personnel committee to kind of start to talk about that. Again, I know we have some
054collective of bargaining that will come later in the year. So, it's a good time for us to get prepared for that again as a board and review our practices on what that will look like later in the year. >> Thank you, Trusty Williams. I mean, Trusty Moore. [clears throat] >> Okay, Trusty Williams. >> Okay, so March begins reading month. So, my favorite quote came across today and I'll read it to you. Open a open a book, open your world. Reading your passport to the new worlds. dive into a story, find yourself, or short punchy phrases such as just read it or [clears throat] book for an adventure. Please take this time to read with your children at home. If you can volunteer our schools, we are only as great as what we take into our
055slips and books are an adventure to the world. So, please don't forget to read every night this month. >> Thank you. I I am thinking that um as we move along, history is happens every day. >> You know, we had Hispanic Heritage Month in September, October. We have Black History Month in February, but now we have uh the Chavez uh celebrations, which is part of history. And we shouldn't limit ourselves to celebrate our community just on one month in one month. We should have a continuous celebration of activities of our community of all of our community. So I would suggest that we look at the um points of pride for example of of our communities and and express them you know from from this uh place and through our school district school system so that
056everybody feels that that's their place uh collectively and everybody has a piece of the pie so to speak and and not because we celebrate one group this month the other group this month. No, it's celebration of all of us and we should do it on a regular basis, the daily basis. And uh so I mean when you read about history and you read the histories of our different communities, it happened every every day of the year. And so we should lift those up and uh and help our students understand that they are part of history. We are all part of history and and and we need to learn from each other as well. So um with that I think um I need a motion s president. >> Yes ma'am. >> I make a motion that
057we go into close session. Um the board of education was close session under section 181. Second. >> Second. >> It's been moved and second discussion hearing. None. All those in favor say I. I. >> We need to go by uh >> Oh, you >> vote. Roll call. >> Mr. Herd. Miss Lameia McKisk. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lopez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Moore. >> Yes. >> Mr. Noisque. >> Yes. >> Dr. Rodriguez. >> Mrs. Strode. >> Yes. >> Ms. Williams. Okay. Okay. Uh before we go into close session, I just want to mention that March is u St. Pat's St. Patrick's Month. So, let's celebrate, continue celebrating. All month, not just the 17th. [laughter] >> Okay, we're in close session.