001and welcome to the meeting of the lens school board of education for February 5th, 2026. Uh at this point we have um pledge of allegiance. Will we have everybody please stand? I aliance 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. >> Thank you. Trusty Lemieu Mckissik, would you please read our uh mission statement? Our mission statement is to provide a highquality education in a culturally safe and nurturing environment that supports all students to live purposeful and fulfilling lives. >> Thank you. Trustee Niski, can you lead our land acknowledgement? We collectively acknowledge that Lancing School District occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Inishabic, Threef Fires Confederacy of Ojiua, Ottawa, and Badawatami peoples. >>
002Thank you very much. Uh, roll call, please. >> Dr. Kavanaaugh, >> present. >> Mr. Herd, >> Miss Lemier McKisk, >> present. >> Mr. Lopez, >> present. >> Mrs. Moore, Mr. Noiski, >> present, >> Dr. Rodriguez, >> Mrs. Strode, Ms. Williams, >> is present. Thank you. Is this comment on agenda items? No. Okay, then we move on to um there's no no comment on agenda items. How you doing? Um approval of minutes from the last meeting. I have a motion to approve. >> It's been moved and second. Questions, corrections, additions? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> No. Same sign. Thank you. Minutes for approve. Uh presentations. We now have uh presentation from uh school district staff. Uh madame superintendent. And may I kind of do a pause right here? I want
003to just say that we want to give a big welcome to Jessica Venevidas as our acting superintendent and um welcome her. Can we give her an applause? No. >> Good evening everyone. I'd like to welcome up uh Sergio Kek and his team who are going to be talking to us tonight about the Ecquin Center. If you haven't been there, it is a gem in Lancing and they're going to be talking to you tonight about some of the improvements that we are hoping will happen and show you some of the great things that are happening there. Please come on out. >> Good evening, Board of Education and Miss Superintendent for being the first presentation. We are hoping that we do real good. Okay. So, so, but I'm pretty confident that we will. So, uh, tonight here
004we have next to me, uh, Mr. Beninsky, who is the director of the Eversol Environmental Center, and Miss Lena Edson, who is the program manager at the Ecoin Center for Learning. Um we're here to introduce what we call the scholars table which is a capital campaign for the EU center for learning. The purpose of this um presentation is to inform the board um of what we're about to do so you're aware um the beautiful project that is going to take place and so the community will know and when people will ask you questions you will know exactly what this is. Um basically this presentation will have a very brief history of the Equin uh center for learning then the growth of the services the demand the need and then what is the cap the campaign
005uh looks like. So with that I'm going to let uh Mr. Awinsky uh take over please. >> Thank you Sergio. Thank you to the board. Thank you to our superintendent uh for the opportunity to present this evening. Um I get to frame a little bit of what we're going to talk about and then I'm going to turn it over to Miss Edson to um share some details about the specific capital campaign. So uh the Ecoin Center for Learning, formerly known as the Beakman Therapeutic Writing Center, has been in existence since 1979. That means it's been serving our community for 47 years. and we utilize ecoin assisted services um and we'll get into a little bit more detail about what that means in just a minute um to build confidence, strength, and communication uh through this
006really unique bond with horses. And it's important to point out here that this is a facility that's unique in that it's open to students of all abilities. Um the Ecoin Center for Learning is currently a yearround facility. Um, it serves, like I said, residents from Lancing and the surrounding community. And we have a really diverse herd there. I know there used to be some photos out in the hall of some of our equin staff members, but we have full-size horses, miniature horses, and donkeys. The types of programming that are offered there include riding lessons, both therapeutic and non- therapeutic riding lessons, equin assisted learning experiences, themed events, those types of things. and then field trips and summer camps as well. Demand for our ecoin assisted programming is growing. Since fiscal year 23, we've seen a
00751% increase in demand. And in fiscal year 19, um so for those of you who have a little bit of institutional memory here, you'll remember that for a while the Ecoin Center was managed by a local foundation. Um in fiscal year 2019, the Lancing School District took back over um managing the work there. And since that time, we've seen a 320 plus% increase in programming taking place there. And we've been doing all of this without an indoor classroom or even ADA compliant restrooms. Um the restrooms that are on site there are kind of grandfathered in and um and we're looking to upgrade. Several pictures here of um some of our our students participating in activities. Just want to quickly highlight at the top we have a couple of students that are um completing their therapeutic
008writing lessons and then down on on the bottoms on both sides there we have students that are engaged in summer camp activities and field trips um and especially um exciting opportunity for students at the equin center is to paint the horses and so you see that happening there in the bottom right with that I'm going to turn it over to Lena to share some some details about our capital campaign. >> So, currently we've been in the planning phase. >> So, sorry, >> you're good. >> Currently, we've been in the planning phase for this facility. Um, and as Ben mentioned, we lack some things on the facility that we're really hoping that this will bring to ECL. Um, first and foremost, accessible design with two new ADA compliant restrooms. programming that's no longer limited to Michigan's
009weather. We do have an indoor arena, um, but it can only be heated to about 40 degrees. Horses grow a really thick winter coat. So, if they were to come into an arena that would be comfortable for humans, 65, 70, they would sweat and going outside would be detrimental to their health. So having a facility that is heated or have air conditioning, we can do debriefs, safety, um reflection in a climate controlled space, but have the horse activities outside. It also gives us a lobby for welcoming people to the facility, workshops, orientations, larger groups, and just a better flow for the program. So this is an aerial view of our facility. We're located behind the Beakman Center. We're kind of tucked in there. Um there's a new wall on the highway, so we're a little
010bit harder to see now, but we have a few different facilities. So, the big points are the blue stars. We have a dark blue star and a light blue star. Those are our outdoor and our indoor arena. So, that's really where all of our programming takes place. There is a small red star underneath the green star. That is our red barn. And that is also where we get our horses ready. So they come into the red barn, they get groomed, tacked up, and then walked over to the arena for their programming. The new facility would be further down on the campus at that yellow star. And where that yellow star is is currently where our greenhouse and our one restroom is located. So we had a few renderings done. This is what the front of
011the facility would look like. Um the bus could pull right up in front of the facility. The students could get right off the bus and then walk into our welcome center right back to the classroom. Again, being climate controlled, ADA compliant restrooms, staff offices, welcome center, and then a meeting space for everyone. This dives into what the facility layout would look like. So, number three is that welcome center. That's where students would be able to get off the bus, walk right into the facility. Number four is our staff offices. Number five is some storage. Six is mechanical. And then number one is those two awesome ADA restrooms we're really excited about along with the classroom. This is a rendering of our classroom space. We wanted to keep the feel of an equin facility, a barn
012in the interior. And then the really unique thing of the classroom is that wall on the my left, those wood panels and then where the picture is being taken. Those would be walls with big large windows. So right next to the classroom is actually our horse pasture and then behind it is also horse pasture. So while students are learning in the classroom, they get to look out the window and see horses. Also, it gives us other opportunities. So let's say we're having real feel negative temperatures and we don't want to be outside. We can teach from in the classroom with horse behavior, horse observation, and it just gives us a way to kind of expand more on what we're doing. Working with Christina and our operations team, we've projected the cost to build the scholar
013stable to be $1.5 million. Um, so you see our horseshoe there that kind of represents where we're at. It should be noted the little yellow at the bottom of the horseshoe there. We had a generous sixf figureure donation from a from a resident in Lancing uh to help us seed this project and get this project started for us. We envision the campaign rolling out in four different phases. Um the campaign planning stage is the stage that we're currently in and our presentation before you this evening kind of brings an end to that phase in some ways. Um so we be we see ourselves transitioning for the next six to seven months into what we call the quiet phase. And this is where we're um sending targeted letters out, reaching out to big donors in the
014community, businesses in the donor um in the community kind of on the back end in a more quiet way. Um at the end of our the summer, early fall, we imagine a kickoff campaign to make this public and open up um uh funding opportunities to people throughout the community in smaller increments. Um the kickoff campaign is going to include uh big events, press releases, those types of things. We have a a website that's already ready to go and launch. Um and then we envision all of next academic year basically encompassing the public phase um where we hopefully uh by the end of uh June 2027 can reach our $ 1.5 million goal. So when we're looking for donors, we really want them to understand that when they support us, they're supporting the equity, the accessibility
015of all of it, the impact that we have with the growth that we've shown so far beyond just for our facility. People are understanding the benefits of ecoin assisted services and what horses can actually do to help people. And then also continuing to strengthen the community. We do community events. We have community partnerships. But one of the great things about the community is our volunteers. We have roughly 40 volunteers that help us and so continuing to strengthen that would be a great aspect as well. We wanted to be really intentional for our donors and what we would be able to offer them. So including access, private tours behind the scenes, being able to meet the herd and actually see the horses that students get to work with, of course, acknowledgement at events, campaign materials across
016our social media, and then understanding the impact that they have. Continuing with our intentionality of this is we wanted to have a unique way to offer um recognition to them. So, usually when you go places, you might see a donor wall with plaques or a tree. Um we wanted to do something a little different. We wanted to do horseshoes, colored horseshoes. And the horseshoes are going to be from the front door to the classroom. So, they're going to lead the students from the door straight to the classroom where they would learn. And there is a note on there of naming opportunities available subject to your approval. >> So, we want to thank you for your time. Um, we're looking forward to uh improving the facilities. We're looking forward to working with the community and with
017the board and with the staff to make this happen. I must say that I've seen horses in different parts of the world. Uh my own little kids once had horses in Argentina, but I have never seen a horse painted in many different colors like you will see at this place. And the poor horses or the donkey, right? They stay like that until the rain comes and then they get washed up and then they look normal again. But it's a good therapy for the children. So, >> well, thank you for the presentation. Uh, do we have any questions? Wait a minute. Okay, Dr. Rodriguez, then Trusty Williams. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. And thank you for the vision and the planning. Um, are the student from Beman Center now participating in that program? >>
018Yes, >> the stu the students from Beman do. Uh, both there are some Lancing School District students that still attend Beman. those students as well as um some of the students from the the county. Um for those students that are out of district though, we've actually worked on a a business agreement with the intermediate school district to generate a bit of revenue for our center for services provided to students outside of our district. >> Trust Williams. Any other questions whiskey? >> Uh, yes. I'm just curious since it's a new building have an opportunity to do sustainability practices. Do we know if this would meet like lead certification or anything like that as we're doing a new build or has that been thought about yet? >> We we have just only done very basic renderings at
019this point. And of course, we'd work with our operations team to make sure that um you know, we're we're meeting whatever requirements and whatever aspirational um visions we have for what our facilities look like moving forward. But we we're really just at the very beginning phases. Thank you for your question. >> Any other questions? >> Well, thank you very much for your presentation. >> Thank you. >> And uh let's go Cowboys. >> Oh, no cowboys, right? our choice. >> Thank you, >> Elo Parado. >> Thank you, man. >> Uh, moving on to our to our um agenda, reports from officers, report from secretary. Um, Miss Trusty Strode was not able to be here tonight, so I'll read her report. Okay. So, February 25th, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. preschool and kindergarten enrollment events at the schools
020at Edwood, Averil, Capital Area, K12 online, Kavanaaugh, Cumberland, Dwight Ridge, Forest View, Gardener, Guyire Park, Camden, Luton at Wood Creek, Lions, North Pengill, Postoque, Wexford, Montsur, and Willow at Riddle. So that's February 25th, 4:37:30 uh preschool 4:30 7:30 p.m. preschool and kindergarten enrollment events. Okay. uh 2026 senior scholarship information, Lancing Education Advancement Foundation, Leaf, Lensing Promise, and the Lensing School District are offering a variety of scholarships for graduating seniors totaling 107,500. Contact your counselor, college advisor, or Promise Pathfinder with any questions. Uh deadline is March 26, 2026. February 13th, there will be no school. February the 16 is President's Day. There will be no school. Next board meetings. February 19th, regular board meeting. March 5th, regular board meeting. March 19, regular board meeting. That is a report from secretary. So moving on the agenda, we
021have uh report from the equity committee. Uh Miss Tro is not here. Any anyone else on the equity committee is here? >> Yes. >> Yeah, we had an um an initial meeting with um Dr. Sarah O'Neal, but we're still kind of that was just to get more background on kind of the historical data about the committee. So we're still kind of waiting to get a schedule down. and I'll let um Secretary Strode give more information when she's back. >> Okay. Thank you very much for that update. >> Facilities Committee. Uh I'll send it over to Vice President. >> Uh yes, the facilities committee met this past Monday, February 2nd. Um our other two members, Miss Williams and uh President Lopez, were out on board business, so you're just going to hear from me today. Um
022we got a couple of updates about our ongoing construction work. Uh Sexton Auditorium is set to begin in March. Um Willow is progressing on time. We're just kind of doing some of those finishing touches that are kind of those inside pieces, right? Putting in lockers, etc. Um Luton, if you've driven by, is now gone. Um that project is progressing on time, but if you've noticed a slowdown in the work, that's because the extreme cold temperatures we've been experiencing meant that some of the equipment couldn't like break through the hard frozen ground. Um however the project remains uh on time and we will be excited to um give more updates and um maybe a little presentation about Luton as Luton gets closer. Um after that we have a series of bid recommendations which you will see
023in your packet. Um for all of these bid recommendations the lowest bidder was chosen and I think for every single one it was a company that we've worked with before. Um so there were no kind of major surprises there. Um, in addition, you'll see in your board packet, um, a request for a change order for Willow, construction on Willow. This is because, um, we need to do a little bit of reconfiguring within the same footprint. Right? So, we've got the new Willow, the structure is up, the footprint is set. Um, but we need to do a little bit of reconfiguring of classroom space within that building to accommodate the district-wide change to a middle school model. Um and so what that means is that we have a change order so that we can get the
024that kind of reconfiguration done um so that Willow is um using that middle school model that our other schools are using when it opens. Uh you will also see in your board packet um you'll also see this uh contract with source advisors source advisors or source adviserss engagement. It's a tongue twister. um with with this company. Um this is a tax professional company to make sure that we get the several million dollars of tax rebates that we expect um for the solar installations that we had done in 2025. So um given the complicated situation around green technologies and the federal administration, um there is some concern about making sure that we are able to get the rebates that we are owed. And so this contract is with this tax professional organization to make sure that
025we can get that money. Um so that is what you're seeing from facilities committee within your board packet. Um and I'm happy to take any questions. >> Any questions for the report? Dr. Rodriguez Dr. Rodriguez. >> I think thank you M president. I think I heard you to say the will be a presentation about Luton before start working and building that we I think I asked to see the plans and I I think we I think we need to have that in front of the board in front of the whole community. >> Yes, that's correct. >> You don't know when? >> I defer to Christina's team. When would you like it? >> Whichever meeting, whichever whichever meeting you'd like it at, I'm happy to bring it to. >> Well, I I think the the board
026has to approve that because we had to approve the money to build the to build the the school and we didn't do that frequently. Um I believe the the community will be even better served because it's their money. if they can see on TV if they want what this district is going for the Latin school district. >> I will work with uh Mr. Falsy and uh Superintendent Benvidas to to set to to put together that presentation >> and I I I'm sorry but I don't understand why has to be difficulties in doing that kind of thing. >> I don't think it's difficult just get it on the agenda. >> Right. Okay. Well, and and to be clear, um, as as you might recall, there was a big committee of Luton families who worked with our
027design team and our facilities committee several years ago to approve and create, um, the designs for the building. So, that was something we did with community input. Um, that was approved at the time. I think that was in 2024, Christina. >> Yeah. >> I I believe that that was a good process. Don't take me wrong. What is wrong is to forget that the board education need to know that too because we are responsible for what is going to be built there. >> Sure. My understanding was that those plans were brought to us at the time but we are happy to bring them back again now that construction is asking for >> okay >> and asking for the community not for me I >> it'll be on the agenda. Okay. Um, any other question? >> Yes,
028I had a question. Um, on the the contract with the, uh, investment consultant firm, did we hear from any other companies we typically see like the bid sheets or is this one recommended to us or how do we come to them? >> Sure. So, um, Miss Adams, myself, and Green Link actually met with three in total. So, Baker Tilly, Energy Tax Savers, and then Source Adviserss. um with filing for these types of tax credits. These are not common inst like institutions. This is not a common tax filing um especially in Michigan. So we actually had to reach outside of the state of Michigan um to find these companies. So we did have meetings with each of these companies um with the team and then ask several questions of them and who we could feel could
029support us the best. Um with Baker Tilly um they wanted to do more of like a all-encompassing whole piece process where we had already paid our lawyers for part of this. we had already paid um Enerlogix as our project management for a part of this, but they were kind of a wholesale um institution. So they would they would have been coming in and redoing a lot of the work we had already done, which then also had a very high price tag with it. Um so that didn't make sense uh for the district. And then energy tax savers, the way that they calculated their fees um was a little bit more exorbitant um compared to source adviserss. So they went on a pure straight percentage of the total of our projects um opposed to um the
030way that source advisers calculates their fee. So it was quite a bit more. It was over double um for energy tax saver. So um all of them were competent. There is no question about that. So it's kind of the best fit um in this situation and that's where we went with source advisors. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions hearing? Not. Can I have a motion? >> Yes, sir. >> Second. >> It's been moved to second to approve the recommended motion. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Post. Same sign. Okay. Motion carries. Uh we move now to finance committee. Trusty Niski. Uh yes, the finance committee met on Monday, January 26. Um Vice President Kavanaaugh and myself were able to attend. Uh we looked over the treasures report which is included in
031the packet today. Um the investment updates, capital project fund updates, grant spending report, new grants and new grant applications. um had some dialogue about the budget number amendment number one which given the uniqueness of this year uh will be coming uh in the in the coming weeks. Uh and looked at some of the school report cards as well and also um discussed the audit firm and uh supported a proposal made by staff that they would extend the current contract by two years with the audit firm rather than going to RFP at this time for the treasures report. The details treasures report for the period of December 1st through December 31st, 2025 is attached to the evening's agenda. The following are highlights. I mistakenly shared these last meeting not knowing the cycle and not having been
032to the committee. So you hear these same numbers um that were shared at the last meeting, but tonight we'll ask you to take action on the expenditures. The beginning cash and investment balance was 65,899,491. Receipts totaled 16,336,294 while dispersements equaled 20,999,875. Net interfund transfers totaled $794,44 and interest from fund investments to the student and bond funds as well as journal entries to remove the due to slashdue2 from in all funds. The monthly transfer to the general fund for bond expenses was $0. The ending general fund cash and investment balance on uh December 31st, 2025 was 62,30,314. The general fund's cash and investment balance is 27,151,934,000 less as compared to the same time last year. Donations received during the month of December 2025 totaled $5,746. Um, several of those came through to specific schools or programs
033through the H Heartland School Solution My School Bucks program. There were significant donations uh from the Allen Wallace Youth Sports Foundation, the amount of $1,000. The Daniel and Kelsey Leair uh for the Sexton Orchestra in the amount of $1,000, United mentoring program to the Sexton Clothing Closet in the amount of $1,000. And then other donations from Blackbot and General Motors, Blackbot and Asenture, Boringer, Engelman, Dean Transportation, Capitol United Way, uh, and Blackbot and Jackson National. Mr. President, this concludes the December 2025 uh, finance committee and treasures report. >> Thank you. Are there any questions uh, on this report? Hearing none. Thank you. Mr. President, yes. I move that the board of education approve the expenditures as presented for December 2025. >> Second. >> It's been with a second to approve the motion. Um, all in
034favor say I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Uh, now we go to uh Lancing Promise Foundation. Dr. Odigas. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um it was a long meeting that we have um last week and um I am going to give you something they already were talking this this afternoon is a scholarships then I need some help from here as you know a few years ago home. Few years ago, Lancing School District gave to Lancing Promise all the scholarships the Lancing School District were responsible for. Then you had here and many of us were in the board when we did that but some of you were not here and I think it's good for you to know what what what we were doing and what we are doing now and what you want to
035do in the future. Do you have >> you copy them? Okay one one only. Thank you. Um you can see the first one is leave and leave is the one we were talking about $17,000 and they get a scholarship and that is all a scholarship for Lancing school district students and but they had to know the counselors and everybody every senior need to know that this scholarship as available to them and also we have other scholars ship and you had there the amount of money for every one of them. You had um Mr. McQueen who was um human resource um director for a while for $1,000. Maria Velasquez for $1,000, Marafi who is was a teacher, Dr. Eva Evans the and and so on. You had a lot of them there. Dr. Cheron Bang who
036was a superintendent and Dr. Rohalik for $1,500. All this scholarship used to be done by Lancing School District now is doing by our partner Lancing Promise. Then I want you to know that this is money and I am doing that because I think that we had to re ask the people to donate create more scholarship for the future for our students and people who are retiring we had to ask them to create the scholarship for our students because um we are going to need them. Um the second part that you had there we also because it's a new direction there blanching promise is going because we have a new um director the meeting was very long but it's a new way and how lancing promise is going to work but lancing promise is our partner
037that we need to know how we can work together to and benefit our students. One of their um kind of they has in every high school they has a person that they work with our students and you have in that s session and senior's days what they were doing with our students and how many students were attending these meetings then what I want to attend during this presentation is also asking how we can work together launching school district and launching promise to benefit our students even better because they cannot work for one side and we can work in another side that you have um over there how how many student from Everett, how many student from Sexton and Easter and their activities and um and finally they were talking about the Magi Johnson um scholarship
038and the promise that he to our students and that is going to happen is in the process but it's going to happen is $50,000 for three or four students that they are going to have their own business and he promised that and we are working really hard in getting this money for them. Um as you know there are in lancing promise there are two groups one is lancing promise and the other is the lancing foundation and Mr. developers know more than about that. I do. But um I think that sooner or later we had to see how this partnership on how they come in front of the board and present to us what the launching promise is doing for launching school district and is doing so much because we have so many students more than
039400 students right now and in and um in Lancing Community College they are receiving the scholarship for Lancing promise and I tell you they are dedicated to Lancing school district. Thank you, M president. Thank you, Dr. Rodriguez. Any questions for Rodriguez? Uh, in the promise. Uh, okay. Okay. Well, then I'll move to the promisone. And um I was not at the meeting because as been mentioned before, I was at a town of school business and uh but the the the Solen authority is the recipient of the uh tax capture for the promise. And our tax capture is less well this last fiscal year uh near the the um the $2 million. So we're getting closer to that and and it's going to grow as the years go by. Um and the the zone authority uh
040uses all the the money for scholarships. It goes for scholarships specifically and for um student assistance in terms of um readiness um and readiness can be defined different ways. I won't go into that, but it's all for for student benefit. And the foundation of course does all the other the other good work they're doing and also with the uh students we now have that are in the promise uh program uh at Michigan State, LCC, Oliv um help me out. This is the one right here uh the other university um Deport >> Devport Devport um so we have students in all those universities and our staff keeps track of them to help them um if they need any assistance as as they're going through. And there's programs that are that are prepared and and the students
041come back and and keep that support system so that they can be successful in graduating from from wherever they're and before I go to Dr. I guess the other thing is that we're also helping students with the CTE programs. You know, if somebody wants to be a carpenter, wants to go to carpenters union, we can cover the the cost of tuition and tools, etc. So, um the promise has gone a long ways from where we started and I know we also have people uh in cosmetology and and so those are the trades uh that we're supporting as well. So um Dr. Rodriguez, you had something else. >> Maybe extending to other universities like Eastern University and MREN and >> Right. Right. Right. Um basically the uh promise has um memorandum of understanding with with the
042universities. Not only will will they ex uh will we help our students with the tuition but the university also puts money towards the total uh cost of of of that universities uh for the students. So yes, yes, that's been talked about and I think that uh we'll be moving in that direction to expand the choices for lensing students. Um I don't know if we'll ever go out of the state, but I think expanding to uh I think there was a a survey done and a great number of our students go to Central. It's kind of a a niche university for lensing students, but Western Michigan, Aferris, State College, Graham Valley, those are all possibilities. So, we'll see. And Dr. Rodriguez and I will be reporting on that as we move along. Okay. Yes, sir. >>
043Can you tell me, and I know you said you don't know whether or not they will ever go out of the state. Um, one thing that I've been very impressed about with the Kalamazoo Promise is their extension to H.B.CU. Can you tell me what the conversation has been for the Lancing Promise to extend the opportunity for students to go to H.B.CU seeing that there are none in Michigan? Um we I I can always tell you that is the the the executive director that that um discussion the difference between the Kamusu promise and every other promise in the state is that Kalamasu is self-funded. They're not funded through tax capture. They were funded through the the beneficiaries of of of the Fiser company of all those big uh uh industrials industries that they have in Kalamazoo.
044So I don't think they're they're tied to any state mandate. So that may just there's a difference. I can't tell you yes, no, or in between. But I think that a conversation with certainly with a director would be one. >> Yeah. I it's just one thing that I I would just be interested to know um what that looks like, especially in Lancing. Um our largest population is African-American and it seems interesting. Um and but we have a little more red tape it sounds like. Um, but I would love to hear more as you all are having those conversations about what does that look like um, for students who want the opportunities to go to the 105 historically black colleges or universities in the country. >> That's a good question. No answer right now. Okay, thank
045you very much. Uh, we'll move on to personnel committee. Dr. Kavanagh. Uh the personnel committee will be meeting this coming Monday, February 9th, uh at noon and these meetings are open to the public. I will have a report after that meeting. >> Thank you. Moving on to uh policy committee. I know uh Trusty Stro is not here. Uh Dr. So, you have any >> already agenda from the administration policies? >> What kind of policies we are going to be study? And we had the agenda already in our in our place, but it's going to be this probably Wednesday. Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much for that update. Uh recognition and ad hoc committee, Mr. Hurt, >> we will meet um on February 10th at 5:00 pm at Sexton High School and we will meet
046February 24th at 5:00 pm at Eastern High School. After both of those, we will have reports and all members are um invited to come. the last meeting it was just the board members that are on the committee but we invite all of our community members um all 20 people please join us at both of these this month. Thank you. >> Okay. >> And uh finally the student achievement committee Dr. Rodriguez and Miss Williams >> very very much. I'm going to pass some I hope I had the perfect one for there and I have one two and three here and I think you know all that number one I that was our third meeting of this committee and our third meeting and was called at 307 and they were present Mr. Lopez, Mrs. Williams and um
047Mrs. Benabides and the secretary of the board, Mr. False. Um we starting by reviewing the vision and mission statements to be clear and at least to present that to the board. And the mission is I'm going to read that again is every student meet or exceeds all standards and objectives per grade level according to the district and state metrics. That was is our mission in our district. Our vision is every student to be prepared to start at university trades skills or professional living. Um, one of the first thing we did is to study the AP courses that I give you a copy that we offer in the Lancing school district and you had them in the from how many students are enrolled and how many student to the test to receive credit and universities and
048you had how many of their receiving credits in the second and did you go back to the this page over here. You have in by school how many AP classes is in are in every school. And um Easter because they had the IB program maybe had less and we will study that in the future in the in the committee. But ever has more students and but also they had classes very small number of the student and we had extra to pay extra for that and sex but I you will be surprised they are improving the number of the AP classes they are having right now and I hope that we keep doing that in the future. Do you have all the AP classes that they are taking? Um, I want to say also that we
049spend a lot of time about the curriculum and the curriculum alignment um and and about the standards that we have in every in every grade. I have in front of me the strategic plan and the strategic plan is from 2023 to 2027. If you go to the face if you go back and see the first focus area they talk about enriching responsive teaching and learning. then we can go back and see what we can do there. Um and maybe we had to we were talking maybe to create a new focus or new strategic plan for student achievement and that is up to the board and I and if the board wants to create an an achievement plan strategic plan for the next three years and how we can change what the students are learning. Then
050maybe in the retreat we can talk and we can have an specific focus area in the learning student learning. Um, I received an an email from one of the people in Lancing and the one of the committees and they say that they are going to be working in alignment vertical alignment of the math curriculum from 8 to kindergarten. Well, that is the strategic plan. We had to have the vertical alignment and horizontal alignment of the curriculum from 12 to kindergarten. The that is very interesting. Another school gave me what the students are going to be doing in kindergarten. And um very interesting the the the teacher in that school kindergarten news curriculum news reading unit 13. This week the student will learn sounds for short vowels. Practice forming vowels. Practice blending hours. Math chapter six.
051Use numbers and objects to math the numbers and very very surprise for me study graphics and fractions. And finally, social studies for kindergarten. This week we will identify jobs we do at home. That is very clear objectives that every week the family receive that the parents receive that and this is more than just to tell them it's class or no class or school or no school. Then we have a lot of work to do in order to have our student not only graduate graduate ready for what our mission and vision of this this group has. Then we had work to do. We did that work. We have another meeting this uh Tuesday. We are going to be I already asked to put that in the TC um talent I mean talented students and the other
052one is going to be trades. Then we are working is the I enjoy the the group the people who come to the meetings on the board that we are talking about our student achievement. Thank you president. Thank you. Uh, Trusty Williams, you have anything to think if you're looking at everything that they're still passing their just make >> Thank you. Any questions for the committee? Okay, hearing none, then we'll move on to our next I like um the organizational chart that we get and um as I've just been um learning about colleagues around the state, one thing that I found that was really nice um on the Ann Arbor board's website was you can see on um the website which members ers are part of what committees. Um, and I know that's a graphic thing
053that could probably be done really quick. I think it would be wonderful if the community could see this chart that we see. Um, and know what some of our areas of expertise are. Um, sometimes, uh, maybe people approach us and because I don't know everything that finance is doing, um, it makes it look like I'm just turning them away. I honestly don't know. I'm not on finance and sometimes things have not gotten to the general board yet. But if uh members of the community could go on our website and know that Trusty Herd is on policy and he's on recognition and he's a resource for you for information and also to make connections, I think that would be great. As well as knowing who we've been charged to connect with in the community. Um for
054example, Trusty Herd is the liaison to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, also known as NAACP. Um and knowing that and being able to see that easily, I would love to see that. Um, thank you. >> That's a a good idea. I'll ask uh Mr. Falsy to make that happen. Thank you, sir. And uh also I want to uh make sure that we all get the the agendas for every committee even if we don't belong to that committee just in case we have something that's maybe say hey uh Dr. Kavanaaugh on uh personnel, can you check this out for me or I have this question, can you bring it up at the meeting? And this way, I think then we can feel feel more connected to each other. Not that we have
055to go to the meeting, but we can address an issue that's that we may have or a or a question and what have you. Um, so now this committee, as long as we don't have more than four people, we're good. Okay. All right. So now, um, go back to item C, uh, superintendent's report. Uh, Miss Benovides. >> Good evening, everyone. Uh, this evening marks my very first board meeting at the horseshoe tonight and also my fourth day in serving as interim superintendent. >> She has she hasn't quit yet. >> No, I'm still smiling. Uh, I do want to begin by uh expressing my sincere gratitude to the board of board of education. um the trust that you've placed in me and for this opportunity to serve a district that I truly love in a community
056that I live in is truly an honor. Uh I also am very deeply thankful for the many emails, text messages, and personal words of encouragement I've received from staff, families, and members of our broader community. Um your outreach and support have meant a great deal to me, and I felt incredibly welcomed. And I think that speaks volumes about who we are as a district. I do want to keep a little bit of tradition um going and I know in uh the first board meeting of the month, Ben often would give the transportation update and until the board says that they don't want that anymore, I'm going to continue with that especially because it is a point of pride for our transportation department, especially this week. Um our buses requested were 4,025 and our buses routed
057were 4,10. So, I just want to take a pause on that and I'm going to give a round of applause to our transportation department. >> That is a 15 person differential and with uh new applications coming in all the time, uh that is really to be commended. Our gas requested uh gas cards requested were 2725 and gas cards assigned 272. CAD requested 533 CAD cards and 52021 CAD cards assigned. Please to our families out there, please remember to go to your schools. A lot of you have requested cards and they are in the office. If the office doesn't have them, they will certainly contact our transportation department and we will get those to you as soon as possible. Um, I want to share that the Lancing School District is a special place. Um, it is
058a truly a privilege to serve a community that so clearly cares about its students and its schools. And I'm especially grateful to the work to work alongside such a talented executive team, central office staff, administrators, educators, and support staff. The work we do is complex and demanding, and it truly takes all of us working together with a shared purpose to ensure success for our students. As we move through February, I would like to highlight Black History Month. Our schools have planned meaningful and engaging opportunities to celebrate this important month to honor the contributions, achievements, and implement and impact of our black individuals throughout history. Students across the district will be participating in activities such as arts and culture performances, black history book fairs, drum circles, presentations from esteemed speakers, hustle Fridays, that's at Eastern if
059you'd like to join that, and lessons that highlight black history pioneers and civil right activists. I want to personally thank our own black history makers, our administrators, our educators, and our staff. our your representation matters. The impact you have on our students each and every day cannot be overstated. Uh through your leadership, care, and commitment, you shape the identities, aspirations, and futures of the young people that we serve. So, to our staff this month, um especially those that are black history makers, I'm really proud of all of the work that you do day in and day out for our students. While Black History Month uh serves as a a dedicated time to reflect and celebrate, it also reminds us that Black History is American history. It's not confined to one month, but is woven into
060our past, our present, and our future, and should be honored, taught, and uplifted every single day. Following our recognition of Black History Month, I'd also like to highlight an important and exciting initiative that we have within our own district. Our own Tanya Brewer, senior director of special education, is launching a black educator and administrator coalition. Super exciting. This coalition will create a space for connection, support, and professional growth for black educators and administrators across the Lancing School District. It will provide opportunities for collegiality, mentorship, and shared learning and collaboration while also fostering a sense of belonging and community. This work is about supporting and uplifting our staff, strengthening relationships, and ensuring ensuring that our district continues to be a place where talented educators and leaders feel valued and supported. So, I really want to thank
061Miss Brewer and her leadership and vision and to bring this coalition forward. Initiatives like this really strengthen our organization from within and ultimately benefit all the students and families that we serve. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that February is career and technical uh education month. And I know Dr. Ridges is probably going to talk to us about this a little bit later, but uh uh CTE plays a vital role in preparing preparing our students for life beyond high school and connecting learning to real world skills and meaningful career pathways. It's supported by our Lancing Promise. We have a wonderful Lancing Technical High School, which is an incredible place. If you haven't been, open enrollment, like we've said, starts at the end of February and it would be a wonderful place for
062your high schoolers to start in 9th grade. That really is unheard of. Um, CTE t tech um across the state typically starts in 11th grade for most students, but we know that students are very passionate about the things that they want to do and as freshmen often know exactly the careers that they want to tackle. And if that's something that you're interested in, Lancing Technical High School is an amazing place for our students to start. You get all of your high school credits while getting hands on in areas like culinary and computer science, building trades, and of course, health services. For those that don't go to Lancing Technical, though, you still have those opportunities at our traditional high schools. And those those um programs include things like business and risk management, which I'd be remiss
063by saying that last year, this last year alone in the business and risk management class, 96 college credits were earned by students in those classes. That means that when they leave that class, they have 12 college credits to put right toward their college experience. That's really close to an associates degree. So, that's something to really be proud of. Emergency medical technician is another area that um EMTs that people can be a part of. Fire science academy, we have students leaving the fire science academy and going right into being firefighters, graphic and print tech, patient care tech, and skilled trades. So, those are all areas that are really points of pride for the Lancing School District. And I'd like to especially thank uh Dr. Nicole Milsap, director Nicole Milsap, for her incredible work in creating those
064programs and our team of teachers and trades people who make that work every day possible. Um, their ex their experience is really what makes that magic happen for our students. I'd also like to recognize this is a very uh special month for Hallmark. Apparently, we have a lot of things that are of the week of the month, right? Um, but this one is our national school counselors week. We have wonderful counselors in Lancing. They're the um people that are making sure that we're lining up students with courses that match their interests like CTE, but also that are getting them across the stage, but then on to the school beyond, which is includes scholarships and into college and really whatever their life um desires. So, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of
065our counseling staff across the district for the vital role that they play in supporting our students. Our counselors help students navigate high school academically, socially, and emotionally while guiding them through course planning, post-secary pathways, and important life decisions. We're grateful for all of you at the high schools and the impact you've had on our student success. So again, I'd like to thank all of you for the opportunity to serve you. I look forward to continuing this important work together on behalf of our students and the families of a school district that I love, the Lancing School District. Thank you. That concludes my report. >> Thank you very much. >> That was a good report. Your first report. >> Looking forward to many more. >> Yes, sir. Um, Mr. President, but remember I want to thank
066the superintendent for Thank you to the counselors on their work in the schools. We can we we we cannot forget them. We cannot forget anybody. as having this week been their week. I think that you did a a great job and your responsibility to appreciate our workers and the second I I more and more about the technical education I will say few more later but um but coming to and the African-American math to put that in front of the community I think is the role of the superintendent. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay, we'll move on to the agenda to do we have new business? We do not. >> Yes, sir. I wanted to also thank the superintendent um for her report and um the superintendent has known me a long time and I
067wondered in um weeks to come um are we and the rest of the community going to be able to hear from you um perhaps maybe even by video or something to talk about what your vision we're bringing you in now and um while we've had a a superintendent before. Now you're the superintendent and want to hear what your vision is and a direction for the district during this interim period. Um and things that you would like to see done, your agenda and ways that you'd like to take us higher. Um I would love to see that. You don't have to answer that today. Um I think that would be wonderful to hear from you. um as really a veteran administrator in this district and uh longtime employee. Um you've been on the ground for a
068long time and so you've seen where we've been and I think that you have some vision about where we're going and I would love to hear what that is and I think our neighbors would too. to be honest with you. >> Trust Williams, >> I'd also like to thank for her report even though she's not talking loud enough and I'm not either, but that's okay. But also, she like she said, she's only been on day four and while we were in another city yesterday, an issue came through uh Trusty Herd and my desk and we reached out to the superintendent and immediately that was handled. So, she is boots on the ground running you all. So know that she's doing it. She needs our support. It's one day at a time and we got you.
069>> Okay. We're going to have board comments as well. So maybe we can do more of that at that time. Okay. Um we're down to public comment on non-aggenda items. And I have just just one. Okay. Uh Todd McCassle. Over there, sir. >> Not the hot seat. >> You got the hot seat. You got the hot mic. >> Yeah. I'm going to steer clear. >> Let me just So for the public, uh you have three minutes. And um the board does not usually respond to public comment. Okay. So, go ahead. >> Understood. Well, thank you for the opportunity tonight. Uh I showed up tonight and for the first time that I can remember I was mood. So uh I appreciate that and uh again thanks for the opportunity to be here. I come from the
070community. I work as a representative for the Carpenters local. We have a distinct privilege of representing this area. And I say we because I'm not the only one in the office, but we recognize the great talent that comes from the Lancing School District. We do career fairs and uh job fairs and interactions with the students that come from here and there's great opportunity in the trades. Um I'm a product of the trades. I'm a product of the apprenticeship. Very blessed. That career path is as strong today as it was in my entire career recognizing today is is is an equal opportunity. U moving forward for the foreseeable future. The trades are are in demand. It's been a great privilege to interact with the students, with the staff, um, and hope that uh, good things come.
071It It's telling on the seasons I've been in here when uh, I get a phone call from a former student that is inquiring about their pension status. It's like, okay, I I' I've been here a while. Um, and it's surreal, but it's uh, rewarding as well because we know what that meant to the families and and uh the impact to the community. We build these buildings. They're uh they're the things we drive by and are proud of. We get to share that with our families. Uh and it's and it's an exciting post-secary education without debt. We have a a paid apprenticeship program. We've self-funded $65 million in training centers across the state. We hope that the benefactor is an area that we live in that sees the result of our expertise, training and uh prosperity
072that it generates. Uh we service some very sophisticated owners in construction. We recognize our responsibility. It's amazing the young talent that's coming up that is well suited for the technology that exists in our uh construction industry. What I would want to articulate also is expenditures in construction sometimes are 25 30 years apart when we pass a bond vote. So they're distinct decisions that are made that are very impactful. We start students that it's because of a bond vote um in the construction industry that launches their career. So, if we could uh take some consideration to contractors that employ W2 employees that come from the area, and I know Michigan is the area, but safeguard yourselves on a contractor that might come in with a low number, but has 1099 subcontractors. That eliminates the access to
073apprenticeship training most oftent times. So their their crews come in with an enticing number disadvantaged to the access of that education. Um and then the other pitfalls of that uh practice that we've seen it tragically include human trafficking. We don't want to uh eliminate the opportunity for the folks locally. >> Thank you, sir. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Okay. Um, we go now to uh comments from the board. Uh, I can start on my left. >> Go ahead. >> Trusty. Yes. You're you're the leftest of me. Go ahead. >> I'm a lefty. So, so first let me say good evening to everybody and thank you um thank you board for allowing uh Trusty Herd, myself and Trusty Lopez to represent you all this weekend the advocacy conference and several things transpired through my mind. I
074remember getting ready to graduate from high school and there was a quote that I had on my wall that says education plus hard work equals the American dream. That was 30 plus years ago. Now we have our children just fighting to say, "I want to go to school, but I'm afraid to go to school." And being at this advocacy conference this week, several things came to light for us, how ICE is showing up in different places. So, I thank Lancing for already putting their ICE uh declaration or plan of action in place. So, thank you all for that already. Um, they also talked about making sure that we look at IDA, which is not going anywhere, but looking at how we're going to be able to service our families once their families lose their tanniff
075benefits, Medicare, and things like that. So, I think rep uh Senator Slacken said it best. We need to get our balls and stripes ready to go. And in thinking of that, I thought about black history. And Bishop Desmond Tutu said, "My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together." But when I was reading shortly after that this morning, Jimmy Carter said something that really made me think about what we really are about the education, the system, the world, everything that we are supposed to be and should be. And unfortunately, it's not that way right now. He simply said, "We become not a melting pot, but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams." And I could not think of a better place to say when
076I thought about that and read that is that that's Lancing. That's who we are. So, I celebrate all of you. Your differences, our cultures are everything because we are all history, not just black history. We are all history. Thank you. >> Well, that fits perfectly with uh my first comment which was about the PAKC meeting in January and this was not the traditional um type of meeting. It was the multilingual families night which was held at the newcomer center. So those you're not aware in the community. the district has that newcomer center um that welcomes families and gives a place for students uh coming who need some uh language support and other social skills and cultural things to adjust to go into the traditional um pathways for school. So, it was exciting to see families
077from around the world there and getting uh services they needed to sign up for parent view and parent square and bus notifications and meet the teachers and everything like that. Um, but to to see that diversity embraced and celebrated uh and supported was fantastic, especially in the the climate that we're in. Um, also wanted to share that I continue to attend the Lancing 360 meetings on Wednesdays at noon. These are open to anyone in the community. Um, this is a collaborative effort to prevent uh and address gun violence in the community. Over the last few weeks, it's been um some good news to report the positive annual trends in the city of uh fewer gun violence incidents, fewer um deaths, fewer injuries, and fewer calls related to gunshots over the past several years. So, we're
078hoping those trends continue, but there certainly is still work to be done. Um the year started out with some significant incidents and then the tragic loss of a four-year-old girl to a unsecured firearm. So, uh, I know Trusty Herd and others in the district have promoted resources to allow families to secure your firearm. So, we really want to emphasize anyone who has a firearm around a child to make sure that it is locked and secured. It is the law, but it's just the right thing to do, and we have to reach anyone we know to make sure that we don't have another loss like this in our community. That's all I have. Thank you. Um I also wanted to thank the board and um the district for allowing us to go to the advocacy conference.
079Um it was my first time ever attending um that conference and um beyond the classes that gave us more insight on how to advocate I keep using that word again and again for our families um with very real concerns. There was one one keynote speech that really affected me deeply and that was by Amanda Ripley who got up and did a keynote speech about her book High Conflict and um what I wanted to say and I'll write more to you all in my report. Um, I left feeling like in this space, not only this board of education space, but in our society, um, as we are trying to, um, stand up for the most vulnerable members of our community and many of those being our children, finding ways to hear with hearts to understand and
080working together with people um, who might not have your same point of view and frankly um, who might just flat out not like you um to for the greater good is the order of the day. And um I was grateful to be in a room with all these board members from all over the country and we don't know each other's politics. You know, you can kind of tell sometimes when they cheer at certain stuff, who's who um or the slow clap when certain comments are made um you know where kind of people are. But the fact is um we are living in a very polarized world right now. And what she brought to light was the purple um and the the many spaces where people are somewhere in the middle and those people in the
081middle often times get caught in the cracks when it comes to the conversation about how to make the world a better place. And one of the ways that we start at least the journey for more understanding, more empathy is seeing the humanity in people um and um embracing conflict in a more positive way. Um I felt very good when I left that speech because conflict she kind of asked people she says you know are there any peacemakers and all the peacemakers raised their hand. She said, "Are there any people that are kind of like sideline people?" And they kind of say, "Yeah, I'd rather just stay out of it." And assuming she said, "Are there any fighters?" And I said, "Oh, that's me." Uh, and that there's room for all of these types to make
082all of our boards and all of our community spaces um successful and more empathetic um for the benefit of what we're all here for, and that is for the kids. Um, and so I appreciate that. I'm going to say more in my report about um how it affected me being at the conference. However, um there are so many wonderful things happening in our district. I appreciate um that the board is giving more platform for people to come and speak about the great things that we are doing and um the collaborations that we are doing. The last thing that I wanted to say before I say my little thing that I say is um I want families to mark your calendars for May 12th. I'm not going to tell you the time, just mark the day
083in pencil. May 12th will be the inaugural AfricanAmerican graduation recognition ceremony. This has never been done before and the superintendent and her team are working with us to make this a huge success that started under superintendent Ben kind of got the ball rolling and superintendent um Jessica has really taken up the torch along with um um Ryan and Mitch and um Trustee Williams. Um what I would love to see um Mr. President is um perhaps for this effort to go to the recognition committee of the board to offer more um support not only for the African-American recognition but for every cultural recognition that the district offers or sanctions or supports so that we can have more robust celebration of all of our students that are in the Lancing School District. Um, I am so thrilled
084for those collaborations and for the culture of collaboration that is now being cultivated amongst the board. And with that, I'd like to say if you've been teeter tottering about sending your baby to the Lancing School District to be a shining star and to be a part of this great mosaic, as Trusty Williams said, it's high time you come home. Thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank you, Mr. Hurt. Trusty Hurt. Uh, Dr. Luras. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I want to start just um following the African-American celebration. Yesterday we had the celebration honoring Rosa Park tribute on in the bus in the kata bus and the superintendent was there and the deputy superintendent also were was there. Uh it's not just a tribute to one action that she did and one moment in the bus is
085the movement that she started or creating more equality in this nation. I think that maybe we we gave them her tribute for one moment that she decided not to move from her seat, but really what coming after this action is what made Rosa Park a hero and um tremendous change of history. And I think alto together the future is going to be the future the hair and Martin Luther King dream for all of us. Um and talking about the career and technical education month. Um we are going to have that in the agenda in the next one and continue doing that according with the according we have the governor with more nearly 5,000 jobs opening projected in Michigan each year through 2032. Career and technical education offers high school and college students had own learning
086experiences that can be applied to real world training and career pathways. Then the future maybe is in that group of the students too. Then um um that is all I have and I I think the c celebrate whatever celebrates differently is going to we had to have the vision this all to cooperate and to do it better together. Thank you m Mr. President. >> Thank you for for those comments. So I will just add that uh u this type of conferences that we attended not only give you an idea where we're at in comparison to others is basically in the upper echelon of things that when we talk about immigration reform talk about um food service when we talk about AI and AI is very important and and I uh want to have conversations with
087superintendent about AI and how we're going to implement that program here. It's it's not only about knowing, but it's about having the infrastructure for AI and how much it's going to cost. So, that's those are going to be issues that we're going to have to deal with. And I'm looking at uh uh trust in the whiskey is the budget uh the finance area and to um kind of look at those things and how we're going to implement that uh in the structure sense and then how we're going to impart the educational part of AI to our students. Um I also heard about uh telephones in the classrooms help what others are doing what we're doing and uh it's an issue all over the place. So um I know Michigan is getting ready to or this
088legislature is getting ready to uh pass a bill regarding uh um telephonei devices in the classroom um basically to not allow them. Uh but uh the the other thing is that we spoke also uh heard about uh uh one of the the big items of discussion was IDEIDA that is not funded has never been funded to the level that it was intended to and everybody's uh hurting on that and especially with this new administration that's well a year old administration that is cutting a lot of uh of of the title programs to certain degrees um SNAP program which will impact our food service. And so there's a lot of things that that uh that we need to be aware of and then how are we going to deal with it locally and you know the
089the the not the problem but the situation is is that every district is different and what impact 20 districts doesn't really mean nothing to us but it may mean to anothers and what impacts us doesn't impact them. So I think it's it's like somebody said um and I'll use the word politics or local. They're always local. So we have to learn how to deal with our local politics in terms of advocating for stuff that we need and then how do we advocate as a group uh for everyone. So I think those are the things that we have to kind of always do a balancing act on. But with your support and the information that you can provide is is what we need to be more effective advocates. Uh we need to have our story. We
090need to tell the legislators why we're doing this and uh if we don't have this how is it going to impact our students and it comes down impact to students. So, uh there'll be more uh but just just a brief uh comment on those. So, let's go now to our next item. >> Mr. President, I move that the board of education go into close section under OMA section 81A to conduct a student discipline hearing. >> It's been moved and second to go into close session. Uh roll call. >> Dr. Kavanaaugh. >> Yes. >> Mr. Herd? >> Yes. >> Mia Mckis? Yes, >> Mr. Noveski. >> Yes, >> Dr. Rodriguez. >> Yes, >> Miss Williams. >> Okay, we're in close session. >> Yeah, we will come back in five minutes. We're back in session. All right.
091Okay. Um family discuss the situation and we have a resolution. I have one. >> Okay. >> Yes. Alex gave it to me. >> Oh, I didn't need to turn it on. I'm sorry. >> Yes. Um Okay. So, I'll um take breaks to make sure that there's time to translate. Um, the administration has recommended that a student whose identity is known to the board be expelled for possessing a Glock replica gas powered air gun on school grounds, which is a dangerous weapon under board policy 5610 on January 6th, 2026. School administrators notified the students parents of these charges, their recommendation, and the date, time, and place of the disciplinary hearing. The hearing gave the student and the students representatives an opportunity to respond to the charge and present evidence for the board's consideration. The board has
092considered all of that evidence. Yes. A prepoundonderance of the evidence establishes that on January 6th, 2026, the student possessed a Glock replica gas-powered air gun on school grounds in violation of board policy 5610. Based on careful consideration of all of the following factors, the board determines that expulsion is warranted. the student's age, the student's disciplinary history, whether the student has a disability, the seriousness of the behavior, whether the behavior posed a safety risk, whether restorative practices are a better option, and whether lesser interventions would address the behavior. Yes. >> The student is expelled from the district during the time of expulsion. The student may not be on school grounds or attend any functions at the district without prior written approval from an appropriate administrator. The student may petition the board for reinstatement no sooner than
093July 1st, 2026. Before reinstatement, the student must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board that the student received educational instruction and cooperatively participated in an educational program period of expulsion. Administrators are directed and authorized to implement all terms of this resolution and are delegated all necessary authority to do so. That's it. >> Mr. President, >> yes, sir. >> I move to adopt the uh resolution just read by the attorney. It's been moved to second that we adopt the resolution as read by our attorney. Any discussion? Okay. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Herd, >> yes. >> Miss Lemia McKisk, >> Mr. Lopez, >> yes. >> Mr. Noiski, >> yes. >> Dr. Rodriguez, Miss Williams, Russell's adopted. Okay. So family will meet with your office >> and you have a list of references that they can be
094referred to for additional not Lancing school education outlets but other because of the Got it. Uh so he's asking is he have uh any provision to go other district school or is there any time frame that he can join or is there any idea that's he's asking >> he can apply back for reinstatement to the lensing schools >> at uh July 1st. >> Okay. Yes sir. >> Right. Sure. >> Yeah. >> That I walk them through this tomorrow. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, I I'll probably need you again tomorrow. >> Um we talked and we're going to exchange numbers. >> Yeah. Again, he can apply for his statement after July 1st to the L school district. So, so at this point it's only expelled from the Lansing School District. >> Okay. But but our department
095can al is going to give you some information and and references to other educational opportunities while he's out. >> So let me ask still they are confused. So is they >> can you give him the the mic please give him the mic. >> Can we be careful because we're in session and I don't want to >> Okay. Okay. Let me So July 1st he can uh send the statement or how he can proceed he can proceed to lensing district school right >> yes >> after July >> I'll make sure I >> that that was his his brother is in the lensing district school movement so he's little bit confused >> he is expelled >> through June >> he can re he can re be reinstated apply basically request >> to come back July. Yeah. >>
096Does that make sense? >> Yeah, that makes sense. They are very clear now. >> Okay, good. >> Okay. Um, >> business.