Lansing BOE 01-08-2026

001It is. Good evening everyone and welcome to our first of the year um regular board meeting. Um oh no it's not organizational meeting. I've got the wrong agenda that I'm looking at and look at my vice president assisting me already. Ah thank you. No. Welcome to our annual organizational meeting um today, January 18th, 2026 at 5:30. Um at this time, I am going to ask our um Dr. Rodriguez um give him a time to speak. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. And to all board members, Mr. superintendent and team and the community in general. We lost one of the best person in Lancing, Mr. Larry Leatherwood who died in January 2nd and he was an advocate for the youth. He died when he was 86 years old and he dedicated since 2002 to the

002youth people and create an organization to support our students and donated more the 200 $250,000. The history of Lancing, the history of the Lancing School District is full of people like him, men and women. And I think that we should be very proud to live in the city and to have been part of Lancing School District for all these years and decades. To all of us and this community, I want to express our gratitude for him as a moment of silent reflection remembering and thank you him for what he did for all of us. this time. I'm calling um I'm calling Yes. >> Yes. Vice President uh >> Yes. If if I may, I'd like to um >> also call a moment of silence uh for uh Renee Good from Minneapolis who tragically died um

003yesterday. So, please [cough] [clears throat] Thank you. >> Righty. Thank you, Vice President. At this time, we're going to be um I'll need to call call to order our meeting. Um we will be electing our officers this evening. And first I would like to um assign a temporary or I would like to um nominate a temporary chairperson to facilitate that and the person of trustee Ninsky. >> Second. >> Okay. So it's been second by trustee or um yeah trustee Kavanagh or Dr. Kavanagh. Uh, may I have a Well, at this time, Trusty Ninsky, the floor is yours. >> We need to vote on that election. >> Oh, we need to vote. Okay, thank you. So, can I have a roll call vote, please? >> Dr. Kavanaaugh, >> yes. >> Mr. Herd. >> Mr. Lopez, >>

004yes. >> Mrs. Moore, [clears throat] >> yes. >> Mr. Niski, >> yes. >> Dr. Rodriguez, >> Mrs. Strode, >> Ms. Williams, >> All righty. Motion passes. Um, so Trusty Ninsky, is this the time where you'll go ahead and take over the rest of the agenda until >> just until the election of president? Yes. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Uh, the next item was the roll call, which was just already accomplished with the vote. So, I think we're all set. Are there any additions to the agenda for the annual organizational meeting? Hearing none, we move to public comment on agenda items. We receive any cards? None. Okay. Then the next item is the first action item which is election of officers. Uh presented for you there is the excerpt of bylaw 152.

005I'll just read that to frame the process. The board of education shall elect a president and vice president as well as secretary and treasurer. Election of officers shall be a a majority of the full board where no such majority exists. on the first ballot vote. A second vote shall be cast for the two candidates who receive the greatest number of ballot votes and then additional information on uh vacancies. So at this time nominations are open for the office of president. >> Yes. Trusty Moore. >> Yes. I nominate vice president or GMO Lopez as president of the land. >> All right. Trusty Lopez, do you accept? >> Yes. >> All right. Are there any other nominations for president? >> I nominate her. >> Trusty Herd, do you accept? >> Yes. >> All right. Are there any

006other nominations? See no one seeking the floor. Chair considers nominations to be closed. Uh the bylaw does indicate that voting shall be by a ballot and since our votes all have to be public uh these will have to be an audible ballot. So the chair would ask uh for the clerk to call the role and you'll need to respond with your preferred candidate either Trusty Lopez or Trusty Herd uh as your election uh or ballot. So the chair please call the role. >> Dr. Kavanaaugh, >> Trusty Lopez, >> Mr. Mr. Hurt, >> Mr. Lopez, >> Lopez, >> Mrs. Moore, >> Lopez, >> Mr. Niski, >> Lopez, >> Dr. Rodriguez, >> Mrs. Strode, >> Lopez, >> Miss Williams, >> thank you. Uh there are six votes for Trusty Lopez and two votes for Trusty Herd. So

007Trustee Lopez is elected with the majority. Turn the chair to trust uh now President Lopez. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you, Mr. Ninsky for doing that and thank you all for your support. Um certainly we're we're going to be going into a lot of work this year. Um we you you've all been here last year, so you know what's what lies ahead. So hopefully we'll have a a very productive uh year. So now we're going to the election of uh vice president. There any nominations? >> Trustee um or president Lopez? >> Yes. >> I nominate Dr. Kavanaaugh as vice president. >> Dr. Kavanagh, did you accept? >> Yes. >> Okay. Any other nominations? >> I nominate Dr. Rodriguez. >> Dr. Rodriguez, do you accept? >> Okay. Any other nominations? Hear no other nominations. Um, this considered

008election by acclamation. Do we have to still vote? Okay, then let's go to vote. Wood >> Dr. Kavanaaugh >> Kavanaaugh >> Mr. Herd >> Mr. Lopez >> Kavanagh >> Mrs. Moore >> Kavanaaugh >> Mr. Noiski >> Kavanaaugh >> Dr. Rodriguez >> Mrs. Strode >> Kavanaaugh >> Ms. Williams What was the vote? >> 81 >> 8 Okay. Uh, congratulations. >> Congratulations, >> Kevin. Dr. Kevin. [laughter] Uh, we're going to have to work really well here. Okay. Next, we're going to uh go to election of secretary. Are there any nominations? Trustee or President Lopez? >> Yes. >> I nominate uh Trustee Ninsky for secretary. >> Okay. >> I decline them. >> You decline? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Trustee. >> Go ahead. >> President Lopez, I nominate Seria Strode as secretary. >> Okay. Uh any other nominations?

009>> Does she accept? Do you accept? >> Yes. >> Oh, you do accept. Sorry for that. Okay. Any other nominations? >> Hearing no other nominations. Nominations are closed. U Dr. Kavanaaugh >> Strode. >> Mr. Herret. >> Mr. Lopez. >> Stro. >> Mrs. Moore >> Stro >> Mason Niski >> Strode >> Dr. Rodriguez >> Mrs. Strode >> Strode >> Ms. Williams. >> Yeah. Congratulations, Mr. >> Congratulations. >> Okay. Then I go to election of treasure. >> All right. >> Nominations. >> President. >> Oh, >> go ahead. >> Thank you. Um, I'd like to nominate for treasurer. Uh, trustee Ninsky. >> Mr. Ninsky, do you accept? >> Yes. Any other nominations for treasure? Any other nominations? Nominations are closed. We have a roll call. >> Dr. Kavanaaugh. >> No whiskey. >> Mr. Herd, Mr. Lopez, >> Noiski.

010>> Mrs. Moore, >> Ninsky, >> Mr. Niski, >> Niski, >> Dr. Rodriguez, >> Mrs. Strode, >> Ninsky, >> Miss Williams, >> thank you. >> All righty. >> Okay, there we have all our officers. >> Congratulations. Uh, uh, Vice President Kevin, would you like to say anything? >> I appreciate, um, President Lopez for stepping into this role. I'm looking forward to working with him into serving the Lancing School District as vice president. I wish to congratulate all of us on a smooth election process and um particularly the new officers. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Um Secretary Stroke, would you like to say something? >> Um absolutely. I am honored to uh be nominated as well as serve in the seat um at the capacity that I do have to take on this role. Um, and

011I also want to thank my colleagues for all of their work last year and the continued work that we do within our district for our students. Um, and I also want to thank the previous leadership for allowing us the seats in this area who have served uh, well and diligently before us. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Ninsky. >> Uh, I just echo those comments. Thank you to all of you for your support and to all those who've gone before us as board members and staff to have put the district in a stable financial positions that I can serve as treasure not in a crisis. So, thank you for all that work and I look forward to to serving and learning this role. >> Thank you, Trusty Moore. >> Yes, >> Trustee Moore. Yes. Yes.

012Yes. I paid my dues. I would like to thank everyone for their support and um allowing me to serve as president for a year. Um it's been a pleasure, but I'm really looking forward to our new officers and just the work of the board, what we're going to do moving forward. So, thanks again for allowing me to serve you all as president of the Lancine School District. >> And I'd like to say thank you for for all your work. Certainly, we had a a very interesting year. uh uh not to speak about um change in in our superintendent the coming change. So, that's going to be a thing that we're going to be working with and um looking forward to working with Jessica uh and continuing the good work the district is doing and I'm

013sure that the committees that we have put together and we'll talk about membership in the committees but the student achievement committee is very important as well as finance and others. So we look forward to working with um staff the various staff that u staff those committees um they're very important and I think through committee work will really tell what the board does as a whole. So I put a lot of credibility on the committee so that um we can all be um on the same on the same page in support of each other. Yeah. Dr. Uh, trust Dr. Rodriguez. >> Thank you very much, Mr. President. I thank you and congratulations to the new officers. It's a new responsibility. It's no power. It's a new responsibility and I hope that all of us the rest

014we be alert asking you how you are going to pursue your responsibilities. I hope that we are not going to be the way we were before. Just quiet, say nothing, obey what they are telling us from the top to the bottom. I hope that we have the board that work together for our students. I hope we have a district that see the future and our students can do the best. Like Mr. Herb said many, many times, it's a new responsibility for all of us. I am 86. Mr. Leather head was 86. Then I hope I really had hope that this board is going to take this new responsibilities for the good of the students and work together because it's the only way to be in the top. Thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank you, Doc.

015Dr. Trusty Rodriguez. Um, and you're right, you know, the the officers have certain responsibilities, but we speak as a board, not as an officer. We all vote on what we do and that is how it's done. Um no officer itself can do everything or should be allowed to do anything that is inconsistent with our uh plan action plan etc etc. So I charge all of us to do the best for our students and that's what the community hired us for is to take care of our kids and to do the best we can um both for their education and their wellbeing. So, thank you. Um, any are there any other comments from the board? Okay, we'll continue with the agenda. Now, we go to item B, attorney appointments and law firms. You have a a

016packet in front of you. >> Mr. President, I move that the board of education approve items 6B through 6G as presented. Item 6B, attorney appointments/law firms. Item 6 C, designate deposiitories for school funds. Item 6 D, designate auditing firm. Item item 6E, designate those persons authorized to sign checks, contracts, agreements, and purchase orders. Item six 6F, designate an administrator to assume specified responsibilities of the treasurer and of the secretary. And item 6G, designate the electronic transfer officer, ETO, in accordance with policy 6144. It's been moved and second. Any discussion? Trust. >> Thank you so much. The one area that I want to have uh conversation or questioning since this is our organization meeting in regards to the designation and administration to assume specified responsibilities of treasurer and of the secretary. Um I do understand that

017there are roles and responsibilities that come with that task as I've just been selected into that seat. However, I would like to publicly ask that our uh former uh secretary of this board and servant of the community uh trustee Rodriguez uh pair with me in some of those organizational tasks that he has done over the years as support. Thank you. >> Any other comment? >> Thank you. Oh yeah. Help anybody. Thank you. >> All right. Any other discussion on on the motion? I guess I I have a question and a concern about that because knowing the role that that that position that their role takes is a lot of commitment and being that I mirror it with what he does. The person he he can do whatever he wants but I think if you want

018to walk into that role as secretary you should be fully committed to it understanding the aspect of it from whatever meetings you got to do all the way to the end because asking him to do other things outside of what he already does. >> Trust, >> I just want to clarify the addition to commentary was not to give him an additional task. It was to ask for support and wisdom from him being in those seats. And I do know the board can designate and change designations of tasks under a certain role. And we've done it before. And I know personally, and I don't want to speak for you, Dr. Rodriguez, you enjoy some of those meetings um and being a part of some of those conversations. This would not be giving you the responsibility. It

019would just be bringing you as an invitation and an homage of honor of your history on the board to pair in if you would like to attend, not to designate or assign any task. And so, I just wanted to use this as an opportunity because I know he enjoyed those areas to open the door for him because he's paved the way for me. That's all. >> Thank you. Is there's no discussion on the motion? Can we have a Do we need a roll call on this? We don't. No. >> All those in favor of the motion say I. >> I. Oppose. Same sign. >> Okay. Um 71. No. >> Oh, six. >> Okay. We go to uh item H. Des date date, time uh designated day, place, and time for regular meetings which shall be

020held at least once every month and designate a day for regular study sessions of the board. >> Mr. President, >> I move that the board of education approve the board calendar as presented. >> Second. >> It's been moved and second to accept the calendar as presented. uh discuss way at the bottom >> then yes I'm going to vote no in this and I think we had to have the dialogue we can vote today but we can change the vote later after we had a good conversation what I referred before about our responsibilities I don't think two meetings are enough to help our community, our students, our parents. I don't think the two meetings gave their board enough knowledge and how to make decisions for our students. I don't think that two meetings gives us the

021opportunity to dialogue for the best. If we don't have time to do three meetings, we can resign. We have that opportunity all the time that yes I love to have to meetings I forget but I think my responsibility require dedication to our district. Thank you very much. >> Thank you Dr. Rodriguez. I I think that um we can always change the schedule um and I think we need to have a little bit of dialogue like you suggested to come to a um conclusion on the calendar which obviously can be amended trust I mean heard I'm sorry >> I'm also going to vote no on this measure um not because of the three meetings but all we are here today also to seat another member and I think there should be 100% of the board seated

022for us to have this talk, not us vote on that before the new board member is seated. I will vote no. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um I also share the same sentiments of Trusty Herd as well as uh Trusty Rodriguez. I think that prior years I did in the prior year I did um ask at a request for us to move to three meetings. Um, I still have that same uh notion of support and I also support having the full body present for this conversation for their commitment to be able to attend and support within three meetings per month when we do decide the cadence. Thank you. >> Okay, Trust Williams. >> I sentiment everybody that has said what they said. So, I'll say that. So, that's my no as well too.

023>> Okay, Mr. Lewinsky. >> Yes, I I support the calendar as proposed for a schedule of regular meetings. Um, this gives, I think, consistency to all of us, to the community, to staff. I also support scheduling additional special meetings with the identified purpose and the flexibility that they might be on different days and times and perhaps even different locations so that we can meet the the needs of those particular items, but that those are done, you know, more with that item in mind as opposed to creating a required third regular meeting at a set time and place when we don't know yet. at this point in the the year if it's needed. But I'm open to that dialogue with the board. I was trying to just look up I know our bylaws state that we

024will adopt a calendar for regular meetings at the organizational meeting and I'm trying to find if the open meetings act requires us to do that as well. I'm just worried that failing this and not having anything in its place might leave us uh without some requirement met um today as opposed to adopting this or some modified version of it which we can do right now through amendment or whatever is necessary if we indeed have that requirement to adopt it now during this meeting or at least today during one of our meetings. I know that doesn't give us the benefit of a a full ninth board member, but if we have that requirement, I think we need to meet it in some form and then change later. So, I'm going to try to see that. >>

025Dr. Rodriguez. >> Yes, M president. Um, we used to have three meetings, regular meetings, and I don't know how they changed for 3 to two. I don't remember to vote to change. >> We did vote. >> No, we did vote. We voted to change the tomb. >> We did. >> Then maybe maybe we had to don't put the agenda. I mean don't put the n the days that we can only vote to say let's go to have three meetings every month and we decide the days later if we go by maybe what we needed. Um I'm afraid that we are not going to have a a regular mind and how our district has to go. I think we should have any structure for this board and how we are going to operate. I know by

026just circumstances >> yes sir >> we don't know the information about whe just adopt this calendar if I discuss that. I do have a question, common concern. So when the calendar was brought to us last year, it was already laid out. We there was never any discussion. So to answer your question, we never had a discussion. It was brought to us and said that we were going to be going to two meetings and it was either you vote yes or no. So that was how that was presented. It was never a discussion as it came to us today. That calendar was already set. There's never been a discussion. It comes to us as is and then we either say yay or nay. >> Thank you. But my my point of information was not recognized by

027the chair. >> All right. So the information then >> are we breaking the law by not how do we know the point has been brought up that we might be breaking the law by not adopting the calendar right now. Do we have that information? >> I would discuss the calendar so we can follow the law to then amend the calendar as opposed to we know where we all stand Mr. Chairman on on on this matter. >> That's a motion. Uh do we need a second for that? It's been moved and second to approve this calendar temporarily as may be so that um make sure that we're not um violating any any state law. >> All those in favor of the motion say I >> opposed. Okay, motion carries. Let me just make an uh comment

028here. We're going to have our uh retreat pretty soon and I think this is going to be one of the major items for discussion and what that would look like. All right, moving on to item I, determine fee charge to individuals who request notice of board meetings. >> Mr. President, I move that the board of education set the fee charged to individuals who request notice of board meetings to $0. >> I second. >> It's been moved and second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Those opposed. Same sign. Thank you. Uh J appointment title nine representative. So >> we have uh >> sorry >> recommended >> Mr. President. Do you mind if I ask executive director uh Black to tell you the names in which the district used for

029this position? Thank you. Director Black. >> Sure. Um currently we have uh Mr. Dwayne Burton who's serving as an interim and Aaron Miracle out of HR human resources >> Miracle. >> Oh, excuse me. Uh Aaron Aaron Miracle. Yes, that's all right. >> Okay. >> Aaron Miracle. Okay. >> Thank you. So, >> Mr. President, >> our motion. Yes, sir. >> Yes. I move that the board of education appoint Dwayne Burton and Aaron Miracle to be designated as the Lancing uh school district title N representatives. >> We moved to second to appoint those two individuals to be our title N representatives. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Thank you. We're going to item L. designated board secretary as Oh, yes sir. >> Mr. President, may I ask

030that COO Slate tell the board who it is that sits in this position? >> Go ahead. >> Just want to make sure it was on. Alexandra Fulch. Alexander. >> Okay. [laughter] False. Alexander. False. >> Okay. So, the motion is >> Mr. President. >> Yes. [clears throat] >> I move that the board of education designate board secretary as the re Oh, sorry. I'm on the wrong one. That the board of education appoint Alexander Foss to be designated as the Lancing School District FOYA coordinator. >> Second. >> Discussion here. Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. Thank you. And um then the the last one, I'm sorry, would be to designate board secretary as the representative to the Ingram School Officer Association. I have a motion, >> Mr. President. Yes. >> I move that

031the board of education designate board secretary as the representative to the Ingram School Officers Association. >> Second. Is there a second? >> I second. >> Thank you. It's been moved and second to appoint a secretary to the AA county uh school association. >> Any discussion? >> School association. >> Um they attend monthly meetings with other officers in in the county other district. But when she accepted the position um >> yeah um I just I think that's what she asked Dr. Rodriguez if for any other kind of advice. >> Thank you for Can I speak? Uh >> go ahead. >> Thank you. Thank you uh Trusty Herd for uh bringing that mention. I did ask in this meeting for support of Dr. Rodriguez to pass the torch surrounding the cadence of meetings. Um I know DEA

032trustee or secretary is not here. So that was my main ask with the getting wisdom and support from Dr. Rodriguez uh surrounding the cadence of those meetings and uh what they entail and the expectation as to um what has happened historically. Um of course I accepted this role and I will avail myself to be at those meetings um at my schedule as much as I possibly can. Um but I definitely want to have some time with our uh historical secretary on the board to fill in any gaps so that I can be in align with uh my role in those costs. Thank you. It's not about competence or whe I just don't want to get into a culture of I'm asking a question. It sounds like I'm asking questionair. >> What I'd like to know

033is when asking say that it's going to be the secretary, not one of the other board members have considered their schedule. >> Sure. Meetings are at 7 a.m. in the morning. >> Um once a month I don't have the date exact. >> That's all. >> Okay. So uh and and I would hope that uh Secretary Strode would uh let officers know if she was not able to attend a meeting for whatever reason so that maybe somebody would be present there. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Thank you. I'd like to address the chair. I I do um hear a lot of if she would she and I'm present. So, I just want to clarify that in the event there was a opportunity for me to not be able to attend, I will be sure to allow

034the opportunity of communication to our chair. Um, and that is also again the ask of support even for this board if we need to vote on it to allow if uh trustee Rodriguez is available to pair with me if needed being that this is a hot topic at this time. >> I don't think that's needed right now. I think we can move on and uh and and >> you will deal with that. Okay. Now we're into distribution of conflict of interest policies. >> There was no >> I'm sorry. >> Oh no. >> Second one. >> Oh, okay. Sorry. >> You know, and you'll be here. Okay. All those in favor of the motions signify say I. >> I. >> Those opposed. Thank you. Now we are into distribution of complicates of interest policies. Uh there

035may be in your packet. I don't see them. Here it is. I would um I would encourage um the public to um take time to go into our website and review this policy which is uh conflict of interest that board members are um must keep in mind when doing or acting or whatever on behalf of the school district or even if they're not in the school district but are in public, etc., etc. This is things that that we have to be held accountable for. And so, um, I would encourage everyone to to, uh, review it. Very small print, so it's pretty extensive document. Um, has everybody had a chance to review it? you I know you signed it last year and it hasn't changed. So, um we don't need a motion for this, but this

036is something that we need to um keep keep in mind. We have to also acknowledge received of this. Okay. And board members to confirm its acknowledgement. Okay. So, you have it. Everybody's got it. All right. Very good. >> You have to sign it and then >> we we can sign it and then pass it on uh to our board secretary. >> We can do that at the end of the of the meeting as well. Uh we're now to public comment on non-aggenda items. Do I have any I don't have any one that signed up. Okay. Thank you. Oh, you're going to give me Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. Doesn't have your name. [laughter] Thank you. There be no other business in this special meeting. We're adjourned till the regular meeting coming up in

037a few. >> All righty. We need >> Okay. >> All right. So, now it's time to play musical chairs. >> Yeah. No, we don't have to. >> Yes, we do. >> I don't know. Let's adise you. Good good evening everyone. Uh welcome to uh school board district board of education meeting for January the 8th. Know we're a little late but uh we're here and we're here till we finish. Thank you very much. Um so uh will everybody please stand for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Trusty Herd, will you read the mission statement for our district, please? The mission statement of the Lancing

038School District is to provide a high quality education in a culturally safe and nurturing environment that supports all students to live purposeful and fulfilling lives. >> Thank you. Uh Trusty Williams, will you read our land acknowledgement? Our land acknowledgement is we collectively acknowledge that the lency school district occupies the ancestral traditional and contemporary lands of the Asha Asha three fires confederacies of Ojiua Adawa and Bawadami people. I always say it. >> Thank you. Roll call, please. >> Dr. Kavana, >> present. >> Mr. Herd, >> present. >> Mr. Lopez, >> present. >> Mrs. Moore, >> present. >> Mr. Nabiski >> present. >> Dr. Rodriguez. >> Mrs. Strode >> present. >> Miss Williams >> present. Thank you. Um, do we have any public comment on No, no public comment. Okay. Uh, approval of the minutes. May I

039have a motion to approve the minutes as received? >> Moved in second. Any discussion? Okay. All those in favor of the motion say I. I. oppose. Same sign. Okay. Uh report from officers. Uh report from the secretary. >> Thank you. >> Our new amendmented secretary. >> So on December 18th, I think this is an older one. So we are past December 18th. Happy new year to everyone. On January 19th, that's Martin Luther King Jr.'s day. So there is no school. There is a Dan Boen returns at Eastern High School football coach. Welcome back. Our scholarship opportunity for Lancing School District students. There is a deadline for contra contest entries is Saturday, January 31st, 2026. Request a digital copy from Elizabeth Johnson. This club essay content or contest chair um can be emailed at elizabeth writergmail.com

040or the co-chair anno. over atyahoo.com. Our next board meetings are January today, January 8th. Um, we had a special board meeting and we have approved the dates in our annual organization meeting. That's the final report. Thank you. >> Thank you, Madam Secretary. >> Madam um chairperson, President um with the correction, we have a special meeting tomorrow at 6 p.m. >> Oh, that's that's right. We do have a special meeting tomorrow to continue our interview for filling the vacant spot created when uh Dr. Nearez Martinez was elected to city council from the second word. So we we'll be starting their work tonight as well. All right. Um I put a committee we have a report. >> Um there is no report at this time. I also just want to be clear to the public that we

041reconstitute our committees um at the beginning of uh every year. So the president and vice president will work with board members to assign committees and the committee chairs and members will then work to set up a committee schedule. Um so other than the facilities committee, you're not going to hear much from any of our committees tonight because uh we haven't met because this is our first meeting of the year. Um yes and and I would encourage um every member to look at your assigned committee that that you were in. Anyway, if you want to stay in that assignment, that's good. Um if you want to move, if you want to consider another committee, let me know and I will see how we can structure the committees having um at minimum of three three members uh

042of the committees. Uh we have more committees than we had uh previous. Um we have the basic committees which is the finance uh and and the personnel but we also have now the student achievement committee and the uh there was another committee um well the one yeah so we have opportunity to serve in more than one committee that's all to say that okay um I will review the committees as SR and then communicate with you um the uh rest of the committees and if you have any desire for change. Okay, going on down the l uh purchasing recommendations um the digital signs. Let me uh just go facilities committee which is part of that and I'll ask uh Trusty Williams to give us a little snippet of what we went through at our meeting uh

043on Monday or Tuesday, I can't remember. But anyway, uh Trusty Williams, >> good evening everyone. Um before we start uh before I do a highlight of everything that we um talked about this week, you received an email from us, our COO regarding what a consortium purchase is. So I'll give you a brief synapse of what it is. A consortium is a group of uh entities that we have that we can buy things in bulk and um reduce our administrative cost times and everything. So that's the highlight of it. Am I right, COO? Okay. So, with that being said, we have a lot of bids in front of you. Um, you're going to see them grouped. Um, we have bid recommendations for Avery for their new sign. We'll start with the digital signs. We have a

044recommendation for Cavanaaugh Alliance and Everett. Um, we looked at all the um the bid uh people that turned in bids. Um, most of them were vendors that we recognize and have used. So the universal sign will go for we've chosen universal signs for Averil and Kavanagh as well as we chose digital sign. Uh we chose we chose universal signs for all of them. You'll notice a slight price change for um ever sign because the high school signs are a little bit bigger and a lot more to it. So that's the why you notice the price sign for that. So with that, that is the first bid recommendation. Would you like me to go through all of them? >> Okay. >> Our second bid recommendation would be a group again for ail the classrooms, the sidework,

045the general trays, aluminum, glass, drywall, painting, flooring, and electric. And we chose for most of the most of the packet um all the lowest bids with an exception. There was one or two where we went with the next lowest. it was the next highest price up because the person did not have the credibility or the understanding or did not turn in a complete bid. So that is for AI. After that it's going to be the same thing for Wexford where we're doing uh concrete, masonry, steel, general trades, roofing as everything you see. And again, same thing with all those bids. Um we just had two in there that uh a few that were incomplete bids so we had to go with the next up or that they did not um meet the expectations of what

046we wanted or they the reput represent reputation did not precede them as well as we wanted them to. Same thing for that. Same thing with the new Luton and as well as that's it. Um and the furniture for Willow. I'm sorry. So, those are all of our bids for today. If you have any questions, we can go through one by one, but if we can I make a motion that we take them all in and we vote on them today and we're done. >> Uh recommendation is uh that we approve items A through E as presented. >> Yes. >> Okay. I just want to make uh just another comment of the meeting. We we did get an update on on Willow and how it's progressing since since you folks went to visit it. uh it's

047progressing very nicely. Um we also talked a little bit about Luton and the process that that has been undertaken to start but the work has started. There's no more building there. If you have driven by there's no more building. Uh right now they're going to um work on getting the um foundations that are underground taken out. So a lot of work uh being done. So anyway, uh back to the motion. Um did I get a second on that motion? >> Okay, it's been moved and second that we approve items A through E as presented. Um if there's no other question or comment. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Thank you. Now we go to finance committee. >> There is no update. >> Okay. Personnel committee. >> No report. Okay.

048Policy committee. Dr. Rodriguez. No update. Okay. Recognition at heart committee. Okay. Student achievement committee. Dr. Rodriguez. >> Well, it's was a long long meeting about two hours meeting. Um I think the more than to let you know what happened in this two hours. I would recommend that the administration come in front of the whole board and present what is really is going on in the student achievement. I think the my report doesn't have any meaning if we don't know exactly what is going on in the Lancen school district. Um I had to thank the administration for the team that was there was about good group of people they and there was a good dialogue and I think the weekend from there dreaming that our students are going to be doing what they supposed to do

049while they go to the school and um I what I said and I recommend as soon as possible maybe in the retreat that we had two or three hours dedicated on the student achievement because that in the end that is our our responsibility here. Thank you, M president. >> Thank you, Dr. Rodriguez. And um suffice to say that, you know, that's that's the most important thing that that we have as a board is ensure that students are achieving and that they graduate on time from the Lancing schools, etc. And that we provide what we say in our mission statement, a nurturing environment that supports all students to live purposeful and fulfilling lives. So, and and I know that we have a um we worked on a mission statement for the student achievement committee which I

050think is going to uh uh guide the work of the committee as we move along. Thank you, Dr. Rodriguez. Um Superintendent, we're now to your space. >> Thank you. Well, good evening everyone. It's uh it's an honor and privilege of course to uh be here. uh to think that with the calendar being approved today, this will be my penultimate meeting uh of the board, it is bittersweet to say the very least. I was thinking about it with um the new president and congratulations uh President Lopez, the fourth board president I've had under my uh while I've been superintendent. Uh and just thinking so, you know, fondly over the last five years of being here. Um, I won't go into a long diet tribe. I'm sure that'll happen the next meeting. Uh, but I just want

051to say thank you to this incredible board. Um, the the work that has been done cannot happen without governance and it can't happen without a board that cares deeply about students. The idea that this board wanted and then created a student achievement committee shows you the desire and the focus of this board. And so that really means I think a lot to me, but it should mean a lot to the community. And I know that today and tomorrow the board has the awesome responsibility of choosing one of their own. And certainly for those of you in the audience or anybody um listening at home, I certainly urge you to to think deeply around what it means to support children and their learning uh so that we can in fact meet that mission statement. Um as

052always, the transportation numbers uh they are a little bit uh worse than normal, but that's mainly because we just had a large break and folks did apply for uh some more cards. we will be getting them uh to them, but the numbers are actually not that different. The normal gas cards, there's 2,915 requests and 2,71 have been handed out. If you are one of those, uh 24 families uh that have not gotten their gas cards yet because of the break, uh they should be coming very shortly. But if for whatever reason uh they're not, please, please, please reach out to your school, your principal, and of course the transportation department. For Kata, we're at 583 requests and 527 have been distributed. Again, we have them. Uh please make sure that the schools uh know that

053you need them and that you are picking them up. Sometimes the requests are made uh but they're not uh being distributed or being picked up at the school level. So, please make sure uh that you need them. But again, if there are any concerns, please reach out to the transportation department or your school. And last, with actually quite a good number, uh we have 4,220 requests for Dean and 4,097 have been routed with a differential of only 123. We typically average around 200. The fact that we're down to 123 uh has been really good. I want to thank the partnership with the uh COO's office as well as dean. Uh I will say the COO has spent u some some long hours on the phone and in their office making sure that they are trying

054to route as route as many kids as possible. But again, I read these because I made a promise to this community that until these numbers are zero, uh I'd still remind ourselves that in fact we need uh to focus on this. So just remember uh you know we still need to make sure that all of our children have a way to get to school. Um but what we have seen of course is that having moved to Kata gas cards and continuing the relationship with Dean the attendance rate especially for high school has actually gone up tremendously and last year when we finalized the attendance rate uh it was higher than it was even precoid which almost with very few districts can say that. So, um, you know, other than that, I know we have a

055long night ahead of us and we have a special election as far as a special meeting tomorrow as well. I don't want to go too long, but I just want to thank everybody uh for their uh coming back to work with, you know, Vim and Vigor. I visited a bunch of schools uh this week. It was really great to see everybody. Uh, you know, there have been some, you know, some changes that people know about. Uh, you know, congratulations again to Jessica Benvitas being named uh interim uh superintendent and to Dan Boen being uh named the the coach of Eastern. Uh, one I think on paper is more important, but in the hearts and minds of some, uh, football does trump out. So, um, I just want to thank, uh, both of them for their

056years of service to this district and home and so much more, uh, to come. Uh, other than that, our buildings, I want to give credit to their COO and her team. Uh, this was the first winter break where I didn't get a phone call at 2 in the morning telling me that something happened to one of our roofs. So, I'm really happy about that. Um, but it is important to notice uh if you do drive around this uh district, how much investment has been done in the facilities. Now, of course, students learning is incredibly important. that is why we're here. But it's hard to learn if you don't have the right buildings. So, I just urge this community to continue to think about what we need to do so that every single one of our

05710,000 wonderful children is in a facility in a building uh that we would want to send them to. And of course, that means continuing the kind of great work that we're doing uh with rebuilding. Uh other than that, I want to certainly turn it over to the president if there are questions. Um but just to say thank you everybody for their great work and for this wonderful year to come. Thank you >> superintendent. >> Thank you sir. And uh we'll continue with this uh meeting and we're down to item seven close session. I hear a motion. >> Mr. President Lopez, >> Trusty Williams, >> may I make a motion that we move close session to uh move close session down and we continue with the open agenda so that we can keep moving forward. >>

058Is is this a long close session? >> It it's a shortish, but it's also up to the board if they want to move it. It's whatever the board wants. >> You want to make a motion to it effect? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, okay. Is there a second? Okay. >> Before we make the motion, can you confirm that the close session does not have any parties that is present currently? Um like our secretary or um legal counsel is not in the room or anybody that would be waiting for this. Okay. >> Yeah, that's good point. Good point. Yes. >> All right. This is moved and has been second. >> Okay. I guess moved and second to move uh close session to the end of the meeting. Um all those in favor say I. >> I.

059>> Post same sign. Okay. Then we'll move uh item seven to the end and we'll continue with u uh action items. New business uh playmakers foundation. >> Mr. President, I move that the board of education accept the playmakers foundation memorandum of understanding as presented. >> There a second. >> Second. It's been moved and second that we uh accept the Playmakers Foundation. Um all those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Okay. Thank you. Motion carries. >> We're now to interview to Phil I board of vacancy. >> President. >> Yes ma'am. >> May I make a motion that we just switch uh the interviews in public comments so that we can so that we don't have to stop after our interviews and go to public comments. So, can we make a move

060that we move item 10 up to Yeah. item 10 up to be 9B and then 9B be item 10. >> Be moved and second discussion. Those in favor say I. >> I. >> Okay. Fine. Public comment. Then we'll do interviews. Uh, do we have any public comment? No. Okay, then we'll go back to interview of to fill vacancy. And uh first in our um list is uh and excuse me if I mispronounce your name, Gasika Johnson. >> Can I join? >> Yeah, go ahead. You can read. >> Okay. >> Thank you so much, Miss Johnson. Um you can you can come up here and have a seat. Uh for context for the public, um we are currently filling the board seat that was left vacant when Dr. Nvarz Martinez was elected to city council. We

061received 15 applications, so we'll be hearing about half of them tonight and the rest tomorrow night in our special meeting at 6 pm. For all of our applicants, each applicant will participate in a 15minute interview responding to a standardized set of questions. The interviews will be facilitate facilitated by the board president or by the vice president if the president is unavailable. The appointed individual would serve until the certification of the November 3rd, 2026 election results. There will be a partial term ending 12312028 on the November ballot. If the appointed individual or any applicants are interested in appearing on the November ballot to serve for the remainder of this position, they will need to file their affidavit of identity with the Ingam County Clerk's Office by July 21st, 2026 at 4 p.m. So, in other in

062other words, um I feel really encouraged that we have uh 15 people who are interested in this position. Um unfortunately, we can only select one for this kind of partial term until the election can happen. Um, but I do hope that all 15, if not more, folks um end up running for uh for the seat in the uh election that will be happening this fall. Are you are you feeling good, Miss Johnson? You're all you're in place. You got your stuff. Okay. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. In your opinion, what is your understanding of the relationship between the board and the superintendent? >> Great question. I'm going to move this a little up a little bit more. Okay. Can you repeat the question just so it's fresh? >> No problem. In your opinion, what is

063your understanding of the relationship between the board and the superintendent? So, it is my understanding that to be on the board, it is um it is my understanding that to be to hold this position is to be a policy holder, a a policy advisor. We are setting the policies and we are analyzing what is working. We are not in like the superintendent role is to handle the day-to-day operations and implementing such policies. However, we are we are there on the board to support and um even with the um high concerns of the public. It is our duty to support during during these times to reassess to make sure that our policies and our initiatives are in line with our mission statement and within and is um developing the outcomes that we want to see. So

064that is the uh I believe is the name the main difference between a superintendent and a board member is one is a support and one who carries out the day-to-day operations. >> Thank you. As a board member, what would be your number one priority for the Lancing School District? >> Great question. So I have a um so my passion would be to bridge the achievement gap within our students in in the Lancing School District. So I believe through just professionally with my background I have a background in organizational accountability um stat retention. So my my focus or my premise would be to bridge the gap with um student achievement gaps within the Lancing school district and I'll be doing that by providing equity across the board and and rebuilding the trust within the community. And

065I also want to put a a like side focus or or highlight a focus for our uh our staff stability and their retention. So that will be the things I'll be most passionate stepping into this interim role. >> Thank you. What do you think are the greatest opportunities for the district? >> Is it okay that I look at my notes because I had everything like I had everything like perfect. So, it's not coming out as clear, but um Okay. Now, can you repeat the question, please? What do you think are the greatest opportunities for the district? >> So I believe the greatest opportunity would definitely be the staff um the staff stability and the retention rate of our staff and so providing them with the things that they that they need to do their job

066effectively. So I would do that by um analyzing the current policies and making sure it is currently in place for with the things that we need. And I also believe that we also need to rebuild the trust of the community. So by creating authentic um enga by creating authentic authentic um reasons to um to engage with the community and like provide those opportunities within the community. I think those are things that um the Lancing school district needs to refocus on and kind of like pri uh and um prioritize is rebuilding the trust within the community and bridging those gaps. So like I think I um like my main opportunities that I assessed based on my own understanding was the student achievement gaps, the staff uh the staff retention and um stability and the community involvement

067trust. Those are things I think that are really important to me. >> Thank you. What steps do you think the Lancing School District should take to attract and retain students? So I believe that um to enhance the student experience that that that's currently being provided. So like the superintendent mentioned that um we want to send our students or our kids to um buildings that we will be proud of. I do believe that it's all about enhancing their experiences and creating equitable um opportunities that they can feel like they can be a part of and they can um um just feel like they have some some sense of ownership within their own lives. And then I also believe that well that is a big one. I'm a little nervous. Sorry. Um so I I I believe

068that is a a big one. And then I also believe that um just creating equitable uh policies that everyone can kind of like get it um kind of take a part of. So we are able to make policies that everyone can take advantage of. I believe I sorry that's not coming out right but yeah. >> Thank you. This is the last question. >> Okay. >> Why do you want to serve on the board at this time? >> Great question. I wrote that down to you. Okay. So, I'm interested in serving on the board of education because I really do feel like I I really am in I really am invested in the the long-term the long-term success of our students and I understand the support system that that is required to to sustain these efforts.

069So by and I as an active parent and as as an active member within a community, I do understand at a governance level what it takes to how the governance level has a really huge um impact in shaping the student the student um experience and how and how important that is. So I I believe that with my professional background and organizational accountability, people centric work systems and workforce solutions that I am able to not only ask um to ask the hard questions to question things but also analyze things. So make to make sure that our policies are not only well-intentioned but they're real measurable and they're impactful and they're also driving towards the um this the results that we are um wanting to see. So that is why I'm interested. Thank you very much, Miss

070Johnson. >> Thank you. >> Our next applicant is Corenia Randall. Please let me know if I pronounced that wrong. >> It's Karina. You're fine. I get it all the time. >> I'm so sorry. Karina Randall. Did I have Randall right? >> You did. Okay. Thank you. >> All right. First and foremost, I want to thank you for inviting me for this opportunity to appear before you tonight. >> Great. Let's begin. In your opinion, what is your understanding of the relationship between the board and the superintendent? >> Um, a collaborative relationship. Um, the board sets policies, the vision, um, but more importantly represents the community and ensuring accountability. Um, as we've heard previously, the superintendent pretty much is a CEO and carrying out those. Um, one thing to be successful in that relationship is ensuring that

071there's communication um, in implementing policies and procedures. Um, respect and more importantly, accountability on both sides. Um, in order to make that relationship successful, the communication component is extremely important. >> Thank you. As a board member, what would be your number one priority for the Lancing School District? >> Um, mine would be student achievement. How we rally around and build resources for our students to leave better equipped and prepared to graduate. Um, you know, in my side life, I'm an adjunct professor and um that K through 12 foundation is critical. It's essential. Um, and believe it or not, most of my students are adult learners. And to see that there's some things that are missing, you know, things such as literacy, um, comprehension, analyzation, all that starts here at the K through 12 level. So,

072my number one priority is finding ways to form partnerships and collaborations with outside entities, the community, um, to provide those essential resources for our students to be successful. Um, I grew up in a time where we had volunteers that came in and read to us. That was our literacy time. So, we were reading, you know, K through three or K through 4. Um, and so it's critical that we focus in on that student achievement. We know COVID kind of bumped off a lot of our numbers. So, really looking at um the administrators and teachers and seeing areas of opportunity um to foster partnerships as mentioned before and various resources to boost those Thank you. What do you think are the greatest opportunities for the district? >> Um, I would have to say capitalizing on what

073we have, high quality learning. Um, we have a excellent community presence. Um, establishing trust. Um, not just that, those corporate partnerships and community partnerships are essential. Um, and capitalizing those and showcasing our students. Um, we have a wonderful school district. Um and we have an awesome opportunity to be right in a lot of folks backyard and inviting them to come through our doors um and meet our students and presenting our students where they can come and see firsthand um the type of learning that takes place in Lancing School District. >> Thank you. What steps do you think the Lancing School District should take to attract and retain students? Um, first and foremost, we have to build a culture where students feel seen and more importantly, families feel seen um and heard. Uh, when people um

074go somewhere and they make investments by sending their kids to our schools, they could send their kids to anywhere else, but they're choosing to send them right here in our backyard. And it's important that we show them that we value them being here. Um, word of mouth travels fast. We live in a small community. Um, we want people to say that I sent my kids over here to Lancing schools and they provided resources, they got high quality learning. Um, as a family, we felt as a family with the staff and the administrators that travels fast. Um, promote your vision. A lot of times, um, people they just drop their kid off and go and not realizing that as a school district, we have a vision. We want to see all of you not just graduate,

075but we want to see you be successful, whether that's going to college, whether that's going to work. We want to see you be able to come back and contribute. Um, so we need to capitalize and take advantage of that and use as opportunity to attract folks. Um, because once they see you're producing AAR quality people, citizens and residents, then they're they know that we have something valuable here. um and they're more apt to continue to invest in it. Um so we must showcase that. We must capitalize on that um and really build on what we have and investing that in our kids so that they do come back and say well you know that's this person went to Lancing School District and they're doing amazing things. Um that will attract and more importantly retain a

076lot of students and families because they see the investment is there and they see the product of that investment. >> Thank you. This is the last question. Why do you want to serve on the board at this time? >> One, I care about our kids. Um, I truly believe it takes a village. Um, I also believe in being of service. Um, I want to ensure our students are equipped with the very best and necessary tools along with opportunities to succeed not just here in Lancing schools but and beyond. Um, now is the time to use I feel in my life, my time, uh, my talent, and more more importantly, my professional experience for the betterment of my community. >> Thank you very much, Miss Randall. >> Next, we would like to call to the front

077Kyle Rashard. >> Good evening. >> Good to see everyone. In your opinion, what is your understanding of the relationship between the board and the superintendent? >> Yeah, I uh I appreciate this question. Um in past interviews, uh candidates have had the opportunity to uh give an opening statement. Um and so I would like to give an opening statement. Um but before that uh today my my social media feed was overflowing with uh the uh woman who was shot in Minnesota um by ICE and I I um a little overwhelmed and I just need a moment to collect myself. >> Good evening. Uh again, it's it is good to see everyone genuinely. Um for folks watching at home, uh my name is Kyle Rashard. Uh this is the fourth time I've interviewed before the board. This

078is the second time I've interviewed before the board since finishing runner up in the 2024 election. Uh I want to acknowledge briefly before continuing this statement that uh the last time I interviewed, I asked the board to uphold the results of the last election. Uh the seat that was vacant was a seat that was up in that election. Um and the seat was vacated less than five months into the term. Um I asked the board to consider the democratic integrity of our institutions. Um and this board chose to go a different direction. Uh this board disregarded the voice of lancing voters. This board changed the process through which appointments are made in a way that was less transparent and less democratic. My ask tonight, power conceds nothing without a demand. Frederick Douglas. My ask tonight

079is that regardless of who you appoint that you return to the straw poll process. The first two times I interviewed, the board went around and named their top three candidates, names were tallied, ranked, and entertained for discussion in a vote in the order in which they ranked. This process was simple. It was democratic, and it's transparent. I want to be very clear in bringing this to the board that this is not about me. This is about us. This is about the world that we want to live in, the world that we want to build together. Um, and it takes all of us. It always has and it always will. Uh, so I'd ask that you return to the straw pole process. Uh, as I said before, uh, my name is Kyle Rashard. I worked in

080the Lancing School District before the pandemic. Go JDubs. Are there any JDubs in the house tonight? >> Okay. Any JDubs in the house tonight? >> Okay. Love to see it. I didn't see any hands, but love to see it. I'll represent. Um, I would not be the person I am today if it weren't for my time with the Lancing School District. Working as a teacher in the Lancing School District was the formative experience of my young adult life. This city made me, and I'm grateful for every minute of it. Uh, to close out my statement, I want to reflect on the volunteer nature of the Lancing School Board. Uh the first time I ever volunteered was in middle school. Uh Sunday mornings we'd drive out to the sticks south of Eaten Rapids. Uh my family

081had moved from Waverly to Eaten Rapids and volunteering was something to do. Um and it was I volunteered at a place called Wildside Wildlife Rehabilitation. It's now called Wildside Rehabilitation and Education Center. Um and when I volunteered at Wildside, I cleaned cages in the raptor room. Hawks, owls, crows. Um, I worked with birds of prey. And one Sunday though, we drove out to the sticks and there was an incubator in the raptor room. And inside the incubator were three baby sandill cranes, uh, fresh out the egg. Uh, these were not like the hawks and the owls. An extra level of care was required. As the weeks went on, I had the opportunity to watch these young cranes grow. And they grow these big fluffy coats, stretch their legs out on the raptor room floor, outgrew

082the incubator, had a growth spurt, shed that fluffy coat, and sharpen their beaks. As a volunteer, it was my responsibility to take the cranes on walks around the grounds. It was important they experience the world outside of a cage. It was important they feel the air under their wings. One Sunday though, I drove out to the sticks and or we drove out to the sticks. I was in middle school. [laughter] Um we drove out to the sticks and uh the cranes were gone and I was a mess. I was distraught. I was crying all over the place. Where where are the cranes at? And uh I went to the woman who ran the center and I asked her where the cranes had gone and she told me this. Uh another volunteer took them for a

083walk and they flew away. But that was what we were here to do. That was what we were here to do and that that stuck with me and I'm looking forward to interviewing with the board uh this fourth and final time. Um and with that I will pass it back to Vice President Dr. Caitlyn Kavanaaugh for the first question. Thank you. In your opinion, what is your understanding of the relationship between the board and the superintendent? >> Yeah, I would echo what folks have said already about the policy role of the board. Um, but I would add that the board is the publicly elected body that holds the superintendent accountable. Um, an example of how this might manifest in in conversation um or in relationship is or even at these meetings. you know, I might

084say, you know, last meeting or two meetings ago, the superintendent said XYZ. Um, are there any updates on that? What's the status there? Uh, do we have any data or testimonials to back that up? Uh, can we get a presentation on that? That's that's what I see as the the functional relationship. >> Thank you. As a board member, what would be your number one priority for the Lancing School District? >> Yeah, I I appreciate this question. I think this is a really important question in this interview. Um, for me, uh, I'm going with housing first as my issue. Um, I've been volunteering with, uh, the Mid Michigan Tenant Resource Center. And in my volunteer work there, I mainly, uh, call tenants who have submitted a form about some sort of situation they're going through. And

085I get them connected with information or resources that, um, they need given their situation. Um, but the reason I choose housing first is this idea that access to safe, stable, uh, and secure housing is a predetermining factor for student achievement, graduation, and long-term career success. I moved one time in my K12 education from Waverly to eaten rapids. There are students in the Lancing School District who have moved 10 times plus by the time they get to us. And so housing is, you know, like I said, a predetermining factor for student achievement, graduation, long-term career success. Um, and when I talk about housing first, I think I'm talking about the Lancing School District um, either building or acquiring units of housing. These units of housing could be used to provide truly affordable uh, housing for teachers

086and staff. Uh, these housing, this housing could be used as a long-term housing solution for Lancing School District parents uh, or short-term housing solutions for Lancing School District parents. Sometimes people just need, you know, a month or two to get back on their feet. Um, and having a space where we're able to sort of triage a situation that, you know, could have h lost a student. You know, a student could have had to move out of district because of a housing situation. Whereas, if the Lancing School District has housing units set aside, we're able to move differently and we're able to support them in community differently. >> Thank you. What do you think are the greatest opportunities for the district? >> Yeah, I I'm going to apologize to Superintendent uh Scherer because I did not

087realize you were going to be here tonight. I have in my notebook here post Ben is sort of this uh you know shoulders on his way out. We're going to have this a new superintendent. And I think that's a good time to to take a moment to look back and reflect. You know, this Lancing school district has goals. The Lancing School District has a strategic plan. Are we where we want to be? You know, where have we you exceeded expectations? Where do we need still need to grow? Um and uh so I've got that. And then I also wanted to highlight uh I believe it was um either the first or second schoolboard meeting of the school year this year. Um Trusty Williams, if I get anything wrong on this, please correct me. Trusty Williams

088suggested the idea of a a needsbased survey where we could survey the community on what what the community needs. Um, and I think that's something we could really lean into because the um, the Lancing School District is uniquely positioned to not only meet the needs of our community, but to survey the needs of our community. In that first week of school, we we see almost everyone. Um, maybe we don't see quite everyone, but because you have transfers and you got other people coming from out of district. Um, but it would be a real opportunity to survey our community, understand what our community's needs are, and potentially even impact um, you know, policy downtown, you know, across the street, city hall, or elsewhere? >> Thank you. What steps do you think the Lancing School District should

089take to attract and retain students? >> Yeah, I uh I appreciate this question again. Thank you. Um, at the end of the day, uh, the board speaks through its budget. Um, if the board wants to take steps to attract and maintain students, the board should prioritize programs that meet the needs of the student body, not just physical needs, but also mental and emotional needs. So, we're not just talking about food and housing, but mental health support, um, arts programming, um, these sorts of things. And then along with that is supporting our teachers. You know, if we want to attract and maintain students, we need to attract and maintain teachers. >> Thank you. This is the last question. Why do you want to serve on the board at this time? Yeah, I I love this question.

090I think this is a great addition to the process. Um, for me, I I want to serve my community and education is the my field of choice. Um, I I think right now, uh, what the Lancing community needs more than anything is consistency. Um, I I mean no disrespect and more power to Navarz Martinez at city council as the teacher in me looks at this board and says, "Why can't anyone stay in their seat?" Um, I I would want to, you know, finish a term. You know, I would want to encourage everyone on this board to finish a term. I think that if we really value our students education, we need to value showing up and doing the work. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Rashard. >> Thank you. You have a great rest of

091your night. >> Um, our next applicant is Lindsay Barnhard. Did I pronounce that correctly? >> Awesome. Sorry, my work keys are jangling. >> Thank you so much. I really appreciate the opportunity to be here and speak in front of all of you. Thank you so much. >> In your opinion, what is your understanding of the relationship between the board and the superintendent? Um I feel that the board kind of echoing what people have already said um are the ones who kind of put the policies in place are the elected officials to be the voice of the community with um the superintendent running the day-to-day operations. The goal would be that there is open communication between the two parties so that the needs of our district can be reflected through the day-to-day operations of our superintendent.

092>> Thank you. As a board member, what would be your number one priority for the Lancing School District? >> Um, I think it was Jessica who said that the achievement gap is something that is huge within our district. Um, I'm a current teacher for our district and I see that every single day in what I do for my job. Um, we're being pushed test scores, test scores, test scores, but the kids can't read the tests. Um the achievement gap is huge but really for me um we have so many great reading curriculums in place 95% UFly Heaggerty even going higher up but some of our middle school kids get a little bit lost so maybe some intervention type resources to bridge the gaps particularly in reading if you can't read you can't access any other

093aspect of academia social studies science even math story problems you're completely out so for me it's what I'm most passionate about and it's really what I live my life for. >> Thank you. What do you think are the greatest opportunities for the district? >> Um, I think that our district, we're all from Lancing and there's such like a for such a big city, small town feel. Everybody knows everybody, families, kids. Um, I go out to the grocery store and I see my kids all the time. And I think that that's something that we can really capitalize on as a district. There's so many small businesses that are willing to help with some of the things that our district needs that I think that we could capitalize on as well as resources like Ellie's Place and

094like Room Grammar to help support the day-to-day operations that teachers really need. um as well as continuing programs that we already have in place such as Lancing Promise to provide students that don't have the funds or opportunity for higher education that opportunity to succeed and at least get a jump start on the next stage um of their lives. I think that community involvement activities such as these are something that we should really put our energy into because I think that the community will really respond. >> Thank you. What steps do you think the Lancing School District should take to attract and retain students? >> Um I kind of have a personal story for this one. Um I'm a second grade teacher at North School and we recently had this event um right before Christmas where

095one of the um behavioral interventionists at my school identified a number of students that were just going without slightly for the holidays. We talked to small business. I mean I didn't do any of this. It was all her and it was really amazing. Tiana Taylor, nobody would know her, but um she reached out to small businesses. She got uh gift cards. We got gifts, donated, like so many donations. It was insane. And every child that came to the event went home with the gift bag. Uh there was our and one of our instructional coaches was there taking pictures of the families and they would go home with these pictures. Like my the girl in my class was like, "My mom's going to get it blown up and put in a frame." Um, activities such as

096these really bring everybody in our community together, teachers, board, staff, families. And when families see that we're willing to do these things really on like a family level to just like we're lancing and this is what we do for those who are ours, they're willing to buy in and do the things that we ask of them. um and also bring their children to our district and be open and upfront when there's issues such as transportation and other things. >> Thank you. This is the final question. Why do you want to serve on the board at this time? >> I've been very transparent about the fact that I'm a current teacher for Lancing School District. I love my job. I live for my job. I live for my kids. Um it's funny, we were just talking

097about government today in my second grade lesson and uh here I am. I truly believe that in the society that we live in, everybody's voice is the most powerful thing that they have. Um, I've served this district for the past five years. Second grade teacher, resource room teacher, and special ed. And I truly, truly, truly love the kids that I work with. Um, I see the struggles that some of these kids face, the struggles that some of their families face, and sometimes I feel like there's only so much that I can do to change what's in front of me. But one of those things that I can do is sit here and vote on policies and use my voice for good to benefit um the community that I love so very much. >> Thank you

098very much, Miss Barnhart. >> Thank you. Thank you so much for the opportunity. >> Um our final candidate for today's round of interviews is Caitlyn Cornell. You definitely pronounced that one right. You have some experience. >> That's a relief. [laughter] In your opinion, what is your understanding of the relationship between the board and the superintendent? >> So, this question is timely since this is what the board will be tasked with in in the coming months. Um, I think traditionally the relationship is intended to be one of uh, as everyone else has said, the policy setting of the board combined with that execution or implementation of the superintendent. And of course, that's a sort of overly simplified way to say that, but I think that in Lancing and with the history of lack of trust that

099vital parts of our community have had with the district, I think we need to take a little more nuanced position on their relationship. I'd really love to see the board steer the ship a bit more robustly um, and hold the superintendent accountable to the community. I'd like to see trustees weigh in more directly. um on how and when upcoming decisions about issues like transportation and libraries are being shared with families. For example, I'd like to see the board make and shape more equitable and forward-thinking policies sort of of its own valition and take a little bit more of an active approach maintaining that balance between the roles in managing the implementation of of best practices for example. >> Thank you. [clears throat] As a board member, what would be your number one priority for the

100Lancing School District? >> Great question. Thank you. Um, I think first I'd like to operationalize or define the word district here in the way that I'm going to use it. I think I like so many of us are I'm guilty sometimes of confounding and using slinging that word district around when sometimes I mean the building and the administrators and sometimes I mean central admin and sometimes I mean the board. But in this question I think I mean all of those layers. This this my answer permeates all of the the layers um within that. I absolutely think that the first priority should be to build trust. Um, we have it from some folks, but I'm hearing from our community that we don't have it from all. Uh, since building trust is a goal explicitly addressed, for

101example, in the strategic plan in that focus area of student or I'm sorry, school community engagement and communication, I'd be interested to see current district data on that. Uh, parents and teachers are both asked to complete surveys annually, but it's a little unclear to me how much of that recent data has been publicly shared or at least publicly summarized. And this part is key, this part of the statement, in ways that are salient and convenient for families to access. I think that's the really important part. I think that whether it's me or it's someone else on the board, um I'd like to see a few things happen to address that primary concern of trust. There was some really good work done uh coming out of the equity advisory committee following the equity report of 2022.

102I'm eager to hear a report on that and and as I understand tonight, there might be a little bit of time before that happens. Um but I'm interested to hear a report on that in 2026. I'd like to see more board outreach besides just attending events, which is awesome. I love going to Sexton Games and seeing some familiar faces there. Um, but I think periodic listening sessions might be appropriate and creating a mechanism for accepting public comment electronically is probably an accessibility measure that's long overdue. And a plain language version of the bylaws would go a long way in making the board and its operations more transparent, I think, to to families in the district. >> Thank you. What do you think are the greatest opportunities for the district? >> So, this one, and I

103think I said this in my my interview last May of 2025, too. This one's hard because there's a lot of opportunities. Um, but I I've grouped them, I think, into two groups that are really important to me. Uh, into relationships and academics. So, the relationship section first. Um, often the district fights against erroneous, misinformed, um, outside perspectives. But then sometimes we also have to battle against a reputation that we've contributed to a little bit ourselves. Um perhaps unintentionally and unknowingly. Uh I think we have a greater degree to control that internal narrative part which goes back to trust which I think often manifests and is connected to communications within the district. Um so I'm going to give a couple of examples now um about this this kind of communication breakdown uh that that sometimes results

104from last minute decisions or communication that isn't communicated to families maybe in a way that's comfortable or or salient. Like I said before, I think we can't really say that athletic and engagement opportunities, which is another focus area of the strategic plan in the district are equitable when the tryyouts for middle school basketball are sent out to families with less than 48 hours notice. That might sound like an issue that's purely logistical in nature, but logistics have a funny way of impacting uh certain community members inequitably. less than 48 hours to arrange new transportation plans and care scenarios and less than 48 hours to arrange a required sports physical. I'll concede that when it was explained to me when I reached out about this uh that the the person mentioned that anyone who might want

105to join the team but missed the tryyous would still be allowed to try out and that's great. But to my knowledge, there wasn't any mass communication. It was just a result of me emailing someone and getting that information. There was no mass communication to families that that was going to be an option. So I'm left to wonder how many families might have missed out on that opportunity if they assumed that there wouldn't be the possibility of any makeup sessions or whatever that plan was. The impact of that and this is this part's important regardless of the intention was at least minimally that a needlessly chaotic week came for families and nobody needs any more of that in 2025. Maximally, it's certainly possible that there was a disproportionate I'm sorry, disproportionate exclusion of players whose families

106just for example lack reliable transportation or couldn't alter their work schedules with short notice. So, this means that kids missed out. Another example is just the sheer amount of unanswered email. Uh follow-up phone calls help sometimes, but not always. There's a real lack of follow-up and follow-through. It's definitely a pattern and I promise you that families dislike h having to go over people's heads uh and email the superintendent who is always very prompt by the way um or or the the building principal to get timely responses. For example, about the new gifted and talented program um their kid it's now too late to be enrolled because the parents tried to ask questions before submitting the form and no one got back to them for over a month and now the program is full. It's not

107unreasonable, I think, for the board or folks listening to me at home to think that my examples here are small in nature. I recognize that we have really massive critical issues also to attend to, like the gun violence around our city that's so closely and intimately affecting our youth. But I think we're capable of tackling both those big issues alongside the less complex concrete ones that I think we can make really meaningful progress on pretty quickly particularly if some of the comm the communications related frustrations also alleviate stress and build better relationships which I think um moves on to a foundation of for other improvements. And then the last piece of this is the academics piece. Um, I think we should shift to thinking about our academic standards, meaning those learning objectives that are set

108by the state as really sort of the bottom of the barrel or the bare minimum that we should be aiming for. Those standards are really not the ceiling. That's where we need to start. I would want to know how the district is attending to all of our standards, whether we're adhering to our academic goal from the strategic plan. This might have been a sub goal actually of increasing student achievement through innovative teaching methods which provide opportunities for critical thinking, problem solving, and real world application. >> Thank you. What steps do you think the Lancing School District should take to attract and retain students? >> So, I'm going to sound like a broker broken record on this one. I think we need to establish trust. I think that needs to be that first piece. And then

109kind of while that rapport is simmering and we work on that, the district can attend to other concrete actions to aid in retention as well. I think we can re-evaluate some of our policies and practices. In my own years of teaching young adults, I've learned that where there's one, there's often more. And what I mean by that is if there's one student who's confused by my directions, there's probably another one. If there's one student who said that an assessment didn't really suit them or didn't work for them, I'm going to grant that premise. I'm going to, you know, assume that it's true for them and perhaps others and I'm going to be reflective on that rather than my default of explaining it away or rather than uh positioning my default as explaining it away, I'm

110going to be reflective instead. I think that even when students and families concerns aren't pervasive or when we don't have the data to confirm that an issue is manifesting districtwide, it's still important to support all students learning and consider revising policy for the sake of evidence-based best practices like banning the practice of reducing or revoking recess as a punitive measure. I can't stress this next part enough. Students and families don't only deserve support when their needs align with the needs of the majority. Equity shouldn't be based on interest convergence. I think bringing back more traumainformed training would be a good supplement to the resurgence of I've seen a lot more restorative practices happening in the district and I'm I'm very happy about that. Uh that would benefit not only students but also teachers and staff

111to have a trauma-informed approach. And then I think we can attract, retain, and support staff that better suit the needs of our district, our district's marginalized students. The district hasn't done enough to move the needle on racial equity. And I think that we can hire more black and Latinx teachers and staff and support the ones we have more equitably. Teachers and administrators who come directly from the community and reflect our students will best serve them. Uh the intake process to pursue an individualized education plan or 504 plan is a confusing nightmare and accommodations are not followed with fidelity across the district. I can only imagine how much more complex that is when we have um multilingual students who are also disabled. National research shows that they are traditionally underserved because of both of those intersectional

112identities. >> Thank you. This is the final question. Why do you want to serve on the board at this time? >> Thanks for asking this question in this round of interviews. This was a good addition from from the May interview round. Um, I view my application for a seat on the board as a duty, not a want. Uh, I already advocate for the district students and my role as a parent and a community partner, for example, with the Lancing Empowerment Network's cradle to career initiative and I'll continue that ad advocacy for equity equity if I'm not selected for a seat on the board at this time. Um, but my community has asked me to serve in this more formal capacity as a way to amplify voices that have often gone unheard. As intimidating as it

113can be to sometimes do, we need folks who will compassionately uh or who will be compassionately critical of policies and practices that don't full sorry don't serve the full community of our students. Uh, I'm in this to advocate for families and bridge the communicative gap perceived by families between them and uh district leadership. I'm a proud alumni of the district. Verdon, Otto, Sexton. I always tell you all three just because it's a habit I have. [laughter] Um, and I'm also a parent in the district. Uh, having multi-racial children meant that there are certain choices that I had to make at a parent that maybe I otherwise wouldn't have had to do. And so, it was a very purposeful choice to bring my kids back to my home district. Uh, the community called me to do

114this and I trust them to know how they think that I can be most helpful. I work at MSU and I'm um the assistant director of the center for language teaching advancement and I'm also the accessibility coordinator and advocate for the college of arts and letters. Um so I think that my community realizes that both my lived experience and my academic expertise allow me to see opportunities where the district could improve some accessible practices related to disability but also other intersectional identities in terms of inclusion. Family engagement strategies, for example, would be vastly improved to allow for broader participation across those intersectional identities like the range of socioeconomic strata that make up our student population. I want to be clear, too, that I see a lot of good movement from individual board members in this

115direction, but I think the board as a whole could hold central administration to a higher standard in terms of equity and community trust. Uh, I'll be wrapping up now, I promise. Um, I was literally talking to someone just this morning. I added this to my interview responses just this morning because it was it was really apt. We were talking about something that really encapsulated my reason for for wanting to serve on the board. Um when it comes to the outside voices that I mentioned uh that talk about the Lancing School District, we both find ourselves me and this friend uh fiercely devoted and protective and proud, right? We we go hard for the Lancing School District. Um and in her words exactly, but when our LSD family is together, I'm going to call them out.

116And I think that that's the right and just combination. I adore this district. I came out of this district and I chose it for my children and I want us to continue to do better. So I think we really have to be critical friends in order to get the good work done. Thanks very much for the opportunity to interview. >> Thank you, Miss Cornell. Um that concludes our interviews for today. Uh we will be interviewing the remaining nine candidates in our special meeting tomorrow. Those interviews will follow the same format. And with that, I turn it over to Mr. President. >> And I want to thank U. Vice President Kavanaaugh for uh taking care of this portion of the meeting. Appreciate it. Um [clears throat] see, so now we're back to um close session. >>

117Mr. President, I move that the board of education recess into close session for the purpose of considering material exempt from disclosure as is permitted in the open meetings act section 81C for a strategy and negotiation sessions connected with the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement if either negotiating party requests a closed hearing. >> Second. >> It's moved and second to move into close session. All those in favor say I. Oh, no. No. Roll call, please. [laughter] >> Dr. Cabinet. Yes, >> Mr. Herd. >> Mr. Lopez. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Moore. >> Yes, >> Mr. Niski. >> Yes, >> Dr. Rodriguez. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Strode. >> Yes, >> Miss Williams. >> Thank you. We're in close session. Okay, we're back from close session. >> Mr. President, [sighs] >> continue. We have a motion. >> Uh,

118yes, Mr. President. I move to adopt the tenative agreement language with the meet and confer non-UN employee agreement changes for fiscal year 20223 through fiscal year 2026 20227 as presented. >> I second. Oh, let us fight over it. discussion. >> Mr. President, I think that this new agreement of this um this group is is is really something that we need to do and give it to them and thank them for the all the work that they are doing. for the Lancing school district. Many times they are not from but they are doing behind the scene and they are doing really good job. I hope that we continue working together and this new agreement help all of us to do a better job in our work. Thank you Mr. President >> Dr. Kavana. >> Yes. >>

119Mr. Herd. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lopez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Moore. >> Yes. >> Mason Niski. >> Yes. >> Dr. Rodriguez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Strode. >> Yes. >> Ms. Williams. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Okay. Thank you very much. And um yes um as to Dr. his comments. Yes, we're very appreciative of their work and a thank you letter or a letter of some kind will will be sent to the president of the union uh acknowledging their work and thanking them for um being with us. Okay, we're now down to comments from the board. Um representative, not just >> I think we can do both. >> Yeah. Yeah. I I thought that was kind of understood in our conversation that that they should come and superintendent will will make sure that they're invited. >>

120Absolutely. Thank you. >> Okay. >> I think it was understood by us, but it was in close session. >> Okay. For sure. >> Thank you. Okay. um comments from the board. We start with uh Mr. Herk. Do you have anything? >> Happy New Year everybody. We are certainly in for a treat this year with all the amazing things on the horizon for the rest of the school year and certainly the rest of this calendar year. Um it's a wonderful time to look in on what the amazing things that are happening in our schools. Right before the break, um I was able to go into Lions and looked at all the opportunity. They were giving out boots that day. Um but not just the boots. It was the hopeful eyes going into the school district. As

121a former elementary teacher, that was not always the case. Sometimes you saw fear in the eyes of young people um getting ready to go in Christmas breaks because that was two weeks without those two meals a day or two weeks without um some stability for eight hours during the day. But what I saw was smiling faces. I saw resources. I saw partnership. I saw um community trust in ways um that made me hopeful. And so I'm starting this calendar year with much hope for myself about what this um district will be and the great work hopefully that this board will do to propel us yet forward. And so if you're at home and after a great holiday, you're still considering sending your babies to the Lancing School District to become a shining star like our

122babies are, it's high time you come home. Happy New Year. >> Thank you. Um, Trusty Williams, Trusty Dr. Rodriguez, Trusty Moore, Trustee Stroke, would you like to say anything? No. Okay. Trusty Noki. >> Uh, yes. I'll just share that I was able to attend the Lancing 360 meeting uh on Wednesday at noon. You're all invited and community are invited as well to join. Those are currently taking place on Zoom. This is the collaborative effort throughout the community to address gun violence in Lancing. Um the somewhat good news is that numbers for the 2025 calendar year were down for the city. Um but of course we started the year with a few incidents that have been reported in the the media and were discussed by law enforcement with the group. So there is still continuing work

123to be done. There were some questions in the meeting about um restorative justice within the school system and how that integrates with what's happening in the community. and director Wheeler was able to to speak to some of that. So, it's u appreciative to have staff attending those on behalf of the district and we'll just encourage everyone to continue to pay attention to the resources that have been provided. You know, we had a specific presentation from the district on gunlocks and safety and the role that parents have in in checking their students backpacks. So, want to highlight that and and always keep that security top of mind for everyone and and call everyone's attention to the need to participate in the community process. Thank you, Dr. N. Well, I do have something to say. Thank you.

124And that's to congratulate all our students who who had such a wonderful um programs during the the holiday season. I mean, every every high school had performances, people went to them. Um it was just nice to see. and then the posting of of the activities on Facebook and uh and the media, you could see them there happy and representing the Lanc School District. So, that was really really nice to see. Um also, I want to wish everybody a happy new year and um as uh Trusty Herd said, it's going to be an interesting year. We have a lot of work to do. Um, I don't think it's any more work than we always have every year, but I think that uh maybe we'll have slightly different approaches to the work we do and uh come

125up with uh the results we expect. I did like uh a comment made from one of the individuals tonight is that uh the state, you know, uh requirements are kind of low. >> Yeah. >> And I think we should uh [laughter] Dr. Rodrigo's labs, but it is it is and I think we we need to uh not just meet state standards. I think we should surpass them. So I think that's that's going to be one of the goals that that uh I'm looking at personally and I think that with the help of the student achievement committee which is focused on that particular items uh that we can with staff obviously because they do the work but I think working in cooperation with them from the get-go not from listening to a report but being there

126working with them and massaging the information and and uh getting our input will be very important as we move along this year. So, thank you very much board again. Thank you for your support and thank you Robin Moore, Trusty Moore for the your service. Thank you very much. >> Yes, sir. >> Um thank you to the superintendent for the work doing of this group. Um there are never a last meeting that we can't wait. Okay. Thank you. >> Maybe we should ask her to be on Zoom. >> [laughter] >> one time or another.