001Good evening everyone. It is 6:02. Excuse my tardiness. Welcome to the board of education April 10th um regular board meeting. Um yeah, the meeting is now starting. Um, could everybody please stand for the pledge of allegiance? Thank you. At this time, can I have a trustee volunteer to read our mission statement? Yeah. Uh, Trustee Stro, our mission 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. May the clerk please call the role. Mrs. Ber, Dr. Kavanaaugh, present. Mr. Herd, present. Mr. Lopez present. Mrs. Moore present. Dr. Nibbar Martinez present. Dr. Rodriguez. Mrs. Strode Miss Williams. Quorum is present. Thank you. I am aware of Trusty Boyer's absent for absence for tonight. Um are there any comments or public
002comments on on agenda items at this time? Seeing none, we will move on to the approval of our March 20th um minutes meeting minutes. Madam President, I make a motion that the board of education accept the minutes for March 20th. Presented. Thank you. Trusty Williams moved by Trustee Williams, second by Trustee Kavanagh. Yes. I am not going to vote in that one. I don't agree with everything happened last night and I'm going to extend myself for voting tonight and that recommendation. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Um may the clerk please call the role. Mrs. Dr. Kavanaaugh. Yes. Mr. Herd. Yes. Mr. Lopez. Yes, Mrs. Moore. Yes, Dr. Nibbar Martinez. Yes, Dr. Rodriguez. Mrs. Strode. Yes, Miss Williams. The minutes are approved. 61, I think it is. Yeah, 61. Thank you. Um, pardon. Okay, we're going
003to move on to our presentations. our visual learning presentations. Um just are you speaking today or so? Uh as uh we have now are now now doing now that we're back in our room uh this is our second monthly uh student presentations as everybody can notice there's wonderful wonderful people uh in the audience. Thank you for coming here. I'm going to turn it over to Deputy Superintendent Jessica Benvitas to walk us through uh the next couple of minutes. Thank you. Good evening everyone. Um, I'm happy to present tonight our visual learning boards around the boardroom. Um, for many of us, this is some of our favorite parts of the board meeting is when we get to celebrate our students and see the great things that are happening in our schools. So, as you see, we
004have six uh uh visual learning boards around the boardroom this evening. We have Gardener, Cumberland, Patengill, Sheridan Road, Everett, and Averil. And you'll see a multitude of things from math to writing to uh the performing arts tonight. So, really excited to have you tour our um visual learning board showcase that we have set up for you. Um members of the audience that are here to stand with your boards, feel free to stand and kind of go over to your boards. And then in just a few minutes, we'll have the board members and then members of our community who are welcome to join us. And we take about three two to three minutes per board. um just enough to kind of hear what's happening and hear from our students um and our staff and our principles
005of each of the schools to be able to interact with their boards this evening. So, thank you all for coming and we will get started. Thank you Okay, everyone, that concludes your first board. I know the time goes so quickly, but if you'll please make your way to your next visual learning board. We'll have Oh, okay. You can use your time however you would like. Okay, everyone, if you take a minute at your uh board and then head to your next one. We have three more minutes at this board. Thank you. [Music] Okay, everyone, that's another three minutes. If you will please head to your next visual learning board, please. Thank you. [Music] Okay, everyone, if you'll take your next move to the next board, we would appreciate it. Thank you. [Music] Okay, everyone, if
006you'll please make it to your last visual learning board. This is your last rotation. Thank you. Heat. Heat. [Music] Okay, everyone, if you will finish up with the board that you are at and then head back to your seats. Thank you. How are you? No, no, no. Were you like the magnet? Those kids that Josh All right, thank you again. You'll kind of make your way back to your seats, please, and we'll acknowledge the schools. Alrighty. What great presentations. Yes. All right. That was wonderful. Thank you um Miss Benvitz for bringing our amazing scholars here and their parents, our community. Wonderful. Moving on to our reports. Um we have our officer report from our secretary. Sorry. Here you go. Today, April 10, um we had SAT testing and ACT work keys. Uh so, best of
007luck in your exam results to all our students. Um April 25th, no school. Uh district families, let us know how we're doing. Take our survey. Um so, let's see. Annual Junth essay competition and scholarship program along with the youth logo contest is going on. The application period ends on April 12th. Um, and our next board meetings, we have April 12th, we have a special meeting. Um, April 17th, a regular board meeting and an information study session. And May 1st, a regular board meeting. Thank you, Dr. Niver Martinez, for your secretary report. Moving on to our um facilities committee. Um, Vice President Lopez. Thank you, Madam President. Uh, I'd like to report that on April 1st, um, the committee met to review the, um, purchase recommendations that on our packet today. Um, the meeting started at,
008uh, 9:36 in the morning. We um, we reviewed um the second fund projects of special projects. um syncing fund projects uh bes uh February uh excuse me April 1st um projects like Wood Creek GSRP Saxon HVAC doors heel CD remodel phase 2 ridge asphalt gardener asphalt atwood cafeteria came uh estimates and versus bids actual bids we We are in a really good shape. The the bits were were less than the estimates. So we have some some wiggle room there for other projects maybe or to enhance um other needs in the district. Uh a new business and discussion. Uh we um we have um Everett Track and in MH Hope we we had a uh let me go back to Mount Hope. We had an update on Mount Hope. Um, it's looking very good. Just for
009Dr. Rodriguez's uh um information, we talked about the the issue with the with the windows being too close to the street or seem to be too close to the street. The good news is the windows have been purchased or thicker than most and they're for that purpose to alleviate the the noise coming from from the streets. And also I think they have some kind of a tint or that um that they won't be uh hopefully too um you know concerned with what's going outside and stay focused on on the inside. So that's things that are happening but we reviewed the the U ever track purchase recommendation also for Kavanaaugh paving um and for Cumberland paving. Uh we looked at the phase two rebid for um painting at and then um HVAC. We also looked at
010the recommendations for playgrounds that will all be done on for this 2025. So we have Adwood, Averil, Kavanaaugh, Dwight Bridge, Guyire, Patale, Post Stoke, and Wood Creek. And one thing about all this um I think that most of these schools will also have fencing put around them. So if you go around the district you will see uh fencing in some of our schools like in April. I went to pick up my grandson and I saw the fence. So So most of our schools are being fenced with a with a with a nice fence. It's not the the regular chain link uh but it's a nice uh fence that you can all uh see when you go by. That was the extent of our review and like I said these things are up for uh for
011a vote today and we'll uh go to them at the at the time appropriate on the agenda. Have any question? Did I miss anything Christina? Okay, thank you. Wonderful. Okay. I did review it. I was not at the meeting because this is my business. Okay. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry. Sorry. I did review everything. Um even though I'm on the committee, but I wasn't at the meeting. So, where's the mirror go around? I'm going to merry go around. That's all I'm saying. Where's the mirror go around? They still make those are not exactly so safe anymore. I mean, I had a lot of fun on them when I was younger, too. Um, but we try to go over things that are inclusive and not as dangerous. I have. I have. That was safe. Um, they're
012Yeah, they do have like limiters on them now, so you can't spin them as fast. Um, but they are rather expensive as a single piece of equipment. Um, and so we try to go with the most we can get. So, yeah. saying I'm a miracle here. All righty. Thank you. May I um have a motion um that the board of education approve items A through E as presented? Madam President, I move that the board of education approve items A through E as presented. Second. Moved by Trustee Kavanagh, second by Trustee Williams. Um are there any discussions um in regards to the bids that went forth? Well, we heard we want a merrygoround. I know we heard that. Um, any other discussions? Oh, I have a question. Um, when it comes to our playgrounds, it looks
013like all of our our schools are getting new playgrounds, right? Will that will that complete all of our schools? This will complete all of our schools. Amazing. Thank you for the work. All righty. Are there any other questions from our board members at this time or discussion in regards to All right. Could the clerk please call the role? Dr. Kavanaaugh. Yes. Mr. Herd. Yes. Mr. Lopez. Yes. Mrs. Moore. Yes. Dr. Nebar Martinez. Yes. Dr. Rodriguez. Yes. Mrs. Strode. Yes. M. Williams. Motion passes 800. Thank you. Next on our agenda, we have a report from our finance committee. Dr. Kavanagh. Absolutely. The finance committee met on Monday, um, March 24th. Um, our next meeting will be on April 21st, which is also a Monday. Um, in terms of the meeting, we went through, as we always
014do, all of our various accounts, the shape that they're in, um, as as has been the case, um, for the last several years. The district is in good financial condition. Um, as part of your board packet, um, you will find the treasures report. Uh, specifically, the detailed treasures report for the period of February 1st, 2025 through February 28th, 2025 is attached to this evening's agenda. But here are the highlights of the report. The beginning cash and investment balance was 78,663,933. Receipts totaled $18,119,589 while dispersements equaled 15,756,866. Net interfund transfers totaled $212,91 in interest from fund investments to the student and bond funds as well as journal entries to remove the due to due froms in all funds. The monthly transfer to the general fund for bond expenses was $0. The ending general fund cash and
015investment balance on February 28th, 2025 was 80, sorry, $80,813,756. The general fund's cash and investment balance is 41,764,194 greater as compared to the same time last year. We love to see it. Uh we also received $871 worth of donations during the month of February. As always, we would like to thank our generous donors, particularly my school bucks, Blackbow, Kona Ice, and Hol um who specifically were part of the Dwight Rich May um give back. So, thank you all so much for your generous donations. And Mrs. President, this con concludes the February 2025 treasures report. Thank you so much, Dr. Kavanaaugh. Um, may I have a motion that the board of education ex um approve the expend expenditures as presented for February 2025? Madame President, Dr. Nver Martinez, I move that the board of education approve
016the expenditures as presented for February 2025. Moved by Dr. Narv Narv NZ Martinez, excuse me. May I have a second? Second. A second by Trusty Strode. Are there is there any discussions in regards to our our um budget or treasurer's report? Excuse me. Any discussions? No. Seeing none, may the clerk please call the role. Dr. Kavanaaugh? Yes. Mr. Herd? Yes. Mr. Lopez? Yes. Mrs. Moore? Yes. Dr. Nibbar Martinez? Yes. Dr. Rodriguez? Yes. Mrs. Strode, yes. M Williams, motion passes 8 Z. Thank you so much. Moving on to our third item, um, policy committee, Dr. Nver Martinez. Yes. So, um, the board policy committee met on Wednesday, April 9th. Um, our next meeting is going to be on May 5th, uh, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Um, we, uh, myself, I was there. Um, Trusty Herd
017and Trusty Ber joined us on Teams. Um, Pat Kger from Niola joined us, um, to provide the Niola spring updates, which included legal alerts and policy updates. Um the legal alerts shared with the committee were the Michigan filter first legislation um regarding water fountains. Um Michigan's sick leave and this um there's also one about self-reporting criminal charges of district staff upon being arraigned. Uh they will have 3 days to report. Um also regalia. So, new inschool protections for indigenous students uh to be able to wear their regalia um for graduations and such. Uh PA 206 requires that all public high schools offer computer science courses. This must be visible in the catalog and charter schools required to show authorizing body on websites and other uh pertinent communication. We don't have any charter schools so that
018does not pertain to us. Um and we also heard the policy update. So, we began drafting um some policy updates that are needed uh to be up to date with the legislation and we will continue working on these um finalizing these hopefully at our next meeting. We're hoping um and bring them to the board at that time. But those policy updates are on PO0131.1 bylaws and policies. PO1430 ESTA policy for administrators, PO3430 ESTA policy for professional staff, PO4430 ESTA policy for support staff, PO2340 revised field uh and other district sponsored trips. PO5320 immunizations, PO5330 medications, PO5330.01 01 epinephrine auto inje injectors PO5350 stu uh student health well-being and suicide prevention PO5460 graduation requirements PO8320 personnel files PO85000 food services PO8510 wellness PO8640 transportation for field and other trips rescended PO2266 and PO2264 non-discrimination on the
019basis of sex in education programs or activities and so um the board or the committee will work on those and bring them to you all um for readings uh in the near future. Thank you so much. You all are doing great work. Thank you. Thank you. Um now the policies that are on listed on our agenda tonight, these are the policies from March. Yes. And perfect. All righty. So, may I have a motion, Madam President? V. Yes. Hold on, Dr. Rodriguez. I'll be right with you. VP Lopez, did you I was going to make a motion. Oh, you all were both making a motion at the same time. Okay, I'm gonna give it to Dr. Rodriguez. Dr. Rodriguez, go ahead. I second the motion. What we going to do? You want to I will respect
020the vice president. Um, board members, I made a motion that the board of education receive the policies for second reading and approved then as presented. Moved by Dr. Rodriguez, seconded. Second by Vice President Lopez that the board of education receive the policies for second reading and approve them as presented. Are there any discussions about the policies that was that were presented in March? Trusty Williams, I think she was Oh. Okay. Well, I love how we're working together. Okay. Sure. Trusty Stro. Thank you. Uh I guess for me it's not a question surrounding the March policy. I was taking note um for the update in May when you have your next meeting is can you give me a total of how many policies you all will be looking to cover in the next meeting? Yeah. One,
021two, three, four, five, 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 and 16. and we we already started going through them. Perfect. Yeah. And I think my second question follows up to that. Um you're going to have the 16 reviewed and brought back to the board um by your following meeting in May. After May 5th. Yeah. After May 5th. And you'll have we'll have that on time for the legislator review. Yes. Fifth reading. Yeah. And then um so when we bring them we'll have a first reading then a second reading as well. Awesome. Thank you. All righty. Trusty Williams. I'm okay with I just with some things that are happening with some of the things that we receive. I feel kind of not comfortable as of yet over the last week that some
022of this stuff. So I'm just asking that we allow ourselves one more time and then there were some things that I learned while that I want to make sure before we finally approve it. Okay. So you're asking for for more time our next meeting. Um Vice President Lopez, did you have something? Oh, no. Just to follow up on on on Trusty Williams's comments, we can always come and amend the most the policies. Okay. Okay, I think that the motion is to approve and if we find that in the meantime we have some proposed amendments or additions we can do that anytime we can amend. So are you are you com are you good with that trusty Williams? Trustee uh Strode and I uh to second the point to VP uh vice president uh Lopez that
023was part of the question about the 16 if it's ready for review then at any point once we have the situated we can amend. So I wanted to make that uh comment for the community um out of these 16 that may date we'll have it ready and can make an amendment if at that point there's further discussion uh trust or Dr. Rodriguez, thank you very much. Um, these policies are already there that we can go and review them anytime and the only thing we do there in the two meetings is to review them, see it had to be changed. In many cases only few changes we had to do but the policies are already there. Then we can read them anytime we want and then present it to the board and change whatever we want.
024And I like this conversation because it's it's not a stone that we put the polish in stones. It's policies that we can change according of many many situations then but we have it right now if you want to read it. The problem is personally I'm sorry but I don't read them very frequently. Dr. Never Martinez did you have something? Yeah. Also a reminder that especially with like these updates that come in big um batches, it's to um for things that got affected by the state legislature updating laws and so some things cannot change because they're um mandatory. Yeah, they're state law. All righty. Well, we don't have any more questions from our board. Could the clerk please call the role? Dr. Kavanaaugh? Yes. Mr. Herd? Yes. Mr. Lopez, yes. Mrs. Moore, yes. Dr. Nibbar Martinez,
025yes. Dr. Rodriguez, yes. Mrs. Strode, yes. Miss Williams, Motion passes 80. Thank you. Next, we're on to see our superintendent report. Um, superintendent. All right. Good. Uh, I guess it's evening now. Uh, it's wonderful to see everybody. Uh now with me going at the end, it's kind of fun because I get to recap all the great work that's been done. Uh first of all, you know, congratulations to the schools, the students, the faculty, the families, uh who presented today. Uh it's really one of the things that we're trying to engender in the school district is to show the work. Um, you know, this is a new boardroom, new paint, new floors, new lights. And the whole idea is that when you walk into this room, you should see actual authentic student work that is grade
026aligned, that is standard aligned, that has rubrics, all that kind of stuff is a way to really not just kind of show off the district, but also to show what we're expecting from our children. Um, you know, we're really really happy with with what's going on. So, I want to thank everybody uh that was part of it. Uh the other thing I want to well there's a lot I want to talk about but one uh as was mentioned about playgrounds. Uh one of the things that has been really tremendous over the last couple of years is the updates to our facilities. Um anybody listening, anybody at home, anybody on the board, I mean they certainly know it. Please come see our schools. They look different. Uh, you know, there new paint and new fencing and
027new playgrounds and a new gym at Atwood and a new 14 classroom addition to Patentill. We're going to have a brand new Mount Hope opening this year. We're going to have a brand new Willow opening next year. A lot of really wonderful and great things are happening uh academically as you can see on the wall, but also physically. um our kids, our staff, our families deserve uh really a top-notch facility in which to learn in and we're really proud that over the last couple of years you're really starting to see uh quite a lot. And then of course with fences, you know, safety and security are acute, but also one of the things that you know about our our district is that many of our schools abut parks or they abut other kinds of land
028and so those are public. We want to make sure that there's a clear delineation between where our students are, where our schools are, and you know, the the wonderful public, especially during school days. Uh it's one of the things that was actually really quite shocking to me when I got here four years ago. Um and to make sure that we have an ability to really make sure our kids are more safe uh than they have been. And so, you know, uh, real thanks to our facilities team, uh, led by, uh, Christina, but also to our contractors and our workers. Uh, this is the kind of stuff that we can really make happen when we have a bond. And so, I am not saying that we're going to have another one anytime soon. Maybe. Uh but
029really I want people to know just how important the bond work is for our children, our faculty, our families. You know, people use our facilities at night, during the day, on the weekends. And it's only through the wonderful kind of love and support of the community uh that allows this to happen. And so certainly the more that we as a district do right by you, the more willing you're going to be to vote to do right by the district. And so the more that we can show you the great work and the great narrative about what's actually happening, the better. And certainly this board and me and the staff, we're all really proud of what's going on and want to make sure uh that people know about it. And so, please, if you went to
030Mount Hope, I don't know, 20, 30, 40, or even 50 years ago, and you want to get a tour of the new building, come on down, you know, let let us show you. If you want to see the new addition to Patentill, let us know. We want you to see your tax dollars at work uh bettering our children. And speaking of tax dollars, uh as you heard from the presentation, our finances are very good. Um, if you trade stocks, uh, the world has been quite bizarre lately. Um, you know, things are up, things are down, things are sideways. Uh, the good news that I want everybody to to to know about is that our finances, uh, you know, are are very kind of safe. They're in uh, very high-grade uh, bonds. Uh, we do not
031own stocks. That's not how it works. Uh, we have very special things that we can use. we can't invest in anything that's any sort of like, you know, risky. Let's just call it that. And so I want to make sure that if anybody is worried that like, oh my god, all the money's going away. That's definitely not true. Um, our stuff is invested in um some uh you know, some very very kind of riskadverse things. And in addition, what we're really thankful for is the money that we're getting from the state and from the local taxes really looks like it's going to be robust. And so I know I get a lot of emails. Oh, Ben, I just read an article about Absolutely, you are right. Things are kind of nuts, but please know that
032uh our finances are strong. We're in good shape. Uh and we look forward to next year. And then lastly, as always, uh I want to give the transportation update, but I have actually some really good news. Over the break, uh our transportation team was able to really sit with Dean and our numbers are a little bit better. So with gas cards, we have the request of uh 2428 and uh assigned are 2415. Uh and with the gas cards, it's just about making sure that the families pick them up or the kids get them. with CAD cards, 610 requests, 609 assigned. So, it's probably one child just needs to pick it up. Uh, but the good news is that with the dean, we actually have um 3,714 requests was 3,52 routed. That means that the number
033of non-outed children is only 212. We've been running around 300 for the last couple of months. So, that's really good news. Now, of course, that number really needs to be at zero. Um, but we have seen that families are liking the gas cards. You know, 2400 families are using it. Um, and also one of the moves that we've been making is having more of our children go to neighborhood schools, which of course reduces the need for buses and things like that. So, you know, again, my promise to this community is I'll always read these out uh until that number is zero. But the good news is we went from around 300 to about 200 uh because of the time during break to really kind of sit with everybody and and get to families. And just
034as a plug, if you are enrolling next year, please please please make sure that you're doing your enrollment, that you know about busing, that you talk to your principles. We just want to make sure that all the data is correct, all the information is correct. you know, there's nothing worse than when we have the wrong phone number or the wrong address or things like that. So, please, you know, reach out reach out to your families, uh, reach out to your schools, uh, if there's anything to do. And in fact, if it's okay, I'll turn it over to Christina if there's any sort of updates and if you want to give with enrollment or transportation or anything like that. Sure. Thank you, Superintendent. So, the applications for next year for transportation are open now. So, please
035um even if you had transportation this year, we don't automatically assume you want the same form of transportation next year or transportation next year in general. You could have moved closer to a school, you could have a different arrangement, that sort of thing. So, make sure that you please fill out your transportation request for next year. And for those families that have gas cards and will continue to want gas cards for next year, please keep your gas cards. It'll be the same gas card that we will continue to reload for the next school year. Thank you so much. Uh, you know, we're really proud of continuing that gas card program as well as the CAD card program. Uh, you know, so many families, we understand, uh, you know, that if you don't get a bus,
036you really still need your kids to get to school and we are happy to continue, uh, with the gas card program as long as honestly we can um, and it looks like it's not abading. But please, as Christina said, keep the card. uh we can upload the card, we can give money to the card, keep the card if your intention is to use it for next year. Um so that's kind of uh all the updates that I have right now and uh thank you uh Madam President. Thank you Madam President. Yes, if I may just to just to add to what the superintendent said about documentation and so on and so forth, make sure that you have listed who can pick up your child. That is very important because uh principles won't let anybody else
037take your child if they're not on the list. And so that's very important nowadays. And I I just like to add that to to your list of of things to do, Mr. Superintendent. Okay. And also since I have since I have Yeah. the mic. I just like to go back to my report and report that um uh Mount Hope it'll be done this summer obviously and we're getting ready the staff is getting ready to set up some community visits. So that will be uh posted somewhere and uh and obviously the board can sign up to go and visit uh Mount Hope as as we start the visitations. That's addition to my report, Madam President. Thank you for your addition. Um, moving on to new business. We don't have any new business before the board at
038this time. Any public comment on non-aggenda items? No. All right. Moving on to comments from our board. Any comments from our board? Madam President, uh, Trustee Rodriguez. Okay. Thank you, Dr. Rodriguez. Thank you, Madam President. Uh-huh. I attended the senior start day at Lancing Community College and that was a fantastic experience with 80 students from the three high schools receiving orientation all day long from so many different people. They are helping them to be sure that they go there, that they stay, that they finish two years there and um launching promise was there or that. I was also impressed by the behavior and maturity of the students and that is no getting in one day had to be done through 11 years in Lancing school district then um and I think we had many of
039those and we it's a new new way to see our students it's a new way to appreciate what lining school district is doing and the personnel and administration and this board is doing for the students and their launching promise then we should be happy that they are going to go there that they continue their education and that will benefit them their families and our communities and like this from now to what June 7 I think will be all kind of celebration for the Lancina school district students thank you madame president thank you Dr. Rodriguez, Trustee, um, Vice President Lopez, and then M. Okay. Thank you. I just want to thank the community and all those involved in putting together at least four Cesar Chavez Dolores Guera days. Um, as you know, Cesar Chavez is a
040labor leader who who co-founded or founded the United Farm Workers of of America. And of course, Dolores Werta was his uh his um co-founder. and many say the the brains of of the union, but uh they're great great people. Dolores Wer is celebrating 95 years of age. So um but from Michigan State to LCC to city council to yesterday at the u um Christo Church Hall um there were programs uh celebrating these two individuals and there were some videos taken of of the presentations. one was at city hall where our own uh secretary spoke. Um I encourage you to tune in check the um the YouTube uh of the program was very good and and also yesterday uh it was also uh recorded so that docu not doctor but uh Arur Rodriguez who was the
041u president of UFW spoke and he had a very nice uh speech and information. So, I want to thank the community for attending and all those sponsors who made it happen and um supporters. So, thank you much. Thank you, Vice President Lopez, Trusty Williams. Madam President, first thank you again for the parents, the teachers, and everyone that came out tonight. Special thank you to the students, the little people from Gardener and from Averil. They did a great job presenting and telling us about what they so special. Thank you to them and the people who put that time in with them. Congratulations to the district, everybody this week for testing. Oh my god. And to the families and the parents who had to make the sacrifices, pivot and shift. Kudos to you all. I know it
042was a challenge. Thank you. I saw the lines, the buses, the kids were getting there on time. They were excited. Some were a little sleepy, but they made it through. So, congratulations. I'm looking forward to seeing the scores come out in a few weeks for the juniors with their MSTEPs, their PSATs and ACTs cuz I'm one of those parents. Oh god. Oh god. Oh god. Oh god. But they were all excited. I was listening to the conversation today when they were coming out. There was like one more y'all. One more. Which I think they're taking MSTEP next week, right? Or did they already take MSTEP? Somebody can answer. I don't know. But they were excited about it and they were winding down. And then thank you all for the opportunity for uh the conference this
043past week. So much information. I tell it's it's always a shock but it's always a great shock. Some people are adjusting but they'll and as you can see I've provided information already to you all that were given at the conferences. Um take your time and look at them. Great great resources. We all will be providing I don't know we've talked about a group presentation but we all will be submitting reports. So, thank you again for that opportunity. Thank you. Thank you so much for sharing. Trusty Williams, Trusty Strode, good evening. Um, following back on the presentations, it was actually really amazing to be in the room and to just hear the excitement from our students about the great work that they're doing and having uh people in the community and just being able to present
044that information. It takes a lot of courage. And so I just want to re-echo thank you to those students that were here this evening and to the principles and the teachers that were also here to support. It's a great thing to see and it was a great feeling in the room here if you were here. Um echoing what trustee uh Williams stated, we did go to the NSBA conference in Atlanta this past weekend. Um the great thing that I will say is I did send over a report to Madame President surrounding some of the sessions that I was able to attend. Um there's been some small talks be amongst us three that attended that conference that will be happy to make a presentation to the board on some topics that would be very beneficial and
045helpful to us as we govern ourselves accordingly in our seats. I will state that the biggest thing for me is being able to be proud of where I come from and proud of where I'm going and proud to be a part of this district. And as we were at the conference and having conversations with people from all over the world, it was able for I was excited to say I am here with the Lancing Board of Education or part of the Lancing School District and highlight some of the great things that we do and who we have. And so I was very happy to take in all of that knowledge and understanding. And I'm so excited to share that. But I want you all to know that it was an amazing amazing trip. And knowledge
046is powerful. knowledge is powerful and so um we are looking forward to uh giving out that information. Wonderful. I'm looking forward to hearing that information. Thank you for sharing. Any other Yes, Trusty Herd. Good evening all and um I also wanted to I didn't go to Atlanta, but it just is a perfect segue into what I came prepared to speak about tonight and um all the talk of being proud of being in the district. Um and I am I graduated from Ston High School and um there are so many wonderful um alumni from across the city who are doing amazing things. And while um we can't necessarily speak about everybody, I wanted to just congratulate anybody from Lancing Schools, whether I know you or not. If you've had something amazing happening to you, I feel
047like, you know, I might be speaking out of turn, but maybe run over to our Facebook page and tell us who you are and what happened. Um, so that we can brag on you. One person in particular, the JW Ston High School, class of 2011, Kiara Lenise Ray, if you can hear me, Kiara, I am so proud of you for winning that Grammy Award as a makeup artist. Um, great things happen to young people that graduate from Lancing schools. And so, families at home, if you're thinking about, man, should I send my baby to Lancing next year? Come on home. Thank you, Trusty Herd. You heard it. Come on home. Alrighty. Yes. Did someone Did you have something VP? Well, uh, Trusty Herd reminded me when he's talked about how great some of art students
048are doing. I I'm proud to report that my grandson who graduated from Everett High School uh two of one of the film that he produced at U of M is being uh shown in the capital uh what is film festival. Yeah, it's um disconnected is the name of the of the film. And then he took part in another film that's being also shown during this uh film festival. So, uh grandpa very proud of him and and mom and everybody. But but it just goes to show you that our our students, you know, go and do great things and and I I go with you, you know, if you if you know of your child or your grandson, daughter that are doing great, let us know so we can highlight them because that that's that's a
049good way of of uh encouraging kids. That's right. You know, that are in the lower grades. And I think we should we probably should even do a kind of a um a project to find out where the students are what they're doing, you know, all the good things they're doing. That's right. And I know that we have some people are doing great in business as well. Yes. So, you know, but just to follow up on you and thank you for reminding me of that. Uh oh, it's hot tonight. Trusty Herd. Sorry. and and all this positivity, you know. Uh and what the part that I forgot, it was going to be kind of a joke, but I wanted to say to you, Madam President, I said with Vice President Lopez, I said, "Maybe we should
050do our own Lancing School District, where are they now series where we can show at our board meetings, notable people, and there's some people that come to mind, and I'm I'm the arts guy." Um, when I think about Philip H, that name might not mean a lot to a lot of you, but Philip H, um, is a very famous opera singer who graduated from Sexton High School, was a student of Verna Holly and, uh, don't get me going on Vera Holly. Um, and Darnell Ishmamail and, um, there's so many more. Our sister that I already gave a shout out for her violin Grammy and there's so many things. Where are they now? What are they doing? I think we the board have an opportunity to dispel this notion that one has to go to the
051BBS, nothing against the BBS, that one has to leave Lancing in order to be successful. It's just not true. There are many of us who are proud graduates of the Lancing School District who are having amazing careers and our amazing community members now. So, I just love this whole discussion. Don't get me going on Lancing because I'm a Lancing fanatic. That's all right. But I think that's an amazing idea. I think that is an amazing idea, a great charge and I challenge us as a board to move forward um as a board. So I trust Dr. Rodriguez, please. Thank you. Thank you. It's so great to hear from everybody and and April 1st, the Lanc Latino Health Alliance, honor the two best nurses in the um University of Michigan campus and McLaren Hospitals. And both
052of these nurses graduate from Lansino school district. One from Easter and the other one from Everett. And I assure you we had one more will be from Sexton. Then then I think that is that is a manifest the the great work that by decades we had been had been done in Lancing school district. It continued on at this time. They thank you very much and I think that anything we can do together for the good of the students we to move on. Thank you. I agree. Thank you so much. Madam President, I'm sorry. I am so so sorry. While we're talking about our alumni, I'm going to backtrack and say I'm I'm I'm having an emotional moment and I think she'll tell you why. But Miles Johnson, who is a Lancing alumni, um this p
053last Friday, he hosted what we call the youth hatchling event with an exciting youth pitch. So, kids from our district competed. It was eight school, eight eight young people. The event was featured eight talented contestants who presented their innovative ideas to the panel for four distinct judges, the Lancing Promise, the Frey Edge Capcom, and the Melanated Business Association. At the end of the competition, $2,000 went to Nails by Janet. Uh two uh 1,000 went to Boxer Blitz, one the people's choice of war went to Davia, but the eight businesses that were involved were as follow and they are all Lancing school students. Um I I can't Azria Pets Company, Nails by Jamie T, Boxer Blitz, Two Loss, Davia's Z Hair Boutique, Kayla Creations B, and Angelic Archives, which is my favorite cuz that's my kid.
054They I was crying you guys because I couldn't see him and I couldn't be there. We were in session. But congratulations to all of these students. They put their hard work in it. Each one of them walked away with a mentor. They each walked away with a gift card. they're uh constantly mentoring with them to help these young people become the entrepreneurs that they are. So, while they are still in school, they are launching their businesses. So, congratulations to all eight of them. Congratulations to all of our scholars in the Lancing School District that are doing great work. Thank you. Yes. And the Say it again, Trusty Herb. Open up. And their teachers and administrators who support them and the village. That's right. That's right. I think this is a great opportunity. We can end
055on this note. So with that being said, meeting adjourned at 7:16. No. 7:16. Oh, I'mma got it. 716