001All right, good evening. I'm going to go ahead and call the meeting to order. And our secretary is running late from work, so Mr. Antoine is filling in in her place. >> Uh, Mr. Antoine is here, Miss Bonik >> here, >> Miss Bowman >> here, >> Mr. Byer >> here, >> Miss Shakakei >> here. >> Um, Miss Hikers of course >> here, >> and Miss Rice, she's on her way. >> Tardy with notice. >> All right, if we could stand for the pledge. >> I alian 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. All right, looking over tonight's agenda. Do I have a motion to approve? >> Motion by Bowman. >> Second by Chahakei. All
002in favor? >> Um, sorry. >> I >> Yeah, I thought if we were going into close session and if we're not doing anything, would we want to adjust? >> Okay. So, we have uh we want to move our last public comment and discussion for the good of the district ahead of our close session, which um is to discuss the evaluation and we will not be coming back out to vote on anything. >> Question. >> So, ahead of P >> ahead of P. Correct. >> All right. Any questions? No. >> All right. All in favor? I >> opposed. All right, we will go right ahead into our spotlight tonight then. >> All right. Well, there's energy in the room. Uh and we're excited to share a couple spotlights for you tonight. Uh we're going to start
003off with uh our first Bulldog spotlight is um from He Elementary. So, um Mr. Essen, I know you're back there. >> Yeah, wait a minute. >> Okay. So, uh, back in October when we were talking to our building administrators, setting up, you know, some thoughts for spotlights, um, throughout the year, Mr. Essen was excited, uh, but asked for a couple months, and he said, "By December, I think we're going to be ready to tell a good story." So, uh, I will turn it over to the folks from Hevel. I'm sure they're going to introduce themselves. >> Yeah, of course. Hi everyone. Good evening. I'm Wendy Staveley. I'm a teacher at H Elementary. Um, the HEL Giving Closet started out as a vision of a couple of us. Um, couple years ago, it's been in the
004making. It's something that we really wanted to to launch and get started for our HEL community. Um, just because we believe in supporting the many needs of our families. Next slide. Um, >> this is a lot of pressure. Do you want to quit? >> No, no, no. You're good. You're doing great. Um, we've had several dedicated parents that have helped us launch our vision through organizing, building, and sorting. Um, coming up with space was a little difficult, but um, Mr. Essen really allowed us the space to kind of wedge all of our goodies in. Um, we had an IR classroom that helped wash and dry the clothing that was left unclaimed from last year. So, that kind of helped us start and get a little bit of a um, like a um, surplus, if you
005will, of things that we could um, start donating to families that need it. Student council was very instrumental in filling our shelves with hygiene products this year. Um, so we were able to get a nice big shelf full of shampoo, um, body wash, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, all kinds of things that can go right back to our Hubble families. Um, and then teacher, that's me, um, really right now overseeing the organ organization and doing weekly check-ins, um, just to organize. My daughter's up there on the screen. She's been, um, pretty helpful. Um, Frankie, she's also in student council. Just been helping really get everything launched. So, next slide. So, here's a few pictures and then I will turn it over to our student council. >> Good evening, school board members. >> We are the He Elementary
006student council and we're excited to share our accomplishments from this past year. Our student council represents all students and brings their ideas to life, making he elementary a more fun and caring place. We planned and organized creative spirit days, including pajama day, crazy hair day, Santa's workshop Imposters, and Grand and Red Explosion. Last December, we brainstormed even more spirit days like reindeer day, cozy holiday sock day, candy cane day, best twinkle like a Christmas tree day, and festive festive twinning. >> We ran a successful holiday spirit week where students dressed up, wore holiday accessories, and built excitement throughout the school. Our members created and sold candygrams choosing peppermint puffs and sugar sticks to spread cheer before winter break. We set up a plan to assemble assemble and deliver candygrams and assign jobs for selling and
007organizing the event. >> In January, we worked together to plan more spirit days and brainstorm community projects to help those in need. In the spring, we discussed ways to give back, like picking up trash, donating to animal shelters, supporting the children's hospital, and organizing food and clothing drives. Um, for Earth Day, we planned a green blue spirit day and encouraged all students to pick up trash and take care of our playgrounds. >> We made posters and reminders to promote our Detroit dog rescue drive, which collected fleece, blankets, toys, and cash donations for a no kill dog rescue. Um, our council started collecting pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, encouraging friendly competitions between grade levels. Student council members helped make elections fair and funded by explaining the progress to younger students by promoting participation in
008our elections. >> We've held regular meetings, shared ideas, and voting on important decisions, making sure every voice was heard. >> Our team met with Mr. bassian to discuss ideas for activities and improvements when necessary. We created and delivered reminders of spirit days and manage pot tab collections. We collected hygiene items for our heavy giving closet where families in need can shop for free for hygiene items like toothbrushes and clothing such as boots and shirts. >> We're proud to have worked on projects that make our school cleaner, kinder, and more connected. Thank you for listening and all the support of the He Elementary Student Council. >> Mrs. Staveley, there's some slides in here. Maybe you want to talk a little bit too. >> Yeah. Um, some of the ones that are out here. So, our student
009council did a lot of help in organizing um for the Thanksgiving drive that we had this year. Um, so they were really instrumental coming in on a weekend to help Mr. Essie and box all the items up and just get them organized and sorted for families. Um, and then this is the candygrams. Yep. So they one of the um members had talked about selling candygrams at lunchtime. So that just goes back to um help them raise funds for their their little organization. >> Did I miss anything? >> I don't think so. No, our clothing closet is stocked. So, we've just been getting the word out. Mr. Esten's been putting it in in his weekly announcements that families can come in, just talk to the office and and just grab a bag and fill whatever and
010take whatever you need. So, it's been a great thing. >> Thank you very much. That takes a lot of organization on your part and you guys are really impressive uh the presentation seeing um you guys and your voice that you have in it. So, thank you for coming out tonight to share that with us. So, all the Heb students, come on up here and I'm going to ask you to stand right in front of the board table here and we're going to get a picture. And parents, of course, if you want a little keepsake, get your get your phones out right. I'm gonna get out of the way. Then I'll move. I promise. All right. Great job. I just wanted to say a quick thank you to Miss Staley and all the students and staff
011that helped organize the giving closet. Um I was able to go in I think last month or the month before and help start getting it organized. Um so it's really exciting. It's come a long way since I was in there. It was a little bit overwhelming, but uh thanks for doing all of that. Okay, our second spotlight tonight is um to recognize our um all state athletes and some coaches who received honors um from our fall sports season. Um extremely successful fall sports season really across all of our teams. Um so the the athletes that we're going to honor tonight uh certainly are representative of of many others. um our student athletes who really had a successful fall. I think there was a comment made um from one of the reporters from the Mcome Daily
012that you know Romeo was the was the school of the fall season um based on the success of our teams uh in individual athletes. So, um, high school athletes, if you're here, I'm going to ask you to start making your way up to the podium and we have a certificate for you and, um, each of the board members would like to shake your hand and congratulate you and then we'll get a picture or similar to what we did with the Heid. So, I'm going to start with um uh a few few girls here who this seems like an annual right of passage for us um for them to join us this time of year. Um so, we have three allstate runners from our girls cross country team, 11th grader Annie Herabosski. Come on up, Annie.
013Congratulations. >> And Annie, if you'll just wait at the end down there, we'll get a picture. Alec Goodell, >> Natalyia Griezmo. I would take a minute to say the girls were runners up in the state of Michigan this year and finished second at the regional meet uh and more recently eighth at the national finals uh with their club running team. So sometimes you have the success that they have and you finish second in the state and it seems like oh maybe they didn't achieve what they needed to but girls that was an exceptional season and and uh I know that the board and myself and our staff do not take for granted all the hard work that you do. All I have to do every now and then is glance out the window of the
014administration building and see you guys running around in frigid temperatures um year round. So congratulations. Um, next we have Alyssa Chambers, uh, senior for girls swim all stage. Congratulations, Alyssa. I'm told Alyssa has broken several school records and is likely to be considered the most decorated girl swimmer in in school district. So, congratulations, Alyssa. Joey Celi, senior football. Joey's actually a two sport athlete in the fall. He played on our soccer team as well as being the kicker uh and punter on our football team. So, congratulations, Joey. Uh Owen Perry, 12th grades, all state soccer, first team. Okay. Um, we'll recognize Braden Burke and Phil Rsavski who 12th grader and 11th grader who are honor mention honorable mention all state from boys soccer this fall. Uh, and last but not least, Elellanar Williams, 11th grader,
015third team all state in girls volleyball. >> All right, wait there for a second. student athletes. Uh in addition to several individual honors and success for our teams, I think we've had a record number of of coaches from our coaching staff who were recognized this fall. Um Coach Reinus from football was the Mac Red coach of the year and the regional coach of the year. So congratulations to Mr. Reinus. Vinnie Vasileski, uh, boys soccer coach, M. Red, coach, coach of the year, and district coach of the year. Come on up, Vinnie. >> Never too many handshakes for having a great season, Benny. >> Congratulations. >> Um, Mike Bustlup, Coach Bustlup, um, couldn't be here tonight. I don't think um but uh Matt Redd coach of the year and received the esteem honor of being the
016Michigan High School Coaches Association cross country coach of the year and uh a banquet in Midland a month or so ago. So great honors for coach Buslip and all he's doing for for that program. Um Stacy Williams, our volleyball coach, was regional coach of the year. Sue Trush, our girls swim coach. M White, coach of the year. and Paul Scally, our boys golf coach, was Mac Red coach of the year. All right, coaches and athletes, we'll ask you to do the same thing. If you want to come in front of the table here, uh, and we'll allow everybody get a picture. Wednesday. >> All right. Thank you all for coming. We are going to move on with the rest of our business here and we're going to invite Vicki to come slowly but surely for
017her her last budget amendment presentation. >> Oh yeah. Okay. So, this is a little bit earlier than usual, but um this is my last presentation, so we're going to go for it. Um what we're going to do is backtrack a little bit and give you a reminder of how we ended the 2425 school year. Um we had a total of 77.4 million in revenues and 70 almost $74 million in expenditures to add to our fund balance $3.5 million and end our fund total fund balance of 20.5 million or 27.82%. So we had a great year last year. Looking at our June adoption of 24 2526 for general fund budget, we expected that a revenues or expenditures would exceed revenues by $2.8 million and we would use $2.8 million of fund balance, ending our fund balance
018at $15.2 million or 19.13%. So this didn't include the previous year's actual numbers because when we adopted it, we didn't know what the actual numbers were. So that there's a little discrepancy there, but that's the reason for that. So let's talk about some of our original budget assumptions. Our state per pupil funding budget assumption. One of the first um pieces that we need to project our budget is the per pupil foundation allowance. So, we used the governor's budgeted $392 per pupil increase to take the foundation allowance to 10,000. That's originally what we thought the um the budget the governor had proposed. And then our en Oh, my formatting changed. So, our enrollment assumptions, we took the 2324 blended count um in April of 2025 of 5,324 FTEES and FTEES are full-time equivalent students. We used
019the plant ran 25 26 um enrollment projection that we use their enrollment numbers every year of 5357. So we estimated that we would have a fall increase of about 33 FTEES. So that's what our budget was based on. So the actual budget for the state that was adopted was $442 per pupil increase taking the foundation allowance to $10,50. So that was an improvement over what we projected and that increased us by a revenue about $266,000. This looks better. So our actual enrollment numbers using our blended count from April of 2025 of 5,324 FTEES. Our fall enrollment was actually 5,417 FTEES. when you blend those numbers together, which is what we get paid on a blended count was four 5,43 FTEES, which is an increase of 46 FTEES over what we budgeted for. So again, an
020improvement in our budget. Increased um the blended count of 46 FTEES times the $10,50 is an additional $462,300. So some things that changes we had in revenue that were not funded and this is our MIPERS which is the Michigan school I'm looking for my my acronym here Michigan public school employee retirement system so we call it for short MIPERS um the 2025 revenue that was not funded most significantly our 147A4 MIP's cost offset of nearly $2 million that was not funded this year and that was to be realized in a reduction in retirement rates, and we'll talk about that in just a second. Um 147 C2 Mipers onetime deposit of $800,000, we did not receive. And then the 147G Mipers healthcare reimbursement, that was turned around and went back to employees last year as a
0213% um reimbursement to the employees that were paying for health care. We also got this year um MIP's employee health care cost offset. So to the 3% has gone back onto the district and there's an additional $500,000 to to pay the district for offsetting the increase in the normal health care costs. We have some grant increases. These don't really improve the bottom line of the general fund because we have expenditures that equal these um these grants unless we take something from the general fund and move them to those grants and that may happen but that that won't happen until our final budget. So we had an increase in atrisisk funding of $638,000 an increase from 2025. We also have the 31A mental health grant per pupil. I think Dr. Robinson's been communicating with you about
022that and the legislative issues that come with that. Um we carried over from last year $628,000 and then estimate our allocation for this year of $63,000. Um that that funds our social workers, three social workers, our psychologist, school nurse, and our shield contract. So dependent on the outcomes of those lawsuits that may change in the um final budget. We also do uh an amendment in the expenditures. We shore up all of our staff salaries, benefits are adjusted, lane changes for teachers and our benefit selections um are are um finalized. the retirement rate adjustments. Remember, our retirement rates didn't decrease as much as 5.75 to make up for that $2 million. Some of our retirement selections by employees were were less than 3% of an u savings. So, that's why that $2 million was very important.
023We also uh you know shore up some of our supply budgets. However, in the end, um we are getting closer to a um a better bottom line. We're we're moving in the right direction. We have total revenues of $82.3 million. Expenditures still exceed revenues by $2.3 million, at least at this point in time. We expect our ending fund balance to be $18.2 million or 21.57%. Um, as you remember each year we usually budget very conservatively. So at the end of the year we expect to be a lot closer to the to a um balanced budget and at the bottom line um that has improved. So I'll take any questions if you have any for me. >> I just have a comment. Um Vicki, thank you so much because I I know because of our conservative
024spending and budgeting and and planning for that um even during COVID when a lot of money was given to districts, we are in a very good position. >> Um which not every district around here can say that. So um to those of you watching, this is actually, you know, we there's a lot of good things going budget-wise that we have in our favor >> and and enrollment increases. There are not many districts that are seeing enrollment increases. So, we're fortunate in that area and um I think it's because of the the district's programs that that that happens. So, >> so Vicki, just I guess kind of question slashpoint of clarification for you to affirm potentially the largest >> I guess the the most significant um impact on the amendment this time is um we can
025reconcile now the actual budget that was approved um in early October and we know our fall count information and so that in large part you know in addition to transitioning leadership in the business office. Um, that's that's the most significant portion. I know with all this retirement stuff, you know, there's not the best news in there because we weren't made whole and that's a conversation to be had, you know, in in terms of advocating for a budget next year. Um, and so, um, you know, we don't know the outcome, you know, of the, um, situation around 31A. So um you know when when we do know that you know we'll know how to um reconcile things. So um but in large part that's that's the at the foundation of the amendment. >> Those are the
026variables. Those are the two big variables and they were both positive. So that's that's why we can move a little bit closer to a balanced budget. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Okay. All right. Anything else? Okay. Thank you. >> All right. We're going to move on to consent action items. This is the approval of general funds, financial reports, wire transfer reports, purchasing card expenditures, the minutes from our regular meeting on the 17th, and the first reading of policy 20006, which is um something that we put a lot of effort into, um the personal electronic devices, um which we did, uh have a policy meeting recently in working with administrators to look at the language of this and make sure that the roll out of this is a successful when it eventually does happen. So I
027make a motion. >> Motion >> second. >> Okay. Motion by Bonik, seconded by B Boy Ber. Any questions? Okay. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Moving on to our communications. >> So, no communications that out of the superintendent's office um for the board this month. Um uh we do have three committee reports um from meetings that we've had here in December. >> All right. So I will go we Yep. We have three and I will begin with the committee of curriculum. So we met um just a few weeks ago and quite a robust agenda that we had. I'll just highlight some things that were um in your notes that you already received, but we discussed um a different a whole list of novels that the 12th grade English um teachers want to look at uh
028to address to coincide with the um what's the word I'm looking for? Help policy >> with the capstone projects. >> That's right. >> To go along with that. Um so we met and looked at that list. uh we had a a meeting with a representative from parent square which Mr. Murray will be uh highlighting in his report but that is um something that kind of was born out of the strategic plan where parents were definitely asking for a better platform for communication and information. So that's where that came from and this is the program that and the platform that rose to the top. So we met with that rep via Zoom. We're able to ask a lot of questions. Um it integrates well with P school, can be embedded right into the district website. Um
029has a lot of features which are needed. Uh the cost of that there's an initial startup cost of just under $25,000 and then an annual cost of $45,387. Um but it is noted that the current cost of the platforms we are currently using is just under $37,000. So a little bit over. Um but just to be aware that we are currently paying you know that cost. Anyway, we talked about uh B botney and zoologology which is courses that need to be approved prior to scheduling in the spring for the high school. They are currently semester courses and uh teachers gave rationale to move those to year-long courses to have them um be able to dive deeper and coordinate with the CTE pathways. Uh we had an update on Power School that there um the launch
030time has been pushed back a little bit. Um we talked very briefly about the secondary ELA contracts uh that we will need to be discussing reviewing those and renewing those in the coming uh months and just the subcommittee asked for feedback um from teachers on the pros and cons and looking between the two and three-year contract approvals. Um we also brought up the revisited the topic of AIDS at the young five and kindergarten level which we kind of an ongoing discussion um and the balance of technology at the elementary level. We got a brief update from Miss McFarland um on the sex ed committee that met and that was about it. Any questions? All right, we will move on to finance then strand one. I'm sorry, not finance. Uh, we'll go ahead and do facilities.
031That's me. Are you ready? Facilities um met last week. We also had a very robust um agenda. The minutes went out. We discussed group three projects um at the ninth grade academy and that the final stages are going to be completed over winter break and then uh an update really about what is taking place um for the the turf um courtyard area that we had to do a different um type of um material. So now we have to wait for the weather to to let that take place. Um, we had a lengthy conversation about change orders and just um the process for change orders, how they come about. Sometimes it's stuff you just can't avoid. Sometimes it's based on uh um when we get um the review at the state level and sometimes it's stuff
032that we decide into the project that we want to add to a project. Um, so we talked a lot about the budget and how contingency funds work and how they're listed by project, but then there's a group. Um, and so I I guess I'd say to the overall message is we are still um completing the projects we set out to complete um and that we adjusted once we knew um all the different um costs that were associated at the start um of the school year and that we are still working within um our contingency budget. We've not gone over. We've talked about the group four projects um and all the different bid tabulations and you see those on here today which is the roofing um the phase 2 renovations at RMS and the elementary restroom
033renovations as well as the change order approval. So those are what's there. We also uh went over technology. Um we um Mr. Nelson presented the district phone replacement project and this is an upgrade that gives us some additional um ways to do full callouts. Um we did discuss about our phones even something that we should spend time and energy on. So that was a good conversation. Um but we still landed with uh this replacement project as the recommendation. And then we talked about uh the bid timelines uh bond planning moving forward. We discussed the sinking fund um the filter first project and also the hydration system and the grant that we have with that. And uh just a note, and you guys saw it in your um minutes, that um we're going to need to
034have uh a change up and a special meeting to um deal with some bids and timelines that are going to come in in February. So just mark that on your calendar. I think that's everything unless there's anything anyone has question on. I just if I can I just wanted to say that I'm uh was unable to make the meeting and I wanted to thank uh Mr. Ber for being the alternate and attending the session. Um I uh I reviewed all the notes and I was able to answer the questions that I had um before the meeting or via a phone call. So just let you know. >> Thanks. And >> I had the questions about the phone system. Mike and I talked about it. He understood his his IT background. He filled it in a
035little more. >> All right. And we will finish up with policy. M. Rice. >> Yes, ma'am. So, we met on December 3rd. Um, so our primary goal of the meeting um regarding policy 20006 um behavior personal electronic devices. Um we met to refine the current draft policy um with input from administration to prepare for a first reading at this meeting today. Uh we were joined by building administrator from each level who provided the recommendations for future administrative regulations and implementation. Um we um we had overwhelming consensus and datadriven agreement that personal electronic devices in school are a detriment to learning environments and mental health of students. Uh the first reading um of policy 206 is as follows. The school district revers reserves the right to prohibit the possession or use of personal electronic devices on
036school district property or at school district related functions. For this purpose of this policy, personal electronic device means a privatelyowned device that is used for audio, video or text communication, including but not limited to cell phones, personal laptops, smartwatches, and other wireless device connections. Students are not permitted to use personal electronic devices during the school day unless required by law or as set forth in the corresponding RCS administrative regulations. The superintendent shall develop administrative regulations consistent with this policy. There are ongoing discussions about how and when this policy will be implemented. Those decisions will be made in collaboration with the board, the superintendent, and building leaders. That last bit is not part of the first reading. That's just for your information. Um so there were some other administrative regulation updates that we um discussed on
037not so serious of a of a matter. Um Miller Johnson recommends um certain things from time to time and we can or we don't have to um adopt these things. But for transparency policy 4003 conditions of employment um anti-moon lighting this is not a required update and the recommendation from employee services is that it's not needed. This is not an update to the t tutoring policy discussed at our last board meeting. Um that was tabled for further discussion and deliberation. And then policy 6013 facility dog not a required update. Um the recommendation is that the current therapy dog policy and regulations are more than sufficient. Um and then administrative regulation updates 4002 employment considerations. The proposed updates will be implemented as it is required to stay aligned to the Michigan state policy CHRI background checking
038procedures and the 6002 administrative regulations. The district recommends a review conducted of the new regulation language edits by behavior management team to see if there are any concerns with our process and procedure. Uh once it's update, it'll be shared out to the subcommittee and then reported at our next board meeting. And that was our policy meeting. >> Move on to superintendent report. Dr. Robinson, >> I don't want to overlook the fact that the finance committee met as well. Yes, the minutes are >> discussed the budget update. Um, so I just want to if there's anything else that needs to be shared from that meeting. >> Um, I want to take the time to do do so. Is there anything else to share out from the f I know Vickiy's presentation in large part was the
039meeting and we've got a little bit in my report. Anything else from finance? All right. Um I want to remind uh the board that you know our the organizational meeting um will happen you know when we return from winter break on January 5th. Um the committee membership and the meeting schedule and that is not a formal part of the organizational meeting. However, we use that to kind of create begin to create a conversation about members who may want to pursue changes in committee membership and things like that. We do want to get the meeting schedule, you know, membership confirmed and the meeting schedule set prior to our regular meeting at the end of January. Um so, uh I'll be sharing some information with um Rachel that she'll be moving on to you guys even prior
040to the winter break just so we can hit the ground running in January because we have some committees that will meet late January and if not early February. So, we want to be ready for that. Okay. Uh, academic services, Mr. Murray. >> All right. Good evening, everybody. Um, my report tonight is focused on the some professional learning that's happened at the elementary level over the course of the the last couple weeks that we're excited about. Um, a little over a week ago, we had uh coaches from Amplify come in um and visit all of our elementary classrooms. They were here for six days, two coaches, um two days per building, um visiting classrooms and um basically um uh trying to think of a good way to say this. In in reality, visiting visiting classrooms with
041our principles in an effort to better understand the implementation of the third edition of CKLA. Um, we've had coaches come out before when we had the second edition as well. Really just trying to get a litmus test of how we are doing, especially in comparison to um, other schools that these coaches visit. Um, I'm a pretty competitive person and so, you know, we always want a little bit of feedback related to how we're doing versus how everybody else is doing. Um, and it's also professional learning for our our building administrators as well. But the um, coaches gave us rave reviews. um the work that we're doing, the work that our teachers are doing uh especially in our in our elementary administrators um was deemed as outstanding. Um we also baked in uh something that we
042didn't do the first time when the coaches came visiting which was allow time for our teachers to meet with the coaches to ask questions and um seek guidance based on some of the challenges pinch points that you know they are feeling on a daily basis. Um and those conversations um were fruitful in the sense of we do have the coaches scheduled to come back a few more times um based on the contract that we agreed to. Um but we're going to bring them back sooner rather than later, which is hopefully like the end of January. Um and they won't be visiting classrooms this time. They'll be working directly with teachers um in an effort to um help them build capacity around how they can trim lessons uh because the the Amplify Suite provides plenty of
043things for teachers to work on with students and sometimes it's overwhelming when you think about all of the other pieces that fit into a school day. And so we want to make sure that we're focused on the most important parts of the lesson. And the verbiage that our coaches used was trim the rest, not cut things out. um because we still want to ensure a guaranteed and viable curriculum which means that the um resource will be taught as close to as intended as it can um so that we can cover all content preparing our kids for the subsequent years to come. And so we're excited to bring the coaches back out and and have them work with our teachers to again um create a sense of comfort that we can make slight tweaks to lessons
044to make sure that the content can get covered and it doesn't feel as overwhelming in a school day. So that's exciting. Um about a month ago, a team from HEV, including uh Mr. Essen, went to an EXL conference to better learn about how we can continue to leverage to benefit our students. Um from the sounds of it, there was some really good stuff. Um, and I think the evidence of that is that Paul and his team have worked on some guidance that has now been given to our elementary principles and will be disseminated to our teachers at all of our elementary school buildings over the course of the next few staff meetings um to continue to build collective capacity on howl can be a um an amazing tool for our kids to continue to move
045forward in the sense of personalized education. um a gap filler but also an accelerant for kids who um are advanced in in math and ELA to a certain extent. And then our principles need PD2. And so at the elementary level um I have been working with our team um at studying the 21 irrefutable laws of leadership by John C. Maxwell. Um this year we've decided to take a look at three of those 21 um leadership laws and have some deep dialogue about how that may benefit personal leadership and collective leadership within the district. Um it's going to be a multi-year um endeavor because we just won't be able to get to all 21 this year and do it the right way, right? In terms of really looking at at the laws with a fine tooth
046comb. And then we are also um putting into we have I have monthly meetings with our elementary principles and we are baking into those monthly meetings visits from our elementary coaches Mary Suan Ciso who is our math coach and Noel Cass Marzek who is our literacy coach and they are continuing to build principal capacity um around our new curricular resources. CLA third edition isn't as new as number corner um but number corner which is a bridges add-on um is new to us and bridges tier one will be new as well and so the whole idea here is to continue to build our principles understanding of the resources so that they can continue to support teachers um we know that when teachers get better kids get better and so we want to continue that work so
047questions for me >> did you say the principal meetup was just elementary or do you do the PD with all of our building admin Uh, yes and no. Right. So, we have our our ALT meetings, administrative leadership team meetings, which Miss McFarland and I um typically run. And so, that includes um some nuts and bolts conversation and professional development offerings for all of our administrators. I meet with the elementary principles once a month and and um supervise them. And so, the conversation that and presentation that I have now is focused solely on elementary at this point. >> Okay. And then did you have anything to add to the parent square? >> I do discussion. >> Um Jennifer will go and then I have the next slide has the key takeaways as I see them. So
048yes I do. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So I wanted to give you some updates. I believe our spotlight last month we had some middle schoolers come and talk about some of their academy experiences. um the administrative team and academy coach and I have been hard at work um ensuring that we have experiences past the nonprofit fair. Um so I just wanted to give you some updates. Um we are exploring more in sixth grade with some key partners uh leaders dogs for the blind and 4 MSU extension and another organization that I couldn't find the name of. Um it's a animal welfare group. um they're going to be coming in in the next uh few months and um exploring more with our sixth graders about what their organization does, what challenges they um can support
049within the community. Um these were based on um some of the sixth grade um feedback of what their favorite uh tables were that they saw at the nonprofit fair. In seventh grade, um it's engagement. Um so um we've been pushing hard um to get some we're calling them ins and outs opportunities um for our seventh graders to engage in some service learning projects. Um so we've got some things in the pipeline with Forgotten Harvest Motor City Mitten Mission. Oh, that's a hard one. Um and New Day Foundation. Um, so our goal is to um have experiences for our seventh graders where they work um in the building with some partners and then out of the building. So my goal is two and two, two ins and two outs and it's already December, but we're going
050to make it happen. Um, eighth grade is in power. Now remember, we're we're lagging a little bit, right? like eighth grade was isn't the year that we're supposed to be doing these change maker challenges, but we're going to do something for our eighth graders. Um so um we've got a couple of ideas that we're going to pilot with our leadership team uh leadership classes and then um we're we're working on some uh format or template um to give opportunities which are more service learning like for our eighth graders um but mixing in a little bit of what a changemaker challenge could be next year. So we've been busy. The admin team is not very happy with me, but we're going to make some things work. Um, just wanted to give an update. Um, exams are
051coming up uh for the high school January 19th. We don't have school. Um, but the the four days uh Tuesday through Friday that week are exams. So, just get it on people's radars. And then um we have an experience uh that uh Eva Dawson started last year called Partner Poppins. and I wanted to make you aware of it as board members. On January 28th is our DEM partner pop in and really it's not any kind of canned presentation or program. Um Eva last year had some little goodies from culinary and some coffee. Um and partners literally could drop in anytime between 7:45 and 9:00 a.m. and pop into one classroom if they wanted to speak with the teacher or um when we had our BEI pop in um Blade. Oh, no. Big Reds Orchard came
052and they actually found their way into our Botney teachers classroom um and she did it a teacher extership last summer, hence a full year Botney class now. So, um lots of opportunities, but you're more than welcome to come um if you're available. It's first thing in the morning before maybe some of you have to drive down to work or up to work. Um, but it's a it's a cool opportunity low-key um for partners to come in and see more things in the classroom without a canned presentation. That's all I have. >> Turn it over to Mr. Murray. >> So, we have a resolution tonight on uh parent square and the adoption and uh ask Mr. Murray to to come back and kind of give some highlevel information, answer any questions that the board might have
053outside of um what we've covered through curriculum subcommittee. >> All right. Thank you. So, Mrs. Iikor touched on some of this information that's on the screen right now, but um essentially uh Parent Square is an all-in-one communication. Um we had heard a number of years ago from parents that we have way too many communication platforms that we're using and it is at times causing confusion about where which communication they're supposed to be looking at in ter and who it's coming from and login and passwords and all of those things right so um out of the focus group and into the strategic plan initially went this initiative I'll call it strategic plan 1.0 um we weren't able to get to it. Um and then we rolled into strategic planning 2.0 which is where this currently sits.
054Um a team was put together and we studied three different vendors and parent square um by far and away honestly was the vendor that we thought gave us the best of everything. Um it does give us as I said an all-in-one communication tool um that has an intuitive social media feel which really enhances the experience for users all the way around. that's um our teachers, right? In terms of ease of use, in terms of parents, in terms of means of communication because um that's how we communicate nowadays. Um it's not just messaging um in terms of one-stop shopping. It could include things like um field trip signups, conference signups, right? Think about that, right? We're sending um notifications home that need to come back for field trips. Um we're using Signup Genius, right? Again, another
055platform that we may use for conference registration. that can all be done within parent square. And then a really cool feature is um what parent square refers to as a daily digest. So while you may get many communications into your parent square mobile app, um if you don't look at any of those and and really um I guess a um I don't know what to how to say it, but we have parent square in Goodrich. Um, my kids have parent square and so I get the full parent square experience. And so there are lots of communications that do come through, but if you don't take a peek at any of those, you get something called a digest each evening. And so the algorithm takes the communications that were coming to you and packages them up
056into an email and puts it in your inbox in the evening about six o'clock. So if you don't want to deal with everything that's flowing through the app on a on a daily basis, that's perfectly fine. you can check out check out the digest at night and it gives you again an overview but then also allows you to click in so if you wanted to read the full entire message you're able to do that and so it is pretty slick. Um the pair square app also provides translation and I have over a 100 languages up here but I think Jeremy said they're now up to 150 languages which is really cool. It's instant translation. So, for example, if I was sending a message home um to a family in which English was not the primary
057language at home, let's say it was Spanish, um the Parent Square app recognizes the native tongue of the house and automatically translates the communication into Spanish. And then when the parent replies back to us in Spanish, it's automatically translated back to English. And so um for us uh um in the district that you know we are really hopeful that that will create some efficiencies for us in terms of communication um especially because there are lots of things that now have to be translated by people or by platforms right somebody may be sitting at a at a computer doing it or we may be dumping dumping it into a word doc or a google doc in order to get that translation. So it's just one more step in terms of creating an efficiency in the way
058that we work with people. And then the icing on the cake for us is the website. Um, you know, we are going to go through the process of upgrading our website. We met with parent square today. Um, we do know that um there's work to be done. Uh, and we we will put a committee together to be able to to fulfill that work. Um, the app will be in or excuse me, the website will be integrated into the parent square app and the huge bonus of that is in terms of ease of communication. Um, if uh we have a snow day, you know, um, Dr. Robinson or Maryanne Brush will be able to access their parent square app and type in the information that's needed to this needed for the snow date to go um
059to go out and that information will automatically hit the website. They can post all on all of our socials all within the parent square app. So we don't have to now go to each of those Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and post about the snow day and our website. It can all be done as part of one process. So that's pretty slick. Um the other piece that's really nice too is we can have a continuous flow of content going to our web pi our website and district web pages all of the time right in this because of the integration anytime a a building post you know creates a Facebook post creates a Twitter post creates an Instagram post or just wants to post good news that can all be done from the app and that communication can
060be pushed out to all of the different venues. So we're we're pretty excited about that. Um and then obviously a um an upgraded website um really enhances our online storefront which you know prospective families are that's the first place they're going right when when they're trying to learn a little bit more about our district. So we're we're super excited about the opportunity. Questions? >> No questions. I just wanted to say as the past parent club meetings at the high school, this was a constant topic of conversation. too many apps, not getting answers from our some of our older children who don't either see the details or give us all details as they get older and we're not checking their backpacks like we did when they were in elementary. So, um I think this is something
061that'll be a big hit with uh middle and high school parents who kind of feel like left out of the loop or don't know where to look. So, sure, I'm excited for that. >> Well, it incentivizes our teachers as well to be able to communicate as well. Be not that they don't, but this is just so easy, right? It's not as clunky as some of the platforms that we're currently using. And again, it's that intuitive social media feel that you know um is a part of our lives every single day. And so it's going to be so much easier just to grab your phone, type a message, send it off um and have that message again only easily only go to um the folks that are in your class, right? All integrated into our student
062information system. And so partitions are there um protections are there um and and privileges are there. Um, I have a question and we might have discussed this in the committee meeting already, but will there be a training portion of it to get staff, you know, on par with it because it is another piece to learn? >> 100%. Absolutely. Absolutely. >> So, um, want to thank, uh, Mr. Murray, uh, Maryanne and and Mark Nelson. Um, you know, they they've been working hard to figure out the right way. If you remember last year, um, we took a concerted effort to examine a new power school product, um, that was similar. And so that was part of this this I don't want to call it a delay because I think we've been super thorough in trying to make
063the right decision. Um but you know unfortunately you know all the time and energy and a little bit of investment financially last year um the power school product just just didn't deliver uh uh as comprehensively. Um and so you know this year it was time to make a decision and and get to work. And when we think about strategic plan, this is, you know, this is that, you know, focus area of strengthening our our partnership and relationship with parents and communication is everything. Um, I I will be the first to say that old habits die hard. Okay? So, that's going to touch our staff. Um, and that's also going to touch our parents. So, there will need to be an investment, you know what I'm saying, and understanding. Uh we'll certainly train our staff and
064provide a lot of communication to parents, but at some point people are going to have to throw the lever uh and give up on the old to truly understand the benefit of the new and and um Rob and I talk a lot about that. Um and we'll have some non-negotiables um that are going to have to be put in place early on that are just going to require people to use the platform. Uh I am convinced and in and people that we talk to um this is an emerging platform. It it is not brand new in any way, shape or form, but more and more districts are shifting this route. Um you know the the newest thing that we weren't sure was going to happen is this whole notion of upgrading our website. Uh and
065there is a decent amount of work to come for that and and our goal would be that the new website would go live in conjunction with the beginning of next school year. The meeting we had today suggested four months um for the website uh and I think it was 12 or 13 weeks for the app. Those can happen to some degree over overlapped, but we're we're really talking about a concerted effort over probably the first seven and a half months of of the new calendar year to get get everything out there for everybody. and and then I would hope by this time next year it will just be the cadence and things like remind and all these other do class dojo and all they're they're all going to be gone. Um school messenger will be
066gone. Um we'll all um uh you know as much as I just absolutely love you know 3:45 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. on on those days where the weather just isn't friendly in the upper peninsula of Mcome County. Um, I I'd be happy to have some efficiency and and all the communication that needs to happen. So, Rob, thanks for the update. Any other questions for Rob? All right. >> Thank you. >> I will say the funniest thing from our virtual meeting today, and I didn't mention this. I don't even know why I'm saying this um to Mark and Jennifer and Rob. Did you notice that every person's office had the parent square pillow? >> Oh my goodness. Um, so, um, in honor of all the work, my my folks at the center of this are going
067to get a parent square pillow at some point in time. >> Um, all right. Um we're going back to um Vicki um to talk a little bit about something that is is quite honestly difficult to understand but is really good news for our community, especially coming off the the recent support for the 2025 um facilities bond. So Vicki and I have been hearing for probably 15 months about a potential refunding from our financial advisor of the first series of the 2016 bond. Uh and so I've asked Vicki to shed a little light because we have a resolution tonight. Um, and but this is this is all really good news and I think uh our bond attorney made a comment in one of our recent meetings with them preparing the schedule for this like you really
068need to make sure your community knows like this this is truly you know uh good stewards of the of the taxpayers dollars when you have the opportunity for a refunding like this and he had not seen one with the type of savings that we're going to have um when we get through this uh in as long as he could remember. So Vicki, I'll click and >> yeah. >> Okay. So the slide deck is provided by the PFM, our financial consultant. So they run all these numbers. These are by no means numbers that um I I created, but we we rely on them and they've um always come through with with great advice. So the re a refunding is much like a mortgage refinancing your mortgage. So for a homeowner, so we see savings in interest
069payments over the remaining term of the bond. We'll be refunding $43.6 million in the 2016 school bond site school building and site bonds. And the preliminary estimate is that we'll gain 11.49% savings. You can go to the next slide. Okay. So, the total cash flow savings, which is in that box on the left hand side, is approximately $392,000 annually, reducing our interest cost from 5% to 3.41%. Since we're unable to know what the market will bring when we go out and sell the bonds um at the date of refunding, we can only estimate the savings on that particular day. So, interest fluctuations will impact the savings. However, we're well above the in industry recommended savings level of 2 to 3%. We're going we could be anywhere from 11.49% like I suggested up to 13.32% or
0709.63%. So there is significant savings in doing this refunding. And the next slide. So the timeline targeting is targeting date for the bond sale is on February 25th. So we'll know our rate and savings at that time and then we can communicate that. So when I mean um these bond these in 10 years the bonds are callable. So that just means we take all the the bond fund uh the the bonds back and then we resell them at a lower interest rate. So this is um a win-win for the district and that we can have this savings to our community and to you our taxpayers. So that's all. I think one of the key questions that that I actually had uh and others have had is so when we talk about this savings and you
071see on the bottom of the one slide, you know, $5 million that does not $5 million for us to build more things or or fix more things. This this really goes back and reducing the interest rate uh and in the long run impacting the repayment term. Um because when we're paying less interest, we can pay more principal. Uh and then there's a projection of how this really would lead into if we pay the 2016 bond off sooner, then you know at our current debt retirement rate, um that could come down or we actually could begin to pay the 2021 bond off sooner. And in the long run, I guess, you know, ultimately it could impact the repayment term of the recently approved 2025 facilities bond. Um, it's hard because this changes over time to predict
072that far out, but but ultimately, as Vicki has shared, it's good news. Questions? All right. Thank you, Vicki. Um, so just a couple other things before we wrap up my report. Uh, I guess construction guys, can you come up please just so we can make this efficient? I'm not sure what type of questions we might have, but uh um you know, we had the facility subcommittee meeting and during that meeting um last Wednesday, there was still some post um post bid work to be done on some of the projects and um and that just needed time through quite honestly Friday morning. Um, and so, um, we repushed out to you, I did in my update Friday afternoon what you have printed on this tan paper. Uh, and that's just, um, updates to any bid tab
073changes and ultimately, um, the recommendation. So, there are a couple things that I've asked Mike and Chris to speak to that really led to a change in the documentation. So guys, I'll let you speak to to the the two two projects that we have up for approval tonight and then any other questions the board may have. >> Okay. Um the we we did the post bids on the elementary school toilet renovations and the uh middle school phase 2 and went through extensive uh postid reviews with each contractor to clarify each one of the scopes to make sure that everything was covered as much as possible. Um, so as we talked about at the facilities committee meeting, we we went through all those post bids the last few days prior to our meeting. We had a
074few to do on Thursday after our meeting, but for the masonary work, we had talked about um some things were unveiled in the um the post bid. We was a scope gap in in the project at the middle school for the renovations. So the low bidder had had gathered all of his information and we were missing some demo work. So quite likely we're going to go out for a demol small demolition project at a later time possibly for the February meeting that we'll bring to the facilities committee. Basically just some of the demo work was left out. So we'll rely on some of our other consultants to make sure that it's monitored. Um it's in the band room area. So that was the masonary clarification that you saw um last Wednesday night. And then the
075restroom renovations, we had several of the uh low contractors that had to withdraw due to errors, and that was noted in the in the U bid documents as well. So, we had a good number of um biders, but we had several of them that had to be withdrawn. So, it was kind of good and bad, but we're well within the the estimated budget, so we're pretty satisfied with that. And we hadn't heard that um in the last three groupings, so that's probably good news. >> Any questions about any of that? All right. Um, there was mention, I'll just say this now in the facilities committee report. Um, you know, we're the the last set of projects that we have for group four are not going to go out to bid until after the first of
076the year because you really can't consider these two weeks around the holidays that these companies are going to be actively looking at bids. So, um, because of that, the timeline leading up to what I anticipate our January regular meeting to be, um, just we're just not going to be able to meet that and but we don't want to wait all the way till the end of February. Um, and so we've we've set a facilities meeting and we're anticipating uh calling a special meeting earlier in February. um we don't want to do that quite yet because we want to make sure everything goes all right with the bid timeline and that uh if for some reason we had implications and we needed to wait till the end of February, we would, but I don't think we
077anticipate that. So, um one uh two more sets of of projects to go through the bid project uh process for group four and then we'll get those approved early in 2026. Thanks, guys. Um, we also have two 2021 bond projects around technology. Um, Mr. Nelson is here tonight. Um, do we have any questions or clarifications on either of those? All right. Um, this is our last meeting before we enter winter break and the holiday season. So, just wanted to take the opportunity to wish the board and the community happy holidays, merry Christmas, happy new year. Um, there's a lot of adults in our school facilities. Really looking forward to the end of this week. But there's also a lot of fun um to be had um this week before we wrap up and and take
078a couple weeks off uh and we'll see everybody back in January. That's all I have tonight. >> All right. Well, our first public comment, I do not have any that pertain to the agenda. So, I we will move on to our regular meeting action items. Quite extensive, but all in your packet. I'm going to begin with employee services resolution 102, the personnel update. So, moved. Moved by Bonik. >> Second by Chahakei. Any questions? >> All in favor? I I opposed. >> Okay. Motion passes. Employee services resolution 103, the two um 25 superintendent annual evaluation. Uh we did meet uh this fall to go over the rating and some of the components. And we will be fine-tuning the components um to do a a report with Dr. Robinson in January. But I will read uh the
079official language of the annual evaluation. Whereas the board of education has conducted its annual evaluation of the superintendent's performance using the superintendent evaluation system previously adopted by the board and it is posted on the district's website resulting in an overall rating of the superintendent per performance as effective. Do I have a motion for that motion? Motion by Bowman. >> Support by Antoine. Any questions? All in favor? Opposed? All right. Get that filled in and signed. >> Okay. Moving on to academic services resolution 104. That is the parent square mobile app and website redesign. >> So moved. >> Moved by Bonex. >> Second. Second by Ber. Any questions? All in favor? >> I opposed. That motion passes. Academic services resolution 105, the updated courses for Romeo High School. This is moving botney and zoology, which again
080are currently semester classes, moving them to year-long classes. >> Motion by Chahakei. >> Support by Bowman. Any questions? All in favor? >> I opposed. Okay, motion passes. Moving on to some facilities resolutions beginning with 106, the summer 2026 roofing project as outlined in your packet. So moved. Moved by Bonik. >> Support by Ber. Any questions? This is in regards to the roofing replacement project at this current building that we're in. Okay, any questions? All in favor? >> I opposed. Okay, motion passes. Facilities resolution 107, the 2021 bond project dealing with Romeo Middle School's phase 2 resol uh renovations. >> So moved. Moved by Bonnik. >> Second. >> Support by Chahakei. Any questions? All in favor? I opposed. >> Motion passes. Facilities Resolution 108 2021 bond project for the elementary restroom renovations that was discussed. So
081moved. Moved by Bonnik. >> Second by Ber. >> What's the price we're putting in there? >> 108. >> Okay. >> Yeah, it's in the >> Oh, the updated 1746 292. >> Okay. Any other questions, comments? All in favor? I opposed? Motion passes. Uh, facilities resolution 109. This is the 2021 bond project change order approval dealing with fresh air mechanical drinking fountain replacement project. Moved. Moved by Bonik. >> Support by Bowman. Any questions? All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. Moving on to technology resolution 110. This is also from the 2021 bond project, the district phone system replacement. >> Motion by Antoine. >> Second by Ber. Any questions? All in favor? Opposed? >> Motion passes. Technology resolution 111 2021 bond project the large venue AV system upgrades. So moved moved by Bonnet. Second second by Chahakei.
082Any questions? >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. Okay. We're going to move on to business services resolutions. Uh starting with 112. This would be the mud budget amendment uh that was referenced in Vickiy's presentation. Motion >> motion by Antoine. Support by Bowman. Any questions? All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay, motion passes. Business services resolution 113, the 2026 summer tax levy. This is a kind of a housekeeping item that we just need to approve to allow our townships to collect. >> So moved. >> Support. >> Moved by Bonik. support by Antoine. Any questions? >> So, we have to fill Oh, no. >> I'm sorry. Next one. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. Business services resolution 114. This is for the 31A authorization. Just to remind everyone, there's been a
083lot of discussion around this. This is uh we already opted in by the deadline, which was at the beginning of the month. And this is by no means um saying that we you know wouldn't be open to investigations in the unfortunate incident of um you know a violent situation but there is a lot of discussion around the language of it which is very concerning and a lot of questions unanswered which is why districts across the state are agreeing to um go on to this lawsuit together. Um so we have already opted in what this resolution is to authorize us to opt out in the event that the lawsuit which is happening currently um and is due I think the end of this week um if it's you know pending and doesn't go as we hope
084we have the option to opt out but in the meantime we're opted in to protect ourselves to still receive the funding. So I know we've had a lot of discussions at committee meetings in regards to this. >> So moved. Moved by Bonik. Second. Second by Chaki. Any further questions or comments? >> So this does this gives you and superintendent the uh the ability to opt out of it. >> Yes. Which I believe the deadline is at the 30th of this month. >> Yeah. So the attorneys have created this. So um Mrs. like course and I once we know we get advisement we'll be in the middle of the holidays we won't need to call any kind of a special meeting we'll we'll resend based on the discretion of this authorization >> yeah that's just what
085I wanted to clarify >> all in favor opposed >> okay motion passes uh business services resolution 115 this is the WIP board trustee authorization which my understanding is another housekeeping item. >> Yes, it's the one that states that we're in the health pool. >> Yep. >> So, the the pool West Michigan health insurance pool did agree that we tailored the resolution to the position. So, the lead business official will be the trustee and the lead employee services official will be the alternate trustee. uh and we would notify internally any turnover in those positions to um the pool um and we wouldn't have to do board action every time um someone might turn over in one of these positions and they were agreeable to that and that's how the resolution is presented. >> I have a
086motion >> motion by Antoine support by Bowman. Any questions? >> All in favor? I >> opposed. And moving on to our last resolution, business services resolution 116, the 2016 bond series refunding proposal, which was highlighted by Vicki um in our superintendent report tonight. >> motion by Antoine. Support by Bonik. Any questions? Good news. All right. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion passes. All right. So, we are going to move on um to board discussion for the good of the district. Um this is our faithful financial leaders last official board meeting as she enters into retirement. So, we want to wish you well and we have a little bouquet. I know you don't like want a lot of fanfare around this, but we have a little token of our appreciation for all of your
087hard work. >> Really? I came up with a song Vicki. You don't want me to sing it? And I think Chad was gonna dance and no. >> Thank you, Vicki. >> We need to make her shake our hands. And >> we should walk up there, though. She's a lot. >> We could see. >> We have She's already planning it. >> Hey, I like line dancing. >> Thank you very much. So, is there anything else before we move on to our last public comment? >> Um, I just wanted to add that um we have a lot of families in the district um whose uh parents are deployed. Sorry, I get emotional when I talk about deployments. Um this affects my family as well. So, we have a lot of military law enforcement um mothers and fathers
088that are away and siblings, children um that are currently away, some in our district, some outside of our district. So, I just want to say please thank them when you see them. Thank the families for the the hardships they're going through. Thank the families uh the soldiers when you see them for their service. Um sorry, I get emotional. This hits home with my own family currently. Um so, I just want to say thank you uh to all of you out there serving. Um and please remember to thank them when you see them. Anyone else? All right, then we are going to move on to our last public comment time. We do have one. Um, I'm gonna butcher your last name. >> Carol, come on up to the podium and Miss McFarland will turn the microphone
089on for you. Boy, this meeting is bringing back a lot of old memories. My name is Carol Polad and I am here addressing the board this evening to set the record straight. On approximately November the 22nd, I sent a letter to the high school principal uh your superintendent and the school board president. And I hope you all had an opportunity to read this or to get the information on it. I would hope that the majority of you are aware of the actions that occurred on November the 13th, 2025 that resulted in disciplinary action against me. I hope you reviewed the time frame of events that took place from the 13th to the 18th of November. how these actions were taken in such in such a way that it just didn't do justice to the Romeo
090school district that I knew and been involved with for many years without benefit of discussion of professional courtesy to discuss your concerns and issues with me directly to determine the validity and of these allegations as Paul Harvey would Okay, probably none of you know who he is, but he was a radio announcer whose famous words were. And for the rest of the story, I would have liked to have been able to be able to express my concerns of what actually transpired. Okay. I have and had requested at most 15 minutes with administration basically first the principal of the high school to hear my concerns and events of what indeed occurred but what what but why would they I've only subbed in Romeo for 14 15 years been in the building subbing for approximately 700 to
091800 times starting with Shirley Z who I'm sure know of you know she used to be the human relations person at Romeo she call up every morning and say Carol you're going to sub in and that was it she'd hang up to PESG and to currently ed you staff okay I am still requesting and hoping that I get my 15 minutes of fame with the high school principal. >> Carol, just to let you know, we do have a three minute um for the So, >> I'm done. >> Just wrap up. >> I'm requesting that. But can I just say one more thing if it goes over I really want you to know that the students that you got great students, the majority of your students are are beautiful. You're fine. They're great. your teachers and
092that's one of the things that I really want to do is to thank the the teachers over the course of the many years that I serve there for their help and anything that I needed. They were there. That's all I want to do is to thank them. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> All right. Do I have a motion to go into our close session? Motion >> motion by Ber supported by Bowman. Can we have a roll call for that, please? >> Mr. Antoine, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bonnik, >> yes. >> Miss Bowman, >> yes. >> Mr. Ber, >> yes. >> Mr. Hockey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Aor, >> yes. Yes. >> All right. Who supported that?