001I call this meeting of the South record Board of Education together at 6:31. May we stand for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Mr. Secretary, would you call the role, please? >> Yes. Amanda Flesher, >> present. >> Lorie Hicks, >> present. >> Misha Erling, >> present. Sher Flesher >> present. >> Daniel Winston present. Anthony Johnson absent. And we got Miss Shirley Toiver >> present. Next item on the agenda is the approval of agenda. Are there any corrections to the agenda? There are none. The agenda will be as written. Next item on the agenda is the superintendent communications. >> Thank you, Madam President. Congratulations are in order
002to both Tara Emmendorfer as well as Alexandra McBrroom. Both are teachers over at Fiser Elementary School. Uh Miss Emmendfer is a first grade teacher and Miss McBroom as a fifth grade teacher. And congratulations are in order to the two of them for uh being recognized as part of the 30 under 30 by Michigan uh by the Michigan Reading Association. So, uh, thanks to their effort, Fiser continues to make strides when it comes to early literacy. So, uh, congratulations to our two teachers from Fiser Elementary School. Also, congratulations are in order to the boys varsity basketball program who clinched the conference division title on Friday night over Roashad. And so, congratulations to the boys varsity basketball program and good luck uh to the program on Wednesday night as we begin district play. Um we don't quite
003know who we will be playing just quite yet, but um that will be determined on Wednesday. Um so, best of luck to the boys varsity basketball program. And then also a special reminder for those that are in the audience tonight as well as for members of the board of education, we have our annual Black History evening uh celebration tomorrow night over at Vandenberg Elementary School. Um the board has those details and then certainly information is circulating in the public um for those that may be interested followed by Wednesday evening programming that's taking place over at Jefferson Elementary School. So, uh, for members of the audience as well as board of education, for those that would like to come out, um, please feel free to do so. Uh, both will be wonderful events as they often
004are. And we have some special, uh, speakers as well as programming, uh, that is lined up in place for both Tuesday as well as Wednesday. And that concludes my communications this evening, Madam President. >> Thank you, Mr. Bob. Next item on the agenda is board communications. Are there any I have a couple. Um, the Wayne County Association of School Boards will have a general meeting on this Thursday, February the 26th, 5:45 to 8:00 p.m. And we have some good things for us to talk about, discuss, and we have great speakers. So, we would like as many board members to attend as possible. It's going to be at Wayne Resa Bamboo. We also have uh a CBA 315 class that will be on March the 15th. And we also have a CBA class that will be
005sponsored by the uh Wayne County 370 and that would be on March the 21st. So if you guys would like to attend though either one of those classes, let Chris know and he'll schedule it for you. That's it. Next item on the agenda is comments from the audience. Topics related to the agenda. >> There are none. Next item on the agenda is the consent agenda. Do I have a board member willing to adopt the consent agenda? >> To the chair? >> Yes. >> I'd like to move the adoption of the following resolution, please. Do I have a support? >> Sup support. >> It's been moved by Mrs. Flesher and supported by Mrs. Hicks. All in favor? >> I. >> Six eyes. Are there any nays? Zero nazs. Resolution adopted. Next item on the agenda is
006uh there is the report from the sa, sra and srf. There will be no uh report from the sa there will be a report from sopa by msuka kint. Good evening. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Okay, I have some notes here from each of the elementarymentaries, the middle school, and from Thirstston um and student services. Um Sue Hunter student services says that she's finalized the preID for students for the my access assessment and place initial orders for those materials. Uh the spring count window is open and that's for all the schools. So, they're all busy making sure everything um they have everything they need from the teachers uh and and for her for getting IEPs enter and they're all working closely with um Amy Lash to finalize the count. Um and then she says
007her department is sad to see Mike uh Panda uh from Fischer leave the district. His shoes will be tough to feel. Uh and then from Adams, they are recently wrapping up their I Ready testing. Uh they're also finalizing the schoolwide fundraiser they had a couple of weeks ago with double good popcorn. The winning class for most sales and the second for second year in the row was Miss Kunic kindergarten class. The proceeds will go towards student incentives and citizenship, teacher appreciation lunches, and other school activities. and their PTO sponsor sponsored a family movie night on Friday, February 6, showing bad guys too. Uh Vandenberg and Vandy, they're finishing up uh the related task to the recovery project, doing a bit of uh decorating, and that's in the library media center. Uh checking out lots of
008beautiful books. Uh they're also in the early stages of working on projects for the Black History Celebration which is on February 24th. Uh then Jefferson Jefferson um the Jefferson office has a has had a great school beginning of the school year. Having Kyla Paige as our principal this year has truly been a blessing. Kyla have ca Kyla came into the school uh this year with the motto new beginnings and strong foundations with the goal of building the culture and climate at Jefferson back up. Uh she is already exceeding this goal exceeded this goal and continues to be an amazing principal role model to our students and the overall bright light at Jefferson. The office has been busy as always with different fundraisers, uh, getting ready for fifth grade camp and lots of bank deposits and
009much more. There have been many struggles so far this year, but we are facing them as a team from all angles and that all stems from Tyler. The atmosphere is completely different and we are still getting used to some changes, but everything has improved for the better. And then finally, thirst. Oh, no. I'm really thirsty for last. Pierce, they said Pierce the students are excited about starting the second semester. Uh they've had several students making their making the honor roll for first semester. They recognize their hard work and they'll be given a free pizza certificate courtesy of Raphael's Pizza. The wrestling team and girls basketball seasons have kicked off to a great start. So, come out and support them. And the eighth grade students will be going to the Detroit Public Theater to see the
010mountaintop in honor of Black History Month. And then uh lastly, but not last but uh Thirsten um Jason mentioned the uh boys basketball team and I also want to recognize the girls bowling team which were the girls bowling team which was undefeated and led the wet conference. Um they also were had an undefeated um competition play throughout the season. Uh the you said that. Oh, and they also the record the the boys basketball claim the township cup from Rford Union. says uh our bands and choirs are uh busy preparing for festival that take place in early March. Um we're preparation for the spring musical Shrek is underway. The cast and crew are working diligently to bring the life to show on the show to life and come on out and see Shrek. Staff and students
011are working through Khan Academy to prepare students testing which will take place in April and preparations for graduation have already started >> already. All right. >> Thank you so much. >> You're welcome. >> The foundation by Miss Kathy. Good evening. So good to see everybody tonight. >> Good evening. >> Good. So tonight I would like to report um the first one that we do the foundation. We have begun our grant applications for teacher grants for this for the district. Uh Laura and I, we went out to each and every school last week to visit our champions and to give update them what their what their duties and what their expectations are of the foundation. And it was really good. We went up to each school. It took us the whole entire day and we still
012was able to do our foundation meeting at noon. Um only one thing, one issue I will bring up that we ran into with peers is that uh one of the champions um feels as though they were being left out. So I want to explain that to the board. It's not that no one is being left out. We just have a certain budget that we're starting with for 26 27 year. Um as the year come along, we will be adding more groups to it. So, we're starting with teacher grants and things of that nature. Then we'll move on to like the secretaries and bus drivers and things of that nature. But right now, um although um some of the champions are not in that category, uh they expressed their concern of really not wanting to be
013a champion if they weren't included in that. So, of course, I had to make another side visit to back and have a side conversation to kind of clear up why they weren't included. It's not that they won't be. It's just we have to start somewhere. And we're starting with nothing. We're starting with no contributions. We're we're offering the $1,000 uh no, I'm sorry, $2,500 per school. what we're doing to start off with just for now and then as we get sponsor you know Ford and JC help us figure out how they will donate to the foundation it will increase and the donations will be added to the grant form and then the grant will rise above that 2500 so I just thought I'd explain that part to everyone um and then point two let's see
014the we are we also started our second round of our uh charity poker uh fundraiser. It started January 27th through the 30th. That was very successful. Um we uh ran three tables two days in a row. So that's something we've never done before. So it it is increasing. And our next round will be May, I'm sorry, March 24th through the 27th and then May 5th through the 8th. And what that is, for those of you that don't know, we use the charity poker funds to sponsor our scholarships for the thirst students for at our high school. That's what we fund raise for that. We will soon be adding more funding to that as well because that this year will be $1,500. So, we're able to do that. So, we are increasing as we go along
015uh in the progression. It's just taking some time, but we we getting somewhere finally. >> Um I think that's about it. Are there any questions so far for me? >> Are there any >> or concerns? >> I have one. >> Yes. >> Where is the poker? So, it's always at um Allstar Lanes and that's on Lad Road and it we run where we only run the morning shift. We do from we do two shifts. So, we start at 11:00. It's from 11 to 6:00 and we run two shifts. 11 to 2:30 and then 2:30 to 6. So if you want to volunteer, you'd be more than welcome to volunteer for either one of those dates if you are available, but I am there every day for all the whole shifts each day, each session. Um,
016we've only been audited that one time I told you about and that went actually well, the audit went very well cuz we actually learned things that we did not know. >> Any other questions in regards to that? >> Thank you so much. >> Okay. And I have one last thing that's not pertaining to that, Madam President, if you don't mind. >> Okay. Um, I heard about all the other schools and because I'm Nana now I'm not um software president right now. So now I am Paris Med School dance and cheer team nana. I haven't heard anything about them and I would like to announce yarn shirts. Okay. And we have been managing to hold first place state champs. This will be the third year. I should just say that. And they are preparing for competition
017>> for this week coming up. >> Um, so if you see me duck out, it's cuz I have to go get a mirror. >> Yes. Okay. >> And that will be all. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Next item on the agenda is presentation of Thirstston High School furniture program project part two. Thank you, Madam President. At this time, I would like to turn it over to our two partners from TMP Architecture, both Kyra Copeland as well as Kayla Harris, who are here tonight to join the board to present uh phase two of the Thirstston High School furniture project. And so, with that, I will turn it over to the two of them and Kayla at the moment. >> Thank you all. Thank you all for having me tonight. I'm so excited
018to present to you Thirstston High School furniture. This will be our last furniture package of this bond and I just wanted to say it's been such a pleasure to work with you all throughout this process of of furniture and the architectural projects and you have a wonderful cabinet and staff and I really enjoyed all of our meetings to design this wonderful furniture for you all. So this is phase two to Thirstston High School. I presented phase one last year to you all. And I'll kind of go over the different areas of what that entailed last year and and what's getting furnished this year in August of 26. So within that presentation, it has our floor composite. So all the colored areas are what is getting furnished this August. All the areas in gray is what
019was furnished last summer. So those were mainly general classrooms. And so, as I mentioned a whole year ago, is that general classrooms we designed by touring other schools and visiting different furniture manufacturers, their their um their showrooms to really kick the tires on these pieces of furniture. So, throughout those conversations, and this is the second floor, throughout those conversations of this time around for furniture, it was a conversation of really did anything need to change from our general classrooms? What was working well? um if anything needed to change, we had those conversations. And then when we got into specials, so our art, our choir, our band, classes like that, we brought in those specific staff members and chatted with them to make sure that we outfitted their spaces correctly for them. So, general classrooms, in
020our general classrooms, this is the same package that was installed last summer. We heard from feedback of staff that they were very happy with that furniture. Students have been very happy with that furniture and it's been a real gamecher for collaboration within the spaces for students, for staff and and the flexibility with the casters on the furniture and the ability to make different groupings has really been great for curriculum and instruction. So, general classrooms are all outfitted the same and those are some images of the furniture. So, 32 primary student seats and with standing tables in the back. So we have different postures for different students. We also included the same amount of of storage for students and for staff. So you see number five and number seven are the same that was installed last
021summer. And I wanted to show how all of this furniture, there are many more ways than what these three options show, but there are many ways to arrange this furniture because of the shapes and the the ability to stack the furniture. So, we have some alternative layouts of if the teachers wanted to instruct in different ways, they can. That center layout shows testing. if um there are state testings going on within the school, they are able to arrange in a way that's in compliance for testing. And so that was really important through all of our conversations with designing this furniture. Those tall tables can also be brought down to 30 in high to be in compliance for testing as well. And that layout all the way on the right shows if you were to stack
022all the desks to the side, you can have a Socratic seminar and really just bring all the students into the center of the space. And if you can remember all the way to a year ago when I presented this package for the first time, I presented how we gave staff three options to choose from for small furniture items to be added to their package. Through some conversations with staff and with Matt and with Beth, we found that option A that we provided was most liked. and so even through staff. So we decided to place option A in every general classroom that we didn't furnish last summer. So option A is two upholstered lounge chairs um to give students some alternate seating options and two personal tables. So that will be within every general classroom as
023well. for science classrooms. We um installed two of these classrooms last year and with some feedback from staff and students, we did a little bit of a redesign moving forward. You'll see number three is a little bit of a skinnier desk or table, and that is to allow for more flexibility within our classroom. So, a small change there, but great feedback on the tables and that they are movable um but have this epoxy surface that allows for chemicals and high heat within all of our science labs. Special education classrooms, we met with staff to specifically design our ASD classrooms. They have a max of eight students within those classrooms. And so we've provided student desks that would could be brought together for group work, but also if there's students that need a little bit of
024individual work, those can be pulled apart as well. All of these furniture pieces specified have been used throughout the district before in all of these these furniture packages. So number two might look familiar from our elementary packages. That's a writable surface top and um the ability for students to come together during group instruction. And then a little bit of a different classroom for our certificate of completion classrooms. They had a max of 12 students within this space and wanted the ability to have students have that standing table there as well. But otherwise the same as our ASD Library Learning Commons was a fun space to design. So, we met with our U media specialists there. There was already a lot of great furniture within the media center at Thirstston High School previously purchased. So, we
025did some cataloging of what's working well, what would they like to keep, and supplemented with some new. So, this is if anything's in gray, that means that it is existing. So, we're keeping our existing student chairs. Those have been maintained really well. Our existing student tables have been maintained really well. And all of our, not all of them, but most of our bookcases will be repurposed as well. So, all of these images in the following slides are our new furniture that will be installed. We have some additional lounge seating. The main area that we needed new furniture in was for display. So, you'll see a lot of display for bookcases. and we'll be turning in a small area of the media center into a cafe space just with a different type of flooring and a
026little bit of a different feel. So, we'll have that we'll have some some group work tables that's all the way on the right with some high top tables there as well for a little bit of a different feel for our high school students. That completes the media center. Specials is where we also got into talking with each staff individually. So, specials, our main thing here was that she wanted standing height tables. So, 36 in high, that's a typical counter. Um, and that will be a table with a unitized frame. So, that just means that it will withstand a lot within these art classrooms. It's a fully welded frame on the bottom and have some casters so that it's able to move within the space if needed. band classroom met with this staff member and that
027will be existing student chairs. So that's why you didn't see that within the package. Those have been maintained amazingly as well. So just here we have some new music stands and a new conductor stand and then some music storage along with some storage to cart those chairs for any performance needs and the stands as well. some images of those furniture pieces. And here the music furniture is the same manufacturers what was installed in Pierce two summers ago. For our choir classroom, our student chairs are also going to be existing with the same well-maintaining chairs there and then with some new coral music storage. Marketing classroom. This is down in that CTing wing, our 8 800 wing. So, we met with the staff member here, a full redesign to accomplish her wanting to be able to
028have students in their marketing on their on their monitors, working on their monitors, but able to turn around in their chairs and work in group work. So, that's that number four. There's the tables right behind them to have them pivot and work and collaborate together. sound production right next door. We'll have some new student desks. They're all able to have the power fed through them. And robotics also in that same way, some new robotics tables, two competition tables. So that is the competition sizes that they will experience when they go to compete if it's on the tables. and also able to be placed on wheels with casters that can be moved in the space and they can use the floor as well if they need the full competition size. And the auto shop just adding
029in some student desk here for instructional when it's needed and then able to go and work on on the the cars and anything else within the space that they they're working on. And then our eagle's nest. So, this is our concessions area at Thirstston. Some new tables that have a laminate top and a really beefy edge to them so that if any water or or any food gets on that table, it's really going to protect that laminate on there. And then some new student chairs and stools which are the same that's already within Thirsten's cafeteria and some high top tables within there as well. And that completes Thirsten's furniture package. Are there any questions that I can answer? >> Are there any? >> I have one question. >> The funds to pay for this, this
030is coming out of bond money, Mr. Bob. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you. Next item on the agenda is discuss Thirsten Height School project part two. >> Yeah, thank you, Madam President. Uh would there be any further discussion from the board this evening pertaining to what we just heard from Kayla and Ira from TMP pertaining to phase two of the Thirstston High School furniture project. Just an opportunity if there's any further discussion from the board following tonight's presentation. >> Seeing that there's >> good question. >> Yes. >> Sorry, I didn't ask. When do you guys expect the work to be completed? >> Completed by the end of August. So, by the time students are in the space, it'll be installed and then we do a final punch list. So, I
031go and make sure that all quantities are correct, that there's no damages within the space, and it's ready for students to use by the time school starts. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Thank you so much. >> Yes. Thank you all. >> You did a great job. >> Thank you. Next item on the agenda is consider elementary preschool playgrounds project. Thank you, Madam President. On February 9th, 2026, the board discussed awards for the elementary preschool playgrounds project. Bids were solicited and received for the work. The company that is recommended for the work required is Sinclair Recreation for $200,000. A 10% contingency total expenses not to exceed $220,000 is requested to cover any unforeseen costs associated with the project. To provide the best possible pricing for the district, playground equipment would be purchased through the consortium
032procurement process. This bid award would be paid for out of the GSRP funds that you heard Miss Davidson speak to at our last meeting. Madam President, members of the board of education, there is a resolution attached for board consideration. >> Do I have a board member willing to adopt the resolution? >> To the chair? >> Yes. >> Like to move the adoption of the following resolution, please support. >> It's been moved by Mrs. Flesher, supported by Mrs. Early. All in favor? I >> any nazs? Seven eyes, zero nazs. Resolution adopted. All right. Next item on the agenda is comments from the audience. Topics not related to the agenda. >> Yeah. Two. >> Yes. Good evening everyone. My name is Linda Simmons Mosley. >> One second. One second. I'm sorry. >> That's fine. >> Linda Simmons
033Mosley, you may come up. >> Not yet. >> I have to read something real quick. Then you can go a second. When addressing the board, please state your name, address, and affiliation. The board welcomes comments from the public and values the input our stakeholders bring to the table. The president respectfully rem reminds all of us this is not a forum for debate. The board may choose to ask clarifying questions regarding and express concern, but will not respond to the concern at the meeting. You can expect a timely response from the appropriate individual. Personal matters cannot and will not be discussed in this forum. You will have three minutes. I will hit the but you can start then I hit the button. So I'll let you know when you get down though. So you have three
034minutes. Ready, set, go. >> Okay. Good evening everyone. My name is Linda Simmons Moski and I'm here to represent Optimus International is a 501c3 organization. Um and we represent youth and the community. I am a member of the always motivated optimist club. I have been involved with the optimist since 1992 and I also am a proud resident of Redford Township. So I have a special interest in this uh endeavor. >> Um I thank you for allowing me to speak today. As you can see I'm a little anxious. I didn't know exactly how to do but um I think you >> our organization has been uh established in 1911. We work with youth. Um our motto is friend of youth. We have a $1 million insurance program for the projects that we put on. So we
035our endeavor is to work with the youth here in Brenford County area. Um, my sister also is here to uh talk to you. So, I'm going to give her some time. >> Let me give you three minutes. Let me give you some time back in case you need three minutes. Go ahead. >> My name is Brenda Meeks. My phone number is 3139334795. I'm a visitor of Detroit. I also have been a member of the Optimus Club since 1992. and I'm a proud uh representative of optimism and uh our purpose is to request that you allow us to form a junior optimist club. The benefit to those uh formation would be to build character in the students in the school district district to help children think about themselves as as well as others. Uh you have
036less screen time because they're busy doing projects. They expand their friend base instead of always being in clicks. They're in working in teams. Uh it looks good on their college resumes as well as employment applications. It helps build leaders leadership skills and team teamwork scenarios. It helps expand their creativity. Helps implement the project ideas that they may have of their own. We don't dictate to the students what they do. We let them determine what they want to do. We are just um advisors to keep them in an orderly fashion of how to do this. But uh it's a strictly volunteers. We are strictly volunteers. We don't get paid to do this, but we just want to work with the students. Uh and it uh helps build confidence in public speaking. Uh personally, uh years ago,
037I I would never be up here speaking to anybody. It it just you just be surprised how how it builds your confidence in a lot of students who they only confident with their their best friend and that's it. So we want to help everybody to kind of expand their horizon so to speak and it's a good use of time and community service and that's uh what we want to provide. In addition um they're self-governing as I stated we don't dictate they dictate to us what they like to do. they can form their own t-shirts, their repel pins, whatever they want to do. It's and it's um like any other organization. I'm sure everybody is welcome to more volunteers because the more people work, the more we can get done. Um in addition that just to
038name a few of the projects that they can possibly do in addition to what they may want to create would be um working with foster kids you know uh collecting things to donate to foster children healthy eating uh speakers uh projects uh marches let's say for uh sickle cell childhood cancer um kidney they have a um foundation walk at the zoo uh in May uh we provide uh cards maybe to first responders uh senior citizens homes whatever they they want to do and we feel is good. It may even help with suicide prevention. We can provide speakers. They may want to have a talent contest. There's a whole variety of activities that could to could take place. In addition to uh that, as my sister stated, the organization has a $1 million uh insurance. So
039when we give projects, it's a liability insurance. So if especially if we're offsite, that covers that. So it's not something that you'd be responsible for. And that that's a winner as far as I'm concerned. But most of all, um, I appreciate your time and consideration, and I thank you, and I hope this is a yes. >> Thank you. >> Excuse me. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Are there any questions to the chair? >> Yes, >> just two. Um, which ages or grades would be in your junior class? >> That would be determined by you all. Um, we can work with elementary, junior high or high school >> and what your need is. >> My other question for you was it is it a during school club or is it like an after school club? >> That
040too would be determined by participants. We're flexible. We have all different ages of uh club members. So some work days, some are retired, you know, so we can work with the activities and the uh projects that we decide to do um kind of effectively. >> Anyone else? >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I just want to say one thing about the Optimus Club. I am a member of the optimist club and I have >> not surprised >> and I have been a member for I don't know how long. I don't know quite a while. Okay, >> it sounds like a great program. >> It is a great program. >> Yeah. >> Next item on the agenda is is plus delta plan for improvement. Mrs. D. Madam President, will processes help the board's
041work? Pluses >> to chair. >> Yes. >> My plus today um is that I appreciate everyone who came out to the meeting tonight to present to us and provide us with the information. So, thank you for that. Anyone else? Okay. opportunities for improvement. What processes would help the board's work in the future? >> To the chair. >> Yes, >> I do have one little one. Um, I don't remember the last time the sa presented to us. So, I'm I'm not sure why they're not showing up on days that they're scheduled to report back. if there's something we need to work out with them. But I feel like it's important to hear their voices and the teachers and the union and everything, too. So, I'd really like for them to come however we get them to
042do that. That's it. >> I do have one. >> Okay. I like the fact that the meeting just kept moving. Everybody stayed on topic and even our comments from the audience, they were very concise, very interesting and I thought that was very helpful to the board as a whole. Very, very good. That's it. Well, if there's nothing further that comes before this board, I adjourn the meeting at >> 7:12. >> 712.