001I call this meeting of the Southford Board of Education together at 6:29. Well, this clock says 6:30. >> This is the official clock. >> Okay. Can we stand for the pledge of allegiance? >> I pledge algiance 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. >> Next item on the agenda is, Mr. Secretary, would you call the role, please? >> Yes. >> Amanda Flesher, >> present. >> Anthony Johnson, >> first. >> Lorie Hicks, >> present. >> Misha Early, >> present. >> Charl Flesher, >> present. >> Daniel Winston, present. And Shirley Toiver, >> present. Next item on the agenda is the approval of agenda. Are there any corrections to the agenda? The agenda will be as written.
002Next item on the agenda is superintendent communication. Mr. B. >> Thank you, Madam President. Congratulations are in order to the Thirstston High School staff as well as the student council of Thirstston High School for organizing a very successful homecoming weekend uh which was uh filled with lots of fun activities uh over the course of the homecoming weekend. So congratulations are in order to both the student council as well as to the Thirstston High School staff for coordinating successful homecoming activities. Additionally, congratulations are in order for Thirstston High School teacher Aaron Ferris as she has been selected uh as a 2025 teacher fellow at the Mark Cuban Foundation. This is a very highly selective uh fellowship which is recognizing educators who demonstrate a strong commitment to innovation, equity and the responsible integration of artificial intelligence into
003the secondary educational process. This program is part of the national initiative to expand artificial intelligence education and ethical technology use among students and staff particularly in underserved communities. So congratulations are in order to our very own Thirstston High School teacher, Miss Aaron Ferris. And that concludes my communications this evening, Madam President. >> Thank you. Are there next item on the agenda is board of communications. Are there any >> to the chair? >> Yes. >> Just that I attended the foundation meeting uh last week, which was wonderful, their vision and their goals, and Kathy's doing a wonderful job, and I'm sure she's going to update the board on that when she speaks. But they're doing great. >> Any other communications? >> Next item on the agenda is comments from the audience. Topic related to the agenda.
004Are there any? >> None. >> 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. >> Like to move the adoption of the following resolution, please. >> Do I have a support? Support. It's been moved by Mrs. Flesher and supported by Mrs. Hicks. All in favor? >> Any nays? Zero nays. Seven eyes. Resolution adopted. Next item on the agenda is the reports from SR A Mrs. Woods. >> Good evening everyone. Good to see everyone today. I'm refraining for South Uber Foundation. So over this summer um we we have been meeting and trying to put together the agenda for this year. So so far uh I would like to first start with I report to you
005for the um parade. Um we are still working on that. That has not been a no but it was a not this year. So 26 27 it would be it's a possibility so that we can put that together only because uh they already formed some sort of um Christmas holiday program here and they don't want things to clash. So, we are joining with we joined with the leisure department so that we can put these things together and get the calendar uh corrected and we're going to meet with the uh chief of police uh beginning of next year 26 to try to put that into motion. Uh, our next item for to discuss, we were able to get our new cards out, our information cards. True enough for I >> used them this weekend for the
006corn roast. All my my cards. >> Oh, I thought you was going to say something. Okay. >> I forgot to put pull a few out. >> That's okay. That's okay. That's okay. So, I will make sure everybody gets to to see this or you can pass it around this way if you like. This way. Um, and we also had our tablecloths. We attended the magnificent we um I can't talk. I'm sorry. Um, the football game, we attended that. The the tailgating, we sponsored that. We also sponsored uh build your own Sunday this summer for at Claude Allison Park. Uh, that was a blast. We had about I want to say maybe 100 people maybe if that then we had about six 5gallon ice creams left. So, so I left 4 uh with um with Sam
007at from the leisure department in case someone came after 3:00 and I took two home with me and I was able to do um Adams the summer school where the kids Well, it was all the schools, right? >> Yeah. So, I was able to I purchased a little bit more to make sure we had enough. So, I did build your own Sunday at Adams for the last day of summer school. Um, also to to get rid of the other ice cream that I had to and I still right now have still have uh sprinkles and uh party cups and things of that nature. So I can definitely do another um ice cream deal. So um and moving. So any questions so far? >> No, madam president. Um anything great. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, and
008last but not least, I would like to report to you the poker tournament will begin September 30th >> through October 3rd of the um coming up. So, that also will be that's another fundraiser, charity fundraiser so that we can continue to do our um scholarships and things of that nature and the donations that we make toward the community. And I'm sorry that's not surprising the not the tournament but the tailgating and the >> the alumni association. >> Alumni association yes I'm sorry I apologize but we we joined there. So now you have thirst alumni association is not is now combined with South Rucker Foundation. We are still our own entity but we are combined and we're building. We're building and we welcomed Mr. Rick Bennett to our foundation and also Samantha Fox from the leisure
009department. they're also sitting there because what we're trying to do now is build enough committees so that we can have our own grant committee, our own fundraising committee and things of that nature. Um, we are now forming our champions program. I don't know if you heard about that, but the champions program is going to be again at all of the schools where the champion is one liaison per building that we can have to communicate for the um South America Foundation. So Kathy doesn't have to go to every school by herself and deliver. So um I think that about sums it up for now. Are there any questions or concerns? >> Any question? >> Um where is the poker tournament at? >> So the poker tournament will be in um Wixom. the same with some at
010the U get back with you with the next. It's the same same one. I'll get back with you. Oh, I'm sorry. All Star Allar Lanes. That's in W. All Star L. And we have two shifts. So, it'll be from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 and then 2:30 to 6:00 p.m. each day. And for the most part, I will be there pretty much every day. Um, because they've been audit auditing us lately with there and they prefer the sation record foundation. It's sponsored by us. So, I have to be there. But, it's fun. So, come out. Do you have anything to say? Um, last but not least, okay, one more thing. We're also still looking for a person to that has expertise in um accounting uh to help out with the um the book record and a
011bookkeeping for um here the bookkeeping to help out our secretary. But um if someone if you know of anyone that has expertise in that area, please contact me. We would really appreciate it. That mad president, that will conclude my report for the South Foundation. >> Well, thank you so much. You're welcome. >> Next item on the agenda is presentation of True Law Firm Board Policy Services. Mr. >> Thank you, Madam President. At this time, I would like to turn it over to our two representatives this evening that are here from Trun to speak with the board about its policy services uh from Trun uh as the board thinks about how it goes about organizing its policies. And so with that, I will turn it over to our two representatives from TR. Thank you very much.
012Appreciate your time, everyone. My name is Luke Seoy. I'm joined by one of Peter Mccusia, who's a shareholder from our firm. We're here to talk about the tune policy service. Kind of give you an overall description of what the service is and what it might look like if you were to switch over to the TR policy service. I'll start with just a broad overview of some of the benefits, but I'll go into greater detail on these. So, as Michigan's premier public school law firm, TRUN has represented a substantial majority of Michigan's public schools for almost 80 years now. In the long-standing history of excellent client service, the result is that today over 75% of Michigan public schools are true clients. Um, and over 95% of Michigan's high iss attorneys and their expertise throughout the year.
013And throughout the history of our firm, our attorneys have had a lot of experience with board policies. Trin attorneys are no stranger to drafting, reviewing, and modifying policies adopted by different Michigan public schools. But since 2020, we've started to offer the comprehensive TR policy service, which is basically a comprehensive service that provides board policies, administrative guidelines, forms, and handbooks to different boards of education in Michigan. Uh, and that's why when you go with True Board policy, you're not just guaranteeing legal expertise, but also practical knowledge in all areas of Michigan school law. Basically, with over 500 Michigan school districts on retainer, we know that there's no oneizefits-all approach to Michigan policy uh because that would ignore everyone's, you know, size, location, priorities, and current challenges. We have a Michigan focused policy service by Michigan attorneys
014and we're now officially endorsed by the Michigan Association of School Boards as the preferred policy provider in Michigan. Our policy manual is customizable to match the needs of your districts. We highlight those areas in the manual to make it a very easy process. Uh it's a user-friendly policy service. There's no legal ease in the policies. is minim we minimize the legal ease as much as possible so that the language is easy to understand straightforward simple we've organized it really efficiently so that everything is uh easy to locate and also just how you access and update the policies is very user friendly as well we offer free policy implementation meetings these are quarterly virtual meetings never a cost never a limit to how many people can join and we also have a recorded version on our
015website for your reference throughout the year. So, this is basically the attorneys walking through the policies one at a time, especially those that require any action on your part. Uh, easy annual updates has been a big priority for us. Um, that's some a lot of feedback we've received. So, we put a lot of energy into making it as easy as possible. We have an annual update every June whenever possible. We hold everything until June where we send you all the updates. Uh but whenever there's a you know myth pressing uh legal change there might sometimes be some smaller midyear policy updates but other than that we keep everything until June whenever possible. We've made that a pretty easy process. You've got flexibility in the platform you use to post the policies online. We don't require
016you to use anybody in particular. You can post them right on your own district website if you want. Uh so there's some flexibility in that choice. A lot of people are surprised at how cost effective it is, especially when you consider, you know, the cost you might save when you avoid expensive legal issues uh by having policies that are entirely legally compliant. For example, we also provide the Title 9 all staff awareness training video. That's one of the uh videos we provide to clients for a price, but it's just included in the policy service. Um, two optional packages we have with the policy manual would be the AGS and forms, the administrative guidelines, and the student and employee handbooks. So, I'm often asked what exactly does it take to switch over to student policy. The
017steps are actually pretty simple. Download everything from our website. Use the checklist that we give you to personalize the policies as needed. You can attend one of those virtual policy implementation meetings or you can watch the recorded video, get the policies ready to be presented to the board and then we give you a sample resolution that you use to adopt everything. So that would repeal all of your old policies and replace them with the chewing policies all together. So policy personalization that would be the biggest part of the process. This is the uh process of editing the policies to match the needs of your district. To give you a better understanding of how we organize them, here are the five policy series within our manual. I like to say there's four main series because the
0181000s is very short. Actually, it's just four policies, general overview and stuff. Within the four main series are the board bylaws, operations, finance and property, district employment, students and academics. So you've got four very clear distinct groups uh that I think helps with the user friendliness of the manual. To customize those policies, we give you this policy implementation checklist. This includes any policy that will require any action on your end. So, this could be inserting info that's specific to your district, like a point of contact for somebody, selecting from some pre-written optional inserts, or approving or deleting a policy that's entirely optional. There's a about a dozen or two completely optional policies with that we include. A lot of them that we included just based off client feedback. Um, so a lot of districts will
019either create a committee or use an existing committee to kind of work through this personalization process wherein they'll bring in different types of employees to do each series simultaneously. So maybe board members working on the board by business administrators working on the 3000s, uh, HR representatives working on the or admin working on the 4,000s. So that way everybody can kind of get more familiar with the new policies, contribute to their areas of expertise, then bring it all together at the end and look everything over. That's the process I normally see being the most successful. And when districts do that, I see this process taking about 3 months on average. There are some policies that are entirely optional. Um, for example, student representative on the board. If you don't want to adopt an optional policy, simply
020replace the title with intentionally left blank after the number. That's just to maintain the numbering so that your policy manual continues to make sense regardless of which optional policies you've adopted. You've also got some policies that are not optional, but they've got optional language within them. For example, in this policy about board member reimbursement, there's an optional sentence about uh reimbursements. If you don't want to adopt that language, simply put the word reserved after that number or letter. Again, just to maintain the numbering system. There are some places where you choose between option one or option two. Simply delete the option you don't want. Use the option you do. And there are some spots where the attorneys include notes and recommendations for you. In this one, the anti-bullying policy, there's a spot where the attorneys
021have left a recommendation that the responsible school official be identified as the superintendent with an explanation as to why they recommend that. Uh but again, that would be up to the district. So, as you work through the policies, a great resource will be these policy implementation meetings. Uh these are offered quarterly over Zoom. Never a cost to join. So you guys can have as many people join as you like from the district attorneys will walk you through each of the options through the policies and answer any general policy related questions that you have. Uh it's about twohour meeting. It's two 2hour meetings on Thursday and Friday morning like 9 to 11:00 a.m. But these are also recorded and uh on the website for your reference. So once you finished working through the checklist, you personalized
022all the policies, you'll be all set to adopt them. You're not required to meet with us at any time or send us back the policies after you are done with them, but you can do so at any time you like any questions you have. We're happy to meet with you if you want. We're happy to talk with you virtually or in person or how whatever you need to get the policies personalized, we're happy to assist with. But it's basically provided so that you can do it on your own timeline and at your own convenience. We give you a sample resolution you use to repeal and replace everything. Then once it's adopted, you're all set to upload it to the online platform of your choice. Uh a lot of people use board book already to post
023their board minutes. Uh but some people will just post it directly to say their own district website or even to Google Drive, some other platforms out there. But there's some flexibility in that choice. Like I said, we've made it a priority to have some easy annual updates for the policies. We provide a policy update review video on our website. You see, that's about an hour long. This is also a Zoom meeting that you have the chance to join uh in case you want to talk to the attorneys live about any of the policy updates. They walk you through the updates one at a time, explain everything that changed, and answer any questions you have. You're given a policy update summary. So that's a every policy that changed with a description of what changed. The instructions
024for implementation are more detailed step-by-step guide for anything you do uh to really implement the updates. The marked PDF shows you exactly what changed within each policy. So you can see in red which text was added or deleted. And then you're given all of those updated policies uh as word docs with those changes already applied. So they're ready for your review. You don't have to make those changes yourself. Uh but you're given a thorough description of what changed and kind of just given the updated policies. You'll be all set to upload uh upload them to your online platform. After that, we offer administrative guidelines and forms to accompany the policy manual. On our website, there's one video for each of the series. So, four four videos al together where the attorneys walk you through each
025of the administrative guidelines and forms to kind of just provide more information and any other considerations. Uh for the student and employee handbooks, these are sold together, obviously designed to go with the training policy manual. And just like the administrative guidelines and forms, your annual policy updates would apply automatically to the student and employee handbooks at no extra charge. So if you opt in for annual updates, everything's going to get updated, including the policies, ages, and forms, handbooks. Uh currently the district is not a retainer client. So this is the pricing. On the screen you'll see 10,500 for the policy manual. Uh7,000 for the agents and forms, 2,500 for the handbooks. That's a onetime fee of 20,000 alto together. Uh and this will this is what you'll see included in your handout. Um this is
026the retainer client pricing for the policy service. Um, so that's a cost of 2,500 a year currently. That's what it's been for the past couple years. This is something else from the policy service. This is the annual fee you would pay to us annually to be a retainer client. There's a bunch of benefits including discounts from the policy service, our webinar, our legal services, free precational phone calls with each of the p uh attorneys practice areas. uh you've got access to our retainer client newsletter, legal fee blast updates, and also some webinars throughout the year that are exclusive to our retainer clients. So, there's a bunch of benefits, but essentially, if you were to opt in for the tune policy service, that's what would make the most sense to do because it would cost 2,500,
027but you would save uh $6,000 on all these materials. So that is the pricing with the retainer client discount 14,000 to receive those materials altogether. That's a onetime fee for those materials. The only recurring cost would be the annual cost of updates. That's a maximum total cost of 27.50 per year for our retainer clients, but that could be less if few or no updates are needed in a given year. Overall, the policies are clear, consistent, and customizable. Uh, they were created by experts in the field. We're here here to help. We're happy to take any questions you have, but first, I just want to turn it over to Peter for any final thoughts you might like to have. Sure. >> Good evening, everyone. Peter, Peter Matusak, I'm one of the attorneys from True. Um, and
028that was a pretty comprehensive presentation, but I wanted to highlight three things. Um, one is that in creating these policies, we wanted to be lean and mean. Lean and All right. So, not only legally compliant, but compact and also user friendly. Uh because your time is valuable. We don't want a bunch of legal lease in there. We want to get to the point. So, lean and mean. Um we also flagged and just to give you an example of that, I looked at your policy sets before coming here. And for example, you have three policies that deal with the FMA, the Family Medical Leave Act. Um they are in three different series. You've got administrative series, support staff series, professional staff series, and all those policies are almost identical. So why try to say the same
029thing three times in three different places, right? It creates potential for inconsistency when those policies are updated, ambiguity, confusion. Why do we have three policies on this? With us, it's one FMLA policy. It applies to all your employees. Again, compact, userfriendly, simple. Um, we also flagged matters along the way uh for our administrative staff. Um so just to give you an example, one of the practice areas for me is real estate. And when we sell real estate, one of the big things that we have to ask is is there any bonded debt on this property? That is what were any bond proceeds used to improve that property? If yes, then we have to do a financial calculation to make sure that we don't trigger the taxability of those bonds because that's going to be costly
030for the district. And so in our policy set that deals with selling school property, we know that the superintendent should contact financial counsel or legal counsel to discuss potential tax consequences of selling that property. So does that trigger? Hey superintendent, you should contact legal counsel or financial counsel because there may be potential financial consequences if you're selling this property and there's bonded debt on that property. So again, we're paving the way to avoid trip ups, flagging issues that might come up for our administrators. Um, and then just to emphasize what Lucas said is that these policies were created by attorneys. Uh, they're experts in the practice area. They're used by attorneys every day. Uh, we are up to date on all the legal updates. So, if anything needs updating, we are very fast to respond
031and we provide an updated policy if needed and we make that available to you. All right. So, again, lean and mean is the name of the game for us and uh we hope that uh that's something that you see in our policy sets as well when you review them. So, we're happy to take any questions that you have or comments that you have. Uh, we're here for you. >> We had a question come up at one of our policy meetings and it had to do with whether like the PTO was considered a school district entity. After six weeks, we still not did not have an answer. >> Not asking you for the answer. >> Sure. How quickly do you respond to questions regarding questions about policy? >> Sure. We usually respond same day and if
032not a day immediately after. Lucas is the one who funnels all the questions. So if you have any policy related questions, just email him and then he funnels it out to the attorneys who are the experts in that particular policy area. U but again our goal is to respond within 24 hours if not faster than that. We often have people surprised when they first switch over and how fast we're responding to them like, "Oh, wow. It's like, yeah, no, we're here. We're listening." And we deal with this stuff all the time. Often times, questions I receive are ones I've received 50 times and I either have the attorney answer ready to go and I will reach out to attorney say, "Hey, this still makes sense, right?" Or otherwise, I will reach out to that attorney
033immediately and say, "You're the right person for this. Can you reach out to them today, please?" So, because of that system, we can get things done really efficiently. And uh like I said, people are really happy when they switch over mainly that reason. >> Are there any more questions? >> You think of any later on, feel free to reach out and we're happy to take a call or email at any time you think of anything later on. >> Is your email in the uh policy status? Yeah, there's one that says policyaw.com and I've also forg >> What did you say it was? >> It's just policy at trueinlaw.com >> and that goes straight to your blog. >> Yeah. Yeah. uh you know thanks very much for your time and we appreciate you looking forward to
034Yeah. Thanks for having us. >> Thank you so much. [Music] Next item on the agenda, discuss Thirstston High School competitive track and field rental rates. Mr. >> Thank you, Madam President. At the board meeting on June 23rd, 2025, the board discussed reinstating third-party rentals of the Thirstston High School competitive track and field and either grandfathering track and field rates from the rate structures prior to 2022 or establishing new rates based on the board presentation on November 14th, 2022, where all district facility rentals were discussed. New facility rental fees were adopted on November 28th, 2022 with the exception of the Thirstston High School competitive track and field. At the June 23rd meeting, the board requested that I provide current rental rates from similar and comparable size districts within our area and county, which the board has
035in its packet tonight. And so the purpose uh this evening for the board is to be able to continue that dialogue surrounding this topic that the board had from June 23rd. And um you know friendly reminder that the board does not necessarily need to um reach a consensus tonight but merely to really continue that dialogue that the board was having from June 23rd in conjunction with these survey results. And so, um, with that, I will turn it back over to you, Madam President, and to the board to continue its dialogue tonight, uh, on this topic. >> Is there anyone that has anything they want to say about this? >> Yes. Um, what do our coaches, the thirsten High School coaches think about um, opening them back up to third party rentals? >> I have not
036had recent conversations with our coaching staff or with our athletic director on the topic. However, uh should that be the board's desire, I'd be willing to follow up with our athletic director on the topic, but it's been quite some time since we've done that. >> Yeah, I'd like their opinion on it personally. to the chair. Yes, >> it's way tell me if I'm understanding or we're discussing just fees now. It's two separate issues, right? It will be another discussion if we open up the track at another time. >> Right now, we're just discussing if we do so if we should raise fees or not. Right. >> Right. Um, looking at what what came in, it it's not surprising. Most everything is um higher than what we have currently because we only have one group that
037has ever used it. Um, and that's a fee that's been years and years that has stayed the same. So, I think because of to be fiscally responsible, costs and things have gone up. I think we need to adjust and raise those costs to cover. The district is still trying to build its fund equity and grow it. We're doing much better, but we still got a ways to go. It's baby steps. Um, we can't afford not to cover our expenses. So, I would like, you know, before we decide totally, you know, on a figure, whatever it may be, I'm I'm totally against grandfathering it in because those are obsolete wages that doesn't come anywhere near covering it. And I like some more detail of the actual costs to run our facility and maintain it so we
038can be fiscally responsible. Okay. Yes. >> What does it cost to maintain it? The track. >> Do you have the other permission, Mr. >> We do not. >> Okay. We'll have to find that out for you. Well, comment was made that the fees are outdated and doesn't cover the cost of the track. So what were the cost of the what were the fees that covered the cost for >> I'd be willing to try to look into seeing what it cost to maintain the turf and the track. Well, I'm just saying it was mentioned that it doesn't cover the cost. If we grandfather those fees and it doesn't cover the cost, then how do we know it doesn't cover the cost? We don't know the fees and what it costs. If we don't know what it
039cost, then how do we know it doesn't cover the cost? >> Mhm. It's a question that I'm trying to get answered. >> So, chair, >> yes. >> Have we ever looked at the cost of the track before like when we made the first these prices that we have now? Was that a thought process by why by the track prices? I mean, you know, why these are the prices that like was that a factor maintaining the track before? Do you remember? These rates are far before my time uh in the role for being at central office. So that I'm not sure of. However, there are a couple members on the board that may be able to speak to that. I'd be happy to look into that. Um but I believe the existing rates are at least
04015 years old. However, I do not know all the conversations that went into those rates at that time, but there may be a couple board members um that do recall and and I'd be happy to to look into that. However, I have not done that >> to the chair. >> Yes, I I can answer that. Lori and I were sitting there. The board at that time when they first started and decided to rent um it all came through operationals and recommendation from this superintendent, Dr. Weber at that time. They did the research through his administrative team and reported back to the board. >> So it was way before Jason. It was way before we had any type of formal committee, you know, for the board. Do you remember that being >> it was part of
041it? >> The superintendent did all the investigation and they would have all the information. Um it was just reported out to the board and the board approved his recommendation. But the board at that time had nothing to do with setting the goals. They just I mean the fees. They just approved the superintendent's recommendation. And like um Jason said, this is years and years ago and this was before we had a competitive field and we put a lot of time and money and bond money and community money. And I think as we go through I AJ asked a good question. How do we know what it costs? I've asked numerous times, but we've never had a formal report breakdown of what it cost, you know, to the board to help decide. And I think because of
042so much time and money and bond and support from the community, I think the board owes it to the community to reach out and ask the community what they think about us opening if we get to that point. You know, they have a right to have an input. So, but um just to answer Misha's questions, I hope I didn't confuse you. The there was no committee, there was no board recommendation. And it all came through the superintendent, his his people, his staff, and it was the recommendation. Whether there's records way back there in the finance department, I don't know. As a board member, Lori and I never had any privy to that. So, I I hope that helps a little bit. Okay. I mean, if there's anything else, any question, you know, I'll try, but
043board had very little involvement. So when you say ask the community >> um you mean like surveys or something like that >> or what do you mean >> a town thing where they can come and talk and say hey do they you know how do you feel about us opening our field to rent it and this and that just to see how the community itself is. I think it's much bigger than just the board making this decision because of the time and the investment and what we've put into everything. I think it's just respectfully for us to ask people what do you really think? Um, ask the athletic directors, ask, you know, other other people. Then just take it upon our ourselves. I mean, the people elected us, so I want to know I'm making
044the right decision. >> Well, when we get to that. >> Yeah. Because right now we're discussing um fees these >> and we have the data you know and you look at the data and we are on the lower end of it >> and and and and I agree we really don't know what or >> what the cost is >> the fees were included in that cost we we don't know So, um, Mr. Bob's going to look into that and answer that. >> Well, it's a lot of chitchat, but it's not any >> I'm I'm getting ready to give him a time. So, >> Oh, well, I get that. I I get he has to do his thing, but >> yeah, >> the comment was made here today that the fees to maintain the field is
045outdated. Where did that come from? If you could say that the fees are outdated for the field, then you have to have some reference to what the fees were and what it covered then to make it outdated now because some 15 plus years ago >> Mhm. >> was a totally different looking field. >> Mhm. >> Right. >> It was a grass football field. >> Yeah. and the track didn't look nothing like it looks now. So my thing is what does it cost itemized to maintain a field of this magnitude that has the ability to withstand all this weather and all the other things that is it's designed to do? What cost would it take to maintain a artificial field versus a grass field? >> So, Mr. >> It kind of pays it kind of pays
046for itself >> over these years into that because we don't know. >> Well, I know. That's what I'm saying. And you got a grass field that has to be seated >> and everything that goes into having a grass field and a crown etc etc. Now you have an artificial field and an upgraded track. >> Yes, >> chair. >> Yes. >> Has there been any maintenance on this bill since we got we redid it? >> Minimal. Okay. Uh we redid the turf approximately three years ago. Yeah. >> Along with the lights along with resurfacing the track. Um and so, you know, I I delivered on what the board requested of me at the June 23rd meeting >> and I am willing to look into those additional pieces that the board speaks of tonight. However, I would
047need additional direction from the board about what is it specifically in addition to what the board asked me to provide from June 23rd that it would need to be able to continue that conversation. Um, I'm willing to do that, but but I would need some additional conversation about what is it, you know, additionally that the board is looking for to be able to continue its dialogue on the topic so that when I reach out to neighboring communities, I can be clear in what it is that I'm seeking. Um, and I'm I'm more than willing to continue to to do that. Um but any additional clarity that the board could provide about what additional information it's seeking um would be greatly appreciated. >> Okay. Well, I would think number one when you're reaching out to the
048other districts, first question would be is do you have a grass field or do you have the upgrade field? and then start looking at what a maintenance if there was damage to it, what the district would be looking at as far as cost >> to the chair. >> Yeah. I I I I think what we need is not pooling other districts. It's what are we spending? What does it cost the district to maintain that field? I think, you know, how can you set a fee? We we've never been told as a board, okay, it cost X amount for water, it costs X amount for electricity, it, you know, for maintenance, e for garbage, whatever it takes to maintain that. To me, it's adding up all those fees and then seeing what the cost would be,
049you or the share or whatever. I I think the questions we need we're not going to find in other districts because it's it's going to vary. I mean, and I don't disagree with AJ asking what does it cost? We've never been told. I I mean, I've asked for years and years, can you break me down? We do a budget. We approve a budget. What is budgeted for that field and what it is? What does it cost for insurance and things like that and security? Those are all parts that go into the operational costs that need to be factored in and figured out. And I don't think we're going to get those, you know, those are personal per district. It doesn't it doesn't matter if it's grass or turf. It's what does it cost us as
050a district, >> right? That's that's what I >> I don't even think we actually ever got a breakdown from the bond of how much was put into the track and how much was put into the football field. Not that it really matters, but it all it all factors in. And then we did put a quite a bit of money in a couple years ago to have those things resurfaced. So it would be calculating you know every x amount of years we have to do maintenance and there is a cost you know >> perhaps it it may be helpful if if I look into seeing if there are companies available that that could conduct some kind of assessment for us to try to quantify what are the 2025 operational costs. Should it be open for rentals?
051There are companies that may do that type of work. Uh especially um companies that gear up to support districts with their bond work that would quantify this work day in and day out. So I can look into that and see if there's a way where we could get an operational breakdown of what it would cost in 2025. um and then bring that bring that back to the board. That might be more favorable than reaching out to other comparable districts. Or I can I could do both >> right now >> because I I would imagine that there are companies that do this type of work and if it would be beneficial, I can also provide um the numbers to the board from its most recent investments into the track and field that the board approved most
052recently. Well, right now I think it would be feasible to um instead of reaching out to other communities because every community doesn't have what we have on it. So I think it it will be feasible for us to for you to check with companies so that we we can know what the cost is. Everybody agree? >> I'm willing to do that. >> I think so. That's the only fair thing is to focus on our individual. >> Yeah. >> Everybody agree? >> I'm fine with them. I'm >> okay. >> To the chair. >> Yes. >> What year was the bond work? I don't remember. Does anyone know the exact year? >> 21. >> 22. for the original when they upgraded the field >> that I don't know off the top. >> No, I don't. >> It
053would have been probably sometime between 2006 and 2009. >> Oh, you mean that's what I was thinking too. >> Providing the most recent numbers that >> No, I was just curious about when it was first done. >> It would have been in that year. >> That's what I was thinking. Like when I was in high school, but I couldn't remember which year it was. We did we did an update to the field. Was that 22 or something like that? >> I I believe so. Would have been 21 or 22. >> Yeah. >> With the most recent investments from the initial investments that was referring to because to Mr. Johnson's point and to what Amanda was raising prior to that initial investment, it was not turf. >> Was it turf in 2006? >> It was. >>
054Okay. >> It was No, it was not grass. Correct. It would have been grass. Sorry. That was the first time that the district had turf was after the the 2006 2009 initial investment. To Mr. Johnson's point, it was not always turf and that would have been the point of the initial investment. And then piece the refresh from the board would have been in 2021 or 2022 in which it was already done and um the track as it exists now before it was resurfaced and decoded >> and the large entrance way and the locker rooms and stuff that was part of that change back in the 2000s, right? >> Correct. Yes. >> Okay. That's what I thought. because the only space that existed before >> was the tiny concession box >> right underneath the home stands.
055>> Yes. Initial investment. And to Mr. Johnson's point, it wasn't always like that in terms of timeline. [Music] Any other discussion? [Applause] If there are no other discussion, Mr. Bob, you um possibly um I'll see what we can find in terms of trying to quantify the board's conversation this evening to see if there are companies that perform those kinds of assessments for districts >> and you'll let us know where where you are. >> I will. Yes. >> And then we'll determine from there how long I'll give you. >> Sure. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Next item on the agenda is discuss Thirsten High School lights and drapes project. Mr. B. >> Thank you, Madam President. Speaking of uh our initial bond from that time frame that we just referenced a moment ago, the auditorium is one
056of the gems in the district. However, its draperies and lights are uh nearing their end of life. And so uh this evening we have our partner from local planners, our owners representative Michelle Karns here um to uh answer any questions and uh talk a little bit more about the scope of the project to the board this evening. Bids were solicited and received for the work. The companies that are recommended for the work required are for the lights advanced lighting and sound for $328,000 and the draperies Tobin's Lake Sales LLC for $120,330. A 10% contingency total expenses not to exceed $493,163 is requested to cover any unforeseen costs associated with the project. And this bid award would also be paid for out of the 2021 bond proceeds. And uh Madam President, talk a little bit more
057about the scope of the project and answer any questions that the board may have this evening. I will turn it over to Michelle. >> Good evening. So yes, a couple there's just two parts to this. It's replacing all of the drapes. All of the drapes now are currently cotton lure and that's 20-y old technology or at least a 15y old technology. and they're moving to a synthetic window for so they are inherently fire resistant as well. And that is all the drapes. That would be the side drapes in the house, the front main curtain and then the back curtain. So all the drapes. And then as it relates to the lighting, it is all of the theatrical lighting. So not the house lights per se, but all of the theatrical lighting, the dimmer, the control
058board, and the CPU that actually run that whole system. Our current system is an analog system and we are moving to a digital or an LED system. So our current system is made by ETC which is the same vendor that is going to be our new lighting system. Um and they are the largest manufacturer in the United States. So this is what they do. We're very comfortable with the two vendors uh Tobin's Lake and Advance. They're the kind of the two biggest games in town really. But we did have coverage. Two biders for the drapes and three biders for the lights. [Music] >> Yes. >> Um Michelle, has any of these two done anything in our district for the bond? I know you said they were two biggest, but haven't done anything because they're very
059auditorium performance space specific. >> But I've worked with them in other districts. Okay. >> Yeah. They did the uh Royal Oak High School auditorium. You said they were very what? >> Pardon me. >> They're very specific to performance base. >> Okay. >> We haven't done anything like this. >> All right. >> Up until now >> to the chair. >> Yes. >> Um question for you, Michelle. Did these products have any warranties if something were to happen to them? >> So, there's a typical warranty. We asked for a two-year warranty as far as just our front end with South Bedford Schools. Normally things are a one year, but we asked for a two-year just so that we can go through a couple of cycles. Um, but I did talk to our designer on this, uh, Bill
060Eying, and he said he's not had any issues with ETC product per se. He said, you know, if you had something catastrophic, he said that would be covered by ETC. They're just they're stand up. to the chair. >> Yes. >> I have a question for whoever can answer this one. Uh, has the sound system been updated since the auditorium was built? >> We've done some pieces of it. Uh, we've worked with Tim Shainer to kind of actually develop a list of what he wanted done. So, we purchased um some of the belt packs and um also upgraded the front head end piece. So, we've kind of returned it back to where it was when we opened it. I think we got eight or 10 of the belt packs. We were able to do that. That
061was under the >> chair. >> Yes. Are there any company other companies that did it for this? Who know? >> Uh for the drapes, we had two uh prices. And then for the lighting, we had three. And then the drapes weren't terribly competitive. I don't think fantasy lighting that's they had to go through a vendor and a vendor. So there's quite a bit of markup on their price, but the three lighting prices, they were they were fairly close. 328 to 355, I think, was the range of the three biders. to the chair. One more one more question. Can we get an update on um the bond stuff cuz we keep spending money from it, but I don't even know where we're at anymore, like what we spend it on and what might be left. And
062then follow-up question would be maybe to help offset costs a little bit, they could bring back that program where they were selling the little plaques on the seats and that went towards like the theater department or repairs or whatever. I don't remember how much they charged for those. I might have been like a hundred bucks or something. >> I don't know that it would offset the cost. >> No, no, no. But in the future, like it might go towards like the theater program or something. Just something that they haven't done in a while. No, I wouldn't cover this at all. >> Thank you. Anyone else? So, so for the we're going to have um Toby Lake sales. >> Okay. All right. That's for the curtains. I mean the drapes. >> Okay. And we're going to
063have >> advanced lighting and sound. is doing a light and we think that this will work out well schedule-wise. It takes a little while to do the shop drawings and then procure the lights and Tim thought that the January February timeline is kind of a quiet time for the auditorium. So that's when we anticipate installation. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Next item on the agenda, discuss Michigan Association of School Board Delegate Assembly Representative. May SB's 2025 delegate assembly will begin Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 at 700 p.m. at the Grand Travers Resort in Acme. Delegates selected by board of educations across the state will decide Michigan Association school board's positions on a wide variety of issues affecting education. On September 8th, 2025, the board discussed naming a MASB delegate to attend the MASB 2025 delegate
064assembly. Only dele delegates and alternates named by the district board may offer motions and vote vote on issues. However, all school board members may speak on the issues and participate in the debate. All delegates must be certified and submitted by Thursday, October the 7th, 2025. Attach is a resolution for the board's consideration. Um, has anybody decided to go other than me? >> Nope. >> I do have a question though. >> Yes. >> Does MISB have any reimbursements for this like they do for the CBA classes or is it just kind of like we're on our own for now? >> We're on our own. Okay. So, I'm sorry. >> A resolution. >> It's a resolution. Okay. So, we have a board member willing to adopt the resolution. >> In first, we got to set your name
065in there first. Otherwise, we're approving an empty spot. >> Lord said, Lord, Lord said, >> okay, so I'm going to put my name in here. Do we have a We don't have an alternate. So, >> I'll be there. >> I think I said that at the last. >> You did. You said that. >> Okay. >> Excuse me. She moved it so I have support. >> Okay. >> It's been moved by Mrs. Hicks and supported by Mrs. Early. All in favor? >> I. >> Any naysay? Zero nays. Seven eyes. Seven zero nays. Resolution adopted. Um Chris, you take care of that. Okay. Thank you. Next item on the agenda, discuss and consider reaffirming section 21F plan, state school aid act. Mr. B. >> Thank you, Madam President. The board will discuss and consider reaffirming the district's
066plans for section 21F of the state school aid act. Districts must get their virtual instruction plan approved by the board and notify parents and legal guardians prior to the enactment. A district may provide virtual instruction underneath section 21F for not more than 15 days during the school year. If a district plans to provide instruction under the section to students for not more than 15 days during the school year, the district's plan must be approved by the board of the district and the district must provide a notice of the plan to impacted students and their parents and guardians before enactment of such plan. Districts can provide virtual instruction for 15 days or less without the individual parental consent of each student. In accordance with Michigan section 21F requirements, the curriculum department is submitting the district's virtual
067learning plan for the 2526 school year for board approval. As part of the plan, the dates listed below have been identified for virtual learning, which are listed beneath. These dates have been planned to support state testing schedules of instructional continuity. However, they are subject to modification as needed to align with the district operations or changes in the state assessment calendar. Madam President, a resolution is attached for board consideration. >> Are there any questions about this chair? >> Yes. >> Are we discussing it? >> We're discussing it and considering >> All right. I I guess I have a question. Where is our formal written published plan? Like there's surrounding districts have a written plan. It keeps referring to a plan, but I have not seen a formal plan. I I see a couple ideas and dates,
068but where is where is it? Like a to me a plan is something that's formal, written, published. I mean, Leavonia and other districts in the state have it right on there and we know exactly what the plan is. This is just bits and pieces and comments, but to me, it's not a formalized plan. >> Do we have one? So the plan is is really just the dates that are there uh that are outlined this evening for the board. Um the individual details that Cheryl's uh speaking of those would come from specifically from the building. So uh those details would come directly from Pierce, directly from Thirsten where you know we talk about student notification, the parental notification, those are more building specific. And so these are the only you know these are the only components
069that are required from the board. Those other pieces would come from both the middle school as well as from the high school where it would talk about you know teachers availability what the schedule is um technology access but those are the details that um would not necessarily need the board's approval. We just pulled out the essential components that the board would need. However, if that's something that the board would like more comprehensively in the future, we can certainly provide those additional details. However, they are more specific to the buildings rather than for the board. >> Okay. >> To the chair, >> yes, >> I personally would like to know more about the plan. I mean, what are they doing? How are they notifying, you know, parents and stuff? We we don't know right now. We're
070just approving a couple of dates. To to me, that's not a plan, but it's whatever the board's will will is. I think we need more information. >> Can you give that example like you gave to me? >> Sure. Like for example, on October 8th at the high school, uh grades 9 through 11 are taking the PSAT. So 12th graders don't take the PSAT. So their remote learning plan, they'll have specific uh information provided from the high school about if you're a 12th grader, what school looks like for you in the remote space on that particular day, what's the schedule, what what the technology access is. Um, again, those would be details that would come specifically from the high school or from individual teachers rather than from the district or from the board >> to the
071chair. Yes, I've seen that several times. They'll send it to you like a week or two and then two days before >> you'll get an email from Pierce or Thursday about the instructions. It's a two-way communication that has to happen that day and tell you what you are supposed to do that day. It does come from the school. I got it from Matt and you know whoever the principal was at Pierce at the time >> and when the boards approved it before our attendance percentages have always been wonderful. So um we would look to continue with that same format that we know has been successful >> to the chair. >> Yeah. >> We talked about this a couple years ago. >> Yes, we did. >> Yes. >> And you outlined it then? >> Yes. >>
072Any changes? >> No. just just the updated dates that are provided for state testing. >> Okay. >> Do I have a board member willing to adopt the resolution? >> Chair. >> Yes. >> I move resolution. >> It's been moved by Mr. Johnson. Do I have a support? >> Is that you? >> Yes. And it's been supported by Mrs. Early. All in favor? >> Any nays? Zero naysay. Seven eyes. Resolution adopted. Next item on the agenda, discuss and consider administrative comprehension of compensation plan. >> Mr. Bob. >> Thank you, Madam President. The district's administrative cabinet consists of the assistant superintendent of human resources and operations, the director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, as well as the finance director. These positions are not represented uh by a collective bargaining by a collective bargaining agreement and receive compensation
073aligned with their administrative compensation plan. For the sake of transparency and consistency, I am recommending the administrative compensation plan to the board for approval. Madame President, there is a resolution attached for board consideration. Do I have a board member willing to adopt the resolution to the chair? Are we going to discuss it first >> because it's a discuss and consider? >> Okay. Are there any questions? >> I just have one. >> Yes. if um our since we don't have an approved state budget yet that our budget without drawing down from fund equity or changing in any way will we will cover this request. >> Yes. Those are the intentions. Yes. >> So we won't be going backwards. It's we've got room in in the budget even know not knowing the state budget what's coming. >>
074Yes. And you're not going to come back and say, "Hey, we need to draw down from fund equity." Right. >> That is not the intention. >> Okay. >> Extends. >> All right. >> Yes. >> That was my only concern. >> Okay. Any other questions? Do I have a board member willing to adopt the resolution? President. >> Yes. Resolution. It's been moved by Mrs. Early and supported by Mr. Johnson. All in favor? >> I. >> Any nays? Zero nays. Seven eyes. Resolution adopted. Next item on the agenda, comments from the audience. Topics not related to the agenda. >> We have none. There are none. Next item on the agenda, plus delta plan for improvement. Mr. B. >> Thank you, Madam President. What processes supported the board's work this evening? [Music] >> I found the discussions we
075had on a lot of the discuss and then the discuss and consider very well. I thought that was most helpful to actually get everybody's pretty much everybody's view. Other pluses this evening that supports the board's work? opportunities for improvement >> to support the board and its work. >> Did the chair? >> Yes. >> I don't have a delta, but I did have a question and I don't want to um forget to ask you after this is done. Now that we've had both of those presentations, will it be on the agenda next time for the board to choose one of those law firms or what's the next step with that? If I may, >> my my encouragement to the board uh would be that the board step away from tonight's discussions uh especially pertaining to its
076discussions surrounding board policies and um really reflect on the conversations that the board had and heard from both Miller Johnson as well as from Trune. uh and uh be thinking about our experiences with Neiola and um and then possibly bring it back for a consideration or additional discussion at the second meeting in October rather than the first meeting in October. Uh it's it's a large decision for the board. So that would be my encouragement is that the board would take a little bit of time to digest weigh those three components and then either continue the conversation at its second meeting in October. Um but that if the board is looking to make a transition, uh I do think it would be advantageous for the board to make that transition during the 2025 calendar year. That
077that would be my my encouragement. I have a followup to Amanda, >> but uh certainly it's up to the board. >> Um would it be possible to have Chris put together costs for each of them so that when we're actually considering which one you'd like to go with, we also have that to look at. >> Yes. Does that include Neiola? You want the >> No, I'm sorry. Excuse me. >> How about we include all three and then what you choose to look at? >> I think Lauren is a little >> ga to the chair. I know >> to the chair to piggy back off of Laurian and go back to that. Um it does have the cost in both pamphlets, but I would like to um kind of know like Mickey's feelings too involving the
078cost and how it would fit into our budget and then my personal preference would be to have a discussion and then a consider not try to do both on the same day if possible because it is kind of a big decision for us. >> Yeah. >> Up to the chair. Yes, >> piggybacking on Daniel, I I I think Mickey should throw out the Neiola thing, too. Just so the board is aware. I'm I'm sorry. I mean, it's a good it is a good question. Even though I agree with Lori, we're due for a change and there's problems, but let's put it out there so the board actually knows what we've been doing. >> Hey, that wonderful company we're working with. >> That wonderful company. >> Well, it only went south after you took over his
079chair, Lori. But >> love you. >> Yeah, I can see. >> Well, that's because >> No, really, cuz really I don't I don't even know with maintenance and stuff. So, I think it's really a good question that Daniel asked. >> That was hilarious. >> You know, just a habit. Not that you know, we said that so quickly. I know >> you didn't. >> No doubt on where I stood on that one. Huh. To the chair. Can I also add that I would like the cabinet or some of the administrators to be involved in that conversation because it does revolve around administrative guidelines which is their job. And then the second group we heard through um was one of their things was actually like school like each individual school codes or something and I like the
080handbooks. Um, so I'd like to know like what the operations people kind of feel about that too since that's kind of like included. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Back to you, Madam President. >> Keep my paper in two sheets for >> just it together. >> Right. Smaller. Um I have one word. >> No. And this is pertaining to um >> No, it's not a delta. This is pertaining to the operations manual. >> I'm still going through that. I just want you to know that. >> Okay. What about you, Lori? >> I I've read through it. >> Okay. >> Took a couple hours, but I got it. Hey, we cut it in half, guys. >> I know we did. I'm not arguing, >> but I'm still I'm still digesting it. Okay, so I just want
081you to know that, Amanda. >> Okay. You're welcome. If there's nothing further that comes before this meeting, I adjourn this meeting at 7:48. >> Let's go. Lines.