Southfield Public Schools Board Meeting 09/09/25 7pm

001Good evening everyone and welcome back to school year 2526. Yay. [Music] Uh this is a meeting of the Southfield Board of Education and public for the purpose of conducting the school district's business and is not to be considered as a community meeting. There is one opportunity for public participation during the meeting and comments are limited to three minutes per individual. The board will listen to comments but may not respond during the meeting. If you wish to address the board, please submit a comment card immediately. Roll call. Ashanti Bland, board president. >> Good evening, Evette Deval, Vice President. Good evening, Leslie Love Smith, Thomas, board secretary. >> Good evening, Telicia Belt, board treasurer. >> Good evening, Ammani Johnson, trustee. >> Jillian Holloway, trustee. >> Good evening, Nicole Denon, trustee. >> Good evening, Chitty Naji, student representative.

002>> Hello, Paris Whitman, Southwood ENT student representative. May we all stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Did I skip my introduction? >> You Yeah. Okay. >> Dr. Green, would you like to um tell everyone who you are? >> Thank you. Uh Jennifer Green, superintendent. Uh taking minutes this evening is Miss Carolyn Foster, and our technical support is being provided by M1 Studios. >> Thank you, Dr. Green. >> No problem. >> Uh board matters. Um, I'd just like to say welcome to our two new senior student board representatives. We are so happy to have you both. We look forward to hearing your presentations and

003welcome to the board table. Um, and that is all I have. I'm going to yield to the rest of the board through the chair. >> Yes, ma'am. Um the first thing I just want to um discuss and I'm going to make it real quick is I attend a GRC um meeting which is government relations through MASB uh Michigan Association Board of um Education or something along those lines. Um a couple points. The OCBA government relations committee met on Wednesday, September 3rd. Our guest speaker and representative were two or three individuals from um invest in my kids and they are looking for a ballot initiative. They shared their concerns with stability in school funding, went through some budgetary um issues and concerns, and I'm not going to go too far into the tax pieces. I will

004yield the floor at a later time to our treasurer. Um the group is at its early stages acquiring necessary um signatures as well as trying to get it on the November 2026 ballot. Um they need to submit 700. They are currently at about 200,000. also heard from our um government senate representative uh Lisa. There are many ongoing concerns at the state level um as it relates to budget and the strains that are facing all of our districts in the state. She shared the latest advocacy toolkits um by one of our uh legal councils Dave Randell's on MASB and there's also some resolutions that we can take a look at as a board at a later time and I believe um Dr. Green is also a breast of some of the um resolutions that we'll be

005able to take a look at. So, um, with that said, she did also discuss several bills that were passed, um, by legislation and, um, the committee discussed, uh, the importance of advocating with our reps as well as asking our superintendent to reach out to all stakeholders and inform them of these circumstances that are encouraged and they are encouraged to advocate as well. The last piece of um, information that I want to deliver is our 2025 delegate assembly. Um we have as I mentioned um MASB we go to different locations and we um get together as different districts within Michigan. Um again it's Michigan Association of School Boards. So this year um we have been invited to um represent Southfield. There are three delegates that are needed. Um unfortunately during our last meeting in earlier this

006year I believe or earlier uh in September >> in August. Thank you. Um I did respond that I wanted to represent. However, there are three delegates that are needed and we will need to cast a vote. From what I understand our trustee Holloway will be working with us as a um a delegate as well as Trusty Densen will be working with us and representing the delegate. um 2025 district. With that said, um President, >> we need to and and I'm not sure if anyone would like to be an alternate. There is an option um for an alternate as well. But with that said, >> it's an action item. >> Okay, I will leave that for the >> I will leave that for action items at a later time. >> Thank you. I just had a

007couple um that I wanted to lift. Um one would be our communication. I'm sure we'll hear something about it today regarding um count day, which is very important to our district. Um so I'm sure we'll hear some of that today, but I just wanted to lift that as well as the communication um with some of our building leaderships with any moves that may be taking place that that has been communicated. And our favorite subject to talk about um is our website development. Um I wanted to keep that lifted so that we can be brought a breast of what's happening with our website. And the last thing is a followup with um plant man. The followup that they were going to have with us regarding our processes and all of those things there. Yes. I just

008wanted to um lift those things and hear what you guys have. And that's it. >> Understood. through the chair. >> Yes. >> Um I wanted to share a report from the sustainability committee meeting we had most recently. Uh we discussed several key initiatives and things that are in the works. Uh from first is a recycling pilot launch. The Kennedy Learning Center was selected as the first official pilot site for a district-wide recycling program. uh Dr. George, the site leader, enthusiastically stepped up uh to lead implementation and we're pursuing grants to support uh that school as well as all of the other schools as well. Um Eco Rewards program. We're exploring an innovative vendor called Eco Rewards, which is currently active at Thompson and Eisenhower. The company provides on-site recycling pickup and shares a portion of

009the proceeds with the participating schools. And if successful, this program could help off help help offset program costs for our recycling program districtwide. Um, in terms of energy efficiency rebates, we received a $14,000 rebate from DTE uh for recent LED lighting upgrades at Vandenberg and um at the district office. These upgrades along with new energy efficient um infrastructure at Adler have contributed to a 35% reduction in utility costs at that site. And I've seen other emails about more rebates we've received and haven't had time to include them in this report. Um, we are on track to receive 10 new electric school buses by November with 10 more expected by next summer. Charging infrastructure is being installed in the busy yard. And um, the program is supported by both grant funding and a cost share agreement

010with first student. And then we discussed our sustainable design policy. The committee completed a final review of our proposed sustainable design standards for new construction and major renovations as we continue through our bond construction and it outlines energy efficiency, water conservation, recycling infrastructure, green building goals, and the policy will be brought forward at our next study session. Um, we're excited to see this momentum building and excited to bring you more updates later on. >> Does anyone else have anything for board matters? hearing. None. I would just like to um bring attention to the fact that in um um Trusty Johnson, myself and Trusty Werva went to our first conference and it was there that um Trusty Johnson said, "I want to see about electric school buses." So when people talk about the board doing the

011work, he's actually followed this path for the last four years and is seeing it come to fruition. So, I just wanted to highlight that because you've stayed diligent with it and I I think it's really good work. So, kudos to you and this committee and thank you to Joe Corores for sitting in and helping out where needed. So, thank you so much for that. >> Thank you. >> For sure. So, next uh with no other board matters, we have our first report of our student board representative and I will allow ladies to go first. So, Paris Whitman representing Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology. Good evening. >> Good evening. My name is Paris and I'm so excited to be here. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I'd like to begin by recognizing the

012importance of celebrating the the diverse cultures and communities that strengthen our warrior family. For September, here are the past and current highlights for Southwood High School for the Arts and Technology. I'll first begin with a report on the sports at Southwood ANT. During the summer, autumn sports triyouts brought excitement and energy as students filled the fields, courts, and sidelines to earn their spots. We are proud of the dedication each athlete showed to represent our Warrior pride. Here's how the season's going so far. With the season underway for the football warriors, it's noticeable of the strong energy from both the team and the sidelines. Special recognition to our cheerleaders who are supporting the football team this year. We also want to thank our football coaches, team managers, and team moms for continuing to support them this

013season. The boys tennis team is working hard to improve with each practice and competition done. The players are continuing to sharpen their skills and satisfaction for a strong season. Our girl golfers played their second match on September 4th and continue to improve with with every practice. Their com their commitment to precision and focus shines through every practice and match played. The boys soccer team has been playing with passion and power. They are hardworking and they're hardworking and they plan to dominate their upcoming matches. The girl volleyball team has been putting in the hours and using teamwork on the court. While they haven't had their first game yet, excitement is growing throughout the school for their debut this season. Our cross country runners have been giving it their all during their races. They continue to represent

014Warrior Pride one mile at a time and show their endurance, grit, and determination for the game. The girls swimming and diving team has made a splash this season. Using teamwork and lots of commitment, they've showcased their talent in the pool and steady improvement with each dive. The marching warriors are showing why they're one of the pride points at Southwood at ENT. They've delivered outstanding performances at football games and their field show was a huge hit. On top of that, they wowed the crowd while performing in the Detroit Labor Day parade and represented our school in front of thousands of people. Now, I'll begin with the leadership and activities highlights. Firstly, our September 4th senior sunrise was a memorable event. Music was played, pictures were taken, and memories were made. It brought together about one-third of

015the senior class. Gear Up, a college readiness organization, which has been helping our seniors prepare for college success since they were middle schoolers, joined into support, and seniors enjoyed a beautiful yet cloudy sunrise, which marked the beginning of the start of their final year of high school. The first of many blood drives for the school year was hosted on se September 5th and was and was a success. Many students stepped up to make a difference in the community and help save a life. Senior packages which is also referred to as senior dues have been released. There are three tiers for these packages. The first package is the basic package which includes the cap and gown and the diploma cover for $80. The second pack, the second package is the full package which includes the same

016items as the first and all of the senior merch merchandise like the senior shirt, yard sign, and senior blanket and much more for $180. The final package is the early bird package, which includes the same items as the last two packages, but also includes one prom ticket and a VIP parking pass if purchased early enough and goes for $280. Package two and three can be purchased until October 31st with the first package still being purchasable after that date. All packages can be purchased on GoFan. Let me now tell you about the academic highlights. Grade level meetings took place on September 3rd. Freshman met first hour, sophomores was during 2nd, juniors was during third, and seniors during fifth. Each group was updated on important dates to guide them through the semester. On the same day, parent

017meeting, the parent meeting for senior parents occurred at 5:00 PM during which the PTSA and ENT staff updated parents on the things they need to look forward to this year. The MAP testing window is open from September 2nd to the 19th. So far, students are showing focus and resilience to track their growth in reading and math. On the same note, PSAT testing will take place in October. Picture day took place September 8th. Students came dressed to impress for their yearbook and ID photos. The South Public Schools open house will welcome families and give them a chance to connect with teachers, explore classrooms and extracurricular activities, and for the warrior pride we all know and love firsthand. The date for that is September 16th, 2025. I've had the chance to reflect on the lasting impact I

018want to leave behind while witnessing all the promising opportunities at Southwood. My goal is to encourage a sense of school spirit that uplifts students and strengthens our community. I hope that the culture we create this year will continue to inspire future classes even after I graduate. Two groups I especially aim to impact are one, our underclassmen. I want to ensure they feel welcomed, involved, and proud of our school and two, our seniors. I want to make their final year memorable and meaningful. By focusing on these groups and uniting all students through school spirit, I believe we can build stronger bonds, increase participation, and create memories that will last a lifetime. In support of my mission, I also work to strengthen school spirit by promoting more social events, traditions, and activities that bring us closer together

019as one warrior family. I am determined to make our school a place where every student feels included, connected, and proud to be a warrior. In addition, I'm committed to creating open and supportive relationships with my peers to make everyone feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and concerns with me. This will allow me to truly listen, understand, and take action on what matters most to our school community. I will dedicate myself to supporting every student to the best of my ability. Thank you for listening and welcome back to a school year filled with energy and success. Thank you. Trustees, does anyone have any questions or comments for Paris? Good job. >> About the event that happened today because it happened in real time. >> Which one? >> The um >> the BMX Pro no violence tour that

020happened today at Southwood ENT. Did you care to speak to that? >> Yes, I would love to. Um we had a we had a school assembly today during fifth period. It was really fun and entertaining. the BMX, which is a military like initiative um to pro promote no hate at our school came and entertained us, which was really fun. There were a lot of bikers and they were very talented. They showed us what 3,000 30,000 hours of hard work can look like. Um and they were like moving around and they even jumped over and flipped over Principal Ree. It was really fun to see. I just wanted to uh add to that that it really showed physics in real world application. The BMX bikers uh were the professional team that tooured the country to demonstrate

021their skills but to also show uh what physics and science can do in the real world and it was sponsored by the Marine Corps. So, thank you to those organizations for coming out today. >> And to the gentlemen from uh we have Shidi, pronounce your last name for me. >> Ini >> Thank you. Uh from University K12 Academy. Take it away. >> Well, I think we should give it a one more time for my sister school from univers from from South. As as it was said, my name is Chitty Enaji and good evening to all of you. I'm I am happy to have the opportunity to be your board representative for university creator academy this school year. I want to share with you highlights of university or as we call it the U. Starting with

022a key belief in our school believe that we are nurturing tomorrow's leaders today. So what does it mean to be a leader at DU? It means charging head first into things like we did on August on August 13th, a day in which we held Jumpstart, an event in which students have the ability to get the necessary things to start their school year off successfully. Students were able to participate in fun activities like choosing their house, decorating lockers. They also got school supplies, picked up schedules, and learned what would best fit their future careers. Jumpst start day was a success as the university K12 staff stved our elementary parents and students. There were over 500 parents present who engaged in our exciting event. Seniors understand charger mentality. They never fail to put their print on the

023world. They are doing it even now at our school. at our school. At the start of the school year, our scholars was greeted by parents, sorority, and fraternity members, clapping them into the new school year. On August 29, the class of 26 2026 saw the beautiful sunrise together. A true start for the school year for any senior. As mentioned previously, we at the U have a house system in place. This is a system that was started at Ronak Academy in Atlanta that will be used to shape students character and school culture. Each house represents core values like kindness, kindness, courage, success, uplifting, wisdom, dreaming, and unity. All of which portray the you the true portrait of a youth student. Last Friday, we held our house party where students learn more about each house and each

024house chants. I would now like to spotlight some students at the U who have shown true charges spirit. Caitlyn, an eighth grader, scored her first holing one. She's a member of the girls golf team. Kaitlyn, a senior, owns a lawnmowing business where he makes a staggering $840 a month. So, if you never need your own one, you need you know who to call. Johnny, a third grader is already p is already pursuing a modeling career where she balance where she just where she knows and she where she has gotten actual professional gigs and is have got and has gotten into actual musical videos. She is doing this while in elementary school and still pursuing school. Charges believe the best way to lead is to plan for success. We have five upcoming plans. Professional development for

025teachers on September 17th where there will be no school for students. Meet the teacher night on September 18th where you get to understand who your who's actually empowering your future scholar. Charges teeth will shine bright on September 26th with picture day. The FAFSA opens on October 1st. So make sure those old horses fill them out. Cap and go photos will be on November 6th. This con this concludes my report for University K12 Academy. Can I get a big you you >> you [Applause] >> um does anyone have anything for cheaty this evening? Go Chargers. Um, I think you did a great job. Um, thank you so much. As is our tradition. We know the school year has started and so you have the opportunity to leave and do your homework or get whatever studying you

026need to do now or you're welcome to stay for the rest of the board meeting. It's always your choice, but we do encourage you if you have work to do that you can go. And thank you. Great job. >> Oh, are your families here? Are either one of your moms or families here this evening? Okay. Just wanted to make sure we recognized them if they were. Great job, guys. >> Next, we will have um the report of the super superintendent. Um I do want to call attention to something that um both students mentioned about athletics. And as we kick off our athletic year, we just want to remind our students and our parents that even when we're at away games, you're still representing Southfield Public Schools. So, we like to ensure that all of our

027students are still on scholarly behavior no matter where we go. Um, healthy competition is great. We love a good rivalry, but we always want to make sure that we're we're showing excellence wherever we go. So parents, please remind your children as they get in the car or they Uber to another district that we're still representing Southfield Public Schools. So thank you for that, Dr. Green. Thank you, board president, and trustees. Uh before I I would request that I go just a little bit out of order because we have one of our scholars here from the class of 2025 who recently was awarded first place for the city of Southfield Wildlife Commission logo contest. So if Miss Pilar, pronounce your last name for me. >> Casten could please stand and be recognized. >> Congratulations. Good job.

028[Applause] And if I could ask Dr. Freeman to come up as Dr. Freeman is one of the commissioners from the wildlife commission to present her with her certificate as well as her gift from and her winning logo. >> Oh, that's pretty. >> I got a nice congratulations. >> Let me put it up. >> Oh, that's beautiful. >> Oh, good job. >> Art and technology. >> Amen. >> For sure. Smalls. >> One more. There it is. All right. [Applause] >> Just recognizing that she too may have some other plans for this evening. So, moved her up on the agenda. Again, very proud of the work. Please continue pursuing your dreams and representing the city and the school district with great pride. Thank you. Next, continuing with the pride of Southfield, I'd like to acknowledge the partner

029of the month. Now, this young lady has been absolutely amazing. Everyone knows this young lady and it goes without saying that Miss Sandy Robinson >> does it all. Well, she is the pride of Stevenson Elementary School. And and it's so important to note that we were opening a new building. So, we had the construction, we had to clean the regular cleaning, we had everything to get in place. And Miss Sandy was determined that her building would be immaculate on the first day for the scholars. So, Miss Sandy, if you would come up to the podium as they play your video. We're so proud of you, Miss Sandy. Listen, [Music] how are you, ma'am? >> Where you headed? >> Outside with this young lady. >> But before you go outside, Miss >> I have to tell

030you something. What happened? >> Nothing happened bad. Something happened good. >> Really? >> Stevenson has you as their lead custodian. and I came to congratulate you as the partner of the month and thank you for all that you did to get this oven open and ready. >> Scholars, come tell Miss Sandy congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> We are so grateful for you and your services. We know you love these babies. You love this building and you take such good care of it, Miss Sandy. >> She will. Thank you. It's okay. >> She's the partner of the month. >> Oh my goodness. >> And welld deserved. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Hi, I'm Joe Cororus, chief operating officer of Southfield Public Schools, I nominated Sandy Robinson uh this month. Uh because on the Sunday before school opened,

031as I was doing my rounds to check the to make sure the buildings were ready for students the following day, Sandy was working eagerly at the her Stevenson campus location to make sure the kids had a clean building to walk into on Monday morning. Sandy has been tied to that campus and is a beloved grandmother uh on that particular campus. Uh she's been with the district well over 10 years and has done a great job for us uh day in and day out. And I'm glad that she's with us and a part of South Hill Public Schools. [Applause] Is anyone Mike? Can you check and see? Oh, Mike has to go flip the switch. >> And I appreciate it. The honor. >> What can I say? I'm Stephvenson. She is Stevenson. All right, Miss Sandy,

032the board would like to take some photos with you if you don't mind. You have a certific Check the notes. >> Smile. Great. One, two, three. One more. >> Got it. [Applause] And I'd also like to recognize Miss Sy's family who's in the audience this afternoon. So, if you could stand up. [Applause] >> The next person who is also representing Stephvenson is our employee of the month. It goes without saying when you think of Stephvenson, the face that you see second to that of Principal Hickman is that of their community coordinator, Miss Melanie Land. [Applause] >> Come on down, Miss Land. [Applause] >> Hey, Miss Lamb. [Music] [Laughter] Melanie Lane, you are the employee of the month. [Applause] >> Oh, no. I thank you. The the official nomination was made by Principal Hickman, but let

033me tell you, I've expressed my appre sincere appreciation for you each and every day this summer. You've had accolades from Plant Moran, Real Point, um Kevin, Laura, TJ, Tabo, CK from Baron Nattle. Everyone speaks so highly of you. No, thank you for all that you do. We know that this is your baby and everyone here takes such good care of the children. You take good care of the staff and you're a team player and no matter what time I call you, you are ready to report for duty. So, I humbly thank you. >> A thank you so much. That is so amazing. >> Thank you. >> I am Lisa Freeman. I'm the deputy superintendent here in Southville Public Schools. And on behalf of Mrs. Tanya Hickman, principal of Stephvenson Elementary. It is my pleasure to

034congratulate Mrs. Melanie Land on receiving this honor. Mrs. Lan, you are the epitome of excellence. You have just held on and just held out by providing unwavering support to our scholars, our staff, and our entire community. So, I am so grateful and so honored to be a part of this celebration as we take a moment to thank you for your support to the school district of Southfield. Thank you, Mrs. Land, and congratulations. [Applause] Good evening. Thank you so much for this amazing honor. And I just want to say that community is everything, especially at Stevenson. And we bring community in everything we do. And this was a very, very special year for us. Um, because we are honoring Mrs. Hickman and everything that I did, everything that we did was to honor her. I drugg

035my family in to help and um we worked hard because we know that um this was what she would expect. So we did it all to honor her and to make sure that our scholars had the very best returning back home. So we're very excited to be back home at our campus uh on Lasser. So thank you so much for this honor. So, I do want to say something um just quickly about Melanie Lynn. I knew you were going to get up there and say a bunch of we um and one thing that I respect about you is you never take anything for yourself. It's always about the collective. And I think it speaks volumes to why this staff is so one-minded about being one team and and you've done a great job. All of

036you have done a great job in upholding that legacy that Tanya Hickman has started at um Stevenson and and we're so proud of you. You treat those kids like they're your own and you guys are an amazing amazing team. And Miss Sandy, I saw you on Sunday, too, cuz I was up there checking out, but I didn't want to go in and say nothing. Um, but we we do we appreciate you guys. I've gotten a lot of calls about just how hard you guys have worked. So, thank you. And and we appreciate you, Melanie Land. You are a very important piece of the puzzle. >> Absolutely. >> You're welcome. >> So, if we can get a photo with Miss Land and the board and then get a photo of Paula Stevenson. Yes. >> Now all

037of the Stevenson family come up. Stevenson, the family. >> That's okay. One, two, three. Got it. Southville public schools, a place filled with amazing scholars, staff and supports. >> Agreed. >> Very, very proud of them. Transitioning to a subject that is not as joyful. Um that being the legislative update, you already heard from Vice President where Deval regarding the challenges that we are facing in Lancing. You will hear more from our treasurer later. I did want to lift the fact that I will be in Lancing tomorrow with a number of other superintendent working toward supporting and providing any necessary information to help the legislators make an informed decision and get a budget passed. I would lift that if we don't get a budget passed by September 30th, the state will shut down. However, schools cannot

038and will not shut down. We always have to figure out a way to get it done for our scholars with or without the support of those above us at the state and or federal level. So, I did want to put that on the radar um because it is extremely critical that we understand and um I do have an email prepared to go out to our families tonight explaining in a little more detail uh what this could mean for us as a school district in the event that the state does shut down. I will have an update after that. >> Moving on to the staffing update. Before we start the presentation, I do want to lift to those uh team members, family members. We are one big family and anytime we have an impact that impacts

039any of our family members, it is uncomfortable. It's not always the what we do, but the how we do. And I'm quoting our board president when I say that. Um and and I want to apologize for the nature in which some of the information was communicated and the timing in which it was communicated. It was done because we were hoping to avoid it completely. Um, thus we waited to the August time frame to do so to keep people whole as as long as we could without impacting their their household. Um, was it the best decision? Some could say yes, some could say no. But what we do know is this. We are grateful that we were able to keep everyone whole and bring everyone back. And for that, we're grateful for the team that worked

040until uh the wee hours of the morning to make that a reality. So, I am pleased to say that on the first day of school, um just about every one of our classes were filled. And I say just about everyone because we had some resignations that occurred on the night before and on the day of. And while I understand that people have to make decisions that are best for them, I do think it's a bit selfish to wait till the first day of school to let a school district know that you are not going to be in front of the scholars that you are committed to serve. So that having been said, um I am pleased to share this most recent update with you as of this evening, Miss Foster. At Adler, we have one

041ASD teacher vacancy, but this is currently being filled by an ISSN team member. So what does that mean? that means that this is a person that's on an alternative pathway to certification filling that class. The speech pathologist, while that is a vacancy, we do have that being filled by one of our partner organizations, so our students are still receiving their services on time. Um the art teacher position um currently covered by a substitute teacher, but that is one of the positions where a teacher vacated on the first day of school. So that having been said, um that is currently posted and we are looking to get that filled. McIntyre has a 0.5 gym teacher vacancy. This is currently being filled by long-term substitute that has been in that position from last year, giving them some

042continuity of services. And given that it's a 0.5 position, meaning a part-time position, it is more difficult to fill a 0.5 position um there at McIntyre, but the principal is very pleased with the services that that individual is providing to the scholars. Stevenson has one secretary vacancy. This was due to a retirement that occurred over the summer. And I'm pleased to share that due to class size, we are creating a new second grade classroom to um keep the classes at a lower class size for that second grade. So that position is posted and we look forward to the team making a selection there soon. At Bernie, we have one ASD vacancy of course. Um, similarly to the other school, this is currently being filled by a substitute teacher and this individual is also on a

043track for certification and an uh an additional degree. We have one EI vacancy. This is currently being filled by an ISSN team member again on an alternative path to certification. Thompson, one ECDD resource room teacher, again being filled by a substitute teacher. Two ASD vacancies currently being filled by substitute teachers. We do have one science vacancy. Now, I will say that Principal Eubanks and her team have interviewed all the candidates that were in the pool and unfortunately did not find one that fit the culture andor qualifications needed there at our IB school. So, that position remains posted and if anyone knows someone that's science certified, we strongly encourage them to seek application to the school district. The Spanish position is still posted but we are using MEG languages a a partner platform to support that

044and uh principal Eubanks is pleased with the work that they have been providing thus far. At Levy we have an ASD vacancy. This is a newly created position. There are a couple other positions that I discussed with HR today that we may consider to add to Levy in the very near future. So I do want to acknowledge that there are at least two additional that may be added to this slide in the future. This one is a newly created position. And at Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology, they have been busy interviewing. As you see, the resource room teacher candidate has been recommended. The ASD vacancy candidate has been recommended. The secondary transition coordinator, that is still a vacancy. Therefore, if you know someone, please encourage them to apply. The music teacher vacancy,

045we have extended an offer. And the bookkeeper candidate has been recommended. So kudos to the Southfield ENT team for their diligence. As of this evening, the Spanish teacher vacancy at South at University K12, an offer has been extended. So I am pleased to report that as well. Uh KC, we have one SXI teacher vacancy again being filled by a substitute teacher and the social work position is being filled by one of our partner organizations. busy to speech pathologists. Again, they are working with our partner organization to ensure that we are providing the services necessary for our scholars and the ECSC position is being filled by a substitute who is a retiree. So, we're very proud of that. I am proud to announce that the executive director of talent management interviews are underway. The team has

046been working very hard there and we also have one ISSN supervisor position because we have one that will be retiring at the end of this month. Trustees, I think this is one of the best reports that I have been able to provide you relative to staffing in a very long time. Do you have any questions >> through the chair? >> Sure. >> Um Dr. screen, you had listed that there were um quite a few that were posted, but there were also some that were being filled by building leaders. What does that look like on a long term? >> So, I didn't state building leaders. I stated that they were filled by substitutes. So, there are some that are filled by substitutes that are on alternative paths to certification, and then there are some that are

047long-term subs that will be here for the duration of the school year. they can be on one of a variety of substitute permits granted by the state of Michigan. So, I can't speak to each individual that um whose position was shown this e this evening, but there are some that are on daily permits, there are some that are on long-term permits where the state determines based on their credentials how long they will be with us. But this route provides us with stability for our scholars. >> Okay. >> And you'll keep us updated as >> Absolutely. every month at every month you will receive this report. >> Thank you, board president. Moving right along to move management, and I was happy to hear that that was something you were interested in learning about this evening, uh,

048Treasurer Bel. So, move management, uh, we have a lot of moves happening this school year. Actually, this is probably the most move management that will occur in our district. I will start with the one that is coming first that is Bernie K8. Bernie K8 will leave their current location on Evergreen in January and divide into two campuses for the spring semester. We've done a lot of work on the Bernie campus. Therefore, it doesn't require them to leave the building for an entire year. So, they will be in two separate locations for just the spring semester. That being the lower grades will be at Vandenberg and the upper grades will be at Southfield Regionals's campus on Evergreen. We are working diligently with the team to ensure that we have all of the communications out. We are

049scheduling a number of meetings with the families. I must give credit to Principal Baldwin. She is taking credit I mean not taking credit, taking charge of communicating with her family. She wants the message to come from her and I commend her for that um initiative. Um the Avance team is working with us to ensure that we get both written and oral communication out in a timely manner and we are also working with um the staff. One of the concerns that we've heard from a number of families is if they have scholars in both locations and the timing for arrival and dismissal. I don't have an answer for that tonight. We are working through that process. But this starting now gives us an opportunity to hear their questions and come up with frequently asked questions for

050those those individual families. Trusty Smith. >> Yes. Um, has Vandenberg acquired the appropriate licensing for Champions? They had someone walk through. Is it this week or in the coming weeks? >> We'll double check and get that answer back to you because I know that they did have some lenture um, site visits happening this month. So, I'll get that information back to you. And we also need to find out if their license for Vandenberg had expired because it may still be valid. But that's something an excellent lift that we will get that information to you. >> Yeah, >> I know that's something the families that I've heard personally from the families are concerned about being able to continue those services there. >> Okay. We will have that for you in writing and we will report that

051out at the next meeting as well. So the families will hear it in real time. >> Thank you for that lift. Um, next is so they will go to those respective locations for six months and then they will return back to their home campus in the summer of 2026 for Bernie. >> So, a couple of things when as it pertains to Bernie because this is taking place in what month? >> So, this is taking place we are going to be moving them out over the December break. So from December to January when everyone is home celebrating the holidays, we will be here with the move management team moving everyone to the new location. >> So I think my only ask from this perspective is that time before the break is a busy one, right? Holiday

052parties, celebrations, Christmas pageant, Christmas parade, all the things. So I think what is also important is that the staff really understands what their buyin is as far as packing up their classrooms and when they'll have that time to do it, what that looks like. So my hope is that since this will be happening in December and December is crazy that by our next board meeting that we would have some communication to the staff and a couple of forums with them just so they can get, you know, all the jitters out regarding this. >> Absolutely. I actually saw today a confirmed date from Laura who represents Plantaran Real Point and the mood management team and principal Baldwin. So they already have meetings scheduled with the staff. I know from Joe that we've already started delivering boxes.

053My biggest ask and I'm making it publicly is that of purging what we don't need. We as classroom teachers continue to collect items that we plan to use in our classrooms over the years and we end up with a lot of materials. Let me express this in a matter of dollars and cents. When we pack up the boxes, place them on trailers, move the trailers off site, we are paying approximately $10,000 a month to store these items in the trailers. Then we bring them back to the school. the staff goes through the items and generally say, "I really didn't need it. Can you throw it out anyway?" So, we've wasted the $10,000 per month for storage space. So, our ask is um that Joe and Phil and they've done a great job with getting dumpsters

054over to the school. If it's something you've not utilized for a lesson in the last 5 years, dispose of it. It's okay. it can you can let it go and it will be less for our our storage charges. So that's Bernie. Levy is currently housed in Eisenhower and Levy will be returning home to their nine mile campus in the summer of 2026. So that is a big move management piece of which we are working on a timeline for them as well. Then you have University K12 Academy. They will be leaving and going to three respective locations in the summer of 2026. The elementary school scholars will go to Vandenberg. The middle school scholars will go to Eisenhower. And the high school scholars will go to the O house at Southfield ENT. All three of those

055locations are currently being worked on for readiness to receive the scholars in the near future. Actually, later in the um report, you have for consideration repairs for both Vandenberg and Southfield Regional to ensure that these buildings are um a good Airbnb as I call them away from their campus while their new campus is being built. And then we have the final year for that of McIntyre and we will be closing out McIntyre as well. So those scholars that exit McIntyre in the spring of 2026 will be welcomed into the Bernie building which will be a new newly renovated building in the spring. So we will be move management crazy this summer. Um however we are planning with multiple communications, multiple forums and we do plan to inundate our stakeholders with as much information as possible.

056But as you hear of things, please lift it to our attention because we want to make sure that our internal and external stakeholders have a voice in the conversation. >> To the chair. >> Sure. >> Um Dr. Green, you may have mentioned and I don't see where it could be an issue, but transportation. Um will that change in any way as Bernie is moving to a different location? I I get it the same. Okay. >> It will. Um we are working through some current transportation pieces and and Mr. Johnson is here this evening to speak to that. Once we solidify our current um plan, then we will immediately move into what that plan looks like for scholars at those new campuses. >> So, as we're working through the transportation plans and what that would look

057like for pickup and bus transportation, can we also make sure that parents understand arrival and dismissal? Where they go, where they drop off, who will be there, what does that look like, and what the traffic flow to the best of our ability? Yeah, I know we always got a little hiccups here and there, but >> we will work on that to the best of our ability. Unfortunately, we we've had some experiences and I'm looking at the Stevenson team because they've mentioned to some parents you can't park there and they park there anyway and they want to drop off the children late and pick them up early trying to avoid the line. And unfortunately, scholars are entitled to so many instructional minutes per year. So when you take them out early or bring them late, you

058are impacting their learning. Be it social learning, academic learning, time for engagement, their breakfast, their end of the day snack, that's nutritional. Every minute counts and I cannot impress upon families enough. We have a start time and end time for a reason. Um, you also mentioned count day. Um, Trusty Belulk, count day is coming on October 1st. And in my legislative update, I mentioned the fact that the state may be shutting down on October 1st. What's the irony of that happening? It is important to have scholars here. When we are audited for count day, scholars that come late, we are deducted a portion of their pupil allowance because they are not present for all of their classes. So that impacts us as well. So all of this works as a big piece of the puzzle

059to make things um whole for our scholars and for our staff. >> The chair certainly not to be in the weeds of anything but just thinking um from my teachers lens and then also u mother lens and mother of a a child with special needs. Has there been consideration for the smallest babies at Bernie to perhaps go to busy or a different space where there won't be so much in and out flowing? Um just for thought, >> we will take that into account and have it for discussion at our next session. Um, and then also, board president, I'd like to um the board to entertain or consider um a motion, not today, but once we have more information um on voting on a storage restriction. I think that we have to be >> financially respons.

060>> We have to be financially responsible. Um and I'm a teacher. I get it. I I pay for a separate storage unit myself. My district doesn't pay for storage for me, but it has forced me to, you know. Yes, absolutely. Um, not carry so much stuff. So, I think that in being, you know, as you lift it, you know, we pay for the storage and then they end up moving into the new space and they trash it anyway. It's money wasted. If you think about um storage for an entire year, that's $120,000. That we can't pay someone's salary from bond dollars, but that could go toward a major project. >> Absolutely. >> So, um board president, I'd like to ask um that we be provided some figures, some facts and figures on what it might

061look like if we were to uh vote on a storage restriction per building, per class. ft. However, >> and we make that official vote. We'll get some additional information from the move management team. Thank you. Any other questions regarding move management? Okay, I will keep you up to date on all the moving pieces. Um, next is our back to school report out. Um, I must state that this was the absolute best first day of school that I have experienced in Southville public schools. very proud of every building leadership team and department for the work that they put into ensuring that this opening of school was the best. Thank you to all of our Divine Nine partners who came out to support our scholars. Thank you to all of the media outlets that came out. Our

062trustees were out and about. It was actually an amazing experience to witness this opening day of school. Unfortunately, from the first day of school, we had a few hiccups, and we're going to address those momentarily. But if I could ask Miss Foster to pull up the curriculum night um slide that we have because we want to continue the excitement and we want to continue making our work visible to our stakeholders by inviting them out to the various curriculum nights. So, we'll just go through a quick overview of the curriculum nights that as we know them at this moment. So, the Busy Educational Center curriculum night, and we'll provide this to you, trustes, so you don't have to make note of this. Um, will be on September 24th. It's in your binder, Miss Foster stated, um,

063September 24th. That evening, you also have KC's open house. Um, Adlers is the 16th from 6:00 to 7:00. McIntyre's is the 18th at 6 pm. And I will go back and reiterate that while we see Adlers is on the 16th, we also have Stevenson's ribbon cutting ceremony on the 16th. You can advance a slide at 5:00 p.m. So that is why theirs is longer. So trustees, you will be asked to be at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly renovated campus at 5:00 p.m. at Stevenson Elementary. And then for those of you that wish to go over to the Adler um open house or curriculum night afterwards, please feel free to do so. Bernie K8 is going to divide into two sessions. Very smart. Um they are going to have the elementary portion on the

06410th and they're going to have the middle school portion on the 11th. Thompson K8 is going to have theirs on the 11th from 5 to 7th. Levy Middle School is going to be on September 18th at 5:00 PM. University K12 is going to be on the 23rd. That is a different date that we October 2. That is a different date that was posted in the youth scoop. So I am going to get clarification on that piece. Southfield ENT is going to be on the 16th at 5:00 p.m. So, um, I ask everyone to pause on that UK12 piece until I have further clarification on that matter because that is not what we published to our community. Okay. All right. Thank you. Next, we will hear from Mr. Maurice relative to our transportation. Please take the

065mic. >> And I just want to pause and um, you know, thank Dr. Green. So that whole curriculum night blurb, I've had a couple of parents call me and say, "Can y'all just put everything on the screen so we we can just take screenshots?" And so, um, I called Dr. Green. I said, "Can we just get a a cumulative list?" And so, thank you for that colorful, uh, presentation. Hopefully, parents that are watching, that helps to know all those nights in one space. >> And, um, trustees, breaking news. The university Spanish teacher officially accepted the position at 7:19 p.m. >> Good evening everyone. >> It's always a pleasure to come before you guys and present. Um like Dr. Green said, we did have an excellent first day of startup. Um this year we're moving approximately

0663126 scholars per day to the respective schools around Southfield public schools. In addition to that, of course, we have other routes outside of Southfield Public Schools. Uh we do some routing for uh Catholic Central and we also do some routing for um Failen. Uh some people some of you guys may know them as uh formative. Um, so approximately we run 67 routes per day, >> 53 of which is for Southfield Public Schools. You guys are our biggest customer. You guys are our number one customer. Um, unfortunately, um, like I said, the first day went really well. The first week went pretty well. Um, the second week not so good. Um, like you guys, we did have a lot of uh, resignations at the beginning of the school year. Uh over the summer all of my

067drivers came back. They went to kickoff. They went to RISA exception of two. Uh we call those two they decided not to come back. That first week of school we had some additional resignations. That first week we made it through the week. Okay. Uh the second week we had additional resignations and some of the people who had resigned but agreed to work with us through Friday of that week once they resigned they never came back. So that left me short of drivers basically and it caused a lot of late buses the second week of school. Uh buses number one, buses number nine, buses number 22. We were struggling to really cover those routes. Shortterm, here's what we did. Uh we reached out to our surrounding Michigan locations and we have approximately 15 locations. There's not

068a whole lot to choose from. I did the inventory at the uh 15 Michigan locations that we have and bottom line looking at the totals in terms of overages and shortages of drivers, we are plus one in the state of Michigan in terms of drivers overall. I was able to get some help out of Dearbornne, some help out of South Redford. And what I'm also doing is I have people who work on my staff who have their CDLs. They're actually driving buses for Southfield Public Schools. My newly appointed assistant location manager, she's driving a bus daily for Southfield Public Schools. one of my dispatchers who is an internal guy who was promoted to dispatcher. He's driving a bus daily for Southfield Public Schools. It's been a little bit quieter this week than it was last

069week. Last week, the emails were fast. They were furious. They were coming through um Dr. Green's administrative executive assistant. She was being copied on all those and we were trying to address those as quickly as we possibly could. Um, we haven't had the issue with late buses this week, but we still have some oneoffs on a daily basis in terms of kids who are not being picked up and we're working on those feverishly. So, we have a short-term plan in place right now um to be able to cut down on the lates and we have some uh things that we need to work on long-term when the resignation started to come in and some of the people who couldn't pass their physicals medically uh we opened up the pipeline to start hiring additional drivers to

070be able to cover our Southfield routes for Southfield Public Schools plus the other routes that we have. Uh we have opened up that uh requisite again that job requisite and so far we have some candidates in there who have uh student transportation experience. These are licensed drivers CDLs. Some of them have worked for us before. Um uh they went out, they left on good terms. So we're going to bring them back. So, we have both a short-term um resolution in place and we're working on a long-term resolution. >> Um we're doing everything that we can. >> Um I'm sorry that's I see a question. Y >> I see your question. >> I appreciate you know the work you did on the the back end, but I'm going to say something that my mom used to

071tell me all the time. >> If you would tell me before I found out >> Mhm. I could address the issue, right? And so you were having these problems and to my understanding the superintendent wasn't aware. >> If she was aware that you had all these resignations, she could contact her buildings. Therefore, they could send out communication to their families because just having one student left outside >> for 30 to 45 minutes agent has already gone to work. >> Agree. >> Is a safety hazard. I agree. been so unacceptable. >> I agree. >> I I respect you for coming here and addressing this, but when you find that you're going to be in a pickle, >> it would help us a lot if we knew >> because then we could try to do something to

072help you out and we could let our families and our building leaders know. >> Agreed. >> They did not have a clue until we were inundated with emails. And now it's past Joe, it's past Doc, and it's made it to the board. and parents are freaking out. >> And some of these were our our special students, >> right? So, it's even more of a calamity because some of them can't advocate for themselves. Got >> um so my ask would be when you get yourself in a bind, >> if you would let us know on the front end, then we can let our community know and we won't have to be retroactive. Agree. >> We can be proactive. >> I agree 100%. That's on me. That's on me. Being able to think I can control things

073and keep things under control. Uh unfortunately, they came at me so fast and furious. I was in the midst of trying to cover it and trying to do things up. Not trying to cover up anything. >> No, I understand. >> But just Yeah. I was always trying to be I always try to be transparent, keep things above board, and always try to be a good partner. So going forward, I will definitely take that under consideration and I will definitely follow your lead and your recommendation on that >> because it's been a good partnership. I want to make certain it stays a good partnership and um because I'd like to be here a long time. >> Maurice, the spirit of transparency, >> why don't you address the union issue, the collective bargain agreement status? >> Okay.

074Um our drivers of course are and monitors are all union. Uh their contract expired August 26 of 2024. Uh we've been working on it. Uh we gave them a significant raise in my estimation. Um uh it was agreed to on the call. I was a part of the call. Um they wanted more. We told them that the pie was only so big and uh it didn't matter how they sliced it in eight pieces, 16 pieces, whatever. >> Let me just stop you for a second because I don't want him to get hit with a ulp. >> What happened? >> By discussing because you're still in negotiations and so I don't I want you to be mindful of what you share publicly because you could be you could be imposed unfair labor labor practice. So I

075just want to hold hold >> some of the comments. >> All right. So, it's still going on. Um, and I'll just leave it at that. >> Through the chair. >> All right. I forgot this probably being recorded. My bad. >> It's being streamed live and recorded, so just be mindful. >> My bad. Okay. I'll be mindful. >> Okay. >> So, that's still ongoing. Um, so, uh, we're working our way through that as well. Okay. I do I do have a question as it relates to pickup for our sports students at the end of the day um from university. >> I got an email about that yesterday. >> Okay. >> About the buses being overcrowded. >> Overcrowded and not being picked up and picking up late and then not picking up overcrowded. >> Okay. >> And

076>> I saw that email yesterday. There was the first time it was personally brought to my attention that I had actually seen it. I pushed it down to my staff and I told them they need to get that handled and get that fixed as quickly as possible. >> Okay. >> Again, um as our board president said, communication is the key >> and I know building leaders are in the building past the time of dismissal, >> so whoever needs to keep them in the building and keep them safe is vital. I do understand that it was on time today, >> but we we have to make sure that we stay ahead of that curve. >> Okay. All right. Um like I said, I saw that email. Uh, I put my staff on it. They took care

077of it. Um, we'll be good on that front going forward. Um, >> I have a question. >> Shoot. Okay. >> I don't I'm sorry. >> What about um temporary staffing or is that some type of violation? You can't use temporary staffing. >> Well, I don't use temporary staffing. That's my temporary resolution. the people who are driving the buses like my assistant location manager driving the buses for South Public Schools. >> What I'm saying if you don't have the staff available, who else can you reach out to? >> Um, as a part of the temporary resolution, I'm reaching out to other Michigan locations. They don't have a whole lot for me to choose from, but they are providing some assistance. They've provided enough assistance for me to be able to make certain that the buses don't

078run late. Uh we have not had the issue with the number of late buses this week or we still have some instances in which certain kids are >> absolutely absolutely absolutely absolutely absolutely. So, just so the trustees are aware, um, this morning Miss Lysy assisted me and we were meeting students at their stops and meeting them at their schools and we are working from our offices to try to ensure that the scholars are safe. But, as you know, we can't be out at bus stops every morning either. And the board president already told me I couldn't get a CDL because I thought that might be another solution. She just told me that um, we have to fix this problem. And that's the bottom line. One of the reasons that first student, and this is not

079to you, this is to your senior leadership, one of the reasons they have so many school districts in Michigan is because Southfield was the recommendation. >> Okay, good. >> Because we were >> the >> premier site for first student. So now that >> the office of the superintendent has given their endorsement to first student, >> I just ask that your superiors not forget that recommendation. I will make certain that they do not. I have a call with my superior tomorrow um from 9:00 in the morning and of course I'm going to share all the detail with him. >> Thank you. >> Okay. All right. This is an official call. He's aware of what's going on. We're going to sit down and discuss status and uh things we need to do going forward. You guys are

080um of course the biggest account in Michigan. Um when I got an opportunity to come to uh first student um I was offered either Pontiac or Southfield. I didn't know anything about either location and I basically asked which one is the biggest that's the one I want and that's of course how I ended up at Southfield. Of course Dr. Green had to sign off on me I believe. But we don't want to make it the smallest because if our families can't get their children here, they will go elsewhere where they can get their children to school >> and thus the district will be smaller. Transportation may be eliminated. Gotcha. >> Not a threat. Just >> No, no, no. And I understand that. Um >> question. >> See, wait a minute. >> Listen to me. >>

081They they go through the chair. Trusty Hollow. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Okay. >> Through the chair. >> Yes, ma'am. What about um substitute substitution agencies? Are there any or is that some type of violation where they are already trained and able to come in and assist? >> Of course, I'd have to discuss that with my union. >> Yeah, that's what I >> They're probably going to say no. They're they're going to definitely say no. I mean, I don't even have to ask them that. They're going to say no. >> Be patient and make sure >> they're going to tell me straight up no on that. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thank you so much. >> All right. Thank you guys for having me. >> Good evening. >> I appreciate your

082accountability. I do. >> Oh, yeah. Thank you. >> Everything rest on my shoulders and I appreciate that. >> Heavy as the head. >> Um, public participation. And if you wish to address the board regarding a school related issue that has not yet been resolved by school administration, please submit a comment card immediately. Comments are limited to three minutes per individual. As a matter of fairness, speakers with complaints against individuals are asked not to mention any persons by name. Complaints concerning employees pursuant to board policy 9130 should be brought to the attention of school principles or other administrators before coming to the board of education. Your cooperation is appreciated. You have one. Okay. >> She's filling it out. >> Yes. >> And you can finish filling it out afterwards. >> Okay. In the interest of time,

083>> you can step to the podium. >> I don't want to measure for masher. >> Masher Eson. >> Will you state your address for the record, please? >> For the record. Uh, is this live streamed? >> I'm sorry. >> It's live streamed. >> It is. >> Okay. Um, I think I'm You emailed me earlier. >> Yes. >> Because of her profession, she preferred. >> Understood. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. But I am a resident of Southfield. I live down the street on 10 mile. Um, I am here uh as the mother of a new Southfield public school student and as the graduate of a former well a graduate of Southfield public schools um Southfield High School, which the memories driving down the street. Okay. Um, that was a lot. Um I am really excited to

084have my daughter be a part of the legacy that I was a part of. However, she is a two and a halfyear-old attending um the elementary I'm sorry the um the early childhood program and it's set up where um children are not allowed to be in uh certain classrooms until they turn three. So that's Head Start. There's a pre Headstart program. And my concern is that um there is a there's really it's interesting because to be very strict and say there's a cut off or there there's a starting point for students who are three but at the same time allow children who are between the ages of zero to three to be in one room together is a little concerning. I think I'd like to understand the policy behind it and see if there's something

085that can be done maybe where zero to one and a half is in a room and then one and a half to three is in a room because to have my daughter with a child who cries every morning or who's one and a half and who's on the floor who's crawling who's being fed um spoonfed by another teacher whose diaper is being changed when she is fully potty trained when she can count to 10 in Spanish when she can count to 40 um when she knows all of her shapes, when she knows all of her number. I mean, she needs to be around her peers. My goal of putting her in school wasn't because um she had to go to school. I I could stay home with her another year, but I wanted her to

086be around children her age so that she could play with her peers. But if she's playing with babies, I don't feel that she's getting what she needs. And if the the babies are coming in and crying and she's picking up crying again and having tantrums and having separation anxiety, which she didn't previously have, then I'm a little concerned. Um, today while we were sitting at home on the phone, she opened up her book and started tracing letters. So, she's starting to practice writing. So, I would hope that we could encourage um the elastic aptitude and that she could follow along. Um, she communicates incredibly well. even at two um she someone said, "Oh, is that your truck?" She said, "No, it's an excavator." When we go to the doctor, she said, "May I put on

087your stethoscope?" And the doctor's like, "Oh, that's a really big word." And so, I'm hoping we can put her in an environment that challenges that a little better versus her being with babies. But that's um you know, of course, how you guys handle it. I would just like to learn more about how and why and if we can stagger it differently or maybe um Thank you. So, um, trustees, if you will allow, um, Dr. Green to give, um, our parent the information on what is Head Start since it is a federal program. I I would like mom to understand that a little better. So, Dr. Green, >> absolutely. Um, so, not to address public comment directly, but I would uh would strongly encourage that you look on the Head Start website. It is a federally

088funded program and the restrictions are very um specific as to what we can and cannot do. However, within every grade band or age band, we still have the ability to differentiate and we can put scholars with like peers based on their scholastic aptitude. There's nothing prohibiting that. Um I I will also state for the record that my great-grandson is enrolled at Busy. So I too share your expectations of excellence there at that campus and Dr. Dr. Kelly Wash is doing a great job in getting us to that standard. Um, as I indicated to the trustees, you emailed me late this afternoon and we were transitioning for this meeting. So, I've not had a chance to speak with you directly, but we will be following up. But much of the information you're looking for can be

089found on the Head Start website. Okay. Thank you. Action items. Consent agenda. Approval of minutes. August 18th special board meeting student hearing. Is there a motion on the floor to open and approve the consent agenda for August 18th? >> A motion that we open and approve the consent agenda for August 18th. >> It's been properly moved and supported. Is there any discussion surrounding the consent agenda for August 18th? Hearing none. Board secretary, whenever you're ready, please call for the vote. >> Trusty Belt, >> yes. Trusty Bland, >> yes. >> Trusty D, >> yes. >> Trusty Holloway, >> yes. >> Trusty Johnson, >> yes. >> Myself, yes. Trusty Word of Law, >> yes. >> Unanimous. >> Motion carried. Thank you, board secretary. Um, action item MASB 2025 delegate assembly. Uh, vice president. >> Um, I motion

090that we nominate the following individuals for the MASB 2025 delegate assembly. Trusty Holloway, Trusty Densson, Trusty Waval. >> Before we um second that, is there a candidate for an alternate before we move on? Thank you. Is there any support? >> It's been properly moved and supported. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. Board secretary, whenever you're ready, please call for the vote. >> Trusty Werva, >> yes. >> Myself, yes. Trusty Johnson, >> yes. >> Trusty Holloway, >> yes. >> Trusty Densen, >> yes. >> Trusty Bland, >> yes. >> Trusty Bel, >> yes. >> Unanimous. >> Motion carried. Thank you. Report 6406, personnel action report. Trustees, the action report was sent to you and it is in your binder. Is there a motion to open and approve report 6406, the personnel action report? >> I motion that

091we open and approve report 6406, personnel action report. >> It's been properly moved and supported. Any discussion >> through the chair? >> Yes, ma'am. Can I just see clarity on the reporting? You see a name mentioned twice. Is that >> So if you look >> what's under their column. >> Yeah, it may be the uh proposed position. It may be the actual location of the individual. So it may be that they're leaving one area going to another. If you can give me the number, I could help guide you. I think we just Okay. >> Any other discussion? Hearing none. Board secretary, please call for the vote. >> Trusty Bel, >> yes. >> Trusty Bland, >> yes. >> Trusty Densen, >> Trusty Holloway, >> yes. >> Trusty Johnson, >> yes. >> Myself, yes. Trusty Wav, >>

092yes. >> Unanimous. >> Motion carry. I would like to take this moment because I think we take for granted that our student board reps normally leave and we have both of you sitting here and you do not have packets. So, I'd like to apologize for that because this is a great way for you to understand and learn governance and policy moving forward. Miss Foster, I would ask that we could supply them with a um student board rep packet um for this um exercise and I'll be sure to forward you something that you can understand and follow along. Um, I forget that we've gotten efficient in this process and normally we don't see you all until October, but we've gotten so good that you're here and I'm assuming you don't have as much work as you

093probably will have as the year goes on, but we'll make sure that you have packets to review and so you can follow along with us. So, please accept my apology for that. Okay. All right. >> The agenda. >> Understood. for sure. >> And wow, she's giving them that >> seven. >> Okay. >> Uh, trustees, as we um I I believe that was unanimous, correct? Did we take the vote? Okay. Thank you. I just wanted to make sure I didn't move on before um saying motion carry. Um, we have information items A, B, C, D, and E. Correct. Trustees, as you recall, we had a pre-approval amount. And when Miss Foster sent this out in your packet, she gave um special attention to ask everyone to kind of read through these because these are things that

094you already saw before we went on sbatical. So, um, as a reminder, these information items are part of the $2 million that was pre-approved, um, previously. >> Dr. Green, did you want to speak to anything? >> Would my partners like to come up and join me? TJ, where's Dan? >> TJ, are you alone? >> Where' Dan go? Dan had Dan had a day. I'm not sure where Dan is. >> Good evening, TJ. >> Good evening. Welcome back. >> Dan disappeared. Okay. >> Dan left you high and dry. Dan. >> Good evening. >> Um, does anyone have specific questions or I can just go over um and give the highlights of what was previously um brought before the board? >> Yep. Not a problem. So what we have um 6407 uh is Arch Environmental. It is

095um an amendment for uh environmental uh consultation services and project coordinating. Uh what that entails is air monitoring and that's at Levy and Thompson. It's for the construction going on uh in both locations. and 6409, excuse me, our French uh associates additional uh amendments. Uh that entails additional storm water uh investigations for all of these storm uh requirements. So TJ, if we can just pause right there for a moment, trustees, I think um you will hear more information relative to the storm drains in all of our schools. >> This was not foreseen. Southfield was built um at a time, the school district was built at a time where the requirements were not the same as they are present day and the storm water issues are great in all of our locations. That having been said,

096we are incurring additional costs to keep the storm water um to adhere to the storm water requirements that are present day uh to the tune of several million dollars. So I don't want it to come as a surprise to anyone as we move through the bond projects with the additional expenses that people can't particularly see because much of this work is underground and our community won't understand why initially some will some won't why we spent so much money on some of this underground work. So we will have a study session where we take a deep dive into the why behind some of these requests. >> Okay. Uh 649 is an additional for French Associates and this is in conjunction with the VWE lab um grant that the district was afforded. Of course that meant that

097we had to go back and do addition have the architects do additional work. Uh so there is some uh modification there. And the last is uh environmental maintenance engineers. They are actually the abatement contractor who was doing work at Stevenson. some additional work uh that needed to take place there. >> Yes. So 64 um that's bid pack 40. We had to have additional asphalt work. I did email all the trustees this summer while you were on sobatical um and had a facetime meeting with the board president and I believe we called everyone to inform you that unfortunately we could not mail back that >> parking lot. we had to actually strip it down and provide a new parking lot in the back of Stevenson. So that is what that big bid pack reflects, >> right?

098And unfortunately again you find these things as they're going through the construction. So >> but it was for stabilization stabilization of it. >> So then we didn't put down they so that they didn't put down a parking lot that within a couple years was going to be >> collapse. Yeah. SRK and Vandenberg swing space preparation. >> So, um, board president, I would ask that we look at that one completely separate because that will be funded out of capital improvements. We cannot fund this out of the bond project because it is not a replacement, renovation, or what's my other R? >> Oh god, you were going to ask me that. maybe rehabilitation, but it essentially if you have something that's a maintenance issue, it doesn't fall under the parameters parameters of the bond. Furthermore, because these

099schools are our swing spaces and not schools that will be in usage after this bond project, we would not want to put bond dollars into the schools and then potentially sell them and or um have to repay back that money. So, I did want to highlight that piece because I know that's important um that you know that this will come out of capital projects, not that of the bond. >> Thank you. >> And then we have 5413 um September 2025 dashboard bond funds. >> That is your complete dashboard of how the dollars have been spent to date provided by plant manpoint. We will have that uploaded on our website. We are also sharing that with the Avon team to ensure that they get it out on a more global uh scale for our community. >>

100BP, if it's the pleasure of the board, I would ask that based on timing we u move forward the report 6412. Yes, please. Thank you. >> You've heard um Dr. Green's request. She is asking that we make report 6412 SRAK and Vandenberg building swing space preparations um actionable. >> I motion that we open and approve report 6412 and Vandenberg swim space preparations. And if um anyone does um have any questions, um Vandenberg and Srax um packet is starting at page um well, I'm not going to give you a page number, but it's a total of $329,83458 to get us up and running. Please note Vandenberg and ESRAC will be used for years, right? University is a roughly four to five year project. >> It's a three-year project and Bernie is at least. So, you got

101your four years in. >> I got my I got my four years in with Bernie. I didn't want to say three and then end up four and everybody like she said three >> with Bernie with Bernie. Yes. Um, so trustees, is there a motion on the floor to open and approve support? You was about to say, okay. Okay, got it. It's open. Um, any any questions? Any discussion? >> Board President, I did want to lift that that amount um does include contingency. >> Okay. >> It may come in a little bit less if we don't have to spend that that 10% contingency. >> Any further discussion? Hearing none. Board secretary, whenever you're ready. >> Trusty Werva, >> yes. >> Myself, yes. Trusty Johnson, >> yes. >> Trusty Holloway, >> yes. >> Trusty Dempson, >> yes.

102>> Trusty Glenn, >> yes. >> Trusty Belt, >> yes. >> Unanimous. >> Motion carried. Thank you. Thank you, TJ. >> You're welcome. The only other thing that I uh failed to mention is that as we're closing projects out and you do have outstanding contingency that has not been used, that is being rolled back into the book. >> Okay. >> So, perfect. All right. Good to know. Thank you. >> Thank you. Financial report and monthly bill dispersement. Board treasurer. >> Good evening. >> I am so excited for this report today. Um I'm going to just do highlights because it's our first one back for the beginning of the school year. Um and I also want to piggyback on what Dr. Green stated earlier, which is um the state budget not being finalized at this time. Um,

103also one of the concerns that um, we have as a district is the timing of the local tax revenues is still uncertain right now. Um, another one that I wanted to lift um, is that these factors um, they could create a temporary cash flow challenges for the district, but our administration is monitoring closely and prepared to bring forth any recommendations if needed. And I'm excited because I thought that I really like caught them and I had some good issues with some things that I saw over the summer of some payments that were made and I'm like finally let's get into the finances, get into the weeds and I realized it was summer discovery. So, thanks a lot for that. Our summer discovery program was amazing and it was payments to our partners. So, we are

104very fiscally responsible and it may seem small to others, but is amazing as a district that we're that way. Um, so I did lift the issues that we that were um concerned with, but also that um we received $1.52 million from Summer Discovery. Um, and since we saw all those payments going out, um, I found out that, um, due to the success of our, um, this year's program, they've been asked, we've been asked as a district to apply early for 2026 for their summer program, um, to continue. Um, a full report on that will be in our October board's meeting. And that concludes my financial report unless someone has any questions. and definitely went through it line by line and was calling us. So, thank you for treasure. We appreciate your ability. Um, for the

105good of the order, does anyone have anything? >> Um, good evening parents, um, grandparents, and all of those that support our children, aunts and uncles, and those that bring our children to class. Dr. Mr. Green mentioned how important it is for our kids to be on time. Um that is vital instruction time. So I need parents to work really hard to get them there on time to make sure that they've eaten breakfast. That is a time that they do socialize. Being on time is very important to the livelihood and the growth of our kids. Thank you. is board president. >> Um Trusty Bel at one time um I think it was the beginning of the year you were talking about school um school uniforms board president and um are we going to have that discussion

106again at some point maybe in another study session? >> So Dr. Green and I had a very long conversation and one thing that we did not lift about school safety that that we are I was going to lift during for the good of the order. Um we've heard many parents talk about how are we keeping our kids safe and one of the things that we did was we received uh grant dollars and we were able to purchase metal detectors. Um it was announced at our August meeting. Um we will be rolling out certain things. Our chief of staff, security, Southfield PD, communications, building leaders, deputy superintendent, everybody is getting involved in this and there will be more to come over the next couple of months. But what also will come about from this in the

107conversation with our building leaders is that we will revisit the idea of a uniformed dress code. Um parents had approached us um as many of you remember we moved forward with gusto and then it crashed because it it just caused a uproar. But we have some great ideas. Um, we're talking to some vendors. We've talked about um, previously we talked about fashion shows. And so many of our ideas we're going to reintroduce as we talk about safety because one of the things that we found is we can't identify our kids. We can't identify our kids. And that was one of the big safety issues. So as we introduce this, we will be revisiting the conversation starting with building leaders, parents, staff, students, and getting a full conversation going about what that would look like. Trusty

108Holloway >> and BP if I may add um we are also meeting with a team to discuss the um uniform ID system in our district whereby every secondary scholar particularly at the high schools will have IDs for display not only for um our viewing but when they travel as we know they went to some football games over the weekend and it was mandatory So, we want to make sure that we have that conversation as well. >> And um this was mine for good of the order. Um I love that the 1995 6 7 8 and 99 and 2000's tennis skirt has come back. Ladies, I love it. I I love it. But um as as Serena does, we must wear shorts. Our tennis skirts must follow the rules. They cannot be out of compliance. Parents,

109if your daughter's tennis skirt needs to be pulled down before they get out the car, it's too short. I have watched administrators argue with our young scholars about the length of their skirts. We should not be arguing with students about dress code. It's a given. I think they're cute. I think they're great. Please buy them in a size that is conducive of a school dress code. They will be sent home. There is no if and but about it. If your skirt is too short, you're going to be skin home. Bottom line, you're welcome to wear shorts, leggings underneath, but these these little baby skirts that look like doilies, it's it's not going to work. We need full skirts, ladies. Please. Seriously, it's a distraction. Um, and and I just want parents to know that building

110leaders, I have full authority to make you change or to send you home. So, moms, dads, as we're buying these beautiful cute Lululemon uh attire and all of the things, please try them on before you walk out the store to make sure that they they they can be worn in school. Thank you. I'm done. Uh future meetings Tuesday. Oh, ribbon cutting again. Stephvenson 16th. Um there is a QR code because I know that our ribbon cutings are fun affair. Please register for the ribbon cutting before you attend. We like to get a good count so we'll know seating all of the things. Um, grandparents day was at the U. It was a great success. Great job to that team. Um, my parents went. I think a few other people's parents went. I heard great things.

111So, thank you for that. And, um, thank you for a good start to the school year. Future meetings. Tuesday, September 23rd, special board meeting, study session at 6 PM. Wednesday, October 1st is count day. You cannot miss that. The first is count day. >> Mortgage is due is count day. >> State may shut down, >> right? State may shut down. It's count day. Um we will be here. So, please encourage your your families and parents. Bring your kids. We have some really fun events planned and um we look forward to seeing you. Tuesday, October 14th, regular board meeting at 700 p.m. We are adjourned at 8:43. >> Oh, 8:41.