001We're going to call the meeting to order. If we can all rise for the pledge of allegiance, please stand. indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. We're going to move on to our golden apple awards. Dr. Lans. >> Thank you very much, Madam President. I'd like to turn over to Mr. Scaling. >> Thank you, Dr. Lans. Our first Golden Apple recipient this evening is Elizabeth Chopi, building substitute at Sarah Banks Middle School. When you start to >> Elizabeth or Joby as she is most commonly known was nominated because she creates a positive and nurturing learning environment where all learners feel valued and empowered. Her patience, kindness, and professionalism make her a respected role model within Wald Lake Community Schools. Joby creates an inclusive and welcoming environment where all students feel valued and
002supported and she builds strong relationships with student staff and families. Self-moted and proactive, Jopy consistently looks for ways to support others and contribute positively to the school community. Through her strong work ethic and collaborative spirit and genuine care for students, she encourages growth in both learners and colleagues. Her dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment to student success make her an invaluable asset, and her positive impact is felt throughout the district. Thank you, Joby, for your dedication and enthusiasm. It is an honor to recognize you tonight. to say >> no thank you on that one. >> And now I'd like to turn over to Mr. Durkin. >> Thank you, Dr. Lans. Our next Golden Apple recipient this evening is Gail Paul, a volunteer reader at Pleasant Lake Elementary School. Gail was nominated because she sets a standard for
003volunteerism through her patience and enthusiasm, showing that one person's dedication can make a lasting impact. Miss Mimi, as she's known to her students, has gracious graciously volunteered her time each week for more than a decade, sharing her love of reading and making meaningful difference in the lives of countless students. Her warmth, patience, and enthusiasm create an engaging and supportive environment where children build confidence and develop genuine love of literacy. Mimi thoughtfully thoughtfully selects highinterest age appropriate books and often partners with the local library to bring in fresh titles that spark curiosity, conversation and excitement about the learning through expressive readalouds and interactive discussions. She brings stories to life and helps students connect with important themes and life lessons. Reliable, self-motivated, and deeply committed to children, Miss Mimi consistently goes above and beyond to support both
004students and staff. Gail, thank you for your dedication, creativity, and passion for education. It is our honor to recognize you this evening. I want to thank Jackie who is the head of our reading program, my lifelong friend who's also a retired lake school teacher. When I told her they wanted me to read, I said Jesus, I don't have a teacher. family. You can do it. So, I want to thank my family for always encouraging me and loving me and I appreciate it. Means a lot to me. Thank you. >> Congratulations to both of our golden apples. We're going to move on to public commentary. Thank you all for coming tonight and for your interest in addressing the board. This is your opportunity to address the board. The board will listen to your statements, questions, or
005concerns. We're not going to have a conversation. If follow-up is necessary, a member of the superintendent staff or a me board member will get back with you. You have three minutes to address the board. Please keep an eye on the timer which is on the wall. If you come close to your time, Dr. Andrea Zelner will let you know you're coming close and begin wrapping up your comments. We ask that all speakers remain professional and refrain from personal attacks. Our first speaker is going to be Tim Smiller. Good evening. Tim Saw Miller, Commerce Township, cisgender male using pronouns he, him, and his. Since this is Black History Month, I'd like to once again review the distorted view of our nation's racial history that persists in education and society at large. A small minority of high
006school students named slavery as the cause of the Civil War. It should be a majority. Reconstruction was met with a strong backlash against it. There are even more efforts to hide or outright ban black American history, even by the current federal administration. That is essentially the banning of American history. People like Moms for Liberty continue to oppose the purchase of well-written and balanced history books as happened here a few years ago. and to accost school teachers and school boards to confront the teaching of accurate American history. Students must be taught historical truths before they leave high school. Perhaps then at least some of them will approach life with a more informed viewpoint. History textbooks in Florida and Texas dumb down when speaking about a black American history compared to the books in other states. Systemic
007racism at work. This is a time when the Montgomery bus boycott is usually studied. Students learn about Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. But do they learn about Mary Fair Burks or Joanne Robinson or Bayer Rustin or other important and influential black figures of the time or anytime and usually not? And why only in February? Some Moms for Liberty folks argue that teaching about slavery will harm the psyches of their children and make them feel guilty. Well, why wouldn't they identify with the abolitionists? Those brave people who fought against slavery from the outset. Speaking of which, February 18th, 7 p.m. at the Commerce Library, they will be hosting a program called Midnight Detroit and the Underground Railway. Cenamed Midnight, Detroit was a v vital station on the Underground Railroad. Thousands crossed the river to freedom
008in Canada from Detroit. Detroit abolitionists helped freedom seekers from the south evade slave catchers and local law enforcement on their way to Canada. Detroit's abolitionist community was fierce in their support of runaways and in the face of severe local opposition. Despite this opposition, Detroit's abolitionists persisted. Please join the Detroit Historical Society's field curator, William Wall. Winkl to learn about Detroit and how it served as a vital station on the Underground Railroad. And not just Detroit. Did you know the new Hudson in was part of the Underground Railroad? >> 20 seconds. >> This is all true history with its blemishes. Why would we tolerate the suppression of the truth? Thank you. Thank you, Allison. I'm gonna do my best here. Legis, >> say it. Say it again. >> Okay. >> Um, I'm Allison and I'm here
009tonight in support of teacher contracts. We have great teachers requiring retiring early, young teachers leaving for other districts. Blessed teachers choosing to have their career start in our district. And sadly, some teachers must stay because they don't want to lose their tenure, but are tired. We have teachers running on their prep hours and lunch hours to teach at multiple schools on bare bone salaries. Let's make things better. It's absurd that the starting pay in surrounding districts is up to 20,000 higher. I realize that the current budgeting may not leave room to give teachers an immediate $20,000 raise, but there must be a logical and reasonable middle ground. If good faith bargaining is a $500 raise, it's a joke. These teachers can make more money working at entry- level fast food than in our district. It's
010not funny that educated people with bachelor's and master's degrees are at such low starting salaries. And Mr. Hanky, I know you're not here tonight, but you've sat in the teacher seat. You are highly respected and loved as a teacher, and I know you were respected as a principal. You love challenges and were able to inspire students as a result. While you are strategizing on the middle ground, put teacher spectacles on. Would you remain a teacher in our district with a non-competitive package? Several people in HR working on negotiations left their teaching positions for much higher salaries found administration. Let's work bottom up here and offer the teachers a quality contract too. Let's make our district's employment appealing by hiring in the paras and the resource from teachers who directly impact our students rather than through
011edu staff and reduce the turnover. Make classroom supporters feel valued and not transactional with proper compensation. Attract teachers to come and stay in our district with competitive pay. attract families to move here due to competitive school district rather than offering school of choice outside the district. Let's make our district equitable every student every day. Offer all courses and have the exact experiences available at all three high schools. Let's have things more fluid across the district and offer funding opportunities like FF assistant to be offered to more programs like choir and theater. Let's look at the Wald Lake schools are lacking in activity and curriculum by looking at Novi, South Lion, Leavonia, and many districts that surround us and bring it here so people stop moving out of the district and find ways to bring money
012for compensation. In addition to appeal, our students want quality education and quality teachers. They want teachers with energy, not tired teachers that are trying to balance their teaching with a fight for proper compensation. Students and parents want teachers with tenure to remain in the district and not retire retire early. They want experienced and motivated educators. Our hardworking teachers should not have to door dash for extra income. Maybe PTAs could fund raise at sports events where money could be invested back into teacher salaries. Maybe HR and community relations could compete public and businesses to sponsor a teacher. I don't know, just some out of the box ideas. Let's get some realistic bargaining for people showing up every day for these kids. Let them teach and focus on kids instead of having to figure out how to
013pay their mortgage or feed their families. Thank you for listening. >> Thank you. Mike Wise. No, he's passing. Phil and as I told you, I'm not saying your last name. Thank you. >> Okay, everyone. Um, I've talked about this topic. I had to go back in the records and kind of look at it in some. So, not coming with prepared speech at all. Just a few notes. Like, we've been at this for 12 months, right? During those 12 months, we've had budget increases from the state. We've had different revenue stream conversations. Everything else ad nauseium. Overall, I've seen this board sit here sit here for 60 minutes discussing the nuances of mass casual event, which is 60 times longer than I've heard them talk about this subject that everyone's been talking about over and over
014in every court. I know there are rules. I know there are guidelines. But into the public's eye, we know nothing. We can see nothing. We hear nothing other than rumors, other than discussions. We have personal conversations with everyone involved. And even then, that's all hyperbole. That's all hearsay. Any information will be incredibly helpful. You know, there's a phrase in the service where leaders eat last. I've looked through all the contracts. There are contracts that other teams, other valuable members have that have built-in increases to them going back a decade. No one else has that. There are contracts that have fringe benefits that are greater in one year than teachers have received in 10 years. So when we start talking about it overall, it's teachers are leaving. They're just leaving. There's more happening that I from
015teachers that I speak with personally that are contemplating that have it in the books whether it's this year, next year, or the year thereafter. They can't keep up with this. They are being sold up the stream every time. Overall, this shouldn't be a fight. This shouldn't be some grindstone knockout negotiation. This should be capitulation. I've covered the numbers here every week, every month, my apologies, for months and months and months about how the teachers have been bearing the burdens of choices that are made at these levels. Ultimately, again, it's been 12 months. If I could not get a deal done, get a contract locked in in 12 months, I'd be fired. I'd be gone out of my positions, any position. The inaction is inexcusable. 12 months. This feels like a time where admins should be
016start getting tossed out, where board members aren't reelected. the silence, the inaction, and the overall malaise that has just overlaid this entire process is reaching an inexcusable level. Thank you so much for your time. I appreciate it all. >> Thank you, Hannah. I'm going to try really hard. Hannah Leorovich, I'm trying. Sorry. Hi, my name is Hannah Zorvich and I go to Sarah Baines Middle School and I'm here to talk about teachers and higher pay. My teachers, Miss Armssworth, Mr. Whittle, Mr. Shora, Mr. Cussy, and Miss C. My teachers te teach great and they make sure everyone understands the work. Teachers are very nice and they make sure everyone understands their work. Some teachers even stay after school Monday and Wednesday to help kids with tutoring and subjects that they need help with. Some teachers
017also help with after school activity activities like basketball, volleyball, track, and cross country. Once a month, Nancy Bryant, leader of religious diversity, takes her day for hour to fifth hour to talk to to take children's to take children on a field trip to learn about different cultures. Now, I'm only a student, but I'm also a student standing up for teachers to get higher pay. Thank you. We're going to move on to administrative commentary. Dr. Lans. >> Thank you very much, Madam President. Miss Mir. >> So, we're excited to continue with our middle school unified sports camps. And so, we did three sessions of volleyball this fall and winter. And on this Saturday at Walnut Creek Middle School um from 1 to 2:30 p.m. we start with our middle school um basketball unified camps. So, we
018um are excited about our unified middle school athletes and their partners and it should be a fun time for all. >> Thank you very much, Miss OM. >> Thank you, Dr. Lans. Uh we have an upcoming date here in February, which is important to our funding. On February 11th is our second count of the year, which will go towards our funding for next year for based on our per pupil. So again, we every day is important for our students to be in class, but that's particularly important for our finances as we move forward. We appreciate our student services and all that they do to make sure that that's done accurately and submitted to the state on a timely basis. I'd also like to do a shout out for our payroll team and our buildings as
019well as our uh administrative staff that have been very supportive of our electronic time sheet roll out. It's been a lot of work in terms of planning and implementation and we're looking to have full implementation in February. Again, appreciative of the staff and accepting the changes as we move forward to make it better for them and hopefully make the streamline of getting their pay to them even better. Um, in addition, uh, we've continued on with educational sessions for new hires through the benefits department to help them better understand their benefits and what is available to them on a hands-on one-on-one in-person approach. So, Donna McBY has been spearheading that although the attendance has been relatively low. Every person matters that we can help them do make better choices and also to be more educated about
020what's available to them. So, we'll continue those efforts. >> When you're talking about an exciting date, I thought you were talking about Valentine's Day, but count day is very exciting to us. I'm not taking anything away from it. >> Absolutely. Along with your birthday. >> March. >> Not my birthday. >> It's in March. It is upcoming though. Write it down. >> Mr. Durkin. >> Thank you, Dr. Lans. I wanted to take a quick moment to highlight the 50-50 tuition expedition raffle currently being run by our foundation of excellence or for excellence. The funds ra the funds raised go directly back to our schools, helping provide staff with additional tools and resources for classrooms. This raffle offers offers us a significant prize. Say that five times fast. For nearly 20 years, the winner has taken home
021more than $10,000 in scholarship funds or over $8,000 in cash. Scholarship funds can be held for up to 20 years and may be used for a child, grandchild, or another student of your choice. Tickets are $20 each and sales are going well. Uh for more information, please visit uh the FF's website at wlcsd.org/f raffle. >> Thank you, Mr. Dicken. don't want to uh have anyone not buy tickets, but the winning tickets have already been purchased. I got my tickets yesterday, so don't be discouraged, Mr. Scaling. >> Thank you, Dr. Lance. Uh, our athletics department led by Mr. Brian Swinhart, uh, continues to bring student athletes together from all three high schools for three days total this year to collaboratively discuss topics such as strengthening sportsmanship and connections across our community and and topics such as
022the importance of resiliency. At the most recent meeting on December 9th, uh the discussions focused on the impact of sportsmanship, uh the different perspectives of that and an important role parents play in fostering a positive athletic environment. That afternoon, the students continued their work with hands-on workshops. Each school developed action plans to promote sportsmanship to increase student participation across all sports and create social media campaigns and theme nights and draft a parent guide to these important initiatives. The next date for the sportsman summit, excuse me, sports sports menship summit is scheduled for March 20th. Uh thank you to Mr. Swinhart, uh Miss Fischer from Wildlife Central, Mr. Holland from Wildlife Northern, and Mr. Goodsell from Wildlake Western for their leadership and commitment to the supporting our student athletes. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Scaling.
023Uh on behalf of Dr. Hamka and Mrs. Kohhensky who are at a conference together to learn more about human resources. I'd like to acknowledge National School Counselor Week and recognize and thank all of our school counselors who work daily with our students, not only to solve scheduling problems and classroom challenges, but also to help guide our students through some very challenging moments of their life. We're we're very lucky to have such a talented group of counselors working with our young students. And on a board notification, I'd like to congratulate Mark Seagler, who has received two awards for the 2025 year. He's a level four master board member award and a level five master diamond award. Congratulations, sir. And I'm sure that the board will mention all the wonderful things that have been happening in our
024district. So, I will allow that to happen and not take credit. Madam President, >> thank you Dr. Lans and move on to board commentary. We're going to start with Mr. Smith. Sorry, I know you weren't making eye contact, but sorry. >> Uh, thank you, uh, Madame President. Um, first I just I I want to say, uh, you know, uh, there are a lot of things that we can and cannot say, uh, due to legal reasons. It's frustrating. That's that's all I'll say with that. uh from not only a community member but a board member. Um budget impact presentation. I know I just want to state this is just a float this idea out there. I know it's it's not necessarily just I would love to see it. I would love to have us be proactive
025and have a a presentation in April May to discuss future budgetary impacts. So many things that are going on with the federal level and everything else is going on state level. all these things. It would be wonderful to have full transparency with the community to have uh a dialogue, you know, between things, have a presentation. Doesn't have to be a work session, could be at a regular meeting. I just wanted to I it's been on my mind that I think it would be important to have these important discussions for the future, how it kind of interweavves with our strategic planning and things that are going on and all those things that are going on in in uh in the world right now. Uh I just want to say that um I was at the advocacy
026conference with uh my fellow board member Mr. Seagler this uh past week. There's a lot of great speakers uh great networking with other school board members. I was able to sit at the table with some members from New Jersey, from California and few uh many many from Michigan as well. We had a great uh we were the top I think uh attendance uh there in DC. It was just great to kind of get some key takeaways from everything. you know, I had breakout sessions talking about advocacy specifically for IDEIDA uh how we're going to be dealing with SNAP and Medicaid and how that uh kind of funnels down to the districts district levels and what we kind of have to be looking at uh after the one big beautiful bill that was passed and what
027that means for us. and uh just it was really good to just kind of network across from school board members, see what they do, see the concerns that they have across the nation that we share a lot in common and there are a lot of little nuances that each school district and school boards uh have to kind of do within their own state. So, it was really interesting. I was great to be there to kind of just learn and just soaked it in. And uh some key takeaways I had was um talking about just how we can be better and I believe that's why I was mentioning the the budget is uh to be better with communication and transparency and uh talk less and listen more and so I will make this at briefer than
028what I normally do. Uh focus on good conflict was the other big one that we had a great presenter about that and I just I think that really kind of struck with me as we were walking there. Uh just on a few random things, our MLK celebration last January. I want to give a shout out to that to all the amazing uh participants that we had from the schools, the speakers, hospitality house, everything that was there. It's just amazing. Uh the effort that goes into that um to all the cast the crew that puts that on for us. Uh kudos to the cast and crew of Legally Blonde at Wald Northern. Got to watch the ASL version which was amazing to see that version. And um congrats on the retirement of two CHS teachers, which
029I think are on the agenda. Uh there are two of my my children have them, Mr. Abbott and uh Mr. Connell. So I just wanted to shout that out to CHS. And congratulations to Mason Brower for winning the yearbook cover contest at Dublin as one of my adopted schools as well. So uh lastly, I just want to say February is Black History Month. as was stated, uh, it honors the achievements and struggles of the black community. And I hope that this continues, uh, to educate the world about the many of the overlooked contributions and this is social injustices that still exist in society, and I want to acknowledge that. And lastly, when I was in DC, I walked all over for many, many hours just randomly at nighttime. I just enjoy seeing the city. And
030I walked all the way to the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and then the MLK monument. uh and this this his quote among many others that he spoke really struck with me and I just want to state it. Uh injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of m mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. So that just really struck with me as I kind of walked around DC and then got to witness a lot of things where the nuts and bolts, the sausage, whatever you want to call it, was made uh there. And I just really appreciate it and thank you for letting me go to DC. So thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Zner. >> Thank you, Mrs.
031Kaplan. >> Well, I echo the MLK shout out. Uh I one young lady had this beautiful piece of art that said it's not a day off, it's a day on because of the focus on service. And it was just remarkable to see how much of our community came out to think about how we can be of service to one another and be caught up in that network of mutuality. Uh, I also wanted to give a shout out to the NHS crew over at Northern for providing the ASL performance. They did their own fundraiser uh to make that happen at Legally Blonde and it was really incredible to not only see those performers doing that, but to see in the audience audience members signing to one another because it was accessible. And when we make things
032accessible, it's just more joyful for everyone. So, I just really appreciated that. And then, um, finally, I just want to give a shout out to the African-American readin that's happening this month at the county level, uh, put on by Oakland Schools,Wami Alexander, author of the crossover. He is coming and there are watch parties. But if you want to, you can go to the tech campus at OSTC Northeast and join that event. It is on the 26th of February from 6:00 to 7:00. you can go out to the Oakland schools website and find that information if you're interested. And even if you can't make it, it's worth picking up one of his books because he is a really incredible author. Um, and we're really lucky to have him in our county. So, that's all for me.
033>> Thank you, Mrs. West. >> Thank you. Um, just a reminder that school of choice is currently open right now. Um the indistrict transfer um is now um closed, but if you are out of our district and want to come to our district, we would gladly welcome you. Um so please make sure you fill out your application and get that in in a timely manner. Um yesterday the elementaryaries had their global day of play. My daughter loves this day and I'm really excited about it. um with all the tech that we have going on, there is no technology and they get to play board games and just be children and I just there is so much learning that goes along with playing um sportsmanship and I just I love that day and I'm really excited
034that they um are we're that we as a district encourage that. Um, and then for high schoolers, right now you're in the process of choosing next year's classes. And so, make sure you have that in. And, um, I'm really excited about it. My son got really excited. He got to go for a tour at OSTC, our tech campus. And there's so many opportunities out there for our students. So, um, I'm grateful that our district offer has so much to offer. And then OSTC is through open schools. But we have so many opportunities for our students to be successful whether you're collegebound, whether you are vocation bound, military, whatever it is that um our students have many opportunities and I love that. So um you know go search what is meaningful for you and your family.
035>> Thank you Mr. Seagler. >> Mrs. Kaplan, thank you. Uh echoing on what Mr. Smith had said, uh, I had the pleasure of going as a member of the Michigan Association of School Boards to DC because I'm also chairing the government relations committee for the next two years. Uh, classes, I don't I don't really think there was a shortage of classes or breakout sessions. I mean, we talked about AI, we talked about individual disabilities education act, we talked about career technical education, federal funding cuts, where we are, what we might anticipate in the future and causes and effects on all of us. Uh, federal policy impacts and things that we have to look for over this year, next year, and into the future if any of them are enacted and the role of school board
036members. uh had the opportunity to uh have a short meeting with uh repres with Senator Peters and Senator Slotkin. We met with the congressional aids and staff members from uh Congressman Barrett, Stevens, Thanador, Dingle, and Talib. um against some of our topics going in as a group from Oakland County and from the state the individual disabilities education act where we you know we were promised over 50 years ago uh 40% funding on that our high at that we've ever seen is roughly short of 16% we are currently at a little bit over 11% to put that into perspective Ive over the last five years out of our fund balance we have spent I believe somewhere between 30 to $35 million that could have gone into the general education budget. So uh we changed our approach
037of trying to go after the money or trying to figure out how we can recoup some of the money. Uh you know there was big discussion on vouchers. Uh there was a talk about workforce shortages again career tech education. uh school nutrition, something that is on our uh in view uh because of the rules and policies that they want to put into effect regarding school nutrition, which would require districts like ours and several others to uh have have cafeterias, operating cafeterias under the new federal guidelines. uh many districts have already closed their cafeterias or have outsourced their food service or a lot of new skill new schools in the state are being built with minimal or uh no cafeterias. So you can only imagine the cost of that for for those school districts. Uh cyber
038security was another key topic. On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to sit in for a very long meeting with the school superintendent association as well as the Mexican cultural center and to uh to learn about education outside of the United States funding platforms and you know just different ideas and it really the the whole program really made me think and reflect on what we are doing in our district but what we are also doing in the state. How can we improve offerings to our students, to our communities, get our communities more involved? I felt at one point on Tuesday, like um quoting Mr. Lipid from one of his earlier sessions, my brain was oozing out of my ears because it was information overload on all areas. Uh so I'll be sharing a lot of that
039with my colleagues o as we go over the this upcoming year. Michigan had roughly 85 attendees at this conference. Uh we were approximately 18% of the overall conference from the state of Michigan which and we were the largest group in attendance which shows you how all the school board members and administrators in the state value education and are trying to move our students forward. Uh so we have a lot going on. I think you know the fact that the government stayed in session um in some regards will be good but there's a lot of things that are up for discussion right now and I'll hold my editorials for another month until we see where a lot of those go. So I just want to thank you thank Mr. Smith. I know every time I looked
040at him he was like what's next? What's next? I felt like he was a sponge out there just drawing everything in. So thank you very much. Thank you, Mrs. Grafton. >> Hi, good evening. Uh, first I want to thank everyone who comes out to speak in public comment. It's not easy. Um, I did it before I was on the board. Um, you're heard, you're seen. Um, and we appreciate you coming. um especially Hannah uh who speaks from her heart and I appreciate how hard it is to be um and a student who gets up and speaks. Um so thank you. Um I want to congratulate the performers cast and pit orchestra from Legally Blonde. What a fun uplifting show. The next musical is at Wild Lake Western. It's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. March
0416th to the 8th. It's a light-hearted, fun um reenactment of Snoopy Peanuts cartoons and it's a musical. You'll you'll have a blast. It's very kid appropriate. Um if you're listening and you have an elementary school student, um we're giving spe special pricing for elementary students. Um they can come for $8. Um high school students for $10 and regular tickets are 12. So um get buy your tickets. It should be fun. and let's get the western kids to have a sellout show. Um, Cinderella will be in April. Don't remember the dates, but that will be on the central stage. Um, I also wanted to just say thank you to in advance to Matt Weber and his team and all of the choir teachers for the incredible effort that they put forth to do the name of
042love tour every February. So, um, February 12th, all of the high school, um, choirs go to the three middle schools and do, um, a performance of, um, celebrating love and inspired by the civil rights movement. Um, it's a huge effort for the students, the teachers, and the production team. Um, so it's a tradition that's important to our district and I think, uh, is meaningful for everyone who's involved. So, thanks for the hard work on that. That's all for today. >> Thank you. I'm just going to say thank you Mr. Smith and Mr. Seagler for representing Wild Lake in Washington DC and for being our voice when um needs a voice. So, we really appreciate that. Um other than that, we're going to move on can move on to the consent agenda. We have the approval
043of the minutes from January 8th special meeting, January 8th special meeting, January 8th regular meeting, personnel recommendations, hireers, resignations, retirements, financial reports for December 2025, dispersements in the amount of 17,811,949 balance sheet and statement of revenues and expenditures unodudited and investment schedule gymnasium scoreboards. Wald Lake Western Decktronics and AG Signs and Installation for $46,75 from the 2019 syncing fund in the Head Start director's report for January 2026. >> Mr. Ziggler, >> I move the board of education >> support. >> All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. 6. Dr. Lans, moving on to bid awards. >> Thank you very much, Madam President. Michigan school construction requires mandatory thirdparty commissioning to verify that building systems, specifically HVAC, lighting, and building envelopes are installed and functioning correctly according to design intent. The project team recommends entering into
044standard forms of agreements for commissioning services with JMK Engineering as presented. Just a note to the board, this is an unfunded mandate. It was not part of what we budgeted for for the 2024 bond because it was not a requirement at that time. In some other districts, it did commissioning on their own, meaning that they hired the company to do it. That has not been the history in Wald Lake. We have uh great trust in our general contractor that they are making sure that our subcontractors are doing what they're supposed to do. And when we do have problems, we've had no problem with our general contractor a coming in and solving the problem and making sure that it does work properly. That notwithstanding, I do need you to approve this. Otherwise, we'll be in a
045little bit of a pickle with Wixom and Gistler. >> Dr. Lans. >> Yes. >> Um I believe this is right, but correct me if I'm wrong. This unfunded mandate was actually retroactive. >> It was >> okay. >> You're correct. >> Thank you. I need a motion. >> Um, Mrs. Kaplan, >> I move I move that the board of education approve entering into standard forms of agreement for commissioning services with JMK Engineering, Inc. as presented. >> Discussion. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries 6. Dr. Loans. >> Thank you, Madam President. Materials testing services include testing of soil, foundations, reinforced steel, structural steel, masonary, concrete, fireproofing, asphalt paving, and is required per the program specifications. This project team recommends entering into standard forms of agreement for material testing services withme as presented.
046SME previously performed these services for the 2019 bond. This is required, was budgeted for, so we have a budget for it. We're very We appreciate we have a great relationship with them. >> Mr. Seagler, >> I move that the board of education approve entering into standard forms of agreement for materials testing services withme as presented. >> Support discussion. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries 6. Dr. Lans. >> Thank you again, Madam President. Spalding D to Decker performed survey services for us during the 2019 bond program. The project team recommends continuing with Spalding Dcker by entering into standard forms of agreement for survey services for the 24 bond program as presented. As the previous we have this budgeted and it's obviously important to make sure we build where we're supposed to be
047building rather than on someone else's property. They get a little antsy about that. >> Thank you, Mr. Smith. I move that the board of education approve entering into standard forms of agreements with Spalding Dcker for survey services for the 2024 bond program as presented. >> Discussion. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries 6. >> Dr. Lans >> happy to continue. Pursuant to section 705 of the revised school code MCL 380.705, I recommend the Wald Lake Schools Board of Education request that the Oakland schools submit the question of a regional enhancement mill for 1.5 mills for a period of six years to the voters of the Oakland County Intermediate School District at the school election to be held on August 4th, 2026. Mrs. Craftton, >> I move that the board of education adopt
048the resolution for Oakland County Schools to submit the question of a regional enhancement mill as presented. >> Before we start discussion, I just going to remind everybody that what we're looking to vote on is not on an enhancement mill. It's on should we put it to the um public to decide on an enhancement millage. It's just to put it on the ballot. We'll have further discussion if this pass how we handle the enhancement millage as it comes. So I just want everyone to be clear with that. Um any other discussion? Go ahead, Mrs. West. >> Thank you. Um I do have concerns about the enhancement village. Um I feel like we have asked our taxpayers for a lot in the last several years. Um we have currently the 2024 operating millillage. We have the 2022
049syncing fund. Um and the 2024 bond. Um we just we've had several we've requested a lot from our taxpayers over the time. Um we would be a donor district which I think is important for t for people to know. um that nearly 20% of what we would pay in taxes would go to other schools, districts, and charter schools within Oak County. Um which is about a little more than two $2 million. Um my concern is too if we put if we say yes to putting this millillage, it could possibly hurt other districts like Pontiac, which would have to donate back about $3 million. Um, you know, obviously this economy is not great and so I'm afraid that you know how it would affect taxpayers and others by doing that. Um, but seven if we were
050to if this was to pass over $7.4 million alone would go to charter schools andmies and not school districts. Um, and I know quite often school districts are concerned about having empty buildings and so often they get torn down because they don't want charter schools to be going in. Um, I'm also concerned that the election takes place in August and generally um it's about 20% of the voter turnout compared to about 75 to 80% in a general election in November. Um, even if voters in Bald Lake were to vote against the millillage, it wouldn't matter because you have to have at least 51% across Oak County for it to pass. So, um, it wouldn't matter just even in our donor district. I'm just making sure people are aware. So, no matter how the board votes,
051I want them to be aware of what would happen. Um, we would still have an increase in taxes, which is a loss of um, local control. Um, the wording would be consistent on all ballots across Oakland County, but it would not state if you are a donor district or not. And I think there's about eight donor districts. So, you would not know if you're a donor district unless you're paying attention um across the board. Um, I'm also concerned because there's not a written plan on how the money would be utilized within each district. Um, particularly our district um like there'd be no measurable tie right now. we don't have any measurable goals to tie to student outcome um and no specific allocation of those funds. Um and I also think that you know for Oak
052County we can't compare ourselves to other districts because we do have higher property taxes to compared to the rest of the counties that do with us in the state. Um and we receive more money from the state than we than other counties do because of those higher property taxes. So you're not really comparing apples to oranges in that regard either. So, those are my concerns of whether we put the it on the ballot or not. >> Thank you, Mr. Seagler. >> Uh, you know, I'm we're asking we what we're approving of at this point is the opportunity for our communities to vote in favor or against the uh enhancement village. You know, if you really look at what we pay in taxes and send to the state, ever since the advent of Headley and Proposal
053A, we have been a donor district with the loss of 20J many, many years ago. Uh we lost over $4.3 million per year at that time in funding that could have been into this district. And you know, as we talk about being able to provide services to support our staff to do things within our district and offer programs, I think we really have to look at this very seriously. And you know when you also when you talk about the fact of uh other districts paying higher property taxes, Mcome has had an enhancement mill for many many many many years and uh I would say in essence you know the tax bases between the two counties are very very similar. So, you know, I have to say that I am in favor of offering our population
054the opportunity to vote on this. >> Well, I'm just going to say, you know, at this point in time, as I just stated previously, we're not voting as a group whether we think we should have an enhancement mill or not have an enhancement mill. we're voting on should we put it to the public and put it on the ballot for the public to decide. So, for my purposes and my thoughts on this, the public should always decide with what they want to do um and where they should be at. And so, for me, I would agree that it should go on the ballot to have the community decide. It shouldn't be myself deciding for the thousands and thousands of residents of Wald Lake or Commerce um township whether I want it or not. It's not
055an individual thing. It's a community thing for each individual to decide. So that's where I stand. Any Mr. Smith? >> Thank you, Madam President. Um I maybe this is directed to you and if you're on the spot, I apologize. just popped into my head only because I've been in the local government realm for over 20 years. I was a prior city clerk. Uh elections were my uh bread and butter of life. And I was always even when I would try and tell my councils in that time was what to your point is let the voters decide. You could have a personal opinion. You could I could vote here say put it on the ballot and I could be a no. It doesn't matter. It's you're letting you're a voter just like everyone else. And that's
056what I would always say is like that we're democracy. That's the democratic process. you put it out there. If they don't want to do it, they vote it down. But tied within that, two questions came up. Is will there be a ballot question thing for information? I'm sure that Oakland schools would provide that for all of those questions, concerns that you have. Uh I would guess most time when there's a ballot question that there is a ballot question committee that is formed to provide that detail. Not necessarily Wald Lake, but some group will be funded out there and there will be no cost due to piggybacking. Correct. because it is an August primary that is already scheduled and so there will be no cost to the district. So we're just piggybacking on all the communities
057that are already holding primaries for all the other offices. >> You are correct on both parts there. There will be an organization providing factual information and it is at no cost to the district. >> Thank you. Yeah, Mrs. West. >> Um just in respon just thoughts is regarding your statement. uh we also are elected to represent our voter base and our constituents and so I'm just concerned that you know being you know we're just a small part of Oakland County so even if our v our Wild Lake school voters chose not to didn't want this it's so much bigger than that and so you know we you know it's not just our voters but the county as a whole and those who would receive the they would have more incentive to vote for it than
058ours. So, that's my those are my concerns. >> Okay. And they're all they're all very valid. Any other comments? Discussion? >> No. Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carries. 51. >> Dr. Lens. >> Thank you very much. Following board policy minister regulations have been updated and are being provided asformational items to the board policy website update and notification. 2001 AR student fees is what is updated. So >> well thank you. I just want you all to look at the clock. I think we did a record even with golden apples this evening. So we are going to be adjourned at 7:51 and all thank us and be careful out there with the weather. Thank you all. Meetings adjourned.