January 6, 2026 at 6:30 PM - ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

A. Call to Order - Pledge of Allegiance

B.  Roll Call

C. Election of Board Officers

D. Approval of Proposed Bylaws to:

D.1. Identify district's legal status (as general powers district) and district's official name (Policy #0111)

D.2. Describe Board's general functions (#0131.1, 0132.1, 0133)

D.3. Establish January as month for future Organizational Meetings (#0151)

D.4. Establish Board Officers

D.4.a. Number (#0152)

D.4.b. Titles (#0152)

D.4.c. Duties (#0163, 0171.1, 0171.2, 0171.3, 0171.4)

D.4.d. Terms (#0152)

D.4.e. Eligibility (#0152)

D.4.f. Method of electing officers (#0152)

D.4.g. Order of succession and method of filling a vacancy (#0152)

D.4.h. Method of removing an officer from office (#0152)

D.5. Establish Meeting Requirements (See Exhibit A)

D.5.a. Time (at least monthly) and place of regular meetings (#0165.1)

D.5.b. Form and method of notice to Board members for Regular Meetings (#0164.1)

D.5.c. Purposes for convening Special Meetings (#0164.2)

D.5.d. Method(s) of calling emergency meetings (#0164.3)

D.5.e. Form and method of notice to Board members for Special Meetings (#0165.3)

D.6. Establish Procedures for Conducting Board Meetings

D.6.a. Agenda format and presentation (#0166) (See Exhibit B)

D.6.b. Public participation rules (#0167.3)

D.6.c. Rules of order (Robert's Rules of Order) (#0161)

D.6.d. Actions, if any, in addition to Open Meetings Act provisions, requiring a roll call vote

D.6.e. Style of minutes (#0168.1, 0168.2)

D.7. Establish Board Committee System and Procedures (#0155)

D.7.a. Types of committees (standing, ad hoc, special, etc.)

D.7.b. Name of each committee

D.7.c. Charge to each committee

D.7.d. Method of appointment committee members

D.7.e. Method of selecting or appointing committee chairpersons

D.7.f. Determination of whether Board wishes to establish open meetings requirements for advisory committees

D.7.g. Style of committee reports

D.7.h. Method for receiving committee reports

D.8. Establish Compensation System for Board Members (e.g. per diem for attendance at Board meetings, and other authorized activities) (#0144.1) 

D.9. Establish system for reimbursement of Board member expenses (#0144.1)

D.10. Establish procedure for district membership in organizations (#0175, 0175.1)

D.11. Establish procedure for filling vacancies on Board to supplement (#0142.5)

D.12. Any Other Matter Related to Effective and Efficient Functioning of the Board (MCL 380.11a) (see attached)

E. Adoption of Regular Meeting Day, Time & Place

E.1. See attachment Exhibit A for dates, times and places

F. Adoption of Payment of Bills at Regular Meeting

F.1. Payment of bills at Regular meetings

G. Designation of Individual Responsible for Posting Notices of School Board Meetings

G.1. Recommend Superintendent or his designee be directed to fulfill this requirement

H. Naming of Depositories for 2026 (See Exhibit C)

I. Naming of Signature Authorizations for 2026 (See Exhibit D)

J. Appointment of Representative to the Berrien Regional Education Service Agency Board of Education for 2026 (Tishia Roberts)

K. Appointment of Trustee to the Bridgman Foundation for Educational Excellence for 2026 (Wayne Hall)

L. Appointment of Representative to the Berrien-Cass School Board Association for 2026 (JoAnn DeMeulenaere)

M. Appointment of Legal Counsel/Auditor for 2026

M.1. Law Firm - Thrun Law Firm, P.C. of East Lansing MI

M.2. Labor Relations Consultant - Thrun Law Firm, P.C. of East Lansing MI

M.3. Auditor - Kruggel Lawton CPAs of St. Joseph

N. Investment Resolution of 2026 (See Exhibit E)

O. Public Comments

P. Adjourn