September 25, 2023 at 6:00 PM - Meeting Agenda
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CALL TO ORDER
Description:
Tom Buffett, Katie Cavanaugh, Shulawn Doxie, Mary Gebara, Melanie Lynn, Andrew Phelps and Jayme Taylor
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WELCOME AND MEETING FORMAT (2 Min)
Description:
Welcome to this regular meeting of the Okemos Board of Education held in public for the purpose of conducting the business of the school board.
There are two opportunities for public comment: Citizens who wish to address agenda or non-agenda items will have an opportunity at the beginning of the meeting, as well as near the end of the meeting. In-person individuals who wish to address the board must complete a blue form, located with the agendas near the room entrance, and present it to the board’s secretary prior to the start of the agenda item. Virtual participants must submit their name and address in a message through the chat box located in Zoom’s meeting controls prior to the start of the agenda item. At the appropriate point in the agenda, the board president will call upon individuals who have submitted a blue card or chat message and that individual’s microphone will be un-muted for their comments. |
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ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION – Contract Negotiations
Description:
Pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Open Meetings Act, the board of education may adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of contract negotiations.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board adjourn to Executive Session pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Open Meetings Act for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter (Roll Call).Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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RECONVENE
Description:
Tom Buffett, Katie Cavanaugh, Shulawn Doxie, Mary Gebara, Melanie Lynn, Andy Phelps, Jayme Taylor
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DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD – Audit Report (20 Min)
Description:
Director of Finance Elizabeth Lentz and Mr. Brad Pung, CPA and principal from Maner Costerisan P.C. will present the 2022-2023 draft audit report of the district.
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PRESENTATION: E3 Update (10 Min)
Description:
Representatives from Child and Family Charities will provide an update of the Expanding, Enhancing Emotional Health (E3) grant program, which provides a mental health clinic for OPS youth ages 5-21 years at Okemos High School.
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PRESENTATION: Bond Update (30 Min)
Description:
Superintendent Hood and Representatives from Christman Company, TowerPinkster, and Veridus Group will present a 2022 Bond update including bid packages #1 and #2 (summer projects), as well as an overview of big package #3 (CMS).
Attachments:
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CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Description:
At this time in the meeting, citizens have an opportunity to address the board regarding items of interest that that may or may not be part of the evening’s agenda. Citizens are required to limit comments to three minutes, except when this requirement is waived by the board president during the meeting. A designated timekeeper will communicate to the individual who is addressing the board at three minutes. The board highly values public comment and input; however, the board meeting format is designed to facilitate the evening’s agenda and, therefore, restricts board members from engaging in conversation with speakers or immediately responding to questions. Questions and concerns may be addressed by the board later in the agenda and may be assigned for follow-up by the board or superintendent at a later date.
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HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REPORTS/REQUESTS (5 Min)
Description:
The high school student representative will highlight events and issues of interest and take questions from the board.
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SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
Description:
The superintendent will highlight events and issues of interest and take questions from the board.
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BOARD REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
Description:
The board will acknowledge receipt of correspondence.
Individual board members may highlight other events and issues of interest and request follow-up on other matters of concern. |
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ACTION ITEMS
Description:
Within Action Items, there is a Consent Agenda to expedite the business of the board which groups a number of items together to be dealt with by one action of the board. However, items in the consent agenda may be extracted by individual board member request for further discussion or clarification.
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CONSENT AGENDA (5 Min)
Description:
In an effort to expedite the business of the board of education, but in no way meant to diminish the importance of each item, a Consent Agenda has been developed.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board approve items 1 through 3 for immediate implementation and appropriate action.
Item 1: Approval of the minutes of the Special Meeting of August 21, 2023;
Item 2: Approval of the Executive Session minutes of the Special Meeting of August 21, 2023;
Item 3: Approval of the minutes of the Regular meeting of September 11, 2023.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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OTHER ACTION ITEMS
Description:
The Other Action Items require additional discussion prior to board action.
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Social Media Litigation
Description:
The board reviewed information regarding a proposed nationwide lawsuit by schools against META and other social media platforms to consider joining the litigation at its September 11th meeting.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board waive the reading and adopt the resolution authorizing and directing the superintendent to join the lawsuit and sign the Attorney-Client Fee Contract on behalf of Okemos Public Schools.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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MHSAA Co-op Agreement
Description:
The board reviewed information regarding a potential MHSAA co-op; A Ski Team co-op in collaboration with Davison Public School.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board authorize the superintendent and athletic director to execute the MHSAA application to form a cooperative ski team.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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Employment - Certified
Description:
The hiring of all certified employees must be approved by the board of education; employment of support staff shall be in accordance with school district policy.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board approve the employment of Christina Cook, Kindergarten Teacher at Hiawatha Elementary at Step 11, Division II; Cristina Garcia, 3rd Grade Teacher at Hiawatha Elementary at Step 9, Division II; and Joi Thompson, Counselor at Okemos High School at Step 3, Division II of the teacher salary schedule, effective September 25, 2023 in accordance with sections 1230 (2) and 1230 a (2) of the Revised School Code conditioned upon receipt of acceptable criminal history checks and criminal records checks.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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Employment – Hiawatha Elementary Principal
Description:
With the resignation of Dr. Nicole Beard, the Hiawatha Elementary Principal position was vacated beginning August 11th. As a result, a formal selection process has led to the recommendations for replacement for this position.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board employ Joseph Corr as Principal at Hiawatha Elementary with an effective date to be determined through June 30, 2025 (Roll Call Vote).Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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Board Policy First Reading
Description:
The board's policy committee has been engaged in the implementation process of Thrun's board policies. The committee is submitting several policies that have been reviewed and/or revised: 2305 Board Member Reimbursement and Travel Expenses; and 3207 School Activities Fund. The committee is recommending a July 1st effective date for these policies. Policies given first reading by the board are posted on the district website for thirty days for public review. Policies not given first reading are returned to the committee for further review and editing.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board waive the reading and adopt first reading of board policies 2305 Board Member Reimbursement and Travel Expenses; and 3207 School Activities Fund.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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DISCUSSION ITEMS
Description:
Discussion items are intended to provide an opportunity for review of material and interaction concerning the individual items. Action is not taken during the board meeting. Discussion items may be acted upon by the Board of Education at a later date. The board president may move a discussion item forward in the meeting agenda to facilitate timely discussion and/or community input on that discussion item.
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Altria Group Litigation Settlement Resolution
Description:
The board will review a resolution to accept a proposed settlement with the Altria Group, a part of the district's vaping litigation, and discuss whether to proceed.
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COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Description:
At this time in the meeting, citizens have an opportunity to address the board regarding any item(s) of interest. Individual comments at this time will be limited to three minutes but may be extended at the discretion of the board president. A designated timekeeper will communicate to the individual who is addressing the board at three minutes. The board highly values public comment; however, our meeting format does not allow the board to engage in conversation with speakers. Questions or concerns may be assigned for follow-up by the board or the administration at a later date.
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OTHER MATTERS (5 Min)
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ADJOURN
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