August 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM - Meeting Agenda
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CALL TO ORDER
Description:
Tom Buffett, Jason Burns, Katie Cavanaugh, Shulawn Doxie, Andrew Phelps, Leeni Shrestha and Jillian Winn
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WELCOME AND MEETING FORMAT (2 Min)
Description:
Welcome to this special 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 & Attorney-Client Privileged Communication (30 min)
Description:
Pursuant to Sections 8(a) and 8(h)of the Open Meetings Act, the board of education may adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing contract negotiations, and attorney-client privileged information.
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 contract negotiations (Roll Call).Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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RECONVENE
Description:
Tom Buffett, Jason Burns, Katie Cavanaugh, Shulawn Doxie, Andy Phelps, Leeni Shrestha and Jillian Winn
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RECOGNITION: New Hires (10 min)
Description:
Interim HR Director Peter Trezise will introduce administrative and teacher new hires for the 2025-2026 school year.
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DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD - Meeting Efficiency (15 min)
Description:
The board will discuss a potential new recurring agenda item to reflect on points of pride across the district.
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PRESENTATION: Bond Update (15 min)
Description:
Representatives from Veridas, TowerPinkster and Christman will provide an update regarding the 2022 bond, including bid packages #3, 4, 8, and energy savings projects.
Attachments:
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DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD: Emergency Facilities Purchase (5 min)
Description:
Operations Director Brian Lieber will provide information regarding OPM tunnel repairs, including budget, and timelines. Superintendent Hood authorized these projects to begin as part of the emergency clause in board policy 3301.
Attachments:
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DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD: 35J Grant (10 min)
Description:
Assistant Superintendent Bailey will provide information regarding the 35J Grant. The 35J Professional Development, Curriculum, and Supports Grant has provided high-quality training and materials to PK-5th grade teachers in the science of reading. To increase the reading materials available to all students, all classroom educators who took part in the required literacy training received an allocation to spend on new books for their classroom. This purchase amount is pre-bid as Barnes and Noble is part of a state-wide consortium.
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Adequate Information to Proceed (3 min)
Description:
Board policy 2503A Adequate Information to Proceed indicates that it is the policy of the board not to take action on an item the first time it is brought to the attention of the board at a public meeting.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board waive policy 2503A requirements and take action on whether to adopt the 35J Grant books and curriculum.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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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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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.
Attachments:
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Policy Committee Update (5 min)
Description:
The policy committee will provide an update regarding their most recent meeting and potential process changes.
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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 July 16, 2025;
Item 2: Approval of the Minutes of the Executive Session Meeting of July 16, 2025; and
Item 3: Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of August 1, 2025.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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OTHER ACTION ITEMS
Description:
The Other Action Items require additional discussion prior to board action.
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Ratification of Transportation Contract (5 min)
Description:
The board of education has concluded negotiations with the Okemos Transportation Association and has reviewed the final contract language.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board waive the reading and ratify the contract between the Okemos Board of Education and the Okemos Transportation Association effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 (Roll Call Vote).Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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Delegation of Authority (3 min)
Description:
Annually, school districts may elect to have the plan review of school construction projects and inspections conducted by local building departments. For this to happen, both the school district and the unit of government(s) must execute the application, Request for Annual Delegation of School Plan Review and Inspection Authority to a Local Unit of Government Enforcing Agency. The board is being asked to designate a local inspector, Meridian Township to be the primary inspector for upcoming bond projects, building, and renovations.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board approve the delegation of school plan review and inspections to Meridian Charter Township.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
Attachments:
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35J Grant (10 min)
Description:
Assistant Superintendent Bailey presented information regarding books to be purchased with the 35J grant earlier in the meeting.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board award the purchase of classroom books to Barnes & Noble, not to exceed $86,603.02, and Other Sources not to exceed $28,116.06 and to be funded through the 35J Grant (Roll Call).Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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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NSI (15 min)
Description:
Interim HR Director Peter Trezise will provide information regarding the 25-26 Normal Salary Increase (NSI) schedule.
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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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