November 10, 2025 at 6:00 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 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 –Attorney-Client Privileged Communication
Description:
Pursuant to Section 8(h) and 8(a) of the Open Meetings Act, the board of education may adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of reviewing attorney-client privileged communications.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board adjourn to Executive Session pursuant to Section 8(h) of the Open Meetings Act for the purpose of reviewing attorney-client privileged communications (Roll Call).Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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RECONVENE
Description:
Tom Buffett, Jason Burns, Katie Cavanaugh, Shulawn Doxie, Andrew Phelps, Leeni Shrestha and Jillian Winn
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Mission Minute/Around The Pack (5 Min)
Description:
An opportunity for individual board members to highlight events, activities, and other items of interest.
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RECOGNITION: New Hires (5 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 - Technology Purchase
Description:
Technology Director Isom will share the need for additional student computing devices, associated costs and funding source due to enrollment increases for the 25-26 school year.
Attachments:
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DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD - Fire Alarm System
Description:
Operations Director Lieber received approval from the State of the replacement plan for the OHS fire system and will provide an update on the replacement costs for the OHS fire system with funding from the 2022 Bond program.
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 request follow-up on other matters of concern. Board sub-committees may present their reports or deliver updates. |
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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 Regular Meeting of October 27, 2025;
Item 2: Approval of the Minutes of the Executive Session Meeting of October 27, 2025; and
Item 3: That the board acknowledge receipt of the October financial statement and approve payment of bills for October.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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Orchestra Student Trip
Description:
Orchestra Director Justin Valla presented information regarding a student trip to Cleveland proposed for April 30th to May 1, 2026 at the October 27th meeting.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board endorse the 8th Grade Orchestra Student trip to Cleveland proposed for April 30th through May 1st, 2026 with the understanding that students will abide by all school policies and procedures.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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Summer Tax Collection
Description:
Alaiedon Township, Meridian Township, and the City of Lansing have agreed to collect one-half the total summer property tax located in their respective city or township.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board waive the reading and adopt the resolution for collection of summer property tax as appropriate from Alaiedon Township, Meridian Township, and the City of Lansing and to negotiate a reasonable expense for such collection of the district's tax levy (Roll Call Vote).Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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Adequate Information to Proceed
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 approve the student device purchase.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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Technology Purchase
Description:
The board reviewed information regarding a technology purchase to be funded by the 2022 bond earlier in the meeting.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board award the purchase of 75 student devices to Trafera, in an amount not to exceed $90,000 and to be funded through the 2022 bond (Roll Call).Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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Adequate Information to Proceed
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 approve the OHS fire Alarm System replacement project.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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Facilities Purchase
Description:
The board reviewed information regarding the OHS fire alarm system replacement project to be funded by the 2022 bond earlier in the meeting.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board award the OHS Fire Alarm System replacement to Boynton Fire Safety Service, in an amount not to exceed $360,000 and to be funded by the 2022 bond and an insurance reimbursement (Roll Call).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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2025-2026 Amended Budget
Description:
The board will continue its discussion regarding the proposed 2025-2026 budget revisions.
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Negotiations & Board Representation
Description:
The board will discuss their role as observers during the negotiations process.
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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)
Ad- hoc Commitee
Description:
The Board will discuss formation of a temporary ad-hoc committee on personnel matters in alignment with strategic initiatives.
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ADJOURN
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