February 19, 2026 at 6:30 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 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 (CLOSED) SESSION - Contract Negotiations
Description:
Pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Open Meetings Act, the board of education may adjourn to executive (closed) session for the purpose of discussing contract negotiations.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board adjourn to Executive Session pursuant to Section (c) 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, 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:
Human Resources Director Jennifer Emmendorfer will introduce new teacher hires for Okemos Public Schools.
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PRESENTATION: Financial Update (15 Min)
Description:
Executive Director of Finance Liz Lentz will provide a current overview on the District's financial situation, including ongoing impacts to district revenues.
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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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PRESENTATION: Director Evaluation Process (10 Min)
Description:
Superintendent Hood will provide a brief update on evaluation improvements tied to the strategic plan, specifically the process implemented with Directors that will begin in the 2026-2027 school year.
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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 and 2 for immediate implementation and appropriate action. Item 1: Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 9, 2026; Item 2: Approval of the employment of XXX.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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Bus Purchase Bid
Description:
At the February 9 Regular Meeting, the Board discussed a bid presented by the Director of Transportation to purchase two new buses as funded by the 2022 bond.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board approve the purchase of two new school buses at a cost not to exceed $303,794.00 and funded by the 2022 bond.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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Bid Pack #8 GMP Award Amendment
Description:
At the February 9 regular meeting, the Board discussed the replacement of the Okemos High School walk-in cooler/freezer which has exceeded its useful life and can be replaced with funds from the 2022 Bond.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board authorize the Superintendent to amend Bid Pack #8 GMP from the 2022 Bond, in an amount not to exceed $300,000, for identified additional kitchen scope and funded by the 2022 bond.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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Bond Sale Approval
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board waive the reading and adopt the resolution that authorizes the third series bond sale for the 2022 bond.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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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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Furniture Purchase (5 Min)
Description:
Director of Operations Lieber and Assistant Superintendent Bailey will present a recommendation of furniture updates for the business office as funded by the 2022 bond.
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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 TO EXECUTIVE (CLOSED) SESSION - Superintendent Evaluation (30 Min)
Description:
Pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Open Meetings Act, the board of education may adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the superintendent evaluation.
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 the superintendent evaluation (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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ADJOURN
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