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Meeting Agenda
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I. Call to Order/ Pledge of Allegiance
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II. Approval of Agenda
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III. Approval of Consent Action Items
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IV. Good News
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V. Financial Audit
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VI. Superintendent Informational Report
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VI.A. Student Representative Report
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VII. Board of Education Reports/Action
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VII.A. Facilities & Finance Comm.
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VII.B. Student Success Committee
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VII.C. Culture & Leadership Committee
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VII.D. Community Connections Comm.
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VII.E. PowerSchool Litigation Resolution
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VII.F. Professional Development
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VIII. Superintendent Recommendations
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VIII.A. Quarterly Budget Modification
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VIII.B. Annual Summer Tax Resolution
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VIII.C. Personnel
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VIII.D. Overnight Trip
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IX. Public Comment
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X. Other Matters — Adjournment
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Agenda Item Details
Reload Your Meeting
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Lakeshore Public Schools
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| Meeting: | October 13, 2025 at 5:30 PM - Regular Meeting | |
| Subject: |
I. Call to Order/ Pledge of Allegiance
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| Presenter: |
Rachel Wade
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Description:
At this time, the Board will conduct the routine activities related to calling the meeting to order and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
INTRODUCTIONS will be conducted by the Board President. |
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| Subject: |
II. Approval of Agenda
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| Presenter: |
Rachel Wade
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Description:
The Board should consider any changes or additions to the agenda, including the potential removal of any matter scheduled as a consent action item. The Board should approve the agenda with one of the following motions:
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| Subject: |
III. Approval of Consent Action Items
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| Presenter: |
Rachel Wade
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Description:
The Board may approve these Consent Action items with the following motion:
Minutes — that the minutes of the September 8, 2025, regular meeting be approved as presented; and Financial Statement & Bills — that the September 2025 financial statements be accepted, and the September 2025 payrolls be approved for payment as presented. |
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| Subject: |
IV. Good News
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| Presenter: |
Greg Eding
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Description:
Tonight, we are pleased to welcome several students from Germany who are participating in the Sister School Exchange Program. Eighteen students arrived on October 1 and are being hosted by Lakeshore families during their stay. They will return home on October 17.
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| Subject: |
V. Financial Audit
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| Presenter: |
Greg Eding
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Description:
Representatives from Plante Moran will give an overview of our most recent annual financial audit. The Board will then be asked to accept the 2024-2025 Financial Audit as presented.
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| Subject: |
VI. Superintendent Informational Report
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| Presenter: |
Greg Eding
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Description:
The past month has been very busy! Our middle and high school students are in the middle of their fall sports activities, and many clubs have also started meeting and getting prepared for their activities. As a highlight, the marching band is preparing to defend its title as two-time reigning state champion and the new show for 2025 is outstanding. They recently finished in first place at the Jenison invitational, and Lakeshore hosted their own invitational last weekend, where our very own Rachel Wade was the stadium announcer for the entire event. The band will be gearing up for the state finals at Ford Field, which will happen in early November.
Our elementary schools have also started rolling with their Literacy Intervention Time (LIT), working to ensure all students are at or above grade level in reading! This system is amazing for our students and a lot of work for our staff; but so rewarding to see the progress! A huge thank you to our literacy team of coaches, interventionists, teachers and parapros for all their hard work. What a difference you are all making for our students. We also had an incident that occurred at one of our JV football games. On September 18, a Lakeshore JV football player sustained a back injury following a flagrant hit during a game at Kalamazoo Central. The incident escalated when the video of the incident was shared online, drawing local and national media attention. We coordinated closely with the student’s family and issued a statement that was shared with families, staff, and all media inquiries. This past weekend, our student and his family, along with the Kalamazoo Central student and his family, met and established a positive relationship. Turning what was a very difficult situation into an opportunity to learn and grow. And on Friday, the entire staff took part in a county-wide professional development conference that was coordinated by the Berrien RESA and hosted at St. Joe. I was able to attend the conference, and it was awesome for our teachers to learn together with other teachers in our county. Staff attended a keynote by Eric Curts, who is a trainer for ControlAltAchievewere and an AI guru for educators. Staff were also able to choose their own sessions and enjoy a lunch together. Overall, it was a fun day of learning for everyone! |
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| Subject: |
VI.A. Student Representative Report
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| Presenter: |
Logan Hendrix
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Description:
Logan Hendrix will address the Board.
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| Subject: |
VII. Board of Education Reports/Action
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| Subject: |
VII.A. Facilities & Finance Comm.
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| Presenter: |
Lori VonKoenig
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Description:
On Tuesday, October 7, the Facilities and Finance Committee met consisting of Rachel Wade, Griffin Ott, Tracy Althouse, Greg Eding, Lori VonKoenig, and guests Matt Kelly and Madeline Coy from Plante Moran.
Matt and Madeline presented our 2025 audit which was presented at tonight’s Board meeting. We are pleased to announce our District received an unmodified or "clean" opinion. Greg and Tracy discussed the recently passed State Aid Act and its preliminary effect on our budget. Tracy went over her preliminary Budget Modification #1, noting that the Michigan Department of Education and various state departments are still interpreting what and how all of the State Aid Act applies to districts. |
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| Subject: |
VII.B. Student Success Committee
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| Presenter: |
Jessica Bigley
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Description:
The Student Success Committee met on Tuesday, September 30th. Present at the meeting were Bill Scaletta, Jason Beckrow, Natalie Macerata, Jeron Blood, Greg Eding, and Jessica Bigley. The committee reviewed the state test data from the Spring of 2025. This was a very high-level view of the data, noting that we continue to be in the top four districts in all grades and content areas for our county.
A concept that was discussed was the "best fit line", which compares the percentage of students who met or exceeded the expectations with the percentage of students who are economically disadvantaged. When you draw the best-fit line across the county or state, the goal is to be "above the line", meaning that our students are outperforming others within similar demographics. When looking at this data, we noticed that our District is very close to the line, but is often a little below the best fit line. Which means, while Lakeshore students tend to perform very well, we do not necessarily outperform Districts with similar demographics. Another item the committee discussed was the McKinney Vento audit that took place last school year. Mr. Blood is our homeless liaison and provided the committee with some items that need to be updated to be in compliance with the McKinney Vento law. Importantly for the Board, some of these items include an update to Board policy, which Mr. Eding is currently working on with our NEOLA representative. |
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VII.C. Culture & Leadership Committee
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| Presenter: |
Bill Scaletta
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Description:
The Culture and Leadership Committee met on Friday, October 3rd. Present at the meeting were Susan Toothman, Greg Eding, Griffin Ott, Lori VonKoenig, Logan Hendrix, and Bill Scaletta. The committee reviewed plans that the District has for a wellness program that Mrs. Toothman developed. From October 20 to November 7, employees will be able to win prizes for participating in wellness activities. There will be mindfulness activities, fitness activities, and overall positive health activities. Mrs. Toothman started this during the 2024-25 school year and is continuing this program for the current school year, with modifications based on employee feedback.
The committee spent the majority of their time discussing the changes that were made to the working guidelines that were passed in the September Board meeting. Mrs. Toothman shared that she is the point person for the working guidelines, and works together with Ms. Althouse regarding the financial implications, and Mrs. Hardy, who helps provide a historical context around the differences between each groups’ working guidelines. Mrs. Toothman shared that she receives a lot of feedback from employees, and then tries to incorporate that feedback into the working guidelines to create a better work environment for all employees. The areas that came forward from employees included the number of personal days, and the way the District handled snow days for hourly employees. There was also a desire to incorporate ideas that were working in some of the groups, but were not a part of all groups, like having a bonus for longevity. The committee felt comfortable with the changes that were made, with the understanding that the working guidelines, as a whole, are a work in progress. And that the District will continue to work on the guidelines as part of the Board's goal to attract, retain, and grow our people. |
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| Subject: |
VII.D. Community Connections Comm.
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| Presenter: |
Scott Allan
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Description:
The Community Connections Committee met on Tuesday, September 9. Present at the meeting were Rachel Wade, Jessica Bigley, Susan Toothman, Greg Eding, and Scott Allan. The committee quickly reviewed the working guidelines and the changes. Mrs. Toothman went through several beginning-of-year District highlights that included the following:
The committee also discussed The District Pulse and the social media interactions. For example, the District’s Facebook page had 53 new followers, 78,000 views, and 1700 interactions over the last 28 days. And Mrs. Toothman talked through the upcoming website updates for the Bond work around the District. |
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| Subject: |
VII.E. PowerSchool Litigation Resolution
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| Presenter: |
Greg Eding
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Description:
Schools across the country are participating in a lawsuit against PowerSchool—the student information system utilized by our District—and related defendants, in response to the December 2024 data breach and alleged breaches of contract by PowerSchool. In order for the District to join the lawsuit and potentially be eligible for greater monetary recovery, the Board is asked to approve the accompanying resolution, which is included in your packet along with additional background information.
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| Subject: |
VII.F. Professional Development
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| Presenter: |
Rachel Wade
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Description:
At this time, the Board members have an opportunity to share insights or key takeaways from any recent professional development activities or training sessions they have attended.
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| Subject: |
VIII. Superintendent Recommendations
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| Subject: |
VIII.A. Quarterly Budget Modification
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| Presenter: |
Tracy Althouse
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Description:
Tracy Althouse will review the preliminary Quarterly Budget Modification #1 and recommend adoption by the Board. Documentation has been included for your review.
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| Subject: |
VIII.B. Annual Summer Tax Resolution
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| Presenter: |
Greg Eding
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Description:
We recommend approval of the resolution which imposes the continuing resolution to collect 100% of summer taxes for the 2026 tax levy in July.
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VIII.C. Personnel
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| Presenter: |
Greg Eding
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Description:
Due to a teacher’s decision not to return following a leave of absence, we have hired Margo Ross as a 4th Grade Teacher at Stewart Elementary, effective October 27. Mrs. Ross and her family recently relocated back to the area from Elkhart, where she previously taught 3rd grade. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Governors University and a master’s degree from Trine University.
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| Subject: |
VIII.D. Overnight Trip
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| Presenter: |
Greg Eding
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Description:
High School Principal Jerry Holtgren is requesting the Board to approve an overnight trip for the 155-member marching band to travel to Detroit’s Ford Field for the State competition on November 1, 2025. Because the band performs last, they will stay in a hotel that evening. The band won the Flight IV championships the last two years.
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| Subject: |
IX. Public Comment
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| Presenter: |
Rachel Wade
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Description:
The Board President will call on citizens who would like to make comments or express concerns at this time. The Board of Education Policy, "Public Participation at Board Meetings," applies to this section of the Agenda.
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| Subject: |
X. Other Matters — Adjournment
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| Presenter: |
Rachel Wade
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Description:
A. Board Meeting Evaluation - Evaluations are available for the audience.
B. Suggested Meeting Guide - Enclosed is the Suggested Meeting Guide for Board members to review. C. Adjournment - |
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5771 Cleveland Ave., Stevensville MI 49127 269-428-1400 www.lpslancers.net |
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