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:

The Board may approve these Consent Action items with the following motion:


Minutes - that the minutes of the February 23, 2026, special meeting be approved as presented; and

Financial Statements & Bills - that the February 2026 financial statements be accepted, and the February 2026 payrolls be approved for payment as presented.
 

Tonight, we have members here from Stewart Elementary talking about the school’s clubs.
 

The end of February and beginning of March are the times of the year that our secondary programs begin scheduling for the next school year.  Middle and high school schedules are much like a big jigsaw puzzle, taking a lot of time and planning.  I would like to acknowledge the extensive work that our secondary principals, assistant principals, counselors, and many other staff members have done throughout this process.  The bulk of the 2026-27 schedule will be completed in the next few weeks, with student scheduling beginning soon after spring break.

On February 23rd, we hosted a School Board Workshop that focused on school finance.  The presenters for our workshop were Jeff Mills, former business manager and superintendent at Van Buren ISD, and Bob Dwan, the executive director for the Michigan School Business Officials Association.  Jeff and Bob did a great job of both explaining the big picture of how school funding works in the State of Michigan, and dove into the details directly pertaining to Lakeshore Public Schools.  We had approximately a dozen people in attendance from outside our District and I received many thank you emails of appreciation as the evening was a big hit.  Thank you to the Lakeshore School Board for putting this on my radar, and to Jeff and Bob for their work and time with the presentation and discussion.

Contract negotiations with the Lakeshore Education Association continue to progress in a positive direction.  We were able to send out communication to the entire District regarding the 2026-27 school calendar that included all the important dates for next year.  A few dates within the calendar are still being discussed, and the full calendar should be out to everyone a few weeks after Spring Break.

Logan Hendrix will address the Board.
 

The Community Connections Committee met on Tuesday, February 10.  Present at the meeting were Rachel Wade, Scott Allan, Susan Toothman, Greg Eding, and Jessica Bigley. Mrs. Toothman led the discussion on the various forms of communication that the District has used over the past month, including the Looking Inside Lakeshore Schools podcast, the bi-weekly District Pulse staff newsletter, and the various social media outlets that are used.  Susan noted two events over the past month that included high levels of engagement from the community.  The Polar Plunge took place in the village and many staff members took part, raising almost $7,000 for Special Olympics.  And the Lakeshore Middle School Career Day, in which over 40 volunteers provide demonstrations, give presentations, and discuss a career with our middle school students.
 

The Student Success Committee met on Tuesday, February 24.  Present at the meeting were, Jason Beckrow, Jessica Bigley, Jeron Blood, Greg Eding, and Bill Scaletta. The committee discussed the professional development day that took place on February 13th. This day included a "café-style" of several specific training options for our elementary teachers.  The secondary teachers worked within Professional Learning Communities, and also received training on safety and security coordinated by the Berrien County Sheriff and Lincoln Township Police Departments.  Mr. Blood also did a deep dive into our elementary student behavior system which uses the SWIS data program to track it.  He showed the committee our data over the past year, and explained how it is used to make adjustments and provide interventions for our students.  The committee also learned about the progress of each building’s implementation of PBIS, with the elementary buildings all getting close to being fully implemented for Tier 1 behavior intervention systems.
 

On Tuesday, March 3, the Facilities and Finance Committee met, consisting of Rachel Wade, Lori VonKoenig, Greg Eding, Tracy Althouse, and Griffin Ott. Tracy led a discussion on the monthly financial statement consisting of budget to actual year-to-date, cash flows, investment accounts, cash receipts & disbursements, sinking fund summary, and custodial accounts.   The committee discussed the increase in expenditures related to our harsher winter as well as the bond summary to date.  Greg explained that he would be attending a classroom furniture event with other teachers and administrators with the idea of using funds from the 2023 bond for classroom furniture upgrades.  Mrs. Wade discussed the recent MASB webinar that focused on the Governor’s budget with the key takeaways being a focus on Literacy and Pre-K, and the removal of the 6 mill state education tax.  And Greg updated the committee on various discussions that are beginning for future staffing.
 

The Culture and Leadership Committee met on Friday, March 6th.  Present at the meeting were Susan Toothman, Greg Eding, Griffin Ott, Bill Scaletta, and Lori VonKoenig.  Mrs. Toothman led a discussion on the Best of the Best awards that are presented in the District Pulse, which is our staff newsletter. All employees can earn the Best of the Best award, as staff are open to nominate any other staff member for this recognition.  Thus far, we have had 82 nominations this school year and 36 staff have received the Best of the Best award.  Susan also went through all the planned events for March, which included a focus on reading and literacy.  Mr. Eding updated the committee on various discussions that are beginning for future staffing.
 

Congratulations to Board Secretary Lori VonKoenig on receiving the Level 2 - Award of Merit from the Michigan Association of School Boards, a distinction earned by completing Level 1 of the leadership training program plus 45 education credits. This award reflects a deep commitment to continuous professional development and the guidance skills necessary to drive student achievement within our District.

Also, the entire Board has earned the Level 1 - Honor Board Award, recognizing our members' commitment to improving leadership through professional development. This annual honor reflects the dedication of our entire Board to maintaining the high certification standards required for this distinction.

And now, the Board members have an opportunity to share insights or key takeaways from any recent professional development activities or training sessions they have attended.
 

Again this fiscal year, we will not be applying for federal funds for Section Title III, Part A - Immigrant Students, and will relinquish these funds. 
 

MATH & SCIENCE CENTER JUNIORS CEDAR POINT TRIP
Juniors enrolled in the Math & Science Center along with chaperones would like to travel to Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH on May 17 and spend the night in cabins near the park.  They will spend the day in the park on May 18 so that the AH Physics students can collect data on roller coasters using accelerometers.  They will analyze this data in their Physics class upon returning to school. 

CTE SIX FLAGS TRIP
Fifty-one CTE students will be invited to spend the day at Six Flags Great America for Technology & Engineering Day on May 15.  They will have the opportunity to learn about skilled trades within a non-traditional industry. Students will be meeting people from multiple industries that specialize in building and maintaining amusement rides.

 

Each year, the Board will decide on participation in the Schools of Choice program. For the 2026-2027 school year, I recommend that we continue our involvement in the program on a limited basis. I request that the Board grant the administration the authority to determine the number of students accepted at each grade level as enrollment projections for the upcoming school year become more defined.  We plan to accept applications from approximately mid-April to mid-May.
 

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.

"To ensure due process and respect of individual rights, the District maintains a formal process for handling complaints against individuals.  A problem involving an individual or specific incident is best handled through administrative channels." 
"Speakers are asked to express themselves in a civil manner, with due respect for the dignity and privacy of others who may be affected by your comments.  While it is not our intent to stifle public comment, speakers should be aware that if your?statements violate the rights of others under the law of defamation or invasion of privacy, you may be held legally responsible.  If you are unsure of the legal ramifications of what you are about to say, we urge you to consult first with your legal advisor." 
 

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 -