The President asks for approval of the agenda.  Are there any additions or deletions?  

"The agenda is approved as presented."
OR
"The agenda is approved with the following additions/deletions"  by Consensus.  

Recommendation: 

Resolved that the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approves the following minutes:

January 9, 2025, Organization and Regular Minutes
February 5, 2025, Special Minutes (Workshop)

Recommendation:

Resolved, that the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approves a first reading of the policies and administrative guidelines being revised, replaced and/or recommended as presented.

Recommendation:

Resolved, that the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approves a second reading of the policies and administrative guidelines being revised, replaced and/or recommended as presented.

Recommendation:

WHEREAS, Black History Month was formally adopted in 1976 to honor and affirm the importance of Black History throughout our American experience; and

WHEREAS, the history of people of African heritage goes back tens of thousands of years and includes some of the greatest and most advanced and innovative societies in the history of human experience; and

WHEREAS, African-Americans have played a significant role in the history of the United States from the early days of the pioneers to our present-day leaders in such industries as aerospace, finance, government, and international trade; and

WHEREAS, during Black History Month all Americans are encouraged to reflect on the rich history and teachings of African-Americans and bear witness to the progress, beauty, and achievements they have made throughout society;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Royal Oak Schools Board hereby designates February 2025 as Black History Month throughout the school division. We encourage the celebration of the collective ingenuity, creativity, cultures and traditions of African-Americans and encourage participation in educational events honoring the contribution of Black Americans. 

Recommendation:

WHEREAS: February 2025, has been designated Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month® by the Association for Career and Technical Education; and

WHEREAS: CTE offers students the opportunity to gain the academic, technical and employability skills necessary for true career readiness; and

WHEREAS: students in CTE programs participate in authentic, meaningful experiences that improve the quality of their education and increase their engagement and achievement; and 

WHEREAS: CTE provides students with career exploration opportunities early in their educational experience, which enables them to make informed and beneficial decisions about their academic coursework and pursue established programs of study and career pathways; and

WHEREAS: leaders from business and industry nationwide report increasing challenges related to addressing the skills gap and connecting qualified professionals with careers in critical and growing CTE-related fields, such as advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, energy, health care, information technology, and transportation; and

WHEREAS: CTE prepares students for these and other fulfilling careers by offering integrated programs of study that link secondary and postsecondary education and lead to the attainment of industry-recognized credentials; and 

WHEREAS: CTE programs ensure that employers have access to a qualified and thriving workforce, ensuring our nation is a strong and competitive economy;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education do hereby proclaim February 2025 as Career and Technical Education Month in Royal Oak Schools. 

If you would like to make a Public Comment:

• A person may address the Board on an agenda or non-agenda item by completing a note card located inside the Board Room and place the card in the basket prior to the citizen public comment period.  
• Each speaker is limited to three (3) minutes.  If you need more time you are offered a second opportunity to address the Board at the end of the meeting with an additional three (3) minutes. 
• Please address the Board as a whole and not individually.
• Public comment is not intended for the exchange of dialogue. This is a time for members of the public to express their views.   We are paying attention to your comments and appreciate them; however, school board members do not respond to public comment during the meeting.  
• Questions that arise from public comment shall be referred to the superintendent, or their designee, for review, study and possible future response.
• Thank you in advance for your cooperation.  

The consent agenda generally consists of routine matters as well as items we have covered during this meeting or another board or committee meeting. All items are documented in the minutes, which are published following the meeting at which they were approved. All of our committee and board meetings are open to the public and public comment is an item on each agenda. We invite members of the public to join our committees. 

Recommendation:

Resolved that the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approves expenditures as processed in the amount of $9,313,602.65, for January 1, 2025, through January 31, 2025. 

Recommendation:

Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approves the request from Royal Oak High School for robotics students to travel to Houston, Texas from April 15-20, 2025.  

Recommendation:

Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approves the request from Royal Oak High School for Student Council students to travel to Sandusky, Ohio on April 27, 2025.  

Recommendation:

WHEREAS, public education is the cornerstone of our democracy, providing fundamental skills and opportunities for children across the United States; and,

WHEREAS, In the decade following the Great Recession, students across the U.S. lost nearly $600 billion from the state's disinvestment in their public schools; and

WHEREAS, before the COVID-19 pandemic, both state and federal funding for public schools was already failing to meet the critical needs of students across the country; and,

WHEREAS, since the COVID-19 pandemic, students have needed additional academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs being met through targeted programming and additional personnel, enhanced professional development opportunities, new technology as well as critical updates to school facilities; and,

WHEREAS research has consistently shown that increased education funding positively affects academic performance, increases graduation rates, and impacts future earnings; and,

WHEREAS, when the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed in 1975, the federal government committed to pay 40 percent of the average per pupil expenditure for special education to ensure that every child with a disability has access to a high-quality education; and,

WHEREAS, the financial pledge for IDEA has never been met and is currently funded at approximately 10.7 percent, leaving a gap of billions of dollars needed for students; and,

WHEREAS, when Royal Oak Schools costs to deliver the important services required under IDEA are not properly funded by the federal government, it requires us to reallocate money from other programs to make up for it; and, WHEREAS, the federal underfunding of IDEA has negatively impacted the academic opportunities of all students for generations, not just those with disabilities;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by Royal Oak Schools as follows:

The Royal Oak Schools Board of Education calls on Congress to immediately pass the IDEA Full Funding Act (S.2217/H.R. 4519) which would create a 10-year mandatory path to fully fund IDEA; and,

The Royal Oak Schools Board of Education school board calls on the state legislature to provide adequate, equitable, and sustainable funding increases to districts to mitigate the harm caused by decades of underfunded schools.

Recommendation:

Resolved that the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education cast a vote for one candidate to represent Region 8 for a three-year term on the MASB Board of Directors.

Candidates:
Jason Babbage, Allen Park Public Schools, Wayne County
Anisha Hannah, Pontiac School District, Oakland County
Paul Kolin, Bloomfield Hills Schools, Oakland County
Roderick Means, Westwood Community School District, Wayne County
Randel Meisner, Fitzgerald Public Schools, Macomb County
Scott Wallace, Fraser Public Schools
Ursula (Wester) Rogers, Romulus Community Schools, Wayne County
Lisa Valerio-Nowc, Clintondale Community Schools, Macomb County

Recommendation:

Be it resolved that the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approves the 2024-2025 Community Service Fund amendment as presented. 

Recommendation:

Be it resolved that the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approves the 2024-2025 Food Service Fund amendment as presented.

Recommendation:

Be it resolved that the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approves the Section 127 plan as presented. 

Recommendation:

Resolved, the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approves the regular personnel changes as presented.

Committee Reports:
City-School Liaison, Tim Ciechorski
Communications, Maryanne VanHaitsma
Curriculum Advisory, Michelle Cook

Upcoming Events:
February 14-18, Mid-Winter Break
February 27, African American Read-In @ 6:00 pm, District Admin Office
March 3, All-City Orchestra, ROHS  @ 7:00 pm
March 4-5, All-City Band Festival, ROMS @ 7:00 pm
March 7, Soup & Salad with the Super @ 11:30 am, Sr. Ctr.  
March 6, Finance & Facilities @ 6:00 pm
March 13, Regular Board Meeting @ 6:30 pm
March 15, Unifed Showcase Basketball game @ 12:00 pm, LCA
March 18, ROHS Open House & Personal Project @ 6:30 pm
March 21-23, ROMS Drama Club Performance 6:30 pm
March 27, State of the Chamber, Red Run @ 9:00 am
March 31 - April 4, Spring Break
April 10, F&F @ 5:30 and Regular Board Mtg @ 6:30 pm
April 22, ROYA Recognition Dinner @ 5:00 pm, RO Farmers Market
April 28, CTE Awards @ 5:30 pm at OS
May 1, Finance & Facilities Mtg @ 6:00 pm
May 7-8, ROX Concert @ 7:00 pm, ROHS
May 8, Regular Board Meeting @ 6:30 pm
May 12, ROHS Honors Convocation @ 7:00 pm at ROMS
May 13, ROHS Spring Band Concert @ 7:00 pm
May 14, ROHS Spring Orchestra Concert @ 7:00 pm
May 19, ROMS Spring Orchestra Concert @ 7:00 pm
May 20, ROMS Spring Band Concert @ 7:00 pm
May 22, Regular Board Meeting @ 6:00 pm (if needed for OS)
May 28, ROHS Sr. Cruise @ 7:00 pm
May 29, ROHS Graduation @ 7:00 pm (rain date May 30)
June 4, Finance & Facilities Mtg @ 6:00 pm
June 5, Churchill Graduation @ 7:00 pm
June 12, Regular Board Meeting @ 6:30 pm
June 18, OCSBA Meeting @ 6:00 pm, OS
June 19, RO Juneteenth Celebration @ 4:00 pm
June 23, ROSF Golf Outing
June 26, Regular Board Meeting @ 6:00 pm (budget)