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Meeting Agenda
CALL TO ORDER
WELCOME AND MEETING FORMAT (2 Min)
DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD - Social Media Litigation
DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD-MHSAA Co-op Agreements
CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS
SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
BOARD REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
ACTION ITEMS
CONSENT AGENDA (5 Min)
OTHER ACTION ITEMS
Employment - Certified
Certification of Winter Tax
Board Policy First Reading
DISCUSSION ITEMS
MASB Delegates 
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
OTHER MATTERS (5 Min)
ADJOURN
Agenda Item Details Reload Your Meeting
Meeting: September 11, 2023 at 7:00 PM - Meeting Agenda
Subject:
CALL TO ORDER
Description:
Tom Buffett, Katie Cavanaugh, Shulawn Doxie, Mary Gebara, Melanie Lynn, Andrew Phelps and Jayme Taylor
Subject:
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.
Subject:
DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD - Social Media Litigation
Description:
Attorney William Shinoff of the Frantz Law Group will provide information regarding a proposed nationwide lawsuit by schools against META and other social media platforms. The board will discuss/consider joining the litigation.
Subject:
DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD-MHSAA Co-op Agreements
Description:
Athletic Director Ken Hintze will present information regarding two potential MHSAA co-ops. A Ski Team co-op in collaboration with Davison Public Schools, and a Gymnastics co-op combined with Haslett Public Schools. The board will review agreements developed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association as a "co-op" solution.
Attachments:
Subject:
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.
Subject:
SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
Description:
The superintendent will highlight events and issues of interest and take questions from the board.
Subject:
BOARD REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
Description:
The board will acknowledge receipt of correspondence.
Individual board members may highlight other events and issues of interest and request follow-up on other matters of concern.
Attachments:
Subject:
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.
Subject:
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):
  1. That the board approve items 1 through 3 for immediate implementation and appropriate action. Item 1: Approval of the minutes of the Special Meeting of August 2, 2023: Item 2: Approval of the minutes of the Special Meeting of August 15, 2023: Item 3: Approval of the minutes of the Executive Session meeting of August 15, 2023
Action(s):
Motion 1 Carried:
That the board approve items 1 through 3 for immediate implementation and appropriate action. Item 1: Approval of the minutes of the Special Meeting of August 2, 2023: Item 2: Approval of the minutes of the Special Meeting of August 15, 2023: Item 3: Approval of the minutes of the Executive Session meeting of August 15, 2023.Katie CavanaughMelanie LynnCarried
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Motion 2 Carried:
That the board approve items 1 through 3 for immediate implementation and appropriate action. Item 1: Approval of the minutes of the Special Meeting of August 2, 2023: Item 2: Approval of the minutes of the Special Meeting of August 15, 2023: Item 3: Approval of the minutes of the Executive Session meeting of August 15, 2023.Katie CavanaughMelanie LynnCarried
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Subject:
OTHER ACTION ITEMS
Description:
The Other Action Items require additional discussion prior to board action.
Subject:
Employment - Certified
Description:
The hiring of all certified employees must be approved by the board of education; employment of support staff shall be in accordance with school district policy.
Recommended Motion(s):
  1. That the board approve the employment of Lauren Hitze, Special Education teacher at OHS at Step 5, Division II; Cullen Lynch, 6th Grade Teacher at Kinawa at Step 1, Division I; and Palai Yang, 2nd Grade Teacher at Bennett Woods Elementary at Step 1, Division I; of the teacher salary schedule, effective September 11, 2023 in accordance with sections 1230 (2) and 1230 a (2) of the Revised School Code conditioned upon receipt of acceptable criminal history checks and criminal records checks
Action(s):
Motion 1 Carried:
That the board approve the employment of Lauren Hitze, Special Education teacher at OHS at Step 5, Division II; Cullen Lynch, 6th Grade Teacher at Kinawa at Step 1, Division I; and Palai Yang, 2nd Grade Teacher at Bennett Woods Elementary at Step 1, Division I; of the teacher salary schedule, effective September 11, 2023 in accordance with sections 1230 (2) and 1230 a (2) of the Revised School Code conditioned upon receipt of acceptable criminal history checks and criminal records checks.Tom BuffettShulawn DoxieCarried
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Motion 2 Carried:
That the board approve the employment of Lauren Hitze, Special Education teacher at OHS at Step 5, Division II; Cullen Lynch, 6th Grade Teacher at Kinawa at Step 1, Division I; and Palai Yang, 2nd Grade Teacher at Bennett Woods Elementary at Step 1, Division I; of the teacher salary schedule, effective September 11, 2023 in accordance with sections 1230 (2) and 1230 a (2) of the Revised School Code conditioned upon receipt of acceptable criminal history checks and criminal records checks.Tom BuffettShulawn DoxieCarried
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Subject:
Certification of Winter Tax
Description:
Tax bills are sent out by Meridian and Alaiedon townships and the City of Lansing twice a year:  half for summer taxes and the balance for the winter tax.  Williamstown Township collects school taxes during the winter only.
Recommended Motion(s):
  1. That the board certify the following winter tax rates for collection on behalf of Okemos Public Schools from Meridian Township, Alaiedon Township, and the City of Lansing of 9 mills non-homestead, 3.5 mills debt, and .4925 sinking fund mills; and from Williamstown Township of 18 mills non-homestead, 7 mills debt, and .9850 sinking fund mills. (Roll Call Vote)
Action(s):
Motion 1 Carried:
That the board certify the following winter tax rates for collection on behalf of Okemos Public Schools from Meridian Township, Alaiedon Township, and the City of Lansing of 9 mills non-homestead, 3.5 mills debt, and .4925 sinking fund mills; and from Williamstown Township of 18 mills non-homestead, 7 mills debt, and .9850 sinking fund mills. (Roll Call Vote).Andy PhelpsKatie CavanaughCarried
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Motion 2 Carried:
That the board certify the following winter tax rates for collection on behalf of Okemos Public Schools from Meridian Township, Alaiedon Township, and the City of Lansing of 9 mills non-homestead, 3.5 mills debt, and .4925 sinking fund mills; and from Williamstown Township of 18 mills non-homestead, 7 mills debt, and .9850 sinking fund mills. (Roll Call Vote).Andy PhelpsKatie CavanaughCarried
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
Board Policy First Reading
Description:
The board's policy committee has been engaged in the implementation process of Thrun's board policies. The committee is submitting several policies that have been reviewed and/or revised:  2301 Conflict of Interest; 2302 Board Code of Ethics; 2304 Gifting; 2306 Board Member Compensation; 3305 Sale or Lease of District Property; 5307 Homeless Students; 5705 Emergency Anaphylaxis; 5711 Toilet Training; and 5713 Immunizations and Communicable Diseases.  The committee is recommending a July 1st effective date for these policies. Policies given first reading by the board are posted on the district website for thirty days for public review. Policies not given first reading are returned to the committee for further review and editing.
Recommended Motion(s):
  1. That the board waive the reading and adopt first reading of board policies 2301 Conflict of Interest; 2302 Board Code of Ethics; 2304 Gifting; 2306 Board Member Compensation; 3305 Sale or Lease of District Property; 5307 Homeless Students; 5705 Emergency Anaphylaxis; 5711 Toilet Training; and 5713 Immunizations and Communicable Diseases.
Action(s):
Motion 1 Carried:
That the board waive the reading and adopt first reading of board policies 2301 Conflict of Interest; 2302 Board Code of Ethics; 2304 Gifting; 2306 Board Member Compensation; 3305 Sale or Lease of District Property; 5307 Homeless Students; 5705 Emergency Anaphylaxis; 5711 Toilet Training; and 5713 Immunizations and Communicable Diseases.Shulawn DoxieAndy PhelpsCarried
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Motion 2 Carried:
That the board waive the reading and adopt first reading of board policies 2301 Conflict of Interest; 2302 Board Code of Ethics; 2304 Gifting; 2306 Board Member Compensation; 3305 Sale or Lease of District Property; 5307 Homeless Students; 5705 Emergency Anaphylaxis; 5711 Toilet Training; and 5713 Immunizations and Communicable Diseases.Shulawn DoxieAndy PhelpsCarried
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
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.
Subject:
MASB Delegates 
Description:
The board will discuss the MASB Fall conference for the purpose of determining the representatives to the delegate assembly and who will attend.
Subject:
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.
 
Subject:
OTHER MATTERS (5 Min)
Description:
  • Closed Session beginning at 6 p.m. before the September 25th meeting.
  • Possible Work Session regarding legislative updates.
Subject:
ADJOURN

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