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Meeting Agenda
CALL TO ORDER
WELCOME AND MEETING FORMAT (2 Min)
ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION – Contract Negotiations
RECONVENE
CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REPORTS/REQUESTS (5 Min)
OTHER ACTION ITEMS
Employment - Certified
Audit Report
Altria Group Litigation Settlement Resolution
ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION –Superintendent’s Evaluation
RECONVENE
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
ADJOURN
Agenda Item Details Reload Your Meeting
Meeting: October 9, 2023 at 6:00 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:
ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION – Contract Negotiations
Description:
Pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Open Meetings Act, the board of education may adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of contract negotiations.
Recommended Motion(s):
  1. That the board adjourn to Executive Session pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Open Meetings Act for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter (Roll Call)
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
That the board adjourn to Executive Session pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Open Meetings Act for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter (Roll Call).Andy PhelpsKatie CavanaughCarried
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Subject:
RECONVENE
Description:
Tom Buffett, Katie Cavanaugh, Shulawn Doxie, Mary Gebara, Melanie Lynn,  Andy Phelps, Jayme Taylor
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:
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.
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 Alexia Mansour, 2nd Grade Teacher at Hiawatha Elementary at Step 1, Division I of the teacher salary schedule, effective October 9, 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 Carried:
That the board approve the employment of Alexia Mansour, 2nd Grade Teacher at Hiawatha Elementary at Step 1, Division I of the teacher salary schedule, effective October 9, 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.Andy PhelpsTom BuffettCarried
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Goals:
  • Organizational Capacity - PRIORITY 9: Secure staff to meet changing student and family needs based on enrollment and demographic trends.
Subject:
Audit Report
Description:
Each year, the board of education employs an auditing firm to audit the district’s financial records. Mr. Steve Piesko of Maner & Costerisan P.C. presented the 2022-2023 audit report to the board during its meeting September 25, 2023.
Recommended Motion(s):
  1. That the board accept the audit report of Maner & Costerisan P.C. for the 2022-2023 school year.
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
That the board accept the audit report of Maner & Costerisan P.C. for the 2022-2023 school year.Katie CavanaughJayme TaylorCarried
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
Altria Group Litigation Settlement Resolution
Description:
The board reviewed a resolution to accept a proposed settlement with the Altria Group, a part of the district's vaping litigation, and discussed whether to proceed during it's September 25th meeting.
Recommended Motion(s):
  1. That the board waive the reading and adopt the resolution authorizing and directing the superintendent to sign the settlement documents pertaining to the Altria litigation and accept the settlement amount (Roll Call)
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
That the board waive the reading and adopt the resolution authorizing and directing the superintendent to sign the settlement documents pertaining to the Altria litigation and accept the settlement amount (Roll Call).Tom BuffettShulawn DoxieCarried
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION –Superintendent’s Evaluation
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):
  1. 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)
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
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).Jayme TaylorMelanie LynnCarried
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Subject:
RECONVENE
Description:
Tom Buffett, Katie Cavanaugh, Shulawn Doxie, Mary Gebara, Melanie Lynn, Andrew Phelps and Jayme Taylor
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:
ADJOURN

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