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Meeting Agenda
CALL TO ORDER
WELCOME AND MEETING FORMAT (2 Min)
Recognition - Student Representatives (5 Min)
DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD: Unballoted Bond
CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REPORTS/REQUESTS (5 Min)
SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
BOARD REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
OTHER ACTION ITEMS
2023-2024 Amended Budget
Board Policy First Reading
Administrator Contracts
Amendment to Assistant Superintendent  Contract
Secure Gun Storage Resolution
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Textbook/Curriculum Recommendations (15 Min)
24-25 Budget Development
Board Book Study
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
OTHER MATTERS (5 Min)
ADJOURN
Agenda Item Details Reload Your Meeting
Meeting: May 20, 2024 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:
Recognition - Student Representatives (5 Min)
Description:
The board will recognize and express appreciation to the 2023-2024 Okemos High School Student Representatives to the School Board.
Subject:
DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD: Unballoted Bond
Description:
Finance Director Elizabeth Lentz will provide information regarding a possible unballoted bond the district may want to pursue.
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:
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:
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.
Subject:
OTHER ACTION ITEMS
Description:
The Other Action Items require additional discussion prior to board action.
Subject:
2023-2024 Amended Budget
Description:
As required by law, the 2023-2024 Budget was approved by the board of education in June.  Throughout the year the budget is revised to reflect an update in revenue and expenditures. The board reviewed the proposed 2023-2024 budget revisions during its meeting on May 13, 2024.
Recommended Motion(s):
  1. That the board approve the amended 2023-2024 Budget. (Roll Call Vote)
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
That the board approve the amended 2023-2024 Budget. (Roll Call Vote).Katie CavanaughMelanie LynnCarried
  • Doxie: Absent
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: 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: 3202 Budgets and Truth in Budgeting/Taxation
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: 3202 Budgets and Truth in Budgeting/Taxation
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
That the board waive the reading and adopt first reading of board policies: 3202 Budgets and Truth in Budgeting/Taxation.Katie CavanaughTom BuffettCarried
  • Doxie: Absent
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
Administrator Contracts
Description:
Each administrator is evaluated annually. The contract between the board and administrators provides that based upon satisfactory evaluation and other criteria, an administrator’s contract shall be extended an additional year, not to exceed a total contract term of two years. 
Recommended Motion(s):
  1. That the board extend the following administrator contracts through June 30, 2026 That the board extend the following administrator contracts through June 30, 2026 Joe Corr - Principal at Hiawatha Elementary; Allison Cironi - Assistant Principal at Okemos High School; Ken Hintze - Athletic Director at Okemos High School; Dan Kemsley - Principal at Okemos High School; Jody Noble - Principal at Chippewa Middle School; Tracy Ojerio - Principal at Cornell Elementary; Heather Pricco - Director of Special Education; Andre Ridley - Assistant Principal at Chippewa Middle School; Sara Roland - Assistant Principal at Kinawa; Lauren Schefke - Principal at Bennett Woods Elementary; Joe Schmidt - Assistant Principal at Okemos High School; Steve Stierley - Principal at Kinawa; and Kelly Sundeen - Principal at Central Montessori (Roll Call Vote)
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
That the board extend the following administrator contracts through June 30, 2026 That the board extend the following administrator contracts through June 30, 2026 Joe Corr - Principal at Hiawatha Elementary; Allison Cironi - Assistant Principal at Okemos High School; Ken Hintze - Athletic Director at Okemos High School; Dan Kemsley - Principal at Okemos High School; Jody Noble - Principal at Chippewa Middle School; Tracy Ojerio - Principal at Cornell Elementary; Heather Pricco - Director of Special Education; Andre Ridley - Assistant Principal at Chippewa Middle School; Sara Roland - Assistant Principal at Kinawa; Lauren Schefke - Principal at Bennett Woods Elementary; Joe Schmidt - Assistant Principal at Okemos High School; Steve Stierley - Principal at Kinawa; and Kelly Sundeen - Principal at Central Montessori (Roll Call Vote).Jayme TaylorKatie CavanaughCarried
  • Doxie: Absent
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
Amendment to Assistant Superintendent  Contract
Description:
The superintendent has evaluated the performance of the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and found them to be highly effective. 
Recommended Motion(s):
  1. That the board amend the contract of Assistant Superintendent Stacy Bailey to extend their dates of employment through June 30, 2027
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
That the board amend the contract of Assistant Superintendent Stacy Bailey to extend their dates of employment through June 30, 2027.Melanie LynnTom BuffettCarried
  • Doxie: Absent
  • Phelps: Absent
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Gebara: Yea
  • Lynn: Yea
  • Taylor: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
Secure Gun Storage Resolution
Description:
The board reviewed a proposed resolution regarding Secure Gun Storage.
Recommended Motion(s):
  1. That the board waive the reading and adopt the resolution directing the superintendent to include secure gun storage information in Student-Parent Handbooks; to create a parent letter explaining the importance of secure gun storage; and to continue working with law enforcement, health agencies and others to increase efforts to inform community members regarding secure storage (Roll Call)
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
That the board waive the reading and adopt the resolution directing the superintendent to include secure gun storage information in Student-Parent Handbooks; to create a parent letter explaining the importance of secure gun storage; and to continue working with law enforcement, health agencies and others to increase efforts to inform community members regarding secure storage (Roll Call).Katie CavanaughTom BuffettCarried
  • Doxie: Absent
  • Buffett: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: 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:
Textbook/Curriculum Recommendations (15 Min)
Description:
Assistant Superintendent Bailey will present the new textbook recommendations for 2024-2025.  It is not assumed that funds will be available in the general fund to purchase textbooks.  The recommendations include:
  • AP Biology
  • AP Environmental Science
  • Precalculus Honors
  • Physical Science
  • World History
  • AP Psychology
Attachments:
Subject:
24-25 Budget Development
Description:
The board will continue its discussion regarding the development of the 2024-2024 budget. 
Attachments:
Subject:
Board Book Study
Description:
The board will discuss the next chapters of The Human Side of School Change as part of their book study.
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)
Subject:
ADJOURN

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