Meeting Agenda
CALL TO ORDER
WELCOME AND MEETING FORMAT (2 Min)
Mission Minute/Around The Pack (5 Min)
DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD – Audit Report (20 Min)
DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD: Bond and Millage Finance Update (15 Min)
PRESENTATION: Strategic Planning - Data (30 Min)
RECOGNITION: New Hires (5 min)
CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REPORTS/REQUESTS (5 Min)
SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
BOARD REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
ACTION ITEMS
CONSENT AGENDA (5 Min)
OTHER ACTION ITEMS
Board Policy - First Reading
Certification of Winter Tax
DISCUSSION ITEMS
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
OTHER MATTERS (5 Min)
ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION – Superintendent Evaluation
RECONVENE
ADJOURN
Agenda Item Details Reload Your Meeting
Meeting: September 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Meeting Agenda
Subject:
CALL TO ORDER
Description:
Tom Buffett, Jason Burns, Katie Cavanaugh, Shulawn Doxie, Andrew Phelps, Leeni Shrestha and Jillian Winn
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:
Mission Minute/Around The Pack (5 Min)
Description:
An opportunity for individual board members to highlight events, activities, and other items of interest.
Subject:
DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD – Audit Report (20 Min)
Description:
Director of Finance Elizabeth Lentz and Mr. Steve Piesko, CPA and principal from Maner Costerisan P.C. will present the 2024-2025 draft audit report of the district.
Attachments:
Subject:
DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD: Bond and Millage Finance Update (15 Min)
Description:
Finance Director Elizabeth Lentz will provide an overview of the current millage impact on our community and the 2022 Bond draw schedule and timelines and actions for the Board to authorize the next allocation of voter-approved bond funds. 
Attachments:
Subject:
PRESENTATION: Strategic Planning - Data (30 Min)
Description:
Superintendent Hood will provide an overview of Board level data sources used to illustrate progress towards five-year goals. 
Subject:
RECOGNITION: New Hires (5 min)
Description:
Interim HR Director Peter Trezise will introduce administrative and teacher new hires for the 2025-2026 school year.
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.
Attachments:
Subject:
BOARD REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
Description:
The board will acknowledge receipt of correspondence.
Individual board members may request follow-up on other matters of concern.
Board sub-committees may present their reports or deliver updates.
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 4 for immediate implementation and appropriate action. Item 1: Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 8, 2025; Item 2: Approval of the Minutes of the Executive Session Meeting of September 8, 2025; Item 3: that the board accept the generous donation from an anonymous donor to fund clubs and scholarships; and Item 4: authorize the superintendent and athletic director to execute the MHSAA application to form a cooperative gymnastics team
Attachments:
Subject:
OTHER ACTION ITEMS
Description:
The Other Action Items require additional discussion prior to board action.
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
That the board approve items 1 through 4 for immediate implementation and appropriate action. Item 1: Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 8, 2025; Item 2: Approval of the Minutes of the Executive Session Meeting of September 8, 2025; Item 3: that the board accept the generous donation from an anonymous donor to fund clubs and scholarships; and Item 4: authorize the superintendent and athletic director to execute the MHSAA application to form a cooperative gymnastics team.Shulawn DoxieJillian WinnCarried
  • Buffett: Absent
  • Burns: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Shrestha: Yea
  • Winn: Yea
Subject:
Board Policy - First Reading
Description:
The board's policy committee conducts an ongoing review of existing policies as they relate to current practice. Policies given first reading by the board are posted to the district website for thirty days for public review before being placed on a board agenda for final approval; policies not given first reading are returned to the policy committee for further review and edit.
Recommended Motion(s):
  1. That the board waive the reading and adopt first reading of board policies 2504-O Public Participation at Board Meetings; 3110 Data Breach Response; 3115 Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Non-Retaliation; 3115A Definitions for 3115 Series; 3118 Title IX Sexual Harassment; 3201 Accounting; 3211 Post-Issuance Tax Compliance; 3212 Post-Issuance Disclosure Compliance; 3301-O Purchasing and Procurement; 3301A Purchasing and Procurement with Federal Funds; 3307 Construction Administration; 3402 Drills, Plans, and Reports; 3407 Asbestos Management; 3408 Firearms and Weapons; 4101 Non-Discrimination; 4103 Whistleblowers Protection; 4105B Religious Workplace Accommodations for Employees and Applicants; 4407 Discipline; 5104 Age of Majority; 5401-O Parent Involvement in Education; 5411 Student Promotion, Retention, and Placement; 5420 Sex Education; 5421 Work-Based Learning Experience; 5603 Section 504; 5701 Abuse and Neglect; 5707-O School Wellness Policy; 5712 Concussion Awareness
Action(s):
Motion Carried:
That the board waive the reading and adopt first reading of board policies 2504-O Public Participation at Board Meetings; 3110 Data Breach Response; 3115 Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Non-Retaliation; 3115A Definitions for 3115 Series; 3118 Title IX Sexual Harassment; 3201 Accounting; 3211 Post-Issuance Tax Compliance; 3212 Post-Issuance Disclosure Compliance; 3301-O Purchasing and Procurement; 3301A Purchasing and Procurement with Federal Funds; 3307 Construction Administration; 3402 Drills, Plans, and Reports; 3407 Asbestos Management; 3408 Firearms and Weapons; 4101 Non-Discrimination; 4103 Whistleblowers Protection; 4105B Religious Workplace Accommodations for Employees and Applicants; 4407 Discipline; 5104 Age of Majority; 5401-O Parent Involvement in Education; 5411 Student Promotion, Retention, and Placement; 5420 Sex Education; 5421 Work-Based Learning Experience; 5603 Section 504; 5701 Abuse and Neglect; 5707-O School Wellness Policy; 5712 Concussion Awareness.Leeni ShresthaKatie CavanaughCarried
  • Buffett: Absent
  • Burns: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Shrestha: Yea
  • Winn: 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 waive the reading and adopt first reading of board policies 2504-O Public Participation at Board Meetings; 3110 Data Breach Response; 3115 Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Non-Retaliation; 3115A Definitions for 3115 Series; 3118 Title IX Sexual Harassment; 3201 Accounting; 3211 Post-Issuance Tax Compliance; 3212 Post-Issuance Disclosure Compliance; 3301-O Purchasing and Procurement; 3301A Purchasing and Procurement with Federal Funds; 3307 Construction Administration; 3402 Drills, Plans, and Reports; 3407 Asbestos Management; 3408 Firearms and Weapons; 4101 Non-Discrimination; 4103 Whistleblowers Protection; 4105B Religious Workplace Accommodations for Employees and Applicants; 4407 Discipline; 5104 Age of Majority; 5401-O Parent Involvement in Education; 5411 Student Promotion, Retention, and Placement; 5420 Sex Education; 5421 Work-Based Learning Experience; 5603 Section 504; 5701 Abuse and Neglect; 5707-O School Wellness Policy; 5712 Concussion Awareness.Leeni ShresthaKatie CavanaughCarried
  • Buffett: Absent
  • Burns: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Shrestha: Yea
  • Winn: 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 Williamston Township of 18 mills non-homestead, 7 mills debt, and .9850 sinking fund mills.,.Jason BurnsKatie CavanaughCarried
  • Buffett: Absent
  • Burns: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Shrestha: Yea
  • Winn: 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:
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 TO EXECUTIVE SESSION – Superintendent 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).Jillian WinnJason BurnsCarried
  • Buffett: Absent
  • Burns: Yea
  • Cavanaugh: Yea
  • Doxie: Yea
  • Phelps: Yea
  • Shrestha: Yea
  • Winn: Yea
Subject:
RECONVENE
Description:
Tom Buffett, Jason Burns, Katie Cavanaugh, Shulawn Doxie, Andrew Phelps, Leeni Shrestha and Jillian Winn
Subject:
ADJOURN

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