All right, it is 7 pm on uh January 12th, 2026. I will call us to order for our regularly scheduled meeting of the East Lancing Board of Education. Uh Miss Hokort, can we get a roll call?
>> Trusty Martin >> here. >> Trusty Lions >> here. >> Trusty Edel >> here. Trusty Ferris Highland >> here. >> Trusty Chambers >> present. >> Trusty Torres >> here. >> Trustee Taikaki >> here.
>> Student Representative Mega >> here. >> And Superintendent Leo >> here. >> Thank you. Trusty Ferris Highland, can you read our mission statement? >> Sure. Our mission statement is nurturing each child, educating all students, and building world citizens.
>> All right. Thank you for that. Can I get a motion for approval of tonight's agenda? >> I move that the board education approve the agenda for the January 12th, 2026 organizational meeting. >> Second. >> Motion was made by Trustee Torres, seconded by Trustee Ferris Highland. All
in favor of the motion as presented, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposition? The motion carries unanimously. The next item on the agenda is the election of officers. So this is what we
do in our first meeting of the calendar year every year. And the um the first bullet point is election of president. So we'll go through these uh through each of these positions one at a time and we'll accept
nominations and we'll discuss and vote for each person. So, uh, the first will be the motion for the president. And, um, I'd like to make this nomination. Uh, but before I do, I want to say thank you to everyone on the
board for letting me serve as president for the last couple years. I have loved doing it and I really appreciate the confidence and trust that you put in me, and I hope that I did a good job for you. Um, I'm also really excited to see somebody else uh to give somebody else a
chance to to take on the role and uh I would like to nominate Trustee Lions to serve as the president next year. >> Second. >> Can I nominate myself with the caveat that I will only serve for three weeks?
>> Then you're out. >> So I go every three years. >> Every three years I will Oh yeah, checked on that. Oh, forgot. It's cuz I have seen them. >> Gabble, don't you? >> I do. I do. >> I've got a collection of them.
>> You shouldn't get a fulls size one. You could get like a mini one. >> I removed my my nomination for myself from the table. >> All right. Are there any other nom any other nominations for the office of president? >> All right. Is there any discussion about
the motion uh to nominate Trusty Lions as president? I'll just say thank you, Chris, for your service and I look forward to the next year with Liz serving as president. >> Likewise, >> same.
>> All right, I guess we will move to a vote. All in favor of the motion as presented, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposition? >> Raise my hand. The motion carries unanimously and I will turn the I'll turn this over to
Liz. >> Do you want to switch? >> Y. >> Okay. >> Okay. Stop. I'm sorry. >> Oh, you love me your zero coat. >> Probably need that.
>> The steady stream of caffeine that keeps me going. >> Need it. Thank you. >> Voted no pass 61. >> Yeah. >> Right away. >> All right. So, um we have second on the
list. Um election of vice president. Do we have any motions or uh nom nominations for vice president? I'll move to nominate Tally for vice president. >> I'll second that motion.
>> All right. There's a motion uh a motion for uh nomination for tally for vice president and a second. Any discussion? All right. Um so we just did all >> any other any other name. Oh, any other nominations?
Going once, going twice. Sold. Okay. Um, so we'll take a uh All in favor? >> I >> I >> Any opposition? She's not running. All right. Here we go. Tally.
>> You are voted in. >> Bye. >> I'll get that. I got it. Keep on moving, Chris. >> Oh jeez. My arsenal. >> Need to bring like a suitcase. >> Okay.
>> Third on the list is election of treasurer. Um do we have a motion um nomination for treasurer? >> I move to nominate Cath Edsal for the role of treasurer. Second. >> I'm busy then. >> No, you can't. President,
>> you can't be. >> All right, we have a motion um nomination of Kath for treasure and seconded uh by uh Ferris
Highland. Any um discussion or other nominations? I guess I will say just very briefly that um this is my seventh year on the board and when I started an experienced board
member told me that no matter what Kath needs to be treasurer because she knows how to do everything and she knows how to do things the right way. And um that advice has always proven to be true. And so I'm happy for this uh this nomination. I support it.
>> Yes. >> And your willingness, your continued willingness to serve >> in this role. >> Yes. >> The finance committee. Kath knows numbers. >> From like 192.
>> No, from like 1998. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Thank you all. And so, uh, with that, uh, all in favor? >> I >> I >> Any abstensions or running away?
>> If I could move right about now, I can't. >> All right. Um, fourth is selection of secretary. Um, do you have a nomination motion for secretary? >> I don't know. What did we decide? I move
to nominate Chris Martin for secretary. >> I'll second that. >> All right. And we have motion um to move uh Chris Martin for secretary and a second by uh Trusty Edel. Um any
discussion or other nominations? No one's jumping up and down. All right. Um all in favor >> I >> All right. Sounds no one else things or
All right. Motion passes. Congratulations, Chris. You are secretary now. >> Excellent. >> Is everyone in the right spots now? >> I think so. >> I think so. >> Okay. So, we can move for um approval of
minutes. Um can I get a motion? I move the board of education approve the minutes of the following meeting December 8th, 2025 regular meeting. >> Second. >> We have a um Trusty Edso motion with a
second from Chris Martin. All in favor? >> I >> I. >> All right, motion passes. Um any recognition? Trustee Ferris. >> Not tonight. Okay, we'll move on to our student representative report.
>> Happy new year. Uh um I hope you've all had a great day. Tanya is unable to come today because of work, but I speak on behalf of her and everyone else I think at the high school and saying that it's been a busy week so far and it's going to be a busy week um
going forward. Um but coming back from break it's been pretty steady I think and I mean obviously like disregarding finals I think that um we've all had a lot to celebrate um when it comes to sports like you know basketball
successes but we've also done great in wrestling gymnastics bowling boys swim and dive and girls water polo so gymnastics won their most recent meet and all the girls are doing really well so apparently they're like really good all-arounders, which means that like
they're pretty good in like all their events. Um, varsity basketball. Um, KJ Torb was announced player of the game in yesterday's game. And we're currently undefeated. Our B girls basketball team is doing good as well. And they're
looking forward to a home game tomorrow at 7 p.m. So, everyone should show up. Wrestling wise, EL girls finished 11th out of 25 teams at their DWIT tournament. and Maya Turnover finished first in her weight class and freshman Annayia Adams won her first match of the
year this past Friday. So that's great. Um we're also looking forward to the multicultural assembly and the fair. The fair being pretty new because it's um the first time we're kind of doing something like that. The assembly is a showcase at the middle school. So this
is about the fair. the because the multicultural assembly is something that's like been reoccurring, but the fair is something new that MSAN and StuCo have kind of put together, but the assembly or the fair is a showcase at the middle school of our students diversity
um through cultural clothes, performances, dancing, and singing. And this year we're kind of building off of that with the tradition of a multicultural dinner and turning it into kind of like a multicultural fair. So, we're kind of combining everything. Um, so some performances from the assembly
from the multicultural assembly will occur during the that afternoon at a district-wide fair because the multicultural assembly is just for the high school, but they kind of wanted to do like a district-wide thing. Um, and there will be booths with food and
cultural clothing and just like there will be an overall showcase of our school's diverse student population. And I'm sure Tanya will have a little bit more to say on that since she's um helping kind of organize that. But that's pretty much all I have to say and I hope you have a wonderful night. If
you have any questions about the fair or anything, you can ask me, but I'm sure you can also ask Tanya maybe at the next meeting because she'll probably know more. But anyways, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Excuse me. All right. Thank you very
much for that report. Uh lots of uh stuff happening. Busy busy busy time. We were just talking about how busy the first week was a little slow. Now the second week is picking up. So I'll turn it over to you um Superintendent uh Lego
for your report. >> Yeah. I sorry don't have a lot to report yet tonight, but I do want to um get out there kind of a save the date uh for our kindergarten our annual kindergarten prek information night. Uh mark your
calendars and spread the word if you or someone you know has a child who is eligible for kindergarten, which means they'll be five by December 1st of 2026, or may be eligible to attend our prek program, which eligibility means they'll be four by December 1st, 2026. And our
annual kindergarten and prek information night will be held on February 24th, 2026 here at McDonald Middle School. and more details are to come, but we're just starting to publicize that date and get it out there both to our families who are already connected to the school, but
really the task is in reaching those who are not connected to the schools yet. So, we'll um ask the city, they're always great in helping us spread the word for this event as well. And then I just have a few other dates to share. Um this coming a week from tonight or week
from today, January 19th, there's no school for students and staff. It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Uh there will be a number of um staff and administrators attending the holiday lunchon down at the Lancing Center as we have three students who are going to be uh recognized this year and receiving
awards. So that is exciting. Uh February 12th through 16th. This is a little new with this year's calendar. There's no school for students that Thursday, Friday, and Monday. And then staff has professional development on Thursday with no school Friday and Monday. And then looking ahead at March, um 26 is
the beginning of spring break. It's a half a day and that's a Thursday afternoon where they're here only in the morning. Then Friday through the following Friday is spring break. And that's all I have for today. >> Awesome. Um any questions?
>> We brought the kids back who have won uh honors at the MLK lunchon to acknowledge them here in the past. I can't remember. >> I don't recall bringing them in. We may have recognized them, but I I don't recall that. But maybe someone remembers differently. But at least we recognize
them in recognition. Okay. >> But we've at least Yeah. acknowledged and recognized them through recognition. >> Any other questions, comments for superintendent? >> All right. Uh we'll move on to our consent agenda. Do I have a motion?
I move that the board of education approve the consent agenda to include the following. New hire hiring of Alexis Shankowski 1.0 FTEE school social worker at Marble Elementary at MAPEP 9 effective January 26, 2026.
>> Second. >> All right, we have a motion by Trustee Edsaw and a second by I don't know if that was >> Chris Martin. >> Yeah, give it to Chris. All right. Um there's no discussion on consent agenda.
We'll go to a vote. All in favor? >> I >> I motion passes. Um is Alexis here? Hi. Yay. >> So, it is been our tradition if you would like to come up and introduce yourself at the podium, you're more than
welcome to. You don't have to, but we want to say welcome. Um, and yeah, if you would like to >> cuz we have thousands of people watching the live stream and they can't see. >> I think you got to Yep. >> or you have to leave. >> You can jump up.
>> I wouldn't recommend. >> On social media. >> I don't trust that all the way. >> Um, so hi, I'm Lexi Shankowski. Good job pronouncing my last name, by the way. Most people butcher it, but um so I'm fairly like I'm a third-year graduate
for social work. Um but I've been working with special needs kids since I graduated high school and my mom is a school social worker as well. So it kind of runs in the family blood. So I'm excited to start. >> Well, welcome. >> Wonderful. Welcome. >> Thank you. >> We're excited to have you. >> Yes.
>> Just watch out for that Josh guy. He's >> No, it's okay. I've worked with plenty of different principles. Don't worry. He might be the most excited person in the room about this though. >> Without a doubt. Those are big smiles. Yes, it's a very big smile.
>> I am sure. >> Awesome. >> All right, we will move to public comment. Do we have any public comment? >> Oh, no one wanted to come talk. No. >> So, we will move on to uh board discussion. There's nothing here, but
does anyone have any board discussion? Any items? Going once, going twice. All right, we'll move on to action items. Um, proposed board meeting calendar for 2026. Do I have a motion?
>> I move that the board of education adopt the proposed board meeting calendar for 2026 as presented. >> Second. >> Uh, moved by Tristy Taiki. Um seconded by Ferris Highland. Any um
discussion? >> We uh we had an issue last year. We had to schedule some meetings kind of off off cycle because of the all the uh holidays and observances that fell in the fall. And um it's kind of nice to see that the way those those same dates
fall this year, it works a lot better for our schedule. So, I noticed that and that's going to be that should be easier when the fall comes around. >> Yes. >> Any other discussion? >> All right, we'll move to um
to vote. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? All right, motion passes. Um go to action item B, furniture, fixtures, and equipment. um for East Lancing High School. Do I have a motion?
>> I move that the board of education award the following bids related to the FFE bid package for East Lancing High School. NBS Commercial Interior 60,66366. DBI8,71141 for a total of $149,375.7. >> Second.
>> All right. Motion by um Trustee Edo, seconded by Trusty Taiki. Um any um discussion on this? >> No, but it's kind of exciting that we're getting to furniture fixtures and equipment. >> Yes. >> Kind of one of the final pieces when you get to ordering this. Uh we'll have
still one more bid package coming with um >> uh the replacement of door hardware at both buildings, a couple other things, and carpet here. So, we'll still have one more bid package going out, but this is uh pretty much the final big one for the high school. closer and closer. Yeah. >> Mhm. >> All right.
>> And it was over uh the I mean, so we had enough in the contingency fund to cover the overage on this. Is that correct? >> Uh yeah, this came in under budget. >> Oh, this one did. >> Yeah. >> Oh, I must have read that wrong. >> I think that's how I read it. Did I misread? >> I could be wrong, Kath. I thought that's
what I read, but I'll double check. But I thought it came in under budget. >> It Okay, it did. >> Okay. Y >> awesome. >> Yes. So, on schedule, on budget. >> All right. the high school at least. >> What's that? >> The high school at least. >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
>> All right. Well, with that said, um we'll go to a vote. Um all in favor? >> I >> I >> Any oppose? All right, motion passes. >> Excuse me. Action item C, boiler tube
replacement. Can I get a motion? I move that the board of education award the bid to furnish and install new boiler tubes from Johnston South Boiler at the high school to Meer Plumbing Meyers Plumbing and Heating Incorporated in the amount of $63,654.
>> Second. >> All right. Moved by Trustee Tagi, second by Trustee Edel. Any um discussion? All right, seeing none, we'll move to a vote. All in favor? >> I. >> Any um
Oh, I heard everyone say I, so we're good. Motion passes. Committee reports. Um, we have not had a meeting since our last um for academic and tech facilities.
>> Same. I guess when we do our new committee assignments, we'll regroup and >> set dates. >> Awesome. Finance. >> So, we have not met and since I am by default the chair as the treasurer, um I'm looking at February 2nd. So, just
look at that on your calendars when you choose a commission um for our first meeting of the new year. >> Awesome. Intergovernmental, >> we have not met. >> Personnel, >> uh, there's been no meeting of the
personnel committee. >> Policy >> have not met. >> And ISO, >> uh, we've not met. Our next meeting is Wednesday, February 4 at 8 a.m. >> All right. Um, yeah, I'll send out an
email um probably sometime this week um asking you all to give me your uh um what is it? >> Or how about everybody? So, >> what was that? >> I was just going to make it easy on you and say everybody send Liz your
>> first, second, and third choice and which ones you would share. >> There you go. Yes. Thank you. >> Trying to make it easier. >> Yeah. If you Yeah. Why don't we do that? Why don't we um have you send me your um top choices of one, two, three by this Friday?
>> Um and then we'll >> Oh my gosh. >> My kid is home. >> Get that settled. >> No worries. Um all right. Any announcements? >> Um I have two. One would be I sent out
to everybody just a quick text about wanting a ticket for next Monday's lunchon. And I'm I was interpreting the thumbs up as you received my email or my text, but you don't want one. So I but I wasn't positive if that was how I was supposed to interpret the thumbs ups. Um so I guess I just need to know tonight
before you leave if you want a ticket to let me know tonight before you leave. And then the rest of the tickets that we have will go to um our high school students. Um and then my other one is we will still be here on January 26th. Just to let everybody know, we're a little
delayed on the admin building due to a delay with getting our power connected to the building. So, everything they're they're moving along, but we need that the power is supposed to be hooked up um next week. We have the natural gas hooked up finally, but um Consumers is
scheduled to come out next week to do the power. Uh then they can um you know, check all the mechanicals, electricals, and do all of that. So, that's what's kind of causing this delay a little bit. We're probably I I would say the first meeting in February. We're likely to still be here, too, because we have
furniture scheduled the first meeting of February to arrive there. So, I think it'll take but but that furniture arrival and installation is uh scheduled for the entire week. So, um it's possible, but I would say it's most likely that the second meeting in February is when we'll move, but I'll
keep you all posted. But January 26th for sure here. >> Okay. Right. >> Any other announcements? Um, I'm going to just keep repeating this probably every meeting, but the uh bond to rebuild Beakman Center and remodel uh
Hartwood to address um our uh kids with special needs uh significant special needs is moving ahead and that election will be May 5th, I believe. uh May 5th and um there are um I don't know if I
can trying to just be informational here um but there's lots of resources out there if you want to get questions answered. There's a a Q&A page um for for more information and um
um you can ask me or Abby. Thank you for that. Any other um announcements? The only one I have is as mentioned our next regular scheduled meeting will be um January 26 and it will be in this
room. There's no other announcements. I will move to adjourn at 7:25. >> Well done. Press