just moved. >> Yeah. Did >> you move? >> True story. Yeah. That's what I did. >> Did you seriously? Is that when you >> I mean that's not the reason you move, but I mean it's not not the reason to be honest.
>> This is from Shannon. You can start without >> No, we'll wait for you. >> I mean, you know, just the thousands of people on she want to make sure her phone wasn't right. >> Yeah, they said that the person I talked to on the phone, I don't know if it was like
>> they're like, "Well, we don't recommend getting this shot." >> Oh, really? We finally got our >> comy. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, he's really nice. >> And you don't know how long it's been in the house. I think Cat's right about
that. >> She can read it and then you can read it. It's a >> What is it? >> It's a Thank you. Um >> Shannon John. >> Shannon Johnston. >> We recognized her daughter. Was it out there? >> Sitting on the seat of my bike.
>> Oh gosh. >> Is it going to turn off? >> Yeah. >> All right. So, we're going to get started. Um, but before we call to order, um, I would like to honor uh the memory of Duran uh James, who we
tragically lost um to gun violence. Um, Duran was not just a student. He was a vibrant member of our community full of potential, dreams, and aspirations. His loss is deeply felt by his friends, family, and all of us who had the
privilege to know him. Uh this tragedy tragedy highlights um the urgent need to address gun violence in our society. We must come together as a community to advocate for change and support one another during this difficult time. Um, in honor of Don James, um, I propose a
moment of silence. Uh, let us take this time to reflect, remember, and send our thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, and our entire community. So, a moment of silence for Don James. So, thank you all for your uh compassion
and support um for taking the time to do a little small reflection. Um so, let's together u continue to work toward creating a safe and nurturing environment for all our students here in school, but also within our our community. So, um I would like you know
if anyone else would like to say anything, you don't have to, but I just wanted to open up um with that uh honor for Duron. I did not know Duron and I have yet to address the issue with my child who probably did know Don. Um,
but I'm a parent of a child with complicated medical issues. And so I have spent more time than probably most parents thinking about what it means for your to outlive your children. And so it's from that place that I have this
great sadness and tenderness for his parents and his siblings, but particularly his mother. Um, we aren't supposed to outlive our 14-year-old children. Um, and so it is heartbreaking and we have to do better. All right. Um, I will, um, well, uh,
opening of meeting, so I'll call to order at 7:07. Can we get a roll call, please? Trusty Lions >> here. >> Trusty Ferris Highland is not here tonight. Um, Trusty Edel >> here. >> Trusty Martin
>> here. >> Trusty Chambers >> present. >> Trusty Torres >> here. >> Trusty Taki >> here. >> And Superintendent Leo >> here. >> Thank you. Um, Trusty Morgan, can I have
you read the mission statement, please? Yes. The mission statement for East Lancing Public Schools is nurturing each child, educating all students, building world systems. >> Thank you. Um, can I get a motion for approval of agenda? >> I move the board of education approve
the June 22nd, 2026 regular meeting agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Motion by Trustee Torres, seconded by Trustee Martin. Any discussion? All in favor?
>> Any opposed? Motion passes. Um, may I get a motion for approval of uh of minutes? Sorry. >> I move that the board of education approve the minutes of the June 8, 2026 regular meeting as presented. >> Second.
>> Motion moved by Trusty Taiki, seconded by Trusty Torres. Any discussion? >> All in favor? I >> I >> Any opposed? >> Motion is approved. Um do we have any recognition? Uh Trusty
Martin? >> None tonight. >> Um anyone else on the board have any All right. Um superintendent report. >> No report tonight. Thank you.
>> All right. So we will move to our public hearing. Um 2026 27 original budget. Um, we'll open the uh public we have to call a motion for that or is this just a >> No, you can just open it. >> Okay. Opening of public hearing at 7:09
and we'll ask for um our director of finance, Lisa Allen. Um she will give us some comments. See if this works. We practiced. Okay then. Here we go. >> Oh, we lost the agenda. >> No, it's not.
>> One on each >> presentation agenda. >> All right, we got it. All right. Well, thank you for having having me back to discuss the new budget. Um, kind of feels a little like deja vu. Uh, last
year we had a lot of uncertainty as we went into the budget. We had um less certain uncertainty this year. We feel a little better this year uh with the state budget still not out there but has a framework. I heard today that we
should have something by July 3rd. Um, we'll see. It's a concept of a plan. >> Um yeah, we've seen the framework. I I don't know what that means, but um we are further along than we were last year. So I I do have hope on that. Uh
last year also we had our bargaining contracts open. So we had a lot more uncertainty, but that's still kind of the theme for this year. We're doing the best we can with the information we have and that is what we're going to talk about today.
So to start off, okay, there we go. So just a quick agenda. We're going to talk about the school aid fund proposals for 2627 going into the major revenue assumptions that we use for building the budget for 2627
as well as the major expenditure assumptions. Then we're going to look at the um revenue expenditures and the fund balance comparison for the general fund and review the proposed 20 2026 tax
rates and then open up for questions. So so far we've seen some agreement on the foundational allowance of $10,300 per pupil. the governor, the senate, and the house have all agreed that that is um a number that looked good when they
first started talking about it. We'll see what actually comes out. But also, there is a new um way that they're looking at 31A at risk and 41 bilingual, and they're looking to do a weighted average for the on the per
pupil um allowance. So this is supported by the governor and the senate and actually a lot of my colleagues because of all the categoricals there's a lot of reporting and um this is just a easier way to account for this and when looking at our budget it is pretty much the
same. It's just moving it into a different bucket but um the house says they are looking at an increase but they really haven't laid out what that might be. Uh the next is the mystering. This year we are seeing the employer cap
decrease from 29.91% to 27.51 which is a savings on our expenditure side but it is also a reduction in our revenue. So even though that sounds really great um it kind of balances out.
And then the stabilization rate this is a piece that is a true flow through. We withhold the money from well not withhold it we actually um have our rate that we pay we get the money in from the state it goes right out to MIPER so it's kind of a dollar per dollar and the last
thing here I want to talk a little bit about is the mental health student safety 31A this was a bit of a point of contention last year and probably still is but the governor is looking at an increase in
this funding the senate is looking at a lower increase and the House is looking for it to stay the same. So last year we received about $1.4 million and we've also filed our um extension so that these funds can be used through
September 30, 2027. So we just did that for the funds that were from last year and we are expecting to see this continue, how that's going to look, what the conditions are going to be. Um, if I had the crystal ball, I'd tell you. I'm
not really sure what's going to happen there, but it is still in the proposals that they started with, but again, we'll see. So, going right into the major revenue assumptions. This is a chart that is actually in your budget book. And just
going through this a little bit, we always start with what is our blended revenue, I'm sorry, blended enrollment for our revenue. And this year we have an increase of 5.79. Part of this is is built on 10% of our February pupil count
and 90% of what our October account count will be in 2020. I'm sorry. I've been working so many different years. I only know what year it is. 2026. So in our February count, we actually did have 17 less students at that point.
It's not. It was only a 10% count into this blended rate. But in all budgeting, most accounts will always tell you we try to be overly conservative and that is also built on this um enrollment
number. So in October, we have an increase of 14 is what we're estimating, but also graduation alliance goes into that. And for this first budget, we're saying it's going to be five less than what we are projecting to end last year.
So again, trying to be overly conservative, hoping that it's way more, but this is where we are at this time. The next is the property values. Again, being conservative, have a 2.51% increase on property values, which then
increases not only that, but also increases our um state funding. Further down we have the 31A and 41 I always want to say 41B but
it's 41 bilingual. Those are zero and you're going to see a big decrease but you're going to see that up in the property or proposal A line. So those kind of equal out a little bit but it's not like it's going away. It's just moved into a different uh category for this budget. The federal grants
basically have remained flat. And then the last is the county special education. This is a result of that 2-year funding formula change that they were doing. Last year we actually went
down by 300,000. This year we're going up with a little over 400,000. So it's going to equal out to about a little over a hundred,000 for us over the two years. and then after this year it should be
fully implemented that new formula. So moving on to the major assumptions for the expenditures as with um pretty much every school district the majority of our budget are made up of our people. So with 81% of
the budget want to focus on that. The assumptions are that we will have all our contractual wage increases and step advancements for all our employee groups. The fringe benefits, health care, having been in this industry for many, many years, I thought I was really good at estimating. Apparently not last
year. It came in a lot lower, which um I'm hopeful it'll come in a lot lower this year as well, but starting up with a 9% seemed um conservative and fairly reasonable. Also, um, our Delta dental rates, our vision rates, and our LTD life and work
comp, they're relatively flat. And also, they're not large dollar amounts, so they don't have a lot of fluctuation in them. And then, as I talked about earlier, the MYIPER rate went down. And also in this budget for teacher retirements and resignations, we are
putting the estimate in for the salaries for the individuals that will be replacing those teachers at a step three on the BA schedule. Then lastly is our staffing levels. Our teachers are remaining at a flat level.
Hair of professionals increased one. And when I talk about these, there's a lot of ins and outs on these. So it's not like exactly the same, but it is moving here, moving there. Like our young fives was replaced with a GSRP. So you know,
it's kind of those things. And just a slight change with the Atwills. One of the things I do want to mention here is as we're looking at our staffing levels, we not only are being very conscious of making sure that we stay true to our
mission, but also if we have the opportunity to use grant funds for positions, we are doing that where we can. So, on to the meat and potatoes of it all. The bottom line on the budget book on page 20 and 21, you will be able to
see all the increases and decreases. If you want all that um detail, it is there. But to start off, we talked about the revenues, the local, state, federal, um incoming transfers, and then the other financing. That's just an estimate
we use for possible sales of um surplus goods and such. But the bottom line of that is an increase over our final budget of 378,743. Now when we look to the expenditure side, the salary is increasing $984,695.
And this is really driven by um our contracts that we already have in place. Most of them are two-year agreements. But also the other piece of it is there are some things that are no longer in there. We had the educator's compensation last year that is no longer
in the salary line. So even though it has gone up, there are increases and decreases to come to this net. The next is the benefits. And though that looks like a larger um decrease, when you look at that with the salary budget, you're thinking why are our
salaries going up and our benefits aren't going up? Well, part of that is is the mysters. The rates have lowered for that. And the other part is there were some um salaries or wages that were included last year like the 27L and some
of those fundings that even though the retirement was a piece of it which is usually one of the biggest in the taxes even though those move in tandem with the salary the health insurance doesn't and things along that line that are fixed. So even though salaries may have
gone up the insurance did not. it's going to be the same for the employees no matter how much they make that year. So that's part of why that is. Uh the other is like I had mentioned earlier when we're replacing staff we're looking
at the BA schedule uh step three and then the rest of the purchase services supplies materials capital outlay a lot of ins and outs and there is a slight increase to that when we factor in our favorable um variance that we include we
are still looking at a fund draw of $1,126,615 This is something that we have been working on. It is a deficit that we know that we have to address and we are making all the efforts to do that. We are wanting to make sure that we do it
in a very thoughtful way so that we are able to keep the level of services for our students, for our staff, and to, you know, make East Lancing the school where people want to be. And I say that because my son's here, too. This is the school where we want to be.
And part of doing all of this, even though it is a fund draw, we still have a healthy fund balance. So, but it's not something we can continue forever. You It's like your savings account. You can't keep drawing out of it until it's gone. So, even though we're still in a a
very good position, um it's something that has to be addressed. And I know over this year there will be a lot of review of expenses. what um I always call the lowhanging fruit. What can we you know cut without too much pain and
things along that line, but at the same time doing it thoughtful and changing the mindset to be more in a cost reduction mode, a cost savings mode. Do we really want to do that? Do we need to do that? Kind of things that you would
do with your own personal budgets. So that will happen over the year. And then once we actually do have a state budget in place, then you kind of know your target better. You know, what are our revenues coming in and then you can build your expenses from there.
So, moving on to our proposed tax rates. Uh the first column that says 26 tax year, these are our millages. We looked at these last time we met with the L429 and
they are pretty much this pretty close to what they were but we did have a Headley roll back just so you know and that was 0104. So it it was relatively small but we did have one this year. And also
if we look at our debt funds, it is still uh 6.3 mill and it is just spread out through the debt funds um appropriate for this year. The one that you're going to see the 2015 debt fund is zero and that is because we did that
refinancing or refunding that went into the 25 debt fund as well when we had that bond. And I think that's about it for this And that's the end of my prepared
comments. >> So this is just a question of curiosity. >> Um so the at risk funding went to zero. So that's 2.28
million dollars. Um what was the number? So now it's calculated per pupil with the additional 18%. Mhm. >> Um what was the number of pupils in our district that you used to make that determination when you
>> uh the blended enrollment the 3679.29. >> So all of those kids are at risk. >> Well, that's where the weighted formula comes into place. That's why it's point um I think I use 18 on that. >> So I assume the formula would be you would multiply the general ed students
times 10,300 who aren't at risk. general ed students who are at risk times uh at 12,154 and then ELLL students times 10,815. >> That is a great question. Let me look
really quick >> if it's not really a big deal. I just >> No, but that makes sense to me. So I just want to make >> I'm just curious as to the total dollar amount, how does it >> and compared to last year looking at it the the dollar amount is relatively
flat. It's so we had, you know, the 2.2 million to almost $2.3 million reduction. It was pretty darn close to like 2.2 million using the funding formula, but you know what? >> That is a really good question and I think you're right and and I apologize
for not having that. It's it's really ready that you answered this the eventual question which was what did we gain for what we gave up and and and I was coming at it about which what was the total number of students used in the
atrisisk category times the um foundation allowance times the 1.18. >> Yep. And I actually have it right here. It was when I used so I used the what I used is the um 10,300
multiplied it times the8 and then I used 12,85 as the pupil count. >> Okay. >> To come to >> so about one out of three kids in the district. >> Yeah. And I used that from the 31A report that we had filed last and it
came to $2.4 million. Okay. With the weighted average and kind of same for the um English language learners as they have at the bilingual we use 210 students using that same formula of the foundation allowance
multiplied times the factor and that >> was 05. Yeah. >> Yeah. And the number included up in the foundation number was $18,000 as compared to
$173,000. >> Thank you. >> I just had to think about it and look at my numbers. >> Any other questions for Lisa? All righty. >> Thank you. >> Do we have any public comment on the
original budget? >> Come on, Relicia. >> You can come up with a good >> if train A left the station. >> That I can guess. There we go. >> But what you guys are talking about,
>> but what if it was carrying 31A funds when it left the station? >> All right, we will conclude public comment at 7:28. Um, do we have any public comment? Regular public comment.
Not hearing or seeing any. We will move to do we have any board discussion? Not hearing any. So we will move to our action items. Um can I get a motion for BNA agreement with city of East Lancing? >> I move the board of education approve
the updated agreement for use of school facilities as presented. >> Second. >> Moved by Trustee Martin, second by Trustee Edel. Any um discussion?
Not hearing any. All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. And I get a motion for the resolution to pass the 2026 2027 school aid budget by July 1st.
>> I move that the board of education adopt the resolution urging the governor and the legislature to pass the 2026 2027 school a budget by July 1st as presented. >> Second. All right. Motion or sorry uh yeah
motion u by trusty second by trustee Torres. Um any discussion? >> Do you want me to read the resolution? >> Yes. >> I don't have discussion but I'd love for you to read it. >> What's that? >> She said she would love for you to read it. >> Okay. I did make one edit since this was
written for last week's meeting. um uh resolution urging the governor and the legislature to pass the 2026 2027 school a budget by July 1st. Whereas today is the last day of this fiscal year for our schools and the legislature has not yet
passed a school a budget. And whereas last year the budget was not passed until after the constitutional October 1 deadline, the state's longest delay last year forced districts to make critical staffing and programming decisions based on speculation rather than certainty. Without a budget, schools cannot
responsibly plan for staffing, class sizes, transportation, or essential services. And whereas the East Lancing public schools are legally obligated to complete our budget by the end of June, we will fulfill that obligation. But without certainty from Lancing on what funding we will see, we will be forced
to once again consider freezing programs, delaying hires, and laying off staff. Families and staff deserve stability. State created budget delays cause unnecessary stress and financial concerns. And whereas the framework for a responsible school aid fund budget
already exists within the three proposals under considerations, there is no excuse to delay bringing these ideas together into a final agreement. And whereas we also f urge focus to remain on passing a responsible balanced budget. This is not the time to begin discussions on major reforms.
Significant property tax changes or other structural changes that are being brought up deserve a thorough debate separate from the budget. can. Whereas policymakers must complete a responsible school aid budget that meets the needs of Michigan students. This includes an inflationary increase to the foundation allowance implementing weighted funding
for at risk and elelll students stopping the diversion of K12 dollars away from the classroom and fixing the school safety and mental health funding. Now therefore, it be resolved that the East Lancing Public School District calls on the legislature and the governor to pass the school a budget before July 1st. And
be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution will be forwarded to the district's representatives in the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate as well as the governor's office. >> Thank you for reading that. >> Sure. >> All right. After hearing that, um, all
in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes. >> And thanks to Tally for pulling it all together. >> Yes. Thank you, Tally, if you're listening. I I did hear that the legislators were
uh working till 3:00 a.m. morning. So >> social media post about that. >> Yeah, it's a pretty capital light. >> Yes. >> So So hopefully we'll see something. >> Fingers crossed we can get done. Yep. Uh, can I get a motion for the approval
of a partnership with Secure Environment Consultants SEC for director of safety, security, and student support? I move that the board of education approve a three-year partnership with Secure Environment Consultants, SEC, to provide a full-time director of safety, security, and student support dedicated
exclusively to East Lancing Public Schools at an annual cost of $166,000 funded through section 31A, school safety and mental health grant funds. >> Second move by Trustee Taki, seconded by
Trustee Chambers. any discussion. I'll just quickly briefly address um for anyone who listened to the presentation two weeks ago or two and a half weeks ago I guess three plus weeks ago um uh
regarding the change uh we had I had proposed sharing uh uh director with Hwood public schools and um since then we had learned about um some budget reductions that Okamus public schools
was looking at and um they already have a director through SEC who's been with them for three years. So when we learned about their uh potential reductions to that position, uh they were also either looking to share or reduce. And so
because uh Okamus um shares Meridian Township Police Department um with HLlett as their primary responders and while we have Donley Elementary in this building in Meridian Township, most of our buildings are in the city of East Lancing. Uh it made some sense to um
reconfigure uh the partnership a little bit. So, I know that Okamus and Hlett uh took to their boards uh last week a proposal to share uh the consultant and um with the funding we received, we are in a position to be able to do it on our
own and have a person exclusively to East Lancing. So, that's why that changed and that's why the proposal is a little different than what I presented at our last board meeting. >> Thank you for that update. Any questions? >> No, I'm actually um
It decreases my anxiety around this um that it's solely assigned to us um because of the differences in how we have dealt with safety and security um you know in the last many years. Um
and so I I will support this. Um I just you know the the it makes me a little nervous just having you know, ex FBI or ex um police officers. Um but I know they're not
directly managing students and that's what I I why I can support this. They will be working with our people that are already working with students. >> I appreciate that perspective and I think I agree that you know like we have these
funds that we're able to use for this purpose and it seems appropriate. So, you know, I agree with you about the um it actually, you know, being potentially like a a positive that we would have sole control over, you know,
the selection of who this person will be. It can be completely in alignment with our um values and you know, like the the community that we're trying to build here. um for all of those reasons, Kath. And um we had a conversation in our last board
meeting about like our immediate thoughts goes to one particular interpretation of what security safety means, but how much bigger than that the job really is. If anything, this week um the situation that we have been working
through with um the student who passed away is another place where this person could have, you know, potentially played a role in helping to um you know, navigate all of the different complex systems and the different schools that are involved and all of the, you know, our our
administrative staff does a really great job of coordinating and we on the board get a a small glimpse into um all of the coordination that goes into the multitude of things that happen on a daily basis and we certainly don't see all of it thankfully, but we see enough
of it to know that it's a lot. Um, and so to know that there would be another person on the team who really can dial in um to helping manage all of that and the coordination um and all of the things that we have responsibility for feels appropriate. Um I I though really
hope we can find the right person with the right skill set um to be a good fit. >> Agreed. Thank you. >> Hearing any other discussion, uh, we'll move for a vote. All in favor? >> Any opposed?
Motion passes. Um, may I get a motion for the 2026 2027 original budget? I move that the board of education adopt the 202627 original budget resolution for the general fund is presented on pages five and six of the budget book.
>> Second move by trustee, seconded by trustee Taiaki. Any discussion? >> Not hearing any. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Can I get a
motion on food service fund? I move the board of education adopt the 202627 original budget resolution for the fruit service fund is presented on page seven of the budget book. >> Second move by trustee seconded by trustee
Torres. Um any discussion hearing any all in favor? >> I any opposed? Motion passes and a motion for student school activity fund. I will move that the board of education adopt a 202627 original budget
resolution for the student school activity fund as presented on page eight of the budget vote. >> Second by trustee seconded by trusty Tiki. Any question any discussion? Not hearing any. All in favor?
>> I any opposed? Motion. We will move to committee reports. Um academic and tech. >> Uh we have not met um but I just want to express appreciation to Dr. Dobson and
dire and uh Mr. Clasty for their continuing work um over the summer about academic and technology use. Um the committee may not be meeting until August, but the work is continuing. I look forward to diving back in later
this summer. >> Facilities um we have not met and They're finalizing um a meeting I believe in August finance. >> Uh we have not met since our last
meeting and we meet August 3rd, fourth, fifth, that first Monday in August. >> Take your pick. Comment each day. You'll find them one of those days. >> Um >> I looked at it right before I left the
house and I meant to write it down, but Third. Monday's the third. >> Third. >> Thank you. >> Intergovernmental relations. >> Nothing to report. >> Personnel. >> Uh, no report.
>> Policy. >> Uh, we meet in um again I looked at this the 15th >> 13th 13th. Um, and we will be discussing the true
policy updates. So, please make sure everyone is up to date. >> I guess that's just you, Terra. >> I'm excited. >> That was July 13. >> Yes. >> And isa, nothing to report.
>> All right. Um our next regular scheduled meeting of the board of education is July 13th um 2026. And do we have any other announcements from anyone? All right, we will adjourn at 7:41.
Thanks everyone.