Okay, I think we will get started. Sit >> We'll call to order at 706. >> Can we get a roll call, please? >> Trusty Lions >> here. Trusty Ferris Highland >> here. >> Trusty Edel
>> here. Trusty Martin >> here. >> Trusty Chambers >> present. >> Um, Trustee Torres is absent. Trustee Taki >> here. >> Um, Student Representative Daga >> here. >> Student Representative Mega >> here.
>> And Superintendent Leo >> here. >> Thank you. Uh, Trusty Martin, can I have you read the mission statement, please? >> Sure. The mission statement for East Lancing Public Schools is nurturing each child, educating all students, building world citizens.
>> Thank you. Can I get approval of agenda? >> I move that the board of education approve the agenda for the February 23rd, 2026 regular meeting as presented. >> Second. >> All right. Got a motion by Trusty Taiki,
seconded by Trustee Edel. All in favor? All right. >> And approval of amendments. If I can get a motion. >> I move that the board of education approve the minutes of the following regular meeting as presented. February 9th, 2026 regular meeting.
>> Second. >> Motion by Trustee Ferris Highland, seconded by Trustee Edel. All in favor? >> I. >> All right, that is passed. Um, Trusty Martin, do we have any recognition?
>> Oh, do we ever have recognition? I have a few things today. Whoa. It's not a spill. Just knocked over it. >> Um, so I have a few things here. I'll try to get read them off. Uh, first off, we'd like to recognize uh two winners
from the Michigan Council for Exceptional Children. They had a poster and pros competition and there were two winners from East Lancing Public Schools. Uh the poster winner was Harvey
Jones and the prose winner is Maricella Montes. So congratulations to those students. Uh we also have um Lancing State Journal uh athlete of
the week is Talia Andrews, a gymnast from East Lancing High School. So congratulations to Miss Andrews and um and that's a great honor. The the Lansancy State Journal's high school
athlete of the week. We also had a middle school uh science olympiad competition last weekend in Holt and we had uh McDonald Middle School. This was a competition from all over the state. They had seven
top 10 finishers and that means seven teams finished in the top 10. And I'll read off their names quickly. the uh in the hovercraft competition, we had ninth place winners Apollo Weller and Gabrielle Jablonsky. Uh in the
entomology competition, a seventh place team of Maline Keane and Eloise Heden. In the water quality competition, sixth place, Maline Keane and Ashley Barger in the in the write it do it
competition. Sixth place team, Shaun Day and Eloise Heden. In the helicopter competition, we had a fifth place team, uh, McKinley Belchure and Liam Sykes McLaclin. Also in the helicopter competition, we had a
second place team, Anderson Maher and Miles Polish. And in the rocks and minerals competition, we had a first place team, Maline Keane and Miles Pachuk. So, congratulations to those middle school students.
>> Great. That's awesome. Um, any other uh recognition from anyone? >> Awesome. I always love to hear all the wonderful things our students are doing. So, thank you for that. Um, student representative reports. Hi everyone. We hope you all had a good
weekend. So there's not that much going on at the moment. So this week we're going to keep our little brief shortish. >> So we wanted to start off with talking about like the NHS blood drive. So that was last Wednesday. Um we usually have like a lot of advertising for it. So
it's always like really good turnout. And I'm not exactly sure how many like lives were saved so like specifically, but I know we had like I think it was like almost like like maybe 70 or 80 students participating. And like each blood donation saves three lives. So you can do the math. I can't do it in my
head, but >> yeah. So it's a it's it was really good. It was really successful. Um yeah, and also kind of on that like students in NHS who donated blood um got I think an hour maybe of volunteering. So that was pretty cool too. >> Plus like we had lots of people helping
out with the blood drive who also got volunteer hours. >> Um so a lot of seniors well kind of moving on. A lot of seniors are committing so to college. I guess we're we just wanted to touch a little bit on like there's like an Instagram page which like kind of more people are
committing I guess what is what we're trying to say. So that's pretty cool. Um it's kind of that season I guess. And then moving on to the musical. >> Yeah. So we wanted to just basically say that it's pretty much in full swing. So I think they're having like their rehearsals every day which they've already had pretty much for like since
December but it's definitely like getting longer. It's kind of like when they're wrapping things up. And I know our pit just started like rehearsing which we're both in pit so that's super exciting too. >> And um we also had like continuing on like music-wise. Um senior solo was last
Thursday. So we had like 19 seniors who showcased like a performance with either like the jazz band or the orchestra and we also had a bunch of students who were in those bands performing in like eight different pieces. So >> we were both >> Yeah. It was a very musicheavy like past week.
Um, also kind of touching on the music this week, um, the two like lower bands, so like concert band and symphonic band are going to festival, which is sort of like it's almost like a competition, but you don't really like win. You just go and then you play before a judge and they give you like some feedback and
it's just a good way for, you know, bands to improve because they, you know, just hear like what's, you know, what they're doing well and what they need to improve on. And then also we wanted to shout out uh Maya Teranova, a wrestler who made it to states for wrestling. So
yeah, I think she was the only one. So that's pretty cool. >> Yes. >> And then lastly, we wanted to talk about how like East Lancing is officially first in our conference for basketball. >> So we're moving forward and it's definitely going to end up like last year. We're going to have lots of hope. And then uh we also wanted to quickly touch on like their halftimes because
the dance team has been performing at all of them. So, they got their little like bit of showtime there. And then >> their senior night, I think, on Friday. >> Yeah, they also had their senior night. And then on top of that, we have a new club which is called I think it's Stomp and Shake or Stomp and Cheer or something like that. It's kind of like a sideline cheer. And they've also had
their first debut kind of in like the varsity basketball games. So, a lot of exciting stuff happening at those. And I think that's it. Yeah. Thanks. >> Thank you guys. Any questions? >> Thank you so much. >> No. Okay. >> Thank you.
All right, we will move along to our superintendent report. Superintendent Lego. >> All right, thank you. Um, you don't have a copy in front of you tonight because we moved everything to the new building today. And so when I came back to finish this in my office at the high school,
our copers were gone. So I hit copy and print and um it printed over at the new place. So that's all right. I'm going to read it and it goes out to everybody in the community tomorrow anyway. So um yeah. So, first of all, tomorrow night right here in this location is kindergarten and prek information night.
Uh, our annual kindergarten and prek information night will be held February 24th at McDonald Middle School from 5:30 to 6:30. Bring your newest little Trojan to receive their future EL graduate t-shirt and photo opportunity. Non-resident families are welcome to
attend as well. And just to for those of you out there, there are our little future Trojan t-shirts. Okay, future EL graduate t-shirts. do not recall. >> Yes. So, those will be available for everybody coming tomorrow night and we'll have a little backdrop for families to take their photos. Um, our
schedule's just a little bit different this year. Um, usually we do the presentation in this auditorium right away at 6:00 and then everyone goes out to the um foyer and goes to all the different tables and uh they honestly they wait in line for a long time. So,
what we're trying a little bit differently this year is opening up the tables at 6 o or at 5:30. So, we'll have the tables open from 5:30 to 6:00 for people who either want to um come at 5:30 and do their tables first and then come in here for the presentation at 6:00 or if they have done the
presentation before and just want to stop by the tables and, you know, register and get their t-shirt but maybe don't want to see the presentation for a second or third time even though we've updated it a little bit this year. Um, and then after the presentation, which is only about 10 to 15 minutes long, um, the tables will be open again for folks
afterwards. So trying to split it into a little before the presentation and a little after just to decrease the time that they'll be waiting in line. Um the elementary buildings will each have a table along with our prek um schools of choice, transportation, food service,
English learners before and after care. So a lot of other opportunities for families who may need to line up um other services or supports as well. And uh that's about it for kindergarten information night. And if for folks who can't make it, there will be information out right afterwards about how to
register on our website. So keep an eye out for that. Our central administration move is this week. It started today. Um so just kind of reiterating one more time. I know this was in the notes last time. Um but the following departments are moving over to the new central
administration building. So, um, my office, assistant superintendent, the business department, human resources, special education and equity and social justice, our technology department will remain at East Lancing High School along with operations and maintenance. uh new
building address which is on your new pen tonight uh 6160 Tower Avenue and we will confidently be able to hold uh the March 9th meeting over in our new building and there will be additional parking available across the street at
the Tower Heart Baptist Church. Um a little bit on ELPS and Lifeouch. I've had a few inquiries so I just want to um put this out there for everyone to be aware of. We are pausing all activities with Life Touch photography in light of recent allegations. Last Monday, I
actually checked with all of the principles in the building and they said they didn't have any spring um activities or events scheduled with Life Touch. So, um there wasn't anything we had to cancel, but if anything that does still come up, um I've notified everybody, we are pausing currently.
We're actively reviewing the available factual information and we'll determine our future relationship with this business after a thorough evaluation of all relevant facts. And once that decision is made, we will communicate future plans with all of our stakeholders. Uh for now, we're pausing. There's a lot of information out there.
So, just sifting through um what's accurate and uh making sure we make a well-informed decision moving forward. And finally, a little bit about summer 2026 programming. We've been very fortunate to have grant funding for the past five years, really since COVID, to
operate a very our very robust summer learning programs. Uh the district's grant funding for summer school is no longer available. And so we will need to prioritize our summer programming. We'll be communicating our summer learning opportunities in the near future and we'll prioritize our offerings as
follows. So number one um is extended school year ESY programming for students who qualify through their IEP. That's um a requirement. So, that of course goes at the top. Um, high school credit recovery, um, middle school 101 and high school 101, which are are transition
programs, kind of short-term transition programs for incoming sixth and 9th grade students, and then elementary summer learning camps. So, we will evaluate first the cost of each of those, what money we can pull for those, and be informing folks um shortly and soon about what offerings we'll have
available for summer 2026. And um, important dates there for our calendar. I kind of ran the rest of the days through the end of the year. Um March 26 is a half a day for students. This is just the district. It doesn't include like the half day for elementary conferences or the finals days for the
high school. Those get communicated really by the buildings. Um then spring break March 27th through April 5th. We have one more staff professional learning day this year, April 24th where there are no school for students. Monday, May 25th, Memorial Day. And our
last day of school, which is a half day, is June 5th. And that is all I have today, but happy to take questions or talk about any other topics I didn't cover. >> Any questions, comments? Um, that's so cool. The shirts. Um
>> we usually give out just so the reason why we switch we usually give out um like different kinds of welcome to kindergarten books >> and but because of our um Kowanis provided book vending machines at each of the elementary schools the principles thought it'd be really cool part of roundup when they come to the building
to go with a token put it in the book vending machine and get their book that way and pick out their book that way. So we're moving the books to Roundup. So, we still wanted to have something they could take home for um for info night. So, that's why we'll have these available and then they'll get their
books at Round Up through the vending machines. >> Awesome. Perfect. >> Thank you for that report. >> You're welcome. >> Um we will move on to our public hearing. Um this is opening of a public hearing. Um it's a recommendation of the
sex education advisory board to approve the adoption of the revised 2025 Michigan model. uh HIV and other STI's unit to replace the 2010 2012 version of seventh and eighth grades. And so we
have um Ann Scott here. Um yep, she's already up here and um she'll give us some comments and then we'll have a public comment and then we can uh go from there. So >> great. >> Thank you for joining us today. >> Yeah, thank you for having me again and hopefully this is pretty short and sweet
this time. So, um, I think when I last visited you, we were updating our high school curriculum. Um, we were still, um, at that point in time, we knew that there were some updates coming to the middle school, uh, Michigan model for health curriculum. So, that's the update that we're talking about today. So, um,
essentially, we've been using, um, the Michigan model, uh, growing up and staying healthy was sort of the standalone HIV prevention and sexual health curriculum. Um last year the department of ed um did some updates to its health education standards and also
did some updates to the Michigan model for health. So they basically consolidated all of that into their core health curriculum. And so as a result of that um the updated Michigan model HIV and other STI um other STI's unit is
including three lessons that we currently already use. So there's a lesson on HIV and AIDS um HIV and other STI to evaluate exposures and finding help and information about HIV and STI. Um the other lessons that we previously
had in that content have been shifted to the social emotional learning units. So essentially what we're um proposing or coming from the sex education advisory board that did a review of all of those lessons and and considered the content is that we do want to update the
curriculum and use the digital format and the more current information that is in the updated lessons around HIV and STI. Um and so really this isn't a pretty dramatic shift. We're still using the Michigan model. We're just reducing it. It'll be reduced to those three core
lessons. Um, and those are three lessons that are familiar, but all of the sort of statistics and sort of the guidance on prevention, um, treatment and screening will be more current than what's currently in our curriculum today. So, that's essentially what we're
proposing. So, not a radical change. Um, but any questions that you have about that, there should be on the memo in your packet. It'll give you an overview of what we currently have and then what's um proposed. >> So at the middle school level, we're not
talking pregnancy prevention yet. >> So um so no, great question. So in sixth grade, yes. So in sixth grade, we have a more comprehensive sexual health education. So we do talk about pregnancy prevention and STI prevention, HIV in sixth grade. Seventh and eighth grade is
um the instruction occurs in our science classrooms. And so our science teachers are more um according to state law, they can teach HIV and STI. They don't have the health certification to do the broader spectrum. So then we pick that back up in 9th through 12th.
>> And in sixth grade, who's teaching the pregnancy prevention? Is that in >> That's in health class, PE health. Any other questions? >> Great. >> All right. Thank you so much for that information. >> Absolutely.
>> Um and so this is a opening uh public hearing. So, do we have any public comment? No public comment. And so we will close public comment and we will uh go to public comments.
So this is the opportunity to address the board. Speakers are to confine the remarks to five minutes. Um if a speaker requires more than five minutes after all other persons who have requested to speak during this part of the meeting have spoken, that speaker will be allowed additional time. the
superintendent or other district staff may comment to clear up or avoid significant misunderstandings. And so we have um >> Chelsea Wheeler. >> Chelsea Wheeler. Yes. >> It was really intimidating to come up here on the stage.
>> I was going to wing it, but I wrote something on my phone, so I didn't just totally go rogue here. So, I um wear many hats in East Lancing, but tonight I'm wearing my teacher and unified champion schools coordinator hat. Um I'm here tonight to share my
gratitude and appreciation with the district, the staff at Red Seedar, the participants, the families, and the donors who participated in our Polar Plunge on February 11th. So, we were one of a few schools throughout the state that was selected to host a cool schools polar plunge that supports the Michigan
Special Olympics and unified champion schools. If you are unfamiliar with that, it's an event that brings a large plunger stir, as it's called, to the school and then they bring a tanker full of cold cold water. They fill the plunger and then the registers
registered participants get to jump into it. So, we had over 60 jumpers and we raised over $8,000 to support Michigan Special Olympics. >> It was an incredible experience with students and staff from several buildings jumping. Our youngest jumper was a student in the prek program.
jumped right to the divers. It was great. Then we had many students and staff jump as well. I was privileged enough to get to jump right after a few of my own students and to jump with my own two children um who are students here in East Lancing and proud supporters and partners with unified sports. So, I just wanted to share my
appreciation for all the help and support that the staff at Red Seedar gave me to host and do all of our unified events as well as from the district office and all other schools that came to participate. So, we want to thank all those that were involved in jumping, supporting, donating, even just
spectating for helping us have this dream become a reality. We're excited for the opportunity to host again in the future and have even more support for unified schools in Michigan Special Olympics. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Awesome. That's awesome. Thank you so much for all your work on that. >> Yeah, Chelsea, I think, yeah, we really
owe you a thank you because you did a lot of work to set this up. I know you're behind the wall right now. Um, she can can still hear. Okay. And uh yes, I um I' I'd like to say that had I not been at AASA in Nashville, I
might have jumped. Um I'm sure that >> may maybe next time. Yes, maybe next time. I happen to be out of town, but maybe next time. Um big maybe. We'll see. But thank you for doing that. That's awesome. >> Yeah, for sure. Events like that really
only work when they have a champion behind them. So great. Thank you for doing that. >> All right, we will uh move to board discussion. Um not I haven't heard of any board discussion, but wanted to bring it up. Make sure if anyone has
anything they would like to discuss, going once, going twice. All right. Um we will go to action items. Um can I get a motion for fiber in infrastructure upgrade? I move the board of education approve
the contract with Fiberlink to replace a section of the fiberwide area network in the amount of $139,02625. >> Second. >> All right, we got a motion by Trustee uh Martin. Um seconded by Trustee Edel. Any
discussion on um the fiber infrastructure? All in favor? >> I fiber infrastructure upgrade passes. Um, we'll move to update uh Can I get a motion for update to policy 21103,
school district boundaries? >> I move that the board of education approve the revisions to policy 21103 school district boundaries as presented. >> Second. Um have a motion by uh Trustee Edel,
seconded by Trusty Ferris Highland. Any discussion? >> I want to give a little clarification to this one just because title-wise that I'm I'm surprised we don't have 100 people in the audience or they would have seen the title on changing school district boundaries. All it is is a
change of address for the central admin building. It's just listed in this policy that is called school district boundaries. No true boundaries have been changed, just the address of the central administration office. >> Thank you for that. Trust uh
Superintendent Leo, I always want to call you trustee. Um all in favor? >> I. >> All right. Um that has passed. We'll move to a motion for award bids for safety, security, and accessibility bond
bid package number two, high school landscape rebid. >> I move that the board of education award the following bids related to the high school edition as follows. Category 32, landscaping outdoor expressions in the amount of $23,475.
>> Second. >> Motion by Trustee Edel, seconded by Trustee Taiki. any um discussion on this? >> This one's coming forward now on its own because we didn't get any bids when it went out in the bid package number two.
So, we had to rebid and we got uh three, I think. And this was uh >> there was like seven, >> including the one for 200,000. >> Oh, yeah. Could be. I just went I didn't I saw Okay. All right. Um, all in favor?
>> I. >> Any opposed? All right. Motion passes. Um, can I get a motion for IRC section 127 plan? >> I move that the board of education adopt the updated section 127 plan of the Internal Revenue Code as presented.
>> Second. >> Motion um by Trustee Ferris Highland, seconded by uh Trustee Zel. Any discussion? >> I think I mentioned this in my um comments from uh finance committee last
time. This is just a a requirement from the Internet Revenue Service. So that if in a contract there is a um uh language that allows for reimbursement for educational expenses,
this uh aligns us so that it becomes not taxable. All right. Um, all in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. >> And can I get a motion for authorized check signers?
>> I move the board of education authorize the following positions to be authorized check signers. The board of education treasurer, the superintendent, and the director of finance. >> Second.
I got a motion by Trustee Edel sec or trusty Martin. Seconded by Trusty Edel. Um any discussion on this. It's pretty self-explanatory. We do this every year. Um so all in favor
>> I I Any opposed? >> All right. Motion passes. Uh can I get a a motion for first budget revision for 202526? I move the board of education adopt the 202526 first budget revision resolution for the general fund as presented on
pages five and six of the budget book. >> Second motion by trustee, seconded by trustee Taiki. Any discussion? All right. All in favor? >> Any opposed?
>> Motion passes. I get a motion for food service fund. >> I move that the board of education adopt the 202526 first budget revision resolution for the food service fund as presented on page seven of the budget book. >> Second
motion um by Trustee Taigaki, seconded by Trustee Torres. Any discussion on this? Um, once again, how close are we to needing to spend down the fund balance on that?
>> Fund like $5,000 um for the um you have to have three months. You can't have more than three months in there. And at the end of the audit, it was like less than $5,000. And with this budget revision, we are actually right in line where we need to be. So, we don't have any spend down.
>> Okay. Awesome. Thank you. >> Perfect. >> All in favor? I >> I any opposed? >> Motion passes. And can I get a motion for student school activity fund? I move that the board of education adopt the
202526 first budget revision resolution for the student school activity fund as presented on page eight of the budget book. >> Second. >> And a motion by trustee Ferris Highland, seconded by Trustee Martin. Any
discussion on this? All right. Can I uh All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Motion has passed. All right. We will move to our committee reports. Um academic and tech. Trustee
Chambers. >> We have not met, but I was just looking it up. Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 9th at 10:30. Um and for this committee, we'll still be meeting in the hub since uh we have students on the committee. So that's
where we'll be. >> Thank you. Uh facilities trustee Ferris Highland. >> No report. >> Finance committee trustee. >> No report. Are we on the second? >> Yeah.
>> March 2nd at 100 p.m. And will we be able to on the second get into the new building? >> Okay. And we'll have a space. Okay. So, there we go. March 2nd, 1 p.m. in the new building. >> Awesome. Um, intergovernmental
relations, uh, Trustee, uh, Torres, >> March 10th at 11 a.m. and we'll be at the new building as well. >> Perfect. >> 6160 Tower. >> 6160 Tower.
>> Uh, personnel committee, Trusty Martin. Find it. >> I lose the pen. >> No, no report from the personnel committee. >> Policy committee. >> No report. Meeting March 2nd at 10:30 in the new building.
>> And ISO. >> Uh, no report. We'll be meeting this upcoming Wednesday morning. >> All right. Our announcements. The next regular scheduled meeting of the board of education is March 9th, 2026. Then we will be in the new building. Woohoo. Any
other announcements? >> Perfect.