All right, we will get started at 7:01. Feels dangerous. I know. Mine is too. Can uh we get a call to order, please. You just did that. Roll call. I'm sorry.
Okay. Mr. Martin absent. Dr. Lions here. Dr. Edel here. Miss Ferris Highland here. Dr. Chambers present. Dr. Torres here. Uh, Miss Taki here.
And Miss Leo here. Thank you. Uh, Trusty Tokaki, can you read our mission statement, please? Yes. Our mission statement is nurturing each child, educating all students, and building world citizens.
Thank you. Uh, can I get approval of agenda? I move to approve the agenda for the August 11th, 2025 regular meeting as presented. Second. All right. That was moved by Trusty Edo,
second by Trustee Torres. All in favor? I. All right. Motion approved. Can I uh approval of minutes? Can I get a motion for approval of minutes? I move that the board of education approve the following minutes as
presented. the July 4th, 2025 regular meeting and the July I'm sorry, July 14th, 2025 regular meeting and July 14th, 2025 closed session. Second. All right, that was moved by Trustee Taiki and seconded by Trustee Chambers.
All in favor? I. All right, motion approved. Um, recognition. Trusty Ferris Highland. Do we have any recognition? None tonight. Hopefully the next one. All right. Any recognition from anyone else? All right, perfect.
We'll move on to superintendent's report. Turn it over to you. Thank you. I'm going to start with um first day of school coming up Monday, August 25th, half day for all students this year, including middle school and high school, which is a change from past years. Um a
little bit about the 2526 school year candle or calendar. While the district and the East Lancing Education Association continue to bargain in good faith to establish a new contract, uh the two parties have worked together to sign a letter of agreement for the first
semester for the 2526 school year calendar. Um the first day of school, as I mentioned, is the 25th, which is a half day, and we'll follow the tenative calendar that's been previously released. We'll send out a copy of it tomorrow with the um superintendent report as well for everybody. Um but we
do have a letter of agreement signed for the sum first semester of that calendar while we continue to um bargain that contract. Um just a reminder, we'll be here in this location for board meetings um until probably uh November sometime.
We'll keep everybody updated um when we h when we move to uh the new building for these meetings. Uh a little bit about McDonald Middle School athletics. Uh, beginning this fall, East Lancing Public Schools and McDonald Middle School will be operating the middle school athletic program that's been run by the city of East Lancing for many
years. Uh, Mr. Melvin White, our middle school dean of students, has been hired as the middle school athletics coordinator. And the fall offerings for middle school include cross country and volleyball. Participation information will be coming from McDonald Middle School andor final forms. So, watch your
email for details. also about um athletic participation fees. The and and a letter a more detailed letter went out about this uh Friday. Um since CO 19, the East Lancing Board of Education has taken action to
pause participation fees for high school student athletes in an effort to re-engage students and promote wellness post pandemic. Due to an influx of one-time federal funds to support students during COVID times, the district was able to cover student participation fees. Those funds have all
been spent as required by law. We've established the following athletic participation fees for our student athletes for 2025-26. East Lancing High School, $75 per sport. Um McDonald Middle School, $50 per sport. Their seasons and uh length of
seasons are shorter. Um however, we understand that every family's financial situation is unique. If you are in a position to contribute the full fee, we appreciate your support in helping us sustain highquality athletic programming. If you're unable to contribute the full amount at this time,
please know that we are committed to making athletics accessible to all students. No one will be excluded from participation due to financial constraints and no explanation is necessary. So, we have four options for families. Um, you're welcome to number one, pay the full $75 or $50 fee for
your student athlete. two, contribute a smaller amount that feels manageable for your family. Three, pay none of the particip participation fee at this time. Or four, make an additional donation to help cover the cost for another student. Our goal is to meet families where they
are while continuing to provide high-quality athletic experiences for all of our student athletes. As the district's financial status may change from year to year, this approach is a one-year pilot program that will evaluate at the end of 2526. Uh more information and payment
contribution options will be coming from your students building and/or final forms in the next week. Uh a little bit on the status of free breakfast and lunches. To this date, the Michigan legislature has not passed a state budget for fiscal year 2526.
This includes no budget for K12 schools. Current funding for the Michigan school meals program will expire September 30th, 2025. and ELPS will continue to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students through this date. If the legislature renews funding for the
school meals program for 2526, free school meals will continue beyond September. If not, we will notify families of any changes with as much notice as we are provided. So, more information on that to come, but we'll start the year with free breakfast and
lunch at least through September 30th. And then a few important dates. Thursday, August 21st is our first day of professional learning for staff and elementary back to school night from 5 to 6:00 p.m. Uh Monday, August 25th is the first day for students half day.
Friday the 29th and Monday, September 1st, there is no school due till the Labor Day holiday weekend. And Friday, September 26th is our first staff professional learning Friday, which means no school for students. Lots of information in this week's updates. Um
but happy to take any board questions. Thank you, Superintendent. Um Lego, uh any questions from the board? Um in regards to free breakfast and lunch after September 30th, free and reduced lunch, will they be
available for those in the past who completed the forms for free and qualified through that federal program? Okay. Yes. Yes, absolutely. So once we know better the status of that, we'll get information out to everybody. But yes, that is absolutely true and any schools that qualified under the community ele
eligibility provision would still be eligible for free uh lunches and breakfast as well for the entire school. Yes. Okay. And we had two school. I'll have to look it up. It's been a few years since we've done it, so I don't want to speak out, which I don't want to be inaccurate if that um if the
community eligibility um qualification for our buildings have changed. So, let me check into that to see who that would which ones would qualify current year if that's the case. Thank you. Yes, thanks for asking. Any other questions? All right.
All right. Thank you, Superintendent Lego. Um, we'll move to our consent agenda. Um, can I get a motion? I move that the board of education approve the consent agenda to include the following items. New hires hiring of
Schwan Rue Ni Holly Brown. Uh 1.0 FTE English language learner teacher at Red Cedar Elementary at MAEP 5 effective August 21st 2025. Hiring of Jennifer Harvey 050 FTEE English language learner
teacher at Glen Karen Elementary at MAEP 3 effective August 21st 2025. hiring of Jasmine Salmon uh Salmon as a conditional hireer uh pending obtainment of certification 1.0 FTE school social worker at East Lancing High School at
MATEP 11 effective a August 21st 2025. The individual will be paid a daily rate of $250 until certification is received. Hiring of Rachel Sherman as a conditional hire pending obtainment of certification 1.0 know FTE resource room
teacher at McDonald Middle School, excuse me, at BA step 3 effective August 21st, 2025. The individual will be paid a daily rate of $250 until certification is received. All right. Um, there's no discussion on
this, so uh, we can go in. I will second it. Yeah. Sorry, I I thought I heard a second. Oh, was there one? Did you say it? Did I miss it? No. Second. Yes. Second. All right. Moved by Trustee Edel and second by Trusty Taiaki. And there's no
uh discussion on this. So move to a vote. So all in favor? I. Any abstensions? All right. Uh motion passes unanimously. So uh congratulations. I know we have Holly here. And do we have Oh, and
Jennifer Harvey. Jennifer Harvey. Well, congratulations. I would say come on up to the microphone if you would like to, but I know, you know, you don't have to though. But we just would like to say congratulations.
It's a little intimidating walking up here and having to speak on the stage. All right. Um, we will now move into public comment. As uh Mrs. court is uh grabbing those uh comment sheets. I will read this. Uh
public comment is the opportunity to address the board. Speakers are to confine the remarks to five minutes. 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. All right. All right. Um, our first, uh, public comment is Tim Acres on compensation
ELA um contract. Well, at least it went through. It went through, you know, but I didn't connect. Good evening. Um, first I wanted to say um after looking over the TA that was brought to us um obviously a lot of hard work went into it and there's some very
nice elements um some nice benefits for the teachers. Uh but there's one sticking point that I think may have swayed the vote to make it a negative and I want to make sure that I bring that to your attention so it can be addressed before the next round of voting. Um, it has taken me 18 years to
move 13 steps on the pay scale. And those five steps that I've lost, bits and pieces here, pay freezes, etc., etc., have cost me over $100,000 in lifetime earnings, which is substantial. Um, last year I finally got to the top
of the pay scale. and to see that all I stand to get next year was a percent and a half, which comes out to just around $1,400, which after taxes comes out to about $27 a week. Um, to do that to your senior teachers, that's why the vote
went the way it went to a to a large degree. Um, to see that everyone, administrators included, at least got 3% in order to cover inflation. A point and a half doesn't cover inflation, nor will it cover increases in healthcare premiums. Now, I realize it doesn't have
to be on the salary schedule, but I've negotiated about 10 contracts in this district, and we've received similar compensation packages to this one when we had less than half of our current fund balance. So, with the current fund balance in place, I don't see why we
can't come up with a little something for the teachers that are on the higher end of the scale. um even if it's 3% just to cover inflation. Our last contract, we did get increases, but inflation at the time was eight or nine%. So, we we keep falling behind in
earning power and especially for those of us who have been here long enough to have been through pay freezes and partial steps and no percentages, it adds up after a while. So, with a I think it was maybe a 12 vote difference, I think you might be able to convince some senior teachers to vote in favor if
they have compensation that's a bit more fair, quite frankly. Thanks very much. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Eagers. Um, next we have uh Kristen Vitner on um Ask Me. Hello. Uh, my name is Kristen Fentner
and I'm representing ASME today. Um, good evening members of the board, Superintendent Leo and administrators. On behalf of ASME, I'd like to thank the administration for the cooperation and respectful way we worked together during our recent contract negotiations. We
even found a couple times to laugh together, which was very appreciated. The end result is a fair contract that our members are happy with, and I believe it reflects the district's commitment to valuing the important work we do every day. I would also like to take a moment to stand in solidarity
with our colleagues in the teachers union. While our negotiations reached a positive conclusion, we recognize that theirs is still ongoing and their membership recently voted down the proposed contract. We know how difficult this process can be and we stand behind them as they continue working toward an
agreement that they feel meets their needs. We are all here for the same reason, to serve students and strengthen our schools. When one group of educators or staff succeeds, it benefits us all. And then just as a side note, I want to say I'm very upset that Trusty Martin isn't here today because I always like
to dazzle him with knowing exactly how many students are at the high school. So, I just want to go on record saying it's 1,288. Thank you so much. have a great day. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next up, we have Ross Gorman.
Hello everyone. My name is Ross Gorbin. I'm the president of the ELEA, East Lancing Teachers Association. Um, I usually have much more thoroughly prepared remarks, so bear with me a bit today, but um, I am following Kristen and representing the ELA after our
recent tentative agreement failed. And so I feel, um, that I have a few obligations. First off, I do want to thank administration and my negotiation team for showing up uh, at these meetings over the last I mean, it took six months just about. Uh, and so that was a lot of hours and we've got more
work yet to do, but I am optimistic about the direction of that work. Now, I need to share some of the feelings of my membership. Some of those members are here and have spoken and will continue to speak. Um, but largely we have received feedback uh that the tent
tentative agreement was voted down due to salary concerns. Uh, there are other concerns uh that were brought up, but we are making good progress already bargaining a new tentative agreement. So, I don't want to get into all of the weeds of those details. Uh, but I do want to talk a little bit on the piece
that is constantly brought up about administrative raises, about teacher compensation because there is some nuance that can be brought to light and I want to make sure that people understand these things. Um, then I want to talk a little bit about my concerns that I've brought to the board in the past. So, uh, there's been a lot of talk
about administrative raises. My understanding is that these have been about 3% per year for our administrators across the board. our teachers were offered about a 1% raise on the pay scale. So what that means is that uh year overyear a firstear teacher or a
last year teacher at the end of the pay scale will receive 1% more. However, teachers who are on that pay scale who are advancing up the pay scale getting a year of seniority will receive a step which is about four to 5% compensation. My concern in the long run is that this
leaves teachers falling behind as a profession. Right? If you increase salary of administrators 3%, teachers 1%. The concerns I'm hearing is that that leads to a differential over time right in the professions. Now, our district's fund balance is robust, but
we have a significant deficit, right? And my understanding of this deficit is that if we add too much to it, it could lead to concerns over FTE, right? And what does it mean for our our teachers or our district if uh we find ourselves in a significant budgetary hole? Uh, but
allow my allow me to do a little bit of an I told you so because I was here a year ago tomorrow and I talked about administrative raises and bonuses and I said that this would have to be paid for somewhere, right? We did not have per pupil funding increases those last two years. While our budget is up in the air
in Lancing, it looks like we will receive per pupil funding increases. So, please consider these budgetary concerns carefully. Please consern uh consider the concerns of my membership carefully. But do know that uh our negotiation team is working in good faith and that we've
made significant progress and we are enthusiastic about what we will hopefully be able to present to membership soon. Uh part of that as Superintendent Leo has said is a district calendar that has been rolled out so that families can be secure knowing that their teachers and uh
school staff are going to be ready to educate kids on the first day of school. So thank you for your time. If you have any questions, I encourage you to reach out and be happy to answer them. Thank you very much. Um, my last form I have up here is Adam Orange um, speaking
on ELA support. And if you have uh, if anyone else would like to give public comment, there are blue forms back there and you can uh, bring them up. I still feel like a spring chicken. I'm surprised I did that. Um
I did write that I'm originally here to talk on behalf of the ELA, but um it would um behoove me to also first uh thank the board again for approving the byianual German exchange trip here. Filter and I came back a couple of weeks
ago. We had a wonderful group of students and host families and um are grateful for the support and the interest in intercultural and linguistic adventures um and the robust offerings that we have in our world language department. And we are excited to have
our reciprocal visit here uh in middle to late September when our friends and colleagues from Gimnazium uh Seabold from Votzburg come. So thank you for your continued support of that. Um, I'm not going to talk about details about continued negotiations because I
don't think that's being done in good faith. So, I'd like to just uh piggyback a little bit on what Ross said as a um leader for our group. Um, I have the pleasure along with others here um tonight to uh be in on those meetings and to negotiate on behalf of our
membership and to bring them the results as best as we can that they wish that they desire, working handinand as best we can with the administration. Um, I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't just Ross from our team that others are recognizing the hard work that's being done. And I do want to thank the
teachers that came today in uh the throws of our final days of summer to show the support and to be here. It certainly doesn't go unnoticed. And um I would just uh just continue to say that we are working hard on behalf of those um who have answered our questionnaire
in light of this failure and are certainly hopeful moving forward in the coming days that we come to a compromise. And again want to thank you all for listening. Thank you very much. Um I don't think we have any more. No. All right. Uh thank
you everyone who came out for uh public comment. Um, we'll move on to our uh board discussion. Um, I don't have any items that were submitted, but do we have anyone that has any discussion that they would like to have right now?
Okay. Um, we will move to action items. If I can get a motion on action item A, June 2025 TR policy updates. Looks like me. I move that the board approve the June 2025 trun policy
updates as re as recommended excluding policies 3201A 4105B 5405 5420 and 5421 second. So I'll just follow that up to say that
those five excluded policies will uh be discussed at our next policy meeting and probably come to items of information shortly after that. they just needed a little more information before we could move those forward. But the others were fully discussed at the policy committee
and uh you saw if there were any edits made to them um in items of information and then in today's agenda packet. All right, that was moved by uh Trusty Edel, second by Chambers. Um any other
discussion or questions on this item? All right. All in favor? I I. All right. Motion passes uh unanimously. So, we will move on to uh motion uh or
action item B. Um award bids for safety, security, and accessibility bond bid package number two, high school edition. And a motion. I move that the board of education award the following bid related to the high school edition as follows. Category 6
metal panels, Eagle Enterprise 82,215. Second. All right. And that was moved by Trusty Ferris Highland, second by Trustee Edel. Um, any discussion or questions on this?
This is not the same metal panel company we've had problems. Okay. Just wanted to confirm that for the community. No. All right. Any other questions, discussion? All right. All in favor? I I.
All right. Motion passes unanimously. Move on to action item C, bid package number two, high school edition request for construction general conditions. Can I get a motion? I move that the board of education approve a budgetary change order in the amount of $225,70
to Clark Construction Company to fund construction general conditions costs associated with on-site operations for the high school edition project. Second. That was moved by Trusty Chambers, second by Trusty Taiki. Um any discussion or questions?
All right. Um, all in favor? I. Motion passes unanimously and move to action items D, hot water storage tanks. Can I get a motion? I move that the board of education award the bid for the replacement of the high school hot water storage tanks to
Hopkins Mechanical Services in the amount of $113,900. Second. Moved by Trusty Taiki, second by Trusty Edel. Any discussion or questions? I was just recently given a tour of our
hot water tanks this week on Monday by Mr. Hastings. Um, and I'm excited to approve this. All right. Okay. Go hot water tanks. I'm sure there was many much more to see other than the hot water tanks, but you
remember that. Let's just say after seeing the new elementary school systems, the high school system was like scary. But not dangerous, right? Just older. All right. Well, let's move to a vote on
this. Um, all in favor? I? Motion passes unanimously. And um action item E, updates to at will contracts. Can I get a motion? I move that the board of education
approve the contract updates for the following salaried employees. Uh uh Dorcas Brighter Schumake, dean for student success. Melvin White, dean for student success. Heather Finley, district mental health coordinator. Paul
Shanks, behavior systems an analyst. Cara Wall, payroll manager. Kaylee Stevens, instruction design specialist. Tavo uh AO, supervisor of grounds. Scott Baker Young, supervisor of accounting. And Vince Watson, supervisor of
custodians. Second. All right. Um, moved by Trustee Edo, second by Trustee Ferris Highland. Any discussion on this motion? All right. All in favor?
I. Motion passes unanimously. Um, last one. FSP contract. Can I get a motion? I move that the board of education approve the changes to the agreement between the East Lancing Board of Education and the American Federation
of State, County, and Municipal Employees, ASME, as presented. Second. All right. Moved by Trusty Ferris Highland, second by Trustee Torres. Any discussion? All right. Um, all in favor?
I. All right. Motion passes unanimously. [Applause] All right. Um, at this time we're going to move into our close session. Um, I
need to get a motion. I move that the board of education uh go into close session pursuant to section 8 C of the Open Meetings Act related to collective bargaining. Second. Moved by Trustee Chamber, second by
Trustee Edsaw. Um, we need to get a roll call vote. Trusty Lions, yes. Trusty Edel, yes. Trusty Ferris Highland, yes. Trusty Chambers, yes. Trusty Torres, yes.
And trustee Miss Taki, yes. All right, we're back in session. No. God knows like all the time. All right. So, we'll move on to our committee reports. Um academic and tech uh committee, that's me. We had no
meetings and uh plan on um an email for me soon so we can set up our first meeting in September. Facilities for facilities will meet early fall once we get back in, but nothing set yet. Finance, we will meet
When do we meet? Uh 1:00 on September 8th. Uh where are meetings now? We have a space down there um that we have a conference room. Yeah. Still the high school. Yeah. Still in our office area. Okay. Yep. Same general area. But
could be at my house. I like that plan. It's open. It's open to anybody. As long as it's open to everybody. It's open to everybody. We got cookies. We'll post it out front. May make weed also, you know, do a little labor.
Those are over. Eat a cookie. Yeah. Anything else from finance? No. All right. Uh intergovernmental. Um what she said for Yeah. No meanings. Yeah. But we will I will be sending out an email.
All right. Personnel. That's I think Chris that. Yeah. We're working on scheduling right now. I've got an email out to the committee. Okay perfect. About some days and times. Did you send it out already? Yeah, I am not getting emails. So, if you can
send to my Yahoo account, I've talked to Christian. Um, they can't figure it out on their end. Okay. Yep. I'll resend to send it to your other email because he's out of town till Sunday, but a week from today. Yeah. Okay. I can I can forward it to her Yahoo
right now, too. So, she has Oh, you got it. Yeah. Okay. Policy. in last month. Okay. Uh policy meet, we have not we did not meet in August. We will meet September 8th at 10:30 and isa
uh we're still paused for the summer. I believe we pick back up in September. All right, announcements. We have the next regular schedule meeting of the board of education on August 25th, 2025 here um
in this auditorium. Um, any other announcements? All right, with that we'll adjourn at 8:16. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.