Yes. Present. Present. Present. Present. Present. Present. Alright, thank you. If we can all stand for the Pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty, justice for all. Madam chair, I'd like to make a motion to many agenda. Okay. I'm in the agenda
for yesterday. Yes, I want to amend the agenda for the board's consideration of operational budget for the 20262027 school year. Support. I'd also like to make a motion to amend the Wait, wait, wait, wait. There's one more chance. Let's do yes. Yeah. Trustee Miller, are you asking to amend the agenda to remove an item or to? Nope. I'm asking to add an item. Um for the board's consideration of our operational
budget for twenty-six, 27 school year. If you like, I can go into detail as now or I've already had support or do you want to wait for questions, comments, and concerns? No, if you can give it to us now, just so we know where to add it to the agenda. Alright. We're adding this under item E operations maintenance or under finance items is what I need clarity on. Okay. Thank you, madam chair. I've asked three times about a budget study session. With no action. We have to approve a budget by June the 30th per law. We haven't got
any recommendations. We haven't even discussed any budget reductions. We've done nothing. That we were supposed to do. Instead of in in especially as it relates to digesting into the budget and looking at it from a high level aboard level. So the has also not received from administration, recommendations for budget reduction in 262-seven. Therefore, it is my recommendation that we seduce, reduce central office by
30%. One, to help ensure the future and sustainability of Pontiac School District by reducing operational cost and two, the alignment of resources catered to an academic plan. I am tired of making requests that are not getting fulfilled. I cannot maintain my fiduciary duty as elected to this position if I don't have the items that I need. So, since we haven't done anything, if nothing has been presented, we don't have anything
else to go by. So, I'm recommending we cut the rental office, central office by 30%. Okay, thank you, Trusty Miller. So, we, your request is to add operational budget discussion and action under the finance item, C. Yes, thank you. Correct. Okay. Chair? Yes. As it pertains to Trustee Miller's recommendation. I'm asking that before we do a action item to the discussion, I'm asking that we
discuss it first. To determine whether or not. And I'm going to ask Carl for the vote. Because I'm tired of discussing it. Just vote your conscience. Just call for the vote. I don't. I'm respectfully trusty girls. Alright, we're we're still on the motion to amend the agenda. Treasurer Terry. Treasurer Terry? Nope. I I just wanted to be clear. Um this is just pertaining to the board's budget? No. No. No. No. This is the operational budget that we have to approve for twenty-six, 27
school year that we've received no information. It has to be approved by this board by June the thirtieth. Um and we received no recommendation. We've received no communication. Um and I that personally I've asked for it three times within the last two months and I haven't received it yet. So, how can I move forward responsibly and I don't have the information that I need as a trustee. So, again, I am recommending that we reduce Central Office by 30%. Okay.
However, that looks. Thank you. So, the motion right now is on the floor for cement the agenda to add under discussion and action under finance items, operational budget for discussion action. So, that is that is noted. We will vote for that. Um Trustee Dooley also wanted to amend the the agenda? Yes, I would like to move more comments up to the front. The communications, petitions, and delegations to the front of the meeting. It looks like this will be a length lengthy meeting today based
on our agenda and I wouldn't want the people to be here for hours and hours. So, I'd like to hear what they have to say at the start of the meeting. Alright. Any other amendments? Alright, trustees, can I get a motion to approve the agenda with the amended items to A, at Operational Budget Discussion, and action item under item B, under finance items, and also to move communications petitions, and delegations? Up to,
we have to figure out where we going to place it. Moving that up under awards and recognition. A motion to amend to accept the amended agenda. Support. I just want to clear for clarity. Okay. We're we're voting on combining them and adding both of them at the same time or we need to vote on one adjustment at a time. I'm only asking because. It's two different. There's two different ones out here. Two different ones. So that's why I want to be clear. Okay so which one is
the first one? The first motion we are voting on is to amend the agenda to add operational budget for discussion and action under finance item. Okay. So I'm Cheryl Clear. Thank you. Okay. So, Trustee Miller, you you're asking for us to what you're asking for is for us to to discuss it or you're asking that you're discussing. It's action. It's for, we're adding this. We're adding this item on our agenda. For discussion and action. Two,
discussion and action. Discussion and action. Yes. Yup. So, if I can get a motion to accept the amended agenda to amend the agenda with the item A for adding operational budget for discussion and item under the finance item section. Support. Thank you. It's been supported by Trustee Dooley to amend the agenda to add for discussion and action, operational budget under finance item. Can I also ask for a motion to amend the agenda to. Point of
clarity. I thought she wanted discussion and action. Yes, that's what I said. Okay, I didn't hear action. Yes. Yes. It's on there. Then move forward. So, the next item we're amending. Second, I'm sorry. That's alright. I'm kind of confused. So, tonight, we're discussing the operational budget. If it's approved for the amended for the amended agenda. So we should according to Robert Rules of Order. We should be voting on this motion separately. Um the motion that I put on the floor and then we should move forward with the motion. Yes. No I
know it's two different ones because I'm I'm putting them under two different. Two different. Yeah. Mhm. My question is for for me so that I know how I'm going to vote. Okay. Like this is because we have a the the budget. Um. Well, we don't have to we'll discuss it. Exactly. When we get to that item, we can discuss it. So, you'll know how you're voting. Right now, we're just asking to add this on the agenda. So, we're just amending the agenda to add this particular item. Yes. So, the motion. So, now, Trustee Dooley,
support it. So, now we need to go for roll call. Just Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Chamber two. Yes. Yes. That vote passes six oh. Alright, thank you. Now, the next amendment agenda amended item is to move board comments. I'm sorry, communication petitions, and delegations up under section 2 awards and recognition. It will follow after awards and
recognition. Can I get a motion for that? Support. Okay. It's been supported by Trustee Miller to amend the agenda to move communications, petitions, and delegations up on the agenda after our awards and recognition section. Any questions? Roll call please. Trustee Dooley. Yes. Trustee Grouse. Yes. President Hannah. Yes. Trustee Miller. Yes. Treasurer Terry. Yes. And I'm voting yes. That
passes six oh. Alright. Thank you. Now, if I can get a motion to accept the amended agenda as read. So moved. It's been moved supported by Trustee Dooley, supported by Treasurer Terry to accept the amended agenda as read. Any questions? Roll call please. I'm sorry. You said Move by Terry and supported by Dukes. Trusty Gross? Yes. President Hannah? Yes. Trusty Miller? Yes. Treasurer Terry? Yes.
I'm voting yes. Trustee Dooley? Yes. That passes six five. Alright, thank you very much. Now, awards and recognition, Doctor Leverette. Thank you, excuse me. Thank you, Doctor Hannah. Good evening, trustees. Good evening to our staff and our community. We are very excited this evening as we have a number of awards in recognition of our students who have demonstrated proficiency that they are bilingual in English and in Spanish and we are
very excited to honor our students this evening. Then, we'll have Oakland School's CTE award. We have a student that we need to honor as well as athletic scholarship presentation by NuWay Work Dream Achievers. and to this week is National Teacher Appreciation Week and we have a proclamation recognition. This certificate of distinction is to proudly certify and present to Jean Carlos Anito Gandinez in
recognition of earning the global seal of biliteracy, proficiency through the stamp test. Your ability to communicate through reading, writing, listening, and speaking in two languages, offers many new horizons and opportunities. Congratulations. Jean Carlos Please come forward if you're here as I read your names. Alexander Gomez Soswato, Alexander Lesandro Gomez Sosado Lesandro.
Nicole A Garcia Chavez. Nicole Eric Gonzales, Aranda, Eric. Geraldine Guzman Quintero. Erie. Think I read that one already. Kimberly, Jasmine, Delgado, Mendina, Kimberly. Susan Hernandez Martinez. Camilla Norego Duenez. Camilla. Giselle, Texta Zelvala. Giselle. Jalisa Yamena, Lesma Guerres, Jalisa,
Merlin Rondales. Merlin. Diana Herrero Contreras. Diana Rafael David Eric Ramaz, Rafael. Elizabeth Bokinara Sanchez, Elizabeth. Alice Giselle, Rodriguez, Maramores, Allison. Norma Lopez Silva. Norma. Francisco Laredo Reyes. Francisco. Andrea Lopez Dennis Martinez Rodriguez. Anthony, Anthony, Medina Sales.
Please give our students another round of applause. We are very happy for you. These are wonderful accomplishment. Wonderful. Nicholas is coming forward. Thank you all and congratulations. Thank you very much. Thank you. Alright. You may be seated. Thank you. Deck Leverette. Uh oh. Students, if we, before you have a seat, if we can have Frank to grab a quick photo. Oh. Of all of you, that would be helpful. If you can come up this way. Can you be part of the picture? Please. Thank
you. Come up here. Can you be a part of Brenda? Yeah. And we'll turn around and face Frank. Yes. So are we getting in the picture too? Okay. Be careful. Tell me how Thank you, Doctor Alicia. Alright, this next award, this certificate of distinction is proudly presented to Emily Castro Rosendo in recognition of being selected as the Oakland Schools Career and Technical Education CTE award recipient for the Pontiac School District. We are proud of you,
Emily. Congratulations on this outstanding accomplishment. Whoo. Alright, Emily. Congratulations. Thank you. Yes. Alright. Wonderful. I think she will. We want to Emily with Emily? Yep. With our CTE? Sure. Yes, please, Emily. Would you do? Alright. Lady Covington. At this time, I will have AD Covington come and we have some scholarships. I believe AD Covington will take it. Alright, thank you.
Thank you, Doctor Leverette. Good evening. First, I would like to say thank you for coming out this evening. Um like to introduce you to mister Shane Gianino. He's the founder and chief executive officer of the Neeway Works Foundation based out of Mount Clemens, Michigan. Um this is a non-profit organization focused on empowering through academic, empowering youth, through academic support, mentoring, college and career
readiness, and student athlete development. I've working with Mister I call him Mister Shane. I been working with Mister Shane for the last three years. Um last year he was the first year that he gave three of our student athletes scholarships. Kanye Donaldson, Famar J Jeffrey, and Alana Smith. Kanye and and Famarge are now attending Olivet University and Alana Smith is at University of Detroit Mercy. So with
no further would like to introduce you to mister Shane Giannino. Uh thank you Mister Covington. I'll keep this brief. Um and thank you everyone. Good evening. I'm grateful to be here with you all today and excited. I brought the purple coat out to represent the Pontiac School District. So I always come correct when I come to Pontiac. Um Mister Covington has been instrumental in this partnership. This community partnership and without leaders like Mister Covington. Um this wouldn't be possible today to honor the students of Pontiac High School. So I'm truly
grateful for that. Um in addition mister Coach Jefferson, the head of varsity football coach as well. but without them, like I said, this this really wouldn't be possible. So, I do want to just say thank you again and thank you very much. Um we need more leaders like this in the community as we come together. So, as mister Covington said, my name is Shane Janino. The kids called me at Mount Clemens and in the Detroit, Mister G, New Way Works. So, we're all about breaking barriers from an academic foundation, from a tutoring perspective, a lot of wrap around
services like mentoring, youth enrichment programs, student and athlete recruitment services. We're an extension of the school counselors. So, we're we're helping as a resource us in education. We're really overworked and underpaid. Uh my wife's in education as well. So, we help those school counselors pick up some of the balls and educate people throughout the college application process, Fafsa, scholarship program is one of the programs. Uh no team without a Christmas is another one. So, we're happy. I know this is record it. So, I know we're giving out
some money but if anyone is interested and learn a little bit more about our program, yes, we're in Mount Clemens but we do operate in Pontiac in the Detroit, Ferndale, Portrait Lake, Saint Mary's, brother, all over the place. It doesn't really matter. So, don't hesitate to reach out to us on our website or even on the Instagram. Uh mister Shane Janino. Um but since twenty20, we work with students across Metro Detroit like I said. It's all about increasing GPAs. That's the foundation of what we do if we're not increasing GPAs, then we're not doing our job. Um we have
been working with Pontiac High School since twenty twenty-3. Um like I said, we're grateful for that. So, each student gets $3050 and is directly into their account. Uh one of the stipulations that they have to a part of our process is that they have to come to a money masters class in order to get the actual funding. So, that's one of the reasons why I didn't bring the big check today. Uh another reason why I was kind of running a little bit ragged as I mentioned earlier. A lot of us in education are overworked and underpaid but there are there are couple little other steps that they have to go through. So, the money is a requirement. If
it's a no show or if you're late, if you're late guys and gals, you'll forfeit the $3050. So, go and maybe mister G's pocket then might go back to Pontiac School District. Mister Covington's pocket. No, you know, I'm just joking but but I'm serious about, do not be late, please. Um let's see. Yeah. So, the total investment. Oh, so we're honoring. So, when I call your name, if you could come up here, ladies first, Ariel Thomas Webb who is track and class of twenty26. L for nice which we call him Al. Al if
you want to come on up here. Lindsey, basketball in the football program. Dallas Coleman, football and track. So, the total investment that we made in Pontiac in the past two years with the help of our partners like People Driven Credit Union and United Wholesale Mortgage as well as our donors. Uh we've invested eighteen 18 thousand three hundred just in scholarships alone not including the the sports camps, the showcases, to legacy feel, the transportation, the food, etcetera. So, we're happy
to continue to make this investment. Uh we're looking forward to furthering our partnership engagement with with Pontiac and Like I said, if it wasn't for mister Covington, none of this would be possible. So, I may be here standing before you today but it wouldn't be possible without mister Covington. Um and in closing, so our goal is is really simple. Um we want to be able to help create pathways for the Pontiac students to succeed in the classroom and athletics and in life overall. Um that's why our program is called New Way so we're making a new
way forward and it will work. So, thank you very much everybody. Frank, if we can get a picture? Thank you. Teacher Appreciation. Yes. I do. Okay. Alright. Yup. Alright, congratulations again to the recipients as well as our students that had the biliteracy recipients but now, I wanted to share a proclamation for our Teacher Appreciation Week. We know it's May fourth through the 8th and here it reads as, whereas, teachers are the
foundation of Pontiac School District and the driving force behind our students success and whereas, our teachers open minds every day, helping students discover new ideas, build knowledge, see what is possible for their future. And whereas through their work, they bring our mission to life by helping every student learn, grow, and thrive as we strive to educate, empower, and excite. And whereas, they play a critical role in
shaping not only strong learners, but thoughtful, engaged members of our community. And whereas, our teachers show up in countless ways as educators, mentors, role and trusted adults who care deeply about each student they serve and whereas their impact reaches far beyond the classrooms and stay with students long after they leave our schools. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Board of Education for the School
District of the City of Pontiac proudly proclaims May 4th through the 8th 20 26 Teacher Appreciation Week and recognizes the extraordinary commitment, care, and dedication of our teachers. We encourage our students, families, and community to take time this week to thank a teacher, share their appreciation, and recognize the lasting difference they make every single day. Thank you. Comment. Alright. next. Yes, we are.
We're going to do comments. We moved comments up to this portion. So, I will read the disclaimer. Four comments. I'm not sure. It's people. Oh, okay. For those that are watching over at WHRC, but before we move into our actual comments, I want to give this time for board members to give comments as it relates to our recognitions and those students that we've identified today. So, if any board members would like to share their comments, now is the time. Secretary David Smith, did I see your hand? Okay. I just wanted to say
congratulations to everyone who received the award today. Um I'm so proud of you all to go to that extra mile to to do to excel at everything you did. Whether it was sports, the bilateral, program, and the CTE, Miss Emily. Have a good night. And yes, of course, it's always nice to acknowledge those students that go above and beyond and you help support and give us a
positive image in those things that you do for the Pontiac School District. So, I also want to say thank you to the parents that support their student learner. Again, congratulations for receiving your award. Treasurer Terry. Yes, also. Good morning. There we go. I also want to say congratulations as well to all of our students and awards that we received and also congratulations to our scholarship recipients. Please be on so you know you can get that money to move forward
your education and then also want to also acknowledge the National Teachers Appreciation Week. So I take my hat off to all of the teachers as well. Happy appreciation week. Get out there. Celebrate a little bit. Um and yeah enjoy yourself. Thank you. Trustee Gross. Thank you. Um I too just reiterate what all the board members have said. But what a wonderful night to continue to recognize the important part of this district which is our children. And what they're doing well as our teachers. And today is an excellent excellent night. And I say to this
board kudos. Let's continue to do so. Because we see the fruits of the labor. With them being here tonight. So what a great evening. Thank you. Thank you. Any other comments? Okay. thank you. Now, we'll move forward with our comments. If there are students that are left and parents, if you want to leave, you can at this time, you don't have to sit throughout the duration of our meeting. Thank you. So Communications, delegations, and petitions for the Pontiac Board of Education. Your request to address
the Pontiac Board of Education for three minutes is granted with your with your commitment that all comments will be delivered with courtesy and civility. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of your allotted time. First person I have is Kermit Williams. And then we have Jeremy Walker And then we have Candice Ridley. Uh good evening board superintendent Doctor Hannah. Uh thank you so much for a moving public comments of so the people can be heard first. Um I know that you have tough
decisions to make. Um but we worked a couple of years ago on getting the largest sinking fund millage pass in Pontiac history. And we did that. The auspice of making sure that there was renovations in schools. Our kids had a state-of-the-art place to play and now, there's conversation about schools being consolidated with no plan for the people. Uh I survived through emergency management. We had a ton of consultants and so I know these people come to you with these
ideas, with these plans in order to move the district forward as they say, but they're getting a paycheck and they don't have to deal with the consequences of decisions that you make. You are all Pontia residents or school district residents and you're investing in this community and 10 years from now, you'll have to deal with those decisions that the consultants make and I just want to plead with you today to make those decisions with the people first. Uh I'm part of Oakland Forward Action Fund. We're going to knock 1 hundred and fifty thousand doors this year. We can put out whatever flyers or things you need to get people to a
public meeting to do this but the school board meeting is not the place to talk to the community about what's going to happen to the future of their kids. One of the things I want y'all to think about is as you move these people, you're going to have parents with three or four different kids that's going to have to go to three or four different schools when me and my sister were in school, we could just go to Frost together and so that transportation need is something that may not be factored in on the X's and O's. So, I'm asking and I'm offering our services to help this school district because we have to focus on the people first. We have
to do this with the teachers and with the community in order for it to make it work. I know you guys have decisions and you gotta a budget that works. But it's gotta work not only for now but it's gotta work for the future of Pontiac. And with my last minute I'll say this. I'm a proud Pontiac graduate, class of two thousand. Go Huskies. Every school that I intended in this school district is now gone. Let me say that one more time. Every school district that every school building that I attended in the school district is not gone. It's now gone. And it's not because of decisions y'all made.
Y'all weren't even on the board when that happened. But those consequences still live on. So, I'm going to ask y'all, please, please, please, consult the community first before these things are happening and it may be a good decision but we won't know if it's just made behind closed doors. So, please help us and move out the public. Thank you. Thank you. Jeremy Walker superintendent board. My name is Jeremy Walker. I'm the founder of a nonprofit here in Pontiac called
Pontiac Youth. Preparing our next Thinkers and Academics and Character. I'm here because I carely deep care deeply about what happens to our youth and not just during school hours but outside of them as well. Right now, we're building a community garden initiative here in Pontiac. Shout out to District One for that. The goal isn't just to grow food, it's to give our young people something real to be a part of. Something that teaches them responsibility, teamwork, and ownership while creating access to fresh affordable produce inside the
community. As I've been working on this, I've also been paying attention to what the district has already been doing. Like the programs including Project Excel. I see a real opportunity for alignment. Especially during the summer months where the potential to expand, youth engagement in a structure and positive way is available. What I'm asking for is the opportunity to connect further. And explore how we can work alongside the district in ways that support what you're already doing. I'm committed to building this in the right way with
structure, accountability, and long-term impact in mind. I appreciate your time. Thank you. Candice Ritley. Good evening, board members and community. I stand before you tonight, not only as the PEA president and a middle school teacher but as the voice for this community because this community has spoken and it's time this board listened. I want to share the words of your constituents. One parent asked the question, this board has yet to answer. Show me the research behind this move. How will this
exactly benefit students and families of Pontiac? Another was even more direct. If this is true, it makes no logical sense and sounds like someone who has never done any research on kids ever created this plan. And the goes beyond logic. It goes to safety. One parent wrote, it's not right to make transitional changes without a transitional plan. It's May and fifth graders are just now hearing that they will be at the middle school next year. Another said simply, no middle school invitation plan, no building tour,
just drop the ten year olds off with some teenagers. Board members, that is not a transition plan. That is abandonment. Our Kennedy families, parents of students with the most complex needs are terrified. One parent stated, I will move my autistic son out of this district. If you move Pontiac High. Another said flatly, they don't care about our special needs kids. When families of your most vulnerable students feel that way, something has gone deeply wrong. And what does this mean for
teachers? Educators in this district are already asked to do more with less in buildings that community members themselves described as having black mold, broken air systems, and deteriorating conditions. Now, we're asking those same dedicated professionals to absorb an entirely new grade configuration with no transition support, planning time, no meaningful input. Teachers cannot deliver for students when they are set up to fail by the very system they serve. The research is clear. School instability harms student achievement. Displacing
students from neighborhood schools, damages the community bonds that keep kids engaged and families invested. One community member said it best. People don't understand how impactful neighborhood schools really are to the community. When you close those schools and those children, you don't just lose buildings, you lose trust. And this community has shown you lose students. Enrollment will not grow when families feel unheard and unsafe. One resident put the
stakes plainly. This will cause more people to remove their children from PSD. And another. We need people who care about the kids in the community. We have people like that in the district. They just don't have the power to call the shots. Board members, you have that power. Use it responsibly. Thank you. Ebony Sims Roshonda Williams and then Amanda Ziegler. Good evening, everyone. My
name is Ebony Sims and I come to you as humble as I know how. Today, I come before you all with questions. Question after question. Yet and still, I am with no answer. On January twenty-ninth, 26th at 406 PM, my daughter who is twenty-four years old, she sent an email to the Board of school district, the board of education. Out of seven members, she only got a response back from President Hannah. Let me read some of that Email from a proud graduate of
ITA. I am writing this email with a heavy heart and deep frustration. It is truly disheartening to witness that that the teachers and peer professionals of Pontiac the very backbone of this community are still without a contract. The silence and delay feels like a pretty clear message. And it's one that hurts. I grew up in Pontiac schools. I did not choose the district. My mother worked for Pontiac School District for over 25 years. Due to this I was required to attend. I begged her for
to go to a school outside of the district. To be honest, I did not have faith in this district. But my mother did. She believed in Pontiac. She believed in the students. She believed in its educators. Today, I can say with absolute certainty that I am grateful she never gave up on that belief. Pontiac School District shaped me. It raised me. It disciplined me. It believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. The relationships I built with my teachers were life changing. Without Miss Anna Toske, Miss Danielle Goddard, Miss Letha
Hopkins Powell who hasn't been brought back to Whitney yet. Mister Ray Bellon, Mister Kelly Kramer, Delise Bernard, Mister Robert Erickison, Jason Dosch, and Mister Michael Mossney. I genuinely do not know where I would be today. Those are just a couple of the teachers that impacted my life. There are plenty more. These educators did far more than teach curriculum. They taught me accountability. They taught me discipline. They taught me resilience, self-worth, how to show up for myself even when life was hard.
Their lessons followed me after I left the classroom and those lessons paved the path to the woman I am today. Because of Pontiac School District and the Pontiac Promise Zone, I recently graduated as a licensed practical nurse at age 23 with my very first job, paying 35 an hour. But here's what keeps me up at night. How is it that I am making more money than the very teachers and parent professionals who poured into me during the most critical years of my life. How is it that the people who
taught me how to think, how to lead, and how to survive are still being asked to wait for fair pay for security, for respect. This is not just about a contract. This is about values. This is about honoring the people who continue to choose Pontiac even when Pontiac does not choose them back. If Pontiac School District truly cares about its students, then they must care about the educators who shape them. You cannot claim to invest in while neglecting the adults who give them everything that they have day after day. I am a success story because of
Pontiac School District educators. Please do not allow them their dedication, loyalty, and impact to be met with delay and disregard. Miss Sims. You at? I'm almost done. They deserve better. Amari Lewis, proud daughter of Ebony Sims, Pontiac School District alum, licensed practical nurse. Have a great day. Roshonda Williams. Hello, everyone. My name is my name is Rashunda Williams. I live in Flint, Michigan. Um been living there 30 years but I am a native of Pontiac.
I'm also a proud member of the Beecher Community School Board. I've been the treasurer for six years out of eight of being on the board. So, I know how the functions work. I'm also a parent of my community. I have a grandson in my I heard some things and this is the reason why I'm here. I'm disappointed in things that I've heard about Pontiac because being a little girl, it was nothing but greatness. I'm looking at greatness
in this room. People who have changed my diaper, who play ball with my brother, who babysitted me, But for you to be board members and not follow the law. Not even following your own policies and procedures is disheartening. Because you are playing with people livelihoods. And I'm not talking about the adults. I'm talking about the people who are being the children who are being raised in this district. In your classrooms. Because we are an extension of their mothers and their fathers or the lack they may have.
Sitting at that table is an honor. It's not a $200 paycheck per meeting. Y'all have a duty to make sure that y'all do everything within the law, state, federal, your own bylaws. Y'all have a duty to honor your core values, your goals, your beliefs, and your commitments. Y'all have that. Y'all know that. I also need the parents to stand up for your children. Now, come up here when
you got a problem with them. Where they in trouble Y'all have rights. Y'all need to exercise them. As board members, if you're not telling them in board meetings, you need to knock on doors and let them know what they can and what they cannot do. They can file complaints with the state about what they're not receiving that you are supposed to provide. And there shouldn't be a question in front of anybody or even behind closed doors of what your finances is or what your
information that you all are supposed to have to make the right decisions. They all are hard. Some of some people don't like them. Some people ain't. But if y'all don't have all the information, you are doing a disservice and sitting in that seat. And that's for everybody. So I'm not picking on one. I'm talking about every board member that is here and the one that isn't. I will be back I ain't going nowhere. And please don't make me come back home. Cuz you're not going to like it. Y'all
have a good evening. Thank you. Amanda Ziegler. Good evening members of the board. I come here tonight to talk about the plan being considered. One that could significantly reshape our district. I am a teacher at Owen Elementary and I will be impacted by this plan not just once but twice. I ask you to take a moment to consider how you would feel if you were in the shoes of the staff at Owen Elementary. Rumors about this have been circulated on and off since last March but they intensified the week we returned from spring break. College began asking me if I had heard
that Owen was shutting down. Each person sharing different reasons but all pointed to the same outcome that we have been moved to Al next year. By Monday, April 13th, those rumors escalated further and many seemed to be confirmed during the board governance meeting later that evening. For those who hadn't heard the rumors before, they certainly heard them that week and yet, from the district, Silence. Aside from a vague statement released on April 13th, followed by a video on April 14th and another on April 22nd, there was no clear or direct communication
about what this plan meant for our school. From April 13th until April 29th, we are in limbo unsure what our future in this district would look like. What makes this even more difficult to understand is that when discussions took place about Rogers moving to Harrington for remodeling, staff were given a meeting, an opportunity not to only hear the plan but to provide input. In contrast, we were given only a vague survey that asked what support staff and families might need during changes. Not for input on how these changes should occur. Then on April twenty-ninth, we were notified that
less than twenty-four hours later, we would meet with the superintendent, not only not to give feedback input but to be told what had already been discussed and asked questions. Many staff members rearrange their schedules to attend, yet at 3 PM, with the meeting scheduled for 430 PM, we were told it was cancelled. I understand understand things happen, but it was frustrating. We were then informed it would be rescheduled for Tuesday or Thursday, only to later receive notice that would take place tomorrow after school. By that point, even if we want to provide input, it would be too late if this
plan is passed tonight. So I ask you again, how would you feel in this I understand that changes need to be made but the way this district has handled these changes through the last lack of transparency, inconsistent communication, and little opportunity for meaningful staff and community input is not just frustrating, it's disrespectful to the very people expected to carry out this plan. Thank you. Thank you Sharon Murray Good evening, everyone. I am Sharon Marie and I really wasn't planning on
coming until I talked to my neighbor Um last time I was here, I'd asked some questions and they didn't get answered and it seems like you guys are still in the same spot but I asked about why the teachers contract hasn't been settled in over, well, it wasn't 300 days, Dana. However, and you know, noone ever talked about it or said anything about it. There members and I see y'all instilling the same spot. They were asking for questions on things that you guys are
deciding that concerns the citizens and the students and they're still not getting answers. And we're in a failing school district. If you guys can't work together and answer each other, how are you going to move forward? You know, this is this is crazy. I'm like her. I came, I I grew up in Pontiac. We were competitive. We might didn't have the best. We didn't have the most money but if you put us with in the same room with Bloomfield and whoever else is out there, you taught them,
you taught us, we could learn. Our system is failing. Our kids are failing. You know, statistically, we're third nationally from the bottom academically. Guys have got to do better. You know, y'all got to do better. Y'all got to work through these things. And it sound like did you say that there was a deadline for a budget? Sound like half of y'all don't even know that you got the deadline for the budget. These are things that are laws that y'all gotta get done and get done timely. You know
we're already suffering academically. I don't know why they don't have a contract. What is the problem here? You know I've been on an board I've been a trustee and exec on on the board. What are you what are y'all doing? You know, you gotta work together. You gotta answer questions. You gotta discuss this stuff and then, to me and you know, I'm mad because I don't sit here and it didn't make sense to me. Why we start so late? You know, you got a public hearing, people getting turned away because you don't have enough room for em and we're starting like a half
an hour later. That's to me that's unprofessional. That's that's downright sorry. And y'all. I have nieces and nephews. My kids are part of this and they are are educated. They all have college degrees. But I have nieces and nephews that I'm standing up here for because they probably don't know. Do all the parents probably don't know how badly their children are feeling. You know. And this this is just unheard of. It's asinine. This is crazy. Y'all need to work together and get something done. Immediately. Alright. Thank you. Moving on down
the agenda. Um good evening again trustees. Can I get a motion for the approval of the consent agenda? Support. Support. It's been moved by Trustee Gross. Supported by Treasurer Terry for the approval of the consent agenda. Any questions? Roll call. President Hannah? Yes. Trustee Miller? You're going to off off of what is indicated on the agenda. Item three is recognition of elected officials and that was skipped over to item four. And you
approved the consent agenda item. So. Oh. My apologies. Are do we have any elected officials here? Miss Williams. Miss Williams. Any other elected officials here? Thank you for coming down to join us from Flint, Miss Williams. Thank you. Alright. Saying no more. Um again, the motion was moved by Trustee Grove supported by Treasure Terry for the approval of the consent agenda. Any questions? Roll call please. President Hannah? Yes. Justine Miller Yes.
Treasurer Terry? Yes. I'm voting yes, Trustee Dooley. Yes. Trustee Gross? Yes. That passes six holes. Alright, thank you. Next on the agenda, information from the superintendent and administration, Doctor Leverette. Thank you, Doctor Hannah. Good evening, members of the Board of Education. Good evening. Faculty and staff members, families, and valued community members here in attendance tonight and those watching on our digital platforms as well. Tonight I want to speak about the future of our district. How we got
here, where we're going, and why we're moving forward together matters now more than ever. The path forward for our district is being driven by our strategic plan. This plan is not just a document. It is a commitment by all of us. A commitment to academic excellence, equity, innovation, and ensuring every student in Pontiac has access to opportunities that prepares them for success beyond our classrooms. This plan reflects months and even
years of thoughtful work which has been grounded in data and shaped by voices across our community which has been guided by one unwavering principle. Students remain our top priority in Pontiac School District. Our work around our strategic plan which has been known as our Pontiac Reimagined has been deliberate and inclusive. This was not a single conversation but an ongoing dialogue. We aged in his in
discussion across multiple settings and dates about these parts and our strategic plan as a whole and we will continue to send information out to the community as we move forward. But move forward we must. We have engaged again on several dates. Starting December of 20twenty-four with the planned presentation. February of 2025 with the plan with the board retreat discussion. February 20 six with the Board of
Education meeting discussion March third, continued board discussion, August 18th, Board of Education meeting discussion, September 5th, district listening Sessions, December 10th, Board of Education Meeting Discussions, February 12th, Board of Education presentation for discussion, April 13th, board governance session discussion. Each of these moments represents an opportunity where ideas were shared, concerns were raised and heard, and all perspectives were considered.
We've listened to faculty and staff members, to parents and families, to community members as part of this work and all of these voices have helped shape this plan that we have. We have a strategic plan. We have a reimagined plan. I've continued to say, if you have a better one, please bring it forward but at the same time, this work is happening. We must be honest about the challenges we face as a district about the challenges that are being faced here in the state
of Michigan. Not only in Pontiac but across the state of Michigan and a deed, indeed, excuse me, across the entire country. Scoo are experiencing declining enrollment. It's not unique to Pontiac. Recent statewide analysis shows and we have those that information embedded in our strategic plan. But the recent statewide analysis has shown that shrinking K 12 enrollment is forcing districts to make necessary
decisions about how we operate and allocate resources. We cannot take a step backwards. Have to move forward For us, this reality presents three major pressures, declining student enrollment which directly impacts funding, rising operational cost, including staffing, utilities, and maintenance, a mismatch between building capacity and actual student population. Simply put,
we are maintaining more space than we currently have at a cost that continues to rise. This brings us to one of the most difficult aspects of this conversation. The possibility of building closures or consolidations. Let me be clear. These decisions were never made lightly. They were never made in isolation. But decisions and moving forward, we must. align resources
with student needs. Ensure financial sustainability. Maximize opportunities for students by concentrating on programs and support to bring us from the bottom to the top. This is a competitive district. People love Pontiac School District and we can and will thrive again. But we must make the tough decisions. We must be able to invest more directly into teaching and learning which ultimately leads to student
success. No one in this district noone in this state wants to subscribe to the fact that we are failing children. Yes, we are. I'm a educator at heart. I was a teacher for 10 years. So, I know and understand the frustration about teachers not having their contracts. We're getting there. We're going to move forward. These are difficult times. So, how do we show up in difficult times matters? How we communicate and share our concerns matter I am thankful to each
and every one of you that has shared in public comment this evening. Those comments are not taken lightly But together we must move forward. And we are ready to continue those difficult conversations. don't think I'm going to be putting that in green anytime soon programs Um and we were also running we're also running a new issue into an issue specifically with And specifically with the middle school where we're sending an instruments to get repaired and they send us something that looks like this. So this is a retire notice. So what that
basically says is that it's going to cost more money than this instrument is worth. To fix this instrument. So they're not going to fix it. Because they say you should just buy a new one. Right? Um right now at Pontiac Middle School specifically we have I think between 20 and 25 students who are currently playing on broken instruments. Now I don't know if you ever tried playing on a broken instrument, you can't really do it. And it it's an issue because these these are this equipment that we use.
It's an investment, right? When I know I'm spending $500 on a clarinet, you know, I know that if the student takes care of it, it could last ten, 15, 20 years. The problem is, a lot of our instruments are older than that. You know, we purchased them 20, twenty-5, 30 years ago and we're at a point now where quite frankly, we either need to, you know, invest in repair or invest in replace, right? And at the high school, we haven't
reached the point yet where it's impacting us, but we have reached the point where if we were to grow, like we're talking about, you know, three, four, five years down the line, this is going to be us. Right. Right? So, putting that investment in now, again, I'm not asking for $1 million dollars here. I think if, if we can have a sensible budget over the course of several years, that, you know, the three of the music teachers can put into, you know, we could probably solve this problem, right? But we just need to be be willing and
able to invest in this solution, okay? So, that being said, that's pretty much all for me. I know I went way over time. I'm so sorry but I just want to thank all of you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you all today. Thank you. Trustees, did you have any comments or questions for mister Bentley? Uh Mr. Bentley, great job in the investment that you're trying to put into our students. I think that's a good idea.
I would call it a syllabus and a pacing guide that will prove to be very impactful for our scheduling. Mm hmm. We'll be able to support you a little more. In fact, your Pontiac Art Showcase, I've already committed to the National Day of Prayer in Detroit that night for that. But. Thank you. I I agree you, your budget has to be increased. I think 7, 000 at bare minimum should go per per teacher for your budget.
I'll take it. So, exactly. We've we've had this conversation before. It's not cheap and then, you know, you're doing the due diligence. You're sending the instruments out. You're getting the responses. So, I commend you on doing your part. Hopefully, myself and the rest of this board will vote to increase your budget. When we finally get a forensic audit. I've been asking for an audit in order to align our resources from day one when I came on this board. I think I've been on here
about fourteen, 15 months now. We've yet to have a budget. The forensic one I want. But we support you and keep going. Thank you. Thank you. Any other trustees? Yes, trustees. To the superintendent. Thank you. Thank you. Um I know it's been quite some time that we were out without the performing arts a district. Yes. Many years. Long time ago, back when we had Central and Northern. So, I don't know if we even be taking a look
at a proposed budget to implement because he's only, this has only been existed. Now, what? For 3 years? Yeah. For 3 years. And it was gone for quite longer than that. So, that's something we need to take a look at because The bottom line is, kids tend to do very well when they're having fun. This allows them to have a good time to relieve themselves from you know academia of math, science, and things to be in order to go in to do
music. And it's unheard of that we don't have the right instruments for them. Kids are playing broken instruments. It's not good. No. That's not good. So I think we we have to take a look at readjusting the budget because we now have a fine arts program. Great. Although we was without it for a while, we have one now. Yeah. So, let's take a look at some readjustments get that information back to this board so we can make the
appropriate decision on what we need to do to improve our fine arts. Yeah. Because we have them now. And to see 51 kids in marching band. Mm hmm. Compared to 10 two years ago. Right? He's doing something over there. So we need to do something on this end. The question I've I've always asked. What can we do to improve student achievement? The students for the students and this is for the students. So, I think
that's important. We need to reevaluate this budget as it pertains to fine arts. Thank you, Trustee Gross. That was the discussion that mister Bentley and I had after I reviewed his very thorough presentation because he actually asked about that slide and I said, absolutely not. We keep it in there. We're moving forward with transparency and we're going to discuss a budget for replacement of these instruments that are 30 years old. Yes. Did you trust you, Miller? Thank you. Thank you. What do you call? I still have my solo and
ensemble badges from when I graduated last year. Um I'm joking. No, seriously. From when I graduated in two thousand, I still have my my honors. So, I understand how valuable fine arts can be. Weren't you here last year and didn't you ask for to get your your your band students, their uniforms clean, wasn't that an issue for you? Um I believe I believe I it was. And thank you sir. And and here's my concern with that. Is that even if
it's been around for three years. That's three different approved budgets. That that line item should have been in there. Four fine arts. Okay? So when I get frustrated and I say nothing is being presented to this board. That man asking for $7, 000 for our kids. Investing in our kids. And I know last year he asked for money to get the uniforms cleaned. That's three times that that should have been on our budget for us to approve. How many times was it? I I
digress. Any other comments? I just wanted to make an additional comment to how vital and important it is. Research supports that being involved in musically inclined. It it there's a portion of the brain that's more aptitude for understanding. So this is another direct correlation to our values that to increase student achievement in academic and there is research to support what I've just
said. Thank you, Trustee Julie. Mister Bentley, I just wanted to tell you thank you. Um it has been a few years and just seeing the progress and how much this program has grown. Says a lot about you, the work, and your team that's working with you to help our students become more exposed to the fine arts. So, I just wanted to tell you thank you for what you've done and I definitely look forward to seeing what you continue to do to grow this department even more. Thank you. Uh huh. Alright, moving down the agenda,
Doctor Labaret. Strategic vision. Um. Oh. That's under finance. Underfinance? Yes. Are you talking about the part we added? Yeah. Yes, that's under finance. This is for discussion and action, the strategic vision work plan. strategic vision work plan, background rationale, consolidating schools due to declining enrollment and deteriorating building conditions is primary, primarily driven by the need for fiscal sustainability and enhanced educational quality. By
aligning our facility space with actual student numbers, the district can redirect funds for maintaining, under utilized aging infrastructure into direct classroom instruction, specialized student services and support for staff. One, improved educational opportunities, consolidation allows the district to pull resources to offer academic and extracurricular programs that are sustain unsustainable in smaller separate settings. Expanded curriculum, larger student bodies make it feasible to
offer a wide breadth of course work, activities, and specialized electives. Specialized staff, consolidated schools can support full-time specialized person such as counselors, mission mental health professionals, and special education teachers who might otherwise have to split time between multiple locations. Enriched extracurriculars, bringing students together creates the critical mass needed for robust and various student clubs and activities. Two, operational and fiscal efficiency. Operating
buildings well below capacity creates per per pupil cost and accelerates budget shortfalls. Economies of scale larger schools often achieve lower per pupil operating cost by streamlining administrative services and centralizing operations like food services and logistics. Resource allocation, funds previously tied up in heating, cleaning, and repairing half empty buildings can be shifted to modern learning materials, technology, and student support. Financial sustainability, financial
stability, rightsizing the district footprint, helps ensure long term, long-term stability by avoid in future budget deficits tied to underutilized infrastructure. Three, safer and modernized learning environments. Aging facilities often present significant safety risk and lack the infrastructure needed for modern education. Infrastructure updates, consolidation facilities, the modernization of school buildings, providing flexible learning areas, updated technology infrastructure, and
energy efficient systems that are otherwise financially unattainable across multiple sites. Enhanced safety, fewer modernized buildings allow for improved emergency response readiness, better site security, and easier compliance with accessibility standards like the American with Disabilities Act ADA. Environmental Quality, new or renovated facilities can prioritize critical improvements in air quality, fire safety systems, and the building envelope to prevent water damage and health risk. Four,
strategic long term stewardship, consolidation is often framed as right sizing to ensure a district can provide equitable educational opportunities for decades to come. Sustainability, maintaining multiple aging, under utilized building compounds, deferred maintenance obligations which can negatively impact the district's financial trajectory for years. Modernizing the footprint, this process allows the district to align their physical assets with current and projected demographic realities. Moving from systems
designed to significantly higher historical populations. Recommendation as we move forward with the presentation. It is the recommendation of administration that the Board of Education authorized the continued development and implementation of the strategic vision work plan that has been presented and attached. This plan in 2026 will move the Kennedy program to Pontiac High School B Wing. Moved fifth graders to Pontiac Middle School A Wing and move Owen Elementary students into Alcott Freene of the current Owen
Kennedy site for repurposing or sale. In 27 twenty-eight, Rogers and Whitman Elementary will be repopulated with K two. Harrington will become three third through fourth grade students. The Kennedy program will remain at Pontiac High School B Wing and fifth graders will remain at Pontiac Middle School A Wing freeing up the current outside Alcot site for repurposing and sale. And at this time, I would like to turn it over to my staff to present our
strategic plan presentation for discussion and action, please. Quite a play, Cynthia. He played his link, please? It's okay. You can skip past it. No. Just move forward, Bill. I'm going to turn over to mister Jeff Mosgers because he's that was quick. That's awesome. Good evening, Board. Good evening, community members. My name is Jeff Mosgers. I'm the director of technology for the district through the IGA with Oakland Schools. Um Pontiac has been working on a strategic plan for
several years back in twenty twenty-three. Uh under the previous board and superintendent, we initiated a rewriting of our two thousand 8 strategic plan. So, this work has been an an ongoing process since 20twenty-3. Um the hired third eye consultants to initiate the strategic planning process which included research, community input, staff member input, meetings with administration. They also believe the board was included in that back
during the the discovery process. Um as part of that strategic planning process, we're really focusing on four strategic pillars during this conversation and administration as they've worked on it. We've really tried to keep true not to necessarily a restructuring plan but to our strategic plan. As you recall, our strategic plan is from 2025 through 2030. It's really a dynamic plan. It's not something you're going to
set today and it sticks with you for five years because things change. And under Doctor Leverette's leadership as administration, she recognizes that and we've seen that throughout the district in those two short years we started the strategic plan, new superintendent, new district administration, new board members. So, it really has been a dynamic process that we've been working on. As we look at the strategic plan and reminder about what our pillars are, student achievement as Doctor Leverat is at
the core of this. So, looking at opportunities where we can improve our student achievement across the district. That's going to result in some changes. Maybe it's some grade level banding. Maybe it's looking at different alignment. Maybe it's looking at different electives. But we have to start to have different conversations because doing the same thing over and over is not yielding the results that we want to. So there is this change process coming. Social, emotional, health, and well being. This is probably the most difficult piece of our
strategic plan because change is very difficult for everyone. Um so it's going to take some transitions as we look at building new school communities and really we're not looking. Just want to clarity Is he not for technology or is he for the academic curriculum side of it? Which which because some of his information does not fall under technology. So I I just need a point of clarity. Clarify something. He trustee Dooley he's
part of the team. Again we pay him for technology. So my question his expertise falls under technology. He's been assigned to another area. See, because you you just don't get talking about anything. Nobody has offered me any research, your studies that you did. You just don't come in and change stuff because it looks good, sound good. Please proceed, Jeff. Jeff has a
background. He is part of a team but he is a he has a career that expands and his skill set beyond technology. It's very vast and thank you, Jeff. Please continue with your presentation. At the board's pleasure, I'd like to just share my background just for point of clarity. I have an elementary education degree. I taught six years in Avondale School Districts. I have a masters in learning disabilities, elementary, administration, endorsement, as an elementary principal, director of technology,
for the largest district in part of multiple cabinets in 10 different districts. So, I believe I do have some expertise to help be part of this team, connect the learning. I've been in Pontiac School since twenty fourteen through numerous leadership and board member changes and been working with the administration to develop strategic plan and vision and continue to move this district forward. I have I believe credentials to have conversation about how the strategic plan has come to fruition. I certainly respect your academic
achievement Again, I have not been presented any research any studies that support what you're saying. That's all, that's all I'm asking. Who did the research? Who did the research? To support what we're discussing. That's all I want to know. Where is the information that will clearly this is a good plan
because we have this to follow. Precedent has already been set. And I have nothing. So, if I may continue with this portion now, I'll defer back to superintendent and the board president to follow up on that question. So, as I was saying, there there are four pillars are really key to continuing to move the district forward over the next five plus years. The student achievement, the social, emotional well being, trying to get our students into and our staff into the right place in the
right environments. Um as we've talked about and others presented, there are infrastructural problems with some of our aging buildings, heating and cooling you know, other, other different components. So, it's very hard for a student to focus. If they're coming into an environment in a 50-year-old building that doesn't meet their needs. So, as we look at this comprehensive proposal and plan, that's one of the pieces. District Innovation and Operational Stability is a large piece of the
strategic plan. How do we get the district to be able to provide the best services and opportunities for our 4000 students that choose to attend the district and continue to move forward. There's only X dollars that has to be spread around. So, part of this conversation is trying to maximize those dollars, put money in the classroom, and opportunities for our kids. Equitable community and economic development will continue to grow. We have many partners as you've heard here
tonight that are interested in Pontiac The challenge will continue to be is making sure that those partners are working in our strategic plan for our district goals and moving the district forward collabor and I think there's many partners that are willing to step up and contribute to that. So, as we said, you know, we're having this about student achievement. We know we're not where we want to be and something has to change and evolve. Student supports and alignments, we know that as we look at our buildings,
our class sizes, our the programs that we're offering are maximized and we're not using all of our opportunities. We're spreading our resources across more buildings than we need, more classrooms than we need, and really watering down what we're able to do. Um, and an operational stability Really, again, about rightsizing and spending the money efficiently and effectively where it needs to go. So, just a couple of the goal areas, you know, you can go back to the strategic plan. I believe it touches
on all of our goal areas but we were just highlighting a couple for example tonight. Ensuring students are equipped with the tools necessary to succeed, multi-tiered system of support, and academic success as we heard our fine arts program doesn't have the tools they need. It's growing. We have to find a way to commit resources to it but are we going to commit resources to band instruments or heating and cooling and repairing a leaking roof where we can't have school and students aren't going to come. Those are the hard choices we have to make as we look
at 50 plus, 60, 70-year-old buildings and moving forward. Fostering safe and supportive learning environments for all students with again with systems of support. Looking at those opportunities, how we can better align and make that learning environment safe for our students. So, they want to be in school. They're not worried about fights or cyber bullying or social media, things coming back into school but we have a culture of safety and security and we've done a lot of work around that.
As we continue to realign and reevaluate. This will give us many more opportunities to have those conversations. Thanks, Jeff. Uh next, we're going to have Doctor Devison come up and address some slides. Good afternoon to the board and to the community. I am going to focus on Doctor Kran's report as it relates to Doctor Kran's report. We did get some findings and so we don't want to point fingers about any of the things that were results from that findings but we want to be able to say that we did address some of those concerns as
it relates to from the report from Doctor Kranz. So, with Doctor Kranz report, we have Focus A which was strengthening the district identity. So, in the strength and a district identity. We are doing the strategic plan and doing a reimagine. As it relates to improved K-12 instruction, we are doing program evaluations throughout the district at all of our schools and with the program evaluation, what that looks like is at each school, whatever program they're having, we throughout this year, with the curriculum and
instruction team, the principals, Oakland Schools Assistance, and in addition to some partnerships with Oakland adversity. We are evaluating our programs and seeing the outcome. We've been meeting throughout the year and at the end of this year, we will be able to say these are some of the things that are are working and these are some of the things that are not working and what are we going to do to move forward. In addition to that, moving forward for next year, we're going to be doing things, monitoring, and making adjustments as we go. As it relates to
establishing district norms and systems and structures, we do have things in place such as the district turnaround network such as the Build and Turnaround Network. And please note it's not a perfect system but it is a system that we use to evaluate and determine what systems and structures are or are not working. As it relates to improving district wide communication We have been doing a outstanding job with communicating within our district and also with the community we've
had. Community meetings. We've had a parent I'm sorry a family advisory committee that we've been in touch with. Are we 100? I'm going to say no. We're not 100, but we're definitely not a 20 or 30%. As it relates to E where it talks about attract and retain highly teachers. Um and also employees, curriculum and instruction, human resources. We have been working together to create and attract I'm sorry create and
attract, I'm sorry, create and attract a retention plan and with that being said, we did use some regional rag grant which is the regional assistant grant where we apply for that grant to be able to do at least at the partnership schools and at the partnership schools that would be Harrington, Whitman, Pontiac Middle School, and Pontiac High School, we are using the funding to try to get and attract highly qualified teachers and staff. Wanted to go to Build and Sustain a
culture of respect, and safety. So, we have a wellness plan in this district and a wellness policy and it is a working document. We have a team and we need to meet more frequently but we do have a team. We do have a policy. We have been working on restorative practices in our district and we have been working again as a team to address that under the sustained culture, care, respect, and safety. As it relates to
minings, supportive structures and services to develop positive behavior norms. We have a positive behavior interventions and supports in all of the buildings. And are we working diligently to make sure that those those builders are doing it with fidelity? We are. We have a system where we talk about student support network. Again, I'm not going to stand before you and say anything is 100 but I also will stand before you and say nothing is twenty, 30 40%. We are a work in progress. And
as it relates to program evaluation, we're evaluating things and making changes as we go. Next slide, please. So, when we think about trends, this is just a trajectory of Michigan Public Schools and enrollment. If you see that it is a down trajectory but if we can go to the next slide, I'll make more explanations of that. So, Michigan has experienced significant school closures over the past decade driven by decline in
enrollment. Detroit public schools closed nearly two hundred schools in the last 15 years. Also, Michigan School Board in two thousand and10, there were three thousand 255 school buildings and in twenty twenty, there were two thousand eight hundred and seventy school buildings. As we are talking, we are looking at the research and we are presenting that research currently. Letting you know what trends are are occurring right here in Michigan Common reasons foreclosures, shrinking student
population, financial pressures, lack of resources. Next slide. Since two thousand and nine, 80% of Michigan traditional school public traditional school district have experienced enrollment declines. In 19seventy, when we had $2. 1 million kids, we currently are now under 1. 5 million. And then the statewide enrollment in 23 twenty-four was 1. 4 million down from nearly 1. 5 million in 2019,
2020. Michigan is recorded, recorded ninety-seven thousand six hundred and 9-six births. The lowest number since the 1930s and a 10% decline over the past decade. Again, providing research on why we're in the space and as it relates to declining enrollment. Next slide please. When I think about a consensus, I just want to say to you, are we want to be on one accord as it relates to how we work together and
how we move forward? And we are open to accepting any communication from the community and also from teachers, from the board. We have been consistently asking, what suggestions or recommendations do you have? You all, we have to do something. And again, we are open for suggestions. There there can certain be disagreements on what buildings need to be reallocated but we hope we can all agree that something needs to happen. Having
school buildings with the combined capacity of almost two and a half times or current amount of students is not only unsustainable but it's preventing us from providing the quality education that students deserve. And while there will be short-term inconveniences and people don't like change, we owe it to our students and to staff to become more efficient schools be a more efficient school district and put more dollars into our classrooms and invest it in our employees. Thank you, Doctor Devison. Uh I'm Bill Holcomb. Uh the next couple of
slides, we're going to go through talk about Good. Doctor Doug. Just a second, Bill. There was a question for Doctor Devison. So, Doctor Devison, I heard your report. My question to you would be, what initiatives will we invoke designed to increase student enrollment? We're talking about closing but what have we done to go and get our students? What is on paper or any suggestions to increase our enrollment? Do we even anticipate
students returning to the district? Because we have a lot of things going on here that's I think if people knew about the promise zone at 75, 000 or the the the fire program, our CNA, we have so much stuff. What are we doing to market those types of things to get our students back in the district to alleviate closing districts or have has anybody even put it in their thought process to anticipate an
increase in enrollment? Everything is to me that I'm hearing is to the negative. We're we're we're we're waving a a flag. We surrender. We're we're just going to go. Of course. People, all district are experiencing a multitude of things but I'm concerned with Pontiac. What are we doing to get Pontiac's enrollment up? Has there been any discussion? If so, can I have that in writing? So, the one thing that I would say, Trustee Dooley as it relates to enrollment. When you
think about being out of out of formula, increasing enrollment, probably would not benefit us at this very moment. The one thing that I would say is that we need to do a very great job with the students that we have currently. So, and I agree So, would it, yes or no would suffice me? Do we have any plans on the table designed while culpability rests on all parties? I'm not throwing it off on you or any superintendent.
Culpability rest on all educational stakeholders within this Pontiac district. What do we have in place Today, we do not have anything to do. Thank you so much. Enrollment. I have a question. Trustee Miller. Thank Oops. Here we go. Thank you very much. I guess my question, I have a question and a statement. How are we here again? What did we learn from when we closed Frost? Frost? Huh? I beg, beg, begged for us as a board, administration,
somebody to let those families know over there with your closing force and moving them to WHRC. When did they get the notification? My understanding maybe the week before school started and they started a week late. Because we weren't on the ball with our timeline. What did not learn anything? I have a a serious issue with pillar number two. Emotional, health, and well being. I've asked several times specifically for data that shows success rate for fifth through
eighth graders being in the same building as proposed. As of date, I haven't received it yet. So, I hear you guys when y'all say, we ask for feedback. We ask for, I don't get nothing and I sit here on this board. Y'all want me to vote on something that I I have to beg for? Nope. Um what resources have been allocated for the reconfiguration and transition of students and staff. Are our kids going to just show up in black? What school do we go to? Where am I supposed to supposed to report to? That will that will impact attendance. It will impact the ability for our teachers
to teach. Everything is going to be impacted if we keep saying words like probably, we think we might try, we might, we're looking into it. What are you looking into when it comes to our kids? They already failing and we need to scare enough to do better, not disrupt their life and I'm sorry for my guys but we are supposed to govern this district And I don't feel like I'm doing a good job as a trustee governance district and our kids. Their lives and their future is in my hands. Your hands. Your hands. Your
hands. Now I do agree. For this district we do need to reduce our our footprint. I 1 00% agree with that. What I don't agree with it is throwing together a plan. Our kids going to be confused. Staff going to be confused. Teachers going to be confused. We learned nothing from Frost. When we close that school and move them over there. We learned nothing. And now we're about do it again with more students than just Frost. That's embarrassing. Somebody convinced me that we gotta plan a timeline and our students will
be in the place where they need to be safe with a transition plan instead of just showing up at a middle school. Convince me of that because I'm not convinced. Yes, trustee Gross? Uh and then that's a good point because Two of the questions that I asked during this time that this information was presented to us in our specific specific committees. Yes, it's on. One of the questions is, was, because not just Frost, Trusty Miller, from the last time we talked about reimagining when this room was
filled and the information was asking something that we didn't do. And the questions that I asked, the superintendent and I hope to get answers tonight. And I'm not hearing them. Asked, have we discussed this plan with the staff? The second was, have we discussed it with the families that will be affected in the community? I asked that question multiple times because it didn't want to be in a situation to where this room would be filled again and because here, hear
me on this and and and Doctor Levert, again, I'm saying to you, We have to do something We have a total of what? 42000? 4200 kids? Close? 42, forty-three? Less than that now? Yes. Less than that and we have capacity for seven, 8000. Ten, ten. So, we're we're we're have unutilized space and we have to do something. We have to do it right. I
started in this district as a board member nineteen ninety-nine. In 1999, it was 14, 300 students in this district. When I left in two thousand and seven, because of the implementation of charter schools and and other surroundings. School of Choice. It went from fourteen 300 to below 10. And the trend continues because we now have chartered schools who parents don't believe
that they're not part of the Pontiac School District and they're not. ATAP, Pontiac Academy Excellence. They still think it's Pontiac. And it's not part of this district. So it's not it can't be countered towards the students' amount of students in the district. We have to do something. But we have to do it right. And under no circumstance, no matter what we do, there's still going to be some disagreements. There going to be some who still no matter how we do it, they're going to disagree. There's some that do. We
Trustee David Smith is getting text messages from teachers saying they don't agree with this about so many teachers but here's the thing, we have to do something I asked in the beginning, it's the presentation. More than a plan. It's the person how you roll it out. And so I'm seeking some answers. Tonight, before I make my decision. Have we discussed this with teachers that are planning on
being moved? And have we discussed this with families in the community? That's important. I do want to address that. Um I want to hear that from. Okay. The person that I employ. No worries. Thank you. So those plans are underway. Trustee growth. But we cannot be we we have shared that information. The full details of the plan we can't go in and have a discussion about what we're going to do without having board approval. So we do have a a an additional plan in
for how we're going to move this plan forward to share with the parents. So then my question also and and I'll end with this. And I'm I'd apologize. I didn't mean to cut you short. That was not mine too. I do not. I apologize. I publicly apologize. That was not my intent but I really wanted to to to hear from Doctor Leverette. Um If this plan is approved tonight, Will it be monitored closely? Will it be reported to this board? How we're doing? Will we be able to meet with or
will you be able to with your team? Meet with those involved to find out where they are. See what's working and what's not working. Because it's not written in stone that we have to maintain this if it's not working. Am I correct? That is correct. That if we vote if it's voted on and it's not working we can come back to the table to do something different. Am I correct? That is correct That's that's what I'm out. I I needed to hit. Yes. Right. That's right. Okay. So, I just want to make sure. Yes. Yes. Because listen. The most difficult
part of this position that I've ever had as a board member. In the 15 years that I've been around, it's closing schools. Because it affects that part of this community. When a local school is is closed. Because kids in that area go there. We seen that years ago. We recently seen that now with Frost. And I know we have to adjust. We have to. Because of the unused space. And we wasted money. We're wasting
money. They can actually go towards something different. Like teachers and and and fine arts. Exactly. These are things that we can rebudget it. Based on the money that we hopefully will be able to save if the once the decision is made. And it working. Mm hmm. But it takes everybody to get this thing to work. Absolutely. Doctor Lavert, do you mind if I speak to the schools that we did meet at already? Or would you like for me to wait? No, that's fine. Um trustee
Miller, I want to respect your hand. So, if you would like to go. Yes, please. Thank you. Trustee Gross, what I'm, what I'm hearing and I, Doctor Devis, I hope she has some answers specifically but what I'm hearing is not a plan and there is nothing quantitative in anything that I've read or this board has been presented that we can monitor and see if if it's if it's being successful and I understand that you are we can adjust as needed. But how are we going to continue to shuffle our children around? If we don't have it
right right now and the building is already closed. We can't go unlock it and then have our students come back until we figure it out. We have to figure it out now. We don't have to I'm not I am tired of the I'll get back to you. I'll follow up with you. I'm still waiting for success that five to eight year olds going to be safe together in the building. Fifth fifth, I'm sorry, fifth to eighth grade and I'm on this board. I still don't have it. So, I'm not hearing a
plan at all. I'm hearing some words. I'm hearing some scooter clausing which I agree with because we have to reduce our footprint but I am not going to tolerate our kids, staff, being shuffled around like we don't know what the heck we're doing and that's what I hear. And guess who going to be looking stupid? Us? I'm sick of us slapping our community in the face. These schools belong to the community. All of us. We pay taxes
here. We all invest in these schools. We invest in our children. The first people that should have known or been talked to is our community. And I know it didn't happen because we all live here. So I don't want to hear that it did. It didn't happen with Frost. We are setting a tone to where it's like mm we're going to make a decision. Deal with it. We'll figure it out when we can. Them kids ain't go to school there was a week late going to school. Yeah, it was an accident about the the the the reporter, whatever, the
certification but while we had it on the timeline to have it done and not have our babies at home for extra week. That's what I'm seeing. I don't hear that here. I don't hear it at all. I haven't heard it. Doctor Libert, I have not heard it. Ye I have not heard it and I refuse I refuse to shuffle around our kids. Like they some animals. Cuz they're not. You are absolutely correct. They're not animals. They are students that deserve a great education pre K
through twelve. So, I think we're on the same page with that trustee Miller and I appreciate your comments Um Doctor Devison, please move forward but what I would do, Trusty Miller is the information that you requested. It is in the resources pages as well as the information Trustee Dooley that you requested about the data and the research. I will print those off because I did forward those to you via Email and this presentation at the end, the community will be able to where that information, where those
resources are, and you can click on those links and take a look at that information. Secretary David Smith had her hand up. Doctor Laverette, I understand your recommendation for this but as as I stated earlier, for me, I know my community. So, that's why last year, I had asked for us to have a town hall meeting about this. I asked for us to do pop ups in the community during the summer because I, you know, we say we're transparent. I
felt that that was the way of being transparent and that was how we got our families to understand why we were going out for the Bond and Millage to begin with. But what our families don't understand is during Covid and things like that the the the cost of the materials that we needed to use and things like that. Is is part of the reason why we probably can't finish the schools that we were because it was the amount of money that they set aside was for those you
know was was this amount but once COVID hit it became this amount. Which made the products up which I understand funding and things like that. So, I understand the reason why you want to do this but I am I work for the community. I work for our staff and that's why I was was elected to be in this position and I feel like we didn't get the communication out to our families where they they're understanding what it is you're trying to what you what you're trying to do but I understand you saying that we can't
do it unless we vote on it but had we put this out last year and and during the summertime and things like that and you were giving them the the footprint and things of how you wanted to transition our our schools to to how you feel that it would help us with the with the students proficiency going up and things like that. How you explained it to us. I think that they will accept it more.
Because they understand that we have under usage. I believe all of us understands that but and and that that will save us money but I think that the the the parents because that's who I'm getting text messages from today. I've I've received messages and phone calls from from teachers saying that they didn't agree with it. But the parents is who's who's saying something. And that's why I was saying that we wasn't communicating and being more transparent on how you wanted to set it aside. I know you had the the
listening session but that's not how our people work here in Pontiac. We have to go to them. Um a lot of people feel like, oh, they'll be on Facebook and things like that but if you don't have pictures or something that graphs they, their, you know, attention, they going to go past that too. So, to me, the most effective way was to go on to the community and put up tents and and bounce houses and you know what I'm saying? And and to let them know, oh we have the preschool we still because
they were they was misinformed about that. They thought we wasn't having preschool at all. So, we had a low enrollment of preschool because of it but we have to be more intentional and actually go out into the community and and tell our parents. Um one thing that that bothers me about it is because I have a 13-year-old grandson who is autistic and I know change for him even at thirteen. He still is still complicated for him. Um as a 13 year
old and he's high spectrum. Um but he he internalizes things a lot. So I'm sure that our we have students like that as well. So for them to have to you know upbring them and change them to a whole different school. Um and and that's why I believe that our our parents are are reaching out tonight to us to to say that they didn't have a voice in this concerning their children. So that's what makes it
difficult for me with this is because I just I just feel like we should have been more transparent. I know, you know, you felt that you were because of the listening sessions and you put the the poll out for the parents to to respond and you got little feedback on those things. 41. Yeah and that's why I believe that we shoulda went out into the community and and did it that way. Thank you. When we discuss capital planning and the future and sustainability of this district
being that we had a bond and a sinking fund, there's a state law firm that requires how the money is spent on brick and mortar based upon what was put on the ballot for those those two the bond and the sinking fund. I understand that we have older buildings. We we we're aware of that. But was what was the results from an independent evaluator that showed where we should go, what how we should, how we should fix our buildings, don't fix this one. This
one may have led, this one may have asbestos. So, what, what was the result? From an independent entity that evaluated our buildings and schools to make sure we are investing in the right buildings for sustainability, not this year, ten, 15 years down the line, capital planning, and that's what we ought to be doing, that's why I'm asking these questions. We have to look forward to the extension of this district, not next month. So, the buildings that we are closing, what did the evaluator
say that influenced the decision to close certain buildings? Like the ones that that is proposed to close now. I just want to make sure the bond and sync refund money according to law. Right. Is being spent on buildings that need repair but we not if we repair this building, right? Because it's the one. We repairing this one. But evaluators say like, no, don't repair that one because that is sitting on asbestos or something. So, why are we repairing? I just want to make sure we are repairing the right buildings and moving our students and staff into a safe environment. So, but and
and but it sound to me you're asking two two questions and that's why I asked. You're talking about the current buildings now that we're seeking because there was a plan that was implemented, right, Marv? Yeah. Um when the before I got on the board in twenty because Devon was approved in 2 thousand and 19 and it was and it was discussed within that plan what buildings that that was should be refurbished because others could not. Am I correct? Facilities considered condition. That's correct. And that happened prior when the bond that you had to implement that in order to get the bond to show what you the type of work
you're going to do and where. But you're talking about the current buildings. Why the decision was made to close the current building? Um yes or no. I understand that you're saying that this was done in 2026. So twenty 20. It was done in 202019, 2020. So we're talking six years later. And we're discussing closing different schools. Correct. Okay. So what what can I read from an independent investigator that says hey you guys are still on target that like you were back in 2019 and 2020,
you guys are still closing the right buildings and repairing the right buildings. I'm talking about right now. 2020, I wasn't here. That's that's what I'm asking. And I, if I can read it, I. Yeah, that's the plan. Right. A current building that's being recommended to be closed. The current two. Yes. Right. Yeah. So that, yeah, that, that's a good question. Yeah, and, and, how can we boy. Oh boy. Yeah. We are going about this backwards. So, so. Can we can we finish sharing the presentation because I'm sure I'm
sure some of these questions and comments that we have these this team can answer and I at least want it to be said. I want it to be heard. That's why they're here. Whatever, whatever we decide, how we're going to vote, or whatever that's going to be is fine but I think we to the same as well as the rest of the community to hear what we're talking about and to answer these questions. Some of these questions that have come up. Point of order. Everything that's being said is important. So we might just have to take the time to hear. Because I would
not want it to be said I'd be remiss to say he had something to say. We we cut him off. So and we we will allow them to talk. Absolutely it. But I want to hear what the board members say because we I don't know if people know. We don't get to talk on the phone We have to follow OMA. So a lot often times we're reading information. So when we come together this is a lot of where our discussion comes. So I want
to hear what my colleague has to say. And and and thank you. Uh thank you. And and this is why and madam chair no disrespect to you. No disrespect. Here's here here's where I'm going. And why. When we're speaking some of the issues and concerns that we may have as it pertains to any subject, not just this one. Mm hmm. Right? It gives you a fear feel where we're going with this vote. Uh huh. Okay? And here's the thing. If it appears that this thing is not going to pass, there's no reason for
them to continue to discuss. If we're discussing this amongst each other as a board, you hear some of the concerns. So then, my question as it pertains to what's next because we're already hearing what we disagree with. What we don't like. So, I'm saying to the person that we employ, right? Is there a specific timeline that we need to get this thing done? That's Number one. Number two, based on what is being said by board members, right? Some of
the questions like meeting with staff and some of the teachers and the concerns and the people in the community. How we need to roll this out to the community. Will that be done? And if so, how would that affect the timeline? Because I don't want to continue to hear from staff and we're not going to vote on this. I've been an advocate of talking with the board and seeing where we are as it pertains to items that's placed on the agenda. Because this is about
business. Right now, this is about discomfort unease, mistrust, that's what this is about and so, if we call for the question now and you don't have the votes, it matters not what's being said afterwards. No, I do. Do you understand what I'm saying? I totally agree. So this is what this is where I'm getting. This is why it's important. So we need to hear the answers to the questions. What is the timeline? If we don't vote today. Alright? Yeah. How would this
be rolled out if we don't vote because you that's our superintendent here are concerns. How is it going to be rolled out to the community and say, because listen, I'm not comfortable with voting on something. When I ask the question, months ago, when it was presented to me in the committee, I asked the question, and I and I unders, I totally understand what Doctor Leverest says, but I don't think it has anything to do with us voting before this issue can be rolled out and discussed. I don't. Mm hmm. Just as we were informed, the
community and the staff should be informed. I asked that question because I didn't want to go through what we went through months ago when we had major news people here and this room was filled and it was crazy outside because the way we rolled it out when we were talking about ITA. I said, I don't want to go through that again. I specifically made that that point. Yeah. So now, my question is, is not approved tonight How is it going to affect the timeline? Right? Mm hmm. What we're doing What's the rush? If any, and
why? How is it going to be rolled out to the staff and the community. Yes. No, trustee Gross. So, that's where I stand. No, I totally understand and I'm not saying there's anything wrong with what you just stated. My, because there were a lot of order. You don't think that should be answered by superintendent? No, I'm not saying she shouldn't but I'm explaining why I made the statement that I did. Let's finish it here in the presentation because there were
several valid questions that were asked amongst trustees just in the conversation. That were going on. So, what I was saying is because as I watched these gentlemen and this lady standing up here, it looked as though they wanted to insert and answer the questions but because we kept talking, they respected us not saying anything. That's just by me watching up here. So, I'm wondering if some of the questions that was posed if they had answers too. I totally understand everything else you said whether it's discomfort or whether this moves forward in a vote
but I think what's worth hearing is if there are answer to some of these questions that we have posed that they should be, I think, they should provide answers because I want to know. I want to know what some of these answers are and so that was my reason for saying, can we at least finish hearing the presentation so that they can at least attempt to answer maybe in their presentation, they can answer some of the questions that we had which are all valid. I just wanted to hear them say what they had to say regarding the questions that
were posed and then we can we can do we need to do. So that was the only reason that I was saying, can we at least hear what they had to say? Trustee Miller. Trustee Gross, I understand you respect that. I don't. Um this started March of twenty twenty-five. This is May of twenty twenty-six. You've asked questions. I've asked questions. Trustee Dooley, whoever else has asked questions, I don't want to hear the answer when you want me to vote on something tonight. No, absolutely not. So, I don't respect hearing the answers to questions I've asked. I want to remind you guys
that we are the of education. We are, it is our duty, our duty, all seven of us, minus VP Bowman, she's not here. It's our duty for financial stewardship, community engagement, advocacy, and policy development. We have to do that. That these are the people who we answer to. So, we're not getting answers from our one employee. We're not doing our job. So, what are we going to do about that? I don't want to hear answers to questions that I've asked since
March of twenty twenty-five. Um respectfully. Uh I'm sorry because I like do I have time to digest it? I don't have time to read it. I don't have time to ask if I want some clarity. I don't want to hear it tonight and I have to vote on closing schools. I don't doesn't do me any good. Especially since I've been asked them since March of twenty-five. And this is May of twenty-sixth. So you have to. So so since we're discussing madam chair if I may. I have a question for you. Right? I have a question for you. And you made a clear statement in the back and in some of the sessions that you
you agreed that something has to be done. Absolutely. So I'm asking you this. What can satisfy you to ensure that this thing gets done properly? What? I'm just you get what I'm saying? I got you. Because art. Mm hmm. Our employee needs to hear that. And and trusty girls, I appreciate you asking me because I am pretty stringent. I'm a very black and white person. Absolutely. What I want to see is, okay, trustees, on Juneth, on January the 1st of twenty twenty-six. We met with the teachers. Here's the teachers we
met. We met with all the teachers. All the staff. We informed the parents. February of twenty-six. Here's the timeline of when we going to close the school, when would the furniture is going to get there, when the students assigning the staff, assigning the teachers, assigning the students to their new perspective school, and then now we're in like April. And it was like, okay, well, let's talk, okay, parents know, community know, the kids know, and can you know, get the, get their frame of mind thinking. We've done none of that. That would
make me feel like I'm doing my job. As a trustee, if my community know, these parents know and the kids at least can start. We deal with a very vulnerable population of kids. We can't just uproot and move them. What about our special needs programs? When is that going to be set up? However, I don't know if specifically, if if they need some special needs like wheelchairs and things like that. When is that going to be set up? We can't start rolling those in there in August and September. That's why I'm so disappointed in this roll out because none of that has been
answered and it should be. It should be. One of the question that I also asked during my session was. Can I jump in after you? Yes. I didn't know you want to speak, Marcus. Well, I'm just saying. We because we kind of no offense but we kind of going back and forth. Nope. Just keep in mind. We do have our community here. Right. We're at a board meeting. If we want to deep dive into something, I think we need to pull this from the board meeting and put this into one of our general governor governors
meeting. So, then. So, we can have more in-depth conversations about this because currently right now, we have Presentation. We did. We supposed to take action. I I from hearing everyone's reply and responses and even. I agree. Some of the comments from the audience. We might have some online as well. It sounds like it's not ready yet. This board is not ready yet. And if that is the case, I know information has been shared. We've got our presentations. The board has received their presentations. This
has been kind of talked about for a couple weeks now. But it still sounds like there's some uneasiness about moving forward. We can all agree that changes need to happen. And it sounds like we can all agree that we need to get it out there to the community. I I agree that you know the number of students is declining. There there's a I'm not Let's call the boat. I'm not I'mma make a motion on the floor. The table. Me too. Strategic.
Vision. Work plan. I support that. And we got a week when is our next board governors? Well, we have board retreat next week. That was what I was going to say that I had asked that we discussed this matter board retreat because we had 3 days. So, at at my question would be, at what point are we going to involve the community to get their responses? So, that that would be the community, all educational stakeholders. At what point are we going to allow them to be active participants for us to sit and
look at their digest, regurgitate what they have stated. In addition to those things, in addition to those things that she said, I would like to see the. I just want to move this along though. I would like to see. This agenda. The sign-in sheets from those persons that you've spoke with. I'd like to see all that documentation then. It validates when just like Secretary Davis Smith gets text minus blinging too. So.
Okay I would like. Yeah. We we do. Yeah. I moved and we moved this topic of discussion till next week for our board retreat. Board retreat. To have discussions there. And also ask that any any board members that have additional questions. Just send that information out or put that in the email and send that to the superintendent. And let's test the superintendent to reach out to her staff. To provide answers. Uh I would
like to also add a timeline on this. I do too. That's why I need to know what is the my thing is giving this information and we obviously know we got a new school year coming up. The timeline for me we need to know exactly how long this is going to take, I guess. Let's put a date on it. As trustee Miller would say. Let's put a date on this. How much time do you need? Do you need a month? Do you need months was going to be the window of
time you need to obtain the information? Sounds like from the community. From our staff, from our teachers. To make this, I guess, incorporate this plan. So, I agree. Let's keep that in mind also. You don't have to give that to me now. But if you can send that to us in the email, let us know. That has set us our expectations. I just want to go on record. Yeah. Motion. Second. Can I get a second? I got a second. It's good. I got a second. Yeah. She gotta
call the parts. Question says comments. Questions, Comments. Thank you. I I want this is I want the general public to know that our board retreat is open for you to come. Because we must involve the community. And it is open. And I have a comment. And I want to say to Doctor Leverette and her staff. Listen. Don't take this personal. Because it's not. You you you worked hard and diligent in what you were presenting to us. We're
not negating that at all. I need you to understand that. But here's the thing. This has to be a situation where all hands are on deck. We can't keep having four to 2, three to three where we can't keep. This is something that's listen, it's devastating when the school is closed. It is. But we all have to be on point together to understand if that decision is made on why and everyone
has to take part in that. Everyone all six of us. All six of us. We have to. So we have to be on point. And I think it's extremely important that we have to be able to express how we feel. And this is a a a meeting of business of the board. But here's the thing. This is extremely important. So I agree with the tabling. Um it has to be discussed further. Because I'm not hearing some of the answers to the questions that I gave. So I
understand how you feel. Miller. Thank you and thank you Trustee Gross for that. I understand. Thank you Trustee Tier of Treasure Terry for putting that motion for the table this. It's vitally important as trustee Gross is saying that we get our we as the board. We set the tone. We set the tone on what we the expectations that we have for Doctor Leverette. Doctor Leverette does what we and what we give her to do. So if we're not setting that standard, we're not governing here. How can we
be how can we be transparent to our community? We can't. We can't. Not from right here. So, I understand Trump. Yeah. This is a a meeting for business. But this is business. This important business. So, let's table it. Let's call the voter and then now, let's do it the right way. Let's discuss and do it the right way. I agree. Any other comments? No. Secretary Davis Smith, roll call please. Trustee Miller. Yes. Treasurer Yes. I'm voting yes.
Trustee Dewey. Yes. Trustee Grove. Yes. President Hannah. Yes. That passes six of them. Alright. Thank you. Moving down the agenda. Doctor Leverette, firewall replacement. Yes, thank you Doctor Hannah. At this time, we will have Jeff and he's going to talk about the firewall replacement and I will read the bear in its entirety. Firewall replacement E-rate. Background rationale. The district firewall was reached has reached the end of its life and is scheduled for replacement. A firewall acts as a
digital security guard monitoring and filtering incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined security rules. It protects systems by blocking malicious traffic, preventing unauthorized access, and managing network resources. This is an essential piece of the district's network security. Oakland schools issued a request for proposals for firewall, hardware, software, and installation services through the federal government e-rate program on behalf of the 15 supported districts and
Oakland schools. The Oakland School Security Team reviewed the existing solutions and researched the current market. The new specification took into account the district's current needs and growth capacity to accommodate the next five to seven years. As part of the IGA with Oakland schools, the OS security team manages each district's firewall through a centralized management system. Utilizing the federal E-rate program, the district is eligible for partial reimbursement on new hardware. The anticipated
reimbursement is approximately twenty thousand dollars based on eligible items. Under E-rate program rules, some of the software is not eligible for reimbursement. Oakland schools will purchase this software and invoice the district a one-time cost of eleven thousand 499 dollars and eighty-two cent. This will license the software for five years. Attached is the Oakland School's recommendation and solicitation summary that was approved at the March twenty-fourth
2026 Board of Education Meeting and the funding sources attached the 2020 school bond fund technology in the USAC Federal E Rate Program and General Fund. Recommendation. It is the recommendation of the administration that the Board of Education award the firewall replacement project to Delta Networks, the lowest qualified bidder in the amount of sixty 7, 5 533. The project will include an additional district managed contingency of 5 thousand dollars.
Delta Network has serviced districts across the county in a similar capacity for over the past 10 years. Jeff. I'm here tonight to answer any particular questions. I believe from the last meeting we walked through the district network. We provided the account numbers. There's any additional questions. I'm happy to entertain those at this point. Thank you Trustee Dooley. So the actual amount that's being requested is 79 thousand. 32 with the sixty7 thousand 5 hundred
and thirty-three dollarsand then you were asking that the one-time cost of the eleven thousand 4 00 99 dollars and 8-two cents. That would equal the 7nine 032 and 82 cents. So, the total being requested, am I correct? Because the 5000 is a a contingency if you need it. So, the real cost is seventy-nine, is that correct, mister that would be the total project cost. The actual award
is to Delta Networks. So, that's the the PO amount that goes outside the district. The other piece is a software piece. So, that would come out of our operational budget. Okay, so it's seventy-nine. The total. That's the total cost of the project, correct? Any other questions? Trustees? Okay. Alright. No other questions. We can move down to the oh can I get a motion for the approval of the firewall replacement? So move. Support. It's been moved by Trustee
Grow supported by Treasurer Terry for the approval of the firewall replacement rate. Any questions? Roll call please. Treasurer Terry. Yes. I'm voting yes. Trustee Dooley. Yes or yes. Trusty Gross. Yes. President Hannah. Yes. Trustee Miller. Yes. That passes six oh. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. Gotcha. Alright, moving down the agenda to finance items. We'll start with the finance report. Oh, I'm
sorry. Doctor Laverette. Thank you, Doctor Hannah. At this time, I will turn it over to Catherine who will provide our financial report. Catherine, how are you this evening? Good. Alright. Good evening board. Um I'm just going to go through the March financial statements. Um year to date and we'll have the April at the next meeting. So if we go to the first slide Excuse me, President Hann. Just one quick before she starts. One document states that she's the interim CFO
and one document does not. It she Is she now the interim CFO? So, this states and maybe just maybe we have two different people, Catherine I'm not going to kill her name. K E R C O R I A N, interim CFO. Yes, that was the role that I was hired as. It's in the contract. Do do you and I can I can I can provide the contract. You, you, you, you've been on several things and
this is, I just happen to was going through. I've never seen you even being acknowledged as the interim CFO and I've been here for about 14 months. So, to see it on one document, I guess the lack of consistency would be a concern. So, either you are or you are. Yes, of course. The CFO. Right. Yes, that is my role. Intern. Interim. Interim entrance here, interim. Interim, yes. That's the super juice. Yeah. Correct.
No, she's not the CEO. She's interim. It's it's in print. For the record. For the record. It's in print. Naming her as our interim C CFO. Point of order and for the record. Um I believe it was August maybe September of 2025 and what was presented to us and we voted on was a a company and when they said that they would, the company wouldn't be housed here. Um they'll be like 2 days here and two and remote for the most
part. Am I wrong? But I, am I right? I probably. That's my understanding. And so, it's it's alarming to see her reference. No offense to you. Catherine. Her refer as a CFO and again, it's the inconsistency that is bothersome where we can't it poses questions from the board. When if we vote on something, the consistency should be there from our superintendent. It's it's a little bothersome to me. Why can't the
question be asked? How did that come about? That's okay. I thought I was giving the background. We didn't vote on it. I'm just asking. How did that come about? She said it was in her contract. What? That's what Catherine says. I I but that's not what was presented to this board. So, I would like to address the superintendent through the chair. Take that. Could you give me a brief synopsis of when and how Miss Catherine became our interim CFO when we did a contract with a
company because this would imply and I maybe It may this implies that we have hired her as our chief financial officer as an interim. Chief and then last week, the last meeting, we knew that the gentleman that left up on was back. Uh. Jim Graham. Jim Graham was back. I'm I'm not understanding how we're having all this movement but I can't get audit. And it's not can't. It's can't. I can't get an audit. I've requested an
audit. But we're doing all of this movement financially. How so? Um. Can I know? I mean, I'll just. Can I note regarding just, just, just for a quick reference, can I note regarding the audit Um, for those that are not aware, this topic has been discussed. Um, and has been brought to the board for a vote. And it did not pass. This is regarding the audit. The forensic, the forensic
audit that keeps being put out there. So just note, that this has been brought to the board. And you voted it down. We did voted down. Therefore it was a dead topic. However, it seems like the passion is still there. And we are still waiting for Pacific Direct concrete evidence on what specifically we're going to do the forensic audit on. And that has not
been received. It's been requested. It's been asked. And it has not been received. So trustee. Just keep that in mind. As we move forward. A forensic audit is not something nice that needs to keep being put out there in public. So in in relationship to that? **** So, when you continue to hear that, it makes your district look bad. It continues to drag your district down as if we're not doing what we're supposed to do.
And some people feel that way. Some people do. But until we get that information, until it comes across my table, Imma keep ignoring this forensic audit. For number one, it's really not in our budget. We had this discussion. Number two, we don't have no concrete evidence. And number three, it keeps getting thrown around like it's this loose change. And somebody's waiting to pick it up. So, I'm just
a little tighter hearing about it. I'm sure some of the community is tired of hearing about it too. Until we get that change, I'm asking that we kindly remove that forensic audit from being thrown out there in public. So, if you want to put another vote on the floor, I I have no problem with. In all due respect, trustee. But you you. That information that you want. But you had to vote. Am I allowed to tell what was spoken to me in closed session
See so so don't so don't come out here thinking you're going to say something to me. You cannot speak. Like I'm not that's that's my point. But you know exactly what I'm talking about. And if you be real about it you know we need a audit. Trustees. I am. Can we stick to audition? Right now we have finance resort. Let me point of point of order. Point of water. We need to we need to I'm sorry. Point of order. We are on the agenda with the financial prison So, point of order,
financial presentation which is on the agenda where we are right now. That's right. We need to proceed. That's good. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Hello. Um alright. So, the the first slide here is our general fund. Um budget to actual and so what we see is we have our local revenue which is at $42 million dollars that that consists of our property taxes. As noted, we're out of formula which means that we collect eighteen mills for property taxes and then about six mills from homestead. So that's what
our main dollars that come in and that comes in you know when summer taxes are collected. So that's why we're at 92% of our budget at the current time. State is going to be our state aide that we receive. We have we have stated formula at risk. Special education. Um we have some transportation dollars that are in there. And that really makes up the 17 million. We're at 75% through the year right now in March. The state were only at 59% and that really is
kind of driven of expenditure reimbursement because we get reimbursed as the costs incur. So, it it it's sometimes the timing is a little off on that but we still expect to end up where we're at at the budget there. Federal is going to be our federal grants that we receive. We're at 71% of budget which would be a bit higher than last year but what's included in that number is we received $5. 9 million dollars for the EV grant buses which we have offsetting expenditures below. We also have grant dollars that will
help subsidize the EV hub of about three point six million that came in. So, that's about $9 million dollars. Also. Yeah. I'm sorry. Uh my apologies. So, that's about $9 million dollars that. I can't even talk and look at it. That is grant funded. So, did you back that out of the expenditures so it can reflect accurate fund balance? Did you back that the $9 million dollars out? Um so, basically, the 5. point nine million has already been spent because it was for the second fleet of
buses. Right. Yes, for the for the EV hub as we expend it, it will allow us not to use as much of the sinking fond as we get through there and yes, if we do not spend it all, it would be deferred and saved in fund balance, yes. Okay, I just want to make sure our fund balance is accurate and doesn't reflect like grants and so it doesn't appear that it's more inflated than what it actually is. Right. Right. Thank you. So, we will defer that if it is not spent. Okay. All anticipation is the hub will be done by June 30th. So, that's where we're at right now but we will continue to monitor that
but yes, good point. Thank you. Thank you so much. Okay. Then, we have our other financing sources which usually consisted of our tax anticipation note and then we also have what else do we have in there? Let's see. ISD some other grants that we received. ISD was basically the main item coming into that other financing sources. So, that's our total new to date at seventy-seven million point six. That puts us at 77 percent. Again, we're 75% through
the year. When we look at our expenditures, we look at our salaries and benefits which would be, you know, our largest cost overall for teachers in the general fund. We're at 59% and 49%. So, we're a little bit lower and that's due to that's due to some positions not being filled and obviously when the negotiations will be which will be soon. There'll be retroactive wages so that will increase that percentage as we move forward. Um purchase services, we're at 52% of
budget. So, we're we're trending under on their purchase services today which is a good thing. Um cost, you know, we're conscious of our cost and we're at supply is 63%. Debt service, we're at 80% of our budget and that really has to do with we did have text anticipation notes this year of 4. 5 million. We paid those off way. So, that's why we're at that 80% of the budget at this point in time. Capital outlay, again, it appears we're over our budget at a hundred and 6 percent but that really is offset
with that 5. 9% revenue that we receive for the buses and then we have the five point nine million in expenditures. So, it's really why we're at 1 00 percent of our budget at this point in time. And then, I think if we get to other costs, you know, we are at 1. six million which is about 58percent. So, in total, we're to date, we're trending at 59% of of budget to date which is a little bit lower than the 75percent. Still keeping our budget intact. This
budget is the First Amendment budget, anticipating we will, we will end up at those costs at your end. If we, if we turn to the next slide, this is really an informational slide to let everyone know what's in revenue in the general fund and what's in expenditures. So, that's really if you go through that and I kind of touched on that just now. So, if we move to the next slide, what this slide shows us is our revenue and general fund and how it comes in. Sorry about my voice. Um it so basically, we can see property taxes
that are bigger source of revenue and we get that in August and September and then, we can see as the year moves on, our sources of revenue decline. So, we have to make sure we're conscious of that and save those dollars so we can get through the end of the year. Alright. And then we go to the next slide. So what this slide is nice. It kind of shows our revenue and where the sources come from in a pie graph. So really what we can see is 50% 5% is property taxes. 22 percent is state aid. And 18% is grants. So
that's basically 95% of our revenues that we have coming in. So this pie graph gives you a nice view of that. Year to date. If we go to the next graph We'll see the same on the expenditure side of things. So, what this does is it breaks out the, oh, if you want to just go back one more, slide real quick. Okay. So, this is the expenditures and so what we can see is that we have broken out instruction, pupil services, we have general admin, improvement of instruction, office of principal, fiscal services,
maintenance, transportation. So, it breaks it down in a nice pie graph on where all of our dollars are being spent. If you look at it, you can actually see that over 85% of our dollars goes to student education and supporting it and so that's that's a thing to be proud of for the district and this really is an example of how you can see that in a nice area. We go to the next slide. This we we broke this into two graphs. So we have a rolling 12 months but this first graph really, if we look at it,
if we just kind of want to focus on our cash balance in the general fund at March thirty-1st, it's 4-1 million dollars. What does that mean? That is about four of our annual expenditures because our annual expenditure is about $104 million dollars a year. We also have restricted dollars in there as as you were just speaking with the fund balance, the 3 point6 million, that's not for general operations. If we back that out, it it comes to about $8 million dollars or so. So, then, we're, you know, we're a little
bit lower. We'd be at 32 million. So, that says we have about three point five months on hand of of in reserve for expenditures we move through the year. Just to put it in perspective. Alright and then if we just go, the next graph is really just the first few months of the year so don't really need to touch on that. We go to this one. This is the tax anticipation notes. So, really what the message is of this graph is the
district in the past would have to issue tax anticipation notes. And the like in July and August because of the fact that we don't collect those property tax dollars until September, August, and September So, you can see in in previous years that we would have been in a cash deficit if we didn't issue those notes. As you can see, as the years go by, we've we've planned appropriately and now, we're at a we're at a state that we don't have to actually issue those tax
anticipation notes. If something's unforeseen and we do need to do it as we move through the year, we do have that authorized to do that but as of right now, we're planning not to do that and that does save us cost interest it sees its cost and issuances as well. So, the district has has done a good job in positioning itself as it moves forward. I'm sorry. Could you repeat that? We're about to tan again. The text anticipation note? Yes. Um so, basically, the text anticipation
notes, we needed to issue those in the months that we weren't really receiving those property tax revenues. So, we were a bit short in July and August. So, we would pre-issue notes in order to collect their property taxes early. And so now, we don't have to do, we're in a position right now that we don't need to do that in this year. Okay, that's what I wanted to hear that we're in a position where we don't have to do that anymore. Yes. Okay, thank you. Mm hmm. And and and and in the past, the the tan has been quite
high. Yes. Mm hmm. Sometimes, I think a couple times to to 10 to 12 million. Yes, it started at yes, you're right about 15 million. But then yes. Previous year, 7 million this year, four point five. 4. 5 and it's and it's slowly dropping. Yes. Thank you. Yup. Trustee Dooley, did you have a question? I was just trying to get a look. I was just trying to get clarity and I don't remember from social studies whether it's the axis or the one. but the colors I see the months and I see the millions. The color is
representation. Can you help me out? Of the year. So when I look at the month of the July we're saying twenty twenty. We're saying so for twenty-four it would be a six or 7 million. And then the turquoise talks about twenty-four twenty-five. Are we not understanding This would have been it would have been in a deficit here without a tax anticipation though in twenty twenty-one. 2122 as well. And then as we move through
as we move through the years, we can see that we we without the anticipation that we were in a positive cash position. That's really what it's trying to exemplify. Trust enough. Trustee Dooley and Catherine please correct me if I'm wrong. These are predictions. Uh historical cash information if we did not have the tax anticipation note. So it's showing the justification on how we have spent the tax anticipation note the
ten and what months did we utilize it the most. And then now the prediction for April, May, and June is that we will not have to utilize the tax anticipation note for twenty twenty-five, 2026. Yeah. That's what that is. Yes. Just yes. Yeah and and the next slide basically shows what it looked like when we did have text anticipation notes. And now we're at a place that in this year are basically that would look the same because we don't need it. Alright.
Alright. Alright. Alright. Thank you. Alright. So, we move on to the next slide. So this is just an overview of the cash balances So, we already went through our cash balance and the general fund of 41 million Our bond, our total bond debt fund which we'll speak to as we move through the slides is six point two million. sinking fund is five point two million. Again, that's for capital improvement, security, technology, and again, the bond then we go to the bond series fund
which we've spoken about and that's for capital infrastructure which the main goal of currently is Rogers infrastructure renovation and we'll see that as we move through the slides. We have food service with the fund balance and we have internal service fund and then we also have student activity fund. So, in total there, we see all of our funds at $70 million dollars in total. But again, that needs to be taken into perspective as we move through the operations of each of those funds. So, the next one is our Bond Series
Vaughn. As we can see, we have year-to-date 18 million point four and that was the series three that was issued this year. So, we have that full amount that we're showing as revenue to date. To date right now, we just have two 9 million dollars spent to date. We have Rogers in there which that's why we have the ten point 6 million dollar budget because Rogers is is slated to come into fruition by the end of the year here. Um So then, current to date, we have a surplus of 14 million but as we
go through the year, that will end up looking like seven point seven million but still Rogers will go on to another year, and those, and those dollars, any excess dollars, that was approved by the voters, will go for infrastructure. Alright. And again, this is just to show us our cash balance at March thirty-first, which is $17 million dollars. Okay and then if we keep moving through Okay. If we go, if we can go one more slide, okay, sinking pond. So,
this is our sinking fond that we were just discussing. Um so, again, that's building improvements. We can use technology, maintenance, for to use of these dollars. Currently, year to date, we have $3. 1 million dollars collected and we've spent $634, 000. A lot of that had to do with the wrap up of the middle school, high school, and Harrington. The seven 9 million Um a large portion of that was slated for the EV hub. about three point 6 million dollars of
that. Again, as I was just speaking to, we did, we were able to receive some grant funding. So, hopefully, we will be able to alleviate those dollars to be spent elsewhere for the district as well with the needs we've discussed previously. Yes. For you. Um on the sinking fun page here. Why does administrative have a line item for 15000? What does that represent? Cuz it's right in the same expenditures as repairs and miscellaneous. So I don't believe
I've seen that before. If I have my mistake but can you tell me what that line? I'm a $15, 000. Yeah that would just that would basically overseeing the projects. So we have. Like the project manager? Yes. Okay. Thank you. Mhm. Yes. Alright and then if we go then to the next page. Is this a cash flow again to show where our cash position is at. So again, at March 31st, the sinking fund is 5. three million dollars in it which I just spoke to in the previous graph. Alright.
And then if we go to this graph, this is funding source estimated cost of projects. And I wanted to include this in this graph to let us know. So Rogers and we had some discussion on that previously. So, Roger's potential right now cost is 12. 3 million dollars. I know there was an approval of 14 million and we kind of we're discussing whether it would come in lower at 13 million or 14 million. I think the area that there was little bit of clarity that I
needed to bring to the table was pre-purchased equipment. Is it $1. 4 million dollars? That was split between Harrington and Rogers. Rogers had Harrington had one point four. So that's why we're able to come in at this lower cost of 12. 9 million right now. Catherine. And that? Yes. Oh I'm so sorry. No you I guess no. With the contingency for the it's for Rogers projects. I don't want you to get too far from Rogers. Yes. Um did we vote? Like what percentage contingency did we vote? What was it?
Yeah 20%. 20% contingency before before it comes to the board. When they bring it to the board. Say it again. We voted. Yeah. We voted on it. It's 20% contingency before they can do that and anything above has to come to the board. Correct? Yes. Anything? Yep. Yep. Okay. And thank you. That's all. That obviously is that is is if we need it. Yes. Yes. Of course. Of course. Yep. Yeah. Thank you. Okay. And then the EV transportation hub at Frost. That's like I I had indicated right now. We we were able to receive that section 74 B
clean bus energy grant. So the original hard cost of that or $3 million dollars, approved contingency of $602, 000. So, the hub potential right now is 3. 6 million dollars. Currently, 3. 2 million of that will be funded by the grant that was we were able to receive which is which is a very nice thing for the district as well. Then we move on. This is our depth fond. So, obviously, this is the debt that we have in place, that we need to spend
for the year. So, the budget really does reflect what we will spend in bond principal payments of 1. 6 million and bond interest payments of five point eight. Currently to date, we've only spent 2. 5 but that's because most of the debt payments will come to be in May here. So, then, when I present the May financials, that'll get, that will become very close to budget. Okay and then it'll be this is again, just a cash flow, rolling cash flow that we're at $6. 2 million dollars. And, and we will need those dollars,
obviously, to pay the debt for the year, including the interest. Then if we continue this is the food servit. Yeah, if we just continue around. We have, this is our food service. So, right now, our food service fund. We have 2 million dollars in revenue and $2. 4 million dollars in cost to date. So, we're running it about, we're running about a $328, 000 deficit but our our intention, hopefully, is to break even and if we don't break even, the general fund will need to
transfer funds into the food service to make sure it's made whole. Definitely. It's me again, Catherine. Um with the state of the government where it is now, has there been any projections made with the the loss of like Snap benefits and things like that, benefits that we utilize here for our our community, for the school. Has there any project been a projection of how much more we would have to put into the full service balance if those benefits are cut. Um from a federal level.
Federal funding, sorry. I I can get back with you on that because we have looked at that with this budget that we're putting together. So, I will get back with you on that, okay? Okay. Thank you. I think In the past, we are known as a free and reduced lunch district and that specific rebates was anything refunds that we get back from the government. Yes. This is why we're at this deficit now because of what has been transpiring in federal and then when we had the lockdown in both federal and state governments, it
has been causing some issues as it pertains to our free and reduced lunch programs. So, the hope is is that we could possibly be reimbursed because we are that district. We have a considerable amount of children. Am I correct? Yes, you're correct. Okay. Yes, we have a certain amount of students within this district that we qualify for a reduction or or or reimbursement. Yes. For food. Because of we're free and reduced lunch. Yes. And. So the hope is is that they they we're going to get something back. Now can't sit on it. Cuz it's a strong possibility we're
not this year. Right. Right. This year. That's the issue. Right. So the hope is that from this point forward that we may able to to obtain some of those funds back. Exactly. And so we're making sure to put in for that reimbursement timely now. Yeah. Okay. Alright Okay and then the last slide is just other information. So, emergency purchases, we really haven't had any significant emergency purchases to date Um budget amendment two will include the impact of any ratified contracts that are currently under
negotiations and then the fiscal year twenty-six, 27 budget will be reviewed by board board members in May and then formally approved no later than the board meeting June eighth. So, you'll have May to review that and go through everything. So, that's the current plan Are there any questions? Okay. This is my last one. Um being that we're talking about the the contracts and it'll be in our budget a minute. Would there be any predictions on based
upon the potential contract of how much the board the district will have to pay for like legacy cost, the step increases, things like that. Do you, can you provide any predictions of how much that will cost over? Like 3 years, the legacy cost? I actually, yes, we have that. We have that contract that's propose. Okay. That I can give to you so that you can see that and that will basically show you what that increase will be in the current year and then going forward in the budget. And then it will be
retroactive to the beginning of this year. And it would include like benefits of retirement office. Okay. Alright. Thank you. And I have that document so I can share that with you. Okay? Alright. Trustee Gross. Um I didn't want this to get past us because we talked about it earlier. And I don't know if you're going attend the retreat or if Chris is going to be there or the both of you. Mm hmm. And I think it's the opportunity. At that time at the board retreat, this is what I'm asking That we vote on at the retreat on a specific date that we're
going to have a board study session for the the budget because I just asked the treasurer to Marcus. And Terry. There's a budget amendment coming up soon. Mhm. And we have to have a clear understanding about this amendment. Yes. So we can't just vote on amendment. We don't have a study session yet. So I'm asking no more putting this off. Okay. No more we've been talking about it in meetings. I'm asking that once we get to the board retreat next
week that we have a specific concrete date or dates. That we're going to sit down for every board member that has you know about the budget and want to go over it. Is that possible? Yes, it's possible. I know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Is that possible? Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. Uh yeah. Yeah. You you over them. I'm asking my employee. Okay. So, we need to do this Asap because it's been discussed too much. Now, it's time for action. You agree? Sounds like a plan. We'll set some. Let's let's right. Alright.
So, let's let's do that and so we can get this thing outdoing. Yup, sure. We'll set some dates. Thank you. Okay. Sounds good. Thank you so much. We actually got dates, sir. So, we we are scheduled to in June. No date though but they're planned for June. No, we need some dates. Yeah. We need dates. Yes. Yes, I got you. I got you. Yes. Yeah. Gotcha. Gotcha. Gotcha. Gotcha. Okay. Thank you again, Catherine. Thank you. Thank you. You want a table? Yeah. Oh.
What is it? Alright. Go to Oakland Schools. What's next? Thank you, Doctor Hannah. This is for discussion and action and you have attached the Oakland School's fifty fifty fiscal year, twenty-six, twenty-7 proposed budget transmittal letter. You have the Oakland Schools fiscal year 2627 proposed general fund budget. You have attached the Oakland Schools detailed budget
booklet of all funds. You have attached the resolution for support of Oakland Schools Fiscal Year twenty-six twenty-seven proposed budget and the resolution for the disapproval of the fiscal year 2627 proposed budget. Oakland School's fifth fifth is getting late. I'm sorry. Oakland School's fiscal year 2-6th, twenty-7 proposed budget resolution approval. Background rationale. Per the Michigan School Code section three eight zero
six point two four. The Oakland School's budget must be presented to Oakland County's 28 school districts. By first each year. The applicable statutory language states, not later than June 1st of each year, the board of each constituent district shall review the proposed intermediate school district budget. shall adopt a budget resolution expressing its support for or disapproval of the
proposed intermediate school district budget, and shall submit to the intermediate school district school board, any specific objections, and proposed the constituent district board has to the budget. If an intermediate school board receives any specific objections or proposed changes, the intermediate school board shall consider the proposed budget changes. Funding sources NA and the recommendation, it is the recommendation of administration that the Board of Education approved
the resolution of support for the Oakland Schools twenty-six twenty-seven proposed budget. And This is a yearly process. Thank you. I have to leave with. Okay. You want to vote? Yep. No. Then I'll read it after. Cuz I don't really want to read the approved word. Disclosed. Okay. Any questions, trustees? You have to entertain a motion then? Can I, yeah, we can do a motion now. Okay. For the approval of the Oakland Schools fiscal year, 2627, proposed budget resolution. So, move. It's
been moved by trustee growth supported by Trustee Julie for the approval of the Oakland Schools fiscal year 2627. Proposed budget resolution. Any questions? Roll call Trusty Dooley. Yes. I'm voting yes. President Hannah? Yes. Trustee Miller? Yes. And Treasury Terry? Yes. Madam Terry that passed five oh. Thank you very much. Next under discussion item, Doctor Leverette? Yes. Now we'll read the ISD budget
resolution. School District of the City of Pontiac, Michigan, the district. A meeting of the Board of Education of the District was held in the district on the fourth day of May twenty twenty-six at six o'clock in the evening. The meeting was called to order by Doctor Anisha Hannah president. Present, absent. The following preamble and resolution were offered by member and supported by member and those will be filled in.
Whereas, one, section 624 of the revised school code as amended requires the intermediate school board to submit its proposed general fund budget no later than May first of each year to the board of each each constituent district for review and two. Not later than first of each year, the board of Each Constituent district shall review the proposed intermediate school district general fund budget, shall adopt a board resolution expressing its support for or disapproval of the
proposed intermediate school district general fund budget and shall submit to the intermediate school board, any specific objections and proposed changes that constitute the constituent district board has to but has to the budget. Now, therefore, be it resolved the Board of Education has received and reviewed the proposed intermediate school district general fund budget in accordance with section 624 of the revised school code as amended and by the adoption of this resolution
expresses its support for the proposed intermediate school district general fund budget the secretary of the Board of Education or his or her designation forward a copy of this resolution to the intermediate school district or its superintendent no later than June first all resolutions in so far as they conflict with this resolution be in the same are hereby resended. Aids, members, maids, members. I have read the resolution in in its entirety. Thank you. Thank you very
much. Next, on the agenda. First and third. Yes. At this time we have the first student contract for discussion and action. We have, let me get to the other one. Yup. We have Jeremy Motts, attorney at Clark Hill, this is for the approval of the first student transportation three-year contract for fiscal year commencing July 1st, 2026 and ending June 30th,
2029 and then you have the contract attached and this is the first student contact contract and I will read the background rationale. First student contract renewal. Approval of the proposed first student transportation contract for a three-year contract commencing July 1st 20 26 through June 30th 2029 First students estimated cost for the proposal for home to school and midday runs included in table attached based on routes and days per
school year. Field trip and athletic runs based on the assumption of historic trends and bus porters and bus aids based on estimated need with routes noted. Estimated cost over three year period proposed contract is based on historical trend. These assumptions are subject to changing needs of the district. Please note detailed support of rate and attach B a contract with an annual increase set at 3 percent per year based on the proposed contract. This is under the assumption of full use of the
district owned EV buses. This cost includes charging cost and fuel when diesel buses are in place as a substitute for EV fleet. The diesel buses are contractor owned and cost negotiated in contract. Administration is asking for discussion and action related to the proposed contract to be fully operated with the new fleet of EV buses on July 1st 2026. C attached documented estimated cost and assumptions related to the contract proposal. Excuse me for approval. And there you have the general fund
and special education funding sources and recommendation. It is the recommendation of administration that the Board of Education approved. The first student contract commencing on July 1st, 2026 and ending June 30th 2029 for transportation services. For the district and I'll turn it over to you. Good evening Jeremy. Good evening board. Uh Jeremy Moats here. Uh attorney with Clark Hill. Um I've been working with school districts throughout the state for 21 years and I've been have the pleasure work with the school district here for 15 plus years on wide wide variety of legal
matters and work with transportation with you guys and was brought on with general council to assist. I've done a lot of transportation work with a lot of districts and so to work with this this particular contract. So, I know we've been here a long time and so we want to try to be brief but I want to give you guys the opportunity. I want to do a couple things. Just give a little overview of what the contract is now. Um what what's changing in the contract and sort of why? As we've talked in the budget, other things, the main driver of why it's changing is you guys are changing from a contractor-owned
diesel bus fleet to a school majority school district owned EV fleet. So, you are completely changing the way in which your operation is going to be run in terms of the vehicles that you're using which then has to have some internal changes to the contract. So, moving forward with the current contract that expires at the end of June 20 twenty 2026. To have some structural changes to the contract to accommodate the change in the system. Yes, before you continue and I'm sorry, I didn't
want to cut you off but I had the opportunity to thoroughly read the the the contract and my questions and concerns that I have and I know you're going to go over some things and see the differences and I and I've seen the difference but my concern is is I I read where if a driver or drivers have had any contact with authorities, whether it's speeding, whatever the traffic offense may be, speeding, or even an accident, right? That information is to be shared and and this goes to
Doctor Leverette too. To be shared with the district. Correct. Right? Are there any consequences in place if it's not? Is that the history of not being reported to the district? That's number one. Number two. The consequences for not reporting or not reporting to the district We have no knowledge or if people are driving without specific licenses that they need. Right. Oh not we had issues with background checks. Yeah. They they didn't report it to the district. And once we discovered it we had to be part
of that. And and then also what will occur or happen when there's concerns with the lack of drivers where drivers are calling off, drivers are not showing, You understand? And I'm asking this because this is not just a history for a student. I've been here a long time when we had Ryder. That's how long I've been around. But the main thing is is that we maintain the employees that we have because a lot of them are for Pontiac and they're familiar with the Pontiac routes in the city.
My only concern is is that management somehow, someway and I think that's something that I'm asking you to get involved in. That management needs to be held accountable for managing. Since we're in a a partnership with them. Because that's been an issue. I don't know if that's in the contract. I didn't see it. But I did read where, you know, if it have accidents or have any contact with the police, they were reported to the district. But history shows they've
not done that. Okay. And that's just not for a student. Yeah. Well, the contract does require them to do all that. It requires them to report. Yeah, to the report it. Yeah. But what happens if they don't? Okay, they're in breach of contract. Okay, then so. They say that. That's what I want to hear. So, that's the kind of. That's what the public needs to hear. So, if they don't follow the rules of the contract. Thank you. Report it to you, you have to give them notice. They're in default under the contract. They have an opportunity to cure the contract. Thank you. Um
and then they move on from there. That's extremely important. And that thought that's something that I think is very important. That I'm asking you not putting anymore on your plate but this is important. I think that that's something that should be monitored. Um you have some things in place to be able to have that information where you're not there all the time. But you have something in place to be able to do so. So that's what I'm asking and and I appreciate that. Yeah. Um. Alright. I can go through the ones but you know, on those and I, I'll touch on those but I know most of them because the
contracts go back to breach but you know, if they, they're driving out licensures, there's very specific under the contract which then aligns with the People Transportation Act of what licenses you have to have in terms to operate a school bus, including finger fingerprinting and background checking the like. Um if any of that were to slip through, obviously, it's breach of contract and the driver have to be pulled off. That's written in there. Um if the lack of drivers, that's sort of a two-fold answer. And that's nationwide Yeah, it's always nationwide. Bus seeking drivers. They had a big bus with a sign. We we
need. So that's that's all over. Yeah. But I'm talking specifically with the drivers that we have and there's specific things that are going where they're not showing up. Yeah. Not calling off. Not coming in. That's an issue. Yeah. That's to work with first student to make sure that is to get and get that done. But you know having the lack of driving. Here's monetary penalties if we're not running the routes properly and also. Right. I read that in the contract. Yeah. Yeah. So. Trusting Yes. It's directly related to the the criminal background checks. Um page 11 F. Uh just for clarity. It says
these criminal background checks must be completed through the school district. And further down it says contractor acknowledges and agrees that contractor personnel will be required to undergo the full fingerprinting and background check process. So am I reading that with you guys hire them? Then they come to us to get the background of fingerprinting. Uh huh. Is that the process I I don't know the passage. That is correct. That's required by law. Right. That's the. The school district has to run the background checks because it's a government and then they, the school district then, once they receive those issues, a red
light or green light letter to the contractor. They gotta indicate whether or not the driver or person and employee can work in the school district or cannot. That's written right in the law. They try to get away to before but it was caught. I can answer. No, we don't. First student sheet. First student encourage the cost. Yeah, your first student encourage the cost but the law requires the school district to run it through its processes so that it gets the reports back. They review the reports and issue the red light or green light letter whether the employee of first student can operate within the district. So, just a brief, like I said, the
reason that we're we're here is because the contract expires in a month and a half and obviously changing over the bus fleet to the EV system. So, the the bus system is really going to remain the same. They're going to do the home to school routes, the midday routes, your extracurriculars in the evenings, athletic routes. Those are all the transportation services that they're providing for both general ed and special ed. Um a couple of the differences if you look between the two contracts and this is where we needed to make some revisions was the type of buses. So, the the rates that they've offered
and we'll talk about at the end here are based upon operating 40 school district owned EV buses. They're also going to supplement with seven contractor owned diesel buses and that's necessary. For one, we need spares. If for whatever reason, the the school district runs 40 routes right now. So, all the EV buses when the when they're fully implemented after the charging solution and you know, it frost is all implemented and they are now able to go all the 40 buses based upon the current route structure would be allocated to daily route buses. One of those may go
down and there may also be some conflict to have us field trip go some place. So the the diesel buses are needed so they can have extra buses around to do the services whether it's a breakdown or additional services are needed where there's conflicting with home to school routes. Um so that's one of the differences. The second one is the school district now is going to be taking on the routing of all of that. Before first it was doing the routing in conjunction with the district towards the recently now the district is doing the routing and we're going to continue on with that. So that's written into the
contract where the school district staff does the routing and gives those routes to for student. Um the staffing remains the same where first student employs the managers, the mechanics, the drivers, and the bus aides and how those are charged either built into the rates or there's an hourly rate depending on the need. The one for this is a bus porter you'll see in the contract. Um and so Bus Porter is something that hopefully will be used at a very minimal capacity but because of the
charging solution not being fully implemented now and there's some temporary charging solutions. We can't charge all 40 buses at once. So they have to be moved around. So they need somebody who's licensed to drive school buses there to move around because you have to charge them at night and after hours. So they have to have somebody move the buses around into the charging So, that's there. As the full charging solution comes on board, the need for the bus porter will hopefully go away totally but we had to account for it as we're moving into this transition because we don't know exactly how it's all going to put together. Um
bus maintenance, the rates that you are charged on a daily basis include all bus maintenance. Currently, it's contractor own fleet. They maintain all their buses. It's all built in. Um going forward, it's a little bit of a hybrid. Um the school district owns 40 of the fleet and they're under five-year warranties. So, hopefully, fingers crossed. There's not going to be much of work that's needed on the EV buses to the extent that the general preventative maintenance and just the minor things that need to be done with buses on a regular basis. That's
all built in even for your EB buses. Um to the extent that you need any parts that aren't covered by warranty which again, finger we won't really have any major things. Those would be charged to the school district at cost with a slight markup for their administrative costs. Um and the reason why we did it on a as needed basis is so it wasn't requiring to have some assumption of how much an EV bus is going to cost to maintain if a something's going to break that's not covered by warranty. You just don't know. So it keeps the rates
down. So but and hopefully with the five year warranty it shouldn't be too big of an issue. Um fuel as they we mentioned. That'll still be to the extent needed. Will be paid for by the school district as well as the school district pay for the electricity for the new buses. With EV buses. Um so just a couple. So that's just sort of the the service is really mainly the same with the couple nuances. Some of the upgrades that we've put into the contract is sort of just tighten and clarified several things. Um just from examples. Uh notices on when buses may be running late. So that the
school district has the opportunity to communicate to hey, the buses, you know, that bus is 5 minutes late or what have you. So, we can have better communication on what's going on. So, maintaining that and mandating that under the contract. Um we have some adjustments to the pricing if if routes are missed or excessively late. Um so, there's some monetary incentive from on first students. So, if things are not on time and consistently there. Um now, nothing's perfect. It's a transportation. It's not a lot of moving parts, no pun intended. So,
things are late but if there are exces laid outside of certain parameters on a regular basis then they start having monetary issues and then, addressing things with reporting on a better basis to the district, Trustee Gross, one of the things with respect to licensure but other things with respect to the information that the district needs on a regular basis to submit the reports to the state to get the, for example, your 4094 to get your special ed reimbursements back. So, having that information on a regular basis and not just at the end of the year to the administrative team more
time to digest it, stay on top of it, ask the questions, and then get those reports submitted timely so you get the maximum refund back and then, obviously, sort of correlating with that is invoicing and make sure that's doing a good job of getting the invoicing and the billing to the district so they can in a manner that they can understand it and then, it's obviously pay make payments on a timely manner for the services rendered. Um so, a couple other changes. Um just before one other changes when we get in the rates. Um the rates were projected from where
we are right now this year to go up roughly three and a half percent. That's where they were just projecting when we first started this process with first students. Obviously, we don't want the rates to go up. Um so, we're trying to look at that. So, one of the things we looked at is the school district under the current model was charging rent to first student for its utilization of the facility. Um and so that's somewhat in all the transportation work that I do. It's somewhat uncommon for the reason that you know, first students going to build that into their overhead and then
they're so they're going to charge your rates higher. So, we asked them if we were to reduce having to pay rent, how much would your rates go down? So, they were going to go down for the instead of going up three and a half percent where they currently are projected. They went down three and a half percent and so, doing the math, the school district roughly receives about 1 hundred and seventy-5, 000 dollarsa year in rent and by reducing that cost and taking that out of their equation, the projected just on home to school savings is about $200, 000 a year. So,
there's a there's a positive net savings or positive savings to that So, that was where the rent came out. Now, it's just under a facility use agreement. Uh similar to a lease, same thing. Just there's just no rent component where they're just paying you and then you pay back at higher rates. Um so, we felt that that was a positive way to go. Um and the last thing on the race before I can throw it into questions is after we went through a lot of negotiations and back and forth with them, from the where we currently are down three and a half percent by removing rent and
then doing more adjustments and and negotiation with first student, we're able to reduce the rates down about another almost 2%. So, from other rates you currently are to where you're going to be or about a 5% decrease. Um so, that's that's good and so, that's obviously associated some with having the EV buses which you gotta was about $17 million dollars in in EV buses through grant funds which is as an awesome thing. Um so, there's a lot of things there. So, that's where the rates are going to end up and again, they're built on
home-to-school rates and then for middays and your athletics and extracurriculars, those are all hourly based upon when they're needed. They could go up and down and so you just pay on a on a as need basis. So, with that, I can throw it open to questions and go from there. Thank you very much, trustees, treasurer Tierri. Uh good evening. Uh just real quick. I was going through obviously but on the buses that we have currently and the ones we're going to be utilizing with this new
contract specifically used for Pontiac School District only. Yes, so your your EV buses, yes, are used, you know, only for the Pontiac schools only as written right in the contract and the buses that other ones that they've essentially dedicated. I guess those are the diesel buses for those. Those are, you know, dedicated to, you know, Pontiac School District Services. I, for a student may swap a bus out here and there because they have to upgrade or something else and it goes some place else but they they have seven buses dedicated to the district. Okay, okay. So, no other
districts or other, no. Commodities or businesses. Okay. Alright. Thank you. Her long-term trips, long-term. That that the the electric like, if you gotta go to Lansing, the electric bus can't go there. So, that's why we maintain the seven diesels but I think they at one point in time, they were committed that the when they own their buses, they did field trips for outside sources and things like that because I utilized them for Oakland schools but I think it's different now that we have our these EV buses are
ours. Yeah. Correct? Yes. Alright. I I'm trying to make sense of it. So when he said he swaps out a bus like a diesel bus, swap it out. So, where is that swap going? Is it going to the school district? It's the the. Yeah. Yeah Like they made. Our buses? No, it's their buses. These are buses. Oh, the diesel buses? Yeah, you know, that they can't. They belong to first student. Yeah, they can't touch your butt. So, it's. What's happening? Oh, yes. It's late. It's ten. Yeah. I'm sorry. Yeah. Diesel. Yeah. Yeah,
you're. Yeah. Yeah. The forty EV buses are yours. They stay here. It's it's the first student may upgrade one of their diesel buses if necessary. Yeah. Alright. And we good on questions? No more questions? Yeah. Yeah. So move. Now we're going to vote now. If we don't have any more questions, thank you. Move and support. I did. I support. That's right. So, it's been moved by Trustee Growth supported by Treasurer Terry for the
approval of First Student Contract Renewal. Roll call please. What's he doing? Yes? Mhm. I'm voting yes. President Hannah. Yes. And Trustee Miller? Uh yes. Treasure Terry. Yes. Madam chair that passed five oh. Alright, thank you. Thank you very much for coming. Oh, thank you very much. Uh I know, I just wanted to confirm, are we going to table the operational budget? I I discussion. Yes, President Hannah.
I am going to make up. I I am making a motion to take your motion. You don't have to table. You can remove your motion and your support and then we don't have to table it. I want to table it because I want to talk about it. No, we can remove it and and you first have to remove your motion and support. The motion was already approved. This will support. So, why would I have to remove it? What? You feel me? So, now, we want to table it. Table it. Yes. Cuz I I and Imma give you a dater when I want to table it. So much, right? Also, if I may
with all due respect, the lateness of the hour, can we table the rest of the meeting? Uh. Can we postpone it or be quick to see it? Yes. On our. Retreat. Retreat. The only thing that I would say is that the the budget for the the summer school, we do have to do that because we have to put the orders in. Yeah. So, we will wait on the presentation for the okay So, we we need to move expeditions. Okay. We'll table it. Yes, thank you. Until. So. And you'll
give me the date. Yeah, I don't think you have to vote on it. Just give a date. Oh, At the retreat. You need to talk about. Yeah. Retreat. Yup. If we have time at the retreat, if not, on the February May 18th meeting but. Oh, lord. She said. Okay, we will table the discussion and action for the operational budget. Right. Um board retreat. Thank you and possibly. Alright, thank you. Moving down, summer school precinct, Doctor Everett. Presentation or do the vote? Thank you. At this time, we will have a summer school presentation. Curriculum and instruction, summer
school presentation for twenty twenty-six. Doctor Devison. Oh, thank you. It was in the pocket. We should have read it. Are they okay with us? I'm just saying. Ask. President Hannah, can I ask the question before we hear? If memory serves me right. We bought materials last year for summer school. Is there a reason why we can't reuse that same material? Unless it changed. That would be and the curriculum hasn't changed. We has not we have not adopted a new curriculum. I'm just concerned about our spending
habits. And summer school is what? Six weeks of training? I I can't understand how we cannot utilize the same materials we purchased last year. Because it was online. It it I mean Is it the licensing or something? I'm just, I'm just curious. Cuz we voted on every year for that. So, every year and and I don't see that being logical because you have educators that know how to spiral up or spiral down or use the current curriculum. In fact, if if it was me, they need to re reiterate,
reteach what was not learned. So, they already had it. These students are coming for a repetitious learning if if repeated. So, I don't I would not vote in good conscience to purchase new material. When we just purchased it when I I came on aboard for that summer. It's it's summer again. So, that same material should be readily available to be utilized. Oh yeah doctor. Hello? Okay. Thank you. So, Trustee Duliant with all
respect, if you look on here for the bear, these are things that are on subscriptions and so we cannot reuse subscriptions. In addition to these are grant funded. So, Harrington received a grant which is a discovery grant that it was funded that it was giving to us. So, we have to spend the money that was given to us. So. Doctor Jefferson, what I think I hear you saying, all expenditures are covered by grant funded money for
this summer? Correct. So, there will be no nothing coming from anywhere. Our general fund or anything else. And and can I see get those grant funding sources? They're all listed on the beer Trustee Dooley. Is grant funded. Page 2 nineteen. I apologize. I was on travel this week. Come here. You see it? Battle chair? Yeah. She said she could bypass the discussion with you if we can go right into the The trustees, are you okay with Doctor Devison bypassing the
presentation and moving forward to summer school materials? Uh thank you very much. Are we okay with that? Cuz we have to vote. So. Trust me Dooley is still slandering her decision. I'm interested to hear what she has to say. Hey, y'all won't want to leave. I'm cool. I'm I retired. I can stay home tonight. Doctor Devison, if you can go forward with your presentation. Good evening. I'll get started Uh So, again, we have the curriculum and instruction team. Nothing has changed on the team. Uh this is the
literacy training. I'm sorry, next slide. Um this is the training for summer school for K through five and six through eight. Doctor Davidson. Let's go back to that slide. With the so I was under the impression that mister Schumann was no longer with us and you said the staff has not changed with that would not be correct. So he's employed here until June 30th. I cannot remove his name
off of my team until he's not employed here. Thank you for clarity. No worries. Okay, I'm sorry. So, we're on the literacy professional learning schedule and it's K through five TCM Summer Literacy Scholars. Yes, ma'am. Oh, oh. So, I'm I'm looking at another name and I'm just in a quandary. You can straighten it out for me real quick. Miss Felicia Jeter, she's a literacy supervisor here and then she was performing arts supervisor on the Performing Ice presentation.
Which, which, which job does she get paid for? She gets paid for the as a literacy supervisor and she is over the fine arts which falls under the literacy piece. And that was just how it was when I came downtown. I didn't I I've never understood how fine arts fell under ELA. I retired a 30 year teacher English. ELA and and I've never known fine artists, fine arts, and literacy is literacy. How how how are you combining the two? I I'm I'm just
need just facilitate my thinking. I will check into that for you. That was something that was prior to me even entering into this role. Probably when you were here 30 years ago I just left in 21. I guess all I need is clarity. How can fine arts come under literacy? I'm I'm because in all these years and even yours, fine arts is fine arts which encompasses the humanities. And then literacy falls under the English portion. So I I I'm just in a
quandary as to how one person has multiple. These two jobs. So we do not have a fine arts supervisor. You just. Felicia Jeter's title is Literacy Supervisor as Stacey. It was in print today. I saw that tonight. I'm I'm not I'm not. We do not have. I don't make this stuff up. I see this. What what is your end goal here? What what is. I asked the question. I know but what is the purpose? The question was because
I'm trying to figure out see this goes back to those dollars and cents. Because is she getting paid for two jobs? No. She was presented and mister Bentley. Connors. Thank you. Bentley. As the performing arts supervisor. That's what the presentation. So then when I look here and I see her again as the literacy supervisor, then, is she getting, she getting paid for, is she start planting? Are we start planting here? You know what that mean? I do. I'm not going to
enlighten you at this moment. However, can we get back to the topic? I don't think we're questioning the positions right now. The topic that we're looking at has to just be summer school. You know, I think we need to stop trying to just separate all of this, all of this goes hand in hand. Either we're paying for something and and you're right. We're not talking about Yeah, because that's money. But we were talking about her curriculum is team. We got it. So
that's where it came. Retreat. That's that's where it came from. That's that's fine. So. That's fine. Right. We can get through the summer school Information for now. Perhaps. We can come back. We can still may have another question and I'm entitled. That's fine. My one vote gets me the right and and haven't been duly elected by the citizenry of Pontiac. I get a right to ask questions. If you're in late. And and we. And I still get a right. And we yeah. It's good to you. Can we move forward please? Thank you Doctor Davidson Okay. Okay, as it relates to the training,
professional learning schedule is listed here, K through five, TCM, Summer Literacy Scholars, and then also six through eight, TCM vocabulary and it's just giving you the dates and times when that's going to occur. Next slide, So for the ELA summer school focus, it's listed here, kindergarten through 8th grade. What will be the focus for the summer school literacy? As it relates to next slide. One, two, three, rhythm to read. That is a
program offered through Oakland Schools but we offer it here for our preschoolers and it's just expressing to you that it will be for thirty-six. You still Preschoolers and they're going to engage in text, knowledge of the letters, and sounds, and also increase the knowledge of numbers, and phonological awareness. Next slide. For the summer school rhythm, a one, two, three rhythm and read. These are giving you the professional development dates. And the
professional development dates that have been provided. Staff has attended the March, April, and they will attend the one on May. It's expressing to you the dates for the program which is June 29th through July 23rd to twenty twenty-six and it's going to be 8: 30 AM to 130 PM. Two classes of 36 students. So, half of half the number is half. For one one class and then the other class. As it relates to boys I'm
sorry next slide. Boys College, the Summer Literacy. This is Boys College Literacy Institute and again, this is a Oakland Schools program that we do within our building and it's for ten, 12, 10 to 12 students, third to fourth grade students engaged in text, social, and natural science, increased their daily reading volume, stamina, create outlets and environment to showcase their knowledge through writing, collaborated with peers using cause-based readings discussions.
For the boys college, the professional development is coming In May, this May, the 14th to the fifteenth and that is for one teacher. There's also a training on June third. Also giving you the summer school dates for the boys college. Next slide. For the summer school, we do have the MTSS Summer School Tier Support Services which ultimately is just letting you know that we will have a behavior interventionist specialist. We also will have social
work special a social work, social worker in the buildings for social work services in both the social workers and also the behavior interventionist will present and have activities and we're just listing out the different tiers that is going to occur during summer school for MTSS. Next slide Now we're talking about math and we have kindergarten through 8th grade. And it's given a listing of where what area students will focus
on K through eight. Next slide. So as it relates to the professional learning, it's expressing to you that we have explicit instruction, clear modeling, guided practice, and independent practice. Um there will be some mathematical discourse which builds understanding and retention. Next slide. And then we're talking about the professional learning and when the training will happen for the summer
school for K through eight teachers. And when that training is going to occur. We will have Stem immersion for K through five and also six through eight. For K through five, they're going to do the TCM Summer Scholars Math and this is Stem kits and they're for six through eight. We will have a program through Dapsa which we utilize this program last year and we were successful. We did change it around just a little this
year and focus more with the Stem application for the DAP set. Next slide For Pontiac High School, we will have a high school program and it is going to be June 29th through August 6th. So, they go an extra week and they go from 7 to 1215 In the summer, school graduation will be August 5th. So, if we can please make note of that and this summer, we will be providing an a
bridge program and that is for the eighth graders going to ninth grade and with that gram. We're going to solicit all eighth graders to attend the bridge program July 13th through the 2third. Please note, we'll have 50% of the eighth graders come the week of July 13th and the other 50% to come the next week. So, it won't be all of them at one time but half at the first week and half at the second week. Really to number one, expose the students to the high school and
expose the students to different activities that they at the high school. Assigning them lockers, exposing them to the building, things of that nature. We are this summer going to send a K to 5 summer activity books and also six through eight take home backpacks for K through eight. For special education, the special education, educational program for Kennedy School. They have dates that they're going to be in the building.
This is just Kennedy joined their extended program for their 200 day and this is just telling you the dates that they're going to be in the building. Next slide. This is Kennedy's calendar on when they will be in the building. Again, for Kennedy, please note because of the students, they cannot be out longer than 2 weeks. So, you always create a twenty-day calendar, twenty-day calendar where you make sure that students are not out. At the end of the school for two weeks and at
the beginning of the school year for 2 weeks. Next slide, for summer compensatory for special education students, we have listed the compensatory and when they're going to take place and it's going to be June 29th through July 23rd. The location is going to be at Owen Kennedy, also at Whitman. Pontiac Middle School, Pontiac High School but it's telling you the times in which they will be there. And the services that will be offered will be resource room, social work, speech
and language, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Next slide. And then we will have and the ESL education program and the focus will still be with our level one students, English language development, listening, speaking, reading, and writing, targeted students, the English learners, students K to 12 at various levels of English language proficiency and instructional strategy, small group instruction. Next, that
concludes our summer school presentation. Thank you. Trustees, questions, comments. Doctor and I want to say I'm very pleased with this presentation and the plans you have for summer school because this looks very intentional. Thank you. I'm really happy to see this bridge program for our eighth grade students because we know the highest dropout rate for our students occurs in 9th grade. So, I'm I'm really impressed with the the plan that you guys have for this summer. The
summer. I'm hopeful that as we are going to be in the building, middle schools, recruiting students for that program and I hope as the listeners are listening, that they will make sure that they get the kids to come to the bridge program. Cuz we could present, present something, but then we just need the students to actually come. Yes. One quick comment if I, I'm sorry. Go ahead, trustee. Doctor Devison, the eighth graders, is this volunteer or mandatory? No. Um, it's always volunteer. We can't make it mandatory. That's what I was
going to say. Um, thank you. But one of my concerns is, and, and I think it's something that we really need to go into. Deeply into is our high school students as it pertains to this credit recovery stuff. And I think that's something we need to discuss because we can't make summer school mandatory. But we always have seniors at the end of the year trying to credit recover their credits. And we need to have credit recovery from freshman year all the way on. So that's something I think that we need to dive in deeply to discuss credit
recovery for students from nine ninth all the way to senior year. So we don't have this issue every. We've had issue every year as it pertains to credit recovery and we need to take a look at that and I don't want us to go into discussion. My colleague said, nope, don't do it but I think that's something we need to take a look at, doc. Alright, so if we can mark that down, Doctor Devison and maybe we can just have a little segment in the board retreat. Talk about credit recovery, what we can do differently. Yes. Okay. Thank you. You got a comment? You want to say
something, trusty? I do, alright. Just real quick. Uh just a quick recommendation. You can follow up on it. You don't have to. But if we know the information in advance and we know it per grade level. Is there a way we can maybe start putting together some kind of letter or something in advance sending out to the parents. Hey, if students are in tenth grade, about to be done with this school semester, he has this many credits remaining. If he doesn't get to the number of credits, he going to be
graduating. Mhm. Can we just maybe be a little I will double check outside the box. But I do believe they already send out communication on where students are when it comes to their credits at the end of each year but I will double check that. Please do not quote me on that statement. I will definitely double check and confirm. If if so, then, we great. We doing what we supposed to do. Now, it's kind of on the parents. I agree. Okay, thank you. Alright. Alright. Thank you. Now, moving down to 2026
summer school materials. Uh we talked about that a little bit or do you you have anything more information to share about materials? No, I was just going to read the bear. Okay, that's fine. Please. Okay. So, this is the 2026 summer school material services, the background rationale, Pontiac School District Administration is looking to purchase curriculum resources, materials, services for the twenty-6th, I'm sorry, 2026 summer school program and as I stated
before, so if you look at ESL, this is summer school EL A. Summer school ELA intervention material subscription and training. And if you follow straight across the grant that's paying for it is section 23G. And the amount of twenty-one thousand 6 hundred and fifty-6 dollars and 96 cents. Next line item. ELA Summer School, Harrington, ELA interventions, material subscription and training was the Bomber Summer Discovery
Grant, 11, 6 90 dollars and twenty-six cents. So, please note, Harrington is having their own summer school and again, they were awarded the Bomber Summer Discovery Grant. Math, math, summer school, interventions, math materials, subscription, and training. Again, out of section 23 G grant and the amount for $19, 104 and 19 cents.
Harrington, same thing. Harrington, math interventions, material subscription, and training. Again, the Bomber Summer Discovery Grant and the amount of eleven 889 dollars and eighty-four cents. Harrington Stem program, Bomber Summer Discovery Grant, 30, 000, $758 dollars and forty cents. Stem program for middle school, section 23, three, I'm sorry, 23 GN, or section 31 A grant for
32, 326 and fifty6 cents. The approval request is for a twenty7 hundred $131 dollars and twenty-1 cents. Funding source, again, if you look at the above chart, it lists out. It is the recommendation of the administration that the Board of Education approves the 2026 Summer school material services and the amount for 1 27, 000 four hundred and
thirtyone dollars and twenty-1 cents. Alright, thank you. Any questions, trustees? Can I get a motion for the approval of the 2026 Summer material services. I just have one question. Doctor Jefferson, how much of this will be online learning? So, the Dab Seb for the middle school, I'm sorry, you said, for online. Just just, yeah, just online. Overall, I'm just curious. How much of the curriculum that you want to purchase is online?
Right. So, you taught online without a human body in front of the student. So, the online is only for the training of the adults. Students will be in person getting physical contact with teachers and the interventionist. So they won't be doing, this curriculum is not an online curriculum. That's my question. No. They'll they'll actually deliver I'm sorry. They'll actually receive delivery of instructional strategies from a
human body. Yes. Kind of get a motion for the support. It's been moved by Trustee Gross, supported by Treasurer Terry for the approval of the 2026 Summer School Material Services. Any questions? Roll call. Trustee Dooley. Yes. I'm voting yes, President Hannah. Yes. Christine Miller? Yes. Uh and Treasure Terry. Yes. Madam chair that passed five oh. Alright, thank you. Operations Maintenance items, Doctor
Leverette. Yes, thank you Doctor Hannah Trustees. At this time, we will have for discussion and action, the Arc Environmental Contract Award request for VA twenty-six 0 one asbestos abatement, EME Rogers Elementary School, and we have Marvin and Bill here. Uh before they proceed, I will read the background rationale. You have the background. Sealed bids for asbestos abatement activities, a Rogers Elementary School were received on Tuesday,
April 14th, 2026th and opened by Representative of the School District of the City of Pontiac PSD and Arc Environmental Group Inc AEG PSD, and AEG have reviewed and evaluated the submitted bid from the low bidder environmental maintenance engineers Incorporated and conducted a post bid meeting to discuss the scope of work and schedule for bid number twenty-six. oh one. Asbestos abatement prior to renovation that Rogers Elementary School. PSD and
AEG have determine that the submitted bid was inclusive and correct Asbestos abatement in schools is performed to prevent the inhalation of toxic fibers from aging, damaged, or disturbed materials like insulin, ceiling tiles, and floor tiles. This is done to eliminate the high-risk health hazards for students and staff complying with strict federal and state regulations, complying with federal law, AHERA, the asbestos hazardous emergency response act A H
E R A mandates that schools inspect for asbestos and create management plans to prevent hazards. The estimated cost for asbestos activities at Rogers Elementary School is a hundred and twenty-eight thousand nine plus a 20% contingency in the amount of 257 eighty dollars which brings the project total to $154 dollars 1 fifty-four thousand six 80 dollars. And the funding
sources, the 2020 bond fund the recommendation is the recommendation of administration that the Board of Education award and authorized the Rogers Pre Renovation Asbestos Abatement to the successful lowest bidder environmental maintenance engineers incorporation in the amount of a hundred and fifty-four thousand 80 dollars1 hundred fifty-four thousand 6 eighty dollars I have a question to Doctor Leverette. Did we not do some renovations or something over the
Rogers this past year? No. We didn't do any any update, nothing? Perry. No, that was only Harrington? That was only Harrington. Rogers will go offline next year and then they will be fully remodeled. They were in session. Rogers stayed in session. Correct. The the the initial was for Harrington and Rogers at the same time. Okay. Right. But they didn't do Rogers and Rogers stayed in section. And then we did Harring moved here to the ITA and part of Alcott. Correct. Great. So, that which gives me a follow up is is is Rogers Elementary School
emerald in the rotation to be upgraded? Or is this the only thing we're looking to do? No no. Rodgers will be. So then if if that's the case would not this be a part of the bigger schema, the overall picture of updating Roger. Why would we just do this Augustus thing when we could combine it with other repairs? I was asking. Especially separate from the from the project. We gotta do Spencer separate for the district. You have to do this mandatory by the
state of Michigan. So, you know, the seat that the the construction manager and the architect know how to do with the asbestos. That's that's falls on the district. Uh I was just. It's part, it's part of the same project but you gotta do it separately. You can't put in the same bid. Right. Okay. Okay. It's a question. Yup. A separate contract. Correct. Thank you, ma'am. Yes. And totally correct. And if I, and I don't want to speak for you, but sometimes as asbestos is not discovered till after. Correct. And once it's discovered, and that's where it's brought to us because they would initially brought it asbestos first
before they started doing the work. Yeah. But as they were over there taking a look at what they need to do, asbestos was found. And that's what I was saying, once it's found, then. Yes. But they have to season this is the law construction. Right. Seasoned construction to get their bestes done. So that's why it's done separately. That's why the state has the the contract has nothing to do with this. What about the district Right. Absolutely. Oh, without a doubt. You need, hey, good thing. That's it. Did I explain that right, Mister Morrow? Yes, sir. You did. Great. On point. Are there any other questions for mister Beasley or mister Holcomb? Huh? Miss Goodwin?
Yeah, any other, are there any other questions? Good. Okay. Well, then, can I get a motion for the approval? Support. Yes. Uh it's been moved by Trustee Dooley supported by Trustee Gross for the approval of the Arc Environment Con award request for bid twenty-six oh one. Augustus abatement EME Rogers Elementary School. Any questions? Roll call please. I'm voting yes. President Hannah. Yes. Christy Miller. Yes.
Treasurer Terry. Yes. And Trustee Doyle. Yes. Madam chair that passed five oh. Alright. Thank you very much for comments and announcements. I have none. Thank you. Good night. Good night. Okay. See everybody at the retreat. Okay. Uh treasurer Terry. Nope. First off, regarding Kennedy I want to say thank you guys. Oh yeah, Yeah. For the flowers. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Thank you. Their their greenhouse is starting up. Uh I believe it's going to be school days
from 9 AM to 1 PM. So, May 5th, May sixth. Starting May sixth. So, if you got a chance at, you know, it's about that time and season. Get out there. Get you some flowers. It helps out as well. Um also, Just a reminder. I think I mentioned this before. But open enrollment is now going for the pre K. Um which is at WHRC for Peace Academy. You can reach them at two four eight
four five one seven seven seven zero. So make sure you get out there and get the enrollment going and start getting those young kids out there. Become those what is it called? The Baby Phoenix. Baby Phoenix. Baby Phoenix's. So get that going as well. And then also I know the name was mentioned a lot earlier regarding some of the music and the bands and stuff. But Accent Pontiac is having their annual Birdies and
Beats. Um little golf outing that will be on June 12th. If you're interested please reach out. Um they have a website out there. Exit Pontiac. org. And then also you can get registered. Um it's one50 for nine holes of golf and lunch. And then if you just want to come out for lunch it's 75 dollars. Lunch only. And this all goes towards the benefit to help Accent Pontiac with our after-school students there in Pontiac. Um great meeting. A lot of information. Um did have a little
spring institute. Uh my trustee over there Miller was there. We had a great time. I took two of the the board president workshops which is very informational. Learned a lot in regards to that. And yeah a lot of details in regards to either potentially pursuing that position and what all it entails. So it was a good little retreat and also had a chance to also meet some of our past constituents on the the school boards and met some new ones as well. So, good weekend for me. It was busy and yeah, I'm back here again Monday.
Still putting in that work. So, thanks again. Everybody have a good night. Alright, thank you very much and just also a reminder that the art showcase is on Thursday which is May the seventh over at Pontiac High School. So, for all of you that are interested, please come out and support. Um again, thanks everybody for their commitment. Thank you teachers for everything that you do. Um and all that you will continue to do for our students here in the school district. And again we appreciate
you. We can't say it enough. But we thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And with that I would like to ask for a motion to adjourn. So move. Support. I vote yes. It's been moved by Trustee Dooley and supported moved by Trustee Miller and supported by Trustee Dooley. Yes. To adjourn the meeting. Roll call please President Hannah. Yes. Christy Miller. Yes. Treasure Terry? Yes. Trustee Dooley? Yes. And Madam chair, I'm voting yes. That matter passed at.
Alright. Five oh in your time? The time is ten fortyfour PM. Thank you everybody and have a good night. Missed all of the NBA game. All we did.