Everybody ready? The time is 6:32. I'd like to call this uh regular board of education meeting to order. The first item on our agenda is the roll call for those board of education members who are present. Trustee Goodrich, could you perform the roll call, please?
Certainly. Trustee Sutton Kennedy, present. Trusty Goodrich I am here. Trusty Towns and Trusty Esby. President Hawkins here. We have five board of education members present and two who are absent at this time. Next, that takes us to the pledge of allegiance.
And I would like to invite everyone in attendance to join us in reciting of the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Next, that takes us to the acceptance of the agenda. Is there a motion at this time? Trustee Sutton Kennedy. I move that the board of education accept the agenda as
presented. Thank you. A motion has been made by Trustee Sutton Kennedy. Is there support for this motion? Support. Trusty Townsen. Thank you. Supported by Trusty Townsen. All those in favor? I. Those opposed? That motion carries.
Next, that takes us to achievements, awards, and recognition. And at this time, I will turn it over to Dr. Zachary Ross for this and the presentation which is item number five. Thank you Madame President. At this time
I will invite Miss Turquoise Neil up. She has been working really closely with our international balor and magnet uh programs and I know she would love this honor to be able to share the exciting
news about these points of pride. It is a great pleasure that our career related program at Epsilani Community High School has been approved for authorization.
So this means that our students who are enrolled in our CTE programs can now also participate in IB certification. And so they don't have to choose between doing a diploma program. Um they can choose our career related program and
they'll take all the required courseware and courseware courses in order to earn their IB certification. And there aren't very many CP programs in the state of Michigan, let alone internationally. So
this is an international certification. um connects right along with all of our vision work for our students at the high school and um as students progress through the pathway they'll be able to earn this uh certification. So we are so
excited. Um this is our first of three more to come. So we still have our at the middle school and the high school and then the diploma program at the high school as well. Um which takes the NYP programs they are two-year programs so take a little bit longer. So, we'll be
here again uh next year this time celebrating those approvals as well. Thank you. Any questions, comments from the board? Did we um I know when we first talked about the magnet program, but I can't
remember if we got like a breakdown of like what those courses look like at all. No, you don't because that was a part of our authorization process. So um with the approval we'll submit all of our the courses there are they are in our course
catalog um so all the diploma courses that students take as part of the CP program were approved with our big thing Carlos did um the course the course guide yeah so they're in the course guide I'm sorry they are all in
the course guides but we'll have a plan of work for students based on whatever CTE program they chose. So then it'll have a breakdown. If you want to do this program, you have to take these these courses. Correct. Yes.
Thank you. You're welcome. I just want to offer that I'm very excited that students are going to have this opportunity to be able to do both things. Yes. Right. Um, and I because I recognize and I've heard from a lot of families this choice that they have to make and the
fact that this is now an opportunity to both to do that career related work along with the IB back. It's really exciting. Yes. Yes. It is so exciting u because they'll get the same college credit that they will get if they're in a diploma program. So, it is it is exciting for
our students and then whatever choice they make at the end of their 12 years or even in their 13th or 14th year, they'll still have that college credit that's transferable. So, we're so excited. Um, you mentioned that the my authorization will come possibly next
year. What does that mean for the program in the meantime? So, we're still in candidacy stage and the candidacy stage requires that we teach my units for a year and then we'll have a consulting visit in the fall and then our verification visit in the spring and
then we'll be here again celebrate any other questions comments excellent update exciting options and pathways for our students. So, thank you Miss Neil. Thank you. Dr. Zachary Ross, I will turn it back over to you.
Thank you, Madame President. At this time, we're asking uh Mr. Burchwell, John Burchwell to come. Um, as we know, we asked the board to take on quite a few projects this summer. Um, there was the board workshop
leading up to the board request to um go into these projects and we knew that they were going to be a plethora and Mr. Birwell and his team took this responsibility on. We know that most of it is coming from funds
from um PA 321 which was that debt reduction and we want to make sure that as things are going many of the projects are behind the scenes. Uh we want to make sure the public knows that we're making those uh making progress as well
as to know what to look forward to when we come back to school in the fall. So thank you Mr. B. Good evening. Thank you for having me come tonight. So um the summer shines summer school is where the shines and landscaping is
underway. If you didn't go notice, a lot of the signs been tore out their new concrete pads next to the all the school buildings besides a few of them, but they're working on them this week. The electrical is being installed. If you might seen some large equipment out by
the schools because they're doing a lot of underground boring for they would have to rip our parking lots up. It's just cost-saving measure to do it that way. Um, our landscaping started last week. If you notice, if you drive down Huitt Road, the big giant bushes that was on
the side of the building are gone now. They got it all graded. That's where the greenhouse will be going for the botney class. Um, they're going to be starting up here tomorrow. Well, I've been told by Margolish and I'm doing a walk through for some other buildings
throughout the day tomorrow with them for they can work on like the buildings where the um GLC is not working at. So they'll be at you'll be seeing movement at Adams, Ericson, Ford, and Homes as well the next couple weeks until GLC gets over and then they'll move over to
where the kids aren't work outside during the day working. Um they'll have everything pulled out before school um starts and then they'll most likely be starting to plant in the fall because you don't never want to plant plants in the um heat of the summer. And this is a
five-year plan. So, they're um it's in their best interest, too. It's keeping everything alive. They'll be coming around. You'll see Marggo's trucks, watering them a couple times a year, pruning them, working with my our staff, the facility, the maintenance grounds department to teach them how to maintain
the stuff after the five years and taking care of it. Um the just want to throw in the billboard sign. I'm still working on the billboard sign for hard district, but meanwhile we got a really good advertisement deal for the one on here on 94. So if you're driving down
here on look at that Disney sign right there, we got stuff going on around around that sign. Playgrounds for the uh for the school is all order now. They told me it'd be September 8th. They bouncing back and
forth from June to um they told me it'd be a middle of August. Now they're telling me September 8th again. It's all depends on how everything going with the metal and everything, but they they said they'll get right on it soon. We take delivery.
The order of the schools will be the dual immersion and then we'll move over to Holmes, then Estherbrook, and then Ericson. That's the um plan of attack for all the playground equipment for the buildings. So, we had to remove one tree
to make room for the dual immersion. This is just some of the um playground renderings for the um middle for the homes in Echbrook and Ericson. I have larger renderings if you would like to see for the uh dual immersion program. I can put them out if you need to see
them. But um that's what for all the playgrounds and equipment and the summer boiler projects is part of the PA 321. Uh Ace and Chapel is done. Uh Esesterbrook was a sink and
fund project. So that's been was completed today. Um got the state inspection done and everything passed today on that one. The high school, if you look at the big orange boiler, that's from 1970. That's what that we heat the high school with. And if you
look at that littleer one, it's like a overgrown deep freezer. That one's there um is one that we replaced one of the large one for. And we need to get two more. So, I'll be coming to you in the next few weeks to ask for a change order for we can have the company that did the
Esther Brook boiler swap out the boiler for the um high school. And they're 90% efficiency. So, the old ones is about 65% efficiency. So, we're going to save on her energy use for the district by um swapping the boilers out. And you can't
buy parts for that big orange boiler no more. It's was put in when the building was built back in the 19 early7s. So, um the hallways paintings is moving along. It's a um it's in progress. A lot
said completed. We're just going through now on the buildings that are completed and just getting punch list done. So that's mean we I walk the buildings. I look at every classroom and if I notice I don't like something how something look or the paint look a little light or around the drinking fountains because we
have drinking I got to get just get everything in there. So sometimes the drinking fountains got replaced before the painters got through get got in there. Other times the painters got in there before the drink vice versa. So there is going to be touch-ups going on, but that's why it's a work in progress.
It's complete. So we can't have school there if we need to. The painters, you will see the painters coming in just doing touch-ups and everything for um around drinking fountains, around doorways if there's some doors that need to be um fixed up. We we're um we're
working with the painters on it all. Like if you look at the bottom left corner there, you can see the holes in the wall. That's at they painted it. I got to tell the painters like, "Hey, you need to fix that and stuff." No, they'll come back and take care of it. They'll fill the holes in and paint paint
painted and touched up. In the top right corner is the new chiller for the high school. The old chiller was super problematic. We're just waiting for one more part. I I'll get an update through train tomorrow morning when I have my meeting with them. Hopefully by um end
of this month after GLC we can switch over from the rental unit that trains providing we're not take occurring that cost on the rental unit. So that's going to be a lot easier to maintain for her maintenance department and um take care
of and they also have a warranty is more energy efficient than her old one we had. Um down on the lower right is the new track at will run. So, um, you can see how it looks great. The field looked great over there on it and everything.
The only thing I'm waiting for Devel. I finally found a rep to come out and look at the school scoreboard. I've been working with Danny Brown. We've been scouring the state trying to find somebody to take care of our scoreboard and figure to work on it. And they're supposed to be contacting me this week.
I talked to him last week on it. The roofing um for the building shaters is complete. Um Ace material, if you drive around back, you'll see a bunch of white styrofoam and everything for the insulation for the roof. Well, it's on the ground. They're going to wait until
the end of the month to start installing it. And as well as Ford, they're going to redo the Ford roof. Right now, Ford roof is pretty problematic leaking, too. Um we're working with um Triumph modular and portable units for the um homes
elementary for four classroom um to be have a girl and boys um bathroom in it, staff bathroom and um break room or extra office. I told you before at my other meeting that that's going to be a permanent structure. It just we can't afford to do that. So, it's going to be
a portable, but when I bring you guys the designs, you they look like regular structures and we'll be able to move this if we need to. If as we need a need somewhere else, homes, buildings are pretty old building and if we have to go down the road with it, we can make it
movable. But we can pick all the correct siding we want. All the faucets, fixture, fixtures, and everything that we use normally on a day-to-day basis, we can put in the building. So it won't we can um spec it out the way we want it. So it won't be cheaper hardware.
It's going to be the better stuff that holds you up for the students. Filter first drinking fountains is um wrapping up. They have homes to do a wise. I just they ran in a snag when before I got this what I found out about an hour ago.
They told me they have homes done and when I talked to them they told me they had a snag. bills, but they're working on a problem with that. Dual immersion kind um bathrooms, I'll show you in the next slide. They're all done. The kindergartens been renovated. They got little tiny baby toilets in there now.
And the sinks all been dropped down. So, that went pretty um seamless. The security veuse are ordered. They should be delivered by the end of the month. What my contractor told me, he don't think it would take more than maybe a week or two to install for it. fuel tanks. We're still waiting for the state
permitting permits to get the new um above ground fuel tanks installed um and pull out the 30-year-old underground tanks. Uh for the summer projects, we we're the custodian staff are doing a great job
stripping and waxing the floors and getting them underway for we have nice beautiful floors for school to start. They're really doing a good job with that. the book depository. I took two classrooms over at the old uh Willer Run High School campus and turned them into a book depository for the
district and get all the curriculum in one location. I got shelving up over there. There's just a few little things I need to take care of over there. We can start we already started putting books over there. So for we have any excess books that the teach on principles don't want, we put them in
that room. Um, the furniture delivery for dual immersion is scheduled for the end of the month. As you can see right there on the lower right is the little baby toilet for the kindergarters at the dual immersion program. And we're having the ribbon cutting on August 18th in the
evening. Do you guys have any questions for me? It's a lot. Yeah. And that's just a small portion of everything we're doing. Um, any questions from the board? Thank you, Mr. Birwell for this uh update and
presentation of where we are. Are there board questions or comments at this time? Uh yeah, I'm curious about when going back to the playgrounds, how will that show up in terms of the students being back in school? I'm wondering is there any scaffolding that can occur in terms
of the equipment being sent out so that way things like the dual immersion school can get their playground in since they don't have one? Is it is it going to be scaffold in terms of when the parts get delivered or is everything expected to come at the same time? Everything for the whole district they
think is going to come in at the same time. I try to see if they can spread it out and get the dual immersion here first since they really don't have a playground over there. And he said the way it's designed is coming from I think they're based out of Texas. It'll all come at the same time. But they said
they'll get right on that um and get the dual immersion done for us there with the turf grass and everything. We're getting away from the wood chips because wood chips cost a lot of money and this is going to be the artificial turf grass for the play skates because you got to have drop zones. So if a kid fall or
anything like if you have a eight foot getting in the weeds if you have a eight foot swing set you got to have 16 feet on both sides for of artificial material there to make for the kid fall or they won't get hurt and stuff. So did I answer your question? I mean it's
just timing. I mean that's all it was. We started this program a little behind the eightball but we we got it moving up traction quickly. Thank you. Mr. Virtual, what is the normal turnaround time to get like a playground
for done normal? Normally a normal playground you plan it in in the winter months, you order it in January and they can get it done in about a month and they told me they still once they get lay it on the ground, it take about a month to get
they're thinking maybe six weeks they can have everything done for the whole district. They're just going to station a crew here since we did a large project and just moved from building to building to building. And it was one other question, but I'm sure I probably answer asked it already
in our meeting, but I do want to just uh personally say thank you. I mean, your team has been doing an excellent job. I enjoy working on this committee um with you and Mr. Butler. um because it just it's good to see how
money flows and where our investment is going and how the district is improving in those in the ways for our facilities compared to other districts and stuff. So, I do want to and I also love the fact that we um you tend to use a lot of local um
um contractor contractors which to me is even more of an investment then people that work and live in the community can see how we're being responsible with the funds that we have and making sure that students have what they need. um because we know yes,
you come to school for an education, but it's the social aspect of it too that helps um students even be more um successful. Um so I I do want to just say thank you to you and Mr. Butler um for all of the hard work and stuff that
you're doing over the summer. No sleep. I can relate to that, but um thank you. And I love like when I'm looking at the soap dispenser, I see a YCS logo on it. Yep. Thank you. without worrying right now. Okay.
But the electronic signs, we've been told too today, everything's moving quick. The electronic signs are going to start getting installed by the 21st this month. So, you're going to start seeing signs popping up the new ones throughout the district. So, and I want to add that you didn't say
this, but all of the signs will have similar branding. Yes, that's very important. So, that is no confusion. It's it's branded throughout the district. So everybody's signs will be similar for their particular school. Yeah. There won't be one. Everybody's
going to have the same stuff. Yeah. And our contractors, they tell you the contractors, two of the painting contractors are local guys. They went to school here. So they take really great pride to be here. They think it's awesome coming back and been able to do something like this big painting project
because it is a big undertaking. We're doing a million.3 square feet this summer and it will get done. So, all right. Thank you. One more quick question, Mr. Burch. No, you're fine. Did you mention earlier, I thought I heard you say this, that
if the the fountains where they were installed and if there's a gap or hole, they come they'll come back and patch that and then they'll paint that. Y it up. Yep. We got I gotta walk every building and make a little punch list. I did Asterbrook. I gotta do the other buildings just
there. It's very time consuming. And I mean a lot of time I just walk in the evening and you look look at every room, make sure everything looks good and it's just trying to get all the punch listes done. Yeah. Tedious. Yes. All right. Well, thank you so much for the update for all that you're doing to get this
moving forward so that when we come back in the fall or August 25th or whatever that date is, we'll come back to brand new spaces, brand new looking spaces. So, I know this is a lot for you and your team, but we do appreciate the updates and all the hard work. All right. Thank you.
Thank you. Next, that takes us to public comments. Miss Haynes, are there any public comment cards that have come in? Thank you, Miss Haynes. Uh, that takes us now to the consent agenda. Is there a motion at this time?
Madame President, Trusty Fields move that the board of education approve June 16th, 2025 regular board meeting minutes. Number two, June 16th, 2025 special board meeting
minutes. And number three, personal matters as per presented listed dated 79205 new hires resignations and retirements. Thank you. A motion has been made by Trusty Fields. Is there support for this motion? Trustee Esby, I support.
Thank you. Supported by Trustee Esby. All those in favor? Those opposed. That motion carries. That takes us to item eight, which is our discussion. And we are
at the second reading for this meeting of our volume 39 number one um policies. Uh, I will turn it over to the chair of the policy committee, Trusty Gutri, who will lead us in a discussion on the policy updates.
Thank you, Madam President. Um, so we had the first read of these policies at our June meeting. Um, and what you're seeing now are just clean copies of the policies that we did the
first read on. Um there is let's see two two things I just wanted to touch on. Um I believe we had talked about for PO 2264. We're still waiting on legal advice to see whether or not that is um completely
replaced by the throne policy 2266. Um and so that we know whether or not we need to take that one up. Um so we're still waiting on that. Is that correct? just one small detail. That was the one. Okay,
cool. So, we will take that up at our next subcommittee meeting then after we have some more information. Um the only other change we had is that for PO 5500 um we took Trusty Espie's um comments
from the last meeting and we made an attempt to edit the language to make it clear that um AI prohibition is not our default state. Um so um that is the one change that we are bringing from what we went over in the
first read. Uh we welcome any questions or comments that you all might have at this time. I don't have a question or a comment, but I can you repeat what number policy you said you were talking about, Epsi? What which one you uh that is 5500 um student conduct.
Okay. So you'll see it showed up as I think red lettering on the the new edits that we added since the first read. Any comments or questions from the board? I
know that we um our first reading was on June 16th and this is just our second reading. Um just always want to thank uh Trusty Goodrich for her leadership in and shephering these policies um through so that we can u make sure everything is
updated and in order in the district. Um, if there are no other comments, we will move to our next agenda item. I'll just say many thanks to you, President Hawkins, and Trusty Sutton Kennedy for your work on that subcommittee as well.
Yeah, I want to say that I I appreciate the shift in the language um indicating that the expectation is that there would be um attribution um or modification to any AI generated text or word. Um and I
think that is a much more clear indication of how that would look. Um beyond that I do think and I don't know if it's the option um in terms of the
use of AI NLP tools in the school setting. Um it does seem to be pretty supportive. I'm curious if there was any conversation with uh educators who have
been using it or how the AI lab is being used at the high school just to make sure that we are not prohibiting things that um would actually be part of the curriculum. Um and so that's just one thing I think to be mindful of. Um
because I think in giving these examples um is this would you say that this is a non-exhaustive list? I would say that all of our policies
touching on AI are going to have to be in it's something we're going to need to return to and we're kind of mid-stream here. We have a lot of parallel language and other policies that were passed in previous packages. So, it's just a a spid's web of interconnections trying to
make sure that we're uniform. Um, I would love to see if maybe we could work with our policy providers to when we revisit these to draft something that's more holistic and and maybe less prescriptive in all these individual ways because
it's impossible to write something today that's going to apply even a week from now in many ways. Right. Exactly. And I just want to add this this one 5500 is just about student conduct in general, not specifically to the AI. And
that's why the AI one was pretty open. Yeah. The Yeah. And we tried so the board I think the subcommittee we did talk about all the many of the uses and what's happening with uh the AI lab and throughout the district. And so this one
got some in more specifics because it was not just talk about AI, but I think you gave examples about other things. Yeah. Um and added some language um because it was more about just academic honesty in general. So I just wanted to add because
we that was an in-depth conversation that board members brought additional language through the conversation. Thank you, Dr. Zachary Ross. Other board comments. Uh, Trusty Sutton Kennedy. Yes. Um,
could we remove the two commas in the middle of the appended statement um about artificial intelligence, the one separating one's own from the explanation and then the one before or so we have
everything that is about the artificial intelligence and sort of its own statement. I think don't see any reason we couldn't do that. Um, okay. I'm curious if perhaps you would want to
actually utilize some of those pieces around how students can use AI. Perhaps that actually should show up within the AI policy as opposed to in the conduct. I think the conduct prior to that makes it pretty clear what conduct would not
be acceptable. Um, right. And then that way when you're talking about AI, you can be more explicit about how it's expected to be used. Um, but I'm not sure exactly if that makes sense. I know the AI policy currently references the conduct policy
and I'm wondering if it should have some of that like reciprocal. That's an excellent question. There there's actually pieces of this in a number. I can't recall all of the exact policy numbers off the top of my head, but we've we've gone through a couple of
folders that have had this sort of parallel. Okay. The the way Neil has structured these. That's the way they're pointing. Um I do think long term I would love to revisit more broadly how these are structured. No, I appreciate that. And yeah, I
recognize that you're trying to follow a uh a model that maybe doesn't necessarily fit what is happening currently. However, that's what we have. So, understandable. Um, and the only comment that I will
make related to the policies in regards to the comments that were made is that down the line um not sure how far down the line, but I know there'll be some discussion about um using a different set
of policies based on the emails we've got from MASB and and the relationship um changing. Um, so we we are not done with this conversation. I'll just say in short, I'll just say that. Did you want to add anything, Trusty Goodrich?
Um, no. I just I do think we have some conversations to have and also I recognize any transition is a huge lift, but as much as we can with whatever provider we're working with, as much as we can make our policies streamlined, legally accurate, and in line with our values as a district,
we're we're going to work on getting there. Yes. All right. Thank you, Trusty Goodrich, and um thank you, Trusty Sutton Kennedy, for your work on this committee. Um if there are no other board comments
um or questions, that takes us to our request for a close section under section 8H, OMA, attorney client privilege. Is there a motion at this time? Trusty Thompson, I moved that the board of education go into close session pursuant to section 81H of the opens
meeting act to consider materials exempt from public discussion or disclosure under state or federal statute. Thank you. A motion has been made by Trustee Townsen. Is there support for this motion? Trustee Sutton Kennedy support. Thank you. Supported by Trustee Sutton
Kennedy. All those in favor? I. Those opposed? That motion carries. The board will convene in close session and we will leave and come back and uh reopen the board meeting.
Nope, that's okay. All right, the time is 8:05. The board is officially back in open session. That takes us to item number 11 on our agenda, which is the acceptance of the Washington Intermediate School District contracted services agreement contract.
Is there a motion at this time? Madame President, this is Trusty Goodrich. I move that the board of education accept the proposed WISD contract for staffing for $853,256.7 for 2025 20226 $894,98.64
[Music] 64 for 2026 20227 and $936,19453 for 2027 20228. Thank you. A motion has been made by Trusty Goodrich. Is there support for this motion?
Trustee Espie, I support. Thank you. Supported by Trustee Espie. All those in favor? I. Those opposed? That motion carries. Next, that takes us to the acceptance of a Home Steam Elementary School furniture purchase. Is there a motion at this time?
Madame President, I move that the board of education accept the Lakeshore Learning Materials quote for $120,633.75 to purchase furniture for Home Steam Elementary School. Thank you. A motion has been made by Trustee Espie. Is there support for this
motion? Trusty Towns in support. Thank you. Supported by Trusty Townsen. All those in favor? I. Those opposed. That motion carries. Next, that takes us to the acceptance of a contract to lease buses. Is there a motion at this time? Madame President,
Trusty Fields moved that the board of education accept the proposal to lease four 65 passenger buses for 135,612 and two general education buses equipped with fully integrated car seats for
$130,955 from Holland Bus Company. Thank you. A motion has been made by Trusty Fields. Is there support for this motion? Trusty Espie, I support.
Thank you. Supported by Trusty Espie. I know there were some questions that came up earlier around this um before the meeting. Uh want to just make sure board members have if they have opportunity to ask questions, they can do so at this time. Any board questions?
Yes. Can you What would our fleet be? And then um is this replacing any buses that we currently have? Cuz I know we the last meeting we had there were some conversations about some
of the electrical buses had some issue. Yes. And this this is definitely goes with the ones that are were in the budget that Mr. Butler placed in the budget. So can you come to the You're not on the microphone. So, we need
not on the microphone. We need you on the microphone. Thank you. Hi, everybody. Thank you for uh having me. Um these will be in addition to our 37 buses that we have in our fleet. We have 10 electric and then the 27 diesel
uh buses that we lease. We have cab kids that are costing the district an astronomical amount. I counted it was from one company it was
17 kids and then from another company it was 29 kids with a total as of today um it was
sorry I have too many paid 66 $690,896 for last Can you say that number again? $690,896. Okay. Um, is this these are from children that I'm assuming are homeless
or no? Is this special? These are special needs students. Okay. All right. So looking at that and then looking at the cost of leasing these buses per year and getting these kids on
buses, that would be $220,148 with these extra buses. So I have a question. Yes. So prior to this, we didn't have any buses that accommodated these kids or we didn't have enough of
them? We didn't have enough. Okay. Um, my summer routes right now have all our special needs buses on the road and that we only had six buses on the road last summer. Now we have eight and we're
still routing children. So there is a definite need for more buses. And can you share which ones are like our We have how many that are in in district and then we also serve our out of district. Yes, we go to the complicated part is the routes are
in and out. Can you explain that? We have High Point that we go to on Wagner Road. We go to Dexter. We go to Milan. We go to Key Bank in Ann Arbor. We go to Progress Park in Ann Arbor. So, there's a number of schools and
places that these buses have to travel. And if one breaks down, I have to scramble and try and get somehow to get these students to school. So with the extra buses, not only can they help the
special needs, but they can help preschoolers also because they have the integrated seats that has the child um seat belt, the five-point harnesses for just like a car seat. Would this also
then enable those uh those uh preschool age children to be traveling on the bus without the parent? Right. Yes. Yes. Preschools. Yeah. They don't get in the bus, right? But if they were having to cab, those cab children would have oftentimes are accompanied by an adult.
Sometimes they're accompanied by adult. It all depends on what's going on and what their IEP is. When on a on a normal day or average day, how many times I mean like how many cabs are we using I guess in a
day to transport students? Well, with 29 for care transport and 17 that's 48. That's a lot of 48 cabs like one way. So you so double
that is what we're doing on the daily. Correct. and I've got the cab kids down for the summer program to eight. So, thank you. I am trying my best to get the the cost
down for the Yeah. to keep that to keep that in the district as opposed to pay. Correct. Yes. I would assume it would be a risk management issue too to now. Definitely. Definitely. Do we have um so I'm assuming that means we need more
drivers? Actually I mean I I will interview every day for new drivers. Right now we have 35 drivers. Right now we have 30 monitors.
Last year we had 31 routes. Not really sure how what's going to happen. I have to wait to get into the routing for the uh 25 26 school year. But com in comparison, last year summer
school was 18 buses and actually we now have 28 because we just added another route to keep Wima separate than the Ipsy kids. Not not just because of that, just because it worked out that
way because the time. So 28 routes compared to 18 last year. So we should see less um I guess downtime I guess between the drivers maybe adding these other buses that you know you know how you have the split so they stop they work
and then they got to check out and check back in and so this would give them more hours for the ones who we already have. I'm asking. Yes. Okay. Okay. Okay. Yep. Do you have any other questions? I just want to name that I'm excited
about this particularly having buses equipped with car seats. Um I know that is a difficult transportation need that's necessity. So um extremely excited to see that that's an option now that within the within the district that we're able to provide.
Yes, I'm very excited too. Any other board comments or questions? Thank you so much. Sorry I do have one. Not in really but I do. Does this really and just kind of like piggybacking on what Trusty Thompson asked earlier, is that something separate from the homeless
program when it because we have lots of caps for that too. You know, a lot of kids use CA. So, is that something separate and are we looking into trying to get away from that cab service as far and use some sort of our own in-house? I would like to get it to a point where it's all YCS that's doing.
Okay. And I'm just curious when she said that I wanted to ask that if we're trying to get away from also using the cab service for that and maybe have buses to accommodate that. That's what I'm trying right now. We are fully staffed. Okay, great. So that's good.
Okay. Thank you. That's that was my question. Thank you for working hard to create efficiencies in the district. I know it's logistically challenging. Yes. To to do and that's putting it mildly. So, thank you for doing all you can to
create efficiencies within the district. Thank you so much. Appreciate your hard work. Thank you. Excuse me. Thank you. Um, yeah. So, the the math adds up. [Music]
Yes, it does need to be revised out. Okay. It's updated in board docs, but not on the printed. I have a printed. You have a printed too, right? You can. That will be fine. No trust.
Motion was fielded. Support was SB. Okay. Oh, it is Phil's SB. Yes. I have it written out right here. Go here. Yep. All right. Trusty Fields, I move that the board of education accept a proposal
to lease four 65 passenger buses for a three-year term for a total of $444,20 and two general education buses equipped with fully integrated car seats for a three-year term for a total of $219,162
from Holland Bus Company. Thank you. Um, did we need to resend the motion? Cuz it was We hadn't voted. Why? We just went right into discussion. Oh.
Um, so the motion has been restated by Trusty Fields. Is there support for this motion? Trusty SB, I do support this restated motion.
Okay. The motion has been moved. It is correct in board docs, but those of us who have paper copies in front of us um don't have that motion, but it is correct in board docs. Um so a motion was moved by trusty field, supported by
trustee espie. Um we've already had discussion. All those in favor? I. Those opposed? That motion carries. Next, that takes us to donations for YCS events. Um,
is there a motion at this time? Trusty S. Kennedy moved that the board of education accepts donations from uh one Wacker Chemical for $3,000 to McDonald's for 2500 for the YCS event series.
Thank you. A motion has been made by Trustee Sutton Kennedy. Is there support for this motion? Trusty Fields. I support. Thank you. Supported by Trusty Fields. All those in favor? I. Those opposed? That motion carries. Thank you to our generous donors for um
all of these donations to support our YCS event series. Next, that takes us to item number 12, which is our Neola policy updates. Is there a motion at this time? Trusty Townsen moved that the board of
education adopt the volume 39 number one se for September 2024 policies as presented. Thank you. A motion has been made by Trusty Townsen. Is there support for this motion?
Trusty Fields. I support. Thank you. Supported by Trusty Fields. All those in favor? I. Those opposed that I'm sorry. I want to add something for discussion on that. Um just in
acknowledging that there were some pieces that felt as if they were under student conduct. the the exhaustive or the exhaustive list of uses of AI was something that I had a couple questions about, but um I'm
comfortable moving forward. I'm just curious if there's any way to assure that those the the educators have the discretion to say what use is appropriate for students.
And I think that that is captured um I mean yeah I I hear what we had in the previous discussion. I think that um some of that discretionary aspect is captured in the general AI policy that puts um that empowers the superintendent to be more
adaptive. Um we're Yeah. Great. This is these are going to be work in progress. No, I appreciate that willingness to be adaptive and have multiple iterations if necessary. All right, thank you.
You are welcome. Um, to recap, the motion was made by Trusty Townsen, supported by Trusty Fields. All those in favor? I. Those opposed? That motion carries. That takes us to item 13. Have any public comment cards
come in at this time? considering that. Okay, thank you for checking, Miss Haynes. Next, that takes us to item 14, board of education subcommittee reports. Are there any subcommittee reports at this
time? Um, bills, go ahead. Communications team subcommittee met on um July 7th with Lum Lambert. We talked about they campus um updated on what's going on right now as far as the
communications. Um they were still working on it. If anyone still has any together Tuesdays if you have not submitted one, you're still open to do that. They're still accepting those. Um which is great. Um they talk about the pro program
spotlights um uh is still uh on the table as far as um highlighting what programs and initiatives we're going to be taking. Um they're going to be coming up across the district. Mhm. In the future, um we have some um virtual campaigns going on about the
enrollment um uh process and you know getting Roman up and running that campaign as well. There will be an upcoming ribbon cutting for the deescalation room I believe at Perry. I don't I don't think I got that date, but I think that's going to be coming up
soon, right? Is that right? Checking off. Finished. Yeah. Finish. And then they're going to if and we talked about so we talked about the um that's a new room that they're going to be um setting up at Perry. They also reported um different um avenues of reporting that they have
been reporting out to about different things that are happening in um YCS. Um they've used WXYZ, um EMU, concentrate, M Live, WJBK, CBS, and all these places are um places that they're reaching out to about different activities where you know they can't
guarantee us if they're going to grab any of those, but they are reaching out to those different um avenues for highlighting what's going on in YCS. Um, we talked a little bit about uh the articles and talking about the reporters for we know a lot of us may have read
that the chalk beat or you know that article but we're trying to get some feedback on that and and just to find out um what kind of like I don't know ball dropped they missed a lot obviously they didn't get a lot of correct information on our behalf but we're
talking about how that can be done differently and and maybe how they can change that. We know how sometimes YCS kind of gets the bad side of reporting a lot. Um and um I think that Oh, yeah. And then they're still working on our social media, getting all those things up. And we're
working on our branding. So, they're working on getting the branding updated for all the upcoming events that we have going on. And um I think that's all I have. Oh, and the strategic plan. They're talking about the strategic plan as well. So, and ways to um
um to do that. And then we'll talk about that again, I think, a little bit more in depth when we have a retreat. That's all I have. Thank you so much. Um, Trusty Fields, I did have one quick question for you. I don't know if it's come up in communication committee in the in this committee or
not, but is there how we're receiving the updates about our project updates across the district that are happening? Is there a plan to communicate that out to other stakeholders like our parents, our students, like
just all the ha all the great things that are happening over the summer in terms of how we are updating um I've been getting emails I'm not sure if anybody else but they use my personal email so I get a lot of communication emails about what's going on okay in the community I'm not sure if anybody else but I personally do because they
use just because you know I'm a grandparent or something so I get that so I'm not quite sure how to do it if that's that you're asking, but they are sending out emails as well as the other committee. But I do get an email telling us what's going on, what's about to happen, what's what we look forward to. And I'm not sure if that's what your question is.
Yeah. Yeah. I'm just make I'm just wondering I'm assuming then the answer is yes. That parents are getting that same information. Yeah, I would think so. As long as they have that because I have received it not on my um YCS site, but I've received it on my personal email side about what's going on in the community when things
are happening and up. So I'm assuming as long as they have that information and they got the correct information that they are someone's sending out that communication. Okay. Yeah. I mean it's just I like to lift up I think it's good to lift up all the good things. Absolutely. Absolutely. And that's what I say all the time and that's why I'm on
that committee and I'm on them all the time about hey how are we putting it out there? What are we saying and how do we um just even for example for that that that particular piece. How do we come back from that? You know what I mean? because that was not reported correctly and a key a lot of key information that they should have used was not used on
our behalf, right? And they kind of picked what they wanted to use out of it and we just and and if we're paying them as a communications team, we need to find okay, how can we do that different and what can we do next time? And and he of course he said they they don't have control over and I and I get that. But
even still, if if we're using you to re help us as communication team, then that's what we paying you for to figure out how you can help us to better be able to kind of like that or clean that up or or or just reach out cuz yeah, they don't have any control. But I just sometimes I I just don't like that
response that I sometime get back on that to be honest about how we can do that a little different. Okay. Thank you for that. Yep. um other board of uh education subcommittee reports.
Um the finance committee also met on uh July 7th. Uh we talked about a lot of the things that Mr. Virtwell discussed this evening. Um, we will follow up with a more comprehensive presentation that
adds the numbers to it and I'm assuming that'll be in the next month about the next month so people can see as far as the monies we receive, how are they spent out, you know, a lot of more elaborate pictures and some type some type of
promotion to just say, "Hey, this is what we're what we've done." Um so um we did discuss that in detail. Also there was a um conversation that it may be time for us to as a board do another bus
tour of all of the properties that we have and facilities um just so that we can see for ourselves on what has done. There's been a lot of changes in the building from since we last did it. I want to say two years ago about two years ago. So, and plus it'll be good
for the new board members to also see off all the different facilities that we have and what's been done changes. Um, also from uh WB, you all should have started receiving
um calendar invites for next year's date. They getting them out pretty early, which is fine with me. Um, so I just want to make sure that you all respond to those. um if there are some dates where you want me to inquire and I
know we talked about um the um September the legislative breakfast um about having Zoom options and stuff for that. um I will make sure that they have that communication and I'll just copy you on the email so that um we know
that at least YCS can participate in that way if that's to increase our activity um you know with attending those meetings as well. I will be there for the bacon though. Um sorry
I'm tired. Okay. Um, and I think that's uh pretty much it. That all that I have, but that's it. All right. Thank you, Trusty Townsen. Um, I know that they are getting those dates out early for us to have on our
calendars, and I appreciate a good plan ahead. Do you know if reminder emails will go out? That is one of the things we also talked about. Okay. Um cuz yeah so that will so
I with the new person that they have he's been doing very good and with trying to make sure we stay up on date time up to speed with that but yes I will also remind them about reminders. Excellent. Thank you so much.
Um other subcommittee reports Kennedy. Um, so I guess this isn't necessarily from a meeting, but um, I wanted to raise to awareness one of the House bills that was um,
sort of presented, is that the term or read? um in June um is House Bill 4588 and it is about um school board elections requiring um candidates to have a
partisan affiliation. And so I just wanted to raise awareness to our fellow board members about that um bill being in the house. um with the level of polarity between the two parties right now. Um
there are some concerns uh about that bill sort of, you know, blocking eligible persons, people who might be, you know, really good to serve on the board who may not necessarily want to associate with either party at
this moment. Um and there there's some conversation going on on both sides of, you know, for and against that bill. So, I just wanted to raise that um at the table here since it would impact um all of us as well as um anyone else who
might join us in the future. Um and I do plan to email our local representative to um ask some questions about um what they think where that's going and if and how we'll be moving forward just so we can have some more information about that.
Thank you, Trusty Sen Kennedy. duly noted artisan affiliation. All right. Um any other subcommittee reports? All right. Seeing none,
that takes us to board superintendent comments. Are there any board comments at this time? Trusty Espie, I just want to name uh I was able to attend jazz at Chadford Field this weekend. Um, and it was really enjoyable. There was a great
there was a good crowd. Um, and there was plenty of not only food trucks but resource um, tableabling at the event which made me really exciting including uh, YCS talking about our new uh, immersion school
uh, multilingual uh, school and um, as well as the WISD and a few other places. So, and so it was really great to see everyone out there. Uh, and I just enjoyed that. Um, and on a more somber note, um, as, uh,
Trusty Sutton Kennedy referenced uh, House bills, I would ask us to please pay careful attention and be advocating within our our powers with uh, our uh, because I know that there are some things happening both at the state level
and federal level that have a significant impact on educational funding right now. and me trusted and I too was at the jazz park. I didn't see you. I was looking for my people, but I did see Julie. I was there. I had free ice cream and a
cup. That was good. I had that. That was good. And everything was really nice. It was wellreceived. Um good voice. A good voice for I mean Athena is good. I love her. She was Yeah, it was it was nice. I missed the boots on the ground, but I you know, but I was there. Um, so I
really like that and you know and along those lines just you know to just to put this out there and I love the jazz in the park. I do but maybe if we can talk to Taran because I know she's our community if we can like switch up. I was thinking maybe something like movies in the like have a big movie screen down to football field you know for for the
community or something like that. They do it at U of M sometime but I'm just thinking like you know switch up. Jasmine Park is beautiful but if we can get something else you know cuz that movie thing is like more for the kids. jazz. That's for us. But if we can get something going on for the babies like in the summer, I think that'll be kind of cool, you know, as a maybe a
fundraiser or something like that. And then my number two fundraiser will be and it's just how it's been in my heart, but like an adult like for for the teachers and for the school districts and all that like that like an adult prom for all of us. I just I'm just saying I'm just throwing that out there. Those are my two things I was had on my plate. So, all right.
Yeah. So, that's it. Movie night and prom. All right. Trusty Esie, can I add one more thing in terms of events coming up? Yes. Um there is something called the Balling initiative and that is partnering with the Psalan Community Schools uh for
youth day at the park um on July 25th. Um, it's going to be hosted in West Willow Park from 3 PM to 6 PM. It's a threeon-ree basketball tournament um that's being supported by a number of organizations including YCS like the corner, MBK, Ozone House, Mentor to
Youth, Student Advocacy Center, Ipsyan, and Underdog Nation. So, um, a really great opportunity for our young folks to get out. Um, as well as us adults. I know they're continuing to look for more referees and people who are able to coach. So, if you have an inclination and are available on that Friday, July
25th, by all means, uh, reach out. I believe I've spoken to Tyler Weston as someone who has been a point of contact to organize that event. Thank you for that addition. Um, any other board comments? Um the only
comment that I had was Yeah, I'm tired. But um I want to um just make sure that you all know there was some communication that came from uh Representative Morgan again about funding. So I I encourage you all to
make sure you read that email. And then also um you should be receiving emails shortly in regards to Park Ridg's uh celebration. um graduation for the STEM summer camp. We have a phenomenal
relationship with YCS and I wore one of my shirts. Make sure the people that make sure my babies can go get a shirt. Um and uh we want to uh make sure we come out. This
is a fun event. Um it will be on August 8th at 10:00 a.m. So you'll receive a formal um email from the president's office for WCC. Um and uh the other thing is I look forward to
all the events coming down the pipeline for YCS. It doesn't seem like we got a break at all, but hey, that's what we signed up for. Um, but it's we have some great things coming down the pipeline for the district. So, I just want to
make sure that we're all all can be present. If we all can't be there, we have some type of res representation from the board. So, thank you all again. It's been a we started a new season, I guess. Blinked and the old one was gone and blinked and now we helping. So, time
to start it back up again. Yep. Good meeting. And we've been moving in between. So, it's a lot going on. Good stuff. Good stuff. Um, any other board comments? I have one. Trusty Sutton Kennedy. Yes. Um, maybe it was last month. I'm losing
track of time. Maybe about three weeks ago. Um, the language team put out a um vote to the parents from the dual immersion program to vote on the logo.
So we um received a lot of parent input on that and that was um parents were given about a week parents and guardians and families about a week to vote on that logo and then we held an event uh virtually to announce the winning logo.
That was I think last week last Tuesday. Um and so that's a update from the parent side of the dual immersion program. And so that's been really cool to be involved in that and attending some events with um some families this
summer like birthday parties and things. It's been really nice to hear them talking about how they have seen just how much YCS is gathering that input from community um and families and really utilizing it um
in that decision making. Um and so just hearing that I just wanted to share that with everyone here um as well. And um we also went through I felt really lucky to support uh Celeste um green and
recording a video of the uh middle school building for families. So I got to see it last week and I was really excited for that. Um and we put that out to families specifically for them to be able to um just get a glimpse into um the building that their students um will
be going into next year. So, those are some updates about some things that I know about the dual immersion program. Really exciting things. Very exciting. Thank you so much, Trusty Sutton Kennedy, um, for adding that in the space. Anything else in terms of
updates or comments or announcement? All right. The only thing I will say is the board retreat is coming up and I look forward to it. Dr. Zachary Roth. Yes, we're excited, too. Today, we've
finished some of the announcements and plans and getting the people um based off of what you all have said you wanted to have during the retreat. So, people are confirming people are confirming their that they
can attend and we're getting gathering it together. We're really excited. Um I'm passing around as trustee Townsen talked about dates. We know we've been getting the uh save the dates July 25th family day in the park
at West Willow from four uh 3 to 6 pm. Um there's free barbecue dinner. Everybody likes free food. Um August 2nd is the big back to school bash and then we know there's the board meeting but then the YCS touch a truck is always a
big fun event when people um are planning for it. On the other side is the is the postcard that's going out um to five zip code area zip codes. This is a um a replica of the postcard as you'll
see. Um they did a wonderful job in terms of just making with the graphics they put um what um programs people will be able to have. you'll see is the it highlights the Ipsellani Pentes multilingual school, the Ipsellani uh
connected school as well as the magnet programs and the logo that uh Trusty Sutton Kennedy just talked about is on there. Um that's their bridge that they they selected. Um each building has been able to choose their because that has
always been at the building level been able to choose designs as long as it goes within the district design. And so they um were a they chose their design. So this is going out to uh to families in a postcard type larger
postcard type setting. We're excited about that. Um and that it has the voice. We talk about choice the voice and agency. There's also with Grizzly Learning Camp, um they're having this wonderful gallery of greatness at Ford
Early Learning Center on July 29th at 9 a.m. I know that they've been sending emails just inviting people. Oh, I wrote for it, but I maybe just wanted it to write it that it's coming off the top of my head. So, thank you
Harry for it's a gallery of greatness is just to really share um they've been highlighting um the end of the year end of uh GLC events that and that's coming up on July 29th. Thank you Dr.
Kascarella at at Perry at 9:00 a.m. Um, you heard uh at the presentation if you drive by that billboard on I 94 that it it has um it rotates between the uh multilingual
the connected school and magnet. There's a fourth thing on there. Oh, recruitment. I almost forgot. And so it rotates. So if you you might drive by once it says one thing about empty drive by the next because we're going to keep showing up
and when people drive by they won't forget about us. So we're really excited about that billboard um there uh we are interviews are being conducted right now as you were hearing a lot of the all of the a lot of the
connections with the families are with the building administrators. So, we're excited that the interviews for Wise and for Point Multilingual are this week. So, we're we'll be hopefully bringing you all the folks to be approved because
we got to get get them in because they're the ones who really are the the engaging um people who keep everyone engaged. Um Oh, we're not doing we're going to give you that at the board retreat. So, I took that off. I was like, "Yeah, cuz
I'm like, we got to connect that postcard." Yeah. Yes. And our and our scholars have been doing they they've been going to amazing. They wanted to just thank everyone for going to the um experiential um field trips like the Mottown Museum
and the Whiz. They really were excited about those two in particular. There there's been some exciting ones. Oh my. And I forgot the last one that we that they get. Is it tennis? But I must be really tight. Is it tennis? They get a racket.
So they get they're having like a tennis training and then at the end they get I know I'm not blowing it up, but it really is good. They get this training and then at the end they get their own rackets to go home. And so it's it's really really
exciting. And they're it's for who is third and fourth. third and fourth graders and who's training them. Yeah. So, they're feeling like, you know, more connected to the folks because it's it's like a bridge. So, I'm really excited about that. And again,
thank you for jazz in the parking lot. I know the two of them were as they were going, we were everybody was worried about the rain, I think. And so, we were like, okay. So then to see that there were still people in the crowd and supporting the event, we're just
appreciative. And again, we have some other great summer. We're still here still still going out and the video. So there's a video for the uh multilingual point um
multilingual. And today when you see Dr. Harris Hugan's video, you've got to share it uh everywhere. It is. It is the cutest video ever. Um, inviting people to enroll at YCHS. So, when you see it,
please share it on your social media pages. Okay. Oh, yeah. I only have it on Facebook, but they're going to teach somebody to show me how. Okay. Isn't it beautiful?
Oh my gosh. It's like so vibrant and like exciting. Oh yeah, this specifically. This is very nice. It's user friendly. It's it's aesthetically
nice. Look at YCS. We are doing it every day. Um board. Anything else? Which one? The bridge is not comment on that. I like that.
Isn't it nice? Yes, it was. I want that because I like that thing. This is slick. I like whoever whoever whoever designed it. Yeah, it looks beautiful. It looks beautiful. Job well done.
Thank you to those parents in the the dual immersion program because you all did a great job. Yes. Yeah. You should see the uh the other options that we had. I really like that one. That was one there was the people bridge. People who created and then there was one that was like,
you know, re a rectangular bridge kind of like a Mino bridge sort of shape, but they really didn't like that one. They like the people one or that one or this one. And then that one ended up winning out at the end. I that was the one I liked too. So
yes, it was it was really a tough choice. So I'm happy that you know a lot of folks weighed in so we could sort of see what what won out. Um I did have one question. It was about the back to school bash because I haven't seen the um volunteer um list come through to say would you
like to volunteer for that? So I just want to say I'm volunteering that out soon. She had to get this jazz in the I'm sure once she got the jazz in the parking lot, she'll be sending that out. Do not worry. Do not
you will not. All right. Thank you board, Dr. Zachary Ross, cabinet members, everyone in attendance at the meeting tonight. The time is 8:40.