November 15, 2023 at 6:00 PM - Regular Board Meeting

I. REGULAR BUSINESS

I.A. Call to Order

I.A.1) Pledge of Allegiance

I.A.2) Roll Call

I.B. Approval of Agenda

I.C. Audience Participation

I.D. Presentations

I.D.1) Outstanding School Communicator Award: Micki O’Neil, Chief Communications Officer for Eaton RESA and Ingham ISD, was presented with the 2023 Gerri Allen Outstanding School Communicator Award. This award recognizes a practicing school communicator for outstanding leadership in school public relations and communications.

I.D.2) Instructional Services (IS) Update: Nate Leale, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services, will present the status of re-establishing district and Eaton RESA partnerships.

I.E. Public Comment Regarding 31aa School Mental Health and School Safety Funding

I.F. Action Items

I.F.1) Consent Agenda

I.F.1)a. 10/18/23 Regular Board Meeting Minutes

I.F.1)b. Personnel Report

I.F.1)c. Board Bills and Disbursement Report

I.F.2) Travel Requests

I.F.2)a. 2023 Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health: Melea Belton, Director of Behavior/Mental Health Services, is requesting Board approval for two behavior/mental health specialists to attend the 2023 Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health in New Orleans, Louisiana, from December 4-8, 2023. The conference will allow the specialists to attend intensive training sessions to further their knowledge in supporting school mental health. Costs are covered by grant funds.    

I.F.3) New Director of Safety and Employee Relations Position: To respond to a rapidly increasing need for support in regards to safety, the Superintendent is requesting Board approval for a new Director of Safety and Employee Relations position. This new position shall provide the leadership and coordination needed to plan, organize, implement, and evaluate the programs and practices that help ensure a safe learning and working environment for Eaton RESA and local districts. The position will also oversee and work to improve the policies, procedures, and programs related to employee engagement and satisfaction.

I.F.4) MILearner Wallet Program Director Position: The Superintendent is requesting authorization from the Board to execute a grant funded employment contract with Steve Netzel to serve as the Program Director for the MILearner Wallet Pilot from January 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025. The director will be employed by Eaton RESA and lead efforts in conjunction with Headstream Technologies to collaborate with school and district leaders across the state who are participating in the 27o MILearner Wallet Pilot. Eaton RESA will utilize 27o grant funding to cover all costs (salary, pension contributions, benefits, FICA) associated with the position and will also receive indirect funds to offset the cost of hosting the position.

I.F.5) Eaton County Board of Commissioners and the 56^th Circuit Court Contract: Kim Thalison, Director of School Wellness & Prevention Services, is requesting that the Board authorize the Superintendent to execute an agreement with the Eaton County Board of Commissioners and the 56^th Circuit Court in an amount not to exceed $131,500. The funds provide truancy case management for students and families who live in Eaton County. The agreement is from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024.

I.F.6) Michigan State University (MSU) Subcontract: Kim Thalison, Director of School Wellness & Prevention Services, is requesting that the Board authorize the Superintendent to execute a subcontract agreement with MSU in an amount not to exceed $50,000. The subcontract provides facilitation and professional development planning for the DEI Educator’s Network. The agreement is from August 1, 2023, through July 31, 2024.

I.F.7) Child and Adolescent Health Centers Contract: Kim Thalison, Director of School Wellness & Prevention Services, is requesting that the Board authorize the Superintendent to execute an agreement with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in an amount not to exceed $275,000 for the implementation of a school-based health clinic located at Grand Ledge High School (GLHS). The agreement is from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024.

I.F.8) Donation for Suicide Prevention Programming: Melea Belton, Director of Behavior/Mental Health Services, received communication from Charlotte Meijer stating their employees had selected suicide prevention as the theme for their team member gives program and would like to donate the funds towards suicide prevention and awareness in the amount of $5,000. As per Board Policy #7230, this donation requires acceptance by the Board of Education since it is in an amount larger than $500. Melea is requesting that the Board authorize the Superintendent to accept this generous donation.

I.F.9) Increase in FTE for Behavior/Mental Health Services: Melea Belton, Director of Behavior/Mental Health Services, is requesting that the Board approve the increase of a 1.0 FTE behavior/mental health specialist. This position will provide clinical services in the school-based health clinic planned for Grand Ledge Public Schools (GLPS). The expenses related to the position will be funded through Department of Health and Human Services grant funds.  

I.F.10) Increase in FTEs for Special Education: Kelly Hager, Assistant Superintendent for Special Education, is requesting that the Board approve the increases of a 0.15 FTE school social worker and 0.13 FTE school psychologist at a combined cost of $26,155. The increase in FTEs is being requested by Relevant Academy for the 2023-24 school year.

I.F.11) 2023-24 Contracted Speech Pathology Services: Kelly Hager, Assistant Superintendent for Special Education, is requesting that the Board authorize the Superintendent to execute an agreement with CompHealth Medical Staffing in an amount not to exceed $71,280 to provide 1.0 FTE contracted speech and language pathology services for staff maternity leaves of absence. The agreement is from January 3, 2024, through June 14, 2024.

I.F.12) Revised 2023-24 Ingham ISD Special Education Service Agreement: Kelly Hager, Assistant Superintendent for Special Education, is requesting that the Board authorize the Superintendent to execute a revised agreement with Ingham ISD for an increase of 0.08 FTE audiologist for the 2023-24 school year for an additional amount not to exceed $7,787.

I.F.13) 2023-24 Contracted School Psychologist Services: Kelly Hager, Assistant Superintendent for Special Education, is requesting that the Board authorize the Superintendent to execute an agreement with PresenceLearning, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $70,000 to provide the current 1.0 FTE contracted virtual school psychologist vacancy. The agreement is from November 20, 2023, through June 14, 2024.

I.F.14) 2023-24 Contracted School Social Worker Services: Kelly Hager, Assistant Superintendent for Special Education, is requesting that the Board authorize the Superintendent to execute an agreement with Sunbelt Staffing and VocoVision in an amount not to exceed $92,000 to provide the current 0.3 FTE contracted virtual school social worker vacancy. The agreement is from November 20, 2023, through June 14, 2024.

I.G. Information Items

I.G.1) Wide Area Network (WAN) Request for Proposal (RFP): Our current county consortium for the WAN will expire on June 30, 2024. To apply for E-rate funding for the contract, an RFP has been released on a five-year lease and a ten-year lease. Bids will be received on December 19, 2023. Bids will be evaluated with our local districts and a recommendation will be brought to the Board at the January 17, 2024, meeting.

I.H. Board Member Reports & Requests

I.I. Correspondence

I.I.1) Upcoming Events

I.I.1)a. Regular Board Meeting, December 20, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., Eaton RESA

I.J. Adjournment