July 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Meeting Agenda
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CALL TO ORDER
Description:
Tom Buffett, Jason Burns, Katie Cavanaugh, Shulawn Doxie, Andrew Phelps, Leeni Shrestha and Jillian Winn
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WELCOME AND MEETING FORMAT (2 Min)
Description:
Welcome to this special meeting of the Okemos Board of Education held in public for the purpose of conducting the business of the school board.
There are two opportunities for public comment: Citizens who wish to address agenda or non-agenda items will have an opportunity at the beginning of the meeting, as well as near the end of the meeting. In-person individuals who wish to address the board must complete a blue form, located with the agendas near the room entrance, and present it to the board’s secretary prior to the start of the agenda item. Virtual participants must submit their name and address in a message through the chat box located in Zoom’s meeting controls prior to the start of the agenda item. At the appropriate point in the agenda, the board president will call upon individuals who have submitted a blue card or chat message and that individual’s microphone will be un-muted for their comments. |
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ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION – Contract Negotiations
Description:
Pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Open Meetings Act, the board of education may adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing contract negotiations.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board adjourn to Executive Session pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Open Meetings Act for the purpose of discussing contract negotiations (Roll Call).Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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RECONVENE
Description:
Tom Buffett, Katie Cavanaugh, Shulawn Doxie, Mary Gebara, Melanie Lynn, Andy Phelps, Jayme Taylor
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CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Description:
At this time in the meeting, citizens have an opportunity to address the board regarding items of interest that that may or may not be part of the evening’s agenda. Citizens are required to limit comments to three minutes, except when this requirement is waived by the board president during the meeting. A designated timekeeper will communicate to the individual who is addressing the board at three minutes. The board highly values public comment and input; however, the board meeting format is designed to facilitate the evening’s agenda and, therefore, restricts board members from engaging in conversation with speakers or immediately responding to questions. Questions and concerns may be addressed by the board later in the agenda and may be assigned for follow-up by the board or superintendent at a later date.
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SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
Description:
The superintendent will highlight events and issues of interest and take questions from the board.
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BOARD REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
Description:
The board will acknowledge receipt of correspondence.
Individual board members may highlight other events and issues of interest and request follow-up on other matters of concern. |
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ACTION ITEMS
Description:
Within Action Items, there is a Consent Agenda to expedite the business of the board which groups a number of items together to be dealt with by one action of the board. However, items in the consent agenda may be extracted by individual board member request for further discussion or clarification.
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CONSENT AGENDA (5 Min)
Description:
In an effort to expedite the business of the board of education, but in no way meant to diminish the importance of each item, a Consent Agenda has been developed.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board approve items 1 and 2 for immediate implementation and appropriate action.
Item 1: Approval of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 9, 2025; and
Item 2: Approval of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 16, 2025.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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OTHER ACTION ITEMS
Description:
The Other Action Items require additional discussion prior to board action.
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Selection of Date, Time and Place for 2025-2026 Regular Meetings
Description:
The board of education currently meets the second and fourth Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board establish the dates of regular meetings of the board of education to generally be the second and fourth Monday of each month, adjusted for Mondays with no school; the time of each meeting to begin at 7:00 p.m., with no new discussion after 10:00 p.m.; and the place of meetings to be the Community Conference Room at Central School; and that the board direct administration to publish the date/time/location of these meetings on the district's web site.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
Attachments:
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Designation of Person Responsible for Posting Meeting Notices
Description:
The board of education annually establishes a regular board meeting schedule for the school year, which is posted on the district’s website in July. Notice of each individual regular meeting or any special meeting to be held during the school year is required in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board designate the superintendent of schools or designee to post all regular and special school board meeting notices for the 2025-2026 school year in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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Selection of Legal Counsel for the 2025-2026 School Year
Description:
Currently, Okemos Public Schools utilizes the services of Thrun Law Firm P.C. The district has found their services to be excellent.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board retains Thrun Law Firm, P.C. as legal counsel for the 2025-2026 school year.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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Selection of Auditor for the 2025-2026 School Year
Description:
Currently, the Okemos Public Schools utilizes the services of Maner Costerisan P.C. The district has found their services to be excellent.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board retain Maner Costerisan P.C. as auditor for the 2025-2026 school year.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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Approval for Depositories for School Funds for the 2025-2026 School Year
Description:
Currently, the district utilizes Michigan School District Liquid Assets Fund Plus, Fifth Third Bank, and PNC Bank. PNC Bank is the primary banking institution used by the district.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board designates Michigan School District Liquid Assets Fund Plus, Fifth Third Bank, and PNC Bank as depositories for school funds for the 2025-2026 school year, which includes Accounts Payable, Payroll, Debt Retirement Activity, Food Service, Student/School Activity and Building & Site Sinking Fund.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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DISCUSSION ITEMS
Description:
Discussion items are intended to provide an opportunity for review of material and interaction concerning the individual items. Action is not taken during the board meeting. Discussion items may be acted upon by the Board of Education at a later date. The board president may move a discussion item forward in the meeting agenda to facilitate timely discussion and/or community input on that discussion item.
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Board Retreat Planning
Description:
The board will continue its discussion and planning of its upcoming retreat.
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COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Description:
At this time in the meeting, citizens have an opportunity to address the board regarding any item(s) of interest. Individual comments at this time will be limited to three minutes but may be extended at the discretion of the board president. A designated timekeeper will communicate to the individual who is addressing the board at three minutes. The board highly values public comment; however, our meeting format does not allow the board to engage in conversation with speakers. Questions or concerns may be assigned for follow-up by the board or the administration at a later date.
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OTHER MATTERS (5 Min)
Description:
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ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION – Superintendent Evaluation
Description:
Pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Open Meetings Act, the board of education may adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the superintendent evaluation.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board adjourn to Executive Session pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Open Meetings Act for the purpose of discussing the superintendent evaluation (Roll Call).Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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RECONVENE
Description:
Tom Buffett, Jason Burns, Katie Cavanaugh, Shulawn Doxie, Andrew Phelps, Leeni Shrestha and Jillian Winn
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ADJOURN
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