January 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Organizational Board Meeting (January)
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1. Call Meeting to Order
Description:
This meeting is a meeting of the Board of Education in public for the purpose of conducting the School District's business and is not to be considered a public community meeting. There is a time for public participation during the meeting as indicated in the agenda.
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2. Pledge of Allegiance
Speaker(s):
Board President
Description:
The Board of Education will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
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3. Roll Call
Speaker(s):
Superintendent, Stephanie Lemmer
Description:
The Superintendent will administer roll call to establish that a quorum of the Board is present and to determine which Board members are present at the start of the meeting.
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4. Public Comments-Participants are asked to keep comments to three(3) minutes.
Description:
Please notify the Superintendent in writing at least two business days before the scheduled meetings of the Board of Education if you wish to address the Board but do not speak English, or if you have a handicap or disability that may prevent you from speaking to the Board. At this time, the Board will listen to comments from the public and others regarding both agenda action items and items that are not on the agenda. Per Board Policy #0167, each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three (3) minutes. This is the only opportunity for public comment. The Board President may add a second comment if there are more than 20 community members seeking to speak.
The Board requests that, if you wish to speak, you provide us with your name, address, and affiliation with the district. Please limit your comment to three minutes. Comments should not be directed at individuals on the board, rather to the board as a whole. This is a meeting of the Board of Education being held in public. Board members will not respond to public comment, but you may request a formal response at a later time. |
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5. Agenda Changes
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6. Oath of Office
Speaker(s):
Superintendent Lemmer
Description:
Supt. Lemmer will lead the newly elected board members Dawn Forton, Stephen Herbstreith, and Jennifer Sheldon in reciting their oath of office. Trustee Brown issued his Oath of Office prior to the organizational meeting due to replacing an appointed candidate.
The oath follows: I do solemnly affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this state, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Member of the Board of Education of Pennfield Schools, Calhoun County, Michigan, according to the best of my ability. |
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7. Election of Pennfield Board of Education Officers (Action)
Description:
The Board will elect officers for January 2025 - December 2025.
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7.1. Election of Board of Education President
Speaker(s):
Superintendent Lemmer
Description:
Members of the board must select among themselves one individual to serve as President. The duties and responsibilities of the President are set forth in Board Policy 0171.1
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7.2. Election of Board of Education Vice President
Description:
After the election of a Board of Education President, members of the board must select among themselves one individual to serve as Vice President. The duties and responsibilities are set forth in Board Policy 0171.2.
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7.3. Election of Board of Education Treasurer
Description:
After the election of a Board of Education Treasurer, members of the board must select among themselves one individual to serve as Treasurer. The duties and responsibilities are set forth in Board Policy 0171.4.
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7.4. Election of Board of Education Secretary
Description:
After the election of a Board of Education Secretary, members of the board must select among themselves one individual to serve as Secretary. The duties and responsibilities are set forth in Board Policy 0171.3.
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8. Recognitions and Presentations
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8.1. January School Board Recognition Month
Description:
January is School Board Recognition Month, a time to honor and thank our dedicated board members for their commitment, leadership, and service to our students, staff, and community.
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8.2. Student Athletes and Holiday Program
Description:
Student Athletes of the Month:
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8.3. Retirement of Tina Fleisher
Description:
Tina Fleisher - High School Science Teacher
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9. Consent Agenda (Action)
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9.1. Approval of the Agenda
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9.2. Approval of Check Registers
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9.3. Approval of Electronic Fund Transfers
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9.4. Approval of Finance Expenditure Report
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10. Board Communications
Description:
Pennfield was represented at the 19th annual Michigan's Multi-Tiered System of Support (MIMTSS) state conference, where Jessica Wilkins, Heidi Turchan, Ambrosia DeLeon, and Anjie Webb presented a breakout session. MIMTSS thanked them for their valuable contributions.
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11. Items for Approval (Action)
Speaker(s):
Board President
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11.1. Acceptance of Retirement of Tina Fleisher
Description:
With regret, the Superintendent is recommending the Board accept the retirement of Tina Fleisher, Pennfield High School Science Teacher.
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11.2. Approval of New Staff
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer and the administrative team are recommending the Board approve the following staff:
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11.3. Designation of School Depositories
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending the Board authorize the following banks as depositories: Huntington Bank for General Fund, Payroll, Student/School Activities, Debt Retirement, Transportation, and School Service Funds. Southwest Michigan Bank and Trust for Bond Funds.
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11.4. Appointment of Committee Assignments
Description:
It is recommended the Board approve changes to the Trustees on the Negotiations/Personal Committee.
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11.5. General Funds Disbursement Authorization
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer recommends the Board of education approve the Board Treasurer, Board Secretary, Board President, Superintendent or Director of Finance, and/or designer to disburse general fund dollars.
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11.6. Bank Account Signatories
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending the Board authorize the Superintendent and Director of Finance and Operations as Bank Account Signatories in addition to the Board Treasurer.
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11.7. Authorization to Sign Contracts and Agreements
Description:
It is recommended that the board authorize the Superintendent, Stephanie Lemmer to sign contracts and agreements on behalf of the Board.
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11.8. Purchase Order Signature Authorization
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending that the Board designate the Director of Finance, Angena Schwartz as the authorized signatory of Purchase Orders.
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11.9. Electronic Transfer Officers
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending the Board designate the Director of Finance and Operations, Angena Schwartz, as the District's Electronic Transfer Officer (ETO) in accordance with Board Policy 6144.
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11.10. Authorize Investment Monies Transfer Signatories
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending the Board authorize the Finance Director and Superintendent as designees to invest monies on behalf of the district.
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11.11. Approve Board member Compensation and Reimbursement of Expenses
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending the Board approve the Board compensation rate based on the state average, $25.00 per Regular Board Meeting and $15.00 per Board Committee Meeting attended by the Board member.
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11.12. Designation of District Legal Counsel
Description:
Superintended Lemmer is recommending the Board retain the services of Thrun Law Firm P.C. and Clark Hill P.C. for the 2024 calendar year for matters concerning bond issues, elections, and other specialized services where deemed appropriate; and that the Superintendent, or designer, be authorized to utilize counsel as deemed appropriate for non-specialized services with a not to exceed retention fee of $2,500.
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11.13. Designation of District Auditor
Description:
The Director of Finance and Operations is recommending the board approve Rehmann and Associates as its financial auditor for the 2024-2025 school year.
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11.14. Designation of District Architect
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending that the Board Approve KingScott Architects as the District's Architect.
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11.15. Designation of the District's Construction Management Company
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending that the Board Approve Triangle and Associates as the District's Construction Management Company.
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11.16. Designation of Official Publication
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending the Board approve The Shopper as its official publication as it reaches many homes in the district and is free.
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11.17. Determine/reaffirm the dates and locations of the Board's Regular Meetings
Description:
It is being recommended that the Board approve the attached schedule of monthly Board meetings and work sessions for February 2025 through January 2026.
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11.18. Reaffirm process for calling of special meetings
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending the board reaffirm Bylaw 0165.3 - SPECIAL MEETINGS which indicates that Special Meetings will be posted at least eighteen hours (18) in advance and will include the date, time, and location of the meeting in addition to the purpose of the meeting or topics to be covered. |
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11.19. Reaffirm Meeting Posting Locations
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending that the Board of Education approve posting the Notice of Board Meeting on the door of the Central Office and electronically on the school district's website.
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11.20. Designation of the person responsible for posting meeting notices
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer recommends the Board of Education designate the Superintendent or her designee as the party responsibile for posting the meeting notices in the proper locations.
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11.21. Designation of the Board's Insurance Agents
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending that the board approve SET SEG as its property, casualty, and workers' compensation insurance provider and First Agency as its athletic insurance provider.
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11.22. Approve Memberships
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending the Board approve the following memberships: Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB); Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators (MASA); Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA); Michigan School Business Officials (MSBO).
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11.23. Designate Principle Office for the District
Description:
The Superintendent recommends the Board approve the designation of Central Office located in the Middle School at 8587 Pennfield Road, Battle Creek, MI 49017 as the Principle Office of the district.
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11.24. Approval of 1st Reading of Board Policies
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending the board approve the NEOLA policy update from Fall 2024 which includes the following policy revisions and one new policy:
Technical Corrections
New Policies
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11.25. December Bond Bills for Triangle
Description:
It is the recommendation of the Director of Finance and Operations and the Superintendent that the Board approve the Triangle bond bill for the month of December in the amount of $541,241.98 A summary of services rendered is attached.
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11.26. Approval Request for Proposal for Custodial Services
Description:
Superintendent Lemmer is recommending that the Board approve the bid for Custodial Services from GFS to begin providing services on June 1, 2024. The competitive bid process resulted in 18 submissions and five post bid interviews, in addition to considering operating custodial internally. GFS shares our vision for Pennfield Schools and has remarkable references regarding their services.
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11.27. Approval of New Bus Purchase
Description:
The Director of Finance & Operations and the Transportation Supervisor are requesting approval of a new 77 passenger gas fuelled bus from Holland Bus Company for the amount of $134,156, which was the lowest of three bids.
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11.28. Approval of Annual Education Reports (AER) for 2023-2024 school year
Description:
It is the recommendation of Superintendent Lemmer to approve the annual Education Reports for the 2023-2024 school year.
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12. Board Comments
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13. Adjournment
Speaker(s):
Board President
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