March 23, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  The Policy & Legislative Committee met.

Description:  The superintendent will provide a progress update on the strategic plan revision process. To inform this process, surveys have been developed and disseminated to staff, parents, students, and community members. Attached is a sample of results - parent survey.

Description:  In accordance with Michigan law (MCL 380.1308b) and Board Policy 8402, the District has completed its required biennial review and update of the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). This review was conducted in collaboration with law enforcement and VBISD Administrator of Emergency Management, Bob Kirk.
The updated plan continues to address required areas including school violence and threats, emergency response procedures, reunification processes, and building security measures. The purpose of this agenda item is to present the revised plan to the Board for formal adoption as required by law.

Following Board action, the District will submit required notice of adoption to the Michigan Department of Education.

Due to the confidential and security-sensitive nature of the EOP, and in accordance with State law, the EOP should not be publicly distributed.

Description:  Over the past year, both the full Board and the Policy & Legislative Committee have discussed a transition from the District’s current policy service provider (Neola) to Thrun Law Firm’s policy service. These discussions have focused on improving the usability, clarity, and alignment of Board policies with the District’s legal counsel.

Key advantages with Thrun’s policy service include a more streamlined policy structure, direct alignment between the District’s policy development and its legal representation, and better flexibility to tailor policy language where appropriate while maintaining legal compliance. 

The policy service includes development and implementation of a new Board Policy Manual, Administrative Guidelines and Forms Manual, and Student and Employee Handbooks. The one-time cost for these materials is $14,000. Ongoing annual update services are estimated at up to $2,750 per year, which is comparable to Neola's costs.

The Policy and Legislative Committee has reviewed this proposal and supports the Superintendent’s recommendation to proceed with contracting for Thrun policy services.

Description: 

The Title V Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) provides federal grant money to support rural school districts in improving student academic achievement through initiatives such as instructional materials, technology enhancements, and innovative learning environments. Including both 2024-25 carryover and the 2025-26 allocation, BPS has approximately $72,236 available under this grant.

Working with the elementary principals, we've prioritized the use of these funds to strengthen our K-5 STEAM programming. The grant plan includes the purchase of LEGO Education Computer Science and AI Classroom Bundles as well as flexible seating and mobile instructional furniture to support hands-on, project-based learning in the STEAM labs at Pullman Elementary and Bloomingdale Elementary.

The proposed furniture includes adjustable-height flip-top tables, mobile collaborative workstations, and flexible seating designed to support easy and quick transitions between whole-group instruction, small-group collaboration, and independent work. 

The furniture will be purchased through the OMNIA cooperative purchasing program, which satisfies competitive procurement requirements and ensures the District receives best-available pricing without the need to conduct a separate formal bid process.

Quotes for both elementary buildings are attached. The total cost for the furniture purchase is $42,036 and will be fully funded through Title V REAP grant funds. Approval at this time will allow the District to proceed with ordering to ensure delivery prior to our June 30 deadline.

Description:  While the Spring Update from Neola contains 13 policy change recommendations, only 4 of the updates were chosen as essential for adoption at this point, knowing that a change in our policy provider is on the horizon for the fall. This is a first reading. No action is required.

Policy 0100 - Definitions (Revised)
This bylaw has been revised to reflect the provisions of H.B.4141 (Public Act 2 - 2026) which prohibit students from using a wireless communications device on school grounds during instructional time. 

Policy 1410 - Staff Ethics (New)
This new policy is to establish high standards of integrity, ideals, and professional conduct for all administrators. It mirrors our staff ethics policies that apply to professional (teaching) staff and support staff.

Policy 5136 - Wireless Communication Devices (Replacement)
This replacement policy reflects the provisions of S.B. 495 (Public Act 1 - 2026) and H.B. 4141 (Public Act 2 - 2026) which prohibits students from using a wireless communications device on school grounds during instructional time.

Policy 8402 - Emergency Operations Plan (Revised)
This policy has been revised to reflect the requirement in S.B. 495 (Public Act 1 - 2026) to include a protocol for when and how pupils are permitted to use wireless communications devices during an emergency.

Description:  This LOA covers the distribution of the State’s Section 27L educator compensation funds allocated to Bloomingdale Public Schools.

Description: 

Over the past year, we've discussed the potential addition of a curriculum leadership-type position. As part of planning for the 2026-2027 school year, it will be helpful to have a discussion about possible approaches to structuring such a role.

The attached draft job posting has been developed for a Coordinator of Instructional Systems & Student Support. This position emphasizes coaching, MTSS implementation, student support systems, and professional learning rather than traditional administrative supervision. With this approach, a significant portion of the position could be funded through at-risk (Section 31a) funds, minimizing impact on the District’s general fund while strengthening support for academic growth, behavior, attendance, and instructional improvement.

We're also exploring the possibility of creating a temporary, part-time MTSS coordination role focused primarily on behavior and attendance through the end of the current school year. This transition role could be funded entirely through available Section 31a carryover funds.

Beckah Chartier, who recently completed the interim middle/high school student success and support role while we finalized hiring our MS/HS assistant principal, is being considered as a possible candidate for this temporary transition role. Her recent work in the student support role could provide continuity as we consider the long-term structure of this position.

This item is presented for Board discussion and feedback only. Depending on Board direction and staffing availability, a formal recommendation regarding an interim position may be brought forward next month.