Jessica Aldridge

The Board approved personnel changes, financial invoices, and budget amendments for 2025-2026 special education, general education, and career and technical education programs. Additionally, the Board acknowledged several donations, authorized the purchase of new bus routing software, and established cell phone allowance guidelines for certified staff. Reports were presented regarding strategic planning, upcoming math curriculum proposals, and various facility projects. A closed session was held regarding student disciplinary matters, which resulted in the formal approval of a student expulsion.

This document outlines the Montcalm Area ISD's strategic direction, with a vision to be an educational partner in building strong communities and a mission to provide innovative and effective learning opportunities for students, schools, and families. The plan is organized around five overarching goals: expanding educational opportunities, providing ongoing and forward-thinking leadership, fostering connectedness, maintaining financial integrity, and establishing a unified legislative voice.

The Regular Meeting covered several administrative items, including the approval of the agenda and the consent agenda, which included the approval of previous meeting minutes from December 19, 2025, and personnel changes involving two new hires and two resignations. The board approved invoices for payment and formally acknowledged a $675 donation from the Stanton Women's Club for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. A key action was the approval of the Michigan Department of Transportation Performance and Indemnification Resolution Letter related to the MAISD Fiber Connectivity Grant Project. The board also accepted and approved the Mid-Year Progress Report and Written Growth Plan for the MAISD Superintendent. Superintendent discussions included updates on service delivery model meetings with local districts, special education service delivery, the creation of Crisis Response Teams, CTE funding, the discontinuation of some 32p programs, and MAISD's role in the statewide Distance Learning satellite conference. Following a closed session to discuss the dismissal of an employee, the board formally approved the dismissal.

The meeting included the recognition of the incoming Director of Technology, who will officially start in January 2026. The Board approved the agenda and the consent agenda, which included personnel changes (five new hires, one transfer, one termination). Key financial actions involved approving invoices for payment and accepting donations from the Greenville Lions Club and other donors. The Board reviewed the final MAISD Single Audit, approved a $7,000 tariff assessment related to the purchase of two school buses, and approved a contract for a temporary Crisis Response and Behavioral Support Specialist. A contract for Interim Transportation Director Services was also approved. Furthermore, the Board approved the consolidation of department handbooks into a single district-wide Staff Handbook and approved several revisions to Board Policies (e.g., Nondiscrimination, Anti-Harassment, Section 504/ADA) as prepared by Neola. The Board also approved Resolution D concerning the Allocation of Section 31aa Funding under Michigan Public Act 15 of 2025. A report was provided by the Superintendent regarding the Talent Together Consortium.

The agenda for this meeting included several key items. The Board planned to honor the MAISD Board of Education during National School Board Recognition Month. The consent agenda covered approval of previous meeting minutes (from December 19, 2025) and personnel changes, including new hires (Mitchell Poniatowski, Beth Clingenpeel) and resignations (Nicholas Kandrot, Hana Call). The Board was scheduled to review and potentially approve invoices for payment and acknowledge a donation of $675 from the Stanton Women's Club for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. A significant item involved the approval or disapproval of the Performance and Indemnification Resolution Letter from the Michigan Department of Transportation related to the MAISD Fiber Connectivity Grant Project. Furthermore, the meeting included a review of the Mid-Year Progress Report and Written Growth Plan for Superintendent Katie Flynn, various departmental reports, and a motion to enter closed session to consider the dismissal of an employee.