Marlene Alexander

The special board meeting commenced with procedural formalities. A key agenda item involved the approval of board members attending a conference themed 'Capturing His Heart,' specifically approving Deborah Bunner's attendance in Detroit on March 17th through 18th. Following this, the board addressed public comments. The discussion during the public comment period heavily focused on matters concerning a specific board member's conduct, including publicly liking content deemed racist or derogatory, and the perceived inadequacy of the response from the Superintendent. Community members urged the board to continue independent investigations, formally refer the matter to the governor for removal if violations are confirmed, and ensure adherence to board policies prioritizing student welfare, safety, and an inclusive environment. Speakers cited various board policies and legal statutes, such as MCL 380.1107 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, in their calls for action against the board member's conduct, emphasizing accountability over free speech in their capacity as public servants.

The meeting commenced with amendments to the agenda, including approval for the East Elementary asbestos bid, a board of education conference request, approval for a softball coaching recommendation, and the addition of a closed session to discuss board member conduct and complaints. Key discussion segments included student recognition, featuring Chance Wcowski (High School Student of the Month), McKenna Brock (Eighth Grade Student of the Month), Tegan (Ninth Grade Student of the Month), Audrey Reading (Sophomore Student of the Month), Liam (Junior Student of the Month), and James Hudac (Senior Student of the Month). The meeting also featured a student spotlight from the Teacher Academy highlighting Zane and virtual student Olivia Benjamin, noting their hard work and overcoming challenges. A detailed midyear data report on NWA math and reading assessments was presented, showing significant overall student growth, particularly noting phenomenal growth in third grade and strong performance in fifth grade despite a challenging student population. Initiatives supporting this progress include guaranteed and viable curriculum development, the use of formative assessment tools (FIM), and the implementation of 'Power Hour' intervention time for K-6 students. The board also approved the minutes from the January 26, 2026 regular meeting.

The meeting initiated with organizational procedures, including the election of a temporary chairperson and the subsequent nomination and election of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer for the 2026 board term. Organizational matters discussed included designating authorized signers for various funds, naming authorized depositories (Citizens National bank, My Plus First Community bank), setting signature requirements for board minutes, retaining Thurin Long law firm as legal counsel for 2026, and identifying positions to be included in the bond insurance policy. The board also recommended the schedule for regular board meetings for the upcoming year, adjusted for holiday breaks. A significant portion of the meeting involved adopting recommendations for agenda items 9A through 9F as a consent motion. The agenda also featured student recognition, including honoring several students for December recognition and two student spotlights (one in-person, one virtual) for Mines Academy. Finally, the board approved the minutes from the December 15, 2025 meeting, followed by the Superintendent's report, which covered the start of the second semester, ongoing MAP data testing, reporting on those findings, and reviewing progress on strategic plan goals and upcoming professional development days.

The meeting commenced with a motion to amend the agenda to include the resignation of a staff member. Key discussions included student recognition segments, highlighting both in-person and virtual student spotlights for students named Theodore Wolf, Malin Rodo, Shelby Maxwell, Declan Robertson, King Custard, Nicholas Benty, Nicole Smeer, and Nick Michael. The President's report addressed a previous deadline miss for volleyball athlete recognition, for which a sincere apology was issued with corrective actions implemented. The report also covered steps being taken by the food service director to improve the nutritional value of school meals, including menu adjustments starting in January. The Superintendent noted the resignation of the Special Education Director, Liz McNeel, after 22 years of service due to health and personal reasons, and the immediate need to accept her resignation. Furthermore, a motion was discussed to accept the resignation of a Title I teacher and subsequently hire a replacement, Cindy Homod, who has extensive experience across various student needs. Finally, a motion related to Resolution D from the attorney service regarding Section 31A funding opt-in was reviewed.

The meeting commenced with the recognition of several outstanding students from MMS Academy and the virtual academy, including Gavin Lash Chappelle, Novea Richie, Cory, Delila Lozano, Duncan Spies, Rose Langoff, Jersey, and Wyatt Kaylor, for their academic performance and positive contributions. The board then proceeded to approve the minutes from the October 27 regular meeting. A significant portion of the meeting involved the Superintendent's Report, which included a presentation on the recently completed annual audit. The auditors confirmed a clean or unmodified opinion, indicating that financial statements are free from material misstatement and compliant with accounting principles, with no audit findings related to internal controls or applicable laws/regulations. The report detailed a decrease in general fund revenues and expenditures compared to previous years, largely attributed to the depletion of ESSER (COVID) funding and a small decrease in pupil membership counts. Discussion also focused on the general fund balance, which stands at approximately $8.5 million, representing 36% of budgeted expenditures, which is above the suggested range for stable operating funds.