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South Lake Schools Board of Education Meeting - April 15, 2026

Added Apr 16, 2026 •

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South Lake Schools Board of Education Meeting - April 15, 2026

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we usually start off with is a p of Allegiance so if everybody can stand and as flag I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all thank you and without further Ado I'm going to turn it over to miss Salah for the board brightener which I believe everybody's here for us oh she's got a check Gail shoes well you guys are gonna show off here so move over a little bit I love it okay good evening everyone thank you for being here um thank you for parents for bringing the kids tonight we really appreciate it tonight we are excited to have students here from Avalon's ecology Club Mrs karachi's class and Mrs Ross's class they're going to present to you the ways that Avalon is working on being an eco-friendly School okay ready you got yours no everyone we believe in that every this the smallest voice can make a big impression our school is made up of students who care about talking care of our Earth not just on Earth day but every day it's Avalon we we make eco-friendly choices in art class we use recycled materials a lot you will see a lot of our recycled art used at the Spring Festival on May 14th we also have an ecology Club that encourages teachers and students that to recycle of the the lights and take care of our environment thanks to our ecology Club 1 was able to sponsor an animal recently we had a fundraiser and raised enough money to adopt an animal I'm coming back we chose to adopt a sloth because they depend on healthy for to survive just like the ones we are learning to protect we even brought our sloth with us today to remind a that caring for the Earth also means caring for the animals that live on it we would love to invite all of you to the event we have coming up Earth Day is coming up on April the 20th 22nd and 1 of our favorite Traditions is our Earth Day Parade March around the block with us to help save the Earth even though we are young we know our choices matter so tonight as you listen to a sing we invite you to think about your dreams for our world and how together we can make them come true uh nice job boys and girls uh we want to thank you for supporting our dreams at Avalon we have a small gift for each of you we put some of them on your it's a recyclable place to put your and um there's a pen in there that says Avalon so you when you look at it you think of us um and you can put your stuff inside um each item was thoughtfully created with the Earth in mind uh there's seed packets coming around in a second from our ecology Club as a reminder that even small actions can grow into something big the Recycled jar is decorated with used materials made by second graders show how we can give New Life to things we might otherwise throw away and a gold star is a symbol of our gratitude thank you for helping our dreams shein okay guys go ahead hi thank you you're welcome to stay if you'd like though thank you Miss Salah thank you parents I'm go for it well that was that was awesome as usual so next up we have the high school update uh Miss martiala we have now have our banners up at the afield so if you guys would like to see our pictures um you guys go ahead and look really really good um for track we were actually supposed to have a meet today but it was canceled due to the weather so it was postponed to next Tuesday at 4 and it's also our first home meet both of you guys would like to come and support be sure to visit you know we're really good to watch um it's also against the weekend that but we've also had 3 meets so far and cultured and other coaches are working really hard to get us to Champion s***'s finals event um also senior pinning is next Thursday prom is May 27th in graduation is June 3rd we're all really excited about the senior training everyone sharing their outfits and what they're doing um our last midterm at Elmwood Elementary is April 24th we're really excited to see the kids the kids love us they're always asking about us so kind of sad this movie our last time seeing them until next year but every week this coming Monday is Source gift day I know usually Senior Skip Day is a secret but everybody's been sharing everybody's been telling everybody when it is so thought why not tell you guys we're actually planning on either doing a bonfire cookout or we're going to go to like C and underclassmen are also or will be finishing up testing next week but other than that um I have no other update we're really excited ready to graduate with you know thank you guys and martial is this your last board meeting um no I'm confident you're gonna come to the next all right yeah 1 more that's right yeah thank you you're welcome thanks next up we have the consent agenda so the consent agenda for April 15th this comprised of um the agenda for April 1526 approval of minutes from the regular meeting of March 18th 2026 checks written for March 2026 general fund 528,214 activity fund 9,384.4 sense syncing fund 57,130.78 cafeteria fund 51185.38 zero for the latch key fund 2024 Bond 95 5,900 and 41 cents zero for the 2025 Bond District credit card 16,689.26 for a total of 758 758 292 and 1 cent you have 4 attorney invoices all are for for um Clarks Hill oh no I'm sorry 2 for Clarks Hill the first is for OCR investigation in the amount of 241.50 second also Clarks Hill for in general in the amount of 127.50 uh third is Miller Johnson labor and employment the amount of 560 fourth is Miller Johnson for Bond investigation amount to 3115 these invoices total 500 5,124 and are included in the total therefore Board of Education of approval is recommended for the following minutes from the regular meeting of March 18th 2026 minutes from the special meeting uh for expulsion on March 11th 2026 and checks written for March 2026 totaling 758,292.1 I have a motion to approve um I will move the board approve the minutes from the regular meeting of March 18th 2026 minutes from the special meeting expulsion of March 11th 2026 and checks written for March 2026 totaling 758,292.1 motion by salomi second by um SBD any questions or comments the bond investigation for 3,000 $16 we get some more information about that um thank you so much for the past 1 I think it was 4,200 the explanation and our Friday packet um I'm wondering who could also get maybe an email Bill of that it just seems quite high for investigation is it is it appropriate to have that in the party I think yeah everything's okay thank you and maybe a detailed bill of this or this uh okay any other questions or comments those in favor I any opposed motion carries 6 to 1 if you have any public comments agenda items next up is the B superintendent report Mr I do have 1 action item this evening it's a board of education approval I believe of absence for a Korean Striker Prince Striker is a part-time speech and language teacher who is uh was hired on September 7th 2028 and is currently a probationary teacher this is Striker's uh requesting an additional year of a child Brewing leave for the 2627 school year under Auto 9 leaves of absence section c item 3 of the current collected Barney unit or agreement with this uh teachers I therefore the Board of Education approval is requested to Grant Striker an additional year of leave of absence for the 2627 school year uh just know that this is a this is an unpaid leave of absence what it does is hold a place for her if there is an opening in the future then she would be eligible for that position but they would have to be something of a open uh after the end of next year but it it does allow her to have that opportunity otherwise we have requested Grant current Striker an additional year of leave of absence for 20126 2027 school year and I have a motion please Striker and additional Europe absence of motion by Miss Williams do I have a second Commander weather speed any questions or comments yes it's it would be it's just a it's basically like a placeholder for someone so she's what if it's an unpaid leave it would beyond what happened La would cover so it is a provision in the contract that allows uh a teacher teacher in the broad sense you know generally speaking to request a leave of absence no no that's partly the reason why I said that there has to be a position open in order for her to return because her position would have been filled yes so yes it has been it has been any other questions comments all those in favor I any opposed motion carries 70 thank you next up we have the curriculum and instructor instructional report Mr the evening I just have 1 action item and information items First Nation item is approval of wireless communication device policy and student handbooks for the 2027 6 27 school year Michigan State Law Public Act 2 of 2026 requires all school districts to adopt the policy restricting student use of wireless communication devices during the school day wireless communication device policies for South Lake High School and South Lake Middle School have been reviewed by to ensure compliance with state law are included in attachment a going to read the policy um where I was communication device wcd policy Michigan State Law Public Act 2 of 2026 it's not allow Wireless communication device including cell phones and personal headphones to be used by students in schools students are encouraged not to bring items of value including wcd such as cell phones and headphones to school South Lake Schools cannot be responsible for their safekeeping and will not be liable for loss damage to personal valuables a wireless communication device is a device that admits an audible signal vibrates displays a message or otherwise summons are delivers a communication to the possessor following devices are examples of wcds non-school laptops or tablets cellular and wireless telephones headphones personal digital assistants smartphones Wi-Fi enabled or Broadband access devices to a radios or video broadcasting devices and other devices that allow a person to record and or trans on either real-time or delayed basis sound video or still images text or other information students may not use wcds on school property or at a school sponsored activity to access a new internet websites that are otherwise blocked the students school students may use WC es while writing to and from school on a school bus or other vehicle provided by the board or on a school bus or board provided vehicle during school sponsored activities at the discretion of the bus driver classroom teacher and or sponsor advisor coach distracting behavior that creates an unsafe environment will not be tolerated wcds may not be seen or used while in school except devices that are medically necessary devices issued by the school district or devices used for special education programming are provided as an accommodation for a student with disabilities this policy is in effect from the morning morning Bell ID 740 at South Lake High School until the last bill of the day includes classroom hallways and common areas including lunch smart watches are allowed if they are not used to communicate in any other way that creates a distraction in the school and the Smartwatch is used to communicate or becomes distraction the watch can be confiscated by a staff member if a wcd is seen the student will be directed to turn over their wcd the wcd will be taken to the office where we stored until the end of the day IE 245 of South Lake High School students will be subject to Progressive discipline for using any wcd during the day including cell phone and our personal headphones the wcd is seen out in the open it will be compensated by a staff member this policy is in from the first morning Bill until the last bell of the day the staff member will ask for the wcd and take it to the office and enter the incident to the behavior tracker for the student School administration will review the information of the behavior tracker and follow the appropriate discipline process below wireless communication device Progressive discipline dispersed defense the wcd goes to the office the student can pick it up at the end of the day the second defense the wcd goes to the office the student can pick it up at the end of the day and the student is given in detention third offense wcd goes to the office the parent must pick up the device at the end of the day and the student is given a detention report the fence wcd goes to the office the student can pick up at the end of the day students given a 1 day out of school suspension fifth offense wcd goes to the office the student can pick up the device at the end of the day the students give him a 3-day out of school suspension 6 defense wcd goes to the office you can pick it up at the end of the day student is given a 5-day out of school suspension further violations of the w policy will result in continued Progressive discipline that will include suspension and or expulsion failure to turn over the wcd will be considered insubordination and can result in suspension and or expulsion wcd Progressive discipline will also be applied accordingly South Lake High School Blue strongly the philosophy of restorative practices sure restorative practices process are in place to repair the harm that has been done and restore relationships have been affected by certain students behaviors this includes harm done to other students staff members and our school property start of practices has been proven to be very helpful in problem solving conflict resolution and reduction of repeat behaviors at the discretion of the principal or designee consequence other than those outline of the discipline code may be assigned for instance a consequence may involve some sort of community form of community service or for reduction in the number of days amount of school suspension if the parties agree to terms set forth by the restorative practice facility so that is the uh new policy to say approval is requested to adopt these policies for inclusion in this for the student handbook speaking in the 2627 school year okay so we have a um a request a request to approve the wireless communication device policy and student books the 2026 27 school year as just described in attachment a and I have a motion please uh I'll move that the board approve the Wireless Communications device policy found in the student handbook books for the 2627 school year motion by Miss Lomi do we have a second type by Miss Bahama any questions or comments go ahead thank you um to yes I understand that we do need the policy what I'm kind of um curious about is making sure that everybody's on the same page and and I I think I brought up previous probably study session or something that you know the 80s the parents and educators are concerned about limiting their turning their child's time with the TV um and then 90s it the to video games and drugs and and then early 2000s we had the uh was it the Blackberry which everybody was calling the crackberry um uh but and now we've got um these devices and I mean I we're all in a way addicted to our phones everywhere we go we're seeing them and yes they should be out of the um it makes her very ill productive times but um I'm wondering if we've looked at the best practices in different school districts of how to make the how to maybe we can send uh you know put something in the newsletter and and let the parents know hey you know start reading your kids off of the of the cellphones right now so when we start the new school year with the new policy um uh you know it'll be an easier transition when this came up I'm sitting there researching it best practices and I was even reading something about um 3 days away from your cell phone it changes your brain patterns and everything now I'm going to try that 1 but it the stress levels everything else so it it's just a concern and like helping with parents and and having everybody in the school students teachers um you know everybody should be given some input and like yes this is the best practice to sit you know because we kind of talking about it's going to be very very disruptive I'm sure it's disruptive in every school um but I was just wondering if that was in the process of you know here's the policy but now what are we doing that seems to help everybody involved that makes sense is there a specific but like was was questioned what the process is to get people get us there from here we talking about it Administration um the just to make this a smooth transition part of the reason that it's being brought before the board right now is so that there is a period of time we wanted to make sure that we could get this out to families well in advance so this won't take effect until uh students return in August next year so you know that is part of the the reason it's before you right now instead of waiting until the summer we have the opportunity to get this to kids before they leave for the summer so they will be well aware and to your point about putting things in newsletters and so on parents should be well aware you know that this will be the policy moving forward so that they can I I agree that their there is some going to be some adjustment that needs to take place but we're trying to give them as much time as possible and and make sure they know that this is coming so that they can prepare for it because it will be you know a change it will be but it will be across the state because it is it is a state law at this point the administrators um teachers the adults the parents um just something coming together so that I can share with the community that outlines what the consequences are for cell phone violations or or I should say Wireless communication device um violations we've also created a a video that staff will be viewing with expectations of what they're role is in the process um that all staff will be watching in the following I just found that fascinating just a little bit of research and there's so many best practices online 6 points that's we let like you said we're we're doing this now we're talking about it now they still need 6 months they get a detention on the second fence right so that's I would guess I have 1 warning right they get their phone taken away on first I get detention on second on the third apparent has to pick up the phone so it's really just a progression I don't know if I would be considered like a it seems like it is there are a lot of consequences a lot of steps but yeah few more question yeah this guy to get this no we actually I modeled this policy off of policy that was enacted this year look at my children to go to um and I will tell you I've been monitoring what's been going on over that schools since my children go to that school um and in general and what I've been told from their data person 90% of the time roughly kids will take it up to the to getting the suspension and then they will stop but we have to have Progressive discipline in for the instances where a child may not stop if you don't you know we could have put 15 Steps in there if a kid violates a 15 times um but you've always and that's why that we we added that line in there about continued violation would result in continued progress of the we don't anticipate I don't anticipate very many kids pushing us 6 times um but it's possible so we have to be we have to we have to you know be ready if what happens and and I think it in part it goes back to the point that Miss Liberty made this is going to be a change and it's almost like weaning somebody off of it's like brilliant benediction I guess you could argue 3 so you said we're getting this the family the newsletter in the just as an example yeah I mean it'll it will be shared with families but we can post on our website we can send it directly to families are they gonna be it'll be included in the handbook so and there is we're going to electronic signature with that yeah when when families do the return the returning student forms they're given a copy of an electronic copy is the handbook and they are asked to acknowledge that they ever need the handbook we'll obviously be reviewing this policy with students at the beginning of the year um like I said I had somebody to create a graphic for us to kind of make a a visual will go into it'll go on our social media and go on our website it will go into all the back to school Communications that the buildings do to make sure that everybody's aware thank you think I'm trying to understand and I know there are lots of cheese it's great in different ways 2 people so I know the ingredient probably so it's making sure but is there any more like uh intentional like snack that in the face way that we can communicate to the parent to you know what I mean like in the you know the things that like we're showing video to the death and I know that like Overkill we have pain like some kind of right to the parents and education I'm gonna make it come in you know but some type of the leaf process at the way try to like just naturally and you know that's a better word but you know this is a they never read the code so we I mean we currently use a system that sends an email it calls them sends a text message I mean I I guess I don't have a response to I mean we're getting the information to people like you know there is a saying you can lead a horse to water but you can't make a drink at a certain point for parents yeah you're a parent meetings and there's like a senior parent meetings that that occur and Junior important yeah policy that if if ever we need to the parents School provided the team hello maybe this could go on before her just look at reporters but well we don't we no longer send reporters out report cards are delivered to digitally in power school still I think their template for it in power school they put I'm just curious it's just a way to reach him don't know I mean it would be much easier to use our dialer system and email parents the stuff that's generally I I can that's what I last year with an email and I and I read it as much as we would probably like to smack parents around and make them look at something that it's not something that that that the second level of them having unfortunately and I think that the first level would survive an actual reported to the teachers who are administering if we made sure and I know I know there's an extra cost having to figure that out but this is I feel like this is the enough to do something something so I I don't think about any email about that just my I think that um once the word gets out I have a question of response and then uh sure you know once you start seeing consequences the word it's going to be more word of mouth like oh did you know such and such happened and I don't want to be in position I do agree that there needs to be a very direct form of communication with the parent so that they don't come in after their child is suspended wondering where did this come from why does it happening because they didn't the 3 pages that we just got that you read for us you read it to us so um and I'm not saying that you have to read that to every parent but I was helpful it was helpful so and we heard every word there's you know we don't have any reason to say we don't understand this because you read it to us uh we would have read it ourselves because we're board members I can't say that I don't know that each parent is going through that but I think word of mouth and and um any example of some students have any consequences is going to spread like wildfire which leads me to my next question we learned in 1 of the more recent quotes meetings that all teachers do not respond to the reporting system the same way so if I'm going to English and she and she's saying okay I'm warning you don't do it put it up and I get 2 or 3 Mornings in English nobody takes my phone and I'm going to the next class and they're saying okay I'm taking my phone I'm taking your phone and the student says well miss I can search doesn't report it she doesn't send me office she doesn't take me she doesn't take my phone how are we going to make sure that the teachers are following through with the policy so that it's consistent throughout K well not K all the kids now when they get bonus okay okay so this consistent you know in high school middle school high school so that you know we we really do need not just the parents to be responsible but for the teachers to also say this is something that's very important it's it's disrupt we all agree is disrupting classes but if it's not consistent then how are we going to how we're going to need it from every single level right that students are going to have to comply teachers are going to have to enforce administrators that have to enforce you know so every level than this and that was going to be 1 of my questions was and I think you kind of started to address it was procedure processes and procedures for teachers and admins really especially admins because it seems like there's been feedback that I've heard that you know teachers you know right up the referral but then there's there's nothing on the back end so there needs to be that in every so that I mean the building level add dual responsibility they have to build the staff accountable while also release so when the staff are bringing these things to the administration then there needs to be the consequence which is outlined so so everybody has to be on the same page everybody has to be working you know really in unison to be as effective as single possible will be okay so that's why we have the the video that I referenced created and I could I'll the infographic I'll put in a Friday packet this this week so you guys and see it um but that you know the video is going to be something that staff will have to watch and then they'll have to sign off acknowledging that they watched it because it lays out their responsibilities um and then if they're not adhering to those then the the Administration would have to talk about the problem okay my my next question was uh whether or not there were exceptions because we live in a really volatile dangerous Society and if my child was threatening or um like there's some type of emergency going on I'm going to support them using their phone to call well if you at the in the policy the the state has um exceptions that are in the law and they're written in the policy as well that the accept devices that are medically necessary devices issued by the school district devices used by special special education programming or provided as an accommodation for scoop of disability those are the those are the exceptions that are written so if somebody looks like they have threatening my classroom or just remember that every classroom has a full so every every teacher has a phone in the classroom for required by law so that phone if somebody were to call 911 they will actually know what room that that that call was you know where it came from we have to provide that information so if I in room 108 which was my old room if I were to call 911 from 108 they're going to know that it's 108 that is where it originated uh to get so there's a responder of any kind so I mean students there they can access phones in the office as so I mean they they do have access you know to phones it just won't be as readily available as it it was when you have it yourself but if there is an emergency every classroom has a telephone the other I was just thinking other ways to get the word out because we have events coming up is there any kind of a short like fire or something some of the people composed to at the door were coming spring festival or dining in The Culinary or when they're just emotional I mean that 3 pages but we created could be passed out you know just another way to is gonna have it's for the community it's I mean it's for everybody it's designed it's like a 1-page outlines uh has a table of what the consequences are why we're doing this what what the actual policy is it's short and sweet said I'll I'll include it and then to the that'll be it's not happening on South or we could put we'll we'll be putting that in newsletters we'll be putting that in emails home families with you will be communicating in a number of different ways other than walking or the door I mean to that point and it's such an important issue can we possibly do that 1 page buyer and actually mail them to reach households because it is such an important well that's why we would include the newsletter is mail and then if it's in the newsletter it gets it gets mail home which is why we so so the yes the last newsletter of the year first is always male we don't necessarily male home app everyone but we do those so we can make sure it's included in that and that'll be we can do that we have to pay like I want to have I mean that is like an extra you know how like a phone call and then there's like automated is that another thing no I mean we do when we do send notifications to say for a cancel day of school because of appointment weather he said that you get a phone message you know get a phone call you get a text message you get an email that's all there's no like an additional it's all part of what we pay to use that service to be able to okay and I just want to be like clear asking because I mean there are a bunch of things in the handbook that are not necessarily being forced in putting it in the handbook does necessarily in order to use letter unless we have like some type of data and metrics on how we can open up that new letter or how many people open up the emails they're having and let's see have like the data or metrics we stick on the net that doesn't in my opinion signal that they can effective ways to get something out as important as that and if we're putting resources towards then helping the teacher some of them are here the proper resources in video and things like that but again the community is like a whole purpose so we're going to put resources into this to make sure they get information about the same resources the attention should be getting into the parents where are the things that start but that's where you're gonna feel like I've heard enough that you know the as much as we can do in school you know making sure that the parent help support whatever is going on is just important so you know we need to talk to the door I will help and if we're voting on this tonight and the Catholic start tomorrow correct sharing the information that's why we that's why we brought it this month instead of next month I did have 1 last question so and again the policy saying not to have it in the school and just wondering logistically uh they put it in Airplane Mode put it in their locker it just says that they can't caught with it like you know it so they fight we're not we're not expecting teachers to like Pat kids down when they walk into the classroom as long as it's not seen or heard no it's fine um but if it's seen or hers then it gets compensated going back to some of the talk about some things 1 thing I'll suggest to both the high school and the middle school is to do they can do assemblies during their tap connect time they could do you know grade level client grade 10th grade like they go over this with that at that time as well so that they will have that students not the parents but at least starting you that be a good way you look like I was thinking something I guess I was thinking feel like it's going to be really rough for a while but once a realtor gets rid of all these you know next investor or year then everyone kind of but yeah this initially and I just have a couple 5 months before we get to the boat but as for um communication to the parents I I do agree it's very important to get us information out there but I also know from experience that no matter how much you communicate to the parents they're always telling you hiding hiding here so and that's just you know I I mean I've been to so many um parent meetings whether it's PTO or or High School parents you just hear that much all and I understood but then you only get a certain amount and it's always the same parents that that are going to be at all the things that are getting the information also so but to that point there there will be PTO meetings between now and the end of the year that that it might be a good way to have the the school administrators um communicate that there will be probably some parent meetings maybe some while the senior parent no matter but um I mean at the high school I maybe they'll have a junior parent meeting for Lincoln coming seniors because they have to get anyway there there are there are there's certainly opportunities in the next uh next maybe for all the teams I mean because did have a plan so maybe coach would be another option sure but also I want to mention this isn't shouldn't be a surprise to anybody because this is B this is the law changed and that changed months ago right so it has been in the media we have it has been talked about so anybody that says the what I didn't hear anything like that I mean it's just silly I mean what are we talking right the governor made this change a couple is at least what 6 months ago I don't so um there's been time for people to stay perfect it is going to be tough it's going to be very hard for our our teachers sitting out there it's going to be hard for the administrators and it's just but it's it's the law now alright so we're gonna we have to do it sir um now that doesn't mean that there's many ways to do it right so um I had 1 question um about this is this are we voting on a policy to change the board policy book or are we voting on change to the student handbooks because there's there is a difference this is this is specific to student group so we are not today voting to change a bit more policy we will have to revisit and are we waiting for Nola to come and with their they actually have I'll be reaching out to our policy committee because they have updates right now so and and the assumption that that is in in the I'm assuming yeah that's so just so everybody's clear we're voting today on the student handbook it says policy and I I I'd like to actually and then the um I want to amend the motion and I don't uh it's just to re to strike the um maybe to change the word policy because policy to me speaks to the board policies and I don't want to get these 2 things confused so uh maybe I would like to make an amended um motion for the board to approve the wireless communication ation device a better word I have a better word than policy regulations um line sure that's what I'll say so uh I'd like to make that motion for approval of the wireless communication device guidelines and student handbooks for the 2026 2027 School do I have a second I'll second do we have a motion by Mr pet the second by Miss salomi um I get to ask but any questions or comments on the amended motion know we're going to vote on the amended motion I guess all those in favor any opposed motion carries 7 I think that's the longest curriculum instruction report um the only other thing I have is the kindergarten enrollment update we have a total of 36 kindergarteners um enrolled so far for next year um 19 of them are residents 17 of them are some choice and 2 of them would be considered a young 5 meaning they will not have turned 55 December 1st um the gsrp um preschool enrollment update this we have 15 students um who have completed and um the application of 7 additional students are in the pre-submitted fair for gsrp on May 21st from 4 to 5:30 and then we added this um the summer Discovery program update remember we received a grant from the United Way to expand our summer camp programs um so we have we opened um registration the Monday after spring break because of Last Friday we had a total of 93 students represented for how many um how many total we are targeting 200 uh if we get 200 from the United Way on that set that is it for the freaking show on to the business report Miss Miss altered good evening we have 2 action items today for today's Business Report the first item is the approval of payment of Avalon Elmwood Renovations bid Pack 2 cost control book number 13 as per attachment a in your reports the Avalon mwood Renovations they paid 2 cost control 13 book was reviewed and approved by South Lake business office districts construction manager McCarthy and Smith and wakeley and architect wakeley and associate for payment this request for work completed at Avalon and Elwood is documented in cost control book number 13 information contained reflects the works completed through March 24th 26 the payment for Avalon and everyone renovation contractors will be processed from the 2025 construction fund it is recommended that cost control book number 13 totaling 223,934.69 the approved for payment the recommendation that cost control book number 13 totaling 223,934.69 be approved and I have a motion um I will move that the board approve the cost control book number 13 totaling 223,934.69 motion by Miss somi 5 Second by any questions or comments all those in favor any opposed motion carries 61 6 yep okay good next item approval of the 2023 capital projects and renovation for admin building and then the athletic Turf this is being packed 6A as per attachment B in your documents so were opened on March 31st 2026 for bid pack 6A this bid package is for renovations of the administrative building parking lot and athletic Turf to include earthwork and site utilities asphalt paint and electrical work attached and bid pack a bid summary sheet and the recommended letter from the district's construction manager McCarthy and Smith it is recommended that the board approved the 2023 capital projects renovation to the admin building and athletic Turf they packed 6A in the amount of 200 I'm sorry 2,854,367 this includes a 260,000 construction contingency to be paid out of the 2425 construction project funds so we have a recommendation for the board to approve the 2023 capital projects renovation of the administrative building and athletic Church fit tax 6A I have a motion please 2023 registration building be paid out of the 20 the motion by Miss Williams doing a second any questions or comments question so we had the we food the renovations for the last month maybe my court is this the same company it was here before for questions in case we had a question so we do have Brian gesman is from McCarthy and Smith he's sitting in the blue and we do have Brian milnec he is our architect with quick new Associates so yes they were with us last month thank question about yes okay I was just wondering if we were flip-flopping companies and if so why no it's the same all right thank you any other question that comes no question yes are we making the chart for you it will be it's actually a 2-tone green yes but it's not like gray it's not gray know it's not no it's not gray those in favor right the opposed motion carries 61 thank you Mr thank you the next up is the um board of education budget uh Miss Weathersby part of the um study session we just had a few minutes ago um I kind of got most of my questions answered about the line of budget that we have so at this time I will table that to another all right thank you next up um Board of Education compensation hi in my opinion I would like to increase our compensation 54 dollars per month reason being I would like to add more money to our because we have more meetings we're spending more time time here the budget our money has been this way for probably 10 years we spend a lot of time here at least over 12 week once a year and I would like a inputs so uh Mr Brothers B is um is proposing that we increase the um Board of Education compensation from 50 to 100 dollars um 1 a month yes um can I do we have a motion does anybody with anybody like to make that motion motion by Miss Weathersby do we have a second second second by Mr McGee any questions or comments um I think to my knowledge because I've asked this before it's been over 20 years has it does anybody even know how long it's been fifty um I I'd have to look to see I'm sure that we could it was I work here last night I met so she's saying the last time there was an increase to lower than 50 dollars a month it was at 1 Point so Mr there was saying he remembers maybe within the last 6 years or so that there was a change I'd have to go back and look I can yeah I remember asking you know maybe before we had any stated 20 years at least and then it stated nobody really knew so I I've been on the board for 10 years and it's been same for 10 years um but I think what Mr Theo is is remembering is uh there was a question about taxes and we had to um you know we we started initially we were not being withheld tax and we work withheld taxes on $50 so at the end of the year we had to you know declare that through our taxes and now um a couple years back when Mr Thomas was was still here um that was clarified and they started taking out taxes so the question to the board at that time was do you want us to bump it up a little bit so that after taxes are taking you're getting 50 we all basically said so it's been at least 10 years I don't know what so uh I will to to give some some perspective I I was I looked at some of the districts in this area and and I think um some of this information came from you know some other activity that was that happened a while ago and um some of the other districts um most of the ones I saw anyway are paid by meeting for me okay so for instance and I know we hate to be compared to them but lake views uh gets bored of Education gets paid $30 per meeting because per meeting capped out at no more than 52 meetings per year so that would be if you had a every every week that would be the cap um plus expense now ours is $50 flat also plus expenses we could uh we're we're we have the ability to uh uh submit my mileage or if if we went to a yeah masb class in Lancing and we we had to stay the night we would we would be able to um ask for that money and they'll come out of those monies um as much as we that you were just mentioned so um we would just have to submit those things to to the administration and then it would Pro I would imagine it would come out in our our consent agenda um the next month so um lake views is $30 month Lakes Shores is twenty dollar I'm sorry per meeting Lakes Shores is twenty dollars per meeting um again capped out at 52 Warren Woods is $30 a meeting um I think our maida was the same uh Lance Cruz was a lot they get paid a few grand a year I think it's I think it was like 5 5 thousand a year they're they're bigger I don't I don't want they do other than what we do but you know um so that's just a put perspective where where we are so um others I I looked at were um in that 15200 dollars per month some of them did do just you know a monthly fee so personally I don't necessarily want to go for a meeting because that then uh well I mean here's here's the 2 the the pros and cons for me right if we went per meeting 1 of the cons would be it would add more more um activity for our um accounting or business office right they would have to account for um all the and they would have to take we have to look at our attendance and maybe Gail went to 4 meetings this month but I only went to 2 weeks right so attendance would be would be taken and taken into account um but at the same time maybe that's a good thing right um so and then we do have to Define what a meeting is right is a meeting just when we meet as our board or as a meeting when we go to the um the County board meetings committee while sub committees are you know so I'm I know what you're saying hundred dollars a month I'm not saying for me I understand I'm just I'm just saying I'm just giving a perspective of what other school districts do so um personally I I don't see the need for it but I'm only 1 of 7 so and at the same time I've got 2 years left in my term I I represent the the present and past of the of the school board and and you guys are all newer here in in some ways you you present the present and future uh so again I'm just saying does anybody else have any comments or questions okay so I guess I'll put it to the vote so the the motion by Miss Weathersby was to increase the U board pay from 50 to 100 um and second by Miss McGee all those in favor any opposed 2 days motion carries 5 to 2 thank you Mr can I can I make a suggestion yes I would suggest that we did some work previously about what the board roles and responsibilities are that are posted I would suggest that that be amended so that it's clear that what the responsibilities are of the board are you know that would be outlined because there is it doesn't say anything about attending meetings ironically so so that would be my suggestion that that would be revised and uh my comment to that would just be that that document is not a it's not an official it's not an official document um so the board wouldn't have to take a any motion of that so I would say go ahead and add that if we wanted to amend the policy which defines our roles and responsibilities then okay so next up is public comments any uh food cards yeah whether speed good afternoon good evening soft Blackboard teacher staff parents community I am the Weathersby I am a board member however there was a time when I was a parent and there was a time when I was the employee I still have several family members that are in this district and I really really really love this District I would like to improve this District and not just by being a board member who was saying yes and they I'm a person of action I'm a person who tries to get the job done that's why I committed myself for 6 years to be on this board and I've been on the board a little over a year now maybe maybe um 16 months or so however I have noticed such a decline in our school district and in our community and 1 of the things that I am asking and suggestion is that we improve this and my um 1 of my Solutions is that the administrative staff from the elementary school to the administrative building taking opportunity to get into the buildings spend a day in a classroom spend a day and the teacher's wrong from 8:00 am to whenever the class is over for the day I'm asking that the administrators are not involved right now so they don't know what's really going on in that buildings and I'm not just speaking of this administrative I'm talking about in the schools themselves a lot of the principles are in the office they're not in the hallway they don't know what's going on so that's why I'm suggesting that they take a day once a month and spend time in a classroom if a teacher has outdoor Duty that administrator needs to do outdoor do if a teacher has lunch duty the administrator needs to do that a lot of these administrators have lost touch with what is going on in our schools there should not be a time when we as a board are getting emails text messages and phone calls from people in the community about what's going on in the schools and we haven't heard anything from our administrator and I'm not saying everything I'm saying and a few things so administrators being out of touch to go into the schools in a classrooms and see what's going on thank you for your time next up Mr Allen good evening everyone can you hear me okay um I really wasn't planning on speaking today um but when we were talking about communication especially when Miss Muhammad brought up the parent angle and uh we brought up and then um Miss McGee brought up the teacher angle um all of those things are absolutely crucial this is probably the biggest undertaking that South Lake has done since Co since and Rob and Ted and John and me and Veronica we're all here when we did the whole covid thing and this is probably the biggest thing since then um and yeah we all have to be on the same page and if there's a breakdown I think we need to communicate this as well as we possibly can um I don't think um Cavalier clippings and um email are enough parents don't read emails um people get inundated with emails it's just not working um our job as teachers if a kid is um you know if we have a discipline issue and we have to get a hold of a parent to tell them what happened it's my job to contact that parent 2-way communication I you know we have to email and call and do the best we can to get a hold of them and I think we need need to do this if we want this policy to role also when we do implant implement this at the um you know at the time we need to make sure that we're ready for the storm that's coming we're going to have 2 months of probably a hundred phones taken um and it's going to be it's going to be ugly because these kids you know they're used to this and they're used to the you know what's happened in the past and I'm not going to go into all the details um you guys are already aware um but this is these are things that have to happen um 90% of your staff teachers want this policy Miss Wells had a very overwhelm you know a very well spoken um uh speech Yes or last month about Pollock see it how we need to be stringent I used to be more I used to um give brain breaks and the kids could have their phone then for a short time and um while we were transitioning and it worked it worked for a long time but it's not really working anymore so we need to if we're going to enforce this we have to enforce this and um this year I've been in the Middle School and I don't have a cell problem in the middle school we have you know other issues but the cell phones they get collected by the teachers at the door every class and if a kid has a cell phone out it literally goes to the office and I don't know exactly whether they get attention or how that works I'm sure there's Progressive discipline but we need specially at the high school level to make sure that this is followed and like Ted said we got to hold people accountable whether it's the teachers the students or the admin and we all have to be on board with this so and we but we have to make sure that we front-load it with the parents and the kids and we need to start as soon as now that you guys have approved this policy or I'm sorry not policy but this procedure for the handbook we got to start like real soon with a plan to implement it and make it work not just emails not just uh robocalls there's got to be some kind of um plan and obviously as like as teachers that's part of our job too and I get that um we should talk to our calves connects about it I don't know if there should be like a message you know like a message from central office this is what we're all saying or what but it needs to happen probably before you know as soon as possible probably before May 1st is my opinion but because kids check out at some point so um but like I said I really wasn't planning on speaking today clearly off the top of my head but I think it can work but we have to have the communication otherwise it's probably going to be a disaster so thanks for your time time um and uh okay thanks Mr well we're gonna we're gonna have miscellaneous and you can you can speak with that miscellaneous comments okay and and there that was it for public comments um ious and this mothers me so I've been I've been doing a lot of talking tonight so I'm just gonna say thank you um Avalon for the for um brighteners I'm really um grateful that they are learning the importance of our planet I thank you for our senior Miss are for um giving us that update on on the high school and all the um reports thank you thank you Liberty me too the the board brightener was was wonderful um will be joining them for the little Earth Day Parade uh the Water shot environmental committee we came up with these coloring and educational books with randoms and the names so I think they'll like that as well um yeah just an excellent um budget report as always and citing things to come in that phone phone policy it's gonna be fun uh want to thank everybody who came out for Phil's babies and the ecology Club their teachers all the work they put in it showed and that's always the highlight of my meeting is the kids think uh I think Miss for uh her High School update I really enjoy it the updates from her they're very informative she brings it with a smile she's very engaging she's really the 1 places really like her um I appreciate where I actually all the new hires I know we didn't really call them off but I do see them on the agenda so congratulations to all of them I am praying for all of the teachers who are going to be responsible for taking these phones over the next couple of months um and then we've got summer and things start growing in the summer and it's all online and then we got the fall so I just I am hoping there is a very strategic process that will be in place to um just keep everybody kind of chill so that we can as Veronica said adapt to this new culture that we're about to go into thank you Gail for your cop comments uh crucial crucial comments we all want to keep our um we want to keep 1 of my goals we all had our top 3 goals that we we outlined in our survey and 1 of them was definitely keeping our kids safe um improving the curriculum and making sure they are all succeeding and attracting more students to South Lake so I you know in the interim we made in the US a few because of the street policy if it's really strictly adhered to by our kids are going to be safer they will be learning they will be focused it'll you know I'm thinking it's going to be South Lake will be known as a place where oh you go if you really want to get an education um because they're not playing any games there's a zero tolerance policy on certain things so I do appreciate uh all of the comments from um the people who made the public comment and I don't think we see each other before Mother's Day so happy Mother's Day to everybody okay I'm gonna try to make um thank you Mr Fallon Square to offer me more right now your points were still in Daily I don't know I mean it was just it was just really funny and they got wow at a point of time it felt like they was kind of being it would be nice um it really did break in the morning um thank you Mrs M she her voice is telling Joe to I knew she was like but still weird and um I've got a dog like that you know what I mean um and I hope you have a good well she's not here but hope she has a good income to be here um thank you Miss for all the information all the items I wish we would have I told them to do everything that's what I've been told to but okay um excited for him to join our community thank you Mr for your curriculum and instructional report thank you for your good support I'm very thorough always thank you Mr weather for your um oh Anna do you want to say that it is uh I don't know if I think we do but it lasts that is the way this month this month um that's really really important and then fourth birthday okay okay but anyway 2 what I really really know because I know okay I need to say why I was asking a question that I don't know if I got a clear answer I don't have to clear enough so I might ask again that's that's going to be cleared up okay why I'm asking is because if I think 1 of the benefits of having the board um that bring like perspective that are not in the everyday education world because um I think 2 eyes and totally 2 hands only but you know what I mean get the perspective or whatever right um and so with something this be is Big right in the teachers are saying that it's me I know it's me I'm here and I know every district is going to have not just South Lake we're all going to have some issues trying to enforce it and so what I was looking for um when I asked like how what's something different than what we would normally do because of how big it was right like even in like at a job or something like that something big is being rolled out it's just not the same way it's not the same channel it's not the same email sometimes middle management have to break it down and then meet a manager and breaks it down to supervisor level and then you know what I mean there are different when something is big is happen there are different there's a different procedure in fact I guess that's what I was looking for um and I am interested in seeing the information back but because this is such a huge thing to implement and it's going to be so much strength for 1 that the the administration and that may be the longer but I mean the teachers and the people have to enforce the law not um those of us are getting made and those of us working in the industry it's going to be an extreme amount of stress on um the people actually important even the office Personnel that's going to be dealing with the children coming and having to call the parents with it being such a huge you I mean I guess I I appreciate you say I want to take a video I'd like to video because I would like to see that there is a bigger um type of something system process and I don't know if we have 1 we probably have 1 I'm sure a bigger magnitude like this and I like to see that I'd like to you know whatever you know as busy as we all are if there's some easy hours I don't know what I can do but it I don't know if it would be helpful but this is big enough to me to like see something different than like some of the things we were going over that were already even if it is and I think we said you got that from your children's district and I'm sure they're going to have the same issue you know enforce things go to a um a new wall and you know again I'm glad that it's the handbook and all of the normal procedures for communication is but I do think that 1 of the benefits of south lake or any um I was small we're a small District right so that's controllable right and it's it's a lot more you could be a lot more attention than maybe a bigger District so would they be in 3 different schools and 3 different administrations and 3 again my I made a point before that consistency even in some of the grass we were looking at a number of consistency like it's a problem in the district but I'm talking about the problem uh I mean there's always a problem every District can problem every system every business but I'm saying there's room to fold those gaps because we are small and I think I think it before um and so when something is big like I said the math you know those things are great but I was looking for something a little more I you know creative yes I because we are with actual people and not just information this is this is going to be quite a change for everybody involved so I was the difference I don't know if I I don't know if I got a clear answer so you know I really I might actually another email and I'll be only comment I'll make to that and you're absolutely right is this was the first step alright alright and now you know will challenge the admission to make sure that they um put the procedures in place for communication enforcement and then adjustments right as the as we go alright alright with giving respect I know how much every will be all that matters I let the line item I you are in the this is this is if any time at all um I want to thank you for calling Avalon for helping and our little touch really great to see those here that thanks for Mariela for coming good to see her again you're about uh senior pinning and kind of hard to believe that we're getting like close to the end of the year again graduation um here before we know it and uh yeah much more to say about the about the okay um I don't want to say the new hair is 1 of these is uh 1 of Sterling's Treads that graduated with him so it's always good to see somebody coming back to the district teacher yeah it's cool and yeah thank you Gloria for your presentation I like wrap been through it many times and still kind of get the thank you it's the deadly roll back and all that stuff I just wanted to thank everybody for coming out to the meeting tonight I wanted to thank uh Avalon for their presentation and their beautiful gifts here great kids did wonderful and wanted to thank all of our administrators for all of your presentations and the time it took to put those all together um I wanted to invite everybody to the spring because I think that's going to let me before after the next 15 no just in case uh everybody come out to the Spring Festival that would be on May 14th from 5 to 8 at the high school I wanted to thank uh Gail um for for recommendation and motion I appreciate that appreciate all the comments that we all bring to the table I like hearing the discussion about the phones and you some very good points there for you um completely agree I think it's going to be a rough go I I'm my concern is students being in trouble with both school and home because their parents say you need this on you and your school says no you don't and then the kids are caught in the middle and that's what I don't want to see which is why for me it's very important to get this to parents I think we're going to have more angry parents than maybe we would students because they're going to we may have Angry students but the expectations from a lot of parents are their kids have their phones with them I don't know how that's going to work out if someone has their phone with them and it's on and it's shoved in their pocket but nobody knows until they use it there's a lot of Kinks that I think they're going to have to be worked out excuse me and firsthand experience and then we go from there but I think it's really important to get parents on board and to understand why this is happening not only is it but it would should help their students learn in class and stay more focused that and perhaps not get involved in a many as many um incidents that seem to involve phones nowadays so um but my concern is for the students to be caught in the middle and and it's kind of what happens we make decisions for the students but then we have parents who make decisions for their kids and they don't always mesh and meet and it's very confusing for kids in school um so I hope we can all collaborate on that including parents um because it's important and uh otherwise that's it well not much to say at this point but I I will um if you want to recognize Avalon for the board brightener so I just want to point out the staff from Avalon that were here for that this is Salah the principal thank you for being here and then of course Mr Pratt seemed like she's here every meeting uh she's here for every board right there it it seems and then if you didn't see we also had Miss uh Mrs Ross and Mrs scratchy were here as well so just want to thank them for being out here um and then just you know going back to some comments may you know will continue to work on how we get this word out of out to our our community and I think that um you know I've got some ideas and we've got lots of time to make sure that we get something out so kind of look at it is like challenge accepted if you know how we can do this in a different way figure it out we'll do what we normally do but let's see if we can do some other things as well I also want to thank this Salah and the um Avalon ecology club and this Pratt uh for the wonderful musical Arrangement and martiala for her High School update I do like to hear about these spring Sports as they're coming in um thanks Miss Weathersby for for all your interactions today um Mr Alan thank you for your for your perspective it's a good 1 um and this is going to be a tough 1 and uh like I said I I think you know challenge uh the administration to make sure that we we get this up and running and hopefully as smooth as as we can because I mean just off the top of my head there's things like how was the office going to handle that are they going to have a box and how are they going to make sure that this is the students and this is that students and all of that stuff is going to be is going to be rough it it's something that I think is necessary um but at the same time it kind of came down and is forced upon us so you know sometimes some maybe you need that I I don't know but um we'll uh we'll get there um there'll be some Growing Pains but we'll get there so with that we've got 1 more board meeting before the end of the school year that's exciting right um spring kind of sprung already so or started to at least the storms started rolling in so that's good right there anyway with that um I'm gonna ask for a motion to adjourn move to adjourn just want to miss some ghee second line miss salomi all those in favor motion carries 70 835

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South Lake Schools Board of Education Meeting - April 15, 2026

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