NOTE: Please note the earlier start time for Monday’s Aug. 16 meeting – it will be at 6pm. Superintendent Chris Timmis will present options for fall COVID mitigation plans. Board members expect more public participation than usual so they extended the meeting by an hour to accommodate commenters. This will be a hybrid in-person and virtual meeting.
The annual organizational meeting of the Board of Education was held on Monday, July 26th. Superintendent Chris Timmis was designated as temporary chairman to preside through the election of officers.
NEW MEMBER OATH OF OFFICE
After calling the roll, Dr. Timmis administered the oath of office to the two newly appointed Trustees, Daniel Alabré and Melanie Szawara, as well as new student representative, DHS Junior Griffin Patel.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The 2021-2022 BOE officers are: President Mara Greatorex, Vice President Elise Bruderly, Secretary Brian Arnold & Treasurer Dick Lundy.
SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE
Dr. Timmis shared that staff are working through the Dread Strong Summer program and various athletic camps. Administration is currently in the process of hiring several positions throughout the District, including the Beacon principal. Interviews for this principal position, conducted by constituent committees including staff, parents and administrators, are expected to wrap up by the end of this week.
Official back-to-school plans will begin mid-August; information and guidance changes quickly, and it is premature to make solid plans so far in advance of the first day of school.
BOARD PRESIDENT UPDATE
Newly-elected president Mara Greatorex extended a warm welcome to Trustees Alabré & Szawara and Student Representative Patel.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Parent Kevin Creech asked the Board to release an official return-to-school plan within the next few weeks, including guidance for social distancing, masks, vaccinations, etc. in order for parents to plan accordingly.
CONSENT ITEMS
The consent items were unanimously approved in bulk. These included accepting the resignations of Kara Constable and Elizabeth Berghorst, and the hiring of teachers Allison Denisco (DHS Math), Eric Williams (DHS Health), and Katey Robinson (Mill Creek ELA). District banking, property restrictions, Board membership in MASB, MHSAA membership and the appointment of a District liaison to the Dexter District Library Board were also part of the consent agenda.
ACTION ITEMS
A resolution and memo from Dexter CFO Dr. Sharon Raschke regarding the 2021-2022 School Loan Revolving Fund Annual Loan Activity Application was unanimously approved. President Greatorex commended Raschke for the memo’s thoroughness.
BOARD OF EDUCATION BULLETIN 2
July 26, 2021
DISCUSSION ITEMS
In the meeting packet, Trustees received the Declaration of Commitment, Conflict of Interest, Board Norms, and Social Media Guidelines forms to sign and return. Committee membership was discussed; all positions are open for the upcoming year, and President Greatorex asked Trustees to express their interest in committee service via email.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
No one chose to speak during the meeting’s second opportunity for public participation. President Greatorex expressed her thanks to all those who attend and participate in Board meetings.
BOARD COMMENTS
Trustee Lundy shared the long-standing Board tradition that if a meeting ends by 7:30 p.m., he will take all Trustees to DQ for ice cream. Trustee Alabré asked when action would be taken on the group of policies currently on the table for Board approval. President Greatorex said this item was moved to a future meeting so as not to overwhelm the newly-appointed Trustees. Trustee Jennifer Kangas shared her appreciation for the number of excellent candidates who applied for the open Board seats.
Trustee Szawara reported she has heard significant positive feedback about the Dread Strong Summer program and thanked the staff responsible for putting it together.
Trustee Arnold welcomed the new Board members, sharing there were eight really strong candidates and the Board would have been well served by any one of them. Trustee Szawara responded that it is great to be part of this group and she is anxious to get to work.
INFORMATION ITEMS
The 6/28/21 Board Bulletin was included in the meeting packet.
The full meeting video can be found on the DCS website HERE
BOARD CALENDAR
● Monday, August 16 – 6:00pm – Board Meeting – Bates
● Monday, August 30 – 7:00pm – Board Meeting – Bates
