By Crystal Hayduk
The Chelsea School District (CSD) Board of Education (BOE) approved the amended 2025-26 budget as presented at its meeting on Feb. 9. (See related story.) Trustee Nicolia Heineman was absent.
The board approved a revision to the School of Choice (SOC) policy. Previously, no more than 10% of the student body could be enrolled from outside the district, based on the Fall Student Count annually. SOC students currently number 184, or 8% of total enrollment.
The newly approved policy (po 5305) sets the district-wide student count goal of 2,400, and states “… enrollment shall not be subject to a percentage cap and shall be determined based on grade level, program, school, and class size capacity, consistent with applicable state law and the provisions of this policy.”
With two openings on the Sex Education Advisory Board (SEAB), CSD solicited resumes and letters of interest along with an invitation to introduce themselves at this BOE meeting. The two seats needed to be filled prior to its next meeting on Feb. 17, with parents of current students.
Ten individuals submitted materials; seven appeared in person, and one appeared via videorecording. After reviewing the materials and hearing introductions, board members cast individual votes on paper for their top two candidates. The two with the most votes were selected to serve on the SEAB: Holly Kifer and Anthony Bellizzi.
Kifer, a Michigan native, moved to Chelsea in 2022 with her family. The parent of four, with three children in grades one through seven, she has a doctorate degree in nursing and is a certified nurse midwife at Michigan Medicine.
Bellizzi and his family moved to Michigan two years ago. He holds master’s degrees in management and organizational leadership. The father of three children ranging from kindergarten through tenth grade, he is a regular volunteer for his children’s sports and other activities.
Board members thanked all those who expressed interest in serving. Sara Tracy said she was “blown away” by the number and quality of the candidates. Glenn Fox said he was impressed by the credentials brought by each person. He also said any of the individuals who applied would be an asset to the SEAB, and he hoped they would apply again the next time there are openings.
Beach Middle School Principal Adam Schilt introduced the district’s recent hire, English teacher Bryan Allen. Allen holds an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. Schilt said Allen, who has been a guest teacher in the district for a long time, has “… an entourage of kids who absolutely adore him.” When the long-term substitute opening became available just before the start of the school year, he accepted the position and has since received his endorsements to teach both English and math, making him eligible for the mid-year hire.
The board approved upgrades to CSD’s wireless network infrastructure. The bid to replace 140 Cisco Meraki wireless access points at the Washington Street Education Center (WSEC), Pierce Lake, North Creek, and South Meadows goes to InaCOMP TSG for a total cost of $232,546.19, to be paid for through the 2019 bond funds.
The board approved cabling upgrades at North Creek and Pierce Lake to support building renovations and the use of additional instructional spaces. The work will include about 100 new CAT 6 data drops at North Creek and 70 at Pierce Lake. SSD Cabling & Camera will complete the work at a total cost of $42,446.46 to be paid for with the Sinking Fund.
A videorecording of the school board meeting is available to view here through March.
In other board news:
Adam Schilt, BMS principal, and Kaitlyn Gasparovich, assistant principal, introduced sixth grader Maleena Becker as the middle school’s February Student of the Month.
Chelsea High School (CHS) Principal Amanda Clor and her assistant principal, Sam McKee, introduced the high school’s February Student of the Month, Hannah Béda, who is a junior.
During the opportunity for public input, one community member spoke about the need for greater accessibility to CHS for those needing handicapped parking. He also asked the board to consider adding lights to the baseball and soccer fields, and to consider offering firearm/hunter safety instruction per HB 4285, which was passed last December.
Upcoming dates:
There will be no school on Feb. 16 for Presidents Day.
There will be a school board work session at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 at WSEC.
The next regular school board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on March 9 in the media center at South Meadows Elementary School, 335 Pierce St.
