By Crystal Hayduk
With five current members of the Chelsea School District Board of Education (BOE) in attendance, Kate Henson led the meeting on Jan. 22, her first as board president.
Henson thanked Laura Bush and Jason Eyster, the trustees who resigned on Jan. 15, “… for their unwavering devotion to this board and the district. They … made decisions guided by what is best for the district …. I’m grateful for their mentorship, their leadership, and the positive impacts they’ve had on our community.”
The BOE is responsible for appointing two new trustees to fill the seats. (See related story here.) Interested persons can get more information on the district’s website. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Feb. 8.
Nicole Darby, the district’s chief financial officer, presented the amended 2023-24 budget. The amended fund equity is 16.61%, higher than the preliminary 14.38%. The increase was due to new sources of and increases in revenue, including enrollment stabilization funding in state aid, a health resource grant, transportation reimbursement, and adjusted funding from the intermediate school district. Combined, the revenues total more than $1 million, making a “big change in the bottom line,” said Darby.
The complete presentation can be viewed as part of the BOE meeting here, and the amendment packet is available for review as an attachment to the agenda.
Superintendent Mike Kapolka presented information to the board about bids to replace some district-owned band and orchestra instruments that are used by students. The total cost would be $86,750, paid for from the $125,000 earmarked for music from the 2020 bond fund.
Trustee Eric Wilkinson asked about the instrument replacement cycle. Kapolka said some instruments were purchased in 2018, using 2009 bond funds.
The amended budget and the instrument purchase will be voted on at the next school board meeting.
Kapolka said Lisa Book and Ross Potgiesser (transportation and operations directors, respectively) have been getting up at 2:30 a.m. daily for the last two weeks to assess road conditions and manage issues—regardless of whether school is in session. He thanked them for their work at a difficult time of year and for their flexibility in dealing with whatever comes their way.
Two community members spoke during the opportunity for public input. One expressed her opinion that board policy 2240 regarding controversial issues does not apply when the issue involves sexuality, an area she believes must be managed by families. The second person reviewed some history (with dates) increasing access and rights of marginalized groups to public schools. She said she believes fear is the basis when people protest changes.
In other board news:
In consent action, the board approved the purchase of 213 security cameras from SSD Cabling & Cameras LLC for $211,930.37, to be paid for with a state safety grant and bond funds. They also approved building handbooks for 2024-25.
In individual action, the board approved the purchase of two 71-passenger buses from Midwest Transit Equipment for $311,314, using bond funds, to replace two of the district’s oldest buses.
January Students of the Month (Beach Middle School student Paisley Myers and Chelsea High School student Gus Wehrly) were introduced. (Related story will be published soon.)
Katy Steklac, middle school band director and vice-president of the Chelsea Education Association (CEA), recognized the school board during School Board Appreciation Month. She thanked the board for their “… dedication to student achievement while also being committed to educating the whole child. We are grateful to have a school board who values the voices of our educators and works collaboratively within our school system.”
Following annual tradition, the CEA is donating a book to each school building’s media center in the board’s honor.
Upcoming dates:
There is no school for students on Jan. 29; it is a professional development day for teachers.
The next regular school board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 in the board room at the Washington Street Education Center.
