By Crystal Hayduk
The Chelsea School District Board of Education approved a number of items in consent action in a very short meeting on Aug. 8.
With Vice President Eric Wilkinson on vacation, the board approved the purchase of audio systems for the football/track, softball, baseball, and soccer stadiums, which was discussed at the meeting on July 25. The hardware and installation by Rauland SoundCom will cost $87,315, less than the $90,000 budgeted from the bond for the upgrade.
New hires for North Creek Elementary School include Megan Rademaker, literacy specialist; and teachers Abigail Vlcek, Tess Murphy, and Brian Whitlow.
Clarissa Prohaska will join the South Meadows Elementary School staff as a music teacher.
Beach Middle School is adding Alexandria Soule as a teacher consultant and Corynne Eder as a science and math teacher.
Chelsea High School will have three new staff members this year: Rebecca Neal, teaching the exercise science for the career and technical education (CTE) program (shared with Saline High School); Anne Findley, teaching technology and science in the CTE program; and Julia Baidel, social worker.
Mike Kapolka was absent from his first board meeting as the district’s new superintendent due to illness, but Marcus Kaemming, assistant superintendent, relayed Kapolka’s short update on his behalf.
The district is currently interviewing candidates to replace Scott Wooster, director of technology, who will be retiring soon.
Kapolka emailed a two-minute introduction to families, which can be viewed here: https://www.loom.com/share/c31b2126083d40d9921c9fbdbab56036.
During the opportunity for public input, one community member shared her concern about longstanding reports of students vaping in Chelsea High School restrooms. She also passed out copies of the book “Weapons of Mass Instruction” by John Taylor Gatto to each school board member.
Although a recording of the meeting was not yet available at press time, it is expected to be posted at https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/911?meeting=534282 for one month.
Upcoming dates:
The next board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 22 in the board room at the Washington Street Education Center.
The first day of school for students will be Aug. 29.
There will be no school Sept. 2-5 for Labor Day weekend.
