By Crystal Hayduk
Superintendent Mike Kapolka began his report to the Chelsea School District (CSD) Board of Education at their meeting on July 22 with an update on the Pierce Lake Early Childhood Center.
CSD has obtained both licensing and occupancy status, he said. Staff members in the early childhood education department and the operations department have begun the move to the new building. Kapolka said the center has already had a “soft opening” with children attending Camp Gabika, and early childhood special education is slated to open on July 29.
The building should be ready for other programming to begin with the start of the regular school year.
CSD is planning a community open house, but that date has not yet been determined.
Marcus Kaemming, assistant superintendent, said interviews are being held for more bus drivers with the goal of having a fully staffed transportation department by the start of the school year. Families can help the district by letting the transportation department know their plans and needs for bus transportation. Without knowledge of whether students need district transportation, it is difficult to know for certain how many routes and drivers are needed.
With school board members Glenn Fox and Kate Henson absent, the board approved a lengthy list of new teachers in consent action:
- Greg Stephens, special education, Chelsea High School (CHS) (following the retirement of Bil Arons)
- Ashley Moerman, special education, North Creek Elementary (due to the resignation of Jennifer McKay)
- Hannah LaFleur, global studies, Beach Middle School (BMS) (following the retirement of Mary Morgans)
- Joe Linde, health & physical education, BMS (following the retirement of Corey Knight)
- Cristian Garcia, English, BMS (due to the transfer of Alyssa Knupp to CHS)
- Megan Kadykowski, fourth grade, South Meadows Elementary (SM) (due to the resignation of Beth Lucas)
- Stacey Coleman, third grade, SM, (added position due to increased enrollment)
- Jill Mann, Young 5s, North Creek Elementary (NC) (due to the resignation of Bryan Whitlow)
- Ryli Harden, first grade, NC (added position due to increased enrollment)
- Michael McLone, English, CHS (due to the promotion of Adam Schilt to assistant principal at BMS)
The board learned about a proposal for continuing phone service and secondary internet service with Advanced Communications and Data. Phone service is $12,000, paid through the operations budget; and the secondary internet is $18,000, paid through the technology budget. Utilizing the E-rate allows a 50% reimbursement for the secondary internet, bringing the total for both services to $21,000.
Ryan Spencer, director of technology, said the district gets its primary internet through the Washtenaw Intermediate School District. The secondary internet, although meant primarily for guests, has been used when the primary internet is down. This reduces or eliminates lost learning time due to internet outages.
The board is expected to vote on this proposal at a future meeting.
The school board meeting is available for viewing on the district’s YouTube channel here.
The next regular meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 5 in the board room at the Washington Street Education Center.
