By Crystal Hayduk
At the Chelsea School District (CSD) Board of Education meeting on Jan. 8, Superintendent Mike Kapolka said the district’s new website has launched. The new web address is https://www.chelseaschools.org/.
He thanked Ryan Spencer, director of technology, and Alex Stacy, instructional technology integration specialist, for their work on the six-month project.
With board members Laura Bush and Jason Eyster absent, the remaining five trustees elected the officers for 2024: Kate Henson – president, Eric Wilkinson – vice-president, Glenn Fox – secretary, and Michelle Craig – treasurer.
During information and discussion, the board reviewed a recommendation to purchase two 71-passenger buses from Midwest Transit Equipment for $311,314, using bond funds, to replace two of the district’s oldest buses.
Craig questioned the choice for Midwest, since it was not the lowest bid received. Lisa Book, transportation director, said the three bids with updated cameras, two-way radios, and extended warranties were close in price. The advantage with Midwest is their parts are interchangeable with the district’s buses, thus reducing the cost of repairs when items can be ordered in quantity.
The board also reviewed the recommendation to purchase 213 security cameras, essentially doubling the number of cameras in the district and maximizing coverage. The recommended bid is from SSD Cabling & Cameras LLC for $211,930.37. A state grant to improve safety will cover $192,102.30, with the balance paid for with bond funds.
The board is expected to vote on these bids at their next meeting.
A videorecording of the meeting can be viewed here.
In other board news:
In consent action, the board approved the new introduction to sculpture course at Chelsea High School and the district’s Emergency Operating Plan (EOP).
January Students of the Month (North Creek Elementary student Connor Ostrowski and South Meadows Elementary student Easton Powers) were introduced. (Related story will be published soon.)
January is School Board Recognition Month. Kapolka said this month provides the opportunity to express gratitude for the work board members do. He thanked them for their time and effort outside of board meetings to understand the operations of the district, for having conversations with staff and with him, and for the “collaborative spirit and the vision for this board.”
Upcoming dates:
There is no school Jan. 15 in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The next regular school board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 22 in the media center at North Creek Elementary School, 699 McKinley St.
