The election of officers resulted in Heather being replaced as President by Erin. Amanda is now the Vice President, while James withdrew his nomination for Vice President and was elected as Secretary. In a surprising yet somehow expected move, Mary, the sole nominee, was re-elected as Treasurer and will continue to serve on the same committees.
Erin has decided to establish a new committee called Board Governance, which will be responsible for handling board procedures, onboarding new members, and addressing other relevant matters. Amanda is a member of this committee, and the additional members were not specified.
The designated signatures for the bank accounts are SI and Treasury Mary. In the treasurer's absence, the President is authorized to sign.
The Lakeville Principal delivered a presentation covering various topics. She touched upon the distribution of Paws tickets for good behavior, the PBIS leadership team, the completion of the culture and climate survey by both students and staff, staff check-ins, the active PTO, and the contributions of volunteers. Additionally, it was highlighted that Lakeville holds the distinction of being the only Title I school in our district.
During the scheduled public comment session for agenda speakers, Marisa Prince addressed the resignation of Recovery Agent Laura Azoni and emphasized the importance of promptly filling her position. Marisa further shared her concerns, extending the discussion beyond high school matters, by recounting an incident involving her daughter, who is not yet in high school. Marisa highlighted the broader impact of the issue, illustrating how the consequences of the events on 11/30 extend beyond just high school students.
Mark addressed the ongoing issue of corruption and advocated for the incoming Superintendent to be trauma-informed. He urged for the removal of individuals named in lawsuits who are still employed and the dismissal of security members involved in circulating a video of teens undressing. Mark questioned the Board of Education's compliance with the Open Meeting Act and expressed concern over the lack of communication from the Board regarding the guidepost report.
Todd Burgess delivered a presentation during the consent agenda portion, focusing on the training and division of labor of the Recovery Coordinator. Following the presentation, I reached out to Todd via email this evening to request detailed information on all the training and programs he discussed. I plan to post this information as a supplement once it is received.
A presentation on school grants was conducted, and you are encouraged to review the accompanying spreadsheet and subsequent photos for detailed information. Notably, the majority of the allocated funds are directed toward safety, academics, and mental health staffing.
Sections 31a and 97 have transitioned to 31aa, providing increased flexibility in how the funds can be utilized. The FSFA completion grant supports initiatives such as Parent University, facilitating webinars on relevant subjects. Additionally, there is a focus on transportation grants that supplement wages, upkeep, and mileage, as well as the talent program aimed at supporting aspiring teachers in pursuing their education.
The ESSER funds, remnants from the COVID-19 era, are being utilized until exhausted. Grant 310, designated for mental health, was initially intended to be absorbed into the general fund, with the first year covered entirely by the grant, followed by a 2/3, 1/3, and eventually full absorption. Some pending grants are still under consideration.
In cases of denied grants, feedback may not always be provided, and rejections can be influenced by demographics and need comparisons with other applicants. Oxford has adopted a strategy where department heads take the lead in securing grants that will directly benefit their respective departments.
Erin announced that she and Amanda had discussions about the MASB Board Assessment, a tool designed to enhance leadership and accountability within the board. It was emphasized that all board members are expected to participate in the assessment process. The link to the MASB Board Assessment can be accessed here: [MASB Board Assessment](https://www.masb.org/tools-and-templates/assessments-and-evaluations).
For additional insights and context, Erin shared a link to the YouTube channel where the MASB discussion took place. It is recommended to pay close attention to both Heather and Mary's comments during the discussion. The YouTube link is provided here: [MASB Discussion YouTube Link](https://www.youtube.com/live/v4iWoUO6YSU?si=Yg_5KQio8N35fmy6&t=5390).
Ultimately, all board members expressed their support for completing the MASB Board Assessment.
The board decided to approve a FOIA appeal. This was Laura Lucas' foia, and in speaking with her- shared with permission - "I still have ZERO communication regarding it! No one ever confirmed that they even received the appeal in the first place.... let alone anything from last night."
During the board meeting, a notable absence of attendees resulted in a sparse number of participants during the public comment section. Many individuals, not initially planning to speak, reiterated this during the meeting. It is recommended to watch this portion of the video for a comprehensive understanding.
Among the speakers, Laura Lucas shared a distressing incident involving her daughter, a senior, who was dismissed from the counselor's office during a panic attack following the first ALICE drill, being told she was "overreacting." Lucas also mentioned other instances where her daughter was sent away for seemingly trivial reasons.
Other participants addressed the lack of responses from board members regarding the guidepost report, emphasizing the need for amendments and asserting that Oxford has significant work to do. They called for listening to those who are most affected rather than relying on toxic positivity. One speaker stressed the importance of shifting focus to Lansing.
During the session, a speaker questioned how another individual would feel if it were their daughter who had died. The response argued that efforts to address issues within Oxford and advocate for legislative changes can coexist. Buck, who spoke passionately, shared that Oxford 11/30 hero Gibson Marshal was placed on leave after showing him the location where Tate died. Later, not disclosed by Buck or by Gibson Marshal, it was revealed that Pam Fine, allegedly, played a role in getting Marshal in trouble.
After the meeting, two incidents occurred. Firstly, the British secretary responsible for taking comment postcards approached Coree to express that she was being perceived as rude, leading to a situation that required the intervention of security guards. The second incident involved a mom who had spoken in favor of the Board of Education feeling the need for an escort to her car after the meeting concluded. Both instances added unexpected and tense moments to the post-meeting atmosphere.
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