Laingsburg school board suspends athletic fees, extends superintendent deal

The Laingsburg Community Schools Board of Education suspended the middle school and high school athletic participation fee for the 2026-27 school year, according to approved minutes of its July 15 regular meeting at the Middle School Media Center.

The fee suspension came on a motion by trustee Mark Burley, seconded by Michael Rourke, and carried unanimously. The board also approved a contract extension "as presented" for Superintendent Matt Shastal on a motion by Christian Ragsdale, seconded by Rourke, which also carried unanimously. The minutes do not describe the terms of the extension.

Board President Jason Michels called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Maggie Sayles was nominated as acting secretary. Present were Burley, Michels, Ragsdale, Rourke and Sayles. Shane Brink and Renee Gutzman were excused.

June warrants and organizational items

The board approved the June 2026 warrants: $708,076.48 in accounts payable, $58,142.15 in EFT/ACH transfers, $726,214.66 in payroll and $9,415 in building and site spending. It also approved the June 2026 treasurer's report.

On annual organizational business, the board kept depositories for school funds and signature authorizations the same as the prior year without amendments, designated the accounting officer/administrative support to assist the board secretary with posting public meeting notices and with election duties, and approved memberships in MASB, the MASB Legal Trust and the Shiawassee County School Board Association. The board approved annual retainer contracts with the Thrun Law Firm and the auditing firm Lewis & Knopf, and approved the Annual Loan Resolution for the School Bond Loan Fund.

Budget, audit and a May 2027 bond

In his report, Shastal told the board the 2025-26 budget will be amended again after the audit is complete. For 2026-27, the minutes state the district showed a July deficit of $643,182, "but overall, the budget will be better now that the state budget is released." A preliminary review showed a $250 increase in the per-pupil amount, relief for dual enrollment through a three-year enrollment blend, and a 10% increase in GSRP.

Shastal said the audit was scheduled for July 27-29, and Michels volunteered to meet with the auditors. On a possible May 2027 bond proposal, the administration met with Tower Pinkster and spoke with PFM and Christman about a new design with a zero-mill increase, with a presentation to the board possible in August or September. Summer projects were described as painting and small repairs.

Staffing

The board approved the hiring of Christine Tobias and JoLynn Richard as bus drivers and Robert Zukatis in food service, all effective the 2026-27 school year. The board acknowledged the resignations of elementary teacher Ronda Rhine and elementary counselor Hanna Angst, both effective July 31, 2026, and custodian Troy McCreery, effective July 24, 2026. Shastal reported interviews were being held Friday for a K-5 music teacher and for the ag science position.

The board also authorized the superintendent to appoint a district-wide professional development advisory committee under the State School Aid Act, and held a first reading of bylaw and policy updates including a new staff ethics policy, a replacement policy on wireless communication devices, a replacement artificial intelligence policy and a new policy on specialized transportation for students with IEPs.

What happens next

The policy and bylaw revisions had only a first reading on July 15 and would return for further board action. The minutes list the next regular board meeting as "Tuesday, August 1, 2025 @ 7 pm," as printed. The board met in closed session from 7:41 p.m. to 7:47 p.m. to discuss employee negotiations and adjourned at 7:48 p.m.