Ovid-Elsie school board took up budgets, track naming at June 15 meeting

The Ovid-Elsie Area Schools Board of Education met in regular session Monday, June 15, at 6:30 p.m. in the Ovid-Elsie High School student lounge, 8989 E. Colony Road, Elsie, according to the meeting agenda posted by the district.

The new business section listed roll-call votes on the final revised general fund operating budget for 2025-2026, the proposed general fund operating budget for 2026-2027, the final revised food service fund budget for 2025-2026 and the proposed food service budget for 2026-2027. The agenda also listed a vote on budget projection appropriations for debt service, capital projects, trust and agency and student activity funds, and a vote on the district tax levy form L-4029. No dollar figures were included in the agenda document.

Under old business, the board was scheduled to take the second reading of NEOLA policy updates covering 20 policies, including staff ethics, sex education, wireless communications devices, purchasing, procurement of federal grant funds, artificial intelligence, use of social media, emergency operations plans and specialized transportation for students with individualized education programs.

A separate item asked the board to adopt Standard Response Protocol terminology and a newly revised district Emergency Operations Plan, effective at the start of the 2026-2027 school year, and to authorize the superintendent to carry out staff training and community communication to align all district facilities. Board member Dan Davenport was listed to report on the emergency operating plan, Amber Foster on a PBIS update and Katie Kusnier on the budget hearing.

Four employee contracts appeared on the agenda: Nathan Sweet as high school assistant principal, effective July 1, 2026; Amber Foster as district mental health and wellness coach, effective July 1, 2026; Claire Holley as middle school student success coach, effective July 1, 2026; and Connie Kioski as a part-time paraprofessional at the Alternative High School, five hours per day at step 15 with longevity, effective Aug. 17, 2026. Each was listed for a roll-call vote.

The superintendent's report listed completion of a probationary teacher at the end of the school year for high school teacher Emma Harrington, a school of choice media campaign, and new teaching staff hires: Morgan Morris, second grade at Leonard Elementary; Sephanie Lemas, high school math; and Dr. Robert Vest, high school Spanish. The consent agenda included minutes from the May 18 regular meeting, the June 3 special meeting, and the June 10 finance and June 11 policy committee meetings, plus April 2026 bills, the April monthly financial report, the April cash and investment summary and a personnel action report.

The agenda also included an item on a memorial to Doug Long, asking the board to direct administration to research applicable board policies and develop a recommendation on naming the Ovid-Elsie High School track in his honor. A mid-year evaluation of the superintendent was listed for approval.

What happens next

Under the item as written, administration was to report back on the track naming at a future board meeting. The revised Emergency Operations Plan, if adopted as recommended, takes effect at the start of the 2026-2027 school year. The Shiawassee Current has requested minutes from the June 15 meeting to confirm the board's votes.