Owosso school board takes up bond resolution change Oct. 14

The Owosso Public Schools Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, in Conference Room 112 at the Washington Campus Administration Building, 645 Alger St., and the only item listed for action is an amendment to the district's bond resolution — Report 26-38 on the agenda.

The agenda does not say what the amendment changes. That matters because the bond is the biggest financial decision in front of the district. The Current reported in September that August board packets showed the district planning to sell its bonds in roughly $12 million rounds, with a negotiated sale before Dec. 1, while keeping the debt levy at 4.7 mills. A separate line on Wednesday's agenda, "Bond Update," is listed for discussion rather than a vote.

Also on the discussion list: financial planning, a technology update, a future bus purchase, a health insurance update for 2026/27, a review of data, curriculum updates, surveys and a round table. The agenda gives no cost figure for the buses and no rates for the insurance. The board took up 2027 health insurance rates at its September committee meeting as well, as The Current reported at the time.

The meeting ends with a closed session for attorney/client privilege. The September committee meeting also included a closed session with attorneys. The agenda does not say what the lawyers are advising on.

Committee of the Whole meetings are working sessions, not the board's regular monthly meeting, and the notice on the agenda spells out the district's position on them: "This meeting is a meeting of the Board of Education in public for the purpose of conducting the School District's business and is not to be considered a public community meeting." There is a public participation slot near the top of the agenda, before the board gets to the bond item.

The agenda also carries the district calendar for the rest of the month. The OHS Band Hauntcert is 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Performing Arts Center. Elementary students have a half day with a noon dismissal Oct. 22, and there is no school Oct. 23. Varsity football hosts Garber High School at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Willman Field, and OHS Powderpuff Football is 7 p.m. Oct. 26, also at Willman Field.

What happens next: The board meets Wednesday at the Washington Campus. Its next regular meeting is 5:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Performing Arts Center, with the following committee meeting set for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 11 back on Alger Street.