ZEELAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
January 20, 2020
Zeeland West Cafeteria
3390 100th Avenue
Immediately following Organizational Meeting
PRESENT: Board of Education:
Administrators:
ABSENT: Board of Education:
GUESTS:
I. RECONVENE FROM ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
A. RECOGNITION:
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education”
- Dr. Martin Luther King
January is Board Appreciation Month and Cal DeKuiper recognized and thanked the Board of Education for their service:
B. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF VISITORS:
II. SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS
III. AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
The ride on the new electric bus will be postponed until a spring meeting when it will be more condusive to a demonstration.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approved minutes for the December 9, 2019 work session and December 16, 2019 regular board meeting.
B. Approved bills and ACH transfers paid as of December 2019. Checks #130620-130840
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE $ 964,128.29
PAYROLL: $4,508,134.81
TOTAL: $5,472,263.10
Tom DenHerder moved and Todd Brennan supported the motion to accept the Consent Agenda as presented.
VOTE: All Yes (7)
V. DISCUSSION
A. Budget Amendments – Lynn VanKampen reviewed these budgets briefly as these amendments were discussed in detail at the January 7 Finance meeting. All budgets are currently in a favorable position.
B. Policies Vol. 34, No. 1 – Second Reading - Cal DeKuiper
The policies went to the full board for discussion at the December 2019 regular meeting and are ready for approval.
C. Operational Millage – Lynn VanKampen reviewed this non-homestead millage that is renewed annually and is necessary for ZPS to remain at our full funding - which is the state guaranteed minimum. This vote would be for 2021-22.
D. Vision 2020 Potential Bond Resolution
This topic has been studied for about 18 months with input given and collected by a wide group of ZPS staff and community members. The Board of Education studied the concepts and plan in depth at both the December 9, 2019 Board of Education Work Session and December 16, 2019 Regular board meeting. Community meetings produced a few good tweaks and Series Schedule essentially dictates the order of execution. Survey results suggest we listened well to the community and offered a solution that has a positive response.
Z for Me Survey Results:
Here are links to three good articles written on this topic:
Summary:
What?
Growth, Safety & Security, Preserve Facilities
Why?
Capacity information - Jon Voss, Lynn Van Kampen
Review of Prioritized Needs Assessment - Lynn Van Kampen
How?
Key Question:
A key conversation/question from previous meetings was the ability for future district leaders to respond to unpredictable changes in the growth patterns. If the district grows less than predicted, bonds would not be sold, or fewer would be sold. If the district continues to grow or grows faster than expected, or, as predicted, a third middle school might still be desired in about 2030, the district could hold a future bond proposal with no or little tax rate increase at that time.
VI. ACTION:
A. BUDGET AMENDMENT APPROVAL
Mark Snyder moved and Todd Brennan supported the motion to approve the budget amendments as presented.
VOTE: All Yes
B. POLICY UPDATE APPROVAL
Ron Scott moved and Linda Bush supported the motion to approve policy update Volume 34, No 1 per discussion at the December 2019 board meeting.
VOTE: All Yes
C. OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL APPROVAL
Tom DenHerder moved and Ron Scott supported the motion to approve the resolution to put before the voters of the district on May 6, 2020, a proposition for a one-year renewal of the non-homestead property tax not to exceed 18.000 mills.
VOTE: All Yes
D. VISION 2020 RESOLUTION
Tom DenHerder moved and Mark Snyder supported the motion to approve the bond resolution to put before the voters of the district on May 6, 2020.
VOTE: All Yes
VII. SUPERINTENDENT & REPORTS
VIII. CLOSED SESSION–SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION/PURCHASE OF PROPERTY
Mark Snyder moved and Tom DenHerder supported the motion that the Board of Education of the Zeeland Public Schools convene in closed session for discussion regarding evaluation of the Superintendent per Section 8(a) of the Open Meetings Act and the purchase of property per Section 8(d) of the Open Meetings Act .
No public comment or action will be taken following this closed session.
VOTE: All yes
The closed session meeting of January 20, 2020 returned to open session and adjourned at ___________PM.