ZEELAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

April 19, 2021

ZPS Administration Building

6:00PM

PRESENT:           Board of Education: Todd Brennan, Linda Bush, Chad Creevy, Rick Dernberger, Tom DenHerder, April DeWitt

                            Administrators:  Holly Boehle, Cal De Kuiper, Brandi-Lyn Mendham, Lynn VanKampen, Jon Voss

ABSENT:             Board of Education:  Mark Snyder

GUESTS:             

I.           CALL TO ORDER:  6:00PM                                                Tom DenHerder

A.   PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:                                            Cal De Kuiper

B.   RECOGNITION:

C.   ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF VISITORS:            None                          

II.         SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS

1. Congratulations to Dr. Mendham for being named the new Superintendent of Zeeland Public Schools.
2. Thank you to the ZPS Board of Education for the professional and thorough search process.  They are committed to continue the with a seamless transition with Dr. Brandi-Lyn Mendham into her new role of Superintendent.

III.        AGENDA MODIFICATIONS - Policy discussion moved and tabled until May meeting.

IV.           CONSENT AGENDA

A.   Minutes of the March 21, 2021 regular board meeting and March 8, 22, and 31, 2021 special board meetings were approved.

B.   Approved bills paid as of March 2021.  Checks #133896-134194

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:              $1,228,549.73

PAYROLL:                                  $5,212,908.58

TOTAL:                                   $6,441,458.31

C.   Leave of absences approved for Caroline Nyczak (ZE-1st semester only), Tessa Potgeter (ZE), Allison Nelson (QUI), and Shawn Jacob (currently on sabbatical).

D.  Tenure Approved for the following teachers, all approved through committee:

• Tyler Bartolacci (ZWHS)
• Lauren Bitzer (ZEHS)
• Amelia Boston (ZEHS)
• Kelsie Brinklow (ZEHS)
• KaSandra Cordes (CTY)
• Stephanie Dolci (ROO)
• Nesa Elenbaas (WDB)
• Elizabeth Estep (ROO)
• Samantha Hillary (ZEHS)
• Norah Karnazes (NG)
• Emily Laatz (NG)
• Stacey Langdon (NG)
• Allison Meiste (ZE)
• Ellaina Rietman (NG)
• Jessica Steel (ZEHS)
• Mark Vizithum (ZW)
• Scott Westhouse (CTY)
• Kristy Zimmer (ZQ)

Linda Bush moved and Chad Creevy supported the motion to accept the Consent Agenda as presented.

VOTE: All yes

 V.             DISCUSSION

A.        COVID update  - Cal DeKuiper

Numbers are currently reasonable, however, update per the state, quarantine was just increased back to 14 days.  Sports are required to test in order to play; our district’s athletic testing has shown very few positive results - all asymptomatic.  The goal is to be in school.   With that, there is continued risk of being contact-traced and being quarantined, which is required by the State of Michigan Department of Public Health and the Ottawa County health department and is non-negotiable.  To be as successful as possible, the district should try to be in-person, take continuous steps to minimize quarantine, and do our best as an entire community to engage with and support students who may be quarantined.  Thank you to teachers, kids, and parents for enduring, for working through it, and for putting compassion over compliance.

B.        WEST HIGH SCHOOL PAVING BIDS                Lynn VanKampen

ZPS accepted bids from five contractors for the paving project at ZWHS for the summer of 2021.  It is recommended to accept the low bid from Superior Asphalt up to $448,458.   Funding source is the Building & Site Fund.  This sum is a potential cost of $448,458, with a planned budget of $560,000.

C.        OPEN BOARD SEAT                                Tom Den Herder, Cal De Kuiper

Board member Mark Snyder closed on selling his property on April 12 and notified Board President Tom Den Herder on that same day.  A requirement of being a school board member is owning property within the boundaries of the school district.  The board has 30 days to fill the seat by appointment.   That appointment would go until the next election opportunity, which is November 2022.  At that time, the seat would be open for a full community election to fill the remainder of the current six year term, expiring December 31, 2028.  There are numerous methods that the board could utilize in this role; the only commonality is an eventual appointment. the position must be filled by May 12.  

D.         ECOL                                          Dr. Brandi Mendham & Holly Boehle

After discussion, clarification, and it is certainly appropriate to adjust when needed, we are required to re-approve this Extended Continuation of Learning Plan every month during a meeting that has a public comment opportunity.  Here is the Reconfirmation document to review our most current data & plan for delivery of instruction.

VI.           ACTION

A.        PAVING BID APPROVAL

April DeWitt moved and Todd Brennan supported the motion to approve the Zeeland West High School paving bid to Superior Asphalt up to $448,458 as discussed.

VOTE: All yes

B.        ECOL / RECONFIRMATION APPROVAL

Linda Bush moved and Rick Dernberger supported the motion to approve the ECOL      Reconfirmation document for the next 30 days.

VOTE:  All yes

VII.          SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS

Cal De Kuiper thanked the Holland Sentinel for the article covering the superintendent search process and approval of Dr. Brandi-Lyn Mendham as Zeeland’s next Superintendent.

VIII.        CLOSED SESSION 6:24PM

April DeWitt moved and Rick Dernberger supported the motion that the Board of Education of the Zeeland Public Schools convene in closed session to discuss negotiations per Section 8(c) of the Open Meetings Act.

 VOTE: All yes

The regular meeting of April 20, 2020 returned to open session and adjourned at 6:43 P.M.