[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6622187,"mediaKeyId","2787458-481d3723d3db25394cbf5ece5df68336","parentId",2787458,"title","Flint board approves NJROTC unit after contentious debate over program's aims","audioSeconds",706,"startMs",805000,"endMs",1511000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2787458-481d3723d3db25394cbf5ece5df68336&start=805&end=1511","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2787458-481d3723d3db25394cbf5ece5df68336/thumbnail_805000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6622187/Michigan/Flint-board-approves-NJROTC-unit-after-contentious-debate-over-programs-aims","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622187-2aba7b856310d111301d9002f1e2044d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162769&Signature=FYBwvF-B8bc1pW87oaBfbL2r8b1wQt7bYp2s0ZU0JIF2NUG4QjMH6d7eoZi0PLpx9IqrUgkd-3Tld16vSZ9cmt8ElguINlre0hKG7xUEBg9HrtBjTxRTl3lkCMF5fwNftnauWKF1YIyrtcYwoknVqIgSy0H4pODri9v8yurANh3s0YO7Hs14C~~TNjPhel7lFPduu79rlqd1-ToAWswLRqpnJiPjo343vw3gGRjnVKgd~cYqrUQC5JIowtFc3ZjAq-n62EaFhA47a~w5cMYJIQagVL1VuCJgyVmrN~Y6yr8zISQTszrYFfZtYbvao5NwuHRfSKI3NCqcZUK2fWASkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Flint School District of the City of","date","2025-03-27T00:18:10.78Z","article","The Flint School District Board of Education voted 6-1 to approve Resolution 1.7, an addendum to establish a Naval Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (NJROTC) unit in the district.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment and trustee discussion in which supporters framed NJROTC as providing discipline, mentorship and postsecondary pathways, and critics said the board should balance such programs against academic options and guard against politicized rhetoric.

Why it matters: The approval permits the district to expand a school-based program that trustees said has strong student interest and community support, while exposing divisions among board members over the district’s academic priorities and the tone of public debate.

Board debate and public remarks
Chief Presbylinski, addressing the board during public comment, rejected remarks he said had characterized Flint students as having “only two futures, the military or the prison system,” calling the characterization “false and an insult to students, families, [and] educators.” He defended the NJROTC program at Flint Southwestern and said it led to college enrollment for many graduates.

Vice President Laura McIntyre said her objection was structural, not political. “My objection to the NJROTC is structural. It's not politically motivated,” McIntyre said, adding that the district lacks some advanced academic offerings she would like to see prioritized such as International Baccalaureate and broader AP and dual-enrollment options.

Trustee King and others strongly defended the program. King said he had visited an NJROTC class and that the program “allows our students to do” well and helps teach “discipline” and other values. Trustee Lona (Treasurer Luna) spoke from family experience and described how NJROTC had helped relatives find opportunity and discipline.

Trustee Dillon and Trustee Rutherford raised concerns about how complaints and allegations against board members had been handled in other contexts, arguing the board must be consistent and transparent in addressing conduct regardless of who is involved.

Vote and outcome
The addendum (Resolution 1.7) passed on a roll-call vote: 6 yes, 1 no. Vice President McIntyre cast the lone no vote. Secretary Perkins was absent.

What the board recorded
The board did not include details in the meeting record about changes to program funding or staff assignments tied to the addendum. Trustees said enrollment demand and community support were factors in their decisions; no trustee proposed amendments to the addendum during the meeting.

Context and next steps
Trustees said the district has seen demand for NJROTC at Flint Southwestern and that approval of the addendum formalizes the program’s status. Several trustees urged continued attention to academic supports across the district, including dual-enrollment and advanced coursework, as part of broader efforts to expand student opportunities.

The board did not set an implementation schedule during the public meeting; district staff will handle administrative steps to operationalize the unit following approval.

Ending
Board members thanked community speakers and staff. The district’s public materials and subsequent board packets will contain further procedural details and any timelines once staff complete necessary administrative arrangements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM - Regular Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Flint School District Board of Education voted 6-1 to approve an addendum establishing an NJROTC unit after a prolonged debate over the program’s role and the district’s academic priorities.","taxTitle","Flint School District, School Boards, Michigan","taxId",61132,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622178,"Votes at a glance: Flint School Board approves personnel changes, equipment purchases, property leases and a summer Freedom School pilot",1384,1102000,2486000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2787458-481d3723d3db25394cbf5ece5df68336&start=1102&end=2486","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2787458-481d3723d3db25394cbf5ece5df68336/thumbnail_1102000.jpg","/articles/6622178/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-Flint-School-Board-approves-personnel-changes-equipment-purchases-property-leases-and-a-summer-Freedom-School-pilot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622178-753174bc606ec5e63c5505a753542e98/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162769&Signature=BETMPi8~qPWomUlMRvidZs13oZcaBwBSAFECAKXtuFC~mXqxqGVa5fgf45~G3Vw1AUNUVXNXApvBBRm9pMAj7C7qEO0LdotFr9ouvafar8H52wMFnC~qHsubruJ-729x3fTcZvoFQRI7qQH~4WB1xtTfOMTaE7hiltpSe-OF4K3Sv4WwWk6TJcs07k-7L82wAYopypUManSkD1a1GmOi4xJluFUuNsParjWVcWXxOTMPXe1Gdj5S8f2aZ3MrhoMPQoQoQA-vZF7RWaSIpJjdeSiG857AFBa1Ua-a69oXs3mx6bVH43wgYLXcE3c8iduTOo2r4hAdmGsocX4EiXo2EA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Flint School District Board of Education recorded multiple formal votes during its meeting. Below is a concise summary of each action, the recorded tally and any key details mentioned in discussion.

Key votes and outcomes
- Resolution 1.6 — Personnel Recommendations: Approved by roll-call vote; 5 yes, 1 no, 1 absent. Discussion included concerns from a trustee about whether a combined homeless liaison/attendance analyst/supervisor position and its salary appropriately reflected the employee’s experience and federal funding rules (McKinney-Vento was mentioned as the relevant federal program).

- Resolution 1.7 — Addendum to Establishment of NJROTC Unit: Approved by roll-call vote; 6 yes, 1 no, 1 absent. (See separate coverage of the NJROTC debate.)

- Resolution 11.3 — Authorization to purchase board of system equipment: Approved by roll-call vote; 6 yes, 1 absent.

- Resolution 11.4 — Authorization to purchase boiler pumps: Approved by roll-call vote; 6 yes, 1 absent.

- Resolution 11.5 — Authorization to purchase food service vehicles: Approved by roll-call vote; 6 yes, 1 absent.

- Resolution 21.14 — Schools of Choice Plan Section 105: Approved by roll-call vote; 6 yes, 1 absent. Board members clarified the vote reaffirms compliance with Michigan’s school choice law, which allows resident families to attend neighboring districts or charters subject to district limitations.

- Resolution 21.15 — Lease agreement, Flint Soapbox Derby (Pierce Elementary): Approved by roll-call vote; 6 yes, 1 absent. Trustee discussion noted the program prioritizes Flint students and aims to provide hands-on STEM workshops and a public race day.

- Resolution 21.16 — Lease agreement, El Ballet Folklorico (Pierce Elementary): Approved by roll-call vote; 6 yes, 1 absent. Trustees said the nonprofit would offer bilingual arts and cultural programming and discount enrollment for Flint students.

- Resolution 25.1 — Memorandum of Understanding with CDF Freedom School for summer school pilot 2025: Approved by roll-call vote; 6 yes, 1 absent. Trustees and community supporters described the Freedom Schools model as focused on summer reading remediation and family/parent engagement; the board heard emotional testimony from local advocates and the program’s leaders.

Notes on discussion and context
Personnel (1.6): A trustee pressed HR staff on whether the advertised salary and position classification accurately reflected the employee’s degree, years of service and supervisory duties; HR staff said the job description was approved by the state for McKinney-Vento compliance and that the district used established pay scales to set the amount, which resulted in roughly a $5,000 increase for the incumbent.

Purchases (11.3–11.5): These operational items carried minimal public debate and passed unanimously among trustees present.

Schools of Choice (21.14): A trustee asked whether the district’s participation in school choice affected attendance; staff said Michigan law requires districts to follow state school choice procedures and that districts can place limits on admission in some circumstances.

Leases and repurposing (21.15–21.16): Trustees framed leases as a strategy to prevent blight at recently closed properties and to create community hubs offering STEM, arts and bilingual programming; district staff noted lessees must carry insurance and bonding and that a formal leasing policy is under development.

Freedom School MOU (25.1): Supporters described the program’s track record in summer reading and family engagement; the board characterized the pilot as a community-focused summer intervention.

Where to find more information
Meeting packets and resolution text are available through Flint School District public records; staff were assigned follow-up tasks for lease finalization and personnel documentation.

Ending
All items were approved by the board where noted; Secretary Perkins was absent for recorded roll-call ballots. The board directed staff to complete necessary administrative, legal and procurement steps following approval of each item.","At its meeting the Flint School District Board approved multiple items by roll-call votes, including personnel recommendations, several facilities purchases, school choice reaffirmation, lease agreements and a memorandum of understanding with CDF Freedom School for a summer pilot.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622182,"Board approves leases for community programs as part of push to repurpose closed school properties",238,2922000,3160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2787458-481d3723d3db25394cbf5ece5df68336&start=2922&end=3160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2787458-481d3723d3db25394cbf5ece5df68336/thumbnail_2922000.jpg","/articles/6622182/Michigan/Board-approves-leases-for-community-programs-as-part-of-push-to-repurpose-closed-school-properties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622182-5e85500836c7d94c2a94c69dc464b3a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162769&Signature=f3J70bvydf0YE6DaLAP5Sq5NEcLkMB4UGQOQe2y7mdSxKN~dRN~~wUlHsGTwpmckowb2MmExzY3X2ecE4U0BKpGpmXLCaJ9bBdG4vjtoAgYCnE7muYS7xoT-ld6EIbs7WZEoV7yNnkhy-FvmxTSQdOZD5ZbpK-y7yACq9cdl~Xj2F8oI0e6r5~9IYaL1sGu0QaGLb~yDCpvHP-1kub2SvbBnJsWdkW7BVJVdWNLEE8sy1GENFljsU4GQ95xk6CdyIV98ytW3AK6IOgJ5a7LDEuMCxsSRHIUkX8JXE3IH3vAQe403J1AF6rdZwZiawq~BxO07VHnCJbnbdFnODUh7XA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Flint School District Board of Education approved two lease agreements aimed at repurposing closed school property and bringing community programming into district facilities.

The board voted to approve a lease with the Flint Soapbox Derby and a separate lease with El Ballet Folklorico (listed in packet as El Ballet Folklorico Solianto) for space at Pierce Elementary. Both items were approved on roll-call votes with 6 yes and 1 absent.

Why it matters: Trustees said reusing closed school buildings for community programs helps prevent blight, reduces ongoing maintenance costs and provides local students with access to additional programming ranging from hands-on STEM to bilingual arts and cultural instruction.

What the programs said
Kevin (last name not specified), a representative for the Flint Soapbox Derby, told trustees the organization offers “hands on STEM learning in a collaborative environment that builds community partnership” and plans to run workshops to build derby cars at Pierce in advance of an annual race. “We prioritize Flint students,” he said, and added that the program intends to offer year-round programming once capacity allows.

A supporter described El Ballet Folklorico as a nonprofit focused on preserving Mexican culture and providing music, dance and bilingual instruction; trustees said the organization has served the community for more than two decades and would offer discounted programming for Flint students.

Board discussion and policy context
Trustees emphasized a larger board priority to avoid leaving recently closed schools vacant. “When we close school, we no longer will leave that building empty year after year,” a trustee said, noting past investment in renovated campuses and ongoing work with partners to demolish or sell irreparable properties. Trustees said the district has invested heavily in other school renovations and is now working to repurpose sites such as Pierce.

Several trustees said the board is in the process of developing a formal policy to govern leasing and disposition of property, and that formal lease applications will continue to go through legal review and require lessees to carry their own insurance and bonding.

Votes and next steps
- Resolution 21.15 (lease agreement, Flint Soapbox Derby): approved by roll-call vote, 6 yes, 1 absent.
- Resolution 21.16 (lease agreement, El Ballet Folklorico): approved by roll-call vote, 6 yes, 1 absent.

District staff and board planning leadership said they are fielding additional community interest and are developing a leasing policy to guide future decisions. Trustees urged community groups interested in space to contact district staff and noted that lessees are responsible for bonds and insurance under the lease terms.

Ending
Trustees said repurposing closed schools is one step among many to address blight and strengthen neighborhood resources. They encouraged neighbors and community groups to provide feedback on the emerging leasing policy and to participate in the repurposing process.","The Flint School District Board approved lease agreements for the Flint Soapbox Derby and El Ballet Folklorico at Pierce Elementary and discussed a broader strategy to repurpose closed buildings and avoid long-term vacancy.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Flint board approves NJROTC unit after contentious debate over program's aims

Votes at a glance: Flint School Board approves personnel changes, equipment purchases, property leases and a summer Freedom School pilot

Board approves leases for community programs as part of push to repurpose closed school properties