[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6067669,"mediaKeyId","3123502-4e25a560523da0cc2d624821448c402c","parentId",3123502,"title","Okemos district projects $1.6 million shortfall; board schedules budget work sessions","audioSeconds",226,"startMs",10157500,"endMs",10384101,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3123502-4e25a560523da0cc2d624821448c402c&start=10157&end=10384","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3123502-4e25a560523da0cc2d624821448c402c/thumbnail_10157500.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6067669/Michigan/Okemos-district-projects-16-million-shortfall-board-schedules-budget-work-sessions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6067669-b4e276c04e9a1514d2674b801adea336/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447559&Signature=VvLelIw6W4dhiVyuY3ngW3kIqdO~RNMw19zcCvC-fYIYfY-9-CYcPTNvxL1pk~hTAJ7mtY1Tj5S2bDKgaJ64CKm5ceNgh29uW5GM66yNHbyqzDU6FA28D~LHwlOii8jzOIrJfyUhcq1IyfCX3cxj6aIf1IeES0gnjwWJEc4AdTlAJyIx5XZgbkWEkf3K297vslXfGv8SucFKeim4iuWFWnrLVYJjVkZ6nxe~QIcmQbhoCPJt7bwBAbpLtATovbTBhEte7ubyne8vUDKn7COlUgvYsh6Ogtahs0o9sLVCNL7U2rAPtsKZ~3qPDBkxLRhL~GzyfENAr5ueWysh1cg4lg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","The Okemos Channel","date","2025-04-14T00:00:00Z","article","Okemos Public Schools officials told trustees the district is projecting a structural budget shortfall that would use $1.6 million of fund balance for the 2025‑26 fiscal year and urged a series of budget work sessions to consider reductions and options.

Executive Director Lance presented a multi‑year budget analysis showing an initial use of fund balance of about $1.6 million and said that, if unaddressed, the pattern would continue and shrink the district’s reserve. He said the district’s starting fund balance was reduced in recent years by several significant items and that after one‑time savings and carryforwards the board faces a multi‑year deficit that will require decisions in the coming weeks.

Lance identified three material drivers in the forecast: a stated change to the state retirement allocation that he described in the meeting as reducing the district’s revenues by about $1.2 million; health insurance cost increases that added approximately $825,000 of expense relative to prior expectations; and an Ingham ISD recalculation of special‑education allocations that reduced the district’s ISD funding by “just under $500,000” in 2025‑26 and an additional roughly $700,000 in 2026‑27. In aggregate the director said those variables help explain the $1.6 million gap the district is now managing.

Lance explained the difference between one‑time uses of fund balance and structural deficits that repeat each year. He said when one‑time items are removed from the calculation the district faces larger multi‑year exposure and that, without structural changes, continued use of the fund balance would push reserves to lower percentages of expenditures (he presented a scenario that would reduce reserves to roughly 6.8% of expenditures in a multi‑year view).

To give trustees time to study options, staff proposed a budget work session in late May. The board agreed to hold a workshop during the week of May 26 and also planned a focused budget discussion at the board meeting scheduled for May 19. Trustees and staff discussed timing of the district’s voluntary severance program (VSP) and the state revenue consensus process, both of which typically conclude in mid‑May and could materially affect final assumptions.

Superintendent Hood and trustees said administrators will continue refining budget assumptions, return to the board with options for reductions or other adjustments, and communicate with the community about the timeline and rationale. No formal reductions were adopted at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting | April 14th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Executive director of finance told trustees the district faces a $1.6 million shortfall driven by state retirement funding changes, rising health insurance costs and ISD special‑education funding adjustments. The board scheduled a budget workshop for the week of May 26 to review reductions and options.","taxTitle","Okemos Public Schools, School Boards, Michigan","taxId",54447,"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},6067673,"Board reviews proposed textbook and course material updates, including contemporary literature list",811,5192854,6004120,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3123502-4e25a560523da0cc2d624821448c402c&start=5192&end=6004","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3123502-4e25a560523da0cc2d624821448c402c/thumbnail_5192854.jpg","/articles/6067673/Michigan/Board-reviews-proposed-textbook-and-course-material-updates-including-contemporary-literature-list","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6067673-666b31b314ff0cb41079441e9055d8be/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447559&Signature=lNW3KlaXsQvJXvX3ICCUasOMAnqKoC7-41lynI3FNAogdxEpjG0ZPHFdhgtjIM9AFNCehQDPoHNq0EmDkqOpohyHp~ttYqsWHbO2kfXltTTMDkqi-OjdIPaN4PLGc-UcqhdM2HKZZSwMTrmXFbZIJ8Xr5rOCdfEXk0wWmn9whvuzv20WRMB-8y3v1IhxrpjHXKWsTOt5nKab9KfBsfpcytnqUI~A8KJOKPcCjPvq34ghrSrjMvuJSdfvCYlG1eCDWvhREZpUjimOuTvX27nCLryF6vip-9vndyvMvrFqTX9Gd8tk3JXArGYBqsTihWy7i2lCPuHjIEY4FZHrJHwSoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Okemos Public Schools administrators presented a package of textbook and instructional material recommendations for the coming school year, including elective and world language materials and a multi‑stage review process the district used to vet texts.

Assistant Superintendent Bailey told the board the district has refreshed its review calendar for K–12 curricular cycles and that this year’s recommendation list is “a little bit lighter” than prior years. The materials brought forward for board review included: journalism (district‑level newspaper subscriptions), a supplemental creative writing text, a 22‑title set for a senior elective called Contemporary Literature, an updated edition of the AP Statistics text and new editions for French 1 and Spanish 1.

Bailey said faculty and department chairs used an updated rubric and a district advisory council (educator representatives from elementary through high school and administrators) to rate candidate materials. The Contemporary Literature packet includes 22 titles that teachers could draw from for literature circles and whole‑class discussion; Bailey emphasized the list is curated so teachers can offer a range of themes and voices across a semester rather than use all titles at once. She also provided Lexile‑level guidance to trustees and explained Lexile scores are one indicator of text complexity but not the only measure educators use.

On journalism, administrators said the New York Times is already approved districtwide and that staff recommended an additional regional publication for classroom use. For world languages, the proposed French 1 and Spanish 1 materials are described as aligned to current second‑language acquisition research and intended to pair language study with culture and arts.

Bailey said materials will be available for community preview for two weeks and that the board would vote on the recommendations at a subsequent meeting. Trustees asked about parental notification when potentially sensitive material appears in elective classes and Bailey said teachers will notify families in advance and that courses are optional; trustees also asked about transparency for student‑run journalism finances, and administrators said building‑level staff manage those accounts and can provide additional details if the board requests them.

The board took no immediate vote; staff said the materials would remain available for review before a decision is scheduled.","Superintendent and assistant superintendent presented textbook recommendations for high school journalism, creative writing, contemporary literature (22 titles), AP Statistics and introductory French and Spanish, and described a revised multi‑year curriculum cycle and community preview process.",{"_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},6067679,"Board hears $748,000 technology upgrade plan for data center, firewall and phones",335,5041090,5376257,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3123502-4e25a560523da0cc2d624821448c402c&start=5041&end=5376","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3123502-4e25a560523da0cc2d624821448c402c/thumbnail_5041090.jpg","/articles/6067679/Michigan/Board-hears-748000-technology-upgrade-plan-for-data-center-firewall-and-phones","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6067679-705dcb05d0cd84cf8491b7d07aa2c9a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447559&Signature=ejLA5-o7BpTkyffufgCl6iexwFeA7RUnXTcezsP6Cl19Cy0Hrhr2kW297CqIF2ZF54FAwpz2MWxu0t9IPDaEmh7Qyq~47FphNmEp9tl3UDP9b1zDtVFeiny6P38ucapsDfT1N36lFT00xHjlcwDKoXoTtWvvdOdnmaVus-GvqeBZ~0ddQwCUuodIciQZyr345c51HsqOKOd2-IHUB-3X8J~mVA4VNiPAer1gY1GenlqNX7GAnmLQ4FLbz4oKXfobdyi6eEQKLAK6OhC1uCNh65Rv~GwA1HSN36LBEQZe2UdiMV-FLz0trQQkAuZNGKqb3O-wVFoGqAhu8kocF57BCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Okemos Public Schools technology leaders told trustees the district needs to replace aging servers and storage, upgrade its firewall and modernize the phone system — work proposed to be funded from the 2022 bond.

Tom Isom, the district’s director of media and technology, told the board the current servers and storage are about six years old and out of maintenance. He presented three procurement areas: data center servers and storage, the district firewall and the phone system.

For servers and storage, Isom said the district received bids from Sentinel, Marigold and ITO Solutions and recommended Sentinel, which submitted a turnkey package priced on the agenda at $220,472 that includes licenses, maintenance, implementation and support. On the firewall, Isom said the product is E‑Rate eligible; Sentinel was again recommended after another bidder submitted materially higher pricing and incorrect information.

On the phone system, Isom said many of the physical handsets are 10–11 years old and no longer available from manufacturers. The district solicited proposals from RingCentral, 8x8 and Mitel and recommended RingCentral, a cloud‑based service. Isom said RingCentral’s offer included Sourcewell cooperative contracting, promotional credits and $25,000 worth of free phones as part of the procurement strategy.

Isom presented the combined cost for the three procurements at $748,157.05. With a 10% contingency he presented a planning number “around $823,000.” He said the board will need to take action at the next meeting because vendor prices and promotional credits were guaranteed only through the end of the month; he asked trustees to review the item and to expect an action item on April 28.

Trustees asked for further detail about long‑term cost savings, expected lifespans and disaster recovery. Isom said the district intends to reduce server counts in the new configuration (from six to three) and to place a disaster recovery node at the high school. He said server and firewall equipment are expected to last about five to six years and that physical phones may last seven to 10 years under a cloud system, with most software maintenance covered by vendor contracts for at least five years.

No vote was taken; staff said the item will return as an action item at the April 28 meeting so the district can secure pricing and promotional credits before they expire.","District technology director proposed replacing aging servers and phones and upgrading the firewall under the 2022 bond. Bids recommended Sentinel for servers and firewall and RingCentral for phones; total base cost $748,157.05 and with a 10% contingency was presented as approximately $823,000.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6067684,"Okemos board hears progress report on 2022 bond projects, Chippewa Middle School work on schedule",577,4231705,4808935,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3123502-4e25a560523da0cc2d624821448c402c&start=4231&end=4808","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3123502-4e25a560523da0cc2d624821448c402c/thumbnail_4231705.jpg","/articles/6067684/Michigan/Okemos-board-hears-progress-report-on-2022-bond-projects-Chippewa-Middle-School-work-on-schedule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6067684-6445e9a530b0f7fe4295dc213f0f397a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447559&Signature=iMitx9l9PPhLlas9cvsTURGW00Yf8HK9emf1FdxbxdXBTQ1xsewranmSTeVEvpDwGdpdTf7QGaCs7XXvVUC8fp~fwymdAmh66rG9iE96BwhxB8cVw2WSj8B8BUeDMNCPMXqs3WpwjEgOLiSWNuRjMfY3mlye9RS6nIE-sKUY8WPCTovRAQGiWaEL1D8wAnBxEMzMF63gZUQoEo4w2RB6dQcmm05NStz5DKb6RK7j5mu19qTjlpu8kcF1B-f6-cdKZrbXrmhFnAM6AmKSOrBLir8iObjpgF6QgjwgUBPJ1YOG0JXbktvc-~uV3AnErB8IW4R13pJlhw11S3ZrC2Sixw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Okemos Public Schools trustees received a construction update on work funded by the district’s 2022 bond, including progress at Chippewa Middle School, pool repairs at Okemos High School and installation of above‑ground fuel tanks at the transportation facility.

The presentation was made by district staff and owner’s representatives from Tower Pinkster and the Christman Company. Superintendent John Hood introduced the group and said the update would cover “bid package 3 and 4” and the above‑ground fuel storage tank at the transportation building.

The board was shown site plans and photographs of in‑progress work at Chippewa. Ed Talaga of Tower Pinkster and Christman representatives described structural and interior work: gym walls, trusses and roof “dried in,” a new cafeteria foundation, construction of a new competition gym and weight room, and foundations for a new auditorium. Pool work delayed into bid package 4 is underway; contractors are painting and repairing trusses and installing a new dehumidification “pool pack” and associated ductwork and plumbing.

District and contractor presenters told trustees the project schedule remains intact. When Trustee Phelps asked whether the district is still on track for students to occupy the new Chippewa building in “fall of ’26,” a Christman representative replied, “Yes. We are doing well on schedule.” When asked about budget status, the presenter said, “Yes. We are on budget. We’re we’re tracking good.” Superintendent Hood praised the bond team and owners’ reps for tracking budget and scope amid volatile costs.

At the transportation facility the board saw a recently poured pad for the above‑ground storage tanks; presenters said permitting had been completed and that the two tanks were scheduled for installation “by the end of this month.” The board was told permitting for the tank required a detailed process and that communications materials — including time‑lapse photography of work at Chippewa — are available on the district’s bond program website.

Trustees were given a schedule of expected follow‑ups: a June bond overview for all projects and budgets, an August construction update and the next Cornell design phase, and an October board walkthrough at Chippewa with an update on the high school music facilities (bid package 8).

The update was presented for information; no formal board action was taken at the meeting. Trustees praised the work and asked staff to follow up on logistics such as temporary bus routes while students are relocated during construction.","District and contractor representatives updated the board on construction at Chippewa Middle School, pool repairs at the high school, and an above‑ground fuel tank at transportation. Officials said the Chippewa schedule and budget remain on track and two fuel tanks are due for installation by the end of the month.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Okemos district projects $1.6 million shortfall; board schedules budget work sessions

Board reviews proposed textbook and course material updates, including contemporary literature list

Board hears $748,000 technology upgrade plan for data center, firewall and phones

Okemos board hears progress report on 2022 bond projects, Chippewa Middle School work on schedule