[{"_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",6562125,"mediaKeyId","3280425-f1b20444235b428434cbf6deda7f4797","parentId",3280425,"title","DeWitt board appoints Janelle Brzezinski to fill vacant seat after three candidate interviews","audioSeconds",3630,"startMs",3282000,"endMs",6912000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280425-f1b20444235b428434cbf6deda7f4797&start=3282&end=6912","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280425-f1b20444235b428434cbf6deda7f4797/thumbnail_3282000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6562125/Michigan/DeWitt-board-appoints-Janelle-Brzezinski-to-fill-vacant-seat-after-three-candidate-interviews","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562125-209da373b337200127462c28f71f7ba0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770978273&Signature=UjKa1pj~VcPzo986le1FN968HigsoFR2tP4UYNU7h2otagKoYvDAQkOP-mhNenfZsK3Q4m6CZkMkJKnrLOw1G~GTf7viqIJVH9o91Ootz3p7cKNkd2kLLdEDx6JivueVxuB24PrQ7Z54x6xQEz-549PdakbdPX9Jf0L5VfsP-3aaAOKugwW6kacyBjN6oABEVIP2aX74UM-sBA2uKHKKouZ42HwYBXTeqwxkj-9fl8VgOMb878lQbe7aJ7zSyB9-J5c0DRMdop8otNKxVoZ3SUrVgX6SSNoqr-IwudOe9RshNNf46CPUoOw1m6JOc5DvgSnzrrKKWVdD9Sgzbe~zwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeWitt Public Schools","date","2025-05-13T12:04:38Z","article","The DeWitt Public Schools Board of Education appointed Janelle Brzezinski to a vacant board seat after interviewing three finalists and deliberating publicly.

The board held 15‑minute interviews with each finalist: Janelle Brzezinski, who said she works for the Center for Charter Schools at Central Michigan University and described a long history in public service and as a parent in the district; Megan Char, who described experience in education, law and state government; and Isaac (Michael) Kyle, a DeWitt High School graduate and certified public accountant who emphasized financial oversight and data analysis.

In her interview Brzezinski told the panel, \"absolutely, this would be a long term commitment in my mind,\" when asked whether she would run for reelection in 2026. Brzezinski spoke about the board's role to maintain a clear governance‑management split and to align budget with long‑term priorities. Char emphasized safety, transparency and expanded programming for students who do not follow a traditional college path; Kyle highlighted fiscal oversight and keeping \"the true users ... the students\" at the forefront when evaluating district finances.

Board members deliberated on which candidate would best complement existing board expertise, naming priorities such as long‑term strategic thinking, governance experience and financial perspective for an upcoming bond and budget work. Several members noted that all three finalists were qualified and encouraged the candidates who were not selected to stay involved in district committees and future boards.

A motion to appoint Janelle Brzezinski carried on a roll‑call vote. Recorded votes at the time of the roll call were: Angelina Barnes — yes; Anna Carpenter — yes; Brad Satterton — yes; John Tramontano — yes; Brad Weaver — yes. The board chair announced the motion carried; meeting participants noted one member was not present for the vote. The board then administered the oath of office. The oath text used language swearing support for the U.S. and state constitutions and to \"faithfully discharge the duties of the office of member of the board of education of DeWitt Public Schools, Clinton County, according to the best of my ability.\" Brzezinski signed and was welcomed to the board.

Board members reiterated that community engagement remains important and encouraged the two finalists who were not appointed to remain active in district committees and public discussions.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DPS BOE Meeting 5/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","After interviewing three finalists, the DeWitt Public Schools Board of Education voted to appoint Janelle Brzezinski to the board. The appointment passed by roll call and Brzezinski took the oath of office at the meeting.","taxTitle","DeWitt Public Schools, School Boards, Michigan","taxId",55395,"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},6562130,"Finance staff outline state budget proposals; district projects $1.7 million gap under governor's plan",282,2189000,2471000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280425-f1b20444235b428434cbf6deda7f4797&start=2189&end=2471","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280425-f1b20444235b428434cbf6deda7f4797/thumbnail_2189000.jpg","/articles/6562130/Michigan/Finance-staff-outline-state-budget-proposals-district-projects-17-million-gap-under-governors-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562130-dd031288ca4bb0882da72052c7884809/orig.mp4?Expires=1770978273&Signature=FFJXQEhPSl44XiFUi-BzkcWDc6k7g~h8zG~OMYXXo9SyuUdlhNs6fl-DP3LKJmpxgWdT63tCjmxk1mmitiB6aR5JRTlAHh9FAb-sG4dBI7q7~wWS-sRfW-6BPYV4KUEn3NGY3nMZNnCKKOYkCwxoBh2aqP-GFLZAaQ9GlEsZO9fpCB8f9auqKAS9Ueu8r7gJy8l3BzQzdatrfXKiMfRQ2vvJ0~V8ULg3BpI9vXWbtq9uRO7iUywlVXsDIq1Seweny3oDi~09ARtlna~k8J7kfhEHzTLpaZjOt2WrXp9kO78-hK02I0E4YALTFLj7SYr5A1WS-cJ00gHhwd3DYHHuRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District finance staff presented an update on state budget proposals and how the proposals would affect DeWitt Public Schools, projecting a near‑term gap under both the governor's and the senate subcommittee proposals.

The presenter said the senate subcommittee released a proposal that would set a $400 per‑pupil foundation allowance — $8 more per pupil than the governor's proposal. The senate and governor proposals also included changes to at‑risk and special‑education categorical funding and different levels of funding for the MPSERS employee health‑care reimbursement categorical. The presenter said the senate put more dollars into the employee health‑care reimbursement line: roughly $293,000 under the senate subcommittee proposal compared with about $172,000 under the governor's proposal for DeWitt.

On district staffing and savings, the presentation listed nine retirements/resignations/reconfigurations; staff told the board five of those positions will not be replaced, creating a projected savings of about $360,000. The finance presenter also noted the district needs to add a half‑time special‑education teacher at roughly $50,000.

Using current assumptions, the presenter said the district's bottom line would be a roughly $1.7 million deficit under the governor's plan and about $1.562 million under the senate subcommittee plan. Backing out one‑time amounts in the proposed budgets, the presenter said the projected structural gap would be roughly $337,000 under the governor and $191,000 under the senate subcommittee version.

Board members asked questions about enrollment trends and whether the district expects additional growth. Staff said weekly enrollment reports are provided; current trends appeared flat for the next year, and the district is monitoring the school‑choice window. The presenter also noted the board will consider the final budget at its June 9 meeting and that the district's finance committee would meet again next week.

The presenter concluded by saying the district will continue to monitor state action and enrollment and that current estimates could change when full budget proposals from the legislature are finalized. \"As we've talked, we have to look structurally where we're at,\" the presenter told the board.

","DeWitt Public Schools finance presenter reviewed recent governor and senate subcommittee budget proposals, projected district deficits under different scenarios, proposed staffing changes and next steps ahead of the board's June 9 budget approval.",{"_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},6562135,"DeWitt Public Schools details alternative pathway to keep credit‑deficient students on track",1022,837000,1859000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280425-f1b20444235b428434cbf6deda7f4797&start=837&end=1859","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280425-f1b20444235b428434cbf6deda7f4797/thumbnail_837000.jpg","/articles/6562135/Michigan/DeWitt-Public-Schools-details-alternative-pathway-to-keep-creditdeficient-students-on-track","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562135-424e9295bf6b9d5fce823bd36f4f8848/orig.mp4?Expires=1770978273&Signature=K5gZYr1mG6i56xbBIdJba7S9CV2Drq9Ji4ZQNtH6p1GvgOD0de8p4e-el4WsCmNlypOytR7W6CdfIeLuelyYsgmL6B4seur32a9WkVL1KLGTxvzvKGcELYu7Uq2vpW5QMYctQcwEv5pv~iZ6945mzEDGX14LeX3T~A1n49XVoCos31UCy5B4VG7RPQG~wU8sGY4mkAVIbAdxtm-c0HdJgskNcyC3PwwSwsKU4iu7rjE5n9ifMvhjjAGPZv-~8O2Ihfw9e2byDSP8NXRSO1SNHHTe-vWuXbKTR78~sRcPg0ENv7EnEcZvpDP5FblAFqySjfcBcemFn9vR-DGel5BIRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","DeWitt Public Schools staff described an \"innovative programming\" pathway intended to hold on to high‑school students who were leaving the district for online academies or dropping out after becoming credit‑deficient.

The program, which the district began two years ago and presented to the board at the regular meeting, targets students typically in 11th or 12th grade who are behind on credits and for whom a traditional high‑school schedule is a barrier. Teresa Hoffman, the high school student success coordinator, said the district worked with pupil accounting staff and state auditors to make the program work within state guidance so the district could still capture students' full‑time equivalency while offering a different pathway to graduation.

District staff said the program was developed after counselors and principals identified recurring problems: students with fewer than the credits needed for graduation who were leaving the district for online academies or otherwise disengaging. The presenters cited the state pupil accounting manual and guidance on \"innovative programming\" as the basis for designing the pathway and said participation does not exempt students from the Michigan Merit Curriculum requirements.

Presenters outlined the program's eligibility and supports. Students are generally admitted after teams identify credit deficiency and other barriers (examples cited: homelessness, medical issues, parenting, mental‑health hospitalizations). Program requirements include participation in state testing and mental‑health screeners; students are asked to attend at least two days per week (Monday–Thursday, drop‑in lab hours were cited as 2:45–4:00 p.m.), and staff emphasized that participants may continue to take part in extracurricular activities and walk at graduation. Instructional content is delivered through the Apex online credit‑recovery platform, staff said.

Program leaders reported early outcomes: in the first year 13 students enrolled and six graduated with the class of 2024. In the program's second year staff said 18 students were enrolled, nine of whom were graduating this year, and eight were enrolled for next year. Presenters said annual attrition of roughly 12–15 students who left the district had declined to six in the most recent year, though staff also noted not all students who would have otherwise left would necessarily have dropped out. \"I had a student last year ... she came in the last day to get their diploma ... I just never thought this would ever happen,\" one staff member said, describing a student's emotional reaction to receiving a diploma.

A student who identified herself as Rayne DuBois spoke via a recorded testimonial and described personal experience in the program after becoming pregnant as a sophomore: \"The innovative program greatly gave me a chance to still do good and still get that education ... I know it is a scary thing for me at least to say ... but I most likely probably wouldn't have dropped out of high school.\" Rayne said staff members named in her remarks — identified in the presentation as Mr. Dodson, the student's counselor, and Miss Hopf — provided day‑to‑day support and fast responses to questions.

Presenters told the board they intentionally limited recruitment: the program is aimed at DeWitt students (staff said they will not solicit students from other districts) and they expect enrollment will likely top out at about 20 students; however, staff said they would not strictly cap enrollment if an extra student needed the service. Program leaders and the board described the district's goal as keeping students connected to DeWitt and ensuring access to a high‑school diploma and commencement.

Board members praised the program's student focus and the staff's outreach to re‑engage former students, and the presentation concluded with board appreciation for the staff running the program.

","DeWitt Public Schools staff described a two‑year \"innovative programming\" pathway that aims to retain juniors and seniors who are credit‑deficient, using state pupil accounting guidance to preserve student FTE and allowing participants to earn diplomas and walk at graduation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DeWitt board appoints Janelle Brzezinski to fill vacant seat after three candidate interviews

Finance staff outline state budget proposals; district projects $1.7 million gap under governor's plan

DeWitt Public Schools details alternative pathway to keep credit‑deficient students on track