[{"_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",6523908,"mediaKeyId","5022844-f82be855e1ace549e5b4267e5bed4d04","parentId",5022844,"title","Votes at a glance: Caledonia board actions on June 16, 2025","audioSeconds",89,"startMs",2688280,"endMs",2777790,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5022844-f82be855e1ace549e5b4267e5bed4d04&start=2688&end=2777","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5022844-f82be855e1ace549e5b4267e5bed4d04/thumbnail_2688280.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6523908/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-Caledonia-board-actions-on-June-16-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523908-6cef6c88c69b19387ec927a1715bd2e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775384229&Signature=ksh9TlmEq8CL7~6sB1KDIQNRSHQYjtTiClDTQ2UM9QiyoOtri7L-27dnUAyjfy6nIBRuj4Mmpuz-mzmiEnig~wZul-E62egoExb4KwIZ3~4Fu~~csXx6y-6~30D6GP9hsekkwgwA3ktXixAzHrGG~JxOmpI2ZwGD-w1GujCsBDWrUC1XtkWdLAEeKC7Kbi8y5ZfRBDDKNTJ7C4phgmkWEwzwmJ36WdzljKSEAgv5Y5c2jYwX6Ce6od9oC6sXSjv~4efNCiuT3WfHJtGZ4JOBPVJIRe4tM388WIF2Cj91XfhWyPO1ZfPb7-mCPDujPwU3PDk1cZGaI3B4fdSRmW0sdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Caledonia Community Schools","date","2025-06-18T21:00:25Z","article","The Caledonia Community Schools Board of Education recorded the following formal actions and roll-call votes during its June 16 meeting.

Final budget amendment resolution (Agenda item 8a)
Motion: \"That the board adopt the proposed 2024–2025 budget amendment resolution.\"
Outcome: Approved (roll call: Collins — yes; Eisich — yes; Combs — yes; Randell — yes; Robert Garcia — yes; Morris — yes).

Michigan School Loan Revolving Fund participation (Agenda item 8b)
Motion: \"That the board adopt the resolution to participate in the Michigan School Loan Revolving Fund.\"
Outcome: Approved (roll call: Cohn — yes; Brando — yes; Frederic Garcia — yes; Collins — yes; Eisich — yes; Morris — yes).

Budget adoption resolution 2025–26 (Agenda item 8c)
Motion: \"That the board adopt the proposed 2025–2026 budget resolution.\"
Outcome: Approved (roll call: Eisich — yes; Commons — yes; Randell — yes; Cohn — yes; Trevor Garcia — yes; Morris — yes).

Kent ISD regional enhancement millage resolution (Agenda item 8d)
Motion: \"That the board adopt the resolution to request the Kent Intermediate School District submit a regional enhancement property-tax millage proposal of 0.9 mills for 10 years to voters on Nov. 4, 2025.\" (renewal of existing millage)
Outcome: Approved (roll call: Robert Garcia — yes; Collins — yes; Eisich — yes; Cohn — yes; Randell — yes; Morris — yes).

Food-service contract award to Chartwells (Agenda item 8e)
Motion: \"Accept the competitive bid of Chartwells as the district's food service provider for the 2025–26 school year.\"
Outcome: Approved (roll call: Collins — yes; Eisich — yes; Cohn — yes; Randell — yes; Robert Garcia — yes; Morris — yes).

First reading of multiple policy revisions (Agenda item 8f)
Motion: \"Conduct a first reading of the listed board policies (bylaws/policies, field trips, immunizations, medication, epinephrine, personnel files, food services, wellness, transportation deletion).\"
Outcome: First reading advanced (roll call: Trevor Garcia — yes; Eisich — yes; Collins — yes; Randell — yes; Cohn — yes; Morris — yes). Final adoption requires a second reading.

Waterline relocation at Ralph E. Myers Stadium (Agenda item 8g)
Motion: \"Approve Rockford Construction to contract with Fisher Idema Excavating for relocation of the stadium waterline at a cost of $140,000 contingent on execution of a legal agreement by 06/19/2025 between Caledonia Community Schools and Caledonia Township detailing responsibilities (50/50 cost split).\"
Outcome: Approved contingent on agreement (roll call: Kohn — yes; Randall — yes; Barbara Garcia — yes; Collins — yes; Eisich — yes; Morris — yes).

Participation in MHSAA (Agenda item 8h)
Motion: \"Adopt the resolution to participate in the Michigan High School Athletic Association.\"
Outcome: Approved (roll call: Randall — yes; Cohn — yes; Robert Garcia — yes; Eisich — yes; Collins — yes; Morris — yes).

PACE representative nominations (Agenda item 8i)
Motion: \"Approve the nomination of Charles Schuler and Esmina Hamzadzak as the CCS PACE representatives for a three-year term beginning Aug. 2025 through July 2028.\"
Outcome: Approved (roll call: Eisich — yes; Collins — yes; Randell — yes; Cohn — yes; Robert Garcia — yes; Morris — yes).

Consent agenda (minutes, payables, personnel) and adjournment also passed by roll call earlier in the meeting.

Notes on roll-call reporting: these outcome summaries match the roll-call statements recorded in the meeting transcript. If a detail (mover/second or contract number) was not stated on the record, the item is noted as \"not specified.\"","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June Regular Board Meeting 06162025","oneSentenceSummary","A concise list of motions and roll-call outcomes from the Caledonia Community Schools Board of Education meeting on June 16.","taxTitle","Caledonia Community Schools, School Boards, Michigan","taxId",55567,"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},6523914,"Board confirms Chartwells as food-service provider amid parent and staff concerns",466,2920755,3387000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5022844-f82be855e1ace549e5b4267e5bed4d04&start=2920&end=3387","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5022844-f82be855e1ace549e5b4267e5bed4d04/thumbnail_2920755.jpg","/articles/6523914/Michigan/Board-confirms-Chartwells-as-food-service-provider-amid-parent-and-staff-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523914-68d02362c1ed8b773576cc13524d4e05/orig.mp4?Expires=1775384229&Signature=WFMhD3DIY1Ofm7hCLlC~bnjA~0AU4xSYru0m6R2TtQkxrU1BZLJ9pxXx~PUYvozz8j7Lw0UFslRZ3qhlsVX1E5OeE5zBq5vQbpUfMz~knfv-dYPNK-BbxTy5kdYhda4w1-xRIeAfuTu9HT8J3-P-jb1fdfdNGx-KqdTBazqj-T2CdsfdWOBojRh-xDF33d19QazdxrIK5gsKDJxtH9LqpI2nzVRWpfmjjXL9yZGxdnAn1Rq4J2h04yopbEex0BASkWdyzx26wkdvvqtVZ-1chZ31C7ELLgqCcmm-aj-yisgP1AhLn07s0sLlo5JRXcyDVHTD~DbjzDZdtD9OOc6VaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The board voted to accept Chartwells’ competitive bid and designate Chartwells as the district’s food-service provider for the 2025–26 school year.

Sarah, the district staff member presenting food-service data, explained the bid used October 2023 meal counts required by the Michigan Department of Education for the RFP. She said actual billed costs are a fixed-rate contract and the district pays based on meals submitted and claimed. Sarah told the board the RFP estimate showed a $3.2 million cost figure but, because the district pays by claimed meals, the actual contract-related payout for the year was about $2.5 million while the district received approximately $2.9 million in meal-related revenue.

Board members raised concerns about several topics that surfaced in public comment and earlier committee discussion: reports of staff complaints about Chartwells management, occasional reports of running out of food, and student satisfaction with menus. A board member said the district received more than 600 student surveys and noted mixed feedback; another member urged close monitoring and better communication channels for employees working for the vendor.

Sarah and other administrators said Chartwells’ fixed-rate structure means the vendor has a financial incentive to increase meal participation and that the district will continue to use available fund balance to address one-time food-service-related expenditures. The board affirmed the contract after discussion and roll-call vote.

Why it matters: food service affects students’ daily nutrition and represents a sizable operational contract. The board asked administration to monitor vendor performance and follow up on employee-reported concerns.

Next step: staff said they will present more detailed performance and meal-count updates to the board as needed and that the contract will be monitored throughout the school year.","The Caledonia board approved a one-year food-service contract with Chartwells for 2025–26. Staff presented meal-count-based financials; trustees and public raised concerns about staffing, running out of food and employee treatment.",{"_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},6523918,"Parents and former board members criticize trustees over AP course, legal counsel and transparency",381,745160,1127000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5022844-f82be855e1ace549e5b4267e5bed4d04&start=745&end=1127","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5022844-f82be855e1ace549e5b4267e5bed4d04/thumbnail_745160.jpg","/articles/6523918/Michigan/Parents-and-former-board-members-criticize-trustees-over-AP-course-legal-counsel-and-transparency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523918-3bbe75dce4c11977df7a0f7df7b0174a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775384229&Signature=KUsI10gUmeNLjFcSKyBVnhmXpg6rtRSxWNY~vIMfn5lO4pZBNJwdG8zunZMZn8vP~3BFeblYZdBgJ64qUK6GH94ygZN5GvDq0FcNvzVXDyo41KbM0-X1ZM6GNpNVSH~6RYrjpTRg3trMCTJCPQgPNk5gvvjR1h7~SIx5mUyjG01gUx-1ljugGTHURxd1w51xYzA19i6mExsXGXuHVG6J-tMrF3QJDHNtKYKxiGw6tWoj1CP4q4wXeFTzY2ruGCAcMGPyUBPKM4xYfgJQNxnwyQMvbTrbVfSvCUyZ86uhPYe-yaqkobqaZG8CvqskbGEky83cx7-f541ifE1f-ACEmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents used the board's public-comment period on June 16 to criticize recent board decisions on curriculum, raise transparency concerns about outside legal counsel and urge support for teachers.

James Ernest, a public commenter, criticized the board president’s conduct and alleged that emails obtained via FOIA show months of communications about inviting a law firm into the district. Ernest said, \"He has not been transparent with us about these dealings\" and recommended the board president resign to avoid a protracted removal process.

Jason Seel, a former board member, said trustees who override staff recommendations were eroding trust. Seel cited board policies by number and argued the superintendent and staff should lead textbook and course recommendations, saying in part that the superintendent \"shall recommend to the board such courses of study\" and that the superintendent is \"responsible for the selection and recommendation of textbooks for board consideration.\" He said rejecting an Advanced Placement course based on outside reviewers who \"never even heard of the subject\" disrespected teachers and students.

Erica Mulholland, identifying herself as a parent, said the board should trust licensed educators and not replace an existing law firm with one she described as \"known across the state for politicized causes and inefficiency.\" Mulholland said the board must \"keep politics out of school\" and urged members to support staff, including during contract negotiations.

Public comments also included calls for a districtwide \"bell-to-bell\" cell-phone ban for K–12. Jill Thompson, a parent, asked the board to implement a phone-free policy and cited other districts and a recent New York law as examples. Thompson said device-free school days can improve student engagement and mental health and asked the board to extend current building-level policies districtwide.

What the board said or did: the board heard the comments during the public-comment portion of the agenda; no board action on curricula or legal counsel was taken during the meeting. Several speakers referenced board policies by number; staff and trustees did not announce any immediate policy changes during the session.

Why it matters: commenters framed the issues around educator expertise, transparency in legal and policy decisions and student well-being. Several speakers asked the board to prioritize teacher recommendations and to avoid adopting decisions perceived as politically motivated.","Multiple public commenters at the June 16 Caledonia board meeting urged the board to follow educators' recommendations on curriculum, questioned the board president's dealings with outside counsel and called for less politicization of schools.",{"_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},6523922,"Caledonia board adopts June budget amendment; proposes 2025–26 budget with roughly $400,000 shortfall",452,97601,550005,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5022844-f82be855e1ace549e5b4267e5bed4d04&start=97&end=550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5022844-f82be855e1ace549e5b4267e5bed4d04/thumbnail_97601.jpg","/articles/6523922/Michigan/Caledonia-board-adopts-June-budget-amendment-proposes-202526-budget-with-roughly-400000-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523922-766b83b806d0966522b02594c8cfa6c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775384229&Signature=ZVN55uh1VabHYIns8sdcc6F8ybXDiLp-FtmBT~TqOH-WxkgtmKJeItlUKwxvvZGLajjdP9-4m9aibvX6aO893LROkgG8LcbTtA6GJ~RGRAQEtZI5-BY6xQVjUrmhMdjuV7Ajg2obpMWPUbPY-6COhm1VW3iP52B5p1oCDB115GoSDE6KGuXlefF2VzQIJeAGGkWJ7kbukScqtgMvTlrkcdTf4TA-MlNbv44FdKcHv0kEQZAPSfruXVfxFgM2WnY4sWM~W7kth7Wjqrxj2WFPxUdGC5vLyl5cgFBCSkHqiTc8bp5cNQ~Qh6frrTBbHGUOHy-ST~kdcps81mHsVhlukw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Caledonia Community Schools Board of Education on June 16 adopted a final 2024–25 budget amendment and reviewed a proposed 2025–26 budget that projects a roughly $400,000 deficit.

In a presentation to the board, Mr. Reeves, the district finance presenter, said the district expects \"just over $72,000,000 in revenues\" and about $72,200,000 in expenses for the current fiscal year, leaving a shortfall of \"just over $200,000\" and an estimated fund balance of about $11,800,000, or roughly 16.4 percent. The board voted to adopt the June final budget amendment during the meeting.

The district also presented a proposed 2025–26 budget that assumes $71.5 million in revenue and $71.9 million in expenses, which Mr. Reeves described as \"just over a $400,000 shortfall\" that would leave an ending fund balance reported in the materials at about 11.4 percent (15.9 percent of expenditures under the corrected calculation noted by staff).

Why it matters: the district’s budget depends in part on pending state decisions. Superintendent Dirk told the board the state’s revenue estimating conference projects a 2.1 percent increase in the School Aid Fund for next year, but differences among the governor’s, house and senate proposals leave material uncertainty for local planning.

Key revenue and spending items noted by staff
- Transfers in: the district recorded an increase in transfers, including just over $1 million tied to special-education payments flowing through the Kent ISD and higher expected Medicaid revenue, raising estimated revenues about $1.3 million since the December amended budget.
- Transfers out/public improvement fund: staff proposed a transfer of $1,100,000 (about 1.5 percent of the general fund) to the public improvement fund to replenish reserves for deferred maintenance and projects not covered by bonds. Reeves said the district plans to pull approximately $1.4 million from that fund this year for renovation of the old administration office space.
- Expense variances: support services for instruction decreased by roughly $750,000, largely because of reductions in professional development costs and carryover of grant funds (noted grants: 23G and 31A). Athletics costs rose by about $140,000 for officials and fees.
- 2025–26 budget assumptions: the proposed budget uses the governor’s proposed per-pupil increase (a $3.92 per pupil suggestion referenced by staff) and flat enrollment. It assumes contractual step increases for support groups and steps for teachers, administrators and transportation contracts that are expiring, but no general salary scale increase. Health insurance was budgeted with a 5 percent net increase based on January selections, and ancillary benefits were budgeted at 0 percent increase.
- Staffing changes included as assumptions: possible savings from up to three teaching retirements (with one likely to be reinstated before school starts), reduction of two administrative positions, the addition of a 0.5 FTE resource-room teacher, a 0.4 FTE multilingual teacher, one school social worker and three part-time paraprofessionals.

State budget context and uncertainty
Superintendent Dirk summarized differences among the governor’s, senate and house proposals and warned board members the state budget process remained unsettled. Dirk said the house proposal included a one-time $19.75 per-pupil payment created by rolling up multiple categorical grants and a much larger shift of higher-education costs into the School Aid Fund, moves that could create long-term volatility for K–12 funding. Dirk repeated that the district must adopt a local budget by June 30 but the state’s final decisions may not be resolved until well after that date, leaving local fiscal planning contingent on legislative action.

Board action and next steps
The board adopted the June 2024–25 budget amendment and later approved the 2025–26 budget adoption resolution by roll call. Staff told the board the detailed budget documents would be posted to the district website. Because of the continuing state-level uncertainty, staff asked the board to treat the 2025–26 budget as contingent on final state actions and indicated they would return with updates when the legislature finalizes the School Aid Fund amounts.

Ending note: staff emphasized the district’s effort to preserve a multi-percent fund balance while aligning resources to student programming and required contractual obligations. The board’s approvals tonight establish the district’s local plan subject to future state changes.","The Caledonia Community Schools Board on June 16 adopted a final 2024–25 budget amendment and reviewed a proposed 2025–26 budget that projects a roughly $400,000 shortfall and relies on uncertain state funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Caledonia board actions on June 16, 2025

Board confirms Chartwells as food-service provider amid parent and staff concerns

Parents and former board members criticize trustees over AP course, legal counsel and transparency

Caledonia board adopts June budget amendment; proposes 2025–26 budget with roughly $400,000 shortfall