[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6181273,"mediaKeyId","5113403-6dfc1069df601625a55a04a4f452b20b","parentId",5113403,"title","Okemos Board narrows 2025‑26 budget reductions, adds several items to draft for June review","audioSeconds",1368,"startMs",1124000,"endMs",2492000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113403-6dfc1069df601625a55a04a4f452b20b&start=1124&end=2492","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113403-6dfc1069df601625a55a04a4f452b20b/thumbnail_1124000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6181273/Michigan/Okemos-Board-narrows-202526-budget-reductions-adds-several-items-to-draft-for-June-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181273-bdaa59d7cc2c9f67103c349594411369/orig.mp4?Expires=1770921680&Signature=mZ4fNw7gutrO7o80ourN2peedkpikBezwdp7EbObFxjJVSMKLkXUIBL6wtKCmU948fiq5uyyGIlXM0YaxTCffNjDGL0dNchUUgWWS0~524hMRSOwieYKgxSf2atkE~mw1MW831t6KbMDU28ANn-7HazSLFFkHn3o2Z4OL1Rh8qevP~MN9oxcpH9QHG22FNyqR~JEwCCAxNSBlpg67J2zYvsMpcHCRYOoWcjqkS1hJ4QEs1p9Lzj7awcNMrfoaqnOyn3wI-ZjxizTnPdSi0NanR1GIfUTSX4bUHvFXx~1wCjRW12O9~R-HcD3ubUAbRf36HKszFa4TYJJIQQPh~xhzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Okemos Board of Education, MI","date","2025-05-28T00:00:00Z","article","Trustees at a special meeting used a formal protocol to review proposed 2025‑26 budget reductions and asked administrators to prepare a draft budget for board review on June 9.

Superintendent Hood and Executive Director Lentz presented a spreadsheet of proposed reductions and a consensus protocol. Trustees ranked each item as level 1 (ready for reduction), level 2 or level 3. Administration identified items where a majority (4+) of trustees already rated an item as a level 1 and highlighted those with narrower margins for discussion.

Following discussion and straw tallies, the board instructed staff to include in the June 9 draft those items that reached a majority of “level‑1” tallies (five or more trustees). Items the board directed administration to include in the draft budget were:

- Reduce one student information system coordinator (straw tally: majority level‑1)
- Eliminate the learning disabled teacher consultant position at Okemos High School (straw tally: majority level‑1)
- Reduce funded extracurricular clubs to a district target (1 club/elementary, 2/middle, 10/high; straw tally: majority level‑1)
- Reduce library media center specialist hours by 1 hour per day (straw tally: majority level‑1)
- Discontinue the district’s beginner‑garden program for next year (administration provided a revised, lower savings estimate after accounting for required classroom aides and enrollment impacts; straw tally: majority level‑1)
- Eliminate one counseling clerk position at Okemos High School (revote of straw tally passed at level‑1)

Administrators said some proposed line‑item savings are estimates and could change after more analysis; for example, moving beginner‑garden students back into kindergarten may require additional classroom aides or, in a worst‑case scenario, an added kindergarten classroom that would reduce or erase the projected savings.

Trustees deferred final action on three higher‑impact staffing items: delaying the hire of one MTSS coach, eliminating the gifted‑and‑talented coordinator, and delaying hiring a high‑school counselor. The board used consensus checks and discussion and asked administration to return with implementation details, alternative options, and updated cost estimates before the June 9 presentation.

On several agenda items earlier in the meeting the board took formal roll‑call votes: it voted 7‑0 to move into executive session under the Open Meetings Act, approved the 2024‑25 amended budget 7‑0, and adopted the Ingham ISD budget resolution 5‑2. The board also designated representation to the Ingham ISD electoral body, 7‑0.

Trustees emphasized that many of the cuts would not affect services required by written IEPs and that staff would prioritize legally required services. Administration said certain contingency costs (for example, contracting with the ISD for specialist support) are possible and must be accounted for in the final draft. The board will reconvene June 9 for the draft presentation and is scheduled to vote on adoption on June 16.

The board asked executive leadership to supply more detailed estimates on substitute‑day usage and the effects of family medical leave on past substitute counts; staff estimated a single proposed reduction (500 substitute days) could save about $74,100 but asked for a more rigorous analysis before finalizing that line item.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Okemos Board of Education Meeting | May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After a structured work session, the Okemos Board asked administrators to include several staff and program reductions in a draft 2025‑26 budget and deferred final decisions on three higher‑impact staffing items pending further analysis.","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},6181277,"Okemos board faces public pressure to retain gifted-and‑talented coordinator amid budget cuts",283,185000,468000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113403-6dfc1069df601625a55a04a4f452b20b&start=185&end=468","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113403-6dfc1069df601625a55a04a4f452b20b/thumbnail_185000.jpg","/articles/6181277/Michigan/Okemos-board-faces-public-pressure-to-retain-gifted-andtalented-coordinator-amid-budget-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181277-d179cee724ee8a9a159d3a4294f989fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770921680&Signature=Kz9TnrZ401T6NfTjNA530d~pZVA2INSFeBVJTuhb63WEsmJrCLto8POBAgUCkamSAuk3NEoZPoIuK6ZbN4N~GXV46I~c-Yd6kQTdj4qGZrRcrjJt2VcuK2vP2ioo5RDmgQZkZHzzrmJd27N~2eZaPOjhI8~Zn2qa0Kf70VtjgidillSGfFlSW0tS7mmV~LHG94Ph823QXoewKV7RfC8jsy0QZCMcwh2ed75-NvcmsV9Ssk4MgEf7gHVhDKhVoIUVzbD6a-rLWh4-pkJVtKJ8X1DcY7l5mr8RUFZ8CZbg86vVrhFgz7hNNoG2AViHQDipdrIStckuOWn7LkO4u7uoVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a special meeting on the district’s 2025‑26 budget, the Okemos Board of Education heard multiple public comments urging trustees to retain the district’s gifted‑and‑talented coordinator as administrators laid out proposed reductions.

Two public speakers described the coordinator as a unique district resource that cannot be absorbed by other staff if the position is cut. “I’m here tonight to advocate for Jennifer Eddy’s position to be maintained,” said Simon Delil, who identified himself as a parent. Gracie DeLagentre, a third‑grade teacher at Cornell Elementary, told trustees, “The role of our gifted and talented coordinator is paramount to their success.”

The board’s budget work session later put the gifted‑and‑talented coordinator on a short list of items for “further discussion.” Superintendent Hood told trustees how the coordinator’s work intersects with district MTSS (multi‑tiered system of supports) coaching and that the district could reassign or reframe duties if cuts are made. Hood also said the administration is weighing options for how to deliver services if a position is reduced or eliminated, and that tradeoffs would affect both students and staff capacity.

Trustees debated whether MTSS coaches could take on gifted work. Hood said both functions overlap but warned that “we can’t take our gifted and talented person, have her continue to do everything she currently does alone, and take on MTSS. That’s not physically possible.” Trustees asked whether the Ingham Intermediate School District could be contracted for technical support in other areas and whether any reductions would increase staff overtime or risk burnout.

Board members and staff emphasized legal and programmatic constraints. Executive Director Lentz explained that reductions to special education funding in the general fund do not change services required by students’ IEPs; any cut discussed targeted non‑IEP positions and general‑fund capacity. Trustees repeatedly framed decisions as difficult and asked administrators to return with implementation details before making final decisions.

The board did not take a final formal vote to remove the gifted‑and‑talented coordinator. Instead, trustees used a consensus check and straw tallies during the work session and agreed to postpone any final decision about this position until the board reviews the full draft budget on June 9 and adopts a budget at its June 16 meeting.

Parent and teacher speakers asked trustees to consider students who are “twice exceptional” or who need differentiated instruction even when they have high grades. Trustees acknowledged those remarks and said they would incorporate community feedback before finalizing recommendations.

The board’s next public review of the draft 2025‑26 budget is scheduled for June 9, with a formal adoption vote expected June 16.","Parents and teachers urged the Okemos Board of Education to keep the district’s gifted-and‑talented coordinator as trustees considered the 2025‑26 budget and tradeoffs with MTSS coaching and other positions.","actionData","errors"]

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Okemos Board narrows 2025‑26 budget reductions, adds several items to draft for June review

Okemos board faces public pressure to retain gifted-and‑talented coordinator amid budget cuts