Riverview board adopts budget amendment, banking and investment resolutions and awards two construction contracts; approves school-of-choice applications for 25

The Riverview Community School District Board of Education on Jan. 28 adopted its first general‑fund budget amendment for fiscal 2024–25, approved depository and investment authority resolutions, awarded two facilities contracts and authorized the district to accept nonresident applications under the state'school‑of‑choice option for the 2025–26 school year. All motions were approved on roll-call votes.

The meeting opened with Superintendent Hatzell presenting the budget changes and recommending adoption of General Fund Budget Amendment No. 1 for 2024–25. Trustee Meeks moved the budget amendment; Vice President Diminsky supported the motion. Trustee Meeks thanked the district's finance director, Lonnie Draper, for briefing the finance committee, saying, "I just want to thank our finance director, Mr. Lonnie Draper, for meeting with the finance committee last week and answering all of our questions." The amendment was approved on a roll-call vote with all seven board members recorded as yes.

The board also adopted routine banking and investment resolutions that designate the district's depositories and delegate authority to the superintendent and the director of business and finance to conduct investments on the district's behalf. Vice President Diminsky moved the depository resolution; Treasurer Davis seconded. Trustee O'Brien moved the investment authority resolution; the motion passed on roll call.

On facilities work, the board awarded a roof repair project serving Seats Middle School and Riverview Community High School for a sum not to exceed $499,900. The contractor name was not specified in the meeting record provided to the board; the motion was made by Trustee Meeks and supported by Treasurer Davis and approved on a roll call vote.

The board also approved the award for installation of three rooftop HVAC units at Forest Elementary to Guy & Missler, Inc., for an amount not to exceed $218,557. Vice President Diminsky moved that award; the motion carried on roll call.

On enrollment policy, the board voted to accept applications from nonresident students under the statutory school‑of‑choice option for the 2025–26 school year, citing sections 105 and 105c of the School Aid Act of 1979 as amended by Public Act 300 of 1996. The motion as stated in the record provides for limited acceptance of nonresident, in‑person students in grades K–11 and unlimited acceptance to the Riverview Virtual Academy for grades K–12 from qualifying areas; the mover and seconder are not specified in the transcript excerpt. The measure was adopted by roll call with all board members recorded as yes.

Several consent items were approved as a group earlier in the meeting, including minutes from prior meetings, check registers and purchase card expense reports, an out‑of‑state trip for the Riverview School of Cosmetology, personnel items (new hires) and the appointment of Vice President Diminsky as the district liaison to Riverview City Council. That consent grouping was moved by Secretary Walker and supported by Trustee Meeks and approved by roll call.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to accept the Jan. 28 agenda: moved by Trustee Toth, supported by Treasurer Davis; outcome: approved (support recorded in the meeting record; specific roll‑call text not recorded in transcript excerpt).

- Consent grouping (minutes; check registers; purchase cards; out‑of‑state travel for Riverview School of Cosmetology; approval of new hires; appointment of Vice President Diminsky as City Council liaison): moved by Secretary Walker, supported by Trustee Meeks; outcome: approved. Roll call: Secretary Walker (yes); Treasurer Davis (yes); Trustee Toth (yes); Trustee O'Brien (yes); President Boer (yes); Vice President Diminsky (yes); Trustee Meeks (yes).

- General Fund Budget Amendment No. 1 for FY 2024–25: moved by Trustee Meeks, supported by Vice President Diminsky; outcome: approved. Roll call: Trustee Meeks (yes); Trustee O'Brien (yes); President Boer (yes); Treasurer Davis (yes); Trustee Toth (yes); Vice President Diminsky (yes); Secretary Walker (yes).

- Depository resolution (bank designations/account signatories): moved by Vice President Diminsky, supported by Treasurer Davis; outcome: approved. Roll call recorded all members as yes.

- Investment authority resolution (delegate investment authority to superintendent and director of business and finance): moved by Trustee O'Brien; outcome: approved. Roll call recorded all members as yes.

- Seats Middle School and Riverview Community High School roof repair project (award not to exceed $499,900): moved by Trustee Meeks, supported by Treasurer Davis; outcome: approved. Contractor name: not specified in the meeting transcript; roll call recorded all members as yes.

- Forest Elementary rooftop HVAC installation (award to Guy & Missler, Inc., not to exceed $218,557): moved by Vice President Diminsky; outcome: approved. Roll call recorded all members as yes.

- School‑of‑choice resolution for 2025–26 (accept nonresident applications per sections 105 and 105c of the School Aid Act of 1979 as amended by Public Act 300 of 1996; limited in‑person K–11; Riverview Virtual Academy unlimited K–12): mover/second not specified in transcript excerpt; outcome: approved. Roll call recorded all members as yes.

Other board action and context

The board introduced newly hired staff during the consent portion: Dr. Jacqueline Grabowski, joining the district as a teacher in the transition program after serving as an occupational therapist; and Jennifer Shaw, appointed secretary to the high school principal. Those hirings were included in the approved consent items. Superintendent Hatzell and board members praised staff and student volunteers who organized the evening's schoolbook dedications and other student recognitions at the start of the meeting.

The board set future meeting dates: a study session Monday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Riverview Community High School and the regular February meeting Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Riverview City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting adjourned after the final roll call.