Royal Oak Schools board approves $1M ELA purchase, $180,000 in devices and accepts $572,758 donation

The Royal Oak Schools Board of Education on April 10 approved several major district purchases, accepted a $572,758.66 donation for scholarships to Royal Oak High School and signed off on routine lease and personnel actions.

The board voted to purchase an elementary K–5 English language arts curriculum and materials from American Reading Company in a spending authorization not to exceed $1,000,100. The motion, moved by Trustee Cook and seconded by Trustee Van Nuysma, passed by voice vote.

Board members also authorized a student-device procurement not to exceed $180,000 to cover a ninth‑grade Chromebook refresh, high‑school yearbook lab desktop computers and touchscreen Chromebooks for some elementary and early‑learning classrooms. That purchase will be made from People Driven Technologies using pricing from the statewide REMC Save cooperative bid. The board approved a separate desktop refresh for the high‑school Career & Technical Education (CTE) program not to exceed $40,000.

The board accepted a donation of $572,758.66 from Mr. and Mrs. Richards to Royal Oak High School to establish scholarships. Superintendent Fitzpatrick told the board the district received the check and staff will work with the family and district administrators to develop protocols and documentation that honor donor intent and the long‑term stewardship of the funds.

Other approved items included two curriculum votes: additions to the district K–12 health curriculum adding puberty instruction for fourth and fifth grades, and the consent to several one‑year lease extensions with community partners (Royal Oak Community Coalition, Royal Oak Youth Assistance, the city for Arts Beats & Eats parking, Grant Park lease, Center Street garage for robotics and YMCA after‑school space). The board also approved routine personnel changes and the consent agenda.

District leaders outlined next steps tied to several approvals. Dr. Joe Ioannis, director of curriculum and instruction, said teachers who piloted the ELA materials will receive training in spring and additional full‑day training before the 2025–26 school year. Technology staff noted the district will redeploy some devices received during the pandemic under the E‑Rate program where appropriate, extending the lifespan of existing equipment and yielding savings on the refresh.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes (Item 3.2): Motion by Trustee van Heitzman; second Trustee Cook; passed by voice vote. - Accept donation of $572,758.66 to Royal Oak High School scholarships (Item 3.3): Motion moved by Trustee Jasinski; second by Trustee Van Heitzel; accepted by voice vote. Superintendent Fitzpatrick said the district received the check and will develop parameters for awarding scholarships. - Proclaim April 2025 as National Arab American Heritage Month (Item 4.1): Adopted by voice vote. - Proclaim Autism Acceptance Month (Item 4.2): Adopted by voice vote. - Purchase elementary K–5 ELA curriculum from American Reading Company not to exceed $1,000,100 (Item 9.2.1): Motion by Trustee Cook; second Trustee Van Nuysma; passed by voice vote. District plans spring and August training for teachers before full implementation in 2025–26. - Approve puberty curriculum updates for fourth and fifth grade (Item 9.2.2): Motion by Trustee Alexander; second Trustee Wicky; passed by voice vote. - Authorize technology procurements not to exceed $180,000 (ninth‑grade Chromebook refresh, yearbook lab desktops, touchscreen Chromebooks) from People Driven Technologies via REMC Save cooperative (Item 9.2.3): Motion by Trustee Wicky; second Trustee Alexander; passed by voice vote. - Authorize CTE desktop refresh not to exceed $40,000 (Item 9.2.4): Approved; second by Trustee Cook; passed by voice vote. - Approve one‑year lease extensions with community partners as presented (Item 9.3.1): Motion by Trustee Cook; second Trustee Jasinski; passed by voice vote. - Approve routine personnel changes including resignations, hires and retirements listed in the personnel report (Item 9.4.1): Motion by Trustee Dushinski; second Trustee Alexander; passed by voice vote.

Discussion vs. decision

Board votes were procedural and unanimous by voice where recorded in the minutes; the transcript records no roll‑call tallies. Several items carried implementation steps: the ELA purchase includes teacher training and a phased rollout; technology purchases will reuse some district devices and supplement where needed; the scholarship donation will be held while administrators and the donor finalize parameters.

Clarifying details

- Donation: $572,758.66 from Mr. and Mrs. Richards to Royal Oak High School for scholarships; check received; parameters and stewardship procedures to be developed by district staff. - ELA purchase: Vendor American Reading Company; district cap $1,000,100; pilot period conducted by teacher teams; teacher training planned in spring and August before 2025–26 school year. - Device purchases: Not to exceed $180,000; procurement from People Driven Technologies using REMC Save cooperative pricing; some redeployed devices were obtained during the pandemic via the E‑Rate program and will be reused where suitable. - CTE desktops: Not to exceed $40,000; vendor pricing based on REMC Save cooperative bid.

Community relevance and next steps

The ELA adoption and device refresh are districtwide initiatives that affect K–12 classroom instruction and student access to instructional technology. The district will schedule teacher training and provide rollout details to families and staff. The board did not vote to change policy language at this meeting; procurement and implementation steps will proceed under district administrative procedures.