Board chair apologizes after adopting updated Robert’s Rules minutes practice; trustees ask for written guidance

The Lansing Public School District Board of Education debated procedural changes to how minutes are approved after the board president said she had followed a recent Robert’s Rules update in not calling for a formal vote to approve minutes.

"I made this decision on my own. Please pardon me for not confirming or not communicating with the board," the president said at the March 13 meeting and apologized to trustees for not sending advance notice. Several trustees objected to the unilateral change and asked for written guidance and training.

Nut graf: The dispute centered on whether the board should keep longstanding local customs for minutes approval or adopt the 2020 edition of Robert's Rules of Order‑Newly Revised, which staff and the board parliamentarian said states minutes may be approved without a formal vote for small assemblies. Trustees said they felt "blindsided" and asked for a written summary and discussion at the board's retreat.

What trustees asked for

Trustee Boyer requested the change be provided to trustees in writing and suggested the district schedule training so all board members understand the updated rules and any local policy implications. "Just possibly could we just have something sent to us in writing?" Boyer said.

Trustee Rodriguez urged collective agenda‑setting and asked that larger changes be made collaboratively: "We had to create it together. Yes. Until we don't do that, we will be imposed an agenda that doesn't reflect what this board wants."

Parliamentarian and staff comments

Board parliamentarian Dan (last name Nowitzki referenced in discussion) and staff confirmed the 2020 revision to Robert's Rules advises that minutes may be approved without a formal vote in many small assemblies; staff offered to circulate documentation and to provide time on the Saturday retreat to review the updates.

Board action and next steps

Despite the procedural disagreement, the minutes for the meeting were recorded as approved with no corrections and the president said she would send an explanatory note and arrange for further discussion and training. Trustees asked that the board receive any legal or policy citations and suggested staff provide a written memo to avoid future confusion.

Ending: Trustees agreed to add the Robert’s Rules clarification to the retreat agenda and to receive written documentation before the next regular meeting.