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Anchor Bay board approves contracts, field trips and two policy updates; volunteer appeal granted

2530652 · February 26, 2025

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Summary

At its Feb. 26 meeting the Anchor Bay School District Board of Education approved multiple field trips, awarded two contracts (asbestos abatement and network upgrades), adopted two policy changes and granted a volunteer appeal; several items were approved by roll call.

The Anchor Bay School District Board of Education on Feb. 26 approved a bundle of routine and business items including field trips, two vendor contracts funded by bond and general funds, and two policy updates. The board also granted a parent’s volunteer appeal after review.

The board’s consent agenda — minutes, personnel report, financial reports and bills payable — passed by roll call. Administrators brought several field-trip requests that the board approved, including drama and competitive teams traveling to Mackinac Island, Grand Rapids and Detroit in spring 2025. The board awarded an asbestos abatement contract to Building Decommissioned Services for $143,100 (bond funds) and approved a network upgrade contract to People Driven Technology of Wixom for $390,594.71. Two policy updates — a change to graduation-credit requirements tied to the district’s move to trimesters and a revision to the Athletic Code of Conduct addressing inappropriate internet/social media use — were adopted after discussion and roll-call votes. The board also selected a nominee for the MASB Region 8 director election and approved one parent’s volunteer appeal.

Why it matters: the contract awards and policy changes affect the district’s capital work and student-eligibility/discipline rules. The asbestos abatement and network upgrade contracts move facility and infrastructure work funded either by the bond program or district procurement toward implementation. The volunteer-appeal and policy votes establish both individual and district-wide limits and processes for supervision and discipline.

Key outcomes and details

Votes at a glance (action → outcome → key detail): - Consent agenda (minutes, personnel, financials, bills payable) → Approved by roll call → Board members voting yes: Sunnyberger, Knox, Powers, Bergmeier, Venatelli, Richards, Green. - Field trip — Drama (MCSI spring festival, Mackinac Island, May 15–18, 2025; 3–5 students) → Approved (voice vote) → Chaperone count listed on request: 1–3. - Field trip — MDOT State Bridge Competition (Amway Grand, Grand Rapids, Apr. 9–10, 2025; 18 students) → Approved (voice vote) → 3 chaperones; travel by school bus. - Field trip — BPA State Leadership (Amway Grand, Grand Rapids, Mar. 13–18, 2025; 21 students) → Approved (voice vote) → 3 chaperones; travel by charter bus. - Field trip — DECA State Competition (Huntington Place / Detroit Marriott, Mar. 13–15, 2025; 61 students) → Approved (voice vote) → 5 chaperones + adviser (6 chaperones total); staff described group movement protocols between venues. - Contract — Asbestos abatement (Lighthouse, Middle School North, Middle School South; summer 2025) → Awarded to Building Decommissioned Services for $143,100 (bond funds) → Approved by roll call (yes votes recorded: Powers, Knox, Sunnyberger, Bergmeier, Venatelli, Richards, Green). - Contract — Network upgrades → Awarded to People Driven Technology (Wixom) for $390,594.71 → Approved by roll call (board members recorded as yes: Knox, Venatelli, Sunnyberger, Powers, Bergmeier, Richards, Green). - Policy — Trimester graduation-credit revisions (align credits to trimesters) → Adopted by roll call (yes votes recorded: Richards, Knox, Sunnyberger, Powers, Bergmeier, Venatelli, Green). - Policy — Athletic Code of Conduct update (inappropriate internet/social media language revised to align with case law and limits on off-campus jurisdiction) → Adopted by roll call (yes votes recorded: Knox, Sunnyberger, Powers, Bergmeier, Venatelli, Richards, Green). - MASB Region 8 board candidate nomination → Motion carried to nominate Wallace (Fraser); roll-call approval recorded. - Volunteer appeal (parent A) → Appeal approved (board vote: Knox yes, Sunnyberger yes, Bergmeier yes, Powers yes, Richards yes; Venatelli no; Green no; motion carried).

Supporting details and clarifications - Funding: the asbestos work is to be paid from bond funds. The superintendent reported the district has spent about 11–12% of the bond to date. - Procurement notes: the lowest initial bidder for the asbestos work withdrew for not meeting specs; the recommended contractor was the next compliant low bidder. For the network upgrade, administrators reviewed bids and post-bid clarifications and recommended People Driven Technology. - Chaperone ratios: board members discussed chaperone-to-student ratios at length, and staff agreed to add minimums to future field-trip documentation; for some trips the district will add additional chaperones before final sign-off. - Policy intent: Athletic Code changes were described by administration as intended to align district discipline rules with recent court decisions that limit schools’ authority over off-campus, private social-media speech unless it causes substantial disruption to school activities.

What the board directed next - Staff were asked to: (1) note chaperone expectations on future field-trip forms and (2) bring a review of district field-trip/chaperone policy to the policy committee for formal revision. The director of safety and security and administration will implement post-bid contracting steps and oversee the awarded projects.

Ending: Items approved at this meeting move the district’s capital and extracurricular plans forward for spring and summer 2025; administrators will return with policy recommendations and implementation details in coming weeks.