Board approves consent agenda, culinary-room bid authorization and updated policy manual; closed session scheduled

The Romulus Community Schools Board of Education on Feb. 24, 2025 approved a package of routine and action items including personnel appointments, a bid authorization for a Romulus High School Culinary Arts room renovation and an updated district policy manual provided by the district's legal service.

The board accepted the meeting agenda at the start of the session; the motion to approve the agenda was made by Trustee Laster and supported by Trustee Davis and was recorded as passing. The board then moved through public comment and presentations before considering the consent agenda and action items.

Under the consent agenda the board approved minutes and several personnel actions, including hiring Martinique Parker as a custodian at Romulus High School and hiring teachers and paraprofessionals listed in the packet. The consent agenda motion was moved by Trustee Rogers, seconded by Trustee Kennard, and recorded as approved by roll call (Rogers: yes; Kennard: yes; Davis: yes; Kamal: yes; Laster: yes).

The board also authorized administration to seek bids for renovation of the Culinary Arts Room and a culinary room renovation project at Romulus High School. The motion — described in the meeting packet as coming from the district's CTE account (account number 1145264200135323449) — was moved by Trustee Kennard, seconded by Trustee Davis, and approved by roll call (Kennard: yes; Davis: yes; Kamal/Kumar: yes; Laster: yes; Rogers: yes).

A separate, more contested item involved adoption of an updated policy manual. The district's policy vendor and outside counsel, Miller Johnson, recommended a package of baseline updates to bring the district into compliance with current law. One specific change discussed at length removed a provision that had previously prohibited school employees from referring or assisting students seeking abortion services; counsel said that statutory language (cited in the meeting as MCL 380.1507) had been changed and that the affirmative prohibition in policy was no longer required. Board members debated whether to leave the provision in place or accept counsel's recommendation to remove it; Miller Johnson attorney Bob Schindler told the board that removal followed the change in state law and that keeping the provision was optional. The updated policy manual was moved by Trustee Davis, seconded by Trustee Rogers, and approved by roll call (recorded as passing during the meeting).

The board also approved a resolution to enter closed session for the purpose of attorney–client privilege; that motion (moved by Trustee Laster and supported by Trustee Rogers) carried on roll call (Laster: yes; Kennard: yes; Kamal: yes; Davis: yes; Rogers: yes). The board went into closed session at 7:24 p.m.

What changed and next steps: the approved baseline policy update is intended to bring the district's policy set into closer alignment with current state law; policy committee members and board members stated repeatedly during debate that the package establishes a legal baseline and that the committee will continue to review and refine individual policies (for example, on artificial intelligence, retention and promotion, and dress code) in subsequent meetings. The administration said it will circulate final drafts and an explanatory memo ahead of future votes.

Votes at a glance: Acceptance of agenda — motion by Laster, second Davis — outcome: approved (roll call recorded at meeting). Consent agenda (minutes and personnel hires including Martinique Parker, Britney Duffus, Samantha Theed, Lauren Winkles, Gurba Chala) — motion by Rogers, second Kennard — outcome: approved (roll call recorded). Bid authorization for Romulus High School Culinary Arts room renovation — motion by Kennard, second Davis — outcome: approved (roll call recorded). Updated policy manual (baseline updates from Miller Johnson) — motion by Davis, second Rogers — outcome: approved after debate and counsel explanation. Closed session for attorney–client privilege — motion by Laster, second Rogers — outcome: approved (roll call recorded).

The meeting packet and recordings contain the full text of motions and the legal memo from Miller Johnson cited by counsel; where roll-call tallies were not consistently read aloud, the board's official minutes will list the formal vote tallies for the record.