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Board approves $2.6M fiber upgrade, bond contract awards; names interim assistant principal and approves tuition rates
Summary
At the Northville Public Schools Board of Education meeting the board approved multiple bond-funded contracts including a $2,648,653 fiber network upgrade, awarded asbestos abatement and furniture contracts, appointed Kelly Moffitt as interim Hillside assistant principal, approved early childhood tuition rates and advanced a policy on children of
The Northville Public Schools Board of Education approved a series of administrative actions and contract awards at the meeting, including a $2,648,653 fiber network upgrade funded through Bond 2023, several bond-funded furniture and asbestos-abatement contracts, the appointment of an interim assistant principal at Hillside Middle School, and early childhood tuition rates for 2025–26. The board also approved a first reading of Policy 20120 (student enrollment, children of employees) and elected a candidate to the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) board of directors.
Why it matters: the fiber and technology purchases are a multimillion-dollar infrastructure upgrade that affects district connectivity and classroom technology; bond contract awards move planned capital projects into procurement and installation; the interim appointment maintains building operations after an unexpected vacancy; tuition-rate changes affect early-childhood program families.
Key votes and outcomes
- Fiber network upgrade and related technology purchases (Motion 84): The board authorized a fiber network upgrade with Amcon Inc. totaling $2,648,653 (Bond 2023), a three-year fiber maintenance agreement totaling $78,400 per year (general fund), structured cabling work of $90,650 (Bond 2023) and desktop/laptop purchases of $1,093,732 (Bond 2023). Administration described the project as a long-overdue replacement and said e-rate reimbursements will apply. Motion moved by Melissa Stewart; supported by Trustee Frazier. Vote: motion carried (7-0 as recorded).
- Bond 2023 bid awards (Motion 83): The board authorized contracts funded through Bond 2023 including: Environmental Maintenance Engineers Inc. for Meads Mill Middle School asbestos abatement not to exceed $68,000; Meads Mill Furniture Phase 1 not to exceed $94,030.75; Ammerman Elementary furniture not to exceed $188,557.22. Motion moved by Melissa Stewart; second and support recorded in meeting. Vote: motion carried (7-0 as recorded).
- Interim assistant principal contract for Hillside Middle School (Motion 82): The board awarded an interim assistant principal contract to Kelly Moffitt through 06/30/2025. Board members described Moffitt as a certified administrator who has worked at Hillside as an art teacher and in administrator-training roles for four years. Motion presented by Karen Meyer; support recorded. Vote: approved (no opposition recorded).
- Policy 20120, student enrollment — children of employees (Motion 85, first reading): The board approved the policy for first reading to clarify language that will include athletic head coaches as direct district employees beginning next year, consistent with discussion at prior committee meetings. Motion moved by Karen Meyer; supported by Trustee Mauer. Vote: motion passed (recorded as carried).
- Early childhood and extended-day tuition rates for 2025–26 (Motion 86): The board approved the proposed tuition rates after a presentation on local market comparisons and program design. One board member declared a conflict of interest and abstained; the motion carried (6 in favor, 0 opposed; 1 abstention noted in the meeting record).
- MASB Board of Directors election (Motion 87): The board elected Paul Cohen as the district’s candidate for the Michigan Association of School Boards board of directors for a three-year term. Motion moved by Trustee Mabry; supported by Karen Meyer. Vote: carried.
- Agenda adoption and consent items: The board adopted the meeting agenda (Motion 80; carried 7-0) and approved consent items including minutes from 02/18/2025, adoption of instructional materials for English 10 (book: It Won’t Always Be Like This by Malaka Gharib) and a middle-school course name change (digital journey 6 to STEAM 6) (Motion 81; carried 7-0).
What the board said and next steps: District staff explained asbestos-abatement procedures and third-party monitoring for projects that will occur when students and staff are not in the building. IT staff described the fiber work as a long-lived infrastructure upgrade and said e-rate reimbursements are expected to offset some costs. The board signaled ongoing oversight as projects move into implementation and thanked staff for procurement and planning work.
