Woodhaven-Brownstown board elects 2025 officers, adopts routine resolutions

The Woodhaven-Brownstown School District Board of Education on Jan. 14 elected officers for 2025 and adopted a set of routine organizational resolutions, including the 2025–26 meeting schedule, designation of the person to post public meeting notices, legal firms, and authorized signature designees for district checks.

The actions set leadership and administrative authority for the coming year. Laura Barry was elected board president; Carrie Sanders was elected vice president after a roll-call vote that the board recorded as 4–3; Rob Harris was elected secretary; and Erica Chopeck was elected treasurer. The board also approved the 2025–26 meeting schedule, named the person responsible for posting notices, authorized the superintendent and treasurer to sign district checks, and designated legal and financial firms for district business.

Those actions matter because they determine who will preside over meetings and who is authorized to carry out routine but consequential administrative duties for the district in 2025. The resolutions also name outside firms the district will use for legal work and banking services.

Board members first amended the agenda to add a discussion of an outstanding WBEA (Woodhaven-Brownstown Education Association) grievance before taking the organizational votes. After nominations and seconds, the board approved the slate for president, secretary and treasurer by voice votes. The vice president position required two votes: a first nomination for Valerie Lowery failed in roll call, and a second vote elected Carrie Sanders by a 4–3 roll-call result (final tally recorded by the board as 4 yes, 3 no).

The board adopted a resolution naming Melanie Hebert as the person designated to post public meeting notices for the 2025 calendar year. It also adopted a resolution authorizing the superintendent and the treasurer to sign district checks for 2025. The board approved a resolution naming legal firms to represent the district on evaluations, legal matters, labor relations, policies and bonding purposes for 2025; the firms listed in the motion were Collins & Blaha, Foley & Robinette, Miller Johnson, Seacrest Wardle (as read), Lynch Hampton Truax and Morley, and The Troon Law Firm. The board also adopted a resolution designating four financial institutions for district use for 2025 (BMO Harris NA, Comerica Bank and Comerica Securities, and Huntington Bank as bond paying agent).

The organizational meeting concluded and the board moved into the regular meeting agenda.