Wayne-Westland board approves technology and safety purchases, hires assistant principal and adopts resolution urging state school-aid budget

The Wayne-Westland Community School District Board of Education on a unanimous vote approved multiple items including the purchase of eight MacBook Pro laptops for the district’s Career Technical Center, a not-to-exceed $85,000 purchase of solar-powered speed-display signs, the hiring of Paul Shanks as assistant principal at John Glenn High School, and a board resolution urging Michigan lawmakers to pass the state school-aid budget.

The purchases were presented as program and safety investments. Daryl Beebe, executive director of technology and innovation, recommended buying “8 MacBook Pros in the amount of $33,344 with the AppleCare included.” Beebe said the new devices are necessary for the film and media course because “These upgraded devices are essential to support the advanced software and performance needs of the film and media program.” The board approved the purchase as a sole-source transaction funded by the district’s CTE equipment grant; the motion passed 7–0.

Jule Claire (staff member), who presented the speed-sign proposal, described the signs as solar-powered units that show the posted limit and the driver’s current speed. Claire said the signs will prompt drivers to “slow down” when they exceed the limit and that the installations will be coordinated with the cities of Wayne and Westland and with permitting where required. The board approved a Sourcewell-facilitated purchase, not to exceed $85,000, to be paid from the sinking fund; the motion passed 7–0. Board members said they hoped installations would be completed before Thanksgiving.

The board also approved the hiring of Paul Shanks as an assistant principal at John Glenn High School. The superintendent’s recommendation summarized Shanks’s credentials: a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, a professional administrator certificate and prior roles that include social studies teacher, restorative-practices coordinator, and district behavior system specialist. Shanks addressed the board and said he was “excited to be here” and that he had begun meeting staff and students; the motion to hire carried 7–0.

Separately, the board adopted a resolution urging state lawmakers to immediately pass a complete school-aid appropriation. The resolution cited the Michigan Constitution and Public Act 160 of 2019, which set dates for the legislature’s required appropriation process, and called for school-aid funding not to be tied to unrelated budget negotiations. Jule Claire told the board the lack of a state budget has forced contingency planning at the district level; Claire said the district is “estimating cash flow issues in October and possibly beyond” and that leaders are delaying some purchases and reexamining hiring until funding clarity arrives. The resolution passed 7–0.

Votes at a glance: • Purchase of 8 MacBook Pros with 3-year AppleCare, $33,344, funded by CTE equipment grant (sole source). Motion carried 7–0. • Purchase of solar-powered speed-display signs through Sourcewell, not to exceed $85,000, funded by sinking fund. Motion carried 7–0. • Hire Paul Shanks as assistant principal, John Glenn High School. Motion carried 7–0. • Adopted resolution urging Michigan lawmakers to pass the school-aid budget and not tie school aid to unrelated funding deals. Motion carried 7–0. • Consent agenda approval (including an announced update). Motion carried 7–0.

Board members framed the actions as pragmatic steps to maintain instructional capacity, improve on-site safety and respond to uncertainty from the delayed state budget. Several members also thanked staff and city partners for coordination on the speed-sign project.