Grand Rapids board rescinds adjournment, moves to closed session and approves routine items

The Grand Rapids Board of Education reconvened Sept. 15 to correct a procedural error and to complete district business. The board voted to rescind the motion to adjourn on Sept. 8, replace it with a motion to recess until Sept. 15, and subsequently moved into closed session for collective bargaining strategy and legal counsel.

President Buchek read a statement at the start of the evening emphasizing order and safety at meetings, citing the Open Meetings Act and the revised school code when describing the president’s authority to remove disorderly individuals. “What happened on Monday is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at our board meetings,” the president said, adding that “moving forward, if there are interruptions or disturbances, I will be giving warnings and asking people to be removed.” The board announced it will hold regular board meetings at Ottawa Hills “for the foreseeable future.”

Key formal actions the board completed at the Sept. 15 meeting included:

- Rescission of adjournment from the Sept. 8 meeting and motion to recess until Sept. 15 (motion carried; vote recorded as voice vote in favor).

- Amendment of the agenda to add a closed session for “a strategy and negotiation session connected with the negotiations of various collective bargaining groups” (Open Meetings Act authority cited). The board took a roll-call vote to enter closed session; all trustees present voted yes.

- Approval of a Peace Education Week resolution (motion carried by voice vote).

- Approval of the purchasing agenda (voice vote carried).

- Acceptance of the GRPSPA (Grand Rapids Public Schools Protective Association) wage reopener (motion carried by voice vote).

- Approval of the consent agenda (voice vote carried).

- Motion to extend the meeting past 9:30 p.m. was approved by voice vote.

On the closed-session motion, the board conducted a roll-call vote. Trustees recorded as voting “yes” in the transcript included Trustee Moreno, Trustee Rodriguez, Trustee Williams, Trustee Williamson, Trustee Davis, Trustee Kilpatrick, Trustee Melton, Vice President Wade and President Buchek; the chair announced the motion passed.

Several motions and votes were conducted by voice vote with the board chair calling for “aye/any opposed,” and the chair announced motions carried. Where a roll call was required (closed session for collective bargaining and legal counsel) the board recorded individual “yes” votes.

Why it matters: The closed session covers collective bargaining and privileged legal advice exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (the president cited FOIA section 13(1)(g) during a reading of the motion). Actions on purchasing, consent and the wage reopener are routine but relevant to the district’s budget and ongoing negotiations.

Next steps: The board went into closed session to discuss bargaining strategy and legal counsel. The public record shows committee meetings scheduled in coming weeks (finance committee Sept. 22; ad hoc facilities Oct. 13). Issues discussed in closed session may lead to future public votes or budget amendments.

Ending: The board’s procedural corrections and the unanimous roll-call vote to enter closed session underscored the meeting’s immediate focus on bargaining strategy and legal advice as contract negotiations continue.