Romulus board approves HR chief, marketing contract and property sale; OKs AI policy first reading

The Romulus Community Schools Board of Education on Aug. 25 approved several personnel and contract actions, authorized negotiations to sell a district property and completed a first reading of a revised acceptable‑use policy addressing artificial intelligence.

In a roll‑call series of votes, the board approved Kevin Brock as executive director of administration and human resources; authorized a letter of engagement with Windermee Entertainment for district marketing and communications; accepted the first reading of revised Board Policy 8001, “Acceptable Use” (which adds AI guidance); and authorized the superintendent to negotiate the sale of 15303 Merriman Road. All recorded votes were affirmative by the five trustees present.

The board approved the personnel actions and hires included in the consent agenda by a single motion earlier in the meeting. The consent agenda covered routine personnel approvals, including several classroom hires listed in the board packet.

Treasurer Kennard, speaking during discussion of the Brock appointment and the Windermee engagement, said the expenditures were not new dollars: “This is not new money. These are dollars that’s already allocated,” and said the finance subcommittee had reviewed the items.

Kevin Brock thanked the board and acknowledged his wife, Melanie, who attended the meeting. Dr. Edmondson, the superintendent, and other board members noted that the budget line items for the two contracts were included in the board packet and tied to specified fund/account numbers.

Votes at a glance

- Appointment of Kevin Brock as executive director of administration/human resources — Motion by Kennard; second by Rogers. Vote: Kennard — yes; Rogers — yes; Davis — yes; Kamal — yes; Laster — yes. Outcome: approved. Budget: general fund account 112831160000000000 (exhibit in board packet).

- Letter of engagement with Windermee Entertainment (marketing/communications) — Motion by Kennard; second by Davis. Vote: Kennard — yes; Davis — yes; Kamal — yes; Rogers — yes; Laster — yes. Outcome: approved. Budget/advertising account 1128235100010000000 (exhibit in board packet). The superintendent and trustees said the firm will provide factual information about district initiatives; the board noted bond‑related communications must remain factual and cannot advocate for a yes vote.

- First reading of revised Board Policy 8001 (Acceptable Use; includes AI guidance) — Motion by Rogers; second by Davis. Vote: Rogers — yes; Davis — yes; Kennard — yes; Kamal — yes; Laster — yes. Outcome: approved for first reading. The policy was presented as a first reading with no budget implication.

- Authorization for superintendent to negotiate sale of 15303 Merriman Road — Motion by Rogers; second by Kennard. Vote: Rogers — yes; Kennard — yes; Davis — yes; Kamal — yes; Laster — yes. Outcome: approved. Board materials describe the prospective buyer as a storage company; proceeds will be deposited to the district’s designated property sale account (purchase agreement attached in packet).

What the board recorded as routine consent business (one motion) included the personnel hires listed in the meeting packet: Sierra Morin (science teacher, Promise Middle School), Josel Sanchez (special education, RHS), Savannah Bergiven (fourth grade teacher, WIC) and Katrina Vaughn (special education teacher, WIC).

The board’s roll calls showed five trustees voting in the affirmative on each motion. Two trustees, McCarthy and Piles, were recorded as excused earlier in the meeting.