Hartland board elects officers, adopts strategic goal statements and approves preschool, loan application

The Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education on July 21 elected Kristen Coleman board president and completed its annual organizational business while approving a set of strategic goal statements and several administrative items, including joining a county universal preschool consortium and filing the district's annual School Loan Revolving Fund application.

The board convened the organizational meeting July 21 and conducted officer elections first. After nominations and two rounds of voting, trustees elected Kristen Coleman to serve as board president (vote: 7-0). Cindy Shaw was elected vice president (4-3), Jeff Campbell was elected secretary (4-3), and Greg Keller was elected treasurer (6-1). Following the officer elections, Coleman assumed the chair.

The newly constituted board then took up routine and policy matters. Trustees voted to adopt the district's vision, mission, beliefs and goal statements as drafted during the recent strategic planning process; the board amended the motion to specify that it was adopting the "goal statements" only and approved that motion unanimously (7-0). Superintendent Matt Hughes and district staff told trustees that the more detailed objectives and measurable targets tied to those goals would be discussed at a future meeting.

The board also approved a resolution authorizing the district to establish a universal preschool program and to enter an agreement with a newly formed Livingston County GSRP (Great Start Readiness Program) consortium. Trustees approved that motion unanimously (7-0). District staff said classrooms proposed for next year were filled and that the program would operate under the consortium's handbooks and state-approved curriculum.

Trustees approved the School Loan Revolving Fund annual application upon the recommendation of the chief financial officer, a routine financing action the district uses to manage bonding and short-term loan needs (vote recorded at the meeting as unanimous, 7-0). The board approved its regular meeting calendar for the 2025–26 year and made a minor change to move two consent items into the action-item section; that adoption passed unanimously.

A motion to designate the superintendent or the chief financial officer as designee for treasurer and secretary responsibilities (an item pulled from the consent agenda) generated extended discussion about the scope of duties being delegated and potential policy changes. Trustees voted to postpone that specific designation to the board's August meeting so the policy committee can review the language and proposed controls (motion to postpone passed unanimously).

Votes at a glance - Elect Greg Keller as board president (nomination): failed (3 yes, 4 no). Source: nomination and roll-call in meeting record. - Elect Kristen Coleman, board president: approved (7-0). Action: appointment; identifiers: officer election; outcome: approved. - Elect Cindy Shaw, vice president: approved (4-3). Action: appointment; outcome: approved. - Elect Jeff Campbell, secretary: approved (4-3). Action: appointment; outcome: approved. - Elect Greg Keller, treasurer: approved (6-1). Action: appointment; outcome: approved. - Adopt vision, mission, beliefs and goal statements (strategic plan — statement level only): approved (7-0). Action: resolution; outcome: approved. Note: the board did not adopt the administrative "priority objectives" as measurable targets at this meeting; staff will return with objectives for further discussion. - Add "Resolution Requiring Searchable PDF Format Documents" to discussion (procedural vote to add to agenda): approved (7-0). - Authorize district to establish universal preschool and enter the Livingston County GSRP consortium agreement: approved (7-0). Action: program agreement; outcome: approved. - Approve School Loan Revolving Fund annual application: approved (7-0). Action: other/finance; outcome: approved. - Designation of treasurer/secretary designees (superintendent/CFO): postponed to August meeting for policy review (postponement approved unanimously). - Adopt 2025–26 board meeting dates: approved (7-0). Action: procedural; outcome: approved.

Board and staff comments Trustee Glenn Gogolewski, during nominations for president, offered a lengthy endorsement of Greg Keller's recent service on the board and his prior votes. After her election, Kristen Coleman said, "Thank you to my fellow trustees for your support," and the board immediately continued with officer nominations and agenda business.

On the strategic plan vote, Superintendent Matt Hughes explained the division of responsibility between the board and administration: the board was being asked to adopt the high-level vision, mission, beliefs and goal statements while the administrative team would develop measurable objectives and tactics and return to the board for review.

Why it matters Officer elections set who presides and signs official documents for the coming year. Adopting the vision, mission, beliefs and goal statements provides the board's public policy direction; trustees and staff said measurable objectives and timelines will follow for board discussion and approval. The universal preschool vote commits the district to participate in the county GSRP consortium under state program rules; staff said the program is reimbursement-based and classrooms proposed for next year were already filled. The decision to postpone the treasurer/secretary designee designation indicates trustees want clearer policy language before delegating or documenting specific administrative signature authorities.

What happens next District staff said they will return with the administrative objectives tied to the adopted goal statements at the next meeting and the policy committee will review the proposed language that would define any delegated treasurer/secretary duties before trustees consider that item again.