Westwood Heights board approves donations, personnel moves and $38,522.92 payment; honors school band

The Westwood Heights Board of Education on May 20, 2025, unanimously approved a series of routine motions — including acceptance of several donations, personnel actions and a $38,522.92 installment payment for a keyless entry system — and heard a presentation from the district band highlighting student achievements and upcoming performances.

Board members voted 4-0 to approve the consent agenda, accept donations from United Way, GECS and the American Red Cross, authorize payment to Nurse Express, accept a resignation, grant a one-year leave of absence and approve hiring a food-service director. All formal votes recorded four ayes and zero opposed from the four members present.

The meeting opened with a special presentation by the school’s band program. The band’s presenter, identified in the meeting as Mister Golden, described recent and planned performances, student milestones and fundraising. "We were able to raise over $20,000 this year," Golden said, noting students earned the funds by working events such as the Renaissance Festival. He also said the band had five graduating seniors this year, three of whom had received college scholarships through band. Golden listed upcoming appearances including Juneteenth events and a performance at the Flint Cultural Center.

Why it matters: The donations and personnel actions affect school operations, student supports and security upgrades; the band presentation illustrates extracurricular impact on college access and student engagement.

Most important actions

- Donations: The board accepted donations described in the meeting packet: United Way — $5,000 designated for McMonaco Education; GECS — $6,000 for graduate scholarships (described as enough for four scholarships in the remarks); and the American Red Cross — $500. The motion to accept these donations passed 4-0.

- Payment for keyless entry: The board approved a motion to pay Nurse Express $38,522.92 as an installment on the district's keyless entry installation. District staff explained the payment represented the fourth installment and that final change orders and the 10% retainage would be reconciled at a later meeting. The motion passed 4-0.

- Personnel actions: The board accepted the resignation of Kiera Carley from food service effective May 20, 2025; approved a one-year leave of absence for Linda Ryan (food service) effective immediately to care for an ill spouse; and voted to hire Nancy (packet lists the name as "Nancy Wadley" while the motion in the meeting referenced "Nancy Whiteley") as the district’s food-service director pending completion of a contract to be presented at the June 25, 2025 meeting. Each personnel action passed 4-0.

- Tenure resolution and closed session: The board approved a resolution to pursue tenure charges as written and subsequently convened a closed session to discuss the superintendent’s contract pursuant to MCL 15.268. Both votes carried 4-0.

Details and context

Board membership present and voting were read at roll call as Miss Bransford, Miss Roberts, Mister Walker and Miss Turner. Several members were absent. When motions were made, the meeting record noted supporters and the unanimous tallies listed above.

On the keyless entry project, staff said multiple change orders remain to be calculated and the district retains a standard 10% until final reconciliation; the board approved the current installment with final accounting to return to the board at a later meeting.

On staffing, the board was told Kiera Carley is resigning to focus on her growing family. Linda Ryan’s one-year leave was described as a leave under the support-staff contract; the board approved the request now and noted any contract details would be handled according to the support-staff agreement.

About the band presentation

The presenter said roughly half of the band was present because some students were at other events. The band leader emphasized the program’s emphasis on both musicianship and academic performance and said about 76 band students made honor roll. Golden said the band organized and worked community events to raise funds, and that the money would help buy uniforms and instruments; he noted the band has roughly 100 students total and anticipates an incoming class of about 50 next year.

Ending

Board packets and future meeting agendas were referenced several times; the board indicated the food-service director's contract will return for formal approval at the June 25, 2025 meeting. The board then moved into closed session to discuss the superintendent’s contract.