Board approves owner's-rep contract, IDEA funding resolution and workers' compensation settlement; other votes taken

The Redford Union Schools Board of Education took several formal votes at its Feb. 10 meeting, approving an owner's-representative contract for the proposed 2025 capital bond, adopting a federal funding resolution and resolving a long-running workers' compensation claim, among other actions.

Plant Moran owners' representative and campaign support (motion approved 5–1) The board voted to retain Plant Moran/RealPoint to provide owners' representative services and election-campaign support for a proposed 2025 capital bond, contingent on voter approval. The motion (moved by a trustee and seconded as recorded) passed on a roll-call vote, with five trustees voting yes and one no. President Pridemore and trustees Miller, Martin and Johnson voted yes; Trustee Bailey voted no. District staff noted the contract includes termination rights and that staff and consultants had worked with Plant Moran during prior bond planning.

Resolution calling for full funding of IDEA (unanimous) Trustees approved a resolution urging full, permanent federal funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The motion was moved and seconded and passed on a unanimous roll call. Board members described the action as advocacy for federal funding levels to help defray the higher costs of special-education services.

MASB board of directors election (board vote) The board cast its internal ballot for the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) Region 8 director and voted to support Roderick Means as the Region 8 representative. The board recorded its support and the chair announced the vote in open session.

Workers' compensation settlement for Rebecca Middleton (approved 5–1) The board approved a proposed settlement to resolve a workers' compensation claim dating to February 2017 for a former employee identified in board materials as Rebecca Middleton. The settlement package included a proposed payment plan and third-party (Mesa) concessions; Mesa agreed to accept $30,000 to resolve its portion, staff said. The board voted 5–1 to approve the settlement; Trustee Martin registered a no vote. Staff characterized the settlement as a financial decision to avoid protracted litigation and noted the district's self-insured workers' compensation retention/hard-cap structure (the district bears loss exposure up to a specified threshold).

Minutes and consent items The board approved minutes and amended consent agenda items during the meeting. A motion to amend January minutes (a proposed wording change requested by Trustee Bailey) failed for lack of support; the board then approved the minutes as presented by roll call (vote recorded with one no). Consent-agenda disbursement items and other routine approvals were moved and voted on as the board handled the consent agenda.

Process notes Board discussion on several items included questions about procurement timelines and whether the board should solicit additional proposals for owners' representative services. District leaders said an RFP could be run, but doing so now would risk the timing for a May bond election; staff noted contract provisions allow termination and that some board members may later revisit consultant selection.

For the record The meetings' roll-call tallies and motion language are in the official minutes and administrative records. The board asked staff to provide additional detail on remaining bond reserves and on timing/options for unfinished projects before bringing forward further proposals.