Williamston board approves construction, tech cabling, hires special-education teacher; several policies revised or removed

The Williamston Community Schools Board of Education approved multiple contracts and personnel items during its meeting, including hiring a special-education teacher and awarding a construction management contract, and amended the district’s 2024–25 budget.

The board unanimously approved the hire of Grace Norman as a special-education teacher after Dr. Cook introduced her qualifications. Dr. Cook said Norman earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a special-education emphasis in emotional impairment and a minor in speech, language and hearing sciences from Northern Michigan University, and that the interview committee unanimously recommended her for hire. A motion to hire Norman was made by Deb (surname not specified in the transcript) and seconded by Dave; the board voted in favor.

In separate roll-call votes the board approved a construction management contract with the Christman Company and a structured-cabling contract with Amcon Telecommunication for the middle and high schools. The Amcon contract was described by the board as “no more than $222,000,” with funds to come from the federal E-rate program and district sources. Roll-call responses recorded named board members voting "yes" (Amanda, Chris, Dave, Deborah, Heather and Sarah) on those items.

The board also approved the 2024–25 amended budget as presented, granted a maternity-leave extension through March 31, 2025 for a staff member (Louis Merrill), and cast the district’s vote for the Michigan Association of School Boards Board of Directors for Guillermo Z. Lopez.

On board policies, discussion produced mixed results. A motion to add policy 5355 (Michigan Earned Sick Time Act / ESTA) and accompanying forms was considered; the superintendent advised the board that recent legislative changes had made the draft out of date and recommended bringing a revised policy back for action at the board’s next meeting. The motion to add the 5355 policy did not pass at this meeting. The board approved several other policy actions during the meeting: revisions to administrative professional development policy, and removals of a set of older staff and orientation policies, among others; motions and seconds for those items were recorded and approved by voice or roll call as shown in the meeting record.

Votes at a glance

- Hire: Grace Norman, special-education teacher. Motion by Deb; second by Dave. Vote: in favor (voice vote). Evidence: introductory remarks by Dr. Cook and the board’s recorded "Aye" responses.

- Contract: Christman Company, construction management contract. Motion recorded and approved by roll call; named board members recorded as "Yes" (Amanda, Chris, Dave, Deborah, Heather, Sarah).

- Contract: Amcon Telecommunication, structured cabling for middle and high schools. Motion stated cost "no more than 222,000" and funding from the E-rate program and district funds; approved by roll call with named "Yes" votes (Amanda, Chris, Dave, Deborah, Heather, Sarah).

- Vote: Michigan Association of School Boards Board of Directors — cast district vote for Guillermo Z. Lopez. Motion by Dave; second by Heather. Vote: approved (voice vote).

- Leave: Maternity-leave extension for Louis Merrill through 03/31/2025. Motion by Dave; second recorded. Vote: motion carries (voice vote).

- Budget: 2024–25 amended budget approved as presented. Motion by Chris; second by Doug. Vote: approved (voice vote).

- Policies: Motion to add policy 5355 (Michigan Earned Sick Time Act / ESTA) — motion did not pass; superintendent indicated a revised policy will be brought to the next meeting. Several other policy revisions and removals were approved by the board as recorded.

District staff provided routine reports and updates on professional development, bond projects (lockers, tennis courts, Explorer Elementary layout and pool HVAC concerns), and the district’s RTAC (enhanced stop-the-bleed) kits training for transportation staff. The board received a semester report on the district’s detection dog team (Zebra K9) and committee updates.

The board adjourned after taking the recorded actions; no public personnel actions related to the athletic-director controversy were taken at this meeting.