Residents press board on special counsel hire, faith-based contractor, budget increases, parking garage and student safety

During two public-comment periods at the Jan. 27 Belleville Public School District board meeting, residents raised several substantive concerns and requested clarifications from the board and administration.

Michael Sheldon, a resident of 47 Floyd Street, asked for details about agenda item 12.39, a proposed hire of the law firm Schenk Price Smith and King as special counsel. He asked for cost estimates and said the district already works with Bush Law Group. He also raised agenda item 12.33 (which the board later tabled) and asked whether the proposed contract with Chapter Faith Based Recovery LLC—described on the agenda at $600 per week for a minimum of four to eight weeks—would be charged “per student or irrespective of the number of students involved?” Sheldon also raised questions about last year’s 6.4%…