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Board ratifies bond sale, approves contracts and two AP textbooks; human geography AP text rejected
Summary
At its May 19 meeting, the Caledonia Community Schools board ratified a bond sale, approved multiple construction contracts and adopted two new high-school textbooks; the board rejected an AP human geography textbook after debate about perceived bias.
The Caledonia Community Schools Board of Education on May 19 ratified the sale of the 2025 School Building and Site Bonds Series 2, approved multiple construction and paving contracts tied to ongoing capital work, and adopted two high-school textbooks, while voting down an AP human geography textbook.
The actions affect the district’s capital program, upcoming stadium work and classroom offerings for the 2025–26 school year. Several items were tied to bond-funded projects the district is scheduling for summer construction.
Board members voted to ratify the district’s Series 2 bond sale, a move administrators said secured lower interest rates after a short delay in the market improved pricing. The board also approved a resolution supporting the Kent ISD 2025–26 budget and designated two district trustees as Caledonia’s delegates for the Kent ISD school board election.
Construction and procurement approvals included: - Monument signs: the board approved a Christman company contract that bundles multiple subcontractors for earthwork, concrete, masonry, signage and electrical for a total of $159,325. Administrators noted the package is well under the bond estimate of $251,000. - Kettle Lake Elementary paving: a $369,408.60 contract with Michigan Paving and Materials Company was approved; paving is expected to begin the week following the vote. - Construction management and testing for the Kettle Lake site work: approval of Structured Tech Inc. for $59,100 in construction management services, including geotechnical testing and a warranty-audit program. - Ralphie Meyer Stadium waterline relocation: the board approved a conditional contract with Rockford Construction and Fisher Edema Excavating for $140,000, contingent on a finalized legal agreement between Caledonia Township and the district by June 2. Board materials say the township has approved up to $80,000 toward the project; administrators said that when contract elements are allocated each party’s share of the immediate excavation contract would be about $70,000, with other fees to be clarified in the legal agreement.
In curriculum actions, the board approved adoption of two high-school textbooks: Krugman’s Economics for the AP course (estimated cost $7,200) and Forensic Science for High School (estimated cost $4,850). Trustees then separated and considered the AP Human Geography: A Spatial Perspective (National Geographic/Cengage) as a distinct item after a trustee requested more time to review content. After debate about balance and perceived political framing in parts of the text, the board voted to reject the human geography adoption.
Votes at a glance (selected roll-call summaries as recorded in the meeting): - Consent agenda (minutes/personnel): motion carried; roll call recorded as yes from Trevor Garcia, Randolph, Collins, Eusich/Eisich, Cohn and Morris. - Ratify 2025 bonds (Series 2): motion carried; recorded votes listed in the meeting transcript as yes from Collins, Eicich/Esich, Kohn/Cohn, Randell, Barbara Garcia and Morris. - Support Kent ISD 2025–26 budget: motion carried by roll call. - Kent ISD board delegates: board approved designating trustee Cone (delegate) and trustee Brando (alternate) to the Kent ISD electoral body to cast Caledonia’s votes for David Drake and Laura Featherston. - Textbook adoptions: Krugman (AP economics) and Forensic Science — approved by roll call; AP Human Geography — motion failed (roll-call recorded votes include Robert Garcia voting yes; several members voting no; motion did not pass). - Monument sign contract: approved; roll call recorded yes from Randall, Cohn, Barbara Garcia, Collins and Morris. - Kettle Lake paving contract: approved by roll call; board members recorded yes votes. - Construction management services (Kettle Lake): approved by roll call. - Waterline relocation at Ralphie Meyer Stadium: conditional approval passed; roll-call recorded yes votes.
Board members and administrators said some items may require brief special meetings for signature or final legal actions before work begins, particularly the waterline agreement. Several items were presented as contingent on final contract language or intergovernmental agreements.
The board adjourned at the close of the meeting.
