Milan Area Schools swears in trustee, approves assistant principal and rates superintendent effective

The Milan Area Schools Board of Education on Dec. 18 welcomed newly appointed trustee Gabe Burdette, approved a midyear hire for Milan High School and, following a closed-session personnel evaluation, rated Superintendent Brian Gierbaugh "effective" for the 2024–25 school year.

Board members held a ceremonial oath for Gabe Burdette near the start of the meeting; the chair said Burdette had already taken the official oath and completed the paperwork outside the meeting. Burdette told the board he was registered for two Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) courses and said he looked forward to reporting on those trainings at future meetings.

The board then moved to personnel business. A motion by Trustee Farrow, supported by Trustee Pryor, approved Kristen Pierfellis as Milan High School assistant principal effective immediately and adopted the salary schedule included in Attachment A as an amendment to the district's nonaffiliated salary schedules approved Nov. 11, 2024. Superintendent Brian Gierbaugh told the board the administration was "excited to have Kristen joining our team" and said she "rose to the top" from a strong candidate pool. The roll-call vote recorded six yes votes and the motion carried 6–0.

Later in the meeting, the board voted to enter closed session under Section 8(1)(a) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act at the employee's request to conduct a periodic personnel evaluation. The motion to go into closed session was made by Trustee Gutierrez and supported by Trustee Murray; the motion carried 6–0. The board entered closed session at 7:23 p.m. and returned to open session at 9:17 p.m., indicating the only business on return would be to provide the evaluation rating and adjourn.

Upon returning, the board considered a motion, moved by Trustee Pryor and supported by Trustee Gutierrez, to rate Superintendent Brian Gierbaugh as "effective" for the 2024–25 school year. The motion passed with five yes votes; Trustee Gabe Burdette abstained, stating he "abstain[ed] due to not having passed the mandatory superintendent evaluation training." The board recorded the tally as five yes votes and one abstention.

Board members also used the meeting to share community and staff updates: Superintendent Gierbaugh reported winter sports were underway, over 55 families would receive holiday baskets on Dec. 20 with donations from the Milan Rotary Club, and staff member Gina Matley had earned a chief technology officer certificate through MSBO. Trustees encouraged community participation in the Jan. 22 "Big Red Board chat" at Simons Elementary School to gather input for the superintendent search and thanked volunteers and local businesses that supported recent student activities.

Votes at a glance - Approve assistant principal Kristen Pierfellis (motion: Farrow; second: Pryor). Outcome: approved, 6–0. (Agenda motion and roll call recorded at meeting.) - Enter closed session under Michigan Open Meetings Act Section 8(1)(a) for a personnel evaluation (motion: Gutierrez; second: Murray). Outcome: approved, 6–0; closed session 7:23–9:17 p.m. - Rate Superintendent Brian Gierbaugh "effective" for 2024–25 (motion: Pryor; second: Gutierrez). Outcome: approved, 5–0 with 1 abstention (Trustee Burdette abstained due to not having completed mandatory evaluation training).

The board adjourned at 9:18 p.m. and extended holiday wishes to staff, students and the community.