Novi board approves personnel hires, bargaining preparations, NAECE deal and two OCSBA resolutions; declines conditional state safety grant
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Summary
At the Jan. 8 meeting the board approved a personnel report with multiple hires, authorized bargaining preparations for NEA negotiations, approved a new agreement with the Novi Association of Early Childhood Educators, ratified two OCSBA resolutions (including support for nonpartisan school board elections), and confirmed a decision to decline a conditional state school safety and mental health grant worth about $260,000.
The Novi Community School District Board of Education took several administrative and policy actions during its Jan. 8 meeting.
Personnel and contracts: The board adopted the personnel report recommending multiple hires across grade levels and programs (motion carried by voice vote, 7 to 0). New staff introduced themselves. Administrators proposed the district negotiation team to prepare for upcoming bargaining with the NEA; the team will be formally authorized at the next meeting. The board approved the agreement reached with the Novi Association of Early Childhood Educators (NAECE) after a multi-month collaborative process; the motion carried by voice vote (7 to 0).
Resolutions and policy: Trustees considered two Oakland County School Board Association resolutions and approved both. Resolution 1 urged support for maintaining nonpartisan school board elections; several trustees framed the resolution as a response to House Bill 4588 and urged keeping politics out of local school boards. Resolution 2 called for increased state funding for early intervention programs such as EarlyON.
Grant and budget impact: Superintendent and staff reported that the district elected not to accept a State School Safety and Mental Health grant referenced as "31 AA" because accepting the funds would have required conditions that the administration said could jeopardize staff constitutional protections. Declining the award results in an estimated foregone amount of approximately $260,000.
Superintendent evaluation and calendar: The board approved the superintendent's professional practice rating as "highly effective" and adopted the 2026-27 board meeting calendar. All votes on the above actions were announced as unanimous (7 to 0).
Board members said negotiations and bargaining preparations are intended to cover class sizes, Schedule B and other contract language; administrators thanked negotiators and staff who worked on agreements.
