Board approves consent agenda, carpet, truck and policy package; paraeducator urges reinstatement during public comment

The Southgate Community School District Board of Education approved routine and facilities items on Jan. 27 and heard a public comment from a district paraeducator who said she was placed on leave pending an investigation.

Public comment: Lauren Okowski, a Southgate resident and district paraeducator, said she was pulled from her assigned student and placed on leave on Jan. 14 pending a district investigation. Okowski told trustees she was offered a choice after a meeting with union representation, the principal and the superintendent: resign or accept two days unpaid suspension with a voluntary layoff until a suitable reassignment was found. She said she ultimately was suspended without pay and that the layoff letter "is worded like I'm some sort of child predator," and asked the board to reinstate her with her student or to remove the letters from her personnel file. Okowski also said she was told initiating a layoff would bar her from filing a grievance through the union.

Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda, which consisted of the Jan. 13, 2026 regular board meeting minutes and an HR update.

Facilities and equipment approvals: The board approved three action items:

- Carpet replacement at Anderson High School (Rooms 1936 and 54 and one additional classroom) with a recommendation to award the work to SCI Floor Covering, including a $2,000 contingency, for a total request of $16,843.50; the board approved the expenditure on voice vote.

- Purchase of a new maintenance plow truck (recommended option from Brandeis Ford with plow and Salty Dog salt‑spreader) at government pricing for $68,411.70. Staff explained the district’s fleet includes aging vehicles and that a 2006 E‑350 box truck will be retired and put on auction; the board approved the purchase by voice vote.

Policy package: Staff said the district had an opportunity to receive several doses of Narcan from Wayne Risa and that the policy firm recommended updated language; policy package 26‑1 had a first read at the policy committee and was presented for approval. The board approved policy package 26‑1 by voice vote.

Closed session: The meeting concluded with a motion to enter closed session under section 8(1)(c) of the Open Meetings Act for attorney‑client privilege. The board conducted a roll call: Miss Angel, Mister Freitas (recorded by the transcript as speaker 14), Mister Green, Doctor Camponio and Mister Sage voted yes; Mister Coopzer was not present. The board entered closed session and did not return to the public meeting.

Board actions on these items were recorded as motions and approved by the board during the Jan. 27 meeting.