Livonia board elects Colleen Burton as president; approves hiring, tenure, policies and student expulsion
Summary
The board elected Colleen Burton president and confirmed officer positions, approved routine consent and personnel items (teacher hires and tenures), adopted two policies on second reading and voted to expel one secondary student during the Jan. 26 meeting.
At its Jan. 26 regular meeting, the Livonia Public Schools Board of Education carried a slate of governance and administrative actions, including officer elections, personnel approvals, policy adoptions and one student discipline action.
Elections: Trustee Mark Johnson nominated Colleen Burton for board president; with no other nominations the board voted by roll call and Burton was elected to a one‑year term. Crystal Frank (absent) was re‑elected vice president and Madeline Acosta was elected secretary; the board also appointed Lisonbee Smith as treasurer for 2026 after a motion by Trustee Johnson and support from Mrs. Burton. Roll call votes on those officer elections were recorded as carried.
Personnel and consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda (minutes and routine items) and voted to offer employment to recommended teacher candidates for 2025–26 in areas including physical education, occupational therapy, ASD and foreign language. Human Resources Director (recorded as Mr. Grisak/Grzeczecz) told members the candidates had been vetted through the district’s interview process. The board also granted tenure to three teachers (Amanda Jacobs effective Jan. 3, 2026; Lisonbee Warner effective Jan. 16, 2026; Kara Pager effective Jan. 22, 2026) after the superintendent’s recommendation.
Policy actions: The board took second and final readings and adopted Board Policy JBE (truancy) and Board Policy DK (Student Activities Fund Management) after presentations from Missus Keats and Mr. Smith respectively. First readings were held for several other policies — including DFL (investments), JDA (corporal punishment prohibition), JDAAA (emergency use of seclusion and restraint), JQE (pregnant and parenting students, referencing Title IX) and JR (student records, referencing FERPA) — and those will return for second readings in February.
Discipline: Trustee Johnson moved — with support from Missus Acosta — to expel one secondary student for violations of district policies. The board voted by roll call and the motion carried, approving the expulsion.
The board discussed and approved all motions by roll call; votes recorded in the meeting transcript show unanimous support among members present for the items acted on. Several items were presented as second readings and will require no further change; first readings will return for final action at the February meeting.
The meeting closed after brief member remarks and adjournment.
