Tecumseh board appoints interim business director after board reviews $750,000 budget variance

The Tecumseh Public Schools Board of Education voted to appoint Steve Lennar as interim director of business services following discussion about a budget variance the board described as an overstatement rather than a cash loss.

After a closed-session meeting citing Public Act 267 of 1976 to consider material exempt from disclosure, the board returned and approved the appointment of Lennar by roll-call vote (all present voted 'Aye'). The motion to adjourn to closed session itself carried with two recorded 'Nay' votes (Trustee McGee and Trustee Miller).

During open discussion trustees and the chair characterized a previously reported $750,000 figure as an overstatement of expected revenue rather than funds that had been spent and lost. "We didn't lose $750,000. Our budget was off $750,000. We still put $200,000 into the fund equity," one trustee said during the meeting. Board members also noted that a portion of the variance had been used for student services.

Chair/President Lewis and others described an immediate priority of reviewing revenues and projected expenses for fiscal year 2025-26 to determine whether earlier projections need adjustment. The chair said the district would continue a search for a permanent business officer and credited staff and trustees for moving to stabilize operations; the board discussed that a planned fund-equity deposit would be smaller than previously discussed (during the meeting speakers described a deposit of about $250,000 versus prior references to a larger amount described as "900,000 plus").

The board adjourned after brief board-member comments and scheduled follow-up work on the budget and the forthcoming student achievement report.