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Royal Oak board approves budget amendment, facility contracts and schools-of-choice seats
Summary
At its Dec. 11 meeting the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approved a general fund budget amendment reducing the district’s projected structural deficit, authorized two facility contracts, approved limited schools-of-choice seats for 2026–27 and passed two OCSBA resolutions; presenters also updated the board on DEI and restorative-practices work.
The Royal Oak Schools Board of Education on Dec. 11 approved a package of fiscal and operational actions and heard updates on diversity efforts and restorative practices.
In business items, the board approved General Fund Budget Amendment No. 1, accepted two facility contract authorizations and adopted limited schools-of-choice openings for the 2026–27 school year. The board also voted to send two resolutions from the Oakland County School Boards Association: one opposing a state proposal to make school board elections partisan, and another supporting increased attention and funding for early-intervention programs.
Ms. Isabella, the finance presenter, told trustees the amendment reflects audited closing numbers for 2024–25 and more recent state-calculation updates. The amendment reduces a previously projected structural deficit from $4.8 million to $2.5 million, driven largely by an audited increase of 46.21 certified full-time-equivalent students (noted as roughly $1.1 million in state funding), a $730,000 prior-year special-education adjustment and a $224,000 additional PA 18 payment from Oakland Schools. Ms. Isabella said federal grants were reconciled to actual awards and that salary-and-benefit costs account for roughly 77% of the budget.
On facilities, the board authorized the superintendent to finalize a contract with Blackstone Building Company for a Royal Oak High School athletic storage building in the amount stated during the meeting (the motion referenced $197,715) plus a 10% contingency, and it authorized a contract with Barazuni Contracting LLC for replacement of Royal Oak Middle School competition pool swim blocks for $70,521 plus a 10% contingency.
On enrollment, trustees approved a limited schools-of-choice plan that opens 195 seats for grades K–8 in 2026–27, including 50 kindergarten seats, with an application window of March 2–31, 2026.
The board took routine personnel actions, including several hires and one retirement notice for paraeducator Steve West. Trustees asked staff to correct a typographical error in the listed retirement date.
During presentations, leaders gave a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion update covering training, club support and an LGBTQ+ Support Grant as part of the district’s “3 Cs” work (climate, culture, curriculum), and a restorative-practices presentation described daily, proactive community-building strategies and responsive restorative circles used after incidents.
Public comment focused on services for gifted and advanced learners. One parent described repeated meetings with district staff, said the family has experienced “a glaring level of apathy” about above-level options and asked the board and superintendent to follow up; the child described coming home from school in tears and missing academic challenge.
The board adjourned at 8:16 p.m. and asked staff to follow up on requests and to correct identified clerical issues.
