Woodhaven-Brownstown board approves $40.28M refunding bonds, facilities and technology contracts, new courses and multiple hires

The Woodhaven-Brownstown School District Board of Education on Feb. 11 approved a package of fiscal and operational measures that the administration said will save taxpayers money, update classroom technology and expand student course options.

In a vote the board adopted a ratifying resolution authorizing the issuance of 2026 general-obligation unlimited-tax refunding bonds with an aggregate principal amount of approximately $40,280,000. According to administration remarks presented at the meeting, the financing followed a competitive process that produced 17 bids and is expected to yield "more than $6,000,000 in savings and long term financial benefit for our community taxpayers," a figure read by a district presenter.

The board also approved final contract awards for bid pack 11—covering earthwork, site utilities and general trades at Irving, Wagonka/Wiginka and Yake elementary schools—with combined base bids and accepted alternates totaling $3,553,255 and a recommended total (including an 8% construction contingency) of $4,882,402 funded from previously approved bond funds.

Technology and classroom-equipment contracts cleared the board as well. Trustees approved a districtwide firewall replacement contract with Delta Network Services for $197,553.85 (the project was described as potentially eligible for E-rate reimbursement and to be funded from Series E technology bond funds). The board also approved a $938,011.69 award to Digital Age Technology to replace older interactive displays and update cabling at Woodhaven High School, Brownstown Middle School, Woodhaven Upper Elementary School and Yake Elementary School; the administration said the purchase will standardize equipment and support instruction.

Administrators presented several curriculum recommendations that the board approved for the 2026–27 school year. The board voted to add a one-semester high-school sports psychology elective (estimated implementation cost approximately $1,000, to be covered by existing curriculum budget), approve AP Seminar at Woodhaven High School (proposed to replace honors sophomore English), and approve an AP Business and Personal Finance course to expand financial-literacy and career-readiness options; the administration said curriculum-study council review supported each item.

The meeting included approvals of a slate of personnel hires across professional and support staff and Schedule B athletics. Professional hires noted in the meeting included Beverly Licktag (school psychologist, effective Feb. 11, 2026, beginning with the 2026–27 school year) and Janae Goldman (behavior specialist, effective Feb. 11, 2026). Support-staff hires included paraprofessionals and a new Spanish interpreting paraprofessional; Schedule B appointments named a set of head and assistant coaches for middle- and high-school programs.

The board recessed into a closed session at 5:56 p.m. under Section 8(a) of the Open Meetings Act to consider "complaints and disciplinary action," conducting a roll-call vote to recess. The board returned to open session at 6:40 p.m. and adjourned the meeting. The next regularly scheduled board meeting was announced for Tuesday, March 10 at 5:30 p.m.

The meeting record reflects voice votes of "aye" for most motions; formal roll-call votes were recorded only for the motion to enter closed session. Where the transcript reported specific dollar amounts, those figures are reported here as given by district presenters.