Clarenceville packet asks board to weigh OCSBA resolutions on school‑board elections and Early On funding

Superintendent Melissa Carruth asked the Clarenceville Board of Education to consider two resolutions from the Oakland County School Boards Association at its Dec. 11 packet review: support for non‑partisan school board elections and support for full funding of Early On Michigan, the state’s early intervention program for infants and toddlers.

The packet frames the proposed non‑partisan elections resolution as a response to House Bill 4588 and says partisan elections could reduce candidate pools, increase campaign costs and align local education decisions with party interests rather than student needs. The packet includes a motion template for trustees to adopt or disapprove the OCSBA position.

On Early On, the packet cites federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requirements and lays out estimated funding needs: an estimated $230 million annual cost for high‑quality early intervention statewide, a suggested state appropriation of at least $138 million (60% of the cost), and current FY26 School Aid Act Section 54d funding of $48 million. The materials state Early On is coordinated by the Michigan Department of Education and implemented through intermediate school districts and local memoranda of understanding.

The packet asks the local board to record a vote to approve or disapprove forwarding the district’s position to Oakland Schools. No board vote on these resolutions is recorded in the packet materials included with the Dec. 11 agenda; the packet contains the proposed motions and ballot instructions for member districts that choose to vote.

Next steps: if the board votes to adopt or disapprove, the district’s ballot will be returned to OCSBA by the deadline identified in the packet.