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Kenowa Hills board approves Aug. 24 start date, authorizes bond sale and moves to closed session
Summary
The Kenowa Hills Board of Education on April 20 voted unanimously to begin the 2026-27 school year on Aug. 24, approved the sale of Series III school building and refunding bonds, and voted to enter a closed session for an update on a prior legal opinion; routine financial items including $1.41 million in expenditures were also approved.
The Kenowa Hills Board of Education voted unanimously April 20 to set the 2026-27 school-year start date for Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, and to authorize the sale of 2026 School Building and Site (Series III) and refunding bonds.
Superintendent Hopkins told the board the recommended Aug. 24 start aligns Kenowa Hills with most Region 1 districts, Kent ISD programming including KCTC and special education center-based programs, and the Grand Rapids Community College schedule for Middle College students; the remainder of the calendar will be subject to bargaining. Member Hart moved to approve the calendar start date and Member Robinson supported the motion; it carried 7-0.
Director Long presented routine finance items and the proposed bond authorization. The board approved the March 2026 check register and related fund expenditures, which include General Fund disbursements of $1,272,023.65, School Lunch Fund expenditures of $44,211.42, 2022 Building and Site Series expenditures of $20,573.40, 2024 Athletic Bond Series expenditures of $59,159.18, and Student Activity expenditures of $12,237.12, for total reported expenditures of $1,408,937.77. Member Hart moved, Member Turner supported, to approve the sale of the Series III and refunding bonds as described in Report #26-034; that motion carried 7-0.
During the Early Childhood Center (ECC) spotlight, Director of Early Childhood Programs Cali Lipscomb and Learning Center Lead Teacher Christina Fabian outlined Phase 2 construction scheduled to begin in June and described the four co-located programs at the ECC (Early Childhood Special Education, Preschool, Learning Center Childcare, and the ISD-run Great Start Readiness Preschool). They emphasized that high-quality, wrap-around care for families will continue during construction.
The board also addressed board governance and personnel items: Member Hart moved, and Member Courtade supported, to amend the meeting agenda to add an action item to move into closed session to receive an update on a legal opinion provided last fall; the amendment and the subsequent approval of the amended agenda both passed 7-0. Later, the board moved into closed session under MCL 15.243(1)(g) to receive the legal update. Secretary Courtade recorded a roll-call vote and the motion to enter closed session passed 7-0. The board returned to open session later in the evening.
On non-action items, members discussed a two-year renewal recommendation for the Girls Swim/Dive cooperative with Grandville that requires a board signature, and agreed informally to invite a fifth candidate, James Feil, to the superintendent interview process; President LaBotz will contact MLI about adding the candidate to the schedule.
The meeting included one public commenter; board policy and the three-minute limit for public comment were reiterated. The board scheduled special meetings on April 28 and April 30 for first-round superintendent interviews and adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Actions recorded in meeting minutes include adoption of the amended agenda, approval of the consent agenda, approval of the Aug. 24 calendar start date (Report #26-035), approval of the sale of the Series III and refunding bonds (Report #26-034), and casting a KIASB ballot in support of four named candidates (Report #26-036).
