South Lyon board backs Novi virtual partnership, supports Oakland ISD budget and approves bond survey contracts

At its May 5, 2026 meeting at the district administration building, the South Lyon Community Schools Board of Education approved a cooperative agreement with Novi Community School District to continue offering spots in Novi’s virtual program to South Lyon students for the 2026–27 school year, voted to express support for the Oakland Intermediate School District’s proposed 2026–27 budget, and approved multiple contract recommendations tied to the district’s 2025 bond program.

The cooperative agreement presentation said the district requested a minor contract edit to comply with updated state web-based program legal requirements and noted administrative fees increased by $10 per student per year and course fees increased by $5 per student per semester. The board moved, seconded and approved the agreement, with the district stating the partnership provides a virtual option for families for whom that setting works best (staff presentation by the district, speaker 5). "We are looking to continue the partnership for next school year," the staff presenter said. The motion carried following a roll call.

Why it matters: the agreement preserves an option for students who need or prefer virtual learning and aligns the district’s offerings with state web‑based program requirements.

The board also approved a resolution to express support for the Oakland ISD proposed budget, a step the presenter tied to Michigan School Code requirements. The presenter described the required local-board action and recommended approval; the board recorded a 5–0 roll-call vote in favor.

The board approved estimated summer tax collection fees (presented as an estimated 2026 cost of $89,377) after staff explained the superintendent or designee negotiates these fees on the district’s behalf under state code.

On bond-related contracting, the board approved award recommendations for survey services supporting the district’s 2025 bond program. Consultants from Plante Moran/RealPoint presented a recommendation to award survey contracts to ChemTech and Associates ($150,400) and Spalding Decker ($125,750); the board approved those contracts. The same consultant team and district staff described a separate recommendation to award geotechnical services to Testing Engineers and Consultants, Inc. for $108,675; that geotechnical award was presented for information and will return for board action at the next meeting, with staff saying the subsurface borings (about 170 across eight sites) would be completed after school ends so design teams can incorporate results into projects.

District staff also briefed the board on a recommended purchase of 2,200 Lenovo 100e Gen 5 Chromebooks under the REMC cooperative contract (total recommended cost $710,600, $323 per device). Staff said originally approved Chromebooks were unavailable due to vendor stock shortages and that the REMC contract meets state bidding requirements; the purchase was informational and will come back for approval at a subsequent meeting. Board members asked technical questions about chipset and price differences; district IT staff explained that chipset choices (MediaTek on the Lenovos versus Intel on other vendors) help explain price differences and described how retired devices are cannibalized for parts or recycled.

Public comment highlighted student and staff accomplishments: Mr. Price (speaking for the SLEA) noted a student showcase, the CAC high school art show running through May 15 in the administration building lobby, Best Buddies fundraising (197 registered walkers and nearly $14,000 raised) and a recent HOSA-sponsored blood drive that produced 28 units of blood. "Great job, guys," he said (speaker 7). Superintendent Archbold offered a statement of appreciation for staff during Teacher Appreciation Week: "I would like to offer my sincerest gratitude to our amazing educators," he said (speaker 10).

Next steps: informational items (the Chromebook purchase and the geotechnical services recommendation) were presented for review and are slated to return for formal board action at a future meeting. The board adjourned following final comments and thanks to teachers, students and volunteers.

(Reporting in this article is based solely on the meeting transcript and on presentations and motions recorded at the May 5, 2026 South Lyon Community Schools Board of Education meeting. Votes and dollar amounts are reported as stated in the meeting record.)