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Board approves new hires, supports Wayne RESA budget, and awards master-planning contract; Meads Mill furniture buy OK'd
Summary
The Northville Board approved six probationary contracts for the 2026-27 school year, adopted a Wayne RESA budget resolution, awarded a $160,000 master-planning contract to Fielding International, and approved $153,710.62 in Meads Mill furniture funded by Bond 2023.
At its Cook School meeting, the Northville Board of Education approved several personnel and finance motions that the central office presented as part of routine board business.
Personnel and hires: The board adopted motion 106 to award probationary NEA teacher and ancillary contracts for the 2026-27 school year for six recommended candidates: Keegan Oldani (Northville High School mathematics), Christine Marcheski (Hillside Middle School counselor), and four elementary classroom teachers — Maya Dickhut, Rebecca Frey, Emma Merchant and Anna Sumanapala. Mr. Sumner introduced each candidate and summarized references and training; the motion passed by voice vote.
Finance, planning and facilities votes: The board adopted a resolution supporting the 2026-27 Wayne RESA budget (motion 108). Mr. Kling explained that Wayne RESA plans a planned use of fund balance in several funds and that districts vote as part of the countywide process. The board conducted a roll-call vote and the minutes record all members voting yes (Mayberry; Regenauer; Meyer; Stewart; McIntyre; Fraser; Campbell as recorded).
The board also awarded Fielding International a $160,000 contract for K-12 facility master planning services (motion 107), to be funded from the capital improvement fund. Mr. Kling said a nine-member committee reviewed six proposals and interviewed three firms before selecting Fielding; the planned timeline runs from summer 2026 through December 2027 and includes community and staff engagement.
Finally, the board approved motion 109 to purchase Phase 3 furniture for Meads Mill totaling $153,710.62 funded by Bond 2023; packet materials included drawings and vendor quotes and the purchase was described as time-sensitive to ensure delivery before the start of the school year.
Board discussion and context: During the hiring discourse board members flagged the retirements and resignations that led to the elementary hires and noted the district's work to eliminate grade-level split classes for 2026-27 as part of staffing and scheduling changes. On the Wayne RESA vote, staff and board discussed how county and state budget uncertainty affects planning and fund-balance use. On master planning, board members emphasized the value of an external planning consultant to align facilities with strategic and educational goals.
Formal actions recorded (selected): - Motion 104: agenda adopted (voice vote). - Motion 105: consent agenda approved, including overnight trips, equipment upgrade ($61,722) and a donation to Cook ($16,507.42). - Motion 106: probationary contracts approved for six hires (voice vote). - Motion 107: Fielding International master-planning contract awarded for $160,000 (approved). - Motion 108: Wayne RESA 2026-27 budget resolution adopted (roll-call recorded yes for all board members present). - Motion 109: Meads Mill Phase 3 furniture purchase approved for $153,710.62 (approved).
The board did not reverse any recommendations or add additional conditions to these approvals; follow-up reporting on master-planning engagement, bond sequencing and teacher onboarding was requested.
