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Ionia board approves ISD budget and a series of hires, curriculum purchases and technology upgrades
Summary
At its May 19 meeting the Ionia Public Schools Board unanimously approved the Ionia ISD General Fund budget resolution and a package of personnel hires, curriculum purchases, a firewall procurement and other routine business.
The Ionia Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a series of routine but consequential items at its May 19 regular meeting, including an Ionia ISD General Fund budget resolution, multiple staff hires, curriculum purchases and a district firewall procurement.
Ionia ISD Superintendent Ethan Ebenstein presented the ISD General Fund Budget Resolution; President Yokom moved to approve, and the board recorded ayes from President Yokom, Secretary Marhofer, Trustee Montgomery and Treasurer Ellis. The motion carried 4-0.
The board also approved a slate of personnel and personnel actions: new professional staff hires (Rebecca Eyestone-Malbouef, Chantae Reuschel, Amber Cross, Frances Updike, Rachel Westveer and Kyle Grummet), and the appointment of Mr. Dustin Gill as Emerson Elementary principal effective July 1, 2025. The Director of Human Resources, Melissa Weller, introduced Gill to the board before the approval vote.
Instructional materials and curriculum purchases were approved following presentations by Director of Curriculum Alicia Thorlund. The board approved a Math Class Curriculum purchase, an IMS Outdoor Exploration and Team Building elective curriculum, and an IMS Digital Literacy & Keyboarding elective curriculum; each was moved and approved by unanimous vote.
On financial and administrative matters, the board approved a resolution authorizing membership in WMHIP (presented by Executive Director of Business and Finance Jammie Sprank), a technical update to Neola policy PO7455 to align capitalization thresholds, and a recommended firewall purchase after a bid assessment from Director of Technology Tim Blackmer. All motions recorded carried 4-0.
Why it matters: the motions formalize staffing and instructional plans for the coming school year, affect district technology and financial membership arrangements, and confirm the district’s participation in the ISD general fund budget. The approvals set personnel and procurement decisions in motion but do not themselves provide implementation details such as contract values or exact staffing start dates beyond those specified in the presentations.
Votes at a glance (selected items): ISD General Fund Budget Resolution — approved (ayes: Yokom, Marhofer, Montgomery, Ellis; 4-0). Designated district representatives for Ionia ISD election (Treasurer Dayna Ellis; Vice President Ken Baker) — approved 4-0. WMHIP membership resolution — approved 4-0. Technical change to Neola PO7455 — approved 4-0. New professional staff hires — approved 4-0. Emerson Elementary principal (Dustin Gill) — approved 4-0. Math, Outdoor Exploration and Digital Literacy curriculum purchases — approved 4-0. Firewall purchase — approved 4-0.
Next steps: hires and purchases will proceed under district administrative processes; the board did not discuss detailed contract amounts at the meeting.
