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Teaching & Learning Committee to refer $195,000 MEERA equipment request to full Board
Summary
Superintendent Mary Jane Evink told the Teaching & Learning Committee that Grand Haven Area Public Schools plans to offer the MEERA manufacturing program at Lakeshore Middle School; the committee agreed to refer a $195,000 equipment purchase request to the full Board after a denied CTE grant application.
Superintendent Mary Jane Evink asked the Teaching & Learning Committee on May 4 to approve taking a $195,000 equipment purchase request to the full Board so Lakeshore Middle School can offer the Manufacturing and Engineering Education Reimagined for All (MEERA) program.
Evink described MEERA as a competency‑based K‑12 manufacturing education program intended to build a future manufacturing workforce, with instruction beginning in middle school. She said Allendale piloted the program this year and reported strong student interest. Under the district proposal, all 7th graders would take a nine‑week MEERA course and 8th graders could elect an 18‑week course.
Evink told the committee GHAPS applied for a CTE grant to fund the program but was denied; she said staff will rework the application and reapply this summer. Committee members expressed support for proceeding and reached consensus that Evink should bring the $195,000 purchase request to the full Board for formal consideration and potential approval.
The referral does not itself authorize the purchase; the full Board will consider the expenditure and any supplemental funding sources, including a renewed grant application. Kristin Perkowski departed the meeting at 12:25 PM to attend to a district matter.
Actions and next steps: the committee’s consensus will be recorded as a referral to the Board; Superintendent Evink will present a formal purchase request and updated grant materials at a subsequent Board meeting.
