North Miami Community Schools board approves hires, calendar, handbooks and travel for 2024-25

At its regular meeting Aug. 20, the North Miami Community Schools Board of Trustees approved a series of personnel actions, adopted updates to the academic calendar and student handbooks, declared surplus equipment and approved fundraisers and overnight student travel for the 2024-25 school year.

The board approved certified hires including Allen Sayger as a high school math teacher, Halie Brown as a fifth-grade teacher and Kristina Manning as Middle/High School assistant principal at a salary of $70,000. The motion to approve those certified hires was made by board member Amy Eckrote and seconded by board member Mark Deardorff; the minutes record the motion carried 7-0.

The board accepted a list of resignations and terminations, including Patrick Masters (MS/HS instructional assistant), Becca Wiley (K-12 wrap-around and senior class sponsor), Amber Wolfe (MS/HS nurse) and Deb Garling (bus driver, effective Aug. 30). That motion was approved 4-0.

Non-certified hires and athletic appointments were also approved. The board voted to hire support staff including an ISS/credit-recovery supervisor, instructional aides, a dishwasher and a bus driver, and it approved a set of coaching assignments and stipends for cross country, football assistants and middle school volleyball. Those personnel motions carried 4-0.

On district business, the board adopted an updated 2024-25 school calendar and approved revisions to the elementary and middle/high school handbooks, with the MS/HS handbook noting a revised expulsion procedure. Those approvals were recorded as carried 4-0.

The board declared several weight plates and related athletic items surplus (detailed counts are in the minutes) and reviewed proposed adjustments to bus routes for the coming school year; the bus plan review was presented as information by Mr. Hanson.

Mr. Hanson, presenting corporation reports, told the board the district received a grant from MCDA to update science lab and workspace areas, said enrollment at the Heartland Career Center is 70 students for the year and noted the district is launching ParentSquare as a communications platform. He also said assessed value for 2025 was certified and increased, and that the district has capacity to issue a short-term bond to maintain the level tax rate.

Mrs. Manning reported the elementary open house was well attended, that PTO hosted a recent schoolwide event, and that the SCAN prevention program will hold a parent meeting. Mrs. Kabage updated the board that middle/high staffing is in place, described a senior project to reactivate a Pep Club, and briefed the board on the cell phone policy implementation and upcoming fall activities.

The board approved a slate of fundraisers across grade levels and programs — including a Read-a-thon, Move-a-thon, FFA fruit sales, concessions and multiple music and class fundraisers — and approved a schedule of overnight and out-of-state FFA and student trips (details and dates are listed in the minutes). The board also completed its annual adoption of the TAG policy by a recorded motion (4-0).

Board members set the next regular meeting for Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the district office. The meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m.