Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Actions Summary topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Walkerville board approves WEA contract, multiple personnel actions and policy updates; president abstains on union vote
Summary
At its June 23 meeting the Walkerville Public Schools Board approved a WEA Master Contract (Board President George Wolgamott abstained), adopted several policy updates, named Vredeveld Haefner LLC as auditors and approved multiple teacher probation placements and administrative contract extensions. A special meeting was requested for June 30.
The Walkerville Public Schools Board of Education on June 23 approved a slate of personnel, policy and administrative items, including ratification of the WEA Master Contract and appointments to probation status for several teachers.
Board President George Wolgamott called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. and, after routine roll call and adoption of the consent agenda, trustees moved through a series of motions on policy, personnel and finance.
The board adopted updates to district policy numbers 131.1, 2266, 2340, 5320, 5330, 5330.01, 5350, 8320, 8500 and 8510 and rescinded policies 2264 and 8640. The policy changes were approved unanimously.
Trustees also approved the appointment of Vicki Branch as the district's SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Committee) representative to West Shore ESD and approved the district's 2025-2026 Michigan High School Athletic Association membership resolution.
On personnel matters, the board placed the following teachers on probation for the 2025-2026 school year: second-year probation for Alyssa Hinojosa, Alessandra Dronchi, Karen Kettel and Brenda Sommerfeldt; third-year probation for Asa Kramer; and fourth-year probation for Shannon Johnson and Morgan Wansten. The motion placing Shannon Johnson on fourth-year probation carried 5-1; the other probation motions passed unanimously.
The board approved Vredeveld Haefner LLC to serve as the district's auditors for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
The board approved administrative contract extensions for multiple staff for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, including Sheri Boes (identified in the minutes as Food Service Supervisor). The minutes list additional administrators whose contracts were extended; where an individual's specific job title is not recorded in the minutes, the contract action is noted but the transcript does not specify that person's job title.
At Superintendent Joseph Conkle's request, trustees entered a closed session to discuss WEA contracts. After returning to open session the board approved the WEA Master Contract. The motion was brought by Trustee Michelle Tanner and supported by Treasurer John Kirwin. The vote was recorded as five ayes and zero nays; Board President George Wolgamott abstained and declared a conflict.
The minutes show the board later entered a second closed session for the superintendent evaluation; the minutes record that closed session ending at 10:09 p.m. and also list the meeting adjournment at 10:07 p.m., a chronological inconsistency in the posted minutes.
Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (adopt amended agenda, pay bills): motion by John Kirwin, supported by Mark Riggs; result: 6 ayes, 0 nays. - Agenda amendment to add Cynthia Parker (Transportation Supervisor) to administrative contract extensions and reorder closed-session items: motion by Janaya Hood, supported by Michelle Tanner; result: 6 ayes, 0 nays. - Board policy updates (131.1, 2266, 2340, 5320, 5330, 5330.01, 5350, 8320, 8500, 8510; rescind 2264, 8640): motion by Holly Flanery, supported by John Kirwin; result: 6 ayes, 0 nays. - SEPAC representative (Vicki Branch): motion by John Kirwin, supported by Mark Riggs; result: 6 ayes, 0 nays. - MHSAA membership resolution (2025-2026): motion by Holly Flanery, supported by Mark Riggs; result: 6 ayes, 0 nays. - Teacher probations (multiple named teachers): individual motions listed in minutes; most passed 6-0, one fourth-year probation passed 5-1 (Shannon Johnson). - Auditor appointment (Vredeveld Haefner LLC): motion by John Kirwin, supported by Michelle Tanner; result: 6 ayes, 0 nays. - Administrative contract extensions (multiple named staff including Sheri Boes): motions recorded with mostly unanimous support; one extension (Marc Pascavis) passed 5-1. - WEA Master Contract: motion by Michelle Tanner, supported by John Kirwin; recorded vote 5 ayes, 0 nays; George Wolgamott abstained. - Adjournment: motion by Michelle Tanner, supported by John Kirwin; minutes record adjournment (minutes list 10:07 p.m.).
Why it matters: The board's actions finalize a set of personnel decisions that affect teachers and administrators for the coming school year, secure an auditor for fiscal oversight, adopt policy changes that govern district operations and ratify a labor agreement with the WEA. The board also scheduled a special meeting for June 30 to follow the budget hearing.
Next steps: The board requested a special meeting on June 30, 2025, to follow the budget hearing. The minutes note no action taken during closed sessions and list the contract approvals and personnel placements as formal board actions recorded in the June 23 minutes.
