Lawton Community Schools board adopts 2025–26 budget amendment; records votes on ISD budget resolution and student discipline

The Lawton Community Schools Board of Education on May 18, 2026 approved an amended 2025–26 General Fund budget and recorded votes on several other agenda items, including a Van Buren Intermediate School District budget resolution and a student disciplinary action.

Board members present — Steve Carroll, Eric Smith, Bryan Cronenwett, Larissa Hunt (Secretary), Walter Hitchcock, Nate Pursley and Matt Riggs — convened at 7 p.m. in the high school board room. The board approved the meeting agenda by a 7–0 vote.

The board adopted the General Fund budget amendment for fiscal year 2025–26 after reviewing updated revenue and expenditure figures. The amended budget lists total revenues of $15,470,443 and total expenditures of $15,274,801, yielding an estimated ending fund balance of $6,505,974. The motion to adopt the amendment passed 7–0 (mover: Matt Riggs; seconder: Nate Pursley). The Finance Committee had recommended approval following its review of revenue and expenditure updates.

The Facilities & Student Activities Committee reported recommended capital expenditures and technology requests for the 2026–27 proposed budget. Committee members (Bryan Cronenwett and Matt Riggs, with Eric Smith attending) highlighted requests that included a proposed $400,800 package of operations and transportation capital items (examples cited: handicapped van replacement $93,500; HS/MS parking lot crack fill & reseal $90,000) and technology requests of $165,639.59 (including security cameras/servers and Chromebooks). The committee also flagged the Middle School roof as a potential larger project for board feedback.

A Food Service spend-down plan prepared for submission to the Michigan Department of Education was presented; the current proposal lists an expected spend-down total of $168,156.13 and line-item examples such as cafeteria updating ($75,000), kitchen equipment and staff training. The plan will be finalized with the FASA committee prior to June 30.

The board approved routine consent agenda items (7.A–G) by a 7–0 vote, which covered approval of prior minutes, a $500 donation to the Rotobics team, hiring approvals (Holli Smith as MS softball assistant coach; Avery Miller as childcare provider) and acceptance of Shelly Kelly’s resignation effective May 13, 2026.

On policy, the board adopted Neola Board Policies Vol. 40, No. 1 (nondiscrimination) on second reading by a 7–0 vote (mover: Walter Hitchcock; seconder: Bryan Cronenwett).

On intergovernmental business, Member Larissa Hunt offered a resolution concerning the Van Buren Intermediate School District General Fund Operating Budget and instructions to submit any specific objections or proposed changes to the ISD board prior to June 1. The transcript records that the motion was offered by Hunt and seconded by Cronenwett; the roll-call style vote as recorded in the minutes shows 0 ayes, 6 nays and 1 abstention (Ayes: none; Nays: Carroll, Smith, Cronenwett, Hitchcock, Pursley, Riggs). The minutes indicate the motion text and the recorded tallies; the board minutes retain the resolution language for transmittal to the ISD.

The board entered closed session at 8:23 p.m. to consider student discipline under the Open Meetings Act and returned to open session at 8:36 p.m. After the closed session, the board voted to suspend student #20291043 for 19 school days (the remainder of the 2025–26 school year) and outlined enrollment conditions for 2026–27; the motion carried 7–0 (mover: Matt Riggs; seconder: Eric Smith). The student is not permitted on school grounds during the suspension.

The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Approve meeting agenda: Motion Riggs; Support Hunt; Vote 7–0; outcome: approved. - Consent agenda (7.A–G): Motion Cronenwett; Support Smith; Vote 7–0; outcome: approved (minutes, donation, hires, resignation). - Van Buren ISD General Fund Operating Budget resolution: Motion Hunt; Support Cronenwett; Recorded vote: Ayes 0, Nays 6, Abstain 1 (Ayes: none; Nays: Carroll, Smith, Cronenwett, Hitchcock, Pursley, Riggs); motion text recorded in minutes for transmittal to ISD. - Neola Board Policies Vol. 40, No. 1 (nondiscrimination) — second reading: Motion Hitchcock; Support Cronenwett; Vote 7–0; outcome: adopted. - 2025–26 General Fund budget amendment: Motion Riggs; Support Pursley; Vote 7–0; outcome: adopted (Revenues $15,470,443; Expenditures $15,274,801; Ending fund balance $6,505,974). - Student disciplinary action (student #20291043): Motion Riggs; Support Smith; Vote 7–0; outcome: suspension for remainder of 2025–26 school year, and enrollment conditions for 2026–27.

What’s next The board will finalize amendments and the proposed 2026–27 budgets in June; the Van Buren ISD resolution and any specific objections will be transmitted to the ISD prior to its June 1 deadline. The Facilities & Student Activities Committee recommended capital/technology line items will be considered as part of the 2026–27 budgeting process.