Godwin Heights board approves student handbook revisions, selects MASB delegate and hears finance, staffing and bond updates

The Godwin Heights Public Schools Board of Education met Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, at the district administration building and approved revisions to the student handbook, selected a district delegate to the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB), and heard updates on finance, staffing and a planned bond campaign.

The board approved changes to the student handbook in a motion by Ken Hornecker, supported by Crow‑DeYoung, that passed on a roll-call vote with all members recorded as voting in favor. The board adopted a medical exemption for graduation; members discussed cumulative tracking of tardies and decided not to change the district’s approach for the 2025–26 school year. Concerns about immunization requirements for incoming students were raised during discussion but no policy change on immunizations was recorded.

Superintendent Fetterhoff reported there was no new legislative update and said budget discussions are ongoing with expectations for developments in September or October. Mr. Conklin provided an informal preview of a potential bond campaign and indicated public forums will be scheduled to present details to the community.

Finance Director Matt Hickson told the board that an audit is scheduled for early September and that the district faces an arbitrage payment of $33,000 to the IRS because investment earnings exceeded bond interest rates; he said overall district investments performed well. "Arbitrage: $33,000 payment to the IRS due to investment earnings exceeding bond interest rates," Hickson stated during his report.

Instructional staff reported personnel and program updates. Michelle Krynicki said Title I dollars have been allocated to paraprofessionals and support staff; seven new staff members started the previous week and the district has added two teachers and an additional paraprofessional. College-readiness programming will be managed under Counseling and Instruction, Krynicki said.

Principals gave brief building updates. High School principal Porco highlighted new elective offerings, including STEAM, e-sports and 3‑D design, and said, "Some elective courses exceed 27 students per class." Middle School principal Urbanski described a new partnership with Grand Valley State University for STEAM initiatives. North Godwin principal Minard outlined a K–5 English-learning curriculum pilot that shifts intervention from pull‑out to a push‑in model for roughly 30–45 minutes of in-class support. West Godwin principal Karen Baum described staff leadership-growth efforts and said she has instituted an open-door policy to increase visibility and support.

On governance items, the board selected Ken Hornecker as the district’s MASB delegate in a motion by Crow‑DeYoung, supported by Hornecker; no alternate was selected. (The transcript records the delegate year as "1025"; MASB references elsewhere in the agenda indicate the intended year is 2025.) The consent agenda, moved by Hornecker and supported by Crow‑DeYoung, included approval of minutes from the July 14 organizational meeting, payroll payables listed for Sept. 5 and Sept. 20, 2025, and personnel recommendations for hires and resignations; the consent items passed unanimously.

During public comment, Dan Allen thanked the board and specifically praised new West Godwin principal Karen Baum for early leadership and engagement with staff.

The meeting concluded with a brief announcements segment noting the MASB 2025 Annual Leadership Conference as an optional professional-development opportunity and a scheduled ribbon cutting for the Godwin Mercado. A motion to adjourn by Drake, supported by all, carried and the meeting ended at 6:45 p.m. Minutes were submitted by Colleen Anderson, Secretary (the transcript contains a spacing/formatting anomaly in the signature line).