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Whiteford school board adopts budget amendment, approves bus lease and new positions
Summary
At its Feb. 9, 2026 meeting, the Whiteford Agricultural School Board of Education approved 2025–26 budget amendments, authorized a three‑year lease for a special‑education bus totaling $95,805, created an elementary vocal teacher position and approved personnel and calendar items. All recorded motions passed by the board members present.
The Whiteford Agricultural School Board of Education met Feb. 9 in Ottawa Lake and voted to adopt amendments to the 2025–26 budget, approve a three‑year lease for a special‑education bus and authorize several personnel and calendar actions.
Superintendent Scott Huard opened the meeting at 6:01 p.m. and presented his mandatory mid‑year progress report to the board. The board then approved standard consent items, including the Jan. 12, 2026 minutes and the January treasurer's report.
In new business the board unanimously approved a resolution adopting the 2025–26 budget amendments. The minutes record the motion to adopt the budget amendments was made by Board Member Jason Vida and seconded by Brandon Lott; the action passed with four affirmative votes from members present.
The board approved a three‑year lease with Midwest Transit Equipment for a special‑education bus at $31,935.00 per year, for a total lease cost of $95,805.00. The motion to enter the lease was made by Jason Vida and seconded by Brandon Lott and was recorded as approved 4–0. The district's transportation director, Charlie Butz, had recommended the lease as a replacement for an existing vehicle being turned back in.
Personnel actions included approval to contract with Edustaff to hire Madelyn Thomas as assistant varsity track coach at a rate of $1,600 under the 2025–26 WEA Master Agreement, contingent on favorable employer references and FBI/State of Michigan background checks. The board also voted to create an elementary vocal teacher position (TK–6) to address the resignation of TK–12 music teacher Todd Schreiber and projected enrollment and scheduling needs for 2026–27.
The board approved the 2026–27 school calendar and made two amendments to the 2025–26 calendar: changing Jan. 28 to a half day due to rescheduled exams, and designating May 14 as a shortened school day (which will still count as a full day of instruction) because of traffic and busing for the Tri‑County Conference Track & Field Championships. All calendar motions recorded in the minutes passed 4–0.
The board also approved two new high‑school art courses (3‑D Art and 2‑D Art), extended the lawn care contract with Precision Irrigation & Lawn Care for one year at the current rate, and accepted donations including $5,000 from an anonymous donor and $5,000 from Bankowski Builders toward a baseball scoreboard; Linda Vesey‑Connor donated $1,000 for a Class of 2026 scholarship. A $100 gift card from the Leski Wittman Insurance Agency was presented to January’s Staff Member of the Month, David Welling.
Superintendent Huard announced staff changes: longtime TK–12 music teacher Todd Schreiber will resign at the end of the 2025–26 school year after 38 years of service; HS Math/Technology teacher Brian VanAlstine announced his retirement effective at the end of the school year. The superintendent also noted upcoming events and meetings, including the next Board of Education meeting on March 9, 2026.
The meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
