Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Board Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Big Jackson Board reorganizes leadership, appoints new member and approves office move
Summary
The Big Jackson Board of Education elected new officers, appointed Ross Fulton to an open seat, approved routine administrative appointments and banking signatories, and voted to move the district office to the North‑East portable during its Jan. 14 meeting.
The Big Jackson Board of Education reorganized its leadership and approved several administrative items at a regular meeting on Jan. 14, 2025.
Superintendent Ron Veldman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The board listed members Michelle Ruelle, Sarni Jackson, Andy Cook, Laura Johnson and Ross Fulton as present. Laura Johnson nominated Michelle Ruelle for board president; the minutes record the vote as "3 Yes 0 No," and the motion carried. Andy Cook was recorded as elected vice president (nominated by Sarni Jackson, "3 Yes 0 No"), and Sarni Jackson as secretary (nominated by Andy Cook, "3 Yes 0 No"). The board also voted to combine the vice president and treasurer roles with Andy Cook holding both titles (motion by Laura Johnson, supported by Sarni Jackson; recorded as "3 Yes 0 No").
The board approved its meeting agenda for the evening and the Dec. 10, 2024 regular meeting minutes. Both approvals were made by motion (Laura Johnson), supported by Sarni Jackson, and recorded in the minutes as "4 Yes 0 No." The minutes do not explain the discrepancy between the number of members listed as present and the smaller tallies recorded for some officer elections.
Under the open board position on the agenda, Andy Cook moved and Sarni Jackson supported the nomination of Ross Fulton to fill the vacancy. The minutes record that the motion carried with a tally of "3 Yes 1 No," and that Fulton accepted the office and completed the oath of office.
During the consent agenda the board approved payment of checks and payroll, appointments for legal counsel (recorded as Scholtan Fant, Thrun, Clark Hill PLC) and publications of record (Times Indicator and Pioneer), and banking facilities and signatories. Each consent item is recorded as passing with a 5 Yes 0 No vote. Banking signatories approved included the Board President and Superintendent for ChoiceOne Bank, Horizon Bank and the Michigan Liquid Asset Fund.
In action items, the board approved the 2025–2026 Board of Education meeting schedule (motion by Ross Fulton, supported by Laura Johnson; 5 Yes 0 No) and the meeting agenda format for the 2025–2026 calendar year (motion by Laura Johnson, supported by Sarni Jackson; 5 Yes 0 No). The board also approved moving the district office to the North‑East portable (motion by Sarni Jackson, supported by Andy Cook; 5 Yes 0 No); the recommendation to move the office had been noted earlier under board communication.
The meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m. on a motion by Laura Johnson, supported by Andy Cook, with a vote recorded as 5 Yes 0 No. The minutes are signed by Michelle Ruelle, President, and Sarni Jackson, Secretary.
Votes at a glance: Michelle Ruelle elected president (recorded 3 Yes 0 No); Andy Cook elected vice president (3 Yes 0 No) and combined with treasurer role (3 Yes 0 No); Sarni Jackson elected secretary (3 Yes 0 No); Ross Fulton appointed to fill an open seat (recorded 3 Yes 1 No; oath completed); consent agenda items (payments, legal counsel, publications, banking signatories) approved (5 Yes 0 No); 2025–2026 meeting schedule and agenda format approved (5 Yes 0 No); office move to North‑East portable approved (5 Yes 0 No).
