Boyne Falls school board unanimously approves banking, legal and personnel items; hires librarian and 6th–7th grade ELA teacher

The Boyne Falls Public School Board on July 15 approved a package of routine governance and administrative items and formally hired a new librarian and middle-school English language arts teacher.

At 6:30 p.m. Chair Cousineau called the regular meeting to order. The board, with members Carson, Brunmeier, Haug and Powers present and Loper and Pickering absent, moved quickly through its consent and action items. By unanimous votes (5–0) the board approved the printed agenda and carried several motions addressing bank depositories, investment institutions, signatures, attorneys, memberships, minutes and the payment of bills.

On finance matters the board named Huntington Bank, the Michigan Liquid Asset Fund (PFM) and Huntington Securities as depositories and approved Huntington Bank, Michigan Liquid Asset Fund (PFM) and Huntington Securities as institutions authorized to invest district funds; purchasing cards were noted as through BMO. The board also authorized required signatures and accepted President and Treasurer signatures for depository accounts.

The board approved payment of bills totaling $76,170.86 across three funds: General Fund $48,480.56, Food Service Fund $18,704.87 and Special Revenue $8,985.43.

For governance and professional services the board maintained its current compensation schedule — $25.00 per meeting for board members and $75.00 per year for officers — and identified Thrun Law Firm as the district’s attorneys for the 2024–2025 school year. The board also approved organizational memberships including MASA, MASB, MSBO and either MEMSPA or MASSP for the coming year.

In staffing action, the board approved hiring Jessica Pleak to serve as the district’s librarian and as the 6th–7th grade ELA teacher; the Student Success Advisor earlier reported Pleak’s hire and the board formalized it by motion (carried 5–0).

The meeting included routine administrative updates: a Student Success Advisor update noting summer tutoring invitations and volunteer needs; a principal’s summary (provided by Student Success Advisor Brooke Fenske) announcing a district open house set for Aug. 22 from 5 to 7 p.m.; and a superintendent report on building progress, one remaining K–12 science vacancy, preschool openings and an August 6 remote audit. The superintendent also noted the state’s summer legislative break and that the budget has passed.

During the recognition-of-audience period, community members raised small facility requests and concerns: a Class of 2023 representative sought approval to buy a popcorn maker and merchandiser for concession stands; commenters asked that a large bush at the main entrance be trimmed to improve sign visibility and reported two parking-lot lights that do not shut off. A Class of 2024 representative said the class would help cover remaining merchandiser costs.

The board adjourned at 7:07 p.m.; minutes were submitted by Recording Secretary Lori Herman.

What happened next: the board set meeting dates for the 2024–2025 year and invited new hires to the August meeting.