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Romeo Community Schools board approves bond timeline, Chromebook purchase and new courses; School of Choice plan fails
Summary
At its Feb. 23 meeting the Romeo Community Schools Board approved the 2025 bond design and construction timeline, teacher Chromebook replacements, two new RHS courses and a bus purchase; a proposed Inter-district School of Choice plan failed 3–2.
The Romeo Community Schools Board of Education on Feb. 23 approved a set of operational and capital actions — including a 2025 bond design and construction schedule, teacher Chromebook replacements and two new Romeo High School course additions — while rejecting a proposed Inter-district School of Choice plan by a 3–2 vote.
President Rachel Eichhorst opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Powell 9th Grade Academy media center with five members present and two absent. The board acted on a series of resolutions near the end of the agenda.
Business Services Resolution #11, the district’s Inter-district School of Choice proposal for the 2026–27 year (seeking unlimited Y5–8 seats and limited seats for grades 9–11), failed after a motion by Katherine Rice and support from Antoine produced three yes votes and two no votes; the item failed “due to lack of majority,” according to the meeting minutes.
Other formal actions passed unanimously. Business Services Resolution #19 authorized use of the 2021 bond funds to purchase buses; Facilities Resolutions #20a and #20b added Intermediate Guitar and Google Workplace Skills to the RHS course catalog; Facilities Resolution #21 approved the 2025 bond timeline for design and construction; and Technology Resolution #22 authorized replacement of teacher Chromebooks. Employee Services Resolution #18, a personnel update, was approved earlier in the meeting.
Mr. Nelson presented the technology recommendation for teacher Chromebooks, saying the current devices are five years old and staff ran a small pilot of options. The purchase will be funded from the district sinking fund, which holds monies earmarked for periodic technology replacement. Antoine questioned the change of vendor from Dell to ASUS; Nelson said the vendor selection reflected the pilot group’s device-size preference and that old devices would be evaluated for residual value.
President Eichhorst characterized the School of Choice issue as contested but emphasized cooperation: “it is a contentious issue and she sees both sides of it and hopes they can work with the teacher’s union to talk about the contract numbers,” the minutes report. Board members also used the meeting’s closing remarks to note community activity: Antoine referenced a well-attended power-lifting meet at the high school and Katherine Rice congratulated student wrestlers advancing to state competition.
The meeting adjourned at 7:11 p.m.
