Board approves consent agenda, votes unanimously to enter closed session for expulsion hearing

The Dowagiac Union School District Board of Education approved its consent agenda and voted unanimously to enter a closed session to hold an expulsion hearing and discuss the superintendent’s evaluation.

The board approved the consent agenda after a motion by Randy Taggart. The items listed on the agenda included approval of minutes from the Nov. 17, 2025 regular meeting and the Dec. 8, 2025 special meeting, authorization to pay district bills (General Fund $431,844.82; Food Service $228,208.33; Activity accounts $1,191.90), and acceptance of FMLA leave requests from Bedriana Torres (Patrick Hamilton paraprofessional) and Cindy Brinker (Patrick Hamilton teacher). The Chair called for discussion, members voiced their assent and the Chair declared the motion passed.

Later in the meeting, Stephanie Tucker moved that the board go into closed session under the Open Meetings Act for an expulsion hearing for student E20001009 and to discuss items related to the superintendent’s evaluation. The motion received support and the board conducted a roll-call voice vote; the transcript records affirmative votes for Abiado, Iggis, Tucker, Hatcher, Charles and Taggart. The Chair declared the motion carried and the board recessed into closed session.

The district’s staff presented the finance totals as part of the consent packet; no additional public comment was recorded and no amendments to the consent items were proposed on the record. The meeting note indicates the board intended to return to open session when the closed session concluded.