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Negaunee board approves $334,742.49 in bills, extends free meals through Oct. 31 and reassigns accounts payable duties
Summary
At its Sept. 15 meeting the Negaunee Public Schools Board approved payment of August bills totaling $334,742.49, extended free meals for all students through Oct. 31 while the State budget is unsettled, approved practice-facility hours and fees, and reassigned accounts-payable duties to the business manager.
The Negaunee Public Schools Board of Education on Sept. 15 approved routine fiscal and personnel measures and acted to shore up operations while the State budget remains unsettled.
The board approved payment of August 2025 bills in the amount of $334,742.49 and received August financial reports from Business Manager Michelle LaMere. LaMere told the board there is an ongoing payroll audit and that the district has a contingency plan to cover payroll if state funding is delayed. The board voted to pay the bills; the motion passed 5–0 with two members absent.
Why it matters: the board’s steps are intended to preserve payroll and services while the State budget delay persists. Board members voiced frustration with the state’s timetable during the financial briefing.
The board also voted to continue providing free school meals to all Negaunee Public Schools students through Oct. 31, 2025, while the district awaits a state budget decision. The motion to continue universal free meals was made by Board Member Martin Saari and seconded by Secretary Dave Paananen; it passed 5–0 with two absent.
In personnel and administrative business, the board received the resignation of Accounts Payable Clerk Courtney Goupille and approved a recommendation to reassign Accounts Payable duties to Business Manager Michelle LaMere. The reassignment, approved by a motion from Amy Clickner and seconded by Martin Saari, will be reevaluated at the end of the year. President Pat Thomson said the board viewed the reassignment as a cost savings to the district and thanked LaMere for taking on the extra duties.
Other approved items included the indoor practice facility schedule and fee structure, with free walking hours from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday and specified rental rates: $20 per hour per tennis court/baseball or golf net, $50 per hour for groups of five or more; reduced employee rates apply. The board emphasized that student use is limited to NPS students and that the facility will be closed when district schools are canceled.
The board appointed Breannea Leuallen to a morning bus aide position and accepted the resignation of Scott Collins from the NMS After School Homework Club Supervisor role. It also approved two education-credit requests under the MESPA contract (Article 19, G.2): a retroactive credit for Hannah Coyne effective Feb. 6, 2025, and one year of credit for Jodie Staylor.
Votes at a glance - Agenda approval: Passed (Yea:5, Nay:0, Absent:2). Motion by Amy Clickner; second by Fae Collins. - Minutes (Aug. 25, 2025): Passed (Yea:5, Nay:0, Absent:2). Motion by Dave Paananen; second by Amy Clickner. - Payment of August 2025 bills ($334,742.49): Passed (Yea:5, Nay:0, Absent:2). Motion by Fae Collins; second by Dave Paananen. - Continue free school meals through Oct. 31, 2025: Passed (Yea:5, Nay:0, Absent:2). Motion by Martin Saari; second by Dave Paananen. - Practice facility schedule and rates: Passed (Yea:5, Nay:0, Absent:2). Motion by Amy Clickner; second by Fae Collins. - Reassign Accounts Payable duties to Business Manager Michelle LaMere: Passed (Yea:5, Nay:0, Absent:2). Motion by Amy Clickner; second by Martin Saari. - Appointment of Breannea Leuallen, morning bus aide: Passed (Yea:5, Nay:0, Absent:2). Motion by Fae Collins; second by Dave Paananen. - Education credit (retroactive) for Hannah Coyne (per MESPA Article 19, G.2): Passed (Yea:5, Nay:0, Absent:2). Motion by Fae Collins; second by Martin Saari. - Education credit for Jodie Staylor (per MESPA Article 19, G.2): Passed (Yea:5, Nay:0, Absent:2). Motion by Dave Paananen; second by Amy Clickner.
The meeting opened at 5:00 p.m. and adjourned at 5:53 p.m. President Pat Thomson presided. The board noted it will reevaluate the reassignment of accounts-payable duties at year end.
