Negaunee Public Schools board approves summer tax resolution, facility repairs and student field trip

President Pat Thomson called the Negaunee Public Schools Board of Education meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 20, 2025, and the board approved its agenda and the minutes of the Sept. 15 meeting.

The board voted to pay September bills totaling $525,318.08 after Michelle LaMere, business manager, presented the district financial reports and noted concerns about transportation funding, the state budget outcome and conditions placed on some funding. LaMere’s presentation preceded routine approvals and discussion of several capital and personnel items.

Principals Andrew Brunette, principal of Negaunee High School; Becky Walters, principal of Negaunee Middle School; and Heather Holman, principal of Lakeview Elementary School, updated the board on school activities. Brunette said parent‑teacher conferences had good attendance and noted recently rescheduled homecoming activities and a football game. Walters reported that a NMS parent group has restarted and is exploring a Little Free Library and a Little Free Pantry; she also noted student participation in fire‑prevention activities. Holman said Lakeview’s Constitution Day events were successful and that the Laps for Lakeview fundraiser raised more than $20,000, which she hopes to apply to a north playground project.

Superintendent Andy Skewis told the board the district’s indoor practice facility is scheduled to open next week, custodial staff are winterizing buildings, and security doors have been installed at the high school though heating work remains for new office space. Skewis said there has been serious interest in the old administrative building and a third realtor visit is scheduled. He also described a trip sponsored by MARESA to Atlanta to study local schools’ use of artificial intelligence and said the district is discussing its own AI and technology policies.

In new business, the board:

- Adopted the 2026 summer tax collection resolution (motion by Greg Toutant, seconded by Martin Saari; roll call: 6 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent).

- Approved payment of September 2025 bills totaling $525,318.08 (motion by Amy Clickner, seconded by Dave Paananen).

- Approved United Contractors’ quote of $14,750 for a heat pump at Lakeview Elementary to be paid from the sinking fund (motion by Fae Collins, seconded by Martin Saari).

- Approved Bell Roofing’s quote of $25,100 for roof repair at Negaunee Middle School and Lakeview Elementary, to be paid from the sinking fund (motion by Martin Saari, seconded by Amy Clickner).

- Approved the 2027 eighth‑grade field trip to Washington, D.C. (motion by Dave Paananen, seconded by Greg Toutant); board members Amy Clickner and Greg Toutant asked the group to revisit fundraising approaches for the annual student trip.

- Approved winter Schedule B coaching and activity appointments (motion by Dave Paananen, seconded by Amy Clickner). The vote recorded Yea: 5, Nay: 0, Absent: 1, Abstain: 1 (Marty Saari). The board approved a list of coaches and activity leads as presented.

- Approved staffing for the indoor practice facility (Marlene Johnson and Dave Salbert) and a homework‑club supervisor appointment (Erin Saari).

- Approved transportation staffing changes, including a transfer for Lawrence Szepietowski and hire of Bradley Porter, and bus‑aide appointments for Carrie Hogard, Jen Rhome and Bonnie Zampese (ECSE).

- Approved experience‑credit for Bradley Porter under Article 19, G.1 of the support‑staff contract (motion by Greg Toutant, seconded by Amy Clickner).

The board moved into closed session at 5:46 p.m. to discuss a collective‑bargaining matter and an unrelated personnel matter and returned to open session at 6:15 p.m. No public comment was received. The meeting was adjourned at 6:16 p.m.

Votes at a glance: summer tax resolution — adopted (6–0, 1 absent); September bills ($525,318.08) — approved (6–0, 1 absent); Lakeview heat pump ($14,750, sinking fund) — approved (6–0, 1 absent); roof repairs ($25,100, sinking fund) — approved (6–0, 1 absent); 2027 8th‑grade Washington, D.C. trip — approved (6–0, 1 absent); Schedule B appointments — approved (Yea:5, Abstain:1, Absent:1); indoor practice facility staff — approved (6–0, 1 absent); transportation hires/transfers — approved (6–0, 1 absent); experience credit for Bradley Porter — approved (6–0, 1 absent).

The board’s next steps noted in the meeting: complete heating work for the new office space, open the indoor practice facility, and continue discussion of district AI and technology policies.