Mount Pleasant school board elects 2026 officers, adopts meeting calendar and grants superintendent authority on suspensions

The Mount Pleasant Public School Board of Education met for its organizational session on Jan. 5, 2026, in the high school cafeteria and elected board officers, approved a 2026 meeting calendar and completed a series of committee and liaison appointments.

The board elected Wedeen Pangle as president, Melissa Isaac Mompia as vice president, Madison Chapman as secretary and a board member identified in the record as Tim as treasurer; each officer was approved by voice vote. The board then adopted a resolution establishing the district’s regular 2026 meeting dates, generally the first and third Mondays, with an adjustment in August to avoid conflicts with school open houses. The calendar resolution passed on a roll-call vote with all recorded members voting yes.

The superintendent, Jennifer Verliger, walked the board through a packet of recommended appointments and standard administrative memos. The board approved representative assignments to a range of standing committees and external bodies, including a vocational careers (VCI) representative, a peacemaking-ceremony representative, the Mount Pleasant Public Schools Education Foundation rep, regional education advisory representatives, and liaisons to the Chippewa River District Library and the Gretchen Isabella Regional Education Service District (RESD). The board reappointed Eric Freeling to the Chippewa River District Library board of trustees through Dec. 31, 2030, and appointed Scott and Katrina Harrington to represent the district on the RESD parent advisory committee for 2026, with the possibility of midyear replacement.

Board members discussed whether to revive a district anti-bullying task force or to document that its functions are being addressed through existing programs and committees; the board agreed to reappoint Tim to lead a closeout or retooling of that task force and to document responsibilities elsewhere. On the reinstatement process for students returning after long-term suspension or expulsion, the board appointed three designees—Jessica Jernigan, Madison Chapman and Melissa Isaac Mompia—to serve on the student reinstatement committee.

On administrative operations, staff walked the board through the annual memo authorizing signers, recommended depositories and routine legal and audit relationships; the memo notes that checks over $30,000 require two signatures and recommends no changes to lawyers or auditors for the year.

In a separate motion tied to district policy 5206, the board voted to grant the superintendent the authority to make disciplinary decisions regarding student suspensions and to prepare recommendations for expulsion for board action. Superintendent Jennifer Verliger emphasized the board’s retained role on expulsions, stating, "Just to be clear, the decision to actually expel a student is a board decision. This is just giving the superintendent the authority to make that recommendation to the board." The motion to delegate suspension authority was moved and seconded on the record and carried by voice vote.

There were no citizen comments and the chair adjourned the organizational meeting.

Votes at a glance: the calendar resolution passed by roll call with all recorded members voting yes; routine officer elections and committee appointments passed by voice vote; the motion granting the superintendent authority on suspension recommendations passed by voice vote.

What’s next: the board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 19 and is expected to start around 7 p.m. due to a peacemaking ceremony earlier that evening.