Kenowa Hills board approves FY2025-26 budget, several purchases and a millage resolution; rejects iReady assessment purchase

Kenowa Hills Public Schools Board of Education met June 23, 2025, at the district administration building in Grand Rapids and approved the district's proposed FY2025-26 budget and a final amended FY2024-25 budget, authorized several purchases and asked the Kent Intermediate School District to place a regional enhancement millage on the Nov. 4, 2025 special election ballot.

The board approved the proposed FY2025-26 budget on a 5-1 vote. Member Courtade said she would vote against the budget "because the budget did not prioritize a full time Principal for the Pathways High School and a Director of Mental Health." The board also approved the FY2024-25 Final Amended Budget unanimously.

Major purchases approved included Chromebooks and iPads for $382,350 using 2020 Series II bond funds, new food service computers for $28,700 using Food Service funds, and K-5 ELA curriculum materials (Bookworms) from Open Up Education for $264,225 (funded with $125,000 of deferred/carryover Section 35j funds and $139,225 from the General Fund). The board approved a marketing contract with Galapagos Marketing for fiscal year 2026 totaling $74,000; Member Roberts noted a conflict of interest and abstained from that vote.

A separate motion to purchase the K-8 benchmark assessment platform (iReady) from Curriculum Associates for $87,679.50 (using $33,520.00 from Section 104 grant funds and $54,159.50 from the General Fund) failed on a 3-3 vote. The tally recorded Yes votes from Member Roberts, Member Turner and Vice President Gustinis and No votes from Member Courtade, Member Hart and Member Robinson.

On district funding and taxes, the board voted 6-0 to request that the Kent Intermediate School District submit to voters a 0.9 mill enhancement property tax for 10 years (2027—6 to 2036) to appear on the Nov. 4, 2025 special election ballot.

Procedural and personnel items included a 6-0 approval of the consent agenda, which recorded new hires Naomi Sahnow (Resource Room Teacher, Zinser Elementary) and Karl Schanz (Resource Room Teacher, Central and Zinser Elementary), effective Aug. 12, 2025. The meeting also included a motion to adjourn to closed session for bargaining preparations under MCL 15.268 a78(c); the roll-call vote to enter closed session carried 6-0. The public meeting resumed at 7:37 p.m. and the board adjourned at 7:48 p.m.

Votes at a glance: the agenda was approved (motion passed 4-0); the consent agenda passed 6-0; marketing contract with one abstention (motion carried 5-0, Roberts abstained); Chromebook/iPad purchase passed 6-0 ($382,350); food service computers passed 6-0 ($28,700); iReady assessment purchase failed 3-3 ($87,679.50 proposed); Bookworms K-5 ELA materials passed 6-0 ($264,225); FY2024-25 final amended budget passed 6-0; FY2025-26 original budget passed 5-1 (Courtade opposed); enhancement millage resolution passed 6-0; motion to adjourn to closed session passed 6-0.

The board identified future meeting dates: Aug. 11 (Committee of the Whole), Aug. 25 (Regular Meeting), Sept. 8 (Committee of the Whole) and Sept. 22 (Regular Meeting), all at 6 p.m. at the Administration Building.

The meeting minutes list attendees and the staff present, including Superintendent Hopkins, Assistant Superintendent Dinkelmann and Director of Finance Gilchrist. Several funding sources were cited at the meeting (2020 Series II bond funds, Food Service funds, Section 104 and Section 35j grant funds and General Fund).