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Novi board accepts $23,500 donation and approves Positivity Project and Panorama purchases
Summary
The Novi Board accepted a $23,500 donation from the Novi Educational Foundation and unanimously approved purchases of the Positivity Project ($97,065) and the Panorama platform ($45,700) to expand social-emotional supports and data-driven MTSS screening for students and staff.
The Novi Community School District board on Sept. 19 accepted a $23,500 donation from the Novi Educational Foundation and approved two districtwide programs aimed at expanding social-emotional supports.
The board voted 4–0 to buy the Positivity Project for $97,065 after a presentation from district administrators and accepted the foundation’s donation earmarked for the Positivity Project, teacher fellowship grants and therapy-dog care. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Laura Carino presented the personnel items and program proposals to the board. "We are excited and lots of things are happening," Superintendent Ben Mainka said earlier in the meeting about the district’s start-of-year activity and supports for students.
Separately, Director of Mental Health and Wellness RosaLeigh Johnson and members of the Teaching and Learning Department described the Panorama platform, which the district will use as a universal screener for student, staff and family perception data and as an MTSS tool with playbooks and progress-tracking features. The board approved the Panorama purchase for $45,700 by a unanimous vote.
Administrators described how the two programs fit together: Panorama will provide data identifying students’ social-emotional and behavioral needs, and the Positivity Project will supply curriculum and resources to teach character strengths and support whole‑child goals. Johnson told the board the MTSS functionality will help staff set goals and track interventions.
The purchases were approved as part of the board’s action items and will be implemented by the Teaching and Learning and Mental Health & Wellness departments. Officials said some program features — including tiered supports and educator playbook access — will launch with professional development for staff and building-level data meetings.
The board’s action followed presentations and committee review earlier in the year; administrators said they will return with implementation timelines and building-level rollout plans.
