Meeting Notes: February 23, 2026

New Superintendent Contract Discussed and Approved, Pool Director Position Eliminated, Budget Amendment Adopted

At the Monday, February 16, 2026, Tecumseh School Board meeting, trustees discussed the new superintendent contract for Matt Hilton at length before approving it 5-2. Trustees Heather McGee and Darin Miller voted no.

The discussion begins at 1:08:50, and as always, I implore you to watch the meeting for yourself and come to your own conclusions. Several trustees praised Hilton for his handling of several difficult situations since he became the superintendent.

“Mr. Hilton walked into some situations that were very difficult. He is still navigating situations that were very difficult,” said Trustee Becky Brooks.

“I, as a member of this board, feel like, you know, we were misled over time prior to Mr. Hilton’s getting here,” said Martinez, adding, “We know about some of these more complicated problems now because Mr. Hilton found them and brought them to us.”

Check out the full discussion.

In March, the board meets once. The next meeting is scheduled for March 16, 2026. It starts at 6 p.m. in the Tecumseh High School Media Center. Below is a summary of the meeting with time stamps.

1. Call to Order [ 0:45 ]

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. “Good News” [ 1:15 ]

   1. Tecumseh Middle School Swim Team

   2. Carrie Barden — Region 8 2026-27 Regional Teacher of the Year

   3. School Resource Officer Appreciation Day

   4. 100s Day Celebration

   5. February is Career and Technical Education Month

   6. Welcoming the Class of 2039 for 2027-2028

4. Public Comment

   1. No Public Comment

5. Revisions/Approval of Agenda

6. Scheduled Reports [ 13:16 ]

   1. Student Representative Report

   2. Budget Committee of 2/16/26

   3. Monthly Finance Report

   4. Safety & Facilities of 2/19/26

      1. Herrick Park, Patterson Update — No Developments

      2. Tecumseh Memorial Pool — Design and Development Phase

      3. Resided Middle School Pole Barn

      4. Elevator Jack Replacement Scheduled — June 1

      5. Tennis Courts — Pending Grant

   5. AP/Dual Enrollment Report

7. Discussion Items [ 1:01:40 ]

   1. District Calendar 2026-2027

      1. Largely Mirrors 2025-2026 Calendar

      2. Maintains First Semester Exams Before Winter Break

      3. Fall Break Included

   2. Budget Committee Recommendation

      1. Study Sessions for Full Board as Needed

   3. Pool Closure and Reduction in Force

      1. Pool Director Position — No Longer Operationally Necessary

      2. “This individual has served our district very well. This is a decision that reflects the facility’s status, rather than individual performance.” — Matt Hilton, Superintendent

   4. Careers in Data Science Course

   5. Superintendent Contract [ 1:08:50]

      1. 3% Raise First Year, Current Salary of $158,416

8. Action Items [ 1:34:58 ]

   1. Pool Closure and Reduction in Force, Approved 7-0

   2. Careers in Data Science for 2026/2027 School Year, Approved 7-0

   3. 2025-2026 Budget Amendment, Approved 7-0

   4. Copier RFP, Approved 7-0

   5. Superintendent Contract, Approved 5-2

9. Consent Agenda (Removed)

10. Superintendent’s Report [ 1:37:40 ]

    1. Schools of Choice Presentation

       1. Limited School of Choice for Grades 1-5, Unlimited for Grades Y5-K, 6-12

11. Items Scheduled For Next Agenda

12. Board Member Comments/Discussion [ 1:48:50 ]

13. Adjournment

Like many of you, I read David’s article, then read Anthony’s coverage of the meeting, then went to Facebook to snoop on what folks were saying in the groups. It was the usual range of comments, anywhere between “vote them all out!” to “I didn’t read the article but I’m angry!”. That’s when I saw it. The comment to summarize all comments. The excuse to cover all excuses. The mentality of this district for the past eight years, summarized by one of their own.

Avoiding Accountability

Mary Tommelein is a recently retired board member, and former school counselor. So many of my students loved to tell me about trick-or-treating at her house because apparently her treats were among the best. I hate to pick on Mary here, but when we publish comments on social media, they become subject to scrutiny. Her comment below somehow represents every single excuse that we have heard from the TPS administration, in which she was a part, since the 2018 recall. It is breathtakingly tone-deaf and worth unpacking as it covers all the likely excuses you will hear in the coming months.

Ignoring for the moment Mary’s belief that the Herald is a free publication, is she suggesting that the Herald is an extension of Tecumseh Public Schools? It has been rumored before, but never confirmed. I am joking, of course. David Panian is an excellent journalist and not at all affiliated with the district. Still, why does she mention “increasing transparency” as though the district should take credit for his work?

Mary then states that the problem is already being solved since Mr. Lenar is looking through the books. You’ll hear this excuse from many in the administration in the coming weeks. While we’re all certainly grateful for Mr. Lenar at this point, he is only here to solve one problem: knowing how much money we actually have. We still have the problems of 1) how did we miss this and 2) how can we afford this?

Mary then goes on to say that schools all over Michigan are struggling. She’s partially right, some of our neighboring districts are struggling with enrollment. Unfortunately, TPS is the only district continually causing our own struggles. Bungling the budget was an unforced error that other districts aren’t dealing with. Once again, it’s just Tecumseh.

The next excuse we see is that, “things happen” in life. I’ve heard this same excuse from others on the board. The administration is just a victim of an unpredictable, chaotic world. And yet, if we are to compare ourselves to neighboring districts, why does Tecumseh seem to always be the victim? Why did we pay Kelli Glenn a six figure salary to prevent these “things” from happening if they keep happening?

Finally, she states that it’s a hard job to keep up with the ever-changing process of school financing. It’s hard for me to keep up with the ever-changing process of defense contracts, and yet I do, because it’s my job. I once spent an entire day chasing down $2 that went missing on a $15m contract. Mary might have used this excuse to console her former students about a tough math quiz, but it does not work in the real world.

Finger Pointing

We may find that every budget problem traces back to the former DOO Kelli Glenn. Even if that were true, is it fair to rest all the blame on one person? If I handed my five year-old niece the keys to my car, is it all her fault when she plows it into my neighbor’s house? Kelli was clearly in over her head. People noticed, people spoke up, but it fell on deaf ears. At my company, we always say “process, not people” when it comes to blame. If the right process was in place, we’d have identified Kelli’s mismanagement and possibly prevented this mess.

Facebook groups stir with resentment for “the board”. Can we blame them? While not all members sit on the finance committee, Trustee Simpson has led it since I can remember. Board president Lewis was recently on the committee even though he admitted his financial experience was as a teacher who only balanced a checkbook. Unlike Kelli Glenn or Matt Hilton, board members are elected. If we blame the board, we must also blame ourselves.

Those angry at the direction of the board must accept that its three longest-serving members (Simpson/Lewis/Brooks) received the highest vote count in the 2024 election. The majority of Tecumseh, like our friend Mary Tommelein, believe we’re doing the best we can, weathering yet another storm, always right around the corner from recovery. So we can blame board members if we want, or blame the whole board, but Tecumseh keeps voting for them.

Perhaps there are questions we should be asking of the entire administration rather than seeking to put all the blame on a single entity. I noticed a comment on Anthony’s recent meeting notes that I thought summarized this best:

How did we not ask harder questions? Did BOE ever question the decisions rolling out of little committees? Who is critically examining all expenditures? Isn’t this the sups job.

-Shellie Moore

I can answer the question about examining expenditures. Years ago, when then-superintendent Hilderley had Joe McInchak’s job on the chopping block, two strangers both spoke publicly at that meeting offering to give their finances a look. The first stranger was Heather McGee. McGee’s offer was ignored, which likely contributed to her successful run for a board seat. She then used her position on the board to raise her concerns.

The second stranger was me. My offer was also ignored by the board, but I did meet with Glenn to better understand what she was dealing with. We had a wonderful conversation, but she stopped all contact after I sent her this email:

I quickly realized that no one was examining expenditures. At the meeting I referred to in my email, Trustee Lewis reassured Ms. Glenn that no one was questioning her expertise, while other board members reminded McGee that we need to “trust the experts”. Glenn may not have been the best at her job, but in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Trust, it seems, was misplaced.

The Buck Stops At The Top

I once spoke with Mr. Hilton in his office about the sinking fund we hoped to pass. I was a candidate at the time, so I asked him how to address concerns in the community that the funds would be mismanaged. He told me to assure voters that he would personally oversee how the funds were spent and, even though they may not agree with his priorities, he would be as transparent as possible. As far as the sinking funds go, I believe he’s kept to his word so far. While I’m inclined to give him a pass for his role in the blunder, three problems arise.

The first problem is that a former Director of Elementary Education is only as good as his advisors when it comes to matters of finance specifically. If his Director of Operations says that guessing is the best she can do, and the board that holds his fate in their hands tells him to trust the DOO, what else can he do? Who can question what they don’t understand?

The second problem is his expectations for himself and those under him. At a salary close to $200k/year, one would expect him to understand the budget enough to know that line items can’t be vague, and monthly reports are mandatory. By his own words, a director is responsible for the finances of their operation. I would give him a full “rookie” pass on his inexperience if he had not preached to others about accountability for misconduct.

The final problem is culture. I liked Hilton at first because I liked what he said about the importance of culture in his initial interview. The honeymoon phase is over now, and the results are in. The resentment in this administration for anyone outside of preferred circles is shameful. It was shameful long before he accepted the role, but after two years, he owns it now. Whether he is part of it or powerless to stop it makes little difference at this point.

Conclusion

In the clip above, you can see Hilton’s secretary, Veronica Moore (in the pink, walking towards and away from the mixer board) purposefully muting board comment immediately following a closed session. This happened at the last meeting on January 25th. In the last meeting I attended, press tables were flipped upside down to prevent Anthony from sitting in the press section. They know that this blog is the only publication keeping them accountable.

There’s plenty of blame to go around, and I am certain that it will go around. At the end of the day, the buck stops with Hilton. He must now choose whether to continue spinning his way out of this mess, or call for a forensic audit and let the chips fall where they may. If Hilton truly is a “culture guy” like I believed him to be, it’s time we start seeing results, not muted audio.

The Basics

In all charts below, the data has been pulled from the Munetrix website. You can verify this data, or pull your own data by using this link. I’ve included a screenshot straight from the Munitrix website below. Each year, we will review metrics over the past decade.

I downloaded this data into the Numbers app and ran a few charts of my own. Below, you will see our reported enrollment numbers over the course of a decade.

Now let’s look at revenue versus expenses. For a healthy district, the blue line should be above the orange line. We see revenues exceed expenditures until around 2018, then another brief period of growth during the COVID era due to an influx of COVID funds.

The chart below is the same data from revenue versus expenditures, but expressed as a ratio. The orange line (“1”) in the middle expresses revenue = expenditures. The blue line >1 represents positive growth, where growth is revenues exceeding expenditures, while <1 represents decline. We see the same increase in revenue from 2020 to 2021 due to COVID funds.

Now let’s take a look at another ratio I created: enrollment versus expenditures. This number shows the average amount of money the district spends each year for every student enrolled. We get it by taking the district’s total spending (on teachers, buses, buildings, supplies, administration—everything needed to run the schools) and dividing it by the total number of students. Think of this as the cost to educate including administration.

Finally, there’s the financial risk score. This score is calculated by Munetrix and I merely transposed it into a line graph. The higher the line, the higher the financial risk attributed to the district’s fiscal situation. The data point for 2025 does not take into account the recent discovery of missing or underestimated expenses.

When Elections Matter

Here’s our enrollment before and after the recall. The orange, vertical line represents the 2018 recall that ushered in the Timeline of Tumult in Tecumseh.

Below you will see the fund balance since 2015 overlayed with each current board member according to when they were last elected. We notice a sharp increase in fund balance (represented by the COVID icon) during the pandemic when additional funds were pumped into local districts. Aside from these funds, the decline is steady from 2018 until today with the end-of-year fund balance in question due to the problems detailed by Mr. Lenar these past few months.

It is important to note that unless a board member serves on the finance committee (such as Trustee Simpson), board members typically have less sway when it comes to matters of finance. This responsibility typically falls on the superintendent. Below is an summary of our last ten years of district leadership:

• Kelly Coffin (Dr. Kelly Coffin): July 2013 until January 2019.

• Griff Mills and Ryan Rhoades: March 25, 2019. Rhoades was placed on paid leave March 26, 2019, and resigned June 13, 2019.

• Brad Hamilton: Hired as interim superintendent April 8, 2019; resigned May 8, 2019 (after about one month).

• Greg Lewis: Hired as interim superintendent May 13, 2019 (described as the fifth in the 2019 cycle). He served until a permanent replacement was hired later that year.

• Rick Hilderley (Richard W. Hilderley): Selected in October 2019 and announced retirement in August 2023, retiring June 2024, then “un-retiring” in 2025 to become superintendent of Colon Community Schools.

• Matt Hilton: Selected as superintendent in March of 2024 (unanimous board vote). He was previously Executive Director of Elementary Education at Ann Arbor Public Schools (since July 2021).

Conclusion

While a ten-year history of finances does add important context, it cannot tell the whole story. All we can say for certain is that our fund balance and enrollment have been on the decline since 2018 as our financial risk score has increased. Every possible excuse has been made, but none have improved the situation.

The January 26, 2026, Tecumseh Public School board meeting only had one action item—the recreational millage that partially funded pool operations. The board voted to not seek renewal.

The board also heard the first briefing on the upcoming budget amendment after experiencing a budget blunder fiduciary fuckup fiscal fiasco financial fumble expense error accounting accident clerical calamity operational oopsie monetary misstep in October. Steven Lenar, the district’s interim business director, said he “couldn’t believe” his eyes when he discovered $300,000 omitted from the 2025-2026 budget.

The Tecumseh Herald has an in-depth report on the briefing, but, like always, I encourage you to watch the full video above and come to your own conclusions. The discussions are interesting. You can view the agenda here.

Below is a Gemini AI summary of the meeting.

I. Good News

The meeting opened by highlighting local partnerships and student outreach. Superintendent Matt Hilton highlighted a new initiative with a local business.

• “Sugar and Shine” & Staff Recognition: The meeting opened with a celebration of the “Sugar and Shine” partnership with Lev’s Bakery. Superintendent Hilton noted that the initiative was designed to recognize staff members who “make it a wonderful place to be for kids and staff and families.” [01:31]

• Academic and Community Highlights: Students completed a project on the “rise and fall of empires;” Sutton students continued their monthly visits to Cambrian Assisted Living. [05:19]

II. Public Comment

A community member delivered a pointed statement regarding the district’s decision-making on the pool.

• The Argument: He argued that the taxpayers had consistently supported the district through millages and sinking funds with the expectation of a functional pool.

• Quote: “The taxpayers of Tecumseh have provided millages... we are losing our community pool despite the fact that we have consistently voted to fund these facilities. It feels like a breach of trust.” [10:19]

III. Student Representative Report

The BoE student representative provided a “boots on the ground” look at campus life:

• Culture: The second semester began with “Tribe lessons” intended to “reset expectations and refocus on our core values.”

• Events: “TICWSS Week” was held to celebrate winter sports.

• Band Achievements: Three students earned All-State Honors, which the reps called “a huge testament to our music program.”

• Community Support: The student body is rallying around Mr. Ramsel, a teacher recently diagnosed with cancer. The representatives noted, “The way the students and staff have come together for him shows the true heart of this school.”

• Academics & Snow Days: Despite recent weather, students are staying on track via Google Classroom, though they noted it “isn’t the same as being in the room with the teacher.”

IV. Facilities and Capital Projects

• Property Updates: The Patterson property sale is closed. The board is seeing “active interest” in Herrick Park. [19:31]

• Maintenance: The Middle School barn is being “reskinned” to improve durability; an elevator jack at the middle school requires replacement, scheduled for June.

• The Pool Demolition: The board discussed moving into the design phase for the pool’s demolition. [20:38]

V. Governance Debate: “Committee of the Whole” (COW)

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a debate over whether the board should move to a “Committee of the Whole” format for budget and finance discussions rather than using a smaller sub-committee.

• Pro-COW Argument: Proponents argued it ensures transparency and that “every board member has the same information at the same time.”

• The Pushback: Other members expressed concerns about adding more meetings to their schedules and the efficiency of the process.

• The Outcome: The board voted to remove the action item from the agenda. They requested that the Superintendent return with a “hybrid or quarterly proposal” rather than a monthly COW meeting. One trustee noted, “We need to find a balance between being informed and being efficient.”

VI. Financial Oversight and Superintendent Goals

• Budgeting Issues: During a review of the budget, it was discovered that Special Education was “significantly under-budgeted” in the original projections compared to historical actuals. [02:03:08]

• Reporting: The board praised a new, more detailed monthly financial reporting format. Hilton stated the goal is to provide “a clearer picture of where every dollar is going.” [02:07:45].

• Hilton’s Goals: Two formal goals were set for the Superintendent:

  1. Robust engagement with the Strategic Plan.

  2. Continuous improvement of monthly financial reporting processes.

VII. Recreational Millage Decision

In a major fiscal move, the board voted not to renew the recreational millage.

• Impact: This will result in a decrease in the summer tax collection for residents. The board’s rationale was centered on the current financial climate and the district’s specific facility needs. [02:13:55]

VIII. Closing and Executive Session

The meeting touched briefly on Kindergarten Roundup, which is slated to begin promotion in mid-February to align with “school of choice windows.”

The public meeting adjourned into a Closed Session pursuant to “Public Act 267 of 1972, section 8.2b” to consider the “dismissal, suspension, or disciplining of a student” at the request of the student’s parents. [02:16:30]

Lost in Translation

After the board returned from closed session, the audio portion of the video failed and did not record board comments or adjournment.

Subscribe now

At the Monday, January 12, 2026, Tecumseh School Board meeting, members voted to demolish the Tecumseh Community Memorial Pool after discussing the issue for an hour. The school will also form an exploratory committee to determine if the community wants to fund an all-new pool facility. The demolition process could take 12-18 months.

iWellness Update

In November, The Detroit Free Press reported on iWellness, a ed-tech company that Jacob and I began investigating after Tecumseh Public Schools implemented the program in March 2025.

The reporter has a follow-up story in the that focuses on Adam “AJ” Hartley, iWellness’ chief innovation officer. Hartley’s wife, Nicole, is iWellness’ co-founder and chief operations officer, and the report sheds light on the Hartleys’ various ventures. The Freep reported, in part, that it (emphasis mine):

“found in several instances that those businesses made money from public school districts where he served as administrator, blurring the lines between family and business. In at least one instance—when Hartley signed off on a project with his son’s office design company—a spokesperson for the Lansing Public School District, Ryan Gilding, wrote that Hartley did not disclose his son was the president of the company. A.J., Nicole, and their son did not respond to multiple email and voicemail requests for comment on this article.”

At the November 26 TPS board meeting, the first after the initial story broke, board members Lynne Davis and Jacob Martinez raised concerns about iWellness and student privacy. Nothing has been shared publicly about the district’s findings into the program.

You can read Jacob’s report on iWellness here on Substack. My report is on my website.

There’s more to this story, and more to come. I implore you to read both of the Free Press stories—they are deeply reported pieces. They raise serious questions about how these programs are vetted before getting into classrooms.

In the meantime, here is the Gemini AI summary of the Monday, January 12, 2026, Tecumseh Public Schools board meeting.

Share

I. Call to Order and Organizational Meeting

• Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM [01:06].

• Election of 2026 Board Officers:

  • President: Becky Brooks was nominated and elected (5-2 vote) [02:19].

  • Vice President: Lynne Davis was nominated and elected [03:02].

  • Secretary: Jacob Martinez was elected to this position [04:17].

  • Treasurer: Greg Lewis was nominated and elected [04:28].

• Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Trustee McGee [05:03].

II. Superintendent’s Recognition and Highlights

• STEM/PLTW Recognition: Praise for the hands-on, project-based learning in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs [07:05].

• High School Career Exploration Fair: A summary of the fall event designed to help students explore various career paths [07:25].

• Athletic Donation: Recognition of a $573.19 donation from McDonald’s following a digital fundraiser for the athletics department [22:25].

III. Public Comment

• Student Privacy Concerns: A parent spoke against ongoing “unconstitutional searches” of student belongings for cell phones, citing Fourth Amendment violations [11:15].

• Pool Facility Upkeep: A community member compared Tecumseh’s pool unfavorably to neighboring districts, urging the board to prioritize facility maintenance [13:58].

IV. Scheduled Committee Reports

• Budget Committee:

  • Discussion on the recreational millage [17:52].

  • Review of the working definition for “fund balance” (referred to the Policy Committee) [18:06].

• Safety and Facility Committee:

  • Reported that the district’s solar agreement at Sutton saved $14,541 in the past year [19:12].

• Curriculum Committee:

  • PSAT Performance: Shared data showing that students in in-house classes outperformed those in dual enrollment by 49 points [21:07].

  • New Course Adoption: Introduction of a Careers and Data Science course focused on business data interpretation [23:28].

V. Discussion and Action Items: The Swimming Pool

• Option 2 Selection: The board moved forward with “Option 2” regarding the swimming pool’s future [01:58:27].

• Financial Reality: Discussion centered on the $15 million cost of a new pool versus the district’s primary mission to educate students on a limited budget [01:59:54].

• Public Trust Debate: Trustees debated whether the decision broke the public’s trust regarding the sinking fund, with some members calling for increased transparency in upcoming communications [02:00:44].

VI. Closing Board Comments and Adjournment

• Closing Thoughts: Board members shared reflections on the difficulty of the night’s decisions and their commitment to the district [02:01:58].

• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned following a unanimous motion [02:03:14].

Greetings gang,

I wanted to get this out ahead of tomorrow’s Tecumseh Public Schools board meeting and draw your attention to three agenda items.

Under Discussion Items, the board will discuss the Tecumseh Community Memorial Pool and a recreation millage. The pool is also listed as an action item for the Monday meeting.

What the board will discuss and decide tomorrow regarding the pool is unclear. The board discussed the pool at the previous meeting on December 8, when the district’s consultants presented three potential options for the facility. Those included demolition, an all-new facility, or repairs to the current facility—at a cost likely exceeding the sinking fund millage.

You can read more about it here at AnthonyAlaniz.com.

The Problem With Not Publishing Agenda Packets

This publication has been a fierce advocate for the district to publish the board packets, and I will continue that mission.

It’s inexcusable. The area districts listed below all publish agendas that provide more information about their business than Tecumseh does.

• Blissfield

• Saline

• Dexter

• Dundee

• LISD

The public does not know what decision the school could make tomorrow about the pool, and that’s a disservice to the community.

I implore you to click through the links above and see what true transparency looks like. If the district truly cares about being transparent with the community, it’ll publish the packets because anything less is lip service at this point.

If you care about any of the agenda items, please attend the next school board meeting, which is tomorrow, Monday, January 12, at 6 p.m. in the Tecumseh High School’s media center.

There's one public comment period at the beginning of the meeting.

Hello!

Let me introduce myself. My name is Anthony Alaniz, and I’ll be stewarding Educate Tecumseh. I’ve lived here for most of my life, and professionally, I’m a journalist reporting on the automotive industry. I’m a fierce advocate for government transparency and accountability, and I take tremendous joy in digging through documents, filing FOIA requests, and highlighting important aspects of how our government works.

But enough about that—here’s what you really came for: a Gemini AI summary of the Monday, December 8, 2025, Tecumseh Public Schools board meeting. Board members heard three potential options for the community pool, with the cost to fix the current building estimated at $15 million.

You can read an in-depth recap of the presentation and discussion on my personal website.

1. Good News and Introductions

• Holiday Concerts The Superintendent shared information about the upcoming holiday concert series featuring the orchestras, choirs, and bands [01:42].

• New Staff Darci Francoeur was introduced as the district’s new Director of Business Services [02:22].

• Fall Sports Report The Athletic Director reported on the fall season, noting strong academic performance with an overall student GPA of 3.38 (High School) and 3.42 (Middle School) [04:51]. Key achievements included:

  • Football, volleyball, and girls’ golf teams earning Academic All-State status [05:13].

  • A total of 356 student-athletes participating in the fall season [05:24].

  • Volleyball winning an SEC, District, and Regional Championship. Coach Morgan Scoutton was named Regional, County, and back-to-back SEC Coach of the Year [05:39].

2. Community Pool Discussion and Options

Two community members spoke during public comment to express support for the swim program and the need for a community pool, urging the board to be creative in finding solutions like partnering with other organizations [08:57].

The administration presented three high-level concept options for the community pool after a structural report indicated the current building should remain closed due to degradation:

The board agreed that options requiring new construction would require significant community engagement and buy-in for new financing due to the substantial costs [01:00:25].

3. Action Items and Votes

The board took action on the following items:

• Section 31A Funding (Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver): The board ratified the Superintendent’s conditional opt-in to secure 31A funds (for school safety and mental health). The resolution directs the Superintendent to rescind the application if the courts rule unfavorably and the requirement to waive attorney-client privilege in the event of a mass casualty remains in effect past the December 30th deadline [01:14:48].

• MASB Strategic Planning Proposal: The board approved the $10,000 proposal to hire the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) to conduct a 3-4 month strategic planning process [01:15:15].

• Donation Accepted: The board accepted a $1,000 donation from Midwest Energy and Communications (MEC) to the high school esports team [01:15:41].

• Superintendent Evaluation: Following a closed session, the board voted to approve the Superintendent’s evaluation with a rating of Effective [01:20:13], which was noted as the highest rating possible under the updated MASB scoring system [01:20:56].

4. Board Member Comments

• Board members discussed the need for clear communication to students and parents regarding the various pathways to earn early college credit (such as dual enrollment, middle college, and CTE programs) [01:22:15].

• The outgoing Board President recommended that the board move quickly to discuss and approve a three-year contract extension for Superintendent Matt Hilton, starting in July 2026, along with a competitive salary increase, citing the shortage of strong leaders and the Superintendent’s exceptional performance [01:25:40].

Data, Documents, and FOIA Requests

If you haven’t noticed, the Tecumseh school district does not share board packets with the public. This makes accessing information difficult and costly, effectively putting public information behind a paywall.

In the past, I’ve filed FOIA requests with the district (not for the packets, but other things) that have cost up to $2,700. That’s well beyond my resources, but I wanted to share the hurdles to reporting clear, concise information about the district and the potential slowness in sharing relevant information.

If it did share board packets, the public would likely already have copies of the pool presentation, and so much more.

I’m setting up a Proton email account for encrypted communications and plan to create a Signal account soon. In the meantime, if you have information or tips to share, you can email me at contact@anthonyalaniz.com.

And finally, thank you for sticking around through this transition—I hope I can fill the shoes left by Jacob.

More to come.

This is a comprehensive summary of the Tecumseh Public Schools Board of Education Meeting held on Monday, November 24, 2025, detailing good news, critical public comments, a structural engineering report on the school pool, financial updates, and discussions on future planning and curriculum. This summary is provided with video links by Google’s Gemini (AI).

I. Opening and Good News Report (Good News from Mr. Hilton)

The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Secretary Brooks [00:57]. Superintendent Mr. Hilton then presented the “Good News” report, starting with exciting updates from the LSD Tech Center, which announced its “TRADES Awards” recipients for the first marking period of the 2025-2026 school year [01:33]. The acronym TRADES stands for Teamwork, Responsibility, Attitude, Dependability, Effort, and Safety, and the honored high school students were recognized for setting a positive example in their technical training [01:40].

Mr. Hilton continued by sharing two staff shout-outs, which he noted are a way to recognize the staff who are the “heart and soul of our school district” [03:56].

• Mr. McKinch (Band Program): He was praised as the “driving force in Tecumseh’s band program,” who inspires children to not only start playing an instrument but to continue throughout their TPS career, showing his love for the students and the entire music department [02:50].

• Mr. Tony Falsgraph (Second Grade Teacher, Sutton): He was recognized as a “wonderful teacher” who enters the classroom daily with a positive attitude, listens to his students, and makes learning fun and exciting, leading the children to thrive on his energy [03:23].

Additionally, Mr. Hilton mentioned the school choir, led by Mr. Simon Saboski, who toured downtown carolling for businesses and patrons during the city’s holiday open house on Friday, November 7th [04:08]. Instead of showing a video, he announced that the choir will soon be performing live at a future board meeting [04:40]. Finally, Mr. Hilton expressed his gratitude for the Board, staff, and the Tecumseh Public Schools community ahead of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday [05:00].

II. Public Comment and Key Discussions

The board opened the floor for public comment, limiting speakers to three minutes in accordance with the Open Meeting Act [05:40]. A significant portion of the commentary focused on two primary topics: the status of the school pool and concerns regarding the I Wellness program.

Advocacy for the Pool and Swim Program

Multiple speakers, representing the local swim community, emphasized the critical importance of the high school pool and the swim program to the district and the community:

• Patrick Gray (Parent): He thanked the board for its hard work and praised the school system for offering great programs like the arts and swimming, which create “well-rounded students” [06:52]. Speaking specifically about the importance of swimming in the Great Lakes State, he asserted that no one should leave a Michigan school system without knowing how to swim, and that lacking a true system to teach swimming is a “true failure of any school system” [07:20]. He highlighted that the sport teaches grit, teamwork, and how to deal with adversity, providing an outlet for kids who might not be in other sports [07:44].

• Betsy Berg (High School Swim Coach): She asked the Board to “put faces to the people that are at the pool” [01:11:55] as they hear negative reports about maintenance. She stated that the swim community is active and willing to help find money to support the pool, urging the Board to “reach out to us” before making a final decision [01:12:43]. She pointed out that nearby communities like Dundee, Chelsea, and Adrian are planning for or already have two pools, stressing that Tecumseh “need[s] at least one” [01:13:23].

• Olivia Gray (Freshman Swimmer/Lifeguard): She elaborated on the impact, noting the swim team “isn’t dying” but lacks a pool [01:15:53]. She emphasized the community aspect, which includes open swim and lap swim, and the fact that many teenagers rely on lifeguard jobs at the pool for their gas or high school money [01:16:10].

• Seber (Senior/Swim Team Captain/Former Employee): She shared her personal story, stating she moved to Tecumseh in the fourth grade “because of the pool for the swim program” [01:17:33]. She expressed concern that not having a pool could lead to a loss of students, as other swimmers have discussed leaving, impacting student population and overall enrollment [01:17:17]. She also noted she and others lost their jobs when the pool closed [01:16:50].

Concerns Regarding the iWellness Program

Jacob Willey used his time to read an excerpt from a Detroit Free Press article published that morning, which raised serious questions about the school’s iWellness check-in survey [09:18]:

• The article stated that the check-in survey has not been the subject of peer-reviewed research to prove its scientific validity [09:34].

• An expert told the Free Press that the founder, Whitney Foley, who is described as a certified wellness coach, is “not licensed in mental health or behavioral health fields by the state” and has an undergraduate degree in communications and advertising [09:55].

• A Tecumseh parent expressed concern over data usage, as i-Wellness’s online terms specify the company can use de-identified data for any lawful purpose, which a privacy expert noted can be “incredibly difficult” to properly achieve, given the sensitive nature of the data collected [01:06:20].

• State Representative Tim Kelly was quoted saying, “Clearly I think there ought to be better vetting of these programs” [01:04:31], and the article noted that iWellness has spent over $14,000 on lobbying in 2025 [01:05:40].

III. Pool Structural Report (Troy Madlin from Magnus Associates)

The structural investigation of the pool was a major agenda item. Josh Addison, Director of Operations, explained that the pool project began with planned repairs to the roof and mechanical issues as part of the sinking fund plan [46:41]. However, further investigation and concerns about the building’s steel structure led to selective demolition and scaffolding to conduct testing [47:13]. The report on the findings was received on Friday, November 21st. Christine Kennedy of Whiteitman and Associates introduced Troy Madlin, the structural engineer from Magnus Associates, to present the findings [48:56].

The report detailed significant corrosion found on the steel members within the building’s wall and roof structure. Specific findings included:

• Delamination and Corrosion: The engineer reported corrosion and “delamination” (separation into layers) of the steel columns inside the walls of the pool area [01:09:24].

• Extent of Corrosion: When asked by Trustee Davis how far into the columns the corrosion extended, the engineer indicated that the severity of the damage, particularly around the connections and in the columns, would necessitate a full replacement of certain sections [01:09:50].

• Original Coating: It was confirmed that the steel, which was constructed over 30 years ago, was originally protected only with a primer coat, not a robust, long-term protective coating [01:12:17].

Mr. Addison reiterated that the purpose of this meeting was solely to discuss the findings of the report, and a detailed discussion of repair options and future plans would be presented in December and January [48:00]. Trustee Martinez later commended Mr. Hilton and Mr. Addison for their decision to close the pool, stating that seeing the pictures of the damage confirmed the immediate safety priority [01:40:11].

IV. Action Items and Votes

The board moved quickly through action items:

• Agenda Revision (Closed Session): A motion was made to remove the scheduled closed session [01:18:27]. Mr. Hilton explained that the State of Michigan’s budget included Section 31A funding for mental health and safety, which now requires school districts to give up their right to attorney-client privilege in the event of a “mass casualty event” (defined broadly as an accident or fight, not just a worst-case scenario) [01:19:42]. Due to evolving legal suits and continuous deadline extensions by the Michigan Department of Education, the administration advised against making a decision immediately, noting they could opt-in for the funds but still resend the application by December 30th [01:21:44]. The closed session was removed to allow for more time to monitor the situation.

• AP Research Course Adoption: The board approved the adoption of the new AP Research course [01:14:15]. Student Representative Tucker Cole spoke in strong support, highlighting that AP classes are an invaluable resource that allows students, like himself, to save money by accumulating nearly a year’s worth of college credits before graduation [01:14:51].

• Consent Agenda: The consent agenda, including the minutes from the November 10, 2025, regular board meeting, was approved [01:16:44].

V. Superintendent’s Report on Enrollment Trends

Mr. Hilton presented a report on enrollment trends, focusing on Young Fives and Kindergarten as indicators of future stability [01:17:25].

• Overall and Early Childhood Enrollment: The district saw a slight but overall stabilizationof total enrollment for the current year (2394 students) after a decline in previous years [01:17:59]. More positively, the district is experiencing one of its strongest kindergarten enrollments in four years, with 175 kindergarten-specific students. This trend is significant, suggesting “more families who live here are staying here rather than taking schools of choice options to other school districts” [01:19:12]. The combined Young Fives and Kindergarten enrollment for the year is 215 students, showing growth of a class size [01:20:50]. School of Choice enrollment for these early grades remains stable, ranging from 34 to 41 students [01:20:26].

• Long-Term Context and Projections: Mr. Hilton revisited a study on birth rates in Lenoway County for future planning [01:21:45]. The data showed:

  • Lenoway County’s public school enrollment declined by roughly 1,000 students between 2019 and 2024 [01:22:13].

  • County birth rates have decreased drastically over the years, from a high of 1,271 in 2006 to 881 in 2024 [01:23:07].

  • While Tecumseh beat projections this year, future projections suggest that the district will likely no longer see kindergarten-specific class sizes of 200-plus students [01:24:58]. The core challenge, which is not unique to Tecumseh, is that graduating senior classes will continue to be larger than incoming Young Fives and Kindergarten classes [01:25:25]. This fact, he concluded, makes finding “budgeting efficiencies” and improving the fund balance critically important [01:25:42].

VI. Board Member Discussion and Planning

The board discussion covered various forward-looking initiatives:

• Budget Committee as a Committee of the Whole: Trustee Brooks suggested that the Board consider converting the Budget Committee to a “Committee of the Whole” [01:30:17]. Citing research from the MASB Annual Leadership Conference, she noted that 41% of Michigan school districts utilize this model, arguing it would allow all trustees to hear detailed financial presentations and ask questions simultaneously, improving public transparency [01:30:47].

• iWellness/Data Privacy Follow-up: The Board picked up on the iWellness issue raised during public comment, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive review of the contract to ensure the district is being “cautious enough” with third-party groups and that student information is adequately protected, especially concerning the difficulties of fully anonymizing data [01:33:41].

• Future Curriculum (AI): Trustee Simpson proposed developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) class for the students [01:42:07]. He argued that AI is already revolutionizing the world and job market and that teaching students how to use prompts and leverage the technology is a crucial skill for their future success [01:42:52].

• Recruitment Data: Student Representative Tucker Cole asked for data on what specifically draws School of Choice students to the district—is it the AP classes, specific sports like lacrosse, or other factors—to better target recruitment efforts [01:44:04].

The meeting adjourned following a final thanks to the students and parents who came to speak [01:47:19].

Jake’s Thoughts

My Last Public Comment at TPS

This is my public comment. My prepared comments were intended to urge the board to look into the iWellness project. As you may recall from our last board meeting, Anthony Alaniz announced that we would be sitting in the press section from now on, since we are effectively the press now. When I arrived at this week’s board meeting, I noticed that two of the three press tables were turned upside down, preventing anyone but the Herald’s reporters from taking a seat. It angered me, and that anger came across in what was supposed to be a neutral public comment.

I would mention that that David Panian, reporter for the Tecumseh Herald, is a good friend of ours and a great guy. After the meeting, David offered for Anthony to sit next to him in the press section any time we like. I would also mention that I regret being angry when I made my comment. I don’t know who gave the order to flip the press tables, but I’m confident that most, if not all, of the board members were unaware that this occurred.

As for my comment about finally recognizing Joe McInchak’s accomplishments after threatening his job two years ago, the comment was not directed at Mr. Hilton as it was his predecessor who made that call. I stand by what I said to this specific audience because some of the current board members were responsible for Rick Hilderley’s appointment. I set my mind to be more objective, but I guess it’s still a raw nerve with me.

I’m grateful to the board members who called for more information on the iWellness program. I regret that it had to make the front pages of the Detroit Free Press to change minds when two bloggers right here in town were sounding the alarm months ago, but I’ll take the progress as a win. To be clear, I’ve never been against the concept of iWellness, only its irresponsible execution and lack of transparency (+false claims) from the creators. Oh, and the cost.

For more on iWellness, check out my prior article.

Talk Nerdy To Me

Steve Lenar, the individual who has been combing through our budget after the 2% variance issue, is a rockstar. One comment he made had me particularly giddy. He pointed to a line item called “miscellaneous” and noted that in budgeting, we don’t put things in miscellaneous columns, we itemize them! His short briefing was a breath of fresh air. I don’t know if he’s going to stay on at any capacity, but I know after going through revenue, he will be going through our expenses next. There has still been no end-of-year update to the Munetrix site, but I am confident what Mr. Lenar comes up with will be accurate.

Ending on a Good Note

A special thanks to all the staff, educators, and board members who wished Holly and I safe travels this weekend. It was bittersweet to say the least.

Thanks for reading, and happy Thanksgiving!

Salary Driven Termination

The economics are undeniable. A teacher with twenty-five years of experience and a master’s degree plus 30 credits can easily earn $90,000–$110,000 in much of the Midwest and Northeast, plus generous pension and health-care contributions. A first-year teacher with a bachelor’s degree starts closer to $42,000–$55,000. Replacing just five veteran teachers with rookies can free up $250,000–$350,000 annually—enough to close a sizable portion of a typical district deficit without raising taxes or cutting programs that affect public perception (athletics, AP classes, elementary art). In an era of flat or declining enrollment, expiring federal COVID relief, and voter resistance to millage increases, the temptation is enormous.

“Papering the File”, as it’s referred to by industry insiders, happens across many industries. To write this article, I consulted with an Ethics Officer (EO) at a Fortune 500 company who happens to be a friend of mine. He explained that, while this practice is widespread, it comes down to intent. If an organization chooses to “tighten up” on employees breaking or deviating from policy, their past adherence to policy (and the policy itself) is examined. Employees with a good history that suddenly receive write-ups (or “observations” as it’s called here) continually can be a red flag.

Another red flag is when the same policies are not enforced unilaterally. If Joe Employee is cited for arriving to a meeting late, was Jim Employee cited for the same offense, if committed? If the same employees are continually cited for the same offense that other employees are not cited for, this becomes grounds for harassment. Yes, you can make a mistake, be cited for the mistake, and it still qualify as harassment. It’s often hard to prove, but it’s easier when it’s as widespread as it is currently.

Finally, policy is key. In my experience at THS, guilt was assumed. The vice principal was judge, jury, and executioner without oversight. We are told by Edustaff that this is just the way it goes as contractors. While they’re not wrong, ultimately administrators are the final word in disputes, it’s a bit different when it comes to full time employees. An “observation” must be observed, not reported on by the principal or vice principal’s henchmen. Those who receive derogatory remarks have a right to challenge those remarks or elevate their challenge.

I will provide the process and course of action for those who believe they have been unfairly targeted. I ask that employees exhaust their options at least up to the district level (Matt Hilton) before asking for this blog to publish the details of your specific situation. I understand that many of you came to me because you already have reached this level, as I had. If a need arises for a future article on this topic, my goal is to use all feedback submitted as an example of how the process is broken and needs further oversight. I hope it doesn’t come to that.

Statewide Framework for Evaluations

Michigan law requires annual (or less frequent for high performers) rigorous, transparent evaluations focusing primarily on teacher/administrator performance, with only 20% tied to student growth or learning objectives (down from 40% pre-2024 reforms). Derogatory ratings trigger support plans, but employees can contest them to prevent impacts on tenure, certification, or employment. Key protections include:

• Mandatory Feedback and Review: Within 30 days of an observation or final rating, employees receive written feedback. They can request a formal review of any rating, especially “needing support.”

• No Punitive Use: Evaluations cannot directly inform tenure denial, certification revocation, or immediate dismissal without additional process.

• Rater Training: Evaluators (e.g., principals) must complete rater reliability training every three years to ensure fairness.

These apply uniformly to TPS, as confirmed by Michigan Department of Education (MDE) guidelines.

Step-by-Step Process to Challenge an Evaluation

Employees at TPS follow this multi-tiered process, blending informal resolution, formal review, and escalation. Timelines are strict to protect due process.

1. Informal Discussion (Recommended First Step):

   • Immediately after receiving feedback, discuss concerns with the evaluator (e.g., principal or superintendent designee). This is not required by law but encouraged under PERA (Public Employment Relations Act, MCL 423.201 et seq.) for collaborative resolution.

   • Document the conversation in writing for your records.

2. Formal Request for Review:

   • Submit a written request to the superintendent (or intermediate superintendent for district-level issues) within 30 days of receiving the rating.

   • The district must provide a written response within 30 days, addressing the disagreement and any evidence.

   • If unresolved, proceed to mediation or grievance.

3. Mediation via Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC):

   • Request mediation through MERC, Michigan’s labor relations body, at no cost to the employee. This is a neutral, facilitated discussion under PERA.

   • MERC mediators help negotiate a resolution without binding decisions. This step is available for any disputed rating but is especially relevant for “needing support.”

4. Grievance Procedure (via Collective Bargaining Agreement - CBA):

   • As a mandatory subject of bargaining since 2024 reforms, TPS’s CBA with TEA likely includes evaluation grievances.

   • File a formal grievance alleging violation of the CBA, state law, or evaluation fairness (e.g., biased rater or insufficient evidence).

   • Standard steps (per typical MEA-affiliated CBAs):

     • Level 1: Building principal (within 10-20 school days of the incident).

     • Level 2: Superintendent (escalate if unresolved).

     • Level 3: School board hearing.

   • Grievances can vacate a rating if successful, exempting the employee from future evaluations that year.

5. Binding Arbitration (for Repeated or Severe Cases):

   • If rated “needing support” twice consecutively, demand arbitration under the CBA or individual contract.

   • If the CBA lacks a binding arbitration clause, file a demand with MERC within 30 days of the superintendent’s response. Arbitration is through the American Arbitration Association (AAA) or similar, with a neutral third-party deciding the outcome (binding and enforceable).

   • Costs are typically shared, but unions often cover employee fees.

Final Thoughts

I’ve found it’s better to assume best intent and be wrong than to walk in “guns blazing”. Document your case professionally. Include names, dates, and policies wherever possible. Consider speaking with your local union rep or an attorney if needed. My emphasis on “bringing receipts” is covered in more detail in my previous article here: Bring The Receipts!

I will be reviewing the cases you’ve sent me in the coming weeks to determine if they meet the criteria for elevating beyond the district (by publishing the complaints). I need to ensure educators are exhausting their available resources here in the district first, which includes giving Mr. Hilton the opportunity to resolve issues at his level. I must also ensure that, by eventually publishing details, I’m not interfering with any ongoing investigations or mediations. Please know that I hear you, and I’ll do whatever is within my ability to help.

Thanks for reading!

I need to impress a hard truth on everyone. Coming to me with grievances won’t change anything. I’m not a lawyer. I’m not even a real journalist. I once thought I could change things. I marched up to the podium at a school board meeting, armed with multiple complaints from parents against Greg Dolson, and spoke on behalf of the community like the righteous crusader I thought I was. It changed nothing.

Some of the things I’ve heard and read in the last week are concerning to say the least. If any of them are true, lawsuits are in order. Some accounts border on criminal. While that sounds intense, it means nothing without evidence. While some of you gave me something to work with, and articles are on their way, much of it can’t be used because it is nothing more than hearsay or opinion.

I hear you when you say that you’re worried about retaliation on your kids. I heard it again just this evening. I never worked here, my kids no longer go to school here, and after next week I won’t even live here anymore. It’s easy for me to urge you to speak out when I have no skin in the game. Please know that I understand your hesitance. If you want things to change, I’m asking you to speak out anyway.

I made a lot of mistakes in the last year while writing this blog. I let my personal bias seep through when I should have been objective. I took the gloves off with some in this administration but kept them on for others. I hear those I spared from my rants can’t wait until I’m gone. I thought so highly of myself that I thought I could determine who was righteous and who wasn’t. I can’t. I’ve been wrong too many times.

It’s all about the receipts now.

That being said, I have a duty to protect those in this administration from slander as much as anyone else. While I might sympathize and relate with you, again I cannot publish something unless you have receipts. I’m at the point where I’m too busy to even hear it if it’s not something I can publish. Without receipts, it’s all for naught. We’ve all been angry for years. It hasn’t accomplished anything.

Folks like Greg Dolson are fair game because I’ve personally witnessed, and been the victim of, his blatant lies. I use this as an example because I came with receipts:

1. I confronted Dolson

2. I tried to escalate to Irish.

3. I tried to get Edustaff involved.

4. I went to Hilton with names, dates, emails, and screenshots.

When none of that worked, I wrote about it and included as many receipts as I could. I went public only after I had exhausted every other option, and kept receipts of how I exhausted every other option. That’s what you need to do. Many of you already have, but I’m going to say it anyway. Come with receipts.

If you know someone with a grievance that’s willing to talk, share this article with them. I need one or both of the following:

1. A statement you’re willing to attach your name to

2. Proof (screenshots, emails, etc). Names can be redacted if necessary.

For those of you who have already provided them, know that I’m gathering additional info and will publish when I have enough evidence to make a solid case. Lawyers, law enforcement, elected officials, union reps, and neighboring school districts read this blog. Apparently, folks at the Detroit Free Press read it too. We’re now up to 6,000 views in the last 90 days. The goal is to get the facts in the hands of those who can do something about them, whoever that may be.

One last thing. The absolute toxicity from Tecumseh High School administration is personal for me. It’s personal because I’ve seen it with my own eyes. It’s personal because it represents the toxic management I saw in the military that drove me to go into the org psych field in the first place. The stories I hear and the events I witnessed make my blood boil with the heat of a thousand suns. While I can’t always promise we’ll have time to write about every issue in this district, I will personally make the time if you are a student, educator, or parent who has been victimized by anyone in that building. I’ll make the time from Florida. I don’t care. You deserve better.

As always, thanks for reading.

AI Used: Entire meeting notes portion summarized by Grok

***Note***

Apologies for the video quality on the livestream. I couldn’t get closer to the speakers as last time I tried, I was told to get back. If you’re wondering why it was so quiet, it was quiet for me too. It’s like they don’t even have the speakers turned on. I also didn’t realize viewers needed the substack app to view the stream. Next time, I’ll use our YouTube channel so you won’t need an app or subscription.

Critical Summary of Tecumseh Public Schools Board Meeting (written by Grok)

The meeting opened with Superintendent Hilton’s saccharine “good news” segment, lavishing praise on counselor Deb Fallowell for a community award, middle schoolers raking leaves or cleaning veteran headstones in Kiwanis partnerships, and seventh-graders’ music compositions under consideration for a January conference. While these feel-good anecdotes aim to showcase “Community Pride in Action,” they smack of curated PR fluff.

Public comment exposed raw frustration: Anthony Alaniz eviscerated the board for opacity around a prior closed-session controversy, accusing them of starting rumors through evasive summaries, silencing Trustee McGee (the lone voice pushing transparency), and forcing bloggers to do the district’s accountability work. His demand for press-table seating underscored a credibility crisis—valid questions linger unanswered, with the board’s non-response (per Open Meetings Act) coming off as dismissive arrogance rather than procedural neutrality.

Agenda approval was perfunctory, leading to the curriculum committee’s push for a new AP Research course to complement existing AP Seminar, enabling an AP Capstone Diploma. Presenter Rebecca Keebler highlighted its prestige (only ~0.1% of U.S. students earn it), zero added costs (she’s already certified), and high pass rates (~87%). Board discussion lauded teacher-driven initiatives and diverse pathways (AP for elite-bound kids, dual enrollment/CTE for practical ones), but skepticism abounds: Is this truly cost-neutral amid budget woes, or another elective shuffling resources from core needs? Promoting it for trades/engineering feels like lip service—colleges may “stand out” resumes, but credit acceptance varies, and gauging interest from just 20+ students risks low enrollment justifying the hype.

The MASB strategic planning proposal ($10,000 for facilitated stakeholder input, data analysis, and retreat) drew mixed reactions. Proponents cited past success in boiling community input into actionable goals; detractors questioned the expense given financial strain, suggesting in-house facilitation by experienced board members. At ~$2,500/year over four years, it’s defensible for unbiased process, but reeks of consultancy bloat—why pay outsiders when internal expertise exists, especially as fund balance teeters?

Herrick Park property offer ($125,000 from Family Counseling for a domestic violence shelter) sparked enthusiasm for its social good (safe housing, community loyalty cycles) but exposed negotiation weaknesses: a 365-day due diligence window risks tying up the asset (appraised at $340,000 but with teardown caveats), with buyers able to walk refund-free. Board urged non-refundable deposits and shorter timelines, noting city rezoning delays (up to a year). Noble cause, but fiscally reckless—prioritizing charity over maximum value ignores enrollment declines and revenue shortfalls.

Fund balance discussion revealed chaos: Policy targets 12% of expenditures (~$3M absolute, fourth-worst in county despite second-highest enrollment), but calculations mismatch (unrestricted revenues vs. expenditures; state flags <5%). Last three years saw expenses exceed revenues until a $200K add this year, yet borrowing for payroll persists. Board floated ranges (min: 1-2 months’ expenses; max: reinvest excess), KPIs, three-year forecasts, and benchmarks (MSBO recommends two months; state risks intervention <5%). Blame flew—past raises, unchecked staffing variances, declining per-pupil funding ($5K below Adrian), no sinking funds/bonds in peers. Confidence in new finance director Lennar (two days/week) is tepid; promises of internal controls and visualizations ring hollow without enforceable board guardrails. This isn’t “tough but fixable”—it’s chronic mismanagement risking deficits, with no clear glide path beyond vague workshops.

Quarterly strategic plan updates were rote: career courses in early talks, math interventions via schedule tweaks, student leadership groups, sinking fund RFPs (pool report imminent; tennis courts grant-chasing despite priorities), job description overhauls, and branding (#OneTribe logo). Pool delays and website transparency pledges feel reactive; off-boarding/exit interviews aim to stem turnover but ignore root causes like pay stagnation.

Board comments urged unity amid “tone” concerns post-prior meeting, praising programs (veterans’ breakfast emotion, volleyball champs) but admitting reactive leadership. Motion to adjourn passed unanimously.

Overall Critique: This board meeting was a masterclass in superficial positivity masking fiscal rot and governance dysfunction. PR-heavy “pride” segments and teacher-praised initiatives can’t paper over transparency failures, budget inconsistencies, and over-reliance on external facilitators/grants. Meaningful reform demands enforceable KPIs, unified metrics, and bold cuts—else Tecumseh risks state oversight in a declining enrollment spiral. Unity rhetoric is cheap; actionable accountability is absent.

***End AI Summary***

Trustee Miller Quotes

I also asked Grok to pull quotes by Darin Miller from the transcript. I feel these are important for the community to read as Miller calls out systemic problems while also taking personal responsibility, unlike some of his peers. The transcription is a little spotty, but you get the picture.

Here are all direct quotes from Trustee Miller in the transcript (in order spoken, with context for clarity):

1 On fund balance policy and calculation:“So we need to figure out what formula we’re going to use first and then come up with the number that we want.”

2 On MSBO recommendation and county comparison:“One of the things in the sentence, and I can send it to everyone, is the board realizes responsibilities under law to maintain a balanced, non-deficit financial condition for the district so that the district does not find itself in a serious financial problem.”

3 On board responsibility and deficit:“So I do feel that you’ve got to have these tough discussions. I do have all the confidence in the world in Matt, but I also feel bad that Matt is facing this situation on the fund balance.”

4 On educating oneself and board duty:“I would recommend also to take some time to go and read and educate. If you haven’t or if you’ve done it a long time ago, it’s always helpful to go back. I went to the finance class twice now just to try to make sure I didn’t miss anything...”

5 On historical revenue vs. expenses:“But that isn’t, I’m saying the last three years before this, that result hasn’t been posted yet. So I’m just, the 24, 23, and 22 year, we had three years of expenses more than our revenue.”

The last point from Miller was in response to Simpson/Brooks running through excuses for poor fiscal management during their tenure. Simpson reminds everyone that we did add to the fund balance this year.

The Final Word

Grok’s Summary

Whenever I have AI summarize these meetings, it copies the tone of the administration which is understandably positive. I didn’t have time this week to type out the whole meeting, so this time I asked Grok to take an objectively critical tone. Grok did not disappoint. Keep in mind, Grok is only going off of the transcription from the meeting. There was no input from me. I’ll add some notes for clarification, but the financial info in particular was captured perfectly.

I would also add that McGee isn’t the only one pushing for transparency. Miller is doing a fine job as well. They have different styles, different tactics, but their commitment to transparency has been evident in their comments and their votes.

Anthony’s Public Comment

The clip of Anthony’s comment is at the top of this article. What you can’t see in the video is at the end of his comment, Anthony immediately walked to the press area and sat in front of David Panian, the Tecumseh Herald reporter.

Trustee Brooks then asked to clarify if Anthony was referring to the information discussed in the closed session, to which Anthony replied that we don’t know what information came from where. Brooks likely feels she has an ace up her sleeve with some legitimate reason they went into closed session. All we know is that it was optional, because it was put to a vote. Trustees Miller and McGee voted to leave the session open for transparency.

The Excuses

Trustee Miller makes the point that our fund balance has decreased over the last few years, and that we need to be aware of that and be more responsible. Trustee Simpson then corrects him to state that TPS is paid less per-pupil than our surrounding districts. All Lenawee County districts, including Tecumseh’s neighbors, receive the same foundation allowance of $10,050 per pupil. I do seem to recall what Simpson is referring to, but I do not see how it is accurate to make this statement.

Furthermore, former board president Roger Hart managed to increase the fund balance every year. Simpson bankrolled a recall effort to oust Hart, and succeeded. Every year since, with exception of an influx of COVID funds, we’ve lost money as a district. It’s in the data, I’ve posted it many times before. It can be done, just not with Transparent Tim in charge. For reference, here’s a list of our surrounding districts and how well they’re doing financially:

Source: Munetrix

Trustee Brooks, always ready with an excuse for her dismal performance, suggests that our district loses money because all the other districts pass bonds / sinking funds. I would remind Brooks that when I went door-to-door campaigning, the feedback I received from townsfolk voting against the sinking fund was a lack of trust in the board. The board includes Becky Brooks. I’ve never seen a more appropriate use for this meme.

“The Board”

Trustee Davis points out that folks always direct anger toward “the board” without taking into account that the board has changed members many times, or even knowing who is on the board when the comments are made. I agree with Lynn, and I’ve seen it myself. Still, this community is not wrong. Rebottarro, Simpson, Lewis, Brooks, Tommelein, the names change but the incompetence and complete tone-deafness remains the same. Davis ran on the Brooks/Simpson imaginary “slate” in the election, so it should not come as a surprise that she is being lumped in with them. I heard no protest when Brooks ran a website called, “Meet the Candidates” that deceptively excluded candidates not on their make-believe “slate”.

Strategic Planning

I couldn’t help but notice Trustee Miller’s comment (paraphrasing here) that maybe there’s someone in the community that would like to help with things like strategic planning. Hi. I’m a strategic planner with consulting work for the Montgomery, AL school district on my resume. Let me tell you how this went the one time I offered what Trustee Miller is suggesting. I’m paraphrasing here, but not by much:

Me: Good evening Trustees, My professors at the university of Auburn (two licensed psychologists, one a department head) and I would like to offer our services (strategic planning, candidate sourcing, several were offered) free of charge to TPS. This service would serve as my practicum for completion of my master’s program, and would be done with weekly oversight from my professors.

Trustee Simpson (spontaneously): You don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re not a doctor. You don’t even have your masters. You’re not qualified.

I would add, for context, that I just returned from Japan where I presented the US Air Force with… a strategic plan for integrating a modern weapons system. If you stalk me on LinkedIn (and some of you do), you’ll see that it is my title, after all.

A Little Fun

Last year, we called for live-streamed meetings. Mr. Tim “Make Tecumseh Great Again” Simpson insisted that it was impossible. Among other claims, he said we had no way of ensuring closed captioning, something Anthony Alaniz covered at the time. One of my running mates, Michelle Malewitz, worked in Hollywood post production and had already offered to help but… you guessed it… they didn’t want community input. So I found this video and did some of my own closed captioning to prove a point. Not sure if this guy is from Tecumseh, but he sure seems to know how things work around here. Also note that Substack provides closed captioning automatically, as seen in the clip at the top of this article.

Gator Country

We’ve decided to move back to Florida. Most of you know this already. Folks have been asking me why, and what happens to the blog when I leave. My friends, I would never leave you hanging. If you’d like to know more about my reasons and who’s taking over, check out my latest opinion here:

Thanks for reading!

Reasons for Leaving

What prompted you to start looking for a new home?

Visiting Florida’s Emerald Coast last March. We had lunch with the school superintendent, a good friend of ours. We toured Stella’s new high school where Holly and I are free to teach. I did the math and found that moving to Florida would reduce our tax burden by $1k/month.

Was there a specific event or situation that made you decide to leave?

Soon after we returned to Tecumseh, we learned that Trisha Howard, the TMS principal that inspired Holly and I to be substitutes, had left the district. It was sudden. The lack of a formal farewell from Matt Hilton led me to believe that he played his part in her departure. At best, Hilton is useless at talent retention. At worst, he’s the mastermind behind it.

This was not the only situation of concern, but it was the single straw, as it were. I previously detailed the problems at the high school, spoke out at board meetings, approached board members in private, gave Matt Hilton a detailed summary of my own personal experience, but nothing was done about any of it. Why enroll our daughter in a school where the vice principal hides from me?

How does your new role compare to your position here?

I will do everything in Florida that I wanted to do here. I’ll teach, I’ll coach, I’ll volunteer, I’ll fix tech issues because our old Rotary club loves to volunteer me for that sort of thing. Most of all, I’ll be in a support role. I enjoy supporting folks far more than I do criticizing them. I started out here wanting to be in a support role, but fate had other ideas.

Team & Culture

How would you describe the team dynamic and collaboration?

The “good ol’ boys” in this town are incestuous. There is no room for “outsiders”. I saw this when I first subbed at the high school, but I thought it was just a coincidence. There is something in that building that breeds cowardice and xenophobia, from the secretary to the faculty to the administration housed within it.

Did you feel valued and recognized for your contributions?

By the town, yes. By the district, no. I suppose the most depressing part of this saga is that I wanted to support this district. We liked living here, and I thought the district just needed support from the community. I felt valued teaching at the middle school. I felt rejected everywhere else. When Trisha moved on, I started to see that the rejection from this district was by design.

How inclusive and supportive was the workplace culture?

It wasn’t. I’ll actually take this opportunity to say that Edustaff is the worst employer I’ve ever worked for, and that’s saying a lot considering I worked for L3 Harris back in 2012. Their HR is a joke. They exist to skim off your paycheck and nothing else (much like L3 Harris). My heart goes out to the subs that might actually need anything from Edustaff. This is a bridge I don’t mind burning.

Were there any issues with coworkers or team members that impacted your experience?

I think this town already knows the issues I’ve had. Most of my frustration has been at stupidity, not personality. Ignorance is dangerous. I stood at the podium offering a consult in coordination with my university and was mocked by Simpson because he didn’t understand what “candidate sourcing” meant. He didn’t understand any of it. His sidekick, Brooks, has zero comprehension of the basic cause and effect of her own actions.

I can handle an ideological debate. I can respect those who fight hard for their beliefs, even if I don’t agree with them. I have no respect for a couple of dumb hicks with a pocket full of excuses for why the data reveals their incompetence at every turn. I don’t think degrees make a person smart, and I don’t think I’m very smart. When I sat in board meetings in 2024, I felt like the smartest man on earth. When the intelligent trustees are finally in the majority, things will get better. You’ll know when it happens.

Company Overall

What are three things we do well as an organization?

Tecumseh has amazing educators, para-pros, and counselors. Second to none.

Hilton’s focus on formal process implementation is a good step. I hope he applies this adherence to process to his own administration, not just the public.

Our music program is better than most folks realize. I have absolutely nothing against football, or high school sports at all, but I’d have fired every single one of our coaches if it meant ensuring Joe McInchak remained our band director. Fortunately, we retained them (and Jesus Sanchez), for now. That goes in the win category, even if it took half of Lenawee protesting to make it happen.

What are three areas where we could improve?

For heaven’s sake, find a mentor for Greg Dolson. The man has potential, but that potential will never be realized as long as we let him hide from accountability. Too many parents, and staff, have come forward to Hilton about him for him to still be in his position. I don’t know what Kim Irish’s deal is, but I don’t think she wants to be there. It’s time for fresh blood. Stop letting football coaches run the district.

Transparency. Give us the data. Idiots on Facebook pages will run with the information and make it seem way worse than it is. It’s worse when they are left to their imaginations. Release the data anyway. Get ahead of the headlines. Admit problems up front, and don’t try to spin it. STREAM THE MEETINGS.

Make board meetings more welcoming. Someone was sitting in front of the mixer board this week. Why? Does she know how to turn it on? Why do the speakers face the empty wall? Why do board members face an empty wall? Older board members tell us they tried to fix it, but couldn’t. “Tecumseh loves veterans”. Really? I’ve said I can’t hear the meetings. A veteran said the same a few weeks ago. Hell, Lewis is a veteran and he constantly has to ask trustees to speak up. What’s the problem?

Closing Questions

Is there anything we could have done to keep you?

There were plenty of opportunities. Old Greg D could have picked up the phone, replied to an email, not run away when he sees me at Starbucks in the morning, etc. The district has no desire or intent to “keep” me, so I’d say it’s an amicable split.

Do you have any final thoughts or suggestions you’d like to share?

I wasn’t here in 2018, but I wish I had been. We had a superintendent with a doctorate in education. We had a board president that actually tried to keep the community informed. We had a school board that increased enrollment and fund reserves reliably every year. Ah, the good ol’ days, long gone now because Becky Brooks needed attention. Tecumseh’s good ol’ boys (and gals) may have won the recall, but Tecumseh lost in the end.

Folks may have noticed that I pick on Becky Brooks quite often. There are many reasons for this, but the screenshot below is one. Her “I have the facts” statement is what inspired this blog. Turns out, the facts were all public record, so I started EducateTecumseh to share the facts.

Another reason is because I started making the connection between Brooks constantly saying, “you weren’t here back then” whenever anyone challenges her, and Simpson’s “you don’t know what you’re talking about” comment when I offered to help the board find cost savings. It’s a dogwhistle. They led the recall in 2018. They’re saying, “you’re not part of our club”.

I was never part of the club. I definitely wasn’t comfortable with the portrait of the child bride being offered to an Arabian leader in the men’s club above Basil Boys. If you’re reading this, you’re either outside the club too, or you’re Mary Tommelein. The only hope for change in this district will have to come from one of Tecumseh’s own. Luckily, I know a guy.

Who’s Gonna Give Them Hell?

As I sat in front of a bonfire last week with other parents in the community, one woman said, “Well who’s gonna give’m hell when you leave?” There is one person this administration hasn’t outlasted. His name is Anthony Alaniz. Unlike me, Anthony was born and raised here. Anthony has been journaling the incompetence since before I arrived. Many times, his articles have been the inspiration behind my articles. He’s also an actual journalist, which helps.

This is Anthony’s comments at the October 27th board meeting. In short, Anthony will be the one *continuing* to give’m hell. I’ve added Anthony as a co-writer to this blog, and I have a few folks that will try to summarize the meetings when they’re able. I will still write the occasional opinion piece on things relating to psychology or culture, and might summarize the occasional meeting, but ultimately I’m handing it over to one of your own.

To be clear, Anthony has a day job like me, and his own journal at AnthonyAlaniz.com, so the best any of us can do is write when we can. Check out his blog. Poke around a bit. It’s full of interesting facts.

Farewell

In psychology, we have this thing called the ASA model: Attraction, Selection, Attrition. An organization maintains its core values through attracting those with similar values, carefully selecting those candidates, and letting those who do not conform find the door through attrition. If I am to be on the attrition side of the ASA model for TPS, I can think of no greater honor than to be on the outside with Principal Trisha Howard.

Make good choices, Tecumseh! ;-)

This is a conversation space exclusively for subscribers—kind of like a group chat or live hangout. I’ll post questions and updates that come my way, and you can jump into the discussion.

Join chat

How to get started

1. Get the Substack app by clicking this link or the button below. New chat threads won’t be sent sent via email, so turn on push notifications so you don’t miss conversation as it happens. You can also access chat on the web.

Get app

2. Open the app and tap the Chat icon. It looks like two bubbles in the bottom bar, and you’ll see a row for my chat inside.

3. That’s it! Jump into my thread to say hi, and if you have any issues, check out Substack’s FAQ.

Original Meeting Video:

Corrections / Notes

In a previous article, I stated that the auditors were absent during this October 27 meeting. This was an error. It was our interim Director of Business Operations, Mr. Steve Lenar, who was absent (and doing his own audit). He will be giving his report at the next school board meeting.

The more accurate terminology for the specific “blunder” mentioned would be “underestimated expenses”.

Public Comment

Note: the audio in both of these clips have been reconstructed using an audio processor and a separate recording. The audio track for the TPS recording was atrocious, and virtually unusable. If you have trouble understanding a word, or believe it was transcribed incorrectly, feel free to verify the transcription with the original YouTube clip linked above and below.

A local father with children at Tecumseh Middle School speaks about an incident involving the school counselor, suggesting that she claimed to be acting on behalf of Child Protective Services.

Mr. Hilton gives his response following public comment here:

Anthony Alaniz, a local resident (and author of the recent article on the TPS blunder), spoke out in response to Mr. Hilton’s prior response on the TPS Facebook page. He reminds the board that questions are still left unanswered.

Mr. Hilton responds here:

Budget Committee - Simpson

Steve Lenar went over everything line by line in their meeting. Lenar couldn’t be there that evening, but will be giving a report at the next meeting.

Finance Report - Hilton

We are expecting increased revenue due to increased per-pupil funding. We are analyzing expenditures, and can expect an amendment in early December. He has already filed our audit report, treasury has confirmed receipt and acceptance. He is finalizing annual FID report (financial information database). Submission by Oct 31.

Student Report - Tucker

This entire audio track was inaudible and unsalvageable.

Herrick Park - Hilton

We have an informal offer on Herrick Park. LEA properties out of Adrian, 100k, as is, allows buyer to opt out if buyers can’t receive satisfactory tax assessments. Notes that this is a statement of intent, not legal purchase agreement. It’s intended use is development of recreation and event center, medical office space, etc. Hilton advises that he approach gentleman with non-refundable down payment offer. He is talking with Mattison about it.

McGee: Not a well thought-out plan, no clear plan for use, they have too many outs.

Hilton: Many of these uses don’t fit zoning requirements.

Simpson: Rezoning takes a long time.

Action Items

Audio was inaudible.

Superintendent Report - Hilton

Due to audio issues and the abundance of information presented, I will be using Google’s Gemini to summarize Mrs. Way’s presentation.

***Begin AI Summary***

This section of the meeting is dedicated entirely to the presentation and analysis of the district’s spring 2025 testing data, led by Superintendent Hilton and Mrs. Way.

Key Data Points & Comparisons:

• MSTEP (Grades 3-7):

  • ELA (English Language Arts): The district is outperforming both the county and the state in all grades except for the fifth grade.

  • Math: The district outperforms the county in all grades except for third grade. A dip in proficiency was noted for the third and sixth-grade levels this year.

  • Science & Social Studies: In science, fifth grade saw a slight dip below the state average, but eighth grade remains well above state and county averages. In social studies, fifth grade was slightly below the state average despite a 6% increase from the prior year, while eighth and 11th grades performed well above average.

• SAT (11th Grade):

  • This data was highlighted as a key “culmination” of a student’s K-12 experience.

  • The district is “well outperforming” the state, with 71% proficiency in Reading/Writing and 40% in Math.

  • In response to a question, Mrs. Weehy explains that SAT prep is built into 11th-grade classes, and this year, ninth and 10th graders also took the PSAT to provide extra practice.

• AP (Advanced Placement):

  • A brief recap noted that the district has an 85% pass rate on AP exams.

Cohort Analysis & Intervention Plan:

• Cohort Data: Mr. Hilton presented the data in a different format, tracking the same group of students as they move up through the grades (a cohort).

  • This analysis showed that while ELA scores generally trend upward for cohorts over time, math data revealed a significant challenge. The cohort of students currently in third through sixth grade shows a downward trend in math proficiency, signaling a clear area for intervention.

• Identified Pattern: The data shows an “early middle school decline” in performance, particularly in fourth and fifth-grade math. This is followed by a “middle school recovery” in grades 7-8 and “high school stabilization”. The fourth and fifth-grade transition is identified as a “critical intervention point”.

• Action Plan for Math: A comprehensive intervention plan is already in place to address these findings:

  1. K-3: Math interventionists are working with students using a research-based program called Delta Math.

  2. K-4: Teachers are receiving new professional development focused on best practices for teaching mathematics.

  3. Grades 4-5: An intervention model has been adjusted so that fourth and fifth-grade teachers support each other’s classrooms, providing extra math support to identified students.

  4. Grades 6-8: A math interventionist supports students in study skills classes.

  5. K-12: The district is in the process of a full K-12 math curriculum review to ensure vertical alignment and close skill gaps.

You can watch the full meeting here: Tecumseh Public Schools Board of Education Meeting Monday, October 27, 2025

***End AI Summary***

Next Agenda - Hilton

We can look forward to hearing from our directors, and an update on the district’s strategic plan and what’s been done so far.

Board Comments

The board comments got a little feisty. I will let Google’s Gemini AI service summarize:

***Begin Gemini Transcription***

• [01:13:59, 01:14:55].During the “Board Comments” portion of the meeting, discussion turns to the district’s “tough situation” regarding finances. One board member, Trustee McGee, attempts to provide a detailed public explanation of the recent audit finding, outlining the specific variances and rules. This is interrupted by Trustee Simpson, who argues that such a detailed financial report should come from the district’s professional staff, not a board member, to avoid misrepresenting information. This sparks a procedural debate among the trustees about their role in oversight versus the administration’s role in reporting, and the need for a clear, unified message on the financial issues. After halting her financial presentation, Trustee Brooks concludes by reminding the board of its social media policies and sharing a positive recap of recent student activities.

The meeting is then adjourned [01:40:44].

***End Gemini Transcription***

My Thoughts

Audio

This audio track was effectively useless, making the entire video effectively useless. There was good discourse between board members about finances and procedures that the public will never hear. I encourage my readers to watch a Tecumseh City Council meeting on zoom. They began livestreaming around the same time TPS promised to livestream. Notice the difference. Ask yourself why.

Dorky Bloggers

It goes without saying that I agree with Mr. Alaniz’s public comment. When we have a board president using the word “missing”, swearing profusely that information wasn’t withheld, a closed door with an attorney, and a director’s sudden resignation, we have a blunder. If it turns out that our fund reserve is able to absorb the hit of this “blunder”, we still have the “blunder” of how haphazardly this district operates.

I stand by what I said in my previous article, More Data, Please. This publication would be a friend to a district that willfully shared information. Mr. Hilton suggests that we could have asked him before publishing our articles, like the Herald and WLEN did. I hadn’t even considered that option because I knew this “blunder” wasn’t Mr. Hilton’s fault. It’s unfortunate that he took it personally.

If Mr. Hilton feels that an injustice has occurred, I would remind him of what he said when I felt an injustice occurred: “I looked into it, but I’m afraid we can’t change the past”. If Mr. Hilton feels that we aren’t interested in working with him, I would remind him of how his secretary responds after I have to CC him to get a response: “we’re looking into it”.

I would also add that this is a blog, not a newspaper. We have no interest in being the PR wing for this district. Our interest is in transparency, and we’ll know it when we see it. Our audience is larger than the district’s social media. When the district freely shares information, we freely share it to our larger audience. When the district sits on information, we fight to get that information. The tone of this blog depends on the ease with which we can get information to the public. The ball is in the district’s court.

Thanks for reading!

Further Reading

ADVOCACY GROUP ASKS TPS BOARD MEMBER TO RETRACT STATEMENT ABOUT LIVESTREAMING MEETINGS, ADA COMPLIANCE

Evading Accountability - How TPS Lost Their Director of Business Operations

If you’ll respond to things on social media with FAQs and coy attacks, then you most certainly will respond to questions here offered in a public meeting, and if not someone will write an article about this meeting, find a big beautiful word to describe it, and hope it results in another FAQ, or maybe a public response for all instead of one-on-one behind closed doors.

Excerpt from Anthony Alaniz, public comment, Sept 26, 2025

I named this blog “Educate Tecumseh” as a bit of a play on words. My focus is education, but my purpose has always been to educate. To publish the data you’re not getting. To provide the best perspective on the data that I can because we’re all too busy getting kids to practice or working a second job to attend a board meeting held at dinner time.

Your TPS administration should be doing this. Our city council does this. Our neighboring school districts do this. We have only this year begun recording meetings. We made progress thanks to Mr. Hilton, amid kicking and screaming from Trustee Simpson. After a year of promises, we still can’t manage to stream meetings live. Meetings might get uploaded in a week. Sometimes two. Maybe they’ll have decent audio. Maybe not.

Mr. Alaniz goes on in his comment to ask why we, the public, are always having to fight for information. In an ideal world, Educate Tecumseh would be a *free* supplement to our district. Educated and experienced members of the community (and there are many) donate their free time to dissect and explain the complex issues our district faces. It was designed as a community resource for working parents, not a rival to the Herald.

Kelli Glenn spent an entire hour explaining district finances to me when I was a candidate. I benefited from her guidance and perspective when I wrote my year-end financial review article last year.

Vic Pratt, our former communications guy, always made sure I could get my camera set up when I live-streamed meetings. He explained problems they ran into, and was very patient and kind with questions on social media.

Josh Mattison is our Director of Operations. He’s a great guy. He once helped explain a building matter to me for an article. Once again, his willingness to lend guidance and perspective on an issue enabled me to write an informative article from every angle.

Former trustee Mary Tommelein has reached out to me to provide clarification on articles in the past. I’ve received guidance and advice from many former board members. Mr. Hilton has even reached out to me to correct an announcement I made.

I bring these examples to your attention, dear reader, to make the point that the purpose of this blog is to Educate Tecumseh, not bash the administration. For a time, we seemed to be achieving those goals. There are many factors that have led to a souring of this relationship, but I remain optimistic that enough folks in this administration want the same thing.

Make no mistake, I am not seeking to be the Public Relations arm of this district. We already have a newspaper for that. My goal is to get all the information I can out to you. When I see trustees being mocked, interrupted, or silenced, I’m going to call it out. When I see trustees trying to hold a meeting open but outvoted by incumbents, I’m going to call that out too.

While many prominent members of this community have reached out to provide guidance or clarification, many other equally prominent members of this community have reached out pleading with me to dig deeper. When I wrote The Problem With THS, I received support for the article from staff within THS, for instance. This blog is here to support the parents and educators first.

This blog is a friend to those who strive for transparency, and there are many in this administration who do. For those who try to block info by harassment, or charging ridiculous fees for FOIA requests, or whatever reason, you turn an asset into an enemy. To anyone who says, “you don’t have the facts!”, I say this: whose fault is that? We have a common enemy: ignorance.

Finally, dear reader, this is your blog as much as it is mine. I have already added two parents this week as co-writers. We’ve grown to 200 active subscribers averaging 4.3k views in 90 days. If you see something out of place, or want to add a “community note”, speak up! Leave a comment! The more interaction we have, the better this blog will be.

Thank you all, once again, for your support.

For added clarity, I’ve uploaded the video of Mr. Hilton from the latest board meeting reminding folks that funds were not “lost”.

Mr. Hilton’s response to the word “blunder” and insistence on the need to present “the facts” seems to indicate his disagreement with the content of our articles. Neither article accused Mr. Hilton of any wrongdoing, but it is possible that he dealt with rumors stemming from the headline. I will let Mr. Alaniz defend his use of the word “blunder”, but will go on record as supporting it.

Let’s go through Mr. Hilton’s Q & A line by line.

As Superintendent, I am committed to transparency and open communication with our community about district finances. Recently, questions have been raised about a budget variance related to “student supports”. My intention is to provide clear, straightforward answers to help you understand what occurred, the current financial health of our district, and the steps we’re taking to strengthen our budgeting processes.

I have always complimented Mr. Hilton on being transparent with financial matters, as my previous articles show. Mr. Hilton’s intentions or commitment to transparency were never in question as far as I’m concerned. After all, if it weren’t for Mr. Hilton pushing back on Trustee Simpson, I wouldn’t have video clips to post in this article.

Q: What is the $750,000 budget issue I’ve been hearing about on social media?

A: The approximate $750,000 primarily funded special education services - legally mandated supports for students with disabilities outlined in their IEPs (Individualized Education Plans). This represents an overall 2% variance between what we budgeted and what we spent. It’s important to understand, contrary to social media rumors, that these funds were not lost or misspent; rather, this reflects an issue with our upfront budgeting process that we’re now addressing. Every dollar went to providing legally required services to students with disabilities.

Again, the issue is not how the money was spent, but rather how we estimated these costs in our budget.

In my meeting notes (previous article), I quoted, and agreed with Trustee Simpson that the $750k was not “lost”, but rather overestimated. To my knowledge, no one accused Mr. Hilton of misallocating these funds. Hilton describes this as a “variance”, and it is, but the word variance leads one to believe the problem is routine, which may not be the case. In the following clip, we hear Trustee Lewis mention that this situation has only happened one other time in his career.

Lewis describes this incident as, “bad news”, “(Hilton was) shy of spewing blood”, “lost sleep over it”, and “could go south in a hurry”. These are descriptors of a blunder, not a benign variance. At the very least, public concern is rational and warranted.

Here’s a quick explanation of our situation, provided by AI:

• Understanding the Budget Variance: An overestimation of funds means your budget was based on an assumption of having $750,000 more than you actually have. Spending this amount on student services, while beneficial for students, implies that the funds were not available in your actual revenue or reserves, leading to a $750,000 deficit in your overall budget.

• Impact on Other Areas: Since the $750,000 was spent on student services, that amount is no longer available for other budgeted areas (e.g., teacher salaries, facilities maintenance, transportation, or other operational costs). This creates a $750,000 shortage that you will need to address to balance the district’s budget, as school districts are generally required to maintain balanced budgets under state regulations (e.g., Michigan’s School Code).

This was an overestimation, not a “loss”, so it is entirely possible that we can continue to fund services with the money we do have (i.e. our savings account takes the hit, not our services). It is also possible that we will have to make cuts *somewhere* that we had hoped not to if our fund balance cannot cover the expenses. It is also possible that we pay for these expenses by further depleting our fund balance, which is concerning as I will detail further into this article.

Q: Did the district overspend its budget?

A: No, this is a common misconception. We under-budgeted for special education services, we did not overspend our overall budget. At the end of the year, we still added money to our fund balance (the district’s savings account). The more accurate way to describe this is that we put less into savings than we had planned, not that we overspent our budget. Another way to say it is this - we improved the district’s financial position, just not as much as we had planned.

To be clear – I’m not saying I’m happy about the inaccuracy in budgeting and the resulting variance. I’m not. And we will fix it moving forward. I just want to be crystal clear about the fact that we didn’t deficit spend in 2024-25.

Mr. Hilton’s explanation here is spot-on, assuming this is true. It should be noted, however, that our fund balance has been steadily depleting since the 2018 recall, with exception made for an influx of COVID funds (2020-2021).

Source: Munitrix Data

I put this chart together a year ago using Munitrix data, which you can verify on their website. I even wrote an article last year concerning our funds levels, which you can read here: TPS Fund Equity Levels. We’re graded on our risk level, which *can* be seen as a financial responsibility level. Notice the risk level for our finances has been climbing since 2018. Some numbers for 2025 aren’t in yet. They usually come around mid-November. I’ve been waiting on this info to write my follow-up article with an updated year-to-year comparison. None of numbers on this chart or in my fund equity article reflect Hilton’s leadership. Many of these years were under former superintendent Rick Hilderley. It is entirely possible that Mr. Hilton will still right the ship this year.

The government shutdowns have hurt our district. In years past, we could weather these storms by having a strong fund balance or, as Mr. Hilton refers to it, a strong “savings account”. Our fund balance is now so low that we are required to take out loans to cover our expenses. We just approved a loan this month, though hopefully we will not have to use the loan (should state funds be released). I covered this in a previous article which you can read here: September 22 Meeting Notes.

Q: How was this variance discovered?

A: Our annual auditors recently identified a variance between our budgeted numbers and our actual audited numbers. This was brought to my attention by our former Director of Business Services.

In Lewis’s clip, we hear him saying, “Deb left”, and that Kelli’s absence was “unplanned”. At first, I assumed this blunder was Kelli’s fault since her departure was “unplanned”. There is a theory floating around social media that Kelli may have simply thrown in the towel. If Kelli was forthright in bringing this error to Mr. Hilton, and her counterpart also left recently, are the two connected? Are Deb and Kelli fleeing a hopeless situation? We recently lost a beloved principal in a sudden manner as well. High attrition levels all at once do tend to point to trouble. It’s fair to ask the question in absence of information made public.

Financial Safeguards and Improvements

Q: What is the district doing to prevent this from happening again?

A: We’ve implemented a comprehensive approach focused on both revenue and expenditure forecasting:

Revenue side: In the Spring of 2025 (well prior to the annual audit discovery), I directed that we take a conservative approach for estimating 2025-26 revenue for state funding and enrollment projections.

Expenditure side: Our new Interim Director of Business Services, Mr. Steve Lenar, is analyzing our 2024-25 actual expenses against our 2025-26 budget to ensure congruence. Mr. Lenar is also developing more robust monthly expenditure reports which will allow us to make timely adjustments, if needed.

To note: Mr. Lenar is a long time Michigan Schools Business Official having served multiple districts in Michigan as Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Superintendent of Finance. He brings a wealth of credibility, expertise and experience to Tecumseh. I want to thank him for jumping in on short notice.

I have some disagreements with how effective these changes will be, but I’ll save those for another article. Mr. Hilton is correct, he did recommend a conservative approach. If I recall correctly, Trustee Simpson recommended going even more conservative than the rest of the board in his estimates. He may have been right.

Q: What are monthly expenditure reports and how will they help?

A: These are detailed reports that track our projected budget against actual expenses and encumbrances (committed funds) on both a monthly and year-to-date basis. They include percentage checks to ensure we’re on track relative to where we should be at any given point in the school year. By implementing a more robust monthly monitoring system, we can identify and address issues much earlier.

This is important to note. I watched (and reported on) a meeting in which Trustee McGee was pushing for monthly statements. Ms. Glenn said it’s difficult given the nature of district finance, and she’s right, and I agreed with her at the time, but it is still possible. When McGee asked for this information, she seemed to get pushback from Trustee Brooks in the form of condescending comments, implying McGee was inexperienced. Admittedly, it was this pushback that made me suspicious of how much oversight we are providing as a district.

Q: How did the district approach revenue budgeting differently for 2025-26?

A: As mentioned earlier, we took a deliberately conservative approach. The budget planning process begins in January when the State of Michigan holds its first Revenue Estimating Conference. Even when the legislature projected increases of over $400 per student, we budgeted for only $250. This approach resulted in receiving more revenue than budgeted for 2025-26, a much better position to be in.

Agreed, and I reported this accordingly at the time.

Q: Is the district in financial trouble?

A: No. We added money to our fund balance in 2024-25. Due to our conservative budgeting approach for 2025-26, we’re projecting to receive more revenue, about $450,000.00, than we budgeted for. These factors position us well for growth and stability while we work to improve our budget processes.

“we’re projecting” $450,000. Does this projection use the same formula that told us we were receiving $750,000? It’s a fair question to ask.

Q: What is a fund balance and why does it matter?A: The fund balance is essentially the district’s savings account. It provides a financial cushion for unexpected expenses and helps maintain stability.

Agreed, it maintains stability.

Conclusion

To be clear, money was not lost, we did not deficit spend, we did not “rob” the savings account in any way for operating expenses – in fact, we added to it. This money was spent on our most vulnerable children. If someone wants to label that act as a “blunder”, I’ll live with that “blunder” every time.

Let me be absolutely direct: calling the funding of legally mandated services for students with disabilities a “blunder” fundamentally misrepresents both what occurred and what our obligations are as a school district.

These weren’t discretionary expenses. These weren’t frivolous purchases. These were services required by federal law for children with disabilities – services outlined in their Individualized Education Plans that we are legally, morally, and ethically bound to provide.

The characterization that I somehow made a “blunder” by ensuring these children received their legally mandated supports is not just inaccurate - it’s offensive to the families we serve and the values we hold as a community.

As I read these accusations, I don’t believe Mr. Hilton is responding to my article, or Mr. Alaniz’s article, as we never accused him of “losing” money, and certainly not of “robbing” anyone. My guess is that these were Facebook comments, or rumors within the district stemming from this headline.

Still, I’m disappointed that Mr. Hilton chose to reference our articles (using the word “blunder”), while responding to accusations that were not made in our articles. Had Mr. Hilton felt that my article was inaccurate in any way, he could have called me, as he has before, and advised. I’d have gladly posted a clarification where needed. I quoted both him and Trustee Simpson in my article. Perhaps he, like many others on Facebook, went off the headline without reading the actual article?

Here are the facts:

We did not overspend the budget. We under-budgeted in a particular area. At the end of the fiscal year, we added money to our fund balance. As a result, our district’s financial status improved.

No one doubts that putting money you thought you had into a savings account will improve your financial status. The question is whether we have enough to cover that amount when other expenses are factored in. It is possible that we didn’t need the $750,000 after all. Maybe, maybe not. We’ll find out soon.

Every dollar in question went exactly where it should have gone - to providing specialized instruction, therapies, accommodations, and supports for students with disabilities.

Again, I have every confidence that this is true, and said so in my article.

The issue is not the spending. The issue is improving our forecasting process so we more accurately predict these costs upfront. That’s exactly what we’re doing now.

We’re improving our processes. We’re implementing stronger safeguards. But we will never apologize for spending more to serve students with disabilities while, at the exact same time, staying within our overall budget and improving the fiscal health of the school district.

After all, the goal of any school district is not to make a profit or drive its fund balance up. Rather, it’s to spend its dollars in support of its children while maintaining or improving the fiscal health of the district each year. We did exactly that.

Sincerely,

Matt

No one is asking Mr. Hilton to apologize for spending money on student services. Again, perhaps some yahoo on Facebook threw out an accusation, but it’s beneath the dignity of Hilton’s office to respond to these comments if they are demonstrably false. We’re a smart bunch (at least my readers are), so we can tell the difference between an ignorant comment and a relevant question.

My Thoughts

Hanlon’s Razor

Hanlon’s Razor states: “Never attribute to malice what can more easily be attributed to incompetence”. I live by this. I don’t think anyone involved in this incident did so willfully. However, a director lost her job (or quit due to the incident). It’s fair that Mr. Hilton is facing the issue head-on. It’s also fair that taxpayers ask what’s being done to prevent this from happening again. Had he published this Q & A when the issue was discovered, not as a personal response to two bloggers, he likely would have avoided the pitchforks.

The Pitchforks

I left the nosey asses group on Facebook months ago because it was so toxic. I rejoined recently because I wanted to shine a light on how board members did not vote unanimously to discuss this incident behind closed doors. I felt it needed more attention. I took the risk that the pitchforks would come out, so I was extra careful to quote Trustee Simpson’s clarification that:

1. no money was “lost”

2. funds were spent on student services and added to our fund

(Trustee Simpson’s comments)

Public anger isn’t inherently bad. It gets things done. It has saved careers in this district. I try to inspire folks to educate themselves on the issues before taking to the comments. It’s why I created this blog. If the district would publish information packets before meetings, like every other district (and our city council) already does, there would be no need for bloggers like me.

Closed Doors

I’ve uploaded the vote to go behind closed doors, and the statute used.

The following is the statue quoted:

(h) To consider material exempt from discussion or disclosure by state or federal statute.

The following is a summary of the Open Meetings Act:

Public Act 267, Michigan’s Open Meetings Act, allows public bodies to go into a closed session for specific, limited purposes, such as personnel matters, collective bargaining, and legal consultations. A closed session requires a two-thirds roll call vote of the members and must be preceded by a public vote with the reason for the session stated in the minutes. Decisions must still be made in an open session.

(provided by Google AI)

I added an update in my last article, which I will post here:

I was informed by a friend of mine with knowledge of these matters that the board likely went into closed session to discuss an opinion written by their attorney. This matter would be covered by attorney-client privilege, and would warrant a closed session. That being said, it is also possible for the board to have waived this privilege and held the meeting in public. Additionally, discussion of where the $750,000 was spent could also have been made public.

(article linked in top paragraph)

At the end of this closed session, the board votes to appoint an interim director of business services, implying Kelli was no longer our director.

If the board went behind closed doors to discuss things with an attorney, is this the same attorney that determined former Principal Niles’s alleged sexual misbehavior with students was merely “non-sexual touching”, giving him a severance package of $80k and transferring him to be a pool director (details here)? If so, is it really a surprise that the public is interested in what was being discussed?

Was a decision made? If so, why was it not discussed in open session?

If Kelli left of her own volition, why were they in closed session as there was no disciplinary action?

Why did Trustees McGee and Miller seem to think the meeting should be held in public?

These are the questions I had when I wrote my article. They have nothing to do with Mr. Hilton and everything to do with more of the same from incumbent board members and the usual administrative staff involved in prior scandals. I ask these questions because no one else is asking. I ask these questions because members of this community insist that I ask. I’m interested in answers, not scandals. Perhaps there’s a perfectly good reason for it all. Great! What’s the reason?

Mr. Hilton

Anyone who’s known me since the election knows that I’ve essentially been Mr. Hilton’s cheerleader since the beginning. I attended his interview with the board. It was the best interview I’ve ever seen, bar none. I found him to be honest, sincere, and a “culture person”, like me. I wrote him the day he got the job to say I’d support him however I could. Since then, I’ve continually spoken out in favor of his leadership. I liked what I was saw, but my faith is now beginning to wane.

Tecumseh has had a string of scandals since the 2018 recall, which MLive documented in this article. None of these scandals happened under Mr. Hilton’s leadership, but they did under some of our current board members. There’s reason for folks to be skeptical of the administration as a whole, and this should not be taken personally. I can accept that Mr. Hilton was trying to prevent mass panic, but I find his “it’s fine” assessment to be overly optimistic at least, and misleading at worst.

I will continue to write this blog with contributions from folks within this community for as long as it takes this district to get this information out on their own in a timely manner. Mr. Hilton’s administration is more than welcome to reach out to me if they feel anything in my articles are in error or a misrepresentation. In the end, we’re all on the same side: more transparency.

Additional Reading

The following is the latest article I wrote containing budget updates: June 23 Meeting Notes

AI used: none

Good News - Hilton

“Shout Outs” is our new way to recognize TPS staff, check TPS Facebook page for the latest shoutouts to our teachers and staff. 20 different AP exams have been offered this year, with 275 exams taken with an 85% pass rate. Sean Ellison is our new director of special education. Ms. Lammers had a pop-up concert that was very successful.

Public Comment

None

Revisions to Agenda

No superintendant’s report due to Ms. Way being absent.

Curriculum Committee - Martinez

We’ve seen dips in 5th grade math scores. Trustee Martinez thinks there’s not enough data to indicate a problem yet. Trustee Brooks says it seems to be statewide. Trustee Lewis joked, “good thing we have a doctor in the house”. Trustee McGee says she’d like to know where the actual problems are, certain skills, etc.

Safety and Facilties Committee - Brooks

The cell tower is one year out. The pool scaffolding inspection is being completed. Engineers will soon be inspecting above ceiling level, with Nov 11 as the target for completion. We’ve spent just shy of $100k into various projects (unsure of timespan), looking at new tennis court or tennis court renovations. We applied for water grant, haven’t heard back. We are waiting to hear back on grant for portable radios.

Policy Update - Hilton

Discussed adoption of policy for parental withdrawal of student for curriculum parents take issue with. Davis mentions that there is already a form for this.

Policy 5407, parents have the right to review school material upon request to building principal. The policy committee recommends a process to submit objection to principal. Information on this policy was listed in a packet that not distributed publicly. The principal will provide written response within 10 school days. If a parent disagrees, the next step would be a superintendent or committee review. The committee will respond within 30 days. if agreed, student can be exempted with no negative consequences.

Hilton notes that this policy driven by Supreme Court case, Mohamed vs Taylor, involving parents who wanted their students opted out of curriculum promoting LGBT material. This court case expands parents rights.

Section C: complaints about library material, provides a process for review of library materials. Davis comments, “FYI we have had these complaints in the past”.

Action Items

none

Closed Session

Trustee Brooks moves to adjourn to a closed session which, at this time, we do not know what the closed session was for. It has since become evident that the matters discussed were Tecumseh School Board Discusses $750,000 Budget Blunder In Closed Session (linked article by Anthony Alaniz), and the abrupt departure of Director of Business Services, Kelli Genn (confirmed by open job posting).

Trustee Brooks moves to adjourn, and Trustee Davis quickly seconds the motion. The remaining trustees, with exception of McGee and Miller, voting AYE. McGee and Miller voted NAY to force the meeting to be held in public, but were outvoted. An attorney was present in the closed session.

***Update***

I was informed by a friend of mine with knowledge of these matters that the board likely went into closed session to discuss an opinion written by their attorney. This matter would be covered by attorney-client privilege, and would warrant a closed session. That being said, it is also possible for the board to have waived this privilege and held the meeting in public. Additionally, discussion of where the $750,000 was spent could also have been made public.

End Closed Session

Approve Steve Linar as temporary director of business services.

All vote aye

Board Comment

Multiple trustees praise Ms. Lammers’ class.

Lewis summarizes what was discussed in the closed session. Lewis says he knew budget wasn’t right, claims “Matt lost sleep over it”. Kelli’s departure was not planned, and now we have a shortage of staff with financial know-how. He announced that Davis is going back to budget committee, and Lewis back to curriculum committee. Lewis says there was never an intent to withhold info, and that Matt (Hilton) did a fantastic job.

Trustee Simpson reminds everyone that we didn’t lose $750k, but rather that the budget was off by $750k. In other words, the budget was simply overstated. $750k went to student services. Simpson advocates for a zero-sum budget. Hilton adds that we did put money into our fund equity.

My Thoughts

Closed Session

Why did we go into closed session to discuss a financial blunder?

Why did we go into closed session to discuss a staff departure?

***Update***

I was informed by a friend of mine with knowledge of these matters that the board likely went into closed session to discuss an opinion written by their attorney. This matter would be covered by attorney-client privilege, and would warrant a closed session. That being said, it is also possible for the board to have waived this privilege and held the meeting in public. Additionally, discussion of where the $750,000 was spent could also have been made public.

The Blunder

Simpson was correct to clarify that we haven’t “lost” $750k, but it is also accurate to say that we have a shortfall of $750k that we didn’t have before. Perhaps we did spend it on student services, but we’re still short $750k in other areas. Like Simpson, I prefer zero-sum budgets on the micro level. Unlike Simpson, I don’t think we’re in a financial position to be worried about tennis courts with sinking funds.

Kelli Glenn

I met with Kelli a year ago to discuss district finances when I ran for board. She was very kind and forthcoming with basic information. When I asked about how the district does risk analysis (Monte-Carlo simulations), I found out that we don’t. When I asked where to find the line item indicating how much we spend on lawsuits, she kept saying she didn’t understand the question. When I asked for her guidance a few months ago on how to explain the nuances of our finances (why it’s hard to do monthly summaries), she ghosted.

This mistake happened due to lack of oversight. Lewis defends himself by saying “teachers” (referring to himself) only know how to balance a checkbook. Then why were you on the finance committee, Greg? Why do I see Trustee McGee getting dogpiled every time she questions an irregularity? The more things like this happen, the more I understand why Heather and I were seen as threats two years ago when we offered to look through the books.

To be fair, Kelli’s job wasn’t easy. In finance, we like things to fit into a neat, precise monthly “business rhythm”, as we call it. That’s not the case with school budgets. The current stalemate in state and federal government makes it even harder. I do not envy the next person to take on this role, because now they have to pick up the pieces of an impossible situation. It sucks, but at least now we know, and we can push forward.

Audio Equipment

I updated my notes on the last meeting to say that Josh Mattison reached out concerning our audio equipment. Apparently he wanted to speak up but didn’t get the chance. The district has ordered all new audio equipment, and it sounded like all my recommendations were covered. The answer we got from Trustee Lewis in that meeting, however, was more of the same: we tried to fix it, but couldn’t. One could be forgiven for assuming nothing was going to change.

Thanks for reading!

Members absent: Matt Hilton (emergency absence)

Public Comment

Neil Hasley thanked board members for their service. He then asked the board to fix their audio system, stating that he has a hard time hearing the meeting.

Revisions

Brooks: removed board student representative report, and superintendent’s report as Hilton was not in attendance (Davis clarified this as an emergency absence).

Budget Report

Trustee Simpson (treasurer): Met on the 15th, talked about state budget and cash flow. Doug Newcomb is expecting the state to not pass the budget until November, and notes 10 day delay before payments are made after passing the budget. Enrollment looks like it’s up, but does not translate to FTEs.

Kelli Glenn (director of business services):

cash on hand: $4,174,838.58

payable for Aug: $832,133.72

projected revenue (displayed on screen, public cannot view online).

No recognized state revenue for August. $53k in local property tax, $26k from LISD. total current revenue is $79k. Revenue for Jul/Aug $2,569,944, leaving us $2.4m in the hole with a projected fund balance of $157k.

No official state budget at this time. Budget was due on July 1. Mentioned potential shutdown. We have a cash flow issue. Normally we get $2.4m at the first of the month. We will have $1.5m cash flow deficit. If passed by Oct 10, we should still get our payment on time. To fix this, we plan to borrow $1.5m. Our state aid payments would pay this back once a state budget is passed. If we ask for the loan and don’t need it, we can back out with no penalty.

Davis: Are we going to get all our money at once or is it staggered?

Glenn: I’ve heard of two possibilities, either way the $1.5m will cover us.

Lewis: What fees will we face?

Glenn: None

Simpson: What do lawyers charge to draft up the loan?

Glenn: $2k - $5k.

Accepting Donation

TLC Community Credit Union Donates to athletic department, mentioned as a generous gift for “the barn”. Lewis mentions that our football team doesn’t have locker rooms, and when he was the athletic director here, it embarrassed him. He tells a story of his friend getting hit by a car running from a thunderstorm due to poor infrastructure. McGee asks the value of the donation, Way says $25k.

Memorial Pool - Josh Mattison

Approved next phases of demolition and testing of pool. Davis asks when we will get our sinking fund payment. Glenn says money is trickling in, and our tax anticipation note gives us $950k.

Board Norms

The board president is the official voice of the board, and actions by board members should be respectful specifically to one another and to the community (reminder of prior discussion and changes).

Action Items

State aid resolution: $26m expected, none received, borrow $1.5 (not to exceed) for operating expenditures. All trustees vote aye.

Accepts $25k from TLC. McGee asks to record the amount of this donation given the confusion in the community surrounding the amount donated. All trustees vote aye.

Memorial Pool Funds: All trustees vote aye. Brooks asks why she has to vote on it.

BOE norms: All trustees vote aye.

Board Member Comment

Davis: We need to vote on every bit of sinking fund. Congratulates football players at recent game for raising their hands in support of mental health awareness.

McGee: We were under budget for the SKI and SeaWay Scaffold, came in at only $66k. Brooks says we approved this last week. McGee and Martinez remind Brooks that this was not approved last week, it was only discussed. Davis thanks McGee for the clarification.

Lewis: Thanks Kim Foley for her service.

Final Thoughts

Audio Issues

I hear you, Neil Hasley, and that’s impressive given the fact neither of us can hear very well. As a veteran, I’ve asked this administration to do something with the audio a few times over the last year, both during meetings and in the live recordings. We’re told it’s an issue they’ve tried to fix, but can’t. I’m tired of the excuses. I’ve offered to fix their audio. I’ve offered to purchase any equipment needed as a donation. A year ago, Tim Simpson insisted that recording meetings was impossible, yet here we are. Nothing will change until the gatekeepers of this administration feel the pressure.

*** Update ***

Josh Mattison (Director of Operations) reached out to me this evening to say that new equipment has been ordered, and that he welcomed any input we had on fixing the problem. My impression from the public comment response was that improving the sound was a lost cause, but it seems TPS is actively working on it!

Borrowed Funds

I hear the frustration concerning the gridlock in our state legislature preventing us from receiving the funds we need to operate the district. It’s an unfortunate situation, and it’s probably time we put some pressure on our legislators to do their jobs. While borrowing money may not result in penalty fees, Trustee Simpson raised an excellent point that we still pay lawyer fees every time we need a loan. $2k-$5k is a hefty price to obtain money we were already owed.

And yet, it’s worth mentioning that this sort of thing is why we have a fund balance. Ten years ago, before the 2018 recall, our fund balance would have covered this cost with ease. Even four years ago, when we had an influx of COVID money, we could have kept the lights on using our own funds. Excluding the COVID cash years, our fund balance has dwindled slowly away every year since the recall to the point we now have to take out costly loans.

I mention this because I can already hear the excuses for the upcoming election. “It’s the politician’s fault!” they will say. “We inherited this!” was an excuse I heard in the last election. Tecumseh inherited a declining fund balance when we recalled a fiscally responsible school board, plain and simple. Thankfully, new leaders are making responsible efforts to right the ship, even as two of the members responsible for the recall remain on the board.

Budget Trend Analysis

My long-awaited yearly budget trend analysis will have to wait until November. I get my data from Munitrix, which gets their data from financial audits submitted to the state. I’ve learned that this information will not be available until November. Last year, Mrs. Glenn was kind enough to send me some of the financial information ahead of time, but that doesn’t seem to be the case this year.

Transparency

I appreciate Trustee McGee’s efforts in voting to approve sinking funds used for the latest memorial pool projects. As she mentioned, the public puts trust in the board to spend funds wisely, so it is worth being as transparent as possible, even if it seems like a formality. I appreciate Mrs. Davis for agreeing, and making sure it went to a vote.

Thanks for reading!

Committee, Operational, and Superintendent Reports summarized by Grok (AI)

Members absent: none

Trustee McGee led the pledge of allegiance.

Good News - Hilton

Daisy the support dog was discussed. Facility dogs support calmness in educational settings, and Hilton says studies show there are benefits. Funding has been donated from various businesses, organizations, and individuals in the community.

Public Comment

Tim (VanAtter), 1985 graduate. In 2011, Griff Mills requested considering a baseball field. Since then, minimal maintenance performed. Last painted in 2019, Tim helped pay for it himself. Tim makes the point that inability to pass the bond is the reason for the lack of upkeep. At this point, the three minute timer goes off. Trustee Brooks then says, “Greg…” into the mic to urge Trustee Lewis, who was listening intently, to cut the speaker off. Lewis allows the speaker to continue briefly.

Tim asks why the school district cannot support general maintenance, given the support they’ve received from the community. He asks why it’s assumed that “things will continue to go down this path”. Lewis suggests having the AD or Mr. Mattison getting in contact with Tim to follow up.

Committee and Operational Reports

Curriculum Committee (Jacob Martinez): The committee discussed a $245,000 Title III grant for literacy curriculum (to be spent by September 2026, requiring timeline adjustments), integration of the History Day essay contest (theme: "Revolution, Reaction, and Reform") into third-grade social studies, and a $6,000 kiln(?) purchase for high school ceramics.

Operations Update (Josh Mattison): In week four of the 2025–2026 school year, Mattison reported completing over 150 summer projects, including furniture additions, door replacements, parking lot resurfacing, deep cleaning, and preventive maintenance. The IT team inspected 2,000 Chromebooks and upgraded networks. Since August, 735 work tickets were submitted (up from 442 last year), with 75% resolved (552 completed), split evenly between maintenance and technology. Trustees asked about ticket trends, attributing increases to greater system familiarity and higher expectations. Mattison noted ongoing capital planning amid challenges like the cancellation of a USDA REAP solar-roofing project due to federal clean energy cuts, shifting roof costs to district funds.

Pool Steel Investigation Bid Summary (Aaron Phillips, McCarthy & Smith)

Construction manager Aaron Phillips presented bids received on September 3 for scaffolding and selective demolition to enable structural engineering inspections of the pool building. Six bids were submitted: four for demolition (low: $22,000 by DKI International) and two for scaffolding (low: $44,959 by Seaway Scaffolding). The recommended total award is $66,959, $20,000 under the $85,000 estimate. Post-bid interviews confirmed scopes. Additional costs include $20,000–$30,000 for engineering and soft costs, totaling about $150,000. Protective measures like plastic sheeting will safeguard the pool basin. Trustees discussed bid variances (labor hours, union factors) and confirmed no schedule acceleration from early voting, as engineering availability dictates a November start. The board deferred action to the next meeting.

Board Norms Review (Lynn Davis)

Davis reviewed proposed updates to the 2021 board norms for discussion. The first norm expands "treat each other with dignity and respect" to include "one another, our community, and TPS staff and families," emphasizing authentic engagement. The second refines "seek to understand topics prior to voting" to incorporate "carefully considering relevant data and evidence." No vote was taken; trustees were invited to suggest revisions for future consideration.

No Action Items

The board opted against suspending rules for immediate pool bid approval, citing no timeline benefits and potential rental cost increases.

Consent Agenda

The board unanimously approved the consent agenda, including minutes from the August 25, 2025, meeting, on Brooks' motion.

Superintendent's Report: Career Corner Overview (Matt Hilton and Meagan Way)

Hilton and Director of Instruction Meagan Way presented the new "Career Corner" section on the district website, developed since the 2022 strategic plan to guide pre-K–12 students in post-secondary planning. Key components include:

• Career Development Model: A 27-page document adapting Michigan's model with grade-banded targets (e.g., awareness in elementary, exploration in middle school via Educational Development Plans starting in seventh grade, preparation in high school with talent portfolios and assessments). It incorporates career zones, clusters, pathways, the Michigan Merit Curriculum, CTE programs, and the "three E's" (enlistment, enrollment, employment).

• Career Pathway Documents: 17 one-page guides per cluster (e.g., agriculture), detailing occupations by education level, labor market outlooks, recommended courses, Tech Center programs, post-secondary options, and local employers. Updated annually based on course catalogs and distributed at events.

• Portrait of a Tecumseh Graduate: Outlines four areas—academic proficiency, self-awareness, social awareness, career readiness—with emphasized skills like growth mindset and critical thinking. Developed with input from parents, students, and the curriculum committee; next steps include curriculum integration.

• Conduit to the Trades: A QR-code wall display in the counseling hallway providing apprenticeship resources and connections, aimed at real-time student support during planning.

Trustees commended the comprehensive approach, asking about updates (annual), state reporting (none required), comparisons (district-leading in county and state), market data integration (via "hot jobs" projections), and catch-up for older students (via EDPs). Suggestions included relocating the trades display for greater visibility and sharing success stories.

Future Agenda Items and Board Comments

Hilton previewed next meeting topics, including good news, discussions, action items from this session, and an ISD proposal for community engagement and strategic plan renewal. In comments, Lewis congratulated Way on the literacy grant, noted an upcoming farewell for staff member Kim Foley, endorsed McGee's visibility idea for trades resources, and reflected on Vannatter's contributions to athletics. He and Hilton discussed incorporating athletic facilities (turf lifespan, tennis courts) into capital planning via sinking funds. Davis advocated for equitable reviews of arts facilities (e.g., music equipment) alongside athletics and highlighted Michigan's delayed state budget as a recurring challenge.

The meeting adjourned on Brooks' motion.

Final Thoughts

Evaluation of Music/Arts Funding

After a brief discussion of evaluating funding for our sports facilities, Trustee Davis called for an equal evaluation of music/arts funding. Clip below.

Bravo, Trustee Davis. Bravo! This was so refreshing to hear. When I campaigned with Holly (my wife) last year, so many folks in this district were concerned that we put all our focus on sports at the expense of the arts. We all love a good football game, but the arts are paramount to an education. We must treat the arts as equal to or more important than sports. Kudos to Lynn for driving this point home!

Board Norms

Bravo again to VP Davis for bringing up new phrasing for board behavior / norms. Calling out “one another" and “the community” in treating others with respect directly addresses past misbehavior and refocuses board members toward a warmer relationship with the community.

Time Limits

In this abnormally short board meeting, there was one public comment. The public comment was limited to three minutes, as is the policy. As Mr. VanAtter ran over time, Trustee Lewis continued to listen respectively even as the timer went off. Trustee Brooks was having none of this, whispering, “Greg…”, to urge Trustee Lewis to hold the speaker to their allotted time. Lewis then allowed 30 more seconds (clip below).

The timed public comment policy was debated earlier this year, with Trustee Davis bringing up a valid point that she was almost late for a flight due to an extraordinarily long comment from Tim Simpson (as a member of the public, before he was elected). While this is a compelling reason for time limits, I would point out that nothing like that has happened in the two years I’ve been following this board. Brooks/Simpson ran as “concerned parents”, and yet they both seem all too willing to shut down concerned parents now that they are on the other side of the table.

I recommend extending the public comment limit to five minutes, with exceptions made if the speaker is on point and there is no one else in line. Mr. VanAtter might have made his point within three minutes if he spent less time apologizing for his point, but he did bring valuable historical data to the conversation. Public comment serves quite literally as a “community notes” function, giving greater context to discussions held. It’s worth listening to the full statements.

“Tell me how we could fail”

My work brought me to Tokyo this week, where I’m currently writing this article. Each conference I attend typically begins with a military commander asking, “How are we going to achieve our goal?” At this event, the meeting began with a different question. The commander here, a former A-10 pilot, said he didn’t want folks to tell him how we’d meet the goal. He wanted to know how we could fail.

His outlook on the process made me think of some of the tough, and sometimes unpopular questions asked by board members. Trustee McGee consistently asks for worst-case scenarios regarding our budget. Trustee Simpson recently asked the financial impact of assuming the pool is beyond repair. These questions sometimes draw the ire of other members, and even members of the community, but it’s time we start asking the tough questions.

Future Articles

I still owe my readers a follow-up article on the state of our finances for the current year. I’ve been traveling non-stop lately for work, but I am now back in Michigan for the time being, so I will begin work on that article this week.

Thanks for reading!

Transcription from audio: SonixAI

Summary from transcription: GrokAI

Final Thoughts: Jacob Willey

The Tecumseh Public Schools Board of Education meeting, held on August 25, 2025, was chaired by Trustee Lewis with the absence of Treasurer Simpson. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and quickly transitioned into a series of celebratory announcements and substantive discussions about the district’s achievements, financial status, strategic initiatives, and future plans. The agenda was packed with good news, financial updates, and operational decisions, reflecting a district on a positive trajectory but navigating challenges with state funding and infrastructure priorities.

Good News

Superintendent Matthew Hilton kicked off the meeting with a series of positive updates. He announced that Tecumseh High School was once again recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of America’s best high schools, ranking in the top 7% of Michigan high schools. This ranking was based on a comprehensive methodology evaluating college readiness (measured by the percentage of 12th graders passing AP or IB exams), curriculum breadth, state assessment proficiency, performance relative to demographic expectations, and graduation rates. Hilton emphasized that this achievement reflects the collaborative efforts of students, staff, and families, particularly noting the district’s ability to exceed expectations given socioeconomic challenges, as poverty often correlates with lower test performance.

He congratulated the community for fostering an environment that makes Tecumseh High School exceptional.Another highlight was the recognition of Jackie Whiteley, named the Michigan Art Education Association’s secondary art teacher of the year. Whiteley humbly credited the community and the board’s support for her success, emphasizing that her achievement was a collective effort. Hilton shared community feedback from a Facebook post, with comments describing Whiteley as the “greatest art teacher ever” whose students consistently produce outstanding work. Her contributions were celebrated as a testament to the district’s commitment to arts education.

The Link Crew program, a cornerstone of Tecumseh High School’s efforts to support incoming freshmen, was a focal point. Led by teachers Musselman and Kuebler, the program involves upperclassmen mentoring new students to ease their transition. Out of 104 applicants, 53 students were selected as Link Crew leaders, representing a diverse cross-section of the school’s population, including athletes, band members, and others. The leaders undergo over six hours of training to guide freshmen through activities like costume-themed tours, designed to reduce first-day anxieties and foster a welcoming environment. Several student leaders, including seniors and juniors like Jamison Gross, Lila Hanson, and Alyssa, introduced themselves, underscoring their commitment to building a supportive school community. Hilton shared photos and a video illustrating the program’s impact, showing freshmen engaging with mentors in a lighthearted, inclusive atmosphere.

Finances

Financial updates were presented by Kelli Glenn, who reported a cash balance of $3,748,389.92 as of July 31, with accounts payable totaling $1,095,041.96. July revenue was minimal at $6,017, as the state aid payment received belongs to the prior fiscal year, while expenditures reached $839,871, primarily for staff payroll accrued to the previous year. This resulted in an estimated fund balance of $1.8 million. Trustee McGee, reporting on the Budget Committee, highlighted uncertainties in the state budget, noting that the state had not finalized its 2025-26 budget, potentially delaying the October 20 state aid payment to November 20. This delay could strain cash flow, possibly requiring a loan with a six-week processing time. Federal funding risks included $60,000 for Title II (professional development) and $20,000 for Title IV (technology and student support), though Title I and special education funds were expected to remain stable.

The Community Eligibility Provision for free school meals was discussed, with 40% of costs covered by federal funding and the state’s Michigan School Meals program covering 60% ($488,000 last year). If state funding falters, a $336,000 shortfall could occur, though the district committed to providing free meals for the current year regardless.

Patterson Sale

The board addressed the sale of Paterson Elementary School to Paterson 1953 LLC for $150,000, with a closing date no later than September 30, 2025. The agreement, discussed for 90 days, includes a lease-back to the district for $1 until August 2026, with the district responsible for utilities, maintenance, and insurance during this period. The buyer plans to develop housing while preserving the building’s historical integrity, a project Superintendent Hilton described as a “win-win-win” for the district, city, and community, potentially increasing enrollment as families move into the new homes. The board amended the agenda to move the sale from discussion to action, suspending their norm of discussing items at one meeting and voting at the next. A resolution authorized Hilton to execute the purchase agreement, subject to legal review.

Concerns about the 15-day inspection period were addressed, with Hilton noting prior due diligence and legal vetting. Trustee McGee raised concerns about preventing a scenario like the administration building sale, where the property was resold at a higher price without development, but Hilton clarified that no such clauses were included, though the buyer’s significant investment suggested genuine intent.

Board Norms

The board reviewed its norms, aiming to refine guidelines for conduct and decision-making. Discussions focused on clarifying the norm of speaking with one voice after a vote, emphasizing that board members should vote their conscience but support the district’s implementation post-decision. Suggestions included extending the norm of treating each other with dignity and respect to staff and the community, and potentially adding a norm for evidence-based decisions incorporating community input.

Trustee Miller proposed improving preparation time for board meetings, suggesting a shift to monthly meetings to allow more time for review, though this was deemed an operational procedure rather than a norm. The board agreed to draft revised norms for further discussion at the next meeting.

Strategic Plan

The strategic plan for 2025-26 was a significant agenda item, with updates across five goal areas. In academics, Megan Way outlined plans for a new high school business course, developed with local business partners and aligned with state standards, to be ready for the 2026-27 school year. Other goals included integrating career readiness into curricula and offering soft skill certifications through programs like Bring Your A-Game or Microburst. In learning environment and culture, Kim Foley discussed revising the middle school schedule to provide targeted support (interventions, enrichment, or independent practice) and establishing student leadership groups at all levels to amplify student voice.

Operations

Operations goals, presented by Josh Mattison, focused on evaluating capital needs, prioritizing safety and security upgrades (e.g., portable radios, card access systems), and increasing transparency through regular updates on infrastructure projects.

Personnel goals included implementing structured onboarding with exit interviews and updating job descriptions for clarity and professional growth. In communications and community engagement, Hilton proposed continuing the “This Is Us” marketing series, launching an alumni spotlight, creating short videos to highlight district programs, and developing a branding kit.

The pool’s future remains uncertain, pending further information, but will involve community engagement. Hilton also suggested revisiting the “Every Student, Every Day” slogan through community input to redefine core values.Hilton proposed initiating a new strategic planning process, as recommended by MASB consultant Debbie Stehr, given recent changes like new board members, a new superintendent, and the sinking fund’s passage. This process would involve a community kickoff after the new year, building on past efforts but creating a new 3-5 year plan.

Board members supported broadening community participation, suggesting a survey to invite diverse input beyond their networks, including parents and non-parent residents.Tucker Cole, the student representative, shared insights on the positive start to the school year, praising the Link Crew and senior class engagement in events like Senior Sunrise. He raised community concerns about the sinking fund and suggested improvements like pickleball courts to enhance community access to school facilities, prompting Hilton to note ongoing grant searches for such projects.

Conclusion

The meeting concluded with Trustee Lewis celebrating the district’s achievements, emphasizing the staff’s role in overcoming socioeconomic challenges and fostering a sense of community. He highlighted the contributions of instructional assistants and the district’s consistent overachievement, likening it to a sports team’s success. The board adjourned with a sense of optimism and unity, committed to sustaining the district’s momentum.

Final Thoughts

Patterson

We can be sure that right now, someone on the Nosey Asses of Tecumseh Facebook page is writing an anonymous post about how horrible of a deal the Patterson sale was. Those of you who read my blog, or David Panian’s articles in the Herald, know this deal is about as good as it gets. It was never going to be a perfect situation. All things considered, Hilton pulled off a win in my opinion. Folks who throw stones rarely consider the alternatives we’re faced with.

Tecumseh High School Ranking

US News and World Report ranked THS highly again this year. This ranking is heavily biased due to our supposed AP course offerings. We do not offer as many AP courses as the number that earned the ranking, and even less are offered today. This score also does not factor in how many students are passing, or even enrolled in, these courses. I do not mean to disparage the amazing work of the teachers at THS, who absolutely deserve recognition. THS is certainly one of the better schools in this area. I simply take issue with claiming credit for a biased and somewhat misrepresented award.

iWellness

You can opt out.

We’re once again sending out notifications for students to take the iWellness survey. At a prior meeting, Trustee Brooks attempted to highlight how this survey was free, but was reminded that the survey is not, in fact, free. Someone always pays. At first, LISD pays for the survey. Very soon, TPS will foot the bill.

I recognize that the board has the best of intentions with this program. They are briefed by subject matter experts, and they approve programs according to what they are briefed. My issue is with the “experts” selling a program that is nothing short of a grift, and I will gladly die on this hill. This is especially concerning at a time when we are facing a nationwide shortage of school counselors. Could these funds and any future funds have been used to hire more counselors?

This district went to the public last year with little to no financial credibility and asked for more funds. The community approved, barely, and so far I believe this administration under Hilton’s leadership has made good on their word to be good stewards. Spending over a million dollars on a survey that essentially just asks, “are you ok?” is not responsible.

For more info, check out these articles:

Lenawee Spent $1.25m To Ask Your Kids These Seven Questions

Did Our District Just Get Duped?

Thanks for reading!

Subscribe now