Meeting Notes for April 28, 2025

School board coached on strategy and rules, plus committee updates

Members absent: Jacob Martinez

The board began with TPS students giving a presentation, but the audio/video quality was so poor that I can’t salvage it. Hopefully TPS will post more on this later.

MASB Coaching

The guest speaker, Rod Green, was a representative from the Michigan Association of School Boards, and seemed to have decades of experience as a prior superintendent himself. He covered a significant amount of topics, so I will do my best to transcribe the main points.

“What’s the purpose of the board?” he started by asking.

Trustee Davis: Hiring superintendents.

Trustee Miller: Governance.

Trustee Brooks: Set policy

Trustee McGee: Strategy and incorporating the community.

Rod then stated that writing policy is not the board’s job. “Administration manages, the board governs” he stated. He then pointed to other board functions such as contracts, facilities, and community relations, stating that the board is a liaison between the community and the district, though the superintendent has a hand in this as well.

He then stated that the board must focus on process, and letting the process work. To illustrate, he suggested letting the superintendent work out issues leaving the board to approve the measures. He then gives a personal story about his tenure as a superintendent that I found interesting. He stated that if he oversaw a school that was losing students hand over fist, he would not retain that staff. I believe this was an illustration of how these type of problems should be left to the superintendent. He concluded by stating that individual board members have no authority unless they have convened as a group.

Mr. Green spoke on committee of the whole, a proposition that has been discussed often in recent meetings (which I’ve covered previously). There did not seem to be any recommendations one way or another from Mr. Green, only advice. Trustee Brooks chimed in by reminding everyone that *certain* board members feel like they need to communicate to the community in rogue fashion. Rod pointed out that board members should not interact on social media, as it could be a violation of rules if multiple board members react at once (thereby forming a quorum).

Rod gave advice on handling complaints. He stated that the board should, “listen, but redirect”, and that the board cannot solve problems. He advised the board not to tell community members to put complaints into writing, but rather suggest they speak to the lowest authority first, such as a principal. In much the same fashion as not replying to social media comments, he cautioned the board against hitting “reply all” on emails from the public.

On closed sessions, he pointed out that no decisions should be made while in closed session. The board cannot do administrative contracts in closed session, but instead must do it in committee or using some other technique. Either way, they must have a definitive reason for a closed session. Finally, they can’t talk about anything other than the topic at hand in closed sessions.

How should board reply to public comment? He mentioned two types of public comment: on agenda, off agenda. He advised for the two comment sections to be combined into general comment, suggesting members can’t comment on a board item that has yet to be discussed without knowing what’s to be discussed. He suggested that the Superintendent should respond to public comment for board. Board members don’t know answers, they’re administrators, he stated. His advice was for the superintendent to respond to past board meeting comments in the following board meeting.

Mr. Green then proceeded to list the ways that the board could limit, restrict, or shut down public comment. At present, the board has almost no public participation, so it was strange to me that we need guidance to further stifle feedback. He suggested that the board speaks through meeting minutes, so public comment should not be included in those minutes.

I was grateful to hear Trustee Miller follow this comment with his experiences campaigning last year. He reminded the board that the feedback he got from the community is that our meeting minutes are weak, and trust isn’t there. “You can build trust” Mr Green responded, doubling down on speaking through the meeting minutes. Green also commented that “this is not the Senate”.

Trustee McGee Update on LISD

Multiple school districts and superintendents in attendance, nothing new, seeking additional feedback. Educational resources for teachers have been helpful, supported by LISD. Good participation in PLTW. Students had total of 216 credits due to “College Now” program. Tecumseh received $2m for general and special education and CTE programs. Some main priorities were mental health, mathematics, and special education.

Trustee Brooks Update on Facilities

Discussed custodial transition. Discussed solar. Elevator at middle school has leaking seal, state says need redundant jack system, elevator must be replaced. Michigan doesn’t pay for capital projects. State did a two-week study, we had $10m in critical needs, lined up with what we knew we needed.

Superintendent Hilton Policy Update

Early graduation and homeschool credit transfer process will be on agenda later. Student code of conduct and harassment, gave consistency, will be voted on in June.

Thanked several donors for their charitable contributions:

F&N landscape

Paul and Michelle Malewitz for $500 donation to special education needs.

Dexter builders to $200 drama club.

Mary funeral homes.

Homeschool And Early Graduation Update

Meagan Way and principal Kim Irish explained that Michigan Merit is 18 credits, required to get a diploma. Tecumseh requires state testing, career planning, five additional electives. Michigan merit curriculum is done by TVA and cannot participate in grad ceremony. This proposed policy will allow graduates to “walk”.

Hilton - this gives us a consistent way to welcome homeschoolers, to analyze work done, and to ensure standards.

Mrs. Irish brought up early graduation with policy committee and board. Commencement and prom is ok, but trips may not be (for those who choose early graduation). If the schools haven’t seen a student in over a year, it’s difficult for the district.

McGee noted that students can still dual enroll to graduate as a Tecumseh student.

Superintendents report

May 12, will bring things forwarrd, capital needs update, introduce ‘25/‘26 student rep, presentation from district improvement team, report work that we’ve done over last six months. Looking at birthrate data, enrollment trends, projections, etc.

Board Comment

There was no public comment at this meeting.

Board comments: great to have MASB. Brooks - not that we have to think alike. When in discussion, that’s time to duke it out, but after vote, we are one.

Davis: thanks to middle and high school. We run IEPs well here.

McGee: thanks policy team for policy updates, homeschool, early graduation, builds inclusion environment, addresses comments from community.

My Thoughts

Lynn’s Comments on IEPs

I agree with Lynn on how well our district does IEPs. Our experience with our son at LISD was phenomenal. Just comparing his IEP from his hometown in Daytona Beach to his IEP here in Tecumseh was radically different. My educator friends who visit from Florida are always telling me how good we have it here as far as special education. This is truly an area where TPS shines, and we’ve been grateful as a family for it.

Information Packets Coming!

I’ve been pushing for TPS to publish the same information presented at board meetings to the public. I’m now told Mr. Hilton is working on a plan to do just that. Our last board meeting recording was atrocious (severe audio issues, camera was pointed at ceiling, etc). It’s tough for me to watch knowing I’ve offered multiple times to help with production. Still, one year ago we had nothing. Soon, we may have live-streamed meetings with info packets. Change comes slow, but it’s coming.

School Board Coaching

I agreed with most of what Rod Green said, and I learned a bit from his presentation. “Trust the process” is a good mantra, and I think it applies to the board as much as anyone else. Board members really cannot solve anything, nor should they be expected to. I’ve been guilty at times of blaming them for things outside of their control. My goal for the next school year will be to focus this blog more on policy and less on the board itself.

To Trustee Brooks’ clarification of the “one voice” concept, she must be willing to follow those same rules. Trustee Brooks had an article in the Herald retracted because she introduced two new candidates as “board endorsed” (here: Retraction). Mrs. Brooks was also perfectly content to go rogue when she gave her thoughts to the press on the resignation of Jon Zajac (here: Parents Still Furious). “One voice” seems to be guidance followed selectively.

There is also the matter of board members attacking prior board members, or using board comment to attack public commenters and community groups. I won’t go into detail as I’ve covered this in the past, but I am impressed with current board leadership’s efforts to put an end to it. I think we’re moving in the right direction if everyone is “on board” (no pun intended) with moving forward as a unified body. Meetings are recorded, so we have ample opportunity to hear dissent.

Future of Educate Tecumseh

We now have recorded meetings, and will soon have published information packets, so the community now has what it needs to stay informed on board matters. I will continue to write articles on policy that affects the district, but will hand off summarizing meeting minutes to a TPS parent after this school year. If the community is unhappy with meeting recordings, they can email our district secretary, Veronica Moore, at vmoore@tps.k12.mi.us. If you do not receive a response, I would suggest CCing Mr. Hilton.

I will also be expanding this blog beyond board matters to include all modes of and factors in education (college prep, homeschooling, social media influences, psychology, etc). I am not a homeschool or public school advocate, but rather a parent advocate. Parents are the central stakeholders in their child’s education, so my primary goal is to aid parents in making informed choices. As always, thanks for your continued support.