Meeting Notes: January 26, 2026

Missing Expenses (and audio), Superintendent Contract and Goals, Recreational Millage Dead

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.