Meeting Notes: March 16, 2026

2026-27 District Calendar Approved, Robotics Team Donation, and Incorrect Dates on Superintendent Contract

Sorry for the delay on this recap—I have been busy.

The Monday, March 16, 2026, Tecumseh Public Schools board meeting saw members approve the 2026-27 district calendar, the school of choice process, and a donation to the high school robotics team. Members also had to approve an update to Superintendent Matt Hilton’s new contract. It had incorrect dates.

The most interesting part came at the end of the scheduled reports, when trustee Darin Miller asked about policies regarding the fund balance. It begins at 31:18 and is worth a listen for anyone interested in the district’s financials.

The next Tecumseh Public Schools’ board meeting is scheduled for today, Monday, April 13, 2026, at 6 pm in the Tecumseh High School media center.

Below is a summary of the March 16 meeting with time stamps.

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1. Call to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. “Good News” [1:26]

   1. Varsity Girls Basketball Regional Title Winners

   2. Kindergarten Roundup Update

   3. “You Be The Solution” Middle School Team Recognition

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

4. Public Comment

   1. No Public Comment

5. Revisions/Approval of Agenda

6. Scheduled Reports [14:12]

   1. Budget Committee of 3/16/26

   2. Monthly Finance Report

      1. Interim Business Services Director Steve Lenar: “February was a good month in that we actually brought in more money than we spent. I know we’ve looked at that in other months where we have been on the other side of that equation, and for the year, overall revenues exceed overall expenditures, so not only for the month, but through February. We’re cash equal at this point in time, we’re ahead…”

   3. Curriculum Committee 3/4/26 [16:56]

      1. 2026/27 8th Grade Algebra Change, Students Will Take At HS

      2. Pacing Guides

   4. Policy Committee of 2/24/26

      1. Trune Policy Updates

      2. TPS Brand Identity

      3. Fund Balance Policy to Align with State

         1. Move from percentage of expenditures to percentage of revenue

         2. Matt Hilton: “We have talked about the fund balance being a trailing indicator of success as opposed to a leading one. What I mean by that is that when our budgets are built correctly, monitored appropriately, and adjusted throughout the year, the fund balance take cares of itself.”

      4. Annual Audits: Recommended adding formal policy regarding the need for board study sessions with auditors prior to formal audit report.

      5. MHSAA: Public School Student Personal Brand Activities, NIL Opportunities

7. Discussion Items [44:11]

   1. Robotics Team Donation

      1. $200 donation

   2. Trune Policy Updates

      1. 3118 — Title IX, Sexual Harassment, Aligns With FBI Definition of Sexual Assault

      2. 4113 — Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act

      3. 4113-F-1 — Earned Sick Time Act Form

      4. 4113-F-2 — Earned Sick Time Act Checklist Form

   3. Superintendent Contract

      1. Update Contract Start Date to July 1, 2026, Not Retroactive

8. Action Items [48:50]

   1. TPS District Calendar 2026-27, Approved 7-0

   2. TPS School of Choice 2026-27, Approved 7-0

   3. THS Robotics Team Donation, Approved 7-0

   4. Superintendent Contract, Approved 6-1 (Miller, Nay)

9. Consent Agenda

10. Closed Session [51:05]

    1. Discuss Strategy and Negotiation of a Collective Bargaining Agreement.

    2. Entered 6:50 PM, Returned 7:56 PM

11. Items Scheduled For Next Agenda

    1. Q3 Strategic Plan Report for 2025-26 School Year

12. Board Member Comments/Discussion [53:12]

13. Adjournment

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In Other Education News:

The New York Times reports there is growing backlash to Chromebooks, and technology in general, in public schools. Chromebooks are trash, in my opinion. They lack access to professional-level applications and programs, have horrific screens, and more often than not inhibit education instead of enhancing it. There is also a report from The Educator’s Room about a lawsuit against the makers of the i-Ready assessment for violating child privacy laws.