Meeting Notes: October 13th, 2025

Parental opt-outs and $750k blunders

Members absent: none

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!