You can watch the meeting live on Zoom or on Xfinity Channel 18 or in person at the Sheraton. The district typically posts the recording split into segments the day after the meeting.
Note: Our family schedule this fall does not make live blogging the meetings easy this year. This year’s meetings have been more routine than 2021-2022. So, I will be recording the meetings on Channel 18 and blogging them as my schedule allows on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.
Call to Order
Roll Call
Note: The Channel 18 recording started in the middle of roll call and without volume. Attendance is based on my observations
Present: Johnson, Kelly, DuPree, Querijero, Lazarus, Baskett, Gaynor
Other Attendees: Swift, Osiniski, Cluley, (some commenters – not shown on camera),
Agenda
Volume started during discussion about the order of the agenda. Querijero expressed desire to change order of meeting.
Kelly said order is typically decided by items of the most interest to public first. Student topics, Public Commentary first, board business last.
Baskett supports it and a focus on Board business at this workshop meeting
Johnson: Querijero motioned move items from the board above pbulic commentary. Kelly rejected. Motion to approve as it stands. If you vote no, Querijero can make another amendment.
Lazarus: Because we do have national Hispanic American Heritage Month, and public commentary. I make a friendly amendment to move Items from the board after public commentary.
Kelly: I want to leave as is.
Querijero: If we have a second, I have a prepared statement that will only take 5 minutes. I think its urgent business.
Querijero: I’m discussing reason for change in agenda. I’m informing folks of my part that will take 5 minutes.
Lazarus: Are you denying my firiendly amendment to put it after commentary.
Johnson: Kelly rejected it.
Vote to approve agenda: Motion fails 5-2. (Voting Yes were Johnson & Kelly)
Querijero: I’d like to change a new agenda where moving Items from the Board immediately after Public Commentary. Seconded by Lazarus.
Baskett: I apologize I didn’t bring my laptop. (Kelly shared agenda with her)
Vote: Approved 5-2.(Voting No were Johnson & Kelly)
National Hispanic American Heritage Month Recognition
We value and honor on every day of the year, but also celebrate during the mid-September and mid-October date. It falls during national independence days for many Latin American neighbor countries.
Public Commentary
As is our practice, we do not cover public commentary. There were 5 comments tonight – 4 of which are on Board Docs.
- Felicia Scott – Mental Health Issues
- Kelly Sexton – Thank you for Burns Park before & after care. Please provide to others
- Jessica Osburn – Please provide before/after care at Haisley. Lack of busing to other child care is an issue. Had to cut hours to avoid lack of before/after care
- Alison Reingold (in person) – Speaking for Pioneer Band Association, Pioneer Orchestra Parents Society, Friends of Pioneer Choirs, Pioneer Theatre Guild Booster Club – Please make a plan with the Pioneer auditorium and theater unusable
- Dr Kimberly Monroe (in person) – Commentary focused on test to stay and the ABC Science Collaborative.
Clarification
Swift: Thank you to all who have spoken this evening.
First, we hear and understand concerns about mental health and do have a number of programs going and hear the concern about communicating it.
We hear concern about before and after care and have communicated with board.
I appreciate concerns of Pioneer performing arts. We continue in meetings every week. Have indicated our support to Pioneer performing arts and support for performances and look forward to attending those.
You’ve been copied on a response to Ms Osburn and will be able to help her and have worked with her daycare for space available.
I do appreciate Dr Monroe information & will share more information on that.
Items from the Board
Querijero: I have a prepared statement. {I had to stop at this point and will resume notes shortly.} Before this meeting I shared information sent by a concerned citizen about statements that Trustee Gaynor has made on social media. Except for one name, I have blocked out the name of the people he has been communicating (editor’s note – screenshots were not shared publicly to my knowledge). I believe these statements are a violation of his oath to boardmanship.
These communications hurt our board as a whole. This is not a singular incident. Last year he was removed as board secretary for being unable to distinguish between the will of the board and his personal opinions.
Recently he left a training session that would help us work together. I find this unacceptable when our community is facing such difficulties.
I respectfully request he be removed from all committees, roles, and responsibilities. I ask other trustees to share their views to see if what I’ve shared is inaccurate, out of line or inappropriate.
Baskett: Just to clarify are we allowing conversation as request at this moment, or somewhere else on agenda.
Johnson: Yes, it is for items from the board and have discussion. If you want to speak on it you may. We moved this up at the board’s vote.
DuPree: I do have an item, but not sure if we’re going to have a discussion on removing Gaynor. I don’t think Querijero was out of line. There is an immediate concern.
Since we’re talking different items how are we going to communicate additional efforts for student mental health. Second leading cause of death youth is suicide. Especially black girls went up ~180%.
Baskett: I want to acknowledge my fellow trustees bringing up important issues. I appreciate Querijero bringing up and would rather a more robust conversation at another time. I don’t want to keep the facilitator waiting.
Querijero: I respect that. What I would say to that is I’m not sure everyone would be here. I brought it to the front, so we don’t have a meeting where we start with 7 and end with 6. I don’t think it’s fair that 6 of us fill that responsibility and if one doesn’t without explanation or conversation. I find it strange others won’t speak up to that. We can’t take care of district if we’re not here.
Kelly: This squarely fits into roles & responsibilities part of the discussion we’re about to have.
Johnson: You mention it’s our job to look after district. Sometimes as president of the board it’s difficult. We sit in an interesting seat. One of the job is to execute what you’re asking to be done. This district is like navigating a large ship. What I’ve learned in my time is when we make rash decisions that haven’t been fully vetted it causes disruption to the system that can hurt people. I try to think things through and not have bombshell pronouncements at the table or think aloud at the table. People don’t tune in to the whole thing and take away in progress discussion. To Baskett’s point, our point to being here is for professional development and we will talk about roles and responsibilities. If it’s something we need to discuss at a later time, it’s not appropriate to draw a line in the sand and have the discussion now.
Querijero: Just because I raise my voice and speak with inflection don’t think I didn’t think things out and being unprepared. I’m very prepared to discuss. I’d say you are mischaracterizing my delivery because I’m passionate about something.
I purposefully tried to show it isn’t the first time. If I recall correctly most of the board have been dealing with this longer. I’ll ask when is the right time? To me it is an urgent issue and circles what the superintendent and our team can do. To me this is pretty transparent since what I shared is in the public view.
Lazarus: I want to make one comment. I understand where you are coming from and share some frustrations. I’m not scared to talk about it in public, but I do want to give it time and thought before we have a discussion. I believe it is something we should and probably will discuss later.
Board Action
The Board voted on Michigan Association of School Board (MASB) Voting Delegates at the delegate assembly on November 11 at 6p.
We can send up to 4 based on our district’s enrollment. I got an email volunteer from Trustee Lazarus, but no one else. Would anyone else.
Lazarus: I volunteered not because I’m looking forward to the 3 hour drive, but I think the work they are doing and 2 years of amendments and adjustments on various bylaws. I’ve looked at a few that are important and new and I think it’s important to give support to them and make sure they’re implemented. I’d be happy to carpool.
Baskett: Those who are not familiar, it is an event that brings forth representatives from districts around the state. It is a fascinating experience having served. It can run the gamut from all nighter to quick and fast because there is consensus. It is nice for those who haven’t participated to come. You get to hear about issues and will get prep work before. It is in person because that is what the bylaws say. But that is one of the issues to prepare for another pandemic. Right now there are at least 34 votes because it’s 2 years. I do normally volunteer. I can’t commit with my new work schedule.
For those not familiar with the agenda, there will be a pre-conference diversity, equity and inclusion workshop. We sponsor it as professional development. If I am able to attend with my work schedule, I will already be there as I’m on the board of directors. I will do it, but don’t want to prevent anyone else from attending.
Johnson: We need a motion to select Lazarus and Baskett as our delegates.
Kelly: Before we have the opportunity to send 4, might we want to name 4 so we can vote all 4 if other trustees are able to go. Is there anyone willing to be a maybe?
DuPree: Maybe
Kelly: A maybe is great because it allows us to have our 4 spots.
Kelly: I move to name Lazarus, Baskett, DuPree, and Johnson as our delegates.
Seconded by DuPree. No discussion. Motion unanimously carries.
Trustees took a 5 minute recess
Board Workshop
The Board Workshop was facilitated by Mary Kerwin from the MASB.
As it is professional development, and the first 5-10 minutes was largely the facilitator talking, I am not going to cover the rest of the meeting.
Motion to Adjourn Meeting
Motioned by Querijero. Seconded by Lazarus.
