Onaway Schools Board of Education April 9, 2024

Onaway Board of Education Meeting 

Onaway Public School Multi-Media Room

Attendees: Jim Reiger, President; Erin Chaskey, Vice-President; Lorri Kowalski, Secretary; John Palmer, Treasurer. Trustees:  Mike Hart, Annette Porter, Jeremy Veal, Supt. Horn

Citizens:    100+ (LW estimate)

APPROVAL OF MARCH 12, 2024 MEETING MINUTES.  So approved as presented.

APPROVAL OF APRIL 9, 2024 AGENDA.  Motion by Jim Reiger to move Agenda Item #9 (Citizens Present/Time) from Item #9 to Item #6.f for the purpose of citizens comments prior to Board action.  All ayes, no nays, aapproved. 

INFORMATION ITEMS:

  1. Superintendent Horn reported:  an honor to announce and accept a generous donation of $10,000 by Gail Elowsky’s sister, Kathy to the Onaway girls basketball program in honor of her mother who played on the Onaway girls basketball team in 1933,  and also in honor of Fred Elowsky.  

  2. Resolution by Annette Porter, supported by John Palmer to approve resolution re: operating millage introduced read and accepted by all board members; explained this will be on the August election ballot and is a RENEWAL of the OPERATING MILLAGE which expires 2024.  Operating millage allows the school to continue operations (facilities, staff, transportation, etc. ALL general operating expenses) This is NOT a ‘new’ tax – a RENEWAL of the existing 18 mills and only non-homestead (i.e. second homes; vacation homes, etc.) are affected.  There is misinformation stating this is #1 – a tax on ALL property, when in FACT it is ONLY non-homestead properties and #2 – a ‘new/additional’ tax when it is a RENEWAL.

  3. Principals report (Bryan) Out-of-state travel for Onabots to Houston TX for WORLD COMPETITION June 23-30, 2024!!!This is a GREAT ACHIEVEMENT and truly a ONCE IN A LIFETIME event for this team, the school and the community!  Out of 3300 teams world-wide to compete in local/regional/state tournaments, Onaway Onabots qualified in the top 20% of teams in world competitions!  Six Hundred (600) teams world-wide qualified to compete! Eighteen team members will be participating.  Making arrangements to hopefully live-stream the competition. While in Houston area, hoping to schedule some sightseeing tours for the team (i.e. NASA; ocean, etc.)  Donations to help off-set the expenses would be greatly appreciated and can be made through the school office. GO ONAWAY ONABOTS!  Motion by Jeremy Veal, supported by Annette Porter to approve the requested out-of-state travel request for the Onaway Onabots to Houston TX for the Robotic World Championship as requested.  All ayes no nays, motion passed.  

  4. Motion to approve Out-Of-State travel to Gatlinburg TN for 2024 Senior Class trip.  All ayes, no nays, motion passed.

  5. Students are in process of testing and data will be gathered and shared when available. 

  6. Citizens Present/Time. Topics of discussion presented by citizen attendees to board members:   *robust presentations/responses/gavel pounding between citizens/board*

  1. Danger of extreme ‘Christian philosophy’. Ignorance = Fear

  2. School Board Members posting on social media encouraging voters to Vote ‘NO’ on millage. Discussion asking for definition of ‘woke’

  3. Community member didn’t appreciate comments by board members on sexual identity and division within the community

  4. Question of specifically WHO within school staff will report to parents on a students’ suspected sexual identity?

  5. Kids are reading board members posts on social media

  6. Asks board members to sign a Pledge form to be civil during election for board:

Pledge as provided states:  DURING THE CAMPAIGN FOR SCHOOL BOARD, I WILL NOT ENGAGE IN PERSONAL ATTACKS OR NAME-CALLING AGAINST ANYONE *AT A MEETING; *IN PUBLIC PLACES; *ON SOCIAL MEDIA

PLEDGE SIGNED BY THREE BOARD MEMBERS

PLEDGE NOT SIGNED BY FOUR BOARD MEMBERS

  1.  Expressed appreciation for respect shown her at last meeting

  2. Poster displayed accusing citizens (school staff, retired staff, private citizens, et. al) of ‘grooming’ students and speaking against any sex identity in school

  3. Stated illegality of school advising students on sexual identity

  4. Freedom of Information Act costs and charges

  5. Question to the  board re: spending $65,000 in legal fees in the past 14 months?  Represents 50% of the total legal fee expenses over the past 9 years. Question if the board members feel it’s their responsibility to oversee/operate the schools day-to-day operations? Explained the 18 mills OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL and the board member’s social media post encouraging a ‘VOTE NO’ is wrong and has the potential to bankrupt the school – morally, spiritually and financially. 

  6. Must have care for ALL kids

  7. Don’t allow sexual ideology to school.  No ‘woke’

  8. Children should be comfortable going to staff in privacy. Citizen admonished by President Reiger to either face the board (and NOT the community in attendance) or she must stop talking

  9. Ms. Chaskey recognized staff member Ms. Wregglesworth for presenting at a national seminar and recognized for her excellent ‘lesson plans’. The board then lectured on board policy re: ‘detailed’ lesson plans and the storage of same. Supt Horn replied a “great idea and encourages Ms. Chaskey and the board to share their ideas/philosophies on ‘detailed’ lesson plans”

8:15 p.m. Board adjourned to CLOSED SESSION for evaluation of Superintendent Horn 

10:15 p.m. Board reconvenes. Results of Supt. Horn’s evaluation will be tabulated and reported at May 14, 2024 Board of Education meeting

10:15 p.m. Motion to adjourn. All ayes, no nays. Motion carried.