[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6226390,"mediaKeyId","3511398-4bc893925959d7f16572a1335ee3c0a5","parentId",3511398,"title","Parent urges board to reinstate Plymouth Elementary teacher after classroom conflict","audioSeconds",146,"startMs",3660000,"endMs",3806000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3511398-4bc893925959d7f16572a1335ee3c0a5&start=3660&end=3806","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3511398-4bc893925959d7f16572a1335ee3c0a5/thumbnail_3660000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6226390/Michigan/Parent-urges-board-to-reinstate-Plymouth-Elementary-teacher-after-classroom-conflict","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226390-ac2c62a561059eae7e40d405c488076e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771059720&Signature=HEOCvpesgBCNh5YHo7mxFsCvB~HSqBJmd38FtvSpTqDyHBWUlEPMwG6GPQZCE5zLunSh3af91RC4CY071XR3c1HlFOSKGO4hT-xfBvoWoN8K7v~yUBpKqOTernQ4lpkVYATchO8suoRcMKdYfDZji90eCIlSCXxnJu~WvBCFXdIN6d0rMRHvwOTVSfp-NstHnZ~cx5dyWnRiuzAt3np9wj~RthD3l97-I-1Ls2PsyuaNYUhsbjGLD~BosjeMWbPmEnw1XmDNgGfvoj3twGERaz7oO--wImqwkHn91JHb75mCpzNStnrmUaGmBA8c05Jo1IgSSC2IA7paX4AVicHL5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Midland Public Schools","date","2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","article","A Plymouth Elementary parent addressed the Midland Public Schools Board of Education on May 19 requesting the reinstatement of a fifth-grade teacher and raising concerns about how the school communicated the change to students.

What she told the board: The parent said her son came home emotionally distressed after being told the teacher, identified as Katie Condon in the comment, would 'no longer be allowed to teach moving forward,' and that multiple adults had given students the impression the child was responsible for the teacher's removal. The parent described ongoing concerns earlier in the year about the handling of alleged emotional and mental abuse from previous instructors and said she had raised those concerns with the principal multiple times.

The parent praised Condon's classroom approach and asked the board to 'reevaluate the culture within Plymouth Elementary and help to reinstate Mrs. Condon.' Board chair asked the parent to follow up with district staff after the meeting.

Board response: Chair requested that the parent follow up with district staff and said the board would appreciate specific details for staff to review. No formal personnel action was taken at the meeting; this was a public comment asking for administrative follow-up.

Ending: The board invited the parent to provide specifics to staff after the meeting so administration can address the complaint per district procedures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Midland Public Schools | Board of Education Regular Meeting - May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Plymouth Elementary parent told the board a favored fifth-grade teacher was removed and that students were told the child caused the decision; the parent asked the board to reassess the school's culture and reinstate the teacher.","taxTitle","Midland Public Schools, School Boards, Michigan","taxId",38797,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6226394,"Board approves meal price increase; staff say rise is driven by federal equity rule",242,5011000,5253000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3511398-4bc893925959d7f16572a1335ee3c0a5&start=5011&end=5253","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3511398-4bc893925959d7f16572a1335ee3c0a5/thumbnail_5011000.jpg","/articles/6226394/Michigan/Board-approves-meal-price-increase-staff-say-rise-is-driven-by-federal-equity-rule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226394-a2624c8513788272354a5391ae72e44a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771059720&Signature=mnMKDHHgnBf9RM8e8Cspku~fC4S4auoaXUgTLGFuR6TQJ2iTb5hQCOb9CXMOo--GPuRbrdV2ty9gfLji~y3WrGGJiFJevqOiaN8rU8wzR2-l4mhDmtdJvq17GjWF7cGPeKV3f8aGrq0VNiCT1FJrDEHsswRRG-rPQM4ZROF1CrNCoHopHvpgFsMVhE8zdlg1HQtyo4HSe9s4TSS2Up22vMik8ax1Ic4nNUOZUzJbdkE4VZBDu~~9YZEBEB8HSW1Uzig96WBmWVuet49NTw5fmZiSbHxhOGev-Gyj3OB6gajC~UBQHbUW-Q-5QgvjVaJyzwR-HV1lO5Zr-fatUdrxug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Midland Public Schools Board of Education on May 19 approved a districtwide increase in breakfast and lunch prices for the 2025-26 school year to comply with federal pricing requirements and cover rising costs.

What the board approved: Administration recommended a 75-cent-per-meal increase for both elementary and secondary breakfast and lunch. After approval, the new prices will be:
- Elementary breakfast: $2.80
- Elementary lunch: $3.70
- Secondary breakfast: $3.10
- Secondary tiered lunches: $3.95, $4.45, and $4.95 (base and higher tiers listed in district materials)
Reduced-price lunches will remain at 40 cents as required by federal law; milk pricing is unaffected by this action.

Why administration recommended the increase: Anna Womack reported the increase is prompted by the requirements of Section 205 of the 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act (equity in school lunch pricing) and that the last price adjustment occurred in 2023. Womack said the district follows a required calculation rather than setting prices arbitrarily.

Board action: Treasurer Lauterbach moved the motion to increase meal prices; Secretary Ringgold seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.

Context: Trustees noted a pending proposed state school-aid budget item that, if enacted, could continue universal free meals; the board acknowledged that possibility while approving the required price changes now to comply with current law.

Ending: The board will implement the new prices for the 2025-26 school year unless a later change in state or federal funding alters the district's meal pricing obligations.","Midland Public Schools trustees voted to raise student breakfast and lunch prices by 75 cents for 2025-26, citing requirements under Section 205 of the 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act and prior price-setting law.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6226400,"Midland board approves hires; new principals and staff honored at meeting",160,134000,294000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3511398-4bc893925959d7f16572a1335ee3c0a5&start=134&end=294","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3511398-4bc893925959d7f16572a1335ee3c0a5/thumbnail_134000.jpg","/articles/6226400/Michigan/Midland-board-approves-hires-new-principals-and-staff-honored-at-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226400-cc1c2351d420b62b6b586334362407f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771059720&Signature=Drz4kkPFpXkJBjKjXMMyczMbSUU8umPKK4p0xKljhJuL4JMiw6Zi6yiRerUaru8MaEw3uy~jJeM0132p8KF77KKZk6mHK4xj6aqgnvZYj0X4eO5zO8LqLdvxaoQKycpcdKU2-heD777GZIR24k9MfBZLbdVq0hHIqobylsRCSOafmUyCCCO4tEqD6vXzMyWBk-KfCs2ZQIgnjYQXEwRsDFPJRZr5lFE6C8PhSGsWKe350eFUpk1MoDPkCwJraDx8G5LsN6-0eXwxCN8h-Ib7FQhZMsX1~jAJJhBLocjATsv6AwGc2P9kDZPqA9a0D4djUwxDibSHNU-NTtDoyBouCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Midland Public Schools Board of Education approved its consent agenda on May 19, which included recommended hires and staff resignations, and recognized newly hired administrators and two employee awardees.

What happened: Trustees adopted the consent agenda approving items 2.1 through 2.6. The consent package included approval of minutes, a food service contract renewal, recommended hires, listed resignations, payment of school system bills for March 2025 totaling $8,760,415, and authorization of professional legal payments as listed in the agenda packet. Member Horowitz moved the consent motion and Treasurer Lauterbach seconded; the board approved the motion by voice vote.

New administrators: The board introduced three administrators who addressed the audience after the consent vote. Chelsea (full last name given in packet but not stated in transcript excerpt) said she is the next principal of Central Park Elementary and described her background from kindergarten teacher to assistant principal and her priorities for reading achievement and family partnerships. Katie Rinke said she is joining Seabert (Siebert) as principal after 14 years at Mount Pleasant Public Schools; she and her family live in Midland. Kevin Schwedler said he is returning from Frankenmuth High School and expressed enthusiasm for supporting student-athletes and academic programs.

Shining Stars and staff recognition: The board honored two employees as 'shining stars.' Katie Hilliard, family intervention specialist at Central Park Elementary since 2015, was recognized for building family connections, designing supports for student behavior and bringing community resources to families. Katie Fitchitt, a special education paraprofessional at Jefferson Middle School since 2021, was recognized for consistent classroom support and student advocacy.

Ending: Trustees welcomed the new administrators and thanked the honored staff for their service. Board members invited the newly approved administrators and awardees to leave early if they wished after the recognition.","The board approved consent items including recommended hires and recognized new principals and staff members named as 'shining stars.' Chelsea (last name in transcript), Katie Rinke and Kevin Schwedler introduced themselves to the board.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6226406,"Northeast Middle School principals and staff point to culture teams, data for improved climate",848,1569000,2417000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3511398-4bc893925959d7f16572a1335ee3c0a5&start=1569&end=2417","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3511398-4bc893925959d7f16572a1335ee3c0a5/thumbnail_1569000.jpg","/articles/6226406/Michigan/Northeast-Middle-School-principals-and-staff-point-to-culture-teams-data-for-improved-climate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226406-8b17209819247eac337e43212efdb55b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771059720&Signature=kllt2reW3qa4zo9rHMnIyVYu2~n2cW5rWIX-QnsM4qMdLva7RzaCBpN2gYsMNQ6EIuo2-Xy3RTj4WcZJtcTylELFRpLlJ267l7oPOBGAxangh~GahYFms9sprTRFsd31I3Wnj1V0KzXTGaLQFSXfJBsDvbIcjFkAXshIun3azuhoD5tvO7IwX~g3PW~Lzy8AxDGTjEe1~wWUuYVyIV0bGm5Mt8eAs9-TbHStmSjkRlLNY25sipsagQDHaf7BtJVzEmhrpE2JYMHAbjO~DuhFOO3eStO7rdaU1AmvFZmzQXDLOaINdDidmEt1uzCgeDYeBa0bztuv8fwCPbjWGi0aXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Northeast Middle School leaders on May 19 outlined steps taken this year to strengthen school climate and staff collaboration, telling the Midland Public Schools Board of Education that the changes were grounded in staff feedback and student perception surveys.

Why it matters: School climate correlates with student engagement and academic success, administrators said, and Northeast used both qualitative staff input and quantitative student perception data to shape interventions.

Principal Keith Seibert said he interviewed staff individually after assuming the lead principal role and launched 'coffee and cookies' sessions to hear concerns directly. Seibert said the effort reached about 70% of staff and produced ideas that fed into formal culture teams.

The school formed four subgroups addressing student culture, staff culture, parent culture and a data team, Seibert said. Learning coach Jen Lennon told trustees the school used the Michigan Student Voice student perception survey to examine sense of belonging, social-emotional indicators and engagement. Lennon said Northeast scored at or above a consortium of 108 districts on most measures, but identified a lowest-scoring question: whether students have open discussions with peers about different cultures and backgrounds.

Staff culture lead Christy Volmering and other teachers described more frequent staff recognition (a 'Thor award'), student events such as tailgates and a talent show, and an increase in participation for both students and staff. Parent culture lead Jen Jaster said the group is working to present grade-level proficiency skills and improve how the district's Synergy portal displays standards-based progress so parents and students can track growth more easily.

Assistant principal Kyle Woodruff said the school plans a 'Standards-Based 101' orientation station for families to explain proficiency scales versus traditional grades and to help parents navigate Synergy.

Ending: Trustees asked how the board could support the school; Seibert said continued district support for staff professional development and the occasional conference has helped and that stability among custodial and operations staff matters for long-term maintenance of improvements.

","Northeast Middle School leaders told the Midland school board they created staff, student and parent culture teams and are using student perception data to guide improvements in belonging, engagement and communications with families.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6226410,"Midland board vows to regroup after voters reject $285 million facility bond",627,2563000,3190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3511398-4bc893925959d7f16572a1335ee3c0a5&start=2563&end=3190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3511398-4bc893925959d7f16572a1335ee3c0a5/thumbnail_2563000.jpg","/articles/6226410/Michigan/Midland-board-vows-to-regroup-after-voters-reject-285-million-facility-bond","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226410-c9422546e27abd08954b2548029ce4b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771059720&Signature=AWEmGBf7oh9kXILu7b4Bm21uoR-bTqjZec2m-OboLLDRSdwptmfVDd0GLf4Mky4~Zv4l7twxHqosxqvCCLscc35B-GR-I4Mv1CN8bSQztv-UyEAsWthD8uTG111PGszyFRjcmjJTKKaS2eTmDeoI3jvYIoGCKmzWWRFa2ED7~~Kbpfl9bIYl5fhXu-5W6IFIZlDw2~m1HZC2vd6XJ85kTiQZsxd2EizdCxWh2B8NSds7q0afL-TOm5Jy6o-Sky-l5NVRYZ~0NSf4L8G5TRCyx980GrjbaHJugkkF6SCKE-cO-j8gnrvstvb564DW4p9YAr2P6bVuDWUUciyeQV8VWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Midland Public Schools Board of Education on May 19 said it will return to the community to redesign a facilities plan after voters rejected the district\u0018s $285 million facility improvement bond.

Why it matters: Board members and administrators said the district still faces substantial building needs across nine aging buildings and that the defeat does not remove those needs. They proposed new community outreach, a narrower project scope, and alternative funding options such as a sinking fund.

Board members described three main reasons many voters opposed the bond: the total dollar amount and number of projects, perceived inclusion of noncritical amenities (a pool was repeatedly mentioned by commenters), and a view that the proposal did not plan far enough into long-term facilities needs. Board member John Lauderback said the community's prior growth created the district's current infrastructure and argued the district has an obligation to maintain the buildings.

Superintendent Penny Miller Nelson and board members said they plan to collect more detailed, representative feedback before returning to voters. Miller Nelson and Director of Facilities Mike Mogenberg were thanked by trustees for leading a multi-year, districtwide effort and for extensive community engagement; the board cited 61 community conversations and about 1,700 survey responses.

Public commentators at the meeting reiterated themes from the campaign. Several asked the district to be more transparent about itemized costs and alternatives, to avoid financing short-lived items over long terms, and to consider a smaller-scope sinking fund rather than another large bond. One speaker urged a sinking fund approach capped near 1.95 mills to yield roughly $5.9 million a year for prioritized repairs.

Board members acknowledged the criticism. Lauderback said, in part, that 'if anybody thinks that we're going to get new or renovated school buildings with no tax increase or for less than $285,000,000 they got another thing coming.' Trustee Becky (last name used in meeting) urged residents who voted no to say what would get them to yes so the district can design a plan that better reflects community priorities.

The board also said earlier commitments not included in the bond remain active: the district continues to pursue a robotics facility (inspections and a possible closing are underway), is negotiating expanded performance dates with the Midland Center for the Arts to support music and theater, and is convening an aquatics committee to search for pool space solutions.

What happened next: The trustees asked Penny Miller Nelson and Trustee Penny (board member) to return in roughly a month with recommendations for re-engagement and next steps. No new bond was proposed or scheduled at the May 19 meeting.

Context and next steps: Board members said many district buildings are decades old and need phased capital work. They pledged a renewed public engagement process to identify a narrower, better-explained package that could attract broader voter support.

Ending: Board members asked residents to continue submitting specific ideas and to engage with committees that will be reconvened as the district develops a revised facilities strategy.","Midland Public Schools board members and administrators said they will re-engage the community and revisit scope and funding after voters rejected the district's May bond proposal, citing concerns about size, transparency and priorities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parent urges board to reinstate Plymouth Elementary teacher after classroom conflict

Board approves meal price increase; staff say rise is driven by federal equity rule

Midland board approves hires; new principals and staff honored at meeting

Northeast Middle School principals and staff point to culture teams, data for improved climate

Midland board vows to regroup after voters reject $285 million facility bond