The Milan Area Schools Board of Education on Wednesday approved several administrative and financial actions, including a package of policy revisions, the unassignment of most assigned fund balances, and the hiring of a payroll and benefits manager.

Board members moved and supported adoption of the policy updates described in Attachment A, which the board said were needed to reflect recent legal and regulatory changes. The revisions include updates related to the Michigan Earned Sick Time Act, aligning the district’s Title IX/sexual-assault definition with federal guidance, renaming coordinator designations from Brian Gearbot to Ryan McMahon, updated forms and checklists tied to the state requirements, and revisions to academic-credit and graduation wording. The motion passed on roll call, 6-0.

The board also approved a motion to unassign current assigned fund balances except for the Paddock Early Childhood Center (PECC) fund balance. District staff explained PECC is a program-specific pass-through account that receives grant and program-generated revenue and must remain assigned; other assigned balances were described as candidates for reclassification to simplify future budgeting. The motion passed 6-0.

On personnel, the board approved the appointment of Melanie Demartini as payroll/benefits manager effective Jan. 5, 2026. Superintendent McMahon said Demartini brings HR and payroll experience from outside education and is a Milan resident; the motion carried 6-0.

The board also approved routine items earlier in the meeting: minutes from the Nov. 25 special meeting, closed-session minutes from Nov. 25, and payment of bills and reimbursements. Each of those motions passed by roll call or voice vote with unanimous support.

Votes at a glance
- Approve minutes (special meeting 11/25/2025): motion moved by Gutierrez; outcome: approved, 6-0.
- Approve closed-session minutes (11/25/2025): motion moved by Farrow; outcome: approved, 6-0.
- Approve bills and reimbursements: motion moved by Haika; outcome: approved, 6-0.
- Adopt policy revisions (Attachment A): outcome: approved, 6-0.
- Unassign assigned fund balances (excluding PECC): outcome: approved, 6-0.
- Appoint Melanie Demartini, payroll/benefits manager (effective 01/05/2026): outcome: approved, 6-0.

What happens next
District staff indicated the unassignment of fund balances will be reflected in the next budget amendment and that updated policy forms and checklists will be rolled out to buildings. The board scheduled a short public meeting next week and will conduct the superintendent’s evaluation in closed session.