Montague Area Public Schools Board Recap — November 10, 2025

Administrative Business

• Call to Order & Mission: The meeting opened with the district mission and the Pledge of Allegiance.
• Roll Call: Members present; a few noted absences were mentioned later during reports.
• Agenda & Consent Agenda: Both were approved unanimously.
  • Personnel Note (Consent Agenda): Resignation of Rachel Marr, a BCSC teacher, who accepted a position in Spring Lake where her children attend.

Public Comment

• No public comments

Student & Program Highlights

DECA Presentation

Two seniors—Kyle Earnest and Noah Raeth—outlined the 2025–26 DECA calendar and their competitive plans:

• State Career Development Conference: Detroit (March).
• International Career Development Conference: Atlanta (aspirational; advancement requires placing high at state).
• Their fundraising “sales project” supports chapter travel and competition fees.
• During Q&A, both cited competition and travel as favorite aspects of DECA.

(Action on the DECA calendar appears under New Business.)

Principal “Meaningful Minute” Updates & Data Snapshots

High School

• Students of the Month: New certificates include a short note from the nominating teacher. Several surprised honorees fit the “under-the-radar but thriving” profile the school wants to uplift.
• SAT Snapshot:
  • Overall, reading/writing performance looks similar to state results; math is weaker relative to benchmarks.
  • Staff are focusing on department-level goals and added SAT prep discussions in math.
  • The state is shifting testing platforms (ACT being phased out in favor of a computer-based workforce-readiness assessment).
• Interventions & Supports:
  • Success Coaching: ~40 students referred based on grades/teacher input.
  • Math Intervention (Algebra & Geometry): 10–15 students (9th–10th graders) scheduled to reteach core content daily.
  • Student Support Counselor: Responding to day-of student crises and connecting supports.
• Attendance: 16% currently flagged as chronically absent (10%+ of hours). This figure includes excused absences (illness, surgery, CTE scheduling, athletics) and suspensions; only eight students have 10+ unexcused absences. Attendance remains a focus since time out of class impacts learning.
• Course Passing Rates:
  • 9th: 97% passing (51% A’s)
  • 10th: 94% passing
  • 11th: 94% passing
  • 12th: 95% passing
  • Online courses currently show CR (credit) status and convert to grades at semester’s end.

Board members asked about surveying students after the SAT (for insights on barriers/motivation) and discussed how test attitudes can ripple into CTE perceptions and funding. There was also a healthy exchange on root-cause analysis—ensuring interventions address why students struggle, not just what they struggle with.

Districtwide Benchmarking (K–8)

• This year, all K–8 buildings aligned on NWEA MAP as the common fall screener (middle school has used it 4–5 years).
• How it works: Computer-adaptive test (~45–50 items/subject) producing RIT scores benchmarked against national norms.
• Fall Results (snapshot): District performance lands around national averages (≈50th percentile) with variation by grade. Teams are targeting students in the red/orange bands (below benchmark) for small-group and course-level supports.
• Cadence: Fall, winter (February window), and spring testing to track growth.
• Curriculum Notes: The new Bookworms reading curriculum and updated elementary math work are beginning to surface as stronger problem-solving skills observed in middle school and incoming freshmen.

Superintendent’s Report

• Staffing Updates:
  • Aides: Additional hires to meet student needs, including Jennifer Lannuccilli (LRE Aide at RRO), Nicole Newmyer (LRE Aide at RRO), Brianne Tapanila (LRE Aide at RRO), and Todd VanNett (LRE Aide at at RRO).
  • Operations: Carson Misiora hired as high school custodian.
• Community Use – New Gymnasium & Walking Track:
  • Current access windows include 6:00–7:00 a.m. and 9:30–10:30 (with additional 7:00–9:00 court/track access when feasible).
  • Considering a volunteer supervision model (iCHAT background check + key card) to improve access while maintaining security.
  • Public access is limited to the walking track (and courts during designated evening hours); student athletic lifting occurs separately with coach supervision.
• Legislative Watch — 31a (At-Risk) Funding:
  • Ongoing state discussion includes problematic language tied to attorney-client privilege.
  • District will hold pending clarification; potential board action may be needed if language does not change.
  • Estimated impact: $160,000–$180,000 annually.
• Agriculture Barn Project:
  • Architects refining the design (classroom + barn) to stay within budget.
  • The facility will include fire separation (barn and classroom treated as separate structures) and necessary suppression systems, which significantly influence cost.

New Business & Board Actions

• DECA 2025–26 Calendar of Events: Approved unanimously.
• Policy Updates — First Reading (no vote):
  • 2210 Curriculum Development: Clarifies sex-based nondiscrimination references.
  • 2412 Homebound Instruction: Aligns with pupil accounting manual provisions.
  • 5517 Bullying/Aggressive Behavior: Language under review; admin verifying distinctions between required vs model policy language.
  • 7540.02 Digital Content Accessibility: Updates for ADA compliance and DOJ guidance.
  • 7541 (Rescinded): Integrated into the district’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), which requires annual sign-offs by police, fire, and public health leaders.
  • 8305 Information Security: Adds cybersecurity language/options.
  • 1422/3122/4122 Nondiscrimination: Aligns across employee groups and Title IX, with expanded coverage to electronic/off-campus behavior (prompted board discussion of First Amendment considerations).
  • 2266 (Title IX-related) also flagged for clarifying alignment between federal and Michigan language.
  • NEOLA Representative Change: From Darlene Donillo to Ann Carton (former superintendent).
• Closed Session: The Board entered closed session (roll-call vote: Yes) for a student discipline hearing following a brief recess.

At a Glance

• DECA travel approved; students eye Detroit → Atlanta competitive pathway.
• HS reading/writing tracking near state; math remains an improvement focus with added interventions.
• NWEA MAP now standardized K–8, enabling better trend/growth tracking.
• Community gym access expanding with a potential volunteer/key-card model.
• Watching state changes to 31a At-Risk language—$160–$180K at stake.
• Ag barn design refined to meet code and budget.

Montague Area Public Schools Board Recap – October 13, 2025

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