By Crystal Hayduk
The Chelsea School District (CSD) Board of Education (BOE) learned that the district has received bids for projects planned for next spring and summer at its meeting on Nov. 2. In his report to the board, Superintendent Mike Kapolka said the bids came in at around $11 million as expected.
Kapolka said next steps will be identifying the lowest bids and conducting post-bid interviews to obtain firm estimates.
With trustee Eric Wilkinson absent, the board approved changing the superintendent evaluation from annually to every other year. The Michigan Revised School Code allows school districts to make this change after an administrator has received an Effective rating or higher for three consecutive years. Kapolka has met these requirements. His next formal evaluation will be in the 2027-28 school year.
The BOE also approved the final version of the Sex Education Advisory Board (SEAB) membership criteria and selection process. The composition of membership is established by state law, with oversight by local school districts. Key points include a membership term length of three years, renewable one time, but not to exceed two terms; limited to one household or family member; and commitment to attend a minimum of 80% of meetings during a cycle of curriculum review.
Student liaisons will be selected through a different process for a term length of one year, and they may serve up to three years or until graduation, whichever comes first.
The board discussed the selection process for the Design Advisory Team (DAT), established through the CSD BOE Bond Committee. The DAT will exist to provide stakeholder input as the district explores the possibility of new bond funding in 2027. A final version of the plan is expected to be approved at a future meeting.
Sam McKee, Chelsea High School (CHS) assistant principal, introduced Alexandra “Alex” Doering, an English teacher. She earned her bachelor’s degree in literature, language, and writing from Eastern Michigan University. Doering is a CHS graduate and has worked in the district as a long-term sub, but most recently taught in Stockbridge.
A video recording of the meeting can be viewed on the district’s YouTube channel here.
In other board news:
- Adam Schilt, Beach Middle School Principal, and Assistant Principal Kaitlyn Gasparovich introduced seventh-grade Student of the Month for November, Emerson Hoffman.
- Sam McKee introduced junior Antonio Reisinger, the CHS November Student of the Month.
- The board discussed updates to 11 policies, which will be voted on at a future meeting. They can be viewed as attachments to the meeting’s agenda here.
Upcoming dates:
- There will be a half day of school on Nov. 12.
- The next school board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 16 in the board room at the Washington Street Education Center.
- There will be no school Nov. 25-27 for Thanksgiving break.
