By Crystal Hayduk
Chelsea High School will have a new sign at its entrance on Freer Road later this fall. The Chelsea School District (CSD) Board of Education (BOE) approved the change at its work session and meeting on Sept. 21.
A memo from Ryan Spencer, director of technology, said the existing sign has reached the end of its service life. Replacing the sign will ensure CSD’s continued ability to communicate important messages to students, families, staff, and the community.
The project will be fulfilled by Bill Carr Signs, the company with the “… strongest combination of functionality, serviceability, local support, and overall value,” wrote Spencer in his memo.
The total cost of the replacement sign with a 10 mm display, a 4G router with lifetime broadband, installation, and ongoing support is $54,515, to be paid for with 2019 bond funds.
Superintendent Mike Kapolka said that, weather permitting, installation should begin in November and the sign should be in service in December.
The BOE approved the 2026-2028 district goals. Through additional work done by district administrators over the last two months, the goals have been revised to bring greater clarity regarding specific outcomes and progress measurement.
The goals include the following:
- Career and Technical Education – By Spring 2028, the CSD will improve student access to Career and Technical Education by ensuring that at least 95% of interested students are able to enroll in their preferred CTE course selection at Chelsea High School.
- Safety, Security, and Well-being – By Spring 2028, CSD will strengthen student and staff safety and well-being by completing independent reviews of the district’s physical safety and security systems and mental health supports, and implementing at least 90% of the newly identified recommendations through those reviews.
- K to 8 Literacy – By Spring 2028, the CSD will strengthen literacy outcomes for all K to 8 students through high-quality instruction and targeted interventions, with 85% of students demonstrating grade-level proficiency and 75% meeting or exceeding growth, as measured by NWEA MAP (Measures of Academic Progress).
The BOE approved updates to the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), a plan that serves to guide how CSD prepares for, responds to, and recovers from emergencies that may affect students, staff, schools, or the community. The EOP, which is reviewed every other year, is developed and reviewed in coordination with district leadership, the BOE, and CSD’s public safety partners, which include the Chelsea Police Department, Chelsea Area Fire Authority, Washtenaw County Emergency Management, and the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office.
The full meeting, which included a work session digging into district data, was recorded and can be viewed in its entirety through a link on the district’s YouTube channel here.
Upcoming date:
- The next regular school board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 5 in the media center at Chelsea High School, 740 N. Freer Rd.
