Wayland Union Board of Education

The Wayland Union Board of Education met on Monday, October 12th, at the Administration Office for their regular meeting.

Meeting Presentation

All consent agenda items were approved.

John Syers, Transportation Department

• Congratulated for receiving a statewide recognition for Bus Fleet Safety.

Report on the Annual Audit

• Corey VanDyke and Jessie Klisz from Plante Moran gave the 2025-2026 year end report. The presentation can be found within the meeting slides, only major recommendation is to ensure all processes have a two person approval process.

Committee Meeting Report - Athletics, Fine Arts & Extracurricular Activities Committee

• Norman Taylor reported that the group met on September 14th. Mr. Applin presented updates on middle and high school athletics. Mrs. Smith shared an overview of the fine arts programs, including upcoming performance dates, and Mrs. Fulk provided updates on the Odyssey of the Mind and Robotics programs.

Committee Meeting Report - Policy Committee

• Norman Taylor reported that the committee met on September 28th to review the differences between the district’s previous and current policy providers following the recent transition.

Student Board Representatives Report

• Macy Schwartz and Julie VanDuine reported that students are preparing for first-trimester exams. Student Council wrapped up Homecoming and its Family, Friends, Heroes fundraiser, which raised $14,000, and NHS inducted new members last week. PALs is organizing weekly check-ins with middle school students and offering placements in elementary classrooms, while ECO Club is working to reduce food waste and SADD is planning Hallowed Halls. The debate team is enjoying a successful season. Volleyball won its first district games, soccer has had a strong season so far, and girls swim is preparing for an upcoming conference meet. Football has two games remaining, boys tennis celebrated Senior Night on September 29th during its final home match, and girls golf finished the season on a strong note. Band will compete in its final competition at Rockford next week.

Governance Team Good News

• Theresa Dobry just shared her youngest son, Brady, just got engaged. Tim Reeves shared that Monday was a great professional development day within the district.

A parent addressed the board during public comment to express concerns about a perceived disconnect within the football program. The parent emphasized a desire for positive change to improve students’ experiences and strengthen the program for future seasons, encouraging those in leadership positions to participate in the conversation.

Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations

• Leslie Wagner presented the 2026-2027 General Fund update through the end of September, including a comparison of expenditures and revenue, and noted that the district will receive its first state aid payment in October. Food Service provided more than 50,000 servings in September and will celebrate Apple Crunch Day on Thursday. Mrs. Wagner recognized the strong coverage of athletic events this fall and reported that fall safety drills are underway. Transportation is seeking two additional drivers, and the district purchased the house next to Baker Elementary. An Administrative Assistant for Finance and Operations was hired last week. Maintenance staff are completing HVAC maintenance and routine fall and winter checklist items, while the Business Office is preparing for open enrollment in a few weeks.

Gun Lake Tribe Revenue Sharing Report for 2025-2026

• Leslie Wagner thanked the Gun Lake Tribe for its continued support of the district, which received $2,088,910 this past year through the revenue sharing program. Highlights from 2025-2026 included purchasing classroom supplies, eliminating pay-to-play fees, funding the school nurse and safety officer positions, purchasing new school buses, maintaining the one-to-one student device program, providing supplies for extracurricular, fine arts, and athletic programs, and renovating Steeby Elementary’s parking lot.

Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services

• Teresa Fulk reported that today’s professional development focused on Capturing Kids’ Hearts, PBIS, literacy updates, and collaboration with PLC teams. The student device committee will begin meeting next week to evaluate the use of iPads and Chromebooks. The Technology Department is working through the bidding process for a sound system for the new pool. Mrs. Fulk also shared updates on a new elementary grading system focused on language arts and revisions to the strategic plan that include more specific supporting goals. Planning is underway for another Stronger Together Parent Education Series specifically focused on Protect Young Eyes.

Superintendent

• Tim Reeves shared that he recently attended a Superintendent conference focused primarily on artificial intelligence and noted that the athletic director is beginning to build partnerships with youth sports programs. Following last Wednesday’s count day, all districts in Allegan County are projecting enrollment declines. Third-grade students will visit Jijak this Wednesday for a learning day with the Gun Lake Tribe. Mr. Reeves also expressed interest in providing a bond update to the board during the October work session.

Summer Tax Resolution

• Leslie Wagner explained that this item is presented annually and requires approval before the end of the calendar year. Approval allows the district to collect funds through a 50/50 process.

2026-27 31aa Funding

• Tim Reeves explained that the district declined this state funding last year due to liability concerns. Since then, changes and compromises have been made regarding how the funding may be used. The district would like to pursue the funding to support safety and security efforts. Participation would require board approval of a resolution, which would be presented at a later date.

Refunding of Bonds

• Leslie Wagner explained that the process is similar to refinancing a mortgage. Two existing obligations are eligible for refinancing, with potential savings of 2%, which is the threshold many districts use when deciding whether to proceed. Tim Reeves noted that pursuing this opportunity would be a fiscally responsible step for the community.

Strategic Plan 2026-2031

• Approved.

High School Field Trip to New York City

• Approved.

Closed Session - Superintendent Evaluation

• Approved.

Board Member Comments

• Erin Stepek recognized the band for earning a color guard accolade at its most recent competition, the first such recognition since 2012.
• Stephanie Tromp commended the band, shared that she attended the Dorr PTO Carnival, and expressed appreciation for the Homecoming window paintings.

Becky Hohnke and Peter Zondervan were absent from the meeting.

The meeting took a 7 minute recess before entering closed session at 6:57pm.

*Please note: This is a summary of the meeting. Official board minutes will be approved at the next regular meeting being help on November 9th at 6pm. The meeting will be held at the Administration Office.