Board Briefs is a monthly newsletter published after Board of Education meetings. For additional information, please contact the Communications Department at 591-0852.

For the second consecutive year, a Davison Middle School student has been selected as a National Award winner for the National Junior Honor Society Outstanding Achievement Award. Eighth grader Bronwyn Alvarado was one of three students to apply for the scholarship this year, according to

NJHS and DMS Teacher Mrs. Shawnna Shorkey.

Recipients are chosen based on their demonstrated work to support the five pillars of NJHS: scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. Bronwyn will receive $500 toward a college savings account to use toward her higher education.

Pictured below are: left to right, Superintendent Matt Lobban, Bronwyn and Board President Holly Halabicky.

Premiere substitute teacher Mrs. Andrea Derricks has been named as the May recipient of the Kids First award.

Each month, administrators nominate a DCS employee or contracted staff member who best exemplifies what it means to be “Kids First.” Winners receive a $100 Visa gift card thanks to Mark Owen, owner of MEEMIC insurance agencies in Davison and Flint Township, and a certificate. The winner is chosen at random.

Andrea was nominated by Hahn Intermediate Dean of Students Mrs. Amy Renye, Assistant Principal Mrs. Keri Collins and Principal Verle Gilbert, who penned:

"(We) enthusiastically nominate Andrea Derricks as the recipient of May’s Kids First Award. Over the past three years, Andrea has adeptly filled various long-term teaching positions, spanning from 6th grade English Language Arts to 6th grade Comprehensive Arts Program, and 5th-grade Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Despite being designated as a substitute teacher, Andrea excels in building strong connections with both students and staff and fostering a positive learning environment. She consistently engages with families to garner their support and fulfills all responsibilities expected of permanent faculty members. In numerous instances, Andrea has provided a stabilizing presence in classrooms she's covered, often staying until the end of the academic year. Secretaries have also commented on her willingness to cover classes and her timeliness with submitting necessary items. Her efforts to support the students of Hahn Intermediate are recognized by not only us in the office but also by the staff and students.

Former students attest to her dedication, kindness, unwavering positivity, generosity and putting kids first.

Hannah says "Ms. Derricks works hard to make us work hard and to like each other. She is really helpful and nice. I miss talking to her every day."

Logan reports that, "Ms. D. loves my drawings! She is kind to everyone and cares a lot!"

Chris said, "How does Ms. Derricks put kids first?" he replied, "I have got to think real hard, cuz I gotta get a good one for Ms. D. She is a sweet, kind and generous person. She never lets anyone get the bad side of her."

One of her teaching colleagues states, “You can see the positive impact Ms. Derricks has had on the students, staff, and parents of Davison. I have witnessed former students stopping by to visit her to share what is happening in their lives. Fellow teachers light up when they see her. I know of stories where parents are genuinely happy that Ms. Derricks will be working with their children. Personally, she has become someone who I depend on for advice and guidance.”

Pictured below are Principal Verle Gilbert, Dean of Students Amy Renye, Assistant Principal Keri Collins, Mrs. Andrea Derricks, Board President Holly Halabicky and Superintendent Matt Lobban.

We are very fortunate to have many, many dedicated individuals from our community who are passionate and loyal in their support and service to the students and staff at Davison Community Schools. To acknowledge these fine citizens, we have established the Cardinal Spirit award.

Individuals can be nominated by any DCS staff member. Once a month, the building principal can submit one name for that month's drawing. This month, we are pleased to announce our winners for May. Corrie Arthur and Jennifer Courtland of the Kids Hope USA mentorship program were nominated by Siple Elementary Principal Christy Flowers, who wrote:

"It was 14 years ago that a wide-eyed, enthusiastic young lady approached (former superintendent) Eric Lieske about her dream to bring the Kids Hope USA mentoring program to the Davison Community Schools. She had participated in the program on the west side of the state during her college years. Kids Hope USA is a program that provides mentors to students by partnering one church with one school. They recruit and train the mentors. Then they partner with their “adopted” school to not only provide mentors that visit their assigned student one day a week, but they also provide support and encouragement in a variety of ways throughout each school year. The mentors begin working with their assigned student with the goal of following them all the way through their time at Siple. I have witnessed incredible relationships form and students transformed through the work of our Kids Hope Mentors.

None of this would have happened without the tenacity of a young Corrie Arthur. Her heart for making a difference in the lives of children was absolutely contagious. She took her dream to her church, Journey Ministries, to gain their partnership and support. Mentors were trained and in place that first year and we instantly saw the positive influence these dedicated individuals had on our students. Fourteen years later, Corrie is still actively involved in our Kids Hope Program as a mentor. As the founding Kids Hope USA leader, Corrie made sure when it was time for her to step back from the leadership role that she found an equally enthusiastic and talented leader to step in and keep the program moving forward.

Jennifer Courtland was exactly the right person. Jennifer was able to step in and continue the program with excellence. She continues to recruit and train mentors, who in turn continue to impact students in a positive and life-changing manner. The students’ faces light up every time their mentors arrive to spend time with them. They are dedicated and show up week after week to invest in our young students. It never fails that at the start of each school year at least one student involved in the program will ask me the first week of school when their mentor is coming to see them! It touches my heart to know that our mentors mean so much to them and represent a bright light for their school year.

I am very proud to nominate these powerhouse ladies for the Cardinal Spirit Award for their dedication to making a lasting impact in the lives of children through their outstanding leadership and service to the Kids Hope USA program at Siple. I want to also express my deep gratitude to Journey Ministries for allowing Corrie to start the program, and Jennifer to continue the program, at Siple Elementary all of these years. You have made, and continue to make, a life-changing difference in the lives of our students and staff. In doing so, you are making a difference in the Davison Community. Thank you so very much!"

Pictured below are Superintendent Matt Lobban, Corrie Arthur, Jennifer Courtland, Board President Holly Halabicky and Siple Elementary Principal Christy Flowers.

Caleb Goncz, Director of the Instrumental Music, has arranged for the annual high school summer marching band camp to take place July 28–August 2 at Camp Echo Grove in Leonard, Michigan.

During the camp, students will be learning marching drills and music for the 2024 Fall Marching Band season, working in sectionals with a staff technician to further their craft as musicians and participating in team building and bonding activities.

Approximately 115 students are expected to attend.

Board members approved a trip request for Davison High School senior Sydney Hall to attend the HOSA International Leadership Conference competition June 26-29 in Houston, Texas. For the second consecutive year, Sydney qualified to compete at the international conference in the area of veterinary science.

The Board has given the go-ahead for five DTV students to travel to Drummond Island this month for the purpose of continuing news coverage of the Great Lakes.

Students will perform news gathering, reporting and storytelling techniques that they acquired over the past three years in addition to recording and editing environmental videos as part of the station's Great Lakes news coverage.

Board member voted to support the Genesee Intermediate School District's proposed budget. Board Treasurer Diane Rhines attended the annual GISD budget hearing on April 24, and Superintendent Matt Lobban has taken part in meetings where the proposed 2024/2025 GISD budgets were reviewed by Genesee County superintendents.

The Davison Education Secretarial Association and Board of Education have ratified a two-year agreement. The new contract covers the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years.

The first readings for several board policies were approved at the May Board of Education meeting. Superintendent Matt Lobban said some of the changes were proposed by NEOLA, hired by the District in 2014, to review Board of Education policies, while others were addressed in house.

The policies include:

• 5111 Eligibility of Resident/Nonresident Students
  The clarifies steps the District will take if enrollment is found to be fraudulent and has to determine whether or not student is living in the district.
• 2221 Mandatory Courses/Graduation Requirements
  Earlier this year the state Legislature passed a law requiring students beginning with the Class of 2028 to pass a half credit course in personal finance in order to graduate. Rather than waiting to update this policy in the fall, the District decided to update it now.
• 5460 Graduation Requirements
  This updates the policy to reflect the required personal finance credit as mentioned above.
• 9130 Public Complaints
  This solidifies a process for parents and students to follow when requesting to review instructional materials.
• 1240 Evaluation of the Superintendent
  Changes in this policy clarify the dates used in the process of evaluating the superintendent.
• 2418 Sex Education
  This is a recommended change by NEOLA, which basically adds that if the district teaches sex education, the classes offered have to be age appropriate.
• 3220 Professional Staff Evaluation
  A one-word grammatical change is the reason for this policy update.
• 6320 Purchasing
  A number of grammatical changes prompted this update as well as reference to new Policy 6350 that refers to prevailing wage for new construction.
• 6321 New School Construction, Renovation
  Updated for grammatical corrections.
• 6325 Procurement - Federal Grants/Funds
  Again, a number of updates dealing with grammatical corrections.
• 6350 Prevailing Wage
  This is a new policy to reflect the change in law in March 2024, which requires prevailing wages must be used by the contractor for any new construction projects.
• 6520 Payroll Deductions
  Updated for grammatical corrections
• 8390 Animals on District Property
  Updated to reflect a technical correction.
• 8800 Religious/Patriotic Ceremonies and Observances
  Updated to address modifications made by the US Supreme Court in regard to employees and religious activity.

The following donations were gratefully acknowledged:

• White Tails Unlimited donated $2,831.98 to the Davison High School ”Busters” Skeet Club to help with expenses and equipment.
  
  
• Mid State Bolt & Screw donated $1,000 to the Davison High School “Busters” Skeet Club to help purchase equipment for the club.
  
  
• First Baptist Church donated a variety of school supplies to Thomson Elementary teachers to help support student needs.
  
  
• Mark Owen MEEMIC Insurance Agency in Davison donated three $100 Visa gift cards sponsoring the Kids First Award program.