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

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by April Student of the Month winners from Kindergarten, Developmental Kindergarten and ECSE Preschool. One student was chosen from each class on their ability to follow the Cardinal Code consistently on a daily basis. Each student of the month receives a certificate and medal and their photo is placed on display in the Thomson hallway. The students were joined by Thomson Elementary Principal Andrew Criswell and teachers Mrs. Emily Williams, Ms. Staci Maule, Ms. Sydney Wheeler and Mrs. Robin Waite and Student Teacher Mrs. Amy Herriman.

Hahn Intermediate Monitor Will Rogers 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, and a certificate. The winner is chosen at random.

Will was nominated by Hahn Intermediate Assistant Principal Mrs. Keri Collins, who wrote:

Will is known as Mr. B by our kids. He is a monitor at Hahn. He consistently puts kids first in every aspect of his role. Mr. B.’s interactions with students are genuine and rooted in sincere care, creating strong, trusting relationships. His passion for learning is contagious—he often takes home the same books students are reading so he can engage in meaningful conversations and support their learning journeys.

Mr. B. also serves as a bus monitor, where he continues to build positive relationships beyond the classroom, using every opportunity to connect with and support students. His dedication, thoughtful approach, and commitment to student engagement make him an invaluable part of our school community.

Here is what a few of our students have to say about Mr. B.:

Preston says, “Mr. B. helps us with words and with our school work. He is really good at helping us sound out words. One thing you should know about Mr. B. is that he cares about us and knows us.”

Kayson reports that, “Mr. B. does a lot! He is chill and calm and ALWAYS looks on the bright side. One thing you need to know about Mr. B. is that he greets kids with fist bumps and is really kind and cares about other people a lot.”

Dani stated that Mr. B. is “always there. He helps when we have a guest teacher and is ALWAYS kind. One thing you should know about Mr. B. is that he can make friends everywhere he goes.”

Penelope says, “Mr. B. helps so much in the classroom and helps us with our work.” She says, “one thing you need to know about Mr. B. is that he is really funny and has a good sense of humor.”

As you can see Mr. B.’s commitment to putting kids first is inspiring and appreciated by all.

Pictured below are Superintendent Matt Lobban, Will Rogers (Mr. B.), Hahn Intermediate Assistant Principal Keri Collins, Board of Education President Holly Halabicky and Hahn Intermediate Dean of Students Amy Renye.

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, an administrator can submit one name for that month's drawing. We are pleased to announce that our winner for May is Andrea Schroeder. She was nominated by Michelle Edwards, Director of Public Information, Community Outreach/Culture and Safety Liaison who wrote:

Even though Andrea Schroeder serves two roles in her job at the City of Davison - that as City Manager and Clerk - she is never too busy to share her expertise, lend a helping hand or show her support for Davison Community Schools.

For the past 10 years, Andrea has been a driving force in promoting groundwater safety among our students. Her commitment to education and community engagement has left a lasting impact, helping young people understand the critical role that groundwater plays in our environment. Through her engaging presentations, Andrea has taught essential concepts about the water table and its functions, making complex information accessible and interesting for students of all ages. Her ability to connect with young audiences has been invaluable in fostering a deeper appreciation for our natural resources.

Beyond the classroom, Andrea has gone the extra mile by securing grants through the Superior Watershed Project to fund initiatives like the annual calendar and T-shirt design contests. These creative programs have engaged more than 3,000 students in Davison, giving them a hands-on opportunity to learn about groundwater safety while expressing their creativity.

Andrea also plays a pivotal role in helping with our Shop with a Hero program each year by reaching out to the downtown business owners who welcome our student shoppers. She also supports our district by ensuring that the required application for the annual Homecoming Parade goes before the City Council for approval.

We are grateful for Andrea’s dedication and the meaningful difference she continues to make not only for Davison Community Schools but for our entire community.

Pictured below are Superintendent Matt Lobban, Davison City Manager Andrea Schroeder and Board President Holly Halabicky.

Davison High School junior DeMarcus Moses has been selected as the Davison Educational Foundation's (DEF) Cardinal Kid for the month of May 2025.

Each month, one student from Davison Community Schools is selected as the Cardinal Kid winner for his/her efforts to better the community. The recipient is honored at a Board of Education meeting and receives a $100 gift card for themselves and $100 to donate to their worthy cause.

DeMarcus was nominated by School Resource Officer Kevin Roberts, who wrote:

"I am writing to recommend DeMarcus Moses for the Cardinal Kid award. Over the past couple of months, I have had the privilege of observing DeMarcus in his role as a volunteer at the St. John's youth basketball league.

Every Saturday morning, DeMarcus arrives for the first game at 8:30 a.m. and remains until all of the games are concluded for the day. His commitment is commendable, especially considering he could easily choose to enjoy a leisurely Saturday morning instead. DeMarcus not only assists as a referee, but goes above and beyond by engaging with our young athletes—whether it’s tying a child’s shoe or providing valuable basketball tips to those just beginning to learn the game.

After the final game, DeMarcus takes the initiative to even help clean up the gym by organizing tables and chairs. It is also evident that he serves as a role model for other student volunteers by actively leading and helping them to make the correct calls during games.

DeMarcus consistently embodies the qualities of leadership and positivity that we strive to instill in our young athletes. His unwavering support and mentorship make him an exceptional candidate for this recognition.

For these reasons, I believe that DeMarcus Moses deserves the Cardinal Kid" award."

Pictured below: Superintendent Matt Lobban, DeMarcus, Board President Holly Halabicky and School Resource Officer Kevin Roberts.

During the 2027-28 school year, Public Acts 146 & 147, known as the Dyslexia Law, will go into effect for Michigan school districts. At the May Board of Education meeting, Director of Curriculum Dr. Angie Hards, Gates Elementary Principal Natalie Miller and current Instructional Coach and future ELA/Social Studies Coordinator Christy Turner explained what the new law means for Davison. The trio serves as the district's representatives on a countywide dyslexia task force.

"This new law is going to make some changes in our mind shift and practices," said Dr. Hards. " We have lots of questions and we want to get it right from the beginning. Dyslexia is something that has been researched for a long time but, frankly, we haven’t received a lot of information or formal training on dyslexia. We have some work to do to refine our practice so we are meeting the needs of our students."

Dr. Hards added that is important to acknowledge that dyslexia is not an elementary issue, but a lifelong one.

Copies of the Michigan Department of Education's Dyslexia Handbook were shared with board members. Dr. Hards said the handbook is actually quite helpful as it walks the reader through the science behind dyslexia. For instance:

• Dyslexia is not seeing things such as words and letters backwards.
• Dyslexia is not an indicator of intelligence.
• Dyslexia is not brain based.
• Dyslexia follows a continuum across levels of difficulties, much like autism.
  
  

But while dyslexia is a neurobiological defect, it can impede the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge that could quite possibly lead to social, emotional and behavioral difficulties.

"It has to do with brain functioning," said Mrs. Turner, adding that research has shown that with effective instruction and instructional practices throughout a student's K-12 career, dyslexic learners CAN learn to read and comprehend the same as those without dyslexia.

While the Dyslexia Law does aim to improve reading outcomes for K-12 learners, Mrs. Miller said it was important to note that educators will be responsible for looking for characteristics of dyslexia - not diagnosing it.

"Parents are hearing about the law and calling, saying they want their child tested," she said, adding that a diagnosis can only come from a medical professional. "It is important to know that this law is really about tier one intervention and instruction."

While the focus right now is on Pre-K through sixth grade, Mrs. Miller said there will be requirements for secondary teachers as well. Under the new law, all teachers will be required to complete dyslexia training.

"One thing we can do now is getting our teachers trained in LETRS training," Mrs. Miller said.

LETRS stands for Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling. Currently, 15 DCS staff members have completed or are currently taking part in the training. An additional 39 have registered for the next training cohort.

"It is based on the science of learning and research on how we learn to read," Mrs. Miller explained. "It's free and very intense, taking two years to complete. We are not requiring this - they’ve volunteered for this."

Several secondary teachers have also requested the training, however; nothing is available yet for that level, Mrs. Miller said.

Board members approved a request by Caleb Goncz, Director of the Instrumental Music Department at Davison High School, to hold the annual high school summer marching band camp July 27–August 1 2025. The camp will once again be held at Camp Echo Grove in Leonard, Michigan.

Students will be learning marching drills and music for the 2025 Fall Marching Band season, participate in sectionals with a staff technician to further their craft as musicians and engage in team-building and bonding activities.

Approximately 115 students in grades nine through 12th are expected to participate.

ESports Coach Jake Balla requested and received approval to allow four to six Davison High School students to attend the ESports National Competition in Beloit, Wisconsin, scheduled for May 30-June 1.

Last week, the ESports team Davison Jab-Lock finished as runners-up in the Michigan High School ESports Foundation finals playoff, making them eligible to represent the state at the national competition.

The District received approval from the Michigan Department of Education for its contract with Chartwells for the management of the food service program for the 2025/2026 school year. The approval letter from the Michigan Department of Education and proposed contract were provided to Board members prior to the meeting.

The contract took effect July 1, 2024, and is eligible for up to four annual renewals.

The MDE highly regulates food service management bid and renewal processes by providing oversight and direction with proposals and reviewing all contract provisions for compliance with state and federal USDA regulations. On April 25, DCS received approval from MDE to move forward with contract renewal with Chartwells School Dining.

Bids for the purchase and installation of chain link fencing at Gates and Hill Elementary Schools were approved by board members at this month's meeting. The Buildings, Grounds and Transportation Committee met on May 1 to review bids and determine a recommendation. The committee supported awarding the low bid of Action Traffic Maintenance in the amount of $75,382.75.

Board members approved the the purchase and installation of playground equipment at Gates Elementary. The $131,040.77 cost will be paid out of the building and site sinking fund.

The Buildings/Grounds & Transportation Committee met on May 1 and reviewed a quote for the playground equipment from Omnia Partner Game Time/Sinclair Recreation, a national collaborative purchasing program dedicated to cooperative purchasing for public sector procurement.

State law requires local school boards to review and either support or disapprove of the annual intermediate school district’s proposed budget. Board Treasurer Diane Rhines attended the annual Genesee Intermediate School District budget hearing on April 30, and Superintendent Matt Lobban has taken part in meetings where the proposed 2025/2026 GISD budgets have been reviewed by Genesee County superintendents.

Board members voted unanimously to support the GISD budget.

Since February 2014, the District has contracted with Neola in order to ensure that Board of Education policies remain aligned with changes in the law. The Board Policy and Planning Committee recently met to review the policies listed below and the changes proposed by Neola and Superintendent Matt Lobban.

At the May meeting, Board members approved the first reading for these updated policies:

• 0131.1 Bylaws and Policies - authorizes the superintendent to identify and make technical changes (such as changes in titles, correcting grammatical errors, etc.)
• 2340 Field and Other District-Sponsored Trips - addresses overnight and out-of-state trips and how they must be approved by the Board.
• 5320 Immunization - updates to meet Department of Health and Human Services guidelines
• 5330 Use of Medication - addresses the storing of and administration of prescription and non prescription drugs by school staff and self administration by a student
• 5330.01 Epinephrine Auto-Injectors - language added to protect staff from civil and criminal liability related to the administration or non administration of epinephrine
• 5350 Student Health, Well-Being, and Suicide Prevention - adds language for mental health well- being programs
• 5460 Graduation Requirements - this is updated just to address school districts that accepted a grant for FAFSA
• 8320 Personnel Files - language was modified to comply with updated Public Employment Relations Act (PERA) labor laws
• 8500 Food Services - addresses federal and state regulations pertaining to the selection, preparation, delivery, consumption and disposal of food and beverages under USDA requirements, compliant medical documentation for dietary modifications and meal charges
• 8510 Wellness - outlines requirements and responsibilities for the District's Wellness Committee
• 8640 Transportation for Field and Other District-Sponsored Trips - rescinds current policy

The following donations were gratefully acknowledged:

• Wojo’s Garden Splendors donated four flats of pansies to GSRP for Spring Family Fun Night.