Meeting Location:
Fruitport Community Schools Central Office
Board of Education Meeting Room
3255 E. Pontaluna Rd.
Fruitport, MI 49415
I. CALL TO ORDER: The Regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order at
7:00 p.m. by Board President, Dave Hazekamp.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance
at the meeting.
III. ROLL CALL: Present – Elroy Buckner, Kris Cole, Susan Franklin, Dave Hazekamp, Steve
Kelly, JB Meeuwenberg. Absent: Tim Burgess.
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Item 24-116. MOTION by Buckner, SECOND by Cole to approve the agenda, as presented.
MOTION CARRIED: 6-0; 1 absent.
V. PRESENTATIONS:
○ Above and Beyond Award Recognition: Melinda Gorter and Brad Faulkner were
presented with Above and Beyond Award recognitions for their efforts in assisting a
neighbor and citizen of the community when that citizen experienced a medical
emergency and needed assistance being removed from the roadway while 911 and
first responders were called to the scene. Both Melinda and Brad received an award
and pin commemorating their above and beyond efforts. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dirkse
nominated Melinda and Brad for this recognition.
VI. COMMUNICATIONS:
○ The District received notification from the Office for Civil Rights that a complaint
has been filed pertaining to the accessibility of the District’s public facing website.
The District will work with the Office for Civil Rights to better understand any
deficiencies its public facing website may have, and reach agreement with the Office
for Civil Rights on a work plan to address any deficiencies. The District’s insurance
company has appointed Attorney Mark Ostrowski to serve as the designated
representative of the District in handling this case with the Office for Civil Rights.
VII. SUPERINTENDENT/ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
○ Facilities Assessment and Master Plan Update: Capital Bond Planning – The
Board discussed a process and work plan to update the master facilities assessment
while also beginning the process of seeking Board and community feedback
regarding the next phase of the District’s bond planning efforts. The District is able to
seek voter approval in May of 2025, which is one year earlier than originally planned.
The Board will schedule a work session to further review the work plan with Tower
Pinkster and Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. and decide upon next steps in a public
meeting. The original master plan called for the construction of a new Edgewood
Elementary School with voter approval. Sample test fit models developed by Tower
Pinkster were shared with the Board of Education.
○ Veterans Memorial Display at Fruitport High School – The Board discussed the
veterans memorial display that will be unveiled for Veteran’s Day 2024 at Fruitport
High School. The digital touch screen display will be designed by Freshwater Digital
(Kentwood, MI) and honor each of the veterans that have graduated from Fruitport
Community Schools. A team of staff members at the high school has been developing
this project and they are working on a sponsorship campaign to help offset future
costs associated with updating the software and display. The Board was provided
with a quote for the display totaling $15,335.
○ 2023-2024 Athletics End of Year Report – The Board was provided with an end of
year athletics report that was developed by Athletic Director Jonny Morehouse. The
report outlined championships won by our athletic teams this year, record breaking
performances of our student athletes this year, each of the all-conference, all-district,
all-area, all-region, and all-state recognitions for the year, along with showcasing
each of the senior award honorees for the Class of 2024. Outstanding academic and
athletic achievements were also discussed, as were participation rates and OK
Conference Blue Division all-sport standings for the 2023-2024 school year.
VIII. REMARKS FROM THE PUBLIC: None
IX. CONSENT AGENDA
Item 24-117. MOTION by Franklin, SECOND by Cole to approve the Consent Agenda as
listed below:
- Approval of Bill Listing in the amount of $612,820.00Acceptance of Monthly Financial, Bond, and Capital Projects Report Acceptance of Student Activity Summary Report Acceptance of Credit Card and Utilities Report
- Approval of Transfers and ACH Transactions Report
- Approval of Personnel Report (includes confirmation of new hires, resignations,
- retirees, and transfers)
- Approval of Special Meeting Minutes from June 24, 2024
- Approval of Truth and Taxation Meeting Minutes from June 24, 2024
- Approval of Organizational Meeting Minutes from June 24, 2024
- Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes from June 24, 2024
- MOTION CARRIED: 6-0; 1 absent.
X. GENERAL BOARD BUSINESS: None
XI. BUSINESS AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS
● No report of a Business and Finance Committee meeting on July 8, 2024 was provided to the
Board, as the meeting was not held due to a lack of agenda items for the originally scheduled
meeting. There were no Business and Finance Committee recommendations for
consideration.
XII. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS:
● No report of a Personnel Committee meeting on July 8, 2024 was provided to the Board, as
the meeting was not held due to a lack of a quorum of committee members present at the
originally scheduled meeting. There were no Personnel Committee recommendations for
consideration.
XIII. STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS
● No report of a Student Affairs Committee meeting on July 8, 2024 was provided to the
Board, as the meeting was not held due to a lack of a quorum of committee members present
at the originally scheduled meeting.
- Fruitport High School and Middle School Student Handbooks
Item 24-118. MOTION by Franklin, SECOND by Buckner to approve the Fruitport
High School and Fruitport Middle School handbooks for the 2024-2025 school year,
as presented.
MOTION CARRIED: 6-0; 1 absent. - Elementary School School Student Handbook Updates
Item 24-119. MOTION by Franklin, SECOND by Buckner to approve the updates to
the Elementary School Student Handbooks for the 2024-2025 school year, as
presented.
MOTION CARRIED: 6-0; 1 absent. - Branding and Identity Request: Varsity Baseball Hat / Trojan Mascot
Item 24-120. MOTION by Franklin, SECOND by Meeuwenberg to approve tabling
and postponing the request to add the Trojan mascot to the acceptable list of logos
and emblems allowable for team use under the Fruitport Community School
Branding and Identity Guide until a later meeting. Superintendent Kennedy will work
with Athletic Director Jonny Morehouse to identify limitations in which the Trojan
mascot will be used by teams and organizations representing Fruitport Community
Schools, as discussed.
MOTION CARRIED: 6-0; 1 absent.
XIV. Closed Session: Collective Bargaining Agreement – Fruitport Education Association - Enter into Closed Session
Item 24-121. MOTION by Cole, SECOND by Meeuwenberg to enter into closed
session at 8:00 p.m. pursuant to MCL 15.268 Section 8(1)(c) of the Michigan
Open Meetings Act, and upon the written request of the District, a negotiating
party to the Contract, for the purpose of strategy and negotiation connected to the
negotiation of a successor collective bargaining agreement with the Fruitport
Education Association (FEA).
Roll call: Buckner – yes, Burgess – absent, Cole – yes, Franklin – yes, Hazekamp –
yes, Kelly – yes, Meeuwenberg – yes.
MOTION CARRIED: 6-0; 1 absent. - Return to Open Session
Item 24-122. MOTION by Kelly, SECOND by Franklin to return to open session
at 8:44 p.m.
Roll call: Buckner – yes, Burgess – absent, Cole – yes, Franklin – yes, Hazekamp –
yes, Kelly – yes, Meeuwenberg – yes.
MOTION CARRIED: 6-0; 1 absent.
XV. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS AND DISCUSSIONS:
Kric Cole shared that an official contract has been signed with the VanDyke Mortgage
Conference Center and the Trinity Health Arena for our middle school robotics team to serve
as the host for the State Championship Robotics Competition for middle school students next
year. Kris shared that the team is excited for this opportunity.
XVI. AGENDA ITEMS for FUTURE MEETINGS & SCHEDULING OF ANY SPECIAL
MEETINGS - The Business and Finance Committee will meet on August 13, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
- The Personnel Committee will meet on August 12, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
- The Student Affairs Committee will meet on August 12, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
- The Board of Education will meet on August 19, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. for the regular meeting.
XVII. REMARKS FROM THE PUBLIC: None
XVIII. ADJOURNMENT
Item 24-123. MOTION by Buckner, SECOND by Franklin to adjourn.
MOTION CARRIED: 6-0; 1 absent.
The meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Franklin, Board Secretary
Danielle VanderMeulen, Recording Secretary