Board Archives - Benefit Group

March 7, 2023

CHCCS Board of Education hears finance updates, concerns on starting school earlier

At a operate session on Thursday, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Instruction read issues over a proposal to start elementary universities earlier than the current begin time and an update on the district’s funds.

What is new?

Some lecturers and mother and father strongly opposed the proposal for an before elementary college start out time. The proposal’s goal was to assist relieve the bus driver scarcity.
- Northside Elementary College educator Molly Biek reported the teachers’ tough perform is not apparent to district policymakers. Biek said instructors spend a good offer of time doing work on the floor to carry out the district’s coverage priorities.
- Many mother and father expressed worry that previously start out moments would signify that their children would be fewer completely ready to find out early in the early morning. They mentioned small children will require to consume breakfast and be mentally and emotionally all set to go to college previously than common.
- Many moms and dads expressed concern about their kids waiting for the bus in the darkish and the impression of snooze deprivation on young youngsters.
- Sally Johnson, a instructor at McDougle Elementary, expressed issue that the proposed improve would direct to a decline of knowledgeable academics.
- “I sincerely hope that the district will prioritize a remedy that is sustainable and really addresses the problem at hand alternatively than putting a Band-Support on it,” Johnson explained.
Chief Monetary Officer Jonathan Scott introduced the superintendent’s advisable spending plan request for the fiscal 12 months 2023 to 2024.
- The estimated improve in salaries was minimized from five per cent to four p.c, and there will be a five {ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} inflationary increase to all non-salary allocations. Scott said that the current unassigned fund equilibrium is $5 million, which is just .35 per cent over the county’s bare minimum concentrate on.
- The district’s budget continuation need to have totaled about $8.4 million.
- Scott introduced a two {ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} area nutritional supplement boost for accredited workers salaries and allocated $35,000 for each 12 months to masking instructor license expenses.
- Board member Riza Jenkins expressed aid for furnishing cash for licensing, saying quite a few companies in a variety of industries give this advantage.
- “If you had been demanded to have a license to do your occupation, commonly companies do that,” Jenkins reported.
Deputy Superintendent of Functions Al Ciarochi introduced the cash expenditure plan for the fiscal years 2024 to 2034. The approach will concentration on the to start with 3 years. The guiding concepts include things like safety, improving engineering and racial fairness.
- Proposed projects include things like asphalt alternative, LED lighting replacements, playground gear and the replacement of previous interior household furniture.
- A facility evaluation was also talked over, with a emphasis on choosing exactly where educational institutions rank when it comes to charge of substitution.
- Carrboro ES, Ephesus ES, Estes Hills ES, Glenwood ES, and Seawell ES (FCI’s 40{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} or better) are major candidates for substantial replacements of parts of campus.
- Carrboro and Ephesus Elementary Universities are two primary candidates for facility replacements and renovation.
- Board member Deon Temne said he appreciated the perform that went into producing the plan above the past a few a long time.
- “When we initially begun a few yrs ago, this is sort of what I was inquiring for, just to get my head close to all of the items. What sort of routine, calendar, how are we gonna go ahead?” Temne said.

What’s future?

The CHCCS Board of Instruction will fulfill all over again on March 16 at 6 p.m.

@DTHCityState | town@dailytarheel.com

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February 14, 2023

XCPCNL Business Services Announces Board Resolution Approving Shareholder Stock Dividend

Charlotte, North Carolina –Information Direct– XCPCNL Business Solutions Company

McapMediaWire — XCPCNL Company Expert services Company (OTC: XCPL), a undertaking enhancement small business that leverages expertise, skill, and expertise in the client solutions industry, now announces a board resolution approving a stock dividend for shareholders.

The board resolves that the Business is situation to current shareholders a stock dividend of 154,568,533 (20{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550}) course Typical Shares, in the authorized money inventory of XCPCNL Small business Services Corporation.

Shareholders can expect the stock dividend to take place on Wednesday, February 15^th, 2023.

“2022 has been a yr of ups and downs for XCPCNL. We are now shifting our concentration to driving profits and the uphill battle of gaining shareholder self esteem and investing in income driving jobs. As we begin this journey in 2023, we want to assure that we display appreciation for our shareholders by offering this 20{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} share dividend. In the future, we hope this will be funds, but for now this will hopefully clearly show that we are decided to rebuild our foundation and driving foreseeable future price,” stated CEO Tim Matthews.

XCPCNL Enterprise Providers Company (OTC: XCPL) encourages shareholders to pay a visit to their corporate Twitter account at https://twitter.com/RealXCPCNL.

Ahead-On the lookout Statements Disclaimer:

This push release may perhaps consist of, and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Enterprise may possibly have, “forward-hunting statements” inside the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements regarding achievable small business combinations and the funding thereof and associated issues, as effectively as all other statements other than statements of historic actuality provided in this press launch, are forward-hunting statements. When utilised in this push release, terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “go on,” “could,” “estimate,” “hope,” “intend,” “may well,” “could possibly,” “strategy,” “attainable,” “possible,” “predict,” “undertaking,” “must,” “would” and related expressions, as they relate to our administration group or us, recognize forward-wanting statements. This kind of ahead-looking statements are dependent on management’s beliefs, as perfectly as assumptions designed by, and details at the moment offered to, the Company’s management. Genuine results could differ materially from individuals contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a outcome of sure factors in depth in the Firm’s submitting with the Around-the-Counter Industry (“OTC”). All subsequent published or ahead-searching oral statements attributable to people or us performing on our behalf are competent in their entirety by this paragraph. Forward-on the lookout statements are subject matter to a lot of ailments, numerous of which are outside of the regulate of the Corporation. The Organization undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes following the date of this launch, apart from as essential by regulation.

About XCPCNL

Charlotte, NC-dependent XCPCNL Business enterprise Expert services is a enterprise development company that leverages its expertise, abilities, and encounter in the customer items market. Our main mission is to supply marketing, technologies, and other company companies to quickly-escalating buyer solution firms and massive-box merchants. XCPCNL is a minority-owned and managed agency.

To find out much more about our businesses, services, and prospects, make sure you speak to details@xcpcnl.com

To study a lot more about XPCNL, visit www.xcpcnl.com.

For Inquiries:

Email: ir@xcpcnl.com

Speak to Specifics

Tim Matthews

ir@xcpcnl.com

Organization Web page

http://www.xcpcnl.com/

Look at source edition on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/information/xcpcnl-small business-services-announces-board-resolution-approving-shareholder-inventory-dividend-858282233

September 10, 2022

Stamford finance board sounds alarm on education budget ‘fiscal cliff’

A overall of 120 Stamford faculty positions, at a cost of approximately $8.8 million, are established to expire in the following two yrs, as they are funded as a result of limited-expression COVID-19 aid dollars.

All those positions — which consist of 19.5 kindergarten para-educator comprehensive-time equivalent places, or FTEs, 23 mum or dad facilitators, 21 engineering integration specialists, 8.5 teacher FTEs and 27 protection workers — are at the moment paid for by the next and 3rd installments of the federal Elementary and Secondary University Unexpected emergency Aid funds, also recognized as ESSER II and ESSER III.

The second installment is established to conclude after this university calendar year concludes. The third and most important part of the funds will expire at the finish of the 2023-24 college 12 months.

For the positions to continue being intact past 2024, the district will want to uncover a way to pay for them.

Officials have referred to the phenomena as an oncoming “fiscal cliff.”

In the course of a digital meeting Thursday evening of the Board of Finance, member Mary Lou Rinaldi said she expected the Board of Schooling to devote the the vast majority of the ESSER funds to cash assignments, relatively than use a massive chunk of it to pay out for the 120 positions.

In May well, the Board of Finance agreed to make a college design fund of approximately $20 million by growing property taxes by 1 per cent. Rinaldi mentioned she was nervous about the Board of Education’s dedication to the university construction tasks.

“That fears me mainly because we’ve set in $20 million by way of our endeavours and we had been hoping that the Board of (Education) was likely to be a significant lover in that and we have been going to see a greater part of … ESSER funds created obtainable to stockpile for university construction and renovation,” she stated.

Ryan Fealey, finance director for Stamford Community Educational facilities, responded that the district could not stockpile those people cash, considering that they expire at the conclude of the following university calendar year. Plus, ESSER cash can only be utilised for precise money initiatives these types of as air high quality enhancements and doorways and home windows, for illustration.

The district has fully commited $10 million in ESSER dollars for funds jobs this yr, and will likely use another $4 million of the funds upcoming calendar year on creating advancements, he stated.

Rinaldi mentioned she remained anxious.

“At some place, the funding goes absent … and now the Board of Instruction operating spending budget is heading to balloon, we’re likely to tumble off a cliff to now fund out of tax dollars 120 positions,” she explained.

Fealey stated it is not likely that all of the 120 positions would be funded by way of the functioning price range as soon as federal bucks dried up. He included that predicted raises in wages, health care, transportation, utilities and perhaps special education will drive up the price range request as well.

“ESSER positions are just just one of many pressures coming,” he said.

Throughout a Board of Education and learning conference last month, Fealey projected that the school district’s finances would develop by about 5.3 per cent every of the future two yrs if all of the positions have been to be moved into the working finances. That would be additional than double the working budget’s ordinary enhance of 2.5 per cent just about every calendar year over the earlier eight decades.

Rinaldi cautioned that she would not help a bigger increase.

“I want to go on report just to say that I’m not likely to be in favor of a 6 or 7 {ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} increase in your functioning finances appear subsequent year or the year soon after,” she mentioned. “There has to be some constraint, especially if the Board of (Education) is critical about this lengthy-selection building. One thing has obtained to give.”

In total, the district has acquired about $55.34 million COVID-19 aid money by several grants, with about $23.8 million remaining to invest in the up coming two faculty decades.

During the conference, board users deliberated in excess of two college-related appropriations: a $40,000 request to update the district’s facilities master strategy, and $400,000 to fund the software course of action for state funding for 4 university developing jobs.

The $40,000 item, which passed unanimously, requires updating the district’s not long ago done grasp facilities approach to replicate adjustments to the reimbursement charge the town receives from the point out.

Below the new rules, the state’s refund amount for new school building in Stamford will be 60 {ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} for the up coming 25 several years, a great deal larger than the 20 p.c amount the metropolis made use of to get.

The new framework will provide much extra funding for Stamford’s bold master strategy to create or extend four schools, like a new K-8 college in south Stamford, and make improvements to lots of other people. The approximated value to apply the whole program is a lot more than $500 million in excess of 12 a long time.

Board associates did not aid the $400,000 appropriation, however, picking out to postpone it an additional month.

The funds would be used to fund the application process for development jobs at Turn of River Middle School, Rippowam Center University, KT Murphy Elementary University and the facility at 83 Lockwood Ave.

The past two properties will be applied to create a south Stamford K-8 school divided amongst the two campuses.

Customers argued that it built minimal feeling to fund the application method for the 4 web pages in advance of revising the grasp amenities plan.

ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com

July 26, 2022

Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Awards Record $3.4 Million in Grants to Reduce Underage and Dangerous Drinking

Harrisburg – Fully commited to giving economic assistance to cut down underage and harmful alcoholic beverages consumption, the Pennsylvania Liquor Regulate Board (PLCB) currently introduced it will award pretty much $3.4 million to 97 schools, group businesses, municipalities, regulation enforcement corporations, nonprofit corporations, for-earnings organizations, and establishments of larger training as a result of the 2022-24 Alcoholic beverages Education and learning Grant Plan.

“Funding jobs that support alcohol instruction and encourage public wellness and basic safety is a important element of our mission,” reported PLCB Chairman Tim Holden. “Considering the fact that 1999, the PLCB has awarded $21.1 million in liquor education and learning grants to avert underage and irresponsible consuming.”

This 12 months, of 110 grant programs gained, 97 corporations from 41 counties across Pennsylvania had been awarded a complete of $3,364,989 in grants. The greatest award for every single two-year grant is $40,000.

Of the grants awarded:

29 will fund group regulation-enforcement endeavours for specific underage patrols, training, neighborhood outreach, and tools.
28 will be utilised to assistance community and nonprofit companies by funding initiatives these kinds of as MADD’s Ability of Parents®, and Mom and dad Who Host Lose the Most®, Task Northland, general public provider bulletins, and enforcement endeavours.
Four will go to primary and secondary educational institutions to fund different packages aimed at reaching learners, these kinds of as social norms media campaigns, guest speakers, and impaired driving simulation activities.
34 university and university grants will support schools build strategies to cut down underage and unsafe liquor use by way of surveys and assessments, enforcement endeavours, attendance at alcohol education conferences, instruction for resident assistants, peer education systems, and proof-informed systems like EVERFI AlcoholEdu®, and EdventiTM.
One particular will go to a for-income corporation aimed at peer-to-peer outreach and community service announcements.
A person will go to a publish-secondary education heart to fund applications for learners to involve virtual driving simulation alcoholic beverages-similar DVDs and avoidance-focused curriculums.

In addition to the provision of millions of dollars in liquor education and learning grants to communities, educational institutions, and law enforcement businesses, the PLCB is effective to educate the general public about the risks of underage and hazardous consuming via a wide range of other avenues, including a no cost yearly alcoholic beverages academic convention, an award-profitable avoidance marketing campaign – Know When. Know How.SM – qualified to underage consuming, the generation and distribution of a vast selection of instructional supplies, Accountable Alcohol Management System teaching and sources for licensees, and training and complex guidance for companies doing work to deal with the concerns related to irresponsible use.

The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates 600 wine and spirits shops statewide, and licenses 20,000 alcoholic beverages producers, merchants, and handlers. The PLCB also is effective to decrease and prevent perilous and underage drinking by partnerships with educational facilities, community groups, and licensees. Taxes and keep gains – totaling nearly $18.7 billion considering that the agency’s inception – are returned to Pennsylvania’s Common Fund, which finances Pennsylvania’s faculties, well being and human services plans, law enforcement, and community security initiatives, amid other significant public providers. The PLCB also offers fiscal assistance for the Pennsylvania State Law enforcement Bureau of Liquor Manage Enforcement, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs, other point out companies, and neighborhood municipalities across the point out. For more data about the PLCB, take a look at lcb.pa.gov.

MEDIA Make contact with: Shawn M. Kelly, 717.303.8522

# # #

June 3, 2022

New trustees to join Cornell board

At its May well 27 meeting, the Cornell Board of Trustees elected 8 new associates to 4-calendar year conditions: Eldora L. Ellison, Ph.D. ’94 Richard S. Emmet II ’94 Kevin J. Jacobs ’94 Robert Jain ’92 Kevin P.B. Johnson ’88 Eric Kutcher ’96, M.Eng, ’97 Gilda Perez-Alvarado ’02 and Hernan J.F. Saenz, MBA ’98, M.I.L.R. ’98.

They sign up for modern alumni-elected trustees Dr. Deborah J. Arrindell ’79 and Kimberly Nicole Dowdell, B.Arch. ’06, who also will serve 4-year phrases. All freshly elected trustees’ terms start off July 1.

Also at the Could 27 conference, five latest trustees were being reelected to 4-calendar year phrases: Kraig H. Kayser, MBA ’84 William Ooi Lee Lim ’80, MAR ’82 Bruce S. Raynor ’72 Aryan Shayegani ’88, M.D. ’92 Bradley H. Stone ’77. Kayser will triumph Robert S. Harrison ’76 as board chair, powerful July 1.

They join recently elected trustees David R. Lee (faculty-elected, 4-calendar year term) and Hei Hei Depew (employee-elected, two-yr expression).

Ellison is a director at Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, an intellectual house (IP) specialty legislation company dedicated to the protection, transfer and enforcement of IP rights. Ellison lectures commonly on subject areas these kinds of as article-grant proceedings intellectual residence system and administration and variety, fairness and inclusion. Ellison is a member of Sterne Kessler’s govt and payment committees. She formerly served on the board of administrators for Turning Issue Academy Public Charter Faculty in Maryland.

Emmet is a taking care of director at Jane Avenue Cash, a New York Metropolis buying and selling agency. He’s a member of the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) Advisory Council and university marketing campaign co-chair. He was earlier a member of the A&S Advertisement Hoc Campaign Setting up Committee and the Course of 1994 reunion committees. At Cornell, Emmet was captain of the soccer crew, president of the Delta Upsilon fraternity and a member of the Sphinx Head Modern society.

Jacobs is chief economical officer and president of international improvement for Hilton Around the globe, primary the company’s finance, authentic estate, development, and architecture and building capabilities globally. Jacobs joined the corporation in 2008. He is a member of the board of directors of Omega Health care Traders, and serves on the board of administrators of Goodwill of Higher Washington. Jacobs is a member of the Cornell College Council and the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Lodge Administration Dean’s Advisory Board.

Jain is co-main expenditure officer at Millennium Management LLC, and is founder and chairman of the Jain Family members Institute (JFI), a nonprofit investigation firm focused to addressing pressing social problems in the locations of better education finance, certain cash flow, and electronic ethics and governance. JFI was a essential spouse in establishing the Student Liberty Initiative, which supplies different better education financing at traditionally Black faculties and universities. Jain has served on the A&S Advisory Council considering the fact that 2015.

Johnson is a partner and IP demo attorney at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, where by he represents a array of purchasers. He is a member of the Section of Electrical and Personal computer Engineering Advisory Council the School of Engineering Advisory Council and the Engineering Marketing campaign Government Committee. Johnson and his wife, Melinda, have been important supporters of the College of Engineering’s Bridges Students Plan, which aims to boost the quantity of underrepresented learners in STEM.

Kutcher is a senior husband or wife and chief economic officer at McKinsey & Corporation, the place he also serves on the firm’s shareholders’ council. He has also served as world-wide leader of the firm’s know-how, media and telecommunications follow. In 2021, Kutcher joined the invitation-only CNBC CFO Council he’s also a member of the Silicon Valley Management Team board. Kutcher served on the 10th Reunion Campaign Important Presents Committee, and as Course of 1996 membership chair from 2006-11.

Perez-Alvarado is the world-wide main government officer of JLL Motels & Hospitality, wherever she also sales opportunities the group’s World Hotel Desk, a specialized group of cross-border financial investment income specialists centered in the Center East, Asia Pacific, the Americas and Europe. Perez-Alvarado is a member of the Nolan Hotel College Dean’s Advisory Board. In 2021, she was featured in the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Collection and Ye Hosts Honor Culture.

Saenz is a spouse at Bain & Firm, the place he sales opportunities the firm’s world wide functionality advancement exercise. He also serves on its Range, Fairness and Inclusion Council, and is the founder of Latinos at Bain, an affinity community targeted on recruitment, enhancement and retention of leading Latino business enterprise talent. Saenz serves on the leadership council of the Cornell SC Johnson School of Company, and is a viewing senior lecturer in the Office of Administration and Companies.

Arrindell is vice president of pharmacovigilance and hazard management at World-wide Blood Therapeutics. She is also a member of the School of Agriculture and Lifetime Sciences Advisory Council, co-chair of Cornell Mosaic, Course of 1979 Annual Fund agent, chair of the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Community and a sustaining member of the President’s Council of Cornell Girls. She received the CALS Superb Alumni Award in 2021.

Dowdell is a principal in the Chicago studio of HOK, a main world design company, and a repeated speaker on sustainability, diversity and the long run of cities. She is a member of the Cornell College Council, the President’s Council of Cornell Females, the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Community and the Cornell Black Alumni Affiliation. She is co-founder of the Cornell Upcoming Architect Award.

Lee is a professor in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Administration (SC Johnson) and the Higher education of Agriculture and Existence Sciences. He served as provost’s fellow in the Place of work of the Vice Provost for International Affairs from 2014-18. His exploration focuses on the interface between economic advancement, agriculture and the environment. Lee has served as a browsing economist in the Food stuff and Agricultural Business of the United Nations (Rome) in the main economist’s business office of the U.S. Company for Worldwide Advancement and in the Economic Analysis Company of the U.S. Section of Agriculture.

Depew is a economic compliance analyst in Cornell’s Division of Financial Affairs with more than 14 a long time of knowledge doing the job in different finance roles. Formerly she labored in New York Metropolis in world e-commerce and worldwide experiential marketing and advertising. She has used the earlier five many years volunteering on the Worker Assembly, and has served as both vice chair and chair. Soon after Cornell shifted to distant get the job done in March of 2020 due to the pandemic, Depew played a position in moderating personnel message boards in partnership with senior leadership.

May 16, 2022

Education Beat: Schools board postpones closures after 30 speakers plead to keep Pierce, ALA open; district released from State-imposed Emergency Finance Plan

Posted on May 16, 2022

By Harold C. Ford

A six-hour meeting of the Flint Board of Education (FBOE) on May 11 began with purported good news that Flint Community Schools (FCS) had been released from the imposition of an enhanced deficit elimination plan (EDEP) by the Michigan Department of Treasury.

But any euphoria elicited by the EDEP-dismissal announcement quickly evolved into a parade of FCS constituents anxiously and unanimously urging the district not to close schools – specifically Pierce Elementary and the Accelerated Learning Academy.

The Flint Board of Education listen to members of the public speak during Wednesday’s meeting. (Photo by Tom Travis)

The long meeting eventually devolved into an all-too-familiar row, this one featuring the FBOE president and vice president.

EDEP disappears, not so indebtedness

“I received a call from Treasury (Michigan Department of Treasury) yesterday,” said Kevelin Jones, FCS superintendent, at the start of the May 11 FBOE meeting. “In that call, Treasury let me know that our district will no longer need to submit an enhanced deficit elimination plan.”

Flint Community Schools Superintendent Kevelin Jones. (Photo by Tom Travis)

Jones’ announcement generated three rounds of smiles and applause by FBOE members. “This means … the state won’t be looking over our shoulder,” he said.

The district had been under the watchful eye of Michigan’s state government – specifically its Department of Treasury – for many years. Most recently, two amended EDEPs were sent to Treasury by FCS in calendar year 2020.

“This doesn’t mean Flint doesn’t have a deficit,” Jones cautioned.

Jones’ caution has often been expressed by others:

“The district projects to remain in deficit until Fiscal Year 2035-36.” –Michigan Department of Treasury, Sept. 2020
“You’re definitely not going to be in excellent financial shape for a long time.” –Holly Stefanski, assurance manager, Plante Moran, an auditing firm then serving FCS, Jan. 2022
“This (COVID relief funding) gives us the appearance that we are not operating in a deficit. I want to stress … we are still in a deficit.” –Ayunnah Dompreh, then-FCS director of finances, Feb. 2022

ESSER funds provide temporary solvency

Jones said dismissal of the EDEP “is due to the work that the district has done as it pertains to our ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Relief/ COVID relief) funds and having a fund balance. We are in a position that our fund balance is in a space where we need to be at the time.”

The positive FCS “fund balance” is achieved, temporarily, by ESSER funds from the federal government that total $144 million, an amount confirmed by Keiona Murphy, FCS assistant superintendent.

“We still need board members to eliminate some debt,” Jones warned. “We still need to make sure we are fiscally responsible.”

Representatives of Plante Moran advised the FBOE in Dec. 2021 that unless affirmative measures were undertaken to address systemic shortcomings – particularly declining student enrollment – by 2024 FCS would likely circle back to a familiar bleak financial profile that has existed for nearly two decades.

Drains and gains

Powerful forces – both negative (resource drains) and positive (resource gains) impact the economic profile of Flint community schools. Some, not all, are outlined below.

Drains

FCS has experienced significant loss of students and resultant aid from the state of Michigan at $8,000 to $9,000 per student. About 25 percent of students that reside in Flint attend Flint’s public schools. “We’ve got over 12,000 students,” decried Joyce Ellis-McNeal, FBOE president, at the May 11 meeting. “They’re just not in our schools.” At the same meeting, FBOE Treasurer Laura MacIntyre confirmed that the FCS student count is, at present, about 3,000. That means that about 9,000 Flint youngsters do not attend FCS schools. Thus, simple math reveals that, FCS is losing $72 million to $81 million annually in state aid due to loss of students. Frequent hopeful statements aside, the FBOE has offered no evidence that Flint’s youth will return to their schools.
Aging buildings and infrastructure sap the district’s financial resources. The collective age of Flint’s 11 buildings is just shy of eight centuries. Infrastructure needs – HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, air conditioning), electrical grids, hydration stations/water fountains, internet capabilities, plumbing, athletic facilities – constantly drain FCS resources. Representatives of Plante Morane Cresa, an auditing firm that specializes in real estate, recently told the FBOE the district would need $174 million in the next decade to properly maintain the 11 buildings that currently house its students. A several hundred-million-dollar plan spearheaded by the Flint-based Mott Foundation that would renovate or rebuild all FCS buildings – first revealed by East Village Magazine (EVM) over a year ago in April 2021 – has yet to appear on any public agenda of the FBOE.
Legacy debt from the past includes paying off an approximate $20 million loan taken out by the district in 2014 and some benefits for FCS retirees.

Gains

The infusion of $144 million in federal ESSER funds has temporarily boosted the FCS financial profile by establishing the aforementioned positive “fund balance.”
A 25-year $30 million fiscal stability bond, passed by Flint voters in March 2020, provides some day-to-day operational revenue and helps pay off some of the district’s legacy debt.

Five FCS schools honored

In his opening comments, Jones also announced that five Flint schools had been honored as “Capturing Kids’ Hearts Showcase Schools,” a national-level award. Awardees were: Potter Elementary; Brownell Elementary; Freeman Elementary; Accelerated Learning Academy (ALA), and Pierce Elementary. More smiles and more applause ensued.

Pierce Elementary School (Photo by Tom Travis)

But the celebratory mood lasted only minutes as more than thirty speakers paraded to the microphone to comment on the reported pending closures of the ALA (formerly Scott) and Pierce buildings.

Walter Scott Community School houses the Accelerated Learning Academy on Flint’s east side. (Photo by Tom Travis)

“To close or not to close?”

Jones said “two of our schools (are) in consideration of closure.” He was referencing reports and rumors about the possible closures of the district’s Pierce and ALA buildings.

One day prior to the FBOE meeting, on May 10, WNEM Channel 5 and ABC12 News reported on the possible closure of Pierce. Rumors had ALA’s nontraditional students being relocated within the Southwestern building alongside traditional students as a school within a school.

“No decisions have been made about any or which schools will be closed,” said Chris Del Morone, FBOE assistant secretary-treasurer.

School Board member Chris Del Morone. (Photo by Tom Travis)

Nonetheless, speakers paraded to the microphone and expressed concern about the possible closures. Pierce is located on Flint’s near east side in the so-called College Cultural neighborhood, less than a mile from the city’s library, museums and planetarium. ALA, an alternative school serving students in grades 7-12, is also located on Flint’s east side at 1602 S. Averill Ave., across from Dort Federal Event Center, near the Evergreen Estate community.

Excerpts from comments by some speakers opposed to closing Pierce

“To close or not to close; that is the question tonight … Pierce is not just a building that represents a monetary value to the District of Flint. Pierce is a building that contains the hopes, dreams, love, family and future of many … The best thing for this district and its scholars is not to close more schools … Our students want to come to school, but not just any school; students want to come to Pierce. Closing the school will be a devastating blow to the precious little ones in my classroom.” – Pierce teacher
“What a huge mistake it would be to close a thriving school that just won a national award, a school that continues to have high test scores, a wonderful principal … highly effective teachers – one that has access to the Cultural Center.” — former Pierce parent.

Handmade signs held by parents and students at the Flint Board of Education meeting on Wednesday. (Photo by Tom Travis)
“We have well over 100 students … Our classrooms are full … Our attendance rate is 88 percent … As far as academic data, Pierce outperforms the district at all grade levels in both local and national assessments.” — Pierce Elementary principal
“I was devastated when I heard … that Pierce Elementary would be closing … Showcase Schools, so if it’s working, it doesn’t need to be fixed. –Youth Quest director, former FCS parent specialist, 1976 FCS graduate, former Pierce parent
“I feel like we should not have no more abandoned schools in the City of Flint … Pierce, it’s like family.” — Pierce parent
“We need … to let the parents know in that neighborhood, you don’t need to send your children outside of Pierce, or Court Street. Keep your children there with us.” — retired FCS teacher.

Handmade signs held by parents and students at the Flint Board of Education meeting on Wednesday. (Photo by Tom Travis)
“Closing of Pierce creates another traumatic experience for students. Teachers and parents are hearing shock and sadness from their students with many children crying at the thought of their beloved elementary school closing again. Such sudden changes are not healthy for emotionally vulnerable children who have just returned to school following the shutdowns associated with COVID … Another school disruption places more fear, anxiety, and stress on a student population still recovering from the first trauma … For parents and students who live near the school, the closing would mean busing students to an unfamiliar part of town to a school where they are uncomfortable and do not recognize any familiar faces.” –Pierce parent group vice president
“If you close Pierce, you’re breaking up a family. We have become family … Cramming these kids in other schools, you’re making a huge mistake.” –Pierce parent
“You’ll be adding to community trauma.” – FCS psychologist
“A fish stinks from the head down … Flint Community Schools Board of Education is the head … It is a complete contradiction to refer to our students as ‘scholars’ when we reduce their academic resources each year … Closing Pierce would be a contribution to the educational genocide of our children and community.” – FCS social worker, Pierce parent and parent group president

Excerpts from comments by speakers opposed to closing ALA:

“I’ve taught in three buildings, under 13 principals and ten superintendents. I am so proud to work at Accelerated Learning Academy. We truly have the most caring staff I’ve ever worked with. Our students are experiencing success and are truly blossoming … Most of our students who come to ALA have experienced multiple traumas … Students can’t learn if their brains are in a survival mode. The students need a safe space … the hallways in Southwestern will never be a safe space for ALA students to learn. I vehemently urge you to find resources to allow ALA students to remain in a separate building. –ALA high school science teacher
“According to the Michigan Alternative Education Organization and the National Center for Dropout Prevention, there are 37 best practices for alternative education to support nontraditional students. Among these practices, a separate facility is highlighted … Additionally, there are approximately 19 schools that operate in the Genesee County area as alternative options. Not one of them operates as a school within a school … In 2017-2018 … we had 859 referrals (for misconduct); this year we’ve only had 302 … 98 fights (the last year ALA was located with another facility) we’ve reduced to just 20 this year … In 2017, when we were a building within a building, we had only four graduates … this year … we have 17 on track to graduate with three (others) possible.” — ALA principal
“I have moved within Flint schools 14 times due to downsizing … Students are successful here, students are independent, academically challenged, happy to attend school again … It’s a great place to teach … To move us into Southwestern, we will lose students again … Moving means losing student funding. — ALA high school English teacher

Handmade signs held by parents and students at the Flint Board of Education meeting on Wednesday. (Photo by Tom Travis)
“Everyone knows what their role is in the building and how they can support our students … When you walk through the halls, there is a sense of belonging, a feeling of safety, and strength of a family … Our students understand and demonstrate inclusivity with race, gender, and sexual identity through every activity and every interaction.” –ALA social worker
“We really built a family here … I know I’m going to win as long as I’m at ALA.” — ALA student
“Since I started at ALA, it’s been nothing but good vibes … We have one-on-one time here … Every student at ALA feels like if we switch schools, we’re going to fall off track … We are family here … Please don’t choose money over our education.” — ALA student
“They (ALA students) have built love for each other and have made this a home. I do not think you should take this away from us. We have become successful because of the bond we have created with our teachers, support staff, even security guards.” — ALA student
“I have some very deep concerns about the potential for the school board to attempt to relocate the Accelerated Learning Academy into Southwestern Classical Academy … That would result in a serious reduction of enrichment activities that are offered at both Southwestern as well as ALA … In my estimation this would be a grave mistake … Consider … that one in every three scholars at Southwestern has an IEP (Individualized Education Program, a plan for impaired students) Fully nine classrooms at Southwestern are dedicated to the legally sanctioned needs of these children in form of resource rooms and self-contained classrooms.” – Southwestern Academy principal
“ALA students are always moving … Leave my kids alone!” – ALA teacher
“We vote for millages; we also vote for elected board members … When you dog us … you reap the consequences at the polls … You just remodeled Scott and now you’re going to close it. It devastates communities when you close schools.” — Community activist

Commentary about vacant school buildings:

“If you decide to close any of the schools, you must have criteria for why you are closing those schools. You must also have a plan for what to do with these schools after they’re done. We have too many schools in this community that have been burnt to the ground, are breeding grounds for prostitution, drugs, and vandalism. Former schools which have taught the future of Flint have been turned into cesspools.” –City of Flint councilperson

[Note: Remote attendance by this reporter prevented full, accurate identification of speakers.]

In the end, no building closures or accompanying staff layoffs were announced at the FBOE’s May 11 meeting. FBOE members stated in previous months that teacher layoffs had to happen by April 30 per contractual obligation with the United Teachers of Flint (UTF), the labor organization that represents its teachers. “Now we’re locked into contracts,” admitted Carol McIntosh, FBOE vice president.

FBOE responses to public statements

Board members had varied responses to what they heard from the public. A sampling:

McIntosh: “If we’re not going to close buildings, we definitely have to look at revitalizing what we have and making it attractive for our students.”
McNeal: “On my watch, I do not want to see schools closed … It seems like we’re always choosing money over people.”

Flint Board of Education President Joyce Ellis-McNeal. (Photo by Tom Travis)
Allen Gilbert, trustee: “In my mind, schools will have to be closed … The only enemy that we have in this city is that we’re not willing to take on the tough tasks of making the tough decisions.”
MacIntyre: “This whole discussion of closing schools … was a mandate from the state. It was a requirement … under the Financial Emergency Manager Law which has done our communities in the state of Michigan so wrong for so many years. The EDEP … was one of the stages of the Financial Emergency Manager Law (an) antiquated, draconian law … We’re being extorted as a district.”

School Board Treasurer Laura MacIntyre. (Photo by Tom Travis)
DelMorone: “Sometimes you need to close buildings because of the dramatic loss of population … If a decision was to be made about closing a school, or schools … we needed input from the public … I’ve learned some things from the public.”

“Legal battle of our life”

Intra-board tension dominated the final hour of the six-hour meeting. It began with a proposed motion by McIntosh seeking pay for an attorney assisting Charis Lee, the district’s new legal counsel.

“We’re in the middle of the legal battle of our life,” McIntosh explained.

Prolonged exchanges between the board’s top two officers, McNeal and McIntosh, devolved into tense exchanges and name-calling. Some of the dialogue:

McNeal: “If you’re going to represent me, I need to see who you are.”
McIntosh: “I’m trying to get this attorney we voted for paid … He’s not getting paid.”

Flint Board of Education Vice-President Carol McIntosh. (Photo by Tom Travis)
McNeal: “We do need proof of work. But we got to stop this … people putting anything on an invoice … If we do it for one, we got to do it for all.”
McIntosh: “He showed up in court, so we can back it up.”
McNeal: “I don’t know that.
McIntosh: “The court know.”
McNeal: “You got to get me some correspondence. I don’t know what you’re doing … We need some backup to what you’re saying … I like to have documents.”
McIntosh: “We’re having a hard time with the communication from legal and the board … It was a time with myself and Ms. Green (FBOE member Danielle Green) whenever legal gave out an opinion or anything dealing with the district legally, they sent the emails to the entire board. Suddenly, we don’t get that anymore … I want to hear from legal on several issues.”
McNeal: “What I’m saying … is Ms. Lee (district’s counsel), according to policy, responds to the (board) president and the superintendent.”
McIntosh: “She’s the board’s attorney … You just don’t want us to hear. Why you lying?”
McNeal: “There’s nothing that I know that she (Lee) has done that I don’t want you to hear.”
McIntosh: “Then why everybody can’t get the emails like you do?”
McNeal: “What emails?”
McIntosh: “Whatever she sends you … When you lying we don’t interrupt.”
McNeal: “This board has been charged with threats, conflict of interest, intimidation, working in a hostile environment … It is my responsibility to look after everyone … I don’t know who’s lying and who’s telling the truth … I had to go and find a factfinding investigation … I had to get a third party … to do this investigation to keep us out of litigation … I’m trying to work this thing out … The investigation is going forth; I’m going to bring it before the board.”
McIntosh: “When?”
McNeal: “I just told you, I just got the information back … You shouldn’t be (copying to) everybody.”
McIntosh: “Why not? If the president does an investigation, she’s supposed to bring that before the whole board. Furthermore, if you gonna have a meeting with the board attorney, and you done decided by yourself, just you and Kevelin (FCS superintendent)? You done make them decisions by yourself?”
McNeal: “You’re twisting all up.”
McIntosh: “I ain’t heard nothing about this investigation.”
McNeal: “I just detailed to you, when I got this information, I did legally what I thought I should do … I just needed to know what I do.”
McIntosh: “We do. What do we do?”
McNeal: “What we do as a board.”
McIntosh: “But we don’t know nothing about it.”
McNeal: “You’re going to get it. Everything doesn’t just happen like that overnight … I just got in this seat; I didn’t ask for it … What do I do?”
McIntosh: “Lean on your board … When you decide to fact-find, you’re supposed to share that with us.”
McNeal: “You going to have to do it your way; I’m doing it the way I understood it.”
McIntosh: “Those are the rules. Transparency is part of the rules … You can’t … making decisions to investigate, to fire people, and to hire people … There’s a lot of illegal activity been going on. Furthermore, I don’t trust you … We have a right to hear the opinion from the attorney for the district, all of us at the same time. Cuz you might mess it up … Why everything a big secret ‘til it’s time to vote?”

After an hour of interruptions, muttering under breaths, and raised voices, McIntosh’s motion was passed by a 4-2 vote of the board. McNeal and MacIntyre voted against the motion.

In the meantime, multiple existential crises faced by Flint Community Schools remain unresolved.

The public tete-a-tete seemed to originate during discussions about legal matters with the district’s counsel during closed sessions. “We discussed it during closed session,” McIntosh confirmed at the start.

The public and the press are left to speculate about the particulars of the McNeal-McIntosh fallout as ongoing litigation is discussed in closed sessions, not subject to provisions of the Open Meetings Act. Nonetheless, FCS legal machinations are plentiful:

FCS has been sued by its two most recent, former superintendents – Derrick Lopez and Anita Steward – who were abruptly dismissed by the FBOE.
One of two lawsuits brought against the district by the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan likely remains unresolved.
In Nov. 2021, the district’s new legal counsel, Charis Lee publicly alleged “unnecessary work … conflict of interest, double-bill(ing) for overtime … breach (of) fiduciary duties and overcharge(ing) for legal services” by The Williams Firm before it parted ways with the district.
Additionally, an alleged physical assault by former FBOE president Danielle Green has, effectively, led to her exclusion from the board – the result of a PPO (Personal Protection Order) granted to MacIntyre, the alleged victim of the assault. DelMorone’s request for a legal judgment from Michigan’s attorney general about the PPO was turned down at the board’s Apr. 20 meeting.

The next scheduled meetings of the FBOE are: on May 18 (regular meeting); June 8 (Committee of the Whole/COW); June 15 (regular meeting).

Meetings take place at Accelerated Learning Academy, 1602 S. Averill Ave., Flint, MI 48503. Special meetings are frequently scheduled; interested persons should check the FCS website for information.

Meetings normally begin at 6:30 and can be seen remotely by registering, in advance, at the district’s website. Recordings of meetings can be viewed on YouTube.

EVM Education Beat reporter Harold C. Ford can be reached at hcford1185@comcast.net

Tag: Board