November 13, 2025 at 6:30 PM - Regular Meeting

Description: 
The President asks for approval of the agenda.  Are there any additions or deletions?  

"The agenda is approved as presented."
OR
"The agenda is approved with the following additions/deletions"  by Consensus.  

Description: 
Recommendation: 

Resolved that the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approves the following minutes:

October 2, 2025, Special Minutes, Facilities & Finance
October 9, 2025, Regular Minutes

Description:  The Meijer Woodward Corner Market employees selected Royal Oak Schools as their choice for a $5000 donation this year. 

Recommendation:
Resolved, that Royal Oak Schools Board of Education gratefully accepts the following donations as presented:

Meijer Woodward Corner Market - $5000.00

Description: 

WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Royal Oak School District acknowledges that Michigan’s public schools are the cornerstone of our communities and the foundation of our children’s future; and,

WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Royal Oak School District believes strong public schools attract families, boost property values, and strengthen the workforce—benefiting everyone; and,

WHEREAS, Michigan's public schools are underfunded by $4.5 billion, and more than 3/4 of all Michigan public school students attend schools in districts that are over $2000 per pupil below adequacy; and,

WHEREAS, funding for Michigan's School Aid Fund has significantly decreased over the last two decades, and between 2015 and 2022, seven studies found Michigan does not provide enough money for the state’s public schools; and,

WHEREAS, in the 2021-2022 school year, Michigan offered the lowest starting teacher salary in the Great Lakes region; and,

WHEREAS, the top 1% earners in Michigan pay a lower effective tax rate than everyday people pay (5.7% for the top 1% vs 7.1–9.7% for the bottom 80%); and,

WHEREAS, the lifetime earnings of Michigan’s current K-12 students could increase by $27 billion if their educational achievement matched the national average; and,

WHEREAS, A 10% increase in per-pupil spending improved low-income students’ graduation rates by seven percentage points, and their adult hourly wages by 13%;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Royal Oak School District Board of Education hereby endorses the Invest in MI Kids proposed amendment to the Michigan Constitution to impose a 5% fair share surcharge on annual taxable income over $1 million for joint filers and over $500,000 for single filers, to raise funds for career and technical education, reducing class size and attracting and retaining educators in public schools across the State and is subject to an annual audit.

Description:  Recommendation:

WHEREAS the United States Congress has designated the month of November as Native American Heritage Month, and Royal Oak Schools joins in honoring the rich histories, cultures, and enduring contributions of Native American and Alaska Native people in our society; and

WHEREAS a congressional resolution proclaiming Native American Heritage Month was first passed in 1990, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a proclamation declaring November as Native American Heritage Month in Michigan on November 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS Michigan is home to many Indigenous nations, including the Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi and Wyandot people, whose histories are deeply interwoven with the land and the history of the state; and

WHEREAS Native American and Alaska Native communities have made significant contributions throughout history in areas such as governance, agriculture, environmental stewardship, language, and the arts, enriching the cultural fabric of the United States and promoting sustainable practices that are essential to building a better future while also preserving distinct traditions, values and worldviews; and

WHEREAS Native American Heritage Month serves as an important reminder to reflect on the resilience of Native American and Alaska Native people, acknowledge their historical and ongoing struggles, and honor their profound impact on both our past and future, as well as their immeasurable contributions to the state of Michigan and beyond.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education, hereby proclaim the month of November as Native American Heritage Month at Royal Oak Schools.  

Description: 
If you would like to make a Public Comment:

• A person may address the Board on an agenda or non-agenda item by completing a note card located inside the Board Room and place the card in the basket prior to the citizen public comment period.  
• Each speaker is limited to three (3) minutes.  If you need more time you are offered a second opportunity to address the Board at the end of the meeting with an additional three (3) minutes. 
• Please address the Board as a whole and not individually.
• Public comment is not intended for the exchange of dialogue. This is a time for members of the public to express their views.   We are paying attention to your comments and appreciate them; however, school board members do not respond to public comment during the meeting.  
• Questions that arise from public comment shall be referred to the superintendent, or their designee, for review, study and possible future response.
• Thank you in advance for your cooperation.  

Description:  The consent agenda generally consists of routine matters as well as items we have covered during this meeting or another board or committee meeting. All items are documented in the minutes, which are published following the meeting at which they were approved. All of our committee and board meetings are open to the public and public comment is an item on each agenda. We invite members of the public to join our committees. 

Description:  Recommendation:

Resolved that the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education hereby approves expenditures as processed in the amount of $9,951,030.28, for the period of October 1, 2025, through October 31, 2025. 

Description:  Recommendation:
Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approves the request from Royal Oak High School to travel to Chicago, IL from February 13–15, 2026.

Description:  Description:  This agenda item presents the first reading of policies that we are updating due to legal notices from the State of Michigan. Many of the changes are merely pronoun modifications or updates to language. Policy 7541 is being rescinded, as a new policy has been drafted in its place.

Recommendation:

Resolved, that the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approves a first reading of the policies and administrative guidelines being revised, replaced and/or recommended as presented.

Description:  Recommendation:

Resolved, the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education approves the regular personnel changes as presented in the board packet.

Description:  Upcoming Events:
November 14–16, ROHS Fall Musical — Matilda
November 22, ROHS PTA Holiday Craft Fair
November 14, All City Choir Concert
November 26–28, Thanksgiving Break
December 2, Winter Band Concert
December 3, Winter Orchestra Concert
December 4, Finance & Facilities Meeting
December 9, Soup with the Super (Senior Center)
December 10, ROHS Winter Choir Concert
December 11, School Board Meeting