Alpena Public Schools board members faced questions Monday about the delayed Family Partnership Program, the use of district imagery in campaign materials and the future of major construction work during their regular Board of Education meeting.
Parents involved in the Family Partnership Program addressed the board about the program’s delayed start this school year. They also alleged that Family Partnership Director Jen Myers had been placed on administrative leave. Superintendent Dave Rabbideau declined to confirm or deny that allegation, citing personnel rules.
“aligned with state and federal law and with board policy, we do not comment on personnel matters,” Rabbideau said in a text message Thursday, according to The Alpena News.
Superintendent backs Family Partnership Program
The Family Partnership Program provides primarily homeschooling families with free non-essential and elective courses. Students have the option to attend classes in person once a week at Sunset School.
After public comment, Rabbideau said he supports the program. He also said board members had expressed support in his conversations with them.
“We expect a long and fruitful relationship with that partnership,” Rabbideau said.
The meeting did not establish whether Myers was placed on leave, and the district’s position was that it would not comment on the alleged personnel matter.
Board addresses APS logos and candidate photographs
A member of the public asked whether candidates may use APS insignia on campaign materials, saying the imagery could be perceived as district endorsement. Another question concerned whether a candidate’s photograph of themself reading to students violated the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA.
Rabbideau clarified that APS does not endorse school board candidates. He said APS logos are not copyrighted, so candidates may use them in campaign materials. He also said the student-reading photograph came from the school’s Facebook page and that required clearances and permissions had been provided.
Construction costs and upcoming district decisions
The board approved the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs annual application process for delegated School Plan Review and Inspection Authority for all APS buildings.
Rabbideau also discussed the district’s separation from former construction manager Wolgast. He said Wolgast recorded 128 change events totaling about $748,000 in additional costs for the 2020 Safe, Warm, Dry bond projects. By comparison, Clark Construction has worked with the district for two years and had 54 change orders; APS received about $18,136 back from Clark for those orders.
The discussion followed questions at a previous workshop about whether the project manager would need to be rebid if voters approve a new $29 million bond in May. Rabbideau said the services would not need to be rebid.
Another round of Safe, Warm, Dry bond work is planned for next summer, with about $3.7 million remaining from the original bond. The district also expects to replace approximately 20 interactive classroom screens in elementary schools.
Board members approved an honorary diploma request for a woman after her grandson brought the request to a previous workshop. The award remains pending further investigation of her academic records. An official “light the cat” ceremony for the new Wildcat logo at Alpena High School is planned for early October.