10/13/2025
Draft of meeting minutes from September regular board meeting, and special meeting.
BOIS BLANC PINES SCHOOL DISTRICT
Public meeting
September 9, 2025
Meeting Call to Order: Jim Gilligan opened the meeting at 4:00pm. Other board members present were: Linda Wells, Pat Devlin, Phillip Radala and Rick Navarre. EUPISD Superintendent Angie McArthur, was present via phone. Public: present. Two items to add to the Agenda: Book Order, and Building Maintenance.
Approval of Agenda: Jim Gilligan made motion to approve the revised agenda Supported by Rick Navarre Seconded by Rick Navarra . Roll Call vote: Ayes: Gilligan, Navarre, Devlin, Radala and Wells. None opposed. Absent, None. Motion carried
Recognition/Presentation: Recognition and thank you to Amanda Smith for new swings for our playground.
Approval of Consent Agenda: Jim Gilligam made a motion to approve the consent agenda which included minutes from our regular meeting on August 12 and Check Register Approval. Supported by Rick Navarre. Roll Call vote: Ayes: Gilligan, Navarre, Devlin, Radala and Wells. None opposed. Absent, None. Motion carried
Correspondence: Thank you from the Historical Committee for opening the school during the home tour. We received a lot of positive feedback regarding the school.
Reports:
Superintendent: We have had a great start to the school year. We still have no state budget!. We encourage reaching out to your state legislator to pass what is needed. Curriculum: I applied for the 35m Literacy Grand Funding. This was available due to the dyslexia legislation that was passed last year. Boise Blanc Pines received $30,00 toward the purchase of a new literacy series, Into Reading, based on the science of reading. The quote for the materials follows: For K-5 curriculum – implementation of Into Reading $18,415.70 covered by 35m Literacy Grant Funding. 6th Grade Into Reading $1,068.22 covered by REAP Funds. 6th Grade Into Math $640.20 covered by REAP Funds. Renewal IXL Supplemental Materials – Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies $599.00 covered by REAP Funds. Board approval required for purchase of all. Follow-up conversation with the Office of Civil Rights – Website Accessibility. Had a Zoom call from office of Civil Rights regarding specific changes to the handbook accessibility on the web site changes making it accessible.
Teacher: Out year is off to a terrific start. Before school began I volunteered my time to transform the classroom into a calming and professional learning environment. I painted, put up new curtains, and have been working on reorganizing the cupboards in the classroom. I have also added a classroom pet, a Venus Fly Trap. He has been named Snapper by our student. The first week of school was successful. We’ve been working on getting into the grove of things again going over the classroom rules, reviewing information from last year, and assessing what skills to focus on this year. Our art project this past week involved painting rocks we found at the Pines Dock during our nature walk and then we hid them around the Island. In science we learned about the physical properties of matter and experimented how properties can change making homemade ice cream. We enjoyed the ice cream on Friday with the student’s family celebrating our first week’s accomplishments. I’m working on arranging a couple of off-island field trips before the ferry stops running. I am waiting to hear back from a friend who owns a bakery smoke house in St Ignas to arrange a career day before the end of September. I will need the ferry tickets, the bridge fare, and lunch covered. I expect the cost to be under $400 depending on the number of participants. Can I get approval for this? A couple of things to note, a Huge thank you to Amanda and Mike Smith for the purchase of new swing seats for the playground and to Dan Reynolds for volunteering his time to install them. The bats are back on the school property. They have been leaving quite a mess on the back ramp of the school. The porch overhang probably needs to have the holes plugged to solve this issue. We also need someone to donate bat houses to give them alternative housing. There are a couple of siding boards on the back of the school that need to be replaced, they are decomposing and probably won’t last the winter. The flag pole needs to be re-painted this Spring. I would like a window bird feeder and bird seed donated to the school if anyone is interested in helping with this project. Thank you for supporting our school, Michelle Reynolds (Jim Gillilgan: The maintenance issues will be discussed later. Also, Michelle is taking a class that occurs at the same time of our meeting so she will not be able to attend in person until that class is over at the very earliest.)
Parks Committee: Jim Gilligan reported that he has a phone call scheduled tomorrow to finalize some details. We are expecting the final architectural drawings within the next few days. We are looking at having the bids due October 31st, Bids will be opened November 3 with contractor selected November 4. Drawing to be submitted for State Permitting November 7. Site work to commence November 17. Construction for buildings to commence May 11, 2026 with construction completion July 31, 2026. In regards to the tennis court, I have been in contact with Jeff Urbany (President of the BBI Association). It sounds like they are ready to begin Phase 2 of this project which includes the tennis court. We, as the board, will have to go to the township for the zoning permit. If everything is within their finance budget they will be able to finance the tennis court. This will not only provide more exercise for the children of the school but also the population of the island will be able to use it off school hours as well. This is an important step in bringing the wishes of the benefactor of the property. We will have more details on that next month.
Old Business:
Website updates: Linda Wells is still having difficulties uploading information onto the website. Angie has offered assistance.
Vector Training: Devlin has not completed the trainings as of this date. It needs to be completed by next meeting. Jim will check with Phil Radala to see if he has completed his.
Epi Pens: We just received our new EpiPens which are still in date.
Attorney letter regarding the park: Things have been moving quickly and I want to finalize details with the Association as well as going through our paperwork before responding. Therefore no response has been processed yet.
MICIP Candidate: I did receive correspondence from Beth Beson getting more details regarding MICIP. She has agreed to be our Community Liaison for MICIP replacing Suzette. MOTION made by Jim Gilligan to appoint Beth Beson to the position of Community Liaison for MICIP. Rick Navarra supported. All in favor, no nays. Motion carried.
Book Orders: MOTION made by Jim Gilligan to approve $18,415.70 for the K-5 reading curriculum which is covered by 35m Literacy Grand Funding. Supported by Rick Navarra. Roll Call vote: Ayes: Gilligan, Navarre, Devlin, and Wells. None opposed. Absent, Radala. Motion carried. MOTION made by Jim Gilligan to purchase 6th grade Into Reading for $1,068.22 covered by REAP funds. Supported by Linda Wells. Roll Call vote: Ayes: Gilligan, Navarre, Devlin, and Wells. None opposed. Absent, Radala. Motion carried. MOTION made by Jim Gilligan for 6th grade Into Match for $640.20 covered by REAP funds. Supported by Linda Wells Roll Call vote: Ayes: Gilligan, Navarre, Devlin, and Wells. None opposed. Absent, Radala. Motion carried MOTION made by Jim Gilligan for renewal of IXL Supplemental materials for $599.00 covered by REAP funds. Supported by Rick Navarra. Roll Call vote: Ayes: Gilligan, Navarre, Devlin, and Wells. None opposed. Absent, Radala. Motion carried.
New Business:
Building Maintenance: There is a trim board that should be there by the awning, but is not. There are two pieces of siding at the NE corner of the school that need to be replaced. Jim Gilligan will volunteer his time to repair these. He will use the school account at Barnards to purchase the materials needed.
Board Comments: Rick Navarra brought up concerns that Jim Gilligan was having with his school issued lap top computer and Rick thinking that it had been approved prior to the new election, for a new lap top for the president to use for the school board. We would have to get a new motion. A new battery for this one is currently working. It is currently using 10 Pro Education software. Research will be done looking at previous minutes. Pat Devlin brought up question regarding the tennis court in the part install and if a Pickle Ball court would be included? Jim Gilligan responded that yes, it would be a multi-game court.
Public Comments: None
Other Business: Before closing the meeting out, I would like to welcome Beth Beson to the board. And, if I hear anything about the bid packages I will schedule a special meeting with as much advanced knowledge as possible.
Adjournment: 4:28 pm
Respectively Submitted
Linda C. Wells, Secretary.
BOIS BLANC PINES SCHOOL DISTRICT
Special meeting
September 23, 2025
Meeting Call to Order: Jim Gilligan opened the meeting at 4:00pm. Other board members present were: Linda Wells, Pat Devlin, Phillip Radala and Rick Navarre. Public present via phone.
Purpose of meeting: To review and hopefully approve the updated bid documents for the Gibson park project. These are similar to the ones approved back in the springtime. We did not know that we needed to approve the architecture work and state approvements. New is that we have a base bid of the timber frame building and also have a package for a pole frame alternative which is a backup in case the timber frame building is more than the association allows cost wise,
Questions regarding vegetation and debris, which is in this package. The transportation food and lodging is in the package. They will have to supply their own electricity as there is not electricity on site.
The other thing that has changed is the time table. Bids are due by 11/1, which is a Saturday. Bids to be opened 11/3, a Monday and contractor selection 11/4, a Tuesday. This will give us time to look over the qualifications of the bidders. If the bidders do not want to do the timber frame, can they just bid the pole frame? Ideally, we would like to have the timber frame, but if it is outside the association budget, or contractor’s realm secondary to specialized skills and tools, then the pole frame is the other option.
The school will not be putting out additional money for the project.
The tennis court is Phase 2. It will not be covered by a building. Phase 2 may happen concurrently. There are steps needed to be completed before bid packages can occur for the tennis court. The process for the pavilion was started first which is why it is further along. We are not building a building for the tennis court, so it is much less complicated. We will not have to have architectural drawings and state approval.
The parking is not directly on the main road; there are short drives in then the parking with a tree buffer.
One of the goals is that the farmer’s market will occur in the pavilion with parking over there with overflow parking by the township hall.
Why is electric not being included? Electricity would be beneficial if in the future renting of the pavilion is something that would be looked at.
What happens if we do not get bids on the pavilion we would still pursue the tennis court? Yes
MOTION made by Rick Navarra to approve the bid package as presented. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Wells, Navarra, Gilligan, Devlin, Radala. None opposed. Motion carried.
Public Comment: None.
Adjournment: 4:8 pm
Respectively Submitted
Linda C. Wells, Secretary.
