On Thursday, March 17, the board of trustees and many community members met either online or at the administration building to initially address the mask mandate for the third trimester and additional concerns. 

KPS bus drivers, food service workers and campus safety are paid the same wages as before the pandemic. Several representatives from these groups spoke in the public comments section of the meeting.  Nurses have had an increase in pay since the beginning of the pandemic.

The new wave of omicron BA.2 is coming stronger than the original wave, according to Board president Patti Sholler-Barber.  During the meeting, employee Angela Cross petitioned KPS to keep the mask mandate and has collected over 100 signatures within two days. There is also another petition for KPS to continue the mask mandate until summer break by Delores Storm. The mask evaluation is to be reassessed in the school board meeting scheduled after spring break on April 7th.

KPS is asking for voters in a bond proposal for $197 million to go to specific goals:

•  Buying and replacing technology 
•  Increasing the number of HEPA filters in schools
•  Upgrading the lighting in schools 
•  Improving the learning environment
•  Increasing the participation of sports and fine arts 

Do you want your voice heard, or have some important topics to students around you? Here are the next upcoming Board Meeting Dates: 

April 7, 2022

April 21, 2022

May 4, 2022

May 19, 2022

June 9, 2022

June 30, 2022

According to Kalamazoo Public Schools policy for the public participation in voicing your concerns to the Board of Trustees:

 “Persons requesting to address the board will be asked to complete a sign-in sheet by the end of the public comment period. The portion of that sign-in sheet requiring completion will include: name, school district in which the person resides, and connection to/interest in the Kalamazoo Public Schools. The optional portion will be held private and will include: mailing address, email address, phone number, topic about which they will be speaking and, if authorized and applicable, the organization they represent.” 

On board meeting dates, there is the livestream link: https://www.publicmedianet.org/pmn-discover-live or you can come in person to the administration building as well at 1220 Howard Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49008.