The Board work session on January 10 was an annual organizational meeting of the Board of Education. After approving the minutes from January 10 with a 6-0 vote, the Board approved these organizational items:

• Election of Officers - President Joe Herd, Vice President Colleen Worden, Treasurer Margaret Weertz, Secretary Lisa Papas
• Declaration of Compensation according to the four options in their bylaws - Brumbaugh donated to ECC PTO, Herd refused his compensation, Ismail donated to special education, Lee donated to the Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education, Papas donated to North and South Choirs, Weertz donated to Maire PTO, Worden donated to Parcells PTO
• The Board meeting calendar for 2022
• A regular business item on continuance of funds and designation of signatories on accounts (with the new treasurer)

Previewed for action January 24:

• Approval of North/South Baseball/Softball Field replacement
• Approval of 2022 Technology Project for classroom audio visual systems, video surveillance and door access systems, public address, bell and clock systems and end user devices
• Approval of ECF Chromebook Purchase of 600 devices through Universal Service Administrative Company grant funding totaling $205,626
• Approval of 2022-23 Budget Parameters as the start to the annual process to develop a balanced budget in line with the strategic plan
• Approval of a resolution to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to sell Poupard

Upcoming Board Meetings:

• BOE Policy Meeting, 4 p.m., Thursday, January 13, 20601 Morningside Board Room
• BOE Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., Monday, January 24, Brownell Multipurpose Room

If you can't make it to the in-person Info Nights this week, each school will be sharing links to their presentations on their school website. The middle schools will be posted shortly. Thank you to the families that attended on January 11. While virtual isn't quite the same as the opportunity to be personally welcomed into each school, it is one more way to connect with busy families during COVID. Please note:

• Kindergarten/Young Fives Info Nights are being held at each elementary
• North's Info Night has moved to Brownell Middle School Multipurpose Room (park behind the building) due to bond construction in the PAC. Here is the North Livestream link
• South's Info Night is in the Auditorium. Here is the South Livestream link
• Kindergarten/Young Fives and Incoming Freshman Parents Info Nights are from 6:30-8 p.m., Thursday 1/13

In alignment with the change in midterm procedures shared last week, the reporting of middle and high school grades will be delayed. This will allow time for students who are absent the week of midterms due to COVID and wish to take their exams, to have those grades entered. Middle and high school grades will be available in the MiStar Parent Portal on Tuesday, February 8th. Elementary grades will still be available in the parent portal on Tuesday, February 1st.

Parents and guardians can upload their student's COVID vaccine card using the MiStar Parent Portal by following the directions linked here. According to quarantine guidelines from the Wayne County Health Department, any student who is fully vaccinated will not be required to quarantine if they are identified as a close contact to a COVID positive individual. Uploading your student’s vaccine card will help the district quickly identify those students who will not be required to quarantine. Thank you for doing this once the shots are complete! And thank you for working with us to protect your child and our learning community, and having patience as we adjust to changing guidelines from CDC, MDHHS and WCHD.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Department of Education has released three grants for which local education agencies (K-12) can apply. These ESSER grants will provide school districts with emergency relief funds to address the impact COVID-19 has had on elementary and secondary schools. GPPSS is seeking feedback from all district and community stakeholders to help determine how the district should best utilize Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER) to address unfinished learning, ongoing COVID-19 recovery, and Federal Program grant funds. Please take time to let us know your opinion by completing the brief ESSER III survey.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GPESSER3

The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is funded by the State of Michigan to provide free preschool for eligible four-year-old children. Head Start is federally funded to serve eligible children ages three through five years old. The Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, in collaboration with GPPSS, developed a community interest survey to elicit information regarding housing a Head Start and/or GSRP program for the 2022-23 school year at Ferry Elementary.

Eligibility for GSRP and Head Start is prioritized based on income and other factors. A family of 4 can earn up to $26,200 for Head Start or $65,500 for GSRP to be eligible for the respective programs.

We are asking that income eligible families, with children who will be three through five years old next school year, complete this survey provided by Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency. If there is interest in Head Start and GSRP, then Wayne Metro will start the recruitment and enrollment process for the program in the spring/summer.

The survey will be open through January 14, 2022.

Jan. 17: MLK Day, No School

Jan 18 -21: High School Half Day AM (Midterms)

Jan 21: Elementary and Middle School Half Day AM

Contact info@gpschools.org if you have questions or would like to submit story ideas or Pointes of Promise.