Board Briefs is a monthly newsletter published after Board of Education meetings. For additional information, please contact the Communications Department at 591-0852.

This month's Pledge of Allegiance was led by students from Central GSRP and Cardinal's Nest preschool programs who were selected for consistently following the Cardinal Code each day. This is a big deal for students at such a young age as they are already showing strong character and leadership skills!

Individuals can be nominated by any DCS staff member. Once a month, an administrator can submit one name for that month's drawing. We are pleased to announce that our winner for March is Travis Howell, former Director of the Davison Area Chamber of Commerce, current Treasurer for Davison Township and parent of two students in the district. He was nominated by Michelle Edwards, Director of Public Information, Community Outreach/Culture and Safety Liaison, who wrote:

"When you put the words Cardinal and Spirit together, the first person who comes to mind is Travis Howell.

Pictured below are Superintendent Matt Lobban, Travis Howell and Board President Holly Halabicky.

When it comes to the amount of career technical education (CTE) programs offered by a local high school, Davison High School is exceeding the norm. Of the 52 different industry CTE courses to be recognized by the state of Michigan, Davison High School offers 13.

"You don’t typically see a high school with these amount of programs," said Tom Oddi, Director of Career Technical Education. "We have been able to maintain these programs with consistent numbers of students and sustain teachers. It's a very impressive thing for a local district to have."

Oddi was at the board meeting to talk about the District's CTE programs that equip students with practical skills and knowledge in specific career fields. Centered around career pathways, work-based learning, industry certifications and college career readiness, CTE combines academic learning with hands-on training to prepare students for high-demand jobs, postsecondary education, or apprenticeships.

Oddi said there is a new era in CTE, an area where educators have continually fought against the "stigma" that such courses were developed for students who were not college bound. In fact, Oddi said that there is something for every student when it comes to career technical education. It may be having the opportunity to earn college credits with every CTE course they take. It may also mean students getting the opportunity to perfect their skills and leadership experiences by competing in competitions such as DECA (marketing) and HOSA (health sciences) conferences. Or, a student may cross the threshold from learning to working by earning certifications, participating in work-based learning or discovering opportunities through guest speakers or job shadowing.

"I will be working on finding new ways to collaborate and partner with our employers in the local community in order to provide more modern and robust work-based learning opportunities for our students," Oddi said.

At Davison High School, the CTE program consists of the following classes:

• Automotive Technology
  Courses include Auto I, II and III. Students can earn ASE certifications in Maintenance and Light Repair, Brakes, Engine Repair, Engine Performance, Suspension and Steering, Electrical and Electronics, Automatic Transmission, Manual Transmission, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning and Automotive Service Technology. Last year students earned 91 certifications and as of February, 117 certifications had been earned during the 2024-25 school year.
• Construction Trades
  Courses included Construction Trades I and II. Students can earn certifications in National Center for Construction Education and Research and OSHA Safety.

• Engineering/Mechatronics
  Courses include Intro to Engineering Design, Principle of Engineering, Mechatronics I and II. Students can earn certifications in EPSON and Universal robots, and Project Management Institute (PMI).
• Radio/TV Broadcasting
  Courses include DTV I, II, III, IV and V, Students can earn Adobe Certified Professional certifications.
• Business Management
  Courses include Business Management Administration I and II. Students can earn certifications in communication skills for business and entrepreneurship.
• Marketing
  Courses include Marketing I, II and III. Students can earn certifications in customer sales and service and retail operations.
• Finance/Accounting
  Course includes Accounting. Students can earn certifications in Quickbooks as a certified bookkeeper.
• Health Science/Medical
  Courses include Health Science I and II. Students can earn certifications as a Patient Care Technician and Medical Assistant.
• Computer Programming
  Courses include Computer Programming and Web Design. Students can earn certifications in AP Computer Programming and HTML/CSS. Sixteen students tested in AP Computer Programming this year and six Web Design students earned IT Specialist certification in HTML and CSS.
  
• System Administration and Informational Technology
  Courses include Computer Repair and Computer Networking. Twenty students have earned PC Pro credentials in TESTOut and three students are currently employed as Co-Op students in the Technology Department.
• Education
  Courses include Teacher Cadet I and II. While the Teacher Cadet program has been offered for several years, it officially became a CTE program during the 2023-24 school year. Juniors are now allowed to join the program and next year up to 30 cadets will be enrolled in the program. Certifications are also expected to be implemented in the 2025-26 school year.
• Graphic Communications
  Courses include Computer Graphics and Photography/Digital Imaging. This is a new CTE program that began this school year. Students can earn certifications in Adobe.

Oddi said getting information out to students and families earlier in their high school career so they know the opportunities available is another step in growing the CTE program.

"We felt it was important for us to have this presentation because ... the perception is that we aren’t doing as great a job preparing students for the future," said Superintendent Matt Lobban. "That is why we wanted to highlight the 13 programs we have here. In addition, we also have students attending GCI (Genesee Career Institute). It's not just tests that measure the success of a district. CTE is preparing our students."

The purchases will include replenishing art supplies for 5th/6th grade art classes, purchasing cellos, percussion and musical instruments for instrumental and vocal music classes grades 5-12, school to work textbooks for Davison Alternative Education students, science materials for grades DK-12, books for high school English Language Arts students and textbooks for U.S. History, World History, Economics, AP Psychology and WWII courses.

The District's Academic Curriculum Committee recommended the textbook and curriculum resource proposals. These proposed materials were also reviewed by the Board Curriculum Committee.

Davison Community Schools is joining public schools around the state to urge Congress to provide adequate and sustainable funding increases to school districts as part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

IDEA was passed in 1975 to guarantee funding to ensure that every child with a disability has access to a high quality education. At that time, the federal government committed to pay 40 percent of the average per pupil expenditure for special education but that financial pledge has never been met. In fact, IDEA is currently funded at approximately 10.7 percent. Davison Community Schools is proud to serve a student population that includes 13.4 percent of students with disabilities.

Research shows that increased education funding positively affects academic performance, increases graduation rates and impacts future earnings for all students.

Board members approved a resolution that calls on Congress to immediately pass the IDEA Full Funding Act, which would create a 10-year mandatory path to fully fund IDEA, and the state legislature to provide adequate, equitable and sustainable funding increases.

Board members approved the purchase of two pre-owned school buses with wheelchair lifts for a total amount of $172,402. The low sealed bid was received from Midwest Transit Equipment, Inc. of Marshall, Mich. in the amount of $79,896 per bus with a 60-month/unlimited mile engine and engine electronics including injectors warranty in the amount of $6,305 per bus.

Each bus has less than 45,000 miles and up to five slots for wheelchairs.

The kitchen at Hahn Intermediate is being renovated his summer with new kitchen equipment after Board members approved the low bid of $93,999 to Chef's Deal Restaurant Equipment Co.

The bid includes serving counters for both hot and cold foods and cash register stand.

The Buildings/Grounds & Transportation Committee met on February 26 and reviewed the bids and recommendation. The cost of the equipment will be paid out of the Food Services fund.

The following donations were gratefully acknowledged:

• Emma Delacourt donated 20 pairs of gloves to students in the GSRP program.
  
• Outreach East donated gloves, hats, scarves and snacks for students at Siple Elementary.