Meeting Minutes: Spring Lake Public Schools Board of Education

What is the body?

The Spring Lake Public Schools (SLPS) Board of Education is a seven-member elected governing body responsible for setting policy, approving budgets, and providing strategic leadership for the district.

• When: 6 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2026
• Where: The Media Center at the Spring Lake Intermediate School, 345 Hammond St., Spring Lake
• Duration of meeting: 25 minutes
• Members: All members were present: Jennifer Nicles (president), Kelly Vanderhoek (vice president), Curt Theune (secretary), Christopher Beck (treasurer), Paul Aldridge (trustee), Dustin Brown (trustee), and Courtney Holmes (trustee)
• Agenda: The agenda can be found online here.

• Packet: No supporting materials for the agenda were available to the public.
• Agenda amendments: A new item was added under "Action Items" as Agenda Item 6.E, regarding a notice of resignation of a staff member.

Action items

1. Spring coaching assignments.
   1. Vote: Approved unanimously.
2. Policy updates: Policy updates that had been presented for first readings in the February 16, 2026, meeting — and as listed in that meeting's minutes.
   1. Vote: Approved unanimously.
3. Technology purchase approval: Instructional staff and student devices.
   1. Discussion: Brent Gustafson, technology coordinator for the district, spoke about the purchases more specifically, which included device replacement (laptops) for K-6 staff and "student resources."
   2. Vote: Purchase approved unanimously.
4. 27I(2) Stipend for staff.
   1. Discussion: As explained by Superintendent Dennis Furton, this stipend is a state of Michigan initiative; more information found here. (Michigan Section 27l(2) of the State School Aid Act provides funding for one-time stipends to increase compensation for educators and school staff. These payments, which often appear as "educator compensation 27l(2) payments," are broad, covering teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, and bus drivers, and are reportable as compensation.)
   2. Approved 5-2, with Aldridge and Theune recusing themselves.
5. Resignation of a high school teacher.
   1. Vote: Accepted unanimously.

— Submitted by Karen Obits