Courtesy Photo Members of the Alpena High School student council present on what they have been up to this school year, including putting together activities for Teacher Appreciation Week and the Veterans Day assembly. The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education saw several topics discussed during Monday’s meeting.

ALPENA — The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education approved the implementation of the Houghton-Mifflin-Harcourt (HMH) Into Math curriculum to begin in the 2025-2026 school year.

The old curriculum, Heinemann Math Expressions, was used for 15 years, K-5 Director of Curriculum Stephanie Piper said.

“So, 15 years, test scores were certainly not improving during that time,” board member Eric Hansen said. “And yet we continued to teach it, and so my only hope, or my only recommendation, is that we have more timely feedback and evaluation so that we’re not seven years down the road and realize it isn’t working for us and have to do something different.”

Part of the district’s strategic plan is to put all subjects in the district on a cycle of review, APS Superintendent Dave Rabbideau said.

Rabbideau said that some of the reasons for not updating the curriculum sooner may have to do with the district’s past financial status. Starting in 2008, the district was on financial watch from the state and started edging out of its reduction plan in 2016, according to Rabbideau.

Board President Anna Meinhardt noted that the secondary math curriculum was updated a year ago as well.

“So we’re making our way through it, and that’s great,” she said.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

— The board voted to remove the action item for recycled asphalt from bond work. The action item only covers one part of the process of reusing the asphalt. Rabbideau said that he will come back with bids for the whole project. The action item was replaced with a motion on the Kallman Legal Group contract.

— Lincoln Elementary Teachers Barbara Mowbray, Kate Benitez, and Deann Roesner updated the board about the good news going on at their school.

— Alpena High School student council members presented on what they have been up to this school year, including putting together activities for Teacher Appreciation Week and the Veterans Day assembly.

— Assistant Superintendent Stacy Moors presented on the district’s English Language program for students learning English as a second language. Moors said they are looking to recruit an English Language Consultant and make other improvements for the next school year.

— The board approved the Alpena Montmorency Alcona Educational Service District’s (AMA ESD) proposed general fund budget preamble and resolution for the 2025-2026 school year.

— The board voted to adopt the preamble and resolution to designate the 2025 Electoral Body Representatives for the AMA ESD Board of Education as presented. Those representatives are Darrin Lightner, Jay Kurowski, and Lisa Thayer.

— The board approved bids for custodial supplies, consumable supplies, and refuse disposal and supplies.

— The board voted to pursue engagement with Kallman Legal Group, with the final approval of the board to follow at the next regular board meeting in a vote of five to two, with board members Sarah Fritz and Meinhardt voting against the motion.

— The board voted to award the Alpena High School D House leak contract work to Johnson & Wood in the amount not to exceed $18,208.

— The board voted to accept the bid from National Satellite Corp to purchase 92 Phillips 86-inch interactive displays in the amount of $168,971.80 for all elementary classrooms in the district, including art, music, and special education classrooms. Board member AJ MacArthur voted against the motion.

— The board voted to approve the recognition and resolution of retirees as presented. The board wishes all retirees well. The retirees are Gabrielle Ross, Sherry Schrader, Tracey Urlaub, Julile Griffiths, Mareen Regan, Brydi Haugerud, Mathew Kolar, Katie Rondeau Thomson, Kristin Ciupka, Amy Blumenthal, Kristina Copping, Melody Zelazny, Melissa Habermehl, Kellie Poli, and Yvette Cushman, with a combined 437 years of service in the APS district.

— The board voted to enter into an agreement with the treasurer of the City of Alpena to collect the District’s 2025 summer property tax levy of 100% for the collection fee of $1.0378 per parcel.

— Don’s Tractor Sales gave a monetary donation of $2,300 to pay off the remaining amount due on the Alpena FFA tractor to support the students of Alpena High School.

— Ron Lemke donated items in honor of former Besser music teacher Carol Witherbee: a didgeridoo, an autoharp, an electric keyboard, and a wooden tongue drum valued at $500 to support the students at Besser Elementary.

— Rabbideau said he has a meeting Friday with the Rehmann team to analyze data from the survey sent to teachers.

— The board entered a closed session to discuss a personnel issue. When they came back to open session, the board approved the non-renewal of a probationary teacher.