Chassell’s Chief Science Officers (from left) Willa Jouppe, seventh grade, Oriana Olson, 10th grade, Carsyn Reis, 10th grade, Mariah Juntunen, 10th grade, and Kayla Aho, seventh grade, participated in Michigan Tech’s leadership training event. They will look to apply the leadership skills they learned to Chassell Township Schools. (Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette)

CHASSELL — The Chassell Township Schools Board of Education met on Monday, Dec. 17, to have its monthly meeting. The meeting went over DP Construction’s bid for snow removal, highlighted student participation in leadership training events at Michigan Tech and discussed the budding idea of a Winter Fest.

The meeting began by approving continued snow removal services from DP Construction. DP posted the accepted bid which will be discussed in further detail next meeting.

The board then acknowledged middle and high school students who attended the leadership training at MTU. The school recognized the students as Chassell’s Chief Science Officers who will be considering how to spread positive influences throughout the school. An idea that the students and their teachers are floating is the initiation of a formal STEM program into the elementary school. The school noted that through grant money and donations that it has built up access to STEM equipment and curriculum.

The board also adopted the fall’s recommended NEOLA policy updates. The board meets with NEOLA representation to go over potential policy updates, and last month the meeting with the representatives included readings of the updates’ first draft. This month the updates will be processed.

The meeting continued with brief discussion regarding the school’s Winter Fest. The Parents and Teachers Together Group (PATT) has wanted to expand from the school’s Fall Fest and have similar festivities and activities for the winter. The event is likely to take place in late February or early March and feature activities such as snowshoeing and winter games outdoors and a chili cook-off indoors.

The board closed the gathering with the evaluation of Superintendent Marco Guidotti. He was given an “effective” rating.

“The board was very supportive of the work Mr. Guidotti has been doing,” School Board President Pete Torola said. “I am confident that he will continue to stabilize our district to align with our district’s long term goals.”

Before these contents of the meeting, the public portion had parents voicing concerns on student conduct and ill behavior. The board assured parents that they are aware of inappropriate behaviors and actions and are working within policies such as po5611 and ag5600A to address such issues.

Po5611 goes over due process rights, and signifies that except within an emergency removal is warranted, a student will be given oral or written notices of charges of suspension or expulsion. The student and family must also be given a description of the student’s rights and of the hearing procedure.

Ag5600A goes over overall expectations from students and how the principals and educators shall conduct themselves in establishing communication regarding the topics of disciplinary actions taken towards ill-behaved students.