Bloomfield Hills Schools considered a $238,601.91 purchase of new K-5 literacy materials at its Monday, Aug. 24 Board of Education meeting.
The agenda called for trustees to consider adopting Volume of Reading and Geodes Decodables, published by Great Minds, with the purchase paid from the General Fund using Section 35m literacy funding. Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services Todd Bidlack brought the item forward.
The proposed purchase would add to the district's literacy spending in 2026. In March, the board approved the 95 Core Literacy curriculum for $423,480 using the same grant funding stream.
If the Aug. 24 purchase is approved, the district's two 2026 K-5 literacy investments would total $662,081.91.
Robotics funding also on agenda
The board was also scheduled to consider an additional $30,000 contingency for Bid Package #13, covering Bloomin' West and robotics renovations paid from the Bond Fund.
Superintendent Rick West presented the request.
In July 2025, the board approved a separate $350,000 contingency for the same bid package to address electrical requirements identified through the State of Michigan's plan review.
If the new $30,000 contingency is approved, total additional contingencies for the robotics renovations would reach at least $380,000.
Other board business
The Aug. 24 agenda also called for final reading and consideration of board policy changes recommended by legal counsel.
The board was scheduled to recognize Lillian Tang with the Sutton Foster Award, presented by Bloomfield Hills High School Principal Dan Hartley.
The consent agenda included a proposed appointment of Joe Duda, assistant superintendent of human resources and Title IX compliance officer, as director and Jake McDermott, director of maintenance and operations, as alternate director to the MAISL Joint Risk Management Trust.
Board President Tareq Falah was listed to preside over the meeting.
The agenda also included a strategic planning update and discussion of Superintendent Rick West's goals for 2026-27.
