• December 14, 2022

    It has come to the attention of the Board of Education that further clarification is needed regarding the action of the Board at Monday’s meeting to pay all full-time employees of the District a retention bonus of $1500 and all part-time employees of the District a retention bonus of $1000. The events leading up to the Board’s action are as follows.

    The District’s Administration placed on the Board agenda for the Board meeting on Thursday, December 8 a proposed action item to pay all full-time employees of the District a bonus of $1000 and all part-time employees of the District a bonus of $650. The District did not have board authority to propose the agenda item. 

    After the draft board meeting packet was distributed on Friday, December 2, the Board President contacted the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources to verify that negotiations with the union had taken place. The Assistant Superintendent was not aware of this item being proposed. The Board was advised by legal counsel that if the District paid such bonuses without giving the unions the opportunity to negotiate, then the District could be found to have committed an unfair labor practice in violation of the law.

    In response to this information, the Board tabled the recommendation for the bonus at the December 8  Board meeting in order to allow time for the district and unions to negotiate Letters of Agreement. The Board publicly stated that the matter of paying such bonuses had to be first bargained with the District’s various employee groups and would be recommended at a special meeting to be held on Monday, December 12. They expressed support and optimism that the bargaining with the union leadership would be completed by that time. 

    On December 9, the Board asked the District’s negotiating team to propose a higher bonus for all employees. 

    At the meeting held on December 12, a motion was made to pay all full-time employees of the District a retention bonus of $1500, and all part-time employees of the District a retention bonus of $1000. This motion was unanimously approved by the Board. All current employees will receive their bonuses on December 23, 2022.

    The Board hopes that this summary of events clarifies what occurred with respect to the bonus payments.  As representatives of the Kalamazoo community, the Board deeply appreciates all of the good work done by District employees on behalf of our students and is pleased that the District’s finances enabled the payment of such bonuses.

    May you and yours have a happy holiday season!

     

  • December 8, 2022

    Dear Kalamazoo Public School Parents, Families and Community:

    The Kalamazoo Board of Education is sending this communication so that you hear from us on an important development impacting the District’s leadership.  

    At the Board meeting concluded just a short while ago, the Kalamazoo Board of Education accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Rita Raichoudhuri effective December 12, 2022.  Dr. Raichoudhuri’s  leaving the District was a mutual decision of Dr. Raichoudhuri and the Board.  Dr. Raichoudhuri  leaves the District in good standing.  Dr. Raichoudhuri has accomplished much during her two and a half year tenure and now Dr. Raichoudhuri wishes to pursue other professional opportunities.  We wish Dr. Raichoudhuri well in her future endeavors, and thank her for her service to the District. 

    While a change in leadership can be concerning and disruptive, we are pleased to announce that Cindy Green has agreed to return to Kalamazoo  to serve as Interim Superintendent starting immediately.   Ms. Green knows the District extremely well, having worked for the District for over 40 years, 17 years during which she acted in the capacity of Assistant Superintendent.  More recently Ms. Green served as the Interim Superintendent for Lakeview School District from November 2021 through June 2022, so she is particularly qualified to take on the Interim Superintendent position for the District. 

    We ask that you join our staff in welcoming Ms. Green back to the District.  We are confident that our staff will help assure a seamless transition.  

    In closing, we thank you for your consistent and ongoing support for our District.  We look forward to continuing our collaboration with you as we work together to provide our students the best educational opportunities. 

    Sincerely, 

    The Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education