Cheboygan Area Schools board calls Aug. 6 bond election, adopts COPESD budget and accepts teacher resignation

The Cheboygan Area Schools Board of Education on May 9 voted to call a special bond election for Aug. 6, 2024, adopted the COPESD general fund budget for the 02/2025 school year and accepted the resignation of a high-school English teacher.

The board’s presiding officer introduced a resolution to call a special election for Aug. 6, 2024, saying the item was part of the district’s bond process. Committee member Tim moved the resolution and Julie seconded it; board members responded in the affirmative when the chair conducted the roll-call-style vote and the resolution passed.

The board then considered the COPESD general fund budget for the 02/2025 school year. A board member moved to accept the budget “as noted,” the motion was supported and the members present indicated assent on the record, carrying the measure.

The board also formally accepted the resignation of an English teacher at the high school identified in the record as Derek (the transcript includes both the spellings “Stervist” and “Sturgis”). Julie moved to accept the resignation and Dennis seconded; the motion passed on the recorded affirmative responses.

The meeting record shows the motions were moved and supported as follows: the special-election resolution was moved by Tim and supported by Julie; the COPESD budget acceptance was moved by Tim and supported by Julie; the resignation acceptance was moved by Julie and supported by Dennis.

Votes at a glance
- Resolution to call special election (08/06/2024): members present recorded “Yes” when polled by the presiding officer; motion carried. (Names as spoken on the record: Missus Valor; Julie Lojima; Dennis Olson; Tim Parjak; Marian Ridings.)
- COPESD general fund budget (02/2025): members recorded “Yes” when polled on the motion to accept; motion carried. (Names as spoken on the record: Missus Valor; Tim Tarja; Dennis Olsen; Julie Lojila; Mary Ann Rydings.)
- Acceptance of resignation (teacher, name appears as both “Stervist” and “Sturgis” in the record): members recorded “Yes” when polled; motion carried. (Names as spoken on the record: Missus Fowler/Julie Lohiva; Tim Tarjak; Dennis Olsen; Mary Ann Ridings.)

Why it matters
The board’s decision to call a special election advances the district’s bond timeline and sets a date for voter consideration of proposed capital or facility projects. Approval of the COPESD budget sets the district’s contribution to the cooperative’s general fund for the coming school year. Acceptance of the teacher’s resignation is a formal personnel action that allows the district to begin any staffing or replacement process.

What’s next
The special election is scheduled for Aug. 6, 2024, per the adopted resolution. The record does not specify the bond amount or project list included in the resolution; those details were not provided in the transcript.

Sources and provenance
Transcript segments where these items are recorded: topic introduction for the special-election resolution begins at SEG 024 and related voting is recorded through SEG 047; the COPESD budget discussion starts at SEG 048 with the vote recorded through SEG 070; the resignation is introduced at SEG 071 with the vote recorded through SEG 100.