Oak Park board approves security contract, food-service renewal, tax levy certification and board norms

Oak Park, Mich. — The Oak Park School District Board of Education on June 8 approved several administrative and fiscal measures, including a new contract for school security services, a one‑year renewal of its food‑service management agreement and the district’s 2026–27 tax levy certification.

The board voted to accept administration’s recommendation to renew its food‑service contract with Cartwheels for the 2026–27 school year, a renewal that the administration said includes a management fee increase (per‑meal figure reported in the proposal) and a monthly administrative fee increase. The board also approved entering into a contract with Lagarda Security Services to provide school security staffing and operations; administrators noted transition logistics from the current provider and said an updated fee schedule that could include a dollar‑per‑hour adjustment will be provided to the board.

Why it matters: The decisions affect operating costs and daily staffing for services that touch every school day — from breakfast and lunch operations to site security and emergency response. The tax‑levy certification completes a required step for the district’s fiscal year 2026–27 funding.

Details and outcomes
• Cartwheels food‑service renewal: The board approved administration’s recommendation to renew Cartwheels’ 2026–27 management agreement, which the administration presented with a per‑meal management fee increase and an administrative monthly fee increase (figures provided in the vendor proposal). Motion made by the board president and seconded by Trustee Tyler; the chair announced the motion passed.

• Lagarda Security contract: The board approved contracting with Lagarda Security Services for school security. Administration outlined an expected transition date from the district’s current provider and told the board it will present an updated fee schedule that may include a dollar‑per‑hour addition. Motion passed as announced by the chair.

• 2026–27 tax levy (form L‑429): The board approved and authorized submission of the certification of tax levy form L‑429 as presented.

• Adoption of board norms and training goals: The board formally adopted the governance norms presented by retreat facilitator Kimberly May, which included a training goal that would have board members complete designated governance courses by May 31, 2027.

What the board did not record in the public minutes: The meeting transcript records the motions and that they passed, but does not include roll‑call vote tallies or individual yes/no votes for the motions considered.

Next steps: Administration will supply the board with the finalized security fee schedule and any contract documents for review; the district will move forward with the Cartwheels renewal for the 2026–27 year and file the L‑429 with the appropriate taxing authority.