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LUDINGTON — The Ludington Area Schools Board of Education will consider whether to reject a portion of state school safety funding because of conditions requiring school districts to waive certain legal privileges in the event of a mass casualty incident.
The issue is among several items scheduled for the board’s regular meeting Monday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. in the Ludington High School Collaboration Center, 707 Anderson St. Other agenda items include results of a superintendent transition survey and proposed policy changes addressing artificial intelligence and virtual instruction.
Under Section 31aa of Michigan’s State School Aid Act, districts are eligible to receive up to $73.53 per pupil for mental health services and $147.06 per pupil for student safety during the 2026-2027 school year. The combined funding amounts to as much as $220.59 per pupil.
However, accepting the student safety portion requires a district to agree in advance to cooperate with a comprehensive investigation following a qualifying mass casualty event. The district must also waive legal privileges that might otherwise protect certain information from disclosure, including attorney-client privilege, as it relates to such an incident.
The board will consider two resolutions prepared by Thrun Law Firm.
The first option would allow Ludington Area Schools to accept the mental health funding while declining the student safety funding. Under that resolution, the district would preserve its legal privileges but forgo the additional state money designated for school safety.
The second option would allow the district to accept both portions of the funding while agreeing to the required waiver of legal privileges. The proposed resolution includes provisions intended to limit the scope and duration of the waiver to the extent permitted by law.
The board could also postpone a decision.
The meeting packet does not specify how much money the district would receive under either option.
Superintendent transition survey
The board will also review results of a survey concerning the district’s superintendent transition.
Superintendent Travis Walker’s performance goals, approved by the board in August, include improving financial controls, strengthening staff morale and organizational culture, increasing communication to rebuild trust, and developing board training and governance procedures.
The survey results were not included in the publicly distributed meeting packet.
The board is also scheduled to enter closed session to discuss Walker’s midyear superintendent evaluation progress report.
Artificial intelligence and school policies
The board will conduct a first reading of a series of proposed policy updates, including new provisions concerning artificial intelligence, virtual instruction, student records and school safety procedures.
The proposed changes would establish updated rules governing information generated through artificial intelligence tools used by students and employees.
Another revision would clarify that communications and files created through AI, social media or personal electronic devices may constitute public records subject to district recordkeeping and public inspection requirements.
The policy package also includes a new virtual instruction policy allowing the district to use up to six flexible virtual instruction days annually without reducing the required amount of instructional time. Three days would be available for disruptions related to mandated testing and three for emergency closures.
Additional changes address medication administration, emergency response procedures, student wellness, graduation requirements and oversight of school support organizations.
The policy updates are scheduled for an initial review rather than final adoption.
The board will also consider keeping student meal prices unchanged for the 2026-2027 school year and adopting its annual summer property tax collection resolution.
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