The Cassopolis Board of Education unanimously voted on a request by the Village of Cassopolis for an easement at its regular meeting Feb. 8.

The village requested the easement of 33 feet across the northern border of the Ross Beatty Jr./Sr. High School property from the west boundary to the last driveway to the east in order to extend a sidewalk from the village to the school.

The district voted to grant the easement for $1, provided the village’s sidewalk grant is approved by the State of Michigan later this year.

Cassopolis Superintendent Tracy Hertsel told the board that street lighting and a crossing guard were not a part of the proposal as of now, but the village would take into consideration their request for both.

The board also heard from Bianca May of Vandalia about the board’s procedures for public participation at meetings.

She discussed her wishes for a top-down change from the school board to administration and also the district’s “Zero F” policy for athletics.

At the conclusion of her 15 minute time period, May was granted two additional 5 minute periods by School Board President Scott Ward.

At the conclusion of the 25 minutes, Ward told May the board would consider her suggestions and asked if she wanted to take a few minutes to discuss the letter she sent them dated Dec. 17.

Board member George Calvert made a motion, which was seconded by Deb Deubner, that the board go into close session to discuss a complaint about a district administrator.

The motion carried 5-1 with Deubner, Jesse Binns, Lisa Cutting, Sue Horstmann voting yes and Calvert voting no.

Following a five minute recess, the board returned to act on the following items:

• Voted unanimously to approve an overnight trip to the Chicago Art Institute for the Advanced Art Class.

• Voted unanimously to hire Brooke Brawley, secondary level Academic Intervention Program: Steve Mammel, Jessica Pompey and Kristine Widerquist Bosler, for the hours of 3 to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

• The board will need to decide which candidate to support at the next board meeting as its Michigan Association of School Boards Region 6 representative.