President J. Allene Smith called the January work session of the Board of Education to order at 6:08 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School Student Commons Area.

Present: Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Ken Woltman, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Mr. Anthony A. Henry, Mr. Dwight P. Mitchell and Dr. Perry Davis

Absent: Mrs. Michelle Bennett

Also Present: Student Board members Brittney Hurst and Brett Closson

Communications
Condolences were extended to the family for the death of Margaret Southworth, a contributing member of the BHAS instructional division.

Recognitions
In honor of January being School Board Recognition Month, each school building will host special programs for Board trustees who are designated to that school.

Recognition was given to the BHAS Food Service Department for an excellent article published in the January 5^th issue of The Herald-Palladium regarding elementary students making healthy choices.

Mr. Larry Gavin, Principal of Calvin Britain Elementary School, presented his school report that included information on collective years of teacher experience, statistics on MEAP scores and partnerships with Peace Partners at United Methodist Peace Temple and Junior Achievement. Student activities offered include Safety Patrol, Student Council, Drama Club, Freedom Program, In-School Scouting, Saturday Art Club and Library Club. Students read a poem and sang a song. Trustees received a corsage and a Certificate of Dedicated Service to the students of Benton Harbor Area Schools.

Operations/Facilities
Group Director for Operations and Facilities Stephen Mitchell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to award the agricultural land lease of District property. Three formal bids were opened and read publicly on December 10, 2002, for the leasing of approximately 136 acres located on Hillandale Road.

Group Director Stephen Mitchell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the awarding of a roofing bid for various buildings in the District. Four formal bids were opened and read publicly on December 18, 2002, for the work to be performed at BHHS, McCord Renaissance Center, Fair Plain Northeast and Fair Plain West Elementary Schools.

Mr. Stephen Mitchell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to modify the Tri-County Head Start Lease Agreement to occupy the North Shore building. On December 10, 2002, the Board of Education approved the lease agreement at $.10 (ten cents) per square for approximately 10,000 square feet of space. Due to budgetary constraints, Tri-County Head Start was not able to afford the listed amount and has asked for a modification of the lease agreement to reflect $.10 (ten cents) per square foot for a one year lease - thereafter a graduated amount will take effect each subsequent year of the occupancy.

Instruction
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to accept and acknowledge a $600.00 Frederick S. Upton Foundation grant to Henry C. Morton Elementary School to support the efforts of the Odyssey of the Mind program.

Assistant Superintendent Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to accept and acknowledge a $500.00 Berrien County Intermediate School District and Upton Foundation grant to the Benton Harbor High School to fund the 2002-2003 Arts In Education project.

Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to accept and acknowledge a $300.00 Berrien County Intermediate School District and Upton Foundation grant to the Benton Harbor High School to fund the 2002-2003 Arts In Education project.

Assistant Superintendent Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to accept and acknowledge a $400.00 Berrien County Intermediate School District and Upton Foundation grant to MLK Elementary School to fund the 2002-2003 Arts In Education project.

Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve and accept the Northwest Evaluation Association testing. Director of Student Assessment Sharon Hatfield presented information on the Northwest Evaluation Association Computerized Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which are aligned with the District's curriculum and state standards and meet federal guidelines of No Child Left Behind.

While most tests simply provide scores that compare and rank students and schools, MAP results monitor student academic growth over time, place students in appropriate courses and instructional settings and provide immediate instructional feedback. The District would use MAP in grades 4-8 beginning the second semester of the 2002-2003 at a District cost of $25,505.00.

Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve and accept the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Director of Student Assessment Sharon Hatfield presented information on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), which is a required evaluation tool for schools awarded K-3 Reading First grants. The ITBS provides a comprehensive standardized assessment of students' progress in basic skills. Benton Harbor Area Schools is applying for a Reading First grant and this test would provide the baseline information for K-3 students in Reading First buildings. ITBS would be used in grades K-3 beginning the second semester of the 2002-2003 school year at a District cost of $17,865.63.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Assistant Superintendent Nora Jefferson reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve:

• Reinstatement of Administrative Staff Position Human Resources/Labor Relations Department

Other
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the funding request of $15,254.80 from the Hobart Bequest to Benton Harbor High School and the Benton Spirit Community Newspaper. BHHS teacher Louretta Powell and Desmond Murray, editor of the Benton Spirit, presented information to seek funding for research into and publication of local Benton Harbor history. The main target group of this project is the youth of Benton Harbor. They are targeted in terms of providing (a) educational and instructional materials involving local history to them, (b) first hand educational experiences for interested youth to develop skills in historical researching, information processing and disseminating in print, electronic and visual media. This is in accordance with the intended and stated use of the Hobart Bequest established in the provisions of the will of Mrs. F. Alice B. Hobart: "for the purpose of stimulating interest in the faculty and students of the high school…with a view of eventually achieving the history of Benton Harbor…in some published form."

Superintendent’s Update
Members of the Benton Harbor Area Schools Management Team will present a Five Year Strategic Plan to the Board of Education at a retreat scheduled for Saturday, January 11, 2003.

Superintendent Paula Dawning read a holiday letter that she wrote and which was included in the December employee newsletter.

An Educational Leadership Academy for Principal professional development has been sponsored by the RESA-Western Michigan University Leadership partnership. The purpose of the Academy is to develop a pool of exemplary administrative candidates. It is hoped that Academy participants will develop "habits of leadership" that will compliment their individual district culture and challenges faced by administrators.

The submission deadline to the State of Michigan for the E-Rate grant is February 5, 2003.

Public Participation
Mrs. Lisa Peeples-Hurst addressed the Board of Education questioning the Hobart Bequest and discouraged the use of The Other Side of the River as a classroom textbook for this project.

Board Comments
Student Trustee Brett Closson expressed his support for the Benton Harbor local history proposal.

Student Trustee Brittney Hurst commended the staff and students of Calvin Britain Elementary School for their excellent school presentation and gave her support for the Benton Harbor local history proposal. Miss Hurst also stated that she is a semi-finalist of the Coca-Cola $20,000.00 scholarship.

Trustee Davis commended the staff and students of Calvin Britain Elementary School for their outstanding school building presentation.

Trustee Henry stated that the District's nomination committee will be seeking community input for suggestions in naming the new transportation facility.

Trustee Mitchell praised the Calvin Britain Elementary School presentation and requested a copy of the investigative report of the melee at the recent BH basketball game.

Trustee Peeples-Burks stated that there is a Board policy on textbook adoption and that the books purchased for the Benton Harbor Library have been unveiled citing an excellent resource at the Children's Library. Dr. Peeples-Burks also questioned the BHHS $19,000 water bill and asked if that was an estimated invoice.

Trustee Woltman expressed his appreciation for the school building presentations.

President Smith commended the Calvin Britain Elementary School presentation and gave a reminder of the Board of Education Retreat scheduled for Saturday, January 11, 2003. Mrs. Smith also asked Orchard's Mall shoppers to save their receipts of purchases as a fundraiser of three BHAS schools.

There being no further business, the January work session was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.