Vice-President Robinson welcomed everyone and explained that items discussed at the work session are voted on at the regular meeting.

Minutes
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks that the Minutes of the special meeting of January 4, 2000 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks that the Minutes of the work session of January 4, 2000 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mrs. Smith that the Minutes of the special meeting of January 4, 2000 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks that the Minutes of the regular meeting of January 11, 2000 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman that vendor payments in the amount of $1,744,484.96 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Activity of the General Fund was reviewed and accepted as presented.

Recognitions
Sterne Brunson Elementary School was ranked #20 in the State of Michigan for improvement on the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP). Governor Engler has yet to approve the set-a-side funds for higher achieving schools on the MEAP. The staff and students of Sterne Brunson were commended for their substantial MEAP improvement.

Group Director for Operations and Facilities Stephen Mitchell and Coordinator of Maintenance Michael Brennand presented the District facilities renovation overview and the transportation bus update. BHAS has spent 1.5 million dollars on school building renovations. Future building concerns need to be taken into account because there are still many areas of renovation that will have to be completed. The infrastructure of many BHAS buildings out lived expectancy.

Substantial improvement has been made in the inspection of buses since the 1994/95 school year. A compilation of current and past written fleet inspections was disseminated. The bus inspector commended management, mechanics, and drivers for a job well done, giving BHAS an A+ bus inspection.

Plaques of recognition were presented to Coordinator of Maintenance Michael Brennand and Bus Mechanics Robert Hoyt, Donald Jaggers, Dennis Kublick, Tim Ryan and Tom Woltman for their exceptional job performance.

Mr. Donald Jaggers commended Superintendent Renee Williams, Assistant Superintendent Richard Garrison and Group Director for Operations and Facilities Stephen Mitchell for their outstanding leadership.

Central Administration
Group Director for Secondary Education Emmerson Payne, BHHS Principal Jeffery Stewart and Social Studies Teachers Loretta Powell and Mary Jo Ogren presented a lengthy overview of the 11^th grade social studies MEAP results. Mrs. Powell read a letter that she wrote which offered her opinions of factors that contributed to the low BHHS social studies MEAP scores that included inadequate maps and globes, negative teachers resistant to change and the State MEAP test being a voluntary student test. A copy of the February 1998, MEAP Social Studies Assessment Model was disseminated.

In November 1999, as a MEAP strategy, a BHHS committee comprised of administrators, counselors and department chairpersons in the core subject areas was developed and implemented to discuss a way in which BHAS can improve the MEAP scores. Each instructional building was required to formulate a MEAP improvement and readiness plan that would be closely monitored by the administrative staff. BHAS is optimistic that this year's scores will be reflective of improved student achievement.

Staff Report #1
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT the Board of Education of the Benton Harbor Area Schools approve the request from Ms. Sandra Douglas, Director of Community Outreach Ministries at Peace Temple United Methodist Church, to utilize the BHAS property located at Jefferson and High Streets (former location of the Jefferson building) in Benton Harbor as a site for The Summer Youth Beautification Pride Project 2000.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #2
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the Board of Education, Benton Harbor Area Schools, meet in closed session on the following dates:

Tuesday, February 8, 2000 before and/or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, March 7, 2000 before and/or following
the work session of the Board of Education on that date,

at the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons Area, 870 Colfax Avenue, Benton Harbor, Michigan, in said District for the purpose of discussing with legal counsel litigations, negotiations and possible expulsions.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Operations/Facilities
Staff Report #3
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Board of Education approve the lease agreement with Omnipoint Communications and authorize the Superintendent to finalize the lease according to District's legal counsel.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Trustee Robinson suggested that the Omnipoint proceeds be designated towards a BHAS scholarship Fund.

Instruction
Staff Report #4
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education authorize the District's Family Life Advisory Board to hold the two required public meetings in order to hear public comment regarding the proposed changes to the Family Life Education Curriculum.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #5
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT the Board of Education approve the Benton Harbor High School 2000 Senior Class Trip for senior students and their class advisors, Ms. Sheryl Finley and Mr. Rodger Tripplett, to Orlando, Florida scheduled from May 9-15, 2000.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Other
Following the regular meeting, the Board of Education will recess to closed session for the purpose of possible student expulsions.

Public Participation
Mr. Curtis Murphy addressed the Board commending Mrs. Loretta Powell for her overview on the 11^th grade social studies MEAP results.

Mrs. Mickey Sipress addressed the Board and gave praise to the Board of Education, Superintendent Williams and the Management Team for the needed District renovations. She also questioned how many BHHS teachers have been trained in block scheduling.

Ms. Willie Jean Williams addressed the Board with her concerns regarding the administration at King Junior High School.

Benton Harbor Education Association Membership Secretary, Ms. Vivien Cardelli, addressed the Board of Education stating that negative teacher behavior is not encouraged by BHEA.

Board Comments
Trustee Hodges complimented Mr. Ron Lyness, Kuschel Performing Arts Center Facilitator, for his excellent coordination of the Miss Benton Harbor Pageant.

Trustee Woltman commended the maintenance department for the District renovations.

A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman:

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

The Board of Education recessed to closed session at 8:00 p.m.

Staff Report #1
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT Ricky Davis, Jr. be expelled for the remainder of the 1999/2000 school year from the Benton Harbor Area Schools for a violation of the Uniform Code of Discipline. The conditions of the expulsion and possible readmission to school will be outlined in a letter to be written by the Superintendent.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Assistant Superintendent Nora Jefferson updated the Board of Education on the Benton Harbor Secretarial Association Master Labor Agreement. The Labor Agreement between Benton Harbor Area Schools and Benton Harbor Secretarial Association MEA/NEA agreement expired on June 30, 1999. A new two-year collective bargaining agreement was ratified by the Association membership on February 7, 2000, and will expire June 30, 2001. This agreement is based on a classification study sponsored by BHAS and the MEA/NEA. The contract creates a two-percent difference between each step, creates a fourth pay grade and provides employees with an adjustment to the prior pay scale based on a three-percent increase.

Classification A - Office Assistant I
Classification B - School Secretary
Classification C - Office Assistant II
(New) Classification D - Accounting Assistant
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Board of Education approve the addition of the Secretarial Association Master Labor Agreement to the agenda.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT the Board of Education ratify the Agreement reached between the Benton Harbor Secretarial Employees Association and the Board of Education running from July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2001.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

There being no further business, the February regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.