The February regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President J. Allene Smith 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 and Mr. Dwight P. Mitchell

Absent: Mrs. Michelle Bennett and Dr. Perry Davis

Also Present: Student Board Member Brittney Hurst

Communications
The BHHS Class of 2003 yearbook is now available for order at a cost of $18.00, please contact the BHHS for more information.

Trustee Peeples-Burks read a letter written by Superintendent Paula Dawning in response to concerns expressed by Mrs. Deborah Ertman at the February 4 work session of the Board of Education.

Minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks that the Minutes of the work session of January 7, 2003 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the Board retreat of January 11, 2003 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks that the Minutes of the regular meeting of January 14, 2003 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Mitchell that the Minutes of the special meeting of January 30, 2003 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mr. Woltman that vendor payments in the amount of $1,670,522.39 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
Praise was given to student Board member Brittney Hurst for being chosen as the 2^nd runner-up in the Miss Benton Harbor Contest. She was also presented with a Certificate of Recognition as a semi-finalist in the Coca-Cola Scholarship program.

Praise and recognition was extended to the following contestants in the Miss Benton Harbor Contest:

Miss Alexandra Shannon - Miss Benton Harbor
Miss Dashuna Broyles - 1^st Runner-Up
Miss Tashana Taylor - Miss Congeniality
Miss LaDawn White - Finalist
Miss Jennifer Emos - Finalist

Certificates of Excellence were given to seventy-five BHAS students for taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

Central Administration
Staff Report #1
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT Board policies:

AA - School District Legal Status
IHE - Academic Achievement/Promotion and Retention
IHFA - Academic Achievement/Adult Education Graduation Requirements

be hereby adopted as policies of the School District and that any previous policy as listed be hereby rescinded.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #2
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Mitchell:

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

Tuesday, February 11, 2003 before and/or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, March 4, 2003 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.

Business and Finance
Staff Report #3
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education adopt the Resolution to Call the Regular School Election for Monday, June 9, 2003, as prepared by Thrun, Maatsch and Nordberg.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #4
A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the lease agreement of 26 copiers from Adams Remco.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Operations and Facilities
Staff Report #5
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Mitchell:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award the door replacement bid for Fair Plain Middle School to Pearson Construction Company of Benton Harbor at a cost of $39,299.00.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #6
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially accept and acknowledge the generosity of a donation of HVAC equipment from the Trane Company valued at approximately $14,000.00.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Instruction
Staff Report #7
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the BHHS Night School Program for the 2003-2004 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #8
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Mitchell:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Professional Health Careers Academy course offering as a BHHS Career Pathways Program of Studies for the 2003-2004 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #9
A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially approve the McCord Middle School trip to Washington, D.C. and Williamsburg, Virginia on May 26 - June 1, 2003, at the cost of $515.00 per student.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #10
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially approve the Morton Elementary School trip to Mackinac Island scheduled for May 29 - 30, 2003.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #11
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially accept and acknowledge the generosity of the gifts valued at approximately $627.00, from the Southwest Michigan Jaycees to Fair Plain Northeast Elementary School.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #12
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT Ms. Kimberly Lueders' resignation be accepted and a letter be sent to her notifying her of possible contract violation.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #13
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT Ms. Carmen George, a middle school counselor, be laid off effective March 1, 2003.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #14
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT an assistant principal position at Benton Harbor High School be vacated immediately and in accordance with the Administrators Collective Bargaining Agreement effective March 13, 2003.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Superintendent's Update
The next 60 days will prove to be very difficult with additional budget cuts to close the 1.8 million-dollar deficit.

The Michigan Department of Education is preparing a list of schools for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) to be released this month.

The Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) is currently being administered in the District.

The Department of Environmental Quality has disseminated a map of the clean up area as a result of contaminated groundwater and soil in the vicinity of the BHAS Tech Center and M.L.K. No immediate danger is posed to the students or staff.

To address the Benton Harbor Area Schools multi-year plan to have 100% of students prepared for post-secondary education, an all employee staff meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 12 at BHHS. Community townhall meetings are also scheduled for Thursday, February 20, and Tuesday, March 25 2003, at the BHHS Student Commons, to hear community and parental input and to partner with other educators, schools, colleges, community agencies, etc., to create high achieving schools.

Creative Arts Academy student artwork is displayed at the Box Factory For The Arts.

Board Comments
Trustee Henry extended his sincere condolences to the family of BHHS student Dominique Haynes.

Trustee Mitchell congratulated BHHS teacher Larry Featherstone on the birth of his baby.

Trustee Peeples-Burks discussed her attendance at the Michigan Association of School Board (MASB) Mid-Winter Conference and the public meeting at Upton Middle School that focused on the No Child Left Behind legislation.

Trustee Woltman stated that he attended the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra where the BHHS Madrigals executed an excellent performance.

Trustee Smith discussed her attendance at the Michigan Association of School Board (MASB) Mid-Winter Conference.

There being no further business, the February regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.

_______________________________ ______________________________

J. Allene Smith, President Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Secretary

_______________________________

Carolyn S. Huhta, Recording Secretary