MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
MARCH 1, 2005

President Ken Woltman called the March Work Session of the Board of Education to order at 6:14 p.m. at the Benton Harbor Area Schools, Central Administration Center.

Present:  Mr. Ken Woltman, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Anthony Henry (6:25), Mr. Robert L. Bowman (6:35), Mr. Dan McGinnis and Mrs. Carolyn Fort

Absent:  Dr. Perry Davis

Due to school closure and inclement weather the work session of the Board of Education was held in the Benton Harbor Area Schools, Central Administration Center.

Central Administration
Superintendent Paula Dawning reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve District policy revisions.  The Policy Committee has made a recommendation to revise the following policies:

• EFA - Technology Policy
• EFAA - Computer Network Policy

Business and Finance
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Sheletha Bobo reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve a resolution to authorize issuance of the bus installment purchasing agreement.  At a regular meeting held on December 12, 2000, the Board of Education approved the purchase of four 77-passenger buses and two 53-passenger buses from Capital City International Truck, Inc., Lansing, Michigan at a cost not to exceed $421,236.00.  Bids would be received on April 20, 2005 for the financing of the buses.

Instruction
Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Instruction Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the closing of Sterne Brunson Elementary School effective June 30, 2005.  This recommendation is being made due to economic considerations and the District’s desire to deliver instructional services in a more efficient and cost effective manner.  Students from Sterne Brunson would be relocated to Fair Plain Northeast (proposed reopening), Calvin Britain and MLK Elementary Schools under new attendance boundary guidelines for each school.  The HOSTS program would be relocated to Morton Elementary School.

Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Instruction Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the reopening of Fair Plain Northeast Elementary School effective at the start of the 2005-2006 school year.  On October 28, 2004, the Board of Education voted to close Fair Plain Northeast Elementary School due to declining student enrollment.  With the proposal to close Sterne Brunson Elementary School at the end of the 2004-2005 school year, there is a need to reopen Fair Plain Northeast Elementary School to accommodate all the students in the redistricting.

Assistant Superintendent Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the elementary summer school program for the 2004-2005 school year for students in grades K-5.  The summer school program has been planned for approximately 400 students to be located at MLK Elementary School for June 20 – July 28, 2005.  Non-Title I students would be eligible to attend on a $50 tuition basis; non-resident students or residents enrolled in Charter Schools or School of Choice would be charged a $100 tuition rate.  Teacher Consultants Sondra Sheppard and Carrie Brunsting were present to answer any questions.

Assistant Superintendent Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the Benton Harbor High School Teen Health Clinic resolution.  The Benton Harbor Area Schools and the Berrien County Health Department have partnered for the provision of adolescent health services at the Benton Harbor High School Teen Health Clinic since 1987.  The mutual goal is to promote good health, prevent disease or disabilities or other health barriers that interfere with school attendance and interrupt the successful completion of student education.  The resolution confirms the District’s commitment to continue adolescent health services provided by the Berrien County Health Department on the campus of Benton Harbor High School for the period of October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006.

Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Instruction J. Leonard Wright reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve a Credit Recovery Program.  By implementing CompassLearning “Odyssey” it would allow the District to provide a platform for students to regain credits needed to place them back on track for timely graduation.  This program meets all the Michigan Curriculum Standards and Benchmarks, thus putting the District in a position to comply with the No Child Left Behind rulings and achieve AYP standards and goals.

The program would be available for students who:

have completed 6 semesters and will need no more than 2 credits to be eligible to graduate in the next academic school year.  A student would be allowed to take 3 credits for graduation, only with principal’s approval;

OR

have completed 2 semesters and have less than 8 credits by the end of the semester.

All selected classes would be completed via Internet connection at the high school and the student cost is $75 per class per semester.  Students would attend classes four days a week Monday – Thursday, 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.  All courses must be completed within six weeks of the enrollment date in the spring of 2005.  The District cost to purchase the Credit Recovery Program from CompassLearning for a two-year period is $77,571.04.

Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Instruction J. Leonard Wright reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the 2005 senior class trip to New York City.  Advisors for the Class of 2005 have requested permission for students to travel to New York City for 4 days and 3 nights April 4 – 8, 2005.  The price per student is $491.

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

Employment of Professional Staff

Retirement Notifications

Resignations

Non-Renewal of Administrator’s Contract

Consent
Board action will be requested at the regular meeting to accept the following donations/grants to the Benton Harbor Area Schools:

$35,406.34 Enterprise Zone Donation from Whirlpool Corporation

Superintendent’s Update
Superintendent Dawning extended her appreciation to Board President Ken Woltman and to The Herald-Palladium for the kind words written in the newspaper regarding her recent job interview in St. Louis, Missouri.  Dr. Dawning acknowledged that she has received many letters of support and that she did not seek out the St. Louis Public Schools employment opportunity.

The District is exploring a Troops To Teachers program.  The program was established by the Department of Defense in 1994 to help improve public school education by providing funds to recruit, prepare and support former members of the military services as teachers in high-poverty schools.

Management team members have met with Dr. Dillard to review a professional recruitment program for teachers.

The District’s Reading First grant was submitted today. Reading First is a focused nationwide effort to enable all students to become successful early readers.

The Benton Harbor Area Schools were closed today due to inclement weather and it is possible that the District will be closed tomorrow if the snow continues.

Public Participation
Teacher Suzanne Carpenter addressed the Board of Education encouraging trustees to attend the “Read Across America With Dr. Seuss” program being held March 2^nd at Morton Elementary School.

Ms. Kim Strode addressed the Board of Education expressing her happiness with Superintendent Dawning staying in the District and commended management team members for jobs well done.

Attorney K. Morris Gavin addressed the Board of Education extending his sincere appreciation for the cards and acts of kindness in the death of his wife Delores Gavin.

Board Comments
Trustee Bowman expressed his disappointment to Superintendent Dawning for seeking another employment position during the school year and in the middle of her contract.  Mr. Bowman said that he had received many telephone calls from concerned community residents who were not in support of how this situation was handled and questioned obligations to the District.  Superintendent Dawning acknowledged that she had a commitment with The Broad Foundation, prior to coming to Benton Harbor Area Schools, to seek a superintendency position in a large urban school district and that she had accepted a monetary scholarship to attend The Broad Foundation.

Trustee McGinnis discussed his wonderful visit to Sorter Elementary School for Board Appreciation Month.

Trustee Fort stated that she attended an excellent Black History Month program and she plans to attend the Read Across America with Dr. Seuss program at Morton Elementary School.

Trustee Smith gave praise to the wonderful Student Read-in she attended at Fair Plain West Elementary School and wished the varsity basketball team good luck.

Trustee Woltman discussed his attendance at CAA/G&T’s Black History Month program and commended Acting Principal Payton for a job well done.

There being no further business, the March work session was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.