President Carolyn Graves called the March work session of the Board of Education to order at 6:03 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School Student Commons Area.

Present: Ms. Carolyn Graves, Mrs. Annie Robinson, Mr. Dwight P. Mitchell, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Mr. Ken Woltman and Ms. Michelle Jones

Central Administration
Superintendent Renee Williams reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the following District policy revisions:

GAFA Personnel/Staff & Student Relations - Sexual Harassment and Intimidation

GAFA-A Discrimination Complaint Procedure

Trustee Peeples-Burks noted that Board policy GAFA - Personnel/Staff & Student Relations - Sexual Harassment and Intimidation also applies to District contractors and volunteers.

A Public Forum has been scheduled for 6-8 pm Thursday, March 15, at the Sammie Smith Family Investment Center to provide information to parents regarding the Middle Schools transition.

A Board of Education poster has been created, as a method of District promotion, which includes Board pictures, District Goals and Mission Statement. It will be disseminated to all District school buildings and Benton Harbor public facilities.

As a method of disseminating District information to the community, BHAS brochures will be created and mailed to residents that highlights school-building activities. District activities will also be broadcast on Greene County Cable's public access channel and the educational channel.

Business/Finance
Acting Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Sheletha Bobo reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the resolution indicating the purpose of closing Stump School voting precinct, as prepared by Thrun, Maatsch and Nordberg.

Ms. Bobo reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the resolution calling the regular school election, as prepared by Thrun, Maatsch and Nordberg.

Acting Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Sheletha Bobo reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the resolution for the purpose of election, give notice of election and appoint election inspectors for the regular school election, as prepared by Thrun, Maatsch and Nordberg.

Ms. Sheletha Bobo reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the resolution to appoint an election administrator for the regular school election.

Ms. Bobo reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the 2001 summer school property tax collection agreements.

Instruction
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Richard Garrison reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the 2001 On Location summer program. Mrs. Mary Wilson, teacher consultant, presented details of the program for approximately 100 sixth grade students to actively participate at twenty community businesses. The program is scheduled to be conducted the mornings of June 18-22, 2001.

Mr. Garrison reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to acknowledge and accept a $500.00 grant to the Henry C. Morton Elementary School from the Fredrick S. Upton Foundation to provide an enrichment activity for kindergarten students.

Mr. Richard Garrison reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to acknowledge and accept donations to the Helping One Student To Succeed (HOSTS) program at Fair Plain East Elementary School. Various community residents and businesses have donated a broad range of gifts to help support this program.

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

• Paraprofessional Contract Ratification
• Employment of Professional Staff
• Recommendation for Tenure
• Other

Other
Trustee Peeples-Burks questioned how the community would be notified of the Stump School-voting precinct closure. Ms. Sheletha Bobo replied that the District would receive a list of residents in that voting area from the Berrien County Clerk's Office and each resident would be notified via US mail of the closure and of the new voting location.

Trustee Woltman inquired about establishing a BHAS alternative educational setting. Superintendent Williams replied that an alternative educational setting is greatly needed for students who are academically at-risk and discussed meeting with a consultant regarding an acclaimed alternative program currently established in the Houston, Texas area. Mr. Woltman also expressed concern regarding the usage and isolation of 6^th graders in portable classrooms.

Superintendent's Update
In the March 2001, issue of Parenting magazine is an excellent article regarding special projects with children and featured the DADS for Education program in BHAS.

The February 23, 2001, issue of the South Bend Tribune featured an article Tuning in to Technology that discussed U.S. Representative Fred Upton's visit to the Cisco Networking program at BHAS Career/Technical Center. This year will benchmark the 1^st graduating class from that program.

District building tours have been scheduled for 1-4 pm on Friday, March 23 and Wednesday, March 28 and participants are asked to meet at the Kuschel Performing Arts Center.

The DaVinci Players' 1^st program performance is coming soon - where student mentoring is successful in student learning. Other outstanding student mentoring opportunities include HOSTS (Helping One Student To Succeed) and AYF (American Youth Foundation) created to break down diversity.

Congratulations to BHHS 12^th grade student, Quana Clayton, for winning a United Negro College Fund scholarship that was presented to her at an award ceremony held on Friday, March 1, 2001.

Public Participation II
Mr. Darrell Jackson addressed the Board of Education expressing his concerns with the stability of the BHHS varsity basketball team in the absence of the head coach and asked that the assistant coach be allowed to coach the Tigers.

Ms. Tracy Glove addressed the Board of Education expressing her concerns with the administration at King Junior High School.

Mr. Jeff Johnson addressed the Board of Education suggesting that BHAS utilize the website and create brochures, to be sent to all residents, as methods of informing the community of school news. Mr. Johnson thanked the administration for scheduling the District building tours. He also disseminated a recent Herald-Palladium article regarding volunteers that helped with school building maintenance.

Board Comments
Trustee Peeples-Burks discussed a recent community meeting where the speaker was Mr. Mike Green, President, Habitat for Housing and commented that she enjoyed the article regarding volunteers for school building maintenance.

Trustee Smith congratulated the Tigers varsity basketball team for an outstanding year and wished them victory during the District finals.

Trustee Mitchell expressed his concerns with the recent acts of school violence and how the media suggested that the "signs were there" and suggested that building principals randomly talk to students regarding any preconceived notions of violence.

Trustee Robinson commented that she was impressed with the writing skills of a 3^rd grade class when she visited Hull Elementary School.

There being no further business, the March work session was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.