MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
MARCH 14, 2000

The March regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by Vice-President Annie Robinson at 6:06 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons Area.

Present:  Mrs. Annie Robinson, Ms. Michelle Jones, Mr. Waymon Hodges, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Mrs. J. Allene Smith and Mr. Ken Woltman

Absent:  Ms. Carolyn Graves

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 Ms. Jones that the Minutes of the work session of February 1, 2000 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Hodges and supported by Mrs. Smith that the Minutes of the special meeting of February 1, 2000 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Ms. Jones and supported by Mr. Hodges that the Minutes of the regular meeting of February 8, 2000 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Hodges and supported by Mrs. Smith that the Minutes of the special meeting of February 16, 2000 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Ms. Jones and supported by Mrs. Smith that the Minutes of the special meeting of February 22, 2000 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Ms. Jones that vendor payments in the amount of $1,484,703.92 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
Recognition was given to BHAS student Patrick Washington for being chosen as the recipient of the 1999-2000 Outstanding Special Populations Student award from MOSPA and BHAS teacher Giselle Hardaway for being the state winner of the Outstanding Special Populations Professional MOSPA award.  Each will be honored at an awards dinner during the MOSPA annual statewide conference in Mt. Pleasant on April 13.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the establishment of a BHAS Scholarship and Student Recognition Fund using the Omnipoint proceeds.

The motion passed on the following vote:

AYES: Ms. Jones  NAYS: Mr. Hodges
  Dr. Peeples-Burks Board Member Name
Mr. Woltman Board Member Name
Mrs. Smith Board Member Name
Mrs. Robinson Board Member Name

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

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

Tuesday, March 14, 2000 before and/or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on 
that date, and

Tuesday, April 11, 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.

Business and Finance
Staff Report #3
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Board of Education approve the agreements for reasonable expenses relating to the collection of the 2000 summer school property taxes with the following governing units:

COLLECTION FEE

City/Township

 Estimated
  1. City - Benton Harbor
  2. City - St. Joseph
  3. Benton Township
  4. Hagar Township
  5. St. Joseph Township

  • .84 per parcel

  • .84 per parcel

  • .84 per parcel

  • 1.20 per parcel

  • .70 per parcel

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education adopt the resolution to Call the Regular School Election for Monday, June 12, 2000, as prepared by Thrun, Maatsch and Nordberg.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #5
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT the Board of Education approve the adoption of the Member Investment Plan (MIP) Buy-Back Payroll resolution, as required by the Internal Revenue Service. 

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Instruction
Group Director for Informational Technologies Robert Farmer presented a technology update that included the use of E-rate dollars, elementary and secondary computers, and instructional training.  Mr. Farmer discussed the technology Vision and Mission Statements, goals and instructional software.  The real challenge of integrating technology into the classroom is more human than technological.  Technology creates an environment where content may be presented in ways that engage and involve students more directly.  The development of human infrastructure as well as the physical infrastructure is necessary to enhance learning, communication, and information management.

BHEA President Marie Hobson gave praise to the Technology Department for all that has been accomplished in BHAS.

Assistant Superintendent Richard Garrison reported that the Middle School Reform Initiative update would be presented at the April Board meeting.

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

THAT the Board of Education approve the purchase of the Play Production Today textbook for use at the Benton Harbor High School.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Board of Education officially accept and acknowledge the generosity of the monetary donation of $575.00 from Mr. Richard Evich for the purchase of instruments.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Board of Education officially accept and acknowledge the generosity of a $500.00 mini-grant from the Fredrick S. Upton Foundation to Morton Elementary School to send students in grades 3-5 to the Chicago Academy for the Arts.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #9
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT Ms. Brooke Marceau be employed as a Language Arts teacher by the Benton Harbor Area Schools effective February 22, 2000.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #10
A motion was made by Mr. Hodges and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT Mrs. Nancy Link's resignation be accepted and a letter be sent to her thanking her for her services to the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Reports #11-44
A motion was made by Ms. Jones and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the following employees be placed on Second Year Probation:

Mr. Dillion Barnes Ms. Shelley Griffin Mrs. MaryJo Ogren
Mrs. Betty Bowman Mrs. Barbara Jackson Ms. Jana Preston
Mrs. Shermete Brown Mr. Cory Jones Ms. Marian Prince
Ms. Anita Burton Ms. Jannie Kiser Ms. Jeanne Prokopchuk
Mrs. Pamela Burton Ms. Iva Lane Mrs. Carla Smith
Ms. Virginia Collins Ms. Beverly Lloyd Ms. Carla Smith-Howe
Mrs. Vanessa Johnson Ms. Christine Ludlow Mr. John Vojtko
Mr. Christopher Danapilis Mrs. Shannon McBride Mrs. Mary Wilson
Ms. Sharonda Elliott  Mr. Paul McIntyre Mrs. Sylvia Wilson
Ms. Robyn Emde Mrs. Barbara Ann Miller Mr. Jason Wolf
Mr. Paul Gerhard Mr. John Murray Mr. Edward Zielinski

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Reports #45-68
A motion was made by Ms. Jones and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the following employees be placed on Third Year Probation:

Mrs. Kathleen Baginske Mr. Thomas Golba Mr. Theodore Potts
Mr. George Barfield Ms. Michele Heath Mrs. Louretta Powell
Ms. Dyann Chenault Mrs. Paula Horton Ms. Solita Pullen
Mrs. Elizabeth Christy Ms. Kelly Masters Ms. Patricia Robinson
Ms. Heather Dellay Ms. Melissa McNeely Mrs. Sharon Russell
Mr. Steven Edwards Mrs. Sara Park Mrs. Sharon Stevenson
Mr. Robin Ellis Ms. Cecilia Peoples Ms. Cynthia Wright
Mr. Richard Evich Mr. James Picard Mrs. Stephanie Zabavski

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Reports #69-71
A motion was made by Ms. Jones and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the following employees be placed on Fourth Year Probation:

Ms. Rita Gohl Mrs. Kim Missman Mrs. Julie Warmbein

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Superintendent's Update
Superintendent Williams discussed the following items:

Board Comments

Trustee Woltman stressed the importance of continual State notification of the positive District happenings.

Trustee Peeples-Burks discussed her attendance at a PAC Community Forum held Friday, March 10 at the Sammy Smith Family Investment Center where legislators were invited and three BHAS Board trustees sat on the PAC panel.   The meeting was informational with both positive and negative information.  Dr. Peeples-Burks stated that she is focused on the proposed legislative bill and insulted that BHAS BOE has been proposed to serve in an advisory role. 

Trustee Jones stated that she served on the PAC panel and is willing to do whatever necessary to ensure quality education.

Trustee Smith expressed appreciation for the continued community support and concern that the State has offered "no plan" other than to "takeover."

Trustee Hodges read his BHAS Reorganization Plan 2000 as follows:

In order to assist in providing the highest quality education possible for the students attending the BHAS the following changes are made to assist in reaching this goal.

  1. Vacate the position and terminate the person designated as Group Director of Information Technology and transfer the subordinates to the Maintenance Department. 
  2. Combine the positions of Group Director of Secondary Education and Group Director of Elementary Education.
  3. Vacate the position and terminate the person designated as Assistant Superintendent for Instruction.
  4. The Director of Curriculum, Carolyn Jones, is to assume the duties of Assistant Superintendent of Instruction in the interim period.
  5. Vacate the position and terminate the person designated as Superintendent.
  6. Begin search for replacement with process to be based on 90-day timetable.
  7. During search process, the Superintendent's duties will be performed by the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, on an interim basis, with Group Director of Secondary Education as assistant.
  8. Order the Group Director of Operations and Facilities to prepare a report on the 777 Riverview lease agreement detailing cost and options for ending agreement in preparation for moving administration operations to a vacated school building.
  9. Have school district attorney prepare necessary amendments to facilitate changes in the policy manual as needed.

This motion is presented for approval this 14th day of March, year 2000.

Trustee Peeples-Burks objected the motion presented by Trustee Hodges stating that the motion was out of order.  Board Attorney K. Morris Gavin concurred with Trustee Peeples-Burks that the proposed motion should have been preceded by a unanimous vote by the Board of Education that would have allowed the item to be added to the agenda.  Vice-President Robinson ruled the motion out of order because it did not conform to board policy.

There being no further business, the March regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.