MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
APRIL 18, 2006

The April regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President J. Allene Smith at 6:07 p.m. in the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons Area.

Present:  Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Dan McGinnis, Dr. Perry Davis, Mr. Anthony Henry (6:21), Mr. Ken Woltman, Mr. Robert Bowman and Mrs. Carolyn Fort

Also Present:  Student Board Members Samantha Gunter and Trenton Bowens

The Benton Harbor Area Schools Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps JROTC offered the Presentation of Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Communications
Trustee Davis read a letter from US Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow that discusses the proposed budget cuts in the federal educational budget.  President Bush’s budget includes the largest cuts to federal education funding in the 26-year history of the Department of Education.  The budget completely eliminates 42 proven education programs including all vocational and technical education programs currently in place.  Also on the chopping block – vital college prep programs such as GEAR-UP, TRIO Talent Search, and Upward Bound that help at-risk students succeed in college and earn degrees.  Senator Stabenow vows to lead the fight to roll back these cuts and restore funding in the Budget for Higher Education.

Minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Bowman that the Minutes of the work session of March 7, 2006 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Fort that the Minutes of the regular meeting of March 14, 2006 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Davis that the Minutes of the special meeting of March 16, 2006 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Dr. Davis and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the special meeting of March 18, 2006 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Dr. Davis and supported by Mrs. Fort that the Minutes of the special meeting of March 30, 2006 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Dr. Davis and supported by Mr. Woltman that vendor payments in the amount of $1,534,290.14 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
April is the Month of the Young Child and Certificates of Recognition were presented to District preschool teachers for their commitment to early education.

Members of the Tech Tigers Robots Team demonstrated for the Board of Education, Tigger the Robot, which they built for entry in a competition in Grand Rapids run by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.)  The team was made up of 18 juniors and seniors from Benton Harbor High School and one student from Lakeshore High School.  The students built a robot from a simple kit of materials capable of shooting a ball into a target.  The Tech Tigers Robots Team 1940 received the Judges Award for “Future Engineers”, the Best Rookie Team Award and the Best Value Award.

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

THAT Board policies:

be hereby adopted as policy 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 Mrs. Fort and supported by Mr. Woltman:

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

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 before, during or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, May 2, 2006 before, during 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.

Technology
Staff Report #3
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Bowman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Renaissance Network Operating Agreement between Benton Harbor Area Schools, Lake Michigan College and ACD.net.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

As an informational item, teacher Kelly Lee presented via PowerPoint A C.L.A.S.S. Act.  The goal of the A C.L.A.S.S. Act program is to teach her special education students’ social skills and how to be successful citizens.  Trustees were invited to attend a luncheon with the students scheduled for 11:20 am Friday, April 21st at Ponderosa.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Middle School Summer School Program for the 2005-2006 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Trustee Davis left the meeting at 7:10 p.m.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Benton Harbor High School Summer School Program for the 2005-2006 school year.

 The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #6
A motion was made by Mrs. Fort and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the resignations of Angel Calnin effective March 20, 2006, David Mattison effective June 30, 2006 and Kris Sieko effective June 30, 2006 and that a letter is sent thanking them for their years of service to the students and the District.

The motion passed on the following vote:

AYES: Mr. Bowman  NAYS: Mr. McGinnis
Mrs. Fort
Mr. Henry
Mr. Woltman
Mrs. Smith

Other
Sorter Elementary School Principal Andrew Stansberry discussed a school fundraiser to help raise funds for a student field trip to Mackinac Island.  A luncheon has been scheduled for 11:00 am – 2:30 pm Wednesday, April 26th at Grande Mere Inn in Stevensville.  The cost for the buffet lunch is $25 per person and Pete and Nancy Racine, owners of Grande Mere Inn, have donated the food.

Superintendent’s Update
The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 2, 2006.  On the ballot is an 18 mills operating millage renewal, which would apply to non-homestead property.  Currently there are 5 write-in candidates: William MacGoodwin, Lue Buchana, Joan Brown, Margie Carter and Albert Johnson.

Program Manager Dionne Bowens for the Catch the Dream program will be attending the BHAS Administrative Council meeting tomorrow to discuss the program and application process.

Public Participation
Mr. Renaldo Tripplett addressed the Board of Education expressing his concerns with The Herald-Palladium article regarding potential employees from Maytag visiting St. Joseph and Lakeshore Public Schools and not Benton Harbor Area Schools.  Mr. Tripplett stated that Cornerstone Alliance should have represented the community as a whole and that Whirlpool Corporation could have done a better job representing this merger.

Benton Harbor High School students Darion Gooch and James Gunter addressed the Board of Education announcing an AIDS/HIV Walk-A-Thon scheduled for 4:00 pm Saturday, April 27, 2006, starting at the Benton Harbor City Hall and walking to the BHAS Teen Center.

Board Comments
Student Board member Trenton Bowens commended the Tech Tigers Robots Team for their outstanding robot and their awards received at the competition.

Student Board member Samantha Gunter congratulated the Tech Tigers Robots Team and encouraged all to participate in the AIDS Walk.

Trustee Fort praised the students and staff for the great things happening in the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

Trustee Bowman extended his appreciation to teacher Kelly Lee for the C.L.A.S.S. Act program.

Trustee Woltman commended the Tech Tigers Robots Team, teacher Frank Gonzales and volunteers who made this competition possible.

Trustee Henry stated that the District has received an invitation from Benton Harbor City officials inviting Board of Education trustees to meet on Thursday, April 20th at the Michigan Works! building to participate in a roundtable educational discussion.

Trustee McGinnis agreed that The Herald-Palladium article regarding potential Maytag employees moving to the area was offensive to the Benton Harbor community.

Trustee Smith encouraged all to participate in the upcoming AIDS Walk, and commended the C.L.A.S.S. Act Program and Tech Tigers Robots Team.

There being no further business, the April regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.