MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
MAY 2, 2006

Vice President Dan McGinnis called the May Work Session of the Board of Education to order at 6:09 p.m. in the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons.

Present:  Mr. Dan McGinnis, Mr. Ken Woltman and Mrs. Carolyn Fort

Absent:  Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Anthony Henry, Dr. Perry Davis and Mr. Robert Bowman

Also Present:  Student Board Member 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.

Recognitions
Recognition was extended to District teachers, as May 7-13, 2006 is Teacher Appreciation Week.

Recognition was extended to District nurses, as May 10, 2006 is School Nurse Day.

Construction trades teacher Larry Jackson extended his appreciation to the students and volunteers for their worthy efforts in assisting a Habitat For Humanity rebuilding project in Slidell, Louisiana, a community destroyed by hurricane Katrina.  Mr. Jackson presented a poster to the Board of Education that was created by a Slidell artist.

Central Administration
As an informational item, Ms. Dionne Bowens, Manager of the Catch the Dream Program provided an update on the program, which is funded through the generosity of David and Barbara Whitwam and Whirlpool Corporation and is administered by Lake Michigan College.  The program is designed to partner with students in the Benton Harbor Area Schools and their families to provide information, services, support networks, resources and activities that will lead them to success in school and beyond.  In the spring of each year, 10 students who will be entering the sixth grade in the fall will be chosen for participation.  These students will continue in the program until they graduate from high school.  Upon high school graduation, participants will be awarded financial assistance to attend Lake Michigan College.  Once the program reaches full operation 80 to 90 students will be involved each year.

To be eligible for selection to participate in the program, 1) a student must apply in the spring of their fifth grade year, 2) must be enrolled as a sixth grade student in the Benton Harbor Area Schools during the first year of participation in the program, 3) neither parent of the student has attended college, and 4) only one person from a family may participate in the program.

Families of students who will be entering sixth grade in the fall of 2006 who are interested in having their child considered for the program must apply by May 26, 2006.  The application is available from the child’s school.  All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee made up of teachers, staff, principals, and administrators from the Benton Harbor Area Schools and Lake Michigan College.

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

Business/Finance
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Sheletha Bobo reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to adopt the Berrien County Intermediate School District’s general education budget.  The Revised School Code requires the intermediate school board to submit its proposed budget no later than May 1st of each year to the board of each constituent district for review.  No later than June 1st of each year, the board of each constituent district shall review the intermediate school district’s proposed budget and shall adopt a board resolution expressing its support for or disapproval of the proposed budget.

Assistant Superintendent Bobo reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to adopt a resolution authorizing issuance of the installment purchase agreement for the purchase of three school buses and band instruments.  At a regular meeting held on March 14, 2006, the Board of Education approved the purchase of two 77-passenger buses and one 53-passenger bus from Capital City Bus Sales, at a cost of $217,513.00 and band instruments at a cost of $36,540.00.

Operations and Facilities
Group Director for Operations and Facilities Stephen Mitchell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to award the bid for renovation work at the Benton Harbor High School and Fair Plain Northwest School.  Formal bids were received and opened on April 25, 2006, for renovation work for the new academies beginning in the fall of 2006.  The renovation at the high school is needed to give each academy their own section of the school in which to operate.

This work will also accommodate the moving of the Career/Technical Center into the high school for the 2006-2007 school year.  Renovation work is necessary at Fair Plain Northwest to accommodate the moving of the Twilight Academy from the high school into its own building to become a full day school program.  Two local contractors, Pearson Construction Company and Shelton Construction Company submitted bids for the renovation work.

Instruction
Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the Help One Student To Succeed (HOSTS) Continuing License and System Support Agreement for three elementary schools: Fair Plain West, Sorter and Morton.  HOSTS is a comprehensive program using research-based strategy to deliver one-on-one instruction and is correlated to the MEAP and MLPP tests.  To cover licenses and services to be provided by HOSTS, the District agrees to pay $6,600 each for Sorter and Morton and $5,900 for Fair Plain West for a total of $19,100 for the 2006-2007 school year.

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:

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

Donations for BHAS Construction Trades Slidell Trip:

Public Participation
Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks addressed the Board of Education stating that as a HOST mentor she is proud of the HOSTS program and was delighted to present awards to community members at the recent Race Relations Award Ceremony.  She questioned who chaperoned the BHHS drumline students at the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra concert, as those students were playing cards and blocking the aisle prior to their performance, which was excellent.  Dr. Peeples-Burks encouraged all to vote in today’s election.

Mr. Isaiah Newsom addressed the Board of Education commending student Board member Trenton Bowens for his initiation of the Benton Harbor Youth-In-Government program and discussed his attendance at the Benton Harbor Youth Election on April 29, 2006.  Mr. Newsom commended Miss Whisper Simmons, as the winner of the Visual Arts Expo and Mr. Stephen Mitchell for all his efforts in the District and community.

Board Comments
Trustee Fort discussed her participation in a parent workshop at Lake Michigan College and an excellent young girls program “I Like Who I See In The Mirror” recently held at Refreshing Fountain Church where Dr. Dawning was the keynote speaker.   Mrs. Fort commended the Boys & Girls Club students for their 1st annual parade participation and the District nurses for Nurses Day.

Trustee Woltman stated that he is proud of the Benton Harbor Area Schools and the student’s efforts.

Trustee McGinnis extended his appreciation for the positive happenings in the District.

There being no further business, the May work session was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.