MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
MAY 13, 2003

The May regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President J. Allene Smith at 6:06 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons Area.

Present:  Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Ken Woltman, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Mr. Anthony A. Henry, Mr. Dwight P. Mitchell, Mrs. Michelle Bennett (6:50) and Dr. Perry Davis

Absent:  Student Board Members Brittney Hurst and Brett Closson

Communications
Condolences were extended to Mr. and Mrs. Andres (Virginia) Velez of Eau Claire for the tragic death of their two daughters Sasha and Alexandra.

Condolences were extended to former superintendent, Renee' Williams, for the death of her sister Dinah Robinson.

Minutes
A motion was made by Dr. Davis and supported by Mr. Henry that the Minutes of the work session of April 8, 2003 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks that the Minutes of the regular meeting of April 15, 2003 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Mitchell that vendor payments in the amount of $2,024,621.04 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 the Benton Harbor High School for being featured as WSBT's School of the Week.

BHHS students Yolanda Lucus and Duran Williams were presented with a Certificate of Achievement for being recipients of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Award.

Recognition and praise was extended to student Board member, Brett Closson, for being a finalist in the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor Rotary Essay Contest.

Central Administration
Staff Report #1
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT Board policies:

• KGA - Smoking in School Facilities - Revised
• JCDAA - Rights and Responsibilities/Conduct Behavior Code/Smoking - Revised
• GAN - Personnel/Unlawful Drugs in the Workplace - Revised
• JCDAB - Students Rights and Responsibilities/Conduct Behavior Code/Alcohol Use - Revised
• JCDAC - Students Rights and Responsibilities/Conduct Behavior Code/Drug Use - Revised
• JCAB - Students Rights and Responsibilities Civil Rights of Minors/Interrogations and Searches - Revised
• GAM - Possessing, Transporting or Transmitting Dangerous Weapons - New

be hereby adopted as policies 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 Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Davis:

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

Tuesday, May 13, 2003 before and/or following

the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

 

Tuesday, June 3, 2003 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.

Operations/Facilities
Staff Report #3
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education authorize the Superintendent to enter into a four-year commitment with Energy Education, Inc., after the contract has been reviewed by the District's legal counsel.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award the uni-vent installation contract to the low bidder, Posey Plumbing and Heating of St. Joseph, MI in the amount of $189,905.00.

The motion passed by unanimous vote. 

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award the bid to install the underground storage tank to the low bidder, Rohr Gasoline Equipment of Byron Center, MI in the amount of $94,066.00.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #6
A motion was made by Mr. Henry and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the operation of the 2003 Summer Lunch Program for the children of the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the BHHS Summer School Program for the 2002-2003 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #8
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Elementary Summer School Program for the 2002-2003 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #9
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Davis:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Middle School Summer Program for the 2002-2003 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #10
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the retirement dates of the below referenced administrators be accepted and a letter be sent thanking Ms. Perla Tolentino for 26 years, Mrs. Ruby Patterson for 33 years, Mrs. Lottie Pugh for 26 years and Mr. Solomon Collins for 30 years of service to the students. 

• Ms. Perla Tolentino, employed October 1977 to retire June 30, 2003

• Mrs. Ruby Patterson, employed August 1970 to retire December 1, 2003

• Mrs. Lottie Pugh, employed October 1977 to retire June 20, 2003

• Mr. Solomon Collins, employed July 7, 1973 to retire June 30, 2003

 The motion passed by unanimous vote.

 A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Dr. Davis: 

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education present plaques of appreciation for those persons who retire from the District with 20 or more years of service.

The motion passed by the following vote:

Staff Report #11
A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT Mr. Ray Howland be employed as a teacher with the Benton Harbor Area Schools effective for the 2003-2004 school year. 

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #12
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Bennett:

THAT the retirement dates listed below for the referenced professional teaching staff be accepted and a letter be sent thanking each of them for their many years of service to the students. 

• Mr. Martin Dukes, employed March 1973 to retire June 2003

• Ms. Emma Bruins, employed October 1977 to retire June 2003

• Mr. George Rausch, employed August 1973 to retire June 2003

• Ms. Mary Lou Zick, employed August 1973 to retire June 2003

• Ms. Lorraine Dukes, employed March 1970 to retire June 2003

• Ms. Joyce Skiver, employed September 1964-1968 and 1986 to retire June 2003

• Mr. George Wilson, employed November 1973 to retire June 2003

• Ms. Marion Manthe, employed October 1973 to retire June 2003

• Ms. Patricia Contreras, employed August 1971 to retire June 2003

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #13
A motion was made by Dr. Davis and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT staff report #13 be tabled pending labor union approval.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #14
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the below named professional teaching staff be pink slipped effective at the close of the 2002-2003 school year. 

Karen Banks, Gary Brumbelow, Beatrice Sission, Kent Bowman, Emily Dailey, Susan Behnke, Jason Setter, Melisa Bogucki, Lori Pluene, Verda Johnny, Nicole Ohs, Nadeen Byfield, Kerry Forley, Catherine Longmate, Carmen George, Tenisha Wilder, Christine Bell, Deborah Turner, Lori Cysintyan, Eric Swanson, Dorothy Walden, Lauralee Schilling, Carol Swinyar, Amy Rhew, Angel Calnin and Sally Schwyn.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Consent
Staff Report #15
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Davis:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially accept and acknowledge the gift of $100.00 to the McCord Renaissance Middle School 7^th grade from Chemical Bank Shoreline.

 The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Other
The BHHS Madrigals trip to Las Vegas, Nevada on May 3-7, 2003 to perform on the Bobby Jones Gospel Hour Show was very successful and will be aired locally for approximately one week.

Superintendent's Update
Several schools in the Benton Harbor Area Schools District did not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and are among the 216 in the state that are labeled as high priority schools by Governor Granholm.  Nannette Bowler, State Director of the Family Independence Agency has been named Chair of the Children’s Action Network (CAN).  Representatives of CAN will be coming to Benton Harbor on Monday, May 19 to meet with several of the agencies and organizations that are a part of the Children’s Action Network to share the Governor’s expectations and to understand what the plan will be on a local basis.

A Principals Academy is scheduled to be conducted in Brighton, Michigan for those principals whose building did not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).

The Benton Harbor CARES committee is moving forward in the Sinking Fund millage effort and is currently seeking volunteers to operate telephones.

In an effort to plan accordingly, Trustees will receive an end-of-the-year awards ceremony by school tally sheet.

The McCord Renaissance Middle School Green House Sale is scheduled for Monday, May 19 - Thursday, May 22. 

The Drive For Success reading initiative has declared triumph with 109,340 books being read as of April 30, 2003.

Four BHAS Spring Campaign forums have been scheduled that are designed to attract new students to the District and community parents are encouraged to attend. 

The usage of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the Computerized Measure of Academic Progress Test (MAP) are currently underway.

Public Participation
Ms. Barbara Pence addressed the Board of Education expressing her concerns with the proposed purchase of plaques for retirees and the recent professional staff layoffs.

Board Comments
Trustee Davis acknowledged his appreciation for those students participating in extra-curricular activities and for the students who received various achievement awards.  He encouraged the community to vote in the upcoming election.

Trustee Bennett stated that she visited Morton and M.L.K. Elementary Schools last week and was very impressed with the staff and students.

Trustee Henry commended Superintendent Dawning for her positive community involvement and encouraged all to vote.

Trustee Mitchell acknowledged that staff layoffs are devastating and encouraged those people not to leave the community before August in hopes of being rehired.

Trustee Peeples-Burks discussed her attendance at an assembly for seniors, sponsored by Whirlpool Corporation, on how to prepare for a job interview and business dress standards.  She commended parents for a job well done in helping their children to understand the codes of conduct.

Trustee Woltman questioned the criteria used in utilizing permanent substitute teachers in the District.

Trustee Smith acknowledged the Pennies For Cancer Drive at the American Cancer Society and reminded community residents to vote on June 9, 2003.

There being no further business, the May regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.