MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
JUNE 10, 2003

The June regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President J. Allene Smith at 6:14 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 and Dr. Perry Davis

Absent:  Student Board Members Brittney Hurst and Brett Closson

Communications
The Board of Education conducted a moment of silence for BHHS JROTC Military Instructor Reginald Spivey and his family for the tragic loss of their son.

Trustee Peeples-Burks read a thank you card from Greg Mauchmar, Principal of Fair Plain Northeast, which expressed his appreciation for the flowers that he received during his illness.

Minutes
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Dr. Davis that the Minutes of the work session of May 6, 2003 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 May 6, 2003 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the regular meeting of May 13, 2003 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks that the Minutes of the special meeting of May 27, 2003 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Bennett that vendor payments in the amount of $1,575,889.12 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
Student Board members Brittney Hurst and Brett Closson were both presented with a plaque of recognition and gift certificates for serving on the Board of Education.

Trustee Michelle Bennett was presented with a plaque of recognition for serving a 4 year tenure as a member of the Board of Education.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the BHAS Five-Year Strategic Plan as an appropriate direction and plan for the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #2
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT Board policies:

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 #3
A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mr. Woltman: 

THAT the date of the 2003/2004 Organizational Meeting for the Board of Education of the Benton Harbor Area Schools be set for Tuesday, July 1, 2003 at 5:00 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School Student Commons Area, 870 Colfax Avenue, Benton Harbor.

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 adopt a mandatory student uniform policy beginning at the start of the 2003-2004 school year.  The following recommendation is two-part, each being a stand-alone strategy but a continuous process.

Proposal A:
K-8 mandatory uniforms - colors by educational division

Elementary (K-5)

Middle (6-8)

Proposal B:
Grades 9-12 pilot mandatory uniforms with student leadership groups, extracurricular organizations and such clubs as athletics, band, cheer groups, choirs, service clubs, student council, honor society, etc., by being earlier adopters; but all students are expected to wear uniforms.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

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

Tuesday, June 10, 2003 before and/or following

the regular meeting of the Board of Education on

that date, and

Tuesday, July 1, 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.

Business/Finance
Staff Report #6
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Mitchell:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education adopt the state aid borrowing resolution, as prepared by Thrun, Maatsch and Nordberg.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Operations/Facilities
Staff Report #7
A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award the petroleum bid to the low bidder, Service Oil Company of Cassopolis, MI in the amount of delivered price 0.035 per gallon for gasoline and 0.0375 per gallon for diesel fuel for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the extension of the food service contract to ARAMARK for the 2003-2004 school year.

The motion passed by following vote:

AYES: Dr. Peeples-Burks   NAYS: Mrs. Bennett
Mr. Henry
Mr. Woltman
Dr. Davis
Mr. Mitchell
Mrs. Smith

Instruction
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 District's participation in the On Location pilot program for Fair Plain Middle School during the 2003-2004 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the recommendation for All-Day Kindergarten at Martindale, Morton, Sorter and Sterne Brunson for the 2003-2004 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the following below listed teachers be granted tenure, effective on their prospective dates:

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #12
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Davis:

THAT the retirement of Mrs. Thomasine McAfee, Ms. Darlene Wiggins, Mr. George Rausch and Ms. Charlene Durfee be accepted and a letter be sent thanking them for their many years of service to the students of the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the resignation notification of Ms. Emily Dailey, Ms. Lydia Laidlow-Warsop, Mr. Robert Pollock be accepted and a letter be sent thanking them for their services to the students of the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the resignations of Steven Edwards and Lori A. Csintyan effective at the close of the 2002-2003 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the 2003-2004 school calendar as submitted.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education exercising the option permitted by Section 1284 of the Revised School Code, has established a school calendar for all the schools in this District that ensures for the 2003-2004 school year at least 180 days and 1,098 hours of student instruction.

If the percentage increase in the basic foundation grant for 2003-2004 is not sufficient to cause an increase in the number of days and hours of instruction for 2003-2004 as set forth in the Section 1284 schedule, the Board of Education reserves the right to modify the school calendar for this District.

Note: the prototype language for this resolution was proved by the Michigan Association of School Boards.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Consent
Staff Report #16
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially accept and acknowledge the generosity of the box of books donated by Miss Juliet Golob.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #17
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially accept and acknowledge the generous donation of media center furniture from the St. Joseph Public Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Other
President Smith asked fellow colleagues to step-up to the plate in another attempt to secure a sinking fund millage.

A motion was made by Mr. Henry and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education add to the agenda authorization to establish another sinking fund millage election.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Henry and supported by Mr. Mitchell:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education authorizes the administrative staff to pursue establishing another sinking fund millage election for the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Student Board member Brittney Hurst extended her appreciation to those persons who made the BHHS senior lock-in a memorable experience.

Superintendent's Update
The Creative Arts/Gifted & Talented Academy has received State accreditation with no errors.

The Benton Harbor Area Schools has written a letter to Governor Granholm encouraging her to consider rejecting the proposal to “cap” the Medicaid program.

Superintendent Dawning extended her appreciation to the parents of student Board members for the support of their children.

Superintendent Dawning expressed her disappointment in the millage defeat and gave thanks to those who assisted on the BHAS CARES committee.  The BHAS administration will move forward with another sinking fund millage election and encouraged the community to support the children of the District.

Ms. Dawning praised the kindergartner who read the most books in the Drive For Success reading initiative and commended those community organizations that support BHAS students.

Public Participation
Mrs. Marion Shannon-Oliver addressed the Board of Education commending the student Board members and questioned if the student members could be video taped for civic purposes.  She also suggested that students in the Career Pathways be involved in the proposed food service committee.

Ms. Susan Carpenter addressed the Board of Education praising the administration for the Drive For Success reading initiative and stated that B. Dalton Bookseller has issued gift certificates to Morton Elementary School students.

Board Comments
Trustee Davis praised those students who have received academic and athletic awards and expressed his disappointment with the millage defeat.  He encouraged community residents to support the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

Trustee Bennett gave thanks for the opportunity to serve as a member of the BHAS Board of Education as her term has expired and commended student Board members for their participation.

Trustee Henry expressed his appreciation to student Board members for their contributions and to Trustee Bennett for her tenure.  He acknowledged his disappointment with the defeat of the millage and encouraged future millage success.

Trustee Mitchell praised those community residents who supported the millage and asked for those residents who voted no to contact the District as to what stopped them from voting positive.

Trustee Peeples-Burks commended student Board members for their contributions and Trustee Bennett for her tenure.  Dr. Peeples-Burks welcomed newly elected Trustee Robert L. Bowman and incumbent Trustee Smith.

Trustee Woltman expressed his disappointment to those community residents who did not vote in the recent school election.

President Smith extended her appreciation to the student Board members and to those who helped with the BHHS senior lock-in.  Mrs. Smith expressed her disappointment with the millage defeat and affirmed her confidence in passing the future BHAS sinking fund millage.

Student Board member Brett Closson commended Miss Alexandra Shannon as BHHS Class of 2003 Valedictorian and Miss Benton Harbor, and Brittney Hurst for her accomplishments and for proposing hard questions.  He stated his appreciation for the opportunity to serve on the Board of Education and to BHHS Principal Cousins for being an excellent administrator.

Student Board member Brittney Hurst expressed her sincere appreciation for the opportunity to serve on the Board of Education.  Miss Hurst declared her respect for staff at Central Administration and announced that she will be attending Shaw College on a full ride scholarship.

There being no further business, the June regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.