MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
JUNE 12, 2001

The June regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Carolyn Graves at 6:09 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons Area.

Present: Ms. Carolyn Graves, Mrs. Annie Robinson, Mr. Dwight P. Mitchell, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Mr. Ken Woltman and Ms. Michelle Jones

Public Participation on Agenda Items
Mr. James Lowery addressed the Board of Education questioning the District's spending on outside construction supervisors when there are qualified District employees.

Minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Ms. Jones that the Minutes of the work session of May 1, 2001 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Jones that the Minutes of the regular meeting of May 8, 2001 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the special meeting of May 16, 2001 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the special meeting of May 24, 2001 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman that vendor payments in the amount of $1,566,431.53 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
Benton Harbor Area Schools Board trustees who attended the National School Board Conference each received certificates of participation.

BHAS Athletic Director John Brown discussed the Big 16 Western Division of High School Athletic School Conference. Athletic events will be played in southwest Michigan thus substantially lowering transportation costs. A complete athletic schedule is forthcoming.

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

THAT the following Board polices:

GAN

Personnel/Unlawful Drugs in the Workplace

GANA-R

Rules and Regulations - Alcohol and Controlled Substances
Testing Policy For Safety-Sensitive Workers

BBG

School District Consultants

GAO

Personnel/Non-School Employment

GBA

Professional Personnel Compensation Guides and Contracts

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 Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the date of the 2001-2002 Organizational Meeting for the Board of Education of the Benton Harbor Area Schools be set for Tuesday, July 3, 2001 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 #3
A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Ms. Jones:

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

Tuesday, June 12, 2001 before and/or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, July 3, 2001 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 #4
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award the bid for playground equipment, surfacing and edging at King Elementary to D.P. Hoffman Playworks of Brighton, MI in the amount of $48,955.67.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award the bid for playground site work at King Elementary School to Rick Ausra Excavating of Dowagiac, MI in the amount of $32,720.00.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the 2001 Summer Lunch Program for the children of the Benton Harbor community.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education sell the property located at 1420 Pipestone Street for $9,900.00 and further directs the Superintendent and the Board's legal council to go forward with a legal purchase agreement.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education adopt the resolution for the middle schools and senior high school of the District for the 2001-2002 school year for membership in the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Schools to be covered by membership in the Michigan High School Athletic Association are: Benton Harbor High School, Fair Plain Middle School, Hull Middle School and McCord Renaissance Center.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #9
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially approve and sanctions this year's Black College Tour sponsored by Benton Harbor High School scheduled for November 13-18, 200,1 and further approves the stipend support in the amount of $100.00 for each student participant from the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #10
A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mrs. Robinson:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the adoption of the following textbook series to enhance the District's Middle Schools instructional program:

Subject

Textbook/Publisher

Cost

Language Arts

Holt Rinehardt Winston

$70,065.00

Mathematics

Glencoe McGraw-Hill

$74,388.57

Science

Prentice Hall Science Explorer

$58,186.20

Social Studies

Prentice Hall World Explorer American Nation

$62,058.75
 

Grand Total

$264,698.5

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially approve the proposed consultant services contract agreement with Mr. John Finn, CEO, Dads Are Doing Something (DADS), a non-profit corporation, for the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 school years in the amount of $144,000.

The motion failed on the following vote:
AYES: Ms. Jones  NAYS: Dr. Peeples-Burks
Ms. Graves  Mrs. Robinson
Mr. Woltman
Mrs. Smith
Mr. Mitchell

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially approve the proposed consultant services contract agreement with Mr. John Finn, CEO, Dads Are Doing Something (DADS), a non-profit corporation, for the 2001-2002 school year to include 6 District visits per month.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #12
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mrs. Robinson:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially approve and sanctions this year's Band Camp trip to Florida A & M University sponsored by Benton Harbor High School Tiger Marching Band scheduled for June 16-23, 2001, and further approves a trip subsidy in the amount of $2,040.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #13
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approves the retirement requests of Ms. Carole Arledge, Mr. Dennis Lowell and Ms. Annie Stephens.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Public Participation II
Mr. James Lowery addressed the Board of Education questioning staff salaries and stated that the non-renewal of the millage was due to lack of communication to the community.

Mr. Johnny Edwards addressed the Board of Education expressing his employment concerns as a District custodian.

Mr. George Piggee addressed the Board of Education questioning the District's hiring practices and his concerns of being asked not to address the Board with labor concerns.

Mr. Ricky Hill addressed the Board of Education expressing his appreciation for the DADS contract renewal for the 2001-2002 school year.

Mr. Wallace Young addressed the Board of Education expressing his employment concerns as a District custodian.

Ms. Elizabeth Gray addressed the Board of Education regarding the Service Employees contract renewal.

Board Comments
Trustees expressed their concerns regarding the lack of voter turn out for the annual School Board Election and the non-renewal of the non-homestead and non-qualified agricultural property tax millage.

Trustee Graves thanked fellow trustees and the community for the opportunity to work with them in serving students in the District as her tenure comes to an end.

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