MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
JUNE 14, 2005
The June regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Ken Woltman at 6:06 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons Area.
Present: Mr. Ken Woltman, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Anthony Henry (6:13), Dr. Perry Davis, Mr. Robert Bowman, Mr. Dan McGinnis (6:32) and Mrs. Carolyn Fort (6:12)
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Minutes
A motion was made by Dr. Davis and supported by Mr. Bowman that the
Minutes of the work session of May 3, 2005 be approved as printed.
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Dr. Davis that the Minutes of the regular meeting of May 10, 2005 be approved as printed.
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Dr. Davis that the Minutes of the special meeting of May 21, 2005 be approved as printed.
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Mrs. Smith that the Minutes of the special meeting of May 24, 2005 be approved as printed.
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Dr. Davis
that vendor payments in the amount of $1,454,693.90 be approved for payment.
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Activity of the General Fund was reviewed and accepted as presented.
Central
Administration
Staff Report #1
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Dr. Davis:
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be hereby adopted as policies of the School District and that any previous policy as listed be hereby rescinded.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 #2
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Bowman:
THAT the date of the 2005/2006 Organizational Meeting for the Board of Education of the Benton Harbor Area Schools be set for Tuesday, July 5, 2005 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 Dr. Davis and supported by Mrs. Smith:
THAT the Board of Education, Benton Harbor Area Schools, meet in closed session on the following dates:
Tuesday, June 14, 2005 before, during or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, andTuesday, July 5, 2005 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.
Business/Finance
Staff Report #4
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Dr. Davis:
THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education adopt the resolution to borrow against anticipated state aid for operations, as prepared by the Thrun Law Firm, P.C.
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Staff Report #5
A motion was made by Dr. Davis and supported by Mrs. Fort:
THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the lease agreement between Benton Harbor Area Schools and the Northshore Space Group.
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Operations/Facilities
Staff Report #6
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Mrs. Smith:
THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education extends the food service contract to ARAMARK for the 2005-2006 school year.
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Staff Report #7
A motion was made by Mrs. Fort and supported by Mr. Henry:
THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education sell the former Johnson School property located at 3270 Territorial Road for the price of $30,000.00.
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Instruction
Staff Report #8
A motion was made by Mr. McGinnis and supported by Mrs. Smith:
THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) membership for the secondary schools of the District for the 2005-2006 school year.
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Human Resources/Labor
Relations
Staff Report #9
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Mrs. Fort:
THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the tentative school calendar for the 2005-2006 school year.
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Staff Report #10
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Dr. Davis:
THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the layoff of the following teachers effective at the end of the 2004-2005 school year.
| Kimberly Bryce | Ivan Moore |
| Kari Burch | Barbara Moore |
| Angle Calnin | Marcus Muhammand |
| Dionne Cox | Corista Nichols |
| Brian Curneal | Jai Palmer-Davidson |
| Brian French | Evangeline Prosper |
| Jeffery Ginter | Edith Pruitt |
| Abbi Grimes | M’Shannon Rockette |
| Dennis Hoag | Kimberly Schaefer |
| Terra Huffman | Carol Schultz |
| Allison Lindemann | Andy Shingledecker |
| Stacy Long | Kris Sieko |
| Brandalyn Lowrance | Stephanie Spivey |
| Courtney Matthew-Zencka | Shondra Stokes |
| Rachel Meachum | Anya Wiley |
| James Messcar | Deborah Wolcott |
| Nicole Mills | Cathy Yates |
| Ramona Minisee |
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Staff Report #11
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Bowman:
THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education gratefully acknowledges and accepts the following grants and donations to the District for the 2004-2005 school year.
$1,660 Donation from Jim & Joan Smith to Underwrite the 2004-2005
Drive For Success III Program
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Other
Following the regular meeting the Board of Education will recess to
closed session for the purpose of discussing with legal counsel possible student
expulsions.
Board of Education trustees have been notified to ask administrators to vote “NO” on House Bill (HB) 279, which basically moves funds around in the “at-risk” funding category, which would cause the District to lose money.
Superintendent's
Update
Senator Ron Jelinek has been contacted on behalf of the Benton
Harbor Area Schools asking him to vote “NO” on proposed House Bill (HB) 279.
The K-16 Coalition For Michigan’s Future is conducting a K-16 Rally on June 21, 2005, in Lansing, Michigan in support of House Bill (HB) 4582 and Senate Bill (SB) 246.
The Benton Harbor Area Schools issued high school diplomas to 111 young men and 135 young women during the 2005 commencement service held on Friday, June 10, 2005. A number of students are 1 credit short of the graduation requirements and must attend summer school.
The North Berrien Adult Education Consortium graduated the highest number of people ever on May 26, 2005, possibly due to the closing of the program.
House Bill (HB) 4274, allocated by MESSA, requires group experience history and MESSA does not want to participate, and has indicated that if Districts choose to opt-out-of MESSA that it would be difficult to regain MESSA coverage.
The State of Michigan is asking that background checks be completed on school volunteers due to a large number of criminals volunteering. In addition school districts are asking to be reimbursed for the cost of that investigation, as it is very expensive.
A recent editorial in The Herald-Palladium states that Benton Harbor Area Schools will be facing demise due the St. Joseph Public Schools voting to adopt the Schools of Choice program. A nice photograph was recently featured in The Herald-Palladium of Morton Elementary School students sporting pony rides during their reading carnival.
Public Participation
Mr. Rodger Tripplett addressed the Board of Education with concerns that
students are leaving the Benton Harbor Area Schools and stated an alumnus is
being formed named the “E” Group (Enough), which is designed to bring students
back into the District.
Mrs. Marian Tripplett addressed the Board of Education with concerns that her upcoming senior daughter brought home a generic high school guidance office letter, not addressed to the parents, that discussed summer school, virtual high school, changes in scheduling, etc., stating that this information could have been disseminated more efficiently.
Ms. Patty Richmond addressed the Board of Education with her concerns of the generic high school guidance office letter, the last minute changes in high school graduation requirements and student scheduling problems. Ms. Richmond stated that this important information could have been handled much differently.
Ms. Destiny Perry addressed the Board of Education concerning the high school curriculum changes that requires additional classes for incoming seniors to graduate. She explained the burden that it puts on seniors who volunteer or work during the summer months. Ms. Perry stated that the changes in graduation requirements should not have affected the Class of 2006.
Board Comments
Trustee Fort encouraged the community to support the Benton
Harbor Area Schools and work together as there are numerous positive activities
ongoing in the District.
Trustee Bowman expressed his concerns regarding parent, staff and student morale, and that he would like to discuss this issue at the next human resources committee meeting. He also commented that when St. Joseph Public Schools opted for the Schools of Choice program it is open to all areas in Berrien County and not just Benton Harbor.
Trustee Davis stated that as a prodigy of Benton Harbor Area Schools he would like to see the District return to a high level and that it can be revitalized with the aid of parents and students working together.
Trustee Henry commented on his attendance at District open houses and that students can receive a good education in BHAS.
Trustee Smith extended her appreciation to all who helped with the senior lock-in celebration stating that all in attendance had a good time.
The Board recessed to closed session at 7:50 p.m.
Present: Mr. Ken Woltman, Mr. Anthony Henry, Dr. Perry Davis, Mr. Robert Bowman, Mr. Dan McGinnis and Mrs. Carolyn Fort
Absent: Mrs. J. Allene Smith
Also Present: Dr. Paula Dawning, Mrs. Virginia Maxwell, Mr. Dimitric Roseboro and Attorney K. Morris Gavin
Neither student nor parent was present.
Staff Report #1
A motion was made by Dr. Davis and supported by Mrs. Fort:
THAT 06-05-29-BHHS be permanently expelled for no less than 180 school days from the Benton Harbor Area Schools for a violation of the Uniform Code of Discipline and Section 1311(2) of the Michigan Revised School Code. The conditions of the expulsion will be outlined in a letter to be written by the Superintendent.
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
The Board of Education discussed personnel issues at Morton Elementary School and the evaluation committee designing a new Superintendent’s evaluation form.
There being no further business, the June regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.