MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
JULY 8, 2003

The July regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by Vice-President Ken Woltman at 6:02 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons Area.

Present:  Mr. Ken Woltman, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Mr. Anthony A. Henry, Mr. Dwight P. Mitchell and Mr. Robert L. Bowman

Absent:  Mrs. J. Allene Smith and Dr. Perry Davis

Communications
Trustee Peeples-Burks read thank you cards from Ruby Patterson, Patricia Contreras and Barbara J. Peeples for the beautiful Benton Harbor Area Schools retirement luncheon and clocks of appreciation.

Minutes
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Mitchell that the Minutes of the public hearing of June 2, 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 June 2, 2003 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Mitchell that the Minutes of the work session meeting of June 3, 2003 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mr. Bowman that the Minutes of the regular meeting of June 10, 2003 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Mitchell that the Minutes of the special meeting of June 16, 2003 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mr. Henry and supported by Mr. Mitchell that vendor payments in the amount of $1,903,542.23 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 Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Bowman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Marketing Partners, Inc., News Bureau and Publications Services contract effective for the 2003-2004 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

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

Tuesday, July 8, 2003 before and/or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, August 5, 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 #3
A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education adopt the resolution to Call the Special School Election for Monday, September 22, 2003, as prepared by Thrun, Maatsch and Nordberg.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Instruction
Staff Report #4
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education adopt the Membership Resolution for the middle schools and senior high school of the Benton Harbor Area Schools District for the 2003-2004 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

• McCord Middle School

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #5
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accepts the following resignations as indicated below and that a letter be sent to them thanking them for their years of service to the students of the District.

• Mr. Robert Pollock

• Ms. Mildred Moore

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education recalls the teachers as identified below effective at the start of the 2003-2004 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #7
A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education employs Mr. Kevin A. Simmons as a principal with the Benton Harbor Area Schools effective August 14, 2003.  His salary will be in accordance with the Benton Harbor Area Schools Administrators' Master Labor Agreement.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially accepts and acknowledges the generosity of the below gifts from various companies, agencies and foundations to the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

• Various Community Donations to Sorter Elementary School - $2,682.74

• Conn French Horn Donation to McCord Middle School Band - $1,200.00

• Frederick Upton Grant to McCord Middle School 7^th Grade Historical Club - $2,500.00

• Community Foundation for the National Capital Region/Laura Bush Foundation for 

• American's Library Donation to McCord Middle School Library - $5,000.00

• 2 Apple Computers and accessories from Carole Fetke to MLK Elementary School

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Superintendent's Update
In the absence of Superintendent Dawning, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Virginia Maxwell stated the summer school is up and running smoothly and that Ms. Dawning is recovering nicely.

Public Participation
Mr. Ron Smith addressed the Board of Education stating that he is a lifelong resident and offered his feedback on the defeated millage.  He encouraged the community, state and federal governments to give needed financial support to the youth of Benton Harbor because children deserve a chance.

Mr. Mike Poluhanycz addressed the Board of Education stating that he voted no to millage proposal because of the ballot language citing that the verbiage needed clarity.

Board Comments
Trustee Bowman inquired about the verbiage utilized in past millage elections.

Trustee Henry extended his appreciation to the public participants for their millage feedback.

Trustee Mitchell proposed that he would investigate the language that was used during the recent millage campaign for the purpose of future election clarity.

Trustee Peeples-Burks stated that she has visited the exciting summer school programs, and that in light of the recent disturbances the District is on the right track and encouraged parents to support their children's education.

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

THAT the Board of Education recess to closed session for the purpose of discussing with legal counsel personnel matters.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

The Board recessed to closed session at 6:40 p.m.

Present:  Mr. Ken Woltman, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Mr. Anthony A. Henry, Mr. Dwight P. Mitchell and Mr. Robert L. Bowman

Absent:  Mrs. J. Allene Smith and Dr. Perry Davis

Also Present:  Mrs. Virginia Maxwell, Mrs. Nora Jefferson and Ms. Sheletha Bobo

Trustees received information pertaining to administrative changes proposed for the 2003-2004 school year.

There being no further business, the July regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.