MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
JULY 18, 2006

The July regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Dan McGinnis at 6:06 p.m. in the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons.

Present:  Mr. Dan McGinnis, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mrs. Carolyn Fort, Mr. Ken Woltman, Mr. Anthony Henry, Ms. Lue Buchana and Mrs. Iris Watts

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Henry and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Minutes of the work session of June 6, 2006 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the special meeting of June 6, 2006 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the regular meeting of June 13, 2006 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the special meeting of June 15, 2006 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the special meeting of June 20, 2006 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the public hearing of June 28, 2006 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the special meeting of June 28, 2006 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the special meeting of June 29, 2006 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Fort that vendor payments in the amount of $1,786,488.38 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. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

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

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 before, during or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, August 1, 2006 before, during or following
the work session of the Board of Education on that date,

in the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons, 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
The Board of Education discussed the food service bid process and potential employment practices of food service providers.  Superintendent Paula Dawning made the Board of Education aware of the State rules governing contract bids and that a food service bidder violated the rules, which has resulted in that bidder being disqualified by the District.  The Board of Education has the power to accept or deny any recommendations and contractors have the right to employ whomever they chose. 

A motion was made by Mr. Henry and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education not disqualify the food service bidder. 

The motion passed on the following vote:

Staff Report #2
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award the food service management contract to Chartwells School Dining for one year with four 1-year renewal options beginning with the 2006-2007 school year.

The motion failed on the following vote:

Instruction
Staff Report #3
A motion was made by Mrs. Fort and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Teen Parents Curriculum to be used at the BHHS Health Clinic for middle and high school students as part of the Parents As Teachers program.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the District’s participation for the 2006-2007 school year in the Project Tiger student literacy program in partnership with The Herald-Palladium for four elementary schools at a cost of $6,150.00.

The motion failed on the following vote:

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the agreement for Clinical Teen Health Center services to be provided on the campus of BHHS by Berrien County Health Department medical and support personnel for the period October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the renewal of its operating agreement with the Twin City Beauty College to provide licensed cosmetology instruction for two consecutive semesters Fall 2006, Spring and Summer 2007.  The terms and conditions of the agreement shall be subject to review and revision by the Board of Education’s general counsel.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #7
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Buchana:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the out-of-town, overnight trip to Camp Wagner in Cassopolis, Michigan for the BHAS football team scheduled for August 5-8, 2006.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #8
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Ms. Buchana:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the notice of retirement from Kenneth G. Weber, effective June 28, 2006 and that a letter is sent thanking him for 36 years of service to students and the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the resignation of Dimitric Roseboro, Kevin Simmons, Dr. Layne Hunt and LeAnn Francis and that a letter is sent thanking them for their years of service to the students and the District.

The motion passed on the following vote:

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the following recommendations and employ the candidates effective August 14, 2006.  The following candidates have successfully completed the prescreening and interview process and are recommended to fill a Dean position at the Benton Harbor High School.

• Dr. Perry Davis – Dean of Communication, Arts and Business Academy
• Ms. Anita Burton – Dean of Human Services Academy
• Mrs. Carole Fetke – Dean of Science and Engineering Academy
• Mrs. Kathy Atcher-Brooks – Dean of Twilight Academy

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Reports 11-12 will be reviewed in closed session.

Other
Following the regular meeting the Board of Education will recess into closed session for the purpose of discussing with legal counsel personnel issues.

Mr. Woltman gave a committee report on the renaming of the Fair Plain Northwest building, stating that to date one meeting has been held with no real ideas presented.  The committee shall continue to meet per Board policy FDC – Naming New Facilities and FDC-R Naming New Facilities.

Superintendent’s Update
The Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) plan must be submitted to the US Department of Education for federal funding and it is proposed that Title I funding will be withheld from fourteen states, including Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Education will soon release the names of school employees who have been convicted of severe misdemeanors.

The developer will be named soon for the Harbor Town Project, which will positively impact the local community.

Keep It Safe - Keep It Fun initiative is continuing in the Benton Harbor Community.

The Benton Harbor Area Schools daily instructional time will increase by eighteen (18) minutes starting with the 2006-2007 school year.  The instructional day for secondary students will be 7:50 a.m. – 3:13 p.m. and the instructional day for elementary students will be 8:45 a.m. – 3:53 p.m.

Public Participation
Mr. Sidney Brooks addressed the Board of Education questioning the Board policy on the rental of Farnum gym, as the lease price quoted to the Twin City Ballers is too expensive.  Mr. Brooks asked that the fees for the Twin City Ballers be reduced as all is in place except the location.

Board Comments
Trustee Buchana stated that she has received phone calls regarding District administrators disrespecting staff members and stressed the importance of hiring local Benton Harbor graduates.

Trustee Watts expressed her excitement that the newly hired administrators are local people who know the community and students.

Trustee Smith congratulated the newly hired Benton Harbor High School Academy Deans.

Trustee McGinnis stressed the importance of improving the District’s image and the Board of Education following State and District policies.

The Board recessed to closed session at 7:30 p.m.

Present:  Mr. Dan McGinnis, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mrs. Carolyn Fort, Mr. Ken Woltman, Mr. Anthony Henry, Ms. Lue Buchana and Mrs. Iris Watts

Also Present:  Dr. Paula M. Dawning, Ms. Nora Jefferson, Dr. J. Leonard Wright, and Attorney K. Morris Gavin

The Board of Education reconvened to open session at 7:59 p.m.

Staff Report #11
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accepts the staff report and determines to proceed upon the tenure charges against teacher Calvin Davenport and orders the Secretary of the Board to cause to be furnished to Calvin Davenport a copy of the charges now on file with the Board, and to inform him of his rights afforded him under Article IV of the Michigan Teachers’ Tenure Act, including his right to appeal to the Tenure Commission.

THAT the Board hereby further determines to suspend Calvin Davenport effective immediately (July 18, 2006) from work assignment, in accordance with the provisions of the Michigan Teachers’ Tenure Act determining to proceed on Tenure charges against teacher Calvin Davenport and that the Superintendent and/or her designees are authorized to assist the Secretary in effecting the above notice to Calvin Davenport.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accepts the staff report and determines to proceed upon the tenure charges against teacher Brooke Anne Marceau and orders the Secretary of the Board to cause to be furnished to Brooke Anne Marceau a copy of the charges now on file with the Board, and to inform her of her rights afforded her under Article IV of the Michigan Teachers’ Tenure Act, including her right to appeal to the Tenure Commission.

THAT the Board hereby further determines to suspend Brooke Anne Marceau effective immediately (July 18, 2006) from work assignment, in accordance with the provisions of the Michigan Teachers’ Tenure Act determining to proceed on Tenure charges against teacher Brooke Anne Marceau and that the Superintendent and/or her designees are authorized to assist the Secretary in effecting the above notice to Brooke Anne Marceau.

The motion passed on the following vote:

There being no further business, the July regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.