08/08/06 Board Regular Meeting

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
AUGUST 8, 2006

The August regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Dan McGinnis at 6:03 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.

Communications
Trustee Smith read a letter from Coordinator of Maintenance Michael Brennand that commended Benton Harbor High School students for their excellent skills and work ethics during their summer employment.

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

THAT the Minutes of the organizational meeting of July 11, 2006 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the work session of July 11, 2006 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the special meeting of July 11, 2006 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the regular meeting of July 18, 2006 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the special meeting of July 25, 2006 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Watts that vendor payments in the amount of $1,618,809.58 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
The recognition of foreign exchange students from South Africa was removed from the agenda to be presented at a later date.

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, August 8, 2006 before, during or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, September 5, 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.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the addition to the current lease agreement with Adams Remco to add one more copier for the high school.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Operations/Facilities
Staff Report #2A
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the suspension of Board Policy KG and Board Policy EBH for a period of 60 days to allow review for possible revisions by the Board Policy Committee.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the lease agreement between the Benton Harbor Area Schools and ABA Twin City Ballers for a period of one year, as stated in the lease agreement prepared by the District’s legal council.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

As informational items, Group Director for Operations and Facilities Stephen Mitchell reported that building names for the 2006-2007 school year are: 1) Seeley McCord Elementary School, 2) M.L.K. Freshman Academy and, 3) Fair Plain Northwest Learning Academy. Also, on August 15^th Chartwells Dining will host a Career Fair for all interested candidates in the high school student commons.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the agreement between the Berrien County Trial Court/Family Division and the Benton Harbor Area Schools to provide school-based probation services to eligible in-school probationers and their families.

The motion passed on the following vote:

AYES:	Ms. Buchana	NAYS:	Mr. McGinnis
	Mrs. Fort
	Mr. Henry
	Mr. Woltman
	Mrs. Smith
	Mrs. Watts

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 contract with Lake Michigan College for Dual Enrollment and Direct Credit with the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #5
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Buchana:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the resignation notices of Kimberley A. Schaefer and Kelley Lee and that a letter is sent thanking them for their years of service to the students of the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #6
This staff report was presented as an informational item that required no Board action.

Consent
Staff Report #7
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education gratefully acknowledges and accepts the following grants and donations to the District for the 2006-2007 school year:

$495.66 Donation from Don Radde of Horizon Bank
$5,000 Grant from Whirlpool Foundation for a Health Education Program
$4,622.38 Grant from the Michigan Department of Education for Displaced Hurricane Katrina Students

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Superintendent’s Update
The Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) results have been received and an item analysis shows that middle school students are not responding. Further analysis will be completed to gain a better understanding of the high school scores.

All parents and students must be aware that it is critical that students pass the MEAP test essentially when the District/State moves to the ACT Test, as scholarships will be at stake.

The Federal Government has reduced Title I and Title II funding, which will result in approximately a $200,000.00 reduction in the District’s budget.

Building readiness is taking place now to ensure a smooth opening for the 2006-2007 school year, which includes a tour of the renovated facilities scheduled for August 25, 2006.

Wednesday, August 9^th is the last day of the Boynton Montessori Summer Book Club.

The District has received a donation of $70,000.00 from the Citizens for Progressive Change (CPC) earmarked for renovations at the Charles Gray Teen Center.

Sorter Elementary School Principal Andrew Stansberry’s son is pictured on the front of a recent health immunizations article in The Herald-Palladium.

Public Participation
Mr. Isaiah Newson addressed the Board of Education requesting a written response from the Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Instruction J. Leonard Wright regarding the District’s unacceptable poor MEAP scores. He stated that the Superintendent of Schools must be held accountable, which includes no salary raise or praise. Mr. Newson also requested the qualifications for those people who were hired for the Benton Harbor High School Dean positions.

Mrs. Janet Crump addressed the Board of Education stating her concerns with the District’s direction and lack of leadership in the school buildings, citing that to date no Dean has been hired for the Freshman Academy. Mrs. Crump encouraged the Board of Education to take charge of the District’s management because educational achievement must improve.

Board Comments
Trustee Buchana questioned the ad in The Herald-Palladium regarding the Food Service Director position.

Trustee Watts stated that the Board of Education works for the community and promised a change, as the trustees are advocates for District students.

Trustee Henry affirmed that the Superintendent of Schools is accountable to the Board of Education and encouraged parents to step-up for their children’s education.

Trustee Fort stated that she is looking for common ground in the District, as all persons play a role to create educational excellence and encouraged all to work together.

Trustee Smith acknowledged her concerns with the District’s MEAP scores and encouraged parents to work with their children, as children need to be ready to learn when they come to school.

Trustee McGinnis stated that he is seeking educational improvement in the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The Board recessed to closed session at 7:20 p.m.

Also Present: Dr. Paula Dawning, Ms. Nora Jefferson, Dr. J. Leonard Wright, Mrs. Virginia Maxwell, Mr. Stephen Mitchell, Mrs. Angelika MacGowan, Mr. Ronnie Brown, Mr. George Piggee, Mr. Leamon Terrell, Mr. Tom Stahr and Attorney K. Morris Gavin

The Board of Education reconvened to open session at 9:15 p.m.

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Fort:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education grant amnesty for fifteen (15) days of a thirty (30) day termination to those employees who were convicted of a criminal offense and falsified their initial Benton Harbor Area Schools employment application. The above-mentioned employees must correct their employment application within fifteen (15) days or their termination will become permanent. This action is to be considered a non-precedent setting of the Board of Education.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

There being no further business, the August regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.