The August regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Ms. Carolyn Graves at 6:02 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School Student Commons Area.

Present: Mrs. Annie Robinson, Ms. Michelle Jones, Mr. Waymon Hodges, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Ken Woltman (6:10) and Ms. Carolyn Graves

President Graves welcomed everyone and explained that items discussed at the work session are voted on at the regular meeting.

Minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Hodges and supported by Mrs. Smith that the Minutes of the organizational meeting of July 6, 1999 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Mr. Hodges that the Minutes of the work session of July 6, 1999 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Ms. Jones that the Minutes of the regular meeting of July 13, 1999 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Mr. Hodges that the Minutes of the special meeting of July 29, 1999 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Woltman that vendor payments in the amount of $1,705,632.42 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 Mrs. Smith:

THAT the Board of Education of the Benton Harbor Area Schools approve the revision of the 1999/2000 Uniform Code of Discipline and Students' Rights and Responsibilities to annually include:

1. Public Act 103 of 1999, Section 1309 - Snap Suspensions (teacher imposed suspensions);
2. Public Act 102 of 1999, Section 1310 - Pupil-Pupil Physical Assaults (applies to pupils in grades 6^th or above);
3. Public Act 104 of 1999, Section 1311a - Pupil Physical and Verbal Assaults Against Employees, Contractors, Volunteers; Bomb Threats (applies to pupils in grades 6^th or above).

Trustees Robinson and Hodges questioned the new laws and how they apply to special education students and the State's plan to oversee compliance with the new school code.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

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

Tuesday, August 10, 1999 before and/or following the
regular meeting of the Board of Education on that date, and

Tuesday, September 7, 1999 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.

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

THAT Ms. Heidi Balfe's resignation be accepted and a letter be sent to her thanking her for her services to the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Mrs. Teresita Gebhard's resignation be accepted and a letter be sent to her thanking her for her services to the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Ms. Amy Hillary's resignation be accepted and a letter be sent to her thanking her for her services to the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Ms. Wanda Johnson's resignation be accepted and a letter be sent to her thanking her for her services to the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Ms. Maureen Lindenberg-Bradford's resignation be accepted and a letter be sent to her thanking her for her services to the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Ms. Laura Maas's resignation be accepted and a letter be sent to her thanking her for her services to the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #9
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT Mrs. Renee Sager's resignation be accepted and a letter be sent to her thanking her for her services to the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Ms. Veronica Warner's resignation be accepted and a letter be sent to her thanking her for her services to the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Ms. Cindy Brinker be granted Tenure effective October 30, 1999.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #12
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT Ms. Kathleen Schleef be granted Tenure effective October 16, 1999.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #13
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT Mr. Dillon Barnes be placed on Second Year Probation effective November 9, 1999

The motion passed on the following vote:

Staff Report #14
A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT Mrs. Betty Bowman be placed on Second Year Probation effective November 9, 1999.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #15
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT Ms. Pamela Burton be placed on Second Year Probation effective October 20, 1999.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #16
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT Mrs. Carla Smith-Howe be placed on Second Year Probation effective November 9, 1999.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #17
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT Ms. Evelyn Scott's retirement be acknowledged and accepted and that a letter from the District be sent to her thanking her for her services to the students of the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Other
Trustee Peeples-Burks questioned the status of the new Technology Committee asking when the Board voted to add another Board committee. President Graves responded that the newly added Technology Committee is not official until recommended by the Policy Committee to the Board for approval.

Trustee Peeples-Burks also questioned a memo sent by President Graves to the trustees that stated all recommended action must go through a committee first before going to the Board for approval. Dr. Peeples-Burks stated that Board policy does not authorize standing committees to make recommendations and that any items needing Board approval is the Superintendent's responsibility. Furthermore, it could be in violation of the Open Meetings Act. President Graves responded that the purpose of this suggestion was to make the Board privy to all information. Attorney Gavin stated that per the Attorney General, if a committee makes a recommendation to the Board for voting purposes the meeting must be held in open session. He also suggested that trustees familiarize themselves with BHAS Board policies to assure that the District is not in violation of their own policies.

Superintendent's Update
The BHAS Back to School Newsletter - Taking Our Community Into the Future with Pride has been sent to the printers and is scheduled to be mailed to district families before the start of school. The 1999/2000-bus schedule is still being developed and will be sent to households as soon as it is available.

Public Participation
Mr. James Thompson addressed the Board and asked who is in charge of investigating an incident involving a student and teacher. Superintendent Williams replied that the building administrators are charged with conducting any investigations along with interviewing the student.

Board Comments
Trustee Woltman questioned the opening date of the Benton Harbor Charter School and what would happen if the students enrolled in other districts show up on our doorstep at the beginning of school. Superintendent Williams replied that BHAS would enroll any student who crosses our threshold. The Benton Harbor Charter School has announced that their opening day is September 8, 1999. Student count day is scheduled for Wednesday, September 22, 1999.

Trustee Smith stated that a Texas newspaper printed an article concerning Charter Schools and mentioned former BHAS Superintendent Sherwin Allen charging him with inadequate record keeping. She complimented Superintendent Williams and her management team for a job well done.

Trustee Hodges expressed his concerns regarding Governor Engler's recent laws that address school safety and provide schools with new authority and additional responsibilities and the mandated discipline of students.

There being no further business, the August regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.