MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
AUGUST 13, 2002

The August regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President J. Allene Smith at 6:06 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons Area.

Present: Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Ken Woltman, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Mr. Anthony A. Henry, Mr. Dwight P. Mitchell, Ms. Michelle Jones and Dr. Perry Davis

Minutes
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Mitchell that the Minutes of the organizational meeting of July 2, 2002 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 work session meeting of July 2, 2002 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 regular meeting of July 9, 2002 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mr. Henry that the Minutes of the special meeting of July 17, 2002 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Ms. Jones that the Minutes of the special meeting of July 27, 2002 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks that vendor payments in the amount of $2,439,633.83 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
Praise was extended to the fifty-four students who participated in the DaVinci Sails Tiger Cub Regatta held on August 8 at Carronde Park.

Recognition was extended to two BHHS students who participated in the E-Business Club, a partnership between WorkForce Skills Development and the Whirlpool Corporation. The students created potential product items and a PowerPoint presentation.

Central Administration
Staff Report #1
A motion was made by Mr. Henry and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education adopt the Governance Team Standards of Practice Resolution.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #2
A motion was made by Ms. Jones and supported by Mr. Woltman:

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

Tuesday, August 13, 2002 before and/or following
regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, September 3, 2002 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. Woltman and supported by Mr. Mitchell:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the lease of three (3) food service trucks from the Ford Motor Credit Company Commercial Lending Services.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the threshold for the capitalization of assets to be $5,000.00.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Instruction
Staff Report #5
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Davis:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the District’s participation in the 2002-2003 Project Tiger student literacy program in partnership with The Herald-Palladium for four elementary schools at a cost of $12,825.00.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #6
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially adopt the Participating Resolution for a grant in the amount of $818,400 to fund the District’s four-year-old Preschool Program for the 2002/2003 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT staff report #7 be amended to reflect the rate of $1,500 per student, per semester.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Jones:

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 Benton Harbor High School students beginning the fall term of the 2002/2003 school year at a rate of $1500 per student, per semester. The terms and conditions of the Agreement are as stipulated in the revised contract reviewed by the Board at its work session meeting of August 6, 2002.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education adopt the Resolution for inclusion in the Clinical Teen Health Center Grant application.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Varsity Football Team’s attendance at Camp Wagner from August 8-10, 2002, and hereby authorizes the loan of $5,000 from the District’s Activity fund, which must be repaid in full to the District within one year. The Board of Education further directs its Superintendent to provide a line item for camp attendance in the football program portion of the Athletic Department budget for the 2003-2004 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #10
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT Mr. Larry Klaer’s retirement be acknowledged and accepted and that a letter from the District be sent to him thanking him for his 27 years of service to the students of the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #11
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT Ms. Chika Hampton’s resignation be accepted and a letter from the District be sent to her thanking her for 2 years of service she provided to the students of the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #12
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT Ms. Shannon Lennard’s resignation be accepted and a letter from the District be sent to her for 3 years of service she provided to the students of the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Mrs. Cressida Gabriel be employed as an elementary teacher by the Benton Harbor Area Schools effective August 19, 2002.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #14
A motion was made by Dr. Davis and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT Mrs. Deborah Turner be employed as a secondary teacher by the Benton Harbor Area Schools effective August 19, 2002.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #14A
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT Mr. Bruce D. Clapp be employed as an administrator with the Benton Harbor Area Schools effective August 14, 2002. His salary will be in accordance with the Benton Harbor Area Schools Administrators’ Master Labor Agreement.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #14B
A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT Dr. Michael Harris be employed as an administrator with the Benton Harbor Area Schools effective August 14, 2002. His salary will be in accordance with the Benton Harbor Area Schools Administrators’ Master Labor Agreement.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #15
A motion was made by Ms. Jones and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education ratify the contractual agreement between the Board of Education and the Paraprofessional Association/MEA/NEA. The agreement is effective July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2003.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #16
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Davis:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education ratify the contractual agreement between the Board of Education and the Secretarial Association/MEA/NEA. The agreement is effective July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2003.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #17
A motion was made by Dr. Davis and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education ratify the contractual agreement between the Board of Education and the Benton Harbor Area Schools Service Association. The agreement is effective October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2003.

The motion passed on the following vote:
AYES: Ms. Jones  ABSTENTION: Mr. Woltman
Dr. Peeples-Burks
Mr. Henry
Mr. Mitchell
Dr. Davis
Mrs. Smith

Staff Report #18
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Mitchell:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award a two percent wage increase to all non-union employees effective July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2003.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #19
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award the Management Team a 3.5% salary increase retroactive from July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002. Management Team employees are as follows:

The motion passed on the following vote:
AYES: Dr. Peeples-Burks  NAYS: Ms. Jones
Mr. Henry Mr. Mitchell
Mr. Woltman
Dr. Davis
Mrs. Smith

Other
President Smith announced that the Board of Education would not be recessing into closed session following the regular meeting.

The St. Joseph-Lincoln Senior Citizen Center will be hosting a spaghetti dinner for former BHAS teacher, Dan Lauer, who is very ill.

Trustee Peeples-Burks discussed the importance of the voting process and questioned if it could be incorporated into elementary instruction.

Superintendent’s Update
An Administrators’ Leadership Conference was held on August 12, 2002, at Lake Michigan College. Items of discussion were student achievement, data based decision making, professional development, safety & security and vision & values. Administrators also adopted a Standards of Practice resolution, similar to the Board’s resolution.

Numerous building repairs have been completed to prepare them for the start of school on Monday, August 26, 2002.

Teacher interviews are being conducted to fill 10 vacancies for the 2002-2003 school year.

The District is waiting to receive the student achievement results recently revealed at the State level.

At its March 14, 2002 meeting the Michigan State Board of Education approved Education YES! – A Yardstick for Excellent Schools. Michigan’s school accreditation system is based on the following standards that focus on every school working with every student. The issue becomes not whether a school meets a threshold requirement, but how close can every Michigan school come to attain the following rigorous challenging and focused standards:

On August 19, BHAS administrators underwent technology training to ensure accuracy in using the Student Accounting System and the District’s Assessment and Maintenance Program ACT Ware.

The District has been notified that State funding of 31A grant monies will be reduced, which will impact the Choose Program, HOSTS, elementary class size and attendance officers. It is believed that the funds were transferred at the State level to fund the Teen Health Care Centers.

Public Participation II
Mr. Charles Pierce addressed the Board of Education thanking the District for the opportunity to work as an Educational Instructor Assistant at the Career/Tech Center.

Board Comments
Trustee Woltman questioned when the District would receive the funds recently awarded for the Urgent Repairs Grant.

Trustee Davis commended the District administrators for their hard work and commitment to the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

Trustee Jones commended Superintendent Dawning and members of the Management Team for jobs well done.

Trustee Henry emphasized that each employee must be held accountable for their employment positions and added that some may feel the weight of District budget cuts.

Trustee Mitchell discussed a rally held today in Lansing that successfully overrode the Governor’s veto on revenue sharing with cities and municipalities.

Trustee Peeples-Burks questioned if the 2002-2003 Uniform Code of Discipline handbooks had been printed and if Board pictures would be included in the BHAS Staff Directory. Dr. Peeples-Burks also commended the DaVinci Sails program and their excellent sculpture display.

President Smith encouraged District staff and trustees to attend the Welcome Back Celebration scheduled for Wednesday, August 21.

There being no further business, the August regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.