President Carolyn Graves called the September work session of the Board of Education to order at 6:10 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 and Ms. Carolyn Graves

Recognitions
Superintendent Williams introduced the following new district administrators. The administrators were present and gave a brief synopsis of themselves and their respective educational assignment.

• Ms. Sheletha Bobo, Accountant
• Ms. Audrey Brinkley, Principal, Creative Arts/Gifted & Talented Academies
• Ms. Ericka Harris, Principal, Boynton Montessori Program
• Mr. James White, Principal, Fair Plain Junior High School

Central Administration
Ms. Williams asked the Board to amend the agenda to include the approval of the architectural bids for operations and facilities. The amendment was granted.

Business and Finance
Assistant Superintendent Mark Giffels reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve participation in the Southwest Michigan Schools Beverage Consortium.

Mr. Giffels reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to appoint a trustee and risk management coordinator to the Middle Cities Risk Management Trust.

Instruction
Carolyn Jones, Director of Curriculum, Emmerson Payne, Group Director, Secondary Education and Solomon Collins, Director of Special Education gave instructional division reports respectively.

• Implemented phase III of curriculum action plan.
• Previewed K-6 science materials for adoption of new science program.
• Developed a temporary monitoring system to evaluate student achievement of academic standards.
• Developed Pre-K curriculum in the areas of math and reading.
• Assisted 7-8 grade teachers in identifying and correlating teaching materials and resources that are aligned with the state standards.
• Planned and implemented professional development training in the teaching of inquiry based science.

• Develop a computerized curriculum monitoring system.
• Train trainers in the curriculum integration process and develop interdisciplinary units to support curriculum and instruction.
• Provide professional development to demonstrate teaching strategies and techniques.
• Address areas of concerns that impact student achievement (MEAP, Terra Nova, Curriculum Assessments)

• Standardized and aligned the curriculum at all junior high schools.
• Continuation of in-services for best practice of the Middle School Concept.
• Extension of Extended Day Program to provide tutorial as well as enrichment program.
• Implemented 7^th grade advisory teams.
• Planned and implemented extended time teaching plan in all junior high buildings.
• Developed team teaching at junior high schools.

• Established Career Pathway Steering Team sub-committees.
• Continued building and developing community partnership for program development.
• Aligned Berrien County Education for Employment system with BHAS Career Pathway system.
• Developed Career Pathway Program of Studies for 1999-2000
• Planned Focus Classes for 7^th and 8^th grade.
• Increased school-to-career internships and work-based learning experiences.
• Developed articulation agreements with post-secondary institutions.

• Fully implemented the mandates of the individuals with Disabilities Educational Act (IDEA-97).
• Provided in-services and workshops on inclusion for District personnel.
• Developed and implemented a procedure to allow mildly disabled students to be fully included with general education students.
• Improved interagency coordination of early childhood intervention services and community support for children with disabilities and their families.
• Developed guidelines for alternative assessment for students whom participation on statewide assessment is not appropriate.
• Increased the participation and performance of students with disabilities in career and workforce development programs.
• Had an increase in the percentage of students with disabilities who graduated from high school.
• Received 100% compliance from state monitoring regarding implementation of state and federal mandates.

• Promote strategies for increased student and family involvement.
• Implement a system of quality control.
• Continue to train staff on strategies of cooperative and collaborative teaching methods.
• Through the school support team process, improve early identification and support for students at risk of requiring special education.
• Increase participation and performance of students with disabilities in career and work force development programs.
• Decrease the percentage of students with disabilities who drop out of school.
• Increase the percentage of students with disabilities who graduate.

BHHS Assistant Principal Kathy Atcher-Brooks presented the final report on the 1999 secondary summer school program. The purposes of this program were to offer credit for those students needing graduation credit and to give students an opportunity to make up classes as well as to take courses for enrichment. There were seventy-seven (77) students enrolled in the high school program. Sixty-six (66) of those students were from Benton Harbor. The subjects taught were based on student selected courses and were: US History, US Government, Geography, English 9-12, Algebra, Connective Math, Geometry, Physical Science, Biology, Math 7/8, Science 7/8, English 7/8 and Reading 7/8. There were sixty-five (65) students enrolled the junior high program. The junior high program was designed to facilitate learning for those students who were found to be experiencing academic difficulty during the regular school year.

Elementary Principal Gregory Mauchmar and Assistant Elementary Principal Stephanie Rockette presented the 1999 elementary summer school final reports. Programs were conducted at Fair Plain East and Fair Plain West Elementary Schools that included Language Arts for 1^st - 3^rd grade students at East and increasing skills and proficiencies for Kindergarten and 1^st grade students at West. The Voyager Programs (Space Camp and Pre-Medicine) was offered at West and is designed to build language, math, and recall skills. All of the teachers received training by the District in the Orton Gillingham Phonics Program. This program was used by all of the teachers to teach reading, writing, and spelling. All classes were provided time in the computer lab. The combined enrollment was three hundred thirty-seven students with an average attendance of 93%.

Assistant Superintendent Richard Garrison reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve and accept a donation to the Inner City Sail Club from Mr. Thomas Wright.

Mr. Garrison disseminated the latest confirmed (9/7/99) enrollment figures for the 1999/2000 school year. While the secondary enrollment has stabilized, the Schools of Choice projected a loss higher than anticipated at the secondary level.

Superintendent Williams extended a special thanks to Special Education Director, Solomon Collins, for spending his holiday weekend preparing a proposal in collaboration with Workforce Development Board to receive a Dropstop Dropout Prevention Program grant.

Human Resources
Assistant Superintendent Nora Jefferson reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the following action items:

• Employment of Professional Administrative Staff
• Employment of Professional Teaching Staff
• Professional Staff Requesting Leave of Absence
• Professional Teaching Staff Resigning
• Professional Teaching Staff Retiring
• Ratification of Benton Harbor Service Employees
• Collective Bargaining Agreement

Other
Mr. Stephen Mitchell, Group Director, Operations and Facilities reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the awarding of bids for architectural services and construction management. The award is a result of building site visits conducted at high schools in Portage, MI, South Bend and Granger, IN. The three architectural firm candidates are: 1) Marshburn/Bunkley and Associates, 2) URS Greiner Woodward Clyde and, 3) Fanning/Howey Associates, Inc. The four construction management candidates are: 1) E&V Consultants, 2) The Skillman Corporation, 3) AJE Construction and, 4) Clark Construction.

Mr. Mitchell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve and award the bid for the BHHS running track renovation project to be completed this fall.

Superintendent's Update
Superintendent Williams reported that in efforts to advance the District she is hoping to put more positive District promotions in place.

On Thursday, September 16^th United Way Day of Caring volunteers will be at the BHAS Career/Technical Center dealing with renovation, i.e., painting, flooring, etc.

The BHAS Safe Schools Task Force committee met last week and is off to a wonderful start for the 1999/2000 school year. As a result of the new school code legislation, the State School Board has sent out a crisis plan to be used as a demo for all school districts in creating their own crisis plan. BHAS is currently working on the District crisis plan and will work with the Berrien County Emergency Management, a division of the Berrien County Sheriff's Office and the Michigan State Police to develop, implement and administer a "multi-hazard" safety plan.

Public Participation
Ms. Lue Buchana addressed the Board of Education with her concerns regarding employment-hiring practices for teenagers. She stated that BHAS employment opportunities should be open for all and not only to a selected group of families.

Mrs. Joyce Hardin addressed the Board of Education with concerns regarding the inconsistency of bus transportation for secondary students at Berrien Homes. She also expressed concerns with the lack of enforcement of the dress code for students who wear sagging pants.

Board Comments
Trustee Robinson questioned the Board of Education budget and asked for information pertaining to travel, outstanding amounts not returned and last year's budget carryover.

There being no further business, the September work session was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.