MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
SEPTEMBER 10, 2002

The September regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President J. Allene Smith at 6:02 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 work session meeting of August 6, 2002 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Henry and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks that the Minutes of the regular meeting of August 13, 2002 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Jones that vendor payments in the amount of $1,955,308.46 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
President Smith commended the most recent issue of the BHAS Family Newsletter for the excellent publications on District activities.

Central Administration
Staff Report #1
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially adopt the Drive for Success Reading Project Resolution and partnership with the Benton Harbor Public Library to promote academic excellence and achievement for all students.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education amend Superintendent Paula M. Dawning’s employment contract extending the relocation date for six months to 3/15/03.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #3
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:

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 #4
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education adopt the bond authorizing resolution to construct the transportation facility as prepared by Thrun, Maatsch and Nordberg.

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

Operations/Facilities
Staff Report #5
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award the snow removal contract to Withrow Excavating & Construction of Benton Harbor for the 2002-2003 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award the transportation facility bid to Pearson Construction in the amount of $1,462,846.00.

The motion passed by the following vote:

AYES: Ms. Jones  ABSTENSION: Mr. Woltman
  Dr. Peeples-Burks    
  Mr. Henry    
  Mr. Mitchell    
  Dr. Davis    
  Mrs. Smith    

Instruction
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Richard Garrison extended his sincere appreciation for 32 years of service as an employee of the Benton Harbor Area Schools and to the community for the opportunity to serve the children of Benton Harbor, as this is his last Board of Education meeting before retiring, effective September 30, 2002.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially accepts and acknowledges the generosity of the donation of electronic sound equipment, projection screen and violin, valued at $525.00, to the Kuschel Performing Arts Center from Mr. Allan Tinkman of St. Joseph, MI.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially approves the McCord Renaissance trip to North and South Carolina on May 4-9, 2003.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education hereby approves the Management Agreement (August 29, 2002, version) between the Workforce Skills Development Center, Inc., and the Benton Harbor Area Schools District which shall continue in force until August 15, 2003, unless mutually renewed by the parties, and further authorizes its president and secretary to execute said Management Agreement on behalf of the Board of Education.

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

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

THAT Ms. Tina M. Lewis’ resignation be accepted and a letter be sent to her thanking her for the 7 years of service she provided 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. Davis:

THAT Ms. Kelly Masters’ resignation be accepted and that a letter from the District be sent to her thanking her for the 5 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 Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the following teachers named below be employed by the Benton Harbor Area Schools effective August 21, 2002:

Melissa Bogucki
Shay Briggs
Nadeen Byfield
Angel Calnin
Carmen George
Nicole Ohs
Jennifer Piontek 		Amy Rhew
Jason Setter
Sandra Starland
Carol Swinyar
Dorothy Walden
Tunisia Wilder

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #13
A motion was made by Mr. Henry and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT staff report #16, presented July 9, 2002, be lifted off the table for voting purposes.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve an attendance officer merit increase request for compensation for earning a bachelor’s degree.

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

Staff Report #14
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education set the hourly wage rate for lunchroom/noon supervisors at $5.65 per hour, effective Wednesday, September 11, 2002.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Other
President Smith announced that an open house has been scheduled for 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 2002, at the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons, to meet the Superintendent of Schools, Paula M. Dawning.

Superintendent’s Update
The desegregation plaintiff’s attorneys, Dykema Gossett, PLLC, have declined the District’s request for a fee adjustment.

Compared to last year’s student totals BHAS student enrollment has increased by 277 students.

Interviews are currently underway for the principalship at Henry C. Morton Elementary School as Mrs. Virginia Maxwell has been assigned as Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, effective October 1, 2002.

Superintendent Dawning has implemented an "open door" procedure scheduled for 4:00 p.m. each Wednesday on a first-come first-serve basis, designed to discuss any issues of parents, community members, staff or students.

This year’s BHAS United Way goal is $30,000.

New hours of operation for the Central Administration Office located at 777 Riverview Drive is M-F 7:35 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Solicitation is underway to develop a BHAS Parents Advisory Counsel.

Board Comments
Trustee Henry commended the District’s movement towards alternative education.

Trustee Mitchell encouraged community support during the BHHS football games.

Trustee Peeples-Burks stated that she would like to see the issue of overheated classrooms addressed stating that some classrooms are too hot to be conducive to learning.

President Smith made a reminder of the retirement reception for Richard Garrison scheduled for Monday, September 30 at the Benton Harbor High School. Mrs. Smith also commended Superintendent Dawning for the dress standards for staff and students.

There being no further business, the September regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 7:33 p.m.