MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
SEPTEMBER 14, 2004

The September regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Ken Woltman at 6:05 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons Area.

Present:  Mr. Ken Woltman, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Anthony A. Henry, Dr. Perry Davis, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Mr. Robert L. Bowman and Mr. Dan McGinnis

Communications
Trustee Henry read a letter written by Dr. Bassett Brown announcing that a free prostrate cancer screening for men 50 years and older is being sponsored by members of the Benton Harbor Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity on Monday September 20, 2004 at the Lakeland Urology Center.

Minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Dr. Davis that the Minutes of the work session of August 3, 2004 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks that the Minutes of the regular meeting of August 10, 2004 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks that vendor payments in the amount of $1,966,422.22 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
On behalf of the SBC Telephone Pioneers, Mr. Robert Bilmer and Mr. Frank Withers donated to the Benton Harbor Area Schools backpacks for the children in 3^rd and 4^th grades.

Central Administration
Staff Report #1
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Dr. Davis:

THAT Board policies:

• JCDB - Students Rights and Responsibilities/Conduct Behavior Code/Dress Code
• JCDB-E - Dress and Grooming Code
• JCDB -R - Students Rights and Responsibilities/Conduct Behavior Code/Dress Code Rules and Regulations
• GAFA - Personnel/Staff & Student Relations Sexual Harassment Policy
• JDE - Student Discipline/Expulsion 
• JDE-E - Student Suspension/Expulsion - Uniform Code of Discipline
• JDD-E - Student Suspension/Expulsion - Uniform Code of Discipline

be hereby adopted as policies of the School District and that any previous policy as listed be hereby rescinded.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Marketing Partners, Inc., News Bureau and Publications Services Contract - Option Two at a cost of $93,100.00, effective July 1, 2004 - May 1, 2005.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #3
A motion was made by Dr. Davis and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT effective immediately 10-03-01-BHHS, 07-04-03-MMS, 05-04-043-BHHS,

03-04-05-BHHS, 05-04-041-HMS, 04-04-014-BHHS, 04-04-019-BHHS and 01-04-01-HMS be allowed to return as students in the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #4
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Dr. Davis:

THAT 04-04-0021-HMS not be allowed to return as a student in the Benton Harbor Area Schools.  The student may repetition in 30 days for readmittance to school.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

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

Tuesday, September 14, 2004 before, during or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, October 5, 2004 before, during 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.

Operations/Facilities
Staff Report #6
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Dr. Davis:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award the contract for solid waste disposal to Best Way Disposal, Inc., of Watervliet, MI for the 2004-2005 school year, with 2 one year renewal options.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the agreement with Lake Michigan College to provide an instructor for the District's Web Design and CISCO Networking Academy.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #7A
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT staff report #7A be added to the regular meeting agenda.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education hereby discontinue the Management Agreement (August 29, 2002, version) between the Workforce Skills Development Center, Inc., and the Benton Harbor Area Schools, effective for the 2004-2005 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

As an informational item, Principal Kevin Simmons presented the High School Summer Program report.  Fifty-nine students enrolled in the high school summer program held June 14 - July 22, 2004 at Hull Middle School to obtain additional credits in order to be promoted to the next level or to fulfill high school graduation requirements.  A tuition fee of $100.00 per course was charged to students attending from Benton Harbor High School and $200.00 per class for students attending from educational institutions outside of the Benton Harbor Area Schools District.  

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #8
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Dr. Davis:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the resignation notifications from Mr. Victor Morris, Ms. Alicia Byrd and Dr. James White, and that a letter is sent thanking them for their services rendered to the students and the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #9
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the resignation notifications of Mr. Mark Robinson, Mr. Rayvon Bufkin, Ms. Stacy Erway, Ms. Anita Burton and Ms. Jolanda Kwapis, and that a letter is sent thanking them for their years of service to the students and the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #10
A motion was made by Dr. Davis and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the retirement notices of Ms. Barbara Pence and Ms. Susan Van Bragt, and that a letter is sent thanking them for their many years of service to the students and the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the following recommendations and hire the below referenced administrators effective for the 2004-2005 school year:

Mr. Lynn Dexter Lang to fill the position of Benton Harbor High School Assistant Principal;

Mr. Andrew Stansberry II to fill the position of Principal of Sorter Elementary School;

Ms. Wilma Arnold to fill the position of Principal of Morton Elementary School.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the following teachers be employed by the Benton Harbor Area Schools effective for the 2004-2005 school year:

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Consent
Staff Report #13
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education gratefully acknowledges and accepts the following grants and donations to the District for the 2004-2005 school year.

$415,970 Comprehensive School Reform (CSR) Grant for Fair Plain Middle School, Hull Middle School, McCord Middle School and Fair Plain Northeast Elementary School

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Superintendent's Update
Hull Middle School will be featured on WSBT Channel 22 as the school of the week with reporter Keith Carter spotlighting the school and its programs.

Current student enrollment is 4464, an increase of 85 from last Friday.  The all day kindergarten classes will require additional classrooms to be created.

Benton Harbor High School received a "C grade" on the Education Yes! report card, but did not make Adequately Yearly Progress (AYP).

The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Fair Plain Middle School's Media Center has been postponed until 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 28, 2004, to allow for additional work to be completed.

Public Participation
Mr. Wallace Young addressed the Board of Education stating his concerns, as a former employee, of administrative misconduct.

Board Comments
Trustee Bowman welcomed the new teachers to the District and stated that the First Tee Program at the Benton Harbor Boys & Girls Club is under construction.

Trustee Peeples-Burks stated that 4^th and 5^th grade students in the District would each receive a book bag, as presented tonight by the SBC Telephone Pioneers Club.

Trustee Davis expressed his sadness for the non-renewal of the Creative Learning Center Program at the Workforce Skills Development Center and hoped that future finances would permit the program to continue.

Trustee Henry extended his appreciation to the management team for the excellent Board retreat held on Saturday.

Trustee Smith welcomed new District teachers and stated that the BHHS Parents As Partners group has begun to meet for the 2004-2005 school year.

Trustee Woltman commended the management team for the excellent exchange of information at the Board retreat.

There being no further business, the September regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.