Absent: Mr. Ken Woltman

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 Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Hodges that the Minutes of the special meeting of August 3, 1999 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mrs. Smith that the Minutes of the work session of August 3, 1999 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Mrs. Smith that the Minutes of the regular meeting of August 10, 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 public hearing of August 10, 1999 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mrs. Robinson that the Minutes of the special meeting of August 17, 1999 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mr. Hodges and supported by Mrs. Smith that vendor payments in the amount of $6,830,353.97 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
Prior to Friday night's football game on Friday, September 17, the Refreshing Fountain Outreach Ministry Mission Church will be serving dinner to the BHHS football team.

On Wednesday, September 15, 1999 the national event, SEE YOU AT THE POLE will take place at respective school flagpoles approximately fifteen minutes prior to the beginning of the school session. This student led effort gives students the opportunity to assemble for corporate prayer on behalf of their colleagues, school and community.

In honor of Day of Caring, United Way volunteers will work at the BHAS Career/Technical Center on special service projects, i.e. painting, flooring, etc.

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

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

Tuesday, September 14, 1999 before and/or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, October 5, 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.

Business/Finance
Staff Report #2
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT the Board of Education adopt the Resolution, as prepared by Berrien County Intermediate School, approving BHAS participation in the Southwest Michigan Schools Beverage Consortium.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Board of Education appoint Assistant Superintendent Mark Giffels as the district's designated Trustee representative to the Middle Cities Risk Management Trust's Board of Trustees and be authorized to cast the district's vote on all matters which come before the Board. He shall serve as Trustee until replaced by this Board in its absolute discretion.

Furthermore, Perla Tolentino, be appointed as Risk Management Coordinator for the District as provided in paragraph 8 of the Interlocal Agreement. She shall serve as Coordinator until replaced by this Board in its absolute discretion.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Operations/Facilities
Staff Report #4
A motion was made by Mr. Hodges and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT the Board of Education of the Benton Harbor Area Schools enter into a contract with Fanning/Howey Associates, Inc. for architectural services.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Board of Education of the Benton Harbor Area Schools award the Construction Management bid to The Skillman Corporation for services rendered to the district.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Board of Education of the Benton Harbor Area Schools award the BHHS track renovation project to Arnt Asphalt in the amount of $84,500.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Board of Education officially accept and acknowledge the generosity of a donation of a 1974, 25' Ericson Sailboat and a 1999 mercury outboard motor to the Inner City Sail Club from Thomas Wright. The assessed value is $12,100.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #8
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT Mr. Steven Lott be employed as the Custodial Foreman by the Benton Harbor Area Schools effective September 14, 1999.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #9
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT the following listed applicants be employed as teachers by the Benton Harbor Area Schools effective August 26, 1999:

• James Anderson, 5^th grade, Morton Elementary
• Mary Singer, 3^rd grade, Morton Elementary
• Krista Bischoff, 3^rd grade, Calvin Britain Elementary
• Marcia DeMars, 5^th grade, Fair Plain West Elementary
• Todd Fowler, 5^th/6^th grade Vocal/Instrumental Music, All Elementary Schools
• Shannon Lennard-Dube', Kindergarten, Fair Plain West Elementary
• Ericka Suttle-Matlock, 1^st grade, Fair Plain West Elementary
• Scott Morris, 5^th grade, Fair Plain East Elementary
• Paul Schuyler, 5^th grade, Sorter Elementary
• Marc Hunter, Special Education, Hull Elementary
• Annette Everson, Language Arts, King Junior High
• Jennifer Altman, Science, Fair Plain Junior High
• Patricia Milanowski, Computer Science, Fair Plain Junior High
• Timothy Stevenson, Science, Fair Plain Junior High
• Carol Head, English, Benton Harbor High

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Mrs. Mary Brown be granted a Leave of Absence, in accordance with Article XIII, Sections G & I, of the Teachers' Master Labor Agreement, effective August 26, 1999, for a period not to exceed twelve calendar weeks.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #11
A motion was made by Ms. Jones and supported by Mrs. Robinson:

THAT Mrs. Barbara Miller be granted an extended Disability Leave of Absence, in accordance with Article XIII, Section G, of the Teachers' Master Labor Agreement, beginning August 26, 1999, through the close of the 1999/2000 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #12
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Hodges:

THAT Mrs. Ethel Jean Robbins be granted an extended Disability Leave of Absence, in accordance with Article XIII, Sections G & P, of the Teachers' Master Labor Agreement, beginning August 26, 1999, through the close of the 1999/2000 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #13
A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT Mrs. Carla Smith be granted a Leave of Absence, in accordance with Article XIII, Sections G & I, of the Teachers' Master Labor Agreement, effective August 19, 1999, for a period not to exceed twelve calendar weeks.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the following listed teachers' resignations be accepted and a letter be sent to them thanking them for their services to the Benton Harbor Area Schools:

• Jennifer Aldrich, 2^nd grade, Hull Elementary, effective June 18, 1999
• Larry Green, 5^th grade, Fair Plain West Elementary, effective August 17, 1999
• Glenda Rose, Special Education, Fair Plain West, effective August 11, 1999
• Victoria Schimp, 4^th grade, Hull Elementary, effective August 25, 1999
• T. Neil Duggins, 6^th grade, Fair Plain East Elementary, effective August 13, 1999
• Karen Plott, 5^th grade, Calvin Britain Elementary, effective August 9, 1999
• Melissa White, 5^th grade, Morton Elementary, effective August, 16, 1999
• Niki Schreiber, 1^st grade, Hull Elementary, effective August 16, 1999
• Christina Giuliani, 7^th/8^th grade, McCord Renaissance, effective August 13, 1999
• Amy Biolette, 3^rd grade, Sterne Brunson Elementary, effective August 8, 1999

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #15
A motion was made by Ms. Jones and supported by Mr. Hodges:

THAT the retirement of Ms. Gloria DesJardins 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.

Staff Report #16
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT the Board of Education ratify the Tentative Agreement reached between the Benton Harbor Service Employees Association and the Board of Education running from October 1, 1998 through September 30, 2001.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Other
Trustee Peeples-Burks suggested that trustees read the opinion, as received last week, from Judge Hillman regarding Charter Schools as his opinion was very enlightening.

Superintendent's Update
DADS (Dads Are Doing Something) will host their 1^st Kick-Off Reception, 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 28, 1999, at the Benton Harbor High, Student Commons. This is an organization/program for men (fathers, grandfather, uncles, cousins, brothers) to volunteer in individual schools in an effort to support children and their teachers. This program moves men beyond the provider role to community leadership where they accept a greater responsibility for all children by enhancing the learning environment through their active presence in our schools.

Public Participation
Benton Harbor Charter School parents and a member of the charter school board addressed the Board accusing BHAS of contributing to the delay in the opening of the new school and being more concerned about money than providing a quality education. Parents asked if the District was trying to discourage parents from enrolling in the charter school. They expressed that it is their choice where to send their children to receive a good education and that BHAS should be worried about bringing up academic standards, not about the charter school.

Ms. Betty Hinton addressed the Board with concerns regarding the number of students involved in the Salvation Army's COLLAGE Project that cannot read. She stated that this is a community problem and that the Benton Harbor community must come together and stop the diversity.

BHHS student Melanie Hodges addressed the Board with suggestions to improve student learning. She suggested that the District upgrade outdated software programs, allow Internet accessibility in the library and upgrade the curriculum. Miss Hodges also recommended that additional doors at BHHS be opened in the a.m. due to the long delays with metal detectors.

Mr. Curtis Murphy addressed the Board stating that BHAS problems start at the administration level whom allow white people to get paid in a black community.

Mr. Larry Streeter addressed the Board of Education questioning what is the voucher system.

Board Comments
Trustee Peeples-Burks announced that tonight is the Berrien Community Foundation's Golden Acorn Excellence in Teaching Awards held at the Priscilla Upton Byrns Heritage Center. BHAS Creative Arts Academy teacher, Anne Knuth, is a nominee for this award.

Trustee Graves invited all to attend a Read to Me workshop presented by James Trelease scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, September 27 at the Lakeshore High School Auditorium.

Instructor Susan Harris at a recent SJ/BH Rotary luncheon gave a presentation on the Fair Plain East Elementary School HOSTS (Help One Student To Succeed) Program.

There being no further business, the September regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.