MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
OCTOBER 11, 2005

The October regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President J. Allene Smith at 6:10 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons Area.

Present:  Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Dan McGinnis, Dr. Perry Davis, Mr. Anthony Henry, Mr. Ken Woltman, Mr. Robert Bowman and Mrs. Carolyn Fort

The Benton Harbor Area Schools Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps JROTC offered the Presentation of Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Communications
Trustee Davis read an invitation to attend Morton Elementary School’s Donuts for Dads at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 12th and Muffins for Moms at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, October 13th.

All are invited to attend St. Joseph Public Schools football boosters tailgate fundraiser at Bears stadium during St. Joseph’s homecoming football game against Benton Harbor scheduled for October 7, 2005.

Staff and community residents are invited to attend the BHHS locker room ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Thursday, October 13, 2005.

The Lakeshore Band Festival is scheduled for Wednesday, October 12th at Lakeshore High School with the Benton Harbor Tiger Marching Band performing at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Minutes
A motion was made by Dr. Davis and supported by Mr. McGinnis that the Minutes of the public hearing of September 6, 2005 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Fort and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the work session of September 6, 2005 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the regular meeting of September 13, 2005 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Bowman that the Minutes of the special meeting of September 17, 2005 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Dr. Davis and supported by Mr. Woltman that vendor payments in the amount of $1,585,342.31 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
Michigan State Police Sergeant Bennie Bowers gave a presentation and showed a video on the Michigan Youth Leadership Academy.  The academy was created to provide a proactive approach to better communication and interaction between police and young male youth.  The 1-week camp is for male youth ages 14-16 and is held at Fort Custer in Battle Creek, MI.  The academy educates male youth on physical fitness, life skills, anger management and job skills.  The academy is sponsored by Whirlpool Corporation and is available at no cost to the District.  Five Michigan Youth Leadership Academy graduates, who are also Benton Harbor High School students, were also present to share their experiences.

Recognition and praise was given to the staff of McCord Renaissance Middle School and Fair Plain Middle School for making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for the 2004-2005 school year.  Building principals were presented with a plaque of appreciation.

The following secondary teachers were recognized for their outstanding leadership as Teachers of the Month:

The following elementary teacher consultants were praised and recognized for their outstanding educational leadership:

The Benton Harbor High School basketball program and BHHS 2005 Mr. Basketball, Wilson Chandler, were featured in an article in the October 2005 Inaugural Issue of Motor City Sports Magazine (MCS).

Recognition and praise was extended to Benton Harbor City Police Chief Al Mingo and the eight Benton Harbor Area Schools School Resource Officers, Abigail Donahue, Cory Peek, Dan Stuglik, Lucas Allen, Jared Graves, Clenzie Kyles, Thomas Lavanway and Bernard Hall, Jr.  The program is designed to strengthen the relationship between children and the police department.  The program now in its second school year is funded by a U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Police Services (COPS) grant.  The program is funded through the 2006-2007 school year.    

Central Administration
Staff Report #1
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Bowman:

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

Tuesday, October 11, 2005 before, during or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, November 1, 2005 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.

Business/Finance
Staff Report #2
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve a one-year agreement with Careful Transit, Inc., to provide special transportation services for children in various educational programs.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Operations/Facilities
Staff Report #3
A motion was made by Mrs. Fort and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education sell the lot located at 150 W. Empire Avenue, Benton Harbor, MI to Mr. Curtis Young for a purchase price of $800.00.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Instruction
Staff Report #3A
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. McGinnis:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve Project ALERT for the middle school students for the 2005-2006 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

As an informational item, Mr. Kevin Simmons presented the Middle School Summer School Report via a PowerPoint presentation.  The program was designed to provide classes for the Benton Harbor Middle School students who need one (1) or two (2) credits to fulfill the Board approved middle school requirements to be promoted to their next grade level.  Classes included all four-core subject areas: math, science, social studies and language arts.  The program ran June 27 – August 4, 2005.  In addition, one of the major components of AYP is the MEAP math scores.  Mr. Simmons disseminated information on the Hull Middle School Acaletics Accelerated Math Program with the timeline of October 29, 2004 through January 24, 2005. 

As an informational item, Ms. Mary Meeks presented the High School Summer School Report via a PowerPoint presentation.   The program was designed to provide classes for students in grades 9-12 who need one (1) or two (2) credits to fulfill the Board approved high school requirements to be promoted to their next grade level.  Classes included all four-core subject areas: math, science, social studies and language arts.  The program ran June 27 – August 4, 2005.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #4
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education return the following teachers to work – Brian French, effective September 28, Nicole Mills, effective September 28, Rachael Meachum, effective September 28 and Angel Calnin, effective September 8, 2005.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education employ the following professional staff:

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Consent
Staff Report #6
A motion was made by Mrs. Fort and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education gratefully acknowledges and accepts the following donations to the District for the 2005-2006 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Other
Trustee McGinnis stated that the Benton Harbor Chess Club is receiving good feedback and anyone who is interested in participating should contact their building principal.

Superintendent's Update
Per the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Benton Harbor Area Schools emergency evacuation plan does meet the FEMA standards in the event of a nuclear emergency.

As clarification, there are significant differences between the operating fund budget and the general fund budget.  Operating funds include Title I monies that are restricted expenditures and general fund budget are open for expenditures.

National School Lunch Week is October 10 – 14, 2005.

October is National Fire Safety Month.

During the 2005-2006 school year, four schools in Michigan will celebrate 100 years of continuous accreditation by the North Central Association.  They are Benton Harbor High School, Dowagiac Union High School, Houghton High School and Monroe High School.  The four high schools will be honored at the North Central Association Fall Conference.

Benton Harbor High School will compete against other area high schools in an Academic Challenge, sponsored by WHFB Radio.

Public Participation
Mrs. Juanita Lewis addressed the Board of Education in support of the District teachers and the need to settle the teachers’ employment contract.

Ms. Lue Buchana addressed the Board of Education commending the District teachers and the MI Youth Leadership Academy.  Ms. Buchana encouraged the Board to resolve the teachers’ contract.

Ms. Shirley Wiggins addressed the Board of Education expressing her concerns with the continued shortage of textbooks for her speech class at the high school.

Iris Salters addressed the Board of Education on behalf of the Michigan Education Association with concerns of the unsettled teachers’ contract.  Mrs. Salters stated that education is teamwork and recognition must be given to all involved to produce a good team.  She asked the Board of Education to be fair and come back to the negotiation table to settle the teachers’ employment contract.

Ms. Nicole Garrett addressed the Board of Education with concerns of the BHHS Freshman Academy educational climate and asked that the Board of Education reevaluate this program.

Board Comments
Trustee Bowman welcomed the newly hired professional staff to the District and stated his concerns with the shortage of textbooks.

Trustee Woltman expressed his concerns with the BHHS Freshman Academy and the lack of planning to implement the program successfully.   Mr. Woltman stated his disappointment with the vandalism of the newly remodeled locker rooms.

Trustee Henry discussed the unacceptable statement made by news commentator Bill Bennett and commended the MI Youth Leadership Academy program.  Mr. Henry expressed his concerns with the lack of planning for the BHHS Freshman Academy and the BHHS Twilight Academy.

Trustee McGinnis avowed that the “us vs. them” mentality is not conducive to the learning environment and stressed the importance of the Board and staff working together to educate the children in the community.

Trustee Smith agreed that the teachers’ contract must be ratified soon and stated her disappointment that only 2 parents attended the Parents As Partners meeting held last night.

There being no further business, the October regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 8:57 p.m.