The October regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Carolyn Graves at 6:05 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

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 Dr. Peeples-Burks that the Minutes of the work session of September 7, 1999 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Ms. Jones that the Minutes of the regular meeting of September 14, 1999 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Ms. Jones that vendor payments in the amount of $2,439,492.85 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
Special recognition was given to the BHHS Tiger Marching Band and Band Director Troy Jones for receiving a Division I rating for their excellent performance at a recent band festival held in St. Joseph.

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

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

Tuesday, October 12, 1999 before and/or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, November 2, 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 Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT the Board of Education approve TransAmerica Life & Annuity Company as an authorized 403 (b) Plan provider for Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Operations/Facilities
Staff Report #3
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the Board of Education sell the property located at 423 Broadway to the City of Benton Harbor for the purchase price of $17,500. In the event the City of Benton Harbor or Developer fails to build housing, as stated in their original proposal and resolution, BHAS will have the first option to re-purchase the property from the City as agreed. The Board of Education directs the Superintendent and Board Attorney to go forward with a legal purchase agreement on behalf of the Board of Education.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Instruction
Staff Report #4
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Board of Education approve the requested partial funding and continuation of Project Tiger in the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #5
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT the Board of Education officially accept and acknowledge the generosity of the $6,500 grant from the Frederick S. Upton Foundation for the Visiting Artists/Artists-in-

Residence Series awarded to the Creative Arts Academy for the 1999/2000 school year and approve matching funds from the Benton Harbor Area Schools to support this program.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #6
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Board of Education officially accept and acknowledge the generosity of a $1,500 grant from the Frederick S. Upton Foundation awarded to Henry C. Morton Elementary School to fund kindergarten field trips for the 1999/2000 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the consultant contractual agreement with Mr. John Finn, CEO, DADS (Dads Are Doing Something), a non-profit corporation, for the 1999/2000 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Mr. John Finn disseminated a packet of information to trustees and made a formal presentation of the DADS Program. The DADS Program involves positive males to improve the schools' climate and to support the academic and social efforts of the school.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #8
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Robinson:

THAT Dr. Pollyanna Barnes be employed as the Assistant Principal, Hull Elementary School, for the 1999/2000 school year beginning October 13, 1999. The annual salary will be in accordance with the Administrators' Association Labor Agreement.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Ms. Carole Fetke be employed as the Director, Career/Technical Education, for the 1999/2000 school year beginning October 13, 1999. The annual salary will be in accordance with the Administrators' Association Labor Agreement.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Ms. Pamela Rimpson be employed as a Business Services Technology teacher by the Benton Harbor Area Schools effective May 17, 1999.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #11
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT Ms. Edith Gavin be granted a Leave of Absence, in accordance with Article XIII, Sections G and I, of the Teachers' Master Labor Agreement, effective September 28, 1999, for a period not to exceed twelve calendar weeks.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Mr. Theodore Jackson be granted a Leave of Absence, in accordance with Article XIII, Sections G and I, of the Teachers' Master Labor Agreement, effective September 15, 1999, for a period not to exceed twelve calendar weeks.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #13
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT Mr. Daniel Lauer be granted a Leave of Absence, in accordance with Article XIII, Sections G and I, of the Teachers' Master Labor Agreement, effective October 1, 1999, for a period not to exceed twelve calendar weeks.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #14
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman 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:

Allan Sherwood, Math Teacher, McCord Renaissance Center, effective October 1, 1999;

Ronald Evans, Band Instructor, McCord Renaissance Center/King Junior High School effective September 24, 1999;

Marcia DeMars, 3^rd Grade Teacher, Fair Plain West Elementary, effective September 28,1999.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #15
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT the Board of Education approve the position of a Science Teacher Trainer with the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed on the following vote:

Other
Trustee Woltman questioned the status of student Board members. Mr. Ron Lyness, Kuschel Performing Arts Center, responded that the Student Senate is scheduled to meet soon, at which time student Board members for the 1999/2000 school year would be nominated.

Trustee Graves stated that following the regular meeting the Board would recess into closed session for the purpose of possible student readmissions.

Superintendent's Update
In a recent pullout section of The Herald-Palladium, the 1998-1999 Career Pathways were compiled that gave detailed information on employment opportunities in Southwest Michigan. Sponsors include the Berrien County Intermediate School District and Community Partnership for Lifelong Learning.

BHHS student newsmagazine Tiger Scoop highlighted the new state school code, Snap Suspensions (teacher imposed suspensions).

Public Participation
Mrs. Lottie Pugh, BHAS Coordinator of Health Services, addressed the Board regarding the BHAS Flu Clinic scheduled on Wednesday, October 13, 1999. Flu shots will be offered at a nominal fee to staff and trustees at three sites - Family Investment Center, Henry C. Morton Elementary School and BHHS.

Board Comments
Trustee Woltman introduced Ms. Lisa Blair, educational staff reporter, The Herald-Palladium.

Trustee Peeples-Burks discussed Governor Engler's Educational Summit that she and Trustee Smith attended on September 23 in Lansing.

The Family Investment Center has recently been re-named the Sammie Smith Family Investment Center. Mr. Smith, recently retired as the Benton Township Housing Director, is the husband of BHAS Board Trustee Allene Smith.

Trustee Graves gave praise to the DADS Program stating the importance of having male participation active and visible in our schools.

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

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

The Board of Education recessed to closed session at 7:46 p.m.

Staff Report #1
A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT effective immediately, Westley Allen be allowed to return as a student in the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT effective November 8, 1999, Vanshell Scates be allowed to return as a student in the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

There being no further business, the October regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.