Present: Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Ken Woltman, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Mr. Anthony A. Henry, Mr. Dwight P. Mitchell and Mrs. Michelle Bennett

Absent: Dr. Perry Davis

Communications
Trustee Peeples-Burks read a letter from the Michigan State Police Department regarding the non-presence of Trooper Maurice Burton at the Benton Harbor High School. The letter also assured the continued support of Benton Harbor Area Schools and assistance to the City of Benton Harbor from the Michigan State Police Department.

President Smith acknowledged a thank you card received from Carolyn Huhta that expressed her appreciation for Board support in the death of her father.

Recognitions
Boynton Montessori 3^rd grader, Marcus Thorns, read a letter that he recently received from the President of the United States - George W. Bush.

Trustees welcomed BHHS students Brittney Hurst and Brett Closson as student Board members for the 2002-2003 school year.

Mrs. Guntz's 1^st grade classroom at Martindale Elementary School performed for the Board of Education a musical skit entitled The Twelve Days of School.

BHHS students Alexandra Shannon and Marquan Martin were recognized as outstanding participants in the 2003 National Achievement Scholarship Program.

Central Administration
Superintendent Paula Dawning reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to officially adopt a District nepotism policy. The adoption of such a policy shall serve to diffuse challenges that the Superintendent or the Board of Education are using their public positions for personal, family or financial gain. No District employee shall be placed in a position in which said employee is in direct supervisory relationship with a member of said employee's immediate family.

Superintendent Dawning reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to officially accept the Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools Agreement. The purpose of the Michigan Coalition of Essential Schools (MCES) agreement is to document the services to be provided by MCES to Fair Plain Northeast Elementary School to assist in implementing comprehensive school reform initiatives based upon the Coalition of Essential Schools Ten Common Principles. This Agreement is made pursuant to the guidelines set forth by the Comprehensive School Reform Grant Program (CSR) effective September 1, 2002 - September 30, 2003.

Ms. Dawning reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to officially approve the District's participation in the Schools of Choice program for the 2003-2004 school year. There are individuals who do not reside within the school District who wish to have their children attend the Benton Harbor Area Schools and cannot at present do so without the permission of their current school district. Applications for enrollment would be accepted from non-resident students residing within the Berrien County ISD, Van Buren ISD or Lewis Cass ISD in accord with sections 105 and 105a of the State School Aid Act. Enrollment of nonresident pupils for the designated grade(s), school(s), and/or special program(s) shall be limited to the annual determinations.

As an informational item, Superintendent Paula Dawning discussed the proposed Southwest Michigan Educational Leadership Consortium. Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) and Western Michigan University are proposing to form the Southwest Michigan Educational Leadership Consortium (SMELC) to work with high-needs schools and school districts in southwest Michigan to improve school leadership and student achievement. SMELC will conduct the Leadership Academy for aspiring principals and the Leadership Institute for current principals to develop and strengthen school leadership.

Operations/Facilities
Group Director for Operations and Facilities Stephen Mitchell asked that a public hearing be set to declare the Lafayette School building and Service Center as surplus properties. A public hearing must be conducted at least ten days prior to a vote of the Board of Education to solicit public comment.

Mr. Mitchell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve a one-year lease extension to the Tri-County Council for Child Development (Head Start) for continued use of the North Shore School building. The proposed lease agreement is for $.10 (ten cents) per square foot with approximately 10,300 square feet of space available at the North Shore building.

Group Director for Operations and Facilities Stephen Mitchell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the purchase of unit ventilators. Formal bids were received on November 1, 2002, for unit ventilators at Fair Plain East, Fair Plain Middle and M.L.K. schools. Payment for this equipment would come from the Urgent Repairs Grant.

Instruction
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to accept a Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Project (TP3) grant in the amount of $45,000 from the Berrien County Health Department (BCHD). BCHD desires to partner with the District toward the goal of reducing teen pregnancy in the Benton Harbor/Benton Township area by implementing interventions for specific organized activities or materials intended to improve life skills development including mentoring, skills development and education.

Assistant Superintendent Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the proposed BHHS Close-Up trip to Atlanta, Georgia for twenty students. For the past eighteen years students and chaperones have been attending this outstanding government studies program at a Board cost of $150.00 per student. Partial funding is also being provided by the Berrien County Intermediate School District, fundraisers and community support. The total cost per student is $1,268.00.

Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to accept a Teen Health Center grant in the amount of $150,000.00 from the State of Michigan for the continuation of adolescent health services. A reciprocal partnership has been established between BHAS and the Berrien County Health Department for the School Based Health Clinic located on the campus of the Benton Harbor High School.

Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to officially accept and acknowledge a donation of $300.00 from the Sex Can Wait Program for the purchase of high-level self esteem books.

Mrs. Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to officially accept and acknowledge donations from several businesses to the Helping One Student To Succeed (HOSTS) program established at Fair Plain West Elementary School valued at $445.00. The donations are a $100.00 gift certificate from Meijer for mentor refreshments, a copy machine from Gloria Morrow and books from the Stevensville Post Office.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Assistant Superintendent Nora Jefferson reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve:

• Hiring of Professional Staff
• Tenure of Professional Staff
• Professional Staff Resigning
• Other

As an informational item, Martindale Elementary School Principal Priscilla Scott presented building information that included statistics of the building, staff and the 2003 winter MEAP results. Martindale Elementary School offers students a Continuous Reading program, Everyday Math, Book-It program, Pen Pal Project and a foster grandparent program. Building focus points include reading and raising student academic achievement. To date students have read 360 books for the Driving For Success project.

As an informational item, Mr. Greg Rood presented Lights On After School, an extended day program for at-risk students in grades 6^th - 8^th. The program is offered 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for hands on, minds on explorations in Language Arts, Math, Science and the Arts.

President Smith disseminated to trustees information of the Facility Naming Committee created for naming the new transportation facility.

Superintendent’s Update
Current BHAS enrollment is 5,154 students

6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Monday, November 11, 2002 - Take The MEAP Test at BHHS

On target for groundbreaking of new BHAS transportation facility

District has completed a BHAS Emergency Media Plan

BHAS is working to comply with teacher endorsements as mandated by the No Child Left Behind legislation

District property located in Benton Township will be leased as soon as vacated by previous owners

Benton Harbor Area Schools is a recipient of the Partnership of the YearAward from Lake Michigan College

Board Comments
Trustees commended Martindale Elementary School's update and the Lights On After School extended day presentation.

Trustee Henry stated that the Take The MEAP Test is very underrated and encouraged community participation.

Student Board members Brittney Hurst and Brett Closson thanked the Board of Education for the opportunity to serve as student trustees and commended BHAS staff for tonight's presentations.