11/13/01 Regular Board Meeting

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
NOVEMBER 13, 2001

The November regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order byPresident Dwight P. Mitchell at 6:02 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School,Student Commons Area.

Present: Mr. Dwight P. Mitchell, Mrs.Annie Robinson, Mr. Anthony A. Henry, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burksand Mr. Ken Woltman

Absent: Ms. Michelle Jones

Communications
The Board of Education has received a note of appreciation from the Quade familyfor the plaque resolution presented to them in honor of Herb Quade.

The Benton Harbor Boys & Girls Club has presented a proposal to eitherpurchase the Bard School building or to have their building lease agreementextended.

Berrien County Intermediate School District Early Childhood Consultant,Claudia Vescolani, will write an Early Childhood grant on behalf of BHAS and hasasked to meet with the instructional committee.

Minutes
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Woltman that theMinutes of the work session of October 2, 2001 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks thatthe Minutes of the special meeting of October 2, 2001 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Mr. Henry that theMinutes of the regular meeting of October 9, 2001 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mrs. Robinson thatthe Minutes of the special meeting of October 31, 2001 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Mr. Henry that vendor payments in the amount of $2,198,559.05 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Activity of the General Fund was reviewed and accepted as presented.

Recognitions
Members of the BHHS Tiger Marching Band and the Pom Pon Squad were commended fortheir leadership and Division I rating at a recent Orchestra and Band Festival.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve theagreement extension between Benton Harbor Area Schools and the Berrien CountyHealth Department for the provision of health services at the Benton Harbor HighSchool Teen Health Clinic. The term of this agreement is October 1, 2001 throughSeptember 30, 2002.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Board polices:

GBC - Professional Personnel Recruitment

GBD - Professional Personnel Hiring

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

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

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

Tuesday, November 13, 2001 before and/or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on

that date, and
Tuesday, December 4, 2001 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 withlegal counsel litigations, negotiations and possible expulsions.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Operations/Facilities
Staff Report #4
A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson andsupported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education renew its contractwith Don Meeks Construction for District snow removal for the 2001-2002 snowremoval season.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award thepetroleum products bid to Service Oil Company of Cassopolis, Michigan in theamount of $0.0225 per gallon for gasoline and diesel fuel for the 2002 calendaryear.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award the solidwaste disposal bid to Best Way Disposal, Inc., of Watervliet, MI in the amountof $28,932.80 for the 2002 calendar year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education grant St. Josephand Lake Michigan Catholic Schools permission to use Filstrup Field during the2002 football season for their home football games.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Instruction
Staff Report #8
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially acceptand acknowledge the generosity of two 25-inch RCATV/VCR's from the FirstPresbyterian Church in Benton Harbor to the Henry C. Morton Elementary School,valued at $598.98.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #9
A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT Ms. Renee' R. Williams' retirement be acknowledged and accepted andthat a letter be sent to her thanking her for thirty-two years of dedicatedservice to the Board of Education and the entire school family.

The motion failed on the following vote:

AYES:	Mr. Henry	NAYS:	Dr. Peeples-Burks
	Mrs. Robinson		Mr. Woltman
	Mr. Mitchell		Mrs. Smith

Trustee Peeples-Burks expressed her concerns with the retirement ofSuperintendent Williams stating that very few District employees are familiarwith and understand issues such as desegregation, the middle school concept andtechnology implementation. She stated that she would like to see SuperintendentWilliams reconsider her retirement for two years.

Trustee Mitchell stated that the Board of Education plans to conduct anationwide superintendent search and that Superintendent Williams has agreed toassist the District beyond her retirement date, if needed.

Staff Report #10
A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT Ms. Joan Johnson's retirement be acknowledged and accepted and thata letter from the District be sent to her thanking her for her services to thestudents of the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Mrs. Justine Wisler's retirement be acknowledged and accepted andthat a letter from the District be sent to her thanking her for her services tothe students of the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Ms. Leslie Lindley's resignation be accepted and that a letter fromthe District be sent to her thanking her for her services to the students of theBenton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Staff Report #13

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT Ms. Gloria McNeary's resignation be accepted and that a letter fromthe District be sent to her thanking her for her services to the students of theBenton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #14
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT Mrs. Priscilla Scott, Assistant Principal of Sterne BrunsonElementary School, be laid-off effective November 14, 2001.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT Ms. Annette Everson be granted Tenure effective August 25, 2001.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education ratify theAgreement reached between the Benton Harbor Service Employees Association andthe Board of Education running from October 1, 2000 through September 30, 2001.

The motion passed on the following vote:

AYES:	Dr. Peeples-Burks	ABSTENTION:	Mr. Woltman
	Mr. Henry
	Mrs. Smith
	Mrs. Robinson
	Mr. Mitchell

Other
Following the regular meeting the Board of Education will recess to closedsession for the purpose of discussing with legal counsel possible studentexpulsions.

Superintendent's Update
Superintendent Williams reported on the Board of Education retreat that was heldon Saturday, November 10, which focused on budget updates and proposed cuts, andthe establishment of Board goals for the 2001-2002 school year. Two consultantsfrom Michigan Association of School Boards facilitated as trustees analyzed theDistrict's strengths and weaknesses. Board goals for the 2001-2002 school yearare:

Goal #1 - Continue to provide programs to meet the needs of all students
Goal #2 - Continue to examine the financial health of the organization
Goal #3 - Improve the internal and external communication

Board Comments
Trustee Peeples-Burks discussed her attendance at a policy meeting in Lansing,"Turning Around Low Achieving Schools" and gave praise to Mrs.Virginia Maxwell, Principal at Henry C. Morton Elementary School, for heroutstanding panel participation.

Trustee Henry commended members of the management team and representatives ofthe Benton Harbor Service Employees Association for ratifying the ServiceEmployees Association Labor Agreement.

Trustee Mitchell extended his appreciation to the management team for a wellorganized, informational and beneficial Board retreat stating that budget cutsare difficult but have been made at all District levels.

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

THAT the Board of Education recess to closed session for the purpose ofdiscussing with legal counsel possible student expulsions.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.
The Board recessed to closed session at 7:25 p.m.

Present: Mr. Dwight P. Mitchell, Mrs.Annie Robinson, Mr. Anthony A. Henry, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burksand Mr. Ken Woltman

Absent: Ms. Michelle Jones

Also Present: Ms. Renee' Williams, Mr.Richard Garrison, Mr. Jeffery Stewart, Mrs. Kathy Brooks, and Attorney K. MorrisGavin

BHHS student Tinisha Moore and her parent, Willie Mae Cyprian, were presentand requested a closed hearing.

Staff Report #1
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT Tinisha Moore be expelled from the Benton Harbor Area Schools forthe remainder of the 2001-2002 school year for a violation of the Uniform Codeof Discipline. The conditions of the expulsion will be outlined in a letter tobe written by the Superintendent.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

BHHS student Destiny Smith and her parent, Robin Black, were present andrequested a closed hearing.

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

THAT Destiny Smith be expelled from the Benton Harbor Area Schools forthe remainder of the first semester of the 2001-2002 school year for a violationof the Uniform Code of Discipline. The conditions of the expulsion will beoutlined in a letter to be written by the Superintendent.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

BHHS student Samuel McIntosh and his parent, Patricia Bell, were present andrequested a closed hearing.

Staff Report #3
A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT Samuel McIntosh be permanently expelled from the Benton Harbor AreaSchools for a period no less than 180 school days for a violation of the UniformCode of Discipline and Section 1311(a) of the Michigan Revised School Code. Theconditions of the expulsion will be outlined in a letter to be written by theSuperintendent.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

BHHS student Mary Allen and her parent, Calder Lewis, were present andrequested a closed hearing.

Staff Report #4
A motion was made by Mr. Henry and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the expulsion recommendation for Mary Allen be rescinded and thatthe student be placed on contract. Any violations of the student contract willresult in the expulsion recommendation being reinstated.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.
There being no further business, the November regular meeting of the Board ofEducation was adjourned at 10:45 p.m.