President J. Allene Smith called the December work session of the Board of Education to order at 6:05 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School Student Commons Area.

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

Also Present: Student Board members Brittney Hurst and Brett Closson

Communications
Condolences were extended to the family for the death of Frederick O. Phillips, a contributing member of the BHAS instructional division who retired from the Gifted and Talented Academy.

Recognitions
Recognition was given to three Henry C. Morton Elementary School students, Cleo Sims, Leroy Robertson and Tenishia Coleman, for reading a total of 388 books for the Drive For Success reading initiative.

Praise was extended to Fair Plain West Elementary School for their goodwill in collecting items for Thanksgiving food baskets, which were distributed throughout the community.

Business/Finance
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Sheletha Bobo introduced Certified Public Accountant Gary Caranci, a representative of the accounting firm Plante & Moran, who presented the BHAS Audit Report for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2002. Items of discussion were the General Fund Equity, General Fund Revenue and General Fund Expenditures.

Assistant Superintendent Sheletha Bobo reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to adopt the 2003 summer tax resolution for imposing a summer property tax levy for all school property taxes, including a debt service.

Operations/Facilities
Group Director for Operations and Facilities Stephen Mitchell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the Lafayette building and Service Center as surplus properties. A public hearing was conducted on Tuesday, November 26, 2002.

Group Director for Operations and Facilities Stephen Mitchell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the awarding of an emergency lighting bid for the Boynton Montessori building. Formal bids were opened on November 26, 2002, and five companies submitted bids.

Mr. Stephen Mitchell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to exercise its options under the reversionary clause of the purchase agreement of the 711 East Britain property. The District sold the property to the City of Benton Harbor on 11/16/98 and the purchase agreement provided the following clause: "In order to assure that the type of activities would be desirable by the Seller at said location, Purchaser agrees to allow Seller a first option of purchase for a fee of $1.00 should the Purchaser ever declare the property as surplus…" The District has been notified that the property will no longer be used for programs or projects operated by the City.

Instruction
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the Information Technology Across the Curriculum. Director of Career and Technical Education, Carole Fetke, and Acting Group Director for Information Technology, Bill Kaeding, presented the facts of the Information Technology curriculum for Benton Harbor Area School students. The mission of the Information Technology curriculum is to provide Benton Harbor Area Schools' students with the knowledge and skills to use technology to live, learn, and work successfully in an information-rich society. The proposed curriculum sets criteria for grades K-12 for the use of technologies to input, retrieve, organize, manipulate, evaluate and communicate information that will enable students to become capable information technology users.

Assistant Superintendent Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to formally accept a Drive For Success reading grant from the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Foundation in the amount of $10,000. The District has initiated the Drive for Success project, which involves all students reading or being read to – grades pre-K through 12 – at least one hour a day (6:00 – 7:00 PM) four days per week. All students will be expected to read a minimum of twenty books during the 2002-2003 school year above and beyond the books required for their course work.

Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Virginia Maxwell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to formally accept a $500.00 Individual Hands On Science Projects mini grant from the Berrien County Intermediate School District to Hull Middle School.

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

• Section 125 Plan

Other
As an informational item, Boynton Montessori Program principal, Ericka Harris-Robinson, presented the Boynton Montessori School report, which included the Montessori philosophy of learning for children and the program being the recipient of the Golden Apple Award. The children sang a medley of songs accompanied by a pianist and played the bells. A PowerPoint presentation was shown of building instructional concepts and parent testimonies.

Superintendent’s Update
Eight BHAS buildings have been selected for the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) Social Studies pilot test. The tests will take place between March 3-7, 2003, at Fair Plain Middle School, McCord Renaissance Center, Fair Plain Northeast, Fair Plain West, Sterne Brunson, Sorter, Gifted & Talented and Henry C. Morton.

The Department of Education has announced a shortage of teachers in all core curriculum areas, therefore issuing a deferred payment of student loans if an education major. There is also a shortage of principals and assistant principals, which has resulted in retirees being eligible to re-enter the workforce without suffering a penalty to their pension plan.

The Drive For Success reading initiative is proving to be very successful with Fair Plain West Elementary School leading the way with 3525 books read.

No Child Left Behind legislation requires that paraprofessionals meet certain educational attainments. Twenty-five percent of Benton Harbor Area Schools paraprofessionals meet that requirement with the majority being in special education.

On behalf of the Community for Lifelong Learning initiative, a total of 14,930 students in Berrien County will be taking a Student Life Survey. Reports will be generated and returned to the community within ten weeks of administering.

As a science project, a Poinsettia plant sale is underway in Gisele Hardaway's classroom at the BHAS Career Technical Center.

January is Board of Education Appreciation Month and trustees are encouraged to visit school buildings.

The BHAS Parent Advisory Committee continues to meet on the student uniforms issue.

Board Comments
Trustee Bennett reported on her attendance at the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) conference stating that it was very informational.

Trustee Henry reported on his attendance at the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) conference.

Trustee Mitchell expressed his excitement with the Information Technology Across the Curriculum instruction proposal.

Trustee Peeples-Burks commended teachers for doing exceptional jobs during her recent classroom visits and also requested a coat rack for Board meetings.

Trustee Woltman congratulated staff for an excellent and informational Board meeting.

Trustee Smith commented on the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) conference and that the Benton Harbor Area Schools did recruit for teachers at this conference. President Smith also gave a reminder that the Parents As Partners group will meet tomorrow night at the BHHS.

Student Board member Brittney Hurst announced that the BHAS Choir will host a concert at BHHS on Thursday, December 12, 2002.

There being no further business, the December work session was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.