MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
DECEMBER 6, 2005

President J. Allene Smith called the December Work Session of the Board of Education to order at 6:10 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons.

Present:  Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Dan McGinnis, Dr. Perry Davis (7:35), Mr. Anthony Henry (7:20), Mr. Ken Woltman, Mr. Robert Bowman and Mrs. Carolyn Fort

Also Present:  Student Board Members Samantha Gunter and Trenton Bowens

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

Recognitions
BHHS Lady Tigers Varsity Basketball Team will be recognized at the regular meeting.

Central Administration
Superintendent Paula Dawning reported that Board action would be required at the regular meeting to approve District policy revisions.  The Policy Committee has made a recommendation to revise the following policy:

As an informational item, Mr. Ray Telman, Executive Director, Middle Cities Education was present offering perspectives on issues affecting urban school district planning.  Issues included the Michigan economic setting, Michigan general fund revenues and Michigan’s state aid fund.  Other factors affecting urban school districts are: 1) Proposal A funding is based on student populations that have been reduced by population shifts (over half the state’s school districts have declining enrollment), 2) state policies create further urban district population reduction e.g., schools of choice and charter schools and, 3) reduced state funding for schools, provides motivation for schools to recruit other district students.  The rigors of K-12 education continue to increase (e.g., NCLB, Cherry Commission and new high school curriculum requirements).  Each new demand is not accompanied with additional resources.  School funding needs a stable funding mechanism, which provides the revenues districts need to address increasing demands and support for costs out of the control of local districts.

Business/Finance
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Sheletha Bobo reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to adopt the 2006 summer tax resolution for imposing a summer property tax levy for all school property taxes, including a debt service.

Assistant Superintendent Sheletha Bobo reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the lease of two (2) food service trucks.  The current lease has expired and there is a need to again lease two (2) food service trucks from the Ford Motor Credit Company Commercial Lending Services.  The recommendation is a 36-month lease for two Ford E350 Cut-Away Trucks with Superior Body.  It has been proven that due to the heavy use of these vehicles, replacement on a three-year schedule has eliminated a majority of the historically high maintenance costs.  The renewal of the lease program is at a cost of $625.93, per month, for a total monthly cost of $1,251.86.

Operations/Facilities
Group Director for Operations and Facilities Stephen Mitchell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to award the bid for video surveillance and access control systems.  On November 15, 2005, bids were received and opened for video surveillance and access control systems at Benton Harbor High School, Fair Plain Renaissance Middle School, Hull Middle School and the Freshman Academy.  The equipment will be paid for with a $100,000.00 COPS grant awarded to the City of Benton Harbor and the Benton Harbor City Police Department, which was matched by the District.

Group Director Stephen Mitchell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to award the bid for MLK media furniture.  On November 2, 2005, three bids were received and opened for school media furniture to furnish the MLK Media Center.  The renovation project at MLK will provide staff and students with a first class library/media center.

Group Director Mitchell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve a Meal Tracker Point of Sale (POS) system for the District’s food service operation.  The Meal Tracker Point of Sale system would allow the District to work smarter and have fewer errors in accounting, meal counts and financial data.  Auditors have strongly suggested that the District phase-in a point of sale system for the high school and two middle schools this year.  The estimated cost of phase one implementation, which includes the high school, two middle schools and central administration, is $33,819.80.  Accu-Scan sales representative Ben Readle was present to answer any questions.

Instruction
Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education J. Leonard Wright reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve an overnight trip to Five Pines Camp located in Berrien Center, Michigan for approximately 11 students scheduled for June 2006.  The student cost will be paid for by a $500.00 Berrien Community Foundation mini-grant.  Teacher Kelly Lee was present to answer any questions.

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

Consent
Board action will be requested at the regular meeting to accept the following donations/grants to the Benton Harbor Area Schools:

Other
Following the work session the Board of Education will recess to closed session for the purpose of discussing with legal counsel personnel issues.

Student Board member Trenton Bowens disseminated a petition from Benton Harbor High School special education students that requests textbooks for each student.

Superintendent’s Update
The Benton Harbor High School Freshman Academy recently recognized honor roll students, those with a 4.0 or 3.0 grade point average, with a dinner and a breakfast.

The City of Benton Harbor has informed the District that water control devices must be immediately installed in all BHAS school buildings to eliminate the possibility of water contamination in Benton Harbor’s public water system.

The Benton Harbor High School Key Club will be assisting the SJ/BH Exchange Club with their annual Newsies fundraiser, which is designed to impact local families.

The Benton Harbor High School was evacuated for approximately 15 minutes this morning before classes started because of an open Brunson burner in a science lab. The Brunson burner had been left on at the end of the school day Monday.  School officials detected the gas odor this morning and evacuated the building until they were able to determine the building was safe.

Public Participation
Miss Tamika Shannon addressed the Board of Education in support of the proposed Meal Tracker Point of Sale (POS) system and 4X4 block scheduling at the high school stating that the A/B day scheduling is complicated.

Board Comments
Student Board member Trenton Bowens questioned why the greenhouse located behind the McCord building is not being maintained.  He also congratulated the Lady Tigers Basketball Team for their excellent season and Coach Lou Harvey for being chosen as Coach of the Year.

Student Board member Samantha Gunter offered her support of the proposed Meal Tracker Point of Sale (POS) system and the trip to Five Pines Camp.  Miss Gunter stated that the high school students who won the Civic Day Essay Contest are complaining that they have not yet received their prize.

Trustee Bowman encouraged all staff, students and Board trustees to work together to create positive District activities.

Trustee Woltman praised the Creative Arts/Gifted & Talented Academy for their excellent Fiesta Night, as all who attended had a good time.

Trustee Henry stated that he has been chosen by the State to represent the Benton Harbor Area Schools on a Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) exam panel, created to redesign the MEAP test.

Trustee Davis congratulated Trustee Henry for his future efforts on the MEAP panel.  Dr. Davis concurred that the District has numerous positive activities and stressed the importance of maintaining a positive educational image.

President Smith discussed her attendance at the Region VII Award Ceremony for Superintendent Paula Dawning.

The Board recessed to closed session at 8:06 p.m.

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

Also Present:  Dr. Paula Dawning, Ms. Nora Jefferson and Attorney K. Morris Gavin

Superintendent Dawning updated the Board of Education on current personnel issues.

There being no further business, the December work session was adjourned at 8:33 p.m.