MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
DECEMBER 7, 2004

President Ken Woltman called the December Work Session of the Board of Education to order at 6:05 p.m. in the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons Area.

Present:  Mr. Ken Woltman, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Anthony Henry, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Mr. Robert L. Bowman and Mr. Dan McGinnis

Absent:  Dr. Perry Davis

Also Present:  Student Board member Breanna Hill

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

Communications
Trustee Henry read a thank you letter from the Benton Harbor/Benton Township Senior Center in appreciation for the visit from the children's choir of Sorter Elementary School on November 15th, citing their performance as wonderful and uplifting.

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

Superintendent Dawning reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the dissolution of North Berrien Adult Education Consortium. On August 13, 1996, the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approved the participation in the North Berrien Adult Education Consortium.  Effective at the end of the 2004-2005 school year, Executive Director Glen Scofield will retire from the Adult Education Consortium.  Currently, Watervliet Public Schools is the Consortium Fiscal Agent and effective June 30, 2005, they plan to no longer continue in this role.  The reduction in funding annually has led to the depletion of the reserves until it is no longer viable to sustain the current program.  On December 3, 2004, the Consortium Superintendents from Benton Harbor, Coloma, Eau Claire, Lakeshore and Watervliet Public Schools met to discuss the decreasing Michigan State Aid payments and future financial feasibility.  The recommendation is to dissolve the North Berrien Adult Education Consortium, effective the end of the 2004-2005 school year.

Business and Finance
Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance Sheletha Bobo reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to adopt the 2005 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 adopt the 04-05 Michigan School Business Officials-Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation Aggregate Bus Purchasing Program resolution.  It is necessary for the District to purchase the following replacement school buses: four 77-passenger conventional buses from Capital City International Trucks at a cost of $273,336.00, and two special needs 53-passenger buses from Capital City International at a cost of $147,900.00.

Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance Sheletha Bobo reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the addition of a supplemental insurance provider.  A request has been received from the Benton Harbor Secretarial Association that AFLAC be added as an authorized supplemental insurance provider for payroll deductions.

Operations & Facilities
Group Director for Operations & Facilities Stephen Mitchell reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the sale of District property.  The Peace Temple United Methodist Church has requested to purchase a District owned lot located at 240 Jefferson Street, Benton Harbor, at a price of $1,500.00.  The Board of Education has declared the lot as surplus property.

Instruction
Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Instruction J. Leonard Wright reported that Board action would be requested at the regular meeting to approve the agreement with the Academy for Educational Development (AED) for the Middle Start Comprehensive School Reform (MS/CSR) program for the 2004-2005 school year.  In accordance with the award from the Michigan Department of Education to the District, the Academy for Educational Development (AED) agrees to provide technical assistance and support services to the following schools: Fair Plain Middle School, Hull Middle School and McCord Renaissance at a cost of $185,805.00.

As an informational item, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Instruction J. Leonard Wright reported that a foreign exchange student would be attending the Benton Harbor High School second semester, and the host student would be staying at the home of student Board member Breanna Hill.  A representative from the Exchange Program 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:

Superintendent’s Update
The District has approached the mid-section of the 1st semester of the 2004-2005 school year.

The House of Representatives has approved a substitute to which effectively transfers about $120 million from the General fund to the School Aid Fund to address the School Aid Fund shortfall for the FY04 of approximately $7 million, and the $113 million projected shortfall in the FY05 (current year) school aid budget.  This negates the consideration of a proration at least for the next few months, and hopefully for the remainder of this year.  School Districts are not out of the woods, yet, due to the state's economy not being on the upswing.

The 2004-2005 winter sports season is underway, which includes basketball, volleyball and wrestling.

Students at Hull Middle School went on a food drive scavenger hunt recently at Cogic Village Apartments.  The students were given a list of eight items.  They brought the items back to school where the students studied the labels for ingredients, fat content and nutritional information. The food items were then donated to the Salvation Army for holiday baskets.  Students who participated were Xavier Steward, Cordel Travis, Randy Bowman, Marquice Mason, Richard James and Terrance Harvell.

The December Benton Harbor Area Schools Public Relations Community Forum is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 15th, at the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church located at 245 Pipestone Street, Benton Harbor, MI.

Public Participation
Mr. Harold Hampton addressed the Board of Education expressing his concerns with the employment termination of his son.

Ms. Dimpsy Posey addressed the Board of Education questioning the lack of an outside security guard at Benton Harbor High School.

Board Comments
Trustee Bowman commented on his attendance along with student Board members at a workshop designed to aid student Board members hosted by the Genesee Intermediate School District.

There being no further business, the December work session was adjourned at 7:42 p.m.