The December regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President J. Allene Smith at 6:06 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 Dr. Perry Davis

Absent: Mrs. Michelle Bennett

Also Present: Student Board Members Brittney Hurst and Brett Closson

Minutes
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the special meeting of November 4, 2002 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the work session of November 5, 2002 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the special meeting of November 5, 2002 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the regular meeting of November 12, 2002 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the public hearing of November 26, 2002 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Mitchell that vendor payments in the amount of $2,152,397.27 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Activity of the General Fund was reviewed and accepted as presented.

Recognitions
Praise and recognition was extended to the BHHS Lady Tigers Basketball Team for their outstanding 2002 fall season as regional champs and each player received an athletic certificate of participation.

BHHS students Wahpillar Sonkarley and Robert Lee were present and read their letters of acceptance that acknowledged the academic challenge of excellence, as proposed by Superintendent Paula Dawning and Principal Howard Cousins.

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

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

Tuesday, December 10, 2002 before and/or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, January 7, 2003 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 with legal counsel litigations, negotiations and possible expulsions.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Business/Finance
Staff Report #2
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Henry:

WHEREAS, this Board of Education by resolution of December 13, 1983, determined to impose a summer property tax levy to collect all of school property taxes, including debt services upon property located within the school district, beginning with 1984 and continuing from year to year until specifically revoked by this Board of Education.

1. This Board of Education, pursuant to 1976 PA 451, as amended, hereby invokes for 2003 its previously adopted ongoing resolution imposing a summer property tax levy of all of school property taxes, including debt service, beginning with 1984 and continuing from year to year until specifically revoked by this Board of Education, and requests each city and/or township in which this district is located to collect those summer taxes.
2. The Superintendent or his/her designee is authorized and directed to forward to the governing body of each city and/or township in which this district is located a copy of this Board's resolution imposing a summer property tax levy on an ongoing basis, and a copy of this resolution requesting that such city and/or township agree to collect the summer tax levy for 2003 in the amount as specified in this resolution. Such forwarding of the resolutions and the request to collect the summer tax levy shall be sent so that they are received by the appropriate governing bodies before January 1, 2003.
3. The Superintendent or his/her designee is authorized and directed to negotiate on behalf of this District with the governing body of each city and/or township in which the District is located for the reasonable expenses for collection of the District's summer property tax levy that the city and/or township may bill under MCLA 380.1611 or MCLA 380.1612. Any such proposed agreement shall be brought before this Board for its approval or disapproval.
4. All resolutions and parts of resolutions insofar as they conflict with the provisions of this resolution be and the same are hereby rescinded.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Operations/Facilities
Staff Report #3
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Mitchell:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education declare 885 North Shore Drive as surplus property and place a minimum bid price of $127,500.00 on this property. Further, that the Board of Education declare 1121 Milton Street as surplus property and place a minimum bid price of $105,000.00 on said property, both declarations are according to Board policy.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education award the Boynton Elementary School lighting renovation bid to the lowest bidder, IBID Electric of Benton Harbor, MI in the amount of $5,290.00. This project is to be completed during the winter recess.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

The 711 East Britain property contract option was removed from the agenda.

Instruction
Staff Report #5
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Davis:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Information Technology Across the Curriculum for grades K-12.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education gratefully acknowledges and accepts the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Foundation grant in the amount of $10,000.00 towards the Drive For Success reading project.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Superintendent Dawning disseminated to Board trustees a report on the number of books read by each building for the Drive For Success reading project. Students to date have read a total of 25,973 books.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education gratefully acknowledges and accepts the mini-grant of $500.00 to Hull Middle School from the Berrien County Intermediate School District for the Individual Hands On Science Projects.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #8
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Mitchell:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Benton Harbor Area Schools Section 125 Plan for the benefit of its employees.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Other
Following the regular meeting the Board of Education will recess into closed session for the purpose of discussing with legal counsel possible student expulsions.

Board Comments
Trustee Davis commended the students who were recognized tonight on their successes.

Trustee Henry praised the McCord Renaissance Center for their excellent holiday concert and the beautiful illuminates outside the building.

Trustee Mitchell expressed his appreciation for the conduct of staff and students and the building condition during his last visit at BHHS.

Trustee Peeples-Burks stated that she attended the funeral of former BHAS bus driver, Julia Barnes and gave thanks for the coat rack. Dr. Peeples-Burks requested a report from Hull Middle School for the Drive For Success reading project and Principal Jeffery Stewart responded that students at Hull Middle School have read 1,100 books to date.

Trustee Smith reported on her visit to Fair Plain West Elementary School and reminded Board trustees of the Board of Education Retreat scheduled for Saturday, January 11, 2003.

Student Board member Brittney Hurst gave a reminder of the BHHS Tiger Holiday Choir Concert scheduled for December 12.

Student Board member Brett Closson acknowledged that the Benton Harbor High School has produced outstanding athletic teams.

A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Henry:

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

The Board recessed to closed session at 7:20 p.m.

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

Absent: Mrs. Michelle Bennett and Dr. Perry Davis

Also Present: Ms. Paula M. Dawning, Mrs. Virginia Maxwell, Mr. Howard Cousins, Mr. Russell Tynes and Attorney K. Morris Gavin

Neither student nor parents were present.

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

THAT Joshua Weakley be expelled from the Benton Harbor Area Schools for 180 school days for a violation of the Uniform Code of Discipline. The conditions of the expulsion will be outlined in a letter to be written by the Superintendent.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

There being no further business, the December regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.