MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
DECEMBER 11, 2001

The December regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Dwight P. Mitchell at 6:09 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-Burks, Mr. Ken Woltman and Ms. Michelle Jones

Communications
A Grand Opening Celebration for the E. Rayford Senior Housing Complex is scheduled to be held 1-5 p.m. Thursday, December 13, 2001,1961 E. Empire Avenue, Benton Harbor.

Minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Robinson that the Minutes of the work session of November 6, 2001 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Robinson and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the special meeting of November 10, 2001 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Smith that the Minutes of the public hearing of November 13, 2001 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Robinson that the Minutes of the regular meeting of November 13, 2001 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 special meeting of November 30, 2001 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Dr. Peeples-Burks  ABSTENTION: Ms. Jones
Mr. Henry
Mr. Woltman
Mrs. Smith
Mrs. Robinson
Mr. Mitchell

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Smith that vendor payments in the amount of $2,413,043.18 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
Trustees extended their appreciation to the BHAS Transportation Department for the District receiving excellent ratings during the annual bus inspection.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education give formal recognition to Fair Plain West Elementary School, Henry C. Morton Elementary School and the Boynton Montessori Program as recipients of the 2001 Golden Apple Award.

WHEREAS, the Board of Education further wishes to commend those principals and teachers for their continuing commitment to promoting student achievement in the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #2
A motion was made by Mr. Henry and supported by Mrs. Robinson:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially accept and acknowledge the generosity of a washer and dryer to the BHHS Charles Gray Teen Center from the Whirlpool Corporation.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education adopt the following District Board Goals for the 2001-2002 school year:

2001-2002 DISTRICT BOARD GOALS

  1. Benton Harbor Area Schools recognizes the importance of communication in the District and will strive to increase and enhance internal and external communication.
  2. In order to address the needs of all students, Benton Harbor Area Schools will continue to offer programs like career pathways and the middle school concept and assess the viability of an alternative education program for high school students.
  3. Benton Harbor Area Schools will continue to assess and review the financial status of the District and determine cost-effective ways to increase efficiency.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

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

Tuesday, December 11, 2001 before and/or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on

that date, and
Tuesday, January 8, 2002 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
As an informational item, Certified Public Accountants Jeff Dorn and Tracy Althouse, representatives of the accounting firm Plante & Moran, presented the BHAS audit report for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2001. Items of discussion were the General Fund Equity, General Fund Revenue, General Fund Expenditures and Operating Transfers.

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

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.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
  1. This Board of Education, pursuant to 1976 PA 451, as amended, hereby invokes for 2002 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 2002 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, 2002.
  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 #6
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education declare the real property known as Millburg School as surplus property and the Superintendent or her designee is authorized to take the necessary action for said property to be disposed of in accordance with Board policies. In addition, the Board of Education establishes the minimum sale price at $90,000.00.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Instruction
Staff Report #7
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially accept and acknowledge the generosity of a grant to the DADS FOR EDUCATION program in the amount of $1,000.00 from the Berrien Community Foundation.

The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Ms. Jones ABSTENTION: Dr. Peeples-Burks
Mr. Henry
Mr. Woltman
Mrs. Smith
Mrs. Robinson
Mr. Mitchell

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the resolution confirming the District’s participation in the Career Preparation System as prescribed by the Michigan Department of Career Development.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #9
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Robinson:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the resolution confirming the District’s commitment, along with the Berrien County Health Department, to the continuation of adolescent health services provided on the campus of the Benton Harbor High School.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT staff report #10 be divided into two separate action items.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #10
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman:

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

The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Ms. Jones  NAYS: Dr. Peeples-Burks
Mr. Henry Mrs. Smith
Mr. Woltman
Mrs. Robinson
Mr. Mitchell

Staff Report #10A
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education offer Superintendent Renee’ R. Williams a contract to serve as interim superintendent, if needed beyond her retirement date, effective at the end of her current contract.

The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Woltman  NAYS: Ms. Jones  ABSTENTION: Mr. Henry
Mrs. Smith
Dr. Peeples-Burks
Mr. Mitchell
Mrs. Robinson

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

THAT Mr. George Barfield’s retirement be acknowledged and accepted and that a letter from the District be sent to him thanking him for his services to the students of the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Superintendent's Update
The annual BHAS 2001-2002 winter sports poster is ready for distribution that lists the schedule of athletic events.

The BHAS Quick Reference Crisis Plan, a crisis guide to safety, has been completed and will be disseminated to all District buildings.

Public Participation II
Ms. Cheryl Melvin addressed the Board of Education with employment concerns with respect to the Food Service Contract with ARAMARK.

Board Comments
Trustee Peeples-Burks questioned the State of Michigan Department of Education’s change in accreditation for Michigan schools as published in the December 11th issue of The Herald-Palladium.

Trustee Smith commended The Herald Palladium for their excellent article on the Golden Apple Awards.

Trustee Henry extended his apologizes to Ms. Cheryl Melvin for repeating undocumented rumors regarding employee contracts.

There being no further business, the December regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 7:42 p.m.