MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
DECEMBER 13, 2005

The December regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President J. Allene Smith at 6:12 p.m. in the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons Area.

Present: Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Dan McGinnis, Mr. Anthony Henry (7:16), Mr. Ken Woltman, Mr. Robert Bowman and Mrs. Carolyn Fort

Absent:  Dr. Perry Davis

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.

Communications
Trustee Smith encouraged all to attend the upcoming various school holiday programs and celebrations.

Minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. McGinnis that the Minutes of the work session of November 1, 2005 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Fort and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the special meeting of November 1, 2005 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the regular meeting of November 8, 2005 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Bowman that the Minutes of the special meeting of November 16, 2005 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Fort and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the special meeting of November 22, 2005 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Fort that vendor payments in the amount of $1,746,254.87 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
Fair Plain Renaissance Middle School Dance Theater performed three dance recitals for the Board of Education in recognition of support for the Arts.

District teachers Gisele Hardaway, Frank Gonzales and Evangeline Prosper were recognized as Teachers of the Month for their outstanding educational contributions.  Each received a gift card and a certificate of recognition.

Recognition and praise was extended to teacher Carla Howe being featured in Who’s Who in American Teachers publication.

Trustee Dan McGinnis announced that the BHAS Chess Club now has over 100 students enrolled and the Benton Harbor Sunrise Rotary will provide program support.  The Benton Spirit will also begin to feature chess information along with a chess puzzle in their publications.  Benton Harbor Sunrise Rotary members Bob Herman and Carl Brecht were present to discuss Rotary’s excitement and support of the BHAS Chess Club.

The BHHS Lady Tigers Varsity Basketball Team was not present, but was recognized for their outstanding athletic season.

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

THAT Board policies:

• BCBI (Also KCA) – Public Participation in School Board Meetings

be hereby adopted as policies of the School District and that any previous policy as listed be hereby rescinded.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #2
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Mr. Woltman:

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

Tuesday, December 13, 2005 before, during or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, January 10, 2006 before, during 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 #3
A motion was made by Mrs. Fort and supported by Mr. Woltman:

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 2006 its previously adopted ongoing resolution imposing a summer property tax levy of all 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 2006 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, 2006.
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.

Staff Report #4
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Mrs. Fort:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the lease of two (2) food service trucks from Ford Motor Credit Company Lending Services, at a monthly cost of $1,251.86.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Operations/Facilities
Staff Report #5
A motion was made by Mr. McGinnis and supported by Mrs. Fort:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the awarding of the bid for video surveillance and access control systems at BHHS, Fair Plain Renaissance Middle School, Hull Middle School and the Freshman Academy to Total Telecom, LLC of St. Joseph, MI, at a cost of $181,102.00.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the awarding of the bid for MLK media furniture to Dew-EI Corporation of Holland, MI at a cost of $24,959.00.  Although Dew-EI was not the lowest bidder, they met the exact specifications, brand of furniture and also proposed a five-year warranty.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #7
A motion was made by Mr. McGinnis and supported by Mr. Bowman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the purchase of a Meal Tracker Point of Sale (POS) system for the high school, two middle schools and central administration from Acc-Scan of Wichita, KS, at a cost of $33,891.80.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Instruction
Staff Report #8
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the trip to Five Pines Camp proposed for June 2006, for the special education students of Ms. Kelly Lee, Stump Academy.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

The BHHS History Project informational update was pulled from the agenda.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #9
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Bowman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education hire Ms. Kelly Colbert for the 2005-2006 school year, effective November 21, 2005.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #10
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the retirement notification of Mr. Kenneth F. Bye, effective January 27, 2006, and that a letter be sent thanking him for his years of service to the students of the District.

The motion passed on the following vote:

Staff Report #11
Staff Report #11 was pulled from the agenda.

Consent
Staff Report #12
A motion was made by Mr. Bowman and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education gratefully acknowledges and accepts the following donations/grants to the District for the 2005-2006 school year.

• $1,000 Donation From Council For World Class Communities for Drive For Success IV Reading Program

• $500 Mini Grant From Berrien Community Foundation for Overnight Trip to Five Pines Camp

• $1,000 Donation from Deals On Wheels for BHHS Basketball Program

• $500 Donation from Frito-Lay/Wal-Mart for BHHS Football Program

• $1,000 Donation from Landers & Partners, Inc. for Athletic Holiday Tournament

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Other
Area Representative Glenn Alters, Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI), discussed the Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI) program.  The CCI program currently has 31 students, ages 15-18, waiting to be placed in an exchange host home from various countries such as Germany, South America, Brazil, etc.  Any family living in the Benton Harbor Area Schools District who would like to host an international exchange student should contact:

Mr. Glenn Alters, Center for Cultural Interchange
17 North Second Avenue, St. Charles, IL  60174
Tele: (800) 634-4771

Superintendent's Update
A wonderful initiative has been offered to families in the Benton Harbor Area Schools named “Catch The Dream” sponsored by Barbara and Dave Whitwam.  The $2 million endowment scholarship program is designed for BHAS students, whose parents did not attend college, to attend Lake Michigan College.  Each year, beginning this spring, ten 5^th grade students would be selected based on a written essay and interview, as a scholarship recipient.  The program follows the students through two years of college and would support the parents, if they wanted to attend college. 

Excellent news to report Freshman Academy student, Mark Hankton, who was recently shot is making good progress towards recovery.

Board Comments
Trustee Fort extended her appreciation to the Fair Plain Renaissance Middle School dancers and the teachers who were recognized tonight.

Trustee Bowman congratulated the teachers on their outstanding educational recognition and the BHAS Chess Club endeavor.

Trustee Henry suggested that the Board of Education host/cook a dinner for the BHHS Lady Tigers Varsity Basketball Team as support of their successful season.

Trustee McGinnis commended the Teachers of the Month for their educational contributions.

Trustee Smith extended her appreciation for the Catch The Dream scholarship endowment, established for families of the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

There being no further business, the December regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.