MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS
DECEMBER 19, 2000

The December regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Carolyn Graves at 6:06 p.m. at the Benton Harbor High School Library.

Present: Mrs. Annie Robinson, Mr. Dwight P. Mitchell, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Mr. Ken Woltman, Ms. Michelle Jones and Ms. Carolyn Graves

Communications
Due to inclement weather, the regular Board of Education meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 12 was rescheduled to Tuesday, December 19, 2000.

Thank you notes have been received, on behalf of the Board of Education, from District staff for the keyholder tokens of appreciation recently presented to all BHAS employees.

Minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Smith that the Minutes of the work session of November 7, 2000 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Woltman that the Minutes of the special meeting of November 7, 2000 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks that the Minutes of the regular meeting of November 14, 2000 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 $1,760,919.12 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
The McCord Renaissance Center's Spelling Team was given praise and recognition for securing 4th Place in the annual Cloverleaf Spelling Competition held December 18, 2000.

Congratulations were extended to Fair Plain East Elementary School teacher, Dorothy Jorgensen, for receiving a $500 math/science grant from BCISD.

The Help One Student To Succeed (HOSTS) program was given praise and recognition as BHAS was featured in the recent edition of the HOSTS Voice Magazine.

The Michigan Department of Education has notified BHAS that the District has been awarded a planning grant for professional development for the middle school math reform initiative.

The Michigan Department of Education has notified BHAS that Sterne Brunson Elementary School has qualified for the Golden Apple Award of $50,000.00 for substantial improvement on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP).

Central Administration
Staff Report #1
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 19, 2000 before and/or following
the regular meeting of the Board of Education on
that date, and

Tuesday, January 9, 2001 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, 2000. Items of discussion were the General Fund Equity, General Fund Revenue and General Fund Expenditures.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially adopt the 2001 Michigan School Business Officials-Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation Aggregated Bus Purchasing Program resolution.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #3
A motion was made by Mr. Mitchell 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 2001 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 2001 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, 2001.
  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 #4
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Dr. Peeples-Burks:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education renew the solid waste disposal contract with Best Way Disposal, Inc., for the 2000-2001 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Close Up program fieldtrip excursion to Washington, D.C., from April 22-28, 2001, for Benton Harbor High School students and chaperones and the requested $300.00 per student funding.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially accepts and acknowledges the generosity of a grant in the amount of $1,500.00 from the Fredrick S. Upton Foundation to the Henry C. Morton Elementary School.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #7
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT Mrs. Barbara Jackson be granted tenure effective August 27, 2000.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #8
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Jones:

THAT Mrs. Barbara Ann Miller be granted tenure effective August 27, 2000.

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.

Superintendent's Update
The Board of Education Public Relations Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday, December 20 to discuss innovative ways to promote the District.

The BHAS fund equity surplus is earmarked towards infrastructure needs to implement the middle school concept. Additional classrooms will be re-opened if District enrollment continues to increase.

Group Director for Operations and Facilities Stephen Mitchell and the Coordinator of Maintenance Michael Brennand presented a District infrastructure needs report and discussed the completed work orders for the 1999/2000 school year.

The Michigan State Police Department has completed the annual bus inspection giving the District an excellent rating for the 2nd consecutive year.

Public Participation
Benton Harbor Education Association President, Marie Hobson, addressed the Board of Education proclaiming that a better climate has already begun in the District. Ms. Hobson expressed her gratitude for the tokens of appreciation and commended the maintenance department for jobs well done.

Ms. Susan Arnt addressed the Board of Education and read a compilation of the concerns of the Save Our Schools group that included the proposed BHAS secondary revitalization and the lack of communication of student achievements.

Board Comments
Board trustees extended their sincere appreciation to the District teachers for their hard work and dedication in educating the students of BHAS.

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

THAT the Board of Education recess to closed session for the purpose of discussing with legal counsel possible student expulsions.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

The Board of Education recessed to closed session at 7:45 p.m.

Present: Ms. Carolyn Graves, Mrs. Annie Robinson, Mr. Dwight P. Mitchell, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks, Mr. Ken Woltman and Ms. Michelle Jones

Also Present: Ms. Renee Williams, Mr. Richard Garrison, Mr. Victor Morris, Mr. Edward Woods and Attorney K. Morris Gavin

Mr. Earl Austin requested an open hearing regarding the expulsion recommendation of his son Charles Mays.

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

THAT Charles Mays be expelled for 180 days from the Benton Harbor Area Schools for a violation of Section 1311(a) of the Michigan Revised School Code and 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.

Ms. Denise Shaw requested a closed hearing regarding the expulsion recommendation of her daughter Nicole Shaw.

Staff Report #2
A motion was made by Dr. Peeples-Burks and supported by Mr. Mitchell:

THAT Nicole Shaw be expelled from the Benton Harbor Area Schools for the remainder of the 2000-2001 school year 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 on the following vote:

AYES: Mrs. Robinson  NAYS:  Ms. Jones
Mr. Woltman
Dr. Peeples-Burks
Mrs. Smith
Mr. Mitchell
Ms. Graves

There being no further business, the December regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.