Benton Harbor Area Schools

The December regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Dan McGinnis at 6:02 p.m. in the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons.

Present: Mr. Dan McGinnis, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Ken Woltman, Ms. Lue Buchana and Mrs. Iris Watts

Absent: Mrs. Carolyn Fort and Mr. Anthony Henry

Also Present: Student Board Member Abraham Chopin

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

Minutes
A motion was made by Ms. Buchana and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Minutes of the special meeting of November 2, 2006 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the work session of November 7, 2006 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the regular meeting of November 14, 2006 be approved as printed.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Woltman that vendor payments in the amount of $2,080,818.51 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
The recognition of the SciMaTech Lego Team was deferred until January.

Praise and recognition was extended to the Benton Harbor High School Construction Trades students for the 5 houses they built representing different countries that are on display at the Benton Harbor City Center located on Main Street.

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 12, 2006 before, during or following the regular meeting of the Board of Education on that date, and

Tuesday, January 9, 2007 before, during or following the work session of the Board of Education on that date,

in the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons, 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
Assistant Superintendent Sheletha Bobo introduced Certified Public Accountant Jeff Dorn, Plante & Moran, who presented the BHAS Audit Report for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2006. Items of discussion included the General Fund Equity, General Fund Revenue, General Fund Expenditures and Operating Transfers.

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

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 2007 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 2007 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, 2007.
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.

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 Mrs. Smith and supported by Ms. Buchana:

THAT staff report #3 be tabled until further notice.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the SciMaTech Team trip to Flint, Michigan, scheduled for December 15 - 16, 2006, to participate in the Lego competition.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #5
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Buchana:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the resignation notices of E. Toni Doswell, and Deborah Wolcott and that a letter is sent thanking them for their years of service to the students and the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the resignation notice of Dr. Paula M. Dawning and that a letter is sent thanking her for the years of service to the students and the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #7
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education employ the following teachers, effective as referenced.

• Denina L. Porter, November 6, 2006
• Lynda H. Nybro, November 6, 2006
• Priscilla A. Lange, November 15, 2006

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Consent
Staff Report #8

A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Smith:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education gratefully acknowledges and accepts the following grants and donations to the District for the 2006-2007 school year.

• $500 Donation to CAA/G&T from Pri-Mar Petroleum/Exxon Mobil for Student Activities

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.

President McGinnis announced that a formal update would be given at the January Board of Education meeting regarding the District’s plan to hire a new superintendent.

Superintendent’s Update
On behalf of the BH/SJ Alumnae Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Mrs. Mary Newcomb-Ealy read a letter from the sorority that pledged their support to the Board of Education in the search for a new Benton Harbor Area Schools Superintendent. The Sorority would like to host a community forum as a method of communication to all stakeholders.

On Monday, December 11, 2006, a student altercation took place in the high school cafeteria. The District is still gathering information and those students who were involved will be disciplined.

Public Participation
Pastor Robert DeFrance addressed the Board of Education commending Superintendent Dawning for her realization that she is not cut out to be a superintendent and asked that she resign now. He asked that the Superintendent not be allowed to make any additional recommendations or proposals. Pastor DeFrance stated that the District should not spend any more money on the Central Administration Center, and expressed his concerns with the high school student safety and white teachers teaching black students.

Mr. Daryl Jackson addressed the Board of Education commending the District leadership of James Rutter and expressed his agreement with the BH/SJ Alumnae Delta Sigma Theta Sorority proposal.

Ms. Rochelle Moore addressed the Board of Education commending Superintendent Dawning for her District leadership and direction. Ms. Moore stated that the community has to come together and stop pointing fingers, as parents need to parent their children.

Mr. Terrell Ketchum addressed the Board of Education extending his appreciation to the administration for their help in arranging travel to a Tennessee college in July.

Mr. Willie Morrow addressed the Board of Education questioning if the District plans to outsource bus drivers and the transportation department.

Mr. Chester Henry addressed the Board of Education congratulating the SciMaTech students and expressed his concerns with students fighting at bus stops.

Ms. Vicki Brown addressed the Board of Education expressing her concerns with the possibility of the District outsourcing the bus drivers and encouraged the Board to rethink this position.

Mr. Marcus Robinson addressed the Board of Education commending the staff for their efforts to educate District students. Mr. Robinson stated that it is important to stay on the course, stay united and stand tall, as all Districts nationwide face the problems faced by this District.

Mr. Isaiah Newsom addressed the Board of Education stating his encouragement with tonight’s meeting and expressed his concerns with safety issues at Benton Harbor High School.

Board Comments
Student Board member Chopin acknowledged his dismay to witness the student fight in the high school cafeteria.

Trustees Smith and Buchana encouraged parents to engage with their children and to assist the District in their education.

Trustee Watts expressed her disappointment with the behavior of high school students yesterday and asked that this incident not cloud the District’s progress.

Trustee Henry stated that we are all to blame for the state of the city and the District, encouraging all to work together for a solution.

Trustee Woltman encouraged all to show respect - students respect teachers, teachers respect students, parents respect teachers and students respect parents.

Trustee McGinnis expressed his discontentment with those community residents who came to this school board meeting tonight only to criticize staff and then leave.

The Board recessed to closed session at 7:45 p.m. to discuss with legal council possible student expulsions.

Present: Mr. Dan McGinnis, Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Mr. Ken Woltman, Mr. Anthony Henry, Ms. Lue Buchana and Mrs. Iris Watts

Also Present : Dr. Paula Dawning, Dr. J. Leonard Wright, Mrs. Kathy Brooks, Mrs. Loretta Powell, Mrs. Olivia James and Attorney K. Morris Gavin

Both the student and parent were present and requested a closed hearing.

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

THAT 12-06-04-HMS be expelled from the Benton Harbor Area Schools for 180 school days for violations 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:	Ms. Buchana	NAYS:	Mr. McGinnis
	Mr. Henry
	Mr. Woltman
	Mrs. Smith
	Mrs. Watts

Both the student and parent were present and requested a closed hearing.

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

THAT 12-06-05-BHHS-FA be suspended from the Benton Harbor Area Schools for the remainder of the 2006-2007 school year for violations of the Uniform Code of Discipline. The conditions of the suspension will be outlined in a letter to be written by the Superintendent.

The motion passed on the following vote.

AYES:	Ms. Buchana	NAYS:	Mr. McGinnis
	Mr. Henry
	Mr. Woltman
	Mrs. Smith
	Mrs. Watts

Both the student and parent were present and requested a closed hearing.

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

THAT 12-06-06-BHHS-LA be permanently expelled from the Benton Harbor Area Schools for 180 school days for violations 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 9:55 p.m.

This page was last modified : September 11, 2007