Benton Harbor Area Schools

The April regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Dan McGinnis at 6:04 p.m. in the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons.

Present: Mr. Dan McGinnis, Mrs. Carolyn Fort, Mr. Ken Woltman, Mr. Anthony Henry, Ms. Lue Buchana and Mrs. Iris Watts

Absent: Mrs. J. Allene Smith and Student Board Members

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 Mrs. Smith and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Minutes of the work session of March 6, 2007 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the special meeting of March 7, 2007 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the regular meeting of March 13, 2007 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the special meeting of March 19, 2007 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the special meeting of March 27, 2007 be approved as printed;

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Vendor Payments
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Buchana that vendor payments in the amount of $1,775,199.11 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 given to the district-wide elementary spelling bee winners. Students in grades 2-5 competed in a Benton Harbor Area Schools Spelling Bee Competition on March 28-29 and April 9 at the high school. Each elementary school sent three representatives, per grade level, to compete. Each grade level had 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, but only one student in their respective grade took the trophy as this year's winner. 1st Place Winners were: Calvin Britain 2nd grader Shervanique Fortier; Fair Plain West 3rd grader Hanna Zaal; Fair Plain West 4th grader Avondre Young and Boynton Montessori 5th grader Shickereiya Wells. A certificate of achievement was presented to all students who competed.

An update on the Catch The Dream program will be presented at the May Board of Education meeting.

Boynton Montessori parent Kelle Sanders was acknowledged as the winner in the Benton Harbor Area Schools Parent Essay Contest Parenting for A Lifetime and was presented with a certificate of achievement.

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

THAT Board policy: IDD - Curriculum Design/Special Programs be hereby adopted as policy 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. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Watts:

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

Tuesday, April 17, 2007 before, during or following the regular meeting of the Board of Education on that date, and

Tuesday, May 1, 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.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education renew the food service contract with Chartwells School Dining for one year (2007-2008 school year).

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the operation of a 2007 Summer Lunch Program for the children of the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Elementary Summer School Program for the 2006-2007 school year.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve presenting an Honorary High School Diploma to Vella Banks.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Freshman Academy Student Council trip to New York City, scheduled for May 6-10, 2007.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the agreement with the Community Partnership for Lifelong Learning organization to provide a High School Completion Program for adults.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Benton Harbor Rocket Team trip to Muskegon, Michigan to participate in the Aerospace Challenge, scheduled for April 27 & 28, 2007.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the Freshman Academy Social Studies Olympiad competition in Romulus, Michigan scheduled for April 21, 2007.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #11
A motion was made by Mr. Henry and supported by Mrs. Watts:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the retirement notices from teachers Nancy Arbut, Suzanne Honore', Helen McKenzie, and Brenda Wilson-Sampson 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 #12
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the contract non-renewal for teacher Ramona Minisee, effective at the close of the 2006-2007 school year.

The motion passed on the following vote:

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

Staff Report #13
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Buchana:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education vote to grant a 2% wage increase for full-time, non union employees for the 2006-2007 school year. This group includes:

• Management Team
• Executive Secretaries
• Technology Staff
• School Volunteer Leader
• Truancy Officers

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #14
A motion was made by Ms. Buchana and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the resignation notices from teachers Lynda Nybro, Kari Burch, and Aryill Smedley and that a letter be sent thanking them for their services to the District.

The motion passed on the following vote:

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

Staff Report #15
A motion was made by Ms. Buchana and supported by Mr. Woltman:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education authorize the reduction of up to twenty-seven teachers.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Consent
Staff Report #16
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mrs. Watts:

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:

• $77,519.00 Safe and Drug Free Schools Grant
• $500.00 Donation From Second Baptist Church to Assist District Family Victims of Fire
• $300.00 Donation From Second Baptist Church to Assist in Transportation Costs for Habitat for Humanity Project in Louisiana
• $200.00 Donation From Southwestern Michigan Ministerial Alliance to Assist in Transportation Costs for Habitat for Humanity Project in Louisiana
• 685 Books Donated (292 hardbacks & 393 paperbacks) from Whirlpool African American Network to BHHS Library

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 personnel issues.

Superintendent's Update
Superintendent Dawning read a letter from the State Budget Office that notified public schools that funding could be cut by up to $125 per student, effective June 1, 2007. This reduction would force the District into a deficit. House Bill 4592 is a proposal for public schools' procurement, human resources, busing, and contracting to be handled through the intermediate school districts.

The Superintendent's Scholarship Dinner was very nice and well attended. Nine Benton Harbor High School students were granted a $1,000 scholarship. Today the District received an anonymous donation of $3000.00 for the student scholarship fund.

Public Participation
Ms. Kim Joseph addressed the Board of Education questioning if student uniforms would continue under the leadership of a new superintendent and stated that she is not in favor of District uniforms.

Ms. Belinda Brown addressed the Board of Education expressing her concerns with the direction of the school system and stated that she is a candidate in the upcoming school board election.

Ms. Pamela Miller addressed the Board of Education on behalf of the Citizens for Better Schools initiative and promoted the Benton Harbor Area Schools millage renewal. Ms. Miller encouraged all to vote on May 8th and asked for volunteers to assist with an election phone bank.

Board Comments
Trustee Watts expressed her encouragement with District progress and positive events.

Trustee Henry commended the Social Studies Olympiad students and acknowledged concern with the proposed state budget cuts.

Trustee Woltman stated that there is a nice article written about Superintendent Dawning in the May 2007 issue of the Reader's Digest.

Trustee Fort acknowledged her inspiration with the students who were inducted into the National Honor Society at a banquet held last night.

Trustee McGinnis commented that he was glad to see a cultural mix of winners in the student spelling bee. Mr. McGinnis also offered an apology to his peers and the superintendent for any offending zeal, stating that he is not afraid to admit when he is wrong.

The Board recessed to closed session at 7:40 p.m. to discuss with legal counsel personnel issues.

Present: Mr. Dan McGinnis, Mrs. Carolyn Fort, Mr. Ken Woltman, Mr. Anthony Henry, Ms. Lue Buchana and Mrs. Iris Watts

Absent: Mrs. J. Allene Smith

Also Present: Dr. Paula Dawning and Attorney K. Morris Gavin

There being no further business, the April regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

This page was last modified : September 11, 2007