Benton Harbor Area Schools

The May regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Dan McGinnis at 6:03 p.m. in the Benton Harbor High School, Student Commons.

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

Also Present: Student Board Members Candace Walker

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 Fort read a letter from Dave Abbey who praised the apparel of the Benton Harbor High School band director and volunteers during the Blossomtime Parade.

Hull Middle School has inducted fourteen new members into the Gladys Peeples-Burks Junior National Honor Society.

The District is sponsoring a Parent Fair and Dinner for Thursday, May 10, 2007, at the Benton Harbor High School.

A Safe and Drug Free Dinner has been planned for Wednesday, May 9, 2007.

The Michigan Department of Mental Health has received a four-year, five million-dollar grant to assist students in the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

Oakland College in Huntsville, Alabama has awarded over $66,000 in scholarships to Benton Harbor High School seniors.

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

THAT the Minutes of the work session of April 10, 2007 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the regular meeting of April 17, 2007 be approved as printed;

THAT the Minutes of the special meeting of April 19, 2007 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 $1,706,068.45 be approved for payment.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

Recognitions
Lake Michigan College work-study student, Shavon Simmons announced the 2007-2008 Catch The Dream scholarship recipients. The program is designed to partner with students in the Benton Harbor Area Schools and their families to provide information, services, support networks, resources and activities that will lead them to success in school and beyond. In the spring of each year, 10 students who will be entering the sixth grade in the fall will be chosen for participation. The following students will continue in the program until they graduate from high school. Upon high school graduation, participants will be awarded financial assistance to attend Lake Michigan College.

• Sehari 'Elle Windmon - Fairplain NE
• Renisha Edison-Farmer - Fairplain NE
• Jamal Hatfield - Sorter
• Marquis Grayes - Fairplain West
• Alonzo Parker - Fairplain West
• Dashina Williams - Fairplain West
• Qjuantre Henry - Boynton
• Jeffrey Mcoy - Boynton
• Aliya Muhammad - MLK
• Esau Whitfield - Fairplain NE

Top readers in the 2007 Drive For Success reading initiative, along with their respective teachers, were presented with certificates of achievement and monetary gift cards. Horizon Bank was the monetary sponsor in this year's Drive For Success.

Recognition and praise were extended to the Benton Harbor High School Class of 2007 Top Ten seniors based upon seven semesters GPA:

Nikia Davis	4.333 Valedictorian
Teona Rolland	4.117 Salutatorian
Kiniata Clay	3.964
Derek Williams	3.950
Dana Williams	3.821
Desiree' Simmons	3.770
Camisha Bradley	3.754
Charmelle Miller	3.701
Shanika Harris	3.696
Alexander Robinson	3.660

Members of the BHHS First Robotics Team demonstrated the robot they built for entry in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competition. The students built the robot from a simple kit of materials and was rated #1 defensive robot in the tournament.

Recognition was extended to District teachers, as May 7-11, 2007, is National Teacher Appreciation Week.

District nurses received a certificate of appreciation, as May 9, 2007, is School Nurse Day.

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 officially acknowledge the Proclamation by the National Education Association proclaiming the week of May 7-11, 2007, as National Teacher Appreciation Week.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Staff Report #2
A motion was made by Ms. Buchana and supported by Mrs. Watts:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education officially acknowledge the Proclamation by the State of Michigan, Executive Office of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, proclaiming Wednesday, May 9, 2007, as School Nurse Day.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Human Resources/Labor Relations
Staff Report #3
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Ms. Buchana:

THAT Board policies:

• EEA - Free Food Service (Also JGHA)
• JBCE - Credit by Examination
• JBCEA - Credit by Examination With Prior Instruction
• JBCEB - Credit by Examination Without Prior Instruction
• JBCE-A - Tentative Test Dates
• JCD-E - Code of Student Conduct

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 #4
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

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

Tuesday, May 8, 2007 before, during or following the regular meeting of the Board of Education on that date, and

Tuesday, June 5, 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
Staff Report #5
A motion was made by Mr. Woltman and supported by Mr. Henry:

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education adopt the resolution in support of the Berrien County Intermediate School District budget, as prepared by the Thrun Law Firm, P.C.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education adopt the resolution restating the purpose of the School Building and Site Bonds.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education authorize the Superintendent to negotiate a purchase/lease agreement with Chemical Bank, based on the agreed purchase/lease price between Benton Harbor Area Schools and Chemical Bank in the amount of $1,450,000.00.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Chemical Bank President, Len Amat was present and presented a check to the District in the amount of $350,000 to offset the purchase/lease price.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the BHHS JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge in Alpena, Michigan scheduled for June 28 - July 5, 2007.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education accept the resignation of Mr. Gary Brumbelow and that a letter be sent thanking him for his years of service to the students and the District.

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

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

THAT the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education approve the layoff of the following teachers, effective June 8, 2007 and that a letter be sent thanking them for their years of service to the District.

• Cathy Yates
• Ivan Moore
• Angela Smith
• Jai Palmer-Davidson
• Joyce Manning
• Jacqueline Morris
• Claretha Potts
• Solomon Ward
• James Jones
• Sharonda Pearson
• Ramsey Nichols

The motion passed on the following vote:

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

 
Consent
Staff Report #11
A motion was made by Mrs. Smith 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.

• $375.00 Donation from Fiskars to HOSTS Program at Fair Plain West School

The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Superintendent's Update
Please remember to vote today in the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education election, as the polls are open until 8:00 p.m.

The State of Michigan has proposed a $100 per student reduction in state aid funding for public schools.

Board Comments
Student Board member Candice Walker gave thanks for the opportunity to serve on the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education.

Trustee Buchana gave praise to the top ten seniors and the scholarship recipients of the Catch the Dream initiative.

Trustee Henry expressed his appreciation that the District does not have to move students to accommodate the Central Administration relocation.

Trustee Smith commended the media center dedication to Robert Cuhran and extended her appreciation to Chemical Bank.

There being no further business, the May regular meeting of the Board of Education was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

This page was last modified : September 11, 2007