9-17-2018 Board Minutes

Board Minutes

(Last Updated On: October 18, 2018)

BUCHANAN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN

SEPTEMBER 17, 2018 REGULAR MEETING BUCHANAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

CALL TO ORDER

Vice President Sandy Tobler opened the meeting at 6:01 pm

ROLL CALL

PRESENT: C. Lee, K. Laesch, J. DeVlaminck, S. Tobler, and D. Wentworth

ABSENT: R. Writer & H. Burnett

OTHERS PRESENT : Timothy Donahue

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

MOTION BY Member J. DeVlaminck, SECONDED BY Member D. Wentworth the agenda for the regular meeting of September 17^th, 2018 be adopted as written.

VOTE: C. Lee, D. Wentworth, K. Laesch, J. DeVlaminck, and S. Tobler NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED

RECOGNITION OF VISITORS

K. Hurlbutt, Sonia Barlow, Cindy Swem, Brian Pruett, Wendy Murphy, Jessica Leenhouts, Samantha Edgar, Lonnie Hoover, Maggie Patnoudes, Erin Kratky, Daryl Miller, Karin Falkenstein

COMMUNITY DIALOGUE CITIZENS CONCERNS

Erin Kratky & Maggie Patnoudes: submitted statements regarding two-step bump for receiving Master’s Degree within a specific time frame.
Ian Haight: running for state senate. Ian provided comments on being an advocate for public education.

INFORMATION/REPORTS & NEW BUSINESS

Mr. Donahue informed the Board about Berrien/Cass School Boards Association Legislative Breakfast occurring Monday, October 8, 2018. Mr. Donahue provided the Board with recent pupil enrollment numbers after the first weeks of school. Mr. Donahue also updated the Board on arrangements to set up a Board – Principals meeting in the near future.

SUPERINTENDENT/DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Updates for BHS, BMS, Moccasin, Ottawa, Food Service, Information Technology, Athletic Department & Business/Operations were provided respectfully.

ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION by C. Lee, SECONDED by J. DeVlaminck, The Board of Education approves the consent agenda for the regular board meeting of September 17^th, 2018 be adopted as written:

Minutes: 8-20-2018
Warrants: August 2018 Expenditures
Transportation Retirement: Mrs. Doris Hamilton – 26 years of dedication and service to Buchanan Community Schools
Recommendations to hire as submitted by Ottawa Principal Mrs. Karin Falkenstein and Buchanan Middle School Principal Mr. Mark Kurland :

Recommended Employee	Title
Seth Day	Intervention Specialist – Dean of Students
Donna Trigg	Intervention Facilitator – Ottawa
Sharifa Williams	Paraprofessional – Ottawa

5. BHS Extracurricular Updates:

Name	Activity
Adkerson, Becky	8^th Grade Class Advisor
Frost, Melissa	Science Department Chair (4)(.5)
Carlson, Rachel	Spirit Team (.33)
Elliott (Cornelius), Jessica	Spirit Team (.33)
Cribley, Byron	Middle School Science Olympiad
DeOrnellas, Tony	Chess Club Advisor (.5)
Holok, Lisa	Spirit Team (.33)
Johansen, Erik	Chess Club Advisor (.5)
Swem, Cindy	Summer School Mentor
Eichorst, Nancy	SPED Department Chair (3)
Place, Phil	Robotics Advisor

6. Recommendation to hire new coaches as submitted by Athletic Director Mr. Lonnie Hoover:

Coach	Position	Step	Class	CAP
James Kehoe	MS Volleyball	1	7	none
Crystal Kehoe	MS Volleyball	1	7	none

7. Staff Resignations as submitted:

David Staggs – BMS Intervention Specialist
Denall Miller – Ottawa Intervention Facilitator
Jared Rusher – BHS At Risk Interventionist
Jason Kuntz – BMS Intervention Facilitator
Rebecca Vojtko – Moccasin Intervention Facilitator
Shannon Romba – Elementary Music Teacher
Billinda Wesner – Food Service

VOTE: C. Lee, D. Wentworth, K. Laesch, J. DeVlaminck, and S. Tobler NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED

ADOPTION OF BUCHANAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HANDBOOKS

MOTION by J. DeVlaminck, SECONDED by C. Lee, The Buchanan Board of Education adopts the Buchanan High School Student Handbook updates for the 2018-19 school year as presented.

VOTE: C. Lee, D. Wentworth, K. Laesch, J. DeVlaminck, and S. Tobler NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED

CROSSING GUARD SERVICE AGREEMENT

MOTION BY Member D. Wentworth, SECONDED BY Member K. Laesch, The Buchanan Board of Education approves the proposed crossing guard service agreement as agreed between the Buchanan Community Schools and City of Buchanan effective for the 2018-19 school year.

VOTE: C. Lee, D. Wentworth, K. Laesch, J. DeVlaminck, and S. Tobler NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED

CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) – RECOMMENDED MICHIGAN MERIT CURRICULUM CREDIT 2018-19

MOTION BY Member K. Laesch, SECONDED BY Member J. DeVlaminck, The Buchanan Board of Education approves the recommendation as submitted by Executive Director of Academic Services, Mrs. Karla Hurlbutt, to accept the recommended Michigan Merit Curriculum credits for the listed CTE programs 2018-19:

Automotive Technology	Culinary
Web and Design	Cosmetology
IT Academy	Sports Medicine
CISCO

VOTE: C. Lee, D. Wentworth, K. Laesch, J. DeVlaminck, and S. Tobler NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED

CLOSED SESSION – STUDENT DISCIPLINE HEARING

MOTION BY Member K. Laesch, SECONDED BY Member D. Wentworth, The Board of Education move into closed session.

VOTE: C. Lee, D. Wentworth, K. Laesch, J. DeVlaminck, and S. Tobler NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

MOTION BY Member K. Laesch, SECONDED BY Member D. Wentworth, The Board of Education return to open session.

VOTE: C. Lee, D. Wentworth, K. Laesch, J. DeVlaminck, and S. Tobler NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED

STUDENT DISCIPLINE: EXPULSION HEARING – STUDENT #525043

MOTION BY Member D. Wentworth, SECONDED BY Member K. Laesch, The Board of Education The Buchanan Board Of Education adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the administration has presented to the Board of Education, a recommendation concerning the expulsion of a student who was in violation of Buchanan School Board Policy #5530 on Wednesday, September 5^th, 2018; and

WHEREAS, the administration has notified the student and parent(s) involved of the accusations against the student, the recommendation of expulsion, and their rights to a hearing on this date;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

The Buchanan Board of Education hereby chooses to expel student #525043 from attendance in the Buchanan Community Schools effective immediately for the remainder of the 2018-19 school year with the following conditions to be met for possible reinstatement to Buchanan High School in the first semester of the 2019-20 school year:

1) Through the remainder of the 2018-19 school year, student #525043 must successfully complete current grade year while attending BVA, the Step Up Program, or another alternative setting.

2) The student must attend six sessions of counseling with an outside the school district professional (responsibility of parent/guardian) and obtain a release to report back to school from the counselor prior to re-admittance meeting with the Superintendent of the Buchanan Community Schools.

3) Upon the completion of the first two steps the student and parents/guardians must contact the Superintendent of Buchanan Community Schools to schedule a re-admittance hearing back into Buchanan Community Schools.

4) Any recommendation will be reviewed by the Buchanan School Board before a decision to reinstate student #525043 will be made.

VOTE: C. Lee, D. Wentworth, K. Laesch, J. DeVlaminck, and S. Tobler NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED

QUESTIONS & COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS

Kelly Laesch provided comments regarding Superintendent Donahue; listing initiatives and achievements:

Amazing first year
Board retreat: Assisted the Board with new processes and project learning communities (PLCs)
Always available to address concerns and stops what he is doing to find answers
End of year wrap up highlighted with a ton of accomplishments that our district is proud of and makes me (K. Laesch) proud to be a buck
Safety as priority for staff and students: initiative of new entryway for BHS (this is also the customer service issue that was mentioned during past years strategic planning)
Personnel strengthening of PD Training, staff enforcement, parking, and dress code

Dennis Wentworth provided comments on preparation of the upcoming Redbud Trail national race and Buchanan homecoming

NEXT BOARD MEETING

Regular Meeting: October 15th, 6pm @ Buchanan High School – Auditorium

ADJOURNMENT

6:45 pm