BANGOR TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION

                                                                                 WORK SESSION

                                                                               OCTOBER 15, 2003

 

The Bangor Township Board of Education held a work session on Wednesday, October 15, 200, at Christa McAuliffe Middle School.  President Kowalski called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

 

Members Present:      Richard Kowalski, George Thomas, Dawn Klida, Terrence O’Hare, John Loop, Barbara Skowronski, and Scott Sturm

 

Members Absent:        None

expressions/communications  from the public

 

Mr. Kowalski acknowledged a letter that was received from James Barcia in response to the district’s request that legislators not support HB 4820-4828 regarding consolidation of school elections.

presentation by bob jansen - michigan leadership institute
 

Mr. Jansen reviewed the process and timelines that would be used for the upcoming superintendent search.  Mr. Kowalski, with consensus of the whole Board, requested that a salary study be done to determine commensurate salaries in this area. 

 

Mr. Kowalski stated that he would also like to include the three association presidents in the superintendent selection process.  He also explained the process for receiving applications at the attorney’s office that had been followed in the past.  Mr. Jansen suggested that the applications for the position be mailed to his office and not the school attorney’s office.  A time would then be set for the applications to be brought to the Board for them to read.

 

Mr. Jansen then reviewed timelines that included an input session in December.  It was then decided that this would be done at the regular Board meeting on December 15.  Mr. Kowalski was designated as the Board contact person with Cara Barcia as the internal contact person at the Human Resource Center.  Mr. Kowalski directed Mr. Andress to give Mr. Jansen a copy of the last superintendent’s contract.

 

Mr. Jansen then reviewed dates for application deadline, reference checking, and meeting with the Board to determine candidates to be interviewed.  It was decided that the interview dates would be determined at the December 15 Board meeting.  Discussion took place about dropping the March 10, 2004, work session and having the Board meeting on March 15 so that March 10, 11, and 13 would be set up for the first round of interviews.  It was also discussed that March 16 and 17, 2004, could be set for the second interviews. 

 

Mrs. Klida asked questions regarding the screening process.  Mr. Jansen felt that the Board should read all of the applications. 

reports

 

Board Committees/Board: Mr. O’Hare reported that the Athletic Committee had held a meeting on Monday.  He distributed notes from that meeting to Board members for review.  One of the main issues of concern was that of adding bowling as an MHSAA sport.  The Athletic Committee would like this to be added for one year and reviewed before next year’s season began. He stated that a decision needed to be made by the end of this month. 

 

Mr. Kowalski asked what the cost would be for this.  Mr. O’Hare stated that the only cost would be for the actual games at the lanes if the district hosted an event. 

 

 Mr. O’Hare requested that the liability for coaches to conduct CPR/AED be reviewed with Mr. Allsopp since this had been brought up by some of the people that Jamie Stanton had trained.  Mr. Andress stated that this had already been done last year.  He will give Ms. Stanton a copy of this to distribute.

 

Original:  Mr. Kowalski asked that consideration be given to have some of the athletic work done by Jennifer Gradowski while Mr. Deming is out on medical leave.  Mr. O’Hare asked that Mr. Andress come back to the Board with recommendations if Mr. Deming is out longer than originally expected.  Mr. Andress stated that Ms. Gradowski had shown an interest in covering this position if Mr. Deming is out for an extended period of time.

 

Correction: (At a regular meeting held October 20, 2003, Mr. Kowalski stated that he did not make this comment (underlined above).  No other Board members acknowledged that they had made the comment.  The comment was deleted from the record.)

 

Mr. Thomas reported that the Personnel Committee had met earlier this evening with the BTESP Living Agreement team.  Among items discussed were the payroll and utility positions.  Mr. Andress will be coming back to the Board with recommendations on the payroll position.  A committee will be formed to discuss the utility position and bring a recommendation back to the Board.  Mr. Andress will also be bringing a recommendation back to the Board on the technician position.  Mr. Thomas said that the process of association people contacting and talking directly to Board members instead of the superintendent had been discussed.  He stated that people needed to go to the superintendent first before coming to the Board with concerns.

 

Mr. Thomas also reported that he had attended two meetings - one on October 6 sponsored by the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce at SVSU, and the Legislative Breakfast that was held on October 3.

 

Interim Superintendent: Mr. Andress distributed copies of the district’s elementary MEAP scores and compared the results to last year’s numbers.  He also reviewed the fall student count data and new legislative budget information.

 

Interim Assistant Superintendent/Director of Special Education/Title I: Mr. Heinrich reported that he and Mr. Lenar had completed reports for transportation and driver education.  He also gave a report on Inservice Day activities and Title I grant funds regarding the after-school services.

 

Director of Technology: Patty Rutkiewicz reported that the Technology Department had completed their move to Edison.  They have been gathering up and sorting old equipment in the district to use for parts, donation, or to trash.  Ms. Rutkiewicz reported that she and Mr. Phillips had met with Phil Tanner from Wakely and conducted a walk-through of all buildings regarding the fiber routing.  She is now waiting for information back from Mr. Tanner.  She also reviewed the new software “Grade Keeper” that will be used by teachers and the development of a training schedule for PDA’s.

 

Mr. Kowalski asked that Ms. Rutkiewicz provide him with information regarding the number of computers in the district and the possibility of the need for replacements.  He asked for this summary for planning and cost purposes.

 

Director of Recreation: Mr. Wetters reviewed numbers of participants in the Recreation programs.  He stated that the township will be looking at between $5,000 and $10,000 in cuts from the Recreation budget.  He also reminded the Board that last year the wrestling and swim programs had been taken out of the Middle School Athletic Program and placed into the Recreation Program.  This was a reminder for cost/budget purposes.

consent agenda

 

A motion was made by George Thomas, supported by Terrence O’Hare, to approve

the following items on the Consent Agenda:

 

a.                  Approval of Minutes: September 22 (regular meeting) and September 29 (special meeting)

b.                  Personnel: Approval of Extension to Maternity Leave of Absence: 

 

Mrs. Skowronski asked that the following correction be made to the minutes of September 22. 

 

Original:           Mrs. Tuttle reported that most of the kindergarten students were not staying all day.

 

Correction:      Mrs. Tuttle reported that most of the kindergarten students were staying all day.

 

Motion carried unanimously.

regular agenda

 

First Reading - New Board Policy/Regulation #6201 - Coaches CPR/AED Mandatory Certification/Acknowledgment of Receipt of Policy: Mrs. Klida made a motion to waive the second reading of this policy and regulation and approve these as presented.  Mr. Thomas supported this motion.  Mrs. Klida asked if these had been reviewed by Mr. Allsopp.  Mr. Andress confirmed this.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Recommendation to Approve Resolution to Enter Into a Pole License Agreement with Consumers Energy Company: Mr. Andress explained that this was part of the bond and was needed to hand the fiber optic cable.  Mr. Allsopp had expressed his concern about the liability language that was in the agreement and wanted the district to be aware of it. 

 

A motion was made by George Thomas, supported by Dawn Klida, to approve this resolution.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Recommendation to Approve Hiring a Part-Time Accompanist for Vocal Music: Mr. Andress asked that this item be tabled until the district gathers more information about potential state aid cuts. 

 

Recommendation to Hire A Full-Time John Glenn High School Math/Science Teacher Beginning Second Semester: Mr. Andress explained that the district is already paying overloads on five classes due to the increase in student enrollment.   He explained that this was more cost effective than paying the overloads.  Mr. Loop asked what impact this would have on the overloads.  Mrs. Smith stated that it would eliminate all of the overloads and give her the ability to move a few teachers without disrupting very many schedules. 

 

A motion was made by Terrence O’Hare, supported by George Thomas, to approve this recommendation.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Recommendation for Approval of Revised Job Description - Payroll Secretary:  Mr. Andress asked that this be tabled until Monday.  Suggestions by Mrs. Moore to regarding experience and education needed to be reviewed with Mr. Lenar.  Mr. Kowalski stated that he had given Mr. Andress a copy of a handout that is to go in the Board packet.

 

Recommendation to Approve 2003/04 Schools of Choice Students: A motion was made by George Thomas, supported by Terrence O’Hare, to approve these students.  Motion carried unanimously.

other items for discussion

 

Mr. Kowalski asked that the Board members consider the committee structure and discuss this at the next work session.  This would involve posting committee meetings as open meetings. 

 

Mr. Kowalski asked if Mr. Thomas wanted to report on the Board self-evaluation that had been done.  Mr. Thomas stated that this was only for the Board members to see.  Mr. O’Hare stated that he would like to see how staff members would rate the Board.  Mr. Thomas stated that he and Mr. Loop had discussed this and, if the Board agreed, it could be done in the future.  Mr. Kowalski also gave Mr. Andress the go-ahead to share this with staff at different levels.

 

Dawn Klida thanked Jamie Stanton for all of her work on the CPR/AED Policy.  She also complimented Mr. Balash and his maintenance staff for coming to Jamie to have the training done also.

 

Mrs. Skowronski said that the new “Bobcat Roar” was exceptionally well done.  She asked that Board members be given copies.

 

Mrs. Skowronski asked, in light of the problems in Essexville Schools regarding a volunteer who had molested a child, if Bangor had a procedure to do background checks and fingerprinting on our volunteers.  Mr. Andress stated that this process had been discussed before, but not instituted because of the expense.  Mr. Loop suggested doing a check using the state police web site.  Mr. Andress stated that the principals do check the sex offenders web site.  Mr. Kowalski asked Mr. Andress to check with Mr. Allsopp for minimum requirements.  Mr. Heinrich stated that last year the principals agreed to do their best not to put volunteers in charge of or alone with students.  Mrs. Klida said that she thought that the district had developed its own form and asked if everybody was using it.  Mr. Heinrich stated that it is not used all of the time.  Mrs. Klida felt that it should be policy that no one can work with students until they fill out this form.  Mr. Andress said that he would have a copy of this form for the next meeting.

 

Mr. Thomas asked about the suggestion to restructure the committees.  He asked that the Board consider going back to a work session where items are only discussed and business being conducted on items only at a regular meeting.

 

Mr. Kowalski felt that decisions needed to be made as soon as possible on some items, but he did not have a problem either way.  Mr. Thomas felt that discussion should take place at the work session only.  Mr. Loop felt that problems could arise with open committee meetings when the Personnel Committee would be negotiating or if discussion took place about personnel items.

 

Mr. Andress had discussed this with Mr. Dewey from the ISD.  Mr. Dewey suggested that he contact Mr. Robert Thrun from the attorney’s office in Lansing for his input before a decision is made.

 

Mrs. Klida did not feel that business should be conducted in committees. 

 

Mr. Kowalski suggested changing the meeting times to 7:00 p.m.  Mr. Andress also suggested having the meetings every two weeks

 

Mr. O’Hare expressed his concern that if a a four-member committee met and made a decision on an item, three Board members would not have the information or chance for input.  Mr. Kowalski asked that Mr. Andress come up with a suggestion for changes.

 

Mrs. Skowronski made a motion to change the Board meeting times to 7:00 p.m. beginning with the November meetings.  Mrs. Klida suggested that Mr. Andress check with Board policy before a decision is made on changing times or days.  Mr. Kowalski asked that this motion be tabled until Monday.