BANGOR TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION

                                                                                MINUTES OF THE

                                                                             SEPTEMBER 22, 2004

                                                                                 WORK SESSION

 

Members Present:      Richard Kowalski, Dawn Klida, Barbara Skowronski, Terrence O’Hare, John Loop, Patrick Shaffer, Scott Sturm

Members Absent:       None.

 

President Kowalski called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

communications/expressions from the public

 

None.

election consolidation presentation - janet santos, bangor township clerk

 

Mrs. Santos reviewed information concerning recent election consolidation legislation and the process that needed to take place to establish a school election date.  Mrs. Klida asked about the time needed to notify the community of the public hearing that is required before the Board designates an official election date.  Mrs. Santos did not think a specific time frame was noted, but thought it would be whatever Board policy currently is.

 

Mrs. Santos was asked what the township cost of an election might be.  She thought it was approximately $15,000.  Mrs. Klida asked Mr. Lenar if he had an estimate of costs for an election when the school district has held them in the past.  Mr. Lenar’s estimate was approximately $7,000.

 

Mr. Kowalski asked Mrs. Santos and Mr. Lenar to get cost information back to the Board before a final decision on a date is made. 

 

Mr. Lenar said that one consideration is the 18-mill renewable tax that needed to be voted on in order to collect summer taxes next year.  That election needed to take place before June 1, 2005.  He said this was a factor to be considered.

 

Mr. Kowalski asked if the Board could change the date in the future if it initially chose May for the election.  Mrs. Santos replied “yes.”  If the Board defaults to the November election, the date can never be changed.

reports

 

Board Committees/Members: Mrs. Klida reported that the Personnel Committee would be meeting with the BTEA Living Agreement team next week to set parameters for upcoming negotiations.

 

Financial Consultant: Mr. Lenar reported that today was the official student count day.  He will be supplying numbers to the Board as early as Monday, and will get budget information as soon as the student numbers are more solid.

 

Mr. Lenar reviewed recent changes in tax collection that were passed by the House.  He also informed the Board that the student count proration had changed to 75%/25%.  He said that there is talk in Lansing about possible changes in state aid of $25 to $50 per pupil. 

 

He also reported that he has worked with Barb Welskop on information for the auditors and hopes to bring the auditors report to the Board in October or November for approval.  Mr. Kowalski asked what the annual salary was for the auditors and how long the contract was for.  Mr. Lenar informed him that the contract was for $7-8,000 per year for three years. 

 

Mr. Lenar reviewed the process being taken to solicit bids for state aid borrowing. 

 

A resolution is on the agenda later this evening requesting approval to move ahead with the borrowing procedure.  The bids would be due October 4 by

11:00 a.m. 

 

Director of Buildings and Grounds: Mr. Balash referred the construction update report to Don Hager from Wakely.  Mr. Hager gave an update on the stadium and fiber projects, as well as upcoming phases for next year. 

 

Mr. Kowalski asked if the CMMS staff would be debriefed for information that would be useful next year with the John Glenn project.  Mr. Hager said that he had not done a formal sit down, but had gotten lists from the principals on items that had been noticed.  Mr. Loop said that he had talked to the custodians that had some ideas.  They need to be debriefed, as well as discussion taking place about organization for moving things around while construction is going on.  Mr. Hager suggested that one person be designated to take care of this.  Mr. Kowalski asked that the principals get back with the staff members in the next quarter about what may have been done differently.

 

Mrs. Klida asked that all of the problems get resolved.  She also mentioned that Mr. Ruhlig had not been invited to a recent meeting regarding athletic facilities.  Mr. Loop said that he was there, but he had hear about it - he had not been invited.

 

Mr. Balash said that he had gotten a response from Mr. Ruhlig that he would be there.  Debbie Gubbins had contacted Mr. Ruhlig about this meeting.

 

Mr. Hager then distributed copies of a change order.  Mr. Kowalski asked about the recent problem with the chiller at Bangor West.  Mr. Balash said that adjustment were made and the chiller was brought back up today.  He said there is a minor problem that needs to be addressed.  Mr. Hager reviewed the change order log.  Mr. Loop inquired about the “Little Giant.”  Mr. Hager said that it was the condenser pump.  The information provided by the manufacturer was incorrect.  They said they would give us new pumps, but without installation.  The contractor was directed to install the pumps as they were designed.  Mr. Loop said that the mistake was the manufacturer’s fault due to incorrect information and incompetence.  The district should not compromise due to their error.  He asked Mr. Hager if he had the original information that had been faulty.  Mr. Hager said that he did.

 

Assistant Superintendent/Director of Special Education/Federal Programs: 

Mr. Heinrich reviewed information regarding copier equipment and costs that the district has incurred over the past few years.  He also discussed updated paper costs and maintenance of the current machines.  He said that the district could realize an annual savings of approximately $78,000.  He also distributed information that covered what surrounding districts do about copying.  He reviewed the specific abilities of the machines, and said that he would like to bring a recommendation to the Board next Monday.

 

Mr. Shaffer said that he appreciated the work Mr. Heinrich had done on this and bringing back more realistic numbers.

 

Mr. Heinrich reported that, due to a couple of very high-needs students the district will have to accommodate, he would recommend hiring another special education teacher at the middle school.  Mr. Heinrich had reviewed the possibility of a consortium for high-needs students with other superintendents in the ISD, but the other superintendents had not come to a consensus on this.  Mr. Dewey reviewed

 

the politics of the situation with Mr. Heinrich.  The northern districts felt that students would have to travel quite a distance and were not in favor of the idea.  Mr. Dewey told Mr. Heinrich that the ISD would do whatever they could to help and that didn’t happen.  Mr. Heinrich also said that Bay City Schools is not interested in selling any seats to Bangor for students.  He said that these were very difficult students who have been in and out of hospitals.  He asked that the Board let him add a special education position at the middle school, and distributed copies of a ratio of special education students per teacher over the past few years. 

 

Mr. Kowalski asked what the cost might be.  Mr. Heinrich estimated between $60-$70,000.  He was just asking to post the position at this time.  He said that there was someone doing the work for the district now on an hourly basis.  Mr. Kowalski said that, basically, this would take the savings from the copiers.  Mr. Lenar said that, regardless of the cost, the service had to be provided. 

 

Mr. Heinrich also distributed copies of a Medicaid report on receivables. 

 

Mr. Heinrich said that there is a problem regarding the shop equipment at John Glenn.  Mr. Allsopp had given him information regarding sale of the equipment, but there could be a certain risk.  Mr. Heinrich reviewed two options. One would be to scrap the equipment that was not usable and sell it to a scrap dealer, or the second would be to look for a retailer who buys old equipment to refurbish and move it on.  He would have a recommendation to the Board on Monday. 

 

Mr. Shaffer asked if a list of the equipment they wanted to get rid of would be made.  Mr. Heinrich said that had already been done.

 

Superintendent: Mr. Heinrich reported for the superintendent during his update.

 

At this time Mr. Kowalski introduced Shawn Byron, the new education reporter for the Bay City Times.

 

consent agenda

A motion was made by Dawn Klida, supported by Terrence O’Hare, to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

a.                  Approval of Minutes: August 23, 2004 (regular meeting)

b.                  Personnel:  Approval of Retirement: Carol Doyle - Bangor Central Teacher.  Approval of Teacher Tenure: Diana LaPrairie, Angela Miller, Brenda Biggs - CMMS Teachers. 

Mr. Kowalski asked that the following correction be made.  He said that the Board had asked administrators to develop a policy regarding placement of district students over Schools of Choice students.  This is to be placed in the minutes.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

action items

 

Recommendation to Approve Borrowing Resolution for 2004/05 Cash Flow:  A motion was made by Dawn Klida, supported by Terrence O’Hare, to approve this recommendation.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Recommendation to Add A 10-Hour Custodial Position: Mr. Balash explained that, with the additional space at Bangor Central, more custodial time was needed in that building.  The 10-hour position would be split between the HRC and Bangor Edison.  Mr. Kowalski asked if this is in the budget.  Mr. Lenar reviewed the budget regarding this item. 

 

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

 

Recommendation to Hire CMMS Lunch Detention Aide - Dawn Schwab: Mr. Heinrich clarified the information regarding this position.  He said that it was in the budget last year and also the current budget.  There would be no new cost to the district. 

 

A motion was made by Dawn Klida, supported by Scott Sturm, to approve this recommendation.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Recommendation to Approve School Trip: CMMS 8th Grade - Chicago - May 5 & 6, 2005: Angela Miller, CMMS teacher, reviewed the specifics regarding the trip.  A motion was made by Terrence O’Hare, supported by Dawn Klida, to approve this recommendation.  Motion carried unanimously.

other items for discussion

 

None.

At 8:15 p.m. a motion was made by Terrence O’Hare, supported by Barbara Skowronski, to adjourn the meeting.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Barbara Skowronski

Secretary