This meeting is a meeting of the board of education and public for the purpose of conducting the school district's business and is not to be considered a public community meeting. This meeting is an in-person meeting held at 870 Kfax here in Benton Harbor. In addition, a live stream of this meeting is available
at the following link. Questions may be submitted beforehand to Natalie.bhas.org or presented in person during the public comment section as indicated in the agenda. Board members may be contacted through the emails listed below. Requests for special assistance, including for persons with
disability, may be sent to Natalie. Singerbas.org. I call this meeting to order officially at 607 p.m. We'll begin by reciting the pledge of allegiance. Pledge algiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Miss Singer, in the absence of Secretary Triplet, can you please call the role? President Robinson, present. by
President Bowens present. Secretary Triplet, Treasurer Bradley, Trustee Rocket Martin present. Trustee Gavin present. Trustee
Doyle. Madame President, a quorum has been established. Thank you. Let the record show that Secretary Triplet is on premises. He just had to step out for a second. And so, Miss Singer, if you could please Nate to uh take note of when he returns to the boardroom, that would be amazing. First item of
business, we have approval of the agenda. Um, as you all are aware, this is our work session this evening. We do have a close session um actually two close sessions feasible for today. Um, one is with Tron Law
Firm. U Mr. Delano is present. The other is with um Mcuire Morris which is um insured or provided through middle alliance. That particular attorney is not available or present today. So I wanted to see whether or not um the
board is wanting to go into that closed session as well with that legal opinion. I think he plans to be here um at the next board meeting if you all want to review that as well or if you prefer to review when he's present. Madame
President, I know it's a closed session, but the second one, so it's pertaining to previous litigation that we had. Oh, so there is a uh an opinion that is available today. If we'd like to view it, if you all
would prefer prefer to wait until that attorney is in person, I would like to give you that option. We can review it and ask for the attorney to come back and keep coming back in May regardless. Okay. I don't see a problem. Personally, I don't want to speak for my colleagues.
All right. I'm willing to wait for the attorney. Trusty Gavin, I would like I guess uh what did Vice President um Bowen say? Review it now and then also meet with the attorney. Okay. So, we can plan to have um it'll
be I was asking I'm sorry. Is that So, we I have no objection to us reviewing in advance as long I was asking. Is that what he said? Yeah. Oh, yes. He said we could view he would be into viewing now and then also speaking with the attorney
leger. Okay. Okay. I'm in agreement with that. All right. So, is there a motion to approve the agenda? Madam President, you have the floor. I make a motion that we approve the agenda as is. Is there a second? Go ahead. Madam President, we
did discuss a cut off time. I have every intention of uh meeting that. Okay. do. Okay. Thank you. If you would like um in the absence of my other committee members for policy, we can defer the first reading of those policies until
our regular board meeting. Um can we also table the policy and HR committee? The policy and HR committee. Yes. You mean the the HR committee section? Yes, please. So, you're making a motion to
amend the agenda with um removal or postponing of the first reading in the HR committee section. Well, we do need to get rid of those readings, don't we? I mean, we do need to do those, right? Yeah, it's just the first reading. So, if it's if I have no
objection if we defer it until the regular board meeting, I won't be present, but I anticipate Doyle and Bradley will. Okay. Yes. Can we do that, please? Okay. So currently on the floor we have a motion to approve the agenda with the amendment of removal of the first read first reading of policies
9160 8315 etc as well as removal of the HR committee section including staff report H1. That was the only thing that they had in their section for today. Is there a second I support? So right now what we have is an approval
of the agenda with the amendment to remove the first reading for the noted policies as well as the human resource committee section. The only thing that the human resource committee had on there for their work session was staff report H1 and that's a direct request from the chair to remove that section.
So is there a motion to uh the motion has been made by Vice President Bowens. Is there a second or support? All right. The motion has been made by Vice President Bowens and supported by Secretary Triplet. Any questions, comments, and concerns? President Robinson. Yes. I'm just
curious. It looks like a new hire. Um just wondering why we wouldn't go ahead and hire this person and then or look at least look at the information about hiring the person. and the policy
reads. We don't have to read them out loud, do we? It's just you making note of those policies for us to review them until the next meeting, right? So, it would be us running through the policies and then it would just be going over the
name for staff report H1. My recommendation is that you as chair, since you're here, I would rather go over them quickly and get any input from you. Being that you wouldn't be at the next meeting, I have no no objection.
It's whatever the board's pleasure is. Currently, we have a motion on the floor. So, either uh Vice President Bowens can withdraw his motion or we can just take a vote with the current motion in place. Okay. So, Trustee Avenue, so you're wanting me to amend. She just wants to approve it as is. Okay. I will
withdraw my resolution and amend the you withdraw your amended motion. Okay. And vote as is. I will say that um with us, the HR with the human resources, we're not actually voting on
that today until May. Correct. Correct. And the HR committee, we have not um met. That's why I was just saying, can we do that? But if you guys want to go through it, I do support whatever the board cons. All right. So, currently the motion is on the floor to approve the
agenda as is. Secretary Tripley, would you provide the support to that? All right. Any questions, comments, concerns? Hearing none. Secretary Triplet, can you please call the vote? President Robinson, yes. Vice President
Bowen, yes. Secretary Triplet, yes. Trustee Rocket Martin, yes. Trustee Gavin, yes. Motion carried. All right. Up next on the agenda, we have review of the board of education norms. The board of education norms for Benton Harvard
area schools. We will treat each other with respect. We will listen to learn. We will refrain from side conversations. We will use our time wisely, starting and ending our meetings on time. We will challenge ideas not people. We will ask questions when in doubt. We there will be no surprises at the board table. We
will practice the seven norms of collaboration. And those are pausing, paraphrasing, posing questions, putting ideas on the table, providing data, paying attention to self and others, and presuming positive intentions. Next on the agenda is public comment on agenda items. Is there anyone
present for a comment on an agenda item? Okay. So, I'll go ahead and read you the public comment statement. The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education recognized the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on district matters.
Today, there are two areas for comment on the agenda, of which you may decide when to speak, public comment on agenda items, and open public comment. We request that each interested participant complete a public participation form losing leg using legible writing to ensure that responses are appropriate
and properly focused per Harvard area schools bylaw 0167.3 which governs board participation at board meetings. We request that you preface your comments with your name, address, and group affiliation when appropriate. Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to a three-minute duration and pearl bylaws. No participant may speak
more than once on the same topic until any other persons have had the opportunity to speak on that topic. Participants may remove their mask when addressing the board. Participants shall direct all comments to the board and not to staff or other participants. The board will listen and take comments and question under advisement and not
respond at this time. I as president will refer questions to the superintendent for research and response. Please ensure that your public participation form includes your contact information as requested. If you have specific questions for the board or executive team that require followup, please email those directly to
natalie.singerbas.org. You have the floor. The Ben Harbor Area School has failed my children. I'm going start with my first child. My first child came here and has graduated four years ago. um he was sent off to college with not having three core classes to even be able to be
eligible for college. Okay? And I was told then not to say nothing because it's going to make matters worse. Okay? So I let it go. Now I have another child here in Ben Harbor High and I assured that I mean I trusted y'all again to bring my other child back to Ben Harbor
cuz all my kids went to Baron Springs. So, I come to Ben Harbor High with my second child and he's a a good kid as well. Um, but a situation happened in basketball. Okay. And my son was kicked out of
school and I was assured that he was not going to be punished any behind other than being kicked out of school. So, he got 10 days and then he got kicked out of school to go to a cake school for bad kids, I guess. Not sure, but I really
feel like this is triple punishment cuz now he's being charged with assault. When I was told that he wasn't going to be charged for an assault, so the school board was or not the school board, it was handled. So now he's being charged for an assault. So this is three punishments. He got kicked out of school
for 10 days. I was told that he was not going to be behind on his grades. It was that the grades started dropping drastically. On top of that, when we was coming to get school work, it was getting lost. It was never always available for my son. So, he was starting to fail before he even got able
to be into Kate. I really felt like that like, okay, I was told not to even bring it to the board because it's going to make matters worse. I was, you know, making matters worse. Felt like this, he says this is a win. This is not a win for my child. My
son is suffering. He's not he's not handling the well being out of school. And it's just it's hard. And I don't feel like that everybody was understood the situation. My son was did what he did. Yes. And I'm not excusing what he did. I'm not excusing what I
what I did for myself. But as a parent, I'm going to always protect my 10 toes down no matter what. And so now I'm here talking to y'all about the situation that my son is handling right now. He's not doing well. I feel like he should be put back in
school, which is okay that no one decides that. You know, he they said that this is the best for him, but it's not the best for him. He's been now wait for to go for an assault and he might get this assault. So, he been punished three times. He got kicked out of school. He's back in this in this
cake thing that he don't talk to no teachers. He don't he ain't talking to nobody. Nobody reaches out but through email. And it's just to me just to say that he has a test. Nobody else is know the act the principal didn't know about the the meeting him being kicked out
like it it's like it didn't go through protocol. I don't know what the protocol is but it went it didn't go through the principal. He didn't had no knowledge of it. Then we go straight to the superintendent. He want to talk to his lawyer like we should have had a lawyer or something there to help us if that's
the case. Yeah. You can't. Okay. So, at the end of the day, everybody have been hard for how high failed my son as well as I did because it started from they say kids is bad or and it start from home, but I have managed to raise three boys to men. Two
of them graduate from college this year. on honors honor roll and my middle my baby boy he was here on honor roles he was not a bad kid his first first defense he he he's he's not a kid that roam the halls he liked going to school
he wasn't a bad a kid that talked back to the students or I mean to the adults he respected everybody I raised some great kids all three of them top to bottom by myself and for my son to be feeling to feel the way he feel like nobody is on
his side. That's not right. So soon as I take him out of this school district, it's going to be like, "Oh, she just took him out of the school district because she running from it." I'm not running from nothing. I feel like I'm he's being failed and I'm failing him allowing him to come to this school and allow people to treat him the way he's
being treated. Nobody is speaking upon the situation that happened and everybody seemed like my son just did something because he lost the game. But that ain't had nothing to do with the situation. If you anybody watch that video, that video showed that that man and Gabbit turned around and approached my child and I'm going to stand 10 toes no matter what. Ma'am, please wrap up
your comment. My comments? Mhm. Okay. See what else I got to say. Wrap up my comments. I just feel like this was a terrible punishment. He shouldn't have to get three times the punishment when there's other kids that does the stuff
the same thing. and and come back to school. And I just feel like nobody is on his side and nobody even talking about being on his side. And it's always my fault because I don't come I don't do what I supposed to do. But when people don't address that the situation, you
let it go and you sweeping under the rug and keep going and keep going and nothing changes. I'm not sure. Did I miss your name at the start? I don't even think I said my name. My name is Donna Johnson. My son name is Latrell Johnson.
Thank you. Anyone else for uh public comment on agenda items? All right. Hearing none, we'll proceed. Next up, we have approval of meeting minutes. As a reminder, this is a work session. In our regular board meeting, we will be taking vote on close
session 31125, regular session 4825, and close session 4825. Are there any noted uh amendments to either a minutes at this time? If not, I'd ask that the board take a deep dive into those and then we'll be prepared to take vote in our upcoming regular board
meeting. Madame President, yes. Um, I do want us to start making sure that I know we it's may be a long documentation, but we can have public record of the board member
comments in our meeting minutes because this is a public document and we're voting. It's, and I hope you guys understand what I'm stating. It just says board members made closing statements. So noted,
madam. Secretary Tri. So what we're asking is when we get these me when we get these minutes um for clarification purposes uh Vice President Bowen when we get these minutes what is being said at
the table for comments and what is being said from the board of education need to be documented in our meeting in our minutes so that when we refer back to our minutes we will have a summary because right now as is we don't have
this information um in the in the in the actual minute. So, we probably have to go back into the the recording of the minute, I mean of the meeting and put and summarize what was specifically said by like Miss Johnson, what she said today should be
documented in our minute for documentation purposes. All right. If there's no other clarifications from the board, we'll proceed. So, make sure you look over those with a fine tooth comb. If there's any other noted amendments or adjustments that need to be made, we want to ensure they're ready to take
we're ready to take vote on those in our upcoming May regular board meeting. Um, moving along on the agenda reminder pro protocol as of 9:13 2022, all comments will be limited to two minutes per trustee per
topic. Next, we have board business. Our first item of business um is a presentation from Hazard Young AIA and Associates and you have the floor. Greetings. It's indeed a pleasure to be
here. Thank you so much for having me. I have two other colleagues that I'm working with and uh I am representing them uh this evening as I come and speak on behalf of Hazard Young AIA and Associates. I there was some information that uh I was asked to provide. The
first has to do with comparables between what HYA offers and what the other firms offer. I will I've given you that information that is not an official document because I can't speak on behalf of other firms and so I'm looking at
their information and just based on what I see so that you know that um you know this is how it looks to me but I can't say for sure. They may say something different, but I did the best I could in looking at all of the information to let you know what we are offering and what
it looks like they are offering. I would say that uh what HYA has to offer is indeed comparable if not at a higher level than what the other firms uh are offering and uh we felt very confident in what is taking place. We also uh
provided for your review a letter of agreement because before we can go into uh actual work and we want to start that as soon as possible, we need to have an agreement between the school district, the school board and Hazard Young and AS
saying this is what we're looking to receive. So that is information is there for your perusal and as soon as I can get uh signatures on that then we will move forward and we're ready to start now. So and I know that there's an
urgency about all of this but we want to be thorough in what we do and we want to um interview as many people and have as many conversations as we can as we are working on this. Any questions about the comparables? Um I do have a question from from your
um research. Is that what you've seen from their website or from the proposals that we were provided? From the proposals that were provided. Yes. I just don't want to interpret someone else's work and say that it means this or it means that. I know what HYA's work
means, but based on what we saw from the proposals, this is the way it looks. Okay. And so just to give us some clarity, are you seeing an opportunity for price matching or are you communicating that there isn't? I don't think there is an opportunity for price
matching. I think what we have to offer and the guarantees that we have are definitely uh you know at or above the level of the other firms that present it to you. So I think that um you would be in good hands and definitely the value
for what you would be getting is there with HYA. Okay. And then there were a couple questions that I um did receive from the board for you in advance. Were you planning to speak to those? Okay, you can proceed. Definitely. Okay. One
question had to do with uh networking capabilities and the procedures that HYA uses to check the backgrounds of those candidates that we refer to school board. You will see that uh in the information that uh the board has an
option for. We do our own checking, but then we have more indepth checking that the board can agree to. And usually that's with the finalist or with the two or three finalists for the uh position where you do a deep dive into their
background. And if you take a look at uh the comparables, uh I indicated in there what those two levels are. One is a standard due diligence. The other one is a uh more comprehensive due diligence where we go into uh really checking into
social security, their background, looking at um any uh lawsuits or anything else that may be related to that particular um candidate. So we that gives you an opportunity and most districts at least with a finalist you
will do a deep dive into what that person is bringing to the table and in some instances the boards will look at uh if they're between a couple of candidates they will want the information on both. So you can see that for the simple or the not as involved or
lack of not being a comprehensive study that that's 1100 and the other one is 1900 and usually you're looking at the finalist when you're looking at all of that information to find out and that one includes the comprehensive includes social media as well as uh all other
sources before you even get to this when we are bringing candidates to you. We have had conversations with not only the references they list, but also we know a lot of people that they know and so we are talking to people who are not listed
as references because everybody lists their uh people who are favorites of theirs or who will say good things about them. We don't stop there. We go deeper than that. our network which is a national network. We know people all over the country that we work with and
they know candidates all over the country. So I can pick up the phone and call and say what can you tell me about this candidate etc. So we're able to get that information. Okay. Um longevity for
superintendent. uh are have have we worked with boards who have had issues with superintendents and what type of services are offered to strengthen the board superintendent relationships? Yes, we have. I don't think there's anybody who has not worked
with uh some district where there may be a rift between the superintendent and board. And we want the situation or we want the work between the superintendent and the board to be positive. And so that means sometimes getting a mentor
for the superintendent. You know, we'll get mentors for teachers. We'll get mentors for other people, but sometimes we don't think about getting a mentor for the superintendent. And I will tell you those superintendents who have had mentors have benefited from that and helped them to get through some rough
spots so that they can be successful. Also I in addition to my colleagues have done board superintendent relationship training with a number of districts where we work with the board and we identify what are the expectations of
the board for the superintendent. what's the superintendent's expectation from the board and then how do we do some spot checks to see are we doing what we said we were going to do. So that's really important that we are establishing expectations and monitoring
how we're doing. Any other questions regarding that? But that's not uncommon that there are some. But you want to really nip it in the bud as soon as possible and not wait until things just continue to erode.
Okay. Uh so mentoring, training, uh the question was and goal setting. Goal setting is really important. Uh we many times we'll set goals for the superintendent, but do we set goals for the board? So if we know that the board
has some areas that it needs to work on, goals need to be set for the board and monitoring how is the board doing with those goals. So those are all a part of uh what tends to go on and increases longevity when you're having the conversations up front. Expectations
clear on expectations so that uh nobody is guessing well I thought you wanted me to do this or I thought you wanted me to do that. No, what are the expectations? Let's be clear. Let's have them in writing and then we know that we'll be successful. Uh the last question uh the
board uh developed is superintendent profile and most recent meet at most recent meetings. Uh explain how this will benefit the search as it relates to do reducing the time frame. Anything that the board has already done can definitely be taken
into consideration. And as we take a look at the search process, it can be as long or as short as the board wants it to be, but we want it to be thorough. So, we don't want to rush through anything where basically it's like, oops, we didn't do this, we should have
done that. We want to be sure that we cover all the bases, that we ask all the questions that we're hearing from uh the constituents. you know people when they are involved in the process then they are much more likely to respect the process and support the process. So we
want to hear from as many constituents as possible so that uh people feel that they have uh been heard. Um let's see. So what you have done can definitely be used but there may be some other areas that uh also will need to be covered to
be sure that we're being clear and transparent. And as we talk with candidates, we don't want any surprises about what the board is looking for. We want them to know upfront that uh this is what the board said and this is what the board is looking for in its next
superintendent. I know you talked about academics as being an area of concern. You also talked about uh some of the uh social emotional and some other areas. So, we want to be sure that as we're building this profile that those areas are included and there may be some
others that you come up with and we can even give you some ideas if you need those. Okay. So, to that was um my question to to go a little bit more in detail. So we um in 2019 were in the same we utilized a search process then
and so there we did the community forums and things of that nature and there was a profile that was developed in that season and so what the board did was went through that particular profile to determine if there were any changes or alterations that we want to make and we already know what that looks like. Um,
so I guess my question is there's a period that's from April 29th through May 14th that's that's um developing a profile that we've already voted on. So I'm wondering if we're able to alleviate that wind that twoe window there. We can
do that. Okay. I think you just want to be sure that uh your community and others, you know, know that you're using information that you obtained from the last uh search and uh that that's what you're going on so that we're not maybe having as many conversations, etc. as
you did before. So definitely this is the board's search. This is not HYA's search. So whatever it is you want, however you want to do this, we can follow through. Okay. Okay. Um any question? Uh you can continue if you have more but I can open
it up for more. Uh that is basically it. Uh we want to get started as soon as possible with the advertising. HYA has uh an extensive website where we list not only the searches that we're doing but also searches that other firms are
doing so that they come to our search engine and they are able to see everybody who's listed even though they may not have been aware of your position. So we are very thorough. We also have a booth at all national conferences uh that are education
related so that people come over and can ask us about what positions are available etc. So that's a part of our advertising and how we uh make people aware of the district and that the position is available. All right, any questions from the board table at this
time? Trusty Gavin. Thank you, President Robinson. Um again, I want to thank you for coming. Um, the deciding factor for me or one of the deciding factors for me was your dashboard and the ability for
the board to be able to review uh the the transparency for the board to be able to review the applicants. Um, just wondering if you could talk a little bit about that process. How soon um after um candidates start applying will we be
able to access that information and yeah, how would that go? Well, and I contacted someone yesterday about that setting it up so that uh once we get that signed letter of agreement, we're ready to go. And so the board will give you the password, the board will have
access to uh that portal. So therefore, that will be immediate as soon as we get the information. So um definitely not a problem. So, if you started posting tomorrow, I know that there's a process, but if you started posting tomorrow and
a candidate puts their information in within the few days, we would be able to see those. Okay, great. Yes. Thank you. I think we just really, you know, just with the whole confidentiality piece, we want to be sure that we're not violating
anyone's confidentiality because the board, this portal is for the board. It's not for the community. So we want to be sure that um you know people's names are not released or things along that lines. So but yes, so as soon as uh so I told them after I leave from this
meeting and once I do get the signed letter of agreement that we're ready to move forward with that. Awesome. Thank you. Okay. Any other questions from the board? Secretary uh Secretary Triblin and Vice President Barnes. Well, I don't know if you watched the
meeting last week. Yes, I did. want to apologize. No, I said, who is that mass man? No, I didn't. Yeah, but I mean, you know, for me, this is this has been something, you know, that we're familiar
with. And one of the frustrations of our community is the fact that we're at this stage again. And so, you know, as boards come and as boards change and what have you, situations and circumstances,
uh, oftent times for me, it seems like there these search committees or these search firm that help you look for your superintendent. All of these firms are directly or indirectly connected to one
another. There's a group of people that they have. they have connection with people in the state and all of these different things. And so for me, I was telling our president that it was very nervous about that, you know, because this is a very very serious matter. So
we're not just sitting up here um as a board that, you know, we we we have uh some board members who wanted to go another way. You know, what we go through and select our own superintendent. all of those, you know, some things that we're when when you
guys are doing this type of work for us, the the I guess the thing is this and I think that kind of stood out with me and made me be able to using the process of elimination to say that this this looked unfamiliar. It
doesn't look like the uh business as usual type organization. You did look like one of our staff members, Cindy Goodson. And I did say, you know, a lot of times when they come to a district, I don't know what people always say, like ours, they put a black face in the
front. And so, you know, okay, a black school district, we're going to put this black representative up here and this person we're going to have. And then when we get into the work, it's something completely different, right? I will tell you that um I pride myself on the work that I do. I take this very
seriously and I will tell you knowing that this is Benton Harbor and knowing where I grew up which is in a district very similar to this and also knowing where I served as superintendent. My last district uh I was there for eight years as superintendent and uh basically
it was primarily Hispanic and it was the district the first district in the state of Illinois to be taken over by the state due to finances. And so when I came in, the uh board didn't believe or didn't know if I could come in and do
the work that needed to be done. And so I adopted a theme of sit back and watch us soar. We're going places. And sure enough, we had kids from that district who ended up going to Yale, ended up going to other Ivy League schools, etc.,
where nobody believed in them and believed that they can do it. So, I have a passion for districts like this where kids have not been successful and where people have perhaps had a black eye on the district. So, I am determined to do everything I can and to find the very
best candidates who can do the work. Not just talk the talk, but walk the walk. All right, we have Vice President Bowen's next. Thank you. Um, I got a quick question. I, you know, I'm a researcher and I researched your company. and I went on your website. I
see that you just did a superintendent search with Milwaukee public schools, but also I did some research and I seen that it was an issue in finding a superintendent for Memphis public
schools or in San Die not San Diego, San Diego if you look at the article April 28th of 2018 that it was some history. Have you how has your success been in
making sure that you guys do get candidates? Because I've seen, you know, it's good and bad reviews. I'm just being honest. That's the world we live in. And it's some success and some not. What is your success rate individually in making sure the schools that you work
with get a qualified superintendent? I think, thank you so much for asking that question. And I think it relates to not only just getting the superintendent, but keeping in mind, as I said, the board selects the superintendent. We bring the board
candidates and sometimes the board may select a candidate that I may feel that oh, I really think they should have gone with another candidate. But um also in selecting the candidate, what happens after that candidate is identified? So
what type of work is being done between the superintendent and the board to increase the likelihood of success rather than seeing that the district is not going to be or the superintendent is not going to be successful. So some of the areas I talked about earlier as far
as training uh and sometimes districts decide to do it through the state association other times they decide to do it through hya or get other people to do the training for them. How are we supporting the superintendent? Success
requires support on both sides and really so that we're coming together and we're communicating so that we can avoid some of those pitfalls. So, I'm invested in that and if that's something that the board wants, then we're definitely willing to be a part of the solution.
But it takes more than just hiring the superintendent because a superintendent may be have been good in another district and then come here and not experience a success and you wonder well what happened why is that not the case so it's got to be that there is some
work being done along the way. So thank you. The reason I asked for example John Chancellor he was the former EMU in Michigan then he went to Kansas City public schools. Um, for example, I'm getting ready to
buy a car and I'm looking on Carvana and I'm seeing all of these recommendations, but when you look at the work history where he quit two different superintendent jobs, but he was recommended, that's what I'm worried about. Like, we can get a good resume and a good book, but then
when you open that cover and you read it, you're like, this isn't. And I think you have to ask yourself um was the fit right for him in those other places? Is the fit right for him in whatever district he may be in now? Because here again, I talk to
people all the time. I just talked to someone who had been not a superintendent but a central office administrator. Uh in the last couple of weeks, she was recommended to give me a call so that I could have a conversation with her about what she needs to do. And she may have difficulty getting a
superintendent seat. So, I think that uh like I said, we want to do as much work up front and try to create uh a venue for success rather than waiting until after someone fails. And then we want to do our homework up front and selecting a
person and knowing that this person has the characteristics that we're looking for and is able to do the work that we're identifying. But with means being transparent as we talk about uh being trans the board being needs to be transparent and the candidate needs to
be transparent because if the person is walking into something that they had no idea that they were walking into that's going to be a problem. So, are we letting them know and are they up to the challenge? And uh being a superintendent today, especially in some struggling
districts, is a challenge, but the work can be done and I'm witness that the work can be done and a district can be moved forward. Thank you, Trusty. Rock mine. Yes. Um I appreciate the fact of the background check. I tell you why.
because I I remember uh being in the teachers union at this time and we got a letter we got a new superintendent and we got a letter from the previous district a sympathy card and said you have our deepest sympathy on the
superintendent that you're getting and so um I don't want that to happen to us again. Yes. Uh, I want to make sure that, you know, you guys go to the place where they actually work, talk to the people that they actually supervise
because many people put wonderful things on their resumes and they can talk a good game in interviews, but when you really get down to the nitty-gritty of their career, they're they they're in lawsuits or they're um had been fired or
whatever. So, as long as we can get that part taken care of, I'm a happy camper. Yes. And we will definitely do that. Um, I received a call um this past week regarding a candidate for a superintendent position. And here again,
somebody who just really shines in an interview. But uh basically I said to the consultant who was with our firm, you need to call this person and talk to them and see what they have to say. And
they did call that person and they received it was more than just the show that had been put on that. There were some concerns and in fact I even contacted someone else as I was driving here who I know used to work for that person and I said would you recommend
and she said no. So therefore um you know you have to you do have to dig deep and it's not just the references that are given but it's also who else really knows this person has worked with them etc and you want to get to those people.
Okay. I have a couple questions for you. One of the things that we really appreciated was the guarantee that you provided regarding um us parting ways with the superintendent within the first year or as far as within the two years of majority of the board is in place. I
would like some clarification on what a due diligence expense is. That's the uh in-depth background check you have um and the comparables that I gave to you. that talks about uh what it is that we do and uh it's really the in-depth
background check that I talked about where we look at social security number any aliases just look at everything in detail and we have a third party company that does that who has the expertise in looking deep into all of that information. So that's what the due
diligence is. And even though there's a cost involved with that and the standard due diligence is $1,100. The comprehensive, which we suggest for superintendent finalists, is $1,900. But it is definitely worth it because they
go into everything and so that nothing is missed, social media as well as uh every other area. Okay. My second question um is pertaining to the additional on-site consulting days build at
2500. Is that are there standard consulting days within these the fee that we're paying? So that's if there's additional work that we require. Okay. Yes. And then the the third question that I had is pertaining to item um E recruitment of other positions. If the
board employs an HYA recruited candidate within one year of the close of the superintendent search in addition to the position of superintendent, 10% of the base salary will be due to HYA for the recruitment of said candidate. So is that in a sense of if we just choose to hire someone that we find through you?
What if that person uh chooses to apply on their own and we hire them? Right. If you hire someone who is um you already have someone under contract and you decide to hire someone else, is that what you're asking me or? So your um
what your verbiage says in the contract recruitment of other positions. If the board employs an HYA recruited candidate within one year of the close of the superintendent search in addition to the position of superintendent, 10% of the base salary will be due to HYA for the
recruitment of said candidate. So I took that to mean that if you present a candidate to us for the position of superintendent and we in turn hire them as assistant superintendent then we owe you 10% of their base salary. And so my question is is that only if we choose to
appoint that person like what if they on their own regard choose to apply within a for a an alternative position within a year. Do we still owe you 10% of the base salary? No. It would be if the board recruits someone and decides to hire someone based on your efforts. Yes.
Okay. Any other questions? Uh would you be the contact person for this entire process? Yes, I am. Okay. Yes. Yes. I'm the lead on this search. So, I'm looking forward to doing it and excited about the possibilities. Okay.
The last question that I have as it relates to um transparency with the public, I can provide you with the with the profile that we um developed. I'm even open to opening a window of a community survey or something to that
extent. Maybe doing a press release gearing people to give us that feedback so we can get some input. I just don't want us to take, you know, 30 days or 3 weeks to develop something when we know exactly what it is we're looking for. Definitely. And uh, you know, so that is
not a problem. So, whatever you have, we can definitely use. And if you want to have some input from the community or anyone else on what already exists, we can deal with that. But whatever it's up to the board. This is the board's search. So, what the board wants is how
we will follow through. Secretary Triplet. So when you look at what we um pulled together um at things that we were looking for um or what we would be looking for some of the areas that we really really wanted
emphasis placed upon um do you all also look at those and based on your experience in the role of searching for a superintendent do you add some things? Do you make some
recommendations because there might be areas that we've missed that you you all feel that we should look at these particular areas based on what we've already presented? Yes, we will uh give you recommendations. So, we will take a
look at what you have. If we see that there's some gaps, we'll want to know what have you thought about this or would you like to add this that or the other? So, that definitely can be done. Okay. So, if there's no other questions from the board at this time, I would
like to thank you. Go ahead. You have one more. Your name is Miss Collins. Dr. Collins. Constance Collins. Connie Collins. Whatever you want to call me is fine. Dr. Collins. Yes. Dr. Collins. I just have one question. Yes. Can we
trust you? Yes. Yes, you can. Yes, you can. Definitely, without a doubt. you know, I wouldn't I shouldn't be in the job and doing the work that I'm doing if I cannot be trusted. So, uh the confidentiality is between the board and
I will hear again as I say it becomes important that board members are not going outside of the board having conversations about things that happen in close session etc. So, trust goes both ways and so therefore uh that is not a problem.
Thank you so much. It's been great being here and I'll look to hear from uh because one of the things we need to do right away is to identify a board liaison who who is usually the board president who whenever there's some quick decisions that or questions that need to be asked I can come to her and
then the person who is going to be responsible for uh sending out invitations or anything that needs to take place and I would assume that that would be Natalie but I'm not taking anything for granted but as soon as we can finalize that and then uh if you
don't feel that it's necessary for us to interview the individual board members because that is something that we usually do we basically we can go with whatever you have okay so we have I will be the leazison miss singer would be the backup to send out the invitations we do
have a superintendent search committee that I appointed last week and that is secretary triplet and trustee rocket Martin yes um and I didn't give rationale for their appointments last week to the board I normally don't indicate why I've appointed but they are the two board members that have the most
years in education serving as uh teachers and educators but also as administrators the most um years of service within Harvard area schools as well. I think each of them have somewhere around 30 to 40 years of experience in this field. So I thought that they would be great to serve on the
search committee. Yes. Um, so if there are some times where we need to have quicker meetings um before something is brought to the board, if it's not just something that's myself, they would be assisting me with that as well. No problem at all. And if there are opportunities for us to use um virtual
meetings at any time, then we're definitely open to that so that we can move things along and try to get things accomplished. But uh I have no problem uh driving here and meeting with you uh whether it's a committee, a group, or whoever it is that you would like for me
to meet with. Okay. Thank you. It's my pleasure. Thank you. So, we did take the vote to appoint you all last week, but we wanted to officially invite you back to speak with us in case there was any clarifications that the board needed. So, I will be um signing your letter of agreement and getting that over to you.
I don't know if you have a hard copy handy this evening before you leave. I don't have a hard copy with me. I don't think I do, but uh we will send it to you. Okay. And you get it right right away. My new best friend over there. So,
who answers all the questions. So, yes, we'll take care of that right away. All right. Awesome. Thank you so much. Thank you. Sure. It's a pleasure, Secretary Triplet. What you missed um when you stepped out is that she actually went to school with Trusty Rocket Martin. Trusty Raine didn't
realize it because of the last name um on the presentation. So they they know each other. I told her, "Your vote doesn't count." It was a conflict of interest, but she didn't realize that's who she was voting for. So she's very excited to reconnect with her
was Stephanie Luc. Yes, it was. And y'all went to school in Gary Was y'all horsemen of what? West side. What were you? Gary Roosevelt's Oh, Arthur Arthur Arthur Crump, one of
our well reowned former administrators. Mr. Crump was a graduate of Roosevelt High School in Gary. Yeah. All right. So, thank you so much. Look forward to connecting with you and receiving your guidance and um very exciting. So, we're
going to proceed with our meeting agenda. Up next, we have a closed session. The board of education may hold a close session to consider materials such as written opinions of council which are exempt from discussion by state or federal statute, reference
number policy 0167.2F. As I clarified in the beginning, we have um two separate opinions. So we'll be entering close session but but it will be two separate opinions. The first is from um Trune Law Firm. We have attorney
Delano here who is stepping in for attorney Gardner and then the second um is an opinion from McGra Morris PC and that is concerning um middle alliance. So I'm going to state those issues separately so that it's clear that
there's two separate opinions of council and then we'll proceed. So, um, first I'm requesting a motion that the board of education convene and close section under section 81H of the open meetings act to consider a letter from its attorneys dated April 22nd, 2025 for the
reason that the letter is exempt from disclosure under state law due to attorney client. And then the second item for closed business is pertaining to case number 123-CV-0134. Madame President, you have the floor. I
make a motion that we go into close session to discuss the two motions that you just stated. All right. Let me the two the two close session matters that you just stated. Is there a second or support? Support. The motion has been made by Vice President Bowens and
supported by Trustee Gavin. Any questions, comments, or concerns? Hearing none. Secretary Triplet. President Robinson. Yes. Vice President Bowens, yes. Secretary Triplet, yes.
Trustee Rocket Martin, yes. Trustee Gavin, yes. Motion carried. All right. So, the board will first have a closed session with uh Tron Law Firm as noted and then the second uh closed session will be with um
to receive the opinion from Morris BC concerning case 1 23-CV- 01340. We are ending open session and entering close session as a 7:02 p.m. Oh, thank you, President Robinson. Yes.
Vice President Bowens, yes. Secretary Triplet, yes. Trusty Rocket Martin, yes. Trusty Gavin, yes. Motion carry. All right. Awesome. Um, so we are back into open session as of 8:17 p.m. At this
particular time, I'll ask if there is a motion from the board to amend the agenda to include board of education motions B1 and board education motion B2 allow for the votes. I move. Is there a second? Second. The
motion has been made by Secretary Triplin and supported by Trustee Cavin. Any questions, comments, or concerns? Madame President, um to our uh esteemed administrative assistant, we need to add these two pieces to our um count if at
all possible. Thank you. All right, Secretary Triplet, please call the vote. President Robinson, yes. Vice President Bowens, yes. Secretary Triplet, yes. Trusty Rocket Martin, yes. Trustee Gavin, yes. Motion carry. It's
so good to hear the mic though. All right. So, up first we have as amended um to allow for votes this evening. First up, we have board of education motion B1. At this time, I'll ask if there is a motion to authorize the board president to coordinate with legal counsel and take all necessary and
appropriate steps to retain a third party firm to investigate employee complaints, including a whistleblower complaint filed with the district or to otherwise resolve the complaint. Madame President, you have the floor. I make a motion to approve the resolution that you just stated. Is there a second
or support? Support. The motion has been made by Vice President Bowens and supported by Trusty Gavin. Any questions, comments, or concerns? Hearing none. Secretary Triplet. Robinson. Yes. Vice President Bowens.
Yes. Secretary Triplet. Yes. Trusty Ra Martin. Yes. Trusty Gavin. Yes. Motion carry. Okay. All right. Next up, board of education motion B2. At this time, I'll ask, is there a motion to direct Superintendent
Kelvin Buts to confer with and obtain prior approval from the board president before acting on all district disciplinary and administrative matters? Madame President, you have the floor. I make a motion that we approve the resolution that you just stated. Is there a second or support? Support. The
motion has been made by Vice President Bournes and supported by Trustee Gavin. Any questions, comments, or concerns? Hearing none. Secretary Triplet. President Robinson. Yes. Vice President Bowens. Yes. Secretary Triplet. Yes.
Trustee Rocket Martin. No. Trustee Gavin. Yes. Motion carried. All right. So, at this particular time, the board is going to take a quick break and we are going to go to recess. I do want to clarify that the board of education only
held the closed session with uh our attorney from Tron Law Firm. We will defer the close session with McGuall Morris PC for the next uh board meeting when the attorney is present. So, we'll take a brief recess at this time and the
board will return at 8:30 p.m. Thank you. Tech is in the building. All right, we're returning from recess as of 8:33 p.m. All right, so next up on the agenda, we have our policy and discipline committee. Madam President,
yes. Um, we I would like to make a resolution that we amend the agenda. A motion to amend the agenda. Okay. to a amend the agenda. You have the floor. I would like for us to remove section 3 policy and discipline
committee. Okay. Is there so that's the only adjustment you the HR committee. All right. So trustee superintendent number seven superintendent. Okay. and number V um
sorry finance five finance and um facilities. Okay. Um so you're trying to remove everything but uh curriculum. We'll be you said that there are no um
Okay. Yes. everything but but finance we have I want to keep curriculum but we'll be brief we'll be very brief okay so essentially the motion is being made to remove uh policy and discipline committee facilities and finance operations committee and human resources
committee as well as superintendent so the only major item of business would be the curriculum and student support services committee item is there a second or support uh Superintendent Buzz has has conferred with uh Vice President Bowen's
recommendation. Is there a second or support from the board? Support. The motion has been made by Vice President Bowens and supported by Trustee Gavin. Any questions, comments, or concerns? Madame President, you have the floor. I would like to the the
finance and facilities finance is something critical. I'm not sure exactly everybody read what's in there, what's going to be presented from the finance, but if it's not something that is urgent other than our um director giving us the
information, but I think we should. So, Dr. Buzz has indicated it could be a a small committee being that no decision is made, he could have a a setalone meeting with the finance and facilities committee and then they can just provide an update to the board at the regular board meeting. Fine. All right. If
there's no other questions or concerns, as well as policy and discipline, we were just scheduled to do our first reading. We'll do our first reading um in the next regular board meeting. Vice President Bowens will lead that. I mean, Treasurer Bradley will lead that. Um and
then we will do we can just plan that that will be a vote that we take in our Maywork session meeting where I will be president. All right. If there's no other questions or comments, Secretary Triplet, can you please call the vote for the amendment of the agenda as noted? President Robinson, yes. Vice
President Bowen, yes. Secretary Triplet, yes. Trusty Rocket Martin, Trusty Gavin, yes. Motion carried. All right. So, I would like for the board of education to commit to reading through the policies thoroughly um so that the first reading
can be done um at our regular board meeting. the second reading and the official vote will take place in our May work session. So with the noted uh amendment to the agenda up next we have the curriculum and student support committee work session agenda
and that is going to be led by chair Gavin. Thank you President Robinson. I'm going to turn it over to Director Couch. We just want to draw your attention to the goals that were requested. Special
education has goals that are linked on the agenda. Student support services also has goals linked on the agenda and teaching and learning has goals. Uh there is a link to the state testing completion rates. Uh this will be
updated frequently. I would like to give a big shout out to fourth and fifth grade at Fairplane East for having over 95% of their students tested with ELA. as well as a big shout out to the high
school with 100% of 9th graders tested with PSAT and 96% of the 10th graders completed testing with PSAT 10 and and we have 96% of our juniors
completed with SAT also. Amazing. There are other very good numbers on there, but that's very exciting. 95% is the requirement for the state for the percentage of students to complete the assessments. We still have a few
more weeks in our testing window, but PSAT and SAT window closes before the MSTEP window closes. Uh the other two things to draw your attention to is um there has been um questions and conversation at the board table in
regards to field trips. Um our CTE director Wilson has done an excellent job of coordinating the field trips. That link that is on the agenda for the district field trips as of 422 shows you all of the field trips that our students
have had opportunities to attend all school year, not just the ones that are out of state or overnight. And there is a significant number of those trips and a very wide variety. So, we really wanted to share that so that the school board has the opportunity to know um
where our kids are going and what kinds of learning experiences they're having. With that said, we do have to finish out the school year um six more outofstate andor overnight trips. The three that are linked on the agenda um were placed
I'm sorry on the committee agenda were placed here because they were not completed by the end of the workday and so the staff reports were not created but they will move over to the agenda for the regular session. Um but your documents are there to review between
now and then. Um so the high school is taking students to fair state. The middle school is taking students to the Museum of Science and Industry and also Padawatami Zoo. Then on the work session agenda, the high school band is
performing at the Southbend Parade. MLK is taking students to the Field Museum and the high school, definitely check that out. They are taking students on a civil rights tour down south and that will be really incredible. So, we wanted
to make sure that you had all of those documents so that you could review those before we get to the regular session. Thank you so much, Director Cup. I'm really excited. I love it when we get aligned with our goals. So, I'll be um really interested we I'm sure we'll all
be really interested in uh reviewing the goals of each of each of the departments and then just kind of tracking how we're meeting those goals along the way. And I'm a visual person, so I appreciate having that. Uh I'm sure uh Trusty Duo will also appreciate having um a list of
all of the field trips. It's something that we will be able to kind of approve on the front end and talking to um director Brock Carter that will also help us with uh getting grants as well. So excited about that and congratulations to everybody who helped
make sure that testing uh was a success. And I'll turn it over to Secretary Triplet. Um thank you Madam Chairman. So, do we have all of the trips for the remaining for the remainder of the school year from all of our schools?
Yes, that was the goal. After the last board meeting and a review of title one to make sure anything that had been previously budgeted, we did communicate with all six buildings and any of the outofstate and overnight trips are accounted for here today for the
remainder of the school year. So with the with the state testing, I know that the window is still open for high school um and MSTEP, right? When is the final day for us to reach uh for us to possibly reach 100%. If you give me just
one second, I can give you the exact date. And while you're looking, is there anything is there a plan of action as it relates to making sure that this those students who are excuse me in that cohort that
they're being sought after to to make sure that they are tested? I know that it is uh it's not about mastery. It's about that they actually done the test. Dr. Bus, maybe you can help me with that. Is there are there any any plans
in place? Yes, sir. The counseling the counseling team is working on uh working with the students to make sure that uh they they get all the the things that they need, all the content they need. They're also working on putting those students on PCs, personal curriculums to make sure that if they're taking another
class, if they have those standards and those strands correlate, then that that credit can count. Great. Thank you so much, Doc. You're very welcome. Any other questions from other board? Are you still waiting? No. No. Thank you. Thank you. Um,
Chairman Gavin, any other questions from other board members? No. Uh the other thing I did want to I know that um director um Bernick did Dr. Bernick did come out and if you wanted to share
something regard you're good. Okay. Didn't want to waste your time. Um but the links are here in our curriculum committee notes for you to review about uh special education about the student support services uh driver's education
working to uh build the schedule for July. Um there is a a a change for uh the last 10 minutes we allow for public comments on curriculum committee issues. And so I don't see anyone in the public
but that is something that we um embedded in our um section. And so uh that's it for us. Really excited. Uh looks like director coach had one more thing she wanted to share. I found the dates. Um, Secretary
Triplet, you wanted the the windows for each one of those tests. I mean, just when is it the the absolute when it has to be that they still have it? You guys still have access to materials? I know materials have to be shipped out at a specific time. So, PSAT ends at the end
of this week. MSTEP continues on until 5:16. Um, ACT work keys ends at the end of this week. So, when we look at MSTEP, we have about three more weeks and PSAT,
SAT, and ACT needs to be finished this week. So, they're pushing very hard to get all those students tested. Those junior tests must be completed by tomorrow. I mean, by Friday. Yes, the junior SAT and ACT, but the junior
MSTEP, they still have three weeks for that. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you so much, uh, Director Cups and your entire team. Um, thank you to all of our staff. And I'll turn it over to you, um, President Robinson. Okay. So, I
do want to direct the board of education's attention to staff report C1, C2, and C4. Is there an anticipated C3? Was there a reason that that number was uh skipped? Director
Cubs, is there a C3 that was removed or should there shall there be a C3 in the next meeting? There will be a C3. It's one of the high school um field trips and they were not ready for that form to be previewed, but it is
now ready and it's linked on the curriculum committee agenda. Okay. So, just a a point of clarification for the board, you will be asked to take a vote on staff report C1 regarding the Benton Harbor High School band South Band parade performance. That uh total cost
is 79814. Um you also have staff report C2 regarding the MLK field trip on May 30th of 2025. And then additionally you have um the noted fair state fair state field
trip which will be C3 and then the Benton Harbor High School civil rights tour which will be staff of course C4. I'm asking that the board of education does um if you could send out there there will also be C5 and C6 and I can send those out in the morning. Okay. I'm
asking that the board take a look at those in advance if you have any questions that you need to ask uh the superintendent prior to the regular board meeting. That will be helpful um because you'll have your first policy reading um as well as the finance and
facilities update. And so we want to just make sure that we don't get um stuck in question asking regarding those field trips. So, if you all could look at those in advance, send your questions in advance. That way, you'll be able to move a little bit quicker through your regular board meeting. Um, we removed
facilities and finance. They'll have a separate meeting. Uh, we also removed human resources committee and superintendent. Um, as it relates to old business, we know that we had the um hya
representative Dr. Collins here today. So, I will be collaborating and connecting with her to uh get the agreement signed so we can get that process. And then after having more of a concise conversation with her, I will follow up with the board as to whether or not we're going to do a community
survey on the profile that we've developed so that we at least have a window of opportunity for the public to give us feedback on that. But I'm hoping that with us um getting that done, we're able to cut down at least about three to four weeks in the process as previously
outlined. Um I don't have any other old business at this time. Um Secretary Triplin and Trusty Gavin. Madam, um did we we did discuss and I know this might be a committee uh thing where we need to get those names
in and get those people in as soon as possible. So if we can get on top of that, you know, for people that was a part of the strategic plan group of people, um, also that would include our directors would be will be added to that
list when we talk about the superintendent and what we look. So we because we already have a nuclear but we need to get those names in the for people that we want to add that we feel should be at the table like as soon as possible so that we can contact those people and that will be a great conversation because once we sign the
contract we can have uh Miss um Dr. Collins Dr. Collins I'm sorry Dr. college to come in and their team come in and have that discussion, you know, with that group of people because it'll be led by led by you from basically the
same format because those people did make a commitment and and have some some foundation, you know. So, understood. Yeah. And we can get that done quickly and at least give them a week notice and bam, we back in it. They're in it. We've got a group of people from across the
community versus sending out surveys only 12 people answer. Understood. You know, so we can do both. Yeah. As well, and we can do that even if it's a date. If we do a even if it's an evening that the full board cannot attend, as long as we have the four of us present and give
the the public an opportunity to give that feedback, we should be able to get that done rather quickly. And also, um, another way to move quickly is with our school principal. Our school principles have parent, they have, uh, many of our schools have parents that come into their schools and work with them on a
regular basis. so they can identify a core group of parents from each one of their school, you know, see if they can get them there as well. And so now we got a large community group of people that's at the table. Correct. Okay. Thank you, Trusty Gavin. Um I'm
wondering how soon we can um let that superintendent search uh committee work group know what would be asked of them in terms of time wise and commitment. So I I think that I will have to so I'm going to get the profile signed tomorrow
and sent to director Collins, I mean Dr. Collins, and then I can get that clarified from her so that she can identify for me the cuz she has on the schedule some of the work group options and community forum options that she has and I can u mention that group to her. I
can't I can't remember if we mentioned that group while she was here and I'll be able to give you a response on that. Thank you. The um two more things. The student um I'm not saying our student um board members representatives and I'm
not sure if they only come to the regular meetings if they come to the workg group meetings but I'm wondering if they know Dr. regular meetings the regular meetings. Okay. So I'm wondering if they know that they can submit names. Also, you know, I'm not sure if it's fair to tell them that they have to have
they have to choose a certain class. You know, that's a maybe an offline conversation we can have about their autonomy of who they would want to uh represent that group. Um, and then the other is our training. Have we decided
when we would have a training to make up for the one that we're not having today? So, we'll have one definitely the work session in May. Um, that fourth Tuesday of May. Um, Treasurer Bradley confirmed that he would be here the end of May. I
think that he will possibly be able to come in on that Monday. for certain we'll do the Tuesday and I'll see if I can of course squeeze in one, but depending on his availability to come in Monday evening, we may be able to do one Monday evening and one Tuesday if that
works for the board and get them both knocked out before the end of the month. Okay, thank you so much. Okay, give me one second. So, just a reminder to the board, we did ask that everyone give us their names. I can't remember if it was by Friday or
this upcoming Friday. Was it last Friday? This upcoming Friday. So, if you all could give me your updated names by this Friday, that would be great. That way I can have um Miss Singer will have the information and I can put together an email um with Dr. Collins to send out
to that group to invite them to said meeting as well as kind of explain how we're planning to use them during the superintendent search process. But I do need your updated contacts to do that and that's due by this Friday. Um do we have the list? Did you send us that? I sent it to you in in the
Excel document. Okay. Okay. Um, I did notice that Treasurer Bradley has already sent out an email to the finance and facilities committee to let them know your availability for meeting to go over your items that we didn't discuss this week so that you all can be prepared to guide us through that
conversation in the regular board meeting. Also, um, just a reminder to the board, I will be in Seattle that week. Vice President Bournes will have to chair in my absence, but I'm the only person that I believe will be absent. So, we should have six people um
available at the regular board meeting. All right. Up next, we I don't have anything for new business at this time. Um there's no one present for open public comments, so we'll proceed to superintendent announcements and comments. Dr. Buts.
Yes, ma'am. Um, at this time I have no announcements or comments. All right, Vice President Bowens. Well, no, I'm sorry. Uh, Trusty Gavin, I was quick. Just want to thank um everybody who came out. I'm excited that
um it looks like the board is aligned on our um search team and excited about that piece. I'm very grateful to see the innovations with the um curriculum
committee. Um I think when you all get an opportunity to see that field trip list, how it's colorcoded, how it's identifying, you know, what each of the groups are doing, where they're going. A lot of times people say that we don't do
field trips, but when you see that list, you can see that there are quite a few field trips going on throughout the district. and it'll give us an opportunity to really showcase what we're doing with our students. So, just really grateful for this meeting and this time. I don't have much else to say
other than I really do feel like we're getting to a point where we're working together. Um, we are listening to each other, we're growing together, and I believe that the best is yet to come. Thank you. Thank you, Trusty Rocket
Martin. Uh, No comment. All right. Up next we have Secretary Triplet. Um, Madame President, I have no comment. Vice President Bowens. Madame President,
I have a comment. Um, I'm so excited that we were able to talk to Miss Collins and hear what she um had to say about her superintendent search. I remind the
public and my fellow board members that we are in a season of transition and just as season changes. Um it will be unique and an opportunity. Um and I just want to read you something that's motivational. It's
one of my favorite quotes. I can bet you guys already know it. If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the wood, keep going. If they're shouting after you, keep going. Don't ever stop. Keep going. If you want to
taste the freedom, keep going. So to my listeners, to us in Bitten Harbor area schools, we must keep going. No matter what's hindering us, what's stopping us, and what the naysayers are saying, we must keep going. And I like that
superintendent um when she said her comment. I just believe that we need to keep going no matter what they say. Budget cuts. Also, um, Bearing Lisa just got $12 million in a grant to recruit and retain male teachers. So, I don't know, Madam President, if you want to
reach out to see or the logistics of that. Is that just for Bearing Reese or is that for Bearing County as a whole that's interested to learn? So, um, that's it. Um, I'm looking forward to seeing you guys next week or the week after, sorry. All right. So, I'll be
brief. Um, thank you all for the meeting this evening and also being flexible with the amendments to the agenda to ensure that uh the board and our staff are able to get out here get out of here this evening timely.
Um, as stated, I will not be here at the regular board meeting. So, as much leg work and homework as you all can do ahead of time to ensure that we're prepared to get through that meeting swiftly, I'm sure Vice President Bowens will greatly appreciate that as he has a
responsibility to chair. Um, I will follow up with the board of education with the things noted as it relates to the superintendent search. And then lastly, just want to ensure that everyone knows that my number one priority um as a president is to ensure that the
district is unified as it relates to the best interest of our students and our staff. Um and my number one priority is to protect the district and that includes our students, our staff, our superintendent and the board of education. And so I appreciate um you
all support and patience with me as I make effort to do so. So with that being said, I ask is there a motion to adjurnn? Is there a second or support? Support. The motion has been made by Secretary Triplet and supported by Vice President Bowens. Any questions,
comments, or concerns? Hearing none. Secretary Triplet. President Robinson, yes. Vice President Bowen, yes. Secretary Triplet, yes. Trusty Rocket Martin, yes. Trusty Gavin, yes. Motion carried.
All right. So, our meeting is adjourned officially at 9:00 p.m. Have a great night.