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. Thank you, Madame Secretary. I'm going
to ask for you to call the role. She will be acting as our secretary today because our secretary is absent. President Robinson, Vice President Bowen,
Secretary Triplet, Treasurer Bradley, Trustee Rocket Martin, present. Trustee Elnora, present. Trustee Angela Doyle, present.
Thank you. Thank you. May we have an approval of the agenda, please? I move that we approve the agenda. Can you hear me? I second the motion. Okay. Yes. So, TR, we have a motion placed on
the floor for approval by Trustee Gavin, second by Trustee Rakette. I would like to make a minor amendment to the agenda and trustee Gavin would like to make an amendment. I would like to um place the
um the field trips in a consent agreement, a consent calendar. Okay. So, Trustee Gavin is wanting to make the field trips under curriculum and student support services
um under a consent. So what that means that we would vote for them all at one time. Correct. Yes. Staff report C1 through C5. Thank you. Mr. Marquette, do you support that
amendment to the resolution? Absolutely. Thank you. Madam Secretary, can you please call the the vote? Vice President Bowen. Yes. Here's a com. Trusty Rocket Martin. Yes. Trusty Gavin,
yes. Trusty Doyle, yes. Motion carries. Okay. Thank you. We will now review our board norms. The Bitten Harbor area school board of education norms are 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 and not people. We will ask questions when in doubt. There will be no surprises at the B board table. And we will practice the
seven norms of collaboration. Those seven norms of collaboration are pausing, paraphrasing, posing questions, putting ideas on the table, providing data, paying attention to self and others, and pursuing positive intentions.
Do we have anyone that would like to do any public comment on agenda items? Anything dealing with the agenda? Any public comments? Being none, we will now go to the approval of meeting minutes from
31125 pending receipt. Did we get that yet? No, we have not received that one yet, right? So, let's cross the 31125 out, but the regular session of
4825, the close session of 4825, the special session of 41725, the work session of 4225, and the close session of 4225. That we Mr. President Madam
I move that we accept the minutes um of the of the minutes that you just read. I move that we accept those second and it's been approved by a motion was put on the floor by trustee Rat and it was second by trustee Gavin. I'm just looking and please pardon me.
I'm a little under the weather so if I sound lost please forgive me. Do you guys see the close session? Says pending receipt. I'm sorry. What' you say? 4825 says pending receipt. Receipt. In
other words, yes, but I'm not seeing close session 422. Okay. So, we shouldn't really be voting on that because we don't have it. with with the exception of the closed sessions. Yes. So, do you want to redo your motion?
Okay. I'll refrain my motion. I move that we talking to the mic. Sorry. I I I Okay. I move that we accept the the minutes as read except for the closed sessions, the pending receipts if they're not present. Okay. I
apologize. They are present. I see 422. It was the one that we did not see and that was the March. Okay. that I'll let my f first motion stand. Okay. Trusty Gavin, do you still support that? Hasn't changed. So, we're good, right? Yes.
Madam Secretary, is there any questions or comments? Madam Secretary, can you please call for the vote? Vice President Bowen. Yes. Trustee Rocket Martin. Yes. Trusty Gavin. Yes. Trusty Doyle. Yes. Motion
carried. Okay. Thank you. Now that leads us to board business. We have a presentation by Tower Tayer Incorporated and then after that we will be going into close
session. You the floor is yours. Hi, good evening. I just wanted to have a moment um and let you know we just concluded um our fourth kids in the kitchen um event and uh today we were at MLK. I have a guest
chef, Brian Rens. He's going to speak a little bit about what the dish was. So the dinner that we made for you tonight, it's the same thing that we served at lunch for the elementary. Um we had a very successful day. The kids enjoyed the dish, but they and he'll explain more, but they also did boba tea. So, we
had um we had them try different bobas and we had a great time with the kids. So, I just wanted to um just say hello and just let you know what we had done today. But he's going to tell you a bit about the dish and then I've got um some information that we passed out to the third graders and then I'll give it to the principal to give to the other
grades as well. But just to show you as a little connection to help the kids kind of understand more about the Philippines um and where the food came from. Okay. Thank you. I'd like to introduce Chef Brian Ren. Hello. Hello. Thanks for letting me come and do some
cooking here today. I did have a wonderful time at the elementary school. You know, when the kids come up to you and start hugging you, you know you did okay, right? So, it's a beautiful thing. So, Taher, we go on international trips, one trip every year. I have been
fortunate to be on 22 with the company. I've been with Taher for 25 years. Um, two years ago we went to the Philippines in Taiwan, which is where we got this dish from. We take cooking classes when we go there. And this is what we do. We either uh like to do a kids in the
kitchen or we like to do a chef on display. And today we did both. So the meal that you're having is a Filipino skewer called Penoy. P I N O Y. And it has garlic, rice, and then the
vegetables. We just needed some color. So that isn't Philippines. That's butter, peppers, deliciousness. So, um, but, uh, the kids really enjoyed it. And, uh, I think, um, I can't thank you
enough for letting us be a part of your community. And, uh, if there's anything Tahara can do for you, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. I'm leaving, but I was going to open it up to the floor. You guys, do you have
any questions or ladies? Sorry. Any questions? Well, we just want to say, okay, I just want to commend you for your efforts. Um yesterday I did have the privilege of of seeing them prep
because of my club but uh everything is authentic. It is authentic. So thank you. Thank you for doing what you do for us. Awesome. Thank you. Just my gohead. Just extending my uh gratitudes and
appreciation for you coming and also working with our children. I like that extra piece. I know that they're excited about it. I know they were excited that they were playing middle. So, yeah, thank you for that. Thank you for exposing our young people
to different culinary cultures around the world. Um, you know, my personal experience last year, I bought someone from Africa and we did it right in my front yard and they had a goosey and stuff I never heard of. It wasn't my cup
of tea, but it was something different. So, I'm always excited when our young people are exposed to different things. So, thank you so much. Yeah, definitely connects people, right? And and I always thank you. We the kids always enjoy the different experiences
that you bring. So, thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Have a great day. Thanks. This now leads to section B. The board of education may hold a close session to consider material such
as written opinions of council which are exempt for discussion by state or federal statute reference policy 0167.2. Is there a motion on the floor for us to go into close session? Vice President, I so move that
we go into close session. A motion has been made by Trustee Doyle. Is there a second? Second. And it's been second by Trustee Gavin. Any questions or concerns? Huh? It's just going to be us. Yes, it's
going to be us. And we have an Is Was that an attorney? Yes. That is an attorney. Okay. And then we have an Yes. Okay. Yes. Okay. So, at this moment, can we do call for a vote
to go into close session? Yes. Trusty Martin? Yes. Trusty Gavin? Yes. Trusty Doyle? Yes. Motion carried. or wait. Okay. Thank you so much. Is there a motion to amend our
agenda? Vice President Bones, I make a motion to amend the agenda to move the close session to the um bottom of the agenda right
before right before old business. Trusty Gab made a motion to move our close session to old business. Is there a second? Second. It's been second by trustee Doyle. Is there any questions or comments? Can I call for the vote,
please, Madam President? Vice President Bowen. Secretary. Yes. Trusty Rocket Martin. Yes. Trusty Gavin. Yes. Trusty Doyle. Yes. Motion carried. Thank you. That leads us to the
next agenda item is our superintendent search update. The superintendent search job posting. The board has hired Hazard Young and ETA and Associates to conduct the search. The position has been posted on both the Bitten Harbor area schools
and HYA website. It has also been added to the MSP jobs posted on the site and will automatically post to the following association job sites. MASA, MASA,
Michigan, MASSP, MASB, MEMSPA. The position deadline, the PO the position deadline is May 20th of 2025. We will have several focus groups which will be held with the staff and general public on Wednesday, March 14th,
2025. All of these meetings are in person at the Bitten Harbor High School new student comments. 3:00 p.m. for secondary level staff, 400 p.m. for elementary level staff, and 5:30 p.m. for community, parent, student, alumni,
and faith leaders. On Saturday, May 17th, there will be a special meeting. The superintendent search workg group special board meeting will be held Saturday, May 17th at 9:00 a.m. The agenda is forthcoming.
Um should the fellow board members please check your emails for a May 12th 2025 email from Dr. Collins regarding the board portal. You will find the proposal engage and recruit phase documents and the applications received in the board portal at this time. Is
there any questions or concerns? I do have a just a concern. Uh there has been some comment that there's some type of payw wall or subscription for applicants and I was
told that there isn't a cost but there's something going on with the site that is causing applicants to think that. And so hopefully um applicants will if they're listening will contact HA uh to help
walk them through that because there is no fee for applying for the position. Thank you for noting that. And what I will do is she's I will reach out to Natalie cuz you're like the liaison with the search
firm to make sure there's no payw wall or if they can rectify that immediately. Thank you. Thank you. Is there any other questions or concerns? Being no more questions or concerns, we will now lead to policy and discipline.
And Trustee Doyle, is that your committee? It is. Okay. Um I'm not sure what to do with it. Well, we I can support. So, Trusty Gavin has
is going to support. Yes. And talk about it. We've already been assigned to read these policies and we they've been publicized. So, do you want to chime in, trusty government? Yes, I will just I will support. So, this is our first reading
and we do not have to read through this here in this space um from my understanding. But it is our responsibility to read through these on our own as a first reading and take this
time if there's any questions or comments or concerns. We can voice them now or we can voice them um in between now and the second reading. But there has to be two readings before we can approve them. Um did you have It looks
like Dr. Buzz wanted to share something. Yes, ma'am. I was just going to add on to what you were saying that for this time it's the first reading. It was just recommended uh typically recommended that you take these policies, read them and make your your corrections at the
work session. We can go we can further discuss them and have them voted on by the next board meeting. Okay. Thank you very much. So, please make sure you read these 12 policies and if you have any specific questions or recommendations
for amendments um now between now and that next work session within two weeks would be the best time to voice those concerns and I will turn it over to you uh Vice President Bowen. Okay. I'm going to read the policies just so it can stay on
public record that we're reading the names. Okay. Um, policy 9160 is public attendance at school events. Policy 8315, information management. Policy
7540.04, staff technology use. Policy 7540. 03 student educational technology acceptable use and safety. Policy 3130, assignment and transfer. Policy
2410, prohibation of prohibitation of referral or assistance rescended. Policy 8531, free and reduced price meals revised. Policy 8305, information
security technical correction. Policy 7217, weapons, new revised. Policy 23 71, I'm sorry, 2370.01, online blended learning program revised. Policy
6321, new school construction renovation. I think we all probably need to read that one. Policy 6520, payroll deductions. So, just want to make sure we go through those and read those. And for the public, this
is a able to be pulled up on our website. Is there any questions or concerns regarding our policies? Just one recommendation. Um normally Niola will have um the recommended policy and the rationale for that policy change or
that policy choice and just asking if the committee will make sure that that you know those recommendations are linked into these policies. And if I may say we've we we updated and paid for that service so they should be
there. Thank you very much. Thank you. and Trusty Gavin um your colleague is saying she can't hear you. I So if we can all talk, I will. Thank you. Sorry about that. That's okay. And the next one, if there's not any further questions or concerns on policy and
discipline, we will now move to curriculum and student support services, which goes back into the hands of trustee Gavin. Okay. So I guess the question is since this is under the consent
calendar. I'm assuming that the only question is um if I can just go ahead and make a motion for us to Okay. I make a motion that we approve staff report C1, staff report C2, staff
report C3, staff report C4, staff report C5 under under the consent calendar. I second the motion. A motion has been made by trustee Gavin and second by trustee Rakette for
curriculum and student support services under consent agenda items of staff report C1 to staff report C5. Is there any questions or concerns? Therefore, being no questions or concerns, can we please call for the
vote? Vice President Bowen, yes. Trustee Rocket Martin, yes. Trustee Gavin, yes. Trustee Doyle, yes. Motion carried. Thank you. This now leads to our
facilities and finance operations with our monthly financial report and director of finance. Do you have anything you would like to say on the monthly financial report? Um, no. Uh, we
had a finance and facilities committee meeting earlier today and went over all the details um, concerning the reports. So, if there aren't any questions or concerns, we can go straight to staff report F1.
I do have a question. Yes. Okay. Um, I read that Dana, uh, Attorney General Dana Nestle won the argument, um, against, I
guess, the the Department of Educ I'm sorry, the Secretary of Education. And what I read is that the the I guess it was close to $3 million that we were not going to have um because of that COVID
extension was revoked that that decision was overturned and so we will have access to that um close to $3 million. I just wanted to find out if that is included in this report or do we have to
wait or how does that port decision that we now can have access to that 3 million or 2.9 million in reimbursement. How does that impact this um monthly report? It won't impact the numbers. Uh
we we didn't take it out of our budget because there was litigation and it was still pending. So, we never re revised our budget to take that money out. So, our budget will stand as is and we'll be on track to not be in a deficit at the
end of the year. Okay. And then I have one more question um regarding our vote for the driver's education. Um I believe we voted for about 200 seats. Is is that correct?
um the total amount that we had allocated for driver's ed, we we're going to do we're going to have as many students that we can with that allocation. Um right now, I don't
know the exact number because we're going to do segment one and segment two. Um right now we do have two sessions scheduled um one in the summer and one in the fall. And um we're just going to keep going
until our our funding is depleted with as many students as we can. Okay. Awesome. So summer, fall, and then another session and another session like that. Correct. Okay. Awesome. Thank you so much. You're welcome.
Yes, ma'am. I know you got a formal letter stating that they took those funds from us. You think they'll send you a formal letter stating that they have been reinstated to the district? I'm I'm not sure about a formal le formal letter. Um we did get an email
from our consultant with our it's it's our er funds. Our ESRE consultant did send us an email letting us know that our final expenditure report has been reopened and now we can resubmit our final
expenditure report with the additional expenditures and get the reimbursement. Okay. Thank you. I got a question. Um if we would have put those funds down beforehand, we would be okay. Correct.
We that's not legal and not correct to do. U the grants are reimburseable. So we have to spend the money, have documentation of the payments that we made before we can pull down the money.
We can't just pull down the money without the expenses. Okay. And I think Trusty Gavin had another question. Thank you for the round two. Um, guess two things come to mind. One, will they extend our extension since
they, you know, since they had us thinking we didn't have that extension. And two, I'm wondering if it makes sense for the district or the board to send a thank you letter to attorney um to attorney general Nestle for fighting on
our behalf. I think a thank you letter would be excellent. And unfortunately, we only have 10 days to resubmit our final expenditure expenditure report. They did not open it up for our full time that we had with
our original extension. We only have 10 days. Is that enough time to get that get that that in? We we are working diligently and we're going to make sure it's enough time. Okay, good deal. Dr. Bucks. Thank you. I just wanted to add that we we've already requested the
invoices for the uh arts that they've done and that we paid for so that we can ensure that we draw those funds down. Thank you. And are you ready for that resolution? Um if there's no other questions, we can
go ahead and move to staff report F1. Okay. Yes, sir. Okay. Yeah. Subject monthly financial reports. Reason for board consideration. A set of financial reports is pro provided to the board of education each month. Facts and
analysis. This evening, it is recommended that the March 2025 payments be approved for all of the district's funds. Policy reference 6470 payment of claims strategic plan goal reference
facility/operations Benton Harbor area schools will develop implement and evaluate a physically responsible plan that will ensure physical and psychological safety. Recommended action that the board of education approve the
March 1st through March 31st, 2025 payments for the following funds. $640,163.92 general fund, $133,83246 from the food service fund, and $2,127.32 from the student activity fund
for a total of $776,123.70. Thank you. I make a motion that we accept staff report F1. A motion has been made by Miss Rakette to approve staff report F1. Do I have a second?
A second. It has been second by Trustee Gavin. Is there any questions or concerns? I do have a question or two. Um, in regards to the student activity fund, um, how does that work? Who
decides, um, what type of funds are expended for the student activity fund? Is that a principal level decision? Is that a central office decision? How exactly does that work? That is a principal's decision or it
depends on the activity. Um, if it's, let's say, the volleyball team, it's the volleyball coach and the team that decide to purchase something from their student activity fund. It's never a decision from the business office.
Student activity funds are um um I want to use the right word are managed by each individual activity. And how are those how is the decision made
as to whether or not a student activity is funded? Is there a even amount of money that goes to every um studentbased activity in the district or do the students have to raise the money or does
it come out of our general funds? like what is the process for deciding how the student activity? Student activity funds are usually raised by the students. Um and it like I said it depends on the activity uh because like the basketball
team a a portion of the tickets goes to their student activity fund um and then a portion goes to the athletic general fund. So it depends on the activity like our individual classes, they raise their money for their student activity fund.
Okay. Okay. Thank you for that. And so if somebody wanted to donate to a particular um student activity, they would just how would they go about doing that? they would um either come into the business office and let us know that
they want a donation and to which activity fund and we'll give them a receipt to reflect that. Um we have also we also have a website now that we are working on. Um it's actually up and running. We are working on getting it
communicated out to the community and to the building so that they can share it. And on there when you make your payment, there's a line where you put in the description and it will go to whatever you describe. Awesome. Thank you. One last question. And this is and I know
y'all are ready to go, but just one last question. Um this is more so maybe with the general fund and dealing with um teachers having access to a budget.
How are how is that budget allocated? Is it only the principal has a budget or do teachers also have a budget for their class to work with? Uh the teachers do have a budget for their class. We usually let them know how much they have
and get a list of what they would like to order at the beginning of the school year. um they are usually very excited and and spend it rather quickly, but we like that because we want them to have what they need for their classes at the beginning and be set for all year. Um
and that's that's separate from the building as a whole budget and that is what the principal um uses. Okay. And so then there's a pretty good turnaround on that. Oh yeah.
I don't know. It's usually about Yeah. Uh our building admin assistants um they do a wonderful job with gathering the information and getting uh it usually an Amazon list from the teacher on what items that they need and as long as it's
under the budget, we don't really police it. Um there are it is title funds, so there are certain items that are unallowable. Um you know, it has to be teaching supplies. Um, so but most of the time it's we usually go with
whatever they say uh they need for their class. We place the order is delivered directly to the building with the teacher's name on the box. So they pick it up from the office and go from there. Thank you very much. You're welcome. Thank thank you Trusty
Grain and thank you Director Brock. I know back in the day I feel awkward saying that um Bitten Harbor area schools when we used to get donations M um it would be a report and we would vote on it accepting it and sending a thank you for the donations back around
2006 and sevenish. So yeah um I do know it's facilities um but do you have anything for facilities? I will advise the board um we received numerous emails today on something pressing on our school board
um school buildings. If you have not looked at that, I would advise you to look at those. Um, and hopefully our master facility plan that Dr. Bucks is going to discuss discusses something of that because I would like to hurry up
and get that resolved. I have several questions and we probably need to get an attorney. Do you want to chime in on that or on that particular topic or um so what? Yeah, we we've already sent it to the attorney, but um I did want to tell you
guys about the track. Uh did do you want to hear about the track real quick? Sure. I was down there the other day looking at it, so Okay. Yeah. Um they put on the the last layer of asphalt and that has to cure for 30 days and then after that they'll put on the um the rubber coating on it and then they'll
stripe it. the the rubber coating has to be on there for a couple weeks and then they'll stripe it and it'll be it'll be done. We'll be able to have graduation down there. Yeah. So, that's that's really about it for that. Everything's going pretty smooth so far. Um we are
going to have to probably look into um fixing the irrigation down there. Yeah, that's all. Okay. So, you're saying we're going to have to fix the irrigation soon? Yeah, we're going to have to look into
repairing the irrigation or having it all replaced. Uh the contractor that normally services the irrigation down there said that thing is just it's just beyond fixing. He said that you really just need a whole new one, you know. So that that's coming down the pipeline,
but not not right now. Okay. And I'm glad that you said the magic word graduation will be on field strip field. I just want to um ask and maybe this is probably I'm not on that committee and the chairman is not there. Last year we had people upset about us walking up
them stairs. Will they be able to go back to the the ramp? The ramp or you mean like under the bridge? Yes. Yeah, they they could do that. I mean Okay. They walk anywhere they want to right now. Okay. I just
know last year was a issue. So, thank you. Is there any questions on facilities? Okay, thank you. We next lead to Dr. Butts on human resources. So, only have one staff report on that one. Uh submitted for
board consideration to approve the employment of staff in accordance with the revised school code and other general laws of Michigan. Facts and analysis. It is recommended that the board approve the superintendent's recommendation for the hire of the following personnel. Policy reference
3120-4120 employment of professional support staff strategic plan goal reference personnel leadership Bent Harbor area schools will recruit hire develop and retain the best staff to improve student outcomes new hire
Brandy Naimi second grade teacher MLK funding source general funds effective date 81825 recommended action that the Bentar area school schools board of education votes to approve the employment of the affformentioned staff.
Thank you. Is there a vice president? I make a motion to accept uh staff report H1. Okay. We vote on F1, but I was wondering voted on F1 on the monthly report. No, I don't think so. So, I
apologize. We got I switched the topic and that was my fault on facilities. Can we vote on F1? I believe it was a motion approved though, correct? We just need to call for the vote for F1. I apologize.
Vice President Bowen, yes. Trustee Martin, yes. Trustee Gavin, yes. Trustee Doyle, yes. Motion carried. Yes. Thank you for catching that. Trustee. Yes. Okay. and staff report H1. Dr. Buts
has read it on the hiring of our second grade teacher at MLK. Is there a motion to accept it? Second. Um, Trustee Rakette. Put a motion on the floor. Is there a second? Second. And it's been second by Trustee Gavin. Is there any questions or
comments? Therefore, being no questions or comments. Secret. Madam Secretary, can you call for the vote? Vice President Bowen. Yes. Trustee Rocket Martin, yes. Trustee Gavin, yes. Trustee
Doyle, yes. Motion carried. Thank you so much. Next, we lead to the superintendent updates in the master facility. Did I read? Yep. Master facilities planned. Thank you, Vice President Bowens. Today, we did have a meeting. Unfortunately, the company was
not able to show on our meeting today. Uh we are trying to reschedu that that meeting. um kind of worked in our favor as as we've received some news that um Vice President Bowens u mentioned earlier that the board needs to consider um
which may put a small pause on the master facilities plan as we look at these uh new developments that we have. Yes. And madam trustee Gavin, thank you. I have a question about the master's facility plan. I don't know if my
colleagues had an opportunity to take that survey, but it was not very user friendly. It I've taken a lot of surveys in my life. I've created surveys in my life and I've
never seen a survey like that before. um the way that it is designed, you have to there there were not instructions there that told you you had to order you had to prioritize the
order in which you wanted um the buildings to either be sold, demolished, revitalized. Um so that wasn't clear. And then just the functionality of it was challenging to drag and drop um to
drag and drop the options in some particular order. It wasn't like you know just numbering one through four. And so I I am concerned in that regard in terms of the functionality, the
usability of it, the interface itself, the uh lack of instructions, and then um also I don't know if we ever cleared up uh the rec center piece, if we ever added the rec center um as an option in the buildings
that we were presently using. Um so those are concerns that I have. And then I'm also wondering, Dr. Bus, um, how many respondents were there? Did all of the students and staff respond? No, ma'am. We only had
109 responses. Yeah. And so when you think about having a thousand students, how much staff How many staff people do we have? How many staff do we have? 310. Right. So we have, I don't know, a thou How many students do we have?
1274 1274 and if you take if you say okay deck children may not be ready to respond to something like that right um but if you have a thousand students and
you know two to 300 staff and I'm sorry let me correct I said 310 is 330 staff members okay thank you for that and 300 and something staff and we only have a 100red respondents and the interface case is
um is not very user friendly. We cannot get an accurate um we cannot get an accurate measure of what it is the people really want. So I think um I don't know if my colleagues had an opportunity to where and you know maybe it was easy for
them. It definitely was not for me and I'm a computer pretty computer savvy person. So I think we need to take a look at it and ask the company to provide us with something that's user friendly for the community.
Thank you Trusty Gavin. Trusty Ruckett with the uh focus group going tomorrow with the town hall meeting tomorrow rather with the parents and the community. Is it possible that we could
um do we have time to set up something that even if it's on paper that they could do that survey? We could print it out. Of course, they make it easy to tabulate. We're we're paying the company so we we
can send those back to them. That's what we're paying them for. Yeah, I mean because you you you'll have the people there tomorrow, I'm sure, you know, some more. And if they have not had an opportunity to take the survey, if they have a paper and pencil copy, a hard
copy, it might be easier for them to to do it. I can have Mr. Dash to reach out to him and see if they can get a paper and pencil copy by tomorrow. Just need to just leave it there. You know, something they can pick it up, do it.
Yes, ma'am. I I can I can I can have it sent out. Vice President B. Oh, I'm sorry. I can wait. Trusty Doyle. Um just to piggyback on um Rocket Martin, can we also have it at the graduation? Can we just have these
out anytime there's an event so it can get out and we get respondents? That's possible. I just you the the the biggest thing is to make sure that we we have the staffing to get them where where they're needed. So once if we can
get a a paper copy, I'll let Mr. Dash, Director Dash reach out to uh C2A and Stantech to make to see if we can get a paper copy. Um and then we can put them whenever we have an event, we can just leave them out. Great. Great.
Stay tuned. But um director Dash, sorry. That's good. But good. Yeah. Um anyway, so I did speak to the company about a paper copy and uh uh they they said that would be nearly impossible. Um it it would just take too much to to
enter the data in from a paper copy. Um so that and the idea came from a citizen the during one of our last board meetings. Uh she she brought it up um saying that some people like a physical copy and that's true. That's like at libraries, you know.
Um, so yeah, the the best we could do is I could get like a QR code down to the the local library or something or maybe some maybe we can send out some mailer postcards, but as far as uh C2AE,
they they are basically requiring it to be done online. Trusty Gavin. Yeah, thanks. I was actually looking for some feedback in terms of the one the interface and two what happened with the um students and
the staff having an opportunity to respond. Well, they of course they they have the the opportunity to respond. Um it it's not we're not hiding it anywhere. Um it's out in the hallways and all that
stuff. I'm sorry. I should be more specific. We were told that they would be given to them during like tiger time, right? Like spec like with intentionality. Yeah. Did that happen? I'm not aware that that did happen. I'm I'm not sure.
And director Cups is out tonight. So I have to get with her to see was that reached out to the principles. Okay, good. So yeah, just wondering if she received that directive. Did did she receive that directive? Well, when we had at the last board
meeting, I took it as she would make sure that we got it out. Typically, when we have board meetings, you know, we always follow up in cabinet to ensure, but I can issue that directive. Um the the I can say that the um survey is still open though, so I'll go ahead and
make sure that directive is issued. Hey, thank you. And then just to follow up on the interface, I'm wondering, am I the only one who has an issue with that inter I I tried taking that on my phone and to be
honest, like I I had a hard time scrolling to the next question because of the drag and drop. Yes. Like when I I I answered one, you know, you got to move it like uh if something's like more important to you, a building, you got to move it up to the top. And then Well, when I was done with that, then I tried to go to the next one. it just it didn't
want to let me. So, I had to take it on on the computer, which not many people Well, it's about a mix. Some people like it better on the phone, some people like to do things on the computer. Um, also, uh, as Dr. Buts mentioned, we are going to just leave it open.
Uh basically uh because we're going to be in and out of the area of of the unused buildings locations. Uh every time I've ever been over to one of our unused buildings locations, somebody comes out to to to talk and uh so that
way this summer we can just tell them uh hey, you know, um did you did you take the survey? and and I can easily give them a QR code to it, one of those postcards that we're talking about. That way we can get more respondents. I guess my question is is is it possible for
them to provide a better user face like something that would be real simple for people is to order it one two three four like you know as opposed to trying to drag. I feel the same way as you. Like if they just said like one, you know, like if if one building was more important, you that one would be number
one and then one was least important, that would be number five instead of the drag and drop. I can ask them, but I don't see why they couldn't. Is it is does that have to be like a board agreement or um Vice President Bowens?
I'm just wonder I wouldn't think so. We're good with it. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Just wanted to make sure because I don't want to I don't mind asking them because I I actually did in all honesty have the same concern because I just couldn't get to the next question after I did like
three of them. It just kind of froze and I just kept trying to move. It wouldn't let me. Thank you for your honesty. Appreciate that. Okay. One thing I did notice too that the the um the survey questions were not sent to like if I
lived in Milberg then they asked me about the school that was in Milberg. You know what I it was like specific to the area that you lived in to see what you thought about that area, you know, about that school being in your area.
Well, I didn't I didn't realize that. I guess wasn't it kind of like that? But the people that lived like Yeah. in the So, it wasn't specific. It was general. So, it was general. It's cuz some of those buildings fell into different townships. So, it was just a general survey
and they they so it gives everyone a chance to kind of weigh in even if you didn't live in that area. Okay. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Um and Dr. Butch, we look forward to hearing what the attorney has to say um about what the
information that we received. Yes. Yeah. Received. Looking forward to that. Is there old business? We were supposed to go into close session. The attorney has decided to wait. So, at this moment, we I need
amend. Can we amend the agenda to remove the close session? I make a motion to amend the agenda to uh remove the closed session. Is there a second? Second. It's written. A motion has been
made by trustee Vette. It has been second by trustee Gavin. Is there any questions or concerns? I do have a quick question. I mean concern. I think this I'm just going to reiterate again. I think it's so important for us to have the lawyer present as a part of their
regular attendance. Um just to kind of keep us intact in the way that we're doing things in in order of the law. um just think would be real helpful to have them present even if they're not physically present available on conference.
I agree with you 200%. Is there any other questions or concerns? There being none, I'm going to call for the vote. Vice President Bowen, yes. Trustee Rocket Martin, yes. Trustee Gavin, yes.
Trustee Doyle, yes. Motion carried. Okay, we are now back to old business dealing with the board retreat. The the board president will give an update later on about the board retreat.
At this moment, I do not have any information. Is there any discussion or anything that we're missing from all business? Yes. Yes. Uh thank you, Vice President Bowens. I think we have a responsibility to get a date on the
calendar for the superintendent's evaluation so that he can also know and prepare for his evaluation and we're here May 13th I think um we need to get a date so that he can
have that time to prepare and then we also have a responsibility to provide the superintendent with the artifacts um that we would be um evaluating him on. And
so I'm hoping that we can get that date to him as soon as possible because we only have about a a month maybe a month and a half left. So thank you for bringing that to our attention. What I will do is I will
email the board and the president to let her know that this is um a highlevel request on the superintendent evaluation search and give our superintendent I'm sorry our superintendent evaluation and give him
time to prepare documents and everything and get back with you. So hopefully at our next meeting we will have a date to get the superintendent evaluation and everything and give them ample notice. Thank you so much. Thank
you. Is there any new business? Just that we're supposed to be at the high school on Oh, the focus group. So the high school on uh well the other special focus group. There's one Saturday
uh the town hall meeting whatever they call it what is it called? So that we that's a select group that will be coming to that meeting. So tomorrow it's 3 p.m. the secondary level staff 400
p.m. Elementary staff 5:30 community parent student and alumni and faith leaders they'll be at the new student comments. This will be their focus group. And then on Saturday, May 17th, I'm glad I looked at that time because that's a little rough
for me. 9:00 am on Saturday, we will be here, right? The board of education. Um, the select group of folks. Yes. So, we ask that you guys come here, be live, wired, and inspired for
that. Is there any other questions on new business? I do have a question. Will we have an update on CBA the collective bargaining agreement? Yes. And what deadlines like do we have
a deadline on that? And is there will we have an update on that at work session? You want me to ask you? Yes, Dr. But so we do I will be having an update at the work session on the CDA. um should make I will make sure that you
have a copy of the proposed CDA and the calendar proposed um so that it could be voted on. The deadline is June 30. You said the calendar and the calendar as well. So the calendar has to be approved by the board as well as the CBA. Is this
the same calendar that I requested we add peace day to? Same calendar. I didn't hear you. I couldn't hear you. Is this the same calendar that I requested we add because peace day was off of the calendar again and I've uh requested in the committee
that we add that. This the same calendar. Yes, ma'am. So, is it off again? I I haven't looked at the calendar yet. I've sent it I uh Robin had looked at Robin developed two versions of the calendar and um we we were getting ready to present it to the
board. the unicve director stated that the uh union has to approve it first before we submit it to you guys. So, I haven't looked I haven't taken a look at it yet, but I will make sure that it is on there. Okay. Thank you so much. And
you'll get it prior to approval so you can note it as well. Bless you. Okay. Thank you, Trusty Gab. One last thing for new business. um the
MEA I think it's the summer institute or the summer yeah it's like a Friday to a Saturday so if you want to the window is open for you to take classes if you want or to go up it's going to be a lancing
um we get some of those CBA classes and um certifications if you want them so um I think it's August 11th and the 12th That's my birthday. I'm not doing that much. Okay. I'm just letting you know
the window is open. Sometimes they do all for virtual. Okay. Thank you. Um we are now into the session uh section of public comments. Um do we have anybody for public comment? Okay. As you're coming, I'm going to read this
statement. Um, the Bitten Harbor Area School Board of Education recognizes 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 of comment on the
agenda of which you may decide to speak. Public comment on agenda items and open public comment. We request that each interested participant complete a public participation form using legible writing to ensure that responses are appropriate
and properly focused. For Bitten Harbor area school bylaw 0167.3 which governs board participation at the board meetings. We request that you preface your comments with your name, address, and group affiliation when appropriate. Each statement made by
participants shall be limited to to a threeinut duration and per our bylaws, no participant may speak more than once on the same topic until any other person has 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 the staff or participants. The board will listen, take comments and questions under the advisement and not respond at this time. I, as vice president, will refer your questions to the superintendent for research and response. Please ensure that your public participation form
includes your contact information as requested. If you have any questions for the board or executive team that require followup, please email those directly to natalie.serbhas.org. May have I got three minutes, right? Yes. Okay. Uh, I got some teeth moving. So, I I
think I take my mask off. All right. Yes, you can touch it. Okay. Okay. Listen. Okay. Uh, I got three minutes. I'd like to first of all, I'd like to thank Dr. Buts uh for doing the things he did, why he was here. He set a good
foundation. My name is Daryl Jackson, Ben Harvard, 1151 Broadway. I'm chairman of the Ben Harvard Athletic Sports Club. And my biggest sports is track. So I thank Dr. Buts for getting that track together. I thank the contractors for
getting it together. I've been down there yesterday and I'm I'm going say this for Dr. Buts. Uh Dr. Buts became very popular. We had we have over 100 something kids in our program in track and a lot of those kids go to different
schools. A lot of them parents brought their kids in our program because of Dr. Butts. You know what I'm saying? come back to Ben Harra schools which is good. 90% of them is in y'all schools right now. Timber is in Baron Springs. The other person like to speak of was uh uh
your ad which is uh Danny Jennings. He's he's a grassroot here. He hit the ground running. Uh he he love Ben Harbor. Uh he's popular. You got kids that wants to come back to the school system because of him. He does a excellent job. The
other guy they speak of is Shelton Nelson. He's very getting very popular. Um he's getting ready. I guess he went out and um I think he applied for the girls basketball team. The girls is in
shack. They in bad shape. So I I spoke with him. If he don't if he gonna be the coach, I I asked him to get Steve Archer Ball. Coach Steve Archer Ball. Excellent. Excellent coach. He's also popular. A lot of people uh came to me because in my program I also runs girls
basketball and boys basketball, but we starting with the fourth and fifth grade 4. I've done that before when I was playing for the Ben Harbor Tigers with under coach Wik. Me and Andrew Hirsch. We ran uh two years of that 4. That's where the kids need to learn basic and
everything. I thank Dr. Buts for that because the kids parents they really like Dr. Butts. Dr. Bus has set a foundation here and this foundation need to be continue to follow. But since he's going elsewhere,
which I I didn't I didn't know at the time. I feel bad, but I feel good for him if that's what he want to do. I I I know I think I heard Miss Gavin, one of y'all speak that you had a search or maybe you did, Bowens, uh for a
superintendent. Listen to this. You have a good superintendent that can be here. That's if he's qualified. I think he is. That's Ronaldo triplet. I wish he was here. Ronaldo triplet. I have seen him weather the storm over at Morton Hill when it was in chaos. It turned into
like a sanctuary. Now I saw him weather the storm at Ben Harour High School. Um one time in the gymnasium. Now I say this, I know the three minutes is up, but let let me say this to you. You all is doing a good job, but it takes a
team. It take a whole staff to do this here. You got to put the right people in place. And again, Dr. But I'm I'm I appreciate you. And uh and Bowen, she used to be my second world commissioner.
I appreciate you as well. Thank y'all for giving me this extended time. I wish I had more because I had more to say. Maybe to the next one. Thank you very much. Thank you for your comment. Is there anybody else for public comments?
Being none, we now lead to the superintendent announcement and comments. Dr. Buts. Thank you, uh, Vice President Bowens. Again, always thanking my team for being, um, the team that they are with, the hard work that they put in, and then thanking, uh, everyone
for their support. Thank you. We now lead to board member announcements and comments. I will start off with Trusty Doyle. I would just like to take a moment and
thank everybody who's watching. Um, I'd like to thank the staff for their hard work. Um, I would like to give our girls, well, not just the girls, but our track team a big shout
out. They went and won some awards Friday. They did really well, and I'm really proud of them. And I'm really excited that the track is is on its way. They may not be able to use it this season, but they'll come hard next year
on their own ground, and I'm really happy and grateful for that. Um, yeah, they did that thing. They brought home quite a few awards and medals. My daughter brought home four, so I was really proud of her. Thank you.
Thank you, Trusty Raquette Martin. I thank Miss Nichols. I don't know if this is out of your department. It is wonderful. I've been looking through it and um clearly it is something to look at
and behold and it's inviting for parents to see, you know, to bring their kids back to Benton Harbor. And so, um, I'll be using this as a recruitment tool myself as I talk to parents, as I,
as I meet people, as I'm at the Y or whatever, I will clearly uh, show them the good things that we have going on in Benton Harvard area schools. So, thank you so much for this. And, um, Dr. Buts,
thanks you for your cabinet. your cabinet is on point and um and I thank you for for the things that they do for our district. Thank you. Thank you, Trusty Gavin. Let me give a hand to
the back. Yes. Yes. Definitely put it together. Trusty Gavin. Um I want to thank you as well for this. Um I I made the and I want to thank
everybody for coming out and I want to thank everybody who watches uh virtually as well. I'm glad that we have that option. Um I've made the recommendation a while back and I'm hoping that my colleagues will just kind of consider it. Sometimes it's hard for all of us to
get to all of the schools and I've heard I think they've done it in Battle Creek before where a board member adopts a school and so they that board member goes to that you know all of as much of that school's events as possible so that
they are you know having that u representation from a board member and so if each of us adopted a school or two I think we could well school we could have it covered um and they can feel like uh sometimes we tend to focus on
the high school, right? But anyway, so that's a recommendation there. I'm very excited about um the possibilities of our district. I'm very grateful for our staff. I'm very grateful for the CTE courses that are
starting to pop up. Um I'm, you know, excited about the engineering CTE class. I think a lot of people don't know about it and hoping that we can just look for as many ways as possible to uh celebrate what's happening in our district, what's
happening in our schools. I've had an opportunity to speak to staff and they have really great ideas and they're doing some really great things and so I'm just happy that um we have an opportunity to celebrate them and once
again I do want to celebrate the track team. Thank you for representing us. I I hope one day we will be as excited about our track team as we are about basketball and all the other things. And I just want to remind everybody that
peace day is going to be June 5th. I definitely will um send out we will get some formal invites to the board and thanking you for many of the important decisions that you've made um this year and we we're just going to be
celebrating peace um and taking the 90day peace for life challenge. We're asking everybody to take that challenge right now. Thank you. Thank you. um for coming. You know, it was rough. I'm not feeling well and I
was trying to cancel the meeting and Miss Raquette was like, "No, we got to keep on going." And as I was thinking about that, sometimes you got to press your way through. And that's a sermon in itself, but I was looking on Facebook
watching the band at Blossom Time. And we're so focused on what was Bitten Harbor. are not focused on what Bitten Harbor can be. So, you've seen some of the critics and everything and I said, you know, god
darn it, these babies have tried and they put it on and everything and we're underestimated and they've been through hell and high water, but they still trust their way through. So, as a tiger in Benton Harbor area schools, no matter if you're sick, no matter if it's 50, no
matter if it's 10 or five, we got to keep pressing our way through. So, I want you to stay encouraged and I will see you all Saturday. Safe travels and thank you. You know, another thing, a year ago, you could have never told me a team of rivals would be working
together. And I just think our maturity level and our level on the board has really grown and I just want to say thank you so much. That's happened. If you look at the paper today, the Herald Paladium on the
front page is one of our students from Vent Harour High School was what it they they called her like one of the best teams. It's like four people who are at two Barbarian Springs, one from Visit Harbor.
Um if you look at I saw it at the Y this morning. I don't know if it was yesterday's paper or today's paper, but um it's um her father does construction on them, but she's on the front page of a
picture of four teenage girls and say she's voted as one of the best teens or got it going on of Well, thank you. Now, um no more comments. We're going to adjourn. Can I have a motion to adjourn the meeting,
please? I make a motion and then we I second. It's been a motion approved by Trustee Doyle, second by Trustee Gavin. Is there any questions or comments? Therefore, can we please call the vote? Madam Pres, um Secretary,
Vice President Bowen, yes. Trusty Rocket Martin, yes. Trusty Dav, yes. Trusty Doyle, yes. Motion.