Board of Education                                                                       Regular Board Meeting

Grant Public Schools                                                                                       April 9, 2007

 

The Board of Education of the Grant Public Schools met in regular session on Monday, April 9, 2007 with President, Dave Robinson presiding.

 

Board Members Present: Dave Robinson, President; Jim Stuart, Vice President; Kris Lesley, Secretary; Bob Jenema, Treasurer; Jon Chase, Jill Niewiadomski, and Paul Roberts Trustees.

MEMBERS

PRESENT

 

 

Administrators Present: Scott Bogner, Superintendent; Mike Ostyn, Assistant Superintendent; Tom Szocinski, H.S. Principal; Scott Cousineau, H.S. Assistant Principal; Lance Jones, M.S. Principal; Dan Simon, M.S. Assistant Principal, Joel Schuitema, Elementary Principal; Renae Galsterer, P.C. Principal; John Klever, Learning Center Director; and Jan Lesley, Finance Director.

ADMINISTRATORS

PRESENT

 

 

Others Present:   Kathi Thornton & others.

OTHERS PRESENT

President, Dave Robinson, called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00 p.m.  

 

 

Motion by Paul Roberts, supported by Bob Jenema, to approve the agenda as presented.

AGENDA

 

 

Motion Approved 7-0

 

 

 

Ed and Sandy Morris were present with their Division II Odyssey of the Mind team.  The team made a presentation to the board of their Tag ‘em program which took 1st place allowing them to advance to the state finals. 

SPOTLIGHT

 

 

No public comments were offered at this time.        

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

 

Motion by Jill Niewiadomski, supported by Jim Stuart, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

     a.   Approval of Minutes of March 12th Regular, March 26th Transportation Committee, Policy Committee, Athletic Committee and Board Workshop, and March 27th Building & Site Committee.

     b.  Approval of Treasurer’s Report

     c.  Approval of Payment of Bills

CONSENT AGENDA

 

 

Motion Approved 7-0

 

 

 

Scott Bogner, Superintendent, reminded the board of the upcoming May 8th election.  He gave a financial update from the state—still doesn’t look good.  The staff has been working to prepare our schools for the upcoming change in graduation requirements, effective with next year’s freshmen class.  Our February count was down slightly.  Mr. Bogner presented the board with a list of projects that will be completed during the summer.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

 

 

Mike Ostyn, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, informed the board that thanks to the generosity of the Fremont Area Community Foundation, he was able to award $30,000 in mini-grants to our teachers.  Mr. Ostyn also informed the board that school, law enforcement, and emergency service representatives from throughout Newaygo County have been meeting to develop a common set of emergency procedures.  He provided information to the board regarding these procedures.  Mr. Ostyn also provided the board with information regarding the change in high school graduation requirements.

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION REPORT

 

 

Tom Szocinski, High School Principal, informed the board of upcoming events, which included parent teacher conferences on April 18th, the prom on April 28th, and graduation activities.

PRINCIPAL

REPORTS

 

 

Lance Jones, Middle School Principal, reported that he has compared the RTC Discipline statistics and incidents are down from 480 last year to 277 this year.  Mr. Tuls organized the Hoops for Heart and it went over very well again this year raising over $2,500.

 

 

 

Joel Schuitema, Elementary Principal, informed the board of upcoming events at the elementary school, including the return of Acting Up from April 23-27. 

 

 

 

Renae Galsterer, Primary Center Principal, reported that the Primary Center is getting ready of Kindergarten Round-up and that March’s reading month was a great success.

 

 

 

John Klever, Learning Center Director, reported he has been working with Carolyn Smith-Gerdes of NC-RESA on utilizing the School Wide Information System to track student discipline reports.  The system has helped identify some consistent discipline challenges that the Learning Center staff has been able to address proactively.  The Learning Center graduation ceremony will by on Tuesday, May 22nd, at the Fine Arts Center.

 

 

 

In light of the current financial crisis, the Administration has researched the cost the district incurs due to facility usage by outside entities.  After much discussion, the Administration brings to the board the following revisions to the Facility Use Policy:

 

Inside Activities (ie: AYBT, AAU, Wrestling):

            15.00 Per Hour when custodial staff is already present

            30.00 Per Hour when custodial staff is not scheduled

 

Outside Activities (ie: AYSO, Rocket Football, Little League)

            Flat Fee Charge per season

·        AYSO                                   $1,000

·        Rocket Football                      $1,500

·        Little League                           $1,000

 

Motion by Kris Lesley, supported by Jon Chase, to accept these revisions to the Facility Use Policy.

FACILITY USE POLICY REVISIONS

 

 

Motion Approved 7-0

 

 

 

Marilyn Koewers, Bus Driver and Judy Ream, Aid have both tendered their resignations as they plan to retire at the end of the school year.  Michael Hunt, Bus Driver, has turned in his resignation due to medical reasons.  Motion by Paul Roberts, supported by Bob Jenema, to accept these resignations as presented.

STAFF RESIGNATIONS

 

 

Motion Approved 7-0

 

 

 

The Policy Committee has met and gone over the following policy additions and revisions.  These policies are being presented to the entire board for first reading. 

 

·         Policy  2623 (revision)                  Student Assessment

·         Policies 3121/4121 (revision)         Criminal History Checks

·         Policies 3362/4362 (revision)         Staff Harassment

·         Policy 4120.09 (revision)               Volunteers

·         Policy 5350 (revision)                   Student Suicide

·         Policy 5460 (revision)                   Graduation Requirements

·         Policy 5517 (revision)                   Harassment of Students

·         Policy 5517.01 (revision)               Bullying/Aggressive Student Behavior

·         Policy 5630.01 (new)                    Student Seclusion and Restraint

 

Motion by Jill Niewiadomski, supported by Jim Stuart, to accept the above policies for first reading.

NEOLA POLICY REVISIONS

Katie Gilbert, Primary Center Teacher, has requested a Leave of Absence for maternity purposes and Child Care Leave for the 2007-2008 school year.  Motion by Bob Jenema, supported by Jon Chase, to approve the leave as presented.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE REQUEST

 

 

The Monthly Board Calendar was reviewed.  The May 14th Board Meeting will be held at the High School Media Center at 5:30 to accommodate graduation activities.  The employee recognition dinner is scheduled for May 9th. 

DISCUSSIONS

 

 

There being no further business before the Board, President Dave Robinson entertained a motion to dismiss.  Motion by Kris Lesley, supported by Bob Jenema, to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 PM. 

 

Motion Approved 7-0.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

Kathi Thornton

Recording Secretary