Board of Education                                                                       Regular Board Meeting

Grant Public Schools                                                                           September 11, 2006

 

The Board of Education of the Grant Public Schools met in regular session on Monday, September 11, 2006 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

 

 

 

The following new teachers were introduced to the Board of Education.  The Board took a short recess to socialize with the new teachers.

 

            Haley Dulaney  Primary Center Title I

            Katie Nimcheski           High School Theater Teacher

            Jonathan Allen  Learning Center Math Teacher

            Jennifer Byland High School Special Ed. Teacher

 

SPOTLIGHT

 

 

No public comments were offered at this time.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

 

Motion by Kris Lesley, supported by Jill Niewiadomski, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

     a.  Approval of Minutes of August 14, 2006

     b.  Approval of Treasurer’s Report

     c.  Approval of Payment of Bills

CONSENT AGENDA

 

 

Motion Approved 7-0

 

 

 

Scott Bogner, Superintendent informed the board that the new year is off and running smoothly.  All staff have been fingerprinted in response to the new safety legislation which was passed late last year.  All staff will also be being photographed by Lifetouch and will be provided with security badges.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

 

 

Mike Ostyn, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, had a PowerPoint presentation of the 2005-06 annual report.  This presentation provided an overview of our district and referenced our school’s goals, quality and accreditation status.

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

 

 

Tom Szocinski, High School Principal, informed the board of upcoming activities, including homecoming on October 6th.

PRINCIPAL

REPORTS

 

 

Lance Jones, Middle School Principal, reported that things were going good at the Middle School.  They currently have 677 students, this figure will fluctuate during the first couple weeks.  Middle School athletics are going good and the 5th grade open house was well attended. MEAPs start Oct. 9th.

 

 

 

Joel Schuitema, Elementary School Principal, reported an enrollment of 424.  Pictures will be taken on September 15th and several fundraisers are underway.  Mr. Schuitema invited the board to stop in and see the kids on Popcorn Friday.

 

 

 

Renae Galsterer, Primary Center Principal, reported her enrollment at 425.  The staff in-service week went well and was very educational.  The August 30th open house was well attended.

 

 

 

John Klever, Learning Center Principal, informed the board that the Learning Center had a great start to a new year.  The Learning Center continues to be an academically-based, behavior modification program.  It is enlightening to see that as his students academic standards and benchmarks improve, so does the student’s behavior and the pride they take in themselves.

 

 

 

Dennis McClure, Maintenance Supervisor, will be taking over the responsibility of supervising the custodial staff.  The Administration seeks to amend his employment contract to reflect this change in responsibility.  Motion by Bob Jenema, supported by Paul Roberts, to amend the contract.

AMENDMENT OF DIRECTOR CONTRACT

 

 

Motion Approved 7-0

 

 

 

At the Newaygo County Superintendent’s meeting on August 23rd, the superintendents signed the yearly cooperative agreement for the ITV, ALPS, Middle School Exploratory, Dual Enrollment, Career Tech, Synergy and Enterprise programs.  The administration is presenting this agreement for ratification.  Motion by Jim Stuart, supported by Jon Chase, to ratify the agreement as presented.

2006-07 NCRESA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

 

 

Motion Approved 7-0

 

 

 

Our School District operates adult education, alternative education, and migrant education programming.  The Department of Education requires that the Board of Education adopt the schedules/calendars certifying that there is sufficient and appropriate time offered to meet pupils and participants who qualify for funding upon attendance.  This is done each year that we operate the program.  Motion by Jill Niewiadomski, supported by Bob Jenema, to approve the Community Education schedules/calendars as presented.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION SCHEDULES AND CALENDAR

 

 

Motion Approved 7-0

 

 

 

The administration presents an adoption agreement which sets up the Grant Public Schools Section 125 Cafeteria Plan for those employees that are eligible to participate.  Motion by Kris Lesley, supported by Jim Stuart, to approve the agreement as presented.

ADOPTION OF MODEL SECTION 125 CAFETERIA PLAN

 

 

Motion Approved 7-0

 

 

 

The “participating resolution” for the Michigan School Readiness Program needs to be adopted annually so that participation with the 4-year old program at the Learning Center will continue.  Motion by Paul Roberts, supported by Jon Chase, to adopt the resolution as presented.

RESOLUTION: SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM

 

 

Motion Approved 7-0

 

 

 

The administration is recommending the board support the exception rule to Board Policy regarding attendance at national conferences for President Dave Robinson to attend this year’s NSBA Convention in San Francisco.  Motion by Jill Niewiadomski, supported by Jon Chase, to approve the exception to board policy.

ATTENDANCE AT NSBA CONFERENCE

 

 

Motion Approved 7-0

 

 

 

The Monthly Calendar was discussed, along with the setting of the fall board workshop and upcoming committee meetings.

DISCUSSIONS

 

 

There being no further business before the Board, a motion was entered by Bob Jenema to conclude the meeting, supported by Kris Lesley.  Meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

 

Motion Approved 7-0

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

Kathi Thornton

Recording Secretary