Negaunee Public Schools

July 21, 2008

 

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Education, Negaunee Public Schools, City of Negaunee, County of Marquette, and State of Michigan, held on July 21, 2008, at the

Negaunee High School Library.

 

Members Present:        Fae Collins, Osmond T. Kemp, Virginia Paulson, Martin Renaldi, and Martin Saari

                                   

Members Absent:      Dan Hintsala and Dave Rice         

 

Administrators Present:

James Derocher, Superintendent

Dan Skewis, Principal, Negaunee Middle School

Joe Meyskens, Principal, Lakeview Elementary School

Mary Kay Johnson, Administrative Aide for Finance

Julie Dompierre, Recording Secretary

 

213.     The regular board meeting was called to order by President Martin Renaldi at 7:00 p.m.

           

214.     A quorum of the board was established.

 

215.     Motion by O. Kemp, supported by M. Saari, to approve the agenda as presented.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

216.     Public Comment - None

 

217.     Motion by V. Paulson, supported by F. Collins, to approve the minutes of the regular board meeting held on June 16, 2008.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

218.     Motion by O. Kemp, supported by F. Collins, to approve the consent items as presented.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

At this juncture, Marty Saari questioned the accuracy of the High School Attendance and Discipline Report.  A brief discussion, by the Board and Superintendent, followed.

 

219.     Payment of Bills and Financial Reports:

 

            A.  Motion by F. Collins, supported by M. Saari, to approve payment of bills totaling   

                  $774,490.37.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

B.  Received the Financial report from the Administrative Aide for Finance, Mary Kay

                  Johnson.

 

220.     Written reports were received from the Community Education Director and the High School Assistant Principal.  Oral reports were received from Dan Skewis, Middle School Principal, Joe Meyskens, Lakeview School Principal, and James Derocher, Superintendent.

 

221.     Correspondence - None

 

 

222.     Old Business:

 

A.        Motion by V. Paulson, supported by M. Saari, to award the bid for 11 rooms of carpeting at Lakeview School and the High School office area to Carpet Specialists in the amount of $25,779.81.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

223.     New Business:

 

A.        Motion by F. Collins, supported by O. Kemp, to adopt the Annual School Election Resolution requesting a 2 mill, 5 year Sinking Fund for the school district for the years 2009-13 inclusive.  Roll call vote 5 ayes and 0 nays.  Motion carried.

 

B.         Motion by F. Collins, supported by M. Saari, to enter into a contract with MARESA for Special Education Services for the 2008-09 school year.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

C.         Motion by V. Paulson, supported by F. Collins, to approve an agreement with North Star Staffing in the amount of $186,069.90 for two administrators and non-staff Schedule B positions for the 2008-09 school year.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

D.        Motion by M. Saari, supported by O. Kemp, to approve the continued membership in the School Equity Caucus for they 2008-09 school year in the amount of $900.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

E.         Motion by V. Paulson, supported by F. Collins, to approve the continued membership in the MASB and MASB Legal Trust Fund for the 2008-09 school year in the amount of $3,115.  Motion carried 5-0.                             

 

F.         The Board received the first reading of the following Board Policies change/deletion:

0142.3 and 5113.01.  No action necessary at this time.

 

G.        Motion by O. Kemp, supported by F. Collins, to approve holding the remainder of the board meetings at the High School on the third Monday off each month with the exceptions of the August 18th meeting, which will be held at the Negaunee Middle School, and the September 15th meeting, which will be held at Lakeview School.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

H.        Motion by M. Saari, supported by O. Kemp, to accept the bid of $20,752 from W.W. Schooler for a 30Õx40Õx12Õ storage building, with a cement floor, at the athletic complex.  The building would need site preparation work at an addition cost. 

 

The Board also moved to donate the existing building to the Negaunee Historical Society.  The Historical Society will move the building at their own expense.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

I.          Motion by V. Paulson, supported by F. Collins, to approve the  changes in the Lakeview Elementary Student Handbook for the 2008-09 school year as presented.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

J.          Motion by F. Collins, supported by M. Saari, to approve the transfers/hiring of the following individuals:

 

Heather Tafoya                        High School Counselor

Tori Sager                    Lakeview Elementary School Counselor

Katie Korpi                  Full-time Young FiveÕs Teacher

Jodi Johnson                Part-time Kindergarten Teacher

Molly Kus                    Full-time Fifth Grade Teacher

Fred Dick                     Head Coach High School Hockey

Motion carried 5-0.

 

K.        Motion by M. Saari, supported by V. Paulson, to terminate the employment of Tina Prusi, Instructional Aide, due to insubordination and  failure to comply with Section 380.1230g of the Revised School Code.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

The Board also accepted a letter of resignation from Leslie Gardiner, Instructional Aide.  No action necessary.

 

L.         Motion by O. Kemp, supported by M. Saari, to approve the financing of two 2009-school buses from Wells Fargo in the amount of $140,030.00 at an annual interest rate of 3.85%  for 5 annual payments commencing May, 2009.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

At this juncture President Renaldi requested that agenda item 223. New Business – M. Executive Session be moved to the last item of business.

 

M.        Motion by F. Collins, supported by M. Saari, to move the Board meeting into executive session, to discuss contract negations, with the Negaunee Education Support Personnel Association, at 8:35 p.m.   Motion carried 5-0.  President Renaldi moved back into open session at 8:58 p.m.

 

President Renaldi asked Superintendent Derocher to report on the recent news item concerning the realignment of sports conferences in the Upper Peninsula. Superintendent Derocher provided his personal view of smaller schools in the western Upper Peninsula having problems with enrollments and participation numbers in football.  He also discussed the cost of transportation as reasons for all schools in the U.P. to look at realigning sports conferences in order to limit this expense. This is a football only issue as the importance of winning six games and making the MHSAA state football play-offs also plays a factor in this initiative.

 

224.     Public Comment – None 

 

225.     The Board briefly discussed the peanut allergy situation at Lakeview School.

 

226.     President Renaldi adjourned the meeting at 9:24 p.m.

 

 

_______________________________          ________________________________

         Martin Renaldi, President                                    Virginia Paulson, Secretary