Board of Education Minutes

HARBOR SPRINGS BOARD OF EDUCATION

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

December 11, 2006

President Fuhrman called the regular board meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Middle School Large Group Instruction Room.

Members Present: Fuhrman, Fischer, Davis, Wendland, McDonald, Burdick and Morse (7)

Members Absent: (0)

A motion was made by McDonald, seconded by Morse to approve the agenda as amended. Move IX C. Refinancing of the 2001 Debt to A. with others moving down. Motion carried unanimously.

Superintendent Larson discussed the following items:

  • Kiwanis Blood Drive
  • Thanked the Harbor Springs Education Foundation for the following grants
    • $200 for Art
    • $2,500 for Musical Instruments
  • CASA meeting on November 28 was a big success
  • Blackbird Craft Night on November 30th was a big success
  • This is the first year for the holiday concerts in the Performing Arts Center

High school principal Jacobs reported:

  • Band concert was awesome
  • Gail Tolzdorf is working on the NWEA testing
  • December 21 is the Language Arts meeting at the secondary level only
  • Involved in Special Ed monitoring. This is something the state used to do but lost funding so they have passed it on to the ISD’s

Middle school principal Cwikiel reported:

  • Mid term reports are due at the end of the week
  • Wednesday, December 13 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. there will be parent forum/discussion on how to talk about drugs & alcohol with your middle school students
  • Informed the board on the enrichment activities that are going on inside and outside of the classroom
    • Geography Bee at 1:30 in the cafeteria on Thursday, December 14
    • School Bee in February
    • Talent show in March

Blackbird and Shay Elementary principal Scholten reported:

  • First annual Blackbird Craft Night on November 30 was a huge success
  • Holiday concert times
  • Shay Spelling Bee is scheduled for February 1
  • Annual Talent Show - January 16

President Fuhrman asked at this time if there would be any public input. No one responded.

A motion was made by Morse, seconded by McDonald to approve the board minutes from the regular meeting on November 13, 2006. Motion carried unanimously.

A motion was made by Fischer, seconded by Wendland to approve the payment of invoices as follows:

General Fund in the amount of $409,923.91

Community Schools Fund in the amount of $16,233.52

Athletic Fund in the amount of $5,519.22

Lunch Fund in the amount of $35,091.88

Construction Fund in the amount of $1,406.00

Motion carried unanimously.

A motion was made by Morse, seconded by Burdick to approve the recommended NEOLA policy updates as presented. The item was tabled until the January 8th meeting. Morse retracted the motion to approve the recommended NEOLA policy updates as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

A motion was made by McDonald, seconded by Burdick to adopt the Resolution to add MESSA Premium Contribution to the Cafeteria Plan. Motion carried unanimously.

Update on the 2001 Debt refunding:

  • Reinvested from 4.75 % to 4.12%
  • Savings totals $649K over the next 21 years
  • Moody’s moved Harbor Springs Schools to AA rating
  • Dr. Larson thanked Pam Gibson for her work overseeing this project

Dr. Larson discussed the Building & Site Sinking Fund and went over the list of items to be updated and replaced. Gave the board a document downloaded from the Department of Treasury that shows expenditures approved and not approved for such a fund.

  • Rob asked Pam to figure out the cost of .5, .75 mills on $50K, etc.
  • John suggested that we take photos of the issues

Susan Jacobs presented the High School Trimester schedule.

Communications Committee Update

Burdick noted:

  • Steering Committee – MEAP results
  • ELA Day - discuss the NWEA data
  • NWEA Assessment
  • Head Football Coach Advisory Committee
  • Insurance Task Force
    • 10/20 Drug Card
  • Refunding of the 2001 Bonds
  • Next meeting - Wednesday, January 3 at 7:15 am

Steering Committee Update

McDonald noted:

  • No meeting in December
  • ELA day on December 21, 2006 for grades 6– 12

Facilities Committee Update

Fischer noted:

  • GMB and Christman were in attendance and it was interesting

The following issues were discussed:

  • Ice build up
  • Heat pumps and air handling issues – need to bring in someone to do the commissioning
  • Issues with the heat in the breakout rooms

President Fuhrman asked at this time if there would be any public input. No one responded.

Motion made by Morse and seconded by Fischer to adjourn the regular board meeting at 8:29 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Laurie Wendland

Secretary