Negaunee Public Schools

                                                                                               August 20, 2007

 

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 August 20, 2007, at the Negaunee Middle School Library.

 

Members Present: Fae Collins, Dan Hintsala, Osmond T. Kemp, Virginia Paulson,

                              Martin Renaldi, Dave Rice, and Martin Saari

                                   

Member Absent: None

 

Administrators Present:

James Derocher, Superintendent

Bob Bonetti, High School Principal

Dan Skewis, Middle School Principal

Joe Meyskens, Lakeview Elementary School Principal

Mary Kay Johnson, Administrative Aide for Finance

Julie Dompierre, Recording Secretary

 

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

 

22.       A quorum of the board was established.

 

23.       Motion by F. Collins, supported by M. Saari, to approve the agenda with the following additional item: 31. New Business - K. Executive Session.  Motion carried 7-0. 

 

24.       Public Comment:  All individuals participating in public comment were informed, by President Renaldi, of the right to request a closed session, if the complaint involves an employee of the school district.  Also, the public was advised that any topics discussed in open session could be used in future proceedings. At this juncture all participants opted to stay in open session.

 

Steven Landick, a Middle School Teacher, addressed allegations against him and stated his interpretation of events and legal proceedings concerning his professional conduct.

 

Dominic Vilona, a parent, informed the Board that he was unhappy with the way proceedings progressed concerning a complaint against a staff member and harassment allegations.

 

Bonitia Symons, a parent, stated that class scheduling be extended to allow  changes in  her childrenÕs classroom assignments if necessary.

 

Kathy Hakala, a parent, discussed an incident involving her child and the apprehension the family has about returning to school.

 

Amy Clickner, a parent, spoke of moral and ethic standards and consequences involved for not following these standards.

 

Shannon Vilona, a parent, elaborated on comments made by her husband, Dominic Vilona, and the impact that has occurred in their personal lives and the reflection it may have on the school district.

 

25.       Motion by D. Rice, supported by V. Paulson, to approve the minutes of the

regular meeting and executive session held on July 16, 2007, with the following change:  Joe Meyskens, Principal, Lakeview Elementary School.   Motion carried 7-0. 

 

26.       Motion by D. Hintsala, supported by O. Kemp, to approve the consent items as presented.  Motion carried 7-0.

 

27.       Payment of Bills and Financial Reports

 

A.        Motion by O. Kemp, supported by D. Rice, to approve payment of bills totaling $640,634.51.  Motion carried 7-0.

 

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

 

28.       A written report was received from the Community Education Director.  Oral reports were received from Bob Bonetti, High School Principal, Dan Skewis, Middle School Principal, Joe Meyskens, Lakeview Elementary School, and Superintendent Derocher. 

 

29.       Correspondence - None

           

30.       Old Business:

 

Aaron Grover, Field Manager for Wolgast, updated the Board on the Lakeview School construction project.  A brief question and answer session followed.  No action necessary.

                                   

31.       New Business:

 

A.        Motion by V. Paulson, supported by F. Collins, to approve the contract with Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency to provide special education services for the 2007-08 school year.  Motion carried 7-0.

 

B.        The Board and Superintendent Derocher discussed sending a member of the Board to the MASB Fall Leadership Conference.  No action taken.

 

C.        Superintendent Derocher reviewed the Michigan Merit Exam results for grade 11 for the 2006-07 school year.  No action necessary.                   

       

D.        Motion by D. Rice, supported by O. Kemp, to award the following lowest  bids for the 2007-08 school year.  The dairy bid to Jilbert Dairy and the bakery bid to Sara Lee Bakery.  Motion carried 7-0.

 

E.         Motion by V. Paulson, supported by M. Saari, to approve the write off of stale dated checks in the amount of $3,590.96, per the recommendation of the districtÕs accounting firm of Anderson & Tachman, PC.     The Miscellaneous Revenue account will reflect this write off.  Motion carried 7-0.          

 

F.         Motion by F. Collins, supported by D. Hintsala, to approve a request for three additional personal days by Kathy Houghton, a High School Teacher, as stipulated by Article XI, Section B4 of the Master Agreement.      Motion carried 7-0.

 

G.            Motion by D. Hintsala, supported by D. Rice, to approve the substitute employee pay rates for the 2007-08 school  year as follows:

 

Teacher            $60.00 per day

Bus Driver      $11.00 per hour

Secretary         $ 7.15  per hour

Custodian        $ 7.75  per hour

Aide                $ 7.15  per hour

 

Motion carried 7-0.

 

H.        Motion by F. Collins, supported by O. Kemp, to freeze the salaries, at the 2006-07 school year rate, for all of the Administrative staff members for the 2007-08 school year.  Motion carried 7-0. 

                                                                                   

I.        Motion by M. Saari, supported by O. Kemp, to approve the following Schedule B position:

         

                        Kevin Mattord                         Freshman Football Volunteer Coach

 

          Motion carried 7-0.

 

J.        Superintendent Derocher informed the Board that he had received a letter of resignation from Ramona Meyer, a High School Special Education Teacher.  No action necessary.

 

At this juncture, President Renaldi requested that the agenda order be changed and allow for item number 32 Public Comments to be next.

 

K.      Motion by F. Collins, supported by D. Rice, to move into Executive Session at 9:30 p.m. to discuss negotiation strategies for the continuing contract negotiations with the Negaunee Education Association.  Motion carried 7-0.

 

President Renaldi moved back into open session at 9:55 p.m.   The Board scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, August 28, 2007, starting at 7:00 p.m., at the Negaunee High School to review Board Policy updates and discuss staff member review.

 

32.   Public Comment:

 

Motion by D. Rice, supported by O. Kemp, to move into closed session per the request of Dominic Vilona, a parent, at 8:17 p.m.  Motion carried 7-0

 

President Renaldi moved the Board meeting back into open session at 9:06 p.m.

 

        Mrs. Barbara Flannery asked to address the Board under Public Comment.  She stated she was Danielle VilonaÕs grandmother.  She told the Board how she had written to Danielle when she had discovered she had gotten a 3 in citizenship from Mr. Landick.  Mrs. Flannery stated that she felt at fault because she said the teacher is always right and that Danielle should do what the teacher is requiring her to do.  She also stated that she feels the Administration is at fault because they did not report this incident to Social Services.  Mrs. Flannery then asked the Board to take steps to remove the teacher from the school system before other students are hurt and the school district suffers more.  

                                                                       

33.   Other Business - None         

 

34.   Motion by M. Saari, supported by D. Hintsala, to adjourn the meeting at

  10:02 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

_______________________________          ________________________________

         Martin Renaldi, President                                   Virginia Paulson, Secretary