Negaunee Public Schools

January 19, 2009

 

Minutes of the Annual Reorganization Meeting of the Board of Education, Negaunee Public Schools, City of Negaunee, County of Marquette, and State of Michigan, held on January 19, 2009, at the Negaunee High School.

 

Members Present:       Fae Collins, Dan Hintsala, Virginia Paulson, Dave Rice, Martin Renaldi, and Martin Saari

 

Member Absent:         None              

 

Administrators Present:

James Derocher, Superintendent

Bob Bonetti, High School Principal

Dan Skewis, Middle School Principal

Joe Meyskens, Principal, Lakeview Elementary School

Mary Kay Johnson, Administrative Aide for Finance

Julie Dompierre, Recording Secretary

 

1.       The meeting was called to order by Superintendent James Derocher at 7:00 p.m.

A.        A quorum of the Board was established.

 

2.       Motion by M. Saari, supported by V. Paulson, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 6-0.

 

3.        Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by D. Hintsala, to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on December 15, 2008. Motion carried 6-0.

 

4.        Election of officers for 2009:

 

A.       Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by F. Collins, nominating Dave Rice for the Office of President. Motion carried 6-0.

 

B.       Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by M. Saari, nominating Virginia Paulson for the Office of Vice President. Motion carried 6-0.

 

C.        Motion by V. Paulson, supported by M. Renaldi, nominating Fae Collins for the Office of Secretary. Motion carried 6-0.

 

D.        Motion by M. Saari, supported by V. Paulson, nominating Dan Hintsala, for the Office of Treasurer. Motion carried 6-0.

 

 

5.       Motion by F. Collins, supported by D. Hintsala, that the Board members salaries be set at $30 per meeting, with a maximum of 52 meetings per year, according to Board Policy #0152, to be paid on an annual basis. Motion carried 6-0.

 

6.        Motion by F. Collins, supported by D. Hintsala, to appoint the following Board members to the listed committees:

            NEA USWA MESPA Transportation

            Fae Collins      Martin Renaldi    Dan Hintsala     Marty Saari

            Dan Hintsala   Marty Saari Dave Rice          Cheryl Radloff

            Dave Rice        Cheryl Radloff Fae Collins        Martin Renaldi

 

 

       Reproductive Health Policy Administrative

            Dave Rice Dan Hintsala       Virginia Paulson

                                                          Cheryl Radloff Fae Collins

Martin Renaldi Dave Rice

           

School Liaisons

Lakeview Virginia Paulson                 

Middle School Cheryl Radloff

High School Martin Renaldi                    

 

     Motion carried 6-0.

 

7.        Motion by V. Paulson, supported by M. Renaldi, that the following financial institutions be named as official depositories for the Negaunee Public Schools: Range Bank, River Valley State Bank, Superior Iron Range Community Credit Union, Wells Fargo Bank, and the Michigan Liquid Asset Fund. Motion carried 6-0.

 

8.       Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by F. Collins, to appoint Superintendent James Derocher, as the authorized signature of accounts, with Mary Kay Johnson, Administrative Aide for Finance, as a second signature of accounts. Motion carried 6-0.

 

9.       Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by M. Saari, to appoint Mary Kay Johnson, Administrative Aide for Finance, as the Electronic Transfer Officer. Motion carried 6-0.

 

10.       Motion by M. Saari, supported by M. Renaldi, that Regular Board Meetings for the 2009 school year be held on the third Monday of the month. All meetings will be held at the High School with the exceptions of the August 17th meeting, which will be held at the Negaunee Middle School, and the September 21st meeting, which will be held at Lakeview School. Motion carried 6-0.

 

11.       Motion by D. Hintsala, supported by V. Paulson, to designate Julie Dompierre, the Executive Secretary, to post notices of the board meetings. Motion carried 6-0.

 

12.       Public Comment:

 

Debbie Wiljanen asked why there were two areas on the agenda for public comment. Superintendent Derocher explained that the public is given an opportunity to address the Board on agenda items before the Board takes action on the agenda items and after the Board has taken action.

 

Ms. Wiljanen then asked how far ahead the administration was looking at the contract renewal of Mr. Meyskens. Superintendent Derocher explained that Mr. Meyskens and Mr. Bonetti are on a 1-year contact and Mr. Skewis has a 2-year contract in place. He explained the evaluation process for all of the Principals’ contract renewals and how the evaluations, budget, state aide, etc. are all factors in determining these renewals.

 

Ms. Wiljanen stated that when she was on the Board of Education, for another district, job postings were available in January and thought this information would be available now.

 

13.       Motion by V. Paulson, supported by F. Collins, to approve the consent items as presented. Motion carried 6-0.

14.       Payment of Bills and Financial Reports:

 

A.       Motion by M. Saari, supported by F. Collins, to approve the payment of bills in the amount of $268,218.83. Motion carried 6-0.

          

B.       The Financial Report was presented by the Administrative Aide for Finance, Mary Kay Johnson.

           

15.       Written reports were received from the Community Education Director and Health Coordinator. Oral reports were received from Bob Bonetti, High School Principal, Dan Skewis, Middle School Principal, Joe Meyskens, Lakeview Elementary School Principal, and James Derocher, Superintendent.

 

16.       Correspondence – None

 

17.       Old Business - None

 

18.       New Business:

 

            A.        Superintendent Derocher explained that the Board will need to make an appointment to the vacancy, which was created when Osmond Kemp decided not to run for re-election. The individual appointed to this seat will be required to run for the remaining 4-year term in the next election, which will be held in November 2010.

 

            Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by V. Paulson, to appoint Cheryl Radloff to the vacant board seat. Motion carried 6-0.

 

            Motion by M. Saari, to appoint Tom Russo to this position. Motion failed due to lack of support.

 

            At this juncture Virginia Paulson explained her process in selecting a candidate.

 

B.        Motion by V. Paulson, supported by D. Hintsala, to approve the amended 2008-09 General Fund budget to reflect revenues of $12,279,104 and expenditures of $12,532,037, with $252,933 being subtracted from the Fund Balance. Motion carried 7-0.

 

C.        Motion by V. Paulson, seconded by M. Renaldi, to retain the firm of Thrun Law Firm, P.C. to serve as the district’s attorneys for the 2009 school year. Motion carried 7-0.

D.        Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by F. Collins, to approve the High School curriculum guide which includes course names and description changes as presented in the following departments: Social Studies, English, Math, and Science. Motion carried 7-0.

E.         Motion by V. Paulson, supported by M. Saari, to approve a request for additional business days by Kathy Alexander, a High School Teacher, as stipulated by Article XI Sick Leave and Business Leave, Section B4 of the Master Agreement. Motion carried 7-0.

 

F.         Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by D. Hintsala, to approve the additional 6 ½ excused leave days for Susan Koch, an Instructional Aide, as stipulated by Article 14, Excused Leave, C2. Motion carried 7-0.

 

Motion by D. Renaldi, seconded by V. Paulson, to deny a request from Eyre Becker, an Instructional Aide, for an unpaid leave of absence in excessive of one year, per Article 15 Unpaid Leave, Section 1, B2. Motion carried 7-0.

 

G.        Motion by F. Collins, supported by M. Renaldi, to hire Peter Kenn to replace Eyre Becker as an Instructional Aide at the Middle School. Motion carried 7-0.

 

H.        Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by C. Radloff, to hire David Speaker, Sr. as the Boys Baseball Coach. Motion carried 7-0.

 

I.          Superintendent Derocher discussed the evaluation form used for his position. He asked that the Board members complete and return the form at the February Regular Board Meeting. He also stated that if the Board does not act his contract would automatically renew. Superintendent Derocher stated that C. Radloff should not be required to complete this form due to her recent appointment to the Board. No action necessary.

 

J.         Superintendent Derocher distributed, to the Board members, Certificates of Appreciation in recognition of their commitment to education. Raeann Loy, NEA President, and Coleen Allen, MESPA President, informed the Board that the Michigan Educational Association has purchased 3 books, which will be donated to the libraries at each building for use by the students. The books will contain a service recognition bookplate with the name of each Board member and the office they held. No action necessary.                 

19.       Public Comment:

Debbie Wiljanen thanked the Board for all they do and commented on the well-written Board recognition editorial, sent by Superintendent Derocher, which appeared in the Mining Journal.

20.       The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

_______________________________          ________________________________

Dave Rice, President                                       Fae Collins, Secretary