Negaunee Public Schools

March 17, 2009

Page 1

 

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 March 17, 2009, at the Negaunee High School Library.

 

Members Present:   Fae Collins, Dan Hintsala, Virginia Paulson, Martin Cheryl Radloff, Renaldi, and Martin Saari

Member Absent:     Dave Rice           

 

Administrators Present:

James Derocher, Superintendent

Bob Bonetti, High School Principal

Dan Skewis, Middle School Principal

Joe Meyskens, Lakeview School Principal

Mary Kay Johnson, Administrative Aide for Finance

Julie Dompierre, Recording Secretary

 

41.       The meeting was called to order by Vice President Virginia Paulson at 7:00 p.m.

 

42.       A quorum of the board was established.

 

43.       Motion by M. Saari, supported by F. Collins, to approve the agenda as presented.

 

44.       Public Comment:

 

Diane Faust, SHINE Coordinator-Public Relations, passed out an informational packet. She discussed the financial savings, to the school system, because of the 10,000 hours worked by volunteers and the $40,000 generated through the various activities coordinated through the SHINE program such as the Box Top rebates and the Clothing Resale. Through these projects, funding is generated making other activities available at the school, which otherwise would not be affordable.

 

Mrs. Faust stated that any type of positive press reporting, via the media, brings public awareness to the district and could influence participation in the Schools of Choice program. Mrs. Faust thanked the Board for their time and indicated that the packet also contained letters of support for the SHINE program and asked the Board to take all of this information into consideration before making any budget cutting decisions.

 

45.       Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by D. Hintsala, to approve the minutes of the

Regular Meeting and Closed Session held on February 16, 2009. Motion carried 6-0.

 

46.       Motion by D. Hintsala, supported by F. Collins, to approve the Consent Items as presented. Motion carried 6-0.

 

47.       Payment of Bills and Financial Reports:

 

A.        Motion by F. Collins, supported by M. Saari, to approve the payment of bills totaling $443,714.01. Motion carried 6-0.

 

B.       The Financial Report was received from the Administrative Aide for Finance, Mary Kay Johnson.

 

48.       Written reports were received from the Community Education Director, Health Coordinator, Negaunee High School Assistant Principal’s Attendance and Discipline Report. Oral reports were received from Bob Bonetti, High School Principal, Dan Skewis, Middle School Principal, Joe Meyskens, Lakeview School Principal, and Jim Derocher, Superintendent.

 

49.       Correspondence:

 

The Board received a letter regarding the recent bids for the High School auditorium from UP Fabricating Co., Inc.

 

50.       Old Business:

 

A.        Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by M. Saari, to approve the purchase of the following textbooks:

            Middle School – Prentice Hall’s - American History of our Nation Beginnings through 1877.

 

            High School:

            Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publishers – Pre Calculus A Graphing Approach.

 

            Holt McDougal (a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) – Civics in Practice; Principles of Government & Economics.

 

            Prentice Hall’s – Advance Chemistry.

Motion carried 6-0.

 

51.       New Business:

 

A.        Steve Anderson and Kyle Johnson, Negaunee Girls’ Softball Coaches, presented a report on the sustainability of the program in terms of finances and Coaches interest.

 

In response to Board members questions the Coaches indicated that it has never been their practice to cut only one player when forming their team. No action needed.

 

B.        The Board received a written financial report from the Boys’ Baseball program representative, Don Brown. The report stated that the self-funded program will have enough financial support for this year. No action necessary.

 

C.        Superintendent Derocher informed the Board about a change in the bidding criteria for the High School auditorium. It was decided to “pull” the mechanical bid, prior to the bid opening, because they had included the controls in the bid. Companies will be given the opportunity to re-bid for the combined projects at the High and Middle Schools at a later date. Various aspects of the construction project were discussed.

 

            Motion by M. Saari, supported by M. Renaldi, to award the following combined bids, for a discount of $15,000 to Associated Contractors, LLC:

                     02070 Selective Demolition          $ 73,379.74

                     02200 Site Work                                67,586.25

                     02500 Paving and Surfacing              20,503.00

                     03000 Concrete                                189,342.00

                     Discount                                           (15,000.00)

                                               Total bid              $335,810.99

            Motion carried 6-0.

 

            Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by F. Collins, to award bid 05000 Metals to R. J. Alholm Erecting, Co., Inc. in the amount of $118,077.00. Motion carried 6-0.

 

            Motion by D. Hintsala, supported by M. Renaldi, to award bid 06000 General Trades to A & F Construction Co. in the amount of $97,500.00. Motion carried 6-0.

 

            Motion by F. Collins, supported by D. Hintsala, to award bid 07500 Roofing to Bell Roofing Company in the amount of $59,525.00. Motion carried 6-0.

 

            Motion by M. Saari, supported by M. Renaldi, to award bid 09650 Flooring to Gegare Tile, Inc. in the amount of $15,696.00. Motion carried 6-0.

 

            Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by C. Radloff, to award bid 09900 Painting to Hock Painting, Inc. in the amount of $33,075.00. Motion carried 6-0.

 

Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by C. Radloff, to award bid 11062 Stage Rigging and Curtains to Main Stage Theatrical Supply, Inc. in the amount of $23,168.48. Motion carried 6-0.

 

Motion by D. Hintsala, supported by M. Renaldi, to award bid 15300 Fire Protection to Excel Fire Protection in the amount of $29,121.00. Motion carried 6-0.

 

Motion by F. Collins, supported by D. Hintsala, to award bid 16000 Electrical to JP Electric Professionals, Inc. in the amount of $174,340.00. Motion carried 6-0.

 

Motion by F. Collins, supported by M. Saari, to award the bid for Marque Chairs to Irwing Seating Co. in the amount of $99,349.00. Motion carried 6-0.

 

D.        Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by C. Radloff, to award the bid for lawn care services to Loy Lawns by Design for 3 years as follows:

 

                                               2009                    $26,850

                                               2010                    27,950

                                               2011                    28,850

 

            At the Boards request Superintendent Derocher was advised to inquire from Kimme Peterson, owner of Loy Lawns, to re-evaluate these service costs if the school district’s needs should change due to a loss in green space. Motion carried 6-0.

 

E.         The Board and Superintendent discussed the 19 possible budget reduction ideas.

 

The Board requested that the teaching staff complete a survey, regarding the impact on curriculum and student outcomes if the school days were made longer in order to shorten the school calendar.

 

The Board also instructed the Superintendent to contact both the Negaunee Education Association, NEA, and the Negaunee-Michigan Education Support Personnel Association, MESPA, asking that these groups consider a freeze in wages at the 2008-09 salary rate.

 

F.         Motion by F. Collins, supported by M. Saari, to appoint Martin Renaldi as the         Negaunee Public Schools representative at the MARESA Budget Meeting and

            the Biennial Election. Motion carried 6-0.

 

G.        Motion by D. Hintsala, supported by M. Renaldi, to deny the NEA’s request to use professional development hours to cover the instructional time lost due to inclement weather. The last day of school for the students has been change to June 12^th. Motion carried 6-0.

 

H.        Motion by F. Collins, supported by D. Hintsala, to recommend that Lisa Bigalk and Pam Jacobson be named as the 2008-09 Outstanding Teachers of the Year. Motion carried 6-0.

 

I.          Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by C. Radloff, to approve the March 27^th unpaid leave request from Alice Crookham. Motion carried 6-0.

 

J.         Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by C. Radloff, to approve the following Administrative contracts:

 

Dan Skewis, Middle School Principal, through the 2010-2012 school year.

 

Kellie Boase, Lakeview Assistant Principal, through the 2010-2011 school year.

 

Paul Jacobson, Middle School Assistant Principal, through the 2010-2011 school year.

 

Mark Marana, High School Assistant Principal/Athletic Director, through the 2010-2011 school year.

 

The Board also approved the continued contract with North Star Staffing for the following services:

 

High School Principal, through the 2009-2010 school year.

 

Special Education Coordinator, though the 2009-2010 school year.

 

Motion carried 6-0.

 

52.             Public Comment:

 

Debbie Wiljanen, Lakeview School Secretary, commented on how pleased she is with the performance of Kellie Boase as the Assistant Principal at Lakeview School. Mrs. Wiljanen also stated that having been on a Board of Education she realizes the difficult budget decisions that will need to be made by this Board in the future.

 

Martin Renaldi said that he appreciates the work that the Administrators do for the school system.

 

53.             Other Business – None

                       

54.             Vice President Paulson adjourned the meeting at 9:12 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________ _______________________________

Virginia Paulson, Vice President                 Fae Collins, Secretary