Negaunee Public Schools

April 20, 2009

 

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 April 20, 2009, at the Negaunee High School Library.

 

Members Present:   Virginia Paulson, Cheryl Radloff, Martin Renaldi, Dave Rice and Martin Saari

Members Absent:   Fae Collins and Dan Hintsala     

 

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

 

55.       The meeting was called to order by President Dave Rice at 7:00 p.m.

 

56.       A quorum of the board was established.

 

57.       Motion by V. Paulson, supported by M. Saari, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0.

 

58.       Public Comment:

 

Kathy Lenten, President of the Band Backers, thanked the Board for the 20 new band uniforms. She stated that the band is a great pride of the community and student band members represent the district in parades, at games and in places of worship. She understands the budgeting problems that the district has but would like to request that band uniform replacement be written into the budget. She suggested that $3,000 be set aside annually for replacement uniforms. The uniforms could be replaced 5 per year at a cost of $600 each.

 

Mark Poirier, Steelworkers Union President, spoke on outsourcing of the custodial and maintenance work. He said by outsourcing these positions it would cause a loss of 9 jobs in the community. The job loss would affect families and the schools would suffer. He questioned how much control there would be with outsourced employees working around the children. He does not want to see taxpayer money going to a company not in the community nor did he want to see job losses in the community.

 

Mike Carlson, stated he has one son and one grandson in the district and he is not in favor of outsourcing the custodians or the bus drivers. He said that by doing so you are leaving children open to strangers. Mr. Carlson expressed that as a taxpayer he would like to see other ways, besides outsourcing to raise money for the district.

 

Rod Danko, Midwest Steel Fabricators, Inc., introduced himself to the Board and said he would be available for construction questions.

 

Ben Vanni, a retired district teacher, spoke about his many years in the school system, not only as a teacher but also as a student and stated experiences he had with past custodians and the lessons he learned from working with these individuals. Mr. Vanni said that by cutting these jobs and outsourcing you would lose part of the Negaunee family and the positions would be held by non-taxpayers. He said he is dead against the outsourcing.

 

59.       Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by C. Radloff, to approve the minutes of the

regular meeting held on March 17, 2009. Motion carried 5-0.

 

60.       Motion by M. Saari, supported by M. Renaldi, to approve the Consent Items as presented. Motion carried 5-0.

 

61.       Payment of Bills and Financial Reports:

 

A.        Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by C. Radloff, to approve the payment of bills totaling $569,758.96. Motion carried 5-0.

 

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

 

62.       Written reports were received from the Athletic Director and Community Education Director. Oral reports were received from Bob Bonetti, High School Principal, Dan Skewis, Middle School Principal, Joe Meyskens, Lakeview School Principal and Jim Derocher, Superintendent.

 

63.       Correspondence:

 

The Board received a letter from the Marquette Range Steelworkers Retirement Club supporting the custodial and maintenance employees.

 

64.       Old Business - None

 

65.       New Business:

 

            A.        Award Construction Contracts as follows:

                       

                        *Motion by V. Paulson, supported by M. Renaldi, to award bid 03400 Precast Concrete to Spancrete, Inc., in the amount of $138,218.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

                        *Motion by M. Saari, supported by V. Paulson, to award bid 04000 Masonry to Grand Traverse Construction, in the amount of $53,626.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

                        *Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by M. Saari, to award bid 09250 Drywall, Insulation & Acoustical to O’Boyle & Company, in the amount of $218,990.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

                        *Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by M. Saari, to award bid 09560 Wood Flooring to Foster Specialty Floors, in the amount of $32,660.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

                        *Motion by C. Radloff, supported by V. Paulson, to award bid 15000 Mechanical to Tresedder Mechanical, Inc., in the amount of $235,465.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

                        Motion by M. Saari, supported by V. Paulson, to award bid 02070 Selective Demolition to Associated Constructors LLC, in the amount of $6,060.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

                        Motion by C. Radloff, supported by M. Renaldi, to award bid 02200 Site Work to Associated Constructors LLC, in the amount of $52,681.60. Motion carried 5-0.

 

                        Motion by V. Paulson, supported by M. Renaldi, to award bid 02500 Paving & Surfacing to Smith Paving, Inc., in the amount of $21,500.00

 

                        Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by M. Saari, to award bid 03000 Concrete to Associated Constructors LLC, in the amount of $170,220.35. Motion carried 5-0.

 

                        Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by V. Paulson, to award bid 03400 Precast Concrete to Spancrete, Inc., in the amount of $18,917.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

                        Motion by V. Paulson, supported by C. Radloff, to award bid 04000 Masonry to Edgar Boettcher Mason, in the amount of $521,800.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

        A.   Award Construction Contracts as follows (cont.):

 

Bid Division 0500 Metals - At this juncture Rod Danko, Midwest Steel Fabricators, Inc., questioned why his company, which he indicated was the lowest steel bid was not awarded the project. Superintendent Derocher said he would check with Jacob Golden from the construction management firm, Wolgast Corporation. This bid was tabled.

 

Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by M. Saari, to award bid 06000 General Trades to Closner Construction, in the amount of $159,765.00. It was noted that this company’s bid was over the lowest bid by $850, however, the Board wanted to give the business to a local company. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Motion by C. Radloff, supported by V. Paulson, to award bid 07500 Roofing to Bell Roofing Company, lowest bidder, in the amount of $139,800.00. It was noted that by using Bell Roofing that all of the roofs at the schools would be made of the same material and maintained by the same company. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Motion by V. Paulson, supported by M. Saari, to award bid 08800 Glass & Glazing to St. George Glass Co., Inc., in the amount of $55,075.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by C. Radloff, to award bid 09250 Drywall, Insulation & Acoustical to Gegare Tile, Inc., in the amount of $28,557.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Motion by M. Saari, supported by M. Renaldi, to award bid 09560 to Baseman Floors, Inc., in the amount of $67,750.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Motion by V. Paulson, supported by C. Radloff, to award bid 09650 Flooring to Carpet Specialist of Ishpeming, in the amount of $36,436.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by C. Radloff, to award bid 09900 Painting to Hock Painting, Inc., in the amount of $26,626.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Motion by C. Radloff, supported by M. Saari, to award bid 11480 Gymnasium Athletic Equipment to C & M Associates, Inc., in the amount of $42,782.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by M. Saari, to award bid 13124 Telescopic Seating to Interkal, LLC, in the amount of $59,367.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Motion by V. Paulson, supported by M. Saari, to award bid 15000 Mechanical to Dresseler Mechanical, Inc., in the amount of $318,273.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

        A.  Award Construction Contracts as follows (cont.):

 

Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by C. Radloff, to award bid 15300 Fire Protection to Safe Guard in the amount of $20,336.00. It was noted that this company’s bid was over the lowest bid by $226, however, the Board wanted to give the business to a local company. Motion carried 5-0.

 

              Bid 15900 Temperature Controls - tabled.

 

         Motion by M. Saari, supported by V. Paulson, to award bid 16000 Electrical to JP Electric Professionals, in the amount of $213,180.00. Motion carried 5-0.

 

*Indicates High School auditorium project. Items listed above without asterisk are Middle School gymnasiam project.

 

B.     Martin Renaldi updated the Board on MARESA’s Annual Budget Review Hearing. Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by V. Paulson, to approve the Marquette-Alger Regional Education Service Agency (MARESA) Budget Resolution. Motion carried 5-0.

 

         The above motion should have been carried out by a roll call vote. Therefore,

         Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by V. Paulson to reopen the above motion. Motion carried 5-0.

 

         Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by V. Paulson, to adopt the MARESA budget resolution as presented. Roll call vote 5 ayes and 0 nays.

 

C.     Superintendent Derocher and the Board discussed the fall 2008 MEAP test results for grades 3-9. No action necessary.

 

D.     Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by V. Paulson, to approve the resolution for the district to participation in Section 105 Schools of Choice program for the 2009-10 school year. The administration will list publicly the available openings of each grade level. Roll call vote 5 ayes – 0 nays.

 

E.      Motion by V. Paulson, supported by M. Renaldi, to approve September 1-3 as the first three days of school for the professional staff and Tuesday, September 8th as the first day of school for students. Graduation will be held on Friday, June 11, 2010. Motion carried 5-0.

 

F.   Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by M. Saari, to award high school diplomas to the following individuals who have completed the Adult Education requirements through the Community Education Program: William Aho, Mindi Ebright, Ben Ford, Alan Goodman, Joseph Hermes, Dan Iery, Bree LaJoie, Mitch O’Neill, Katie Pleau, Kelly Raymond, Brandon J. Strohm, Josh Vidlund, Aaron Wernholm, Andrew T. Williams. Motion carried 5-0.

 

G.  Motion by C. Radloff, supported by M. Renaldi, to accept Pedro Farris as a foreign exchange student for the first semester of the 2009-10 school year. Motion carried 5-0.

 

H.         Motion by M. Renaldi, supported by C. Radloff, to approve signing the

        Letter of Understanding with the NEA allowing the school district to delay the issuance of the 4 remaining paychecks for one day from June 22 to June 23, 2009. Motion carried 5-0. Members of the Board thanked the NEA for their cooperation in this matter.

 

I.    Superintendent Derocher and the Board discussed offering a Voluntary Severance Retirement Plan.

 

      Motion by M. Saari, supported by V. Paulson, to offer a Voluntary Severance Retirement Plan which would offer $30,000 over a five year period to all members of the Negaunee Education Association who are eligible to retire under the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System. A minimum of 8 employees are needed to participate in order for the plan to be offered. Retirement is required by June 30, 2009. Motion carried 5-0.

 

J.   Motion by V. Paulson, supported by M. Renaldi, to award tenure to Kari Belanger, Sabina Carlson, Jodi Johnson, Corrie LaCombe, Jeff Niemi, and Michael O’Donnell and to place the following staff members indicated by probationary steps as follows:

 

Fourth year probationary status: Dan Bonetti and Bethany Nelson

 

Third year probationary status: Lynn Mileski and Shelly Stetson

 

Second year probationary status: Michelle Anderson, Kellie Boase, Nicole

Coduti, Cindy Kendall, Katie Korpi, Cathy Moilanen, Joe Wahlman, and

Barb Savolainen. Motion carried 5-0.

 

K.    Motion by M. Saari, supported by M. Renaldi, to approve the request for up to seven additional days of excused leave to Marina Lounds per Article 14, Excused Leave of the MESPA contract. Motion carried 5-0.

L.      Superintendent Derocher explained to the Board the interview process that was followed when selecting and interviewing candidates for the Principal position at Lakeview Elementary School.

 

Motion by V. Paulson, supported by M. Saari, to offer Julie Peterson a two-year contract for the 2009-10 school year in the amount of $65,000.00 to become the Lakeview Elementary School Principal. Motion carried 5-0.             

 

M.    Motion by M. Saari, supported by M. Renaldi, to appoint Halley Sodergren as the Assistant Girl’s Track Coach. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Superintendent Derocher also informed the Board that Jeremy Rae would be the Boy’s Volunteer Baseball Coach and Brian Price would be the Boy’s Volunteer Tennis Coach.

 

            N.        Superintendent Derocher and the Board discussed goals to be set for the Superintendent. No action necessary at this time.

 

66.       Public Comment – None

 

      Coleen Allen questioned why the graduation date, this year, is set for a week earlier then it will be for the 2009-10 school year. Superintendent Derocher explained that the last day of school for this year was set for Wednesday, June 10. In order to accommodate for families traveling to graduation the date was moved to fall on Friday, June 5th. Next year the last day of school is scheduled for Friday, June 11^th, which is also the date of graduation.

 

67.       Other Business - None

 

68.      President Rice adjourned the meeting at 9:04 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

_______________________________          ________________________________

Dave Rice, President               Fae Collins, Secretary