Negaunee Public Schools
November 17, 2008
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 November 17,
2008, at the Negaunee High School Library.
Members Present:
Fae Collins, Dan Hintsala, Virginia Paulson, Martin Renaldi, Dave Rice and
Martin Saari
Member
Absent: Osmond T. Kemp
Administrators
Present:
James Derocher,
Superintendent
Dan Skewis,
Middle School Principal
Joe Meyskens,
Lakeview Elementary School Principal
Mary Kay
Johnson, Administrative Aide for Finance
Julie Dompierre,
Recording Secretary
269. The meeting was called
to order by President Martin Renaldi at 7:00 p.m.
270. A quorum of the board
was established.
271. Motion
by F. Collins, supported by M. Saari, to approve the agenda with the following
additions/change:
274. Consent Items: C. Athletic
DirectorÕs Report
D. High School Discipline Report.
President Renaldi asked that the Executive Session be held after
agenda item 280. Public Comment.
Motion carried 6-0.
272. Public Comment:
Mark Churchill, Professional Negotiation Chairperson, addressed
the Board concerning the 403 (b)
issue. Mr. Churchill stated that
he was presented with twelve technical questions, from the Adminstration, and
asked to respond. He felt the
Administration had decided to move forward with the TPA (Third Party
Administrator) consortium, back on October 2nd, which was before the MEA
Committee had received the questions or had time to respond.
Mr. Churchill feels that the MEA Financial is in the best interest
of everyone stating of the 200 district employees 140 are associated with the
MEA. Mr. Churchill said that the
district has paid $500 to the TPA consortium when these services would have
been provided free of charge from the MEA Financial. He also stated that the
TPAÕs vision has changed in order to meet the MEA standards. He voiced concerns
on using a TPA located in the State of Florida as opposed to the MEA, which is
located in Michigan.
RaeAnn Loy, MEA Union President, stated that she and Mark
Churchill had received a memorandum from Superintendent Derocher stating that
he would be asking the Board of Education, at the November 17th
meeting, to take action to approve a 403 (b) Plan and participate in the
Michigan Retirement Investment Consortium with TSA Consulting, Inc. as the TPA
for the plan. Ms. Loy does not
feel that there is an impasse. She stated that a meeting has been scheduled for
Thursday, November 20th and
that there is still time to work out a Letter of Understanding. She also said that she feels that
Superintendent Derocher did not negotiate in good faith and that there was no
mention of a mediation. Ms.
Loy stated that the union did not want to file an Unfair Labor Practice and
asked the Board to table this item.
Coleen Allen, MESPA Union President, explained to the Board that
their union had not received any notification from Superintendent Derocher and
asked the Board to table this item until a letter of agreement is in place.
273. Motion by D. Rice,
supported by F. Collins, to approve the minutes of the
regular meeting and closed session on October 20, 2008. Motion carried 6-0.
274. Motion
by M. Saari, supported by D. Hintsala, to approve the Consent Items as
presented.
Marty Saari asked Superintendent Derocher if student nurses, from
Northern Michigan University, are required to be fingerprinted? Superintendent Derocher explained that
it was not necessary because these individuals are not paid employees.
President Renaldi asked Joe Meyskens for clarification on the
minutes included in the Health CoordinatorÕs report.
Motion carried 6-0.
275. Payment of Bills and
Financial Reports:
A. Motion
by D. Rice, supported by V. Paulson, to approve the payment of bills totaling
$643,610.76. Motion carried 6-0.
B. Mary
Kay Johnson, Administrative Aide for Finance, presented the financial
report.
276. Written
reports were received from the Community Education Director, the Health
Coordinator, High School Athletic Director and the High School Assistant
PrincipalÕs Discipline Report.
Oral reports were received from, Dan Skewis, Middle School Principal,
Joe Meyskens, Lakeview Elementary School Principal, and Superintendent Derocher.
277. Correspondence - None
278. Old Business - None
279. New Business:
At
this juncture, President Renaldi requested that the agenda order be
changed.
Motion by D. Hintsala, supported by F. Collins, to move agenda
item 279. New Business, L. Executive Session before agenda item C. NEA
Negotiations. Motion carried 6-0.
A. Superintendent
Derocher and the Board discussed a request, from the City of NegauneeÕs
Recreation Committee, to enter into an agreement with the City to allow for the
expansion of the park located at the athletic complex. No action taken.
B. The
Board received a copy of the 2007-08 district audit. Superintendent Derocher stated that the three areas of
improvement in the audit have been addressed and corrected. The Board will receive a complete
report from the firm of Anderson, Tackman and Company, P.L.C. at the December
board meeting. No action taken.
C. Motion
by D. Rice, supported by V. Paulson, to pass the resolution declaring an
impasse in the negotiations with the Negaunee Education Association with
respect to a 403 (b) plan. Roll
call vote 6 ayes–0 nays.
Motion carried.
D. Motion
by F. Collins, supported by D. Hintsala, to adopt the Plan Document resolution
for the Negaunee School DistrictÕs 403 (b) Retirement Plan. The Superintendent and Business Manager
are authorized to select the vendors for this plan. Roll call vote 6 ayes-0 nays. Motion carried.
E. Motion
by D. Rice, supported by M. Saari, to approve the resolution allowing the
district to enter into a participation agreement to become a party to the
Interlocal Agreement with the Michigan Retirement Investment Consortium for
third party administration 403 (b) tax-annuity programs. Roll call vote 6 ayes-0 nays. Motion carried.
F. Superintendent
Derocher informed the Board of the election results. He stated that the Sink Fund five-year renewal had been
approved with 2,743 yes votes and 1,380 no votes. He also said that Dan Hintsala had been the only write in
candidate and received 29 votes.
The Board will have to appoint someone to the vacancy left by Osmond
Kemp at the January, 2009 Board Meeting.
No action necessary.
G. The
Board held the first reading of the following Board Policy
revisions/updates: 2260.01, 2461,
3121, 4121, 3130, 3430.01, 4430.01, 3437.01, 4437.01, 5114, 5320, 5460, 5605,
5610, 8210, 8351, and 8452. No
action necessary at this time.
H. Motion
by V. Paulson, supported by F. Collins, to approve the purchase of a 6Õ X 12Õ
enclosed trailer . Motion carried
6-0.
I. Motion
by M. Saari, supported by D. Hintsala, to approve a field trip request from
Connie Lindblom, Middle School Teacher.
The trip is scheduled for June 2, 2009, and will take the Middle School
chorus to Appleton to see the play Grease. Motion carried 6-0.
J. Motion
by D. Hintsala, supported by F. Collins, to grant Karen Prusi 2 years of credit
on the compensation scale in recognition of her AssociateÕs Degree in Food
Service Management effective November 18, 2008. Motion carried 6-0.
K. Motion
by D. Rice, supported by V. Paulson, to transfer Nancy Vilona to the Young
FiveÕs Instructional Aide position.
The Superintendent will also post a position for a part-time Non-instructional Aide to
replace Nancy. Motion carried 6-0.
L. Motion
by D. Rice, supported by V. Paulson, to move into Executive Session at 7:58
p.m. Roll call vote 6 ayes-0 nays.
Motion carried.
President
Renaldi moved back into open session at 8:31 p.m.
280. Public Comment - None
281. Other Business - None
282. President
Renaldi adjourned the meeting at 8:51 p.m.
_________________________ _________________________
Martin Renaldi, President Virginia Paulson, Secretary