BUCHANAN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN
JULY 20, 2020 REGULAR MEETING VIRTUAL MEETING
| CALL TO ORDER | PRESIDENT: Dennis Wentworth opened the virtual meeting at 5:08 pm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROLL CALL | PHYSICALLY PRESENT: C. Lee, H. Burnett, R. Writer, S. Tobler, J. DeVlaminck, K. Laesch, and D. Wentworth
ABSENT: None |
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| OTHERS VIRTUALLY PRESENT : Timothy Donahue, Brian Pruett, Karin Falkenstein, Lonnie Hoover, Mark Frey, Shelby Beasley, and Stacey Denison | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ADOPTION OF AGENDA
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MOTION by R. Writer, SECONDED BY Member S. Tobler the agenda for the board meeting of July 20, 2020 be adopted as written.
MOTION by J. DeVlaminck, SECONDED BY Member C. Lee to amend the agenda for the board meeting of July 20, 2020 to elect a Vice President.
ROLL CALL VOTE: C. Lee, H. Burnett, R. Writer, S. Tobler, J. DeVlaminck, K. Laesch and D. Wentworth NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED |
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| RECOGNITION OF VISITORS | None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| INFORMATION/REPORTS & NEW BUSINESS | None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SUPERINTENDENT/
DEPARTMENT REPORTS |
Superintendent Donahue reminded those members of the community who wish to run for a board seat of the deadline to file with the County Clerk’s Office. Mr. Donahue also updated the board with the progress of our Return to Learn Plan and spoke of meeting with the committee to begin the process with finalization towards the end of July. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COMMUNITY DIALOGUE CITIZENS CONCERNS | Jessica Elliot – Mr. Wentworth read her comments regarding concerns with laying off Athletic Director Lonnie Hoover. She encouraged the board to vote against the layoff. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA
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MOTION by C. Lee, SECONDED by K. Laesch, The Board of Education approves the consent agenda for the regular board meeting of July 20, 2020 be adopted as written:
6-29-2020 Special Meeting 7-1-2020 Special Meeting 7-13-2020 Special Meeting 2. Warrants: Expenditure Reports & Payroll – June 3. Recommendations to Hire as submitted by Operations Supervisor, Mr. Daryl Miller (contracts attached):
ROLL CALL VOTE: C. Lee, H. Burnett, R. Writer, S. Tobler, J. DeVlaminck, K. Laesch and D. Wentworth NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED |
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| WEIMING MICHIGAN EDUCATION GROUP AGREEMENT | MOTION by K. Laesch, SECONDED by R. Writer, the Buchanan Board of Education allows for the Buchanan Virtual Academy to partner with the Weiming Education Group.
BVA Director Mark Frey started by announcing an expansion to provide K-12 online instruction through the BVA that would be still eligible for the Buchanan Promise. He also explained that the Weiming agreement is to help students in China get a history credit that is needed to attend university in the United States. Not only will Buchanan get recognition for this, there is also a financial benefit as well.
ROLL CALL VOTE: C. Lee, H. Burnett, R. Writer, S. Tobler, J. DeVlaminck, K. Laesch and D. Wentworth NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED |
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| STEPHENSON & COMPANY, P.C. AGREEMENT | MOTION by J. DeVlaminck, SECONDED by C. Lee, the Buchanan Board of Education accepts the 3 year agreement with Stephenson & Company to conduct Buchanan Community Schools’ audits as recommended by the Finance Committee.
ROLL CALL VOTE: C. Lee, H. Burnett, R. Writer, S. Tobler, J. DeVlaminck, K. Laesch and D. Wentworth NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED |
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| BOARD POLICIES – FIRST READING | MOTION by K. Laesch, SECONDED by S. Tobler, the Buchanan Board of Education approves the first reading of the following NEOLA – Volume 34, No.2; revised and reissued policies:
Superintendent Donahue reported that the Policy Committee in its recent meeting to review this policy update group elected not to advance a policy change regarding dual enrollment/Math Science Center costs to families.
ROLL CALL VOTE: C. Lee, H. Burnett, R. Writer, S. Tobler, J. DeVlaminck, K. Laesch and D. Wentworth NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED |
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| ADMINISTRATOR LAYOFF ACTION | MOTION by K. Laesch, SECONDED by R. Writer, the Buchanan Board of Education resolves to implement a layoff of administrative personnel, due to budgetary limitations and proposed reductions in state funding for the 2020-2021 school year. Per the affected administrator’s contract, enacted layoff is to take effect thirty (30) days after board action:
Athletic Director, Lonnie Hoover
Superintendent Donahue along with several board members commented on this difficult decision. Mr. Donahue shared the process of developing reductions that has occurred in recent months, and he also referenced the draft plan for covering AD duties that was provided to Board members.
ROLL CALL VOTE: C. Lee, H. Burnett, R. Writer, S. Tobler, J. DeVlaminck, K. Laesch and D. Wentworth NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED |
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| APPOINTMENT OF BOARD VICE-PRESIDENT | MOTION by S. Tobler, SECONDED by K. Laesch, for member Ruth Writer as Vice-President of the Board of Education of Buchanan Community Schools for the remainder of the 2020 calendar year.
ROLL CALL VOTE: C. Lee, H. Burnett, R. Writer, S. Tobler, J. DeVlaminck, K. Laesch and D. Wentworth NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED |
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| APPOINTMENT OF BOARD SECRETARY | MOTION by S. Tobler, SECONDED by C. Lee, for member Kelly Laesch as secretary of the Board of Education of Buchanan Community Schools for the remainder of the 2020 calendar year.
ROLL CALL VOTE: C. Lee, H. Burnett, R. Writer, S. Tobler, J. DeVlaminck, K. Laesch and D. Wentworth NAYS: None MOTION ADOPTED |
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| RECESS | The board took a 5 minute recess from 5:40pm – 5:45pm. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2ND ROUND INTERVIEWS FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS | 1. Mark Kurland, Executive Director of Academic Services, Buchanan Community Schools
2. Patricia Robinson, Assistant Superintendent (former), Benton Harbor Area Schools
3. Brian Brown, Business Manager, River Valley School District
Upon the conclusion of the interviews, Superintendent Search Consultant Mark Dobias described the process for the 7-21-2020 and board members engaged in brief conversation. |
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| QUESTIONS & COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS | None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NEXT BOARD MEETING | Special Virtual Meeting, Tuesday, July 21st @ 6pm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ADJOURNMENT | 7:57 pm |
