BOARD OF EDUCATION

REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

Monday, March 3, 2008

5:30 p.m.

ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

 

 

The regular school board meeting of the Fremont Board of Education was called to order by President Anita Osterman at 5:30 p.m.

 

Present:  Anita Osterman, Ed Wosinski, Karla Gilliland, Linda Blais, Matt Hendrie

 

Absent:  Jim Featherstone and Phil Harmon

 

People Who Addressed the Board:  Todd Blake, Cliff Somers, John Kingsnorth, Jim Hieftje, Tracy Sanchez and Bing Hanson Lake

 

 

Anita Osterman, President, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

 

#4864- Motion by Linda Blais and seconded by Ed Wosinski to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 25, 2008.    Ayes – 5; Nays – 0.  Motion carried.

 

#4865 – Motion by Ed Wosinski and seconded by Karla Gilliland to approve the agenda for tonight’s meeting.  President Osterman removed Item 10 – Closed session to consider discipline of a Quest High School Student.  There would be discussion followed by the Action Item.  She also removed Action Item #13 – Approve the Superintendent’s Evaluation 2007-08.  There would be the closed session to discuss the evaluation, but the approval will be on the March 24th agenda.  Ayes – 5; Nays – 0.  Motion carried.

 

Todd Blake, Clerk from the City of Fremont addressed the Board on the topic of changing the annual school election from the month of May to be included in November along with the other City and township elections.  He will bring more detailed information to the Board for their consideration. 

 

Mr. Blake also discussed Safe Routes to School with the Board.  He would like to see a couple representatives from Fremont Public Schools on this community planning committee.  He will also be bringing more detailed information to the Board at a later date.

 

President Osterman suggested Mr. Blake meet with the Superintendent to work on a schedule of dates to bring to the Board for consideration.

 

Superintendent Kingsnorth congratulated Cliff Somers and the Cross-Country team on their recent State Championship.  A duplicate trophy, such as was given by the State, will be presented to Cliff in recognition of this great achievement.  Mr. Somers thanked the Board for the recognition and for their support to the Cross-Country Team.

 

John Kingsnorth, Superintendent

·         After today’s Snow Day, we have used up all our snow days (30 hours).  The High School has additional hours to make up due to a power outage and a sewer problem in December.

·         Brad Jones, Mike Dunbar and Tim Carpenter advanced to the state wrestling tournament.

·         The girls and boys bowling teams competed at the state level.  The girls for the first time and came in 18th place at the finals.  The boys went up against the regional champs and lost to Grand Rapids Northview after being seeded number one.

·         Boys basketball district playoffs are tonight in Coopersville.

 

Jim Hieftje, Director of Curriculum and Instruction/Quest Principal

·         The MTH and Mini-Grant selection committee meets this Friday, March 7.  (Now postpones until Friday, March 14, 2008.).

·         Due to the high number of applications this year, they will be using a scoring system to determine the winners.

·         Sunday’s Grand Rapids paper had an article “Poverty Stalks our Schools.” Although Newaygo County schools were not included in this article, the increase in all districts is similar to those identified in this article.

·         Fremont Public Schools poverty rate increased since 2000 has been 21%.

·         March 11 there is an In-service (A Framework for Understanding Poverty) scheduled to be presented by Sue Nelle DeHart from the Ruby Payne Institute.

·         A light breakfast will be served at 8:00 a.m. with the presentation beginning at 8:30 a.m.

·          At 11:30 a.m. there will be a lunch for Quest staff, the presenter as well as any Board members who would like to attend.  Please let us know if you plan on attending.

 

Bing Hanson Lake, Director of Financial Services

·         Currently the budget situation is on hold until further information is known.

·         We are waiting for the deadline for certified staff to submit applications for the VSP—April 7, 2008.

·         The number of retirees and the state aid allowance will determine any budget reductions that may be necessary.

 

#4866—Consent Agenda – Motion by Ed Wosinski and seconded by Karla Gilliland to approve disbursements for February in the amount of $2,718,959.67.  Ayes – 5 Nays – 0.  Motion carried.

 

#4867—Action Agenda – Motion by Ed Wosinski and seconded by Linda Blais to approve the proposal for a new course offering at the High School – Introduction to e-Commerce  Ayes – 5; Nays – 0.  Motion carried.

 

#4868 – After Board discussion regarding disciplining of a Quest High School student a Motion by Ed Wosinski and seconded by Karla Gilliland to approve 180-day expulsion of a Quest High School student whose identity is known to the Board for violation of the Michigan Weapons Free School Zone, MCL 380.1311 Subsection 2.).   Ayes – 5, Roll Call:  Matt Hendrie, Linda Blais, Ed Wosinski, Karla Gilliland and Anita Osterman; Nays – 0.  Motion carried.

 

#4869 -- Motion by Karla Gilliland and seconded by Ed Wosinski to go

into closed session at 6:02 p.m. in accordance with MCL 15.268 Sub-section 8(a) for the purpose of superintendent’s evaluation.  Ayes – 5, Roll Call Vote:  Linda Blais, Ed Wosinski, Karla Gilliland, Matt Hendrie 

 

and Anita Osterman; Nays – 0.  Motion carried.

 

 

Returned to Open Session at 6:40 p.m.

 

#4870– Motion by Ed Wosinski and seconded by Matt Hendrie to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m.  Ayes - 5; Nays – 0.  Motion carried.

 

           

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOARD RECOGNITION TO CLIFF SOMERS AND CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM

 

LEADERSHIP REPORTS

 

 

LEADERSHIP REPORTS (CONT’D)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEM

 

APPROVAL OF E-COMMERCE COURSE AT HIGH SCHOOL

 

APPROVAL OF 180-DAY EXPULSION OF QUEST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT

 

 

 

CLOSED SESSION

 

 

 

 

(CLOSED SESSION CONT’D.)

 

OPEN SESSION

 

ADJOURNMENT