School City of Mishawaka Mishawaka, Indiana November 25, 2014 Together, we will equip our students with the knowledge, skills, and character necessary to excel in a dynamic and evolving world. Regular Meeting of the Board of School Trustees -- 7:00 p.m. Liberty Elementary School 600 East Pregel Drive Mishawaka, IN 46545 Meeting called to order by Board President at 7:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER Dennis R. Wood, President Jenny McNeil, Vice President Jeffery E. Emmons, Secretary Marci A. Sears, Member Larry E. Stillson, Member Dr. Terry E. Barker, Superintendent Daniel R. Towner, Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction Randy J. Squadroni, Business Manager Gregg A. Hixenbaugh, Executive Director for Human Resources & Legal Counsel OFFICIAL GUESTS: Carolyn Freeman, Coordinator for Assessment and High Ability Programs Pamela L. von Rähl, Executive Director of Joint Services Brad Addison, Principal, Emmons School James Aldrich, Director of Athletics Michael Babcock, Assistant Principal, John J. Young Middle School Rochelle Brandenburg, Principal, Twin Branch School Jerome Calderone, Principal, Mishawaka High School Barton Curtis, Assistant Principal, Mishawaka High School Michael Faulkner, Assistant Director of Athletics Dean Fecher, Principal, Beiger School C. Mike Fisher, Principal, John J. Young Middle School Jenifer Fisher, Attendance Coordinator, Mishawaka High School Ashley Litwin, Assistant Principal, John J. Young Middle School Janine Mabry, Principal, Liberty School Patricia Morris, Program Supervisor, Joint Service Campus Program John Ross, Assistant Principal, Mishawaka High School Dr. Theodore Stevens, Principal, LaSalle School David Troyer, Assistant Principal, Mishawaka High School Matthew Wood, Principal, Battell School Jeffrey Yohe, Principal, Hums School Debbie Fox, PTA Council President Patricia Bellovich, Secretary to the Superintendent Jeanine Reynolds, President, MEA Stephen Bolin, President, AFSCME
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Media Representatives: The School City of Mishawaka appreciates the presence of representatives from the media. Please identify yourselves to Pat Bellovich to have your attendance noted in the Board minutes. Persons who are hearing impaired or deaf and who require an interpreter for this meeting should notify Mr. Gregg A. Hixenbaugh in writing at the School City of Mishawaka, 1402 South Main Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544, or by telephone at (574) 254-4500. Notification must occur by noon on the Friday prior to a Board Meeting.
Regular Meeting of the Board – November 25, 2014 This meeting is a meeting of the School Board in public for the purpose of conducting the School Corporation business and is not to be considered a public community meeting. There will be time for public comment as indicated on the agenda. VISITORS REQUESTING PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM Visitors requesting permission to address the Board on a specific agenda item are requested to sign in on the registration form upon arrival at the meeting. Each statement made by a participant on any specific agenda item may be limited at the discretion of the presiding officer. Visitors will be restricted to one appearance per item. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Logan Cook 2014 – 174.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA – President Wood It is recommended that the agenda for the November 25, 2014 Regular Meeting of the Board be adopted as presented. Motion by
2014 – 175.
Stillson
second by
Emmons
vote
3-0
RECOGNITION – Dr. Barker
175.1 LIBERTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRESENTATION The program will begin with Principal Mrs. Janine Mabry, who will discuss Positive Behavior Support Plan (STARS) and the school writing focus. This will be followed a presentation by Mrs. Karen Landis and her students on how they are using IPADS in the classroom. The program will conclude with Mrs. Lisa Koester leading the fourth grade class in singing two songs from the Veterans Day Program. Mrs. Mabry reported that the school improvement plan is two-fold. It includes a behavior component as well as an academic one. The staff has worked very hard on both. As a result of their hard work, there has been a decline in office referrals, and increased proficiency in writing. After Mrs. Mabry’s report, students from Mrs. Landis’ class shared a power point which highlighted the innovative and creative learning opportunities available using the IPADS.
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR 2014 – 176.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR – President Wood
176.1 COMMUNICATION WITH PTA Mrs. Fox reported that the PTA Council Christmas party will be held on December 8. Administrators and Board members are invited to attend. The Books for Babies Trivia Night will take place on February 7, 2015. Lastly, the ISTEP Information Night for parents was a success. 2
Regular Meeting of the Board – November 25, 2014 176.2 REPRESENTATIVES OF SCHOOL EMPLOYEES None
176.3 REPRESENTATIVES OF MISHAWAKA EDUCATION FOUNDATION Karen Baldini reported that the MEF Denim Day will be on Wednesday and the Scholastic Warehouse Sale will take place at John Young on December 8 and 9. She also reported that the annual appeal is going out this week. So far, over $165,000 has been raised for the Mishawaka Promise campaign.
176.4 GENERAL PUBLIC Anyone wishing to address the Board on general topics is invited to do so under this item. These individuals must register their intention to participate in the public portion of the meeting upon their arrival at the meeting. Each statement made by a participant may be limited at the discretion of the presiding officer. It is requested that names and addresses be stated at the beginning of such comments. Individuals may speak only once during this section of the agenda. As per Board Policy, personnel issues will not be addressed during open sessions of the Board. Concerns about individual employees of the district should be brought to the superintendent or designee. Dwight Arndt – He read a prepared statement by AFSCME Indiana-Kentucky Organizing Committee 962. The letter expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to revoke bargaining rights. Mr. Arndt stated that Local 3060 has not been transparent with their members and AFSCME has no desire to lose their bargaining rights. He called upon all parties to come back to the table to establish dialog. All support staff voices should be heard. Steve Bolin – He stated that he has been the rep for six years and there was always mutual respect. He appreciates what members have done and that it is sad that it has come to this.
2014 – 177.
CONSENT AGENDA – President Wood
177.1 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 11, 2014 REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD It is recommended that the minutes of the November 11, 2014 Regular Meeting of the Board be approved as presented. 177.2 BILL WARRANTS AND PAYROLL It is recommended that the bill warrants and payroll in the amount of $1,539,609.34 be approved for payment from the appropriate fund. 177.3 FINANCIAL REPORT It is recommended that the financial report, dated October, 2014, be approved as presented. 177.4 FUNDRAISER REQUESTS It is recommended that the Board of School Trustees grant approval for the fundraiser requests as listed and documented.
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Regular Meeting of the Board – November 25, 2014 177.5 PERSONNEL REPORT It is recommended that the Personnel Report, dated November 25, 2014, be approved. Motion by
Emmons
second by
Stillson
vote
3-0
2014 – 178.
COMMUNICATION TO SECRETARY OF THE BOARD – Secretary Emmons
2014 – 179.
INSTRUCTION
179.1 Action 179.1a APPROVAL OF NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES TO SECONDARY CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION COURSE – Dr. Barker – Submitted by Mr. Towner Superintendent’s Recommendation: It is recommended that the Board of School Trustees approve notification of course changes per the attached. The course title to be added to Mishawaka High School course offering is Work Based Learning. The anticipated start date is August, 2015. It is further recommended that the Board President be authorized to sign the notification. Motion by
Stillson
second by
Emmons
vote
3-0
179.2 Discussion Items Overview of a Proposed CEO Course Offering Background: In July of 2014 Larry Garatoni, through the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce, conducted a meeting that included Superintendents from the St. Joseph County school corporations. At the meeting he introduced the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities developed through the Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship in Effingham, Illinois. The program is designed to provide juniors and seniors with an opportunity to study and explore the opportunities associated with developing their own entrepreneurial business interest. Students accepted into the program will meet for 90 minutes daily with a variety of local business owners who will share their business experiences. The class will be facilitated by a certified vocational education teacher and students in the program will receive dual credits upon successful completion of the program. Each participant will be required to develop a business plan, present the plan for approval and then execute the creation of a small business based upon the approved plan. An overview document of the CEO Learning Outcomes has been provided in your Board documents. At this time, the Board is not being asked to approve the inclusion of the CEO Program into the curriculum offerings for Mishawaka High School as details for including the program as a course have yet to be finalized. A facilitating teacher has not been identified and details for providing dual credits have not been finalized. Mr. Garatoni 4
Regular Meeting of the Board – November 25, 2014 and members of the business community are still in the development stage regarding talks with Ivy Tech and the area Superintendents. The Superintendents have given their verbal support for continuing efforts to implement the program and for a grant funding request to be submitted to Midland. Once the details for the program of credit authorization, grant request approval, and teacher assignment are completed, the program will be brought back to the Board with a request for approval. The Board has been provided this information at this time so that informational documents may be distributed to potential participants from the area high schools in order to determine participation interest. 179.3 Reports – Mr. Towner 2014 – 180.
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
180.1a APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION REGARDING EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION OF NONCERTIFIED EMPLOYEES – Dr. Barker Background: Indiana law does not require school corporations to collective bargain with any employee work groups other than teachers. Nevertheless, School City of Mishawaka has voluntarily afforded collective bargaining rights to full-time employees who are part of the following work groups: custodial/maintenance, transportation, and food service. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 3060 AFLCIO (“AFSCME”) has traditionally served as the bargaining agent or exclusive representative for these SCM employees. The AFSCME local currently represents 59 of the 109 employees eligible for union membership. This equates to 54% of the employees eligible for AFSCME representation. The collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) between SCM and AFSCME expires on December 31, 2014. The parties would normally be engaged in the process of negotiating a new CBA at this point in the school year. However, the AFSCME local leadership team has advised SCM that the school corporation’s employees recently voted to terminate their relationship with AFSCME. The AFSCME local leadership team also advised the school corporation of their intention to seek the Board’s approval of the Indiana State Teachers Association (“ISTA”) as their exclusive representative. ISTA not only represents teachers throughout the State of Indiana, including SCM’s teachers as the Mishawaka Education Association, but also various support staff groups employed by other school corporations. Despite the apparent desire of SCM’s employees to make a change in their exclusive representative, AFSCME’s national and state leadership has refused to acknowledge the termination of the relationship. In fact, AFSCME’s national leadership has demanded that SCM no longer recognize the authority of the AFSCME local leadership team. Instead, AFSCME’s national leadership has pronounced that the school corporation must in the future deal exclusively with AFSCME state representatives on all issues, including collective bargaining and employee disciplinary proceedings.
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Regular Meeting of the Board – November 25, 2014 SCM administration does not believe that it is appropriate for the school corporation to be placed in the middle of a dispute between our employees, AFSCME, and ISTA. It also would not appear to promote the efficient operation of the school corporation to begin dealing with out-of-town union representatives concerning matters related to SCM’s day to day operations. Moreover, the prospect of obligating SCM employees to be represented by an entity that appears to have lost their confidence is troubling. The resolution before the Board has been drafted with these concerns in mind. If approved, the resolution would have the effect of dissolving the contractual relationship between SCM and AFSCME as of the expiration of the current CBA on December 31, 2014. Moving forward, SCM’s custodial/maintenance, transportation, and food service employees would no longer enjoy any collective bargaining rights. The resolution does, however, memorialize SCM’s on-going commitment to the fair treatment of all employees, including the employee work groups formerly represented by AFSCME. Superintendent’s Recommendation: It is recommended that the Board of School Trustees approve a Resolution Regarding Exclusive Representation of Noncertified Employees, as presented. Although the district has had a good relationship with AFSCME, this action will terminate that relationship. It would not prevent administration from discussing wages and benefits with staff members in these groups.
Motion by
Stillson
second by
Emmons
vote
3-0
180.1b ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS – Dr. Barker Superintendent’s Recommendation: It is recommended that the Board of School Trustees accept the following donations as listed and documented. Sound Bar (Value $50.00) – Battell PTA to Danielle Gilbert’s classroom Pencil Sharpeners (Value $239.23) – Battell PTA; one to each Battell classroom $750.00 – University of Notre Dame to Twin Branch for LEGO Robotics Team $400.00 – Twin Branch PTA for LEGO Robotics Team Motion by
Emmons
second by
Stillson
vote
3-0
180.1c APPROVAL OF BIDS FOR COPY PAPER – Dr. Barker – Submitted by Mr. Squadroni Superintendent’s Recommendation: It is recommended that the Board of School Trustees approve the bids for copy paper per the attached bid sheets. Bids are in effect until May 31, 2015. Motion by
Stillson
second by Emmons
6
vote
3-0
Regular Meeting of the Board – November 25, 2014 180.1d APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES – Dr. Barker Background: Joint Services for Special Education administrators have identified a need for the employment of additional professional staff to perform student psychological testing and related services. This staffing need results in large part from the recent, unexpected resignation of a Joint Services psychologist. While this staffing need may well continue on into the future, SCM is proceeding cautiously with respect to adding additional special education staff in light of the planned termination of the Joint Services Program prior to the start of the 2015-2016 school year. Accordingly, Joint Services has recommended that SCM retain Steve Horvath, a retired SCM school psychologist, to provide professional services as an independent contractor for the remainder of the 20142015 school year. Under the terms of the proposed Agreement, SCM will compensate Mr. Horvath for his professional services at a rate of Three Hundred Fifty and 00/100 Dollars ($350.00) per case (referral through case conference). Superintendent’s Recommendation: It is recommended that the Board of School Trustees approve an Agreement for Professional Services with Steve Horvath, as presented. It is further recommended that the Executive Director for Joint Services for Special Education be authorized to sign the Agreement. Motion by
Emmons
second by
Stillson
vote
3-0
180.2 Discussion Items 180.3 Reports 2014 – 181.
INFORMATION TO THE BOARD •
Graduation for Bridges out of Poverty “Getting Ahead” classes
This is an in-depth financial planning class for parents. All Board members are invited to the graduation, which will be on December 8 at 5:00 p.m. at John Young.
SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS – Dr. Barker • •
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All School City of Mishawaka schools and offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28, 2014, for Thanksgiving break. Mishawaka High School students will present the following holiday concerts: December 7 – Annual Vespers at MHS: 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. December 8 – Winter Orchestra Concert at MHS: 7:00 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Board of School Trustees will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, at the Administrative Center, 1402 South Main Street, Mishawaka, Indiana.
Dr. Barker also announced: • MHS graduate Jacob Burnette has been named as a 2015 Rhodes Scholar. • Congratulations to Robotics teams; four teams will be competing at the state level. • Starting in January, the Board agenda will include a spotlight presentation of a specific program, facility, initiative, etc.
2014 – 182.
ADJOURNMENT - Emmons
Adjournment Time: 8:00 p.m. 7
Regular Meeting of the Board – November 25, 2014 MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES South Bend Tribune
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Mishawaka Enterprise WHME Newsroom
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