LINDEN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Regular Meeting

Linden High School

7201W. Silver Lake Road

Linden, Michigan  48451

(810) 591-0410

September 16, 2009

7:00 p.m.

 

 

Members                      Laura Starrs, Pam Snyder, Mike Murphy, Steve Murphy, Rick Kursik, Scott Maker,

Present                          Rob Rossow,  and Student Reps:  Andy Leyder, Hannah Ball

                                       

Members                      None.

Absent

 

ADOPTION               Moved by S. Murphy, supported by Maker to adopt the agenda as presented.  

OF AGENDA             All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

61-09                            

(P)                                  

 

                             

SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS

 

Superintendent Koledo stated the start of school went well for the most part.  We are still working on some bussing/rescheduling items.

 

Linden Elementary kitchen had a surprise inspection, but we received a 100%.

 

Our school count is at 3068, which is above the budgeted number of students.  Mr. Koledo stated there still could be drops before the first count day.         

 

 

STUDENT BOARD REPORTS

 

                                        Andy Leyder gave an overview of the Homecoming festivities at the high school. 

                                        Homecoming is scheduled for October 2.  This year’s theme is Superheroes.

 

                                        Andy stated the tailgate event has been postponed to October 23.

 

                                        A Metro League Student Council meeting is set for Tuesday, September 22 in Brandon.

 

                                        Andy indicated the band is looking strong and their first invitational will be October 10.

 

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

                                                                                                                                                               

                                        Mr. Koledo gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Federal ARRA/Stimulus Grant money

                                        Linden will receive and how it will be used.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS  

                                       

                                        None.

 

 

CONSENT                  Moved by M. Murphy, supported by Snyder to adopt the Consent Agenda as presented.

AGENDA                   

62-09                      1.     Minutes of Regular Meeting, August 19, 2009.

(P)                                   2.     Minutes of Board Work Session, September 2, 2009.      

                                       

                                        3.    Minutes of Executive Session, September 2, 2009.

                                        4.    Invoices for the Month of September, 2009 in the amount of $1,820,972.62.

                                        5.     Approval of Personnel Summary Sheet (Attachment A).

 

                                        Roll call vote taken.

                                        All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Removal of                  Moved by Snyder, supported by Maker to take the motion to adopt the proposed revisions to Tabled Motion                                        Policy 5421 – Grading, as presented, from the table.

63-09                             All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

 

Second Reading/      Moved by Snyder, supported by Kursik to adopt the proposed revisions to Policy 5421 –

Adoption of                 Grading as presented.  A lengthy discussion took place about the pros and cons on the

64-09                             Policy 5421  revisions to this policy.

 (P)                                 

                                        Public Comments:

 

                                        Molly Plunkett, high school AP Calculus teacher, stated she was not opposed to the weighted

grades for AP courses, but she is opposed to weighted grades at the end of each trimester as dropping the classes will happen.  Mrs. Plunkett stated when students drop these classes it increases the size of regular classes.  Mrs. Plunkett asked the board to not go back to the previous system and to consider all the consequences.

 

                                        Lukas Stilgenbauer, student, presented letters on behalf of students who take AP classes.  He

stated these students support Mrs. Plunkett’s comments and they feel taking a test at the end of each trimester will take away the integrity of the AP classes as they were not designed that way.  He also indicated this will take time away from studying for AP classes.

 

                                        Andy Leyder, student, spoke as a concerned AP student.  He stated students in AP classes

                                        spend a majority of their time studying.  He encouraged the board not to approve the change.

 

                                        Roll call vote taken.

                                        Yea votes:     Starrs, Snyder, M. Murphy, Kursik

                                        Nay votes:    S. Murphy, Maker, Rossow

                                        Motion carried 4-3.

 

                                       

Reclassification         Moved by Snyder, supported by Maker to approve the reclassification of Debbie Brindle as the of Community                Food Service Director with a pay rate of $54,868.01 plus a $5,132.00 stipend to maintain the Education/Food                                        Community Education Director title with responsibilities.        

Service Director          All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

65-09

(P)

 

Approval of                 Moved by S. Murphy, supported by Maker to approve the contract with the GISD for a Special Contract with                                        Education Director with a cost to the district of $53,932.58.

GISD for Special        All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

Education                   

Director

66-09

(P)

 

 

NEW                            

BUSINESS

 

Ratification of             Moved by S. Murphy, supported by Snyder to ratify the tentative agreement with the

Tentative                      Administrative Assistants Association for July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2010 with a 1.5% wage Agreement with                               increase for July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 retroactive; a 1.5% wage increase for 2009-10, Administrative                                        215 day work year, and a floating holiday which can be used on a no-student day, non-Assistants                                        accumulative and not transferable to sick time if not used, and other language changes as Association                                        presented (Attachment B).

67-09                                            All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

(P)

 

Acceptance of             Moved by Maker, supported by S. Murphy to accept the donation of $1,000.00 from Dr. Donna Donation to                                        Benford to the Linden Athletic Department for the purchase of new varsity golf bags.

Athletic                         All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

Department

68-09

(P)

 

Board Workshop       Discussion centered around setting a date for a Board Workshop and topics of discussion.

Discussion                  Mrs. Jensen will put together Wednesday dates and put out to the Board to narrow down a

                                        day.  Topics of discussion for the workshop will center on the district strategic plan, board

                                        goals, board beliefs, and bullying policies/programs.

 

BOARD REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS                  

 

                              Steve Murphy attended the volleyball game.  Mr. Murphy feels the teams are going in the right

                                        direction.  Mr. Murphy also congratulated the football team on their win against Fenton.

 

                                        Rick Kursik has attended the volleyball games and Coach Mason is making great progress

                                        with the teams.  Mr. Kursik also stated Cathy North is doing a great job as Athletic Director. 

Mr. Kursik stated it was great to have more Linden fans at the Fenton-Linden game than Fenton.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

69-09                                            Moved by S. Murphy, supported by Maker to adjourn to Executive Session per Section 8(h),

(P)                                   Pending Litigation, Jason & Brandi Baroni, et.al, Petitioner v Linden Community Schools, Case

                                        No. 2009-1214, C2787, of the Open Meetings Act at 8:00 p.m.

                                        Roll call vote taken.

                                        All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

 

                                        A short recess was called at 8:01 p.m.

 

                                        The regular meeting reconvened at 8:23 p.m.

                                                               

ADJOURNMENT

 

                                        Board President Starrs adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m.

 

                                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                                                                                ___________________________

                                                                                                                Steve M. Murphy, Board Secretary