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Meeting Agenda
I. Call to Order/ Pledge of Allegiance/ Welcome
II. Approval of Agenda
III. Approval of Consent Action Items
IV. Communications
IV.A. Comments and Concerns
V. Superintendent Informational Report
VI. Board of Education Reports/Action
VI.A. Facilities & Finance Committee
VI.B. School Bus Purchase
VI.C. COVID Stipend and Hazard Pay
VI.D. Full-time Student Status
VII. Superintendent Recommendations
VII.A. LEA Contract Adoption
VII.B. Personnel
VII.C. Overnight Trip
VIII. Other Matters - Adjournment
Agenda Item Details Reload Your Meeting

Lakeshore Public Schools
Meeting: August 9, 2021 at 5:30 PM - LAKESHORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS Regular Meeting
Subject:
I. Call to Order/ Pledge of Allegiance/ Welcome
Presenter:
Jason Beckrow
Description:
CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
At this time the Board will conduct the routine activities related to calling the meeting to order and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

INTRODUCTIONS will be conducted by the Board President as we ask Board members, administrators, and the audience to introduce themselves.
 
Subject:
II. Approval of Agenda
Presenter:
Jason Beckrow
Description:
The Board should consider any changes or additions to the agenda including the potential removal of any matter scheduled as a consent action item.  The Board should approve the agenda with one of the following motions:
Subject:
III. Approval of Consent Action Items
Presenter:
Jason Beckrow
Description:
The Board may approve the Consent Action items with the following motion:

Minutes - that the minutes of the July 19, 2021 Regular Meeting be approved as presented; and

Financial Statement & Bills - that the July 2021 financial statements be accepted, and the July 2021 payrolls be approved for payment; and
2021-2022 Working Guidelines — that the 2021-2022 Food Service Working Guidelines and a minor adjustment to the Central Office Administrator Guidelines previously accepted be approved as presented.

 
Subject:
IV. Communications
Subject:
IV.A. Comments and Concerns
Presenter:
Jason Beckrow
Description:
The Board President will call on citizens who would like to make comments or express concerns at this time.  The Board of Education Policy, "Public Participation at Board Meetings," does apply to this section of the Agenda.
 
Subject:
V. Superintendent Informational Report
Presenter:
Greg Eding
Description:
“Back to School” sales have arrived in our local stores and that means we are all gearing up for a great start to school. The first day of school is Monday, August 30, 2021, and some families are excited to return to some sense of normalcy, and some families are anxious about returning to in-person learning. Last week, we shared a DRAFT of our Return to Learn (RtL) Plan that is intended to provide answers and ease some anxiety as we head into this coming school year.

The Lakeshore RtL plan is consistent with other local area district plans and is a product of an ongoing, collaborative effort among Berrien County schools and the Berrien County Health Department. This plan is designed to provide a safe, secure, in-person learning environment for all students and staff by mitigating the spread of COVID-19, while also providing the best educational environment for our students.  The plan also provides flexibility to adapt to changes in our local conditions, as well as changing recommendations, laws, orders, or mandates from local, state, and federal agencies.

A key feature of this year's Return to Learn Plan will be “flexible mitigation” meaning that additional mitigation measures may be implemented as transmission rates increase. As transmission rates decline, so too would mitigation strategies. Below are some specific details of the plan that would be implemented if transmission rates remain low.

As a public school district and as educators, it is our responsibility to ensure staff and student safety, while also providing the best educational practices for the highest level of learning. Our decisions and actions have and will always reflect these important responsibilities. Regardless of one’s individual beliefs, please understand that Lakeshore Public Schools continues to recognize COVID-19 as a public health crisis. We will continue to partner with our colleagues. There are synergies to our collaboration and, thus, we will continue to align our actions where and when appropriate.  As such, we must follow the guidance, laws, and recommendations of medical experts and local, state, and federal agencies.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and support. If you have additional questions, please reach out to me or your building principal.
 
Subject:
VI. Board of Education Reports/Action
Presenter:
Jason Beckrow
Subject:
VI.A. Facilities & Finance Committee
Presenter:
Kevin Bushu
Description:
The Facility and Finance Committee met on August 5, 2021.   Attendees consisted of Jason Beckrow, Kevin Bushu, Jeff Hannan, Greg Eding and Tracy Althouse.
 
Topics discussed but not limited to the following:
 
  • Tracy presented the monthly investment summary and sinking fund project update including possible projects at our athletic facilities.
  • Tracy gave an update on our annual audit.   The preliminary results look great in terms of fund balance with no issues or concerns raised.
  • The committee was in agreement of requesting Board approval for the bid purchase of a used 2019 bus for approximately $88,000.
  • The committee accepted for entreating Board approval an update to all of the working guidelines based on the successful passage of the LEA contract.   This update includes a 2.41% increase above the already approved step advancement.
  • The committee also approved the request for Board approval of COVID-19 stipends and/or vacation loss for administrators, technology assistants and our student advocate, as well as hazard pay for all other staff groups.
Subject:
VI.B. School Bus Purchase
Presenter:
Greg Eding
Description:
We are asking the Board to approve the purchase of a 2019 Blue Bird 88-passenger bus for $87,892.00.
 
Subject:
VI.C. COVID Stipend and Hazard Pay
Presenter:
Greg Eding
Description:
As discussed in the Finance & Facilities Committee Meeting, we recommend that the Board of Education authorize a COVID stipend and/or loss of vacation days for the following groups due to return to learn plans throughout the pandemic as well as additional duties, such as contract tracing, parent notifications, etc.  This stipend and loss of vacation day payout varies.
 
· Administrators
· Technology Assistants
· Student Advocate
 
In addition, we ask the Board to authorize a hazard pay stipend of $500 per staff member for all other employee groups as well as our third party contractor, EnviroClean. 
Subject:
VI.D. Full-time Student Status
Presenter:
Greg Eding
Description:
The Michigan Department of Education’s Pupil Accounting Manual dictates that local school boards adopt requirements that define what constitutes full-time status for pupils at all levels. To assure compliance, I am asking the Lakeshore Schools Board of Education to approve the following full-time student status definitions.

Full-time Student Definitions
In-Person Learning:
  • Elementary School — Elementary students are considered full-time when they are in attendance for a full morning and full afternoon session each day.
  • Middle School — 6th-8th Grade students are considered full-time when attending 9 periods each semester.
  • High School — 9th-12th Grade students are considered full-time when attending 7 periods each semester.  High School students who are “dual-enrolled” in community college or university classes in credit areas specified in the graduation requirements also would meet these requirements. Early Middle College program students must participate in combination of six courses per semester.
Virtual Instruction (if offered):
  • Elementary School — Elementary students enrolled in a virtual academy are considered full-time when they are enrolled in a minimum of 6 virtual courses.
  • Middle School — 6th-8th Grade students enrolled in a virtual academy are considered full-time when they are enrolled in a minimum of 6 virtual courses.
  • High School — 9th-12th Grade students enrolled in a virtual academy are considered full-time when they are enrolled in a minimum of 6 virtual courses.
Subject:
VII. Superintendent Recommendations
Subject:
VII.A. LEA Contract Adoption
Presenter:
Greg Eding
Description:
Included in the Board Packet is a summary of the changes made to the teachers' contract.  We are asking that the Board adopt the LEA Master Agreement as revised and ratified by the Lakeshore Education Association.  
Subject:
VII.B. Personnel
Presenter:
Julie Powell/ Greg Eding
Description:
We received notification from Middle School Science Teacher Gregg Buschlen that after 33 years at Lakeshore, he has decided to retire from both teaching and coaching.  We thank him for his decades of mentorship and wish him well.

We have three new hires for our professional staff.

Emily White has accepted the part time position of English Learner Teacher for the district.  Emily received her Bachelor’s Degree from Calvin University and her Master’s from Grand Valley.  She is a former Lakeshore elementary teacher who left in 2010 to raise her young children and we welcome her back.

Krista Elkins is our new Secondary Level School Counselor who just received her School Counselor license from Central Michigan University.  She has been employed by a few area colleges and previously was a local high school band director.  Krista began her counseling internship at our high school in January.

Holly Duthler has accepted the Hollywood Kindergarten teacher position.  She is a Lakeshore graduate and received her Bachelor and Master Degrees from Western Michigan University. She taught for many years as a lower elementary teacher at Buchanan Community Schools.

Zachary Smith will be our new 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher.  He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Michigan State University and has spent the last three years teaching in Honduras.

Barb Phelan has accepted the 8th Grade Science teacher position.  She is also Lakeshore graduate and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Western Michigan University and has many years of experience teaching in St. Joseph and Berrien Springs School Districts.
Subject:
VII.C. Overnight Trip
Presenter:
Greg Eding
Description:
Freshmen Math/Science Center Schoolship Trip
I have received a request from High School Math/Science Center Teacher Jill McNabnay, for the Freshmen Math/Science Center AH Biology Students to travel to Suttons Bay, MI on September 23-24, 2021, pending this is allowed under the pandemic restrictions.  This trip, which normally occurs each year at this time, is for the objective of scientific research and ecological studies, and is beneficial for the class to conduct experimental design activities and data collection.
 
Subject:
VIII. Other Matters - Adjournment
Presenter:
Jason Beckrow
Description:
Evaluations are available for the audience.

Enclosed is the suggested meeting guide for the Board members to review.

Adjournment

5771 Cleveland Ave., Stevensville MI  49127  269-428-1400  www.lpslancers.net

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