BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2007

 

Members of the Board Human Resources Committee met on Monday, August 13, 2007, in the Dining Room, at the Education Center. Present were the following school board members: Rosario Amato, Michele Cann, Joseph Craig, Judith Dexter, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, William Heske, Charlene Koch, Loretta Leeson, and Diane Rowe. Also in attendance were Director of Information Technologies Robin Lutcher; Director of Student Services Thomas K. Washington; Assistant to the Superintendent for Finance and Administration Stanley Majewski; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph A. Lewis; and Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Robert R. Gross III.

 

The meeting of the Board Human Resources Committee was called to order by Joseph Craig at 8:29 p.m.

 

BOARD POLICY 805 – Emergency Preparedness – This policy is presented for a second reading. Mr. Gross indicated that the policy has been reviewed by the solicitor and by Scott Gilliland. The changes are based on language recommendation to comply with national standards and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Mrs. Dexter asked that web-based parent link be put on the bottom and be added as number 5 under continuity of student learning/core operations. The policy will be placed in the September agenda.

 

APPLE LEASE RESTRUCTURING – Dr. Lewis introduced Mr. Majewski and Mrs. Lutcher to present the Apple Lease Restructuring. Mrs. Lutcher began by saying to continue the laptop initiative in the middle school level and to have computers replaced that are old now, Apple has put together a proposal to take those back, cancel the last lease payment and reissue new laptops and use that money for the next three years. There will be no impact to the budget.

 

Mr. Majewski stated that because the August payment would be due soon, the agreement needed to be examined. If the district waits till after the August payment, it may change some of the statutes of the agreement. Dr. Lewis explained that this batch of computers was in the earlier first roll out. He noted we had problems with the logic boards, and Apple agreed to replace them. Not all the boards were down but there is a possibility of that occurring with the existing laptops under the current lease. Apple has acknowledged that the logic boards were their fault. Mr. Majewski and Mrs. Lutcher have agreed with Apples’ proposal to cancel the last year of the lease and apply it to the new year.

 

Mr. Majewski stated the agreement with Apple is simple and straightforward. He indicated all laptops in the middle school level would be replaced. The leases are tied to certain laptops. He stated that the district needs to make the August payment, but that it would be paid by Apple not BASD. The handout gives you details about the transaction.

 

Mrs. Lutcher referred to the proposal from Apple that was handed out. She explained the details of the lease and information with the board. She indicated that Apple does not include software, and the district would have to pay extra for software upgrades. The district would have to get warranty, so the district would have replacements. Apple will pay for our imaging. In the past, we imaged them. They will do everything to ready the computers for roll out. They will engrave identification numbers on each of the computers and send us a database of the identification numbers. In the 3^rd and 4^th year, we will use money already in the budget so that we do not have to increase funding. The lease will be cancelled and replaced by this new one. Mr. Craig inquired about a tracking system to be put in the computers and asked if this could be done. It would be $35 per machine times the amount per year over the four-year period. Mrs. Lutcher stated that she can place a call to Donna Marks at Apple, and the addition of a tracking devise can be done at no extra charge. A general discussion was held regarding Apples’ offer, tracking computers, and the leases. Mr. Craig polled the board and they would like to discuss this, but move quickly on it in order to make the August payment. The item will be in the August agenda.

 

Human Resources Committee Meeting                                                                         (2)

 

EMPLOYEE INTEGRITY PROTOCOL – Dr. Lewis handed out a draft of the Employee Integrity Protocol, which was worked on rather intensely since Spring. Dr. Lewis stated that we are the first school district to have the protocol. Mr. Gross and the BEA president met, and after long discussions, it was agreed that it was needed. Dr. Lewis believes that the integrity of the organization is greater than the individual. Our intentions are to move forward with it on Thursday, August 16, at the Administrative/Supervisory Opening of School Meeting. It is a guideline. Dr. Lewis and Mr. Gross have established a schedule to go out to every division and conduct face-to-face meetings and present them with the protocol. When employees see something that it is wrong, it is their responsibility to do something. We plan to have the protocol on the web so anybody can refer to it at any time. The protocol will be updated as new items and circumstances present. Conflict of interest is something that this board wrestles with, for example, bidding, relatives of people in the system, etc. We have always made it a point to inform the board when an appointee is related to somebody in the system.

 

The investigation guidelines were written with help from our friends at Kraft, who provided us with a lot of information. We want to make people feel secure when they need to report a concern. Dr. Lewis spoke about the Bethlehem Area School District Hotline, and how we now have it in place. We have two objectives with the protocol: 1) to keep it clean and simple and 2) to make it accessible. It will be on the web, in faculty handbooks, and in as many places as we can display it.

 

Mrs. Cann commented that it is very usable and that it will be an excellent tool and thanked Dr. Lewis for its creation and presentation to the board. Mr. Heske has reviewed it and states it is an excellent job, and it should be shared with a lot of other people. Mrs. Dexter stated that the key to making this a success is to make them feel comfortable that it will work, and do what we say we will do when situations arise, for example, if there is another incident like at Nitschmann. She indicated that employees should not need to get permission from anyone to talk to any of the board members. Mr. Craig stated that a free flow of information with employees and the board was always our way, and the board needs to know how to handle an item or who to refer it to; not handle it on their own. Mrs. Dexter said she doesn’t think we would do the same with the information the same way others do. She thought the board does not need permission to talk to an employee. She stated, I should feel free to ask questions and call, for example, Mr. LaPorta for a copy of the schedules. Dr. Lewis stated that he knew what she was alluding to, and the request should go through the Office of the Superintendent because he needs to manage the district and work with nine board members. Dr. Lewis affirmed that the administration does not engage in gagging employees, and they are all free to speak. Dr. Lewis just asked that we respect each other’s roles and time and respect each other.

 

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR – Elaine Follweiler, 222 Main Street, questioned the cost of using a tracking system for the computers and labeling them. Selling the old computers to families instead of returning them.

 

OPEN FORUM – Mrs. Leeson inquired about the date for evaluations. The board agreed to meet on the August 20^th at 6:00 p.m. then on August 27^th at 6:00 p.m.

 

Joseph Craig adjourned the meeting at 9:25 p.m.

 

Minutes prepared by:

 

 

 

__________________________________________________________________________

Nitza Santiago Yerger

Confidential Secretary to the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources