BOARD BRIEFS
 Summary of the Grosse Pointe Board of Education Meeting,
March 8, 2004

Human resources report
The Board approved the appointment of a language arts specialist for Mason Elementary School and the extension of an instructional staff member general leave of absence for the purpose of continuing education.  The Board also noted the resignation of one instructional staff member for personal reasons and of a clerical staff member, Mary Ostrowski, who retired from Pierce Middle School after 23 years of service.

ELEMENTARY STUDY UPDATE
The Superintendent provided an update on the Elementary Study.

G.A.A.A. #3
The Board approved General Appropriations Act Amendment No. 3 to the General Fund and School Service Fund to reflect the decrease in the state-s per-pupil cut from $84 to $74 per pupil (which is a $93,681 increase in revenue).

ANNUAL BOARD ELECTION RESOLUTION
The Board approved a resolution to hold the regular election of the school district on Monday, June 14, 2004, to elect two Board of Education members for a full term of four years (July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2008).

BIDS
The Board awarded the contract for HVAC improvements in the Pierce auditorium to Supreme Heating & Supply Company (low bid $246,868) and the contract for HVAC improvements to the auditorium and gyms at Parcells to Rene Vanassche & Sons (second to lowest bid at $467,000).  This project was awarded to the second bidder because it is in the best interest of the school system to award the Pierce and Parcells projects to two different companies.

SCIENCE CURRICULUM ELECTIVES
The Board approved the renewal of nine science elective courses and the addition of a new elective, Advanced Topics in Astronomy, which is recommended for students seeking accelerated and highly challenging classes.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CODE OF CONDUCT
The Board tabled its discussion of Policy JCCDD and JCCD-R (the Middle School Code of Conduct for Athletics and Extra-Curricular Activities) . . .

FIELD TRIP TO CANADA
The Board approved a waiver to the U.S. State Department’s “Study Warning” on student foreign travel for the North High School history field trip to Pelee Island, Canada, in May 2004.

OTHER BUSINESS
The following items were also discussed:  Revision of Policy JCD (Student Code of Conduct), additional titles for the Board-approved Language Arts titles list, sinking fund election information, updates on the budget and bond projects, naming of buildings and facilities, and summer programs for students with special needs.

Next Meetings
A conference meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, April 5, 2004, at 8 p.m. in the South High School Wicking Library.

 A regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, April 19, 2004, at 8 p.m. in the South High School Wicking Library.

Suzanne Klein