CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

 JANUARY 8, 2001

1)         Roll Call.

            The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 8th day of January 2001, at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session, with President John H. Quebodeaux presiding. Members present were Mr. Lyle C. Johnson, Mr. Bill Pinac, Ms. Kitty M. Valdetero, Ms. Wadie H. Bias, Mr. Woody M. Marceaux, Mr. John A. Suire, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. Nolton J. Senegal, Sr., Mr. Roland J. Boudreaux, Mr. Rodney J. Trahan, Mr. Johnnie L. Smith, Mr. Charles F. Daigle, Mr. Shirley Vige', Dr. Robert McManus, Mr. Paul K. Bellon, and SecretaryTreasurer, Dr. Marietta W. James.

2&3)    Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.

            Mr. Nolton Senegal led the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.

4)         Consider approval of a revised agenda, if there are any changes.

Upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the agenda was revised by moving Routine Item11 to Routine Item 3a, adding Routine Item 5a (CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ADVERTISE FOR ACTING PRINCIPAL AT RICHARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL), and adding Consent Item 8 (CONSIDER REQUEST FROM GERALDINE ARABIE, CAFETERIA TECHNICIAN, FOR LEAVE WITHOUT PAY BECAUSE OF ILLNESS, EFFECTIVE 1501 TO 4501).

5)         Read and approve minutes of the December 4, 2000 meeting.

            Reading of the minutes of the December 4, 2000, meeting was dispensed with (copies of minutes were sent to each member prior to this meeting) and approved as submitted, upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Bellon, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

            Mr. Shamsie asked that an item be included on next month's agenda to discuss the Bingham study.

6)         Recognize Crowley High and Rayne High Teacher Cadets. (Janie Chappelle & Rosey Kyle)

            Mrs. Margaret Jones introduced Ms. Janie Chappelle and Ms. Rosey Kyle, Teacher Cadet instructors. They introduced juniors and seniors from Crowley High and Rayne High. The Students shared their experiences with the Board and answered questions.

7)         Recognize CEC (Council of Exceptional Children) minigrant recipients. (Mike LeBlanc).

            Mr. Michael LeBlanc recognized Christian Doughty of Crowley High and Denise Darby of South Rayne Elementary, CEC (Council of Exceptional Children) minigrant recipients.

8)         Receive comments from John Quebodeaux, Board President.

            President John Quebodeaux addressed the Board regarding his tenure as president of the APSB. He thanked the Board for their support and urged other board members to serve as president. He will not seek reelection as president.

ACTION ITEM: None

ROUTINE ITEMS:

1)         Consider election of Board President.

            The floor was opened for nominations for president of the APSB. Vice-President John Suire was nominated, upon motion by Mr. Senegal and seconded by Mr. Bellon. Mr. Lyle Johnson was nominated for, upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux and seconded by Ms. Valdetero. Mr. Smith motioned and Mr. Shamsie seconded to close the floor for nominations. Mr. Suire received eleven votes and was elected president (Pinac, Bias, Suire, Shamsie, Senegal, Trahan, Smith, Daigle, Vige', McManus, and Bellon). Mr. Johnson received five votes (Valdetero, Johnson, Marceaux, Boudreaux, and Quebodeaux).

            The floor was then opened for nominations for vice president of the APSB. Mr. Charles Daigle was nominated, upon motion by Mr. Bellon and seconded by Mr. Vige'. Mr. Boudreaux nominated Mr. Woody Marceaux who declined. Mr. Trahan nominated Mr. Bill Pinac who also declined. Mr. Daigle was elected vice president by acclamation, upon motion by Mr. Senegal and seconded by Mr. Trahan (Mr. Johnson opposed).

            At this time, Mr. Quebodeaux handed the gavel to newly elected President Suire, who conducted the meeting.

3)         Receive an audit report from Audit Committee.

            Mr. Vige', on behalf of the Audit Committee, recommended approval of the audit report. He highlighted results of financial operations for the year ending June 30, 2000. He indicated that there were no management comments in this year's report, and issues raised last year have all been resolved favorably. He commended Mr. Michael Leonards and his staff for improvements made during the year. Upon motion by Ms. Bias, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the audit report was received.

3a)       Consider going into executive session regarding Mire Elementary litigation.

            Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, at 5:35 p.m., the Board went into executive session regarding litigation at Mire Elementary School. Mr. Gerard Caswell, attorney, read the case name and docket number.

            At 5:55 p.m., upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Senegal, the Board reconvened into a regular session.

            Upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board accepted the recommendation of counsel regarding litigation at Mire Elementary School.

4)         Hear a report from Board Attorney regarding Wal-Mart litigation.

            Mr. Gerard Caswell reported that he did not have any new information to report regarding the Wal-Mart litigation.

5)         Select topics(s) for professional development session for school board members.

            Dr. Marietta. W. James asked board members to select topics for their professional development. No action was taken at this time. Superintendent James reminded the Board that eligible sessions will be available at the LSBA convention.

5a)       Consider authorizing the superintendent to advertise for acting principal at Richard Elementary School.

            Upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent was authorized to advertise for an acting principal at Richard Elementary School for the remainder of the school year.

6)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding refrigerated truck for the Child Nutrition programs.

            Two bids were received by the Budget/Finance Committee for a used refrigerated truck for the Child Nutrition Program. Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a majority voice vote (Mr. Shamsie opposed), the committee's recommendation to award low bid of $23,000 to Lingo International for a used refrigerated truck for the Child Nutrition program was approved.

            BIDDER                    BASE BID                   MODEL                      MILEAGE

            Lingo International        $23,000                       1995                            334,820

            Atteberry Truck Sales   $38,975                       1997                            115,973

7)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance Committee regarding pay grade change for classified employees in sales tax and superintendent's office.

            Mr. Senegal motioned and Mr. Shamsie seconded to accept the Personnel/Insurance Committee recommendation to deny this request. An amendment to the main motion to consider any such reclassifications during the budget process, instead of piecemeal throughout the year, was offered by Mr. Boudreaux and seconded by Mr. Johnson. After more discussion, question was called. The amendment was unanimously approved. The main motion as amended carried by a roll call vote of 9 to 6.

YEA:    Johnson, Pinac, Bias, Senegal, Boudreaux, Daigle, Vige', McManus, Bellon

NAY:   Valdetero, Marceaux, Shamsie, Quebodeaux, Trahan, Smith

8)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance Committee regarding addition of master teacher for alternative school and special population's department.

            The current enrollment at Alternative School is 55 students with 5 teachers. Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Quebodeaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the Personnel/Insurance Committee's recommendation to hire a master teacher for Alternative School using Special Populations' funds, pending approval by the Louisiana Department of Education.

9)         Consider recommendation from the Transportation/Facilities Committee regarding a request from Savoy-Swords Water System for easement on Section 16. southeast of Eunice (Perchville).

            Savoy-Swords Water System is planning to construct a water line connecting North and South Perchville along Three Bridges Road. They requested an easement to cross APSB property with the new water line to improve service to their customers. Upon motion by Ms. Valdetero, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the Transportation/Facilities Committee's recommendation to grant this request for an easement to Savoy-Swords Water System. Mr. Caswell, attorney, had reviewed this request and indicated that everything was in order.

10)       Consider Superintendent's recommendation regarding replacing a bus driver on a Rayne route.

            Superintendent James recommended Mr. Al Myers, Jr. to replace a bus driver who resigned from a Rayne route. Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board accepted the Superintendent's recommendation, and Mr. Al Myers, Jr. was appointed as bus driver on a Rayne route.

11)       Consider going into executive session regarding Mire Elementary litigation.

            This item was moved to Routine Item 3a.

12)       Correspondence.

            Mr. Glenn Mayard provided the official October 1, 2000, enrollment count. Board members were invited to the Social Studies Fair in Rayne, Friday, January 12. Superintendent James went over correspondence regarding credit for training given to board members about the open meeting's law. Mr. Freddie Whitford of LSBA agreed that awarding of credits for this session was proper. Superintendent James also shared correspondence from District Attorney Mike Harson to Mr. Whitford. Mr. Harson objected to the awarding of credit for this session to board members who were compelled to attend

            A motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Quebodeaux, to add an item to the agenda to remove all points awarded as the result of this session, failed by a majority voice vote.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1)         Discuss Starting Point Pre-K Program.

            Mrs. Yvonne Mills answered questions regarding the enrollment/eligibility requirements for the Starting Point PreK Program. She indicated that the program focuses on at risk children. Mr. Johnson suggested that registration for all preK programs be made available to all students and not exclude any due to the timing of registration dates. Discussion followed about making changes to better coordinate registration of preK students. Ms. Marie Broussard explained the selection process used at Crowley Kindergarten.

2)         Discuss procedures for entrance into Alternative School.

            Mr. Cal Simar discussed the entry criteria for the alternative school. He referred to the school handbook, which reflects the policies adopted by the APSB. He indicated that enrollment is growing and may soon exceed the adopted student teacher ratio. Mrs. Evelyn Julian assisted in explaining the makeup of the current enrollment at the school.

3)         Discuss method by which classified pay was calculated.

            Mr. Michael Leonards presented a side-by-side comparison of classified pay, showing both the old and new pay scales. He explained the mechanics of converting from one system to another. His example pointed out that certain categories of employees' pay was frozen until their experience level equaled their current rate of pay. Some employees could go up to seven years without a pay increase. He also explained the method used to compute the one-time adjustments given at the time the new scale was implemented. The Board then asked questions of Mr. Leonards. Superintendent James read the Board action taken regarding the new pay scheme, which was adopted in November 1998.

CONSENT ITEMS:

            Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Vige', and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the following consent items were approved:

1.         Assignments and changes of professional employees, since the last meeting.

2.         Sales tax report showing a year-to-date increase of 8.28%.

3.         Request from Wendy Thibodeaux, teacher, for sabbatical leave for professional development, for the 2001-2002 school year.

4.         Request from Leo Amiot, teacher, for sabbatical leave for professional development, for the 2001-2002 school year.

5.         Request from Trudy Benoit, teacher aide, for change of maternity leave, effective 01-03-2001, through 11-2-2001.

6.         Request from Shirley Guillory, Head Start, for leave without pay because of illness, effective 11-09-2000 to 01-03-2001.

7.         Request from Lena Vasseur, paraprofessional, for leave without pay because of illness, effective 09-30-2000 to 09-30-2001.

8.         Request from Geraldine Arabie, cafeteria technician, for leave without pay because of illness, effective 01-05-2001 to 04-05-2001.

CLOSING:     

            There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Mr. Bellon, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

s/                                                            

  John A Suire, President          

ATTEST:

s/______________________________

   Dr. Marietta W. James, Superintendent