CROWLEY, LOUISIANA
SEPTEMBER 4, 2001
1) The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 4th day of September 2001, at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session, with President John A. Suire presiding. Members present were Mr. Lyle C. Johnson, Mr. Bill Pinac, Ms. Wadie H. Bias, Mr. Woody M. Marceaux, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. John H. Quebodeaux, Mr. Nolton J. Senegal, Sr., Mr. Roland J. Boudreaux, Mr. Rodney J. Trahan, Mr. Charles F. Daigle, Mr. Johnnie L. Smith, Mr. Shirley Vige', Dr. Robert McManus, Mr. Paul K. Bellon and Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Marietta W. James. Ms. Kitty M. Valdetero was absent.
2&3) Mr. John Quebodeaux led the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
4) Consider approval of a revised agenda, if there are any changes.
No changes were made to the agenda.
5) Read and approve minutes of the August 6, 2001, meeting.
Reading of the minutes of the August 6, 2001, meeting was dispensed with (copies were sent to each member prior to the meeting) and adopted as submitted, upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried by a voice vote.
1) Consider policy regarding home schooled students taking academic subjects in Acadia Parish public schools.
Upon motion by Mr. Pinac, seconded by Mr. Quebodeaux, and carried, the Board adopted the following policy regarding home-schooled students taking academic subjects in Acadia Parish public schools.
HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS
Home-schooled students are not allowed to take academic subjects in Acadia Parish public schools.
2) Consider Internet Acceptable Use Policy that ensures compliance with Children's Internet Protection Act.
Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried, the Internet Acceptable Use Policy that ensures compliance with Children's Internet Protection Act was approved as submitted.
INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
Every employee who uses the Internet will sign the Employee Acceptable Use Policy (AUP).
Each teacher who plans to use the Internet will have six hours of in service on the APSB intranet and the Internet use policy. That teacher will then sign an Employee Acceptable Use Policy. He or she will in service each class on the acceptable use of the Internet in Acadia Parish schools. Each student and his or her parent/guardian will sign an acceptable use agreement. It will be the responsibility of the teacher/librarian to insure that only students with signed agreements use the Internet. Students whose parents refuse to sign an agreement will not be penalized in their classwork. Alternative assignments will be given from more traditional references.
Students will have assignments when accessing the Internet. Surfing, whether in the library or classroom, wastes valuable time and keeps other students from using the computer to finish assignments. Students without assignments may be asked to allow other students to use the computer.
Each trained teacher will have access to two Email addresses, one personal educational use and one for class use (issued upon request). (Jane Smith will receive mailbox jsmith@acadia.k12.la.us for personal educational use and jsmiths@acadia.k12.1a.us for class use. Sam LeJeune will receive slejeune@acadia.k12.la.us for personal educational use and slejeunes@acadia.k12.1a.us for class use.) At no time will mailboxes be considered private. They will be accessible by the Network Administrator at any time.
The following information will be sent home to each student in a class which will use the Internet.
Anything pertaining to illegal or inappropriate activities is strictly forbidden and will be reported to the appropriate authorities.
Do not use the network in such a way that would limit or disrupt the use of the network by others.
SECURITY
Any user who knowingly allows another to use the ID assigned to him or her will immediately lose access privileges, and may be subject to further disciplinary action. Attempts to fraudulently log on any network as a system administrator or another user will result in immediate cancellation of user privileges and the offender may be subject to further disciplinary action. Any user identified as a security risk, or having a history of problems with other computer systems, may be denied access to the service.
VANDALISM
Vandalism will result in cancellation of privileges or other disciplinary action. Vandalism is defined as any attempted or actual harm or destruction of the data of another user or other networks connected to the Internet. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses, attempts to tamper with any programs, applications, files, etc.
ROUTINE ITEMS:
1) Consider Superintendent's recommendation for assistant principal at Rayne High School.
Upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Mr. Quebodeaux, and carried (Mr. Boudreaux opposed), the Superintendent's recommendation was accepted, and Mrs. Johnette Leleux was appointed to the position of assistant principal at Rayne High School. Mrs. Leleux was recognized and commended by the Board.
2) Hear report regarding ACT scores.
Mr. Cal Simar presented results of ACT scores in Acadia Parish which showed improvement over previous years in all subjects.
3) Consider reapportionment resolution.
Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr Shamsie, and carried, the following resolution regarding reapportionment resolution was adopted.
REAPPORTIONMENT RESOLUTION
Whereas, The Census 2000 count has been completed and the PL 94171 reapportionment data from the Census Bureau was delivered to the State of Louisiana on the 13th of March 2001, and
Whereas, The Acadia Parish School Board, under LA RS: 17:71.5 must make a determination whether reapportionment is necessary with the Census 2000 population count no later than the 13th of September 2001, and
Whereas, The School Board commissioned a study to calculate the new Census 2000 population in each of the existing elections' districts, and
Whereas, The current districts have the following Census 2000 population numbers:
District Population Deviation % Deviation NH DOJ Blk %NH DOJ Blk
1 3,942 263 7.2% 465 11.8%
2 3,627 52 1.4% 1,117 30.8%
3 3,733 54 1.5% 419 11.2%
4 2,914 765 20.8% 2,678 91.9%
5 3,478 201 5.5% 198 5.7%
6 3,685 6 0.2% 55 1.5%
7 3,506 173 4.7% 159 4.5%
8 3,624 55 1.5% 173 4.8%
9 3,386 293 8.0% 2,294 67.8%
10 3,715 36 1.0% 544 14.6%
11 4,351 672 18.3% 396 9.1%
12 4,084 405 11.0% 656 16.1%
13 3,303 376 10.2% 1,195 36.2%
14 4,131 452 12.3% 157 3.8%
15 3,971 292 7.9% 191 4.8%
16 3,411 268 7.3% 68 2.0%
and
Whereas, Districts 1, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12,13,14,15 and 16 are outside the allowable +/5% deviation from the ideal district population of 3,679,
Therefore Be It Resolved that the Acadia Parish School Board hereby declares that a reapportionment of the election district boundaries must commence in order to rebalance the district populations to within +/5% of the ideal district population of 3,679 and that such plan, as adopted by the School Board, be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice for Section 5 Pre-Clearance no later than March 1, 2002.
4) Consider approval of Head Start Program Plans for 2001-02.
The Head Start Program Plans for 2001-02 (copies sent to board members prior to this meeting) were approved, upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried (Mr. Trahan opposed).
5) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding fixed asset inventory.
In April, BESE gave approval to raise the threshold for fixed assets, items considered equipment, from $300 to $1,000, except items purchased with 8(g) funds. The Budget/Finance Committee's recommendation to align local policy with state policy was approved, upon motion by "Senegal, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried (Mr. Marceaux opposed).
6) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding purchase orders.
Current policy requires that purchase orders be prepared for items exceeding $150. The Budget/Finance Committee's recommendation to increase this amount to $300 was approved, upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried.
7) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding school level indebtedness.
The Budget/Finance Committee recommended a revision of existing policy. Mr. Senegal motioned and Mr. Quebodeaux seconded to accept the recommendation. Mr. Johnson expressed concerns about changing the wording "Executive Committee" to "Budget/Finance Committee." Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried, this item was tabled until next month. The role of the Budget/Finance Committee will be reviewed, and this item will be included on the October 2001 agenda as a discussion item.
8) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee to consider fuel subsidy for bus drivers.
Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried, fuel subsidy for bus drivers will be continued as established.
9) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee to set property tax millages for 2001.
Previous public notice was given that millages would be discussed at this meeting. Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried, property tax millages for 2001 were adopted.
2001 PARISHWIDE PROPERTY TAX MILLAGES
Actual 2000 Proposed 2001
Constitutional 5.14 5.14
School Maintenance 5.0 15.01
Special School Tax 15.02 15.02
25.17 25.17
MILLAGES FOR VARIOUS DEBT SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
Debt Service Funds Maintenance Funds
2000 2001 2000 2001
Crowley 0 0 0 0
Rayne 0 0 0 0
Church Point 34.00 32.00 0 0
Fifth Ward 33.00 31.00 13.45 13.45
Iota 9.00 8.50 0 0
10) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee to hire an aide for the PreGED/Skills Option class.
Mr. Senegal motioned and Mr. Smith seconded to hire an aide for the PreGED/Skills Option class. Because of the high percentage of special education students in this class, Dr. James suggested that a special education teacher be hired instead of an aide. A substitute motion to hire a teacher for the PreGED/Skills Option class was offered by Mr. Marceaux, seconded by Mrs. Bias, and approved by the Board (Mr. Shamsie opposed).
11) Consider staff adjustments pending verification of student enrollment.
Dr. James indicated the possible need to add staffing after enrollment figures have stabilized. She will confer with staff over the next few weeks, make necessary changes, and update the Board at next month's meeting of the changes. Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried, the Board authorized the Superintendent to make necessary staff adjustments.
12) Consider adoption of Systems Survey and Compliance Questionnaire.
Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried, the Board adopted the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire.
13) Correspondence
Dr. James read a note of thanks received from KATC TV 3 regarding a visit to Crowley Middle School.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
There were no discussion items.
CONSENT ITEMS:
Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried (Mr. Boudreaux opposed), the Board took the following action on consent items:
1) Approved assignments and changes of professional employees.
2) Received sales tax report showing a year-to-date increase of 140.89%.
3) Granted request to Mary Elizabeth Kennedy, teacher, Crowley High School, for sabbatical leave for professional development, effective May 1, through May 31, 2002.
4) Granted request to James E. Quebedeaux, teacher, Rayne High School, for sabbatical leave for professional development, effective Spring 2002 and Fall 2002 semesters.
5) Granted request to Kelly Rogers, teacher, Ross Head Start, for maternity leave, effective November 2, 2001, through November 7, 2001.
6) Granted request to Norma Antoine, cafeteria clerk, Church Point Elementary School, for leave without pay for medical reasons, effective August 15, 2001, to January 11, 2002.
7) Approved resignation from Tammie Guidry, teacher, Iota Elementary, effective 82201.
CLOSING:
There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Mr. Marceaux, and carried, the meeting adjourned at 6:03 p.m.
s/
John A Suire, President
ATTEST:
s/______________________________
Dr. Marietta W. James, Superintendent