CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

JANUARY 14, 2002

1)         The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 14th day of January 2002, 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. Kitty M. Valdetero, Ms. Wadie H. Bias, Mr. Woody M. Marceaux, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. John H. Quebodeaux, Mr. Nolton J. Senegal, Sr., 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 Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Marietta W. James.

2&3)    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. Pinac, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the agenda was revised by deleting Opening Item 6, tabling Routine Item 2, and adding Routine Item 8a (CONSIDER APPROVAL OF REQUEST FROM OMNI ENERGY COOPERATION FOR ASSIGNMENT OF A LEASE ON SECTION 16, TOWNSHIP 11 SOUTH, RANGE 1 EAST.)

5)         Read and approve minutes of the December 3, 2001, meeting.

            Reading of the minutes of the December 3, 2001, meeting was dispensed with and adopted as submitted, upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Pinac, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

6)         Recognize the Iota High School football team.

            This item was removed from the agenda.

7)         Recognize Educational Technology Week. (Mary Robbins)

            Mrs. Mary Robbins briefed the Board on the declaration of Educational Technology Week which will be observed January 27, through February 3, 2002.

ACTION ITEMS:

1)         Consider revision of annual leave policy.

            Changes in state laws require modification of the APSB policy regarding annual leave to include the following.

            Any unused annual leave paid at the time of separation (termination, resignation, retirement, entrance into DROP, or death) shall be paid to the employee or his/her heirs on or before the next regular payday or no later than fifteen (15) days following the date of separation at the employee's daily rate of pay.

            Upon motion by Mr. Pinac, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the revision to the APSB annual leave policy was adopted.

2)         Consider revision of bids and quotations policy.

            Change in state laws require modification of the APSB policy regarding bids and quotations to include the following.

            Public works which are estimated to cost less than the contract limit may be undertaken by the Board with its own employees.

            Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the revision to the APSB bids and quotations policy was adopted.

ROUTINE ITEMS:

1)         Consider President's recommendation for appointments to a committee to develop a plan for a teacher pay increase.

            Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried, the following individuals were appointed to serve on the Teacher Pay Increase Plan Development Committee. Mr. John Quebodeaux, Mr. John Suire, Mr. Charles Daigle, Dr. Marietta James, Mr. Carl LeJeune, Mr. Mike Leonards, Ms. Ellan K. Baggett, Mr. James Quebedeaux, Ms. Jenny LeJeune, Ms. Regina Smart, Ms. Donna Victorian, Ms. Shawn LeJeune, Dr. Craig Brammer, Mr. Steve Mire, Mr. Steve Broussard, Mr. Roland Guidry, Mr. Anthony Emmons, and Ms Kay Hillard. Mr. Quebodeaux will serve as chairperson. Other members may be added to the committee.

2)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance committee to deny request from Body Masters for a waiver of penalty and interest from a sales tax audit.

            This item was removed from the agenda.

3)         Consider recommendation of the Transportation/Facilities Committee regarding approval of purchase of an activity bus by Crowley High School Athletic Backers.

            Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, a request by the Crowley High School Athletic Backers to purchase an activity bus using available funds was approved.

4)         Consider recommendation of the Transportation/Facilities Committee to select a tenant farmer for Section 16, Township 9 South, Range 2 West, near Evangeline.

            Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Pinac, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Mr. Linus Regan was contracted to farm 149 acres on Section 16, Township 9 South, Range 2 West, near Evangeline.

5)         Consider recommendation of the Transportation/Facilities Committee to select a tenant farmer for Section 16, Township 8 South, Range 2 West, northwest of Iota.

            Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Quebodeaux, and carried by a majority voice vote,Garber Farms was contracted to farm 136 acres on Section 16, Township 8 South, Range 2 West, Iota.

6)         Consider approval of Head Start policies and procedures.

            Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Head Start policies and procedures were approved.

7)         Consider approval of Head Start Internal Dispute Resolution Policies.

            Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Head Start Internal Dispute Resolution Policies were approved.

8)         Consider reimbursing eligible teacher $88.63, the amount which represents savings from last year's sabbatical and extended medical leave, that was not included in the $1,000 December supplement (Lyle Johnson)

            Mr. Lyle Johnson expressed concern that all teachers, both newly employed and previously employed received the $1,000 December supplemental pay. He felt that employees who were eligible to receive the savings from last year's sabbatical and extended medical leave should have received $88.63 more than newly employed teachers. Ms. Jenny LeJeune, president of AAE, addressed the Board and stated that teachers knew that the supplemental check was the same amount for all teachers and that they did not take issue with it. However, upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Pinac, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved reimbursing eligible teachers $88.63 for last year's sabbatical and extended medical leave savings. The estimated cost of $62,000 will be paid from last year's surplus.

8a)       Consider approval of request from Omni Energy Cooperation for assignment of a lease on Section 16, Township 11 South, Range 1 East.

            Mr. Gerard Caswell, attorney reviewed a request from Omni Energy Cooperation for assignment of a lease on Section 16, Township 11 South, Range 1 East, and recommended approval.

            Upon motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the request from Omni Energy Cooperation for lease on Section 16, Township 11 South, Range 1 East.

9)         Correspondence

            The official count for student enrollment in Acadia Parish as of October 1, 2001, was provided. Dr. James informed the Board that a Head Start Federal Review Team would be in Acadia Parish in February. Board members were asked to participate.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

            There were no Discussion Items.

CONSENT ITEMS:

            Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Pinac, and carried, 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 96.82%.

CLOSING:

            There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried, the meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

s/                                                           

  John A Suire, President          

ATTEST:

s/______________________________

  Dr. Marietta W. James, Superintendent