CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

MAY 20, 2002

                The Acadia Parish School Board met in SPECIAL SESSION on this the 20^th  day of May 2002, at 5:00 p.m., in Crowley, Louisiana, with President John A. Suire presiding, pursuant to the following notice given in writing to each and every member thereof and duly posted in the manner required by law, viz.

May 14, 2002

Dear Board Member:

By virtue of the authority vested in me by law by reason of the fact that it is deemed necessary, advisable, and to the public interest that the Acadia Parish School Board be called to a SPECIAL SESSION; therefore, I, John A. Suire, president of the Acadia Parish School Board, do hereby give notice that a special meeting of the said Board will be held at its domicile in the City of Crowley, Louisiana, at 5:00 p.m., on Wednesday, May 20, 2002, to:

DISCUSS CRITERIA FOR SELECTING A SUPERINTENDENT AND SETTING A SALARY RANGE.

Sincerely,

s/s John A. Suire, President

Acadia Parish School Board

Jm

(Copies sent to Central Office Staff Members, Principals, News Media)

1)             Members present were Lyle C. Johnson, Bill Pinac, Wadie H. Bias, Woody Marceaux, Lynn Shamsie, John H. Quebodeaux, Nolton J. Senegal,  Roland Boudreaux, Rodney J. Trahan, Johnnie L. Smith, Charles F. Daigle, Shirley Vige', Dr. Robert L. McManus and Paul K. Bellon.  Kitty M. Valdetero was absent.

                President Suire called the meeting to order.

2,3)          Mr. Senegal led the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.

4)             Reading of letter calling for Special Session.

                President Suire read the letter calling for a special session.

                Upon motion by Mr. Marceaux, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, an Item 1 (CONSIDER NECESSARY ACTION FOR BOARD TO CONSIDER SELECTION OF ACTING ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT) was added to the agenda.

SPECIAL SESSION ITEMS:

1)             Consider necessary action for Board to consider selection of Acting Assistant Superintendent.

                The Board considered its options regarding selection of someone in the interim, prior to selection of the next superintendent.

                Mr. Senegal motioned and Mr. Marceaux seconded to appoint Mr. Sherman Wilson as acting assistant superintendent, pending selection of a permanent superintendent, with no change in compensation to be effective immediately.

                Mr. Gerard Caswell, attorney, indicated that a direct appointment may be proper, without advertising, if there was no change in compensation.

                Mr. Sherman Wilson addressed the Board, indicating conditional acceptance of this assignment, as certain details regarding shifting of duties will need to be worked out.  He indicated he had no desire to seek the permanent position of the superintendent.

                The timing of this assignment was discussed and a target date of September 13, 2002, was considered for making the final selection of a superintendent.

                The motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Marceaux, to appoint Mr. Sherman Wilson as Acting Assistant Superintendent, carried by a unanimous voice vote.

2)             Discuss criteria for selecting a Superintendent and setting a salary range.

                Mr. Quebodeaux motioned and Mr. Shamsie seconded to use the same criteria and procedures used in 1995 to select a superintendent, set the starting salary at $90,000 for a two-year contract, and contract renewal at a salary of $100,000, depending on performance.

                Discussion followed regarding a compensation and selection process.  A salary range instead of a fixed salary was suggested.

                A substitute motion to set the superintendent's salary range from $70,000 to $90,000, to be negotiable with no mention of an increase after two years was offered by Mr. Boudreaux and seconded by Mr. Senegal.

                A second substitute motion to set a salary range from $80,000 to $100,000, with no mention of an increase after two years was offered by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and passed by a roll call vote of 8 to 7.

YEA:        Johnson, Pinac, Bias, Marceaux, Suire, Shamsie, Quebodeaux, Daigle

NAY:       Senegal, Boudreaux, Trahan, Smith, Vige’, McManus, Bellon

ABSENT:        Valdetero

                Mr. Marceaux brought up the issue of moving expenses.

                Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board recessed at 5:48 p.m.

                Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board reconvened at 6:07 p.m.

                Mr. Marceaux motioned and Mr. Quebodeaux seconded to adopt the following criteria for selecting a superintendent:

A.            Applicants must possess all qualifications necessary to be certified as a Superintendent in Louisiana.

B.             Advertise at state and national levels for at least 45 days.

1.             Louisiana Press Association

2.             Three national publications (to be named by the Superintendent)

3.             Internet

4.             Applications must be received by the deadline of July 15, 2002.

                A substitute motion to adopt 1, 2, and 3 of the above with a deadline of July 1, 2002, was offered by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried by a majority voice vote.

                Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Bellon, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board will screen applications and the top five (5) applicants for superintendent will be interviewed.

                Applications will be screened the last week in July and the top five (5) applicants will be interviewed early in August. 

                Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, applicants must possess all qualifications necessary for certification as Superintendent by the State of Louisiana.     

                Upon motion by Mr. Marceaux, seconded by Mr. Quebodeaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the wording ”r;relocation expenses are negotiable” will be included in the advertisement for Superintendent.

                Mr. Nick Jagneaux, LAE President, addressed the Board and stated that as a method of generating public input, Vermilion Parish held a public forum for superintendent applicants.

                It was suggested that the same questions be asked of each applicant.  Mr. Suire asked each board member to submit two questions for superintendent applicants.  The voting method used in 1995 was discussed and recommended.  A suggestion was made to seek interview questions from local Chambers of Commerce and APSB employee groups (principals, teachers, support personnel, etc.).

                Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried, the meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.

                                                            _________________________________

                                                                        John A. Suire,  President

ATTEST:

__________________________________________

Dr. Marietta W. James, Secretary-Treasurer