CROWLEY, LOUISIANA
JUNE 3, 2002
1) The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 3rd day of June 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, Sr., Mr. Roland J. Boudreaux, Mr. Rodney J. Trahan, Mr. Johnnie L. Smith, Mr. Charles F. Daigle, Mr. Shirley Vige', Dr. Robert L. McManus, Mr. Paul K. Bellon and Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Marietta W. James. Mr. John H. Quebodeaux and Mr. Nolton J. Senegal were absent.
2&3) Mr. Trahan led the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
4) Consider approval of a revised agenda If there are any changes.
The agenda was revised by deleting Routine item 8, upon motion by Mr. Pinac, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and carried by a unanimous voice vote. Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Bellon, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Routine item 1a (CONSIDER ADVERTISING BUDGET FOR SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.) was added to the agenda.
5) Read and approve minutes of the May 6 and 20, 2002 meetings.
Reading of the minutes of the May 6 and 20, 2002, meetings was dispensed with (copies of minutes were sent to each member, prior to this meeting) and adopted as submitted, upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.
6) Recognize Outstanding Support Employees of the Year.
Mr. Carl LeJeune presented awards to Outstanding Support Employees of the Year from each school. Parish level winners were Mervina Newman, Estherwood Elementary; Marjorie Walker, Iota Middle; and Clara Hebert, Crowley High.
1) Consider policy regarding changing agenda items.
Mr. Shamsie motioned and Mr. Trahan seconded to approve policy requiring a unanimous vote of the members present to change discussion items to action or routine items.
A substitute motion to require a two-thirds vote was offered by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Valdetero, and carried by a roll call vote of 8 to 5.
In order to move a discussion item to any other item, either action or routine, it shall take a two-thirds vote of the members present
YEA: Johnson, Pinac, Valdetero, Marceaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Smith, Vige'
NAY: Bias, Shamsie, Daigle, McManus, Bellon
ABSENT: Quebodeaux, Senegal
ROUTINE ITEM:
1) Consider changes in the Pupil Progression Plan.
Mr. Cal Simar reviewed a minor change in the Pupil Progression Plan. Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded Mr. Pinac, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, changes in the Pupil Progression Plan were approved.
1a) Consider advertising budget for a superintendent search.
The Board was provided cost estimates for advertising for a superintendent.
At this time, a motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Marceaux, to consider Discussion Item 1 in conjunction with this item, passed by a unanimous voice vote.
Mr. Johnson motioned and Mr. Marceaux seconded to include a statement setting an advertising budget of $5000 and any additional advertising will include a statement that tenure will not be carried in and will not be earned. Discussion continued regarding an amount to budget and whether to advertise statewide versus selected markets.
A friendly amendment to increase the advertising budget to $7,000 was offered by Ms. Bias. The budget for advertising for a superintendent was approved at $7,000 by a majority voice vote. Mr. Daigle motioned and Mr. Bellon seconded to advertise in the following newspapers: Baton Rouge Advocate, Lafayette Daily Advertiser, Alexandria Town Talk, Lake Charles American Press, Shreveport Times, and New Orleans Times Picayune.
A substitute motion to advertise in the Baton Rouge Advocate, Lafayette Daily Advertiser, Alexandria Town Talk, Lake Charles American Press, Shreveport Times, and Educational Week instead of the New Orleans Times Picayune was offered by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Vige', and carried by a unanimous voice vote.
A copy of the current advertisement which lists contact information, qualifications, contract terms, and the deadline was reviewed. Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Pinac, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the current advertisement was approved and authorized posting it on the APSB website.
2) Consider authorizing the Superintendent to advertise for Principal of Estherwood Elementary School.
Mrs. Alison Andrews resigned her position as Principal of Estherwood Elementary, due to job relocation of her husband. She was commended by the Board for her service to APSB. Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent was authorized to advertise for the position of Principal of Estherwood Elementary.
3) Consider recommendation of the Superintendent regarding replacement of a Crowley area bus driver.
Upon motion by Mr. Marceaux, seconded by Mr. Bellon, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Roderick Breaux, the only applicant, was hired to replace Russell Landry as bus driver of a Crowley route as recommended by the Superintendent.
4) Consider request from Sharon Miller to waive a sabbatical leave requirement to return to work.
Dr. James received a letter from Mrs. Sharon Miller and her attorney requesting a waiver of the sabbatical leave requirement to return to work after sabbatical. She is applying for a year's leave without pay while applying for disability retirement. Dr. James recommended that the Board waive the sabbatical leave requirement to return to work for Mrs. Miller. Upon motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Bellon, and carried by a majority voice vote, the Board granted Mrs. Miller a waiver of a requirement to return to work after sabbatical leave and a leave without pay from August 13, 2002, to May 30, 2003.
5) Consider approval of resolution requesting that the Louisiana Department of Transportation construct a temporary onsite detour bridge on Louisiana Highway 13.
Upon motion by Ms. Valdetero, seconded by Mr. Pinac, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, a resolution requesting that the Louisiana Department of Transportation construct a temporary onsite detour bridge on Louisiana Highway 13 was adopted by the Board.
RESOLUTION
(To the Louisiana Department of Transportation requesting a temporary onsite detour bridge at Bayou Plaquemine Brulee.)
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development has announced plans to construct a new four lane bridge on Louisiana Highway 13 at Bayou Plaquemine Brulee; and WHEREAS, the Louisiana Highway 13 Bayou Plaquemine Brulee bridge provides the most practical route for traffic entrance into the City of Crowley from the northern portion of the Parish; and
WHEREAS, all emergency services, facilities and the Acadia Parish School Board administrative offices are located South of the Louisiana Highway 13 Bayou Plaquemine Brulee bridge; and
WHEREAS, the largest high school in the Parish, Crowley high School, is located North of Bayou Plaquemine Brulee, and eighteen buses service this school daily, providing transportation for more than 600 students; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Highway 13 route is used each day by most of the Crowley High School faculty and support personnel along with the Acadia Parish School Board's maintenance and delivery vehicles; and
WHEREAS, the safety and timely transport to and from school of students are two of our main priorities; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Acadia Parish School Board in regular session duly convened that it does hereby urge and requests the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development to include in the project plans and specifications for a temporary on-site detour bride over Bayou Plaquemine Brulee on Louisiana Highway 13, so as to maintain direct vehicular traffic and to provide access adequate emergency services to Crowley High School and the area north of the City of Crowley; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be provided to the Honorable Fred Hoyt, State Senator; Honorable Jerry Theunissen, State Senator; Honorable Gillis Pinac, State Representative; Honorable Gregory Fruge', State Representative; and the Honorable Dan Morrish, State Representative urging them to support the request for this temporary on-site detour bridge,
THUS DONE AND ADOPTED in regular session duly convened on this the 3rd day of June 2002 at Crowley, Acadia Parish, Louisiana, at which a quorum was acting throughout.
6) Consider approval of Head Start teacher qualifications.
Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Head Start teacher qualifications were approved.
7) Consider performance audit. (Lyle Johnson)
Mr. Johnson motioned and Mr. Pinac seconded to consider seeking a performance audit when the new superintendent is appointed. Discussion followed. A motion to table, pending the recommendation of the new superintendent, was offered by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Ms. Bias, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.
8) Consider an election date of July 20, 2002, for maintenance millage for the Crowley School District.
This item was deleted at the opening of this meeting.
9) Consider change in compensation for the maintenance foreman.
A recommended pay adjustment of $4.00 per hour ($8,000 annual) for the position of maintenance foreman was tabled for the new superintendent's recommendation, upon motion by Mr. Johnson, and seconded by Mr. Shamsie.
YEA: Johnson, Pinac, Valdetero, Bias, Marceaux, Shamsie, Smith, Vige', Bellon
NAY: Boudreaux, Trahan, Daigle, McManus
ABSENT: Quebodeaux, Senegal
10) Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance and Budget/Finance Committees regarding professional staff changes for the 2002-03 school year.
Dr. James presented proposed staffing for the 2002-03 school year showing a reduction of two teacher positions for regular education and an increase of 3.5 teacher positions in special education for a total increase parish-wide of 2.5 teacher positions. Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, proposed staffing for the 2002-03 school year was approved.
11) Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance and Budget/Finance Committees regarding certain classified staff reclassifications for the 2002-03 school year.
Proposed reclassification/additions were made available to each board member prior to this meeting. The Personnel/Insurance Committee favorably recommended all reclassifications except # 6, inventory clerk, and the Budget/Finance Committee favorably recommended approval of all reclassifications. Dr. McManus motioned and Mr. Vige' seconded to approve all recommendations for reclassifications for the 2002-03 school year. Discussion followed. A substitute motion offered by Mr. Shamsie to address reclassification recommendations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 (separate from 6) was seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by majority voice vote.
Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Trahan, to deny reclassification recommendations for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, carried by a majority voice vote.
Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Daigle, to approve # 6, the recommendation to add a new position for Inventory Clerk, failed by a roll call vote of 8 to 5.
YEA: Shamsie, Daigle, Vige', McManus, Bellon
NAY: Johnson, Pinac, Valdetero, Bias, Marceaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Smith
ABSENT: Quebodeaux, Senegal
At this time, 6:30 p.m., upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board recessed.
Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board reconvened at 6:40 p.m.
A motion to reconsider (#6) the new position for an inventory clerk was offered by Ms. Bias, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a majority voice vote.
Mrs. Jill Doga and Mrs. Mary Robbins addressed the Board citing the need for this position, as it is necessary to administer all paperwork relating to technology grants. Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a majority voice vote, the Board approved adding the position of Inventory Clerk (the annual salary of $13,020.00 will be funded 1/2 with general funds and 1/2 with Title I funds).
Dr. James asked the Board to reconsider item 11.
12) Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance and Budget/Finance Committees regarding placement of recently hired classified personnel into the salary system.
Copies of placement of recently hired classified personnel into the salary system were given to each Board member. Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Bellon, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, placement of recently hired classified personnel into the salary system was approved as recommended by the Personnel/Insurance and Budget/Finance Committees.
13) Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance and Budget/Finance Committees regarding supplemental pay for support personnel and administrators.
Upon motion by Mr. Bellon, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a majority voice vote, a thirteenth check for all administrators at an estimated cost of $330,400 and a supplemental bonus of $750 for all support employees at an estimated cost of $564,000; the total estimated cost of $894,400 of the 2002-2003 budget was approved by the Board as recommended by the Personnel/Insurance and Budget/Finance Committees.
At this time, Mr. Shamsie motioned and Ms. Valdetero seconded to add Routine Item 13a (CONSIDER FREEZING ALL PAY RAISES AND NEW POSITIONS UNTIL ADDITIONAL REVENUES ARE SECURED, UNLESS OVERRIDDEN BY TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE BOARD.) Discussion continued.
A motion to table this matter until the July board meeting was offered by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Bellon, and carried by a majority voice vote.
14) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee to approve bids for teaching/duplicating and janitorial supplies.
Upon motion by Ms. Valdetero, seconded by Mr. Pinac, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, bids for teaching/duplicating and janitorial supplies were approved as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.
15) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee to approve bids for Child Nutrition Program paper and cleaning supplies.
Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, bids for Child Nutrition Program paper and cleaning supplies were approved as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.
16) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee to award bid for an official journal.
Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board awarded low bid for Acadia Parish School Board's official journal to the Rayne Acadian Tribune as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.
NEWSPAPER LEGAL SQ. 1st INSERTION
Rayne Independent $5.00
Crowley Post Signal $6.00
Rayne Acadian Tribune $ .85
17) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee to approve applications for Head Start funding increases and Fatherhood/Youth Initiatives.
Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, applications for Head Start funding increases and Fatherhood/Youth Initiatives were approved as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.
18) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance committee to make correction to teacher pay scale.
Upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, corrections to the teacher pay scale for teachers with 0-4 years of experience with a masters+30 degree were approved.
19) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee to approve consolidated budget for Titles I, II, III, IV, and V.
Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Vige', and carried by a unanimous voice vote, consolidated budget for Titles I, II, III, IV, and V was approved.
20) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding special education budgets.
Mr. Vige' motioned and Mr. Smith seconded to approve special education budgets. Mr. John Doughty answered questions of the Board regarding the special education budget. He spoke in favor of reclassification of three key personnel to coordinators and reclassification of two clerical staff. A substitute motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Trahan, to accept the special education budget application with the exception of proposed reclassifications of five personnel, three coordinators and two clerical staff, carried by a majority voice vote.
21) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee to approve final budget revisions for 2001-02.
Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Bellon, and carried by a majority voice vote, final budget revisions were approved.
22) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee to approve general fund and other budgets for 2002-03.
Mr. Mike Leonards reminded the Board that there was a budget hearing prior to this meeting and information included in packets regarding changes and bottom line projected deficits. Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried by a majority voice vote, the general fund and other budgets for 2002-03 were approved.
23) Consider setting property tax millages for 2002-03.
Upon motion by Mr, Pinac, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, property tax millages for 2002-03 were adopted.
PROPOSED PARISH-WIDE PROPERTY TAX MILLAGES Actual 2001 Proposed 2002
Constitutional 5.14 5.14
School Maintenance 5.01 5.01
Special School Tax 15.02 15.02
25.17 25.17
PROPOSED MILLAGES FOR VARIOUS DEBT SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
Debt Service Funds Maintenance Funds
2001 2002 2001 2002
Crowley 0 0 0 0
Rayne 0 0 0 0
Church Point 32.00 29.50 0 0
5th Ward 31.00 27.50 13.45 13.45
Iota 8.50 6.00 0 0
24) Hear grievance of parent/student.
Mr. Gregory Mouton requested an executive session to hear his grievance. Upon motion by Mr. Pinac, seconded Mr. Trahan, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board went into an executive session to hear Mr. Gregory Mouton's grievance, at 7:40 p.m..
Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board reconvened, at 8:13 p.m.
25) Correspondence
There was no correspondence to report.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1) Discuss selection criteria as adopted on September 18, 1995, page 265 of the Minute book. (Lyle Johnson)
This matter was addressed during Routine Item 1a.
CONSENT ITEMS:
Upon motion by Ms. Valdetero, seconded by Mr. Bellon, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, 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 33.33%.
3) Granted request to Charles H. Macmurdo, teacher, Armstrong Middle School, for sabbatical leave for medical reasons during the 2002 Spring semester.
4) Granted request to Marie Janise, teacher, Richard Elementary School, for sabbatical leave for professional development for the 2003 Spring semester.
5) Granted request to Velma Guidry, teacher, Iota Middle School, for leave without pay from August 2002 to May 2003.
6) Granted request to Norma Antoine, computer food tech, Church Point Elementary School, for leave without pay from January 2002 to May 2002.
7) Granted request to Linda Young, janitor, Church Point High, for leave without pay from May 23, 2002, to June 11, 2002.
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 8:15 p.m.
John A. Suire, President
ATTEST:
Dr. Marietta W. James, Superintendent