CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

AUGUST 5, 2002

1)         The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 5^th  day of August 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. Wadie H. Bias, Mr. Woody M. Marceaux, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. John H. Quebodeaux, 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.  Ms. Wadie H. Bias and Mr. Charles F. Daigle were absent.

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

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

The agenda was revised by adding Opening Item 6a (RECOGNIZE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE FOR LEARN AND SERVE GRANTS. - LEE ETHEL DUPONT); Routine Item 8a (CONSIDER APPROVAL OF D.A.R.E. PROGRAM.); Consent Item 5 (CONSIDER REQUEST FROM SUE B. TRAHAN, TEACHER, CENTRAL RAYNE KINDERGARTEN, FOR SABBATICAL LEAVE, FOR THE 2002-2003 SCHOOL YEAR, FOR MEDICAL REASONS.); and Consent Item 6 (CONSIDER REQUEST FROM SHIRLEEN LAVERGNE, CAFETERIA, FOR LEAVE WITHOUT PAY FROM 8-15-02 TO 2-15-03, FOR SON’S MEDICAL CONDITION.) and Routine Item 6 was deleted, upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

5)         Read and approve minutes of the July 2, 2002, and July 15, 2002, meetings.

Reading of the minutes of the July 2, and July 15, 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. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

6)         Recognize Mr. Danny Wilson representing BellSouth Teacher Mini-Grants.

Mr. Danny Wilson of BellSouth awarded Teacher Mini-Grants to three teachers in Acadia Parish.  Those receiving grants were Mrs. Christi Brammer of Crowley Middle School, Ms. Denise Darby of South Rayne Elementary School, and Ms. Cynthia LeJeune of Morse Elementary School.

6a)       Recognize representative from the Governor’s Office for Learn and Serve Grants. (Lee Ethel Dupont)

Ms. Debra Milson, regional consultant from the Governor’s Office, addressed the Board regarding the Learn and Serve Grant.  Presently, the program is operating at Rayne High School in association with the Head Start Program.  Mrs. Ruth Petry, principal at Rayne High School, was awarded $8,500 for the upcoming year.

7)         Conduct interviews of applicants for APSB Superintendent.

By the flip of a coin, Mr. John E. Bourque was the first candidate interviewed for the superintendency of Acadia Parish Public Schools.  The interview began at 5:15 p.m. and ended at 6:55 p.m.

Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Pinac, the Board recessed for a break at 6:55 p.m., and reconvened at 7:07 p.m., upon motion by Mr. Senegal, and seconded by Dr. McManus.  Both motions carried by a unanimous voice vote.

At 7:08 p.m., the Board began interviewing Dr. Laval Wilson.  Dr. Wilson’s interview concluded at 8:37 p.m.

At 8:38 p.m., the Board took a break, upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Quebodeaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.  The Board returned to session, at 8:46 p.m., upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

8)         Appoint APSB Superintendent.

Mr. John E. Bourque and Dr. Laval Wilson were the two applicants interviewed for the Superintendency of Acadia Parish Schools.  By a roll call  of 12 to 2, Mr. John E. Bourque was appointed Superintendent of Acadia Parish Schools.  Mr. Bourque was congratulated and welcomed to Acadia Parish.  He will take over as Acting Superintendent beginning Monday, August 12, 2002, then on September 14, 2002, he will officially take the office as Superintendent of Acadia Parish School Board.

The roll call vote was as follows:

BOURQUE:     Johnson, Pinac, Valdetero, Suire, Shamsie, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Smith, Vige’, McManus, Bellon

WILSON:        Senegal, Marceaux

ABSENT:        Bias, Daigle

8a)       Discuss salary and effective date of employment.

Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Opening Item 8a. was added to the agenda.

The Superintendent’s salary and effective date of employment were discussed.  Upon motion by Mr. Marceaux, seconded by Mr. Senegal, a salary of $80,000 plus a 3% annual increment was recommended.

A substitute motion to set the Superintendent’s salary at $87,500 plus a 3% annual increment for the length of two years was recommended by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mr. Shamsie.  After  some discussion, Mr. Johnson offered an amendment to his substitute motion, which was also seconded by Mr. Shamsie, to contract the Superintendent through December 31, 2004, instead of two years from September 14, 2002.  The amendment carried by a majority voice vote.  (Mr. Boudreaux opposed).

Mr. Bourque addressed the Board.  He thanked the members for selecting him.  He accepted the general terms offered and pledged his professional commitment to Acadia Parish.

Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, it was agreed that the effective date of Mr. Bourque’s employment would be Monday, August 12, 2002.

Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Pinac, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Mr. John E. Bourque, Mr. Gerald Caswell, and Mr. John Suire were authorized to meet and draft terms of the Superintendent’s contract.

ACTION ITEMS:

There were no action items.

ROUTINE ITEM:

1)         Consider joining class action suit against the State regarding Act No. 26.

Mr. Sherman Wilson provided details regarding a class action suit against the State regarding Act No. 26.  Board members were provided a resolution authorizing Hammonds and Sills, Attorneys at Law, to represent the APSB in this action.  The cost to the APSB is tentatively assessed at $.15 per student ($1,438 total).  Discussion followed and question was called to stop debate.  A motion to adopt the resolution to join this class action suit against the State regarding Act No. 26 was offered by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Smith, and failed by a roll call vote of 9 to 3

YEA:          Senegal, Smith, McManus

NAY:         Johnson, Pinac, Valdetero, Marceaux, Shamsie, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Vige’

ABSENT:  Bias, Daigle, Bellon

1a)       Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for a replacement bus driver for a Crowley route.

Upon motion by Mr. Marceaux, seconded by Ms. Valdetero, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent’s recommendation to hire Mr. Hardy Lasage as bus driver for a Crowley route was approved.

1b)       Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for a replacement bus driver for a Rayne route.

Upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Mr. Quebodeaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent’s recommendation to hire Ms. Georgette Slayton as a bus driver for a Rayne  route was approved.

2)         Consider recommendation of the Transportation/Facilities Committee regarding a portable double-wide classroom building for Branch Elementary.

Mr. Trahan motioned and Mr. Quebodeaux seconded to purchase a portable double-wide classroom building for Branch Elementary at an estimated cost of $55,000.

Mr. Keith Cahanin, principal of Branch Elementary School, addressed the Board regarding needs at his school.  A suggestion was made to build a permanent building in lieu of a portable classroom.

A substitute motion to build a permanent building at an estimated cost of approximately $75,000 was offered by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

3)         Consider recommendation of the Transportation/Facilities Committee regarding appointing architects.

Currently, Mr. Bill Ackal, Mr. Don Breaux, and Mr. Ron Lawson are the only architects authorized to do work for the Acadia Parish School Board.  The Transportation/Facilities Committee recommended limiting the number to five architects.  Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a majority voice vote, Mr. Henry Boudreaux and Mr. Mark Lalande were added, making five the total number of authorized architects.

4)         Hear an update from the Transportation/Facilities Committee regarding solid waste disposal.

Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent was authorized to seek competitive proposals for solid waste disposal.

5)         Consider request from South Crowley Elementary to lease a copier on Stat Contract.

Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Mr. Bob Gates, principal at South Crowley Elementary School, was given permission to lease a copier on State Contract.

6)         Consider acquisition of property adjacent to Mire Elementary. (Rodney Trahan)

This item was deleted from the agenda earlier in the meeting.

7)         Review initial MFP projections for 2002-2003.

Mr. Mike Leonards provided estimated MFP figures from the State and outlined proposals for State pay supplements for teachers and support personnel.  He and Mr. Sherman Wilson answered questions of the Board.  No action was taken on the matter of whether or not to fund support personnel in federal funds.

8)         Consider attendance hearing appeal requested by Mrs. Margaret Sonnier. (Cal Simar) 

Mrs. Margaret Sonnier was not present at this meeting.  She had been contacted three times prior to the meeting.

8a)       Consider approval of D.A.R.E. Program.

Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Ms. Valdetero, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the D. A. R. E. program was approved.

9)         Correspondence

Superintendent Bourque called the Board’s attention to a letter received from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development in response to its request for a temporary detour bridge at Bayou Plaquemine Brulee during the construction on highway 13.  The letter stated that since the detour is only approximately one mile, the state department maintained that the correct solution is to utilize the proposed route.  They’ve concluded that constructing a temporary bridge is not a practical or cost effective solution.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1)         Consider policy revisions due to legislative action taken during the 2002 Special Session of the Louisiana Legislature and recent Louisiana Supreme Court decision.

This matter will be an action item at the September 9, 2002, meeting.

CONSENT ITEMS:

Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, 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 decrease of 38.21%.

3)      Granted request to Judy Burns Gray, teacher, Ross Elementary, for sabbatical leave for the 2002-2003 Spring semester, for professional development.

4)      Granted request to Lucille Robinson, teacher, Crowley High School, for sabbatical leave for the 2002-2003 school year, for medical reasons.

5)      Granted request to Sue B. Trahan, teacher, Central Rayne Kindergarten, for sabbatical leave, for the 2002-2003 school year, for medical reasons.

6)      Granted request to Shirleen Lavergne, cafeteria, for leave without pay from 8-15-02 to 2-15-03, for son’s medical condition.

CLOSING:

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 9:44 p.m.

_______________________________

John A. Suire, President

ATTEST:

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Mr. John E. Bourque, Acting Superintendent