CROWLEY, LOUISIANA
SEPTEMBER 9, 2002
1) The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 9th day of September 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, Kitty M. Valdetero, Ms. Wadie H. Bias, Mr. Woody M. Marceaux, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. Nolton J. Senegal, 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, and Secretary-Treasurer Mr. John E. Bourque. Mr. Paul K. Bellon was 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 Routine Item 11a (CONSIDER DISPOSITION OF EEF FUNDS. (Tobacco Funds), upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.
5) Read and approve minutes of the August 5, and August 14, 2002, meetings.
Reading of the minutes of the August 5, and August 14, 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. Senegal, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.
ACTION ITEMS:
1) Consider policy revisions due to legislative action taken during the 2002 Special Session of the Louisiana Legislative and recent Louisiana Supreme Court decision.
Upon motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, policy revisions (copies were sent to each Board member prior to this meeting), due to legislative action taken during the 2002 Special Session of the Louisiana Legislative and recent Louisiana Supreme Court decision, were adopted. Policy revisions included policy for Bids and Quotations, Dangerous Weapons, Employee Conduct, Health Examinations, Alternative Schools’ Education Program, Adult Education, Prayer in Schools, and Compulsory School Attendance Ages.
The Student Code of Conduct policy was included as an addendum to these policy changes, but was not acted upon at this time. Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Valdetero, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Discussion Item 1 (Discuss Student Code of Conduct policy) was added to the agenda.
ROUTINE ITEM:
1) Hear a report of test results. (Margaret Jones)
Mrs. Margaret Jones addressed the Board regarding recently published test results. She introduced Ms. Dianna Guidry, who explained the progress made in student achievement in grades 4 and 8. She reviewed historical and statistical data of national, state, and parish trends.
2) Consider recommendation of the Superintendent for bus driver for Estherwood Head Start bus route. (Sondra Myers)
Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Ms. Kathy LeDoux, a substitute bus driver from Iota, was named bus driver for a Head Start route in the Estherwood/Crowley area, as recommended by Mr. Bourque, Acting Superintendent.
3) Consider approval of a Head Start teacher aide position for Estherwood and Crowley. (Sondra Myers)
Mrs. Sondra Myers explained the need for a part-time teacher aide to accommodate increased enrollment in Estherwood and Crowley. The approximate cost is $6,000. Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, a Head Start teacher aide position for Estherwood and Crowley was approved.
4) Consider approval of Policy Council Community Representatives. (Sondra Myers)
Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Policy Council composition and recommendations for Community Representatives were approved.
Parent Representatives composition:
Centers with enrollment of 90 or less 1 parent representative
Centers with enrollment of 91 - 175 2 parent representatives
Centers with enrollment of 176 or more 3 parent representatives
Community Representatives composition:
Four (4) Community representatives to include Board member, community person with education background, community person with health/mental health/nutrition background, community person from business group, child care group or public assistance group, and 1 alternative to serve in absence of any community person.
Recommended community person:
Charlie Daigle Board Representative
Laurita Pete retired teacher and City Councilwoman
Rose Jacobs retired Registered Nurse
Dianne Granger assistant coordinator of a homeless shelter and a former HS parent
Alternate community person:
Hilda Y. Charles day care provider
5) Adopt property tax millages for 2002.
Mr. Bourque indicated the need to re-adopt property tax millages for 2002, to comply with wording required by the legislative auditor. Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the resolution for property tax millages for 2002 was adopted by a roll call vote of 15 to 0.
PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED, that the following millage(s) are hereby levied on the 2002 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by the Acadia Parish School Board:
2002 PARISH-WIDE PROPERTY TAX MILLAGES
2001 2002
Constitutional 5.14 5.14
School Maintenance 5.01 5.01
Special School Tax 15.02 15.02
25.17 25.17
MILLAGES FOR VARIOUS DEBT SERVICE & 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
Fifth Ward 31.00 27.50 13.45 13.45
Iota 8.50 6.00 0 0
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the proper administrative officials of the Parish of Acadia, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes, as herein above set forth, upon the assessment roll of said Parish for the year 2002 and to make the collection of the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority, according to the law, and that the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority, according to law, and that the taxes herein levied shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all property subject to taxation as herein set forth, and collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law.
The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes:
YEA: Johnson, Pinac, Valdetero, Bias, Marceaux, Suire, Shamsie, Quebodeaux, Senegal, Boudreaux, Trahan, Smith, Daigle, Vige’, McManus
NAY: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Bellon
6) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding budget revisions.
Mr. Leonards presented figures regarding budget revisions. Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Quebodeaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, budget revisions were approved.
7) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding the use of an unrestricted donation to Martin Petitjean Elementary.
Mr. Boudreaux stated his desire to contribute funds to the Acadia Parish School Board to be used for after school tutoring at Martin Petitjean Elementary School. Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Mr. Boudreaux’s donation of unrestricted funds for after school tutoring at Martin Petitjean Elementary School was accepted.
8) Consider adoption of Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire.
Yearly, as part of the annual audit, the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire is presented to the Board for adoption to be submitted to the auditor. Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board adopted the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire.
9) Consider use of unrestricted funds from Rayne Booster Club, Inc.
Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, unrestricted funds from Rayne Booster Club, Inc. were accepted. They will be used to provide coaching pay supplements for two coaches at Rayne High School.
10) Consider recognition of Mr. Sherman Wilson.
Mr. Sherman Wilson was appointed Acting Assistant Superintendent and took over the duties on July 1, 2002, when Superintendent, Dr. Marietta W. James left for her new position in Mississippi. Mr. Wilson served in this capacity through August 9, 2002, when Mr. John E. Bourque was appointed Acting Superintendent. Mr. Wilson requested that his picture adorn the boardroom wall, in recognition of his service to the Board during this time. After some discussion, upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Ms. Bias, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved Mr. Wilson’s request to place his picture in the board room along with past Superintendents.
11) Consider Title I Secretary II position.
Superintendent Bourque reviewed the process used in selecting a replacement secretary for the Title I Program. The position was advertised as a Secretary II, but arrangements have been made to retain this person as a Secretary I, complying with the Board’s directive of no reclassifications. Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Title I Secretary I position was approved.
11a) Consider use of EEF (tobacco funds).
Mr. Bourque addressed the Board regarding a one-time EEF tobacco fund in the amount of $1,367,153. He suggested using approximately one-half, $675,000, for instruction purposes at the high school level and investing the balance with the state treasurer’s office. He then answered questions of the Board regarding the proposed expenditures and investments. The matter will be discussed with principals at a meeting tomorrow. Proposals must be sent to the State later this month.
Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent’s recommendation to use one-half, $675,000, for instruction purposes at the high school level and invest the balance with the state treasurer’s office was approved.
12) Correspondence
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1) Discuss Student Code of Conduct Policy.
The Student Code of Conduct Policy was briefly discussed. This will be an Action Item on the agenda for next month’s meeting.
CONSENT ITEMS:
Upon motion by Ms. Valdetero, seconded by Mr. Senegal, 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 55.18%.
3) Granted a request to Denee D. Lyons, teacher, Martin Petitjean Elementary, for sabbatical leave for the 2002-03 Spring semester (1-6-03/5-30-03), for medical reasons.
4) Granted a request to Pamela Corrigan, teacher, North Crowley Elementary, for sabbatical leave for the 2002-03 school year, for medical reasons.
SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS:
Superintendent Bourque commented on a recent incident where meals were taken from students for non-payment of lunch fees at a school. He complimented the principal on the way he handled the problem. The parent of one of the students remarked about this incident.
Superintendent Bourque complimented teachers and staff on the smooth opening of Acadia Parish Schools. He thanked the Board and media for their support.
At this time, Mr. Quebodeaux stated that on September 28, 2002, Acadia Parish will collect household hazardous wastes and asked high school service organizations for assistance with this public service.
CLOSING:
There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Ms. Valdetero, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
__________________________________
John A. Suire, President
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
Mr. John E. Bourque, Acting Superintendent