CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

OCTOBER 7, 2002

1)         The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 7^th  day of October 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. 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 Mr. John E. Bourque.  Mr. Nolton J. Senegal was absent.

2&3)    Mr. Rodney 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 adding Routine Item 1a (CONSIDER DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY DUE TO HURRICANE DAMAGE), Routine Item 1b (HEAR REPORT REGARDING FEMA - John Quebodeaux), and Routine 1c (CONSIDER AGREEMENT BETWEEN ACADIA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AND ACADIA PARISH POLICE JURY FOR USE OF 16^TH SECTION PROPERTY), upon motion by Mr. Marceaux, seconded by Mr. Quebodeaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

5)         Read and approve minutes of the September 9, 2002, meeting

            Reading of the minutes of the September 9, 2002, meeting was dispensed with (copies of minutes were sent to each member prior to this meeting) and adopted as submitted, upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

6)         Recognize 2002-2003 Head Start Policy Council members. (Sondra Myers)

            Mrs. Sondra Myers introduced members of the Head Start Policy Council.  Parent representatives are Amanda Kestler, Roxanne Moore, Jennifer Hains, Willie Larry, Natalie Montgomery, Charlotte Cormier, and Twanna Huitt.  Alternate parent representatives are Tabatha Schexnayder, Tessie Guillory, Trinity Red, J. D. Robinson, and Victoria Thompson.  Mr. Charlie Daigle, school board member was named APSB representative.  Community representatives are Dianne Granger, Rose Jacobs, Hilda Charles, and Laurita Pete.

7)         Recognize October as Head Start Awareness Month. (Sondra Myers)

            Mrs. Sondra Myers presented Head Start Awareness Month information.

ACTION ITEMS:

1)         Consider Student Code of Conduct policy revision.

            Revised policy coded JCDA, Student Code of Conduct, from Forethought Consulting, Inc. was distributed to all Board members at last month’s meeting.  Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the revised Student Code of Conduct policy was approved.

ROUTINE ITEM: 

1)         Consider recommendation of the Transportation/Facilities and Budget/Finance Committees regarding bid received for sale of a house in Iota to be moved.

            The only bid received for a house in Iota to be moved was from Joseph Clement, Sr.,  in the amount of $4,000.  Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Bellon, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board accepted Mr. Clement’s bid in the amount of $4,000 with the contingency that the house is removed within 60 days.

1a)       Consider declaration of an emergency due to hurricane damage.

            Mr. Quebodeaux motioned and Ms. Valdetero seconded to declare a state of emergency for the Acadia Parish School Board system due to hurricane damage and to authorize Superintendent Bourque to take necessary measures to get schools repaired and reopened.  There was discussion regarding when to make up missed school days.  The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote.

            Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Item 1a 1 (CONSIDER HIRING MR. BILL ACKAL, ARCHITECT, AS A CONSULTANT TO OVERSEE REPAIRS TO FACILITIES) was added to the agenda.

1a 1)    Consider hiring Mr. Bill Ackal, architect, as a consultant to oversee repairs to schools.

            Mr. Shamsie motioned and Dr. McManus seconded to hire Mr. Bill Ackal as a consultant on an hourly basis.  An amendment to the main motion was offered by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Pinac, to follow the State fee curve for an hourly rate not to exceed $95 per hour.  The motion as amended passed by a unanimous voice vote.

1b)       Hear report regarding FEMA. (John Quebodeaux)

            Mr. Quebodeaux commended several key employees of the APSB for their help in the crisis of Hurricane Lili.  He reported that FEMA will reimburse non insured costs up to 75%.  Mr. Bourque  addressed the Board regarding existing insurance coverage and potential FEMA funding.  He introduced a claims adjustor from Zurich and a representative of BELFOR, a construction company.  Detailed estimates should be available by next Monday (October 14, 2002).  The general contractor and insurance adjustor answered questions of the Board.

1c)       Consider agreement between Acadia Parish School Board and Acadia Parish Policy Jury for use of Section 16 property.

            Mr. Bourque relayed a request from the Acadia Parish Policy Jury for locations to stack and burn trees and branches (result of Hurricane Lili).  Mr. Leonards identified four locations presently available for this purpose.  Only branches and trees will be hauled to these locations, construction debris will not be allowed at Section 16 locations.

            Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried by a majority voice vote.  (Mr. Shamsie opposed), the Board approved four Section 16 locations (southeast of Eunice, west of Iota, near Evangeline, and south of Crowley in Lyons Point) to be used to burn trees and branches damaged as a result of Hurricane Lili.   

2)         Consider recommendations of the Personnel/Insurance and Budget/Finance Committees regarding placement of new classified employees.

            Superintendent Bourque reported that Mrs. Barbara Latiola, Media Center Secretary II for Mrs. Robbins, and Ms. Karen Hanks, Title I Program Secretary I, were currently cross-training and in order to follow Board policy will be located in their respective positions within the next two weeks.   Mr. Johnson motioned and Mr. Pinac seconded to approve the recommendations of the committees.  At this point, this item was postponed until information could be copied and distributed at this meeting.   After copies of the recommended placements were distributed, the main motion passed by a unanimous voice vote.

3)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding refinancing of Church Point bonds issued in 1993.

            Mr. Jerry Osborne, bonding attorney, addressed the Board regarding advance refunding of $2,280,000 of the Series 1993 outstanding bonds for the Church Point bonding district.  Mr. Osborne presented potential savings over the remaining ten years.  He then answered questions of the Board.

            Upon motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Vige’ and carried by a roll call vote of 15 to 0,  a resolution giving preliminary approval to the issuance of not to exceed Two Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($2,250,000) of General Obligation School refunding Bonds, Series 2002, of Church Point School District Number 6 of Acadia Parish, Louisiana was approved.

            YEA:          Johnson, Pinac, Valdetero, Bias, Marceaux, Suire, Shamsie, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Smith, Daigle, Vige’, McManus, Bellon

            NAY:         None

            ABSENT:  Senegal

4)         Consider resolution proclaiming October as CHILDNET/Child Search Month in Acadia Parish. (Esther Trahan)

            Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Bellon, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, October was proclaimed CHILDNET/Child Search Month in Acadia Parish.

5)         Receive preliminary October 1 MFP count. (Glynn Mayard).

            Mr. Glenn Mayard presented preliminary October 1 enrollment for October 1, 2002, along with enrollment trends for the past several years.  The present estimate is 9,498 students, down 87 from last year.       

6)         Consider change order for classroom construction in Estherwood.

            Superintendent Bourque indicated the need to approve a change order for classrooms in Estherwood.  Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the change order in an increase of $9,927.37 for classrooms in Estherwood to be paid with Fifth Ward maintenance funds.

7)         Consider request from Dr. Laval S. Wilson for reimbursement of interview expenses.

            Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Dr. Laval S. Wilson will be notified by letter that his request for reimbursement of interview expenses in the amount of $542.66 was declined by the Board.

8)         Consider request for an attendance appeal from Mr. and Mrs. David Sonnier.

            Upon motion by Mr. Pinac, seconded by Mr. Marceaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board went into an executive session to consider an attendance appeal at the request of Mr. and Mrs. David Sonnier.

            Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Ms. Valdetero, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board reconvened.

            Upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Mr. Bellon, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, decision made in the attendance hearing was upheld.

9)         Correspondence

            Board members received copies of correspondence from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) regarding an on-site review of the Acadia Parish School Board Head Start Program; Child Care Advocacy Newsletter reporting progress for Head Start children; information of APSB coverage with North American Solutions a public school insurance and risk management and property/casualty program; and an article from Mr. Bourque titled The Price of Success.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1)         Discuss recommendation of the Transportation/Facilities and Budget/Finance Committees regarding procedure for placement on the APSB pay scale of new classified employees.

            Mr. Bourque suggested a change in policy with salaries to be stated in advertisements for positions.  Years of experience would only apply to years of service with Acadia Parish School Board.  All others would enter at zero (0) years on the pay scale.  Suggestions were made to increase salaries but not all years, eliminate appearance of politics, develop something easy to understand, and have the same for all.  There was discussion regarding the procedure used when advertising for positions.  Mr. Bourque will present a proposed policy to the Personnel/Insurance and Budget/Finance Committees.  Mr. Caswell will review the legalities of advertising for classified positions and salary tables.

CONSENT ITEMS:

              Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Pinac, 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 53.11%.

3)          Granted a request to Sharon J. Knight, teacher, Crowley Middle School, for sabbatical leave for the 2002-03 Spring semester and 2003-04 Fall semester, for professional development.

4)          Granted a request to Paula A. Bellard, cafeteria, Church Point Elementary, for maternity leave from 9-5-02 through 9-12-02 (6 days).

SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS:

              Superintendent Bourque commented on the cooperation he received from the Board and staff during Hurricane Lili.  Special commendation went to the principals, Steve Jones, John Miller, and John Quebodeaux.  A decision will be made by noon Tuesday, if schools in Acadia Parish will be in session Wednesday.  Fifth Ward schools will have school beginning October 8.

CLOSING:

              There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned.

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John A. Suire, President

ATTEST:

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Mr. John E. Bourque, Superintendent