CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

AUGUST 4, 2003

 

1)         The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 4th day of August 2003, at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session, with President John Quebodeaux presiding.  Members present were Mrs. Ezora J. Proctor, Mr. Lyle C. Johnson, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. Roland J. Boudreaux, Mr. Shirley Vige’, Dr. Robert L. McManus, and Superintendent John E. Bourque, Secretary-Treasurer.  Mr. Gene Daigle was absent.

 

2&3)    Mrs. Ezora Proctor introduced Reverend Joseph Vincent, assistant pastor at Gum Point Pentecostal Church in Branch and a local attorney, who led the prayer, and Tylerton Clement, a sixth grade, honor roll, student at Crowley Middle School, who led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

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

            Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mrs. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the agenda was revised by adding Routine Item 10a (CONSIDER EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING WORKERS COMPENSATION CASE OF MARY ARCENEAUX, vs APSB, DOCKET NO: 02-05573, DISTRICT 4), Consent Item 6 (CONSIDER REQUEST FROM SHARON C. MILLER, TEACHER, CROWLEY HIGH, FOR LEAVE WITHOUT PAY FROM AUGUST 12, 2003, TO MAY 28, 2004), and Consent Item 7 (CONSIDER REQUEST FROM PAMELA CORRIGAN, TEACHER, NORTH CROWLEY ELEMENTARY, TO WAIVE REQUIREMENTS TO RETURN TO WORK AFTER SABBATICAL LEAVE).

 

5)         Read and approve minutes of the July 7, 2003, meeting.

            Reading of the minutes of the July 7, 2003, meeting was dispensed with (copies of minutes were sent to each member prior to this meeting) and adopted as submitted, upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mrs. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

 

ACTION ITEMS:     

 

1)         Consider sales tax collection procedures and reporting.

            Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a roll call vote of 5 to 1, the sales tax department will prepare a sales tax collection report, effective September 1, 2003, reflecting names, amounts, and number of currently pending suits filed and all judgements obtained in the last six years, and, thereafter, sales tax collection reports will be prepared quarterly for any suits added, and annually showing the total number and amount of delinquent sales tax accounts owed.

 

YEA:          Proctor, Johnson, Boudreaux, Vige’, McManus

NAY:         Shamsie

ABSENT:  Daigle

 

2)         Consider the possibility of merging committees or having two board meetings per month.

            Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the possibility of merging committees or having two board meetings per month was tabled.

 

ROUTINE ITEMS:

 

1)         Consider authorizing the Superintendent to advertise for Principal at Alternative School.

            Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a roll call vote of 4 to 2, the Superintendent was authorized to advertise for Principal at the Alternative School (ten month position, index of 1.37).

 

YEA:          Proctor, Shamsie, Vige’, McManus

NAY:         Johnson, Boudreaux

ABSENT:  Daigle

 

2)         Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding property near South Rayne Elementary.

            Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board accepted the Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation and agreed to not sell property near South Rayne Elementary was seconded by Dr. McManus and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

 

3)         Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding a request from Mrs. Ruth Petry, principal at Rayne High School, to purchase student ID card equipment and software.

            Mr. Vige’ motioned and Mrs. Proctor seconded to grant Mrs. Ruth Petry’s request to purchase student ID card equipment and software for Rayne High School using available funds of approximately $5,100.00.  After ample discussion, question was called by Mrs. Proctor and passed by a unanimous voice vote.  The main motion carried by a unanimous voice vote and Mrs. Petry’s request was granted.

 

4)         Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding final budget revisions for 2002-03.

            Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote,  final budget revisions for 2002-03 were approved as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

 

5)         Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding budget for board members’ travel.

            Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by roll call vote of 4 to 2, the Board accepted the Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation and policy regarding budget for board members’ travel will remain unchanged (total yearly amount of $6,000 limited to $750 per member).

 

YEA:          Proctor, Johnson, Vige’, McManus

NAY:         Shamsie, Boudreaux

ABSENT:  Daigle  

 

6)         Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding adoption of budgets for 2003-04.

             The 2003-04 beginning fund balance was approximately nine million dollars.  The projected deficit for 2003-04 is $3,782,970.  This will leave a fund balance of approximately five million dollars.  Mr. Johnson requested that the budget projections report extend a few more years.

            Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board adopted budgets for 2003-04 as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

 

7)         Hear an update on status of a water tower site near Evangeline.

            Mr. Gerard Caswell, attorney, stated that negotiations are in progress for the water tower site near Evangeline.

 

8)         Consider Head Start Policy Council as School Board Community Representatives.

 

            Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote,  the following persons were approved to serve on the Head Start Policy Council as School Board Community Representatives as recommended by Mrs. Sondra Myers.

 

Board Member:                                    Mr. Lynn Shamsie

Health Area:                                          Rose Jacobs, Retired Registered Nurse

Education Area:                                     Laurita Pete, Retired School Teacher

Business/Community Person:                 Diane Granger, Rayne Community Co-Coordinator B Hope Center Homeless Shelter for Men

Alternate -- Former Parent:                   J. D. Robinson, Ross Parent from 2002-03 year

 

9)         Consider distribution of state pay and supplement for support personnel.

            Mr. Mike Leonards explained the proposed process to implement a state funded (MFP) pay supplement of $476 for support personnel.  A footnote will be added to the salary schedule to read ”r;plus $476 to be paid in equal monthly installments, prorated for part-time positions.” 

            Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved distribution of a state-funded pay supplement of $476 for support personnel, to be paid in equal monthly installments, prorated for part-time positions, and added to the salary schedule as a footnote.

 

10)       Consider changing September 1, (Labor Day) board meeting date to Monday, September 8, 2003.

            Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mrs. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the September board meeting will be held on Monday, September 8, 2003, instead of September 1, which is Labor Day.

 

10a)     Consider executive session to discuss pending workers compensation case of Mary Arceneaux, vs APSB, Docket No: 02-05573, District 4.

            At 6:00 p.m., upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board went into executive session to discuss pending workers compensation case of Mary Arceneaux.

            At 6:14 p.m., upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mrs. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board reconvened into regular session.

            Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board accepted Mr. Caswell’s recommendation regarding pending workers compensation case of Mary Arceneaux, vs APSB, Docket No: 02-05573, District 4.

 

11)       Correspondence

            Superintendent Bourque commented about correspondence from LSBA regarding school board member training.            

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

 

1)         Discuss Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation for a uniform definition of a ’r;teacher’ in Acadia Parish.

            Superintendent Bourque presented several definitions of a ’r;classroom teacher’ as defined by the state.  Definitions seem to be inclusive.  Board members also received a chart showing all employees whose compensation is tied to the teacher pay scale.  This matter was referred back to the Personnel/Insurance Committee for reconsideration at its meeting, August 20, 2003.  Mrs. Proctor pledged to work with Mr. Leonards and Mrs. Baggett to further define ’r;classroom teacher’ for the Board’s consideration in September.

 

2)         Discuss Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation for policy regarding the process to follow when adopting any changes to the policy manual.

            Mrs. Proctor reviewed the process this Board uses when adopting changes to the policy manual, although this process has never been put in writing in the policy manual.  The Personnel/Insurance Committee recommended that the Board adopt the current process as a policy change and include it in the policy manual.  This recommendation will be an Action Item at next month’s meeting.

 

CONSENT ITEMS:

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a majority voice vote (Mr. Boudreaux opposed), the Board took the following action on consent items:

 

1)         Approved  new assignments and changes of professional employees as submitted.

2)         Received sales tax report showing a year-to-date decrease of 20.08%.

3)         Approved request to rescind APSB approved sabbatical leave for Bart Thibodeaux for the 2003-04 school year.

4)         Approved request from Thera Guidry, teacher aide, Ross head Start, for maternity leave from September 16, 2003, through October 28, 2003.

5)         Approved request from Alma C. Bieber, teacher, Central Rayne Kindergarten, for sabbatical leave for the 2003-04 Fall Semester for medical reasons.

6)         Approved request from Sharon C. Miller, teacher, Crowley High, for leave without pay from August 12, 2003, to May 28, 2004.

7)         After some discussion and hearing doctors’ recommendations, the Board approved, due to medical reasons, a request from Pamela Corrigan, teacher, North Crowley Elementary, to waive requirements to return to work after sabbatical leave.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS:

 

            Superintendent Bourque stated that Acadia Parish is experiencing better retention of new teachers.  From May to August of last year 93 new teachers were hired, from March to August this year 34 new teachers were hired.  There were 64 uncertified teachers in Acadia Parish last year and now there are 34.

 

CLOSING:

 

            There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mrs. Proctor,  seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 6:48 p.m.

______________________________

John H. Quebodeaux, President

ATTEST:_____________________________________

Mr. John E. Bourque, Superintendent