CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

SEPTEMBER 8, 2003

1)         The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 8^th day of September 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. Gene Daigle, Mr. Shirley Vige’, Dr. Robert L. McManus, and Superintendent John E. Bourque, Secretary-Treasurer.

The Board attorney, Mr. Gerard Caswell was absent.

2&3)    Mrs. Ezora Proctor introduced Reverend Keith Matthews, pastor of the Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church, who led the prayer, and Renee’ Broussard, Kei’ Andrea Onezine, and Chyna Young, fifth grade students at Ross Elementary, who led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and carried by a unanimous voice, the agenda was approved as submitted.

5)         Read and approve minutes of the August 4, 2003, meeting.

Reading of the minutes of the August 4, 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. Shamsie, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

6)         Recognize Outstanding Support Employees of the Year.

Mrs. Ellan Baggett introduced 2003 Outstanding Support Employees of the Year representing all APSB schools and presented each a certificate of appreciation.  Overall winners were Ms. Tammy Fontenot from Midland High School, Ms. Patricia Jones from Egan Elementary, and Ms. Connie Trahan from Iota Middle School.  President Quebodeaux thanked support employees for their dedication and good work.

ACTION ITEMS:     

1)         Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding the definition of ’r;classroom teacher’ in Acadia Parish.

Superintendent Bourque presented the definition of ’r;teacher’ from the Louisiana Accounting and Uniform Governmental Handbook Bulletin 1929, Category #112, as an acceptable definition of  a ’r;classroom teacher’ in Acadia Parish and provided a list of APSB employee positions whose pay is currently tied to the parish teacher pay scale.

LOUISIANA ACCOUNTING AND UNIFORM GOVERNMENT HANDBOOK BULLETIN 1929

CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES AND OTHER USES OF FUNDS

111            Officials/Administrators/Managers - These are occupations requiring administrative personnel who set broad policies, exercise overall responsibility for execution of these policies, or direct individual departments or special phases of the school system.  Included in this category are superintendents of schools; assistant, deputy and associate superintendents’ instructional coordinators, supervisors and directors’ principals and assistant principals; and school business officials.

*    112            Teachers - Staff members assigned the professional activities of instructing pupils in courses in classroom situations for which daily-pupil attendance figures for the school system are kept.  Included in this category are music, band, physical education, home economics, librarians, special education, etc.

113            Therapists/Specialists/Counselors - Staff members responsible for teaching or advising pupils with regard to their abilities and aptitudes, educational and occupational opportunities, personal and social adjustments.  Included in this category are speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, assessment teachers/diagnosticians, and instructional specialists.

POSITIONS TIED TO THE ACADIA TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE

CENTRAL OFFICE         SCHOOL LEVEL            PUPIL APPRAISAL       

Executive Director             Teacher (  9 month)           Speech Coordinator/Facilitator

Supervisor                         Teacher (10 month)           Speech Pathologist

Coordinator                       Teacher (11 month)           School Psychologist

Facilitator                          Teacher (12 month)           Social Worker

Helping Teacher                Teacher (French)               Occupational Therapist

Accountant                        Teacher (P.E.)                   Assistant Tech. Strategist

                                          Teacher (Speech)               Ed. Diagnostician

                                          Librarian                            Pupil Appraisal Facilitator

                                          Counselor (9 month)           Audiologist

                                          Counselor (92 month)         Behavioral Strategist

                                          Disciplinarian                      Teacher Training Facilitator

                                          Instructional Assistant         Transition Facilitator

                                          Assistant Principal               Child Search Coordinator/Facilitator

                                          Principal                              Nurse

Dr. McManus motioned and Mr. Vige’ seconded to approve the definition of a ’r;classroom teacher’ as stated in Category 112.

After much discussion, a motion to table until further notice, was offered by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

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

The Personnel/Insurance Committee recommended the following changes to policy regarding the process to follow when adopting changes to the policy manual.

Delete:  ”r;A policy recommended to the Board shall not be adopted until a subsequent meeting.”

Add:     ”r;Any proposed change to the policy manual must first be placed on the Board meeting agenda as a ”r;Discussion” item, to become an ”r;Action” item the following month.”

Mrs. Proctor motioned and Dr. McManus seconded to accept the Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation for revision to policy adoption.  A substitute motion to accept the recommended revisions and also change policy to require a simple majority of the entire membership of the Board to adopt policy changes (instead of a simple majority vote of the Board members present and voting),   was offered by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, carried by a unanimous voice vote.

ROUTINE ITEMS:

1)         Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for Principal at Alternative School.

Superintendent Bourque reported that there were three applicants for Principal of Alternative School.  He recommended Mr. James C. Young for the position.  Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a majority voice vote (Mr. Boudreaux and Mr. Daigle opposed), Mr. Young was appointed Principal of the APSB Alternative School.  President Quebodeaux congratulated Mr. Young on behalf of the Board.  Mr. Young thanked Board members for their support and invited them to visit the Alternative school at any time.

Mrs. Proctor stated that she and her husband, Rev. James Proctor, adopted the Alternative School, this being the third year.  They work with the principal and feel that there is a great need for the community to be involved with the school.

2)         Consider redistribution of teachers’ signing incentive.

Superintendent Bourque presented the following recommendation regarding timing of teachers signing incentive.  Mr. Johnson motioned and Mrs. Proctor seconded to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation.  A substitute motion to pay the entire $1,000 on September 19, 2003, was offered by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and failed by a roll call vote of 4 to 3.

YEA:    Johnson, Shamsie, Daigle

NAY:   Proctor, Boudreaux, Vige’, McManus

The main motion to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation for redistribution of teachers’ signing incentive as presented, passed by a roll call vote of 5 to 2

YEA:    Proctor, Johnson, Shamsie, Boudreaux, Daigle

NAY:   Vige’, McManus

●    Pay $500* on September 19, 2003, to all ”r;eligible persons” employed as of September 9, 2003.

●    No pro-ration of this first half of the signing incentive for ”r;eligible persons” employed after September 9, 2003.

●    The second $500* signing incentive to be paid on June 2, 2004, subject to ”r;eligible persons” completing the entire second semester (through May 28, 2004).  Persons hired after September 9, 2003, would be eligible for this payment, up to the maximum of $500.  Payment will be pro-rated for the number of days worked, if less than the entire second semester, which begins January 12, 2004.

●    ”r;Eligible persons” are those who received the signing incentive and 13^th paycheck last year (2002-2003), EXCEPT for administrators at the level of assistant principal and above (those with an index of 1.33 or higher).

*adjusted for those who work less than full time

3)         Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding a Crisis Management Plan.

Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, a Crisis Management Plan for computers was adopted by the Board as recommended by the Personnel/Insurance Committee.

                      HURRICANE PRECAUTIONS FOR COMPUTERS

1.     Make backups of all vital files - tape, CD-ROM, or diskette.

2.     Unplug computers, servers, printers, switches, and other equipment.

3.     Move equipment away from windows and off of the floor.

4.     Cover equipment with heavy duty plastic sheeting.

4)         Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding CAPS Program.

Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved implementation of CAPS using existing funds as recommended by the Personnel/Insurance Committee.  A budget revision is required to create a new line-item for CAPS and to reduce each of the other categories accordingly.  

5)         Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding Student Drug Policy.

Generally, expelled students must remain out of school for twelve months before re-enrolling.  There is a provision, however, subject to certain conditions, to readmit a student prior to the normal timeline.  If permitted, the principal and CWA supervisor could review each case individually to consider early readmission.  Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, this update to the APSB Student Drug Policy was adopted as recommended by the Personnel/Insurance Committee.

6)         Consider a request from Mrs. Sandra Doguet, principal, Church Point Elementary, to lease a copier.

Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Mrs. Sandra Doguet, principal, Church Point Elementary, was granted permission to lease two Panasonic Digital Copiers (office and library) using school general funds at a rate of $447.67 per month for 36 months.

7)         Consider a request from Mrs. Antoinette Pete, principal, Crowley Middle, to lease a copier.

Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Mrs. Antoinette Pete, principal, Crowley Middle School, was granted permission to lease a Xerox copier for one year using school general funds at $128.68 per month.

8)         Consider a request from Mr. Marshall Thibodeaux, principal, Armstrong Middle, to purchase student ID equipment.

Donation of student ID equipment to Armstrong Middle School from the AMS PTO was approved, upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote. 

9)         Hear a report on Summer School Program.

Ms. Dianna Guidry presented results of the 2003 Summer remediation program, showing much improved performance over last year.  She answered questions and will supply board members with additional requested information at a subsequent meeting.

10)       Hear an update on bond refinancing.

Mr. Mike Leonards informed the Board that due to rising interest rates, it is not feasible to proceed with refinancing outstanding bonds for Fifth Ward and Church Point districts.  He will keep monitoring interest rates in case refinancing becomes a possibility.

11)       Hear an update on a water tower lease near Evangeline (Egan Water District).

Mr. Mike Leonards indicated that Mr. Gerard Caswell, board attorney, forwarded a draft of a proposed contract to Egan Water Cooperation for their consideration.  An initial lease of $500 per year for a one acre tract, with slight increases in rent over the long term was proposed.  A response has not yet been received from the Egan Water Cooperation. 

12)       Review long-term financial projections for the general fund.

Mr. Mike Leonards presented general fund budget projections through 2007-08.  Deficits continue.  Enrollment is expected to level off, but MFP funding remains the largest variable.  The Board briefly reviewed and discussed these future budget estimates.

13)       Correspondence

Superintendent Bourque referred to correspondence received from the National School Board Association  encouraging the APSB to reinstate its membership.  He also received a letter notifying him that Verna Richard, teacher, Church Point High School, was selected to receive a $2,500 Jordan Fundamental Grant. 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:         There were no discussion items.

CONSENT ITEMS:

1)         Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, new assignments and changes of professional employees were approved as submitted.

2)         Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the monthly sales tax report showing a year-to-date decrease of 18.71% was received.

3)         Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved a request from Mrs. Sarah Habetz, teacher, Mermentau and Estherwood, for sabbatical leave for the 2003-04 Spring Semester for medical reasons.

4)         Upon motion by Dr. McManus, and seconded by Mr. Shamsie, a request from Mrs. Sondra Myers, Head Start Director, for one staff person and one parent to attend the National Head Start Parent Training Conference in Puerto Rico in December failed by a roll call vote of 6 to 1.

YEA:        Daigle

NAY:       Proctor, Johnson, Shamsie, Boudreaux, Vige’, McManus

SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS:

Superintendent Bourque invited Board members to attend a classroom technology integration designed for APSB administrators.  He reported that the EEF Tobacco funds have been released.  He also thanked the Board for reconsidering the signing incentive distribution.

President Quebodeaux stated that in the case of the signing incentive in November 2002, the Board did not make its intent clear.  He stressed, to the Board, that motions should be clarified before votes are cast.  If Mr. Leonards, Mrs. Matte, or Mr. Bourque have any doubts, when compiling the minutes, then the matter should be clarified at the next meeting, before becoming part of the official minutes.  

CLOSING:

There being no other business to come before the Board, at 6:37 p.m., upon motion by Mrs. Proctor,  seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned.

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John H. Quebodeaux, President

ATTEST:

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Mr. John E. Bourque, Superintendent