CROWLEY, LOUISIANA
MARCH 1, 2004
1) The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 1st day of March 2004, 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.
2&3) Ministering Evangelist Larry Guidry, Sr., pastor of Crowley Church of Christ, led the prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Larry Guidry, Jr., a tenth grade honor student at Crowley High School.
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 vote, discussion items were moved to be addressed immediately following opening items.
5) Read and approve minutes of the February 2, 2004, meeting.
Reading of the minutes of the February 2, 2004, meeting was dispensed with (copies of minutes were sent to each member prior to this meeting) and adopted as submitted, upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, and seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.
6) Recognize 2003-04 Student of the Year winners.
Mr. Cal Simar presented awards to Acadia Parish Students of the Year to Derek M. Regan, a fifth grade student at Egan Elementary School, Amber J. Pete, an eighth grade student at Egan Elementary School, and Lauren Judice, a twelfth grade student at Rayne High School.
7) Hear information regarding the fluoridation of Crowley’s municipal water supply.
Dr. John Taylor, a local dentist, addressed the Board and presented information on the issue of fluoridation of Crowley’s municipal water supply. He then answered questions.
DISCUSSION ITEMS: Taken out of order.
1) Hear concerns of employees regarding a permanent solution to employee compensation.
Teachers, other employees, and parents addressed the Board and submitted a petition signed by over 1,000 employees. The petition asked school board members to place a proposition for sales tax on a ballot for July 17, 2004, for permanent funding to supplement salaries and benefits of APSB teachers and other employees. Since timing of the election was a concern, Mrs. Proctor suggested that a special session be held on March 17 to address this request.
Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a roll call vote of 6 to 1, Discussion Item 1a (CONSIDER CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION ON MARCH 17, 2004, TO DISCUSS CALLING AN ELECTION ON JULY 17, 2004, TO PLACE A PROPOSITION FOR SALES TAX ON THE BALLOT) was added to the agenda.
YEA: Proctor, Johnson, Shamsie, Boudreaux, Daigle, McManus
NAY: Vige’
1a) Discuss calling a Special Session on March 17, 2004, to discuss calling an election on July 17, 2004, to place a proposition for sales tax on the Ballot.
President Quebodeaux and Superintendent Bourque briefly addressed the audience, citing the need to move cautiously on this matter. Concerns were heard from some in the audience and from Board members. Consider placing a proposition for a 1/2% sales tax election on the ballot for July 17, 2004, will be the only item on the March 17, 2004, Special Session agenda.
At 6:31 p.m., upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board recessed for a five minute break.
At 6:37 p.m., upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mrs. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board reconvened into regular session.
2) Discuss current policy regarding field trip transportation.
Mr. Ronnie Chaumont presented proposed changes to the field trip transportation rates as requested by bus drivers and school administrators. New policy outlines the maximum amount a school may pay for school bus transportation. Lower rates may be negotiated and it may be possible to use school activity buses for field trips. In town field trips will be assessed a flat fee of $60.00 (no mileage) plus a fee of $15.00 for each additional stop after the first destination. Out of town trips will be assessed a flat fee of $60.00 and $1.75 per mile plus a $15.00 stop fee for each additional stop after the first destination. This will be an action item in April.
1) Consider revisions to the student assignment policy.
Mr. Cal Simar explained proposed revisions to the student assignment policy, which were discussed at last month’s meeting. Student assignment and the transfer policy are unrelated. Currently, student assignment is based on ”r;physical custody” determined by a notarized affidavit (some hand written) which states that the child resides with somebody in the school district. The new policy will require ”r;legal custody” obtained by legal court action. Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, revisions to the student assignment policy were approved.
2) Consider policy revisions relating to legislative acts passed during the 2003 session.
Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, policy revisions relating to legislative acts passed during the 2003 session were approved.
ROUTINE ITEMS:
1) Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for Assistant Principal at Rayne High School.
There were two applicants for the position of Assistant Principal at Rayne High School. Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Mr. Robert Allen was named Assistant Principal at Rayne High School, beginning March 8, 2004, through June 30, 2006, as recommended by Superintendent Bourque.
2) Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for two bus drivers for routes south of Crowley.
Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Ms. Gloria Henderson and Mr. Adam W. Cormier were appointed as bus drivers for routes south of Crowley, as recommended by Superintendent Bourque.
3) Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding an insurance consultant.
Mr. Mike Leonards indicated possible changes in APSB’s arrangement with Dwight Collier, insurance consultant. Mr. Collier was unable to obtain the professional liability insurance requested, although he will still be able to assist with preparing RFP and helping secure coverage. Benefits of this modified agreement, an annual cost of $6,000 for the first year and $3,000 for each of the next two years, was discussed.
Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a roll call vote of 4 to 3, Mr. Dwight Collier was retained as insurance consultant under the modified terms.
YEA: Proctor, Boudreaux, Daigle, McManus
NAY: Johnson, Shamsie, Vige’
4) Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding Head Start budget application for 2004-05.
Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Head Start budget application for 2004-05 was approved, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.
5) Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding midyear budget revisions.
Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, midyear budget revisions were approved, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.
6) Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding H&H Disposal’s request to assume an existing garbage collection contract.
Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, H&H Disposal’s request to assume an existing garbage collection contract was tabled until the April meeting. Mr. Guillory will retain operations, during this time.
7) Consider relocation of special education administrative offices to the Acadia Parish Educational Center.
Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board granted permission to begin the process of drawing up plans and getting bids to relocate special education administrative offices to the Acadia Parish Educational Center.
8) Hear a report on increased retirement rates for 2004-05.
Mr. Mike Leonards presented cost estimates for anticipated increase in retirement rates for 2004-05. Based on this information, retirement cost to the General Fund will increase by approximately $1,285,000 for next year.
9) Hear an update on a water tower site lease with Egan Water Corporation.
Mr. Gerard Caswell, attorney, updated the Board on a one acre water tower site lease with Egan Water Corporation. The site has been surveyed and a plat is available to identify the location. The ten-year long term lease (meets with state laws) of $500 per year for the first five years, then the amount increases by $50 per year for each successive five-year period. Without any formality, at the end of the ten-year period, the lease can be extended for a period of 30 years for a total of 40 years. Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Superintendent Bourque was authorized to sign on behalf of the Acadia Parish School Board for the purpose of leasing a one acre water tower site to Egan Water Corporation under the terms stated above.
10) Consider going into an executive session to hear an expulsion appeal from a Rayne High School student.
Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, this matter was deleted from the agenda and will be considered next month (April).
11) Consider going into an executive session to hear an expulsion appeal from a Crowley High School student.
At 7:15 p.m., upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board went into executive session to hear an expulsion appeal from a Crowley High School student.
At 8:10 p.m., upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board reconvened into regular session.
Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent’s recommendation for expulsion was upheld.
12) Correspondence
Superintendent Bourque reported that School Accountability Rewards for Acadia Parish of $183,000 will be awarded to sixteen schools based on their academic performance.
DISCUSSION ITEMS: Discussion items were taken out of order, before Action Items, at the beginning of this meeting.
CONSENT ITEMS:
Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mrs. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the following action was taken:
1) New assignments and changes of professional employees were approved as submitted.
2) The monthly sales tax report showing a year-to-date decrease of -27.06% was received.
3) Ms. Kathleen Hayes, cafeteria technician, Crowley Middle School, was granted a leave without pay for medical reasons.
SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS:
Superintendent Bourque announced the completion of Blackboard Programs for administrators. Mr. Steve Jones resolved a utility billing error at Rayne High School. President Quebodeaux reminded the Board of the upcoming LSBA Convention in Lafayette.
CLOSING:
There being no other business to come before the Board, at 8:14 p.m., upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Daigle, 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