CROWLEY, LOUISIANA
SEPTEMBER 13, 2004
1) The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 13th day of September 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) Rev. Jimmy Broussard, DARE officer with the Crowley Police Department, led the prayer. Mr. Tommy Cart, publisher of the Rayne Independent, 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. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the agenda was revised by adding Opening Item 6a (HEAR REPORT OF CIRCLE OF 4-H DAY), Routine Item 9a (CONSIDER APPROVAL OF SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES), and a correction to Routine Item 9 to read (CONSIDER BIDS RECEIVED FOR LEASE OF PROPERTY ON SECTION 32, TOWNSHIP 8 SOUTH, RANGE 1 WEST).
5) Read and approve minutes of the August 2, 2004, Board meeting.
Reading of the minutes of the August 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, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.
6) Recognize Future Farmers of America State President and State Reporter.
Mr. Daigle introduced Future Farmers of America State President, Tyler Landry, and Cade LeJeune, State Reporter. Both addressed the Board briefly. Mr. Daigle mentioned that this was the first time Acadia has had two state-level officers.
6a) Hear report on an upcoming circle of 4-H Day.
A presentation was made by Celly Morris regarding the Circle of 4-H Day to be held at Crowley Middle School on October 9, 2004. Information was provided and an invitation was extended to the Board for this event and other 4-H activities.
At this point, David Broussard, Ag teacher at Midland High School, presented a framed metal etching made with Midland’s new plasma cutter to Superintendent Bourque.
ACTION ITEMS: There were no Action Items.
ROUTINE ITEMS:
1) Consider changing October board meeting to Monday, October 11, 2004.
Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the next Board meeting will be held Monday, October 11, 2004, to allow for the thirty-day advertising period for adopting and rolling forward property taxes for 2004.
Mr. Michael Leonards reviewed the workers’ compensation renewal as recommended to the Personnel/Insurance Committee by consultant, Dwight Collier. Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the workers’ compensation excess insurance coverage as recommended by the Personnel/Insurance Committee was approved.
3) Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding pay scale for para-professionals with an associate degree.
Mrs. Ellan Baggett made a recommendation that para-professionals with specific subjects on their transcripts be granted an $800 pay increment. The pay scale would stay at 230 with the $800 additional increment. She answered questions of the Board. Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a majority voice vote ( Mr. Shamsie opposed), the pay scale for para-professionals with an associate degree will stay at 230 with an additional $800.
4) Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding a process for recruitment of classified personnel.
Mr. Mike Leonards presented two proposals for recruitment of classified employees. Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the proposal from LINK, as recommended by the Personnel/Insurance Committee. Potential new employees for food service and maintenance will be contracted through the LINK Agency for a probationary period.
5) Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding a request to lease property in Church Point.
Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board agreed against leasing property adjacent to Church Point High School as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.
6) Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding a request from Savoy Sword Water System for a water line easement.
Mr. Gerard Caswell, attorney, reviewed a request from Savoy Sword Water System for a water line easement on Section 16, South East of Eunice and indicated that everything was in order. Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote a request from Savoy Sword Water System for a water line easement was approved.
7) Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding the use of GPS Technology for routing and auditing.
Mr. Steve Jones updated the Board on the use of GPS for monitoring transportation services and itinerant employees. Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the use of GPS Technology for routing and auditing at a cost of $3,100 for eight units.
8) Consider resolution authorizing the Louisiana School Board Association to act on behalf of the Acadia Parish School Board regarding negotiating a settlement in the Pipeline Property Tax litigation.
Mr. Gerard Caswell, attorney, recommended that the Acadia Parish School Board not allow LSBA to represent it in the Pipeline Property Tax litigation. He indicated that legislation will eventually resolve this issue. Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board accepted Mr. Caswell’s recommendation.
9) Consider bids received for lease of property on Section 32, Township 8 South, Range 1 West.
Mr. Gerard Caswell will draft a contract for a long-term lease that will include the necessary provisions to lease this property. Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved a bid of $250 per year for a long-term lease from Rev. Roy Kibodeaux of the Welcome House to lease one acre of property on Section 32, Township 8 South, Range 1 West.
9a) Consider approval of substantial completion of construction for Special Education administrative offices.
Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, substantial completion of construction for Special Education administrative offices was approved,
10) Correspondence
Superintendent Bourque made available correspondence from the Department of Education announcing that Church Point Elementary has been identified as a school to highlight at the first annual statewide LINCS Conference for dedication to the LINCS Process and to improving student achievement.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
There were no discussion items.
CONSENT ITEMS:
Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, 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 increase of 18.762% was received.
3) Ms. Kathleen Langlinais, Head Start site supervisor, was granted a leave without pay from September 1, 2004, to September 30, 2004, for medical reasons.
4) Ms. Dorothy St. Julian, Head Start teacher assistant, was granted a leave without pay from September 29, 2004, to August 2005, for medical reasons.
5) Ms. Edna delaHoussaye, resource teacher, was granted a leave without pay from August 2004, to August 2005, for medical reasons.
SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS:
CLOSING:
There being no other business to come before the Board, at 6:14 p.m., upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Vige’, 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