CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

OCTOBER 11, 2004

 

1)         The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 11th  day of October 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)    Evangelist Lucille Woodard, a member of the Believers’ Christian Church in Rayne, led the prayer.  Keisha Ali, a third grade student at South Crowley, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

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

Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the agenda was revised by deleting Routine Item 5 (CONSIDER APPROVAL OF HEAD START TRIENNIAL COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT), and Routine Item 6 (CONSIDER APPROVAL OF REFUNDING APPLICATION PROCESS FOR 2005-06), adding Routine Item 12a (CONSIDER BUDGET/FINANCE COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION REGARDING UNRESTRICTED DONATION FROM CHURCH POINT ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB), Routine Item 5 (CONSIDER BUDGET/FINANCE COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION REGARDING ANNUAL RENEWAL OF LEASES FOR HEAD START FACILITIES IN CHURCH POINT AND RAYNE), Routine Item 6 (CONSIDER AUTHORIZING SUPERINTENDENT TO ADVERTISE FOR RAYNE AREA BUS ROUTE), and Routine Item 13a (CONSIDER GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING WORKERS COMPENSATION CASE OF WAYNE MIGUES).  Routine Item 1 (CONSIDER APPROVAL OF SUPERINTENDENT’S CONTRACT) was moved to Routine Item 12b and Routine Item 5a (CONSIDER RESIGNATION OF RENE RICHARD A BUS DRIVER IN THE RAYNE AREA)was added, upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

 

5)         Read and approve minutes of the September 13, 2004, meeting.

Reading of the minutes of the September 13, 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 Policy Council members and officers for Head Start Awareness.

Mrs. Sondra Myers briefed the Board on Head Start activities and introduced Policy Council members.

 

7)         Recognize Mr. Lee Perry Roy with the Council on Aging.

Mr. Jim Reed addressed the Board in lieu of Mr. Lee Perry Roy.  He mentioned a 1.5 mill property tax on the upcoming November election.  Funding would be used primarily for transportation and housekeeping in the under-served elderly in Acadia Parish.

 

ACTION ITEMS:      There were no Action Items.

 

ROUTINE ITEMS:

 

1)         Consider approval of Superintendent’s contract.

This item was moved to Routine Item 12b.

 

2)         Review and adopt System Survey and Compliance Questionnaire.

Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board adopted the System Survey and Compliance Questionnaire.

 

3)         Adopt the adjusted millage rates for tax year 2004.

Mr. Michael Leonards explained that this is a reassessment year.  Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, adjusted millage rates for tax year 2004 were adopted.

 

                                                                 RESOLUTION

 

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Acadia Parish School Board that after a public hearing held on the 11th day of October 2004, and conducted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law, the following adjusted millage rates, be and they are hereby levied upon the dollar of the assessed valuation of the property subject to ad valorem taxation within the boundaries of the Acadia Parish School Board for the year 2004 for the purpose of raising revenue, to wit:

 

                                                             2004 Adjusted Millage

Constitutional                              5.05

School Maintenance                    4.92

Special School Tax                    14.75

Fifth Ward Maintenance             12.93

 

The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes:

 

YEAS:                         8

NAYS:                        0

ABSTAINED:             0

ABSENT:                    0

 

4)         Adopt the adjusted millage rates after reassessment and roll forward the millage rates not to exceed prior year’s maximum millage for tax year 2004.

Mr. Leonards explained that two actions are required. First the Board must accept the millages as adjusted by the tax assessor, then move to roll forward the millages to last year’s rate, and also adopt millages for debt service funds.  Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board adopted adjusted millage rates after reassessment, rolled forward the millage rates not to exceed prior year’s maximum for tax year 2004, and adopted millages for debt service funds.

 

                                                                 RESOLUTION

                                                                 (Rolling Forward)

 

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Acadia Parish School Board that after a public hearing held on the 11th day of October 2004, and conducted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law, it does hereby increase the millage rates, not in excess of the prior year’s (2003) maximum millage rates on all property subject to taxation, shown on the official assessment roll for the year 2004, and when collected, the revenues from said taxes shall be used only for the specific purposes for which said taxes have been levied, said millage rates are as follows:

 

Adjusted Rate        2004 Levy

Constitutional                              5.05                      5.14

School Maintenance                    4.92                      5.01

Special School Tax                    14.75                    15.02

Fifth Ward Maintenance            12.93                     13.45    

Debt Service:

Church Point                                                            26.30

Fifth Ward                                                               18.90

Iota                                                                            3.40    

 

The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes:

 

YEAS:                          8

NAYS:                         0

ABSTAINED:              0

ABSENT:                     0

 

5)         Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding annual renewal of leases for Head Start facilities in Church Point and Rayne.

Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved annual renewal of leases for Head Start facilities in Church Point and Rayne as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

At this point, upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Routine Item 5a was added to the agenda.

 

5a)       Consider resignation of Rene Richard a bus driver in the Rayne.

Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Ms. Rene Richard’s resignation as a bus driver in the Rayne area was accepted.

 

6)         Consider authorizing Superintendent to advertise for Rayne area bus route.

Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Superintendent Bourque was authorized to advertise for a bus driver for the Rayne area.

 

7)         Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding Supervisor of Maintenance and Warehouse.

Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the position of Supervisor of Maintenance and Warehouse and authorized Superintendent Bourque to advertise for the position of Maintenance and Warehouse Supervisor.

 

8)         Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding options for medicare coverage in accordance with HB 1295.

Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved options for medicare coverage in accordance with HB 1295, effective July 1, 2005, as recommended by the Personnel/Insurance Committee.

 

9)         Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding a proposal by Wellness Center to offer flu shots to APSB employees.

Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, due to the shortage of flu vaccine this year, the Board approved the Wellness Center’s offer to give flu shots to APSB employees beginning next year.

 

10)       Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding an offer from NEXTEL to lease ITFS Channels.

Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved advertising for the lease of ITFS Channel frequencies in trade journals, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

 

11)       Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding bus driver fuel supplement.

Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote,

the Board approved the Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation to pay bus driver fuel supplements monthly instead of quarterly.

 

12)       Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding a request from Michael Albarado for a zoning variance at 158 Cherokee Road.

Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved a request from Michael Albarado for a zoning variance at 158 Cherokee Road, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

 

12a)     Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding unrestricted donation from Church Point Athletic Booster Club.

Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved an unrestricted donation from the Church Point Athletic Booster Club in the amount of $2,000 for coaching supplements.

 

12b)     Consider approval of Superintendent’s contract.

This item was moved from Routine 1, to be addressed at this time.

 

The terms of the Superintendent’s contract were reviewed.  Currently, the Superintendent’s base salary is $92,800, car allowance is $7,800, expense allowance is $5,000, and annual leave is $4,000.  These grouped together equal $109,600.  Three percent was added to this amount to determine the starting salary ($112,916) for the new contract.  A three- year contract, beginning January 1, 2005, and ending December 31, 2007, starting with an annual salary of $112,916 and annual raises of 5% beginning July 1, 2005, was recommended.  This will be paid by general fund.  A motion to approve was offered by Mr. Vige’ and seconded by Dr. McManus. Wanting to keep the Superintendent for the three-year length, a suggestion was made to include a penalty clause for early departure.  Superintendent Bourque indicated this was not a problem with him and offered the severance of his vacation pay, being contingent upon completing the three-year contract.  However, the motion to approve the Superintendent’s contract as presented carried by a unanimous voice vote.

 

13)       Consider request for appeal of expulsion of a student at Church Point Middle School.

Parents were not present at this meeting.

 

13a)     Consider going into executive session to discuss pending workers compensation case of Wayne Migues.

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mrs. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board went into executive session, at 5:42 p.m.

Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board reconvened at 5:47 p.m.

Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved Mr. Gerard Caswell’s recommendation regarding settlement of this claim.

 

14        Correspondence

Superintendent Bourque made available correspondence from the Louisiana School Board Association regarding its 2005 Convention which will be held March 3-5, 2005, at the Alexandria Riverfront Center.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

 

1)         Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding policy on Board member compensation and expenses.        

            Changes made necessary as the result of changes in law.

 

2)         Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding policy on Public School choice.

Changes made necessary as the result of changes in law.

 

CONSENT ITEMS:

 

Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Dr. McManus, 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 6.36% was received.

3)    Ms. Kellie B. Fruge’, Basile Area bus driver, was granted a maternity leave from March 4, 2005, through May 31, 2005. (57days)

4)    Approved retirement notification of employees.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS:

 

Superintendent Bourque thanked the Board and staff for the past two years and stated that he was looking forward to continued progress in Acadia Parish.

 

CLOSING:

 

There being no other business to come before the Board, at 5:51 p.m., upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned.

__________________

John H. Quebodeaux, President

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

Mr. John E. Bourque, Superintendent