CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

 DECEMBER 6, 2004

1)         The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 6^th  day of December 2004, at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session, with Vice-President Lyle Johnson presiding.  Members present were Mrs. Ezora J. Proctor, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. Roland J. Boudreaux, Mr. Gene Daigle, Mr. Shirley Vige’, Dr. Robert L. McManus, and Superintendent John E. Bourque, Secretary-Treasurer.  John Quebodeaux was absent.

2&3)    Rev. James Proctor, retired principal, and pastor at First Church of God in Christ, led the prayer.  DiQuan Bennett and Christian Fuselier, fifth grade students at South Crowley, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

The agenda was revised by adding Routine Item 3a (CONSIDER SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION FOR A BUS DRIVER IN THE CHURCH POINT AREA), Routine Item 9a (CONSIDER BUDGET/FINANCE COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION REGARDING SUPPLEMENTAL HEAD START FUNDING FOR A FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE PROGRAM), and Routine Item 9b (CONSIDER A REQUEST BY HEAD START TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HISPANIC INSTITUTE TRAINING PROGRAM IN JANUARY), upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

5)         Read and approve minutes of the November 1, 2004, meeting.

Reading of the minutes of the November 1, 2004, meeting was dispensed with (copies of minutes were sent to each member prior to this meeting) and adopted as submitted, upon motion Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

ACTION ITEMS:     

There were no action items to address.

ROUTINE ITEMS:

1)         Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for Principal at Church Point Elementary School.

Superintendent Bourque reported that there were three applicants for the position of Principal at Church Point Elementary School.  He recommended Mr. Charles Barbier for the position.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote Mr. Barbier was appointed Principal at Church Point Elementary School with a two and one-half years contract beginning January 3, 2005, and ending June 30, 2007.  Mr. Barbier was recognized and commended by the Board.

2)         Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for Assistant Principal at Rayne High School.

Superintendent Bourque reported that there were three applicants for the position of Assistant Principal at Rayne High School.  He recommended Ms. Paula Cutrer for the Position.  Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Ms. Cutrer was appointed Assistant Principal at Rayne High School with a two and one-half years contract beginning December 7, 2004, and ending June 6, 2007.  Ms. Cutrer was recognized and commended by the Board.

3)         Consider authorizing the Superintendent to advertise for a Supervisor of Middle School.

Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent was authorized to advertise for a Supervisor of Middle School.  This position will assume some supervisory responsibilities of other K-8 schools and transportation.

3a)       Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for a bus driver in the Church Point area.

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Ms. Samantha Moore was appointed bus driver in the Church Point area.

4)         Consider changing the date of the Board meeting in January.

Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Vige’ and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board meeting in January will be held on Monday, January 10, 2005, and December 2004 committee meetings were cancelled.

5)         Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding renewal of Third Party Administration of Workers’ compensation insurance.

Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Third Party Administration of Workers’ compensation insurance was renewed with FARA for three years as recommended by the Personnel/Insurance Committee.

6)         Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding the timing of Medicare coverage under Act 280.

Mrs. Ellan Baggett gave an update of estimated costs of retroactive Medicare coverage.  Staff will meet with those who are interested to finalize the cost estimate.

At this time, upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Routine Item 6a (CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ADVERTISE FOR AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT CHURCH POINT ELEMENTARY) was added to the agenda.

6a)       Consider authorizing the Superintendent to advertise for an Assistant Principal at Church Point Elementary.

Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent was authorized to advertise for an Assistant Principal at Church Point Elementary.

7)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding a request from Pride Oil and Gas for a mineral lease on one acre in Section 16, Township 10 S, Range 1 W, near Midland.

The Superintendent was authorized to advertise for bids for a mineral lease on one acre in Section 16, Township 10 S, Range 1 W, near Midland, upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

8)         Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding status of lighting at Gardiner Memorial Stadium.

Mr. Ronnie Chaumont gave an update on the status of lighting at Gardiner Memorial Stadium.  The estimated cost is $217,400 to upgrade and replace the lighting.  Existing special maintenance funds for Crowley schools will provide $100,000 for this project and the balance will come from building reserves.  Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent was authorized to advertise for bids for this project.

Mr. John Quebodeaux entered, at this time, and took over chairing the meeting.

9)         Consider request from North Crowley Elementary School to purchase a high speed duplicator.

Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mrs. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, a request from North Crowley Elementary School to purchase a high speed duplicator was approved.

9a)       Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding supplemental Head Start funding for a fatherhood Initiative program.

Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved a supplemental grant of $4,000 for the Fatherhood Initiative program, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

9b)       Consider a request by Head Start to participate in the Hispanic Institute training program in January.

Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote,  funding of $2,000 to attend the Head Start Hispanic Institute training program in January was approved.

10)       Correspondence

Board members were reminded of the 2005 LSBA Convention to be held March 3-5, 2005, in the Alexandria Riverfront Center.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1)         Discuss Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation for policy regarding retirees returning to work.

Mrs. Ellan Baggett presented options regarding retirees returning to work as reviewed by the Personnel/Insurance Committee.

2)         Discuss Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation for policy regarding complaints and grievances.

Mrs. Ellan Baggett presented the Personnel/Insurance Committee’s deliberations and suggested changes for complaints and grievances.  Mr. Gerard Caswell, attorney, explained the existing policy and answered questions.

CONSENT ITEMS:

Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Johnson, 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)    Received notification of retiring employees.

3)    Received the monthly sales tax report showing a year-to-date increase of 2.08 %.

4)    Granted Cinnamon Prather, Church Point Elementary, a sabbatical leave for professional development for the 2004-05 Spring semester.

5)    Granted Amanda G. LaGrange, teacher, Church Point Elementary, a maternity leave from October 28, 2004, through January 13, 2005.

6)    Granted Rebecca Langlinais, teacher/bus assistant, Ross Head Start, a maternity leave

        from January 18, 2005, through March 4, 2005.   

SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS:

Superintendent Bourque wished good luck to NDHS.  Looking back at 2004, it was a successful year.  He commented on the ongoing maintenance work throughout the parish.

CLOSING:

There being no other business to come before the Board, at 5:57 p.m., upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Johnson, 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