CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

JANUARY 10, 2005

 

Prior to the regular board meeting, Mr. Robert Barousse, Acadia Clerk of Court, swore in Mrs. Shirley A. Quebodeaux as interim board member for Acadia Parish School District 4 until the April election.  Mrs. Quebodeaux replaced her husband, John H. Quebodeaux, who resigned as of December 21, 2004.

 

1)         The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 10th  day of January 2005, at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session, with Acting 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, Mrs. Shirley Quebodeaux, and Superintendent John E. Bourque, Secretary-Treasurer.    

 

2&3)    Rev. Randy Trahan, Associate Pastor at Northside Assembly of God Church, led the prayer.  Sylvie Ann Thibodeaux, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bart Thibodeaux of Church Point, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

4)         Elect board president.

Mr. Johnson opened the floor for nominations for board president.  Mr. Boudreaux nominated Mr. Johnson.  Mr. Johnson called for other nominations.  There were no other nominations.  Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Mr. Johnson was elected President of the Board.  He thanked the Board for its support and pledged to serve the Board in this capacity.

 

5)         Elect board vice president.

President Johnson opened the floor for nominations for board vice president.  Mr. Shamsie nominated Mrs. Proctor.  Mr. Johnson called for other nominations.  There were no other nominations.  Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Mrs. Proctor was elected Vice President of the Board.  She briefly addressed the Board and thanked it for its support.

 

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

Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mrs. Quebodeaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the agenda was revised by deleting Routine Item 6 (CONSIDER REQUEST FROM MIRE ELEMENTARY TO RENOVATE AN EXISTING STORAGE BUILDING  INTO A TITLE I AIDES’ WORKROOM).

 

7)         Read and approve minutes of the December 6, 2004, and January 3, 2005, meetings.

Reading of the minutes of the December 6, 2004, and January 3, 2005, meetings was dispensed with (copies of minutes were sent to each member prior to this meeting) and adopted as submitted, upon motion Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

 

8)         Hear a report on Acadia Parish Career Connection EXPO. (Mrs. Proctor)

Mrs. Proctor addressed the Board as coordinator the Acadia Parish Career Connection EXPO.  She invited board members to attend the EXPO on Wednesday, January 19, 2005, at the Rice Festival Building

 

9)         Recognize Midland High School business partner.

Mr. Shamsie called on FFA members from Midland High School to address the Board.  David Savoy, manger of Quality Equipment was recognized for his support of Ag education and business sponsor throughout the years.  Mr. Savoy thanked the Board.

 

ACTION ITEMS:

 

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

Mrs. Ellan Baggett reviewed the options previously submitted to the committee for consideration.  These options apply only to employees in Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL).  After adding Option 2 from the old policy, Mr. Shamsie motioned, Dr. McManus seconded, and by a unanimous voice vote, policy regarding retirees returning to work was approved as recommended by the Personnel/Insurance Committee.

 

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

Upon motion by Mrs. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, policy regarding complaints and grievances was approved as recommended by the Personnel/Insurance Committee.

 

ROUTINE ITEMS:

 

1)         Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for Supervisor of Middle Schools and Transportation.

Superintendent Bourque stated that there were four applicants for the position of Supervisor of Middle Schools and Transportation.  He recommended Mr. Rex L. Mills for the position.  Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mrs. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board appointed Mr. Mills to the position of Supervisor of Middle Schools and Transportation as recommended by Mr. Mills.  Mr. Mills briefly addressed the Board and thanked it for its support.

 

1a)       Authorize the Superintendent to advertise for Principal of Martin Petitjean Elementary School.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, this item (1a) was added to the agenda.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Superintendent Bourque was authorized to advertise for a Principal of Martin Petitjean Elementary School.

 

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

Superintendent Bourque stated that there were six candidates for Assistant Principal at Church Point Elementary School.  He recommended Ms. Wendy Thibodeaux for the position.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Ms. Thibodeaux was appointed Assistant Principal at Church Point Elementary School.  Ms. Thibodeaux briefly addressed the Board and thanked it for its support.

 

3)         Receive preliminary audit report.

This was postponed and will be presented at the Budget/Finance Committee meeting.

 

4)         Consider approval of Internal dispute Resolution Policy between the APSB and Head Start Policy Council.

Mrs. Sondra Myers presented the Internal Dispute Resolution Policy.  She pointed out that there were no changes.  Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Internal Dispute Resolution Policy was approved.

 

5)         Receive a report on Head Start Federal onsite review and Board/PC Training.

Mrs. Sondra Myers briefed the Board on the upcoming review of the Head Start program by federal monitors.  She reviewed the itinerary of the review team and questions the Board will be asked regarding operations of the Head Start program.

 

6)         Consider request from Mire Elementary to renovate an existing storage building into a Title I aides’ workroom.

Earlier in this meeting, this item was deleted from the agenda.

 

7)         Consider request from Church Point High School to rent a copier.

Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote,  Mr. Lee Ward Bellard was granted permission to rent a copier at $161.00 monthly using available school funds.

 

8)         Correspondence

 

Superintendent Bourque reminded board members of the upcoming LSBA Conference.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

 

1)         Discuss policy regarding IDEA services.

 

Superintendent Bourque reviewed details regarding screening and providing services, especially for non-public students.  State law states that every student has to be screened, not necessarily served.

Mr. Cal Simar presented a change to the policy providing for a five-day timeline for requests for a suspension hearing.  He also presented a proposed change to the policy regarding students who commit battery on a school employee.  The punishment will be suspension/expulsion.

Mr. Simar presented proposed policy changes regarding the transfer of disciplinary records along with academic scores.  This is already a matter of law, but it is suggested that it be included in policy.

 

CONSENT ITEMS:

 

Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, 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)    Received notification of retiring employees.

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

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS:

 

Superintendent Bourque presented a plaque to Mr. John H. Quebodeaux, who resigned as Acadia Parish School District 4 board member.  He thanked him for his ten years of service to Acadia schools.  Mr. Quebodeaux addressed the Board, superintendent, staff, and employees and thanked  them for allowing him to serve the children of Acadia Parish.

 

CLOSING:

 

There being no other business to come before the Board, at 5:50 p.m., upon motion by Mrs. Quebodeaux, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned.

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                        Lyle C. Johnson, President

ATTEST:

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Mr. John E. Bourque, Superintendent