CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

SEPTEMBER 12, 2005

 

            The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 12th day of September 2005, at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session, with President Lyle C. Johnson presiding.  Members present were Dr. Ezora J. Proctor, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. John A. Suire, Mr. Gene Daigle, Mr. Shirley Vige’, Dr. Robert L. McManus, and Superintendent John E. Bourque, Secretary-Treasurer.   Mr. Roland J. Boudreaux was absent.

 

2)         Mr. Rex Mills, Supervisor of Transportation and Middle School Education, led the prayer.

 

3)         Mr. Allen Lee a fifth grade teacher at North Crowley Elementary School led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

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

Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the agenda was revised by deleting Discussion Item 1 (DISCUSS HOME STUDY POLICY).

 

5)         Read and approve minutes of the August 1, 2005, meeting.

Reading of the minutes of the August 1, 2005, board meeting was dispensed with (copies of minutes were sent to each member prior to this meeting) and adopted as submitted, upon motion by Dr. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

 

ACTION ITEMS:     

 

1)         Consider the Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding job assignment policy.

Upon motion by Dr. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the job assignment policy was eliminated as recommended by the Personnel/Insurance Committee.

 

2)         Consider parish expense reimbursement policy.

(This item was moved from a discussion item to an action item at this meeting.)

Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved changing the mileage reimbursement policy from the state rate, currently 36 cents per mile, to the federal IRS rate, which is currently 48.5 cents per mile. The estimated additional cost per year to the general fund is $24,000.

 

ROUTINE ITEMS:

 

1)         Hear a report on the status of garbage collection services for Acadia public schools.

Mr. Mike Leonards informed the Board of the recent necessity to secure interim garbage collection services, as the current provider was unable to fulfill the remainder of his contract.   Cajun Environmental, a local company, picked up the job for a 45 day period.  Meanwhile, proposals are due next week for a long-term collection contract.

 

2)         Consider the Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding a proposed budget adjustment to reflect rising fuel costs.

Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the proposed budget adjustment increase of $170,000, to reflect rising fuel costs, was adopted  by the Board, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

 

3)         Consider approval of a grant for one-time T/TA funds for Head Start.

Mrs. Sondra Myers reviewed a grant, which recently became available, for one-time T/TA funds for Head Start that will provide additional funding for training.  Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Dr. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the grant for one-time T/TA funds for Head Start.

 

4)         Consider approval of Head Start Policy Council Community Representative changes.

Mrs. Sondra Myers presented changes in the Head Start Policy Council Community Representatives.  Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Dr. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the policy council changes (listed below) as recommended by Mrs. Myers.

 

Church Point    Representatives: Monica Boone, Tiffany Lejeune

                                    Alternates: Dulce Martinez, Stacy Lyons, Brenda Simon

Estherwood      Representatives: Ashley Matte

Alternate: Nikki Woodward

Rayne               Representatives: Sheri Cahanin, Shalaina Minor

Alternates: Twila Harmon, Felicia Livings, Joanna Wheeler

Ross                 Representatives: Samantha Dupuis, Cyd Humphrey, Tiffany Mouton

Alternates: Stephanie Istre, Sarah Ruddock, Edna Colson

Community       Representatives: Lyle Johnson, Malita Bartie, Judy Capel Me’lise Trahan

Alternate: Jennifer Hains

 

5)         Hear a report on the impact of hurricane evacuees on parish enrollment.

Mr. Jessie Joubert went over the enrollment changes by each school, as the result of evacuees from Hurricane Katrina.   From August 29, 2005 to September 12, 2005, due to Hurricane Katrina the Acadia Parish enrolled 609 and loss 137 evacuated students for a net gain of 472 students. He answered questions of the Board.

 

6)         Consider going into an executive session to discuss the workers’ compensation case of Serena Boone, Docket 04-07352.

Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, this item was moved to be addressed as the last item following discussion items.

 

7)         Correspondence    

Superintendent reported that he received correspondence from TRS; he referred to a newspaper article regarding hurricane evacuee students; he acknowledged a contribution of 25,000 tongue depressors from the Acadia Medical Society and Dr. McManus; and he informed the Board that flu shots will be made available to employees this Fall.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:  

 

1)         Discuss home study policy

This item was deleted at the beginning of this meeting.

 

2)         Discuss parish expense reimbursement policy.

Superintendent Bourque recommended changing mileage reimbursement rate from the state rate of 36 cents per mile to the federal IRS rate, which is currently 48.5 cents.  Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Dr. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, this matter was moved to an Action Item to be acted on at this meeting.

 

ROUTINE ITEMS: Cont’d  

 

6)         Consider going into an executive session to discuss the workers’ compensation case of Serena Boone, Docket 04-07352.

Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board went into an executive session at 5:35 p.m., to discuss the workers’ compensation case of Serena Boone, Docket 04-07352.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board reconvened at 5:40 p.m..

 

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board accepted legal counsel’s recommendation to proceed with this case as discussed.

 

CONSENT ITEMS:

Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the following action was taken by the Board:

 

1)         Approved assignments and changes of professional employees.

2)         Received notification of retiring employees.       

3)         Received the monthly sales tax report showing a year-to-date increase of 66.75 percent.

SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS:

No comments.

CLOSING:

There being no other business to come before the Board, at 5:42 p.m., upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Dr. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned.

______________________________

Mr. Lyle C. Johnson, President

ATTEST:

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Mr. John E. Bourque, Superintendent