CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

DECEMBER 5, 2005

            The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 5^th day of December 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. Roland J. Boudreaux, Mr. Gene Daigle, Mr. Shirley Vige’, and Dr. Robert L. McManus.  Superintendent John E. Bourque, Secretary-Treasurer, was present.

2)         Mr. John A. Suire led the prayer.

3)         Taylor Walker, Gavin Walker, Stephen Mayer and Roni Petty, students from Ross Head Start led the Pledge of Allegiance.

4)         The National Anthem was rendered by students in the talented program directed by Mr. Banks  Pruitt.

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

Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the agenda was revised by adding Opening Item 7 (RECOGNIZE CHRISTY HIGGINBOTHAM FOR ATTAINING NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION), Routine Item 2a (CONSIDER SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION FOR A BUS DRIVER FOR A ROUTE IN THE EUNICE AREA), Routine Item 2b (CONSIDER SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION FOR A BUS DRIVER FOR A ROUTE IN THE CROWLEY AREA), Consent Item 6 (CONSIDER A REQUEST FROM RENEE GUIDRY, TEACHER, SOUTH RAYNE ELEMENTARY, FOR LEAVE WITHOUT PAY FROM JANUARY 2, 2006, THROUGH JUNE 1, 2006, FOR MEDICAL REASONS), and Consent Item 7 (CONSIDER A REQUEST FROM AISHA ALI, TEACHER, SOUTH CROWLEY ELEMENTARY, FOR SABBATICAL LEAVE FOR THE SPRING 2006 SEMESTER FOR MEDICAL REASONS).

6)         Read and approve minutes of the November 7, 2005, meeting.

Reading of the minutes of the November 7, 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 Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

7)         Recognize Christy Higginbotham for attaining National Board Certification.

Ms. Christy Higginbotham, a fifth grade teacher at Mire Elementary, was recognized for attaining National Board Certification.  This makes her eligible for a $5,000 per year salary enhancement.

ACTION ITEMS:

1)         Consider the Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding changes to the APSB personnel evaluation policies.

Mrs. Ellan Baggett, personnel supervisor, reviewed changes to the APSB personnel evaluation policies.  These changes were previously discussed at the November meeting.  Upon motion by Dr. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the changes to the APSB personnel evaluation policies were approved.

CURRENT PROCEDURES                                              PROPOSED CHANGES

Evaluation Cycle                                                        Evaluation Cycle

Probationary professional Staff - Every Year                 Probationary Professional Staff - Every Year

4+ Professional Staff - Every 3 years (Triennially)          4+ Professional Staff - Every other Year (Biennially)

Teacher Observation process                                    Teacher Observation Process

1 Pre-Observation Conference                                     1 Pre-Observation Conference

2 Observation: Scripting of the lesson                            2 Observation: Rating of specific performance objectives  derived from the LA Components of Effective Teaching

3 Post-Observation Conference                                    3 Post-Observation Conference

Principal Observation Process                                  Principal Observation Process

1 Pre-Observation Conference                                     1 Pre-Observation Conference

2 Observation: Scripting of Activity                               2 Observation: Rating of specific performance objectives derived from the Standards for School Principals in LA

3 Post-Observation Conference                                   3 Post-Observation Conference

ROUTINE ITEMS:

1)         Consider the Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding an audit report for fiscal year ended June 30, 2005.

Mr. Shirley Vige’ pointed out some pertinent numbers from the audit report for fiscal year ended June 30, 2005.  Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the audit report was approved as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

2)         Consider the Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding hurricane evacuation procedures and directives from the Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP).

Mr. Ronnie Chaumont, maintenance supervisor, introduced Mrs. Kim Boudreaux, assistant director of OEP.  Mrs. Boudreaux explained the recommendations for hurricane evacuation procedures and directives.  The parish director, Mr. Lee Hebert, is the only person authorized to request that a school  be used as an evacuation shelter.  The OEP will not request a school as shelter if the school is in the path of the storm, or if it will cause students to miss class.  Mrs. Boudreaux answered questions of the Board.

2a)       Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for a bus driver for a route in the Eunice area.

Superintendent Bourque reported that there were four applicants for a bus route in the Eunice area and he recommended Ms. Stephanie Smith for the position.  Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Ms. Smith was named bus driver for the Eunice area route.

2b)       Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for a bus driver for a route in the Crowley area.

Superintendent Bourque reported that there were six applicants for a bus route in the Crowley area and he recommended Ms. Sophie Joseph for the position.  Upon motion by Dr. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Ms. Joseph was named bus driver for the Crowley area route.

3)         Consider changing the date of board meeting from January 2, 2006, to January 9, 2006.

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board meeting will be held on Monday, January 9, 2006, and committee meetings for December were canceled.         

4)         Consider approval of a lease of ITFS Channels.

Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, a lease of ITES Channels was approved, pending final review by the board attorney and Superintendent Bourque.  Superintendent Bourque was authorized to sign this agreement on behalf of the Acadia Parish School Board.

5)         Consider adopting a revised test security policy.

Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board adopted a revised test security policy to comply with state changes.

6          Correspondence

Superintendent Bourque called attention to correspondence from LSBA.  The 2006 LSBA Convention will be held March 9-11, 2006, in Baton Rouge.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:         There were no items to discuss.

CONSENT ITEMS:

Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Dr. Proctor, 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 57.49 percent.

4)                  Granted a request to Heather LeJeune, custodian, Iota High School, for leave without pay from October 18, 2005, through December 16, 2005, due to medical reasons.

5)                  Granted a request to Alacia D. Manuel, teacher, Iota Elementary School, for a sabbatical leave for the Spring 2006 semester for medical reasons.

6)                  Granted a request to Renee Guidry, teacher, South Rayne Elementary, for leave without pay from January 2, 2006, through June 1, 2006, for medical reasons.

7)                  Granted a request to Aisha Ali, teacher, South Crowley Elementary, for a sabbatical leave for the Spring 2006 semester for medical reasons.

SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS:

Superintendent Bourque thanked Mr. Banks Pruitt and the students for their performance to open the meeting.  He also congratulated Mrs. Christy Higginbotham for attaining National Board Certification for teachers.  Reflecting on events of the past year, Mr. Bourque expressed thanks for everyone’s efforts in these trying times.

CLOSING:

There being no other business to come before the Board, at 5:36 p.m., upon motion by Mr. Vige’, 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