CROWLEY, LOUISIANA
AUGUST 7, 2006
The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 7th day of August 2006, 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’, Dr. Robert L. McManus, and Superintendent John E. Bourque, Secretary-Treasurer.
2) Ms. Elaine Sias, a teacher at Armstrong Middle School, led the prayer.
3) Mr. John Suire led the Pledge of Allegiance.
4) Consider approval of a revised agenda, if there are any changes.
Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote the agenda was revised by adding Routine Item 1a (CONSIDER SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION OF CLASSROOM CONSTRUCTION AT MIRE ELEMENTARY) and Routine Item 7 (CONSIDER GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS A WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIM).
5) Read and approve minutes of the July 10, 2006, board meeting.
Reading of the minutes of the July 10, 2006, 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. Vige’, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.
6) Consider correction to minutes of April 3, 2006, Routine Item 2.
Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, a typographical error in the minutes of April 3, 2006, routine item two, was corrected to record a bid as $595,833.47 instead of $395,833.47.
1) Consider the Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding policy changes as the result of new state legislation.
Mrs. Ellan Baggett went over required changes previously discussed at the PI Committee meeting. Mrs. Ruth Miller briefed the Board on the Wellness policy. A committee was convened in July to formulate this policy. She provided copies to board members. Upon motion by Dr. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, policy changes as the result of new state legislation were adopted, as recommended by the Personnel/Insurance Committee.
ROUTINE ITEMS:
1) Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for assistant principal at Crowley Middle School.
There were five applicants for assistant principal of Crowley Middle School. Superintendent Bourque recommended Mr. Chad Lemelle for the position. Upon motion by Dr. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Mr. Chad Lemelle was named assistant principal at Crowley Middle School. He was recognized and congratulated by the Board.
1a) Consider substantial completion of classroom construction at Mire Elementary.
Mr. Bill Ackal, architect, indicated that this morning he met with the fire marshal and did a final walk-through of Mire Elementary classrooms. The classrooms are substantially completed, except for the covered walkway. Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved substantial completion of classroom construction at Mire Elementary.
2) Consider approval of community representatives to serve on the Head Start policy council.
Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved community representatives to serve on the Head Start policy council. The policy council will remain the same. Ms. M’Elise Trahan, FINS Officer; Ms. Judy Capel, Crowley Building and Loan; Ms. Malta Bartie, Council on Aging Executive Director; and Mr. Lyle Johnson, School Board member.
3) Consider Personnel/Insurance Committee’s recommendation regarding revisions to the Head Start personnel policy addendum.
Mr. Mike Leonards reviewed policy changes presented, in detail, by Mrs. Sondra Myers at the Personnel/Insurance Committee meeting. He specifically mentioned the requirements for direct deposit of employee paychecks. Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved revisions to the Head Start personnel policy addendum, as recommended by the Personnel/Insurance Committee.
4) Consider the Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding the purchase of instructional software by Special Education.
Mrs. Carol Tall addressed the Board and explained the instructional software purchase by Special Education. Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the purchase of instructional software by Special Education, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.
5) Consider the Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding the acquisition of a generator for School Food Service.
Mr. Mike Leonards indicated that the APSB will be getting a military surplus generator (100 KW) for the food service warehouse, at a cost not to exceed $10,000. Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board authorized the purchase of this generator for the food service warehouse, not to exceed $10,000, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.
6) Correspondence
There was no correspondence.
7) Consider going into an executive session to discuss a worker’s compensation claim.
Upon motion by Dr. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board went into an executive session at 5:35 p.m., to discuss a worker’s compensation claim.
Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Dr. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board reconvened at 5:58 p.m.
Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board authorized following the advice of legal counsel in the handling of this matter.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1) Discuss changes to policy regarding position assignments.
Mrs. Ellan Baggett went over proposed policy changes that would allow filling positions of critical need. This will be referred to the Personnel/Insurance Committee for its consideration.
CONSENT ITEMS:
Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the following action was taken by the Board.
1) Approved assignments and changes of professional employees were approved.
2) Received notification of retiring employees.
3) Received the monthly sales tax report showing a year-to-date increase of 3.54 percent.
SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:
Superintendent Bourque indicated that preparations are well underway for the start of school, next week. Mr. Sherman Wilson mentioned that back-to-school costs for students have been reduced by approximately 60 percent over the past few years.
CLOSING:
There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Dr. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
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Mr. Lyle C. Johnson, President
ATTEST:
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Mr. John E. Bourque, Superintendent