CROWLEY, LOUISIANA
SEPTEMBER 11, 2006
The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 11th day of September 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) Dr. Ezora Proctor led the prayer.
3) Ms. Melanie Venable, principal at Mire Elementary School, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
4) 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 Routine Item 1a (CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR INCURRING OF DEBT NOT EXCEEDING $1 MILLION OF TAXABLE CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS. (QUALIFIED ZONE ACADEMY BONDS - SERIES 2006), Routine Item 7a (CONSIDER PERSONNEL/INSURANCE COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION REGARDING RENEWAL OF EXCESS WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE),and Consent Item 5a (CONSIDER A REQUEST FROM CARMAN CLAVIER, CAFETERIA MANAGER, CHURCH POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, FOR LEAVE WITHOUT PAY, AUGUST 9, 2006, THRU NOVEMBER 8, 2006, FOR MEDICAL REASONS.)
5) Read and approve minutes of the August 7, 2006, board meeting.
Reading of the minutes of the August 7, 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 Dr. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.
1) Consider changes in policy regarding position assignments.
Upon motion by Dr. Proctor, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a majority voice vote (Mr. Vige’ opposed), the board adopted changes in policy regarding position assignments, as discussed and recommended by the Personnel/Insurance Committee.
POSITION ASSIGNMENT
The Acadia Parish School Board authorizes the Superintendent to assign all teachers, administrators, supervisory personnel, and other employees of the Board to their respective positions and/or schools upon employment. It is the desire of the Board that personnel be assigned on the basis of their qualifications and the needs of the school district. Assignments shall be made in conformance with statutory provisions relative to immediate family members as well as to maintain the proper racial composition of faculties.
In order to avoid conflicts of interest, or the appearance of the same, no employee shall be assigned to a position which would require that employee to be directly supervised by an immediate family member. Immediate family members include spouse, children, spouses of children, brothers, sisters, parents the parent’s spouse, nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, grandparents, grandchildren, and mother-in-law or father-in-law.
The Board shall prohibit any staff member or building level administrator from serving in a coaching capacity.
CLASS ASSIGNMENT
The principal shall be responsible for assigning teachers to classes within his/her respective school. Except in extenuating circumstances, the principal shall notify teachers of their anticipated assignment for the school year prior to the opening of school. Teachers who wish to request reassignment for the subsequent school year may do so provided such request is submitted prior to the close of the school year. Principals shall give every reasonable consideration to teacher requests for assignment to a particular grade level and/or subject area for which a teacher is certified and qualified.
A teacher shall be notified by the principal of any changes in assignment as soon as reasonably possible.
ROUTINE ITEMS:
1) Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for bus drivers for positions in the Crowley and Eunice areas.
Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, and seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the Superintendent’s recommendation and named Trevin Savoy as bus driver for a Crowley area route and Frances Deshotel bus driver for a Eunice area route.
1a) Consider adopting resolution providing for incurring of debt not exceeding $1 million of taxable certificates of indebtedness. (Qualified Zone Academy Bonds - series 2006)
Mr. David Henderson went over the QZAB funding, previously discussed at committee and board meetings. Bonds will be purchased by Hancock Bank. Mr. Henderson answered questions of the Board. The resolution was adopted, upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.
2) Consider adoption of the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire.
Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board adopted the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire.
3) Consider bids received for a hunting lease on school board property near Evangeline.
Mr. Mike Leonards presented a bid from Mr. Lawrence Daigle for a hunting lease on school board property near Evangeline. Mr. Gerard Caswell, attorney, discussed the terms of the proposed lease and he will draft the lease agreement. Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board granted to Mr. Lawrence Daigle a lease of 310 acres of woodland near Evangeline for $1,350 for a term of one year only.
4) Consider a sublease of school board property on the southern half of Section 16, Township 11 South, Range 1 East, for hunting.
Mr. Mike Leonards went over a request to sublease farm land for hunting from a tenant farmer of south of Crowley. The Board requires a million dollar liability policy and one-sixth of the cash rent. Mr. Gerard Caswell, attorney, will draft an addendum to authorize a sublease. Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board granted Mr. Reese Guillot, a tenant farmer south of Crowley, a sublease to hunt on farm land on the southern half of Section 16, Township 11 South, Range 1 East, subject to terms indicated above.
5) Consider authorizing the Board president and superintendent to handle time sensitive settlements.
Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, this matter was referred to the Budget/Finance Committee to be addressed at its next meeting.
6) Consider adopting a proclamation by Governor Blanco recognizing the week of September 11-15, 2006, as ”r;Louisiana Accessibility Awareness Week.”
Upon motion by Dr. Proctor, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board adopted a proclamation by Governor Blanco recognizing the week of September 11-15, 2006, as ”r;Louisiana Accessibility Awareness Week.”
7) Consider Budget/Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding the Drivers’ Education Program.
Upon motion by Mr. Vige’, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board increased the drivers’ education program fees to $225 and students will drive in the summer only, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.
8) Review iLEAP test results.
Ms. Diana Guidry explained test results of iLEAP. She distributed information and answered questions of the Board.
9) Set dates for the next committee and board meetings.
Upon motion by Dr. Proctor seconded by Mr. Vige’, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, next committee meetings will be held Wednesday, September 20, 2006, and the next board meeting will be held Monday, October 2, 2006. The committee meetings will be held on Wednesday, October 25th instead of the18th.
10) Consider going into an executive session to discuss workers’ compensation issues.
Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Shamsie and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board went into executive session at 5:44 p.m.
Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Dr. Proctor, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board reconvened into regular session at 5:49 p.m.
Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board accepted the recommendation of Mr. Caswell, attorney, in handling this matter.
11) Correspondence
Superintendent Bourque presented correspondence regarding a public notice seeking local contractors for air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, general construction and roofing; an alert from LSBA concerning Constitutional Amendment No. 9 - unfunded mandates; Acadia Parish enrollment trends from 2004 to the present; Acadia Parish Schools parent/guardian internet resources.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
There were no Discussion items to address.
CONSENT ITEMS:
Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Vige’, 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 0.55 percent.
4) Granted a request to Nancy Myers, teacher, Morse Elementary School, for maternity leave, September 5, 2006, through October 23, 2006. (28.5)
5) Granted a request to Sandra Cole, cafeteria worker, South Rayne Elementary School, for leave without pay, August 15, 2006, to October 2, 2006, for medical reasons.
5a) Granted a request to Carman Clavier, cafeteria manager, Church Point Elementary School, for leave without pay, August 9, 2006, to November 8, 2006, for medical reasons.
SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS:
Superintendent Bourque commented on the fifth anniversary of 9/11, he reported that the light poles at Rayne High School would be ready by Friday, stated that the ward level meetings are in progress and appear to be productive, and noted significant improvements in the appearance of schools.
CLOSING:
There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Dr. McManus, 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