CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

MARCH 5, 2007

 

The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 5th day of March 2007, at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session at Crowley, Louisiana, with President. Roland J. Boudreaux   presiding.  Members present were Mr. Israel G. Syria, Mr. Douglas J. LaCombe, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. John A. Suire, Mr. Roland J. Boudreaux, Mr. Gene I. Daigle, Mr. James Higginbotham, Mr. Milton R. Simar, and Secretary-Treasurer, Superintendent John E. Bourque.

 

2)         Mr. Syria led the prayer.

 

3)         Mr. Shamsie 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. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the agenda was revised by adding Opening Item 7 (RECOGNIZE IOTA HIGH SCHOOL’S WEIGHT LIFTING TEAM), Routine Item 7a (CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ADVERTISE FOR THE POSITION OF SUPERVISOR OF MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY), Routine Item 7b (CONSIDER SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION FOR A SPECIAL EDUCATION ROUTE BUS DRIVER IN THE EGAN/IOTA AREA), and Routine Item 8a (CONSIDER SETTING DATES FOR MARCH COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND APRIL BOARD MEETING).

 

5)         Read and approve minutes of the February 5, 2007, meeting.

Reading of the minutes of the February 5, 2007, meeting were dispensed with (copies of minutes were sent to each member prior to this meeting) and adopted as submitted, upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

 

6)         Recognize Iota High School girls’ basketball team.

Coach Stan Baggett addressed the Board, introducing the Iota High School girls’ basketball team, which garnered the State Championship this past weekend, with a record of 43-0.  The team is ranked 17 in a nationwide poll.  The Board commended the team for this incredible achievement.

 

7)         Recognize Iota High School’s weight lifting team.

Coach Bergeron introduced the Iota High School’s weight lifting team, which won the State Championship in Class AA.  The Board commended the team for this incredible achievement

 

.ACTION ITEMS:     There were no action items to address.

 

ROUTINE ITEMS:

 

1)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding midyear budget revisions.

Mr. Mike Leonards, business director, reported information was received from the State, indicating an increase in MFP funding of approximately $500,000 in their most recent budge letter for 2006-07.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, midyear budget revisions were approved as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

 

2)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding Head Start funding application for 2007-08.

Mrs. Sondra Myers, Head Start director, presented a detailed analysis of Head Start’s proposed budget for next fiscal year, at the committee meeting.  She commented that she was awaiting more information for Head Start funding.  The final budget will depend on costs yet to be determined.  The initial application is due in Dallas by April 1, 2007.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried the Board approved the Head Start funding application for 2007-08 as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

 

3)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding right-of-way request from Kinder Morgan Pipeline Company.

There was no action taken, at this time, on a right-of-way request from Kinder Morgan Pipeline Company.

 

4)         Consider bids received for new classroom construction at Crowley Kindergarten.

Mr. Bill Ackal, architect, presented a bid tabulation and he recommended the low bid (base of $641,715) from L. K. Breaux for permanent classrooms at Crowley Kindergarten.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, bids for new classroom construction at Crowley Kindergarten were received and low bid of $641,715 was awarded to L. K. Breaux.

 

BIDDER                BASE BID              ALTERNATE

E. L. Habetz           693,030                       657,378

F. Phillips               770,000                       738,000

L. K. Breaux          641,715                       573,691

 

5)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance Committee regarding adoption of a variable contribution rate for retiree insurance.

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote adoption of a variable contribution rate for retiree insurance was referred back to committee.

 

6)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance Committee to authorize the Superintendent to advertise for an assistant principal at Crowley High School.

Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Shamsie and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Superintendent Bourque was authorized to advertise for an assistant principal at Crowley High School.

 

7)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance Committee to authorize the Superintendent to advertise for an assistant principal at Rayne High School.

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Superintendent Bourque was authorized to advertise for an assistant principal at Rayne High School.

 

7a)       Consider authorizing the Superintendent to advertise for the position of Supervisor of Media and Technology.

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Superintendent Bourque was authorized to advertise for the position of Supervisor of Media and Technology to replace Mrs. Mary Robbins who will retire this summer.

 

7b)       Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for a special education route bus driver in the Egan/Iota area.

Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote Ms Lynelle Regan was appointed as bus driver for a special education route in the Egan/Iota area, as recommended by Superintendent Bourque.

 

8)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding extension of the Superintendent’s contract.

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Superintendent Bourque’s contract was extended for three years beginning March 6, 2007, with his salary of $124,490 remaining the same and an annual of 7% cost-of-living increase beginning July 1, 2007; a car and cell phone allowance of $650 per month, beginning March 2007; mileage paid at State rages on trips outside of Acadia Parish; and meal expenses for professional or official business to be reimbursed according to State guidelines.

 

Mr. Simar recommended the extension of three years and terms listed.  Mr. Simar commented that all of the principals in the parish were in favor of this extension.  Mr. Bourque thanked the Board of its vote of confidence and stated that he is looking forward to the next three years.

 

8a)       Consider setting dates for March committee meetings and April board meeting.

Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, committee meetings will be held Wednesday, March 21, 2007, and the Board meeting will be held Monday, April 2, 2007.

 

9)         Correspondence

Superintendent Bourque reported that the district accountability report card was released this morning.  It shows an overall improvement over last year.  He cited some problems with attendance.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:   There were no discussion items.

 

CONSENT ITEMS:

 

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the following action was taken by the Board.

 

1)         There were no new assignments and changes of professional employees.

2)         There were no employee retirements.

3)         Received the monthly sales tax report showing a year-to-date increase of 12.39 percent.

 

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:

 

            Superintendent Bourque stated that the new ZTR mowers were delivered and personnel trained, the tractor sale will be held in a few weeks, testing is coming up soon, and there will be a possible salary increase for teachers and support personnel from the State next year.

 

Mr. Syria commented on the positive activities he observed in the parish schools.

 

CLOSING:

 

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded

by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 5:54 p.m.

______________________________

Roland J. Boudreaux, President

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

John E. Bourque, Superintendent