CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

APRIL 2, 2007

The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 2^nd day of April 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. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the agenda was revised by adding Routine Item 10a (CONSIDER CHANGE ORDER FOR TRACK PROJECT AT RAYNE HIGH SCHOOL.), Routine Item 10B (CONSIDER DATES FOR NEXT COMMITTEE AND BOARD MEETING.), and Routine Item 10c (CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION OF THE PERSONNEL/INSURANCE COMMITTEE REGARDING THE PURCHASE OF IEP SOFTWARE WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDS.)

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

Reading of the minutes of the March 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. Higginbotham, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

6)         Recognize Students of the Year.

Mr. Cal Simar, supervisor, recognized parish-wide students of the year in grades 5, 8, and 12.  Elementary school winner was Alyssa Vidrine, a fifth grade student at Egan Elementary; Middle School winner was Jamie Price, an eighth grade student at Armstrong Middle School; and High school winner was Barrett Allen, a twelfth grade student at Iota High School.

7)         Recognize Crowley High School State Champion lifting team.

Mr. Steve Duplechain, Crowley High School principal, introduced Coach Dawson who presented the CHS State Championship power lifting team.  They were recognized and commended by the Board.

8)         Recognize Kristian Burrow, student at Mire Elementary, the Reader’s Digest National Word Power Challenge Competition top scoring fifth grader in Louisiana.

Mrs. Melanie Venable, Mire Elementary principal introduced Kristian Burrow, the Reader’s Digest National Word Power Challenge Competition top scoring fifth grader in Louisiana.

9)         Recognize recipient of a scholarship from the Lafayette Schools Federal Credit Union.

Mr. Brian Leger, LSFCU representative, Barrett Allen a senior at Iota High School, the recipient of a scholarship in the amount of $2,000 from the Lafayette Schools Federal Credit Union.

10)       Recognize Mr. Tyrone Rubin recipient of a $2,000 Michael Jordan Nike Technology grant.

Mrs. Antionette Pete, principal, introduced teachers from Crowley Middle School, who applied for and received a grant in the amount of $2,000.  Mr. Tyrone Rubin demonstrated the Quizdom Program through an interactive display with board members.

ACTION ITEMS:      There were no action items to address.

ROUTINE ITEMS:

1)         Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for Supervisor of Media and Technology.

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the Superintendent’s recommendation and appointed Mrs. Jill Doga  Supervisor of Media and Technology.

2)         Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for Assistant Principal at Rayne High School.

There were two applicants for Assistant Principal at Rayne High School.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried, the Board approved the Superintendent’s recommendation and appointed Mr. Sam Babineaux, Assistant Principal at Rayne High School.  Mr. Babineaux thanked the Board for allowing him to serve in this capacity.

3)         Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for Assistant Principal at Crowley High School.

There were two applicants for Assistant Principal at Crowley High School.  Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried, the Board approved the Superintendent’s recommendation and appointed Ms. Connie Olivier Assistant Principal at Crowley High School.  Mrs. Olivier thanked the Board for this opportunity to serve the students at Crowley High School.

4)         Consider authorizing the Superintendent to advertise for Principal at Iota High School.

Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent was authorized to advertise for Principal at Iota High School.

5)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance Committee regarding adoption of a vesting schedule for retiree insurance.

The committee reviewed the proposed vesting schedule for retiree insurance.  After a sign-up period ending June 1, 2007, this vesting schedule will take effect.  Any current employee who gets health insurance before that time will be Grand fathered on to our existing plan.  Also, effective July 1, 2007, the Board’s contribution for active and retired employees will increase 65% of the total premium for all classes of coverage.  This matter was recommended favorably to the full board for its consideration and will add approximately $343,000 annually to the school board’s share of premiums.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved implementation of an insurance besting program, effective July 1, 2007.

6)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance Committee regarding an upgrade for the CAPS program.

The Personnel/Insurance/Curriculum Committee heard the recommendation to upgrade the CAPS program, making it interned accessible.  This conversion will involve an initial cost of $9,200 and have an annual cost of approximately $4,400.  After discussion by the committee, the upgrade was recommended favorably to the full board.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board accepted the recommendation of the committee and approved upgrading for the CAPS program.

7)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance/ Curriculum Committee regarding school calendars for 2007-08.

After receiving input from the schools, the calendar committee developed a proposed calendar for the upcoming 2007-08 school year.  The committee reviewed this document and made a favorable recommendation the full Board.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board accepted the recommendation of the committee and adopted the 2007-08 school year calendars.

8)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance/Curriculum Committee regarding textbook adoption for 2007-08.

A summary showing proposed textbook purchases for social studies was reviewed by the committee.  The estimated cost if $653,117.  This was recommended to the full Board for its approval.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board accepted the committee’s recommendation and approved the textbook adoption for 2007-08.

9)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance/Curriculum Committee regarding the parish technology plan for 2007-08.

A technology plan for 2007-08 was presented to the committee, after a period of input from staff and parents.   Future plans and priorities were discussed, and it was noted that these qualify for E-rate funding.  This was recommended favorably to the full Board for its consideration. Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the parish technology plan for 2007-08.

10)       Consider bids received for the sale of two portable classrooms at Branch Elementary.

Three bids were received for two portable classrooms at Branch Elementary.

Unit A Bidder                                       Bid Amount

St. Francis School                                $5,026.00

C. J. Heavy Gibson                              $3,600.00

LA Steel Frame Homes                        $   305.00

Unit B Bidder

St. Francis School                                $4,026.00

C. J. Heavy Gibson                              $3,600.00

LA Steel Frame Homes                        $   515.00

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board awarded high bid to St. Francis School, in the amount of $5,026.00 (Unit A) and $4,026.00 (Unit B).

10a)     Consider change order for track project at Rayne High School.

            Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved a change order in the amount of $9,200 to change elevations around the track at Rayne High School.  Mr. Ronnie Chaumont answered questions regarding this matter.

10b)     Consider dates for the next committee and board meetings.

Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board set the date for the next committee meeting April 25, 2007, and Board meeting May 7, 2007, as recommended by the Superintendent.

10c)     Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance/Curriculum Committee regarding the purchase of IEP software with special education funds.

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a majority voice vote (Mr. Shamsie opposed), the Board approved the purchase of IEP software with special education funds, as recommended by the committee.  The estimated cost is $169,800 over the next five years.

11)       Correspondence.

Superintendent related information about the right-of-way offer from Kinder Morgan Pipeline negotiations are ongoing.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:   There were no discussion items.

CONSENT ITEMS:

1)         Consider new assignments and changes of professional employees.

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, assignments and changes of professional employees were approved.

2)         Consider retirement notification of employees.

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board received retirement notification of employees.

3)         Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Simar and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board received the monthly sales tax report showing a year-to-date increase of 10.17 percent.

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:

            Superintendent Bourque stated that testing went well this year.  He commended students and teachers recognized earlier in the meeting.  He also said focus will be on cooperative education for the reminding six weeks of school

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