CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

JUNE 4, 2007

The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 4^th  day of June 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. 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. LaCombe 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. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the agenda was revised by adding Opening Item 7 (RECOGNIZE MR. MARK ABRAHAM, CANDIDATE FOR STATE SENATE) and deleting Routine Item 8 (CONSIDER BIDS RECEIVED BY THE CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR PAPER AND CLEANING SUPPLIES).

5)         Read and approve minutes of the May 7, 2007, meeting.

Reading of the minutes of the May 7, 2007, meeting were dispensed with (copies of minutes were sent to each member prior to this meeting) and corrected to record the beginning date for Dr. Gibson Miller as Principal of Iota High School effective July 2, 2007, upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

6)         Recognize Mr. Paul DeRousselle for receiving a grant from NASA Explorer Schools (NES) program. (Rex Mills)

Mr. Steve Jones introduced Mr. Paul DeRousselle, recipient of an NASA grant in the amount of $18,500 for Church Point Middle School.  He introduced members of his staff who were instrumental in receiving this grant, which will enhance student learning in the areas of math and science.

7)         Recognize Mr. Mark Abraham, candidate for State Senate.

Mr. Mark Abraham briefly addressed the Board.  He is seeking public office in the October election and asked the Board for its support.

ACTION ITEMS:      There were no action items to address.

ROUTINE ITEMS:

1)         Adopt millage rates for the tax year 2007.

Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, millage rates for the tax year 2007 were adopted.

                     2007 Property Tax Millages - General fund, Debt Service and Maintenance

Below are the parish-wide property tax millages to be levied for 207.  Board action is required to adopt these millages each year.  Parish-wide and district-level maintenance millages are based on limits established by the tax assessors office.  These rates remain the same as last year, except for the new maintenance tax in Iota.

2006 Millage                2007 Millage

Constitutional                                         5.14                             5.14

School Maintenance                               5.01                             5.01

Special School Tax                               15.02                           15.02

Fifth Ward Maintenance                       13.45                           13.45

Iota-Egan Maintenance                              0                             10.00

DEBT SERVICE FUNDS

Below are the millages for the various debt service districts in our parish.  They reflect the revenue necessary to service bond and interest payments during 2007-08.  Board action is required annually to set these millages.

2006                            2007

Crowley                                                  0                                  0

Rayne                                                      0                                  0

Church Point                                        24.00                           23.60

Fifth Ward                                           16.80                           18.20

Iota                                                       3.50                               0

2)         Consider bids received for an official journal for 2007-08.

There were two bids received for an official journal.  Rayne Acadian Tribune at .70 per legal square and The Rayne Independent at 1.75 per legal square.  Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the low bid of .70 per legal square was awarded to the Rayne Acadia Tribune.

3)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding bids received for Teaching and Duplicating Supplies.

The Budge/Finance Committee reviewed bid tabulations for Teaching and Duplicating Supplies.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, lowest bids meeting specifications, unless designated as preferred items were awarded to the vendor, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

4)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding bids received for Janitorial Supplies.

The Budget/Finance Committee reviewed bid tabulations for Janitorial Supplies and recommended awarding bids to the vendor with the lowest price meeting specifications.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, bids were awarded to the vendors with the lowest prices meeting specifications, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

5)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding bids received by the Child Nutrition Program for Small Cafeteria Equipment.

The Budget/Finance Committee reviewed bid tabulations for Small Cafeteria Equipment and recommended awarding bids to qualified vendors who met all specifications and most favorable prices.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, bids were awarded to the qualified vendors meeting all specifications and most favorable prices, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

6)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding bids received by the Child Nutrition Program for Frozen and Chilled Meats.

The Budget/Finance Committee reviewed bid tabulations for Frozen and Chilled Meat and recommended awarding bids to the lowest price meeting specifications.  Some verifications were still pending, at that time, and one item was awarded to the next lowest bidder meeting specifications, upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

7)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding bids received by the Child Nutrition Program for Canned and Frozen Fruits and Vegetables.

The Budget/Finance Committee reviewed bid tabulations for Canned and Frozen Fruits and vegetables and recommended awarding bids as indicated by the Child Nutrition staff.  After further analysis of products, four bids did not meet specifications and were awarded to the next lowest bidder, upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote. 

8)         Consider bids received by the Child Nutrition Program for Paper and Cleaning Supplies.

This item was deleted earlier in the meeting.

9)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding the acquisition of five buses.

Mr. Mike Leonards indicated that the Acadia Parish School Board will be able to Piggyback on bids recently awarded by St. Landry Parish School Board.  New buses will cost $69,592 each.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board agreed to acquire five buses.

10)       Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding the budgeting of COLA funds for Head Start.

After a presentation by Mrs. Sondra Myers, upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board accepted COLA funds as indicated for the Head Start Program, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

11)       Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance/Curriculum Committee regarding replacement of the Technology Instructional Assistant.

The Board asked questions about the Technology Instructional Assistant position and salary.  Pay will be 1,465 times of the teacher pay.  The position is for 12 months and work until 4:30 p.m..  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a roll call vote of 6 to 1, the Board approved replacing the Technology Instructional Assistant.

YEA:    Syria, LaCombe, Suire, Daigle, Higginbotham, Simar

NAY:   Shamsie

12)       Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance/Curriculum Committee regarding renewal of group health insurance for 2007-08.

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, renewal of group health insurance for 2007-08 was approved by the Board, as recommended by the PIC Committee.

13)       Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance/Curriculum Committee regarding adoption of new web page guidelines.

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board adopted guidelines for new web pages.  A summary of these changes was made available.

                                                           WEB PAGE GUIDELINES

The following guidelines will apply to APSB web pages, school web pages, and OnCourse teacher web pages.

Policies

• All approved school sites are located on the APSB district web server.

• Each school will have a webmaster who will be provided with a password to access the schools website on the parish server.

• The principal must give permission for content on the schools website using the APSB Web Page Guidelines Evaluation Checklist as a guide.

• Websites should be developed to run on a variety of web browsers (i.e. Netscape, Internet Explorer, Firefox)

• Product or political endorsements and advertisements are prohibited.

• References to School partners or Partners in Education are allowed.

• The school webmaster(s) is responsible for keeping the school web site up-to-date.

Purpose

• The purposes of the district and school websites are:

      To facilitate teacher/parent communication. 
To provide information concerning activities and special events.   
To increase positive public relations and community awareness.
To provide links to academic sites that motivate student learning.
To highlight student work and achievements, if applicable.

Content

• Web pages will be related to educational goals and objectives or school-related activities.

• Pictures and/or personal information of faculty and staff will require written permission.

• On the schools homepage, content must include, but not limited to the following:

             School name, address, and phone number
Mission statement
Link to APSB Homepage
Link to APSB Parent Web page

• Disclaimers/Copyright statements:
  Web pages with links to Internet sites outside of the APSB server will include the following statement as the standard APSB disclaimer:
  " AAPSB is not responsible for any online content outside this web site.  Please contact the Webmaster using the Schools phone number, if any inappropriate links are found so that they may be examined and/or removed.
   

• Web pages will include this statement in the footer:
  "AAPSB requires compliance with copyright laws.
   

• Content of web pages will follow all copyright laws.
  Website explaining copyright laws is http://www.copyright.gov/

Security

• No announcement of field trips will be publicized.

• No personal information for any individual will be listed without permission.

• Published student work requires written permission of parent(s) and student using Parent Permission Form for Publishing Student work or Photograph form

• Author of published work will be identified by first name and initial of last name.

• Photos:
  Parents(s) and student permission needed to display picture of any student.
  Grades PK-8: No student names B only class name will be used on webpage.
  Grades 9-12: first name and initial of last name only.

• No links to any personal sites (i.e.: MySpace, etc.).

• Webmaster(s) shall not share ID or Password.

• Security sweep will be conducted by District Technology personnel initially and annually thereafter.

Design

• A Title will exist on each webpage.

• A navigational link will exist on every schools webpage to return back to the school's homepage.

• Use standard page dimensions.

• Graphics will be of JPEG format.

• Graphics links will include text links.

• Limited animations and sound.

• Consistent style throughout the page (layout, font, colors, and contrasting background colors) Common fonts (Arial, Times New Roman, Comic Sans, Tahoma, Verdana) and standard link colors.

• Avoid slanted text or special effect text.

14)       Consider recommendation of the Personnel/Insurance/Curriculum Committee regarding adoption of the twelve-month employee calendar.

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the 2007-08 twelve-month employee calendar was adopted.

                                ACADIA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD 

                                                        Incorporated July 11, 1887 

Post Office Drawer 309                                                      Mr. Roland J. Boudreaux                         

Crowley, LA 70527-0309                                                     President

Mr. John E. Bourque                                                               337-783-3664 Phone

Superintendent                                                                        337-783-3761 Fax

Mr. Gene I. Daigle

Vice President

                                     CALENDAR FOR TWELVE-MONTH EMPLOYEES

                                                                    2007-2008

OFFICE HOURS:

Summer Months:               June 1, 2007, through August 13, 2007, office hours will be:

8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., MONDAY through THURSDAY

8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., FRIDAY

School Months:                     August 14, 2007, through May 30, 2008, regular office hours will be:

8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., MONDAY through THURSDAY

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., FRIDAY

INDEPENDENCE DAY:                Wednesday, July 4, 2007

LABOR DAY:                               Monday, September 3, 2007

RICE FESTIVAL:                          Friday, October 19, 2007

THANKSGIVING:                         Wednesday, November 21, through Friday, November 23, 2007

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR:        Monday, December 24, 2007, through Friday, January 4, 2008

MLK:                                               Monday, January 21, 2008

MARDI GRAS:                             Tuesday, February 5, 2008

GOOD FRIDAY & EASTER:         Friday, March 21, through Friday, March 28, 2008

Administrators may require support staff to be at work, if needed, during holidays.  Principals are allowed discretionary authority to determine which hours custodians will work.

Approved:

Mr. John E. Bourque

Superintendent

jm

c      Central Office Staff

Principals

15)  Canvass the results of the election held on May 5, 2007, by the Iota-Egan School District #8.

Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the resolution of the election held on May 5 ,2007, by the Iota-Egan School District #8.

16)  Canvass the results of the election held on May 5 2007, by the Fifth Ward School District #7.

Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the resolution of the election held on May 5, 2007, by the Fifth Ward School District #7

17)  Consider final budget revisions for 2006-07.

Mr. Mike Leonards presented information regarding budget projections for the current year.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, final budget revisions for 2006-07 were approved.

18)Consider dates for the next committee and board meetings.

Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the date for the next committee will be Wednesday, June 27, 2007, and the Board Meeting will be Monday, July 2, 2007.

19 )Correspondence

Superintendent Bourque called attention to an article in the Morning Advocate regarding relationships between teachers and students.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:    There were no discussion items to address.

CONSENT ITEMS:

Upon motion by Mr. Syria, seconded by Mr. Simar, 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 retirement notification of employees.

3)         Received the monthly sales tax report showing a year-to-date increase of 8.54 percent

4)         Granted a request to Denise A. Darby, teacher, Armstrong Middle School, for sabbatical leave for the 2007-08 school session, for professional development.

5)         Granted a request to Traci Mire Simon, teacher, South Rayne Elementary for a sabbatical eave for the 2007-08 school session, for professional development.

6)         Granted a request to Renee Nugier, Speech Pathologist, Ross Elementary for leave without pay from March 26, 2007, to June 1, 2007.

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:

Superintendent Bourque reported exit conferences with principals will begin next week.

CLOSING:

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 6:08 p.m.

_________________________

Roland J. Boudreaux, President

ATTEST:

_________________________

John E. Bourque, Superintendent