CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

NOVEMBER 5, 2007

 

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

 

2)         Mr. Israel Syria led the prayer.

 

3)         Mr. Ron Levy, county agent, led the pledge of allegiance.

 

4)         Consider approval of a revised agenda, if there are any changes.

 

Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the agenda was revised by adding Opening Item 8 (RECOGNIZE NOVEMBER 19-23, 2007, AS NATIONAL FAMILY WEEK), Opening Item 9 (HEAR REPORT ON FFA PROGRAMS.), and Opening Item 10 (RECOGNIZE MR. RON LEVY, COUNTY AGENT FOR THE LSU AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE).

 

5)         Read and approve minutes of the October 1, 2007, board meeting.

 

Reading of the minutes of the October 1, 2007, 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. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

 

6)         Recognize Mr. Bobby Hamlin, Secondary State Principal of the Year.

 

Mr. Bobby Hamlin, Rayne High School principal, was recently named Secondary State Principal of the Year.  He was recognized and commended by the Board.

 

7)         Recognize Acadia Parish Teachers of the Year.

 

Mrs. Antoinette Pete introduced Acadia Parish Teachers of the Year.  They were recognized  and congratulated by the Board.

 

8)         Recognize November 19-23, 2007, as National family Week.

 

Mrs. Antionette Pete acknowledged the week of November 19-23, as National Family Week.  The state has issued a proclamation recognizing this week.

 

9)         Hear a report on FFA programs.

 

Spencer Stelly of Rayne High FFA briefly addressed the Board, thanking it for its support.  He has been elected to a state level office.

 

10)       Recognize Mr. Ron Levy, county agent for LSU Agricultural Extension Service.

 

Mr. Ron Levy introduced his staff members who are involved in extension services throughout Acadia Parish, including Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H programs.

 

ACTION ITEMS:     

 

1)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Fnance Cmmittee regarding proposed addendum to agricultural leases.

 

The committee received additional information on this topic, confirming the October 1st deadline for notification by the farmer does not conflict with signing up for government programs at the FSA.  It was further suggested to notify the FSA in writing whenever a tenant no longer farms school board property.  Based on this information, the committee recommended adopting the proposed addendum to agricultural leases.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the proposed addendum to agricultural leases was approved as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

 

2)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Cmmittee regarding a resolution of local sales tax on propane/butane used in farm grain dryers.

 

This resolution merely asks the legislature to allow the locals an option to exempt.  If this legislation passes, the Board will have the option to take action next year to take further action.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the resolution of local sales tax on propane/butane used in farm grain dryers.  Mr. Shamsie expressed his reservations.

 

                                                                  RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS      the Acadia Parish School Board, the Acadia Parish Police Jury, and the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Department recognize the role of agriculture in our community

 

WHEREAS      the farmers in Acadia Parish are facing ever rising costs in the production of crops

 

WHEREAS      the farmers are seeking the same classification for local sales tax purposes for all utilities necessary for the drying of crops in farm based bins

 

WHEREAS      existing legislation does not give local sales taxing bodies the authority to exempt butane/propane used in farm grain dryers from parish sales tax

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Acadia Parish School Board, the Acadia Parish Policy Jury and the Acadia Parish Sheriff Department hereby ask the Louisiana Legislature to provide enabling legislation which would allow the sales tax collecting bodies in Acadia Parish the flexibility to consider exemption local sales tax on propane/butane used in farm grain dryers.

 

ROUTINE ITEMS:

 

1)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding bids received by the Child Nutrition Program for canned fruits and vegetables and frozen and chilled meats.

 

Earlier, the committee received and reviewed bids from the Child Nutrition Program for fruits, vegetables, and meat products.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr .Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, bids for canned fruits and vegetables and frozen and chilled meats were awarded bids as indicated on the tabulations prepared by the school lunch staff, as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

 

2)         Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding retaining Thomas Driskill and Associates to conduct Sales Tax audits.

 

This contract has been approved by Mr. Gerard Caswell, board attorney.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved retaining Thomas Driskill and Associates to conduct Sales Tax audits as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee..

 

3)         Consider substantial completion of rewiring at Rayne High School.

 

Mr. Darrell Hicks, electrical engineer, indicated that rewiring at Rayne High School has been completed with no change orders and he recommended substantial completion.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved substantial completion of rewiring at Rayne High School.

 

4)         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 committee meetings will be held Wednesday, November 28, 2007, and the Board meeting will be held Monday, December 3, 2007.

 

5)         Correspondence

 

Superintendent Bourque reminded the Board of the upcoming LSBA State Convention.  He spoke of the voluntary insurance for board members.  He also reported on MFP trends.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:         There were no discussion items to address.

 

CONSENT ITEMS:

 

1)         Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved assignments and changes of professional employees.

 

2)         Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board received retirement notification of employees.

 

3)         Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board received the monthly sales tax report showing a year-to-date increase of 16.10 percent

 

4)         Upon motion by Mr. Syria, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board granted a request to Emma Hebert, teacher, Estherwood Elementary and Midland High School, for a sabbatical leave for the 2008 Spring semester, due to medical reasons.

 

5)         Upon motion by Mr. Syria, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board granted a request to Dolores I. Morvant, teacher, South Crowley Elementary, for a sabbatical leave for the 2008 Spring semester, due to medical reasons.

 

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:

 

Superintendent Bourque commended Mr. Bobby Hamlin for being selected State Secondary Teacher of the Year.  He commended Acadia Parish Teachers of the Year.  He informed the Board that Mr. Clyde Briley served on a panel of exemplary High Schools.

 

CLOSING:

 

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

 

______________________________

Roland J. Boudreaux, President

 

ATTEST:

______________________________

John E. Bourque, Superintendent