CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

JANUARY 14, 2008

 

The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 14th day of January 2008, at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session at Crowley, Louisiana, with President Mr. 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. Israel Syria led the prayer.

 

3)         Mr. Daigle 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 deleting Action Item #1 (CONSIDER APPROVAL OF PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY AGREEMENT WITH KINDER-MORGAN PIPELINE COMPANY), adding Opening Item #8 (RECOGNIZE CHURCH POINT MIDDLE SCHOOL CHEERLEADERS), and Routine Item #6a (CONSIDER APPROVAL OF FARMERS ON SCHOOL BOARD PROPERTY).

 

5)         Read and approve minutes of the December 3, 2007, board meeting.

 

Reading of the minutes of the December 3, 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. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

 

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

 

Mr. Bobby Hamlin, principal at Rayne High School, was recognized as State Principal of the Year.  A ring was presented to him by Jostens in honor of this achievement.  Mr. Hamlin thanked the Board and Jostens for their recognition.

 

7)         Hear a report on Turn On to Learning (TOTL) Laptop Initiative Grant at Richard Elementary.

 

Ms. Dana Leger, Technology Instructional Assistant, addressed the Board regarding the Turn On to Learning (TOTL) grant at Richard Elementary School.  The students and teachers gave a brief presentation to the Board.

 

8)         Recognize Church Point Middle School cheerleaders.

 

Mrs. Margaret Jones introduced Mr. Paul DeRousselle, principal of Church Point Middle School, who presented  the cheerleaders from his school who participated in competition throughout the state.  They placed second in national competition.

 

ACTION ITEMS:

 

1)         Consider approval of pipeline right-of-way agreement with Kinder-Morgan Pipeline Company.

 

This item was deleted from the agenda earlier in the meeting.

 

ROUTINE ITEMS:

 

1)         Consider substantial completion of classrooms at Branch Elementary School

 

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved substantial completion of classrooms at Branch Elementary School, as recommended by Mr. Bill Ackal, architect.

 

2)         Consider substantial completion of classrooms at Crowley Kindergarten.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote,  the Board approved substantial completion of classrooms at Crowley Kindergarten, as recommended by Mr. Bill Ackal, architect.

 

3)         Consider resolution calling for renewal of property taxes.

 

Mr. Michael Leonards, business director, presented property tax renewals to be voted on March 8, 2008.  Upon  motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved a resolution calling for renewal of property taxes.

 

4)         Receive information regarding the upcoming Head Start review.

 

Mrs. Sondra Myers presented details of the upcoming review of the APSB Head Start program.  This review occurs every three years.  She asked to address the Board at the upcoming committee meeting to provide more details.

 

5)         Consider approval of RFP contract for Internet Access, WAN Connectivity, Telecommunications, and Student Email services.

 

Mrs. Jill Doga, technology supervisor, went over recommendations for Internet Access, WAN connectivity, Telecommunications, and Student Email services, based on information submitted by several vendors.  She answered questions of the Board regarding the need for upgrading APSB network and the related costs.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the RFP contract for Internet Access, WAN Connectivity, Telecommunications, and Student Email services.

 

6)         Hear a report on the use of school activity buses.

 

Mr. Steve Jones updated the Board on the use of activity buses at APSB high schools.  These units were provided in the Fall if 2007 and have been utilized throughout the parish.  This was discussed further by the Board.

 

6a)       Consider approval of farmers on school board property.

 

            Mr. Michael Leonards, business director, went over a request by two current farmers to swap acreage between Garber Farms and Troy Fruge.  Mr. Leonards will prepare the necessary paperwork to facilitate this change.  Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a majority voice vote (Mr. Suire abstained), the Board granted these requests. 

           

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

 

Upon motion by Mr. Higginbotham, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the next committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 29, 2008, and the next board meeting will be held Monday, February 11, 2008.

 

8)         Correspondence

 

There was no correspondence to report.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:         There were no discussion items to address.

 

CONSENT ITEMS:

 

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Daigle, 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 Sales Tax report showing a year-to-date increase of 32.37 percent.

4)         Granted a request to Emma Hebert, teacher, Estherwood Elementary, for a sabbatical leave for the Spring 2008 semester, for medical reasons.

5)         Granted a request to Brandi M. Richard, teacher, Mire Elementary, for a sabbatical leave for the Spring 2008 semester, for medical reasons.

6)         Granted a request to Julie Smith, teacher, Branch Elementary, for a sabbatical leave for the Spring 2008 semester, for medical reasons.

 

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:

 

Superintendent Bourque commented on the supplemental pay of January 10, the CAPS program on the website, the positive behavior information on the website, and the new classrooms in Branch and Crowley Kindergarten.

 

CLOSING:

 

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 6:49 p.m.

______________________________

Roland J. Boudreaux, President

 

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

John E. Bourque, Superintendent