CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

MARCH 3, 2008

The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 3rd day of March 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. 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. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the agenda was revised by adding Routine Item #6a (CONSIDER MAINTENANCE/CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR WARD 4) Routine Item #6b, (CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF BUS DRIVER IN RAYNE AREA), Routine Item #6c (CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF BUS DRIVER IN CROWLEY AREA), Routine Item #6d (CONSIDER AUTHORIZING ARCHITECTURAL PLANS AND BIDDING FOR A NEW CAFETERIA AT ESTHERWOOD ELEMENTARY).

5)         Read and approve minutes of the January 14, 2008, board meeting.

Reading of the minutes of the February 11, 2008, board meeting were dispensed   (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 Dylan Hebert, Rayne High and Easton LaCombe, Iota High, State Grand Championship Livestock Exhibitors.

Mr. LaCombe recognized Dylan Hebert, Rayne High and Easton LaCombe, Iota High, State Grand Championship Livestock Exhibitors.  The board congratulated these young men for their accomplishments.  Mr. Simar announced that the Iota High School Lady Bulldogs Basketball team won the state championship for the second consecutive year.  Mr. Higginbotham announced that the Church Point High Bears Power lifting team won the state power lifting championship.  The students will be recognized at the April board meeting.

7)                  Hear presentation from Crowley Arts Association.

Mrs. Shirley Griffin, Crowley Arts Association representative, discussed their participation in the recent Career Expo.  She presented a canvas of artwork done by students to the Board.  Mrs. Ezora Proctor thanked the Board for their support and participation in the annual Career Expo.

8)                  Receive preliminary results from Head Start review.

Mrs. Sondra Myers briefed the Board on preliminary results of a recent review of the APSB Head Start program.  The initial comments were positive and a formal report is due within 45 days.  She thanked the Board for their cooperation in the review.

9)                  Recognize the week of March 3-7, 2008 as ”r;Attendance Awareness Week”.

Mr. Boudreaux read the Proclamation from the State Department declaring the week of March 3-7, 2008 as ”r;Attendance Awareness Week”.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the week of March 3-7, 2008 as ”r;Attendance Awareness Week”.

ACTION ITEMS:      There were no action items to address.

ROUTINE ITEMS:

1)                  Consider recommendation of Personnel, Insurance, and Curriculum committee regarding a Staff Development Day on May 26, 2008.

Upon motion by Daigle, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved a Staff Development Day on May 26, 2008.  Mr. Bourque added that the Special Education staff would be trained on the BoysTown Model of discipline and social skills.

2)                  Consider recommendation of Personnel, Insurance, and Curriculum committee regarding the disposition of wireless towers at schools.

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the disposition of the wireless towers at the schools.  The towers at 14 schools will be retained for possible future use.

3)                  Consider recommendation of Personnel, Insurance, and Curriculum committee regarding Head Start Self Assessment and Community Assessment report for 2007.

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the Head Start Self Assessment and Community Assessment report for 2007.

4)                  Consider recommendation of the Budget and Finance committee regarding roof repairs at Midland High School.

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved roof repairs at Midland High.  Manufacturer will provide replacement material and the Board will cover labor costs.

5)                  Consider recommendation of the Budget and Finance committee regarding budget preparation calendar for 2008-08.

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved budget preparation calendar for 2008-09.

6)                  Consider recommendation of the Budget and Finance committee regarding Head Start refunding application for the 2008-09 school year.

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the Head Start refunding application for the 2008-09 school year.

6a)       Consider maintenance/construction projects for Ward 4.

Mr. Bourque requested Board approval to begin planning and bidding for construction/renovation projects in the Iota area.  Upon motion by Simar, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved Mr. Bill Ackal, architect, to prepare plans and authorized Superintendent to advertise for bids.

6b)       Consider appointment of bus driver in Rayne area.

Mr. Bourque requested Board approval to appoint Tyler Roberts, to replace Donald Bearb, in the Rayne area.  Upon motion by Daigle, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved appointment of bus driver, Tyler Roberts.

6c)       Consider appointment of bus driver in Crowley area.

Mr. Bourque requested board approval to appoint Natasha Istre, to replace Sophie Joseph, in the Crowley area.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a roll call vote of 4 to 4, the motion failed.

            YEA:  Suire, Boudreaux, Daigle, Higginbotham

            NAY:  Syria, LaCombe, Shamsie, Simar

Mr. Donald Broussard, President of Bus Drivers Association, commented on his disagreement with the process used to select drivers for the routes.

Mrs. Sondra Myers commented that the years of substitute driving experience does not constitute ability for a permanent position.

Upon motion by Mr. Daige, seconded by Mr. Suire, Item 6e was added to the agenda (READVERTISE FOR APPOINTMENT OF BUS DRIVER IN CROWLEY AREA).

6d)       Consider authorizing architectural plans and bidding for a new cafeteria at Estherwood Elementary.

Mr. Bourque recommended building a new cafeteria at Estherwood Elementary.  Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Lacombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved Bill Ackal, architect, to prepare plans and authorize Superintendent to advertise for bids.  The construction will be paid with 5^th Ward maintenance funds.

6e)       Re-advertise for appointment of bus driver in Crowley area.

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved re-advertising for Crowley area bus driver.

7)                  Consider dates for next committee and board meetings.

Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the date for the next committee meeting will be on Wednesday, March 19, 2008, and the Board meeting will be on Monday, April 7, 2008.

8)                  Correspondence

There was no correspondence to report.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:   There were no discussion items to address.

CONSENT ITEMS:

Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, 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 Sales Tax report showing a year-to-date increase of 5.42 percent.

4)        Consider request from Margaret LaDay, cook, Church Point Elementary, to take a leave without pay from March 1, 2008 to June 1, 2008.

5)         Consider request from Lynn H. Abshire, teacher, Mermentau Elementary, to take maternity leave from February 15, 2008 to May 30, 2008.

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:

Mr. Bourque introduced Mrs. Edna Dugas, Rayne High teacher, to the Board.  Mrs. Dugas brought students to participate in a board meeting as part of class curriculum.

Mr. Bryan Alleman distributed statistics of parent use of the Parent Command Center.  The statistics showed the percent of parents that are using the center to check their children’s progress.

Mr. Bourque reminded everyone of the upcoming property tax renewal election on March 8, 2008.  Mr. Boudreaux and Mr. Bourque thanked the press on the positive advertising on the upcoming property tax renewal.

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 6:03 p.m.

___________________________

Roland J. Boudreaux, President

ATTEST:

___________________________

John E. Bourque, Superintendent