CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

APRIL 7, 2008

 

The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 7th day of April 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. Suire led the pledge of allegiance.

 

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

 

There were no changes to the agenda.

 

5)         Read and approve minutes of the March 3, 2008, board meeting.

 

Reading of the minutes of the March 3, 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. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

 

6)         Recognize Iota High Girls’ Basketball State Championship.

 

Dr. Gibson Miller, Principal, Iota High School, introduced Mr. Stan Baggett, girls basketball coach and congratulated the team on their accomplishments.  Mr. Stan Baggett introduced the team to the board.  The Board congratulated Mr. Baggett and the girls for their hard work and second consecutive state basketball championship. 

 

7)                  Recognize Church Point High Power Lifting State Championship.

 

This item was postponed until the May meeting because of scheduling conflicts.

 

8)                  Recognize Student of the Year.

 

Mrs. Antoinette Pete announced the Students of the Year for Acadia Parish.  The students were not able to attend the meeting.  Elementary student of the year was Gabrielle Hebert, Evangeline Elementary 5th Grade.  Middle school student of the year was Chelsea Lejeune, Richard Elementary 8th Grade.  Secondary student of the year was Rose Mary Tweedel, Church Point High 12th Grade.  The students will be presented a plaque and gift certificate from local merchants.  The Board expressed their wishes to have the students attend the May meeting so that they could be personally recognized.

 

ACTION ITEMS:      There were no action items to address.

 

ROUTINE ITEMS:

 

1)                  Consider recommendation of Personnel, Insurance, and Curriculum committee regarding textbook adoption for 2008-09.

 

Upon motion by Daigle, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the textbooks recommended by the committee which were SRA Imagine It Series – Grades K-5,  McDougel Littell Literature Series – Grades 6-8, and Holt Literature Series.  The estimated cost of the adoption is $1,314,102.

 

2)                  Consider recommendation of Personnel, Insurance, and Curriculum committee regarding adoption of school calendars for 2008-09.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the school calendars for 2008-2009 along with the twelve month calendar.

3)                  Consider recommendation of Budget and Finance committee regarding pipeline right-of-way agreement with Kinder Morgan Pipeline Company.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the right-of-way agreement with Kinder Morgan Pipeline Company, also authorizing the Superintendent to sign off on all documents of the agreement.

 

4)                  Consider recommendation of the Budget and Finance committee regarding clearing of farmland and pipe installation.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved pipe installation only.

 

5)                  Consider authorizing Superintendent to advertise for Principal at Richard Elementary.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Higginbotham, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved authorizing the Superintendent to advertise for Principal at Richard Elementary.

 

6)                  Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for Crowley area bus driver.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the Superintendent’s recommendation of Natasha Istre.  The Board congratulated Mrs. Istre.

 

7)         Consider adopting a resolution declaring results and canvassing returns for special election held on March 8, 2008.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved and adopted a resolution declaring results and canvassing returns of the special election held on March 8, 2008.

 

 


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 5th 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, 8) 8)

 

8)         Consider request from Brandon Broussard for zoning variance near Crowley Middle School.

 

Mr. Leonards presented a zoning variance request from Brandon Broussard to operate a sno-cone stand near Crowley Middle School.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the request from Brandon Broussard for zoning variance near Crowley Middle School, contingent upon him obtaining all required signatures and authorizing the Superintendent to sign the petition.

 

9)         Consider adopting a resolution opposing state legislation related to a school voucher program.

 

The Board reviewed resolutions opposing the use of school vouchers in Louisiana.  The following resolution was adopted upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

 

10)       Consider dates for next committee and board meetings.

            Upon motion by Mr. Higginbotham, seconded by Mr. Daigle and carried by a unanimous voice vote, April 23, 2008 will be the next committee meetings and May 5, 2008 will be the next board meeting.

11)              Correspondence

            NONE

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:   There were no discussion items to address.

CONSENT ITEMS:

 

1)         Consider assignments and changes of professional employees.

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

2)         Consider retirement notification of employees.

 

            NONE

 

3)         Receive Sales Tax Report.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Higginbotham, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the sales tax report.

 

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:

 

Mr. Bourque talked about certified teacher trends and comparisons and the exceptional label Acadia Parish received from the state.  He commented on textbook adoption and the positive change it will have on our children.  He also reminded the board that testing will be 2 weeks later next year.

 

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 5:53 p.m.

___________________________

Roland J. Boudreaux, President

ATTEST:

___________________________

John E. Bourque, Superintendent