CROWLEY, LOUISIANA   AUGUST 4, 2008

 

 

The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 4th day of August 4,  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. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Opening Item #5a and Consent Item #3a was added to the agenda.

 

5)                  Recognize Cleanest Kitchen/Cafeteria contest winners.

 

      Mrs. Ruth Miller presented winners of the cleanest kitchen contest.  Winners in the Central kitchen were 1st place Rayne High, 2nd place Crowley High and 3rd place Crowley Middle.  Winners in the Satellite kitchen were 1st place Crowley Kindergarten, 2nd place Morse Elementary, and 3rd place Central Rayne Kindergarten.  The winners were recognized with a trophy and plaques and commended by the board.

 

5a.       Recognize Iota High Cheerleaders for winning national honors.

 

The Iota High cheerleader sponsor introduced the cheerleaders and shared their recent accomplishments while at competition in New Orleans.  They have also been invited to the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade.  The board commended them on their accomplishments.

 

6.                  Read and approve minutes of the July 7, 2008 meeting.

 

      Reading of the minutes of the July 7, 2008 board meeting were dispensed (copies of minutes were sent to each member prior to this meeting) and adopted as submitted, upon motion by LaCombe, seconded by Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

 

ACTION ITEMS:     

 

1)                  Discuss policy revisions as the result of new legislation.

 

            Mrs. Baggett presented a summary of policy changes needed as the result of new legislation regarding summer school, school admission and absences and excuses.  Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved policy revisions.

 

2)                  Discuss proposed changes to the Pupil Progression Plan.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved proposed changes to the Pupil Progression Plan.

 

ROUTINE ITEMS:

 

1)                  Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for bus driver in the Crowley area.

 

Mr. Bourque recommended Chris Allen for Crowley area bus driver.  Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

 

2)                     Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for bus driver for Crowley Head Start route.

 Mr. Bourque recommended Denise Greene for Crowley Head Start route.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

 

3)                     Consider recommendation of the Budget and Finance committee regarding the purchase of defibrillators for high schools.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved purchase of defibrillators for each high school at $1,699 for each machine and $20 per person for training.

 

4)                     Consider recommendation of the Budget and Finance committee regarding intra-agency loan agreement.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved intra-agency loan agreement with Iota Maintenance Fund.

 

INTRA-AGENCY LOAN AGREEMENT

 

For the purpose of funding various construction and renovation projects in the Iota bonding district, the General Fund of the Acadia Parish School Board agrees to loan money as needed to the Iota Maintenance Fund subject to the terms outlined below:

 

Funds will be advanced in incremental amounts as needed after Iota Maintenance Fund cashed has been substantially depleted.  Interest will accrue at a rate based on the highest yielding Certificate of Deposit held by the School Board at a local bank.  Repayment, including interest, shall be made from annual collections of property taxes by the Iota Maintenance Fund.  A detailed schedule shall be maintained showing all transactions relating to this agreement.  Interest shall be paid annually by March 1st.  Principal payments will be made on available balances.  After the initial round of construction is completed, no major projects will be undertaken until the debt is satisfied.

 

5)                     Consider recommendation of the Budget and Finance committee regarding right-of-way request from ENTERGY.

 

Upon motion by Simar, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the right-of-way request from ENTERGY.

 

6)         Adopt the adjusted millage rates for the tax year 2008.

 

            Upon the motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a roll call vote 8 to 0, the board adopted the adjusted millage rates for the tax year 2008.

 

      YEA:  Syria, LaCombe, Shamsie, Suire, Boudreaux, Daigle, Higginbotham, and Simar

                  NAY:  NONE

 

            2008 Property Tax Millages

 

            Below are the parish-wide property tax millages to be levied for 2008.  Board action is required to adopt these millages each year. 

 

            Constitutional                              4.46

            School Maintenance                   5.01

            Special School Tax             13.04        

            5th Ward Maintenance              11.83

            Iota Ward                                  8.70  

 

7)         Adopt the adjusted millage rates after reassessment and roll forward the millage rate to a rate not to exceed the prior year’s maximum millage for 2008 tax year.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a roll call vote 8 to 0, the board adopted the adjusted millage rate after reassessment and roll forward for 2008 tax year.

 

YEA:  Syria, LaCombe, Shamsie, Suire, Boudreaux, Daigle, Higginbotham, and Simar

 

NAY:  NONE

 

8)         Adopt other authorized millages or taxes.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a roll call vote of 8 to 0, the board adopted other authorized millages or taxes.

 

      YEA:  Syria, LaCombe, Shamsie, Suire, Boudreaux, Daigle, Higginbotham, and Simar

      NAY:  NONE

 

DEBT SERVICE

Church Point                19.30

5th Ward                      16.20

 

9)         Consider adopting Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board adopted Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire.

 

10)       Approve Reading Coaches’ Job Descriptions.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved Reading Coaches’ job descriptions.

 

11)       Approve Community Representative for Head Start Policy Council.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Lacombe, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved Israel Syria, Bonnie Johnson, Leola Woods, and Sherry Handy

 

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

 

           Upon motion by LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, August 20, 2008 will be the next committee meetings; September 8, 2008 will be the next board meeting.

 

13)           Correspondence

 

           Mr. Bourque reminded the board about the open forum invitation from Congressman Boustany on August 5, 2008.   Mrs. Julie Miers thanked the board for the new reading series on behalf of the Principals Association

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:     

 

1)               Discuss policy revisions as the result of new legislation.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, this item was moved to Action Item #1

.

2)      Discuss proposed changes to the Pupil Progression Plan.

 

      Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, this item was moved to Action Item #2.

 

CONSENT ITEMS:

 

1)                  Consider assignments and changes of professional employees.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved assignments and changes of professional employees.

 

2)                  Consider retirement notification of employees.

            Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved retirement notification of employees.

 

3)                  Consider request from Nicole Willis, teacher, Crowley Kindergarten, for a sabbatical leave for the Spring 2009 semester.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Lacombe, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request from Nicole Willis, teacher, Crowley Kindergarten, for a sabbatical leave for the Spring 2009 semester.

 

3a)       ADD:  CONSIDER REQUEST FROM COUNSELOR, ANNETTE STELLY, CROWLEY HIGH, FOR A SABBATICAL LEAVE FOR THE FALL 2008 AND SPRING 2009 SEMESTERS.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request from Annette Stelly, counselor, Crowley High, for a sabbatical leave for the Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 semesters.   

 

4)                  Receive Sales Tax Report.

 

            Sales Tax showed a YTD increase of 0.44%.

 

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:

 

            Mr. Bourque commented on the August 11th cheerleading workshop.  He also commented on the one time $1,000 support pay supplement on October 10th from the state and the teacher pay scale increase of $1,019.    He commented on the positive results in our back to school meetings.

 

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 6:23 p.m.

 

____________________________

Roland J. Boudreaux, President

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

John E. Bourque, Superintendent