CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

DECEMBER 7, 2009

 

The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 7th day of December 2009, at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session at Crowley, Louisiana, with President Mr. Lynn Shamsie presiding.  Members present were Mr. Roland Boudreaux, Mr. Milton Simar, Mr. Douglas J. LaCombe,  Mr. John A. Suire, Mr. Israel Syria, Mr. Gene I. Daigle Mr. James Higginbotham, and Secretary-Treasurer, Superintendent John E. Bourque. 

 

2)         Mr. Syria led the prayer.

 

3)         Mr. LaCombe led the pledge of allegiance.

 

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

 

             No changes were made to the agenda.

 

5)         Read and approve minutes of the November 2, 2009 meeting.

 

      Reading of the minutes of the November 2, 2009 meeting were dispensed (copies of minutes were sent to member prior to this meeting) and upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the November 2, 2009 minutes were approved.

 

ACTION ITEMS:     

 

  1. Consider recommendation of the Personnel, Insurance, & Curriculum committee regarding policy changes as the result of new legislation.

 

            Ellan Baggett went over recommended policy changes as the result of legislative changes enacted in this year’s session.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, policy changes were approved.

 

ROUTINE ITEMS:

 

1)         Consider recommendation of Community Representative for the Head Start Policy council.

 

Mrs. Leola Woods resigned from the Head Start Policy council and recommendation was to replace her with Ms. Sandy Monroe.  Upon motion by Mr. Syria, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the recommendation of Ms. Sandy Monroe.

 

2)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel, Insurance, & Curriculum committee regarding changes to the Pupil Progression Plan.

 

            Mr. Doug Chance briefed the board on these changes regarding student advancement and Pupil Progression Plan committee assignments.  He also announced to the board that he received word today that two high schools have been cited for significant improvement in college preparation courses, as determined by a five year trend.  Rayne High School and Midland High School were recognized as two of the high schools state wide to receive this honor.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved changes to the Pupil Progression Plan.

 

3)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel, Insurance & Curriculum committee regarding bus drivers with DWI.

 

            Ellan Baggett suggested that our policy be changed, requiring any driver charged with DWI to report this to their employer within 24 hours.  The driver would immediately be placed on leave with pay until the case is adjudicated.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved recommendation regarding bus drivers with DWI.

 

4)         Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding the audit report for the year ended June 30, 2009.

 

            Mr. Rob Carter, CPA, presented the audit report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.  He answered questions of the committee.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved audit report for year ended June 30, 2009.

 

5)         Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding the replacement of chiller at Crowley High School.

 

            Steve Jones updated the committee on the failure of the back-up chiller at Crowley High School.  He presented cost estimates to replace the unit or rent a chiller on an as-needed basis.    Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved replacement of chiller at Crowley High School.

 

6)         Consider Rayne High School Emergency Medical Technician, First Responder, and Biology II classes to attend the Bodies exhibit in Dallas, Texas on December 17, 2009.

 

              Upon motion by Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved out of state request from Rayne High School to Dallas, Texas.

 

  1. Consider dates for the next committee and board meeting dates.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the next committee meeting will be on December 16, 2009 and Board meeting will be on January 11, 2010.

 

  1. Correspondence.    

 

Mike Leonards mentioned the closing date on QSCB bonds. 

Substantial completions were discussed at the various schools.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:  

  

CONSENT ITEMS:

 

Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Consent Items 1 through 6 were taken in globo.

 

1)         Consider assignments and changes of professional employees.

 

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

 

  1.       Consider retirement notification of employees.

 

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

 

3)         Consider request from Nancy Myers for a return to work provision for sabbatical waived.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request for a return to work provision for sabbatical waived for Nancy Myers.

 

4)         Consider request from Rebecca Miller, Armstrong Middle, for a sabbatical leave for the Spring 2010 semester.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request for a sabbatical leave for the Spring 2010 semester for Rebecca Miller.

 

5)         Consider request from Betty Ceasar-Sam, Armstrong Middle, for a sabbatical leave for the Spring 2010 semester.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request for a sabbatical leave for the Spring 2010 semester for Betty Ceasar-Sam.

 

6)         Receive Sales Tax Report.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board received the sales tax report which showed an increase of 0.57%.

 

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:   NONE

 

CLOSING:

 

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 5:28 p.m.

____________________________

Lynn Shamsie, President

ATTEST:

____________________________

John E. Bourque, Superintendent