CROWLEY, LOUISANA

APRIL 7, 2011

 

The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 4th day of April, 2011 at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session at Crowley, Louisiana, with President Mr. Gene I. Daigle presiding.  Members present were Mr. Israel Syria, Mr. Roland Boudreaux, Mr. Milton Simar, Mr. James Higginbotham, Mr. Douglas J. LaCombe, Mr. John A. Suire, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, and Secretary-Treasurer, Superintendent John E. Bourque.

  

2)         Mr. Israel Syria led the prayer.

 

3)         Mr. Doug LaCombe led the pledge of allegiance.

 

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

                       

 Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Opening Item #6A was added to the agenda.

 

5)         Read and approve minutes of the March 7, 2011 meeting.
 

      Reading of the minutes of the March 7, 2011  meeting  were dispensed (copies of minutes were sent to member prior to this meeting) and upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the March 7, 2011 minutes were approved.

 

6)        Recognize Power Lifters from Church Point High.

 

          Mr. Steve Jones introduced the principal, Mr. Lee Bellard, and coach, Mr. Eddie Bergeron, from Church Point High school who are repeat power lifters for the fourth year. Coach Bergeron introduced the team, highlight their individual and team accomplishments.

 

7)        Recognize Rayne High Pro-Start program.

 

           Rayne High principal, Mr. Bobby Hamlin, introduced the Pro-Start class. They have won at state competition for the second year in a row and will now proceed to national competition. The Pro-Start class participants were introduced and presented a certificate for their accomplishment.

 

8)        Recognize Rayne High EMT program.

 

           Rayne High principal, Mr. Bobby Hamlin, introduced Cassie Ancelet, teacher of the first responder and EMT class. They recently competed successfully at the state level and are now eligible for competition at the national level in June.

 

9)        Recognize Students of the Year.

 

        Mrs. Antoinette Pete introduced students of the year and recognized each student with a plaque and their parents. The winners were as follows:

 

                                   Julia Schexneider                     Church Point Elementary

                                   Olivia Robison                         Evangeline Elementary

                                   Kelsey Doguet                        Iota High

 

10)      Recognize 2010-2011 Support Persons of the Year.

 

           Mrs. Antoinette Pete introduced the support persons of the year:

 

                                   Thelma Clement                       Morse Elementary

                                   Shari Blanchard                       Iota Middle

                                   Keena Thibodeaux                  Church Point High

 

ACTION ITEMS:

           

1)        Consider changing current GBE policy assignments which prohibits parish or school level administrators from coaching to allow parish or school level administrators from coaching to allow parish or school level administrators to hold a coaching assignment in an administrative position.

 

           Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Syria and carried, it was recommended this policy change, subject to approval by the Superintendent. If problems should arise, the Superintendent may ask the person to choose between an administrator or a coach. Others suggested that the policy remain unchanged, citing a potential conflict of interest if one person attempts to do both jobs. At this time a roll call vote was taken:

 

        YEAS: Mr. Israel Syria, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. John Suire, Mr. Milton Simar

        NAYS: Mr. Douglas LaCombe, Mr. Roland Boudreaux, Mr. Gene Daigle, Mr. James Higginbotham

 

        By a majority vote of 4 to 4, motion to change current GBE policy failed.

 

ROUTINE ITEMS:

 

1)        Consider bus driver assignments.

 

Mr. Steve Jones recommended Kathy Thevis to replace Joann Dommert (retired) on the Egan route, Ray Vassuer to replace Kathy Thevis on the Iota route and Hardy Ulmet to replace Ray Vasseur on the Ward 5 route.  Upon motion by Mr. Higginbotham, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the recommended bus driver assignments.

 

2)        Consider changes to Media/Technology Supervisor’s job description.

 

           Mr. Bourque highlighted the change for this position, whereby the Media/Technology Supervisor would report to the Executive Director of Curriculum. Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried, the board approved changes to Media/Technology Supervisor’s job description.

 

3)        Consider Superintendent’s recommendation for Supervisor of Federal Programs.

 

           Mr. Bourque recommended Steve Duplechin for Supervisor of Federal Programs from a field of four candidates. Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the Superintendent’s recommendation of Mr. Steve Duplechin for Supervisor of Federal Programs.

 

4)        Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding general fund reserves.

 

           Mr. Leonards provided a list of current fund balance reserves to the committee. After some discussion, a recommendation was made to increase the board designated reserves by $3 million as follows:

 

           $500,000 more for insurance reserve

           $500,000 more for transportation

           $1,000,000 to establish a reserve for curriculum

           $1,000,000 more for future roofing needs

 

           The reading of a salary supplement resolution was also adopted as part of the fund balance reserve:

           

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved fund balance reserve.

 

5)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel, Insurance & Curriculum committee regarding Staff Development day in May.

 

           Mrs. Jones briefed the committee on plans for staff development on Monday, May 23, 2011. She reviewed a detailed outline of activities to be held throughout the parish. Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved a staff development day on May 23, 2011.

 

6)        Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding Personnel, Insurance & Curriculum committee regarding school calendars for 2011-2012.

 

           Antoinette Pete presented the proposed school calendar for 2011-2012, as compiled by the calendar committee. Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved school calendars for 2011-2012.

 

6a)      Consider request from Rayne High FFA to travel to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to attend the National Land Judging competition on May 2nd-6th, 2011.

 

           Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried, the board approved request from Rayne High FFA to travel to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to attend the National Land Judging competition on May 2nd-6th, 2011.

 

7)        Consider dates for next committee and board meetings.

 

           Upon motion by Mr. Syria, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the next committee meeting will be April 20, 2011 and the board meeting will be May 2, 2011.

 

8)        Correspondence.

 

           NONE

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:  

 

           NONE

 

CONSENT ITEMS:

 

          Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Consent Items 1 through 4 was 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.

 

2)         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 was approved.

 

3)        Consider request from Crissie Daugereaux, teacher, Church Point Elementary, for a sabbatical leave for the Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 semesters for professional development.

 

           Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried, the board approved request from Crissie Daugereaux, teacher, Church Point Elementary, for a sabbatical leave for the Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 semesters for professional development.

 

4)        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 .57%.

 

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:

 

           Mr. Bourque commented on the sales tax trend, student recognitions and pay supplement commitment

 

CLOSING:

 

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.

____________________________

Gene I. Daigle, President

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

John E. Bourque, Superintendent