CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

December 5, 2011

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

2)         Mr. Israel Syria led the prayer.

3)         Mr. Milton Simar led the pledge of allegiance.

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

                        Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous Consent Item #5 was revised.

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

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

6)                  Recognize Jamie Lavergne, Julie Hebert, and Crystal Phipps, A-PEL professional grant recipients.

            A representative from APEL, a professional teacher organization, presented awards to Jamie Lavergne, Julie Hebert, Crystal Phipp for professional development grants in the amount of $500 each.

7)         Recognize Midland High schools’ 2011 LHSAA Cross Country Class B State Championship Team.

            Midland High school Class B Cross Country team was recognized for winning the state championship.  Coach Todd Briley introduced the team and presented them with certificates of recognition.

ACTION ITEMS:     NONE

ROUTINE ITEMS:

1)         Receive audit report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

Mr. Frank Bergeron, CPA, presented the final audit report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, which was accepted by the board.  Upon motion by Mr. Syria, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved audit report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

2)                  Consider bids received for sale of timber.

            Mr. Leoanards presented the single bid received for the sale of timber on section 16 SE of Eunice.  International Peper offered $6.50 per ton for pine pulpwood.  They will prepare a contract for the attorney to review.  Harvesting will most likely begin in the spring of 2012.  Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved bid received from International Peper for sale of timber on section 16 SE of Eunice.

3)         Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding approval of Head Start funding process for 2012-2013.

            The committee received a summary of the process and timeline for Head Start’s application for next year’s funding.  They will also apply for e-rate, and any other “supplemental” grants which may become available.  As each grant application evolves, it is approved by the Policy Council then presented to the school board for ratification.   Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved Head Start funding process for 2012-2013.

4)         Review pay supplements.

            Mr. Leonards presented a summary of pay supplements issued in November, December, and January to support personnel and professional staff.

5)         Review property tax projections for 2011.

            Mr. Leonards presented an update to the estimated property taxes for the current year, based on final projections from the tax assessor.  It shows a modest increase in revenues in the General Fund Bond and Maintenance Funds

6)         Consider request from Mermentau Elementary principal, Mr. Melvin Smith, Jackie Hanisee, Amanda Miller, Lea Henry, Gretchen Dore, and Tyler Leger to attend the National Title I Conference in Seattle, Washington on January 20-23, 2012.

            Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request from Mermentau Elementary principal, Mr. Melvin Smith, Jackie Hanisee, Amanda Miller, Lea Henry, Gretchen Dore, and Tyler Leger to attend the National Title I Conference in Seattle, Washington on January 20-23, 2012.

7)         Consider dates for next committee and board meetings.

            Upon motion by Mr. Syria, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, there will be no committee meetings in December and the board meeting will be January 10, 2011.

8)         Correspondence.   NONE

DISCUSSION ITEMS:  NONE

CONSENT ITEMS:

            Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, 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. Suire, 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. Suire, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, retirement notification of employees was approved.

3)         Consider request from Kristy Harrell, teacher, South Crowley Elementary, for a sabbatical leave for the spring 2012 semester.

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request from Kristy Harrell, teacher, South Crowley Elementary, for a sabbatical leave for the spring 2012 semester.

3A)      Consider request from Bertha Stevens, teacher, Ross/North Crowley Elementary, for a sabbatical leave for the spring 2012 semester.

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request from Bertha Stevens, teacher, Ross/North Crowley Elementary, for a sabbatical leave for the spring 2012 semester.

4)         Receive Sales Tax Report.

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board received the sales tax report which showed a year to date increase of 1.00%.

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:   

            Mr. Bourque went over recommended staffing changes throughout the parish, insuring that two administrators are available at every school.  He commended the three teachers on the APEL grant awards and Midland High school’s 2012 LHSAA Cross Country Class B state championship team.

CLOSING:

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham,  and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 5:41 p.m.

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Gene I. Daigle, President

ATTEST:

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John E. Bourque, Superintendent