CROWLEY, LOUISIANA
March 5, 2012
The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 5th day of March, 2012 at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session at Crowley, Louisiana, with President presiding Mr. Gene I. Daigle. Members present were Mr. Douglas J. LaCombe, Vice-President, Mr. Israel Syria, Mr. John A. Suire, Mr. James Higginbotham, Mr. Roland J. Boudreaux, Mr. Milton Simar, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, and Secretary-Treasurer, Superintendent John E. Bourque.
2) Mr. Israel Syria led the prayer.
3) Mr. Douglas LaCombe 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. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous Opening Item #6 was deleted, Opening Item #5A & #5B, and Consent Item #3A were added.
5) Read and approve minutes of the February 6, 2012 meeting.
Reading of the minutes of the February 6, 2012, board meeting were dispensed (copies of minutes were sent to member prior to this meeting) and upon motion by Mr. Higginbotham, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the February 6, 2012 board meeting minutes were approved.
5A) Hear announcement from Maxine Trahan, Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Department.
Maxine Trahan presented the board with information relating to a program sponsored by the Sheriff’s department to educate our youths on the perils of impaired driving. A mock disaster will be held on March 21, 2012 at Rayne High school with participation by local law enforcement, emergency personnel, etc. It will be filmed and shared with the rest of the parish. She invited board members to this event and answered their questions.
5B) Hear announcement from Holly Boffy, BESE Board Member.
Holly Boffy, BESE member addressed the school board, commenting on her school visits in our parish and encouraged continued input from board members and educators as she represents us on the BESE board.
6) DELETED
7) Recognize Students of the Year.
Paul Derousselle introduced students of the year from schools throughout the parish. The following students are the winners of each school level and will represent at state level: Elementary Student of the Year - Ethan Cole Richard, Mermentau Elementary, Middle School Student of the Year – Angelic Renee Bellard, Church Point Middle, and High School Student of the Year – Raven Angelle Woods, Rayne High.
1) Consider changes to policy IDDG relating to admissions to the Alternative school program.
Mrs. Baggett briefed the board on this previously discussed policy change which would allow at-risk students to be enrolled at the Alternative school. Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved changes to policy IDDG relating to admissions to the Alternative school program.
2) Consider changes to policy IDDF regarding seclusion or restraint of Special Education students.
3) Mrs. Baggett briefed the board on this policy change regarding seclusion or restraint of Special Education students resulting from legislative action and was previously discussed by the board. Upon motion by Mr. Syria, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved changes to policy IDDF regarding seclusion or restraint of Special Education students.
ROUTINE ITEMS:
1) Consider approval of nomination for Head Start Policy Council community representative to replace Maxine Trahan who resigned.
Mrs. Myers recommended Father Jared Suire to replace the outgoing community representative, Maxine Trahan, on the Head Start Policy council. Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved recommendation of Father Jared Suire to replace outgoing community representative, Maxine Trahan, on the Head Start Policy council.
2) Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding mid year budget revisions for 2011-2012
Mr. Leonards presented the proposed mid year budget revisions for the general fund, based on financial trends through mid year. Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved mid year budget revisions for 2011-2012.
3) Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding approval of Head Start continuation grant application for 2012-2013.
Mr. Leonards reviewed the application for continued funding of the Head Start grant. He went over the proposed budget as well as the operational aspects of the program. Head Start is facing continued financial burdens because of the rising benefit costs and complex licensing requirements. Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved Head Start continuation grant application for 2012-2013.
4) Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding proposal for auditing services.
Mr. Leonards presented a proposal from Broussard, Poche, Lewis & Breaux to provide auditing services for the next two years. It was noted that their work on the prior year audit was completed in a professional and timely manner. Cost for the next two years was quoted at $39,750 and $40,250 respectively. Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved proposal for auditing services.
5) Consider request from Iota High Physics and Calculus classes to go to NASA Space Center, Houston, TX on May 4, 2012.
Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request from Iota High Physics and Calculus classes to go to NASA Space Center, Houston, TX on May 4, 2012.
6) Consider bus drivers for Rayne and Crowley routes.
Mr. Bourque recommended Glenn Carriere replace Rachel Hargrave’s Crowley route and Deanne’ White replace Mary Solomon’s Rayne route. Mr. Boudreaux suggested Deanne’ White drive bus #95 for the remainder of the year and switch to bus #97 next school year. Upon motion by Mr. Higginbotham, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved recommended replacements for Crowley and Rayne routes.
Mr. Bourque mentioned that we are still looking into the possibility of seeking bus management services, which will be discussed in more detail at the next committee meeting.
7) Consider request from CLECO fro pipeline right of way on Section 16 Southwest of Eunice.
Mr. Caswell indicated that he has successfully negotiated on our behalf for a pipeline right of way to CLECO which is 261.75 rods x $450 = $117,787.50 plus crop damages. Superintendent is hereby authorized to sign the necessary documents on behalf of the school board. Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request from CLECO for pipeline right of way on Section 16 Southwest of Eunice.
8) Consider dates for next committee and board meetings.
Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, committee meetings will be on February 22, 2012 and the board meeting will be March 5, 2012.
9) Correspondence.
None
DISCUSSION ITEMS: NONE
CONSENT ITEMS:
Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, 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. Shamsie, 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. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, retirement notification of employees was approved.
3) Consider request from Dinah Istre, teacher, Iota High school, for a sabbatical leave for the fall semester 2012 for professional development.
Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request from Dinah Istre, teacher, Iota High, for a sabbatical leave for the fall semester 2012 for professional development.
3A) Consider request from Christi Petitjean, teacher, North Crowley Elementary, for a leave without pay from February 2012 to July 2012.
Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request from Christi Petitjean, teacher, North Crowley Elementary, for a leave without pay from February 2012 to July 2012.
4) Receive Sales Tax Report.
Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board received the sales tax report which showed a year to date increase of .51%.
SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:
Mr. Bourque commented on the upcoming LSBA convention to be held in Lafayette, LA.
CLOSING:
There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Higginbotham, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
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Gene I. Daigle, President
ATTEST:
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John E. Bourque, Superintendent