CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

December 3, 2012

The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 3rd day of December 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 Suire, Mr. Roland J. Boudreaux, Mr. Milton Simar, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, and Secretary-Treasurer, Superintendent John E. Bourque, and Mr. James Higginbotham.

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. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Opening Item 5A and Routine Item #6A were added to the agenda.

5)         Read and approve minutes of the November 5, 2012 board meeting.

      Reading of the minutes of the November 5, 2012 board meeting were dispensed (copies of minutes were sent to member prior to this meeting) and upon motion by Mr. Syria, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the November 5, 2012 board meeting minutes were approved.

5A)      Recognize Ag teachers and students from Crowley High school.

            Mr. Hamilin introduced the Ag teachers and students from Crowley High school at the state level for woodworking and soil judging.  The students were commended by the board and given certificates.

ACTION ITEMS:    

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

            Mrs. Baggett reviewed changes to policies BCBB, BCBD, EBBH, GAMIA, GBA, and IDDG due to recent legislative action.  Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, changes to policies BCBB, BCBD, EBBH, GAMIA, GBA, and IDDG were approved.

ROUTINE ITEMS:

1)         Consider changes to Opening #5A and Routine Item #7A of the October 1, 2012 board meeting.

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved changes to Opening Item #5A and Routine Item #7A of the October 1, 2012 board meeting.

2)                  Consider bids received for lease of airstrip near Basile.

            Mr. Leonards indicated that only one bid was received for airstrip lease from Lewis Flying Service in the amount of $1,500 per year.  A question was raised about the liability insurance on other school board airstrips.  Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the bid received from Lewis Flying Service in the amount of $1,500 per year for lease of airstrip near Basile was approved.

3)         Consider request to ACF for a five year non-competitive status for Head Start grant.

            Mr. Leonards explained the option to apply for a five year non-competitive status for Head Start.  The board has the option annually to apply for this grant, same as in the past.

 Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request to AFC for a five year non-competitive status for Head Start grant.

4)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel, Insurance and Curriculum committee regarding request from Iota High School Golden Girls Dance Team to travel to Orlando, Florida on March 23-30, 2013 to perform at Walt Disney World.

            The committee reviewed a request from Iota High School Golden Girls Dance Team to travel to Orlando, Florida on March 23-30, 2013 to perform at Walt Disney World.  Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request from Iota High School Golden Girls Dance Team to travel to Orlando, Florida on March 23-30, 2013 to perform at Walt Disney World.

5)         Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding bids received for property in Branch.

Only one bid was received for this property.  Pat Meche offered $20 per acre ($100 per year) for the 5 acre tract near Branch.   A five year agreement will be prepared and reviewed by our attorney.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved bid received from Pat Meche for $20 per acre ($100 per year) for the 5 acre tract near Branch.

6)         Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding bids received for sale of trailer in Estherwood.

            No bids were received by the due date, but we have since been offered $500 for the trailer in Estherwood.  An agreement has been drafted acknowledging conditions of the sale and responsibility of the buyer to remove the trailer.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the $500 received for sale of trailer in Estherwood.

6A)      Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding replacement of refrigerated truck for the Child Nutrition Program.

            Mr. Bourque discussed the request from the Child Nutrition Program to replace our refrigerated delivery truck, suggesting that the new truck would be maintained by STS and have GPS tracking.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, bids will be taken for a used refrigerated truck and brought to the board for their consideration.

7)         Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding the annual audit report for the year ended June 30, 2012.

            Frank Bergeron, of Broussard, Poche, Lewis and Breaux, presented the audit report for the year ended June 30, 2012, giving an unqualified opinion.  He renewed the financial highlights and answered questions from the board.  Mr. Leonards then shared the results of a recent review of federal expenditures by the Louisiana Department of Education, no problems were found.   Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the annual audit report for the year ended June 30, 2012.

8)         Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding employing special counsel to represent Acadia Parish School Board in claims arising from Deep Water Horizon incident on April 20, 2010.

            The committee considered correspondence from our attorney suggesting that we join in an effort to recover lost sales tax revenues as a result of the BP oil spill in 2010.  Mr. Caswell explained the possibility of recovering lost sales tax revenues in Acadia Parish due to the 2010 oil spill, answering questions from the board.  A resolution was adopted to hire special counsel which was read and adopted.  Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, a resolution was adopted to hire special counsel to represent Acadia Parish School Board in claims arising from Deep Water Horizon incident on April 20, 2010.

9)         Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding the cost involved with some seniors taking the ACT test before March of 2013.

            Superintendent Bourque recommended that we pick up the cost for approximately 40 seniors to re-take the ACT test before March 2013, estimating the cost of $1,280.  Improved ACT results would help school performance scores.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the cost of $1,280 for 40 seniors to re-take the ACT test before March 2013.

10)       Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding the request from Central Rayne Kindergarten to purchase playground equipment.

            The committee considered a request from Central Rayne Kindergarten to purchase playground equipment at a cost of $9,984 to be paid with a grant from Little Tikes.  Installation and placement of the equipment will be coordinated with our maintenance department.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request from Crowley Kindergarten to purchase playground equipment at a cost of $9,984 to be paid with a grant from Little Tikes.

11)       Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding bids received for fruit, vegetables, and meat items.

            Mr. Leonards presented bid tabulations from the Child Nutrition Program for meat products, fruits and vegetables.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. LaCombe, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved bids received from Child Nutrition Program for meat products, fruits, and vegetables.

12)       Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding salary schedules per Act I.

            Dr. Chance presented our version of a new salary schedule we are required to adapt because of state legislation.  He and the superintendent answered a multitude of questions from the committee.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, but subsequent to the meeting, addition information has been received from the Louisiana Department of Education extending the timeline; it is recommended that no action be taken at this time.

            The Superintendent also recommended adding to the June, 2013 pay supplement with existing reserves in the sales tax fund.  After more discussion and upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, board approved adding to June 2013 pay supplement with existing reserves in the sales tax fund.

13)       Consider dates for next committee and board meetings.

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, committee meetings will be on January 9, 2013 and the board meeting will be January 14, 2013.

14)       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 2 were approved to be taken in globo.

1)         Consider retirement notification of employees.

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

2)         Receive Sales Tax Report.

            Upon motion by Mr. LaCombe, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board received the sales tax report which showed a year to date increase of 1.63%.

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:   

            Mr. Bourque commented on the curriculum meeting, ongoing issues with the salary schedule.  He wished everyone a season’s greeting and commented on Mr. Leonards’ pending retirement.

CLOSING:

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.

                                                                                    ____________________________

Gene I. Daigle, President

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

John E. Bourque, Superintendent