CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

MARCH 10, 2014

The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 10th day of March at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session at Crowley, Louisiana, with President presiding Mr. Douglas J. LaCombe. Members present were, Mr. James Higginbotham, Vice-President, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. Gene Daigle, Mr. John Suire, Mr. Israel Syria, Mr. David Lalande, Mr. Milton Simar, and Secretary-Treasurer, and Superintendent John E. Bourque.

2)         Mr. Syria led the prayer.

3)         Mr. Higginbotham led the pledge of allegiance.

4)         Consider approved of the revised agenda, if there are any changes.

                        Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Item #11A was added to the agenda.

5)         Read and approve minutes of the February 3, 2014 board meeting.

      Reading of the minutes of the February 3, 2014 board meeting were dispensed (copies of minutes were sent to member prior to this meeting) and upon motion by Mr. Higginbotham, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, minutes of the February 3, 2014 board meeting were approved.

6)             Recognize 2013-2014 Parish Students of the Year.

7)            Mr. Derousselle recognized the 2013-2014 Parish Students of the Year.  27 schools represented students.  The students were recognized and a reception was held for them after the presentation.  Representing the elementary, middle, and high school students of the year were:

      Owen Paul LeJeune – Egan Elementary

      Terry Michelle Johnson – Iota Middle

      Mary Wayne Peltier – Rayne High

The board congratulated the students and wished them continued success.

7)         Recognize members of the FFA Soil Judging team from Crowley High school.

Dr. Miller announced the members of the FFA Soil Judging team from Crowley High school.  The team was congratulated and recognized for their accomplishment.

ACTION ITEMS:     

NONE

ROUTINE ITEMS:

1)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel, Insurance, & Curriculum committee regarding naming of facilities.

            Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the naming of the central office building at 2402 N. Parkerson Avenue in honor of Dr. John Bertrand, former Superintendent of Schools, and naming of the federal programs building at 2404 N. Parkerson Avenue in honor of Mr. Sherman Wilson, former Supervisor of Federal Programs.

2)         Consider recommendation of the Personnel, Insurance, & Curriculum committee regarding the adoption of the 2014 LSBA Legislative Framework.

            Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the adoption of the 2014 LSBA Legislative Framework.

3)         Consider bids received for the 2014 Fourth Ward/Iota Classrooms Project.

            Mr. Ackal went over bids received for the Iota/Fourth Ward classrooms project.   E.L. Habetz Builders presented the low bid of $1,284,000.  Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved low bid of $ 1,284,000 from E.L. Habetz Builders for the 2014 Fourth Ward/Iota classrooms project.

4)         Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding a proposed budget calendar for 2014-2015 General Fund Budget.

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the board approved proposed budget calendar for 2014-2015 general fund budget.

5)         Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding a approval of the 2014-2015 Eligibility Criteria for Head Start.

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved regarding approval of the 2014-2015 Eligibility Criteria for Head Start.

6)         Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding approval of 2014-2015 Head Start Continuing Application.

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the 2014-2015 Head Start Continuation Application.  Additionally, Mrs. Sondra Myers informed the board of the restoration of the Sequestration cuts of 2013-2014 including data regarding all programmatic, budget, operational, and certification and qualification of teachers and staff materials are on file and available for review in her office.

7)         Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding the mid-year revenue revisions for the 2013-2014 General Fund Budget.

            After receiving a detailed report that the 2013-2014 mid year revenue receipts were within budget variances, a report of “No Mid-Year Revenue Adjustments Required” and additional information since the committee meeting it was recommended to be sent back to the committee.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved mid year revenue revisions for the 2013-2014 general fund budget be sent back to committee.

8)         Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding a report on the projected revenues for the 2014-2015 General Fund Budget.

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, a report of expected revenues of approximately $74,000,000 for 2014-2015 budget was submitted to the board to be received but with additional information since the committee met, it was recommended that this item be referred back to the committee.

9)         Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding extending the external audit agreement to include the year ending June 30, 2014.

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved an extension of the external audit agreement with Broussard, Poche’, Lewis, and Breaux for the period ending June 30, 2014.

10)        Acknowledge receipt of a report on the organization and goals of the finance department.

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board acknowledged receipt of a report on the organization and goals of the finance department.

11)        Consider pursuing a performance-based energy efficiency proposal.

            On February 19, 2014, the budget & finance committee received a report on performance-based energy efficiency and was recommended that the Superintendent be given permission to seek proposals for a performance-based energy efficiency program.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved permission to the Superintendent to seek proposals for a performance-based energy efficient program.

11A)     Consider request from Rayne High physics students to attend the 2014 National Rube Goldberg competition at Waukesha County Technical College, Pewaukee, WI on April 5, 2014.

            Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request from Rayne High physics students to attend the 2014 National Rube Goldberg competition at Waukesha County Technical College, Pewaukee, WI on April 5, 2014.

12)        Consider dates for next committee and board meetings.

            Upon motion by Mr. Higginbotham, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, committee meetings will be March 19, 2014and the board meeting will be April 7, 2014.

            At this time a motion was made by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice, the board approved adding Item #12A to the agenda.

12A)     Consider request from Mire Elementary to attend Broadway Play at Beau Rivage Theatre in Biloxi, MS on April 26, 2014.

            Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved request from Mire Elementary to attend the Broadway Play at Beau Rivage Theatre in Biloxi, MS on April 26, 2014.

13)        Correspondence.

            None

DISCUSSION ITEMS:    NONE

CONSENT ITEMS:

1)         Consider assignments and changes of professional employees.

            Upon motion by Mr. Lalande, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved assignments and changes of professional employees.

2)         Consider retirement notification of employees.

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

3)         Receive Sales Tax Report.

            Upon motion by Mr. Higginbotham, 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 1.39%.

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:   

            Mr. Bourque commented on the attendance tonight and the parent involvement of our students.  He mentioned testing around the corner.

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 6:02 p.m.

___________________________

Douglas J. LaCombe, President

ATTEST:

___________________________

John E. Bourque, Superintendent