CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

JULY 14, 2014

 

The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 14th day of July at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session at Crowley, Louisiana, with President presiding Mr. Douglas J. LaCombe. Members present were, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. Gene Daigle, Mr. James Higginbotham, Mr. Milton Simar, Mr. John Suire, Mr. Israel Syria, Mr. David Lalande, and Secretary-Treasurer, and Superintendent John E. Bourque.

 

2)          Mr. Syria led the prayer.

 

3)          Mr. Lalande led the pledge of allegiance.

 

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

 

             Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, agenda Item 4A was added to the agenda.

 

4A)        Recognize Patrick Broussard, Senator Vitter’s Office.

 

             Mr. Patrick Broussard, Senator Vitter’s office was recognized and introduced to the board.  Mr. Broussard introduced himself and expressed how he looks forward to working with the board and community.

 

5)          Read and approve minutes of the June 2, 2014 board meeting and June 18, 2014 special session.

 

            Reading of the minutes of the June 2, 2014 board meeting and June 18, 2014 special session were dispensed (copies of minutes were sent to member prior to this meeting) and upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, minutes of the June 2, 2014 board meeting and June 18, 2014 were approved.

 

6)              Recognize retiring employees.

 

        Mrs. Baggett recognized the retiring employees and congratulated and thanked them for their service.  Mr. Randy Miller, retiree, thanked the board for his 33 ½ years of service and how proud he was to have worked for Acadia Parish School board.  He expressed how proud the board should be to have a school system like Acadia.  The board thanked him and all retirees for their dedicated service to the system.

 

ACTION ITEMS:

            

NONE

 

ROUTINE ITEMS:

 

1)          Consider the Choices Program for 2014-2015.

 

             Ms. Maxine Trahan asked that March 18-20, 2015 be set aside for the Choices Program for 2014-2015.  She thanked the board for their continued support.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved March 18-20, 2014-2015 for the Choices Program.

 

2)          Consider recommendation of Personnel, Insurance & Curriculum regarding the renewal of the Board general and educator’s liability insurance.

 

             Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Syria, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved a two-year renewal with a premium reduction of approximately 2.5%, down to an annual premium of $203,771 for the board’s general and educator’s liability insurance.

 

3)          Consider recommendation of the Personnel, Insurance & Curriculum committee regarding the renewal of the Board’s property insurance..

 

             Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the renewal of the property insurance coverage with a premium reduction of approximately 9.8%, down to $688,044.

 

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

 

             Upon motion by Suire, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved a request from Central Rayne Kindergarten to purchase playground equipment.  Mr. Higginbotham abstained.

 

5)          Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding ten-year amortization payment of the unfunded accrued liability with the Louisiana School Employees Retirement System for bus driver positions privatized during 2013-2014.

             Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved a ten-year amortization payment of the unfunded accrued liability of $34,795.37 annually with the Louisiana School Employees Retirement System for bus driver positions privatized during 2013-2014.

 

             At this time, an amended motion was made by Mr. Lalande, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved to pay the unfunded accrued liability with the Louisiana School Employees Retirement System for bus driver positions privatized during 2013-2014 in a lump sum.

 

6)          Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding the purchase of a bus to replace one owned by a retiring owner-operator and to acquire a bus needed for special population students.

 

             Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. HIgginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the procurement of buses to replace a bus owned by a retiring owner/operator and to acquire a bus for special population students.

 

7)          Consider recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding the 2014-2015 General Fund and Operational Budget Resolution and Preface as presented.

 

             Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. SImar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the 2014-2015 General Fund and Operational Budget Resolution and Preface as presented.

 

8)          Consider the sale of school board property/land.

 

             Mr. Bourque mentioned that he said received calls in reference to selling property located behind the APEC building.  He requested to receive bids after receiving an appraisal.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved to bring this item back to the committee for further review.

 

9)          Consider dates for next committee and board meetings.

 

             Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, committee meetings will be July 23, 2014and the board meeting will be August 4, 2014.

 

17)  Correspondence.   

 

       Board received information on Trailblazer Training and PCAL.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:  NONE

 

CONSENT ITEMS:

 

             Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Items Consent Items 1-3 were taken in globo.

 

1)          Receive assignments and changes of professional employees.

 

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

 

2)          Receive 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)          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 1.21%.

 

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:   

 

Mr. Bourque commented on a meeting to be held by Governor Jindal, State Superintendent John White and the BESE board on the 17th and 18th.  He mentioned the retirement of Dr. Gibson Miller and that his position duties would be assumed by other Supervisors to free up money to keep supplements.

 

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.

 

____________________________

Douglas J. LaCombe, President

 

ATTEST:

____________________________

John E. Bourque, Superintendent