CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

NOVEMBER 3, 2014

 

The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 3rd day of November 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. John Suire, Mr. James Higginbotham, Mr. Miton Simar, Mr. David Lalande, and Secretary-Treasurer, and Superintendent John E. Bourque.  Mr. Israel Syria was absent.

 

2)         Mr. Suire 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. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Simar, Routine Item #2 was deleted and replaced with another item and Opening Item #5A were added to the agenda.

 

5)         Read and approve minutes of the October 6, 2014 board meeting.

 

            Reading of the minutes of the October 6, 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 October 6, 2014 board meeting were approved.

 

5A)       Hear comments from Acadia Extension Office 4-H agents.

 

                        Mr. Barrett Courville, Acadia Extension Office County agent introduced Megan Sarver, 4-H agent.  Ms. Sarver introduced students who represent the 4-H Ambassador Program in Acadia.  The students gave a short presentation.  They were congratulated for their accomplishments.

 

6)             Recognize “A” and Top Gain Schools.

 

Mrs. Jones recognized the “A” and Top Gain Schools as follows:

 

“A” Schools:  Branch Elementary, Mire Elementary, Estherwood Elementary, Mermentau Elementary, Richard Elementary, and Egan Elementary.

 

Top Gain Schools:  Egan Elementary, Central Rayne Kindergarten, Martin Petitjean Elementary, Iota Elementary, Estherwood Elementary, and South Crowley Elementary.

 

Each school was presented with a plaque and thanked for their continued dedication and hard work.

 

At this time a motion was made by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote to add Item #1 to Action Items.

 

ACTION ITEMS:

           

1)                   Consider policy changes due to legislation.

 

           Mrs. Baggett went over policy changes regarding policies ABCC, BCBB, BCBD, BCBH, BCBK, EDD, GBRJ, ID, IFA, and JBC.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, policy changes due to legislation were approved.

 

ROUTINE ITEMS:

 

1)               Adopt a resolution providing for the incurring of debt and issuance of Seven Million Three Hundred Fifty-Eight Thousand Dollars ($7,358,000) of Taxable Limited Tax Revenue Bonds (Qualified Zone Academy Bond), Series 204, of the Parish School Board of the Parish of Acadia, State of Louisiana; prescribing the form, terms and conditions thereof and providing for the payment thereof; awarding such Bonds to the purchasers thereof; and providing for other matters in connection therewith. (Roll Call Vote)

 

              Dr. Chance went over a resolution for the incurring of debt and issuance of $7,358,000 of Taxable Limited tax Revenue Bonds (QZAB). Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a majority voice vote, Mr. Shamsie opposing, the board approved a resolution providing for the incurring of debt and issuance of $7,358,000 of Taxable Limited Tax Revenue Bonds (QZAB). 

 

              By a roll call vote of 6 to 1, a resolution for the incurring of debt and issuance of $7,358,000 of Taxable Limited Tax Revenue Bonds (QZAB) was approved.

 

YEAS:  Mr. LaCombe, Mr. Suire, Mr. Lalande, Mr. Daigle, Mr. Higginbotham, Mr. Simar

NAYS:    Mr. Lynn Shamsie

Mr. Israel Syria, Absent

 

ATTACHMENT A

 

2)         Consider granting permission to advertise and receive proposals for available e-rate funds to be used to improve wireless and internet usage in the schools.

 

            Dr. Chance requested permission to advertise and receive proposals for available e-rate funds to be used to improve wireless and internet usage in the schools.  Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved advertising and receiving proposals for available e-rate funds to be used to improve wireless and internet usage in the schools.

 

3)         Adopt QZAB Education Plan.

 

            Dr. Chance requested adoption of the QZAB Education Plan.  Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the QZAB Education Plan.

 

ATTACHMENT B

 

4)         Adopt the Verification Certificate which verifies that all schools meet the QZAB 35% free and reduced requirement for participation eligibility in QZAB fund projects.

 

            Dr. Chance requested adoption of Verification Certificate which verifies that all schools meet the QZAB 35% free and reduced requirement for participation eligibility in QZAB fund projects.  Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved adoption of QZAB Verification Certificate.

 

ATTACHMENT C

 

5)         Receive a report on test scores.

 

            Ms. Guidry went over test scores in Acadia Parish showing growth over the year.

 

6)         Consider the recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding approval of the request to advertise and seek bids for band uniforms for Iota High School.

 

            Upon motion by Suire, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved advertising and seeking bids for band uniforms for Iota High School.

 

7)         Consider the recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding reserving $75,000 of 5th Ward School District No. 7 funds for instruction and technology in 5th Ward.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved reserving $75,000 of 5th Ward School District No. 7 funds for instruction and technology in 5th Ward.

 

8)         Consider the recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding reserving $150,000 of 5th Ward School District No. 7 funds for energy efficiency projects in 5th Ward schools.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved reserving $150,000 of 5th Ward School District No. 7 funds for energy efficiency projects in 5th Ward schools.

 

9)         Consider the recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding reserving $300,000 of Iota-Egan Oilfield Consolidated School District No. 8 funds for energy efficiency projects in the Iota-Egan Oilfield Consolidated School District No. 8 schools.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved reserving $300,000 of Iota-Egan Oilfield Consolidated School District No. 8 funds for energy efficiency projects in the Iota-Egan Oilfield Consolidated School District No. 8 schools.

 

10)        Consider the recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding the hunting lease on Section 16, T9S, R2W in Evangeline containing some 310 acres.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Simar, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved high bid of $10.05 per acre per year ($3,115.50 annually) submitted by Joey Hebert and John Miller, that is, renew the existing hunting lease of Joey Hebert et al on the 310 acres, more or less, of the wooded portion of Section 16, T9S, R2W, in Evangeline, for a five-year period beginning July 1, 2015 with annual renewal each July 1st contingent upon lease conditions being met continuously.

 

11)        Consider the recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding the hunting lease on Section 16, T7S, R1E, Southeast of Eunice containing some 142 acres.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved accepting the high bid of $6.00 per acre per year ($852.00 annually) submitted by Jacom DuBroc for the hunting lease on the wooded portion of Section 16, T7S, R1E, Southeast of Eunice containing approximately 142 acres, more or less, for a five-year period beginning July 1, 2015 with annual renewal each July 1st, contingent upon the determination that nothing of substance is evident to suggest the bid be rejected, and contingent upon lease conditions being met continuously.

 

12)        Consider the recommendations of the Budget & Finance committee regarding a portion of the Wal-Mart property.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved granting Mr. Bourque the authority to move forward with a survey, appraisal, and advertising for bids regarding a portion of the Wal-Mart property.

 

13)        Consider dates for next committee and board meetings.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, committee meetings will be November 19, 2014, 2014 and the board meeting will be December 8, 2014.

 

11)        Correspondence.   

            NONE

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:   

 

1)           Discuss aspects of a School Choice policy as previously addressed by the Personnel, Insurance, and Curriculum committee.

 

           Mrs. Baggett went over the aspects of a School Choice policy.  The School Choice policy will be referred back to the committee.

 

2)      Discuss adjustments to the field trip policy as forwarded by the Personnel, Insurance, and Curriculum committee.

 

           Mrs. Baggett went over field trip policy.  The field trip policy will be referred back to the committee.

 

CONSENT ITEMS:

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, 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. Higginbotham, 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. Higginbotham, 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. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board received the sales tax report which showed a year to date increase of 1.29%.

 

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:   

 

            Mr. Bourque mentioned that is was great to see improvement in school progress and how nice it was to see the students who represent the 4-H Ambassador Program in Acadia.

 

            There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Daigle and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 6:14 p.m.

 ____________________________

 Douglas J. LaCombe, President

 

ATTEST:

_____________________________

John E. Bourque, Superintendent