CROWLEY, LOUISIANA
FEBRUARY 2, 2015
The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 2nd day of February at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session at Crowley, Louisiana, with President presiding Mr. Douglas J. LaCombe. Members present were, Mr. Delo Hebert, Mr. Milton Simar, Mr. Gene Daigle, Mr. John Suire,
Mr. James Higginbotham, Mr. David Lalande, and Secretary-Treasurer, and Superintendent John E. Bourque. Mr. Israel Syria was absent.
Mr. Suire led the prayer.
Mr. Daigle led the pledge of allegiance.
Consider approved of the revised agenda, if there are any changes.
No Changes
Read and approve minutes of the January 12, 2015 board meeting.
Reading of the minutes of the January 12, 2015 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 January 12, 2015 board meeting were approved.
Recognize Blue Ribbon schools.
Mrs. Jones recognized Martin Petitjean and South Crowley Elementary for being nominated for Blue Ribbon schools.
Mr. Francis Touchet, with the Louisiana Department of Education, explained that six schools out of the state were nominated and 2 were from Acadia Parish. He mentioned how much of an honor this was and very rare to have 2 schools much less 1 to be nominated for this prestigious recognition. He commended the board, Superintendent, teachers, administrators, students, parents and community for their involvement in the education of the students of Acadia Parish.
Mrs. Irma Trosclair, Principal, South Crowley Elementary, and Ms. Kim Cummings, Principal, Martin Petitjean Elementary, both thanked the board and their staff for the hard work and dedication to the students.
The board commended them for their dedication and hard work and nomination for this achievement.
ACTION ITEMS: NONE
ROUTINE ITEMS:
Consider approving the substantial completion of the Iota/Fourth Ward Classroom Project at the Iota High/Middle school sites.
Mr. Bill Ackal informed the board that they were close to completion and requested substantial completion at Iota High/Middle school sites. Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved substantial completion at Iota High/Middle school sites.
Consider the recommendation of the Personnel, Insurance & Curriculum committee regarding the Category 1 proposal received in response to the ERATE Wide Area Network advertisement.
Upon motion by Mr. Higginbotham, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the Category 1 proposal submitted by DETEL, in response to the ERATE Wide Area Network advertisement, pending the receipt of information about the other proposals submitted, the financial data herein, and the results of the scoring rubic.
Acknowledge the Budget & Finance committee’s receipt of a report from Johnson Controls regarding the Performance-Based Energy Efficiency Project.
Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved acknowledgement of receipt of the initial report on the progress of the Performance-Based Energy Efficiency Project from Steve Jones, Maintenance Supervisor and Chip Moore, Project Manager, Johnson Controls.
Consider the recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding an audit firm for the year ending June 30, 2015.
Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Hebert, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved continuing with the audit firm of Broussard, Poche’, LLP for the year ending June 30, 2015.
Consider the recommendation of the Budget & Finance committee regarding approval of staff’s report on audit firms.
Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Lalande, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved the staff’s recommendation to reduce the number of Sales & Use Tax audit firms from four to three by exercising the contract clause, a 30 day written notice, to close the relationship with Lambert and Company of Houston, Texas. It was further noted that there weren’t any problems, but rather, a return to a three firm format.
Consider dates for next committee and board meetings.
Upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Hebert, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, committee meetings will be March 2, 2015 and the board meeting will be February 11, 2015.
9) Correspondence.
Board members were given correspondence regarding a fact sheet on Blue Ribbon Schools, the Career Expo to be held on February 24, 2015 and a note from the Acadia Parish Livestock Advisory Board.
DISCUSSION ITEMS: NONE
CONSENT ITEMS:
Upon motion by Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Items Consent Items 1-3 were taken in globo.
Receive assignments and changes of professional employees.
Upon motion by Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board approved assignments and changes of professional employees.
Receive retirement notification of employees.
Upon motion by Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Higginbotham, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, retirement notification of employees was approved.
Receive Sales Tax Report.
Upon motion by Mr. Hebert, 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 1.57%.
SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS:
Mr. Bourque mentioned a workshop that Darla Lejeune was conducting for teachers in the parish on free google access. He mentioned that he would be attending PSAC meeting in Baton Rouge and would be getting more information regarding the PAARC testing. He mentioned that the percentages across the parishes for suspensions with Acadia at a 7.3% decrease. He mentioned the excitement about the two schools being nominated for Blue Ribbon schools and great things are happening in Acadia.
There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Simar, seconded by Mr. Hebert and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 5:46 p.m.
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Douglas J. LaCombe, President
ATTEST:
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John E. Bourque, Superintendent