August 17, 1998

CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

AUGUST 17, 1998

The Acadia Parish School Board met in SPECIAL SESSION on this the 17th day of August, 1998, at 5:30 p.m., in Crowley, Louisiana, with President Myron Clark Hoffpauir presiding, pursuant to the following notice given in writing to each and every member thereof and duly posted in the manner required by law, viz:

August 12, 1998

Dear Board Member: By virtue of the authority vested in me by law by reason of the fact that it is deemed necessary, advisable, and to the public interest that the Acadia Parish School Board be called to special session; therefore, I, Myron Clark Hoffpauir, president of the Acadia Parish School Board, do hereby give notice that a special :meeting of the said Board will be held at its domicile in the City of Crowley, Louisiana, on MONDAY. AUGUST 17. 1998, at 5:30 p.m., for the purpose of discussing, and, if deemed advisable, acting upon the following propositions, to wit:

1. RECEIVE EVALUATION RESULTS OF STUDY OF NON-CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES BY OFFICE OF FIELD SERVICES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER;

2. CONSIDER TRANSPORTATION/FACILITIES & BUDGET/FINANCE COMMITTEES' RECOMMENDATION REGARDING BIDS FOR RENOVATION OF ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL & FOOD SERVICE WAREHOUSE;

3. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ADVERTISE FOR COORDINATOR OF ADULT EDUCATION;

4. CONSIDER REQUEST FROM SHIRLEY LEJEUNE, SECRETARY AT RICHARD ELEMENTARY, FOR LEAVE WITHOUT PAY FROM 8-2-98 TO 10-17-98 (ILLNESS);

and to transact any other business that may properly come before the Board.

Sincerely,

s/s Myron Clark Hoffpauir, President Acadia Parish School Board

(Copies sent to Central Office Staff Members, Principals, News Media)

1) Members present for the special meeting were Lyle Johnson, Kitty Valdetero, Wadie

Bias, Woody Marceaux, John Suire, Lynn Shamsie, John Quebodeaux, Nolton Senegal, Roland Boudreaux, Rodney Trahan, Johnnie Smith, Charles Daigle, Shirley Vige', Robert McManus.

Lynn Miller was absent.

2&3) Mr. Senegal led the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.

4) President Hoffpauir read the letter calling for a special meeting.

The agenda was revised by adding Item 5 (CONSIDER BUDGET/FINANCE TRANSPORTATION/FACILITIES COMMITTEES' RECOMMENDATION REGARDING PURCHASE OF THREE ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS AT CHURCH POINT HIGH SCHOOL), upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

Item 6 (CONSIDER SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION FOR BUS DRIVER FOR RAYNE AREA ROUTE), was added upon motion by Mr. Marceaux, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

SPECIAL SESSION ITEMS:

1) Dr. Wayne Bingham of the Office of Field Service Professional Development Center provided to the board an executive summary of results of their recent study of classified (non certified) personnel in the parish.

He suggested that the board carefully study the report internally before releasing its contents to the public. He briefed the board on the process used to gather and tabulate information contained in his report. He made some suggestions regarding the management structure of the school district. Then he gave background and procedures used to evaluate all non-certified staff. He provided pay comparisons, job descriptions, and a recommendation for pay grades to those present, answering questions that they posed.

Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the report was received. The full document will be distributed to board members after the meeting.

2) Four bids were received for renovation of alternative school and food service warehouse. Mr. Senegal motioned and Mr. Quebodeaux seconded to award low base bid plus Alternate #1 and #2 ($1,035,400) to E. L. Habetz for this work as recommended by Mr. Don Breaux, architect. Problems with current roof leaks were discussed.

BIDDER: Bulliard Dugas E. L. Habetz Rayford

Construction Construction Builders Construction

BASE BID: Building Exterior 810,000 740,000 778,900 861,167

Alternative School 1,265,116 1,106,700 1,046,950 1,277,224

ALT 1: Alternative School 29,816 6,000 18,500 35,564

ALT 2: Food Services 371,000 318,700 238,000 323,639

ALT 3: Mechanical-A/C 54,300 42,000 11,550 56,854

CALENDAR DAYS: 200 210 300 260

Mr. Johnson motioned and Ms. Valdetero seconded to table this matter until a total cost could be determined, including roof, furniture, etc. The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote.

Discussion followed concerning re-bidding and the possibility that bids would be greater (since the bids were now out), or allowing a thirty (30) day period to determine total cost of all work necessary.

Mr. Marceaux called for point of order and suggested that the motion be removed from the table to continue discussion.

A motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Trahan, to remove this item from the table, passed by a roll call vote of 9 to 5.

YEA: Bias, Suire, Shamsie, Senegal, Trahan, Smith, Daigle, Vige', McManus

NAY: Johnson, Valdetero, Marceaux, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux ABSENT: Miller

Dr. McManus motioned and Mr. Trahan seconded to accept the low bid from E. L. Habetz for thirty (30) days contingent upon determining the total cost of renovations, including roof, furniture, etc. More discussion followed concerning the roof and timelines. Mr. Hoffpauir felt that this work did not have to be postponed and explained that the contractor could begin working on other areas before working on the roof. He suggested proceeding with the contract. A modified motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Vige', to exclude the thirty (30) days and to award low base bid plus Alternate #1 and #2 ($1,035,400) to E. L. Habetz for this work as recommended, carried by a roll call vote of 8 to 6.

YEA: Bias, Suire, Shamsie, Senegal, Smith, Daigle, Vige', McManus

NAY: Johnson, Valdetero, Marceaux, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan ABSENT: Miller

3) Mr. Senegal motioned and Mr. Smith seconded to authorize the superintendent to advertise for Coordinator of Adult Education.

Superintendent James recommended that the Adult Education Coordinator position should be compensated at an index of 1.53 and not 12/9 of teacher pay. She felt this was a possible reason for Mrs. Winston's decision to retire. Mrs. Jerry Winston was commended for her dedicated service to the Adult Education program. Mrs. Margaret Jones distributed information regarding the duties, handled by Mrs. Winston as well as salaries for the same position in surrounding parishes. Mrs. Jones reviewed budget changes in Adult Education from previous years, as well as more restrictions on the use of administrative funds.

Mr. Marceaux motioned and Dr. McManus seconded to amend the main motion to authorize the superintendent to advertise for Coordinator of Adult Education and set salary at the index of 1.53. A principal pointed out that the general fund is generally prohibited from picking up the salary of employees funded by other sources. Discussion followed.

Mr. Smith called for the question which passed by a majority voice vote. The amendment to the main motion passed by a roll call vote of 9 to 5.

YEA: Valdetero, Bias, Marceaux, Suire, Senegal, Smith, Daigle, Vige', McManus

NAY: Johnson, Shamsie, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan ABSENT: Miller

The main motion as amended passed by a majority voice vote.

4) Upon motion by Ms. Valdetero, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, carried by a unanimous voice vote, leave without pay was granted to Shirley LeJeune, secretary at Richard Elementary, from 8-2-98 to 10-17-98, due to family illness.

5) Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, three temporary buildings will be purchased for use at Church Point High School as recommended by the Transportation/Facilities and Budget/Finance Committees.

6) Superintendent James recommended Kent Johnson for bus driver for a Rayne area route. Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent's recommendation was approved. Mr. Kent Johnson was recognized and congratulated by the board.

Dr. McManus asked for a report on the Edulog transportation system at a future meeting (at the next meeting).

A member of the audience asked if the full report of the classified employee study would be made public. After further review by the board and consultation with the APSB attorney a decision will be made regarding the release of this information.

CLOSING:

Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.

Myron Clark Hoffpauir , President

ATTEST:

Dr. Marietta W. James, Secretary-Treasurer