CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

SEPTEMBER 21, 1998

1)         The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 21st day of September 1998, at 5:00 p.m., in regular session, with President Myron Clark Hoffpauir presiding. Members present were Lyle C. Johnson, Kitty M. Valdetero, Wadie H. Bias, Woody M. Marceaux, John A. Suire, Lynn Shamsie, John H. Quebodeaux, Sr., Nolton J. Senegal, Sr., Roland J. Boudreaux, Rodney J. Trahan, Johnnie L. Smith, Charles F. Daigle, Shirley Vige', Lynn Miller, and Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Marietta W. James. Dr. Robert McManus was absent.

2&3)        Andre Broussard a student from Ross Elementary School delivered the prayer and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

4)             President Clark Hoffpauir read the letter calling for Special Session.

September 11, 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, at 5:00 p.m., MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1998, for the purpose of discussing, and, if deemed advisable, acting upon the following propositions, to wit:

1. CONSIDER MANAGEMENT STUDY AND CLASSIFICATION AND SALARY

SYSTEM FOR NON-CERTIFIED PERSONNEL;

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

s/s Myron Clark Hoffpauir, President

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c Central Office Staff Members

Principals

News Media

The agenda was revised by adding three items to the agenda. Mr. Johnson motioned and

Mr. Marceaux seconded to add (CONSIDER HIRING ADDITIONAL TEACHERS AT SOUTH CROWLEY AND DISCUSS THE TEACHER TRANSFER POLICY); Mr. Shamsie motioned and Mr. Suire seconded to add (CONSIDER HIRING A BUS DRIVER FOR THE 5TH WARD); and Mr. Boudreaux motioned and Mr. Johnson seconded to add (DISCUSS TEXTBOOKS). All additions were approved by a majority voice vote. The first two additional items will be considered before Item 1 regarding the management study for non-certified personnel which was placed as Item 3.

1)              Dr. James reported that Debbie Henry was the only applicant for the bus driver position in 5th Ward and recommended that she be hired for this position. Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Suire, the board approved the Superintendent's recommendation and Mrs. Henry was hired to fill the vacancy.

2)         Mr. Marceaux motioned and Ms. Valdetero seconded to hire an additional teacher at South Crowley Elementary.

A substitute As amended (Corrected at the 10-5-98 meeting.) motion was made by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Marceaux to hire a teacher to replace a teacher who resigned at North Crowley Elementary, and to hire an additional teacher at Mire Elementary. Mr. Johnson explained that the involuntary transfer policy disrupts students' learning and was unnecessary in this situation. Question was called. The substitute motion passed by a roll call vote of 13 to 1.

YEA:    Johnson, Valdetero, Bias, Marceaux, Suire, Shamsie, Quebodeaux, Senegal, Boudreaux, Trahan, Smith, Vige', Miller

NAY:   Daigle

ABSENT: McManus

The main motion to hire an additional teacher at South Crowley Elementary passed by a unanimous voice vote.

3)         Dr. Wayne Bingham was present to answer questions of the Board regarding the management study, pay grades for non-certified personnel. A question was raised asking why bus drivers were not included in the study. Dr. Bingham responded that he was informed that bus drivers were contract drivers and that the pay grade method of compensation would not apply to them.

Mr. Marceaux motioned and Ms. Valdetero seconded that all raises, promotions, salary grades, and re-classifications be approved by the board after a recommendation by the compensation committee. Discussion followed.  The motion carried by a majority voice vote. (Corrected at the 10-5-98 Meeting.)  Mr. Boudreaux motioned and Mr. Johnson seconded to amend this motion to include supporting documentation to recommend pay change or re-classification. Discussion continued by Board members and some members of the audience. The motion carried by a majority voice vote.    

Upon motion by Mr. Marceaux, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried, the Board recessed at 6:50 p.m.

Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Suire, and carried, the Board reconvened at 7:00 p.m.

Mr. Trahan suggested an upward mobility between pay grades, especially for secretaries. Mr. Smith agreed with this, and he suggested annual step increases.

Ms. Bias motioned and Mr. Senegal seconded to defer any action on this study until the October meeting. After some discussion, this motion was properly removed from the floor. Others expressed concern about considering a payscale which did not grant annual step increases.

At this point, upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the report from Dr. Bingham was accepted. The Board thanked him for his efforts.

Mr. Trahan motioned and Mr. Johnson seconded that the Board accept the recommendations from the secretaries for annual step increases regarding payscales.

Others suggested that we consider all support personnel and determine the estimated cost. Mr. Quebodeaux suggested that the Board provide guidance to the compensation committee on how to implement the changes. Question was called and carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

The main motion to accept the recommendation from the secretaries for annual step increases regarding payscales failed by a roll call vote of 8 to 7.

YEA:    Johnson, Shamsie, Senegal, Trahan, Smith, Vige', Miller

NAY:   Hoffpauir, Valdetero, Bias, Marceaux, Suire, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Daigle ABSENT: McManus

Upon motion by Ms. Valdetero, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried, action will be taken at the November board meeting regarding the secretaries recommendations for non-certified personnel.

Information will be gathered by the administrative staff and provided to the Board.

4)         Mr. Boudreaux brought a concern to the Superintendent regarding textbooks. This matter will be referred to the Budget/Finance Committee on Wednesday, September 23, 1998. Specifically, Mr. Boudreaux was concerned about math textbooks. Mr. Johnson suggested that teachers instead of principals be held accountable for the number of textbooks. Some principals in the audience addressed the Board, explaining how textbooks are acquired. Mrs. Robbins' will gather more information and work to resolve this problem.

CLOSING:

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote the meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

Myron Clark Hoffpauir, President

ATTEST:

Dr. Marietta W. James, Superintendent