CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

OCTOBER 5, 1998

1)         The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 5th day of October, 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 F. Vige', Dr. Robert McManus, and Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Marietta W. James. Lynn Miller was absent.

2&3)        Brooke St. Julian, a student at Egan Elementary, delivered the prayer and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

4)         The agenda was revised by adding Consent 6 (MARY BETH GEESEY, A RETIRED TEACHER, WILL TEACH FIRST GRADE AT SOUTH CROWLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL); Consent 7 (CONSIDER REQUEST FROM ERIC STATES, PRINCIPAL FOR CROWLEY HIGH FFA CHAPTER MEMBERS TO ATTEND THE NATIONAL FFA CONVENTION IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, 11-9-98 THROUGH 11-14-98); and Consent 8 (CONSIDER REQUEST FROM TREMAYNE D. WELTER, CHILD SPECIFIC AIDE AT MIRE ELEMENTARY, FOR LEAVE WITHOUT PAY, 10-15-98 TO 12-18-98); upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

5)         Reading of the minutes of the meetings of September 8, 14 and 21, 1998, was dispensed with (copies of minutes were sent to each member prior to this meeting) and corrected on page 363, item 8 to change wording as requested by Mr. Johnson to reflect the exact wording of his motion in minutes and subsequent correspondence to the attorney general , instead of "a meeting of several Board members". ("Mr. Johnson asked if Mr. Privat would contact the Attorney General's office on behalf of the Board to ask if, to be specific, if the six Crowley board members representing a particular bonding district, would have a meeting, are they considered a committee for the purposes of the public meetings law, and/or should that meeting be opened to the public".), and to correct on page 369, item 2 second paragraph to state an amended motion instead of a substitute motion, and item 2(3)concerning the management study and classification and salary system for non-certified personnel, record that both motions carried by a majority voice vote, upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Marceaux, and carried by .a unanimous voice vote.

ACTION ITEMS: There were no action items.

Upon motion by Ms. Valdetero, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and carried by a unanimous

voice vote, Mr. Kenneth Privat's request to add the following item to the agenda was approved.

(CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE APSB PRESIDENT TO AUTHORIZE TRANSFER OF ROSS SCHOOL PROPERTY, HEAD START SITE.). This property was previously authorized for transfer to the City of Crowley in August 1995.

ROUTINE ITEMS:

1)         Superintendent James reported that there were four applicants for the position of principal of Estherwood Elementary School. She recommended Mrs. Diane Brown for the principalship at Estherwood Elementary School. Dr. McManus motioned to approve the superintendent's recommendation and appoint Mrs. Brown principal at Estherwood Elementary School. The motion did not receive a second.

Upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a majority voice vote (Dr. McManus opposed), the Board named Mrs. Alison Andrews principal of Estherwood Elementary, effective 10-06-98 through 6-30-2001.

At this point, Dr. McManus recommended assigning a principal instead of an assistant principal to Iota Middle School. He will submit this request to the Personnel/Insurance Committee.

2)         Mrs. Mary Robbins presented estimated cost of $131,821.59 to implement new math textbooks in grades 3-5 and to re-allocate funds to schools that previously purchased math books. Also shown were costs to purchase more textbooks for other subject area. Upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Budget/Finance Committee's recommendation to revise the budget to allocate funds for implementation of newly adopted math textbooks in grades 3-5 was approved.

3)             Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Ms. Valdetero, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved hiring a special education funded one-on-one assistant as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

4)             Upon motion by Ms. Valdetero, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved General Fund budget revisions as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

5)             Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board approved Alternative School Fund budget revisions as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.

6)             Mr. Quebodeaux questioned how day-care drop-offs are handled. He suggested that due to the short distance, the APSB consider making this adjustment to bus routes. Mr. Daigle cautioned against making exceptions to the policy, and suggested revising policy. Rev. Melvin Finley from the Assembly of God Church in Rayne addressed the Board, stressing his request for bus transportation for students in their day-care center in Rayne. Mr. Shamsie motioned and Mr. Smith seconded to deny this request. Mr. Boudreaux offered a substitute motion and Mr. Johnson seconded to provide this service with the cost being borne by the day-care center. Mr. Doughty expressed concern about how this would affect the timing of other students on the bus. Discussion continued. The substitute motion failed by a majority voice vote. The main motion passed by a majority voice vote.

7)             Superintendent James gave background on the Crowley School District bond issue. She stated that this has been under consideration for over a year. Mr. Jerry Osborne, bonding attorney, addressed the board, indicating that bond interest costs are the lowest in over twenty years. Two propositions are being considered; one for $14 million in bond sales, a twenty- year issue, the other to generate $500,000 annually for maintenance, a ten- year issue. Mr. Osborne reviewed the procedures and filings necessary to call an election. He then read both propositions (See Attachments). The proposed election date is January 16, 1999.

Upon motion by Mr. Suire, seconded by Mr. Marceaux, and carried by a majority voice vote (Mr. Johnson opposed), the Board approved calling an election for Crowley School District.

Superintendent James introduced Mrs. Linda King and Mrs. Beaulah Ortego, teacher and parent representatives. She also introduced Mr. Charles Abshire who made a few comments in support of this referendum.

8)             Upon motion by Ms. Valdetero, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, an inter-governmental agreement between APSB and the City of Crowley for a temporary site for the Alternative School was approved. The Martin Luther King Center will be the temporary site for the Alternative School.

9)             Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, re-allocation of classroom based technology funds for middle schools was approved.

10)           An Attorney General's opinion regarding additional compensation to drivers for bus purchases, previously submitted to board members by Mr. Privat , was discussed at length. Some confusion was expressed as to how the opinion should be interpreted. Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, this item was tabled, at this time.

11)           Dr. James asked that the Management Study and Classification and Salary System for non-certified personnel be approved for implementation. Mr. Daigle motioned and Dr. McManus seconded to authorize the Superintendent to begin implementing the study. Discussion followed regarding re-classifications, pay changes, etc. There was some resistance to creating new positions by several board members. Support personnel addressed the board, asking that additional positions not be created at the central office and to stay with a pay scale based on years of experience. Mr. Quebodeaux suggested that classified personnel changes recommended in the study be implemented and to realign the central office administrators without adding new positions.

Mr. Quebodeaux offered a substitute which was seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, to authorize the Superintendent to implement the study recommendations without any changes in the organizational structure and to bring these changes to the Board for their consideration in November. Question was called and the substitute motion failed by a roll call vote of 8 to 7.

YEA:    Johnson, Valdetero, Shamsie, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Smith,

NAY:   Hoffpauir, Bias, Marceaux, Suire, Senegal, Daigle, Vige', McManus ABSENT: Miller

The main motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Dr. McManus, to authorize the Superintendent to begin implementing the study as recommended by Dr. Bingham as adopted by the board, including Mr. Marceaux's 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

12)           Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Vige', and carried by a unanimous voice vote, policy updates as recommended by Forethought, Inc., were approved.

13)           Steve Jones updated the board regarding the need for more space at Church Point High School. Two full size classrooms and three smaller classrooms are needed. The estimated cost is $90,000 plus, instead of $50,000 originally budgeted. Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the additional funds of $40,000 were budgeted for this project.

14)           Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board went into executive session to consider items 14 and 15 regarding expulsions of two students

Upon motion by Dr. McManus, seconded by Mr. Quebodeaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the board reconvened into regular session at 7:30 p.m.

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the recommendation of the principal and superintendent to expel a student at Armstrong Middle School for the remainder of the 1998-99 school year was upheld.

15)            Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the recommendation of the superintendent to expel a student at Church Point High School was upheld.

Dr. James reminded the board that State Superintendent Cecil Picard will be in the parish, Tuesday, October 13, and will be the guest speaker at the Teachers of the Year luncheon.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1)              Addition of certain wording to the teacher aide job description was questioned by a teacher and an aide from Central Rayne. Dr. James recited actions of the Personnel/Insurance Committee, and action by the full board which led to this change. Board members commented on the concern of the aides. Carl LeJeune and Mike LeBlanc provided more information regarding the legal requirements for these non-complex medical procedures. A motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Senegal, to move this to an Action Item, failed (did not receive a unanimous voice vote). Discussion continued. Aides expressed concern about not signing job descriptions. Dr. McManus motioned and Mr. Shamsie seconded to move this to an Action Item tonight, then withdrew motion and second. Mr. Smith pleaded for discussion to cease on this item. Dr. James and Mr. LeBlanc assured the board that the medical needs of all children will be

handled until action is taken next month.

CONSENT ITEMS:

Upon motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the following action was taken by the Board:

1          Approved personnel assignments and changes since the last meeting.

2          Received Sales Tax Report showing a year-to-date decrease of 6.82%.

3          Approved request from Marguerite P. Reed, teacher, Church Point Elementary, for leave without pay, effective 9-30-98 to 6-5-99, for medical reasons.

4          Approved request from Clyde Briley, principal, for Midland High FFA Chapter members to attend the National FFA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, 11-9-98 through 11-14-98.

5          Approved request from Eric Stutes, principal, for Crowley High Foreign Language Club members to participate in an educational excursion to England, France, and Spain, 6-6-99 through 6-15-99.

6          Approved hiring Mary Beth Geesey, a retired teacher, to teach first grade at South Crowley Elementary School.

7          Approved request from Eric States, principal, for Crowley High FFA Chapter members to attend the National FFA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, 11-9-98 through 11-14-98.

8          Approved request from Tremayne D. Welter, child specific aide at Mire Elementary, for leave without pay, 10-15-98 to 12-18-98.

CLOSING:

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Mr Daigle, and carried, the meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

ATTEST: