January 4, 1999

CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

JANUARY 4, 1999

1) The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 4th day of January 1999, at 5:00 pm., 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, Nolton J. Senegal, Sr., Roland J. Boudreaux, Rodney J. Trahan, Johnnie L. Smith, Charles F. Daigle, Shirley F. Vige', Dr. Robert McManus, Paul K. Bellon, and Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Marietta W. James.

2&3) Dr. James delivered the prayer and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

4) Mr. Paul K. Bellon was welcomed as the new board member from District 16.

5) President Hoffpauir opened the floor for nominations for Board president. Mr. Hoffpauir was nominated, upon motion by Mr. Shamsie and seconded by Mr. Senegal. Mr. Quebodeaux was nominated, upon motion by Mr. Marceaux and seconded by Mr. Smith. Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, nominations were closed. A roll call vote resulted in a tie of 8 to 8.

HOFFPAUIR: Hoffpauir, Bias, Suire, Shamsie, Senegal, Daigle, McManus, Bellon

QUEBODEAUX: Johnson, Valdetero, Marceaux, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Smith, Vige'

A second roll call vote again produced a tie of 8 to 8.

HOFFPAUIR: Hoffpauir, Bias, Suire, Shamsie, Senegal, Daigle, McManus, Bellon

QUEBODEAUX: Johnson, Valdetero, Marceaux, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Smith, Vige'

Upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, election of president was suspended until after the election of a Vice-President.

6) President Hoffpauir opened the floor for nominations for Board Vice-President. Mr. Suire was nominated by Mr. Senegal and Mr. Shamsie. Mr. Marceaux was nominated by Mr. Quebodeaux and Ms. Valdetero. Upon motion by Ms. Bias, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried, nominations for Board Vice-President were closed. Mr. Suire was elected as Board Vice-President by a roll call vote of 9 to 7.

SUIRE: Hoffpauir, Bias, Suire, Shamsie, Senegal, Smith, Daigle, McManus, Bellon

MARCEAUX: Johnson, Valdetero, Marceaux, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Vige'

At this time, Mr. Suire assumed the position of chair to conduct the meeting. He called for a roll call vote for president of the board, which also ended with an 8 to 8 tie.

HOFFPAUIR: Hoffpauir, Bias, Suire, Shamsie, Senegal, Daigle, McManus, Bellon

QUEBODEAUX: Johnson, Valdetero, Marceaux, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Smith, Vige'

The election for president was suspended until the end of this meeting.

7) The agenda was revised by adding Routine 14a (CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ADVERTISE FOR VACANT POSITIONS; ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT CROWLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL; ACTING CHILD WELFARE & ATTENDANCE SUPERVISOR; ACTING TESTING SPECIALIST), upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Marceaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote. Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, Routine 14b (RE-AFFIRM UNIFORM POLICY FOR HIGH SCHOOLS) was added to the agenda.

8) Reading of the minutes of the December 7, 1998, meeting was dispensed with (copies of minutes were sent to each member prior to this meeting) and approved as corrected on page 392, Item 18, second paragraph , to clarify roll call vote, upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Hoffpauir, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

ACTION ITEMS: There were no action items.

ROUTINE ITEMS:

1) Superintendent James reported that Mrs. Antionette Pete was the only applicant for the principalship at Crowley Middle School, and she recommended that Ms. Pete be appointed to the position. Mr. Senegal motioned and Dr. McManus seconded to accept the Superintendent's recommendation. A motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Valdetero, to go into executive session to discuss this appointment failed by a roll call vote of 9 to 7 vote, which was less than two-thirds.

YEA: Johnson, Valdetero, Marceaux, Suire, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Daigle, Vige',

NAY: Hoffpauir, Bias, Shamsie, Senegal, Smith, McManus, Bellon

The main motion passed by a roll call vote of 10 to 6 and Mrs. Pete was appointed to the principalship at Crowley Middle School beginning January 5, 1999, through June 30, 2001.

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

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

Ms. Pete was congratulated.

2) Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent's recommendation to renew the performance contract for Mrs. Verelda Girouard, principal at Central Rayne Kindergarten, beginning February 2, 1999, and ending June 30, 2002, was approved.

3) Upon motion by Ms. Valdetero, seconded by Mr. Hoffpauir, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent's recommendation to renew the performance contract beginning March 2, 1999, and ending June 30, 2002, for Dr. Diane Wakefield, principal at North Crowley Elementary, was approved.

4) Mr. Quebodeaux motioned and Mr. Daigle seconded to approve changes in the Objective Criteria Policy (previously submitted to all Board members). Mr. Johnson motioned and Mr. Shamsie seconded that personnel files of all applicants be made available to Board members. After some discussion, upon motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried by a majority voice vote, this entire item was tabled, and referred to the Objective Criteria Policy Committee.

5) Dr. James indicated that the City of Crowley planned to conduct the summer camp program again this year and asked the APSB to provide feeding for this program. Mayor delaHoussaye thanked everyone at the school board for their help last summer. She indicated that perhaps the City could sponsor the summer feeding program with assistance from the APSB staff. Options include APSB providing meals on a contractual basis, or renting an APSB cafeteria for a place to prepare the meals. Ms. Ruth Carboni discussed these options with the Board. Mr. Senegal motioned and Mr. Hoffpauir seconded that the APSB be a part of this program. A substitute motion by Mr. Daigle, seconded by Mr. Hoffpauir, to provide meals for the City of Crowley summer feeding program on a contractual basis passed by a majority voice vote.

6) Ms. Adele Carr provided information on reading scores in grades 2 and 3. She described the new testing procedures and shared the results. Her concern is about raising the comprehension level of readers in these early grades.

7) Mr. Johnson questioned the policy of reimbursement to employees whose pay is supplemented with funds that are not school board funds (distributing funds from other sources to school board employees). He suggested that Mr. Privat, APSB Attorney, seek an opinion from the Attorney General to clear up this matter. Specifically, ask the Attorney General and Ethics Board if this is allowable and ethical. Mr. Privat indicated that, based on current Attorney General opinions, the APSB is on sound legal ground. Mr. Johnson cited ethics rulings that conflict with previous opinions. Mr. Johnson motioned and Mr. Marceaux seconded to authorize Mr. Privat to seek these opinions from the Attorney General and Ethics Board. Discussion followed. Question was called and passed. The main motion passed by a roll call vote of 14 to 2, and Mr. Privat was authorized to seek opinions from the Attorney General and Ethics Board regarding payment from other sources to school board employees.

YEA: Johnson, Valdetero, Bias, Marceaux, Suire, Shamsie, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Smith, Daigle, Vige', McManus, Bellon

NAY: Hoffpauir, Senegal

8) Mr. Marceaux motioned and Mr. Daigle seconded to hold the team building session on Saturday, February 6, 1999, as offered by Dr. Wayne Bingham. After several members indicated schedule conflicts, several dates will be sent to Board members for their consideration.

9) Forethought, Inc. offered to codify, revise, and update the APSB Policy Manual for $12,000, or to just codify for $6,500. Mr. Daigle motioned and Mr. Hoffpauir seconded to accept the proposal from Forethought to codify, revise, and update the APSB Policy Manual for $12,000. After some discussion, question was called by Ms. Valdetero, seconded by Mr. Marceaux, and passed. The main motion was defeated by a roll call vote of 11 to 5.

YEA: Hoffpauir, Daigle, Vige', McManus, Bellon

NAY: Johnson, Valdetero, Bias, Marceaux, Suire, Shamsie, Quebodeaux, Senegal, Boudreaux, Trahan, Smith

Ms. Valdetero motioned to accept the alternate proposal from Forethought of $6,500 to codify the APSB Policy Manual. The motion did not receive a second, therefore, failed.

10) Upon motion by Mr. Hoffpauir, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a majority voice vote, a special meeting of the Board will be held on Monday, January 25, 1999, at 5:00 p.m., for promulgation of election results for the Crowley School District.

11) Mr. Greg Milton of Broussard, Poche', Lewis, and Breaux delivered the audit report for fiscal year ending June 30, 1998. Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, and carried by a majority voice vote, the audit report was received and will be discussed in more detail at next month's meeting, if necessary.

12) Mrs. Sondra Myers presented the Head Start self assessment report. Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Hoffpauir, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the self assessment report for Head Start was received.

13) Mrs. Sondra Myers briefly described the summer care and feeding program. Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Head Start summer care budget for 1999 was approved.

14) Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, a request from Allen and Kirmse, Ltd., for a mineral lease on a seven acre tract at North Crowley Elementary School was received. The APSB will advertise to take bids on this tract, in conjunction with other property owned by the City of Crowley.

14a) Upon motion by Ms. Valdetero, seconded by Mr. Senegal, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent was authorized to advertise for administrative positions; Assistant Principal at Crowley Middle School, Acting Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, and Acting Testing Specialist.

14b) Upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the student uniform policy was re-affirmed for Acadia Parish High School students to wear uniforms beginning school year 1999-2000.

15) Mr. Hoffpauir reported that he had been under investigation by the Ethics Board regarding the involvement of his father-in-law doing roofing work for the APSB. The Ethics Board found that he was not in violation. His father-in-law had a technical violation, based on advise given by the school board attorney. No penalties were imposed by the Ethics Board.

DISCUSSION ITEMS: There were no discussion items.

CONSENT ITEMS:

Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Shamsie, 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 5.94 %.

3. Approved request from Sandy Hunt, teacher, Rayne High School, for maternity leave, April 23, 1999 (one day).

4. Approved request from Rebecca Credeur, teacher, Mire Elementary School, for maternity leave, March 5, 1999, through June 4, 1999 (60 days)

5. Approved request from Mr. Eric Stutes, principal, Crowley High School, for Calculus - AP and Chemistry II - AP classes to travel to NASA Space Center in Houston, Texas, February 12, 1999.

6. Approved request from Mr. Donald Amy, principal, Iota Elementary School, for 4-H Club members to travel to NASA Space Center in Houston, Texas, May 28, 1999.

ELECTION OF BOARD PRESIDENT:

At this time, Mr. Suire opened the floor for election of Board President. Mr. Quebodeaux requested that he and Mr. Hoffpauir be allowed to briefly address the Board concerning their goals for the next two years. First Mr. Quebodeaux spoke, then Mr. Hoffpauir.

Mr. Suire called for a roll call vote which resulted in the same 8 to 8 tie.

HOFFPAUIR: Hoffpauir, Bias, Suire, Shamsie, Senegal, Daigle, McManus, Bellon

QUEBODEAUX: Johnson, Valdetero, Marceaux, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Smith, Vige'

Mr. Suire opened the floor for additional nominations for Board President. Ms. Valdetero nominated Mr. Marceaux. No other nominations were made. Mr. Suire closed the floor for nominations and called for a roll call vote. Mr. Hoffpauir was elected president by nine (9) votes. Mr. Quebodeaux receive four (4) votes, and Mr. Marceaux received three (3) votes.

HOFFPAUIR: Hoffpauir, Bias, Suire, Shamsie, Senegal, Smith, Daigle, McManus, Bellon

QUEBODEAUX: Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Vige'

MARCEAUX: Johnson, Valdetero, Marceaux

Mr. Hoffpauir thanked the Board. He then resumed the position of chair.

CLOSING:

There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried, the meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.

Myron Clark Hoffpauir, President

ATTEST:

Dr. Marietta W. James, Superintendent