CROWLEY, LOUISIANA

 JUNE 17, 1999

 

The Acadia Parish School Board met in SPECIAL SESSION on this the 17th day of 1999, at 5:00 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.:

 

June 11, 1999

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, John A. Suire, vice- 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 THURSDAY. JUNE 17. 1999. at 5:00 p.m., for the purpose of discussing, and, if deemed advisable, acting upon the following propositions, to wit:

 

1 CONSIDER RESIGNATION OF DISTRICT 2 BOARD MEMBER;

2 CONSIDER ELECTING A VICE-PRESIDENT;

3 CONSIDER CALLING FOR AN ELECTION FOR CROWLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 BOARD MEMBER;

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

s/s John A. Suire, Vice-President Acadia Parish School Board

jm

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

 

1) Members present for the special meeting were Myron C. Hoffpauir, 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, Paul K. Bellon.

 

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

 

4)  Mr. Leonards read the letter calling for a special meeting.

Mr. Kenny Privat indicated that he felt that the call of the meeting was valid. He further stated that Mr. Hoffpauir may serve as president until his replacement is named tonight. He then commented on the succession of the Vice-President to the office of president. An attorney general's opinion indicates that both president and Vice-President should be elected whenever a new board member is seated. He also suggested changing the wording and sequence of Item 3 to read that District 2 board member be "appointed" instead of "elected".

 

Upon motion by Mr. Marceaux, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the agenda was revised as follows:

 

1   Consider appointment to fill vacancy in School District 2.

2   Consider election of president.

3   Consider calling an election for Crowley School District 2.

 

1)  Mr. Hoffpauir suggested that his vacant position be filled by Mr. Gerald LeBouef. Mr. Gerald LeBouef was nominated for the position by Mr. Daigle and Mr. Shamsie.

 

Ms. Bias and Mr. Senegal recommended to strike/insert the name of Mrs. Ezora Proctor to fill the vacancy for school district two.

 

Ms. Valdetero introduced the name of Mr. Bill Pinac as a potential candidate for this

position.

 

All candidates were asked to make a brief presentation to the Board, beginning with Mr. LeBouef, then Mrs. Proctor, and followed by Mr. Pinac.

 

A roll call vote of 9 to 6 favored Mrs. Proctor. She was sworn in by Mr. Privat to take the office of school board member for District 2.

 

YEA:    Bias, Marceaux, Suire, Shamsie, Quebodeaux, Senegal, Smith, Daigle, McManus

NAY:   Johnson, Valdetero, Boudreaux, Trahan, Vige', Bellon

 

Mrs. Proctor thanked the Board for their consideration and pledged her support to the children of Acadia Parish.

 

Mr. Hoffpauir was presented with a plaque in appreciation of his twelve yeas of service as school board member. He expressed satisfaction of his years of service and thanked the Board for their support in the past.

 

Mr. Suire took over the meeting. Mr. Privat, again, recommended that a president be elected, in spite of the existing APSB policy which elevated the Vice-President to the position of president when vacated by the current president. He suggested that this Board follow an attorney general's opinion in this matter. Discussion followed among the members regarding the merits of electing a Vice-President vs. a president. Mr. Senegal suggested that the Vice-President elevate to president in accordance with APSB policy. Mr. Marceaux called a point of order, reminding the Board that the agenda item being considered was to "elect" a president.

 

Mr. Suire opened the floor for nominations for president. Mr. Smith and Mr. Bellon nominated Mr. John Suire, Mr. Marceaux and Mr. Trahan nominated Mr. John Quebodeaux, and Mr. Senegal and Mrs. Proctor nominated Mr. Charles Daigle.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Ms. Valdetero, the floor was closed for nominations. A roll call vote resulted in 6 for Mr. Suire, 2 for Mr. Daigle, and 8 for Mr. Quebodeaux. Mr. Daigle was eliminated.

 

SUIRE:                              Proctor, Bias, Suire, Shamsie, Smith, McManus

DAIGLE:                           Senegal, Daigle

QUEBODEAUX: Johnson, Valdetero, Marceaux, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Daigle', Bellon

 

Mr. Quebodeaux, was elected president by a second roll call vote which resulted in 8 for Quebodeaux, and 7 for Suire. Mr. Suire will retain office of Vice-President.

 

QUEBODEAUX: Johnson, Valdetero, Marceaux, Quebodeaux, Boudreaux, Trahan, Vige', Bellon SUIRE:       Proctor, Bias, Suire, Shamsie, Smith, Daigle, McManus ABSTAIN:       Senegal

 

Mr. Quebodeaux thanked the Board for their support. He pledged to work with the Superintendent, administration, and other board members to rebuild confidence in the public education system in Acadia Parish.

 

3) Mr. Privat announced that the special election will be held on October 23, 1999, to fill the seat of school board member for school District 2. Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Marceaux, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, a resolution calling for the special election was approved.

 

Upon motion by Mr. Marceaux, seconded by Mr. Daigle, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 5:54 p.m.

 

s/                                                            

John H. Quebodeaux, President

ATTEST:

s/                                                             

Dr. Marietta W. James, Superintendent

Secretary-Treasurer