The Washington Parish School Board met in regular session on the above date with the following board members present: President Harold Smith, Karl Bickham, Holly James, Susanne Jones, Hayward Boone, Richard Thomas, Bruce Brown, and Freddie Jefferson. Absent: Juanita Barker.
Agenda Item #1 - Call to order.
The meeting was called to order by President Smith. He welcomed School Board Attorney Wayne Kuhn, guests, and news media.
Agenda Item #2 - Invocation.
The invocation was given by Bruce Brown.
Agenda Item #3 - Pledge of Allegiance.
Agenda Item #4 - Consider a motion to adopt the minutes of the February 24, 2000, regular board meeting.
It was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board adopt the minutes of the February 24, 2000, regular board meeting, as submitted to each board member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #5 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding substitute bus drivers' pay relative to field trips (Eathel Seal).
It was moved by Bruce Brown, seconded by Richard Thomas, that the Board adopt the following policy regarding substitute bus drivers' pay relative to field trips, as recommended by the Board Transportation Committee:
FIELD TRIPS
Whenever a bus driver must secure a substitute driver for his regular bus route so that he will be able to take a school trip approved by the superintendent, the Washington Parish School Board will pay the substitute driver's salary. Under these conditions, that bus driver will not be charged with sick leave for the time he is away on such an approved school trip.
Agenda Item #6 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding a revision to the primary and secondary bus policy (Eathel Seal).
It was moved by Richard Thomas, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board adopt the following revision to the primary and secondary bus policy, as recommended by the Board Transportation Committee:
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY BUSES
The only time a bus driver can use a secondary bus on his regular route is when (1) his primary bus is being used for a school trip approved by the superintendent, or (2) his primary bus is not operable. If the primary bus becomes inoperable, the bus driver is required to notify the transportation supervisor of that fact immediately, giving full disclosure as to why it is not operable, along with the estimated period of time the primary bus is expected to be out of service. When the primary bus is put back on the regular route, the bus driver is required to notify the transportation supervisor again. Deliberate and/or undue delays in getting the primary bus back on the regular route will not be tolerated. Specific documentation may be required, at the discretion of the transportation supervisor. Any owner/operator who violates these regulations shall be dismissed with due process.
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #7 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding a fuel adjustment program for buses (Eathel Seal).
Adren Raybourn, Director of Finance, presented the following fuel adjustment program for buses, as recommended by the Board Transportation Committee: SEE ATTACHED. It was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Richard Thomas, that the Board adopt the fuel adjustment program for buses, as recommended by the Board Transportation Committee, which provides for movement up or down, based on the average price of fuel, and implemented with a ten-cent ($.10) per mile increase in operational allowance, applicable to one-way mileage. It was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the motion be amended to change the implementation rate from ten-cents ($.10) per mile to fifteen cents ($.15) per mile. The vote on the amended motion was as follows: FOR - Karl Bickham and Hayward Boone; AGAINST - Holly James, Susanne Jones, Harold Smith, Richard Thomas, Bruce Brown and Freddie Jefferson. Amended motion failed. The vote on the original motion was as follows: FOR - Karl Bickham, Holly James, Susanne Jones, Hayward Boone, Harold Smith, Richard Thomas, Bruce Brown and Freddie Jefferson. AGAINST - None. The original motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #8 - Consider a motion to adopt the 2000-2001 School Calendar (Dennie Fowler).
It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Holly James, that the Board adopt the following School Calendar for the 2000-2001 school year:
SCHOOL CALENDAR - 2000-2001
MONTH EVENT DATE TCHR. DAYS INSTRUCT. DAYS
August Staff Development August 15
Staff Development (All) August 16
Teacher Work Day August 17
Classes Begin August 18 13 10
September Labor Day September 4 20 20
October Washington Parish Fair October 18, 19, 20 19 19
November Presidential Election November 7
Educational Conventions November 20, 21, 22
1st. Term Emergency Days* November 20, 21
Thanksgiving Holidays November 23, 24 16 16
December Christmas Holidays December 20 (2 day) -
29; (Dec. 20 - 2 day
Instruct. & 2 day Tchr.
Work Day) 14 13
January New Year's Holiday January 1
Martin Luther King Day January 15
Staff Development (All) January 16 21 20
February Staff Development February 26
Mardi Gras February 27 19 18
March No Holidays 22
April Spring Holidays April 13 - 20
2nd. Term Emergency Days* April 19, 20 15 15
May Teacher Work Day May 30 (2 day Instruct.
& 2 day Tchr. Work Day)
Teacher Work Day May 31
School Closes May 31 23 212
Report Cards Mailed May 31
TOTALS 182 DAYS 175 DAYS
*If not needed, these days will be holidays.
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #9 - Consider a motion to renew the contract of employment for Dorothy Young, Principal, Wesley Ray Elementary School (Dennie Fowler).
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the Board renew the contract of employment for Dorothy Young, Principal, Wesley Ray Elementary School, for a period of two (2) years, beginning July 1, 2000, and ending June 30, 2002. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #10 - Consider a motion to approve a transfer of approximately $22,570.00 from General Fund (Mt. Hermon's contingency) to Mt. Hermon School Capital Projects Fund (Dennie Fowler).
Superintendent Fowler stated that Alan Graham, Principal, Mt. Hermon School, has requested contingency funds to complete projects that are not covered by the bond issue, as follows (estimates only): gym floor covering - $3,170.00; remainder on construction not covered by bond - $6,400.00; tractor/sheller building addition - $6,000.00; and baseball field development - $7,000.00, for a total of $22,570.00. It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Holly James, that the Board approve a transfer of approximately $22,570.00 from General Fund (Mt. Hermon's contingency) to Mt. Hermon School Capital Projects Fund. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #11 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Personnel and Transportation Adjustments (Richard Kennedy).
It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Freddie Jefferson, that the following Personnel and Transportation Adjustments be approved, as recommended by Richard Kennedy, Assistant Superintendent:
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
DISABILITY RETIREMENT:
Wesley Ray Elementary School: Barbara J. Roberts, Food Service Worker, Disability Retirement effective March 13, 2000
RESIGNATION:
Varnado Elementary School: Stacie Vince, Regular Teacher, Resignation effective March 10, 2000.
SABBATICAL LEAVE:
Franklinton Primary School: Deborah Burris, Regular Teacher, Sabbatical Leave for Professional Improvement effective the Fall semester only of the 2000-2001 school year.
CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS:
Parishwide: Joe Willie Roberts, General Maintenance, TO Electrician, effective March 17, 2000.
EMPLOY:
Angie/Wesley Ray Schools: Irma J. Martin, Bus Operator, effective March 20, 2000 (replacement for J. W. Hawthorne's former route).
Pine School: Clint D. Husser, Regular Teacher/Head Football Coach, effective the beginning of the 2000-2001 school year (CERTIFIED).
Varnado Elementary School: Charlette W. Fornea, Regular Teacher, effective March 13, 2000, and for the remainder of the 1999-2000 school year only (TTA).
Parishwide: Robin Edwards, Alternative School Teacher, effective February 28, 2000, and for the remainder of the 1999-2000 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
TRANSPORTATION ADJUSTMENTS
FRANKLINTON SCHOOLS: Deduct 6.0 miles one way from the route of Faye Newman (Special Ed. student moved closer to Franklinton). Effective date: February 10, 2000.
Deduct 5.1 miles one way from the route of Violonia Edwards (Special Ed. student moved off route). Effective date: February 11, 2000.
MT. HERMON SCHOOL: Extend the route of Naomi Tarver 1.2 miles one way to pick up Haley Brooks. Effective date: February 28, 2000.
Extend the route of Louise Holmes 2.2 miles one way to pick up Blake Walker. Effective date: February 29, 2000.
WESLEY RAY ELEM. SCHOOL: Extend the route of Mary K. Knight 2.1 miles one way to pick up a Special Ed. student. Effective date: February 24, 2000.
Extend the route of Mary K. Knight 1.2 miles one way to pick up a Special Ed. student. Effective date: February 16, 2000.
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #12 - Superintendent's Report.
Superintendent Fowler recognized Eathel Seal, Supervisor of Transportation, who addressed the Board concerning Washington Parish School Board Policy File: EDDA - SPECIAL USE OF EXTRA BUSES OWNED BY BUS DRIVERS. That policy limits the pool of extra (second) buses to ten (10). She stated that the present number of extra buses is down to seven (7). She asked that four (4) additional drivers be approved for the pool, which would be one (1) over the limit, according to the current policy. She stated that McGehee Insurance would not charge extra for the eleventh bus. It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Richard Thomas, that the following item be added to the agenda: Consider a motion to amend the Board policy on extra buses owned by bus drivers. Motion carried unanimously. It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Richard Thomas, that the Board amend Washington Parish School Board Policy File: EDDA - SPECIAL USE OF EXTRA BUSES OWNED BY BUS DRIVERS, to limit the pool of extra buses to eleven (11), rather than ten (10). Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #13 - Other business from board members.
It was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Richard Thomas, that the following item be added to the agenda: Consider a motion to send a resolution to Governor Mike Foster and the Louisiana Legislature requesting their consideration of an increase in operating expense allowance for bus operators. Motion carried unanimously. It was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Richard Thomas, that the Board send a resolution to Governor Mike Foster and the Louisiana Legislature requesting their consideration of an increase in operating expense allowance for bus operators. Motion carried unanimously.
At the request of Holly James, the Board agreed to send a letter to the State Department of Education and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education expressing its concern about the dates selected for piloting next year's LEAP 21 in the tenth grade. This year's tenth graders in three of the high schools will be taking the test that next year's sophomores will be taking. The State Department has selected April 4-7, 2000 for administering the pilot test. The actual LEAP test will be given April 10-12, 2000, which means tenth graders will be tested seven successive days. Ms. James stated that it is not in the students' best interest to have this many days of testing, as it will prevent them from having time to review and will cause test fatigue and test anxiety. The schools affected by the pilot program are Varnado High School, Mt. Hermon School and Pine School.
Agenda Item #14 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.