The Washington Parish School Board met in regular session on the above date with the following members present: President Richard N. Thomas, Jr., Karl Bickham, Bruce Brown, Hayward Boone, Susanne Jones, Harold Smith, Holly James, Juanita Barker, and Freddie Jefferson. Absent: None.
Agenda Item #1 - Call to order.
The meeting was called to order by President Thomas. He welcomed School Board Attorney Wayne Kuhn, news media and guests.
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 22, 2001, regular board meeting.
It was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the Board adopt the minutes of the February 22, 2001, regular board meeting, as submitted to each board member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #5 - Consider a motion to adopt the 2001-2002 School Calendar (Dennie Fowler).
It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Harold Smith, that the Board adopt the following School Calendar for the 2001-2002 school year:
SCHOOL CALENDAR - 2001-2002
MONTH EVENT DATE TCHR. DAYS INSTRUCT.DAYS
August Staff Development August 13 15 12
Staff Development (ALL) August 14
Teacher Work Day August 15
Classes Begin August 16
September Labor Day September 3 19 18 1/2
Staff Development September 21 (1/2 Day) (1/2 day Instruct. & 1/2 day Staff Dev.
Students dismissed at 12:00)
October Washington Parish Fair October 17, 18, 19 20 20
November Educational Conventions November 19, 20, 21 17 16 1/2
1st. Term Emergency Days* November 19, 20
Thanksgiving Holidays November 22, 23
Staff Development November 30(1/2 Day) (1/2 day Instruct. & 1/2 day Staff Dev.
Students dismissed at 12:00)
December Christmas Holidays December 19 (1/2 day) - 31 13 12 1/2
(Dec. 19 - 1/2 day Instruct.
& 1/2 day Tchr. Work Day
Students dismissed at 12:00)
January New Year's Holidays January 1 & 2 20 19
Staff Development (ALL) January 15
Martin Luther King Day January 21
February Mardi Gras February 11 & 12 18 18
March Good Friday March 29 20 20
April Spring Holidays April 1 - 5 17 17
2nd. Term Emergency Days* April 4, 5
May Teacher Work Day May 30 (1/2 day Instruct. & 23 21 1/2
1/2 day Tchr. Work Day
Students dismissed at 12:00)
Teacher Work Day May 31
School Closes May 31
Report Cards Mailed May 31
TOTALS 182 DAYS 175 DAYS
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #6 - Consider a motion to renew the contract of employment for Linda Crain, Principal, Franklinton Jr. High School (Dennie Fowler).
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Fowler, it was moved by Juanita Barker, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board renew the contract of employment for Linda Crain, Principal, Franklinton Jr. High School, for the period beginning July 15, 2001, and ending July 14, 2003. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #7 - Consider a motion to renew the contract of employment for Steven Knight, Principal, Thomas Jr. High School (Dennie Fowler).
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Fowler, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board renew the contract of employment for Steven Knight, Principal, Thomas Jr. High School, for the period beginning July 1, 2001, and ending June 30, 2003. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #8 - Consider a motion to renew the contract of employment for Marsha Newman, Supervisor of School Food Service (Dennie Fowler).
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Fowler, it was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Juanita Barker, that the Board renew the contract of employment for Marsha Newman, Supervisor of School Food Service, for the period beginning August 15, 2001, and ending August 14, 2003. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #9 - Consider a motion to renew the contract of employment for Emma Ross, Principal, Varnado High School (Dennie Fowler).
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Fowler, it was moved by Juanita Barker, seconded by Freddie Jefferson, that the Board renew the contract of employment for Emma Ross, Principal, Varnado High School, for the period beginning July 1, 2001, and ending June 30, 2003. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #10 - Consider a motion to renew the contract of employment for Eathel Seal, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance/Visiting Teacher (Dennie Fowler).
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Fowler, it was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board renew the contract of employment for Eathel Seal, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance/Visiting Teacher, for the period beginning July 1, 2001, and ending June 30, 2003. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #11 - Consider a motion to renew the contract of employment for Phyllis Thomas, Principal, Enon Elementary School (Dennie Fowler).
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Fowler, it was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Harold Smith, that the Board renew the contract of employment for Phyllis Thomas, Principal, Enon Elementary School, for the period beginning July 29, 2001, and ending July 28, 2003. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #12 - Consider a motion to renew the contract of employment for Beverly Young, Principal, Franklinton High School (Dennie Fowler).
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Fowler, it was moved by Juanita Barker, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board renew the contract of employment for Beverly Young, Principal, Franklinton High School, for the period beginning July 1, 2001, and ending June 30, 2003. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #13 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Personnel and Transportation Adjustments (Richard Kennedy).
It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Harold Smith, that the Board approve the following Personnel and Transportation Adjustments, as recommended by Richard Kennedy, Assistant Superintendent:
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
RETIREMENT RESIGNATION:
Thomas Jr. High School: Georgia M. Hartzog, School Food Service Manager, Retirement Resignation effective June 2, 2001.
EMPLOY:
Enon Elementary School: Patricia Rutherford, Special Education Paraprofessional, effective March 16, 2001.
TRANSPORTATION ADJUSTMENTS
FRANKLINTON SCHOOLS: Extend the route of Hilda Alexander 2.0 miles one way (overcrowded; making extra trip to Franklinton Jr. High School). Effective date: March 5, 2001.
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #14 - Superintendent's Report.
Superintendent Fowler recognized several college students who were attending the board meeting as a requirement for a course.
Agenda Item #15 - Other business from board members.
Holly James commented on a recent newspaper article regarding the ACT scores of parish students. She took offense with the headline, "Abysmal Scores in the Parish." She stated, "Our scores are within one point of the State average. This is only one indicator of how well a student will do in college. I don't think we're abysmal. We're right where everybody else is. It made us look bad, and we're not."
Agenda Item #16 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.
RICHARD N. THOMAS, JR., PRESIDENT
DENNIE FOWLER, SECRETARY