The Washington Parish School Board met in regular session on the above date with the following members present: President Richard N. Thomas, Dan Slocum, Karl Bickham, Hayward Boone, Susanne Jones, Bruce Brown, Holly James, Matthew Tate and Freddie Jefferson. Absent: None.
Agenda Item #1 - Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by President Richard 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 November 6, 2003, regular board meeting.
It was moved by Matthew Tate, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board adopt the minutes of the November 6, 2003, regular board meeting, as submitted to each board member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #5 - Consider a motion to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of interviewing applicants for the position of Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance/Transportation/Visiting Teacher (Richard Thomas).
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Matthew Tate, that the board enter into Executive Session for the purpose of interviewing applicants for the position of Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance/Transportation/Visiting Teacher. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #6 - Consider a motion to return to regular session.
It was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board return to regular session. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #7 - Consider a motion to employ a Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance/Transportation/Visiting Teacher (Richard Thomas).
It was moved by Holly James, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the Board employ Karen J. Spears as Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance/Transportation/Visiting Teacher effective January 9, 2004. FOR: Richard Thomas, Dan Slocum, Karl Bickham, Hayward Boone, Susanne Jones, Holly James, Matthew Tate and Freddie Jefferson. AGAINST: Bruce Brown. Motion carried. (2 year Contract)
Agenda Item #8 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding proposals received for Franklinton Elementary School and Pine School Site Surveys(Dennie Fowler).
Upon the recommendation of Sam Fauntleroy, Architect, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Matthew Tate, that John E. Bonneau & Associates, Inc., Mandeville, LA, be awarded the contracts for Franklinton Elementary School and Pine School Site Surveys with the low proposal of $26,800.00. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #9 - Consider a motion to approve an allocation to schools for the 2003/2004 operations budgets (Beth Fussell).
Upon the recommendation of Beth Fussell, Director of Finance, it was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the Board approve the following allocations to schools for the 2003/2004 operations budget:
ALLOCATION TO SCHOOLS - 2003/2004 FY OPERATING BUDGET
$40.00 per pupil for elementary
$50.00 per pupil for secondary
SCHOOL TOTAL PER PUPIL ADJUSTMENTS NET ALLOCATION
Angie $ 7,040.00 $ 7,040.00
Enon 13,880.00 - $ 1,500.00 12,380.00
Franklinton Primary 22,960.00 22,960.00
Franklinton Elementary 17,360.00 17,360.00
Franklinton Jr. High 19,000.00 - 1,500.00 17,500.00
Franklinton High 31,650.00 31,650.00
Mt. Hermon 22,580.00 22,580.00
Pine School 27,780.00 27,780.00
Thomas Jr. High 16,440.00 16,440.00
Varna do Elementary 8,000.00 8,000.00
Varna do High 9,200.00 - 2,000.00 7,200.00
Wesley Ray Elementary 10,240.00 10,240.00
TOTALS $ 206,130.00 - $ 5,000.00 $ 201,130.00
REMAINING DEBT OWED TO GENERAL FUND BY SCHOOLS AFTER THIS ALLOCATION:
Enon Elementary $ 13,500.00
Franklinton Jr. High 1,906.85
Varna do High 74,735.20
TOTALS $ 90,142.05
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #10 - Consider a motion to approve restricted allocations for some schools in lieu of paying for water/sewage (Beth Fussell).
Upon the recommendation of Beth Fussell, Director of Finance, it was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board approve the following restricted allocations for some schools in lieu of paying for water/sewage, with the understanding that the amounts will be placed into the school's contingency fund, with spending possible only with the Superintendent's approval:
SCHOOL IN LIEU OF WATER IN LIEU OF SEWAGE TOTAL
Enon $ 1,838.33 $ 1,661.67 $ 3,500.00
Pine 1,838.33 1,661.67 3,500.00
Thomas 1,838.33 1,661.67 3,500.00
Mt. Hermon 1,661.67 1,661.67
Angie 1,661.67 1,661.67
Varna do Elementary 1,661.67 1,661.67
Varna do High 1,661.67 1,661.67
Wesley Ray 1,661.67 1,661.67
TOTALS $ 5,514.99 $13,293.36 $18,808.35
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #11 - Consider a motion to approve Student Transfer Requests (Dennie Fowler).
It was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Matthew Tate, that the Board approve the following student transfer requests for the 2003/2004 school year, as recommended by Dennie Fowler, Superintendent:
STUDENT NAME HOME DISTRICT REQUESTED DISTRICT TYPE OF TRANSFER
Counce, Taylor Franklinton Enon Hardship
Holmes, Connor Lane Thomas Franklinton Hardship
Easterling, Brandi Varnado Pine Academic
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #12 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Personnel and Transportation Adjustments (Richard Kennedy).
Prior to Richard Kennedy reviewing the Personnel and Transportation Adjustments, Superintendent Fowler made the following statements: "Monday night, we had a rather lengthy discussion about a position on here, as far as some ethical matters. Mr. Kuhn contacted the Board of Ethics and got an Attorney General's opinion. Also, he received an opinion from Mr. Bob Hammonds, who is an attorney for school boards in the state of Louisiana, and from Mr. Joe Bertrand, who is, probably, the most well-known school law attorney in the state of Louisiana, and it was found that there was nothing unethical, at all, as far as the procedures taken in the selection process."
Mr. Kennedy informed the Board that advertising for the position of Principal, Franklinton Elementary School, will begin December 5, 2003, with the Board interviewing for that position on January 8, 2004. Also, advertising for Sharon Mizell's position (Accounts Payable Clerk/Secretary) will begin December 5, 2003, for a period of two weeks.
Following review, it was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Holly James, that the Board approve the following Personnel and Transportation Adjustments, as recommended by Richard Kennedy, Assistant Superintendent:
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
RESIGNATION:
Franklinton High School: Thomas Cagle, Regular Teacher, Resignation effective October 10, 2003.
LEAVE WITHOUT PAY:
Franklinton Jr. High School: Betty Durr, Part-Time School Food Service Worker, Leave Without Pay effective November 3, 2003, and for the remainder of the 2003/2004 school year.
REGULAR SICK LEAVE/EXTENDED SICK LEAVE:
Thomas Jr. High School: Emma Perkins, Regular Teacher, Regular Sick Leave/Extended Sick Leave effective January 13, 2004, through May 31, 2004.
SABBATICAL MEDICAL LEAVE:
Mt. Hermon School: Tracy Edwards, LA 4 Teacher, Sabbatical Medical Leave effective January 13, 2004, through May 31, 2004.
Pine School: Burneva Ellzey, Special Education Teacher, Sabbatical Medical Leave effective January 13, 2004, through May 31, 2004.
CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS:
Sharon Mizell, Accounts Payable Clerk/Secretary, Central Office, TO Administrative Secretary to Superintendent, Central Office, effective December 8, 2003.
EMPLOY:
Franklinton Primary School: Cynthia Y. Crosley, Special Education Paraprofessional, effective December 5, 2003.
Franklinton Primary School: Cynthia L. Norris, Special Education Paraprofessional, effective December 5, 2003.
Franklinton Primary School: Lisa V. Ackerman, LA 4 Paraprofessional, effective December 5, 2003.
Franklinton Primary School: Sharonda L. Thigpen, LA 4 Paraprofessional, effective December 5, 2003.
Franklinton High School: Mary C. Goodwin, Regular Teacher, effective January 13, 2004 (CERTIFIED).
Franklinton High School: GySgt. Jeffery L. Brown, JROTC Instructor, effective January 5, 2004 (CERTIFIED).
Mt. Hermon School: Dana Starkey, LA 4 Teacher, effective January 13, 2004, and for the remainder of the 2003/2004 school year only - CERTIFIED (fill-in for Tracy Edwards, who will be on sabbatical leave).
Pine School: Brett Dillon, Special Education Teacher, effective January 13, 2004, through May 31, 2004 - OFAT (fill in for Burneva Ellzey, who will be on sabbatical leave).
TRANSPORTATION ADJUSTMENTS
ANGIE JR. HIGH SCHOOL: Extend the route of Patricia Seals 2.6 miles one way to pick up Chris Franklin. Effective date: November 10, 2003.
ENON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Extend the route of Aulton Carter .5 mile one way to pick up Darrien Dykes. Effective date: November 20, 2003.
FRANKLINTON SCHOOLS: Extend the route of Rex McCain .4 mile one way to pick up Chris Creel. Effective date: October 10, 2003.
Extend the route of Natalie Hatteberg 1.3 miles one way to pick up two (2) Special Education students. Effective date: November 11, 2003.
Extend the route of Yvonne Varna do 1.0 mile one way to pick up Daniel Cortez. Effective date: October 14, 2003.
MT. HERMON SCHOOL: Deduct .7 mile one way from the route of June Tarver (Alexander Perrault no longer on route). Effective date: November 3, 2003.
Extend the route of Rex Wascom .7 mile one way to pick up Alexander Perrault. Effective date: November 3, 2003.
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda #13 - Superintendent's Report.
Superintendent Fowler presented a certificate to Matthew Tate, which indicated his fulfillment of requirements for Act 666, which requires 6 hours of training for school board members.
It was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the following item be added to the agenda: Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Special Education IDEA and Preschool budget revisions. Motion carried unanimously. Following review of the revisions by Dr. Pamela Williford, Special Education Supervisor, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board approve the Special Education IDEA and Preschool budget revisions, as recommended by Dr. Pamela Williford, Special Education Supervisor. Motion carried unanimously.
Superintendent Fowler informed the Board that Supervisor Mary Jones will give a complete report on School Performance Scores at the next committee meeting.
At the request of Freddie Jefferson, Superintendent Fowler gave a brief update on the renovation grant projects.
Agenda Item #14 - Other business from board members.
Susanne Jones stated, "We had a big controversy Monday night about a pay schedule we have. When somebody's hired into the system, there's a pay scale of 1 to 5 years. I would like to send that to personnel (committee) to take a look at that, so that we have some direction on where we're going - - probably, finance (committee) needs to look at it, also - - and come back to the Board with a recommendation." Holly James responded that a Personnel Committee meeting will be held either before or after the regular committee-of-the-whole on Monday, January 5, 2004. She stated, "The committee will present policy to be voted on, so that, maybe, some of those pay issues can be resolved."
Matthew Tate moved to add to the agenda for purpose of discussion or possible motion to revise the payroll organizational chart for the central office. Mr. Tate's motion was seconded by Bruce Brown. FOR: Dan Slocum, Karl Bickham, Bruce Brown, Hayward Boone, Susanne Jones, Richard Thomas, Matthew Tate and Freddie Jefferson. AGAINST: Holly James. Motion carried.
Matthew Tate stated, "All of you have a copy of that chart. You'll notice that it's made up of two parts. The second part is the old established payroll organizational chart, and the top sheet represents the revised portion of the chart, as it reflects looking at that position of the Census Clerk/Secretary to the Assistant Superintendent. What we're proposing is that particular aspect of the chart will be moved right up under the Administrative Secretary to the Superintendent, along with the other necessary portion of the chart intact. So, after reviewing what you see, and this is what we have covered and recommend coming from the organizational chart committee, I would, at this time, like to offer a motion that we adopt." Bruce Brown seconded Mr. Tate's motion. Susanne Jones stated, "I really wish that you'd put this on hold until we can look at it in a committee meeting, because it's the first time I've seen it. We can talk about this a little bit, so I can understand why this is happening, how it's happening, and have it explained." The vote on the motion was as follows: FOR - Karl Bickham, Bruce Brown, Hayward Boone, Richard Thomas, Matthew Tate and Freddie Jefferson. AGAINST: Susanne Jones and Holly James. ABSTAINING: Dan Slocum. Motion carried.
Agenda Item #15 - Consider a motion to enter into Executive Session under LA. R.S. 42:6.1A(7) concerning student disciplinary appeal (Richard Thomas).
It was moved by Matthew Tate, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board enter into Executive Session under LA. R.S. 42:6.1A(7) concerning student disciplinary appeal. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #16 - Consider a motion to return to regular session.
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Matthew Tate, that the Board return to regular session. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #17 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by Matthew Tate, seconded by Dan Slocum, that the Board adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.