The Washington Parish School Board met in regular session on the above date with the following members present: Richard Thomas, Jr., Dan Slocum, Karl Bickham, Bruce Brown, Susanne Jones, Matthew Tate and Freddie Jefferson. Absent: Hayward Boone and Holly James.
Agenda Item #1 - Call to order
The meeting was called to order by President Richard Thomas, Jr. 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 October 12, 2006, regular board meeting (Richard Thomas).
It was moved by Matthew Tate, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board adopt the minutes of the October 12, 2006, regular board meeting as submitted to each member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #5 - Consider a motion to adopt a proclamation declaring November 16, 2006, as STD Awareness Day in Washington Parish, as requested by the Franklinton High School Governor's Program on Abstinence Club (Darrell Fairburn).
Upon recommendation of Megan Rogers, president of the FHS Governor's Program on Abstinence Club, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Matthew Tate that the Board adopt a proclamation declaring November 16, 2006, as STD Awareness Day in Washington Parish. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #6 - Recognition of Outstanding 4-H Members - Lacey Urick (Darrell Fairburn).
Mr. Henry Harrison, LSU AG Center County Agent and Lacey Urick, 4-H Agent for Washington Parish and students from several schools made a presentation about the activities and volunteer services the students will be participating in this school year. The outstanding 4-H members present were as follows:
Jyra Bickham President Franklinton Jr. High School
Jasmine Tate Vice-President Franklinton Jr. High School
Payton Bria Vice-President Franklinton Elementary School
Jasmine Bria Vice-President Varnado Elementary School
Derrick Dominguez Vice-President Franklinton Jr. High School
All board members congratulated the students and encouraged each to keep up the hard work.
Agenda Item #7 - Consider a motion to adopt the schedule of the school board meetings for 2007 (Darrell Fairburn).
It was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board adopt the schedule of the school board meetings for 2007 as follows:
PUBLIC MEETINGS
ACT 707 OF 1977
REGULAR MEETINGS OF WASHINGTON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD - 2007
The Washington Parish School Board shall meet in regular session for the year 2007 at its legal domicile, the Washington Parish School Board Office Building, 800 Main Street, Franklinton, Louisiana, at 6:30 P.M., on the following dates:
THURSDAY - SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS MONDAY- COMMITTEE MEETINGS
January 11, 2007 January 8, 2007
January 25, 2007
February 15, 2007 - Pine School February 12, 2007
March 15, 2007 March 12, 2007
March 29, 2007
April 26, 2007 - Franklinton Elementary April 23, 2007
May 10, 2007
May 24, 2007 May 21, 2007
June 14, 2007 June 11, 2007
July 12, 2007 July 9, 2007
August 9, 2007
August 23, 2007 August 20, 2007
September 13, 2007 September 10, 2007
September 27, 2007 - Mt. Hermon
October 11, 2007 October 8, 2007
November 15, 2007 November 12, 2007
December 13, 2007 December 10, 2007
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #8 - Consider a motion to approve an allocation to schools for the 2006/2007 operation budgets (Beth Fussell).
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Matthew Tate, that the Board approve an allocation to schools for the 2006/2007 operation budgets as follows:
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #9 - Consider a motion to approve restricted allocations for some schools in lieu of paying for water/sewage (Beth Fussell).
It was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board approve restricted allocations for some schools in lieu of paying for water/sewage as follows:
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #10 - Report on construction projects (Darrell Fairburn).
Superintendent Fairburn stated that in the Capital Improvements Committee meeting on Monday night, that Mr. Sam Fauntleroy had updated them on the progress of the construction projects. Mr. Fairburn gave the Board an expense report on the Tax District #4 Construction Project.
Agenda Item #11 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Personnel and Transportation Adjustments (Richard Kennedy).
Upon the recommendation of Richard Kennedy, Personnel Director, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Matthew Tate, that the Board approve the Personnel and Transportation Adjustments as follows:
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
SABBATICAL MEDICAL LEAVE
Varnado High School: Christopher Thomas Bivens, Regular Teacher, Sabbatical Medical Leave effective November 29, 2006 through May 31, 2007.
RETIREMENT RESIGNATION
Franklinton Primary School: Alice Dillon, Title I Paraprofessional, Retirement Resignation effective October 11, 2006.
Thomas Elementary School: Paris Sumrall, Gifted Teacher, Retirement Resignation effective October 31, 2006.
Wesley Ray Elementary School: Joan Pace Kennedy, Librarian, Retirement Resignation effective December 20, 2006.
RESCIND RETIREMENT RESIGNATION
Franklinton Primary School: Gwendolyn Berry, Regular Teacher, Rescind Retirement Resignation effective October 31, 2006.
LEAVE WITHOUT PAY
Franklinton Jr. High School: Tara Cooper, Special Education Paraprofessional, Leave Without Pay effective November 1, 2006 through January 1, 2007.
REGULAR SICK LEAVE
Mt. Hermon School: Kathleen B. James, Regular Teacher, Regular Sick Leave effective the Spring Semester of the 2006/2007 school year.
RESIGNATION
Franklinton Primary School: Shannon Dyson, Special Education Paraprofessional, Resignation effective November 3, 2006.
Franklinton Primary School: Shone McNeese, Special Education Bus Attendant, Resignation effective October 31, 2006.
Franklinton Primary School: Pamela Warren, Special Education Bus Attendant, Resignation effective October 23, 2006.
Franklinton Jr. High School: Kristy McNabb, Secretary, Resignation effective November 17, 2006.
Thomas Elementary School: Ashley Sumrall, Kindergarten Teacher, Resignation effective November 3, 2006.
CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Pine School: Kimberly Magee, Regular Teacher TO Business Teacher, Effective January 11, 2007.
EMPLOY
Franklinton Elementary School: Lou Fussell, Literacy Coordinator Paraprofessional, Employ effective November 8, 2006 (Pending continuation of the "Save Our Children" grant).
Franklinton Elementary School: Rhonda Thomas, "Save Our Children" Paraprofessional, Employ effective November 15, 2006 (Pending continuation of the "Save Our Children" grant).
Franklinton Primary School: Julie Akins, Special Education Teacher, Employ effective November 13, 2006 and the remainder of the 2006/2007 school year only (Certified).
Franklinton School District: Regina Baillio, Bus Operator, Employ effective November 17, 2006 (Replacing Theresa Chauvin).
Mt. Hermon School: Jaime Leach, Regular Teacher, Employ effective the Spring Semester of the 2006/2007 school year only (Certified)(Replacing Kathleen James).
Pine School: Alyne Jackson, Regular Teacher, Employ effective the Spring Semester of the 2006/2007 school year only (Certified).
Pine School: Kelly Knight, Gifted Teacher, Employ effective December 5, 2006 and the remainder of the 2006/2007 school year only (Replacing Paris Sumrall) (OFAT).
Thomas Elementary School: Anne Marie Fornea Temples, Regular Teacher, Employ effective January 12, 2007 (Replacing Pam Ard) (Certified).
Thomas Elementary School: Savanna Joetta Thomas, Kindergarten Teacher, Employ effective December 5, 2006 and the remainder of the 2006/2007 school year only (Replacing Ashley Sumrall) (OFAT).
Varnado Elementary School: Sharon Collins, LPN Nurse, Employ effective November 27, 2006.
Varnado High School: Paulette Blanchard, Regular Teacher, Employ effective November 27, 2006 and the remainder of the 2006/2007 school year only (Certified)(Replacing Christopher Thomas Bivens).
TRANSPORTATION ADJUSTMENTS
Angie School: Extend the route of Tammy Boone 1 miles one way to pick up Cheyene, Skylar, and Tiffany Greer. Effective date: October 12, 2006.
Extend the route of Tammy Boone 4 miles one way to pick up Brittney Blackwell. Effective date: November 8, 2006.
Extend the route of Steve Owens 1.6 miles one way to pick up Kevin Stafford and Daniel Reach. Effective date: October 13, 2006.
Franklinton Schools: Extend the route of Vivian Ard 1 mile one way to pick up Caleb Breedlove. Effective date: September 11, 2006.
Extend the route of Vivian Ard .2 miles one way to pick up Damien Miller. Effective date: September 7, 2006.
Extend the route of Vivian Ard .1 mile one way to pick up Brittany Roberts. Effective date: September 7, 2006.
Mt. Hermon School: Extend the route of Colston Martin 1.2 miles one way to pick up Justin, Casey and Christopher Hoffman. Effective date: October 25, 2006.
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #12 - Superintendent's Report
Upon the recommendation of Beverly Young, FHS Principal, to ADD TO THE AGENDA, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the Board approve a $50,000 loan to Franklinton High School Baseball and Softball and adopt a resolution. Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the Board approve Franklinton High School Baseball and Softball a $50,000 loan against the sale of the Franklinton High School Football and Baseball fields, Squares 255 and 261, and adopt the following resolution:
R e s o l u t i o n
Resolve that the proceeds of the sale of the property on which the Franklinton High School football and baseball fields reside, Squares 255 and 261, be used for the construction of the new Franklinton High School baseball and softball fields.
C E R T I F I C A T E
I, Darrell Fairburn, duly acting and qualified Superintendent of the Washington Parish School Board, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted by the Washington Parish School Board at a regular meeting held on November 16, 2006, at 6:30 P.M., at which time a quorum was present and voting.
Franklinton, Louisiana, this 16th day of November, 2006.
________________________________________
Darrell Fairburn, Superintendent/Secretary
Washington Parish School Board
Motion carried unanimously.
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Fairburn, it was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Bruce Brown, to ADD TO THE AGENDA that the Board approve a Salary Supplement for December 2006 as follows:
$200 salary supplement to be paid in December
Includes all full-time employees. Part-time employees will receive 50% of supplement
Includes employees on Sabbatical and Extended Sick Leave
Total cost of salary supplement to General Fund = $142,854.87
Must be employed by November 16, 2006, and be an active employee on December 20, 2006
All federal and state grant employees will be funded from their grants
Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Matthew Tate, that the Board approve the Salary Supplement for December 2006 as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Superintendent Fairburn stated that this one time salary adjustment is possible because of an increase in sales tax revenue due to Hurricane Katrina.
Superintendent Fairburn and Attorney Wayne Kuhn stated that the survey of the old Franklinton Elementary School property is still in progress. The surveyor had some questions, but they have possibly been answered and that he could now move forward with the survey.
Superintendent Fairburn gave the board an update on the grant writer hired by the Board. Board members would like to invite him to come before the Board and give an update.
Superintendent Fairburn gave the Board a breakdown on Special Needs Students.
Superintendent Fairburn stated that bids were opened on the Franklinton High School Football Stadium and Baseball field property. Only one bid was received for $125,000.00, he recommended rejecting the bid because it was below appraisal. It was moved by Matthew Tate, seconded by Freddie Jefferson, to ADD TO THE AGENDA to reject a bid of $125,000.00 for the Franklinton High School Football Stadium and Baseball field property. Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Matthew Tate, seconded by Freddie Jefferson, that the Board reject the one bid of $125,000.00 for the Franklinton High School Football Stadium and Baseball field property. Motion carried unanimously.
Superintendent Fairburn stated that on Thursday, December 14, 2006 at 5:30 p.m., a reception will be held in the Media Center for the outgoing board members.
Agenda Item #13 - Other business from board members.
Dan Slocum stated that Mt. Hermon School is trying to begin a football program at the Jr. High level. He congratulated all parish football teams that made the playoffs this year. He also wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
Susanne Jones thanked everyone for the 16 years that she has served on the Board. She also thanked all of her fellow board members.
Matthew Tate suggested that the FHS Stadium and Baseball field property be reevaluated. He suggested looking into demolishing the football stadium and just selling the property. He suggested that the system look into a back-up system for substitute bus drivers.
Freddie Jefferson congratulated Superintendent Fairburn and staff on the Teacher of the Year Banquet. He expressed to Ms. Susanne Jones that he has enjoyed working with her over the past years.
Agenda Item #14 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Matthew Tate, that the Board adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.