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, Dewitt Perry, Alan McCain, Matthew Tate and Freddie Jefferson. Absent: Mary Adams.
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 January 11, 2007, regular board meeting (Richard Thomas).
It was moved by Matthew Tate, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the Board adopt the minutes of the January 11, 2007, regular board meeting as submitted to each member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #5 - Introduction of 4-H Agent - Emily Gillett (Richard Kennedy).
County Agent Henry Harrison introduced Emily Gillett. Ms. Gillett is the second 4-H agent for Washington Parish to be hired. She is from Richland Parish and a graduate of LSU.
Agenda Item #6 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding a student transfer request for the 2006/2007 school year (Karen Spears).
Upon the request of Karen Spears, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, it was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board approve a student transfer request for the 2006/2007 school year as follows:
Student Name Home District Requested District Grade Type of Transfer
Hillhouse, Aaron Mark Angie Jr. High Pine School 8th Administrative
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #7 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding bids received for telecommunication services and equipment for e-rate (Jimmy Thigpen).
Upon the recommendation of Jimmy Thigpen, Technology Technical Support Coordinator, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the Board accept the bids for telecommunications services and equipment for e‑rate as follows:
Service Provider Amount
Cellular Phone Service Cingular Pooled Plan $35.99/month 450 minutes
Standalone Plan $31.99/month 450 minutes
Student Email Gaggle.Net $ 2.20/student/year
AJHS - PBX Hunt Brothers
IP Based $ 8,000.00
Network Cabling Hunt Brothers
Copper/drop
Cat 5e Plenum $ 115.00
Cat 5e Non-Plenum $ 95.00
Fiber/drop 0-200' $ 1,400.00
Fiber/drop 201-400' $ 1,800.00
Fiber/drop 401-600' $ 2,000.00
Switches
2960-24TT-L Bell South $ 1,128.15
2960G-24TC-L Hunt Brothers $ 2,500.00
3750G-12s Bell South $ 7,933.95
Router
Cisco 1841 Bell South $ 2,082.65
Racks Hunt Brothers
19" 2-Post $ 280.00
19" Enclosed-floor mt. $ 1,500.00
Wall Enclosed $ 750.00
Wall Non-Enlosed $ 280.00
UPS
1000 VA Hunt Brothers $ 750.00
2200 VA Hunt Brothers $ 1,400.00
3000 VA Bell South $ 1,900.46
Network maintenance contract Hunt Brothers $ 19,800.00
for Pine School
1 Hour Response time/Total network/cabling coverage
Weekly on-site visits for maintenance
BELL SOUTH - FIBER COST
WPSB Amount
C/O 975.00 975.00 877.50 97.50 1,909.00 1,718.10 190.90
AJHS 500.00 500.00 450.00 50.00 1,251.00 1,125.90 125.10
EES 500.00 500.00 450.00 50.00 832.00 748.80 83.20
MHS 625.00 625.00 562.50 62.50 1,398.00 1,258.20 139.80
Pine 625.00 625.00 562.50 62.50 1,398.00 1,258.20 139.80
TES 500.00 500.00 450.00 50.00 1,251.00 1,125.90 125.10
VHS 625.00 213,081.00 213,706.00 192,335.40 21,370.60 1,398.00 1,258.20 139.80
VES 500.00 12,270.00 12,770.00 11,493.00 1,277.00 1,251.00 1,125.90 125.10
WRES 500.00 500.00 450.00 50.00 1,251.00 1,125.90 125.10
TOTALS 230,701.00 207,630.90 23,070.10 11,939.00 10,745.10 1,193.90
TERMS OF CONTRACTS
4-Years
Student Email Gaggle 5-Years
PBX for Angie Junior High Hunt Brothers 15-Months
Cat 5e Copper Drops -Plenum Hunt Brothers 15-Months
Cat5e Copper Drops - Non Plenum Hunt Brothers 15-Months
Fiber Drops Hunt Brothers 15-Months
Cisco 2960-24TT-L switch BellSouth 15-Months
Cisco 2960G-24TC-L switch Hunt Brothers 15-Months
Cisco 3750G-12S switch BellSouth 15-Months
Cisco 1841 router BellSouth 15-Months
2-Post rack (floor mount) Hunt Brothers 15-Months
Enclosed rack (floor mount) Hunt Brothers 15-Months
Wall Pack Hunt Brothers 15-Months
Wall Rack - enclosed Hunt Brothers 15-Months
1000 VA UPS Hunt Brothers 15-Months
2200 VA UPS Hunt Brothers 15-Months
3000 VA UPS BellSouth 15-Months
Maintenance Contract Pine Hunt Brothers 4-Years
Fiber Links to AJHS, EES, MHS, Pine, TES, VES, VHS,WRES BellSouth 4-Years
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #8 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding change orders for the Thomas Elementary School (Richard Kennedy).
Upon the recommendation of Sam Fauntleroy, Architect, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the Board approve change orders for the Thomas Elementary School in the amount of $269,842.00. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #9 - Consider a motion to authorize withdrawal privileges for Ruth Stoudenmier, on all Mt. Hermon School bank accounts effective January 26, 2007 and terminate withdrawal privileges for Don McDaniel on all Mt. Hermon School bank accounts effective January 26, 2007 (Beth Fussell).
It was moved by Dan Slocum, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board authorize withdrawal privileges for Ruth Stoudenmier, on all Mt. Hermon School bank accounts effective January 26, 2007 and terminate withdrawal privileges for Don McDaniel on all Mt. Hermon School bank accounts effective January 26, 2007. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #10 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Personnel and Transportation Adjustments (Richard Kennedy).
Upon the recommendation of Richard Kennedy, Personnel Director, it was moved by Matthew Tate, seconded by Dan Slocum, that the Board approve the following Personnel and Transportation Adjustments:
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
SABBATICAL MEDICAL LEAVE
Enon Elementary School: Kasey Pittman, Kindergarten Teacher, Sabbatical Medical Leave effective the Spring Semester of the 2006/2007 school year.
Franklinton Primary School: Jeanie Matthews, Kindergarten Teacher, Sabbatical Medical Leave effective the Spring Semester of the 2006/2007 school year.
RESIGNATION
Franklinton Jr. High School: Tara Cooper, Special Education Paraprofessional, Resignation effective January 31, 2007.
CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Mt. Hermon School: Avant Vernon, Regular Teacher, Retirement Resignation effective January 29, 2007 TO Retirement Resignation effective January 26, 2007.
EMPLOY
Enon Elementary School: Racheal Schexnider, Kindergarten Teacher, Employ effective January 22, 2007 and the remainder of the 2006/2007 school year only (Replacing Kasey Pittman).
Franklinton Primary School: Joan Varnado, Special Education Bus Attendant, Employ effective January 26, 2007.
Franklinton Jr. High School: Debra McElveen, Regular Teacher, Employ effective the Spring Semester of the 2006/2007 school year only.
Thomas Elementary School: LaChrisha Carnegie, Special Education Paraprofessional, Employ effective January 26, 2007.
Varnado Elementary School: Joyce Kemp, Special Education Paraprofessional, Employ effective January 26, 2007.
TRANSPORTATION ADJUSTMENTS
Franklinton School District: Extend the route of Billy Burton 1.7 mile one way to pick up Maria and Autume Thomas and Christian Duncan. Effective date: January 16, 2007.
Extend the route of Melaney Erwin 1.1 mile one way to pick up Joshua Harris. Effective date: January 16, 2007.
Thomas School District: Extend the route of Shirley Barber 4.6 miles one way to pick up Ashley and Lindsey Turner and Breanna McNeese. Effective date: January 4, 2007.
Extend the route of D. Kaye Magee .4 miles one way to pick up Connor Holmes. Effective date: January 4, 2007.
Wesley Ray District: Deduct 12 miles from the route of Rena Knight. Student no longer on route. Effective date January 23, 2007.
Extend the route of Henry Williams 8.3 miles one way to pick up Julie Rousseau. Effective date January 5, 2007.
Deduct 17.3 miles one way from the route of Henry Williams. Student no longer on route. Effective date: January 19, 2007.
Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Matthew Tate, seconded by Freddie Jefferson, to ADD to the AGENDA, to change the custodian position at Angie Jr. High School from a part-time position to a full-time position. Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Matthew Tate, seconded by Freddie Jefferson, that the Board change the custodian position at Angie Jr. High School from a part-time position to a full-time position. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #11 - Superintendent's Report
ADD TO THE AGENDA: It was moved by Bruce Brown, seconded by Dan Slocum, to discuss and take appropriate action regarding the removal and disposal of all material at the old Thomas School gym site. Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Bruce Brown, seconded by Dan Slocum, that the Board approve a contract with Creel Brothers, LLC, Franklinton, LA for the removal and disposal of all materials at the old Thomas School gym site at a cost of $3,743.50. Motion carried unanimously. One other bid was submitted from Thomas Excavation & Construction, Franklinton, LA - $8,780.00.
Agenda Item #12 - Other business from board members.
Bruce Brown discussed some concerns from the bus drivers in the Mt. Hermon District. He introduced several from the area that were present: Louise Hart, Tootie Wascom and Bill Simmons. Ms. Wascom stated that there are several roads in the Mt. Hermon area that are in very deplorable condition. They include: Reed Simmons Road, D. Wascom Road, Bill Simmons Road, Dutch James Road and A. Miller Road. She stated that the bus drivers were seeking help from the school board in getting these roads repaired by the parish council.
Bruce Brown addressed a problem with buses turning onto Greenlaw Avenue from Section Line Road in the mornings and afternoons. He suggested that we employ a part-time person to direct traffic mornings and afternoons. Mr. Brown also stated that bus drivers have experienced problems with students behaving badly on their buses. Bus drivers are asking for support from principals, parents and the school system in this matter.
Freddie Jefferson reminded everyone of the ribbon cutting ceremony at Franklinton Elementary School on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.
Agenda Item #13 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by Matthew Tate, seconded by Dewitt Perry, that the Board adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.