Franklinton, Louisiana
August 9, 2012
6:30 p.m.
The Washington Parish School Board met in regular session on the above date with the following members present: Dan Slocum, John Wyble, Bruce Brown, John Breland, Matthew Tate, Alan McCain, Mary Adams and Lesley McKinley. Absent: Dewitt Perry.
Agenda Item #1 - Call to order
The meeting was called to order by President Alan McCain.
Agenda Item #2 – Invocation
The invocation was given by Bruce Brown.
Agenda Item #3 – Pledge of Allegiance
Agenda Item #4 – Presentation to McDonald’s (Darrell Fairburn).
Superintendent Fairburn presented Ellilia Brooks, Assistant Manager, Franklinton McDonalds, with a plaque of appreciation. Mr. Fairburn thanked McDonald’s for their support of the schools in Washington Parish.
The Board thanked McDonald’s for all that they do for the students and schools in Washington Parish.
Agenda Item #5 – Presentation – Adult Education (Darrell Fairburn).
Superintendent Fairburn presented plaques to Adult Education employees as follows:
Bettye Dyson – Adult Education Part-Time Paraprofessional of the Year
Hazel Bagent – Adult Education Part-Time Teacher of the Year
Janez Johnston – Adult Education Paraprofessional of the Year
Only 37 applied in the state, 4 were awarded and 3 went to Washington Parish.
Superintendent Fairburn and the Board commended them on a job well done.
Agenda Item #6 - Consider a motion to adopt the minutes of the July 12, 2012, regular board meeting (Alan McCain).
It was moved by John Breland, seconded by Mary Adams, that the Board adopt the minutes of the July 12, 2012, regular board meeting as submitted to each member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #7 - Consider a motion to call a Special Board Meeting on August 20, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss redistricting (Darrell Fairburn).
It was moved by Bruce Brown, seconded by Lesley McKinley, that the Board call a Special Board Meeting on August 20, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss redistricting. Motion carried unanimously. This will be one of two public input meetings.
Agenda Item #8 - Consider a motion to adopt the revised Washington Parish School Calendar for the 2012/2013 school year (Darrell Fairburn).
It was moved by John Breland, seconded by Matthew Tate, that the Board adopt the revised Washington Parish School Calendar for the 2012/2013 school year as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #9 - Consider a motion to adopt the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire (Lacy Burris).
It was moved by Matthew Tate, seconded by John Wyble, that the Board adopt the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #10 - Consider a motion to adopt revised Washington Parish School Board Policy File: ABD – School Superintendent Legal Status; File: BH – School Board Ethics; File: CED – Employment of Superintendent; File: GBA – Contracts and Compensation; File: GBC – Recruitment; File: GBD – Employment of Personnel; File: GBDA – Support Personnel Employment; File: GBE – Assignment; File: GBG – Probation; File: GBL – Tenure; File: GBN – Dismissal of Employees; and File: GBNA – Reduction of Personnel (Richard Kennedy).
It was moved by Matthew Tate, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board adopt revised Washington Parish School Board Policy File: ABD – School Superintendent Legal Status; File: BH – School Board Ethics; File: CED – Employment of Superintendent; File: GBA – Contracts and Compensation; File: GBC – Recruitment; File: GBD – Employment of Personnel; File: GBDA – Support Personnel Employment; File: GBE – Assignment; File: GBG – Probation; File: GBL – Tenure; File: GBN – Dismissal of Employees; and File: GBNA – Reduction of Personnel. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #11 - Consider a motion to delete Washington Parish School Board Policy File: CEB – Superintendent Powers and Responsibilities; File: CGBAA – Assistant Superintendent; File: CGBAB – Principals and Assistant Principals; File: CGC – Recruitment of Administrative Personnel; File: CGD – Hiring; File: GBD-P – Hiring Procedures; and File: GBDA-P – Employment Procedures – Bus Operators (Richard Kennedy).
It was moved by Dan Slocum, seconded by John Wyble, that the Board delete Washington Parish School Board Policy File: CEB – Superintendent Powers and Responsibilities; File: CGBAA – Assistant Superintendent; File: CGBAB – Principals and Assistant Principals; File: CGC – Recruitment of Administrative Personnel; File: CGD – Hiring; File: GBD-P – Hiring Procedures; and File: GBDA-P – Employment Procedures – Bus Operators. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #12 - Consider a motion to adopt new Washington Parish School Board Policy File: CEI – Evaluation of the Superintendent (Richard Kennedy).
It was moved by John Wyble, seconded by John Breland, that the Board adopt new Washington Parish School Board Policy File: CEI – Evaluation of the Superintendent. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #13 - Personnel Report
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
RESIGNATION
Enon Elementary School: Tammany Luper, Food Service Worker, Resignation effective July 31, 2012.
Franklinton Primary School: Rijon Magee, LA4 Paraprofessional, Resignation effective July 31, 2012.
Franklinton Jr. High School: Stacey Williams, Regular Teacher, Resignation effective August 2, 2012.
Mt. Hermon School: Melanie Achord, Regular Teacher, Resignation effective July 16, 2012.
Pine School: Chris Fussell, Regular Teacher, Resignation effective August 1, 2012.
Thomas Elementary School: Elizabeth Branch, Literacy Paraprofessional, Resignation effective August 3, 2012.
RETIREMENT RESIGNATION
Wesley Ray Elementary School: Shirley Jackson, School Secretary, Retirement Resignation effective August 30, 2012.
SICK LEAVE/LEAVE WITHOUT PAY
Mt. Hermon School: Connie Magee, Special Education Teacher, Sick Leave effective August 6, 2012 through August 17, 2012 and Leave without pay effective August 20, 2012 and the remainder of the 2012/2013 school year.
SICK LEAVE
Wesley Ray Elementary School: Clara Ginn, Bus Attendant, Sick Leave effective August 9, 2012 through December 5, 2012.
SABBATICAL MEDICAL LEAVE
Thomas Elementary School: Tara Temples, Regular Teacher, Sabbatical Medical Leave effective the 2012/2013 school year only.
CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Franklinton Primary School: Sheila Guy, Regular Teacher/Faculty Coordinator TO Regular Teacher effective the 2012/2013 school year.
Mt. Hermon School: Melissa Stevens, Special Education Paraprofessional TO Special Education Paraprofessional/Licensed Practical Nurse effective the 2012/2013 school year.
Mt. Hermon School: Jeff Thomas, Regular Teacher/Faculty Coordinator TO Regular Teacher effective the 2012/2013 school year.
Pine School: Lydia Creel, Regular Teacher/Faculty Coordinator TO Regular Teacher effective the 2012/2013 school year.
Wesley Ray Elementary School: Stacy Wilkes, LA4 Teacher TO Kindergarten Teacher effective the 2012/2013 school year.
TRANSFER
Yvette Breaux, Special Education Teacher, Wesley Ray Elementary School TO Special Education Teacher, Franklinton Elementary School effective the 2012/2013 school year (Replacing Amanda Dillon).
Jacqueline Brignac, Regular Teacher, Varnado High School TO Special Education Teacher, Wesley Ray Elementary School effective the 2012/2013 school year (OFAT) (Replacing Elizabeth Owens).
Debra Byrd, Alternative Teacher, Franklinton Jr. High School TO Assistant Principal, Mt. Hermon School effective August 1, 2012 (12 month position) (Replacing Matthew Stogner).
Tara Crain, Special Education Paraprofessional, Pine School TO Literacy Paraprofessional Itinerant, Varnado High School/Pine School effective the 2012/2013 school year (Paid out of EIS) (Replacing Elizabeth Branch).
Amanda Dillon, Special Education Teacher, Franklinton Elementary School TO Alternative Teacher, Franklinton Jr. High School effective the 2012/2013 school year (9 month) (Replacing Debra Byrd).
Renee Sandifer, Special Education Paraprofessional, Franklinton Jr. High School TO Regular Teacher, Mt. Hermon School effective the 2012/2013 school year only (PL) (Replacing Melanie Achord).
Heather Williams, Regular Teacher, Franklinton Elementary School TO Literacy Coach, Franklinton Resource Center effective the 2012/2013 school year.
Misty Verdin, Literacy Paraprofessional/LPN, Mt. Hermon School TO Special Education Paraprofessional/LPN, Pine School effective the 2012/2013 school year.
EMPLOY
Enon Elementary School: Krystal Jenkins, Part-Time Technology Assistant/Interventionist, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year.
Franklinton Primary School: Breanne Cefalu, PreK Teacher, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year.
Franklinton Primary School: Tina Bickham, Save the Children Early Childhood Paraprofessional, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year only (Pending continuation of grant funding).
Franklinton Primary School: Deborah Rogers, LA4 Paraprofessional, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year.
Franklinton Primary School: Amy Watson, Regular Teacher, Employ effective the Fall Semester of the 2012/2013 school year only (Fill in for Marsha Williams).
Franklinton Elementary School: Rachel Sumrall, Regular Teacher, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year only (PL) (Replacing Heather Williams).
Franklinton Jr. High School: Cynthia Crosley, Special Education Paraprofessional, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year.
Franklinton Jr. High School: Calvin Crowe, Alternative School Paraprofessional, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year.
Franklinton Jr. High School: Megan Hebert, Regular Teacher, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year only (Replacing Stacey Williams)
Franklinton High School: Jeremy Henriques, Regular Teacher, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year only (PL) (Replacing Kyra Wilson).
Franklinton High School: Patsy McKenzie, Special Education Paraprofessional, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year.
Franklinton High School: Caleb Mulina, Business Teacher, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year only (PL) (Replacing Paula Lanoux).
Franklinton High School: Shalin Wood, Special Education Teacher, Employ effective the Fall Semester of the 2012/2013 school year only (Fill in for Freida Matschnig).
Franklinton Resource Center: Karl Martin, Educational Diagnostician, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year (Replacing Karen Varnado).
Mt. Hermon School: Sarah Kuhn, Behavior Interventionist, Employ effective August 8, 2012 through May 24, 2013 for 88 days only (Paid out of IDEA).
Mt. Hermon School: Teresa Smith, Special Education Teacher, Employ effective the 2012/21013 school year only (OFAT) (Replacing Connie Magee).
Mt. Hermon School: Bernadette Toler, Literacy Paraprofessional, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year (Paid out of EIS).
Pine School: Emmett Gregory Williams, Regular Teacher, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year (Replacing Chris Fussell).
Thomas Elementary School: Abigail Creel, Licensed Practical Nurse, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year.
Thomas Elementary School: Melanie Knight, Regular Teacher, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year only (Fill in for Tara Temples).
Varnado High School: Paul Mire, Regular Teacher, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year only (Replacing Jacqueline Brignac).
Wesley Ray Elementary School: Marlon Peters, Special Education Paraprofessional, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year.
Wesley Ray Elementary School: Kristal Provost, Special Education Teacher, Employ effective the 2012/2013 school year only (OFAT) (Replacing Yvette Breaux).
Agenda Item #14 - Superintendent’s Report
ADD TO THE AGENDA: It was moved by John Breland, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board discuss and take appropriate action regarding a loan to Pine Athletics for the purchase of a reel lawnmower. Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by John Breland, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board approve a loan in the amount of $6,375.00 for the purchase of a reel lawnmower for the athletic fields at Pine School. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #15 - Other business from board members
John Wyble stated that Shane Smith and Jeff Tageant, coaches at Franklinton High School had been recognized for accomplishments.
Lesley McKinley stated “As we start to school, this school year I can’t help but still be concerned about some things that are going on up in my school district. Representing the school at Wesley Ray, there is some issues out there; perception is perception until it becomes a reality. And the perception at that school is that there is not a lotta ground for teachers and employees to stand on when problems occur. The atmosphere is that people are afraid to voice concerns because they feel like the Central Office is against them. As we move into this school year, I would like to see something done about that. We have got to deal with that issue. As a board member, I can’t sleep at night knowing that’s how those people feel out there. And as I say, I listen and I observe. When I observe enough to feel that there may be a ounce of truth in what being said, then that bothers me. I still have issues over dismissal of a teacher. I still have issues over the lack of concern, it appears that certain things are allowed to happen and too many decisions are one sided. As an administrator I know that at times I am wrong. As a parent I know sometimes I’m wrong when I deal with my children. And I don’t have a problem in telling teachers, my children, my family anybody when I’m wrong. And was some terms that I learned from this Compass training when they hit upon the terms facts and judgments. Facts are things that we see. Facts are things that we can prove. Judgments are decisions we make based upon facts and when facts cannot support judgments, then we are wrong people and as a board member we have to take a stand on a wrong. And again, as I asked Monday night, give me a definition of the word valid reason and I have not got that definition. And I would hope that we would take a look at what’s going on and you know, hey, I don’t want judgments clouding this Compass evaluation tool because we just don’t like people. You know I can’t sit back and be an honest board member and not voice the concerns of the people that I represent. And again the concerns are, there is fear out there, and like I said I’m gonna listen, doesn’t mean I entertain everything I hear. But when I observe, and when these things become a reality and my reality right now is that the Board at times does not care about every issue that’s brought before it. Thank you.”
Agenda Item #16 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by John Wyble, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board adjourns. Motion carried unanimously.
______________________________
Alan McCain, President
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Darrell Fairburn, Secretary