Franklinton, Louisiana

December 11, 2014

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, Dewitt Perry and Lesley McKinley.  Absent:  Mary Adams and Alan McCain.

 

Agenda Item #1 - Call to order

 

The meeting was called to order by President Matthew Tate. 

 

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 13, 2014, regular board meeting (Matthew Tate).

 

It was moved by John Breland, seconded by Lesley McKinley, that the Board adopt the minutes of the November 13, 2014, regular board meeting as submitted to each member.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Agenda Item #5 – Report from the firm of Postlethwaite and Netterville regarding the 2013/2014 audit of general purpose financial statements (Beth Keaton).

Lynn Burkhart, Postlethwaite and Netterville, gave a brief overview of the 2013/2014 audit on Monday night.  She stated that the report showed a clean opinion.

It was moved by John Wyble, seconded by Dewitt Perry, that the Board adopt the 2013/2014 audit of general purpose financial statement as presented.  Motion carried unanimously.

Agenda Item #6 - Consider a motion to adopt a resolution removing Louisiana from the Common Core State Standards (Darrell Fairburn).

 

It was moved by Dewitt Perry, seconded by John Breland, that the Board adopt the following resolution removing Louisiana from the Common Core State Standards:

 

Washington Parish School Board

Resolution

Whereas, the Washington Parish School Board Members and our stakeholders believe that a commitment to providing a challenging and relevant curriculum will lead to constant improvement and high performance of Louisiana school systems; and

Whereas, effective instruction must meet the needs of all students allowing every child to learn at expected high levels; and

Whereas, the Washington Parish School Board has unanimously opposed the Common Core State Standards since the idea was first introduced to the state of Louisiana through the rejection of a Race To The Top agreement in January of 2010 and the unanimous adoption of a resolution in October of 2013 requesting the Louisiana Legislature to use its authority to remove the Washington Parish Public School System and other School Districts in Louisiana from the Common Core State Standards and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) testing; and

Whereas, The Washington Parish School Board members are duly elected by the citizens of Washington Parish to represent them on the local level believe that education is not the mandate of the Federal Government or any national board; and

Whereas, the Washington Parish School Board believes that the Common Core State Standards are an inappropriate overreach based on standards that do not allow for local educational autonomy, do not allow deviation from a set of standards that are unproven and reflect the interests and priorities of corporate education reformers and small interest groups, were piloted incorrectly, were implemented too quickly and, as a result, have produced developmentally inappropriate expectations that do not meet the needs of every child, every day; and

Whereas, the members of the Washington Parish School Board believe the PARCC testing no longer represents a consortium that will benchmark our students performance on a national level due to a dwindling membership; and

Whereas, our belief is that Louisiana educators along with parents, local business members, school superintendents, education stakeholder associations, and school board members should develop and implement a set of Louisiana Educational Standards that reflect our state’s commitment to provide a challenging and relevant curriculum, innovative instruction, and accountability that will lead to solid student achievement gains while allowing students to flourish as life-long learners; and

Whereas, we further believe that high-quality schools and exemplary school achievement are the responsibility of the local community with backing and support from members of the Louisiana Legislature, elected and appointed Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education members, the appointed State Superintendent of Education and the elected Governor of the state of Louisiana.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the Washington Parish School Board do hereby respectfully request members of the Louisiana Legislature to join school board members and citizens across the great state of Louisiana in support of removing Louisiana from the Common Core State Standards and  to charge the Louisiana State Superintendent of Education and Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop, with stakeholders’ input, Louisiana Standards for Educational Excellence.

Furthermore, the members of the Washington Parish School Board do hereby request an immediate moratorium on participation in PARCC testing by Louisiana students, and at this time suggest using the current Louisiana assessments until a new assessment instrument is developed.

Be it further resolved that this resolution be spread upon the official minutes of this Board, with, copies being sent to Governor Bobby Jindal, State Superintendent of Education John White, members of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, all members of the Louisiana Legislature and all schoolsin the Washington Parish Public School System.

CERTIFICATION

I, Darrell Fairburn, hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted at the regular meeting of the Washington Parish School Board held on Thursday, December 11, 2014, a quorum being present and voting.

 

                                                                        ______________________________

                                                                        Darrell Fairburn, Secretary

                                                                        Washington Parish School Board  

 

            Motion carried unanimously.

Agenda Item #7 - Consider a motion to adopt revised Washington Parish School Board Policy File: ABCC – Term of Office; File: BCBB – Notification of School Board Meetings; File: BCBD – Agenda Preparation and Dissemination; File: BCBH – Minutes of School Board Meetings;  File: BCBK – Executive Sessions; File: EDD – School Bus Scheduling and Routing; File: GBRJ – Substitutes; File: ID – Curriculum; File: IFA – Instructional Materials; File: JBC – School Admission; and File: JBH – Attendance Reports for Student Drivers  (Richard Kennedy).

 

            It was moved by Dewitt Perry, seconded by Lesley McKinley, that the Board adopt revised Washington Parish School Board Policy File: ABCC – Term of Office; File: BCBB – Notification of School Board Meetings; File: BCBD – Agenda Preparation and Dissemination; File: BCBH – Minutes of School Board Meetings;  File: BCBK – Executive Sessions; File: EDD – School Bus Scheduling and Routing; File: GBRJ – Substitutes; File: ID – Curriculum; File: IFA – Instructional Materials; File: JBC – School Admission; and File: JBH – Attendance Reports for Student Drivers.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Agenda Item #8 – Personnel Report (Richard Kennedy)

 

PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS

DISABILITY RETIREMENT RESIGNATION

            Franklinton Elementary School:  Jessie Burton, Custodian, Disability Retirement Resignation effective January 9, 2015.

RETIREMENT RESIGNATION

            Wesley Ray District:  Landis Roberts, Bus Operator, Retirement Resignation effective December 19, 2014.

RESIGNATION

            Pine School:  Donald Case, Regular Teacher, Resignation effective November 20, 2014.

            Varnado School:  Shirley Smith, Regular Teacher, Resignation effective December 19, 2014.

SICK LEAVE/RESIGNATION

            Varnado School:  Randy Branch, Principal, Sick leave effective December 11, 2014 through April 23, 2015 and Resignation effective April 23, 2015.

EMPLOY

            Franklinton Elementary School:  Kim Crowe, Special Ed Teacher, Employ effective January 6, 2015 and the remainder of the 2014/2015 school year (Replacing Gail McDaniel).

            Franklinton High School:  Kevin McDaniel, Regular Teacher, Employ effective December 1, 2014 and the remainder of the 2014/2015 school year (Replacing Paul Meyerchick).

            Franklinton District:  Shana Duncan, Bus Operator, Employ effective January 9, 2015 (Replacing Linda Darlene Garcia).

            Thomas Elementary School:  Melanie Knight, Kindergarten Teacher, Employ effective December 8, 2014 and the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year (Fill in for Reagan Smith).

            Varnado High School:  Susan Thomas, Critical Shortage Regular Teacher, Employ effective December 1, 2014 through May 22, 2015.

TRANSFER

            Renee Burris, Coordinator of Math/Science and 6th – 12th Math Coach, Central Office TO Interim Principal, Varnado High School effective January 6, 2015 through May 22, 2015 (Replacing Randy Branch).

            Miranda Fountain, Regular Teacher, Franklinton High School TO Special Education Teacher, Mt. Hermon School effective January 6, 2015.

            Grant Gerald, Coordinator of Technology & Social Studies, Central Office TO Interim Assistant Principal, Varnado High School effective January 6, 2015 through May 22, 2015.

            Pepper Van Norman, Special Education Teacher, Varnado High School TO Adapted PE Itinerant, Wesley Ray Elementary School effective January 15, 2015 (Replacing Terrell Polk).

CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT OF STATUS

            Thomas Elementary School:  Jessica Miller, Regular Teacher TO Class Size Reduction Teacher effective December 8, 2014.

LEAVE WITHOUT PAY

            Thomas Elementary School:  Reagan Smith, Kindergarten Class Size Reduction Teacher, Leave Without Pay effective December 8, 2014 through May 22, 2015. 

CONTRACT RENEWAL

            Jennifer Thomas, Principal, Pine School, Contract Renewal December 17, 2014 through December 16, 2016.

            Ramona Thomas, Assistant Principal of Instruction, Pine School, Contract Renewal January 14, 2015 through January 13, 2017.

 

Agenda Item #9 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Transportation Adjustments (Richard Kennedy).

 

It was moved by Dewitt Perry, seconded by John Breland, that the Board adopt the transportation adjustments as follows:

 

TRANSPORTATION ADJUSTMENTS

Franklinton District: 

  Deduct 7 miles one way from the route of Melaney Rauch.  Students on Camp Road no longer on route.  Effective date:   November 3, 2014.
 
Extend the route of Rex McCain 6 miles one way to pick up a  student on Hwy 439 morning route only.  Effective date:  September 23, 2014.
 
Extend the route of Rex McCain 1.4 miles one way to drop off a  student on Hwy 439 afternoon route only.  Effective date:   September 23, 2014.
 

Wesley Ray District:

 Extend the route of Tammy Boone 4 miles one way to pick up students on Delos Thomas Rd. Effective date:  November 3, 2014.
 

 

Motion carried unanimously.

Agenda Item #10 - Superintendent’s Report

 

Asbestos Training January 7, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. in the Media Center

 

December 19, 2014 will be a ½ day for students.

 

Agenda Item #11 - Personal Privileges – School Board Members

 

Congratulations to football teams.

 

FHS Band concert is Friday night.

 

Old Pine gym renovation is beautiful.

 

Add to the Agenda: It was moved by John Breland, seconded by John Wyble, that the Board consider a motion to add the frozen mileage salary compensation for bus operators under LA R.S. 17:497 to policy GBDA – Support Personnel Employment.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

It was moved by Dan Slocum, seconded by Dewitt Perry, that the Board approve the frozen mileage salary compensation for bus operators under LA R.S. 17:497 to be added to policy GBDA – Support Personnel Employment.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Agenda Item #12 - Consider a motion to enter into Executive Session under LA R.S. 42:17A (2) concerning prospective litigation.

 

It was moved by John Wyble, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board enter into Executive Session under LA R.S. 42:17A (2) concerning prospective litigation.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Agenda Item #13 – Consider a motion to enter into Executive Session under LA R.S. 42:6.1A (1) for the evaluation for the superintendent (Matthew Tate).

 

It was moved by John Wyble, seconded by Dan Slocum, that the Board grants a one year extension to the contract of the superintendent through December 31, 2016.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Agenda Item #14 - Consider a motion to return to regular session.

 

It was moved by Dewitt Perry, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board return to regular session.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Agenda Item #15 – Consider a motion to discuss the board member stipend (Bruce Brown).

 

It was moved by Bruce Brown, seconded by Dan Slocum, that the Board increase the Board member stipend from $600 per month to $800 per month.  For:  Dan Slocum, Bruce Brown, Dewitt Perry, Lesley McKinley and Matthew Tate.  Against:  John Wyble and John Breland.  Motion carried.

 

Agenda Item #16 - Consider a motion to adjourn.

 

It was moved by John Wyble, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board adjourn.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

______________________________

Matthew Tate, President

 

 

______________________________

Darrell Fairburn, Secretary