Franklinton, Louisiana
March 12, 2015
6:30 p.m.
The Washington Parish School Board met in regular session on the above date with the following members present: Dan Slocum, Bruce Brown, John Breland, Alan McCain, Matthew Tate, Robert Boone, Dewitt Perry and Lesley McKinley. Absent: John Wyble.
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 – Recognize LSBA Art Winners (Mary Jones).
Ms. Mary Jones, Director of Curriculum, recognized the LSBA parish art winners as follows:
Jaylon Elzey 5th Grade Mt. Hermon School
Joley Lavigne 7th Grade Franklinton Jr. High School
Alyssa Vargas 9th Grade Pine School
The students were given a certificate of appreciation in recognition of their work.
The Board congratulated each of the winners.
Agenda Item #5 – Recognize Regional Honor Choir Students – Kyle Jones (Mary Jones).
Franklinton Junior High School and Franklinton High School students participated in District Honor Choir at Ponchatoula High School. The event is open to Washington, St. Tammany, and Tangipahoa Parishes and students must audition to be a part of the choir. Each student must learn the same choral piece and then audition individually in front of the judges to be scored. Out of the three parishes, hundreds auditioned but only 90 students scored high enough to be chosen for Honor Choir. Of the 90 chosen, 23 students were from Franklinton Junior High and Franklinton High Schools as follows:
Agenda Item #6 – Presentation on Jump Start Program – Sandy Morgan (Darrell Fairburn).
At the Committee Meeting on Monday night, Sandy Morgan outlined the state’s new Jump Start program and the changes in graduation requirements. The presentation included details about the pathways that are currently available in the Washington Parish Schools, as well as the ones that are going to be added for the 2015/2016 school year.
Agenda Item #7 – Capital Improvement Committee Report – John Breland (Darrell Fairburn).
The Capital Improvement Committee met on February 18, 2015 and discuss the following items:
1. Complex for Wesley Ray & Varnado High School
2. Library and technology for Enon Elementary
3. Build new Franklinton Jr. High School and renovate old FJHS for a central office
4. Technology for Mt. Hermon School and all other schools
5. Put new drop down ceiling for Franklinton Primary
6. Additional classrooms for Thomas Elem. And Pine School (Pine needs covered walkways.
7. Salary increases for the employees
8. Advantages of a consolidated tax district
9. Delegates from district to discuss plans for Washington Parish Schools
10. Community meetings
a. Submit questions before hand
b. All board members to be present
11. Steps to evaluate/or prepare for possible millage election
a. Invite an architect to look at existing plans for future buildings
b. Invite a bonding attorney
c. Community meetings
Agenda Item #8 - Consider a motion to adopt the minutes of the February 12, 2015, regular board meeting (Matthew Tate).
It was moved by Dewitt Perry, seconded by Lesley McKinley, that the Board adopt the minutes of the February 12, 2015, regular board meeting as presented to each member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #9 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding bids received on e-rate bids for cabling (Jimmy Thigpen).
It was moved by Dewitt Perry, seconded by Lesley McKinley, that the Board approve the bids received on e-rate bids for cabling as follows:
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #10 – Consider a motion to adopt the 2015/2016 school calendar (Darrell Fairburn).
It was moved by Dan Slocum, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board approve the 2015/2016 school calendar as follows:
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #11 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding renewals for the Board’s Property Insurance (Beth Keaton).
It was moved by Alan McCain, seconded by Dewitt Perry, that the Board approve the Board’s Property Insurance (foregoing equipment breakdown) with an annual premium of $412,650.00 with agent Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #12 – Personnel Report (Richard Kennedy)
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
DISABILITY RETIREMENT RESIGNATION
Enon Elementary School: Kasey Pittman, Regular Teacher, Disability Retirement Resignation effective March 4, 2015
RESIGNATION
Pine School: Eddie Vaughn, Regular Teacher, Resignation effective February 27, 2015.
Varnado High School: Susan Thomas, Critical Shortage Regular Teacher, Resignation effective March 3, 2015.
TRANSFER
Leslie Hodges, LA4 Teacher, Franklinton Primary School TO LA4 Coordinator, Central Office effective June 1, 2015.
Kristy Jenkins, School Secretary, Franklinton Elementary School TO Administrative Assistant I, Special Education effective March 9, 2015.
EMPLOY
Central Office: William Sammons, Technology Assistant, Employ effective March 16, 2015.
Agenda Item #13 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Transportation Adjustments (Richard Kennedy).
It was moved by Dan Slocum, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board adopt the transportation adjustments as follows:
TRANSPORTATION ADJUSTMENTS
Franklinton District: Extend the route of Rex McCain 1.6 miles one way to pick up students on Will Rester Road. Effective date: February 13, 2015.
Extend the route of Rex McCain .8 miles one way to pick up students on Alton Sheridan Road. Effective date: March 2, 2015.
Extend the route of Melaney Rauch 4.1 miles one way to pick up students on Deer Run Drive. Effective date: February 18, 2015.
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #14 - Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Fairburn read the following statement regarding testing concerns:
As far back as January 2010, when the idea of the Common Core State Standards was introduced to the state of Louisiana through the Race to the Top agreement, the majority of the Washington Parish School Board has opposed the hurried implementation of the standards, as well as the lack of scrutinizing the standards for developmentally appropriateness. By developmentally appropriateness I mean not only whether the standards are grade and age appropriate, but also that we have not been given the implementation time to start at the Kindergarten level and work up one grade at a time. It was in January of 2010 for the reasons I have given that the Washington Parish School Board rejected the Race to the Top agreement. However, Governor Jindal, John White, BESE, and the legislature chose to force the public school systems in Louisiana to implement Common Core State Standards by charging ahead with plans to test 3rd – 8th grade students on the Common Core Standards in both English Language Arts and Math during the 2014-15 school year. The tests chosen for that purpose are referred to as PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers).
The Washington Parish School Board has continued to be proactive against the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, and PARCC by passing two Resolutions, one on Thursday, November 7, 2013 and one on Thursday, December 11, 2014. These Resolutions were sent to Governor Bobby Jindal, State Superintendent of Education John White, the Members of BESE, and the Louisiana Legislature. A copy of the Resolutions is available to any of you present tonight who wants them.
Let me remind those of you who read the article in the Bogalusa Daily News on June 23rd 2014 in which I was quoted to say, “I know you are probably wondering about the future direction of the Washington Parish curriculum in light of the controversy between the governor and the state superintendent (John White) concerning Common Core and PARCC. Let me assure you Washington Parish will stay the course with rigor. “That is the direction we have pursued with rolling out rigorous standards for our students. In no way has the district advocated “PARCC-like testing”. However, at the same time it would have been shortsighted on our part as educators to ignore the fact that our students will be tested in this manner, our educators, who have worked diligently to prepare our students for more rigorous standards, will be held accountable by the evaluation system (COMPASS), and our schools and our district will be held accountable in a punitive manner if our students aren’t prepared. So we have stayed the course with rigor.
Some sentiment has been expressed that the Washington Parish School District should protest and opt the whole district out of PARCC. That is not feasible, because such a move could cause the system to lose over $6 million dollars in federal funds, including Title, IDEA, and School Food Services. That would be devastating to the schools and district budgets.
On page 17 of the Pupil Progression Plan, which is found on our website, you can read the make-up and function of the School Building Level Committee (SBLC). SBLC is the process by which individual decisions are made for promotion or retention when there is a possibility that a student will be retained. This committee uses as much data as is available for each individual child in order to make an informed decision. This includes grades, progress monitoring measures, attendance, behavior, and state assessments. I urge you to go to our website and familiarize yourself with that process.
My request to you as parents is two-fold. One, believe me when I tell you that the “opt-out” suggestion was introduced by those in corporate America who see the opportunity to attack public education so that they can take over, promote charter schools, and receive a lucrative amount of our tax dollars. If a large number of students opt-out, schools and districts drop in accountability scores, and appear to be failing because students who would likely score well are opting out and causing schools and districts to receive a “0”, then large corporations and those politically and financially motivated can say, “See public education is a failure. Washington Parish (which at this time is a “B” system), is a failure.” I said my request is two-fold, so, two, we are asking that you trust our educators to have prepared our students to the best of their abilities and give your child the opportunity to show us what has been taught well, and where we need to improve. The Washington Parish School System has no intention of “bullying” students or parents by asking you to help us know where to improve. After all, the tests are not high stakes for our students this year, but they are for the schools your children attend and the school district you can be proud of. Washington Parish is the only parish in the state with our rural demographics that has a “B” District Performance Score. All other school systems with similar demographics are below that. But, with your support we plan to maintain that distinction.
We continue to welcome your input, and I urge you to seek factual as well as the most current information by contacting members of the Curriculum Department. Contact information is found on our website.
Several parents were in attendance at tonight’s meeting and voiced their concerns over the Common Core and PARCC testing.
Agenda Item #15 - Personal Privileges – School Board Members
The Board thanked the parents for attending tonight’s meeting in support of their students.
The following two Southeastern Louisiana University students were in attendance at tonight’s meeting:
Joel Brumfield Sophomore Middle School English
Cheyenne Fornea Sophomore Health & PE
Agenda Item #16 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by Bruce Brown, seconded by Alan McCain, that the Board adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.
______________________________
Matthew Tate, President
______________________________
Darrell Fairburn, Secretary