The Washington Parish School Board met in regular session on the above date with the following members present: President Bringier H. Barker, Karl Bickham, Hayward Boone, Holly James, Susanne Jones, Harold Smith, Richard N. Thomas, Bruce Brown and Freddie Jefferson. Absent: None.
Agenda Item #1 - Opening of meeting.
The meeting was called to order by President Barker. Invocation was given by Freddie Jefferson. President Barker expressed appreciation for the good attendance.
Agenda Item #2 - Consider a motion to adopt the minutes of the March 9, 1995, board meeting.
It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board adopt the minutes of the March 9, 1995, board meeting as submitted to each board member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #3 - Discuss and take appropriate action concerning appointment of Educational Diagnostician/Assessment Teacher, as recommended by the Superintendent -Ms. Charlotte Harris.
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board approve the recommendation of the screening committee and appoint Ms. Charlotte Harris to the position of Educational Diagnostician/Assessment Teacher. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #4 - Recognize Leland Lee, President, Federation of United School Employees of Washington Parish, to discuss (a) Washington Parish Reduction in Force Policy, (b) Personnel matter regarding Ms. Rita Magee, and (c) Open Meetings Law (R.S. 42:4.1, 1-12).
Mr. Lee gave board members copies of his address. The first issue Mr. Lee spoke on was "Reduction in Force Policy" - "Because of the recent change in the manner that Chapter I funds are to be distributed to the schools of our district, the possibility exists for the loss of employment for a large number of support personnel that receive their wages through Chapter funding. Because of this possibility, the Federation has obtained and reviewed what we believe to be the current board policy concerning reduction in force for support personnel. From our review we find this policy to be extremely unfair to support employees that have long-term service in this system. To create a policy that will be more acceptable to this group of employees, the Federation is requesting that this board establish a committee which will be represented by support personnel to develop a new policy. We ask this board to act quickly in the development of this committee." Mr. Lee stated the main objection to the present policy is that tenure of support personnel is governed at the site, rather than the school district as a whole. Superintendent Coleman reminded him of the "call back" policy adopted by the Board in September, 1994, which states, "When a support person is not re-employed for a school year because of the elimination of a position, they shall be given the first option of filling a like position in the school system for a period of two years. If two or more employees are left without a position, seniority within the school system will determine who will be re-employed first." President Barker stated that Superintendent Coleman is working with the Board regarding reduction in force, and that Superintendent Coleman will be talking with Mr. Lee regarding this matter.
The second issue Mr. Lee spoke on was "Open Meetings Law" - "On March 14, 1995, an unannounced school board meeting was held at the central office of the Washington Parish School System, with a majority of the board members present. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the changing Chapter I program in our school district. Since suit was filed against this board in 1993 alleging violations of the open meetings law, the Federation believed that it would be in the best interest of this school system to express our position. The Federation believes that this was a justified emergency meeting of the Board of Education and that you should be commended for your initiative in this situation. We feel that the positive attributes of this board should be brought forth and that your effort be recognized. Thank you for your work in this area."
President Barker stated the Board gave notice but did not send out written notice. He further stated, "We apologize for that. It has been customary for this board to notify all persons concerned, and we will continue to do that."
The third issue Mr. Lee spoke on was "Equitable Pay for Mrs. Rita Magee" - "Several weeks back the Federation of United School Employees submitted a letter to all board members, the Superintendent, and the Assistant Superintendent on behalf of one of our members, Mrs. Rita Magee. The purpose of that letter was to alert this board to what we perceive to be an inequitable pay situation. The Federation and Mrs. Magee thought that it would be best to give this board and central office staff an opportunity to address this situation with Mrs. Magee in the confines of a private setting. The Federation of United School Employees believed that our method of approaching this issue was both professional and justified and that we would at least be given the professional courtesy of some sort of response. Our union is not here to overwhelm this board and administration, but we do expect the same professional considerations that we give. While we do not expect you to agree with all of our positions, we do expect a response. What we are asking of this board is to give Mrs. Magee the requested adjustment in salary or tell her why she doesn't deserve it. The Federation fully understands that this is a personal matter and may not be discussed in an open meeting. Therefore, would the Board agree to address this with the Superintendent and Mrs. Magee in a private setting as soon as possible?"
President Barker stated, "The Board is trying to address certain issues dealing with a new position. We have not yet made any decisions on that. We are quite aware of what you are telling us concerning Mrs. Magee. The Board has looked at it; Mr. Coleman has looked at it, and what I would like to see done is that Mrs. Magee talk to her immediate supervisor, who is Mr. Triola, in private conference. If it is not resolved there, then after that, Mr. Coleman will step into the picture."
Agenda Item #5 - Discuss and take appropriate action concerning appointment of legislative liaison person to Louisiana School Boards Association.
Upon the recommendation of President Barker, it was moved by Bruce Brown, seconded by Karl Bickham, that Freddie Jefferson be appointed legislative liaison person to Louisiana School Boards Association. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #6 - Discuss and take appropriate action concerning suggested changes in the Washington Parish School Board Drug Testing Policy.
Following review and discussion of proposed changes, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the present drug testing policy Drug Policy for all Employees Who Possess A Commercial Drivers License 49CFT 382 and Subpart B - be revised and that the following revisions become a part of the present policy:
6.3 Post Accident - As a condition of continued employment with the Washington Parish School Board, any employee involved in an accident which results in loss of human life or a citation to the driver for a moving violation during the course and scope of his/her employment, shall be tested for the presence of drugs and/or alcohol. (In the event of an accident not requiring medical attention but causing property damage, the driver will be drug and alcohol tested.)
In the event of an accident, the alcohol test should be administered within two (2) hours. If the test is not administered within two (2) hours, the parish must prepare and maintain a written statement of the reason for delay. If the test is not performed within eight (8) hours, there shall be no further attempts to administer an alcohol test. The records shall reflect why the test was not administered. Drug testing must be conducted within thirty-two (32) hours following an accident.
If a bus driver is involved in an accident while driving and on duty, the driver must:
1. Contact your principal or the parish supervisor;
2. If you cannot make contact, ask law enforcement official to make the contact for you.
3. If you are unable to reach your supervisors, you should request the law enforcement personnel to conduct an alcohol test on you. You should contact the medical lab in Hammond to request a urine screen for drugs.
4. If you need medical assistance, that assistance is riot to be delayed to conduct testing. However, inform the medical personnel of the need for testing for drugs and alcohol.
Failure to follow the above procedure will result in termination following a due process hearing by the Superintendent and approved by the Board.
10.2 - Any employee testing 0.02 to less than 0.04 falls under the special alcohol rule. However, the Washington Parish School Board feels that any alcohol level is unacceptable. The employee shall be removed from safetysensitive duties, immediately, and shall be referred to a Substance Abuse Professional. THE EMPLOYEE WILL BE TERMINATED.
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #7 - Discuss and take appropriate action concerning Chapter I allocations to Washington Parish schools.
Mr. T. J. Butler, Jr., Supervisor, Federally Assisted Programs, presented four (4) allocation plans for the Board's consideration -- (1) Federal Plan, (2) Percent Plan, (3) 125% Rule, and (4) Parishwide Plan. It was moved by Richard N. Thomas that this matter be discussed in a special meeting. His motion died for lack of second.
Following discussion, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board adopt Plan 2 -Percent Plan, as follows: See Attached. Roll Call Vote was as follows:
District I Harold Smith AGAINST
District 2 Karl Bickham FOR
District 3 Bruce Brown FOR
District 4 Richard N. Thomas FOR
District 5 Hayward Boone FOR
District 6 Susanne Jones FOR
District 7 Holly James FOR
District 8 B. H. Barker FOR
District 9 Freddie Jefferson FOR
The vote being eight (8) FOR and one (1) AGAINST, the motion carried.
Agenda Item #8 - Discuss and take appropriate action concerning Personnel and Transportation Adjustments.
It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Harold Smith, that the Board approve the following Personnel and Transportation Adjustments as presented by Supervisor Anthony Triola:
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
RETIREMENT RESIGNATION:
Mt. Hermon School: Frances M. Miller, Regular Teacher, Retirement Resignation effective June 1, 1995.
REQUEST FOR LEAVE:
Mt. Hermon School: Dorothy C. Lampton, Talented Art Teacher, Leave Without Pay effective May 15, 1995, through June 1, 1995 (14 days).
TRANSPORTATION ADJUST14ENTS
Franklinton School District:
Extend the route of Faye Newman .5 mile one way to pick up a Special Education student. Effective date: March 1, 1995.
Extend the route of Mary A. Simmons 3.2 miles one way to pick up a Special Education student. Effect ive date: March 10, 1995.
Motion carried unanimously.
The Board discussed the position of Homebound Teacher, which was left vacant due to Charlotte Harris' appointment as Educational Diagnostician/ Assessment Teacher. The Board agreed to contract with teachers in the Washington Parish School System in the different areas of the parish, as needed, for the remainder of the current school year.
Agenda Item #9 - Superintendent's Report.
Superintendent Coleman had no items to report to the Board.
Agenda Item #10 - Other business from board members.
Hayward Boone expressed the desire for the Board to take action soon on the matter of cellular phones for system employees. Attorney Wayne Kuhn stated that he hoped to have an Attorney General's Opinion for the next board meeting.
Susanne Jones requested that board members and principals be provided detailed copies of grants the school system presently has and any future grants awarded our system.
President Barker stated the Board is currently working on goals and objectives and will be seeking input from parents, employees, and students. At the next work session, which will be announced, the board will prioritize goals to work on and accomplish this year.
President Barker recognized members of the Franklinton High School National Honor Society in attendance.
In response to an inquiry by Freddie Jefferson, Anthony Triola stated he hoped to have a proposed dress code ready for Board consideration at the next committee meeting.
President Barker stated that a request to address the Board had been submitted by the Louisiana Association of Educators. It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Freddie Jefferson, that the Board allow Ricky Payne to address the Board. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Payne asked that the Board consider revising the Support Personnel Reduction In Force (Excluding Bus Operators) policy to make the seniority system system-wide, rather than sitelevel seniority. The suggested policy would read, as follows:
Support Personnel Reduction In Force (Excluding Bus Operators): In instances when the Washington Parish School Board must reduce the numbers of support personnel due to lack of finances, lack of allocations, eliminations of programs, or other circumstances that may require the Board to reduce its support staff, the following guidelines will apply:
1. A seniority system shall be maintained within each job classification (i.e., Janitor, Lunchroom Worker, Special Education Aide, etc.). Seniority shall be based on date of employment within the parish school system.
2. When a reduction in force is applicable within the parish school system in a particular job classification, the individual(s) with the least seniority in the system shall be the first released, providing, however, that remaining employees in the specific job classification in the system have been evaluated as satisfactory in their job performance. In instances where another individual in such job classification has demonstrated documented poor performance in the system, such individual shall be released first regardless of seniority.
President Barker recognized several visitors present, including Amy Richardson, Louisiana Federation of Teachers, Carnell Washington, American Federation of Teachers, and Monica Ellis, Louisiana Association of Educators UniServe representative.
On motion by B. H. Barker, seconded by Bruce Brown, and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned.
ROBERT L. COLEMAN, SECRETARY