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, Bruce Brown, and Freddie Jefferson. Absent: Richard N. Thomas.
Agenda Item #1 - Opening of meeting.
The meeting was called to order by President Barker. Invocation was given by Bruce Brown. President Barker welcomed all in attendance.
President Barker stated a request had been made by Mr. Leland Lee to address the Board regarding sick leave policy. It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Susanne Jones, that this item be placed on the agenda as Item #7, which would be prior to Superintendent's Report. Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the agenda, as amended, be accepted as the official agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #2 - Consider a motion to adopt the minutes of the April 13, 1995, board meeting.
It was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the Board adopt the minutes of the April 13, 1995, board meeting as submitted to each board member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #3 - Consider a motion to adopt a School Calendar for the 1995/96 school year.
It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Harold Smith, that the following School Calendar be adopted for the 1995-96 school year:
SCHOOL CALENDAR - 1995-96
MONTH EVENT DATE DAYS TAUGHT
August In-Service Training August 14 1 Day
Classes Begin August 15 13 Days
September Staff Development September 1 20 Days
Labor Day September 4
October Washington Parish Fair October 18, 19, & 20 19 Days
November Educational Conventions November 20, 219 & 22 17 Days
Thanksgiving Holidays November 23 & 24
December Christmas Holidays December 18 - 29 11 Days
January New Year's Holiday January 1 21 Days
Martin Luther King Day January 15
Staff Development January 16
February Mardi Gras February 19 & 20 19 Days
March No Holidays 21 Days
April Spring Holidays April 5 - 12 16 Days
May School Closes May 30 22 Days
TOTAL DAYS TAUGHT 180 Days
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #4 - Consider a motion authorizing advertisement for bids for the purchase of School Supplies for the 1995-96 school year.
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Harold Smith, that the Board authorize advertisement for bids for the purchase of School Supplies for the 1995-96 school year. Motion carried unanimously. Advertising will be May 3, 10 & 17, 1995. Bids will be opened May 18, 1995, at 3:00 P.M. President Barker appointed Holly James and Hayward Boone to be present at the bid opening.
Agenda Item #5 - Discuss and take appropriate action concerning the Washington St. Tammany Electric Cooperative Board of Directors election.
It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Holly James, that the Board allow Superintendent Robert Coleman to vote for the required number of candidates, in the best interest of the school system. FOR: Karl Bickham, Hayward Boone, Holly James, Susanne Jones, Harold Smith, B. H. Barker, and Bruce Brown. OPPOSED: Freddie Jefferson. Motion carried.
Agenda Item #6 - Discuss and take appropriate action concerning Personnel and Transportation Adjustments.
It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the Board approve the following Personnel and Transportation Adjustments as presented by Superintendent Coleman in the absence of Supervisor Anthony Triola:
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
RETIREMENT RESIGNATION:
Pine High School: James M. Ballard, Regular Teacher, Retirement Resignation effective June 2, 1995.
REQUEST FOR SABBATICAL LEAVE:
Franklinton High School: Troy L. Ginn, Regular Teacher, Sabbatical Leave for Rest and Recuperation effective the entire 1995-96 school year.
Pine High School: Ann B. McKenzie, Regular Teacher, Sabbatical Leave for Rest and Recuperation effective the entire 1995-96 school year.
TRANSPORTATION ADJUSTMENTS
Angie Jr. High School: Extend the route of M. Delos Mingo 3.0 miles oneway to pick up Jason Hebert. Effective date: March 13, 1995.
Franklinton Schools: Extend the route of Douglas Talley 5.4 miles one way due to road closure (C. E. Stafford Rd. - Culvert out). Effective date: April 12, 1995.
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #7 - Leland Lee - Sick Leave Policy.
Mr. Lee presented the following Sick Leave Donation Policy for consideration by the Board:
SICK LEAVE DONATION POLICY
Purpose: To seek Board approval of the attached Donation of Sick Leave policy for school system personnel.
Key Issues:
1. Due to the large number of employees in the system, from time to time they or their family members are stricken with emergency situations which include catastrophic illness or injury whereby the employees exhaust all accrued sick leave.
2. In addition, there have been occasions when employees have shown compassion by donating bone marrow or performed other acts of mercy when all accrued sick leave has been exhausted. Due to a recent Attorney General's Opinion, the Board now has the authority to allow employees to donate sick leave to one another.
Financial Impact: There is no financial impact for the school system if this recommendation is approved.
Mr. Lee stated that this policy was being presented to make the Board aware of an option. He requested that the Board study the. policy, then respond at a future board meeting. President Barker stated the Board would respond in a timely manner.
Agenda Item #8 - Superintendent's Report.
1. Superintendent Coleman requested that the Board consider changing the policy regarding employee tobacco use to allow a designated area at each school for tobacco use which would be out of sight of students. President Barker stated the Board would consider Superintendent Coleman's request.
2. Superintendent Coleman asked Attorney Wayne Kuhn to review the Attorney General's Opinion on the purchase and use of cellular phones by employees through an agreement between BellSouth Mobility and the Washington Parish School Board. Following a short recess, Attorney Kuhn reviewed the opinion, excerpts of which follow:
"You requested the opinion of this office concerning whether the Washington Parish School Board may enter into a contract with BellSouth Mobility to provide discounted cellular phone service to all employees of the School Board. The School Board would receive a governmental agency discount rate for cellular service. The School Board would be billed directly by BellSouth Mobility for each phone. The responsibility for collection of any amounts owed by each user would lie with the School Board. The users would pay the monthly billing directly to BellSouth Mobility; however, if the user did not pay the bill, then BellSouth Mobility would notify the School Board, who would then pay the delinquent bill by payroll deduction, pursuant to a payroll deduction agreement. If the employee terminates employment with the School Board leaving a delinquent bill with BellSouth Mobility, the School Board would still be responsible for paying the delinquent bill.
R.S. 42:1461 states that a public official shall not "misappropriate, misapply, convert, or misuse or otherwise wrongfully take any funds, property, or other thing of value belonging to or under the custody or control of the public entity in which they hold office or are employed." Thus, under this statute, a School Board officer or employee would be prohibited from using public property, including a cellular telephone and cellular telephone service, which was issued to a public entity, for personal use unless that officer or employee has been given specific authority by the public entity.
Article VII, Section 14 of the Louisiana Constitution prohibits "the funds, credit, property or things of value of the state or of any political subdivision" from being "loaned, pledged or donated to or for any person, association or corporation, public or private." This provision prohibits public officers or employees from using the credit of the state or its political subdivision for personal purposes. Because the School Board is a political subdivision of the State, its officers or employees cannot use the School Board's property for personal use except in very restricted circumstances.
You next asked, if the above described arrangement violates Article VII, Section 14, could the School Board charge a non-refundable participation fee for each user which would be set aside as a fund to pay any delinquent bills of the employee which may arise. It is the opinion of this office that even though, under this scenario, the funds of the School Board might not be extended for the personal debts of the public officers and employees, the terms of the BellSouth Mobility contract would cause the credit of the School Board to still be extended for the personal debts or obligations of the public officers and employees. The violation of Article VII, Section 14 would occur even if the cellular telephones were not leased through the School Board but rather were personally purchased by the public official and employees.
Your last question concerning to what extent cellular telephones should be made available to public officers and employees to satisfy a public need, i.e., school buses being supplied with cellular telephones in the event of emergency, is a factual determination which is best decided by the School Board."
President Barker stated that the board would make a decision at the next board meeting.
(3) Superintendent Coleman stated the Board may want to consider holding a one-day retreat where board members could discuss various problems and work toward solutions. He had obtained some retreat information from the Louisiana School Boards Association, which he shared with the Board.
Agenda Item #9 - Other business from board members..
Susanne Jones, Chairperson, Board Transportation Committee, stated she was scheduling a committee meeting for May 9, 1995, at 6:30 P.M. to discuss various transportation matters. She would like for one bus driver from each school to attend the meeting, also.
Susanne Jones stated she had received several phone calls regarding clarification of how personal days could be used. Superintendent Coleman stated he would send a letter of clarification to principals regarding Board policy on use of personal days.
Freddie Jefferson expressed his desire for the Board to consider establishing additional Board committees, such as building and grounds, curriculum, etc., along with establishing an organizational structure and duties and responsibilities of board committees. President Barker suggested that Mr. Jefferson work with the committees on this matter, then make recommendations to the Board.
President Barker requested that Superintendent Coleman and his staff study the parish grading structure and make recommendations for adjustments, if necessary. Superintendent Coleman stated that this would be a responsibility of the Pupil Progression Plan Committee.
President Barker recognized representatives of the Franklinton High School National Honor Society in attendance - - Ms. Long, Ms. Jones, and Ms. Bateman. He asked for comments, and they voiced opinions on the employee tobacco use policy.
Agenda Item #10 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.
BRINGIER H. BARKER, PRESIDENT
ROBERT L. COLEMAN, SECRETARY