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, and Bruce Brown. Absent: Freddie Jefferson.
Agenda Item #1 - Call to order.
The meeting was called to order by President Barker.
Agenda Item #2 - Invocation.
The invocation was given by Bruce Brown.
Agenda Item #3 - Pledge of Allegiance.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by President Barker.
Agenda Item #4 - Consider a motion to adopt the minutes of the April 4, 1996, regular board meeting.
It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board adopt the minutes of the April 4, 1996, regular board meeting as submitted to each board member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #5 - Consider a motion to adopt the minutes of the April 11, 1996, special board meeting.
It was moved by Richard N. Thomas, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the Board adopt the minutes of the April 11, 1996, special board meeting as submitted to each board member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #6 - Recognize John Norris, Insurance Consultant - Address the Board regarding insurance matters.
Mr. Norris stated, “When I was at your committee meeting recently, reporting to you about your basic property and liability insurance policy renewal on June 24, 1996, I had some proposals for you about renewing that insurance. Because of the loss that is ongoing (Varnado High School) and not yet paid, you told me you were not prepared to authorize any type of renewal. You asked me to contact the company and see if we could get a representative to come and discuss the loss with the board. I talked with the agent, Alexander & Alexander, who contacted the company. The response was that the company is negotiating in good faith through its adjusters, and that’s the way it wants to settle the claim. They respectfully decline to come to the board and negotiate the claim.” Mr. Norris suggested that the board authorize him to extend the present coverage to September 1, 1996. This would allow time for the Varnado High School claim to be settled. Adren Raybourn, Director of Finance, suggested the coverage be extended to October 1, 1996, which is the historical expiration date. At that time, if the board is unhappy with the claim adjustment, then this company can be taken off the bid list and other bids secured. If the board is pleased with the claim settlement, Mr. Norris can negotiate renewal.
It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the Board authorize John Norris to extend the Board’s present insurance coverage (Building & Contents; Fidelity, Forgery; Commercial General Liability; Automobile Policy; Umbrella Liability; School Board Errors & Omissions Liability) through Alexander & Alexander, Inc. (National Casualty Ins. Co., Scottsdale Ins.) on a pro-rata basis to October 1, 1996. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #7 - Consider a motion to adopt the School Calendar for the 1996-97 school year (Robert L. Coleman).
It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Richard N. Thomas, that the Board adopt the following School Calendar for the 1996-97 school year:
SCHOOL CALENDAR - 1996-97
MONTH EVENT DATE DAYS TAUGHT
August In-Service Training August 13 1 Day
Classes Begin August 14 13 Days
September Labor Day September 2 20 Days
Staff Development September 3
October Washington Parish Fair October 16, 17, 18 20 Days
November Election Day November 5 15 Days
Ed. Conventions November 25, 26, 27
Thanksgiving Holidays November 28, 29
December Christmas Holidays December 23 - 31 15 Days
January New Year’s Holidays January 1, 2, 3 19 Days
Staff Development January 17
Martin L. King Day January 20
February Mardi Gras February 10, 11 18 Days
March Spring Holidays March 28, 31 19 Days
April Spring Holidays April 1 - 4 18 Days
May School Closes May 30 22 Days
DAYS TAUGHT - 180
SIX-WEEK PERIODS
September 24 30 days - lst. Six Weeks
November 11 60 days - 2nd. Six Weeks
January 13 90 days - 3rd. Six Weeks
February 27 120 days - 4th. Six Weeks
April 18 150 days - 5th. Six Weeks
May 30 180 days - 6th. Six Weeks
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #8 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding compensating Speech Therapist from Medicaid monies generated from work required beyond the regular school day.
Following discussion, it was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Richard N. Thomas, that the Board table this item until the next committee meeting, at which time further discussion will be held. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #9 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding expenses incurred by Franklinton High School for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Accreditation Committee (Karl Bickham).
Karl Bickham stated, “If we are going to mandate the schools be SACS accredited, we need to pay the expenses.” President Barker stated that the Board needs to come up with a system to be used for all the schools, who will eventually incur these expenses. It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the Board reimburse Franklinton High School from General Fund $1,066.23 for expenses incurred by Franklinton High School for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Accreditation Committee. FOR: Karl Bickham, Hayward Boone, Holly James, Susanne Jones, Harold Smith, B. H. Barker, and Bruce Brown. AGAINST: Richard N. Thomas. ABSENT: Freddie Jefferson. Motion carried.
Agenda Item #10 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Personnel and Transportation Adjustments.
It was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the Board approve the following Personnel Adjustment, as presented by Superintendent Robert L. Coleman:
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENT
REQUEST FOR SABBATICAL LEAVE:
Franklinton High School: Velva Ann Fortenberry, Special Education Teacher, Sabbatical Leave for Rest and Recuperation effective the entire 1996-97 school year.
Motion carried unanimously. There were no Transportation Adjustments.
Agenda Item #11 - Receive report from Superintendent Robert L. Coleman regarding Franklinton High School v. Louisiana High School Athletic Association.
Superintendent Coleman read the following report to the Board:
“TO: WASHINGTON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
I have completed my investigation of the matter of Franklinton High School v. Louisiana High School Athletic Association and submit the following report, as requested by the Board on March 14, 1996.
I have discussed this matter with Ms. Beverly Young, Principal, Franklinton High School, Mr. Wayne Kuhn, Attorney for the Washington Parish School Board, Mr. Tommy Henry, Executive Director, Louisiana High School Athletic Association, Mr. Randy Trelles, Attorney for Franklinton High School, Mr. Brad Lewis, Attorney for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, and interested parents.
There have been many statements saying board members are angry that the principal of Franklinton High School took legal action against the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. I believe the concern has not been that legal action was taken but that legal action was taken without the knowledge or consent of the board. Any school law class or any school attorney can tell you that the school board is the legal entity of the school system. To quote the school board attorney, Wayne Kuhn, “It is my position, and the law, that a school is not a legal entity. The proper legal entity is the parish school board.”
No matter how good the intentions of a school principal, he cannot bring legal action on behalf of the school board. It has been said that, in private industry, the principal would have been rewarded with a bonus. On the contrary, an employee of a large corporation bringing legal action for the corporation without consent would be lucky to keep his job.
The concern of the board is a failure to request consent for legal action to be taken. The game between Franklinton High School and Karr High School was played on Friday, March 1, 1996. There were discussions over the weekend about bringing legal action. An attorney was contacted during the day on Monday, March 4, 1996, to handle the case, and plaintiff and attorneys met before a judge in Baton Rouge early the morning of Tuesday, March 5, 1996.
On the morning of Tuesday, March 5, 1996, the high school secretary called my office and notified my secretary that the principal was in Baton Rouge appearing before a judge to ask for a temporary restraining order to prohibit the next level of playoff involving Karr High School. This was not a request that the board grant consent, but to notify the board that action was being taken. I returned from the Louisiana School Boards Association meeting in Bossier City Saturday evening and could have been reached by my secretary while at the meeting. I was in the parish Saturday night and Sunday. There were no messages from Franklinton High School on my answering machine. I was in my office all day Monday catching up with paper work, and I certainly could have been reached at anytime that day. Had a call been made during the weekend or on Monday, I would have contacted board members and, if necessary, had an emergency meeting that night. There is no doubt that five minutes could have been found between March 1, 1996, and March 5, 1996, to call the superintendent so that notification of the board could have occurred.
Although I do feel the principal was doing what she felt was best for her students, legal action on behalf of the board is a serious matter. Principals must understand that they are employees of the Washington Parish School Board and cannot take legal action for the Board without concurrence. I, therefore, plan on issuing a letter of reprimand to Ms. Beverly Young, Principal, Franklinton High School. Because I do feel the principal was doing what she felt was best for her students, I do not recommend any further action by the board.”
Agenda Item #12 - Superintendent’s Report.
Superintendent Coleman read a letter from Sam Fauntleroy, Architect, regarding a site visit to Varnado High School the week of April 22nd. with Richard Phillips, the insurance company adjuster, and a contractor concerning the accessible toilet rooms at the school.
Agenda Item #13 - Other business from board members.
None.
President Barker stated that Mr. Walter L. Johnson had requested to address the board regarding naming the Franklinton Primary School Auditorium in honor of Mr. R. W. Johnson. He further stated that, some time ago, prior to some present board members being elected, the board voted to name the auditorium in honor of Mr. Johnson. He then recognized Walter L. Johnson. Mr. Johnson stated that, several years ago, he had requested that the auditorium of the former Washington Parish High School (now Franklinton Primary School) be named in honor of R. W. Johnson, a long-time educator and principal in the school system. The Board voted in favor of his request. The school board attorney was asked to investigate the legality of the request. Mr. Johnson stated he had conducted research throughout the State of Louisiana and found no law that prohibits naming a facility after a living person. He requested that the Board give permission for a dedication ceremony.
Attorney Wayne Kuhn stated that, in 1987, the board had asked him to obtain an Attorney General’s Opinion. The opinion quoted R.S. 14:316, which prohibited naming a public building, built and maintained with public funds, after a living person. He further stated the statute is still in effect, to his knowledge. Recent opinions, though, have been issued stating that a portion of a public building could be named for a living person.
Following discussion, it was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by B. H. Barker, that the Board authorize Attorney Wayne Kuhn to request another Attorney General’s Opinion. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #14 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by Bruce Brown, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the Board adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.
BRINGIER H. BARKER, PRESIDENT
ROBERT L. COLEMAN, SECRETARY