The Washington Parish School Board met in regular session on the above date with the following members present: President Harold Smith, Karl Bickham, Juanita Barker, Holly James, Susanne Jones, Hayward Boone, Richard N. Thomas, Bruce Brown, and Freddie Jefferson. Absent: None.
Agenda Item #1 - Call to order.
The meeting was called to order by President Smith. He welcomed guests and news media present.
Agenda Item #2 - Invocation.
Following a moment of silent prayer in memory of Bringier H. Barker, who was serving as President of the Board at the time of his death on August 1, 1996, and former board members Jimmie Corkern and Bryce Kennedy, who recently passed away, 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 June 26, 1997, regular board meeting.
It was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Juanita Barker, that the Board adopt the minutes of the June 26, 1997, regular board meeting, as submitted to each board member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #5 - Consider a motion to approve the In-School Suspension Program (Dennie Fowler).
Following a brief review by Superintendent Dennie Fowler, it was moved by Juanita Barker, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board approve the In-School Suspension Program, as follows: See attached. Motion carried unanimously. A Public Hearing on the In-School Suspension Program was held July 28, 1997, at 6:00 P.M.
Agenda Item #6 - Consider a motion to authorize an expenditure of $8,000.00 from Franklinton High School contingency funds to purchase mobile home located on the Franklinton High School campus (Dennie Fowler).
It was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board adopt the following Resolution authorizing the purchase of the mobile home located on the premises of Franklinton High School: See attached Resolution. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #7 - Consider a motion to approve an expenditure in excess of $2,000.00 for purchase and installation of carpet for the Washington Parish Vocational Center (Robert A. Johnson).
Robert A. Johnson, Supervisor, reviewed the quotations received for purchase and installation of carpet for the Vocational Center offices and south end of the building, as follows: Kennedy’s Decorating Center, Inc. - $2,500.00; Decorating Showroom - $3, 386.63. Upon the recommendation of Robert A. Johnson, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board approve an expenditure of $2,500.00 (low quote) for purchase and installation of carpet for Washington Parish Vocational Center. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #8 - Consider a motion to authorize Ron Sharp, Bus Operator, to purchase a 1988 Chevrolet school bus (Anthony Triola).
Upon the recommendation of Anthony Triola, Supervisor of Transportation, it was moved by Bruce Brown, seconded by Richard N. Thomas, that the Board authorize Ron Sharp, Bus Operator, to purchase a 1988 Chevrolet school bus, which meets all State specifications. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #9 - Consider a motion to extend the employment of full-time school clerks by two (2) days (Dennie Fowler).
Superintendent Fowler recommended that the Board extend the employment of full-time school clerks by two (2) days. He explained that the legislature increased the school year for teachers by two (2) days for staff development. School clerks report for work ten (10) days prior to the beginning of the school year and remain ten (10) days after the end of the school year. Due to the added days for teachers, the school clerks’ school year will be increased, also. It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Richard N. Thomas, that the Board extend the employment of full-time school clerks by two (2) days, as recommended by Superintendent Fowler. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #10 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Personnel Adjustments (Richard Kennedy).
It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Freddie Jefferson, that the Board approve the following Personnel Adjustments, as recommended by Richard Kennedy, Assistant Superintendent:
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
RETIREMENT RESIGNATION:
Angie/Wesley Ray Schools: Rovella Thompson, Bus Operator, Retirement Resignation effective July 31, 1997.
RESIGNATION:
Enon Elementary School: Dinah Corkern, Special Education Teacher, Resignation effective August 1, 1997.
Franklinton Schools: Tammy Melancon, Special Education Bus Attendant, Resignation effective August 2, 1997.
Franklinton Jr. High School: James W. Reid, Special Foreign Language Teacher, Resignation effective August 2, 1997.
Franklinton High School: Cole Sisung, Regular Teacher, Resignation effective August 2, 1997.
Franklinton High School: Kimberly McKenzie, Regular Teacher, Resignation effective August 2, 1997.
Franklinton Schools: Everett E. Robins, Bus Operator, Resignation effective August 15, 1997.
Pine School: Virginia Graves, Academically Gifted Teacher, Resignation effective August 2, 1997.
Varnado Elementary School: Lauren Smith, Itinerant Speech Therapist Assistant, Resignation effective August 3, 1997.
Wesley Ray Elementary School: Darlene Hammer, Regular Teacher, Resignation effective August 2, 1997.
REQUEST FOR SABBATICAL LEAVE:
Franklinton High School: Sylvia K. Smith, Regular Teacher, Sabbatical Leave for Rest and Recuperation effective the entire 1997/98 school year.
REQUEST FOR LEAVE:
Franklinton High School: Melanie Primes, Regular Teacher, Sick Leave effective August 18, 1997, through August 29, 1997, and Extended Sick Leave effective September 2, 1997, through October 24, 1997.
Washington Parish Career Center: Ronald W. McKenzie, Auto Mechanics Instructor, Sick Leave effective August 14, 1997, through September 30, 1997.
CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS:
Change employment status of Jennifer Lynn McElveen, Regular Teacher, Pine School, effective the 1997/98 school year only (fill-in for Pamela Ellis), TO Regular Teacher, Pine School, effective the beginning of the 1997/98 school year.
Change employment status of Keri Crowe, Regular Teacher, Franklinton Primary School, effective the 1997/98 school year only (fill-in for Carolyn Knight, who will be on sabbatical leave), TO Regular Teacher, Franklinton Primary School, effective the beginning of the 1997/98 school year (replacing Carolyn McElveen, who transferred to the position of Librarian).
Change employment status of Valerie A. Penton, Title I Aide, Thomas Jr. High School, TO Regular Teacher, Franklinton Jr. High School, effective the beginning of the 1997/98 school year (CERTIFIED).
TRANSFER:
Tammy Boyd, Kindergarten Teacher, Thomas Jr. High School, TO Itinerant Academically Gifted Teacher, Mt. Hermon School, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
Lynn Kelly, Regular Teacher, Pine School, TO In-School Suspension Teacher, Mt. Hermon School, effective the beginning of the 1997/98 school year.
Carolyn McElveen, Regular Teacher, Franklinton Primary School, TO Librarian, Franklinton Primary School/Enon Elementary School, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
EMPLOY:
Angie Jr. High School: Bryan J. Stewart, In-School Suspension Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Angie Jr. High School: Jerry L. Hutcheison, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
Enon Elementary School/Franklinton Primary School: Cindy G. Creel, Elementary Music Teacher, effective the Fall semester only of the 1997/98 school year (TTA) - Fill-in for Bonnie Pope, who will be on sabbatical leave.
Franklinton Primary School: Chanda Corkern, Regular Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CERTIFIED) - Fill-in for Carolyn Knight, who will be on sabbatical leave.
Franklinton Primary School: Nancy Parker-Miller, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Franklinton Primary School: Mamilyn Dupre, Pre-School Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
Franklinton Primary School: Jana Wood, Pre-School Special Education Teacher, effective the beginning of the 1997/98 school year (CERTIFIED).
Franklinton Elementary School: Brenda Pittman, Full-time Food Service Technician, effective August 13, 1997 (pending outcome of physical examination).
Franklinton Jr. High School: Tania Thompson, Regular Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Franklinton Jr. High School: Debra Gibson, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Franklinton Jr. High School: Daniel Rester, Music Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Franklinton Jr. High School: Kevin Lawson, In-School Suspension Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Franklinton Jr. High School: Lisa Rawls, Regular Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Franklinton Jr. High School: Stephanie K. Nugent, Academically Gifted Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
Franklinton High School: Robin Edwards, Regular Teacher, effective the Fall semester only of the 1997/98 school year (CIRCULAR 665).
Franklinton High School: Richard R. Spears, Jr., In-School Suspension Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Franklinton High School: Samuel Nugent, Regular Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Franklinton High School: Michael Wilcox, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
Franklinton High School: Zyndall Jones, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
Franklinton High School: Stephen Burris, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
Franklinton High School: Clay Magee, Band/Vocal Music Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT PERMIT).
Franklinton High School: David Belou, Regular Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Franklinton High School: Jennifer Bennett, Regular Teacher, effective the beginning of the 1997/98 school year (CERTIFIED).
Franklinton High School: Charles Ackerman, Regular Teacher, effective August 18, 1997, through October 24, 1997 (fill-in for Melanie Primes, who will be on leave).
Franklinton High School: Wendy M. Taylor, Regular Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only - CERTIFIED (fill-in for Sylvia Smith, who will be on sabbatical leave).
Mt. Hermon School: Jacki Grady, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
Mt. Hermon School: Lorraine C. Jenkins, Spanish Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Mt. Hermon School: Billy R. Simmons, Bus Operator, effective the beginning of the 1997/98 school year (replacing Willie B. Brock, who retired).
Pine School: Charles D. Reeves, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
Pine School: Ali Wood, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
Pine School: Theresa Young, Special Education Teacher, effective the beginning of the 1997/98 school year (CERTIFIED).
Pine School: Burneva Ellzey, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CERTIFIED).
Pine School: Betty Nelson, Regular Teacher, effective the beginning of the 1997/98 school year (CERTIFIED).
Pine School: James Ballard, Regular Teacher, effective the Fall semester only of the 1997/98 school year (CERTIFIED).
Pine School: Francine Robinson, Regular Teacher, effective the Fall semester only of the 1997/98 school year (CIRCULAR 665).
Pine School: Lawrence Browning, Academically Gifted Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
Thomas Jr. High School: Stacy Payne, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
Thomas Jr. High School: Christine Thomas, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
Varnado Elementary School: Janice Campbell, Special Education Teacher, effective the beginning of the 1997/98 school year (CERTIFIED).
Varnado Elementary School: Rebecca Morgan, Itinerant Speech Therapist Assistant, effective the beginning of the 1997/98 school year (CERTIFIED).
Varnado Elementary School: Diane Caldwell, Regular Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CERTIFIED).
Varnado Elementary School: Reginald Robinson, Part-time Custodian, effective August 1, 1997.
Varnado High School: Janice Brumfield, Title I Aide, effective the beginning of the 1997/98 school year.
Varnado High School: William Earl Spikes, In-School Suspension Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Varnado High School: Douglas Jones, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Varnado High School: Ruthie M. Torrence, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Wesley Ray Elementary School: Shelia Davis, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (TTA).
Wesley Ray Elementary School: Candace Shol, Special Education Teacher, effective the 1997/98 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Wesley Ray Elementary School: Robert Duncan, Regular Teacher, effective the beginning of the 1997/98 school year (CERTIFIED).
Parishwide: Dr. Cynthia Cibic, Coordinator, Testing and Evaluation Program, effective August 1, 1997.
Washington Parish Career Center: Wayne Taylor, Auto Mechanics Instructor, effective August 14, 1997, through September 30, 1997 (fill-in for Ronald McKenzie, who will be on sick leave).
Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Freddie Jefferson, that the following item be added to the agenda: Consider a motion to authorize Richard Kennedy to employ the remaining personnel needed for the 1997/98 school year. Motion carried unanimously. It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the Board authorize Richard Kennedy, Assistant Superintendent, to employ the remaining personnel needed for the 1997/98 school year, since the next board meeting will be held August 14, 1997, the day teachers report for work. His action will be confirmed at the August 14th board meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #11 - Superintendent’s Report.
A. It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the following item be added to the agenda: Consider a motion to change the time of the August 14, 1997, board meeting to 7:00 P.M. Motion carried unanimously. It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the time of the August 14, 1997, board meeting be changed to 7:00 P.M. Motion carried unanimously.
B. Superintendent Fowler reported that our system will be receiving $168,046.00 from the state for K-3 reading and math initiative.
C. Superintendent Fowler reported briefly on the Louisiana School Boards Association legislative update meeting he, President Smith, and Adren Raybourn attended on July 30, 1997.
Agenda Item #12 - Other business from board members.
Bruce Brown inquired about the status of Greg Brumfield’s proposed program, “Comprehensive Educational Incentive Program for Education.” Robert Al Johnson, a member of the committee studying the program, stated that the committee is seeking funding for the program and will soon give a report to the Board.
Other items mentioned by board members included the possibility of offering Algebra I at Franklinton Jr. High School again this year, limiting the number of board members attending national conventions each year, offering incentives for schools to save money at the school sites, and State employee pay raises.
Agenda Item #13 - Consider a motion to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of the Superintendent’s Evaluation (Harold Smith).
It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the Board enter into Executive Session for the purpose of the Superintendent’s Evaluation. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #14 - Consider a motion to return to regular session.
It was moved by Juanita Barker, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board return to regular session. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #15 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by Bruce Brown, seconded by Harold Smith, that the Board adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.
HAROLD R. SMITH, PRESIDENT
DENNIE FOWLER, SECRETARY