The Washington Parish School Board met in regular session on the above date with the following members present: President Harold Smith, Juanita Barker, Holly James, Susanne Jones, Hayward Boone, Richard N. Thomas, Bruce Brown, and Freddie Jefferson. Absent: Karl Bickham.
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.
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 August 28, 1997, regular board meeting.
It was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the Board adopt the minutes of the August 28, 1997, regular board meeting, as submitted to each board member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #5 - Consider a motion to adopt General Fund Budget for 1997/98 fiscal year in conformity with Section 88:Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes (Adren Raybourn).
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the Board adopt General Fund Budget for 1997/98 fiscal year in conformity with Section 88:Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, as recommended by Adren Raybourn, Director of Finance. Motion carried unanimously. (On September 11, 1997, at 6:00 P.M., a Public Hearing on the 1997/98 Fiscal Year Budgets was held in the Board Room.)
Agenda Item #6 - Consider a motion to adopt Angie School District Budget for 1997/98 fiscal year in conformity with Section 88:Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes (Beth Fussell).
It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Richard N. Thomas, that the Board adopt Angie School District Budget for 1997/98 fiscal year in conformity with Section 88:Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, as recommended by Beth Fussell, Chief Accountant and Operations Manager. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #7 - Consider a motion to adopt School Food Service Budget for 1997/98 fiscal year in conformity with Section 88:Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes (Marsha Newman).
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board adopt School Food Service Budget for 1997/98 fiscal year in conformity with Section 88:Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, as recommended by Marsha Newman, Supervisor, School Food Service. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #8 - Consider a motion to adopt IASA Title I, Title II, and Title VI Budgets for 1997/98 fiscal year in conformity with Section 88:Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes (T. J. Butler, Jr.).
It was moved by Juanita Barker, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board adopt IASA Title I, Title II, and Title VI Budgets for 1997/98 fiscal year in conformity with Section 88:Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, as recommended by T. J. Butler, Jr., Supervisor, Federally Assisted Programs. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #9 - Consider a motion to adopt Special Federal Funds Budget for 1997/98 fiscal year in conformity with Section 88:Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes (Beth Fussell).
It was moved by Juanita Barker, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board adopt Special Federal Funds Budget for 1997/98 fiscal year in conformity with Section 88:Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, as recommended by Beth Fussell, Chief Accountant and Operations Manager. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #10 - Consider a motion to adopt Drug Free Schools Budget for 1997/98 fiscal year in conformity with Section 88:Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes (Beth Fussell).
It was moved by Bruce Brown, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the Board adopt Drug Free Schools Budget for 1997/98 fiscal year in conformity with Section 88:Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, as recommended by Beth Fussell, Chief Accountant and Operations Manager. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #11 - Consider a motion to adopt a resolution ordering and calling a special election to be held in Varnado School District of Washington Parish, Louisiana, to authorize the incurring of debt and issuance of bonds therein, making application to the State Bond Commission in connection therewith and providing for other matters in connection therewith (Dennie Fowler).
SEE ATTACHED.
Agenda Item #12 - Presentation by Mary Jones, Supervisor of Instruction, regarding K - 3 Reading Initiative proposal (Dennie Fowler).
Ms. Mary Jones, Supervisor of Instruction, informed the Board of a $30 million block grant awarded to school systems in Louisiana to benefit grades K - 3 students at risk of experiencing difficulty in reading. The allocation for Washington Parish is $168,046.00. A committee, representing parish teachers in grades K - 3, met and determined how the system’s allocation should be spent. Ms. Jones presented the proposal, which is due in the State Department by September 15, 1997, to the board and requested approval. The proposal includes the employment of two (2) parish wide Early Literacy Master Teachers, purchase of reading materials and instructional materials and supplies, and professional development.
Following discussion, it was moved by Richard N. Thomas, seconded by Holly James, that consideration of the proposal, “K - 3 Reading Initiative 97-98,” be added to the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Richard N. Thomas, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the K - 3 Reading Initiative 97-98 proposal be approved, as presented. FOR: Juanita Barker, Holly James, Susanne Jones, Hayward Boone, Harold Smith, Richard N. Thomas and Freddie Jefferson. AGAINST: Bruce Brown. ABSENT: Karl Bickham. Motion carried.
Agenda Item #13 - Presentation by Central Office Support Staff, Cynthia August, Spokesperson (Dennie Fowler).
Mrs. Cynthia August spoke to the Board regarding inequities within the central office support staff salaries and presented a proposal for the Board’s consideration. Following discussion, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board take the matter under advisement, conduct an internal study, and report back to support staff in three (3) months. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #14 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Personnel Adjustments (Richard Kennedy).
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the following item be deleted from the Personnel Adjustments:
LEAVE WITHOUT PAY:
Franklinton Primary School: Shone McNeese, Bus Attendant, Leave
Without Pay effective September 12, 1997, through June 3, 1998.
FOR: Juanita Barker, Holly James, Susanne Jones, Hayward Boone, Harold Smith, Bruce Brown, and Freddie Jefferson. AGAINST: Richard N. Thomas. Motion carried.
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board approve the following Personnel Adjustments, as recommended by Richard Kennedy, Assistant Superintendent:
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
RETIREMENT RESIGNATION:
Washington Parish Career Center: Ronald McKenzie, Auto Mechanics Teacher, Retirement Resignation effective September 30, 1997 (Waive requirement of returning to service for two (2) semesters following sabbatical leave for the 1996/97 school year).
SICK LEAVE:
Mt. Hermon School: Rose Sanford, Kindergarten Teacher, Sick Leave effective September 8, 1997, through November 12, 1997 (45 days).
TRANSFER:
Franklinton Schools: Transfer Ronald Sharp, Bus Operator, to Everett Robins’ bus route effective September 15, 1997.
CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS:
Franklinton High School: Charles Ackerman, Regular Teacher, effective August 18, 1997, through October 24, 1997 (fill-in for Melanie Primes, who is on leave), TO Regular Teacher, effective September 8, 1997, and for the remainder of the 1997/98 school year only - CIRCULAR 665 (fill-in for Sylvia Smith, who is on sabbatical leave).
EMPLOY:
Franklinton High School: Sybil O’Ree, Regular Teacher, effective September 8, 1997, through October 24, 1997 - CIRCULAR 665 (fill-in for Melanie Primes, who is on leave).
Mt. Hermon School: Sonja Scott, Kindergarten Teacher, effective September 8, 1997, through November 12, 1997 (fill-in for Rose Sanford, who is on leave).
Washington Parish Career Center: Wayne Taylor, Auto Mechanics Teacher, effective October 1, 1997, and for the remainder of the 1997/98 school year only (replacing Ronald McKenzie, who is retiring).
Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Holly James, seconded by Freddie Jefferson, that the Board table the Leave Without Pay request that was deleted from the Personnel Adjustments, until the Board can review the policy regarding leaves of absence. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #15 - Superintendent’s Report.
A. Adren Raybourn, Director of Finance, reviewed House Bill No. 2074, Act 306 of the Regular Legislative Session, 1997, which requires teachers to work one (1) additional staff development day, in addition to the required 180 days, for every $30 million increase in state funds for salary increases to teachers. Because $65 million was appropriated for 1997/98 teacher salary increases, the State Department of Education interprets this to mean that two (2) additional staff development days are required for systems providing 180 work days for teachers. Circular 913 provides for the inclusion of the following positions in salary increases as a result of increased state funding for certificated personnel pay raises: teachers; therapists/specialists/counselors; supervisors of instruction, pupil support, or instructional staff services; assistant, associate or deputy superintendents; principals, assistant principals, and other school administrators; school nurses; and sabbaticals. Therefore, House Bill No. 2074, Act 306 requiring two (2) additional staff development days, applies to classroom teachers and other personnel, as shown in Circular 913, who are not already working at least 182 days per year.
Full-time school clerks are expected to work every staff development day. However, some non-certificated personnel (other than full-time school clerks) worked August 15, 1997, and August 29, 1997, which were staff development days. Those non-certificated personnel will not be required to work January 16, 1998, and February 25, 1998, which are scheduled staff development days.
B. At the August 14, 1997, board meeting, salary increases for certificated/administrative and non-certificated/non-administrative personnel (Proposal #1) were approved retroactive to July 1, 1997. Since earning periods are different among employees, Adren Raybourn, Director of Finance, recommended that the board action be amended to state, “retroactive to July 1, 1997, or the beginning of the 1997/98 payroll period, as applicable.”
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Hayward Boone, that consideration of Mr. Raybourn’s recommendation be added to the agenda. Motion carried unanimously. It was moved by Holly James, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the board action of August 14, 1997, pertaining to effective date of salary increases for certificated/administrative and non-certificated/non-administrative personnel (Proposal #1) be amended to state, “retroactive to July 1, 1997, or the beginning of the 1997/98 payroll period, as applicable.” Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #16 - Other business from board members.
None.
Agenda item #17 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by Bruce Brown, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the Board adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.
HAROLD R. SMITH, PRESIDENT
DENNIE FOWLER, SECRETARY