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 (entered the meeting at 7:05), 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.
The invocation was given by Freddie Jefferson.
Agenda Item #3 - Pledge of Allegiance.
Agenda Item #4 - Consider a motion to adopt the minutes of the May 21, 1998, regular board meeting.
It was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the Board adopt the minutes of the May 21, 1998, regular board meeting, as submitted to each board member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #5 - Consider a motion to adopt the minutes of the May 29, 1998, special board meeting.
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board adopt the minutes of the May 29, 1998, special board meeting, as submitted to each board member. Motion carried unanimously.
Architect Sam Fauntleroy was allowed to address the Board at this time. Mr. Fauntleroy updated the Board on construction projects at Varnado High School.
Agenda Item #6 - Recognition of Outstanding School Support Employees (Richard Kennedy).
Richard Kennedy, Assistant Superintendent, briefly reviewed the Outstanding School Support Employee Awards Program, which is mandated by legislation. The following presentations for the 1997/98 school year were made by the school principals:
Mary Williams, Title I Tutor, Varnado Elementary School
Outstanding School Support Employee - Elementary Level
Principal: Gary M. Fornea
Eli Robinson, Custodian, Franklinton Jr. High School
Outstanding School Support Employee - Junior High Level
Principal: Linda Crain
Diane S. Wood, Special Education Paraprofessional, Franklinton High School
Outstanding School Support Employee - Senior High Level
Principal: Beverly Young
President Smith and Superintendent Fowler congratulated these outstanding employees.
Agenda Item #7 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding bids received for the purchase of Bakery Products, Milk and Ice Cream for the School Lunch Program for the 1998/99 school year (Marsha Newman).
Marsha Newman, School Food Service Supervisor, presented milk bid tabulations to the Board, as follows (See Attached). Mrs. Newman’s recommendation was as follows:
Brown’s Velvet:All milk/dairy products - Firm price
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Juanita Barker, that the Board accept Mrs. Newman’s recommendation and award bid accordingly. FOR: Karl Bickham, Juanita Barker, Holly James, Susanne Jones, Hayward Boone, Harold Smith, Bruce Brown, and Freddie Jefferson. AGAINST: None. ABSTAINING: Richard N. Thomas. Motion carried.
Mrs. Newman presented bread bid tabulations to the Board, as follows (See Attached). Mrs. Newman’s recommendation was as follows:
Cotton Bros. All bakery products (delivery to all schools)
It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Holly James, that the Board accept Mrs. Newman’s recommendation and award bid accordingly. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #8 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding bids received for the purchase of School Supplies for the 1998/99 school year (Adren Raybourn).
Following review and recommendation by Adren Raybourn, Director of Finance, it was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the Board award contracts for the purchase of School Supplies for the 1998/99 school as follows: Unisource, Baton Rouge, LA - $18,244.60; Alpha Office and Educational, Inc., Arabi, LA - $763.30; Prairie Carbon & Ribbon, Larrabee, Iowa - $2,441.34; Leader Printing & Office Supplies, Franklinton, LA - $91.16; Venable office Equipment, Amite, LA - $78.00; Rowley, Hansell-Petetin, Inc., New Orleans, LA - $1,312.08, for a total of $22,930.48. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #9 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding quotations received for Workers Compensation Excess Insurance (Adren Raybourn).
Adren Raybourn, Director of Finance, reviewed quotations obtained by the Board’s insurance consultant, John Norris, for Excess Workers Compensation coverage. Upon the recommendation of Adren Raybourn and John Norris, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Richard N. Thomas, that Excess Workers Compensation coverage be awarded to Safety National Insurance Co. (Broussard, Bush & Hurst, Agent), at a fee of $19,035.00 per year, based on an estimated annual payroll of $15,454,037.00. Motion carried unanimously.
Upon the recommendation of Adren Raybourn and John Norris, it was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Richard N. Thomas, that Littleton Risk Services be named Third Party Administrator at a fee of $3,500.00 per year for claims administration services. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #10 - Consider a motion to authorize withdrawal privileges for Ronald Knight on all Pine School bank accounts effective July 1, 1998, and terminate the withdrawal privileges for Ed Deas on all Pine School bank accounts effective July 1, 1998 (Adren Raybourn).
Upon the recommendation of Adren Raybourn, Director of Finance, it was moved by Richard N. Thomas, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the Board authorize withdrawal privileges for Ronald Knight on all Pine School bank accounts effective July 1, 1998, and terminate the withdrawal privileges for Ed Deas on all Pine School bank accounts effective July 1, 1998. Motion carried unanimously.
Board Member Bruce Brown entered the meeting at this time.
Agenda Item #11 - Consider a motion to approve a budget revision for Fund II - Special Federal Funds (Beth Fussell).
Following review and recommendation by Beth Fussell, Chief Accountant and Operations Manager, it was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Holly James, that the Board approve a budget revision for Fund II - Special Federal Funds. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #12 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding quotations received from area physicians for bus operator physicals (Anthony Triola).
Anthony Triola, Supervisor, reviewed the quotations received from area physicians for bus operator physicals, as follows: Dr. Roger Casama - $35.00 per driver; Dr. Jerry Thomas - $40.00 per driver; Family Medical Clinic - $56.00 per driver; Dr. Victor Theriault -$94.00 per driver. Upon the recommendation of Anthony Triola, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Richard N. Thomas, that the Board accept the quotation of $35.00 per driver from Dr. Roger Casama for bus operator physicals. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Triola stated that, if a bus operator chooses to go to another physician for the physical, the Board will pay $35.00 toward the cost of the examination. He, also, stated that bus operators have until August 5, 1998, to correct any problems noted during recent bus inspections.
Agenda Item #13 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Pupil Progression Plan revisions for the 1998/99 school year (Richard Kennedy).
Richard Kennedy stated that a public hearing was held immediately prior to the board meeting (6:00 P.M.) for the purpose of reviewing and discussing the proposed revisions. It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the Board adopt the Pupil Progression Plan revisions for the 1998/99 school year. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #13 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Personnel and Transportation Adjustments (Richard Kennedy).
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board approve the following Personnel and Transportation Adjustments, as recommended by Richard Kennedy, Assistant Superintendent:
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
RESIGNATION:
Mt. Hermon School: Dorothy C. Lampton, Talented Art Teacher, Resignation effective June 3, 1998.
Angie Jr. High School: Birvon Roberts, Part-time Custodian, Resignation effective June 8, 1998.
TRANSFER:
LaChrisha Carnegie, Special Education Paraprofessional, Pine School, TO Special Education Paraprofessional, Wesley Ray Elementary School, effective the beginning of the 1998/99 school year.
Linus Magee, Bus Operator, Franklinton Schools, TO Bus Operator, Pine School, effective the beginning of the 1998/99 school year.
Marie Miley, Special Education Bus Attendant, Mary Knight’s bus, TO Special Education Bus Attendant, Yvonne Brumfield’s bus, effective the beginning of the 1998/99 school year.
Haley O’Quin, Special Education Paraprofessional, Varnado High School, TO Special Education Paraprofessional, Franklinton Jr. High School, effective the beginning of the 1998/99 school year.
Ricky J. Payne, Special Education Teacher, Thomas Jr. High School, TO Special Education Teacher, Pine School, effective the beginning of the 1998/99 school year.
Stephanie Smith, Special Education Teacher, Franklinton Elementary School, TO Special Education Teacher, Franklinton Primary School, effective the 1998/99 school year only (fill-in for Clyde Cothern, who will be on sabbatical leave).
Joetta Thomas, Special Education Paraprofessional, Thomas Jr. High School, TO Special Education Paraprofessional, Franklinton Elementary School, effective the beginning of the 1998/99 school year.
Sherry Warren, Special Education Paraprofessional, Franklinton Jr. High School, TO Special Education Paraprofessional, Pine School, effective the beginning of the 1998/99 school year.
EMPLOY:
Franklinton Elementary School: Amy Creel Emmons, Title I Teacher, effective the 1998/99 school year only (CERTIFIED).
Franklinton Elementary School: Rebekka S. Wascom, Special Education Teacher, effective the beginning of the 1998/99 school year (CERTIFIED) - Replacing Stephanie Smith, who is being transferred to Franklinton Primary School.
Franklinton Jr. High School: Penny Magee, Part-time Secretary, effective the beginning of the 1998/99 school year.
Franklinton Jr. High School: Theresa Dufrene, Food Service Manager, effective August 3, 1998.
Franklinton Jr. High School: Freddie Barnes, Custodian, effective June 15, 1998.
Franklinton High School: Stephanie Nugent, Regular Teacher, effective the beginning of the 1998/99 school year (CERTIFIED).
Mt. Hermon School: Mary Brenda Alford, Title I Pre-School Teacher, effective the Fall semester only of the 1998/99 school year (CERTIFIED) - Fill-in for Cindy Alford, who will be on sabbatical leave.
Mt. Hermon School: Ali Triche Wood, Talented Art Teacher, effective the beginning of the 1998/99 school year (CERTIFIED).
Pine/Thomas Schools: Virginia W. Graves, Academically Gifted Teacher, effective the beginning of the 1998/99 school year (CERTIFIED).
Pine School: Shanda Passman, Fulltime Food Service Technician, effective August 12, 1998.
Varnado High School: Shirley Davis, Technology Assistant, effective the beginning of the 1998/99 school year.
Wesley Ray Elementary School: Cheryl Watts, Technology Assistant, effective the beginning of the 1998/99 school year.
ADDITIONAL APPROVED SUBSTITUTE LIST - 1998/99
Mary Alford Robert Lewis
Patricia Allen Gladys Magee
Doris Bickham Lubertha Magee
Earl Buckley Paul Magee
Olivia Ann Cuffee Denise K. McKenzie
Louise Hart Jeremy K. McKenzie
Christine Johnson Shone D. McNeese
Christine Kemp Aline Y. Nelson
Laurel Knight Earl Nelson
Shelton G. Knight, Jr. Cynthia Tate
Michelle D. Lee Kaye Williams
TRANSPORTATION ADJUSTMENTS
FRANKLINTON SCHOOLS:Extend the route of Cherrie Brumfield 8.2 miles one way for thirteen (13) days due to detour.
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #15 - Superintendent’s Report.
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the following item be added to the agenda: Discuss and take appropriate action regarding quotations received for painting the exterior of Wesley Ray Elementary School (labor only). Motion carried unanimously. Superintendent Fowler reviewed the quotations received, which were as follows: Knight’s Painting (Jessie Knight) - $12,000.00; T. C. Hunt - $11,568.00; Joe Davis - $4,500.00; Richard Kuhn - $3,500.00. It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Hayward Boone, that Superintendent Fowler and Supervisor William Brignac be authorized to obtain additional information on the low quote from Richard Kuhn in the amount of $3,500.00 and, if all is in order, award the contract to him. If not, the contract will be awarded to the next lowest quote. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #16 - Other business from board members.
It was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the following item be added to the agenda: Discuss and take appropriate action regarding revising the parish dress code policy as it pertains to length of shorts. Motion carried unanimously. It was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Susanne Jones, that Washington Parish School Board Policy FILE: JCDB - Student Dress Code, be revised to state, “Shorts may be worn in grades K - 12; however, in junior and senior high schools, shorts must be worn to the top of the knee.” Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Freddie Jefferson, that the following item be added to the agenda: Consider a motion to schedule a committee meeting on June 22, 1998, at 6:30 P.M., for the purpose of hearing a 4-MAT presentation by Melanie Kennedy and covering other items, as needed. Motion carried unanimously. It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Susanne Jones, that a committee meeting be scheduled on June 22, 1998, at 6:30 P.M., for the purpose of hearing a 4-MAT presentation by Melanie Kennedy and covering other items, as needed. Motion carried unanimously.
Superintendent Fowler announced that a meeting will be held June 18, 1998, at 10:00 A.M., at the School Board Office, for the purpose of reviewing the In-School Suspension Program for the general public.
Agenda Item #17 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by Bruce Brown, seconded by Susanne Jones, that the Board adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.
HAROLD R. SMITH, PRESIDENT
DENNIE FOWLER, SECRETARY