The Washington Parish School Board met in regular session on the above date with the following board members present: President Harold Smith, Karl Bickham, Juanita Barker, Holly James, Susanne Jones, Hayward Boone, Richard 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.
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 October 15, 1998, regular board meeting.
It was moved by Juanita Barker, seconded by Holly James, that the Board adopt the minutes of the September 24, 1998, regular board meeting, as submitted to each board member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #5 - Presentation by Kathy M. David, Home Economist, and John E. Wyble, Associate County Agent, regarding the 4-H/Youth Development Program (Dennie Fowler).
Josh Crain, a senior at Mt. Hermon School and a member of 4-H, recognized the following 4-H members and briefly reviewed their accomplishments: Allison Seals -Thomas Jr. High; Christina Watts - Angie Jr. High; Brandon Jenkins - Franklinton Jr. High; Ashley McKenzie - Pine; Rob Jones - Franklinton Elementary; Jessica Schexnider - Mt. Hermon; Robert Clark - Mt. Hermon; Ashleigh Lightfoot - Varnado High; Casey Gerald -Thomas Jr. High; Courtney Slocum - Pine; and Julie Pritchard - Varnado High. Josh thanked the Board and Superintendent for their support of the 4-H programs. Superintendent Fowler congratulated the students on their accomplishments and thanked them for the delicious refreshments served prior to the board meeting.
Agenda Item #6 - Consider a motion to authorize advertisement for bids for Renovations and Additions to Mt. Hermon School (Dennie Fowler).
Superintendent Fowler shared the following project schedule for renovations and additions to Mt. Hermon School:
•November 12, 1998 Permission by School Board to advertise for bids
•November 18, 1998 Project advertises for bids in legal journal
•December 18, 1998 Bid Opening
•January 14, 1999 School Board approves bids and awards construction contract
•February 1, 1999 Notice to Proceed issued to contractor
•February, 1999 - Sept., 1999 Contractor renovates gymnasium
•December, 1999 Contractor completes all portions of work
It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Freddie Jefferson, that the Board authorize advertisement for bids for Renovations and Additions to Mt. Hermon School. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #7 - Consider a motion to authorize advertisement for bids for the sale (salvage only) of the old music building at Mt. Hermon School (William Brignac).
It was moved by Harold Smith, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the Board authorize advertisement for bids for the sale (salvage only) of the old music building at Mt. Hermon School. Motion carried unanimously. Bids will be accepted until 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, December 2, 1998, the time of the bid opening.
Agenda Item #8 - Consider a motion to authorize advertisement for bids for the purchase of a new filing system for the School Board Office Vault (Beth Fussell).
Upon the recommendation of Beth Fussell, Chief Accountant and Operations Manager, it was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Juanita Barker, that the Board authorize advertisement for bids for the purchase of a new filing system (Mechanical High Density Mobile Filing System) for the School Board Office Vault. Motion carried unanimously. Bids will be accepted until 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, December 1, 1998, the time of the bid opening.
Agenda Item #9 - Consider a motion to approve an allocation to schools for the 1998/99 operations budgets (Adren Raybourn).
Upon the recommendation of Adren Raybourn, Director of Finance, it was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board approve the following allocation to schools for the 1998/99 operations budgets:
Allocation to Schools for 1998/99 Fiscal Year Operating Budgets
$35.00 Per Pupil for Elementary
$45.00 Per Pupil for Secondary
SCHOOL TOTAL PER PUPIL ADJ. NET ALLOCATION
Angie Jr. High $ 8,890.00 $ 8,890.00
Enon 8,365.00 8,365.00
Franklinton Primary 15,645.00 15,645.00
Franklinton Elem. 13,895.00 -$2,000.00 11,895.00
Franklinton Jr. High 17,465.00 17,465.00
Franklinton High 30,600.00 30,600.00
Mt. Hermon 20,950.00 20,950.00
Pine 26,675.00 -$2,000.00 24,675.00
Thomas 14,455.00 14,455.00
Varnado Elem. 5,355.00 5,355.00
Varnado High 11,070.00 11,070.00
Wesley Ray 8,715.00 8,715.00
TOTALS $ 182,080.00 -$4,000.00 $178,080.00
Debts to General Fund After These Adjustments:
Franklinton Elem. $ 8,813.78
Pine 6,997.51
Varnado High 81,632.50
TOTAL $ 97,443.79
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #10 - Consider a motion to approve restricted allocations for some schools in lieu of paying for water/sewage (Adren Raybourn).
Upon the recommendation of Adren Raybourn, Director of Finance, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Holly James, that the Board approve the following restricted allocations for some schools, in lieu of paying for water/sewage, with the understanding that amounts will be placed into the school’s contingency fund, with spending possible only with the Superintendent’s approval:
SCHOOL IN LIEU OF WATER IN LIEU OF SEWAGE TOTAL
Enon $ 1,838.33 $ 1,661.67 $ 3,500.00
Pine 1,838.33 1,661.67 3,500.00
Thomas 1,838.33 1,661.67 3,500.00
Mt. Hermon 1,661.67 1,661.67
Angie 1,661.67 1,661.67
Varnado Elem. 1,661.67 1,661.67
Varnado High 1,661.67 1,661.67
Wesley Ray 1,661.67 1,661.67
TOTALS $ 5,514.99 $ 13,293.36 $ 18,808.35
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #11 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Transportation Committee’s recommendations (Dennie Fowler).
Superintendent Fowler stated that the Transportation Committee had met on two occasions to review and discuss items requested by bus operators. He then asked Susanne Jones, Chairperson of the Transportation Committee, to report on the decisions of the committee. Mrs. Jones stated four (4) items were addressed in the meetings, as follows:
1. Parish supplementing bus drivers .15 cents per mile both ways for operational expense.
The Washington Parish School Board is currently paying bus drivers .15 cents per mile one way. The committee decided no action on the request would be taken at this time.
2. Bus drivers are requesting the Board get an Internal Revenue Service opinion as to whether IRS would allow bus operational expense allowance to be treated as “lease payments” to the drivers and, therefore, not treat the expense allowance as supplemental income subject to income tax withholding, and not report the expense allowance on a W-2. Instead, treat the bus operational expense allowance as “lease payments” to the drivers, issue a separate check for that amount, do not withhold any amount for income taxes, and report that amount on a Form 1099.
Action on this item was postponed, pending receipt of information from the Internal Revenue Service.
3. Age of bus at time of purchase.
The committee’s recommendation is that the age limit for buses purchased by tenured drivers be raised to 15 years and the age limit for buses purchased by new bus drivers be set at 10 years.
4. Extra buses owned by bus drivers.
The Board presently has 12 buses on insurance that are used for field trips, etc. A policy is needed to determine which buses will be used. A proposed policy will be presented at the next board meeting.
Following Mrs. Jones’ presentation and discussion, it was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the item regarding the age of buses purchased be tabled, pending outcome of a survey of bus operators. FOR: Hayward Boone, Karl Bickham and Freddie Jefferson. AGAINST: Juanita Barker, Holly James, Susanne Jones, Harold Smith, Richard Thomas and Bruce Brown. The vote being three (3) FOR and six (6) AGAINST, the motion failed.
It was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the age limit for buses purchased by tenured drivers be changed to fifteen (15) years, rather than ten (10) years, and the age limit for buses purchased by new bus drivers be set at ten (10) years. FOR: Susanne Jones, Juanita Barker, Bruce Brown and Richard Thomas. AGAINST: Karl Bickham, Holly James, Hayward Boone, Freddie Jefferson, and Harold Smith. The vote being four (4) FOR and five (5) AGAINST, the motion failed.
Anthony Triola, Transportation Supervisor, will conduct a poll of all bus operators regarding age limits for bus purchases and split checks to bus operators, then report back to the Board.
Agenda item #12 - Personnel and Transportation Adjustments (Richard Kennedy).
It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Freddie Jefferson, that the following Personnel and Transportation Adjustments be approved, as recommended by Richard Kennedy, Assistant Superintendent:
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
RETIREMENT RESIGNATION:
Mt. Hermon School: Buford Schilling, Custodian, Retirement Resignation effective November 6, 1998.
Thomas Jr. High School: Billy Wade Knight, Regular Teacher, Retirement Resignation effective December 1, 1998 (Waive requirement of returning to service following sabbatical leave for the 1997/98 school year).
Wesley Ray Elementary School: Lela Mae Ratliff, School Lunch Worker, Retirement Resignation effective August 11, 1998.
RESIGNATION:
Franklinton Elementary School: Tammy Gendusa, Title I Teacher, Resignation effective October 30, 1998.
Franklinton Jr. High School: Meleah Perea, School Clerk, Resignation effective November 9, 1998.
TRANSFER:
Geraldine Jefferson, Special Education Paraprofessional, Pine School, TO Special Education Paraprofessional, Wesley Ray Elementary School, effective November 13, 1998.
EMPLOY:
Franklinton Primary School: Monica Thomas, Part-time Pre-School Teacher (1 day per week), effective November 2, 1998, and for the remainder of the 1998/99 school year only (CIRCULAR 665).
Franklinton High School:Barbara Magee, Part-time School Lunch Worker, effective November 13, 1998.
Pine School: Deborah Diane Barber, Special Education Paraprofessional, effective November 16, 1998 (replacing Geraldine Jefferson, who is transferring to Wesley Ray Elementary School).
Varnado Elementary School: Mary Williams, Title I Paraprofessional, effective January 14, 1999.
REQUEST FOR SABBATICAL LEAVE:
Franklinton Primary School: Patri F. Gast, Regular Teacher, Sabbatical Leave for Rest and Recuperation effective November 9, 1998, and for the remainder of the 1998/99school year.
Varnado High School: Jack A. Bacot, Regular Teacher, Sabbatical Leave for Rest and Recuperation effective the Spring semester of the 1998/99 school year.
REQUEST FOR EXTENDED SICK LEAVE:
Enon Elementary School: Janice Buckhanan, Regular Teacher, Extended Sick Leave effective November 5, 1998, through January 5, 1999.
REQUEST FOR LEAVE WITHOUT PAY:
Varnado Elementary School: Mary Williams, Title I Paraprofessional, Leave Without Pay effective the Spring semester on the 1998/99 school year.
TRANSPORTATION ADJUSTMENTS
Enon School: Extend the route of Aulton Carter 3.6 miles one way to pick up Amber Stewart. Effective date: October 27, 1998.
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #13 - Superintendent’s Report.
Superintendent Fowler reported that twenty-four (24) administrators from our system attended the Governor’s Summit November 10, 1998, in Baton Rouge. The focus of the summit was on accountability.
Superintendent Fowler reported on construction progress at Varnado High School. All steel has been erected for the gymnasium, and work on the roof and siding will begin November 19, 1998.
Superintendent Fowler reported that several schools held Veteran’s Day programs that were outstanding and appreciated by veterans in attendance. Especially noteworthy was the respect shown veterans by the student body. He expressed pride in and appreciation of those schools holding special events honoring veterans.
Agenda Item #14 - Other business from board members.
Hayward Boone inquired about a state law prohibiting retired bus operators substituting until five (5) years from retirement date. Anthony Triola, Transportation Supervisor, stated he wasn’t aware of such a law.
Juanita Barker announced that transportation to Louisiana Technical College -Sullivan Campus, is now available for parish students.
Freddie Jefferson suggested the Washington Parish School Board have a web site on the Internet. Superintendent Fowler stated that a web page is already in progress.
Holly James encouraged everyone to attend “Night of Notables” at Franklinton High School on November 17, 1998, which is a presentation of Barbara Chitwood’s students.
Agenda Item #15 - Consider a motion to enter into Executive Session under LA R.S. 42:6.1A(7) concerning student disciplinary appeal (Harold Smith).
It was moved by Juanita Barker, seconded by Holly James, that the Board enter into Executive Session under LA R.S. 42:6.1A(7) concerning student disciplinary appeal. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #16 - Consider a motion to return to regular session.
It was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Juanita Barker, that the Board return to regular session. Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Karl Bickham, that the appeal-of-expulsion hearing be rescheduled at the first available date in January, 1999, with consent of parents. FOR: Karl Bickham, Holly James, Susanne Jones, Hayward Boone, Richard Thomas, and Freddie Jefferson. AGAINST: Juanita Barker and Bruce Brown. Motion carried. The parents consented to this action.
Agenda Item #17 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.
HAROLD R. SMITH, PRESIDENT
DENNIE FOWLER, SECRETARY