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 March 25, 1999, regular board meeting.
It was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Holly James, that the Board adopt the minutes of the March 25, 1999, regular board meeting, as submitted to each board member. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #5 - Consider a motion to authorize advertisement for bids for the purchase of Food and Supplies for the School Lunch Program for the 1999/2000 school year (Marsha Newman).
Upon the recommendation of Marsha Newman, Food Service Supervisor, it was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board authorize advertisement for bids for the purchase of Food and Supplies for the 1999/2000 school year. Motion carried unanimously. Advertising dates will be May 12, 19 & 26, 1999.
Agenda Item #6 - Consider a motion to authorize advertisement for bids for the purchase of Bakery Products, Milk and Ice Cream for the School Lunch Program for the 1999/2000 school year (Marsha Newman).
Upon the recommendation of Marsha Newman, Food Service Supervisor, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board authorize advertisement for bids for the purchase of Bakery Products, Milk and Ice Cream for the School Lunch Program for the 1999/2000 school year. Motion carried unanimously. Advertising dates will be May 12, 19 & 26, 1999.
Agenda Item #7 - Consider a motion to authorize advertisement for bids for purchase of School Supplies for the 1999/2000 school year (Beth Fussell).
Upon the recommendation of Beth Fussell, Chief Accountant and Operations Manager, it was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board authorize advertisement for bids for purchase of School Supplies for the 1999/2000 school year. Motion carried unanimously. Advertising dates will be April 28, May 5 & 12, 1999.
Agenda Item #8 - Consider a motion to authorize advertisement for bids for the sale of salvage structural timbers and roofing materials located at Mt. Hermon School (Dennie Fowler).
Upon the recommendation of Dennie Fowler, Superintendent, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Richard Thomas, that the Board authorize advertisement for bids for the sale of salvage structural timbers and roofing materials located at Mt. Hermon School. Motion carried unanimously. Advertising dates will be April 28 & May 5, 1999.
Agenda Item #9 - Consider a motion to declare a trailer located at Varnado High School as surplus and not needed in the operation of any school, and to authorize and ratify the advertisement for bids for sale of the trailer (Dennie Fowler).
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Dennie Fowler, it was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Freddie Jefferson, that the Board declare a trailer located at Varnado High School as surplus and not needed in the operation of any school, and to authorize and ratify the advertisement for bids for sale of the trailer. Motion carried unanimously. Advertising dates: April 21 & 28, 1999.
Agenda Item #10 - Consider a motion to adopt a school calendar for the 1999/2000 school year (Dennie Fowler).
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Fowler, it was moved by Freddie Jefferson, seconded by Holly James, that the Board adopt the following school calendar for the 1999/2000 school year:
SCHOOL CALENDAR - 1999-2000
MONTH EVENT DATE TCHR.DAYS INSTRUCT. DAYS
August Teacher In-Service August 12
Staff Development (All) August 13
Classes Begin August 16 14 12
September Staff Development (Teachers) September 3
Labor Day September 6 21 20
October Washington Parish Fair October 20, 21, 22 18 18
November Educational Conventions November 22, 23, 24
Thanksgiving Holidays November 25 & 26 17 17
December 1st. Term Emergency Days* December 20 & 21
Christmas/New Year’s Holidays December 20 - 31 13 13
January Staff Development (All) January 13
Staff Development (Teachers) January 14
Martin Luther King Day January 17 20 18
February No Holidays 21 21
March Mardi Gras March 6 & 7 21 21
April Spring Holidays April 21 - 28
2nd. Term Emergency Days* April 27 & 28 14 14
May Teacher Work Day May 30
School Closes May 31 23 21
TOTALS 182 DAYS 175 DAYS
*IF NOT NEEDED, THESE DAYS WILL BE HOLIDAYS.
Agenda Item #11 - Consider a motion to accept the following policies, drawn from minutes of recent Board meetings, for inclusion in the Washington Parish School Board Policy Manual: ED, Student Transportation Management (revised); EE. School Food Service Management (revised); and EDDA, Special Use of Extra Buses Owned by Bus Drivers (new) - Dennie Fowler).
It was moved by Karl Bickham, seconded by Holly James, that the following policies, drawn from minutes of recent Board meetings, for inclusion in the Washington Parish School Board Policy Manual: ED, Student Transportation Management (revised); EE, School Food Service Management (revised); and EDDA, Special Use of Extra Buses Owned by Bus Drivers (new). Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #12 - Consider a motion to authorize Bus Operator Colston Martin, Jr., to purchase a 1985 Chevrolet 60-passenger bus to be used as a second bus (Anthony Triola).
Upon the recommendation of Anthony Triola, Supervisor of Transportation, it was moved by Juanita Barker, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board authorize Bus Operator Colston Martin, Jr., to purchase a 1985 Chevrolet 60-passenger bus to be used as a second bus. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #13 - Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Personnel and Transportation Adjustments (Richard Kennedy).
It was moved by Susanne Jones, seconded by Hayward Boone, that the following Personnel and Transportation Adjustments be approved, as recommended by Richard Kennedy, Assistant Superintendent:
PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
RESIGNATION:
Enon Elementary School: Lynda J. Comeaux, Regular Teacher, Resignation effective July 31, 1999.
REQUEST FOR SABBATICAL LEAVE:
Franklinton Jr. High School: Elise M. Knight, Regular Teacher, Sabbatical Leave for Rest and Recuperation effective the entire 1999/2000 school year.
Franklinton High School: Sylvia B. Graves, Regular Teacher, Sabbatical Leave for Rest and Recuperation effective the entire 1999/2000 school year.
REQUEST FOR EXTENDED SICK LEAVE:
Franklinton High School: Shanda S. Addison, Regular Teacher, Extended Sick Leave effective April 20, 1999, through June 2, 1999.
Franklinton High School: Kimberly P. Magee, Regular Teacher, Extended Sick Leave effective March 29, 1999, through May 17, 1999.
Mt. Hermon School: Ali T. Wood, Talented Art Teacher, Extended Sick Leave effective April 26, 1999, through June 2, 1999.
REQUEST FOR LEAVE WITHOUT PAY:
Wesley Ray Elementary School: Cindy Taylor, Title I Paraprofessional, Leave Without Pay effective April 15, 1999, through June 2, 1999, and August 12, 1999, through September 23, 1999.
CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS:
Ellen Taylor, Regular Teacher, Franklinton Elementary School, TO Title I Teacher, Franklinton Elementary School, effective January 14, 1999.
Barbara Harris, Special Education Paraprofessional, Wesley Ray Elementary School, TO Title I Paraprofessional, Wesley Ray Elementary School, effective April 15, 1999, through June 2, 1999, and August 12, 1999, through September 23, 1999.
TRANSPORTATION ADJUSTMENTS
FRANKLINTON/ENON SCHOOLS: Deduct 1.4 miles one way from the route of Juanita Tullos (Special Education student moved from route). Effective date: February 1, 1999.
Extend the route of Aulton Carter 1.6 miles one way to pick up Jessica Rogers. Effective date: April 15, 1999.
Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #14 - Superintendent’s Report.
Superintendent Fowler congratulated the principal and faculty of Angie Jr. High School for meeting requirements for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Superintendent Fowler announced that 12-month employees will begin their summer work schedule June 7, 1999, and continue through July 30, 1999 (7:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.)
Superintendent Fowler announced that a School Law in-service for board members will be conducted April 24, 1999, by Mr. Joseph Bertrand to meet requirements for six (6) hours of training for board members.
Superintendent Fowler announced that, next year, Thomas Jr. High School will work toward accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Agenda Item #15 - Other business from board members.
A lengthy discussion was held regarding school safety, in light of the recent school shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Once again, the topic of school uniforms was discussed, with board members agreeing that teacher and parental input was necessary and that another survey should be taken prior to any decision being made. It was suggested that one school pilot a school uniform program. The requirement of student ID’s was also discussed. Superintendent Fowler informed the Board of steps he has already taken to address safety in the parish schools. He has directed all principals to hold faculty meetings to discuss what can be done to make our schools safer. After these meetings have been held, he will schedule a principals meeting for the purpose of hearing and discussing the ideas/suggestions compiled by the individual schools. He has instructed every school to make frequent, random checks with their metal detectors, and submit written notification of when detectors are used. Superintendent Fowler informed the Board that he plans to visit and observe the alternative school program in Red River Parish School System. He stated that an alternative school program should be in place in our system by this Fall.
It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the following item be added to the agenda: Consider a motion to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of hearing a grievance by a teacher. FOR: Karl Bickham, Juanita Barker, Hayward Boone, Richard Thomas, Bruce Brown, and Freddie Jefferson. AGAINST: Holly James, Susanne Jones, and Harold Smith. Motion carried. It was moved by Hayward Boone, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board enter into Executive Session for the purpose of hearing a grievance by a teacher. FOR: Karl Bickham, Juanita Barker, Hayward Boone, Richard Thomas, Bruce Brown, and Freddie Jefferson. AGAINST: Holly James, Susanne Jones, and Harold Smith. Motion carried. Freddie Jefferson, then, suggested that this item be delayed until the May 13, 1999, regular meeting, when School Board Attorney Wayne Kuhn would be present and appropriate action could be taken. The teacher was in agreement to wait until that date; therefore, Hayward Boone withdrew his motion, and Bruce Brown withdrew his second to the motion.
Agenda Item #16 - Consider a motion to adjourn.
It was moved by Juanita Barker, seconded by Bruce Brown, that the Board adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.
HAROLD R. SMITH, PRESIDENT
DENNIE FOWLER, SECRETARY