Bogalusa School Board
Bogalusa, Louisiana
Special Board Meeting
August 4, 2011
5:30P.M.
Proceedings Of The Bogalusa School Board Taken At A Special Board Meeting That Was Held On Thursday, August 4, 2011
The Bogalusa School Board met in a special session at the Bogalusa School Board Office, in the Media Center, located at 1705 Sullivan Drive, Bogalusa, Louisiana on Thursday, August 4, 2011, beginning at 5:30P.M. The sole purpose of the meeting was to address time sensitive matters regarding the opening of school for the 2011-2012 School Year. The agenda included an Executive Session that was added by unanimous votes from the Board, during the meeting
1.) Call to Order
President Paul Kates called the meeting to order at 5:30P.M.
2.) Pledge of Allegiance
Superintendent Louise Smith led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3.) Prayer
Reverend Raymond Mims delivered the opening prayer.
4.) Roll Call
There were present: President Mr. Paul Kates; Vice President Mr. Adam Kemp; Members: Mr. Curtis Creel, Mrs. Eleanor Duke (Entered at 5:35P.M.), Mr. Calvin Hymel, Reverend Raymond Mims and Dr. Brad Williams (Entered at 5:43P.M.)
There was absent: None
Prior to any agenda items, President Kates asked for a motion to amend the agenda to add an Executive Session to be placed prior to Personnel.
It was motioned by Reverend Mims, seconded by Vice President Kemp to add to the agenda an Executive Session adjusting line item #7 to an Executive Session, and Personnel line item #8 and so forth. The motion was carried with one absence, Dr. Williams.
5.) Recess to Public Session
There was no one to come forward at this time.
Prior to the agenda items, Dr. Williams entered the meeting, at 5:43P.M.; and answered the roll call. At this point Attorney Branch advised that Dr. Williams be given the opportunity to vote on the amendment of the agenda to add an Executive Session. The motion was carried unanimously at this point.
President Kates continued with the agenda.
6.) New Business
A.) Grant permission to delete previous; and add new signers at Whitney Bank on all accounts at Bogalusa High School, Bogalusa Middle School, Bogalusa New Tech High school; and Byrd Avenue K-4 School.
It was motioned by Reverend Mims, seconded by Mrs. Duke to grant permission. The motion was carried unanimously.
B.) Approval of Revised Budgets for General Fund, Special Revenue and Food Service
Prior to the motion, according to Mrs. Walker, Food Service did not have any changes or Special Revenues; just General Fund. ”There are no changes in Food Service just General Fund; and I think Mrs. Walker brought the....,” said President Kates. Mrs. Walker interrupted stating, ”...Brought the Budget at the previous meeting but we had to change it. I had gotten some additional Revenues in on Sales Tax,” says Mrs. Walker.
It was motioned by Vice President Kemp, seconded by Reverend Mims to approve the Revised Budgets and General Fund. The motion was carried unanimously. (Supporting documents are on file with the Auditors Records).
At this point President Kates asked for a motion to enter into an Executive Session.
It was motioned by Reverend Mims, seconded by Dr. Williams to enter into an Executive Session. The motion was carried unanimously.
7.) Executive Session-Personnel
Returning to the Media Center, President Kates stated, ”I’d like to bring the meeting back to the table, can I get a motion to come out of Executive Session.
It was motioned by Dr. Williams, seconded by Reverend Mims to return to special session. The motion was carried unanimously.
President Kates stated, ”We had a discussion on a few personnel issues; nothing was determined; no decision was made; and I think the Superintendent will deal with it at a later date. Now we will go into personnel,” concluded President Kates.
8.) Personnel
SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATIONS:
HIRE:
Special Populations Department
Deborah Craig - Supervisor of Special Populations; Effective Date: August 8, 2011-(A 474018)
Byrd Avenue Elementary
Anna Sisco-Zhirnova - SPED Teacher; Effective Date: August 8, 2011 (L2 479988)
Bogalusa Middle School
Scott Cave - 5th Grade Teacher; Effective Date: August 4, 2011-(PL) - EL HQ
Bogalusa High School
Angela Varnado - Custodian; Effective Date: August 8, 2011
Ricky Owens- Custodian; Effective Date: August 8, 2011
REASSIGNMENTS
Bogalusa New Tech High School
Don McDaniel - 12 Month Middle School Principal, BMS to 12 Month High School Principal, BNTHS; Effective 08/01/2011 (*Issuance of new contract)
Jenet Patterson - SPED Resource Teacher, BMS to SPED Resource Teacher, BNTHS-Effective: 08/04/2011
Bogalusa High School
Bryan Stewart - 12 Month High School Principal, BNTHS to 12 Month High School Principal, BHS; Effective 08/01/2011
Claire Oviedo- English Teacher, BMS to Math Teacher, BHS-Effective: 08/03/2011
Cullen Brooks- SPED Resource Teacher, BMS to Science Teacher, BHS-Effective: 08/01/2011
Bogalusa Middle School
Tonja Seal - 11 Month Elementary Principal, Byrd Avenue to 12 Month Middle School Principal, BMS; Effective 08/01/2011 (*Issuance of new contract)
Randi Mercier- SPED Teacher, Byrd Avenue to Elementary English Teacher, BMS-Effective: 08/03/2011
Ann Culpepper- 9 Month Behavior Specialist, Byrd Avenue to 9 Month Behavior Specialist, BMS; Effective 08/01/2011
Marie Goff - SPED Resource Teacher, Byrd Avenue to SPED Resource Teacher, BMS-Effective 08/01/2011
Ellen Bailey - Paraprofessional, Byrd Avenue to Paraprofessional, BMS-Effective 08/01/2011
Peggy Brandal - Paraprofessional, Denhamtown to Paraprofessional, BMS, Effective: 08/03/2011
Byrd Avenue Elementary
Pamela Ard - 12 Month High School Principal, BHS to 12 Month Elementary Principal, Byrd Avenue; Effective 08/01/2011
Margie Graves - 11 Month Guidance Counselor, BMS to 11 Month Guidance Counselor, Byrd Avenue; Effective 08/01/2011
Phyllis Bryant-Warren- SPED Resource Teacher, BMS to SPED Resource Teacher, Byrd Avenue-Effective 08/04/2011
Renee Watterson - Paraprofessional, BMS to Paraprofessional, Byrd Avenue-Effective 08/01/2011
RESIGNATIONS:
Tracy Blane - Paraprofessional, Pleasant Hill Elementary; Effective August 2, 2011
REQUEST TO ADVERTISE:
Discipline Coordinator- To be located at Bogalusa Middle School and funded through federal funds (Supporting document is on file with the minutes).
Revision of request to post approved on July 25, 2011. Upon further review and study of the proposed Safe and Drug Free Schools Program Coordinator position, revisions have been made to job goals and duties, resulting in a new job title.
It was motioned by Mrs. Duke, seconded by Dr. Williams to approve the personnel agenda. The motion was carried unanimously.
9.) Superintendent Comments-Louise Smith
”There is an item in your folder from the LSU Health Care Center. I just wanted to bring your attention to that. That’s all I have,” says Superintendent Smith.
10.) Board Members Comments
Mrs. Eleanor Duke-”I’d just like to say, I wish everyone a wonderful school year; and I think the planning that’s gone in to it so far is just wonderful. I appreciate the teachers cooperating and doing what they have to do.”
Mr. Calvin Hymel-”I think we have an issue with the bus scheduling. Does anyone of you like to say something about your bus scheduling; something about running two routes; some kids staying on the bus; and you don’t have enough room for the other kids?”
At this point Cyndi Thomas came forward stating her address as 59421 Hardy Jenkins Road, Bogalusa; driver of Bus #24. Her voiced concern was the time changes. She gave a detailed schedule of her daily runs. She went on to say that she have approximately fifty-six to fifty-eight children on the bus at a time. Se mentioned that she has already split up her loads. ”That’s where our problem is coming in. They are telling us that we can’t drop off elementary kids until 7:15; and I am going to have elementary kids on my bus from the first run, that I’m dropping off from my first run before 7:15, that I need off my bus before 7:15,” says Mrs. Thomas. When asked why the kids are on the bus with the other students. Her response was that if not she would be doubling back; and if not it would take her two hours. ”It’s a time factor,” added Mrs. Thomas. At this point President Kates asked Mr. Conerly to speak regarding the situation. ”I want the bus drivers to know before Monday where they are going to be going and how long is going to take,” says Mr. Hymel. ”Let me ask you this question, have you met with the bus drivers,” asked President Kates? A response was, ”We met today.” President Kates continued, ”You all met today. Have you all gone over your instructions of time and routes? You all haven’t done that,” asked President Kates? Mr. Conerly stated, ”We have met today. I gave them the time. I asked them to let’s try it for a few days; and there would be some tweaking; and we would work out the issue.” ”So you haven’t actually run this,” asked Mrs. Duke? ”Nobody has run this. I told them to pick them up the regular way the first day; and tell them we are going to change it. Tomorrow we’re going to pick up the older children first. I know that the country runs are going to be different. So we are going to have to work this out. There is a possibility that we can revamp some routes too,” says Mr. Conerly. President Kates recognized another bus driver that was present.
Willie Mae Sumrall- Mrs. Sumrall sated her address as 260 Quave Road. I’ve been employed in this system; starting Monday, forty years. I have had a lot of bus routes. We’ve done a lot of changes; and this has me concerned. My thing is time factor; not capacity. I do door-to-door; I don’t do bus routes. My children are slow; my children are handicapped; my children have a lot of different needs; and my concern is I’m not going to be able to do it. But, Mr. Conerly asked me if I would try it; and my thing is I want to work it out. Also, I had a good working thing. There are two Special Ed buses; and I know you all want to do little children last; and adults first, that’s understandable. Special Ed is a different ballgame; but we’re under your umbrella now, so Doyle Creel and I have to try to work out the new schedule. Since Mr. Conerly has taken our routes, last year he took some of my children and gave to Doyle in order for me to have time for a wheelchair child; well now I don’t have a wheelchair child but he in turn now has given my route basically to Doyle and give me Doyle’s route. And in the area, I’ll have forty children; that’s accurate; on paper; that’s the list I have from Special Ed. Mr. Conerly said he will adjust that. I don’t see how mine is going to work. My run goes from three years to twenty-one. I’m not here to say I don’t want to do it; I’m concerned,” concluded Mrs. Sumrall. At that point Mrs. Conerly presented and explained to the Board and public, a graph of the bus runs. ”We’re going to have to be reasonable and work with this and see how it’s going to work out,” added Mr. Conerly. ”Try it. Is that what you’re saying? Just try it out and see how it works,” asked Mrs. Duke? I would hope the Board would support this and let’s try it and see how it works out,” added Mr. Conerly.
The in-depth discussion continued. President Kates stated, ”Why don’t we, I guess for the first couple of days starting Monday, I guess we’ll try it; and I think Mrs. Smith, our Superintendent will get with Mr. Conerly and she will call in the bus drivers; and maybe you all will have a meeting; and we will try to correct this issue. Is that okay? We will try to address the problem as quick and as soon as possible,” concluded President Kates. ”I realize that it’s too late to do anything about it right now, we just wanted to bring it to somebody’s attention of what we’re dealing with,” says Mrs. Thomas. ”We want to thank you all for coming. If you all don’t come and let us know, we have no idea; and we like to know. I appreciate yall showing your concerns about your kids and that’s what we’re here for,” says Mr. Hymel.
At this point President Kates asked Mr. Conerly if he had anything else. Mr. Conerly stated, ”A couple of years ago I brought in a professional company to establish bus routes; at approximately twenty-five thousand dollars to set them up; and then I forget what the maintenance fee per year is. They have GPS and whatever. If worst comes to worst and nobody can come to a… (Pausing and not completing this statement). That would be something we could look at because they’ll come in and set the routes,” says Mr. Conerly. ”Yes, I remember that. I remember when you brought that to us; I remember that. We’ll work with this first, then the Superintendent will get with you; and we will call a meeting with the bus drivers; and see if we can figure out everything; work all the problems out of these routes. Thank you and thank you all,” concluded President Kates.
The Board Members Comments, resumed.
Vice President Adam Kemp-”I’d like to congratulate our new Supervisor of Special Education.”
Mr. Curtis Creel-”I just have one comment. I attended the luncheon; and the Superintendent’s presentation covered a lot of material; and Mrs. Miller and her group with the Health Education session had a lot of useful information. I just didn’t realize that we had the problems that we have with those issues in the students. That just kind of got my attention. I think somewhere in the future plans the system needs to start having mandatory Physical Education,” says Mr. Creel.
Dr. Brad Williams-”I’d like to comment. With the P.E., you can put my dad in charge of it; the former Coach Williams, and I promise you there will be some. I want to commend the new Superintendent, Mrs. Smith on getting in here and processing a lot of information and making some quick decision. I sensed at the luncheon the other day quite a bit of enthusiasm; and I want us to maintain that enthusiasm once school gets started. Mrs. Smith has already put in place some things at the schools to help with the discipline situation. I know a big problem we had last year was processing and dealing with the Special Ed children with the discipline process; and I think we have that in place, which Mrs. Smith has already taken steps to do that; then things will be okay. I just hope we will maintain this level of enthusiasm.” President Kates asked if there were any more comments. There were none and he adjourned.
11.) Adjournment
There being no further business to address; or comments, President Kates adjourned at 7:00P.M.
________________________________ ___________________________________
Louise Smith Paul D. Kates
Secretary to the Board Board President