Bogalusa High School Auditorium
100 M.J. Israel Drive-Bogalusa, LA
Special Board Meeting
May 14, 2012
Immediately following Committee Meeting
(NOTE: The Committee Meeting Convened At 5:30PM)
Proceedings Of The Bogalusa School Board, Taken AT A Special Board Meeting That Was Held On Monday, May 14, 2012
The Bogalusa School Board met in a Special Board Meeting at Bogalusa High School in the Auditorium located at 100 M.J. Israel Drive, Bogalusa, Louisiana, on Monday, May 14, 2012, beginning at 6:25P.M., (Immediately after Committee Meeting) for the sole purpose of addressing personnel issues and other matters regarding the R.I.F. policy and status of district employees for the 2012-2013 Fiscal School Year.
1.) Call to Order
President Paul Kates called the meeting to order at 6:25 P.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, Mr. Calvin Hymel, Reverend Raymond Mims, and Dr. Brad Williams
There was absent: None
5. Approval of Minutes of Regular Board Meeting-April 17, 2012
It was motioned by Dr. Williams, seconded by Vice President Kemp to approve the minutes. The motion was carried unanimously.
6.) Recess to Public Session
Douglas Kemp-Mr. Kemp did not state his address but his “Request for Recognition as a Speaker” card indicated his address as 12579 Highway 21, Bogalusa, Louisiana. “I would like to address the Board with a couple of things I have on my mind. First of all I would like to commend this Board for the effort that you’ve put forth. Nothing happens overnight. You need to be patient. The other thing is you need not listen to what you read in the newspaper. You should make your own decisions based on the facts that you have. When the state comes in here and said you should cut about a hundred (100) personnel, that was including closing two (2) schools; merging sixth, seventh and eighth (6th, 7th, & 8th) grade to high school; but this Board chose wisely not to close those schools this coming school year because of the disruption it would cause with the instruction.” He continued to voice concerns regarding the closing of schools for 2013-2014. “One other thing and I’m going to quit. The public school system is for all children. They provide an education for all children. Charter Schools, select who they want; and if you don’t behave yourself or you can’t learn like some of the other students then they send them back,” concluded Mr. Kemp
7. New Business
A.) Personnel
SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATIONS:
TO HIRE AS NEED FOR SUMMER SCHOOL 2012
Darren Williams-Teacher
Cathy Mitchell-Secretary-Pleasant Hill K-4
Victoria Jefferson-Para Educator-Pleasant Hill K-4
Bogalusa High School Library
Grant permission to advertise within the Bogalusa City School System for a Librarian
Retirements
Cindy P. Roach-Bus Driver-Effective end of business, May 23, 2012.
Gary N. Roach-Bus Driver-Effective end of business, May 23, 2012.
Child Nutrition Programs-Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Employees
Recommend Hire as Needed per 15 Meals per Labor Hour (MPLH)
2012 Schools Open (Northside Technology Middle & Pleasant Hill)
Central Office: (12 months)
Joannie Miller
Diane Mathews
Lisa Thigpen
Monitor:
Carmen Comans
Central Warehouse: (11 months)
Penny Norsworthy - Manager
Raymond Mathews -Maintenance
James Kennedy - Driver
Managers:
Regina Hayes – Pleasant Hill
Charlotte Robinson – Northside Technology Middle School
Substitute Manager:
Antoinette Magee
Pauline Toney (Central Warehouse)
Technicians, Regular: (as needed)
Tasha Stalling – Pleasant Hill K-4
Faye Harry
Charlotte Marcel
Olevia Riley
Sandra Robinson
Darrell Smith
Substitutes: (as needed)
Shannon Dillon
Kristie Dykes
Vicki Graham
Alitha Roberts
Yolanda Robinson
David Davis Smith
Tawanda Williams
It was motioned by Vice President Kemp, seconded by Reverend Mims to approve the personnel agenda. The motion was carried unanimously.
8.) Superintendent Comments-Louise Smith
“In my work as superintendent I work to make the best possible decision that I can. I work to follow the laws and guidelines. I also work to be loyal, fair and humane as I possibly can and make decisions. I would like for everybody to know that the school district is always first in my decisions. The children in this district are who we’re working for. Our children are our most valuable asset. They are our future. So every time I make a decision I try to keep the welfare of our children and their academic achievement in the forefront. Education is the hope of our children, and I want everybody to know that I work really hard to keep the welfare of our children in front of every decision that I make. Thank you.”
9. Board Members Comments
Adam Kemp-“I know Friday we get our LEAP scores so I’m hoping and praying that all the hard work of our teachers and dedicated personnel pays off and our students performed well. If we look at our demographics compared to our neighboring parishes, their demographics; if you take a school with the same demographics, we were graded; the same grade, look at these two systems, the only C+ school; elementary school in this entire area was Byrd Avenue Elementary. It is time that we start putting positive out there and let’s move forward.”
Curtis Creel-“I did a little research concerning the Charter School in a Recovering School District in New Orleans, and their track records are not the best in the world.” Mr. Creel went on to outline some of the information that he had researched regarding Charter Schools. “We’ve got our students; and I think we can educate them if given the opportunity.”
Eleanor Duke-“I would just like to say that I want to thank from the bottom of my heart everybody in this Bogalusa City School that have worked very, very hard; people at the Board Office; the supervisors; the secretaries. They have met; and met; and met with us at various meetings and have done the best that they can to start to work out the reorganization plan, so I appreciate that. I also appreciate all the teachers, bus drivers, custodians, food service and everybody in the system for a successful year. It has been a tough year; it’s been a tough year with so much of the indecisions going on; but we appreciate you and we thank you very much.”
Calvin Hymel-“I’d just like to tell all the teachers and the other people that have been patient with us; thank you for coming back again. I know y’all have been worried whether you were going to have a job or not; and it’s not fair to y’all. I’m very sorry it had to happen. I just want the Superintendent to make the decisions that need to be made and stop playing around, and let people know where we’re going and what we’re trying to. Thank you.”
At this point President Kates asked if there were any more comments. There were none, and the meeting was adjourned.
10.) Adjourn
There being no further business to address or comments, President Kates adjourned at 6:45PM.
___________________________________________ _____________________________________________
Louise Smith Paul D. Kates
Secretary Board President