Bogalusa School Board Media Center

1705 Sullivan Drive-Bogalusa, LA

Special Board Meeting

June 28, 2012

5:30PM

 

Proceedings Of The Bogalusa School Board, Taken AT A Special Board Meeting That Was Held On Thursday, June 28, 2012

 

The Bogalusa School Board met in a Special Board Meeting at Bogalusa School Board Office in the Media Center located at 1705 Sullivan Drive, Bogalusa, Louisiana, on Thursday, June 28, 2012, beginning at 5:30P.M., for the purpose of addressing personnel issues as related to district employees for the 2012-2013 Fiscal School Year, and Budget Revisions.  The agenda included an Executive Session.

 

1.)        Call to Order

President Paul Kates called the meeting to order at 5:30 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 (5:31PM), Mrs. Eleanor Duke, Reverend Raymond Mims, and Dr. Brad Williams

 

There was absent: Member: Mr. Calvin Hymel    

 

5.)        Approval of Minutes of Special Board Meeting-May 31, 2012

It was motioned by Vice President Kemp, seconded by Mrs. Duke to approve the minutes.  The motion was 6-0 with one absent.

 

6.         Recess to Public Session\

There were none at this time.

 

7.)        New Business

 

A.)   Approval of General Fund, Special Revenue and Food Service Budget Revisions

It was motioned by Dr. Williams, seconded by Reverend Mims to approve the revisions.  The motion was carried 6-0 with one absent.

 

At this point President Kates asked for a motion to enter into an Executive Session for the purpose of Personnel.

 

It was motioned by Dr. Williams, seconded by Vice President Kemp to enter into an Executive Session.  The motion was carried 6-0 with one absent.

 

8.)        Executive Session-Personnel

Returning to the Media Center, President Kates asked for a motion to resume to regular session.

 

It was motioned by Reverend Mims, seconded by Dr. Williams to resume regular session.  The motion was carried 6-0 with one absent.

 

Statement from President Kates-“We went into Executive Session to discuss a lot of personnel issues about the district.  We have covered it with our Superintendent and we’re hoping that she will take care of the issues that we discussed.  We just want everyone in the audience to know that we are here to try and move this district forward.  We want to do the right thing.  We need our community supporting us and we want to do what’s right for the children that we have.  We’re hoping that our Superintendent will go along and follow our lead.  We know things are going to be in the Superintendent’s hands on personnel and we’re hoping that this district will move forward.  We hope that they will be satisfied with the work that this Board is trying to do; move this district forward.”

 

At this point President Kates called for “Personnel.”

 

9.)        Personnel

 

TO HIRE:

 

TEACHERS:

  1. Lynette Belinda Castello-First Grade-Superior Avenue Elementary

  2. Amy Chehardy-First Grade-Superior Avenue Elementary

  3. Kathryn Crawford Baker-Fourth Grade-Superior  Avenue Elementary

  4. Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Gavin M. Guidry-Senior Army Instructor Bogalusa High School Army JROTC-Effective September 16, 2012.

 

TRANSFERS;

  1. Ellen Bailey-Bogalusa Middle School (Transferred from Para to Secretary)

  2. Antonia Self-Denhamtown PreK (Transferred from Para to Secretary)

 

BUS DRIVERS:

  1. Brandy Elliott-(Contingent on acquiring a bus)

  2. Walter Noil-(Contingent on acquiring a bus)

 

RESIGNATIONS:

  1. Penny Sheridan-Resource Teacher-Bogalusa High School-Effective end of business May 23, 2012.

 

RETIREMENTS:

  1. Lionel “Chip” Conerly-Director-Maintenance & Transportation-Effective end of business June 30, 2012.

  2. Stephanie Hoppen-Supervisor-Child Welfare & Attendance-Effective end of business June 30, 2012.

  3. Major Ricky L. Fredieu-(Retired) Senior Army Instructor-Bogalusa High School Army JROTC-Effective end of business September 15, 2012.

 

PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE:

  1. Maintenance Worker

  2. Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance- TABLED UNTIL JULY 10, 2012

 

TERMINATION:

  1. Paula Hulsey-Teacher-Pleasant Hill Elementary-Effective end of business June 28, 2012.

 

Prior to any action, there was a question of concern from Mr. Creel regarding the bus drivers being hired based on the contingent of acquiring a bus.  Superintendent Smith’s reply was, “These people do not have a bus at this time.  They do have all their other credentials and so forth; but they don’t have the bus.  They are looking at acquiring a bus now, so we recommend that they be hired contingent on acquiring a bus.”  “They did not want to buy a bus until they knew they had a job,” says Mrs. Walker.  “I can appreciate that.  My question was if at the start of school approaches and they still don’t have a bus, this system is going to provide them with a rent/lease bus or something,” asked Mr. Creel?  “When we met with them we told them that they needed to let us know; be in contact with myself or Mrs. Noto of how they are doing on the bus, so  by the second week in July if they have  not moved forward on that we’ll have to address that issue,” says  Mrs. Walker.  “That was my next question.  Are we going to give them, a deadline to acquire a bus,” asked Mr. Creel?  “Yes, we did. We did; July 15th, and they’re working on it because both of them have called me today on issues concerning the purchase,” replied Mrs. Walker.

 

It was motioned by Vice President Kemp, seconded by Dr. Williams to table until July 10, 2012, line item #2 under Permission to Advertise.  It will be placed on the agenda for July 10, 2012 for discussion.  The motion was carried 6-0 with one absent.

 

It was motioned by Reverend Mims, seconded by Mrs. Duke to approve the other items on the agenda.  The motion was carried 6-0 with one absent.

 

              10.)     Superintendent Comments-Louise Smith

             At this point Superintendent Smith asked Mr. Vic Boyles to give a report on the Modular Buildings that we are looking at to move over to Northside Tech.  We’ve opened up that school for School for Choice and we will have some more students over there.  I’ll ask Vic to give us an update on the modular buildings and Mrs. Noto if she’ll talk to us about the number of students who have elected to move. 

         

At that point Mr. Boyles gave a report on the modular buildings.  All pertinent information concerning prices and other information was given to each School Member and a copy will be on file with the minutes.  He also gave the process of how they will move forward with the procedure.  There were questions of concerns and Mr. Boyles addressed them.

            Mrs. Noto stated that there were eighty-five (85) letters that has been turned in at this time, and of those the majority of them, are fifth (5th) graders and seventh (7th) graders.  “We expect that we will have to add a fifth (5th) grade and seventh (7th) grade at Northside.  The sixth (6th) grade and the eighth (8th) grade filtered out, unless tomorrow we get an influx of sixth (6th) and eighth (8th) graders.  The classes are a little bit large, but not really large in those two.  We definitely have to add a fifth (5th) grade; and we definitely have to add a seventh (7th) grade.”  When asked about the cut-off date, Mrs. Noto stated, “Tomorrow, it end tomorrow.  The way the letter stated was we were anticipating that it would be, so we have to give the parents a ten (10) day notice, and that notice ends tomorrow.”  “Do we as a Board need to pass some type of policy that states that students entering that school needs to remain in that school for at least one (1) semester so that we don’t have this back-and-forth ping-pong affect to where we say, if you’re going, you need to be held accountable for at least one (1) semester to that program,” asked Vice President Kemp?  “Even if you limit it to one (1) semester and there is a flux that go back at semester, and there is a large number that decides to go back we’re still going to juggling numbers, whether you set a time line or not.  Thank you,” concluded Mrs. Noto.  When President Kates asked if anyone else had anything, Mr. Creel stated, “I do have a question.  The Code of Conduct, is there another committee meeting scheduled?” “Not to my knowledge.  I thought it was completed on the last couple of months,” says Mrs. Noto.  Addressing the Board Members, Ms. Adams referring to Mrs. Hoppen stated, “She said that it’s a “draft” for you all to look at.  It has to come back later for touch-ups.  That’s just a “draft because someone asked for it to be in the folders.  She said the meeting is over.  This is the document.  You all asked to look it over and now you can make changes, add/edit, and when it comes back that will be the final one.  This is just a “draft” from the meeting.”  Next, Superintendent Smith focused their attention on the “draft” copy of the Code of conduct; and a copy of a “Change Order” regarding painting of ten (10) classrooms.  “Also, I would like to say under the Retirement section tonight, we do have three (3) people that are retiring; Mr. Conerly, Mrs. Hoppen and Major Fredieu.  These people have rendered tremendous service to this district.  Their services will be greatly missed.  Mr. Conerly had forty-eight (48) years; Mrs. Hoppen had forty- three (43) years.  Mrs. Noto, do you know how many years Major Fredieu had?  A reply was there was a letter received that stated twenty (20). Tremendous dedicated people and it will be a loss to this school system,” says Superintendent Smith.

              11.)     School Board Members Comments

Mr. Curtis Creel-“I spent most of the week at Bogalusa High School this week enjoying the progress there.  There are three (3) different crews working twelve and thirteen hours a day in this tremendous heat.  Every day that I’ve gone by there, which I am doing a photo journal, I guess you can call it of all the changes that are being made.  I go by there a couple of times a day.  The windows are complete.  Those jalousies are gone.  There’s some fresh paint on the outside, that’s encouraging.  I think they are working real hard to meet their obligation of the contract.  I just want to commend them.”

 

Vice President Adam Kemp-“We finished the LEAP testing today.  Mrs. Noto I know EOC is finishing up I think tomorrow or Monday.  I hope we will see some good results there.  Summer School is officially over.”  Mrs. Jenkins interrupted saying, “We didn’t have any make-ups at Pleasant Hill.”  Vice President Kemp continued, “To restate what Mrs. Smith said, yes we have had some people leaving; and we do appreciate what they brought to this system, but I’m looking forward to where we’re headed.  At this Board Office, we’re looking at making changes here, and the changes we’ll be making in our school system this next year.  I am hoping to see those changes ready for the end of July so that we don’t have any massive changes or major changes made that will affect the learning of our children, so that’s what important that we, everybody in this building and beyond, that we get all of these decisions made quickly, but that we make the right decision or to the best of our ability; and that we find the best candidates.  If they are from here, great; and if they are not, we go for the best and not just for the most convenient.”

 

President Kates asked if there were any more comments.  There were none, and he adjourned.

  

         12.)      Adjourn

        There being no further comments or business to address President Kates adjourned at 6:53PM.

 

____________________________       ________________________

Louise Smith                                     Paul D. Kates

Secretary                                          Board President