Bogalusa School Board Media Center
1705 Sullivan Drive-Bogalusa, LA
Special Board Meeting
July 27, 2012
5:00PM
Proceedings Of The Bogalusa School Board, Taken AT A Special Board Meeting That Was Held On Friday, July 27, 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 Friday, July 27, 2012, beginning at 5:00P.M., for the purpose of addressing personnel matters regarding the 2012-2013 Fiscal School Year. The agenda included an Executive Session to address the Superintendent’s Contract.
1.) Call to Order
President Paul Kates called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.
2.) Pledge of Allegiance
Acting Superintendent Deloris Walker 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 (7:05 PM), Mr. Calvin Hymel, Reverend Raymond Mims, and Dr. Brad Williams (7:05PM)
There was absent: There were none.
5.) Recess to Public Session
There was no one that came forward to address the Board or public.
At this point President Kates called for “New Business.”
6.) New Business
A.) Personnel
· Sick Leave
· Sabbatical Leave
Statement from President Kates-“I know the Board wanted to discuss Sick Leave and Sabbatical Leave tonight.”
Statement from Vice President Kemp-“I asked that they be put on the agenda mainly to look at; and I haven’t got all the data collected on how much we’re spending on Sabbatical, and how much we’re spending on Extended Sick Leave. I know other systems are looking at doing away with Sick Leave under certain extenuating circumstances; Sabbatical has been done away with in other systems. So, I’d just like for us to consider looking at getting with Mrs. Walker to see what we’re spending on sabbatical. Also, looking at the policy for Sabbatical Leave; it seems like we’re maybe not following through; that a lot of sabbatical is being granted but they are not coming back to pay those back. To me that’s wasting money, so we need to be a little bit more mindful of when someone takes a sabbatical there is really a need. If it’s an Educational Sabbatical; then they’re supposed to be getting college courses and credits and bring it back to the Board. If it is a medical, then we do have the option of asking that they see one of our physician that we have local y as a second opinion; but I just think that if at all possible all sabbaticals needs to be approved by this Board, as far as policy; and we follow that policy. In the near future, not to deny; but to look at how much we’re spending as a cost saving measure that we need to look at,” concluded Vice President Kemp.”
At this point, President Kates asked if anyone else had any questions on the Sabbatical and Sick Leave. There were none, and President Kates asked for a motion to enter into an Executive Session.
It was motioned by Reverend Mims, seconded by Vice President Kemp to enter into an Executive Session. The motion was carried unanimously.
7.) Executive Session
Returning to the Media Center, President Kates asked for a motion to resume regular session.
Prior to the motion, there was Roll Call for Mrs. Eleanor Duke and Dr. Brad Williams that had entered the Board Meeting, during the Executive session.
It was motioned by Reverend Mims, seconded by Mrs. Duke to resume regular session. The motion was carried unanimously.
Statement from President Kates-“As you all know we’ve just come out of Executive Session and the Executive Session was about the Superintendent’s Contract. We have come to an agreement, and she has resigned from the Bogalusa School Board. I will read you her statement.” President Kates read the statement. ‘Dear President Kates. Throughout my life-long career as an educator I have reached to provide excellence to the children entrusted to my care. It is with a heavy heart that I tender my resignation as superintendent of the Bogalusa City School System as of this date Friday, July 27, 2012. It is my sincere prayer that the coming school year finds the children of the Bogalusa City School System ever climbing toward the excellence that I dream for them.’ “Thank you, next,” concluded President Kates. (A copy of the letter is on file with the minutes).
Statement from Vice President Kemp-“I make a motion that we amend the agenda to add line items B.) Appoint as Acting Superintendent Mrs. Willie “Toni” Breaux; C.) Accept Superintendent Louise Smith’s resignation, effective Friday, July 27, 2012; D.) Abolish the position of Safety Coordinator at Bogalusa Middle School; and E.) Allow President Kates to sign the release of all claims or contractual obligations of the previous Superintendent.
B.) Appoint as Acting Superintendent Mrs. Willie “Toni” Breaux
It was motioned by Vice President Kemp, seconded by Reverend Mims to accept the appointment. The motion was not carried at this point. At this point President Kates asked if there was anyone in the public that desired to speak on this issue.
Statement from Mrs. Peters-“This is the first time since Mr. Payne left here that I’ve been in a meeting that you all went in Executive Session and came out with some good news. For once I don’t have a headache.”
Statement from Mrs. Breaux-“First, again I’d like to thank God who is the head of my life. I’d like to thank each Board Member; the community; the teachers; the custodians; the cooks; everybody because we’re going to all be in this together. I feel like it’s an honor. I am a Bogalusan; and I promise you Board that I am going to do my very best to bring this system back to the way it was. As I told you, the first thing in my heart is the kids; because if it were not for the kids, we wouldn’t be here. I think they need to get everything that need in order to grow and prosper. Second on my list are the teachers, because the teachers are the ones that work directly with the kids; and I think teachers have not gotten the praise they really deserve, so we’re going to work hard on that. My commitment; and I’ll say it out because this is the kind of person I am. My commitment is to the Board first, because they are my boss; and I would not do anything; make any decisions without first having some kind of communication with the Board. I’ve always been like that, in whatever position I was in; whoever was over me I was always loyal; and I’m going to be the same exact way with you all. I am anxious. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get started; and bring this system back. I know we have a lot to do. We have to bring up test scores. We’ve got to change the morale. Teachers, and everybody else, custodians, Walter Morgan and the rest they need motivating to know that they are appreciated. We’re going to do that. We’re going to all be in this together. It’s not a one man show; it involves everybody. I don’t believe in dictatorship. I think it involves all of us. I want to work with everybody in here; and everybody in the school system. I am always open for suggestions/ ideas and I promise you that I’m going to do my very best, because I’m a Bogalusan; and I love Bogalusa. Thank you.”
Statement from Mr. Morgan-“First I’d like to congratulate Mrs. Breaux. I know it was kind of a hard decision for the Board Members; but I think we need to come together and let’s move forward. Last year this time in June I said morale was at all-time low; right now morale is dead, and we need to try and get that morale back for everybody. Let’s move forward and let’s try to get a good year started. These next two years are going to be trying times for us. Mrs. Breaux, welcome aboard; and let’s go forward.”
The motion to accept the appointment was carried unanimously at this point.
C. Accept the resignation of Superintendent Louise Smith effective Friday, July 27, 2012
It was motioned by Vice President Kemp, seconded by Reverend Mims to accept the resignation of Superintendent Louise Smith. The motion was carried unanimously.
D.) Abolish the position of Safety Coordinator at Bogalusa Middle School
It was motioned by Vice President Kemp, seconded by Reverend Mims to abolish the position at Bogalusa Middle School. The motion was carried unanimously.
E.) Allow President Kates to sign the release of all claims or contractual obligations of the previous Superintendent
It was motioned by Vice President Kemp, seconded by Reverend Mims to allow President Kates to sign all the claims for the previous Superintendent. The motion was carried unanimously.
8.) Acting Superintendent Comments-Deloris Walker
“I just want to thank you all for coming out this evening. Let the public know that we will start school; everything is going to be in place with the leadership that’s been put in place. I know people are wondering if we are going to be ready when school starts. We will be ready. Also, Mr. Boyles called me before the meeting. They have two buildings in place; and two more will be coming on Wednesday for Mrs. Nobles’ school. People are getting excited. They are calling me asking about the buildings. I think it’s an exciting thing that’s happening in our community. We will be ready when school starts.”
9.) Board Members Comments
Mrs. Eleanor Duke-“I wish the best for this school system in the coming year. I have great hopes; and I think we’re going to move forward.”
Vice President Adam Kemp-“I want to thank Mrs. Breaux for accepting the position as Acting Superintendent. I look forward to working with her. I know the staff will look forward to working with her, in moving this system forward as well, and improving our children’s test scores; because like she says, we’re all here for the children.”
Dr. Brad Williams-“I would like to comment that the newspaper, it would be nice if they had a person that was here to be the writer of the article that goes in the paper, number one; and number two, have the newspaper also remember that we are seventy-fourth out of three hundred twenty school districts in the state. We are not in the depths of Hades that you all seem to make us sound some times.”
President Paul Kates-“I just would like to say that we always want the community of Bogalusa to know that this Board stands firm in wanting to move this school system forward. We know we have a sign out there that says “Children First,” and children are first in our hearts. We want what’s best for our children. We want what’s best for the staff. We want what’s best for everyone in this community. We also need the help of the parents in the community, because learning does start at home. If you send your child to this system, and teach them how to behave and come to school and apply themselves to learn; they will learn. We are a system ready to assist your children to get a quality education. I know and believe that in my heart that everyone at this table wants every child in Bogalusa to get a quality education. I know that our Acting Superintendent, that will be her number one concern. I believe that. Does anyone else have anything,” concluded President Kates?
There were no further comments, and President Kates adjourned.
10.) Adjourn
There being no further business to address, or comments, Presidents Kates adjourned at 7:20PM.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Louise Smith Paul D. Kates
Secretary to the Board Board President