Bogalusa School Board Office-Media Center

Bogalusa, Louisiana

Special Board Meeting

April 24, 2013

5:00 P.M.

 

 

Proceedings of the Bogalusa School Board, Taken At A Special Meeting That Was Held On Wednesday, April 24, 2013

 

The Bogalusa School Board met in a Special Board Meeting at the Bogalusa City School Board Office Media Center, located at 1705 Sullivan Drive, Bogalusa, Louisiana, on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 beginning at 5:04 P.M. The sole purpose of the meeting was to conduct an interview of the candidate for Superintendent of Bogalusa City Schools.  The agenda included an Executive Session.

 

1.)        Call to Order

President Paul Kates called the meeting to order at 5:04 P.M.

 

2.)        Pledge of Allegiance

Acting Superintendent Willie “Toni” Breaux 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, Rev. Raymond Mims; Members:  Mr. Curtis Creel, Mrs. Eleanor Duke, Mr. Calvin Hymel, Mr. Adam Kemp, and Dr. Brad Williams

 

There was absent: None

 

5.)        New Business

 

A.)        Executive Session-Superintendent Candidate Interview-Mrs. Willie “Toni” Breaux

 

Prior to the Executive Session President Kates stated, “First I want to welcome everyone to our Special Meeting tonight for the interview of Mrs. Toni Breaux, who is the Acting Superintendent for our system at the present.  She decided that she wanted to have an open interview to the public.  She did not want it closed; she did not want it in an Executive Session, and we just want everybody to know that you all are welcome here tonight to participate in this interview.   I think she is ready to get going.  At this time I would like to amend the agenda to remove the Executive Session from the agenda and hold the interview in public.

 

It was motioned by Reverend Mims, second by Mr. Creel, to amend the agenda to remove the Executive Session, and hold the Superintendent Candidate Interview of Mrs. Willie “Toni” Breaux, per her request, in an Open Session. The motion was carried unanimously.

 

At this point President Kates stated, “At this time we would like to begin.  We will let Mrs. Breaux have her opening statement. 

 

Statement from Acting Superintendent Willie “Toni” Breaux-“First of all I would like to clarify why I wanted an Open Session, rather than a Closed Session.  I am not only representing the Bogalusa City Schools, but I am also representing the City of Bogalusa.  Even though I had a short time to do this task, it really is going to reaffirm my beliefs; what I believe in to move this system forward; and I wanted the community to have input; and to be knowledgeable of what’s going on in this system.  Therefore, I hope they would take an active part in helping us to reach our goal.  I have nothing to hide I want to share everything that I have with you.  I’m not saying that I am perfect, and that’s why I wanted you to hear it because if there is some constructive criticism that you would like to offer, I welcome it.  I am a person that can accept constructive criticism; I do make mistakes, I’m not perfect.  So, what I have done for you over the last days, I have designed my School Improvement Plan for the 2013-2014 year.  Mr. Adam, I know you had requested a two (2) year plan, but it was almost impossible for me to do a two (2) year plan, because I have to do a one (1) year plan, and determine the success of that plan, and make some revisions before I can move to my two (2) year plan.  So, I’m ready to get started and Mrs. April Nobles is going to be my clicker for tonight.”

 

At this point Acting Superintendent Breaux passed out copies of the PowerPoint as her interview presentation.

*Note:  A copy of the PowerPoint will be on file with the minutes.

 

Statement from Acting Superintendent Willie “Toni” Breaux-“Tonight President Kates, Vice President Mims, Member, Dr. Brad Williams, Member, Mr. Adam Kemp, Member, Mr. Calvin Hymel, Member, Mrs. Eleanor Duke, and Member Mr. Creel, it is such a pleasure to be able to present this district plan to you all.  I feel that after this plan is presented, it’s going to reaffirm my belief in the Bogalusa City School System.  So, this is my 2013-2014 Bogalusa City Schools District Improvement Plan.” Acting Superintendent Breaux proceeded with her PowerPoint of the 2013-2014 Bogalusa City Schools District Improvement Plan

 

The PowerPoint of the 2013-2014 Bogalusa City School District Improvement Plan included:

 

 

*Note:  Additional comments and/or details that were discussed are available on the cassette tapping of this meeting that will be available for your hearing, by appointment, in the Superintendent’s Administrative Assistant’s Office only, upon request.

 

“I want to end; I have two (2) endings.  This is something that I wrote and it’s really dear to me.  I wrote this when I applied for the Supervisor, and it’s really dear to my heart.  It tells you who I really am.  I don’t want any secrets; I want everybody to know who I really am.”  At this point Mrs. Breaux read the paper that she wrote, about herself to the audience.

 

At the close of her paper, Mrs. Breaux stated, “I want you to know, I don’t want this job for glorification.  I don’t want this job for power.  I don’t want this job for money.  I don’t wnt this job so that I can put my family and friends in position; but for the welfare and benefit of each boy and girl in this system, to make Bogalusa City Schools a system that will continue to grow and become a system that we all love; we all cherish; and that will never die.  I only ask for a chance to move forward in every aspect humanly possible. I promise you my all; I promise you truth; and I promise you that I will do everything that is humanly possible to make this system succeed.  Why, because I too, am an at-risk child.  Thank you,” concluded Mrs. Breaux.

 

At this point, President Kates opened the floor for questions and/or comments from the Board. 

 

*Note:  All answers and/or comments that were made are available on the cassette tapping of this meeting that will be available for your hearing, by appointment, in the Superintendent’s Administrative Assistant’s Office only, upon request.

 

Questions/Comments from the Board

 

Mrs. Eleanor Duke-“I do want to ask one. Do you foresee any major changes since you’ll have to make them in the system?  What will be major changes and in what areas?”

 

Mr. Curtis Creel-“Listening, and the after-thought of the process, and you know, if you can follow this, and adhere to it, I don’t see a problem.  In dealing with some of the things that are out in the forefront of public education at this time, and given the present status of Acts 1 and 2; and the Litigation, and the fact that the court has ruled them unconstitutional, we all know that the governor and his team are presently trying to disseminate that legislation and create individual bills to take care of that ripple effect of Acts 1 and 2 issue, so, how do you feel about that situation?  How are you going to sell the Bogalusa City School System to the community?  One more question.  Given this consolidation process, and everything that’s going on within the system, what partnership lies within the community that you most fit into? ”

 

Mr. Calvin Hymel-“I think we’re heading in the right direction now.  This school system is going to move forward and I just thank God that I’m able to be a part of it.  Mrs. Breaux congratulations, Board I enjoy working with you all, I hope I can do something else positive for you all, if I can’t let’s at least make sure that the kids get what they want.”

 

Vice President-Reverend Raymond Mims-She answered my question.”

 

Mr. Adam Kemp-“Through your professional presentation and your personal presentation, we’ve seen both sides, of the kind of wonderful person you are; and we can only hope that all of us, and every employee in this system had one-tenth of your enthusiasm.  We said it would take a miracle to save this system.  I truly believe with all my heart that you’re that miracle.”

 

Dr. Brad Williams-“I’m just privileged to have served with all of the people on the Board. It couldn’t have been better said, by the others that’s already spoken as well as by you to.  I was just glad to hear you mention Mrs. Gladys Sampson.  I got to know her, and if you can incorporate discipline wise the things in the way that she incorporated it; that was the only question I had. What more can we ask for, than what you said right here, and the passion that you have.  Thank you.”

 

President Mr. Paul Kates-“All I’d like to let you all know is I was born and raised in the same community with her.  I always knew she could do the job.  By her having so many years in this system, no one knows this system as well as she does.  She really has proven to us in these last few months from the start, when we started school this term; she has done what she had to do; she have kept this Board informed, something I didn’t have to do.  Before she came here I had to call them every-other day to keep them informed of what was happening in this system; and then I didn’t know  everything, because they didn’t  tell me  everything.  Now we have someone that’s concerned about all of our children; all of our staff; all of the people that work for this system.  We have someone that cares about this community, and I know in my heart and I believe it, that she will put Bogalusa back on the map.  I believe it’s going to be better, bigger; and we’re going to succeed.  I want to thank you Mrs. Breaux.  And, I want to thank all of you Board Members for supporting her.  I feel that now we are on our way to move Bogalusa School System forward.”

 

Vice President Reverend Raymond Mims-“You asked if I had any questions.  I don’t have any questions, but I do have a statement.  You know, I think that since Mrs. Breaux has been Acting Superintendent, I’ve seen changes in attitudes of the people in this building.  People seem to be coming together, and working together.   I haven’t seen that for many years; and I’m seeing that now.  I think we have the person in leadership that’s able to bring people together, that they can work toward one common goal.”

 

President Paul Kates-“We just want to thank you all for coming; we appreciate you all.  All we ask of all of you is that we do our best to get our community back involved in the Bogalusa City School System, because Bogalusa is going to move forward.  Thank you.”

 

Acting Superintendent Breaux-“I stretch my arms to thee.  None of this is my doing, and I believe in my soul that before when I was disappointed, God wasn’t ready.  He said it’s not in your time; it’s in mine.  I will not let you down.  I will not let myself down; but more importantly, I will not let these students down, because when I see these students, I see me.  Thank you.”

 

At this point President Kates asked if there was anything else.  There wasn’t, and he adjourned.

 

6.)        Adjourn.

There being no further business, or comments, President Kates adjourned at 6:54PM.

 

____________________________________                 _______________________________________

Mrs. Willie “Toni” Breaux, Secretary                                Mr. Paul D. Kates, Board President