Bogalusa School Board Office-Media Center

Bogalusa, Louisiana

Regular Board Meeting

May 30, 2013

5:30 P.M.

 

Proceedings of the Bogalusa School Board, Taken At A Regular Meeting That Was Held On Thursday, May 30, 2013

 

The Bogalusa School Board met in a Regular Board Meeting at the Bogalusa City School Board Office Media Center located at 1705 Sullivan Drive, Bogalusa, Louisiana, on Thursday, May 30, 2013 beginning at 5:30 P.M. The purpose of the meeting was to address matters of concerns that were presented at the Committee Meeting, regarding the opening of schools for the 2013-2014 Fiscal School Year.

 

1.)        Call to Order

President Paul Kates called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.

 

2.)        Pledge of Allegiance

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.)        Approval of Minutes of Special Board Meeting-April 24, 2013

It was motioned by Reverend Mims, seconded by Mr. Hymel to approve the minutes.  The motion was carried unanimously.

 

6.)        Approval of Minutes of Regular Board Meeting-April 25, 2013

It was motioned by Dr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Kemp to approve the minutes.  The motion was carried unanimously.

 

7.)        Approval of Minutes of Special Board Meeting-April 29, 2013

It was motioned by Reverend Mims, seconded by Mr. Hymel to approve the minutes.  The motion was carried unanimously.

 

8.)        Board Officers and Committee Reports

There were no reports at this time.

 

9.)        Recess to Public Session

There was no one to come forward to address the Board or public.

 

10.)       New Business

 

A.)        Approval of 2013-2014 “Revised” Code of Conduct Handbook. 

 

It was motioned by Reverend Mims, seconded by Mrs. Duke to approve the “Revised” Code of Conduct Handbook.

 

The motion was not carried unanimously at this point

 

Statement from Mr. Hymel-“I’d like to say something, Ms. Mingo whatever we do, let’s do it from day one to the end.  Do it fair; do it right; and don’t make no excuses.”

 

Question/Statement from President Kates-“And I have one question.  Ms. Mingo is it in your plan; with this new book to discuss this with all the schools Principals and staff; or will you discuss it with the Principals, and the Principals discuss it with their staff what you’re getting ready to implement?

 

Response from Ms. Mingo-“During our retreat we are going to have a session just on the “Code of Conduct.”  We are going to go through it page-by-page; and they are going to come back and deliver it to their staff.” 

 

Statement from President Kates-“The reason I say that is because we want the parents; we want everybody to be informed of what is getting ready to be implemented; because we are trying to move forward; and we want them to understand what we are doing in the Bogalusa City School System.”

 

Statement from Superintendent Breaux-“Mr. Kates one set of people you don’t have to worry about is the parents.  They know those handbooks better than the School Board.  They know that book.  We need to know it.”

 

Question from Mr. Creel-“My question is does the parent get a copy of this book?  “They get a copy when their kids come to school.  They have to sign-off on it,” says Superintendent Breaux.  Dr. Williams voiced a concern whether the Dress Code was included, and the response was that it was included. Superintendent Breaux also mentioned that the district has a Uniform Bank, through Title I.  There were other opinions and suggestions offered to ensure that the information get out to all parents; one being through the Daily News.

 

The motion was carried unanimously at this point.

 

B.)        Grant permission to renew contracts with SaniTech for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. 

It was motioned by Mr. Kemp seconded by Mrs. Duke to grant permission.  The motion was carried unanimously.

 

C.)        Grant permission to renew a contract with Stanley Borde for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. 

It was motioned by Mr. Creel, seconded by Mr. Hymel to grant permission.  The motion was carried unanimously.

 

D.)        Approval of six (6) Summer Feeding Sites.   

It was motioned by Dr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Kemp to approve seven (7) sites instead of six (6) sites.  The new site was New Triumph, in addition to the school sites.  The motion was carried unanimously.

 

E.)        Approval of the Affiliation Agreement with Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine for Dietetic Internship, with Bogalusa City School Child Nutrition Programs. 

It was motioned by Mrs. Duke, seconded by Reverend Mims to approve the agreement.  The motion was carried unanimously.

 

F.)        Grant permission for Sheila Lawrence, Raymond Morris, Tonyah Jefferson, Lesley McKinley, April Nobles and Debbie Jenkins, to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah on July 7-11, 2013 for the School Improvement Innovation Summit. 

It was motioned by Mr. Kemp, seconded by Reverend Mims to grant permission, with one change; that due to Mr. Lesley McKinley, Principal at Bogalusa High School not being able to attend, Linda Pittman, the Assistant Principal be the replacement on this trip.  The motion was carried unanimously.

 

G.)        Grant permission to hire as needed, teachers, substitutes and paraprofessionals for 2013 Summer School sessions.

It was motioned by Dr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Hymel to grant permission.  The motion was carried unanimously.

 

H.)        Grant permission for Lesley McKinley to attend the 2013 National Career Clusters Institute in Fort Worth, Texas on June 9-12, 2013. The trip will be paid for through the partnership with Northshore Technical Community College and Carl Perkins. 

It was motioned by Reverend Mims, seconded by Mr. Hymel to grant permission.  The motion was carried unanimously.

 

 I.)        Approval of Financial Statements and Revised Budgets for April 2013, i.e., General Funds, Food Service, Special Revenue Funds, Capital Improvements Fund and School Activities

It was motioned by Mr. Kemp, seconded by Reverend Mims to approve the items.  The motion was carried unanimously.

 

J.)        Grant permission to discard additional District Wide Fixed Assets, i.e., General Fund, IDEA, Title I and Food Service.

It was motioned by Dr. Williams, seconded by Reverend Mims, with the exception of Title I, to grant permission.  Title I did not submit any Fixed Assets..  The motion was carried unanimously.

 

K.)        Grant permission to change the name of Bogalusa Elementary School to Central Elementary School, effective May 30, 2013 for the 2013-2014 Fiscal School Year and beyond. 

It was motioned by Reverend Mims, seconded by Dr. Williams to grant permission.  The motion was carried unanimously.

 

L.)        Grant permission to adopt as Central Elementary School’s mascot, “Spartans,” effective May 30, 2013 for the 2013-2014 Fiscal School Year and beyond. 

It was motioned by Dr. Williams, seconded by Reverend Mims to grant permission.  The motion was carried unanimously.

 

M.)       Grant permission for all Bogalusa City School District Supervisors, Principals, Assistant Principals and Superintendent Willie “Toni” Breaux, to attend a retreat in Biloxi, Mississippi on June 30, 2013 thru July 3, 2013, at the Hardrock. 

It was motioned by Reverend Mims, seconded by Mr. Creel to grant permission.  The motion was not carried unanimously at this point.

 

At this point there was a question of concern regarding the cost of this retreat.

 

Statement from Superintendent Breaux-“I’m getting ready to tell you, because there probably will be a question about it.  Part of it will come from Title II, the ones that Shelley could pay for.  She couldn’t pay for the supervisors and me, but she’s paying for all the Principals and Assistant Principals.  We have gotten some donations to take care of a lot of it.  If General Fund has to take care of any of it, it will be close to nothing; if they do.  We’re trying to not even touch the General Fund.  We’ve gotten out and asked for donations.  Would you all like to give a donation,” says Superintendent Breaux?

 

Question from Mr. Kemp-“With all these people going who will be left in charge, in case there’s a problem?”

 

Response from Superintendent Breaux-“Well, actually some of those days we were going to be out anyway for the fourth.”  A response was, ‘This is before the fourth.’ Superintendent Breaux replied, “Before the fourth. This is before the fourth?   I’ll, I’ll see.”  Mrs. Walker stated, “They had asked to close the office. That was one of the recommendations, to take vacations, but they didn’t bring it to you.”  “Well, nobody said anything to me about it,” says Superintendent Breaux.  “They mentioned it to me, but I didn’t get a chance to bring that to your attention,” says Mrs. Walker.  Superintendent Breaux continued, “Well, can I think about it?  I’ll put it on my email to you on tomorrow, will that be okay, because this is a shock to me.  I don’t like to make hasty decisions.  Summer School will be over, but what April has organized I think is excellent.  It’s in that report that you all are going to get tomorrow. She has a program... (Pausing), April will you tell them a little bit about that program,” says Superintendent Breaux?

 

Statement from April Nobles-“We talked a little bit about it on Tuesday, I think.  It’s a credit recovery for those students that are behind by age or by grade; additionally for those students that wants to get ahead.  We’re running July 1st through July 30th.”  “And the thing is, you know before when you were allowed to have Summer School for you to catch up, you always had to pay.  This is all free; it’s all free to the system.  So, I think this is a really, really, really good thing,” says Superintendent Breaux.  “And we have a teacher designee who will be responsible during those three (3) days,” added Mrs. Nobles.

 

Statement from President Kates-“But, I think Mr. Kemp’s concern was by all of you  leaving the Board Office, will the Board Office be closed?”

 

Response from Superintendent Breaux-“Well no, but what it is, I have to think about that, because what it is, the supervisors will be gone, but you all say that we are overstaffed here, now that’s what you all say, but  anyway we have quite a few other employees here.  Let me think about it.  I don’t want to make a decision right now.  Can I think about it,” asked Superintendent Breaux? 

 

Statement from Mr. Kemp-“My question was who is in command when everybody is gone?”  “I always designate somebody; I just haven’t gotten that far yet.  If we are open, I always leave somebody in charge.  I don’t go and leave the house unprotected; believe me.  So, I’ll do that.  I just need to give it some think time.  The only reason I’m kind of apprehensive and it’s not totally to the left is that we have competition now, and I have already directed everybody that we are not going to have specified time for registration.  Registration is open for the whole summer.  I don’t want to miss anybody.  This is kind-of crucial for us.  So, let me think about it,” says Superintendent Breaux. 

 

The motion was carried unanimously at this point.

 

N.)        Grant permission to purchase a truck for the Maintenance Department. 

It was motioned by Reverend Mims, seconded by Mr. Kemp to grant permission.  The motion was carried unanimously.

                              

11.)       Superintendent Comments/Personnel Report-(Mrs.) Willie “Toni” Breaux

 “I really don’t have any comments other than I just want to thank you all for your cooperation and trusting me; and I am not going to let you down.”

 

SUPERINTEENDENT’S PERSONNEL REPORT

 

NEW HIRES-2013-2014

1)     Lauren Alba-Librarian-Central Elementary School

2)     Patricia Collins-Paraprofessional-Special Education-Denhamtown PreK

3)     Odette Doty-Paraprofessional-ARC-Northside

4)     Lindsey Lozes-Guidance Counselor-Bogalusa High school

5)     Sherryle Mathis-Math Teacher-Bogalusa High School

6)     Amy Schexnaydre-Guidance Counselor-Bogalusa High School

7)     Penny Sheridan-Special Education Resource-Bogalusa High School

8)     Ellen Vercellotti-Talented Art Teacher-Central Elementary and Byrd Avenue Schools

 

RETIREES-2013-2014

1)     Geraldine Connerson-Paraprofessional-Bogalusa High School

2)     Jarvis Jones-Custodian-Byrd Avenue

3)     Susan Magee-Nurse-Bogalusa High School

4)     Shan Miley-Bus Driver-Bogalusa High School

 

*NOTE:  Additional hires for 2013-2014, are on file with the Human Resources Department.

    

12.)    Board Members Comments

Adam Kemp-“I have one question.  In our list of vacancies, it says Disciplinarian; can we look at the possibility of hiring a Police Officer as a Disciplinarian?  I know other school systems hire a Resource Officer or whatever.  Can we look into doing something of that capacity; let’s see if that’s a possibility?  “Okay, I’ll look into it.  You know what; let me tell you my thought on that.  I think a police would be a police, and that’s good; but I’m going to tell you what I want, and I think we might have to end up getting a police anyway.  I want these kids… (Pausing and not completing this statement).  A lot of kids are afraid of police, and I want these kids to have a relationship with the Disciplinarian.  I want them, to learn to respect teachers the way they should, and teachers have to also respect students, that’s a two-fold thing and it’s not always done that way.  That is a big consideration, because we have been having trouble trying to find somebody who would really, really fit the bill; but that’s something that we can consider.  We’ll consider it,” says Superintendent Breaux.

 

Calvin Hymel-“I just wish we didn’t have to get a policeman, but this day and time, you just don’t know.  I don’t like having a police, as far as being on campus, but sometimes you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”  “And we can look at it as a positive, rather than a negative,” says Mr. Kemp.  “Superintendent Breaux added, “And we may need the police to have some kind of in-service or something, with the kids to let them know what his role is.  Maybe we can do it for this year, and see how it works out, I don’t know.”  “Maybe we can do a retired Policeman, he wouldn’t necessarily be in uniform,” says Mrs. Duke. 

 

The discussion continued regarding the Disciplinarian, with the consideration of maybe a Policeman/Retired Policeman.

 

Adam Kemp-“Also, when we do interviews; when we’re interviewing for positions at a school, are the Principals and Assistant Principals; those type people, are they sitting in on those interviews?” “What you mean, interviews for like what, because the… (Pausing and not completing this statement),” asked Superintendent Breaux?  “Like for Disciplinarians,” says Mr. Kemp.  “We give them some food for thought.  They have input.  I talked with Mr. McKinley, and I’ve talked with Mrs. Jefferson to give them like input; yes sir.  We haven’t really interviewed for those positions per say, but when we interview, yes they do.  We’re just trying to find somebody who’s good,” Mr. Kemp continued, “In the past we were told that we couldn’t sit in on the interview, but, I think one Board Member can sit in as long as there is no input.  I just interviewed in another system, and there sat a School Board Member; and I went, ‘Why are you sitting here, and how are you sitting here?’ They said, “One person can represent the Board, but you can’t vote; you can’t vote, but you can sit in.”  “Mr. Kemp, it used to be that you couldn’t, but I need to check on that.  I heard that they couldn’t even sit in anymore, and that might not be true, but that’s what I was told, but I’ll check it out; I’ll check it out,” says Superintendent Breaux.

 

Curtis Creel- “Do we yet have a Medical Director?”  “We’re speaking with one right now.  We had to increase the amount we might be able to give them, so we’re waiting on the answer to that, hopefully.  If not we’re going to Plan C.  We have everybody on staff; we just need to have a collaborative agreement with a doctor.  Hopefully, next week we will have somebody.  They are ready to get started.  They are waiting because they are going to do all of the physicals for the football players; they’ve got them lined up; the athletics; cheerleaders and all of those.  Also, we are going to be doing immunization, because I think as of June 1st, the Health Unit is going to stop doing that; so, we’re getting all the criteria and paperwork in place.  They’re going to be at training next week; and a couple of weeks after that.  It is coming along.  If you get a chance, stop by.  They have their uniforms.  They’ve sent out letters to sixth through eighth graders.  Parents have been calling.  They are excited about the health center,” says Mrs. Walker.

 

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

 

13.)    Adjourn

There being no further business to address or comments, President Kates adjourned at 6:05PM.

 

 

__________________________________________           ______________________________________________

Willie “Toni” Breaux                                                        Paul D. Kates

Secretary                                                                      Board President