Bogalusa School Board

Bogalusa, Louisiana

Regular Board Meeting

December 18, 2013

5:30 P.M.

 

Proceedings Of The Bogalusa School Board, Taken AT A Regular Meeting That Was Held On Wednesday, December 18, 2013

 

The Bogalusa School Board met in a Regular Board Meeting at the Bogalusa School Board Office Media Center, located at 1705 Sullivan Drive, Bogalusa, Louisiana, on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 beginning at 5:30 P.M., for the purpose of addressing matters that were presented on Monday, December 16, 2013, at the Committee Meeting, regarding the end of 2013 that may have a district-wide impact on operations for 2014.  The agenda included a presentation, Election of Officers, and Oath of Office was administered to the elected officers, for 2014.

 

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

Vice President Rev. 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, and Mr. Adam Kemp

 

There was absent:  Member:  Dr. Brad Williams

 

Statement from President Kates:  “Good evening everyone.  We want to welcome you all to our December, Regular Board Meeting.  At this time we want to have a presentation of the Bee Fit Logo and Coloring Contest winners; from Mrs. Joannie Miller.

 

5.)        Presentations: Bee Fit Logo And Coloring Contest Winners-Joannie Miller-CNP Director

 

Bee Fit Logo Winners

At this point Mrs. Miller came forward.  “Thank you for this opportunity to recognize our students in all the schools, in Bogalusa community, not just Bogalusa City Schools; but all of the schools.  We have this Bee Fit Heath Fair every year; this is Bee Fit IX, so this is our Ninth (9th) Annual Health Fair.  We do that for our community to let them know just how important health and physical education, and nutrition; how important those are to our everyday lives.  So, we congratulate you as the award winners; and we have a little presentation for you.  At this point she introduced Kathi Adams, RN for the district, who started the presentation with the Bee Fit Logo winners.  “This year we had a large number of entries.  There were so many that we decided this year, that we were going to recognize the four (4) outstanding individuals.”  The presentation was done in an inverted order going from Honorable Mention to First Place.  “While she’s giving her awards out, I would like to say one other thing that I failed to say.  This is in collaboration with LSU Bogalusa Medical Center, so we also have Merlin Duke here, who will be presenting awards in the formality of LSU Bogalusa Medical Center.  Merlin Duke, stated, “I am representing Lynn Wells, a Registered Nurse, who is Co-Chairman for this.”  Those receiving the awards were:

 

 

At this point Mrs. Miller made the presentation to the Coloring Contest Winners.  Those receiving the awards were:

 

Bee Fit Coloring Contest Winners

 

 

Award recipients were presented  with their original entry, award ribbon, personalized plaque, and a goodie bag filled with useful items from participating vendors that included such supplies as pens, cups, rulers, tote bag, etc.

 

At this point President Kates asked for a five (5) minutes recess to allow the participants of the Bee Fit Logo and Coloring Contest to exit for pictures, before resuming the agenda items.  Next on the agenda was Election of 2014 Officers.

 

6.)      Election Of 2014 Officers

 

 

 

Statement from President Mr. Paul Kates-“At this time, I just want to thank this Board for working with me for the past three (3) years as being president.  I think we worked well together.  I think we’ve accomplished a lot of things together.  We’ve invested a lot of money in our schools.  We’ve remodeled them.  We’ve made them convenient for our children.  We tried to make everything convenient for all of our employees.  I just want to thank them.  I want to thank the staff, the superintendent and everybody that’s on this Board for coming together trying the move the Bogalusa City School System forward. We have a few stumbling blocks, but we’ll get over that. I just want to let the City of Bogalusa know, as a community, we all have to work together.  We can’t down the Bogalusa City School System.  We all have to work together and support the Bogalusa City School System.  I know they have a lot of people out there for Charter.  I know everybody have a choice to send their children wherever  they want to send their children, but in order for the Bogalusa City School System to  survive and move forward, we need all  of the kids in Bogalusa in our system.  I feel the people in Bogalusa should support the Bogalusa City School System.  I may not be saying a lot, but that’s the way I feel.  I think we’re on the right track.  We’re doing the best we can.  I know everyone read our last test scores; and they say we’re failing, yes, we’re failing but we’re striving to pass.  I don’t want Bogalusa City School System to die.  I just want to say once again, I thank you all for supporting me as president, and I want to congratulate Mr. Kemp for being President, and Mr. Creel for being Vice President.  I hope they have a successful year,” says President Kates.

Statement from Rev. Raymond Mims-“I’d just like to thank you Mr. Kates for your service to the Board.

 

7.)        Oath Of Office Of 2014 President Vice President

At this point Bogalusa City School Board’s attorney, Attorney Dale Branch, administered the Oath of Office to the 2014 newly elected Bogalusa City School Board officers, President Mr. Adam Kemp, and Vice President Mr. Curtis Creel.

 

8.)        Approval of “Revised” Minutes of Regular Board Meeting-October 30, 2013 (Line Item 10-D)

It was motioned by Rev. Mims, seconded by Mr. Hymel to approve the minutes.  The motion was carried 6-0, with Board Member Dr. Brad Williams absent.

 

9.)        Approval of Minutes of Regular Board Meeting-November 14, 2013

It was motioned by Mrs. Duke, seconded by Mr. Hymel to approve the minutes.  The motion was carried 6-0, with Board Member Dr. Brad Williams absent.

 

10.)     Board Officers and Committee Reports

There were no reports, at this time.

 

11.)     Recess to Public Session

No one came forward to address the Board or public.

 

12.)     New Business    

 

A.)       Grant permission to advertise for E-Rate Bids.

It was motioned by Rev. Mims, seconded by Mr. Hymel to grant permission.  The motion was carried 6-0, with Board Member Dr. Brad Williams absent.

 

B.)       Approval of Canon Copier Lease for Central Elementary School, Bogalusa High School, Denhamtown PreK Center and Northside Family Resource Center.

It was motioned by Mrs. Duke, seconded by Mr. Creel to approve the leases.  The motion was carried 6-0, with Board Member Dr. Brad Williams absent.

 

C.)       Grant permission to discard additional District Wide Fixed Assets. 

It was motioned by Rev. Mims, seconded by Mr. Kemp to grant permission.  The motion was carried 6-0, with Board Member Dr. Brad Williams absent.

 

D.)       Approval of Financial Statements for November, 2013, i.e., Food Service, Capital Improvement Funds, Special Revenue, and School Activities. 

It was motioned by Mrs. Duke, seconded by Rev. Mims to approve the line item.  The motion was carried 6-0, with Board Member Dr. Brad Williams absent.

 

E.)       Approval of LSBA Resolution and Contingent Fee Agreement and Power of Attorney regarding the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP).

It was motioned by Rev. Mims, seconded by Mr. Creel to approve the line item regarding the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP).  The motion resulted in a Roll Call Vote, as follow:

 

YEAS:            Mr. Adam Kemp, Vice President Rev. Raymond Mims, Mr. Curtis Creel, Mrs. Eleanor Duke, Mr. Calvin Hymel and President Mr. Paul Kates

NAYS:            None

ABSENT:   Board Member-Dr. Brad Williams                

 

The motion was carried 6-0, with Board Member Dr. Brad Williams absent.

 

13.)        Personnel-Karla McGehee

Prior to the report, Mrs. McGehee stated, “Congratulations to Mr. Kemp and to Mr. Creel.  If you look in your folder I’ve added some names; one (1) to the Additional New Hires; and at the bottom, we also have a resignation from our District IT Facilitator.  Also, I’ve put a copy in your folder of the Supervisors, and Administrators’ contract, Tenured Teachers and Non-Tenured Teachers.  According to Mr. Hammonds, Bob Hammonds, he says that I don’t have to do contracts for paraprofessionals, secretaries, and those personnel.  So, I just gave you a copy to look at it. Those were passed out, and brought to the schools today.”

 

Statement from President Kates-“So in other words, paraprofessionals and the ones under teachers; they don’t have contracts.  So, if something would happen you can dismiss them, without any… (Pausing and not completing this statement).  “Well, we would still have to have some kind of documentation.  We would still have to go through due process,” says Mrs. McGehee.  A question was asked whether Wandra Vick was certified.  Mrs. McGehee replied, “Yes, she just graduated, and she still has the Praxis to take, to make her Highly Qualified, but she did get her degree in education,” concluded Mrs. McGehee.

 

 HIRES 

1)    Amber Lacombe-Classroom Teacher-Bogalusa High School Grades 6th-8th

2)    Byron Garner-Physical Education Teacher-Bogalusa High School Grades 9th-12th

3)    Dale Stogner-Math Classroom Teacher-Bogalusa High School Grades 9th-12th

4)    Wandra Vick-Classroom teacher-Central Elementary School

 

RESIGNATIONS

1)    Lesia Rawls-Guidance Counselor-Bogalusa High School  Grades 6th-12th

2)    Lori Morris-Classroom Teacher-Bogalusa High School  Grades 6th-8th

3)    Rebecca Thomas-Classroom Teacher-Bogalusa High School Grades 6th-8th

4)    Joshua Herndon-District IT Facilitator-Northside Community Resource Center

 

14.)        Superintendent Comments-(Mrs.) Willie “Toni” Breaux

“First, I’d like to congratulate Mr. Adam Kemp as President of the Bogalusa City School Board, and I would like congratulate Mr. Curtis Creel as Vice President of Bogalusa City School Board.  I passed out to you all a sheet.  This was due to a meeting with the supervisors and myself, held on yesterday.  You can look at the sheet and we will discuss it at a later time, but I just wanted you to be aware of what we are doing, and that we are working on that.  Also, this is not going to be the end of the list, but I promised you on Monday night that I would, so, these are the things that we came up with as a group.  The last thing is we are working on survival skills to keep the Bogalusa City Schools alive. We had a meeting on that also this week.  The supervisors are here, and they can attest to this.  We are coming up with some problems with solutions, and I’ll get those to you as soon as they’re completed.  And finally, I would like to wish everybody a blessed holiday, and a prosperous New Year.  The last thing I have in the folder; you’re going to have two (2) things.  One is the Polar Express, All Aboard.  It is going to be held tomorrow at the Northside Community Resource Center from 4:30PM-6:30PM, and you’re all invited to attend.  The second thing in your folder is you know when we come back on January 6th, it’s not a day for students; it’s a Staff Development Day for the staff.  This is what we’re going to do; I am trying to motivate teachers and staff members, so what we’re doing is we’re having a motivational speaker to come in.  He is going to speak to every staff member that’s employed by the Bogalusa City School System.  That’s all I have.  Thank you,” concluded Superintendent Breaux.

   

15.)        Board Members Comments

 

Calvin Hymel-“I’d like to thank you Paul for keeping me informed as much as possible, and calling me and letting me know what’s going on.  I really appreciated that.  Adam, I want to congratulate you as President; Curtis, I want to congratulate you as Vice President.  I just hope we can continue to be contacted.  Anything needs to be told or anything I need to know, please let me know.”

 

Rev. Raymond Mims-“Congratulations to you both; and I just want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.”

 

Mrs. Eleanor Duke-“I’d like to congratulate you too, and I hope you have a wonderful year.”

 

Mr. Adam Kemp-“I’d just like to thank you for the confidence in taking on this position.  I look forward to the next year, and hope for the positive change we can make.  I surely feel that one person is not going to make a difference.  Everybody on this Board has worked well together, and I don’t feel that we will change in any way.  Again, I look forward to working for the school system.  I will always be available.  I will do my best to contact everyone to let them know of things going on.  I look forward to working with Mrs. Breaux and her staff as well, in trying to move Bogalusa forward.  I am determined to do the best that I can and working with Mrs. Creel as well.  Again, I look forward to this, and I appreciate your confidence.”

 

Mr. Curtis Creel-“I appreciate your vote of confidence as position of Vice President.  I feel sure that nothing is going to change, because I feel like we’re all on a team to work together and on one accord when we can, as a Board for the system.  We have created a clean, safe, conducive environment for our children, and I’m looking forward to the future, for the educational process to come around and be a vocal point that people will see that the City of Bogalusa School System is not dying; we still have a heartbeat, and we’re going to move forward.  This is going to be a good year.  I am confident; this is going to be a good year.  Thank y’all,” concluded Mr. Creel.

 

Mr. Paul Kates-“At this time, I just want to say that I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year; and tell the City of Bogalusa, that Bogalusa City Schools will survive,”

 

At this point President Kates asked

if there were any further comments.  There were none, and he adjourned.

 

16.)        Adjourn

 There being no further business to address, or comments, President Kates adjourned at 6:15PM

 

 

____________________________                          ___________________________

(Mrs.) Willie “Toni” Breaux                                     Paul D. Kates

Secretary                                                             Board President