Bogalusa School Board Office-Media Center

Bogalusa, Louisiana

Regular Board Meeting

Thursday, August 27, 2020

6:30 p.m.

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 August 27, 2020. The purpose of the meeting is to address information received from Department Supervisors, on August 27, 2020, during the Committee Meeting, regarding updates and approval requests.

1.)       Call to Order – President Paul Kates

2.)       Pledge of Allegiance – Superintendent Lisa Tanner

3.)       Prayer – Mrs. Breaux

4.)       Roll Call:  X President Kates,  X Vice President Killingsworth,  X Mrs. Breaux, X Mr. Creel, X Mrs. Duke, X  Mr. Kemp,  X  Dr. Williams

5.)       Approval of Minutes of Regular Board Meeting June 25, 2020. It was motioned by Mr. Creel. A second was made by Mrs. Duke. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

6.)       Board Office Committee Report – None

7.)       Public Session –  None

8.)       New Business

a.     Approval of July, 2020 Revised Budgets and Financial Statements; General Fund, Food Services, Special Revenue and School Activities. It was motioned by Dr. Williams. A second was made by Mr. Kemp. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

b.    Approval of 2020-2021 General Fund and Special Revenue Fund Budgets.  It was motioned by Mrs. Duke. A second was made by Mr. Creel. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

c.     Approval to adopt millage rate for the tax year 2020.  It was motioned by Mr. Kemp. A second was made by Mr. Creel. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

d.    Approval to release E-Rate Bids. It was motioned by Mr. Creel.  A second was made by Mr. Kemp.  The motion passed with unanimous approval.

e.     Approval to add Occupational Therapy Assistant position.  It was motioned by Dr. Williams.  A second was made by Mr. Kemp.  The motion passed with unanimous approval.

f.      Approval to add the Regulation for the Evaluation and Assessment of School Personnel Job Descriptions.  It was motioned by Mr. Kemp.  A second was made by Dr. Williams and a roll call vote was requested by Mrs. Breaux.

Mr. Killingsworth Yes, Mr. Kemp Yes, Dr. Williams Yes, Mrs. Breaux Abstain, Mr. Creel Yes, Mrs. Duke Yes, Mr. Kates Yes. Motion carried.

g.    Approval of Code of Conduct 2020-2021.  It was motioned by Mrs. Duke.  A second was made by Dr. Williams and a roll call vote was requested by Mrs. Breaux.

   Mr. Killingsworth Yes, Mr. Kemp Yes, Dr. Williams Yes, Mrs. Breaux No, Mr. Creel Yes, Mrs. Duke Yes, Mr. Kates Yes. Motion carried

h.    Approval of revised 2020-2021 calendar. It was motioned by Dr. Williams.  A second was made by Mr. Creel and a roll call vote was requestd by Mr. Breaux.        

         Mr. Killingsworth Yes, Mr. Kemp Yes, Dr. Williams Yes, Mrs. Breaux No, Mr. Creel Yes, Mrs. Duke Yes, Mr. Kates Yes. Motion carried.

9.)   Superintendent Tanner Comments – Central and Byrd Avenue will have 380 min x 168 days = 63,840 and BHS 400 min x 168 days = 67,200 instructional minutes.  We will use other ways to make up minutes if the need arises.  Byrd Avenue was adopted by UPS who will donate money to them through their Brown Program.  They will assist with painting and upgrading playground equipment.  The UPS representative will be coming to meet with me and we will work out the details and I will inform as I get more information.  Also, OLOA representative came to meet with me today regarding the safe transition back to school.  I had originally reported that we would be working with Oschner but we are not in their district so OLOA will be doing a walk through our schools next week to make sure we are making all the right safe transitions to open our schools safely.

10.) Board Comments – Mrs. Duke said to make sure we took the photo op with OLOA and our staff to make sure the public knows we are making all required efforts to transition safely.  Mrs. Breaux said we have more job descriptions than we have students. She also stated that schools are not ready to open because of Covid and that is why she could not vote on the calendar.  Mrs. Breaux continued with expressing her opinion on how certain people can speak their minds but when others do they are criticized.  She wanted it made clear that she is continuing her plans to go to the Department of Education because white people do not include black people and that racism and prejudice people are running this system. Black people including herself are not being treated fairly.  She thinks that people should be working together as a team.  She then stated that 80% of our children are black and this board does not care about the children.  Also, Mr. Kemp was nasty to Mrs. Jenkins and we all know he hates her.  Mr. Kemp responded with first of all I do not hate Ms. Jenkins or anyone else.  I asked questions about individual positions who are expected to work with the children.  Mrs. Jenkins clarified that her positon has zero authority with teachers and principals and all she does is give them material, ideas and suggestions to make sure they are kept abreast of everything available.  Mrs. Jenkins stated that she does not run the schools and that she reports to Superintendent Tanner and Superintendent Tanner takes it up with the Principals.  Mr. Kemp then addressed Mrs. Breaux again about his love for all children and how important they are to him.  He stressed that he wants this system to flourish and he also is afraid of opening the schools but we have to open the schools for the children and their best interest.  Mr. Kemp continued saying that the children and teachers are our number one priority and we are going to do everything in our power to make sure they are given everything they need to be successful.  Mr. Kemp explained to Mrs. Jenkins that he was apologizing if he made her think his questions were directed to her but he just needed some clarification.  Dr. Williams asked that we all pray for all of our children because he knows that there are more children dying from suicides and other uncertain family issues due to the Covid circumstances and we need to get them back to school where that is sometimes the only place they get what they need.  Mrs. Breaux said she believed Dr. Williams was lying and that children are dying daily from Covid.  Mr. Kates wanted a later start date to make sure we were ready and meeting all CDC & LDE guidelines for a safe return to school.  Mr. Kates believes that the Superintendent knows she is accountable for making sure all safety measures are being taken and all state and federal guidelines are met.  Mr. Creel wanted to make sure that we will follow and are able to meet these Covid regulations and continue to educate.  What is the process of opening and following guidelines and who will be responsible for the checks and balances protocol? Who will monitor and will there be spot checks?  How do we keep track of who is in contact with someone or are asymptomatic?  Mrs. Tanner explained the LDH has protocol we must follow and that she and Mrs. McGehee will be the ones who take the reports in our system and forward to LDH.  If you are exposed, you go home for 14 days.  If you have Covid you go home for 10 days or until you have no symptoms or fever.  There is a hotline at the state where teachers and staff can report if they do not feel we are doing everything to protect them and the children.  Superintendent Tanner said she believes parents want their children back in school. 

11.) Meeting adjourned by Mr. Kates 7:30 p.m.

_______________________________________                         ___________________________________

Lisa Tanner, Superintendent                                                           Paul Kates, President