Bogalusa School Board Office-Media Center

Bogalusa, Louisiana

Regular Board Meeting

Thursday, January 28, 2021

5:30 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 January 28, 2021. The purpose of the meeting is to address information received from Department Supervisors, on January 25, 2021, 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 Creel,  X Mrs. Breaux,  A Mrs. Duke, A  Mr. Kemp, _X Mr. Killingsworth,  A  Dr. Williams

5.)       Approval of Minutes of Regular Board Meeting December 14, 2020. It was motioned by Mr. Creel. A second was made by Mr. Killingsworth. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

6.)       Board Office Committee Report – None

7.)         Public Session –  

a.       Darriona Lee, 907 Marshall Richardson Rd., Bogalusa, LA  - Gave an update on NSCC status of upcoming courses available for high school students.

b.       Lazette Watterson, 59376 Mitchell City Rd., Bogalusa, LA –Thanked Superintendent Tanner for meeting with them regarding her grandson.  She believes procedures at the guidance department at BHS need addressing, specifically, Mr. Minarik.  She addressed the issues her grandson is having with completing his testing and the missed opportunities he had to complete testing.  Why was her grandson not on the list for make-up testing?

c.        Chester Abram, 14062 Hwy. 21 South, Bogalusa, LA  70427 – Wanted an update on the Covid 19 cleaning procedures and training of our custodians.  He does not feel our custodians have been trained properly for cleaning procedures.

8 )      New Business

a.     Approval to distribute 12 Mil check to all full time employees. Deloris Walker, Director of Finance. It was motioned by Mrs. Breaux. A second was made by Mr. Creel.  The motion passed with unanimous approval.

b.    Approval of December, 2020 Revised Budget and Finance Statements: General Fund, Food Service, Special Revenue and School Activities.  Deloris Walker, Director of Finance. It was motioned by Mr. Creel. A second was made by Mrs. Breaux. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

c.     Approval of Emergency Paid Sick Leave (Covid-19) Pandemic.  Lisa Tanner, Superintendent. It was motioned by Mr. Creel.  A second was made by Mr. Killingsworth and a roll call vote followed:

Y- Mrs. Breaux, Y-Mr. Creel, A-Mrs. Duke, A-Mr. Kemp, Y-Mr. Killingsworth, A-Dr. Williams, Y-Mr. Kates. 4 yes and 3 absent vote passed with unanimous approval.

d.    Approval of Forethought Consulting, Inc. Policy Alert BCAD; Teleconference/remote participation in School Board Meeting and GBRIB; Sick Leave. Lisa Tanner Superintendent.  It was motioned by Mr. Killingsworth. A second was made by Mr. Creel. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

9.         Superintendent Comments – Superintendent Tanner thanked everyone for coming.  She also thanked Mrs. Watterson for her words and reassured her she was handling her issue accordingly and issues are being corrected.  In addition, she wanted everyone to know that the teacher who tested positive was a virtual teacher and protocol was being followed per CDC Guidelines.  She also reassured Mr. Abrams that our custodians have all been trained per CDC Guidelines and that schools and buses are all cleaned and fogged 2x’s daily as required at this time by CDC & LDOE.  These rules are changing daily.  Tracing is done daily.  Mr. Creel clarified that he and Mr. Kates are at the schools regularly and the cleaning is being done accordingly.

10.        Board Member Comments – Mrs. Breaux is very concerned about the complaints she receives about the custodians not doing their jobs accordingly and requests that this issue be addressed.  Mr. Kates said we are trying to move forward by make employees accountable for their jobs.  He believes Superintendent Tanner is handling these things accordingly. 

            a.   Mrs. Stefanie Warren, BHS Guidance Counselor, wanted to express her feelings regarding Mrs. Watterson’s remarks regarding the BHS Guidance Department.  Not all of us are incompetent and most of us are very passionate about our jobs and our students.  She feels their hands are tied a lot of times and they are not allowed to speak to parents or express their opinions without being reprimanded

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Lisa Tanner, Superintendent                                                      Paul Kates, President