BOGALUSA SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE – MEDIA CENTER
Bogalusa, Louisiana
Regular Board Meeting
Thursday, August 25, 2022
6:35 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 Thursday, August 25, 2022. The purpose of the meeting is to address information received from Department Supervisors, on Monday, August 22, 2022, during the Committee Meeting, regarding updates and approval requests.
Call to Order – President Paul Kates
Pledge of Allegiance – Superintendent Lisa Tanner
Prayer – Dr. H. Brad Williams
Roll Call: X President Kates, X Vice President Creel, X Mrs. Breaux, X Mrs. Duke, X Mr. Kemp, X Mr. Killingsworth, X Dr. Williams
1.) Deloris Walker, Financial Director – Public Hearing Budget. We will present our 2023 Budget before the Board and the Community, in addition, we held a Finance Committee Meeting last week and advertised in the Newspaper for 15 days. We are here to address any questions you may have on the budget as presented. No one had any questions. Dr. Williams wanted to thank Mrs. Walker for all of her awesomeness in auditing.
2.) Approval of Minutes of Regular Board Meeting July 25, 2022. It was motioned by Dr. Williams. A second was made by Mrs. Duke. The motion passed with unanimous approval.
3.) Board Office Committee Report – Mrs. Breaux wants to know why Ms. Mingo is not going to Law Day. Superintendent Tanner stated that she would handle in the morning. Mrs. Breaux also wanted to know if Ms. Mingo had her secretary yet. Superintendent Tanner said she was working on it. Ms. Breaux said she wanted to know who has secretaries. Ms. Breaux said she does not feel that the cafeterias are staffed and/or equipped to get proper food out. We need to work on getting these cafeterias’ where they need to be. Ms. Breaux wanted to know about Ms. Henderson being hired. Shelley Gill stated she was not hired as an employee but a contract worker.
4.) Linda Pittman – BHS Secondary Education Curriculum Coordinator recognized Mrs. Tammy Crain, JAG Specialist on receiving the JAG state award this past summer. Also recognized was Ms. Lisa Jackson, JAG Specialist, was also recognized Nationally for her outstanding work with the JAG program. BHS JAG program was also recognized as one of the top 10 JAG programs in the state.
5.) Public Session –
Dr. Patricia Keller – 1622 Normel Keller St., Bogalusa, LA. Greetings to you all. I am here to represent the Washington Parish NAACP and to let you know we are looking forward to working with Bogalusa City School System and wanted you to know that you all have our full support and we are looking forward to working with the principals for providing the learning environment for our children and working with the system on this positive momentum we are seeing in the BCS.
6.) New Business –
a. Approval of 2022 -2023 Pupil Progression It was motioned by Mr. Creel. A second was made by Mr. Killingsworth. Roniqua Watkins, 707 Mississippi Avenue, Bogalusa, LA I would like to call your attention to page 16, Placement of Transfer Students – this portion of the plan mentions a district proficiency exam for homeschool students and it mentions an academic readiness screening. Are these local or state developed test? It is a test that the state requires. It is vague and this plan says we administer, who is responsible for this and how long has this data been used. Charmaine Reeves and Superintendent Tanner addressed her questions in depth. Ms. Watkins says it is still too vague and she wants clarity before we approve. Also, on page 20, English Learner Students. We need to identify their authority. Marie Goff, Charmaine Reeves and Superintendent Tanner addressed this in depth and again clarity needs to be defined more clearly. Page 27 – Point System. What is the benefit of a 45 over a zero? Superintendent Tanner addressed this and let her know we are working on this process. We are here to give the children every opportunity to do their work. She was very persistent on why 45 and not 55. It is a number school systems use and it is just a number they can recover from. Mrs. Watkins requested that we table this until this significant portion of the plan is reviewed further. Finally, the overall look of this plan does not give you what the plan is if they continue to fail. Again, Superintendent Tanner explained thoroughly. Mrs. Watkins continued to say she does not believe this should be voted on and it is critical to the success of BCS until clarification is done. Dr. Greely gave his opinion and educated experience on this matter. We want all kids to succeed. We have to address each child. This motion passed with one nay and 6 yes. We are trying to help children succeed not fail.
Roll Call Vote:
VP Curtis Creel – Yes
Mr. Killingswoth – Yes
Dr. Williams – Yes
Mrs. Breaux – Nay because she wants further understanding
Mrs. Duke – Yes
Mr. Kemp – Yes
President Kates - Yes
b. Approval of bids returned for CNP 2022 – 2023 school year and request approval to award to successful respondents. It was motioned by Mr. Kemp. A second was made by Dr. Williams. Mrs. Watkins wanted to know how if the same vendors are awarded helps address the issues with the budget and made note that she doesn’t understand why we would accept the same vendors who caused our deficit last year. It was explained that this is an open bid process and whoever bids and has the lowest bid is awarded. Superintendent Tanner assured her we were taking action to fix this situation. The motion passed with unanimous approval.
c. Approval of Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for Audit Engagements, June 30, 2022. It was motioned by Dr. Williams. A second was made by Mr. Kemp. The motion passed with unanimous approval.
d. Approval of Resolution Office of Group Benefits Planning Board. President Kates read the resolution. It was motioned by Dr. Williams. A second was made by Mr. Killingsworth. The motion passed with unanimous approval.
e. Approval to change Substitute Salary Schedule. It was motioned by Mr. Creel. A second was made by Mrs. Duke. Mrs. Breaux commented that she felt this was a great opportunity for our subs. The motion passed with unanimous approval.
f. Approval of June 30, 2022 Revised Budgets and Financial Statements, General Fund, Food Service, Special Revenue and School Activities. It was motioned by Mr. Kemp. A second was made by Mr. Creel. The motion passed with unanimous approval.
g. Approval of 2022 -2023 Budgets. It was motioned by Dr. Williams. A second was made by Mrs. Duke. The motion passed with unanimous approval.
h. Approval to hire an additional Maintenance person. It was motioned by Mr. Creel. A second was made by Mr. Kemp. Mrs. Breaux wanted to know if it is needed. Mr. Creel stated that our maintenance employees are overwhelmed about 6 months out of the year because of grass cutting. Mr. Killingsworth confirmed the job description would be the same as other Maintenance personnel. The motion passed with unanimous approval.
i. Approval of Forethought Policy Update July, 2022. Policies in this issue: BE, School Board Ethics, EDD, School Bus Scheduling and Routing, GAAA, Equal Opportunity Employment, GAMB, Employee Dress Code, JAA, Equal Education Opportunities, Student Absences and Excuses, JCDAF, Bullying and Hazing, JCDB Student Dress Code, JD, Discipline, JDE Expulsion, JGC, Student Health Services, JGCD, Administration of Medication, New POLICY, STUDENT VOTER REGISTRATION, JQA, Expectant and Parenting Students. It was motioned by Mr. Kemp. A second was made by Mr. Killingsworth. Ms. Watkins believes the Employee Dress Code was too vague and there is no consistency and believes the language needs to be amended. No consistency and language needs to more clear. Food Services workers section is vague and needs to be much more prescriptive. Notice to Student and Parents – Complaints Form. She wanted to know if this is available. Superintendent Tanner said yes. Student Dress Code section needs to say that is posted on website and given to them in writing. Uniform policy needs to be addressed and amend the motion from previous meeting that these changes were being made. Dr. Greely addressed these and let her know that this was communicated in plenty of time. Mrs. Breaux said she agrees these changes were made a little late and we should table this. Dr. Greely wanted all to know our decisions are made to make sure all children are safe. Mrs. Mingo said a JCall went out to all BHS parents, way in advance about crocks and hoodies. Mrs. Watkins says it was not adopted in time to notify the parents. Mrs. Watkins has the Dress Code and Code of Conduct confused. She wants an amendment period based on the 60-day written notice. This is a secondary issue. Then she quoted Roberts Rules of Order. Superintendent explained to her the difference in Code of Conduct and Student Dress Code. The motion passed with unanimous approval.
j. Approval of Policy CG, Administrative Records, Requesting Access to Public Records. It was motioned by Mr. Killingsworth. A second was made by Dr. Williams. Mrs. Breaux wanted to make sure the costs for these documents were not out of range for our community standards. The motion passed with unanimous approval.
7.) Executive Session – A motion was made by Dr. Williams to adjourn to executive session. A second was made by Mrs. Duke. The motion passed with unanimous approval. A motion was made by Dr. Williams to reconvene to regular Board Meeting after Executive Session. A second was made by Mr. Creel. The motion passed with unanimous approval.
8.) Superintendent Tanner Comments – BCS Spring 2022 LEAP 2025 Data Report. This report will be on our website tomorrow so that everyone can see it. This is something I asked our staff to compile to give to everyone. She briefly covered the contents of this report.
9.) Board Comments – Mrs. Breaux said we need Swimming and Drivers Education back. Drivers Education is so expensive and our kids need this. I would appreciate Mrs. Walker looking in to finding what kind of resources we may have to start the Drivers Education Program back up. Mr. Creel discussed the meeting with Senator Mizell about Water Safety and the direction we can go in to bring it in to the system. Mr. Creel also stated he would be working with YMCA to see if they would work with us to get a program in place to teach water safety and how to respect the water.
10.) President Kates asked for any further comments, there were none. Meeting adjourned
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Lisa Tanner, Superintendent Paul Kates, President