Bogalusa School Board Office-Media Center

1705 Sullivan Drive

Bogalusa, Louisiana

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Monday, June 26, 2023

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE COMMITTEE MEETING

 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING – AGENDA

 

 

Call to Order –  President Kates

 

Pledge of Allegiance – All

 

Prayer – Vice President Creel

 

Roll Call:  _x_ President Kates, _x_Vice President Creel, _x_Mrs. Breaux, _x_ Dr. Cook, _x__Mr. Hughes, _x_ Ms. Mitchell, _x_ Dr. Williams

 

1.         Approval of Minutes of Regular Board Meeting – May 25, 2023.  Dr. Williams made a motion. 

Curtis Creel seconded it.  The motion passed with unanimous approval.   

 

2.         Board Officers and Committee Reports - None

 

3.         Recess to Public Session - None

 

4.         New Business

 

a.         Human Resources – Karla McGehee.

1.         Approval of Superintendent Dr. Byron Hurst’s contract.  Mr. Creel made a motion. Dr. Cook seconded the motion.  The motion passed with unanimous approval.

            Roll Call Vote: X Vice President Creel, X Mrs. Breaux, X Dr. Cook, X Mr. Hughes, X Ms. Mitchell, X Dr. Williams, X President Kates.    

2.         Approval to add job description of Chief Academic Officer.  Dr. Cook made a motion. Ms. Mitchell seconded the motion.  The motion passed with unanimous approval.

b.         Finances & Business – Deloris Walker.

1.         Approval for School Board member Curtis Creel to attend the Southern Regional Leadership Conference in Hot Springs, Arkansas, July 16-18, 2023.  Mr. Curtis Creel made a motion.  Dr. Williams seconded the motion.  The motion passed with unanimous approval.

2.         Approval for BHS Summer Learning students to travel to Gulf Island Water Park in Gulfport, MS, on June 29, 2023. Dr. Williams made a motion.  Ms. Mitchell seconded the motion.  The motion passed with unanimous approval.

3.         Approval of 2023-2024 Property Insurance Policy (LARMA).  Dr. Cook made a motion. Dr. Williams seconded the motion.  The motion passed with unanimous approval.

4.         Approval of May 2023 Financial Statements, Revised Budgets, General Funds, Food Service, Special Revenue, and School Activities.  Mr. Creel made a motion. Mr. Hughes seconded the motion.  The motion passed with unanimous approval.

5.         Approval of State MFP one-time raise of $2,000.00 certificated and $1,000.00 support to include all other personnel outside of MFP and approval of the 2023-2024 salary schedule.  Dr. Williams made a motion. Dr. Cook seconded the motion.  The motion passed with unanimous approval.

6.         Approval to discard system-wide fixed assets.   Mr. Creel made a motion.  Mr. Hughes seconded the motion.  The motion passed with unanimous approval.  

 

5.        Superintendent Report – Dr. Byron Hurst.  The Bogalusa City Schools has been awarded a $3,000,000.00 grant from the governor’s office for Star Academy.  We will partner with NOLA Education to implement project-based learning experiences for our 6th-8th graders at the high school.   NOLA will outfit our 6th-8th grade classrooms with new computers, new furniture, a new curriculum, and hands--on stem project-based learning with a Tear 1 Curriculum.  Superintendent Hurst hopes this will accelerate our students to get them back on track from COVID, which caused them a lot of learning loss.  The grant was originally $2,000,000.00 when we met for the 7th and 8th Grades, but after having  further discussions, I asked the Governor if they had additional funds; they went back and spoke with him, and he gave the Bogalusa City Schools an additional $1,000,000.00.  I worked with the high school principal, Dr. Eric Greely, to get this done.   Dr. Greely will assign one of his assistant principals to lead the program.

The teachers will have professional development regarding the program on July 18th and 19th.  One of  the days of professional development were scheduled to be in New Orleans, but I advised them our teachers need more professional development one-on-one because this is new, and school is about to start; so they at least had to give us two days of professional development, which will be July 18th – 19, 2023, on the Bogalusa City Schools campus. Once the classrooms are furnished with all of the equipment, we will have a ribbon cutting, and I would like to invite all board members and officials in the community to be a part of this, and they can see how the funds are being used.  I met with the cafeteria managers today to assess their immediate needs.  They were very frank about what they needed.  The Combi machines were ordered for the cafeterias.  It will take six weeks for the machine to come in. Unless we receive updated information, the machines may not be in before school starts. There are other issues the schools' cafeterias are having, so I am trying to get in touch with the vendor to come and work on those other issues the cafeterias are having with their equipment to get them operating.  The schools are also facing oven issues, which I am working on resolving.  I attended the Louisiana Association of Schools’ Superintendent Conference in Lafayette last week, and it was a great networking event.  They were very excited about the change our district is taking, and I received a lot of positive feedback.  I also meet with some great vendors with whom I plan to build great relationships.  Lastly, I met with the central office staff and principals today and discussed the priorities and how we are going to move forward.              

           

6.         Board Members’ Comments -  Mr. Kates stated Star Academy will give Bogalusa City Schools the support we need, and they are only an hour away.

Mrs. Breaux asked, “Will the desk and other equipment provided through the grant be in before the first day of school?”  She is concerned because it happened before when some of the equipment wasn’t at the schools before the first day of school, and it was chaos.  We want the children to be able to start on time and do what they are required to do.  Mr. Kates commented the equipment for the classroom will be in before school starts.  He will monitor it to make sure it comes in before then.  Superintendent Hurst commented he has arranged with the schools’ principals and assistant principals to meet with a school district in Alabama that uses Star Academy and with Tangipahoa Parish, which has also used Star Academy for several years.

Also, Superintendent Hurst acknowledged his family, who attended his first board meeting.  Dr. Williams concluded the meeting by stating teamwork is essential.  Drop all the politics, and let’s get this school year moving forward.         

 

7.         Adjourn – 7:00 p.m.

 

            _________________________________                        _________________________________

            Paul Kates, Board President                                                    Dr. Byron Hurst, Superintendent

 

Bogalusa City School Board does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, disabilities, or veteran status. We are an equal-opportunity employer.