Bogalusa City Schools 

Regular Board Meeting Agenda 03/28/2024 - 05:30 PM

Bogalusa School Board Office- Rev. Dr. Raymond E. Mims Media Center

1705 Sullivan Drive

Bogalusa, Louisiana 70427

MEETING MINUTES

Attendees Voting Members

Curtis Creel, District 5

Willie "Toni" Breaux, District 3

Dr. LaVerne Cook, District 2

Odie Hughes, District 6

Cathy Mitchell, District 4

Brad Williams, District 7

Absent

Paul Kates, District 1

Non-Voting Members

Dr. Byron Hurst, Superintendent

Matthew Garver,Attorney

A.       Meeting Opening

1.       Pledge of Allegiance

Dr. Byron Hurst

2.       Call to Order

Curtis Creel

3.       Roll Call

B.      Recognition of JROTC Raiders for winning state championship - Dr. Byron Hurst

C.      Approve Minutes

1.       February 29, 2024, Regular Board Meeting

Roniqua Watkins made a comment concerning the minutes

Motion made by: Odie Hughes

Motion seconded by: Cathy Mitchell

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

D.      New Business - Approve Committee Reports

*Remove from the Agenda:

Curtis Creel requested a motion to amend the Agenda to remove Item # 2 - Approval for Canon Copier lease for Bogalusa High School, Byrd Avenue, and Northside

Motion made by: Brad Williams

Motion second by: Dr. LaVerneCook

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

*Add to the Agenda

Curtis Creel requested a motion to amend theAgenda to add Item #4 - Approval for the Bogalusa High School Junior Class field trip to the Universityof Southern Mississippi on April 19, 2024

Motion made by: Odie Hughes

Motion second by: Dr. LaVerneCook

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

1.      Approve February 2024, Revised Budgets and Financial Statements: General Fund, Food Service, Special Revenue, and School Activities

Roniqua Watkins made a comment concerning financial statements

Motion made by: Brad Williams

Motion seconded by: Dr. LaVerne Cook

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

2.      Approve Canon Copier lease for Bogalusa High School, Byrd Avenue, and Northside

3.      Approve for Bogalusa High School Chorus Commitment to travel to Jackson, MS to tour the Civil Rights Museum on April 20, 2024

Motion made by: Dr. LaVerne Cook

Motion seconded by:Brad Williams

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

4.       Add to the Agenda

Curtis Creel requested a motion to amend the Agenda to add Item #4 - Approve the Bogalusa High School Junior Class field trip to the University of Southern Mississippi on April 19, 2024

Motion made by: Odie Hughes

Motion seconded by: Dr. LaVerne Cook

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

Motion to approve the Bogalusa High School Junior Class field trip to the University of Southern Mississippi on April 19, 2024

Motion made by: Odie Hughes

Motion second by: Dr. LaVerneCook

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

E.      Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) Resolution

Motion made by: Odie Hughes

Motion seconded by: Dr. LaVerne Cook

Voting:

Curtis Creel - Yes

Willie "Toni" Breaux - Yes

Dr. LaVerne Cook - Yes

Odie Hughes - Yes

Cathy Mitchell - Yes

Brad Williams- Yes

Absent:

Paul Kates

F.       Superintendent Report

Dr. Hurst asked Charlotte Tillman, Chief Academic Officer, to speak concerning the Bogalusa City Schools Pre K/LA4 Program Registration (see attached handout):

• A child must be 4 years old on or before September 30th, live within the attendance boundary of the school, and meet income requirements.

• Eligibility is based on income

• The program is child-centered

• High quality and developmentally appropriate Tier I Curriculum is implemented, so that each child enters kindergarten ready for success

• Full-day attendance program

• Low student to teacher ratios/smaller class sizes

• Supports and provides services for children with identified disabilities

• Transition meeting to kindergarten

• Follows objectives from Teaching Strategies (TS) Gold

• Registration will take place Monday, April 8th - Friday, April 12th at the Bogalusa City Schools Central Office from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and May

• 100 seats are available

• There are 5 General Education classrooms and 1 Special Education classroom located at Byrd Avenue Primary School

Dr. Hurst asked Phlesher Mingo to speak concerning the Well Being Expo (see attached flyer):

• Bogalusa City Schools will have a Well Being Expo to offer mental health awareness

• Friday, April12, 2024, on the Bogalusa City Schools Central Office lawn, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

·         Ms. Hobbs a representative of International Paper of Bogalusa, LA spoke about the volunteer event:

·         About twice a year, they do a United Way Day of caring.

• Internal Paper employees volunteer in the community to help improve it.

• International Paper works with United Way of Southeast Louisiana and United Way partners with Hands-On NOLA, who organize volunteer events as well as provide the supplies needed

• International Paper gave United Way of Southeast Louisiana a $5,000.00grant to execute this volunteer day

• International Paper hopes to do the volunteer work at Central Elementary  Would like to build an outdoor classroom in the courtyard at Central

• There will be 20 to 25 volunteers, salary employed workers of International Paper International Paper wishes to begin the project on April 11, 2024

Superintendent Report- Dr. Byrn Hurst:

• PD for employees was last Friday

• McGinity Law Firm is donating playground equipment to Central

• The Eclipse event is on April 8th. Notification has been sent to parents and will be put on social media. Students will not be allowed to view the eclipse outside

• Deloris Walker, Director of Finance, of the Bogalusa City Schools has been named President of LASBO

• If the state passes the ESAs, they will not fund MFP. MFP is funded by the government per child to support the salaries, employees' benefits, and all Budget cuts are being considered

• Will meet with the principals regarding positions, budgets, and how money is being spent on the athletic program

• The state will no longer give schools ESSER money

G.      Board Members' Comments

H.      Public Session

*    Ronquia Watkins spoke concerning the need for parental involvement

*    Chester Abrams had concerns about the school calendar and the 4-day workweek

I.         Meeting Closing

1.       Announcement of next meeting - April 25, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.

Curtis Creel

2.       Adjourn

6:35 p.m.

Paul Kates, Board President                                     Dr. Byron Hurst, Superintendent