Bogalusa City Schools
Regular Board Meeting Agenda
03/17/2025 - 05:30 PM
Bogalusa School Board Office- Rev. Dr. Raymond E. Mims Media Center
1705 Sullivan Drive
Bogalusa, Louisiana 70427
MEETING MINUTES
Attendees
President Paul Kates, District 1
Vice President Dr. Laverne Cook, District 2
Willie "Toni" Breaux, District 3
Curtis Creel, District 5
Odie Hughes, District 6
Cathy Mitchell, District 4
Dr. Brad Williams, District 7
Non-Voting Members:
Dr. Byron Hurst, Superintendent
Matthew Garver, Attorney
A. Meeting Opening
1. Call meeting to order
Paul Kates - 5:48 p.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Paul Kates
3. Roll Call
a. Paul Kates requested to amend the agenda to add Presentation of the Washington Parish Sheriff's Summer Youth Camp Program as Item #6
Motion to add Presentation of the Washington Parish Sheriff's Summer Youth Camp Program as Item #6
Motion made by: Curtis Creel
Motion second by: Odie Hughes
Public Comments:
None
Roll Call Vote:
Vice-President Dr. Laverne Cook - Yes
Willie "Toni" Breaux - Yes
Curtis Creel - Yes
Odie Hughes- Yes
Cathy Mitchell - Yes
Dr. Brad Williams - Yes
President Paul Kates - Yes
4. Recognition of Capital Bridge Health Services for their donation
5. Recognition of Dr. Laverne Cook sworn into office as a Louisiana School Board Association (LSBA) Board Member
6. Washington Parish Sheriff's Summer Youth Camp Program
B. Approval of minutes of February 17, 2025, Regular Board Meeting
Motion to approve minutes of February 17, 2025, regular board meeting
Motion made by: Odie Hughes
Motion seconded by: Cathy Mitchell
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
C. Personnel Update(s)
D. New Business
1. Consider a motion to approve resolution appointing the Superintendent, Dr. Byron Hurst, to the ad hoc Local ITEP Committee
Motion to approve resolution appointing the Superintendent, Dr. Byron Hurst, to the ad hoc Local ITEP Committee
Motion made by: Odie Hughes
Motion seconded by: Curtis Creel
Public Comments:
Roniqua Watkins
Roll Call Vote:
Vice President Dr. Laverne Cook - Yes
Willie "Toni" Breaux - Yes
Curtis Creel - Yes
Odie Hughes - Yes
Cathy Mitchell - Yes
Dr. Brad Williams - Yes
President Paul Kates - Yes
2. Consider a motion to approve a resolution approving or rejecting International Paper Company ITEP Tax Exemption Application #20230024-ITE
Motion to approve a resolution approving or rejecting International Paper Company ITEP Tax Exemption Application #20230024-ITE
Motion made by: Dr. Brad Williams
Motion seconded by: Dr. Laverne Cook
Public Comments:
Roniqua Watkins
Roll Call Vote:
Vice President Dr. Laverne Cook - Yes
Willie "Toni" Breaux - Yes
Curtis Creel - Yes
Odie Hughes - Yes
Cathy Mitchell - Yes
Dr. Brad Williams - Yes
President Paul Kates - Yes
3. Consider a motion to approve and take action with respect to adopting Amended and Restated Sales Tax Ordinance
Paul Kates requested a motion to table agenda Item 3
Motion made by: Odie Hughes
Motion seconded by: Vice-President Dr. Laverne Cook
Public Comments:
None
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
4. Consider a motion to approve to instruct Superintendent Dr. Byron Hurst to identify cost savings measures by auditing and analyzing staffing travel programs for the 25/26 school year
Motion to approve to instruct Superintendent Dr. Byron Hurst to identify cost-savings measures by auditing and analyzing staffing travel programs for the 25/26 school year
Motion made by: Odie Hughes
Motion second by: Dr. Brad Williams
Public Comments:
Roniqua Watkins
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
5. Consider a motion to approve the 25/26 School Calendar Option A
Motion to approve the 25/26 School Calendar Option A
Motion made by: Vice-President Dr. Laverne Cook
Motion seconded by: Cathy Mitchell
Public Comments:
Roniqua Watkins
Tobias Roberts
Nicki Leos
Phlesher Mingo
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
E. Superintendent's Report
Academics - Presentation by Charlotte Tillman, Chief Academic Officer
Act 422: 3rd Grade Literacy Proficiency
What is Act 422?
* Mandates that students in traditional LA public schools must meet specific literacy proficiency standards to be promoted to the 4th grade.
How will students be assessed, and what do they need to score to be promoted?
*Testing: DIBELS 8th Literacy Screener; 3 opportunities to test: April, May, Summer
*3rd Grade Promotion: Scoring above the Well Below composite score of 424 and higher.
BCS ACT 422 Best Practices: Communication to Parents
*CES Open House
*CES Literacy Night
*CES Parent Conferences
*CES LEAP Parent Night
CES Letters to Parents
Instructional Support for Students
*High-Quality Literacy Curriculum
*6 Minutes Solutions
*Interventions with iReady, MClass, and MindPlay
*Literacy tutoring Groups
*Friday Tutoring Programs
*Homework Packets
Byrd Avenue - Presentation by Principal Tonyah Jefferson
*DIBELS Testing - April 1st - April 30th
*DIBELS Discovery: Family Fun Night - March 20th (5:30-6:30)
*School Wide High-Frequency Word Hype
*"All Hands on Deck" - Sight Words
*PBIS - Spring Shopping - March 12th
*Byrd Avenue Extravaganza - April 10th
Central Elementary - Presentation by Principal Natasha Oatis
*March Math Madness/LEAO Parent Night
*Testing and Assessments
*Teddy Bear Clinic
*PBIS Events
Bogalusa High School - Presentation by Principal Saudah Blackman-Stokes
*Testing and Assessments
*The Bailey Group hosted ACT practice for all juniors
*Day with the doctors at LSU Medical Center
*Workkeys
*4-H Achievement Day
*Athletics
*Graduation - Thursday, May 15, 2025
Nutrition and Wellness - Presentation by Kristy McNabb, Supervisor of Nutrition and Wellness
*Commodities for Summer School
*Wellness update
*National Breakfast Week
Student Services - Presentation by Phlesher Mingo, Supervisor of Student Services
*Discipline Committee Meeting
*Perfect Attendance Celebration
*Title I Parent Meeting
Special Populations - Presentation by Deondra Warner, Supervisor of Special Populations
*Virtual Program: Coming Soon - Infomercial
*Gifted/Talented: Theater Summer Camp
*Subgroup Data: MTSS
Technology- Presentation by Angela Chaisson, District Technology Coordinator, and Mia Kennerson, District Technology Coordinator
*Raptor
*School Cafe
*Sound System for BHS Boys Gym
*Chromebooks
*Online Payment System
*Access Control
*Central's Camera System
*Check-in/Check-out with JCampus
*LEAP Online Tools Training (OTT)
*Pre ACT & ACT
*College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
*eSports
Superintendent's Report
*BCS Vice President Dr. Laverne Cook, Louisiana School Board Member Association Board Member
*Career and Technical Educational opportunities for Bogalusa High School students
*Fast Foward Conference
*DWD 2025
*Capitol Bridge Health Services
F. Board Members' Comments
G. Public Session
Cynthia August
Tobias Roberts
Roniqua Watkins
H. Meeting Closing
1. Announcement of next board meeting - April 17, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.
2. Adjourn
8:14 p.m.
Paul Kates, Board President
Dr. Byron Hurst, Superintendent