SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS
The Avoyelles Parish School Board met in regular session Tuesday, September 1, 2015, at 5:00 p.m. at the School Board Office with the following members present:
Michael Lacombe, President; Darrell Wiley, Vice-President; Freeman Ford, Chris LaCour, James Gauthier, Lizzie Ned, Van Kojis, and John Gagnard.
Absent: Shelia Blackman-Dupas.
An Invocation was offered by Principal Dexter Compton.
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America led by Board Member James Gauthier.
1. On motion by Van Kojis, seconded by Lizzie Ned, the Board adopted the minutes of the regular Board meeting held Tuesday, August 4, 2015, as printed and mailed to Board members and published in The Weekly News, official journal of the Board. MOTION CARRIED.
2. Superintendent Blaine Dauzat recognized the Students of the Month for September. Mr. Dauzat presented a plaque to each student. Also, each Board Member read a short biography detailing the accomplishments of each student.
The Students of the Month included: Grayhl Turner, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Jasmine Soniat, Cottonport Elementary School; Hanlin Riddle, Lafargue Elementary School; Katelyn Griffin, Marksville Elementary School; Zorian Campbell, Plaucheville Elementary School; Aariella Wallace, Riverside Elementary School; Otis Jacobs, Jr., Avoyelles High School; Katelyn Baronne, Bunkie New Tech High School; Hagen Temple, LaSAS; and Dakota Sampy, Marksville High School.
On behalf of the Board, President Michael Lacombe commended the students on their accomplishments.
3. Mrs. Thelma Prater, Assistant Superintendent, recognized the Teachers of the Month for September. Mrs. Prater presented a plaque to each teacher, as follows:
Shuranda Williams, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Amanda Gauthier, Cottonport Elementary School; Kelley Juneau, Lafargue Elementary School; Lori Boudreaux, Marksville Elementary School; Sara Wallace, Plaucheville Elementary School; Elizabeth Steilkie, Riverside Elementary School; Renee Bell, Avoyelles High School; Clyde Blackman, Bunkie New Tech High School; Virginia Laborde, LaSAS; and Shannon Holley, Marksville High School.
On behalf of the Board, President Michael Lacombe commended the teachers on their achievements.
4. On motion by Freeman Ford, seconded by John Gagnard, the Board authorized Superintendent Blaine Dauzat to renew a lease agreement with the Department of Children and Family Services for the use of the former Mansura Middle School. MOTION CARRIED.
5. Mr. Van Kojis, Chairman of the Finance Committee, presented the following report:
Finance Committee Report
August 18, 2015
The Finance Committee of the Avoyelles Parish School Board met Tuesday, August 18, 2015, at 4:00 p.m. at the School Board Office with the following members present:
Van Kojis, Chairman; John Gagnard, Chris LaCour, Michael Lacombe, President; and Blaine Dauzat, Superintendent. Mr. Freeman Ford was absent. Also present were Darrell Wiley, James Gauthier, Shelia Blackman-Dupas, and Lizzie Ned, Board Members; Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance; and Jaimie Lacombe, Sales Tax Supervisor.
1. Mrs. Jaimie Lacombe, Sales Tax Supervisor, presented the sales tax report for the month of July, 2015. Mrs. Lacombe stated that sales tax for the month of July totaled $696,671.80. She stated that of this amount, the 1.5% sales tax generated $597,148.66 and the 0.25% sales tax generated $99,523.14.
2. Upon motion by Chris LaCour, seconded by John Gagnard, the Finance Committee recommended to approve requests for overnight travel as presented by Superintendent Dauzat. MOTION CARRIED.
3. Mr. Chris LaCour, Member of the Finance Committee, addressed the committee regarding the possibility of replacing the visitors’ bleachers on the three high school campuses.
Upon motion by Chris LaCour, seconded by John Gagnard, the Finance Committee recommended that Mr. Steve Marcotte, Maintenance Supervisor, secure estimates for 200-plus capacity bleachers and report back to the committee. MOTION CARRIED.
4. Mrs. Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance, reviewed the nurses’ Medicaid billing. Mrs. Bonnette informed the committee that although billings have remained constant since 2012, Medicaid reimbursements have substantially decreased. For example:
Reimbursement:
Year Original Revised
2012 72.79% 8.07%
2013 76.32% 15.86%
2014 21.95%
This has resulted in an accumulated one-time deficit of $1,045,910. Cuts in the program were discussed.
Upon motion by John Gagnard, seconded by Chris LaCour, the Finance Committee recommended to table action on this matter until the Special Education Supervisor, who also supervises nurses, is present at the next Finance Committee meeting. MOTION CARRIED.
Upon motion by John Gagnard, seconded by Chris LaCour, the Finance Committee recommended to transfer up to $900,000 from the General Fund to the School Nurses’ Fund in order to cover this deficit. MOTION CARRIED.
The Finance Committee respectfully recommends the adoption of this report.
Van Kojis, Chairman
Finance Committee
On motion by Van Kojis, seconded by Chris LaCour, the Board adopted the Finance Committee Report as presented by Chairman Kojis. MOTION CARRIED.
6. Mr. James Gauthier, Chairman of the Building and Lands Committee, presented the following report:
Building and Lands Committee Report
August 18, 2015
The Building and Lands Committee of the Avoyelles Parish School Board met Tuesday, August 18, 2015, at 4:30 p.m. at the School Board Office with the following members present:
James Gauthier, Chairman; Van Kojis,Shelia Blackman-Dupas, Darrell Wiley, Michael Lacombe, President; and Blaine Dauzat, Superintendent. Also present were Chris LaCour, Lizzie Ned, and John Gagnard, Board Members; Thelma Prater, Assistant Superintendent; Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance; Celeste Voinche, Supervisor of Elementary Education; Steve Marcotte, Maintenance Supervisor; Brent Scallan, Contractor; and Jim Guillory, Architect.
1. Mr. Steve Marcotte, Maintenance Supervisor, and Mr. Brent Scallan, Contractor, addressed the Building and Lands Committee regarding an update on the Marksville High School Auditorium.
2. Mr. Jim Guillory, Architect, presented an update on Cottonport Elementary School.
3. President Michael Lacombe discussed the leasing of Section 16 - Bayou Joson.
Upon motion by Darrell Wiley, seconded by Van Kojis, the Building and Lands Committee recommended to advertise for bids to lease Bayou Joson with a minimum bid of $25 per acre. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The Building and Lands Committee respectfully recommends the adoption of this report.
James Gauthier, Chairman
Building and Lands Committee
On motion by James Gauthier, seconded by Van Kojis, the Board adopted the Building and Lands Committee Report as presented by Chairman Gauthier. MOTION CARRIED.
7. Mr. John Gagnard, Chairman of the Education Committee, presented the following report:
Education Committee Report
August 18, 2015
The Education Committee of the Avoyelles Parish School Board met Tuesday, August 18, 2015, at 5:00 p.m. at the School Board Office with the following members present:
John Gagnard, Chairman; James Gauthier, Chris LaCour, Shelia Blackman-Dupas, Michael Lacombe, President; and Blaine Dauzat, Superintendent. Also present were Darrell Wiley, Lizzie Ned, and Van Kojis, Board Members; Thelma Prater, Assistant Superintendent; Susan Welch, Supervisor of Secondary Education; Celeste Voinche, Supervisor of Elementary Education; and Judd Dupuy, Teacher.
1. Superintendent Blaine Dauzat presented a report on ACT scores of all schools along with a comparison of the last two years.
2. Mrs. Susan Welch, Supervisor of Secondary Education, and Mr. Judd Dupuy, Teacher, presented an update report on the Virtual School.
3. Mrs. Susan Welch, Supervisor of Secondary Education, and Ms. Celeste Voinche, Supervisor of Elementary Education, presented an update report on Teacher Leader Professional Development.
4. Mr. Chris LaCour, Member of the Education Committee, addressed the committee regarding teaching cursive handwriting to elementary students. Mr. LaCour also addressed the committee concerning the reasons why cursive handwriting is no longer taught in the elementary schools and discussed placing cursive handwriting back into the curriculum.
Superintendent Blaine Dauzat explained that the Spalding Program for Grades K-3 is teaching students cursive handwriting as part of the curriculum in Grades 2-3.
5. Mr. Chris LaCour, Member of the Committee, addressed the Education Committee regarding exchange students.
Superintendent Blaine Dauzat provided the committee with File: JQK - Foreign Exchange Students for their review. The committee did not take any action on this matter.
The Education Committee respectfully recommends the adoption of this report.
John Gagnard, Chairman
Education Committee
On motion by John Gagnard, seconded by Chris LaCour, the Board adopted the Education Committee Report as presented by Chairman Gagnard. MOTION CARRIED.
8. Mrs. Thelma Prater, Assistant Superintendent, presented personnel changes for the Board’s review, as follows:
PERSONNEL CHANGES
COTTONPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Transfer/appointment of Melanie Dauzat, special education paraprofessional, from Marksville Elementary School, effective August 5, 2015, replacing Brenda Ducote, who transferred to LaSAS; Change in funding source: Appointment of Andre Spruill, teacher, from Title I to LA-4, effective August 5, 2015 through May 20, 2016; and Change in funding source: Appointment of Ethel Alexander, paraprofessional, from Title I to LA-4, effective August 5, 2015.
LAFARGUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Change in funding source: Appointment of Gale Littleton, teacher, from LA-4 to Title I, effective August 5, 2015 through May 20, 2016; and Change in funding source: Appointment of Angie Lemoine, paraprofessional, from LA-4 to Title I, effective August 5, 2015.
MARKSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Appointment of Kelsey Ducote, speech therapist, effective September 1, 2015 through May 20, 2016, replacing Rachel Normand who transferred to Plaucheville Elementary School.
PLAUCHEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Change in teaching assignment: Appointment of Jennifer Young, Kindergarten teacher, effective August 5, 2015 through May 20, 2016; and Transfer/appointment of Rachel Normand, speech therapist, from Marksville Elementary School, effective September 1, 2015 through May 20, 2016.
AVOYELLES HIGH SCHOOL: Change in funding source: Appointment of Pattrecia Darbonne, school secretary, from school based budget to district funds, effective July 22, 2015.
LOUISIANA SCHOOL FOR THE AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES: Appointment of McKinley Williams, (retired) teacher, effective August 24, 2015 through December 18, 2015; and Transfer/appointment of Brenda Ducote, special education paraprofessional, from Cottonport Elementary School, effective August 5, 2015.
MARKSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL: Resignation of Josh Harper, teacher, effective August 4, 2015; and Resignation of Heath Lewis, teacher, effective August 4, 2015.
ADDENDUM(S)
9/1/2015
BUNKIE ELEMENTARY LEARNING ACADEMY: Appointment of Margaret Vidrine, (retired) Pre-K teacher, effective August 13, 2015 through December 18, 2015.
9. Superintendent Blaine Dauzat announced that total enrollment in all parish schools as of today is 5917, whereas it was 5935 at this time last year. Enrollment is expected to increase before October 1 when the official enrollment count will be submitted to the state. In other news, the Elementary PBIS Basketball League has expanded and will be starting up again and games will be played on six Saturdays from September through December. Also, Mr. Dauzat congratulated Principal Michael Rachal and the faculty and staff of Avoyelles High School on the success of the Jamboree. Of note, Dr. Gary Jones will have an update report on desegregation at the regular October meeting. Lastly, Mr. Dauzat and the Board congratulated Ms. Wendy Adams for being named Principal of the Year for 2014-15 as voted by the administrators of the parish.
In miscellaneous business, Ms. Jada Lewis announced her candidacy for a seat on the BESE Board and offered to answer any questions. In another matter, President Michael Lacombe announced that the Board has been served regarding a lawsuit from the Rally for the People of Spring Bayou. He also thanked Ms. Wendy Adams and her staff for having Cottonport Elementary School ready for the class reunion walk-through this past weekend, and he also announced that the air conditioners have been repaired and upstairs windows are being replaced.
There being no further business, on motion by Van Kojis, seconded by Darrell Wiley, the meeting was adjourned.
AVOYELLES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Michael Lacombe, President
Blaine Dauzat, Secretary-Treasurer