SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS
The Avoyelles Parish School Board met in regular session Tuesday, April 14, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. at the Marksville High School Auditorium, Marksville, Louisiana, with the following members present:
Robin Moreau, President; Rickey Adams, Vice-President; Latisha Small, Lynn Deloach, Stanley Celestine, Jr., Van Kojis, and Aimee Dupuy.
Absent: Chris LaCour and Chris Robinson.
An Invocation was offered by Board Member Stanley Celestine, Jr.
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America led by Board Member Lynn Deloach.
1. On motion by Rickey Adams, seconded by Van Kojis, the Board adopted the minutes of the regular Board meeting held Tuesday, March 10, 2020, and the special Board meeting held Tuesday, March 17, 2020, as printed and mailed to Board members and published in The Weekly News, official journal of the Board. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
2. Superintendent Blaine Dauzat stated that the feeding program held this week was a success and the next one will be held in two weeks. Also, Mr. Dauzat said that all schools will be closed for the remainder of the current school year along with all sporting activities. Graduation is only being postponed–not cancelled. Superintendent Dauzat is looking at options and alternative events that can possibly occur in May. Even though the school buildings are closed, learning is still ongoing through classroom packets that can be picked up from schools as well as online lessons. The issue of summer school is still undecided at the moment and may possibly be virtual. If any parents feel their child was failing when schools closed in March, they are strongly encouraged to contact their child’s school. Also, all parents are advised to call their child’s school to update their contact information.
3. Mrs. Jennifer Dismer, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, addressed the Board regarding the renewal of the Ombudsman contract.
A motion was offered by Van Kojis, seconded by Stanley Celestine, Jr., that the Board renew the three-year contract with Ombudsman for the AVAP school. The motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Van Kojis, Stanley Celestine, Jr., and Latisha Small.
Nays: Lynn Deloach, Robin Moreau, Rickey Adams, and Aimee Dupuy.
Discussion ensued. A motion was then made by Lynn Deloach, seconded by Van Kojis, to reconsider the vote. The motion was adopted by the following vote:
Ayes: Lynn Deloach, Van Kojis, Latisha Small, Rickey Adams, and Stanley Celestine, Jr.
Nays: Robin Moreau and Aimee Dupuy.
A motion was made by Van Kojis, seconded by Lynn Deloach, that the Board renew the Ombudsman contract for AVAP for a period of one year only. The motion was adopted by the following vote:
Ayes: Van Kojis, Lynn Deloach, Latisha Small, Rickey Adams, and Stanley Celestine, Jr.
Nays: Robin Moreau and Aimee Dupuy.
4. Superintendent Blaine Dauzat addressed the Board regarding the renewal of a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Workforce Development Board.
On motion by Van Kojis, seconded by Rickey Adams, the Board agreed to renew a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Workforce Development Board. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
5. On motion by Van Kojis, seconded by Latisha Small, the Board agreed to approve a contract between Amplify and the Avoyelles Parish School Board. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
6. On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Latisha Small, the Board agreed to approve a policy submitted by Mr. James Prescott, Jr. of Forethought Consulting, Incorporated, as follows: File: II - Testing. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
7. Mrs. Jaimie Lacombe, Sales Tax Supervisor, presented the sales tax report for the month of February, 2020. Mrs. Lacombe stated that sales tax revenues for the month totaled $626,070.16. She stated that of this amount, the 1.5% sales tax generated $357,754.43, the 0.25% sales tax generated $89,438.51, and the building maintenance fund generated $178,877.22. Mrs. Lacombe projected a sales tax decrease for March and April as a result of several stores and other businesses closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Van Kojis, the Board approved the sales tax report as presented by Mrs. Lacombe. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
8. Superintendent Blaine Dauzat advised the Board and Finance Committee that there was one maintenance spending expenditure above $5,000 for the month of February, 2020, as follows:
Avoyelles Glass: Auditorium doors in the amount of $7,740
9. Upon motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Latisha Small , the Board approved the requests for overnight travel as presented by Superintendent Dauzat. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
10. Mrs. Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance, presented a report of year-to-date 2019-2020 General Fund Revenues and Expenditures in comparison to the prior year budget along with budget revisions.
On motion by Rickey Adams, seconded by Van Kojis, the Board agreed to adopt the year-to-date 2019-2020 General Fund Revenues and Expenditures report as presented by Mrs. Bonnette. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
11. Mrs. Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance, presented a report on the Special Revenue Fund for 2019-2020 and budget revisions.
On motion by Van Kojis, seconded by Lynn Deloach, the Board agreed to adopt the report on the Special Revenue Fund for 2019-2020 and budget revisions. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
12. Mrs. Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance, addressed the Board regarding an Entergy Management contract for their consideration.
On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Latisha Small, the Board granted permission to approve the Entergy Management contract and to allow the staff to finalize negotiations. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
13. President Robin Moreau reviewed the current Student Handbook regarding discipline and the process of suspensions and expulsions. Discussion ensued with Supervisor Jennifer Dismer as to the process and length of time from the recommendation for expulsion and the expulsion hearing. No action was taken by the Board at this time.
14. Superintendent Blaine Dauzat discussed transferring portable buildings from Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy to Bunkie Magnet High School.
Upon motion by Van Kojis, seconded by Latisha Small, the Board approved the transfer of portable buildings from Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy to Bunkie Magnet High School. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
15. Mr. Steve Marcotte, Maintenance Supervisor, presented a bid-opening committee report on janitorial supplies, paint, light bulbs, and air conditioner filters, as well as the bid-opening committee report on the sale of unused vehicles.
Mr. Marcotte recommended that the committee accept the low bids for janitorial supplies, paint, light bulbs, and air conditioner filters.
Mr. Marcotte stated that the bid-opening committee acknowledged the following bids for used buses/tractors, as follows:
Chris Woodworth: Ford Tractor - $3500.00; Nabors Trailer - Both
Troy Desselle: Kubota Tractor - $1001.00
Morgan Marcotte: Kubota Tractor - $865.00
Richard Tassin: Ford Tractor - $4,151.51; Nabors Trailer - $1,000.00; and Kubota Tractor - $1,251.50
On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Lynn Deloach, the Board agreed to award the bid for janitorial supplies, paint, light bulbs, and air conditioner filters for the 2020-2021 school year to the lowest bidders and to award the bid for the sale of used vehicles to the highest bidder, as recommended by Mr. Marcotte. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
16. Upon motion by Rickey Adams, seconded by Latisha Small, the Board agreed to grant permission for the Avoyelles Parish School Board to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Avoyelles Parish Police Jury to grade driveways and right-of-ways across the parish. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
17. Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater presented personnel changes for the Board’s review, as follows:
PERSONNEL CHANGES
BUNKIE ELEMENTARY LEARNING ACADEMY: Renewal of an administrative contract for Sharice Sullivan, Principal of Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy, effective June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2022.
LAFARGUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Resignation of Caitlin Pitre, teacher, effective at the end of the day May 21, 2020.
MARKSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Renewal of an administrative contract for Nicole Gagnard, Principal of Marksville Elementary School, effective June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2022.
PLAUCHEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Renewal of an administrative contract for Wendy Adams, Principal of Plaucheville Elementary School, effective June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2022; and Resignation of Nicole Townsend, teacher, effective at the end of the day March 6, 2020.
RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Renewal of an administrative contract for Tonenikea Wilson, Principal of Riverside Elementary School, effective June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2022.
BUNKIE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL: Resignation of Daniel Stone, teacher, effective at the end of the day May 21, 2020.
LOUISIANA SCHOOL FOR THE AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES: Renewal of an administrative contract for Eric Dauzat, Principal of LaSAS, effective June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2022; and Resignation of Heather Breithaupt, teacher, effective at the end of the day March 13, 2020.
MARKSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL: Renewal of an administrative contract for Liza Jacobs, Principal of Marksville High School, effective June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2022.
AVOYELLES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CENTRAL OFFICE: Renewal of an administrative contract for Dawn Pitre, Supervisor of Special Services, effective June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2022.
The next regular school board meeting will be held in this same format, via Facebook Live on the Avoyelles Parish School Board Facebook page on Tuesday, May 12, 2020.
There being no further business, on motion by Stanley Celestine, Jr., seconded by Van Kojis, the meeting was adjourned.
AVOYELLES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Robin Moreau, President
Blaine Dauzat, Secretary-Treasurer