SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS

The Avoyelles Parish School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. at the School Board Office, in Marksville, Louisiana. with the following members present:

Aimee Dupuy, President; Chris Robinson, Vice-President; Latisha Small, Lynn Deloach, Chris LaCour, Robin Moreau, Stanley Celestine, Jr., Rickey Adams, and Jill Guidry.

Absent: None.

An Invocation was offered by Dexter Compton. Supervisor of Secondary Education.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America led by Board member Latisha Small.

1.             On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Lynn Deloach, the Board adopted the minutes of the regular Board meeting held on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, as printed and mailed to Board members and published in The Weekly News, official journal of the Board. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

2.             Superintendent Karen Tutor recognized the Students of the Month for November, 2022. Mrs. Tutor 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 at each school are as follows:

Kendall Lewis, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Embrey Lewis, Cottonport Elementary School: Brayden Whittington, Lafargue Elementary School; Annamae St. Romain, Marksville Elementary School; JaVon Melancon, Plaucheville Elementary School; Payden Porterie, Riverside Elementary School; Star Ponthieux, Avoyelles High School; Aaliyah Allen, Bunkie Magnet High School; Evin Courtney, Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences; and Hasna Mohamad, Marksville High School.

On behalf of the Board, President Aimee Dupuy commended the students on this outstanding achievement.

3.             Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater recognized the Teachers of the Month for November, 2022. She commended the teachers for their dedication, and Superintendent Tutor presented a plaque to each teacher, as follows:

Lindsey Bertrand, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Haley DeMars, Cottonport Elementary School; Sarah Landry. Lafargue Elementary School; Nikki Guidry, Marksville Elementary School; Nikki Clark, Plaucheville Elementary School; Amber Bordelon, Riverside Elementary School; Ryan Gremillion, Avoyelles High School; Debra Leblanc, Bunkie

Magnet High School; Brandy Hoyt, Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences; and Dillion Juneau, Marksville High School.

On behalf of the Board, President Aimee Dupuy commended the teachers on this outstanding achievement.

1.              On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board deferred Item #4, Recognition of the 2023 New Teacher of the Year winners, to the February 2023 regular meeting. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

2.              President Aimee Dupuy recognized outgoing Board members Chris Lacour of District 3 and Stanley Celestine, Jr. of District 5. They were each presented with a plaque for their outstanding service and dedication to the Avoyelles Parish School Board and their constituents. Mr. Lacour and Mr. Celestine both expressed that they were honored to serve and their goals were accomplished, and both stated they would still be available to help whenever and wherever needed.

3.              APSB Recognition: Justin Dufour, Avoyelles Parish County Agent, recognized five 4-H members who were chosen to represent the Avoyelles Livestock program, as follows: Lani Causey, Andrew Dauzat, Clara Deloach, Olivia Germany, and Dayton Pennington. These students will serve as Avoyelles 4-H Livestock Ambassadors for 2023.

4.              President Aimee Dupuy addressed the Board regarding Courtesy Fund Guidelines.

On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Stanley Celestine, Jr., the Board approved the Courtesy Fund Guidelines as presented. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

5.              Superintendent Karen Tutor addressed the Board with a recommendation to raise school board member salaries to $800.00 per month beginning in January, 2023.

A motion was made by Lynn Deloach, seconded by Robin Moreau, that the Board raise school board member salaries to $800.00 per month, beginning in January. 2023. The motion was adopted by the following 6-3 vote:

YEAS:              Lynn Deloach. Robin Moreau, Latisha Small, Chris Robinson, Rickey Adams, and Jill Guidry.

NAYS:              Chris Lacour, Stanley Celestine, Jr., and Aimee Dupuy.

6.              President Aimee Dupuy addressed the Board regarding clarification of the roles and responsibilities of the APSB Advisor Student Council.

On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board deferred this item to the Education Committee. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

1.           Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve a contract between TPG Environmental Services and the Avoyelles Parish School Board in the amount of $134,411.22, funded by ESSER.

A motion was made by Latisha Small, seconded by Stanley Celestine, Jr., that the Board approve the contract between TPG Environmental Services and the Avoyelles Parish School Board. The motion failed by the following 7-2 vote:

YEAS:              Latisha Small and Stanley Celestine, Jr.

NAYS:              Lynn Deloach, Chris Lacour, Robin Moreau, Chris Robinson, Rickey Adams, Jill Guidry, and Aimee Dupuy.

2.           Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater addressed the Board regarding a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Access Health Louisiana and the Avoyelles Parish School Board.

On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Chris Lacour, the Board approved the MOU between Access Health Louisiana and the Avoyelles Parish School Board. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

3.           Committee Reports

(a)   Lynn Deloach, Chairman of the Education Committee, presented the following report:

EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORT

November 15, 2022

The Education Committee of the Avoyelles Parish School Board met on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. at the Avoyelles Parish School Board Office with the following members present:

Lynn Deloach, Chairman; Rickey Adams; Aimee Dupuy, President; Karen L. Tutor, Superintendent; and Thelma Prater, Assistant Superintendent. Chris Robinson and Latisha Small were absent. Also present were Robin Moreau, Stanley Celestine, Jr., and Jill Guidry, Board members; Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance; Jessica Rachal, Sales Tax Supervisor; Brent Whiddon, Transportation Supervisor; Steve Marcotte, Maintenance Supervisor; other supervisors and coordinators. Committee member Latisha Small entered the Education Committee Meeting at 4:35 pm.

1.         Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater addressed the Education Committee for discussion of the BackPack Program.

The Education Committee did not take any action on this matter.

2.         Superintendent Karen Tutor addressed the Education Committee with information about SPS Assessment Scores. These scores are expected to be released in November. Superintendent Tutor stated she hopes to have a full report for the December Board meeting.

The Education Committee did not take any action on this matter.

The Education Committee respectfully recommends the adoption of this report.

Lynn Deloach, Chairman

Education Committee

On motion by Lynn Deloach, seconded by Jill Guidry, the Board adopted the Education Committee Report as presented by Chairman Deloach. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

(b)   Stanley Celestine, Jr., Chairman of the Executive Committee, presented the following report:

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT

November 15, 2022

The Executive Committee of the Avoyelles Parish School Board met on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 4:36 p.m. at the Avoyelles Parish School Board Office with the following members present:

Stanley Celestine, Jr., Chairman; Jill Guidry, Robin Moreau, Lynn Deloach; Aimee Dupuy, President; Karen L. Tutor, Superintendent; and Thelma Prater, Assistant Superintendent. Also present were Latisha Small and Rickey Adams, Board members; Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance; Jessica Rachal, Sales Tax Supervisor; Brent Whiddon, Transportation Supervisor; Steve Marcotte, Maintenance Supervisor; other supervisors and coordinators. Board member Chris Robinson entered the Executive Committee Meeting at 4:37 pm.

1.             Superintendent Karen Tutor addressed the Executive Committee with a request to reschedule the January 3, 2023, and April 4, 2023, regular Board meetings and the February 21, 2023, Committee meeting.

On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Jill Guidry, the Executive Committee recommended to move the January 3 Board meeting to January 10, 2023; the February 21 Committee meeting to February 28, 2023; and the April 4 Board meeting to April 11, 2023. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

2.             Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater addressed the Executive Committee with a recommendation to approve the contract for Professional or Technical Services between A+PEL and the Avoyelles Parish School Board.

On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Executive Committee recommended to approve the contract for Professional or Technical Services between A+PEL and the Avoyelles Parish School Board, to be funded by Achieve Grant with the total payment not to exceed $86,100.00. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

3.              Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance, addressed the Executive Committee with a recommendation to approve the Service Agreement software between Tyler Technologies, Inc. and the Avoyelles Parish School Board.

On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Executive Committee recommended to approve the 3-year Service Agreement software between Tyler Technologies, Inc. and the Avoyelles Parish School Board, to be funded by Indirect Cost and ESSER Funds, if allowable, with the initial startup costs not to exceed $336,605.00. Annual fee is approved up to $120,737.00 for the duration of the contract, and authority is granted to the Superintendent and Finance Director to negotiate the details and finalize the signing of the contract. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

4.              Jessica Rachal, Sales Tax Supervisor, addressed the Executive Committee with a recommendation to approve the renewal Agreement for Services between Avenu Insights & Analytics, LLC and the Avoyelles Parish School Board.

On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Lynn Deloach, the Executive Committee recommended to approve the renewal Agreement for Services between Avenu Insights & Analytics, LLC and the Avoyelles Parish School Board. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

5.              Superintendent Karen Tutor addressed the Executive Committee with a recommendation to approve the Act of Exchange between the Avoyelles Parish School Board and the Town of Bunkie.

On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Executive Committee recommended to approve the Act of Exchange between the Avoyelles Parish School Board and the Town of Bunkie, contingent upon the Interagency Agreement received by Superintendent Tutor after the agenda was out. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

The Executive Committee respectfully recommends the adoption of this report.

Stanley Celestine, Jr., Chairman Executive Committee

On motion by Stanley Celestine, Jr., seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board adopted the Executive Committee Report as presented by Chairman Celestine. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 (c) Robin Moreau. Chairman of the Finance Committee, presented the following report:

FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

November 15, 2022

The Finance Committee of the Avoyelles Parish School Board met on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at approximately 5:07 p.m. at the Avoyelles Parish School Board Office with the following members present:

Robin Moreau, Chairman; Rickey Adams, Stanley Celestine, Jr., Jill Guidry; Aimee Dupuy, President; Karen L. Tutor, Superintendent; and Thelma Prater, Assistant Superintendent. Also present were Latisha Small, Lynn Deloach, and Chris Robinson, Board members; Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance; Jessica Rachal, Sales Tax Supervisor; Brent Whiddon, Transportation Supervisor; Steve Marcotte, Maintenance Supervisor; other supervisors and coordinators.

1.           Jessica Rachal, Sales Tax Supervisor, presented an actual sales tax report for the month of October, 2022. She stated that sales tax collections totaled $968,818.98. Mrs. Rachal said that of this amount, the 1% sales tax generated $553,610.81, the 0.25% sales tax generated $138,402.77, and the building and maintenance fund generated $ 276,805.40.

2.           Chairman Robin Moreau presented the monthly maintenance report on expenditures for the committee's review.

The Finance Committee did not take any action on this matter.

3.           Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance, addressed the Finance Committee with a monthly General Fund 2022-2023 Year-to-Date Report with Comparisons.

The Finance Committee did not take any action on this matter.

4.           Superintendent Karen Tutor addressed the Finance Committee with a recommendation to raise school board member salaries to $800.00 per month beginning in January, 2023.

On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Rickey Adams, the Finance Committee recommended to move this item to the full Board on December 6, 2022. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

5.           Board member Chris Robinson addressed the Finance Committee with a recommendation to raise the School Board Social Fund deduction from $15.00 per month to $20.00 per month.

On motion by Rickey Adams, seconded by Stanley Celestine, Jr., the Finance Committee recommended to increase the School Board Courtesy Fund deduction from $15.00 per month to $20.00 per month. The motion was carried by the following 4-1 vote:

YEAS: Robin Moreau, Stanley Celestine, Jr., Rickey Adams, and Jill Guidry NAYS: Aimee Dupuy

6.         Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater addressed the Finance Committee regarding requests for overnight travel.

On motion by Rickey Adams, seconded by Stanley Celestine, Jr., the Finance Committee recommended to approve the overnight travel requests. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

The Finance Committee respectfully recommends the adoption of this report.

Robin Moreau, Chairman

Finance Committee

On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Rickey Adams, the Board adopted the Finance Committee Report as presented by Chairman Moreau. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

(d) Rickey Adams, Chairman of the Bus Committee, presented the following report:

BUS COMMITTEE MEETING

November 15, 2022

The Bus Committee of the Avoyelles Parish School Board met on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at approximately 5:36 p.m. at the Avoyelles Parish School Board Office with the following members present:

Rickey Adams, Chairman; Latisha Small, Chris Robinson; Aimee Dupuy, President; Karen L. Tutor, Superintendent; and Thelma Prater, Assistant Superintendent. Committee member Chris Lacour was absent. Also present were Lynn Deloach, Robin Moreau, Stanley Celestine, Jr., and Jill Guidry, Board members; Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance; Jessica Rachal, Sales Tax Supervisor; Brent Whiddon, Transportation Supervisor; Steve Marcotte, Maintenance Supervisor; other supervisors, coordinators, and principals.

1.             Brent Whiddon, Transportation Supervisor, presented an update report on bus incidents in the school district.

The Bus Committee did not take any action on this matter.

2.             Chairman Rickey Adams addressed the Bus Committee for discussion of Bus Grants that were awarded to Point Coupee and Rapides Parishes.

The Bus Committee did not take any action on this matter.

The Bus Committee respectfully recommends the adoption of this report.

Rickey Adams, Chairman

Bus Committee

On motion by Rickey Adams, seconded by Jill Guidry, the Board adopted the Bus Committee Report as presented by Chairman Adams. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

13.        Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater addressed the Board for approval of overnight travel requests.

On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board approved the requests for overnight travel as presented by Assistant Superintendent Prater. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

14.        Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater presented personnel changes for the Board's review.

PERSONNEL CHANGES

BUNKIE ELEMENTARY LEARNING ACADEMY                                  Resignation of Candance Guidroz, teacher, effective November 18, 2022.

COTTONPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL                                            Appointment of Erica M. Tucker, (TAT) teacher, effective November 29, 2022 through December 21, 2022.

PLAUCHEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL                                         Appointment of Angelique M. Wilson, (TAT) teacher, effective November 29, 2022 through December 21, 2022.

                                                                                            Transfer/Appointment of Jessica L. Alexander, (TAT) teacher, from Avoyelles High, effective November 29, 2022 through December 21, 2022.

                                                                                            Appointment of Mandy L. Guillory, (TAT) teacher, effective December 6, 2022 through December 21, 2022.

BUNKIE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL                                                     Resignation of Cornelius Harrison, custodian, effective November 17, 2022.

MARKSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL                                                           Appointment of Emile Celestine, (retired) teacher, effective November 9, 2022 through December 21, 2022.

AVOYELLES VIRTUAL ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM                            Appointment of Levon A. Minor, Band Director, effective November 10, 2022 through May 30, 2023.

                                                                                                      Resignation of Elydia Hill, paraprofessional, effective at the end of the day on December 21, 2022.

15.        Superintendent's Comments: Superintendent Karen L. Tutor presented the District Performance Scores Report. The aggregated data for the School Performance Scores are still being compiled and will be presented at a later date. An issue of performance pay arose, but this issue will be discussed at the next committee meeting. Superintendent Tutor congratulated all teachers and principals for improvements and progress achieved this year. Board member Chris Robinson publicly thanked Rebecca Courville, Rachel Milligan, Devyn Ponthieu, Rochelle Baldouz, and Katelyn Hillman for voluntarily taking pictures of student athletes during sporting events for the students and their families. He and fellow Board member Rickey Adams expressed their appreciation to all principals and teachers for their hard work in improving their schools' scores.

16.        An Executive Session was on the agenda to discuss a student matter. However, the requested documentation was not received. Therefore, this item is hereby removed.

There being no further business, on motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Jill Guidry, the meeting was adjourned. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

AVOYELLES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Aimee Dupuy, President

Karen L. Tutor, Superintendent Secretary/Treasurer