SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS

The Avoyelles Parish School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. at the School Board Office in Marksville, Louisiana, with the following members present:

Lynn Deloach, President; Jill Guidry, Vice President; Latisha Small, Robin Moreau, Jay Callegari, Chris Robinson, Rickey Adams, and Aimee Dupuy.

Absent: Keith Lacombe.

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 Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Rickey Adams, the Board adopted the minutes of the regular Board meeting held on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, 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 August, 2024, and 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:

Nyzir Moton, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Miles Steven, Cottonport Elementary School; Annie Turner, Lafargue Elementary School; Jacques Gagnard, Marksville Elementary School; Kadence Hukins, Plaucheville Elementary School; Krislynn Armster, Riverside Elementary School; Landon Curry, Avoyelles High School; Emily Anderson, Bunkie Magnet High School; Katie Guillory, Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences; and Brody Laborde, Marksville High School.

On behalf of the Board, President Lynn Deloach commended the students on this outstanding achievement.

3.                  Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater recognized the Teachers of the Month for August, 2024. She commended the teachers for their dedication, and Superintendent Tutor presented a plaque to each teacher, as follows:

Bianca Word, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Alexandrea Simon, Cottonport Elementary School; Jessica Dauzat, Lafargue Elementary School; Pam Laborde, Marksville Elementary School; Lisa Deshautelle, Plaucheville Elementary School; Samaria Allen, Riverside Elementary School; Kellie Guilbeau, Avoyelles High School; Amanda Fontenot, Bunkie Magnet High School; Keri Desselle, Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences; and Phillip Augustine, Marksville High School.

On behalf of the Board, President Lynn Deloach commended the teachers on this outstanding achievement.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

4.                  Superintendent Karen Tutor addressed with Board with an update of the Strategic Plan.

5.                  Jessica Rachal, Sales Tax Supervisor, presented the Sales Tax Report for the month of August, 2024. Sales tax collections totaled $888,829.25. Of this amount, the 1% sales tax generated $507,902.65, the 0.25% sales tax generated $126,975.27, and the building and maintenance fund generated $253,951.33.

6.                  Board member Rickey Adams presented the monthly maintenance report on expenditures.

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

PERSONNEL CHANGES

CONSENT ITEMS:

8.                  Request to approve the 2024-2025 Handbook amendment on Inactive Google Account Policy.

9.                  Request to approve the MOU between the Louisiana Department of Revenue and the Avoyelles Parish School Board.

10.               Request to allow Beauregard Parish to piggyback off Avoyelles Parish for OPENGATE with A3 Communications.

11.               Request to approve overnight travel.

On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Jay Callegari, the Board approved the consent agenda items. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

ACTION ITEMS:

12.               Marksville Mayor John Lemoine addressed the Board with a request to approve the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the City of Marksville and the Avoyelles Parish School Board. This agreement is required by Legislative Act 103 to use automated speed enforcement devices or mobile speed cameras in school zones to enforce traffic violations, the citations of which are issued by mail.

A motion was offered by Latisha Small, seconded by Chris Robinson, that the Board approve the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the City of Marksville and the Avoyelles Parish School Board, dividing the net revenue collected from electronic enforcement device citations in school zones on a 50/50 basis. The motion was approved by the following 5-3 vote:

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

NAYS:            Jay Callegari, Jill Guidry, and Aimee Dupuy.

Jay Callegari goes on record as saying " I must express my reservations regarding the agreement with the City of Marksville, primarily on procedural grounds. Public safety criminal law is fundamentally anchored in the principle of due process. However, civilly based public safety codes often stem from fiscal considerations rather than procedural justice. Unlike criminal public safety laws, civil torts do not afford the same level of due process protections. Historically, public safety laws here have been criminal in nature, thereby providing citizens with significant procedural rights. Altering the foundational basis of these laws to favor governmental advantage risks infringing on constitutional protections. As a constitutional scholar and an expert in reform legislation, I am acutely aware of the implications such changes can bring. While I recognize Marksville 's intentions to enhance public safety and generate revenue through civil measures, I cannot endorse an agreement that, in my assessment, potentially compromises the right of citizens."

13.               Kimberly Diaz (FSCSC) addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve the wrapping of the Riverside Elementary School, Plaucheville Elementary School, and APSB community buses for a total cost of $54,000.00 to be paid with Full Service Community Grant Funds, Community donations and remainder General Funds. The lowest quote was by BK Distributors.

On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board accepted the lowest quote of $54,000 (total cost) from BK Distributors for wrapping of the Riverside Elementary School, Plaucheville Elementary School, and APSB community buses to be paid with Full Service Community Grant Funds, Community donations and remainder General Fund. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

14.               Dawn Pitre, Special Services Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve the contract with Rise and Sign Therapies, a company that performs comprehensive speech and language evaluation services for deaf students in our district, to be funded by IDEA-B Funds and shall not exceed $5,000.00.

On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Jill Guidry, the Board approved the contract with Rise and Sign Therapies to be funded by IDEA-B Funds and shall not exceed $5,000.00. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

15.               Dexter Compton, Supervisor of Secondary Education, addressed the Board requesting approval to spend an ACT 771 allocation of $257,000 for High Dosage Tutoring for grades K-6 to impact as many students as possible.

On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Jay Callegari, the Board agreed to spend an ACT 771 allocation of $257,000 for High Dosage Tutoring for grades K-6 to impact as many students as possible. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

16.               Jessica Rachal, Sales Tax Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve the Agency Participation Agreement between The Office of Debt Recovery (ODR) and the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR).

On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board approved the Agency Participation Agreement between The Office of Debt Recovery (ODR) and the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR). MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

17.               Jessica Rachal, Sales Tax Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve stipends to comply with the 2024-2025 Certificated and Support Stipend appropriated during the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature.

On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Latisha Small, the Board approved stipends to comply with the 2024-2025 Certificated and Support Stipend appropriated during the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

18.               Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to accept the lowest price of $160,000.00 from Coleman Roofing for reroofing the CES gym roof and the LES gym roof. This will be funded with $100,000 from Needs Assessment. The remaining amount will come from $30,000 of leftover funds from MHS Athletic Indirect Cost plus $30,000 from ESSER Indirect Cost.

On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Aimee Dupuy, the Board accepted the lowest price of $160,000.00 from Coleman Roofing for reroofing the CES gym roof and the LES gym roof to be funded with $100,000 from Needs Assessment, $30,000 from leftover funds from MHS Athletic Indirect Cost, and $30,000 from ESSER Indirect Cost. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

19.               Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a request to declare surplus, advertise for bids, and sell ten (10) used buses. Please see attachment for bus numbers, years, makes, and VIN numbers.

On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Aimee Dupuy, the Board approved the request to declare surplus, advertise for bids, and sell ten (10) used buses identified on the above mentioned attachment. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

There being no further business, on motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Jay Callegari, the meeting was adjourned.

AVOYELLES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD