SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS
The Avoyelles Parish School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, December 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, Keith Lacombe, Robin Moreau, Jay Callegari, Chris Robinson, Rickey Adams and Aimee Dupuy.
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 Jill Guidry.
On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Jay Callegari, the Board adopted the minutes of the regular Board meeting held on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, as printed and mailed to Board members and published in The Weekly News, official journal of the Board. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Board Vice President Jill Guidry read a resolution of respect to the late Cheryl Lynn Eggins, retired school secretary.
On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board adopted the resolution of respect to the late Cheryl Lynn Eggins, retired school secretary. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Superintendent Karen Tutor recognized the Students of the Month for November, 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:
Bra’Lynn Holts, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Olivia Valdez, Cottonport Elementary School; Romond Edwards, Lafargue Elementary School; Hunter Lee, Marksville Elementary School; Lillian Sons, Plaucheville Elementary School; Tucker Henderson, Riverside Elementary School; Owen Rusk, Avoyelles High School; Dominic Palermo, Bunkie Magnet High School; Xavier Young, Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences; and Bralyn Bazile, Marksville High School.
On behalf of the Board, President Lynn Deloach commended the students on this outstanding achievement.
Assistant Superintendent Thelma J. Prater recognized the Teachers of the Month for November, 2024. She commended the teachers for their dedication, and Superintendent Tutor presented a plaque to each teacher, as follows:
Kaylie McCoy, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Charlotte Kyle, Cottonport Elementary School; Kelley Juneau, Lafargue Elementary School; Allie Dunn, Marksville Elementary School; Mandy Guillory, Plaucheville Elementary School; Jamie Farnham, Riverside Elementary School; Brianna Vaccaro, Avoyelles High School; Doris Leary, Bunkie Magnet High School; Casey Carnicle, Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences; and Jacqueline Jordan, Marksville High School.
On behalf of the Board, President Lynn Deloach commended the teachers on this outstanding achievement.
INFORMATION ITEMS:
The Sales Tax Report was presented for the month of November, 2024. Sales tax collections totaled $925,793.43. Of this amount, the 1% sales tax generated $529,024.89, the 0.25% sales tax generated $132,256.10, and the building and maintenance fund generated $264,512.44.
Board member Rickey Adams presented the monthly maintenance report on expenditures.
Board member Jay Callegari addressed the Board about investing lease money back into lease areas to increase our opportunity for profit.
The following personnel changes were reported for the Board’s review.
PERSONNEL CHANGES
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BUNKIE ELEMENTARY LEARNING ACADEMY |
Reappointment of Edwina B. Lewis, teacher, effective December 4, 2024 through May 27, 2025. |
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MARKSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL |
Resignation of Albertha Courtney, paraprofessional, effective at the end of the day November 15, 2024. |
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PLAUCHEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL |
Resignation of Misty Scallan, paraprofessional, effective December 3, 2024. |
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RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL |
Transfer/Appointment of Victoria A. Williams from school-wide paraprofessional to (TAT) teacher, effective December 3, 2024 through December 20, 2024. |
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AVOYELLES HIGH SCHOOL |
Appointment of Ryan J. Gremillion, teacher, effective December 3, 2024 through May 27, 2025. |
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BUNKIE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL |
Appointment of Page M. Lavalais, bus driver, effective November 20, 2024, replacing Judy Dubroc. |
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MARKSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL |
Resignation of Micki Johnson, teacher, effective December 6, 2024. |
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AVOYELLES VIRTUAL ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM (AVAP) |
Resignation of Vera Lee, teacher, effective May 24, 2024. |
CONSENT ITEMS:
Request to approve the lease agreement between Xerox Financial Services, LLC and Marksville Elementary School.
Request to approve the termination of overdue leases and filing suit for eviction due to unpaid rental fees. Attached is a list of the leases that are overdue—the leaseholders have been notified three times with no response.
Request to approve overnight travel.
On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Jill Guidry, the Board approved the consent agenda items. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ACTION ITEMS:
Board member Aimee Dupuy addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve revised policy File: BCBD – Agenda Preparation and Dissemination on striking out the verbiage about the “2 time” maximum agenda items. After some discussion, no action was taken at this time.
On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Rickey Adams, the Board agreed to table this issue until the January, 2025, regular meeting. Superintendent Karen Tutor will seek advice from Forethought Consulting, Inc. regarding this matter and report back at the January meeting. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mary Bonnette, Finance Director, addressed the Board to request approval of the General Fund Revision. She also presented the Monthly General Fund 2024-2025 Year-to-Date Report with Comparisons.
On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Jill Guidry, the Board approved the General Fund Revision. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mary Bonnette, Finance Director, addressed the Board to request approval of the 2024-2025 Special Maintenance Budget Revision, the 2024-2025 LaSAS Proposed Budget Revision, and the 2024-2025 Food Service Proposed Budget Revision.
On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Jill Guidry, the Board approved the 2024-2025 Special Maintenance Budget Revision, the 2024-2025 LaSAS Proposed Budget Revision, and the 2024-2025 Food Service Proposed Budget Revision. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Jenny Welch, Food Service Supervisor addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve the AIA Agreement with Wayne Coco for the purpose of replacing three school kitchen hoods utilizing main school food service funds.
On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded Keith Lacombe, the Board approved the AIA Agreement with Wayne Coco for the purpose of replacing three school kitchen hoods utilizing main school food service funds. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Jenny Welch, Food Service Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve the AIA Agreement with Wayne Coco for the purpose of constructing a Child Nutrition Warehouse addition utilizing Fund 135.
On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded Jill Guidry, the Board approved the AIA Agreement with Wayne Coco for the purpose of constructing a Child Nutrition Warehouse addition utilizing Fund 135. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to accept the letter of termination of the Intragovernmental Agreement between the Town of Simmesport and the Avoyelles Parish School Board for the use of the former Simmesport Elementary School and baseball field located at 620 South Martin Luther King Drive.
On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Rickey Adams, the Board accepted the letter of termination of the Intragovernmental Agreement between the Town of Simmesport and the Avoyelles Parish School Board for the use of the former Simmesport Elementary School and RES baseball field. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to accept the low bid of Gibko in the amount of $14,052.00 to correct the drainage issue at Marksville High School on either side of the main building where trees were recently cut. This will be funded with Indirect Costs.
On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Rickey Adams, the Board accepted the low bid of Gibko in the amount of $14,052.000 to correct the drainage issue at Marksville High School on either side of the main building where trees were recently cut, funded by Indirect Costs. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to accept the low bid of $14,358.00 by Rusk Carpentry to replace the roof on the Fifth Ward Community Center, funded by Indirect Costs.
A motion was made by Robin Moreau, seconded by Keith Lacombe, that the Board accept the low bid of $14,358.00 by Rusk Carpentry to replace the roof on the Fifth Ward Community Center, funded by Indirect Costs.
The motion failed by the following 4-5 vote:
YEAS: Robin Moreau, Keith Lacombe, Lynn Deloach, and Jill Guidry
NAYS: Latisha Small, Jay Callegari, Chris Robinson, Rickey Adams, and Aimee Dupuy.
Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to accept the bid from Jeansonne Lawn Services in the amount of $11,400 to restripe the central office parking lots and place wheel stops for parking spots, funded by Indirect Costs. This is not the lowest price but is the best option for these services, per Mr. Carlock.
A motion was made by Robin Moreau, seconded by Jay Callegari, that the Board accept the bid from Jeansonne Lawn Services in the amount of $11,400 to restripe the central office parking lots and place wheel stops for parking spots, funded by Indirect Costs.
The motion was approved by the following 8-1 vote:
YEAS: Robin Moreau, Jay Callegari, Latisha Small, Keith Lacombe, Lynn Deloach, Jill Guidry, Chris Robinson, and Rickey Adams.
NAYS: Aimee Dupuy.
Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve the bid from Gibko in the amount of $26,537 to replace the tennis court lights and cross arms in Marksville, funded by Indirect Costs. The school district will solicit funds from the City of Marksville to share the cost of this project. This is not the lowest price but is the best option at this time, per Mr. Carlock.
A motion was made by Robin Moreau, seconded by Keith Lacombe, that the Board accept the bid from Gibko in the amount of $26,537 to replace the tennis court lights and cross arms in Marksville, funded by Indirect Costs, with the City of Marksville sharing the cost of this project.
The motion was approved by the following 7-2 vote:
YEAS: Robin Moreau, Keith Lacombe, Latisha Small, Jay Callegari, Lynn Deloach, Jill Guidry, and Chris Robinson.
NAYS: Rickey Adams and Aimee Dupuy.
Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to accept the low bid of $6500 from Doog Dufour to clean up and haul off everything on Lot 41 Old River, utilizing FFA Funds.
On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board approved the low bid of $6500 from Doog Dufour to clean up and haul off everything on Lot 41 Old River, utilizing FFA Funds. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
In miscellaneous business, Board member Robin Moreau requested that a meeting be scheduled between the Board members and the agricultural teachers regarding the FFA camp.
There being no further business, on motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Jill Guidry, the meeting was adjourned.
AVOYELLES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Lynn Deloach, President
Karen L. Tutor, Superintendent
Secretary/Treasurer