SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS
The Avoyelles Parish School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. at the School Board Office in Marksville, Louisiana, with the following members present:
Rickey Adams, President; Robin Moreau, Vice President; Latisha Small, Lynn Deloach, Keith Lacombe, Jay Callegari, Jill Guidry, and Aimee Dupuy.
Absent: Chris Robinson.
An Invocation was offered by Dexter Compton, Supervisor of Curriculum.
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America led by Board member Keith Lacombe.
On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Jay Callegari, the Board adopted the minutes of the regular Board meeting held on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, as printed and mailed to Board members and published in The Weekly News, official journal of the Board. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
a. Board member Keith Lacombe read a resolution of respect to the late Queen Harrell Alexander, retired teacher.
On motion by Keith Lacombe, seconded by Jill Guidry, the Board adopted the resolution of respect to the late Queen Harrell Alexander, retired teacher. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
b. Board Vice President Robin Moreau read a resolution of respect to the late Fay Ducote Guillory, retired teacher.
On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Jill Guidry, the Board adopted the resolution of respect to the late Fay Ducote Guillory, retired teacher. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Superintendent Karen Tutor recognized the Students of the Month for February, 2025, and presented a plaque to each student. Each Board member read a short biography detailing the accomplishments of each student.
The Students of the Month at each school are as follows:
Raylon Payne, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Taji Washington, Cottonport Elementary School; Brandyn Dodge, Lafargue Elementary School; Kynlee Richardson, Marksville Elementary School; Maci Mire, Plaucheville Elementary School; Adlee Snyder, Riverside Elementary School; Parker Gauthier, Avoyelles High School; Quinterious Timothy, Bunkie Magnet High School; Damien Lally, Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences; and Anneshia Reed, Marksville High School.
On behalf of the Board, President Rickey Adams commended the students on this outstanding achievement.
Dexter Compton, Supervisor of Curriculum, recognized the Teachers of the Month for February, 2025. He commended the teachers for their dedication, and Superintendent Tutor presented a plaque to each teacher, as follows:
Teresa Gauthier, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Gail Harvey, Cottonport Elementary School; Kayla Laborde, Lafargue Elementary School; Debra Hale, Marksville Elementary School; Daphne Klingensmith, Plaucheville Elementary School; Madeline Riche, Riverside Elementary School; Kennedy Dauzat, Avoyelles High School; Misty Blanchard, Bunkie Magnet High School; Brandy Dupont, Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences; and Dillon Juneau, Marksville High School.
On behalf of the Board, President Rickey Adams commended the teachers on this outstanding achievement.
Amy Volentine, Testing/Media Manager, recognized the 2025 New Teachers of the Year as follows:
Brandi Williams, Cottonport Elementary School; Abby Baronne, Lafargue Elementary School; Courtney Cater, Avoyelles High School; and Devin Davis, Marksville High School.
District Winner: Abby Baronne, Lafargue Elementary School.
INFORMATION ITEMS:
Contina Anderson recognized Cottonport Elementary Beta Club State Winners: 1st place in 4th grade Spelling, 2nd place in 5th grade Spelling, and 1st place in Elementary Creative Writing. The Board congratulated the Beta Club on this exceptional accomplishment.
Amy Soileau recognized the Avoyelles Parish 4-H Livestock Show Buckle and Premier Exhibitor winners.
Special Needs Prom – This item has been removed from the agenda.
Dexter Compton, Supervisor of Curriculum, addressed the Board with information on the 2025 Avoyelles Parish School Summer Program, which will be held at Bunkie Magnet High School, Marksville Elementary School, and Riverside Elementary School..
Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance, presented the Sales Tax Report for the month of February. Sales tax collections totaled $865,715.47. Of this amount, the 1% sales tax generated $494,694.17, the 0.25% sales tax generated $123,674.22, and the building and maintenance fund generated $247,347.08.
Board President Rickey Adams presented the monthly maintenance report on expenditures.
Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance, presented the Board with the Balance Sheet and Monthly General Fund 2024-2025 Year-to-Date Report with Comparisons.
Personnel changes were reported for the Board’s review, as follows:
PERSONNEL CHANGES
|
BUNKIE ELEMENTARY LEARNING ACADEMY |
Resignation of Wade Cessac, custodian, effective February 14, 2025. |
|
COTTONPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL |
Appointment of Kaelyn G. Tassin, (TAT) teacher, effective March 5, 2025 through May 27, 2025. |
|
AVOYELLES HIGH SCHOOL |
Resignation of John C. Corley, teacher/coach, effective February 28, 2025. |
|
LOUISIANA SCHOOL FOR THE AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES |
Resignation of Heather Dauzat, secretary, effective February 28, 2025. |
|
MARKSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL |
Appointment of Keith R. Edwards, (TAT) teacher, effective March 18, 2025 through May 27, 2025. |
|
CENTRAL OFFICE |
Resignation of Demetria L. Francois-Alexander, Supervisor of Federal Programs, effective at the end of the day on April 30, 2025, for the purpose of retirement. |
CONSENT ITEMS:
Request to approve the lease agreement between Xerox Financial Services, LLC and Avoyelles Parish School Board Central Office.
Request to approve the lease agreement between Xerox Financial Services, LLC and Plaucheville Elementary School.
Request to approve the cooperative endeavor agreement between Central Louisiana Technical Community College and Avoyelles Parish School Board to provide dual enrollment courses that will be accessible and beneficial to high school students within the boundaries of the aforementioned School Board.
Request to approve the renewal of Incident IQ, our technology inventory management system, from March 31, 2025 through March 30, 2026, to be funded with Technology Funds in the amount of $11,163.32.
Request to advertise for bids for insurance renewal.
Request to advertise for bids for kitchen hoods for Marksville High School, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy, and Avoyelles High School through the School Food Service Department.
Request to advertise for bids for the Child Nutrition Warehouse addition, to be funded using School Food Service Account 135.
Request to approve the purchase agreement with Solution Tree, Inc. for Trauma-Sensitive Instruction in the amount of $17,425.20, to be funded by Title I.
Request to approve the contract with First Choice Therapy, Inc. for the 2025-2026 school year for the services of occupational and physical therapy. CPT codes will be billed at a rate of $114.00 per code entered (Exhibit A). Any hour of other services will be billed at the rate of $87/hour (Exhibit A) to be paid from General Funds.
Request to renew the contract with Educators Rising Academy for one (1) year in the amount of $6,500.00, to be funded by General Fund.
Request to advertise for janitorial supply bids for the 2025-2026 school year.
Request to approve overnight travel.
On motion by Jay Callegari, seconded by Jill Guidry, the Board approved all of the consent agenda items. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ACTION ITEMS:
Dexter Compton, Supervisor of Curriculum, addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve the ROTC job description.
On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Lynn Deloach, the Board approved the ROTC job description. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance, presented the 2024-2025 General Fund Revised Budget for the Board’s approval.
On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board approved the 2024-2025 General Fund Revised Budget. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Jennifer Dismer, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, presented the 2025-2026 School Calendar (adopted by the Calendar Committee on March 5, 2025) for the Board’s approval.
On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Jay Callegari, the Board approved the 2025-2026 School Calendar which was adopted by the Calendar Committee on March 5, 2025. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve a proposal from Moreau Land Surveying to survey Spring Bayou 16th Section campsite properties in the amount of $10,500.00. This will identify the current camp locations and new campsite locations for leasing.
On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Aimee Dupuy, the Board approved the proposal from Moreau Land Surveying to survey Spring Bayou 16th Section campsite properties in the amount of $10,500.00 to identify the current camp locations and new campsite locations for leasing will be funded from the 16th Section Fund. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve the purchase of a sign to rename the BELA gym in honor of Albert Dossman, not to exceed $11,001.61. We have not received the other two quotes for the sign which could be priced lower, but these will not be considered if they are more than $11,001.61.
On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Latisha Small, the Board approved the purchase of a sign to rename the BELA gym in honor of Albert Dossman, not to exceed $11,001.61. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve Wayne Coco as the architect for the FFA Camp in Old River. The price for his services will be 9% of the cost of the project. This will be funded by the FFA Funds account.
On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Lynn Deloach, the Board named Wayne Coco as the architect for the FFA Camp in Old River with the price of his services at 9% of the cost of the project, to be funded by the FFA Funds account. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve the Cleco Commercial HVAC Tune Up Energy Program, Project Sponsor, and Customer Agreement with Cleco and M3 Services. This Cleco HVAC Tune Up Program will be delivered to APSB at no cost to the school district. Cleco will pay M3 Services for all costs associated with the HVAC Tune Up Energy Program.
On motion by Jay Callegari, seconded by Jill Guidry, the Board approved the Cleco Commercial HVAC Tune Up Energy Program, Project Sponsor, and Customer Agreement with Cleco and M3 Services, which will be delivered to APSB at no cost to the school district. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Keith Lacombe, the Board entered Executive Session at approximately 5:58 p.m. to discuss two items (see #35 and #36 below).
On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board came out of Executive Session at approximately 6:18 p.m. with the following decisions:
Workers Comp case – On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board refused settlement of Workers Comp Case #23000014. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Discussion/Action Student Discipline/Restitution matter – No action was taken.
There being no further business, on motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Aimee Dupuy, the meeting was adjourned.
AVOYELLES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Rickey Adams, President
Karen L. Tutor, Superintendent
Secretary/Treasurer