SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS

The Avoyelles Parish School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, May 27, 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, Chris Robinson, Jill Guidry, and Aimee Dupuy.

Absent: None.

1. An Invocation was offered by Dexter Compton, Supervisor of Curriculum.

    

2. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America led by Board member Robin Moreau.

    

   Board member Chris Robinson entered the meeting at this time.

    

3. On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board adopted the minutes of the regular Board meeting held on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, as printed and mailed to Board members and published in The Weekly News, official journal of the Board.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

    

4. Superintendent Karen Tutor recognized the Students of the Month for April, 2025, 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:

    

   Adalynn Johnson, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Omari Brown, Cottonport Elementary School; Brenner Aymond, Lafargue Elementary School; Ellie Firmin, Marksville Elementary School; Demoine Williams, Plaucheville Elementary School; Kennedy Christal, Riverside Elementary School; Evan Saucier, Avoyelles High School; Quentoria Cole, Bunkie Magnet High School; Dawson Rivas, Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences; and Abbigail Mudge, Marksville High School.

    

   On behalf of the Board, President Rickey Adams commended the students on this outstanding achievement.

    

5. Assistant Superintendent Thelma J. Prater recognized the Teachers of the Month for April, 2025.  She commended the teachers for their dedication, and Superintendent Karen Tutor presented a plaque to each teacher, as follows:

    

   Joni Roy, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Nick Joffrion, Cottonport Elementary School; Melissa Bordelon, Lafargue Elementary School; Lisa Laborde, Marksville Elementary School; Vicki Dufour, Plaucheville Elementary School; Karli Kelone, Riverside Elementary School; Ryan Gremillion, Avoyelles High School; Elizabeth Mayeaux, Bunkie Magnet High School; Brandy Hoyt, LouisianaSchool for the Agricultural Sciences; and Marla Drouin, Marksville High School.

    

   On behalf of the Board, President Rickey Adams commended the teachers on this outstanding achievement.

    

6. Amy Volentine, Testing/Media Manager, recognized the 2026 Teacher of the Year as follows:

    

   ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL

   Phyllis Morris, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Charlotte Kyle, Cottonport Elementary School; Valerie Bordelon, Lafargue Elementary School; Brooke Anderson Marksville Elementary School; Amanda Gauthier, Plaucheville Elementary School; Amber Bordelon, Riverside Elementary School.

    

   *District Winner: Brooke Anderson, Marksville Elementary School

    

   MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL

   Michelle Newsom, Avoyelles High School; Rhonda Andress, Bunkie Magnet High School; William Moreau, Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences; and Jasmine Williams, Marksville High School.

    

   *District Winner: Michelle Newsom, Avoyelles High School

    

   HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL

   Alisha Williams, Avoyelles High School; Dan Murphy, Bunkie Magnet High School; Katie Green, Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences; and Jacqueline Jordan, Marksville High School.

    

   *District Winner: Alisha Williams, Avoyelles High School

    

7. Kim Adams, Principal of Lafargue Elementary School, recognized Chantelle Hataway as 2025 National Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year.  Ms. Hataway was also named 2024 Louisiana Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

8. Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater and CWA Supervisor Jenny Dismer gave an overview on Behavior Academies.

    

9. Jenny Welch, Food Service Supervisor, addressed the Board with a discussion on the Summer Feeding Program and the Summer Feeding Kickoff.  Breakfast and lunch will be served to all students under age 18 from June 2 through July 21, 2025.

    

10. Board member Lynn Deloach addressed the Board with a discussion on the board members’ conference costs.  Board member Robin Moreau requested more in-house training sessions for board members.

     

11. The Sales Tax report was presented for the month of April, 2025.  Sales tax collections totaled $1,077,813.00.  Of this amount, the 1% sales tax generated $615,887.23, the 0.25% sales tax generated $153,982.15, and the building and maintenance fund generated $307,943.62.

     

12. The monthly maintenance report on expenditures was presented.

     

13. The monthly General Fund 2024-2025 Year-to-Date Report with Comparisons was presented.

     

14. The following personnel changes were reported for the Board’s review:

PERSONNEL CHANGES

CONSENT ITEMS:

15. Request to approve the three (3) lease agreements between Xerox Financial Services and Lafargue Elementary School.

     

16. Request to approve the contract between the Avoyelles Parish School Board and Educational Professional Services of Avoyelles for three (3) years of E-rate support, maintenance, and reporting of records, and compliance in the Cybersecurity Grant from 2025-2028 for a cost of $14,548.00 to be paid with Technology Funds.

     

17. Request to approve the renewal of Kami, our district-wide PDF editing program, for the 2025-2026 school year to be paid with Title I funds in the amount of $16,200.00.

     

18. Request to approve the renewal of our Google Workspace Education Plus licenses for students and staff.  It is a 3-year license for a total of $23,400.00 to be paid with Title I funds.

     

19. Request to approve the contract with TransTax for the $70K Federal Propane Tax Credit, No Cost; the vendor will charge a 25% fee on our federal excise tax credit.

     

20. Request to approve the contract with FBAC LLC (Fontenot Benefits & Actuarial Consulting) for GASB 75 Actuary, which is required for our audit report, funded by the General Fund in the amount of $4000.00 for 2025 and $4000.00 for 2026.

     

21. Request to approve the contract agreement with EDgear, funded by the General Fund in the amount of $114,313.50 and IDEA-B in the amount of $2,900.00.

     

22. Request to approve the lease agreement between Xerox Financial Services, LLC and the Avoyelles Parish School Board Special Education Department, funded by IDEA-B.

     

23. Request to approve special education transportation for students to attend the Louisiana School for the Deaf Summer Program in Baton Rouge, LA, to receive remediation and/or further practice in academic skills in American sign language, funded by IDEA-B.

     

24. Request to approve the contract renewal with Sunbelt for gifted teacher Kathryn Gorsha for the 2025-2026 school year in the amount of $70 per hour, not to exceed 34 hours per week, to be paid from the General Fund.

     

25. Request to approve the renewal of Kurzweil 3000 (Audio Optical Systems of Austin) district license for a 3-year subscription, active until August 2028, for the total amount of $37,940.00 to be paid from IDEA-B funds.

     

26. Request to approve the renewal of Goalbook (Enome, Inc.) for a 3-year subscription, active until June 30, 2028, in the amount of $62,475.00 to be paid from IDEA-B funds.

     

27. Request to approve the renewal contract between LASARD (Louisiana Autism Spectrum and Related Disabilities) and Cottonport Elementary School in the amount of $17,500.00 for coaching sessions with SPED teacher(s), funded by IDEA 611 funds.

     

28. Request to approve the renewal contract between LASARD (Louisiana Autism Spectrum and Related Disabilities) and Plaucheville Elementary School in the amount of $17,500.00 for coaching sessions with SPED teacher(s), funded by IDEA 611 funds.

     

29. Request to approve the renewal contract with Riverside Insights for an unlimited subscription to Woodcock-Johnson V, ending February 13, 2027, in the amount of $7,354.56 to be paid from IDEA-B funds.

     

30. Request to approve the renewal of the data sharing agreement between EIS MedClaims (Medicaid contracts) and the Avoyelles Parish School Board, effective May 15, 2025.

     

31. Request to award bids for non-hazardous waste, bread, staple food, and produce.

     

32. Request to raise the CDL physical reimbursement from $25.00 to $55.00 for bus drivers.

     

33. Request to purchase a portable sewer jetter for $9,500.00 from Rumfola Sales and Service, funded by maintenance.

     

34. 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:

35. Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve the resident teacher stipend proposal.

     

    On motion by Chris Robinson, seconded by Aimee Dupuy, the Board approved the resident teacher stipend proposal.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

     

36. Superintendent Karen Tutor addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve the contract agreement between the Avoyelles Parish School Board and Delta Engineering Group/Fusion Architects.

     

    On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board approved the contract agreement between the Avoyelles Parish School Board and Delta/Engineering Group/Fusion Architects.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

     

37. Superintendent Karen Tutor addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve the Act of Correction/Amended Cash Document between the Avoyelles Parish School Board and Avoyelles Real Estate Holdings, LLC.

     

    On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Jay Callegari, the Board approved the Act of Correction/Amended Cash Document between the Avoyelles Parish School Board and Avoyelles Real Estate Holdings, LLC.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

     

38. Jenny Welch, Food Service Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to accept the Avoyelles Parish school cafeteria hood replacement bid from Rusk Construction, LLC for the base bid amount of $552,767.00 and the amount of Alternate #1 for $4,477.00 with the total bid with Alternate #1 being $557,244.00, funded by SFS Fund 101.

     

    On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Jill Guidry, the Board accepted the Avoyelles Parish school cafeteria hood replacement bid from Rusk Construction, LLC for the base bid amount of $552,767.00 and the amount of Alternate #1 for $4,477.00 with the total bid with Alternate #1 being $557,244.00, funded by SFS Fund 101.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

     

39. Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a recommendation to approve the Avoyelles High School ROTC Classroom and Storeroom Project by Rusk Carpentry, not to exceed the amount of $23,480.00, funded by the General Fund.

     

    On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board approved the Avoyelles High School ROTC Classroom and Storeroom Project by Rusk Carpentry, not to exceed the amount of $23,480.00, funded by the General Fund.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

     

40. Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a request to transfer $300,000.00 from the Transportation Fund in the General Fund to the Bus Reserve Fund, pending available capital.

     

    On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board approved the transfer of $300,000.00 from the Transportation Fund in the General Fund to the Bus Reserve Fund, pending available capital.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

     

41. Ray Carlock, Maintenance Supervisor, addressed the Board with a request to approve payment in the amount of $48,000.00 to Ross Buses to retrofit three (3) buses with air conditioning.  This will be funded out of the Bus Reserve Fund.  The buses will be chosen among the newest buses with the lowest mileage—one bus from each block.

     

    On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board approved payment in the amount of $48,000.00 to Ross Buses to retrofit three (3) buses with air conditioning, to be funded by the Bus Reserve Fund.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

     

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

     

     

    AVOYELLES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

     

    Rickey Adams, President

     

    Karen L. Tutor, Superintendent

    Secretary/Treasurer