SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS

The Avoyelles Parish School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, February 6, 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; Robin Moreau, Jay Callegari, Chris Robinson, Rickey Adams and Aimee Dupuy.

Absent: Latisha Small and 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 Robin Moreau.

             1.               Lance Mose, Student Body President of Marksville High School, presented an update on student achievements and school events.

             2.                Board member Robin Moreau read a resolution of respect to the late Marion Estelle Prevost, retired teacher.

On motion by Robin Moreau, seconded by Aimee Dupuy, the Board approved the resolution of respect to the late Marion Estelle Prevost, retired teacher.

Board members Latisha Small and Keith Lacombe entered the meeting at 5:05 p.m.

             3.                Superintendent Karen Tutor recognized the Students of the Month for January, 2024. Superintendent 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:

Amethyst McGee, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Isabella St. Romain, Cottonport Elementary School; Addysin Brouillette, Lafargue Elementary School; Amir Prier, Marksville Elementary School; Dajah Voorhies, Plaucheville Elementary School; Malaysia Lavalais, Riverside Elementary School; Aariauna Wallace, Avoyelles High School; Anne Galland, Bunkie Magnet High School; Giselle Drummer, 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.

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

Connie Ducote, Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy; Charlotte Kyle, Cottonport Elementary School; Sherry Parker, Lafargue Elementary School; Lauren Ducote, Marksville Elementary School; Sara Ducote, Plaucheville Elementary School; Susan Bordelon, Riverside Elementary School; Bailey Gauthier, Avoyelles High School; Sabrina Washington, Bunkie Magnet High School; Sarah Dupont, Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences; and Brandi Lacombe, Marksville High School.

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

             5.                Amy Volentine, Testing/Media Manager, recognized the 2024 New Teacher of the Year winners. Superintendent Tutor presented a plaque to each 2024 New Teacher of Year as follows:

Brittany Bordelon, Marksville Elementary School; Madison Juneau, Plaucheville Elementary School; and Levon Minor, Marksville High School.

District Winner: Levon Minor, Marksville High School.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

             6.                The monthly maintenance report on expenditures was reported.

             7.                The following personnel changes were reported for the Board's review:

PERSONNEL CHANGES

             8.                February is Black History Month. Board members were advised to contact Amy Volentine if they would like a copy of planned activities. Also, they were also told to check Facebook/website for spotlights on activities from each school during the month.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

             9.                Request to adopt the minutes of the regular Board meeting held on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, and the Special Board meeting held on January 23, 2024, as printed and mailed to Board members and published in The Weekly News, official journal of the Board.

          10.                Request for approval of overnight travel.

          11.                Request to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement between the Avoyelles Parish School Board and The Village of Hessmer concerning the use and maintenance properties not currently used as a school. (Same as previous agreement that expired in 2014).

          12.                Request to approve the Cottonport Elementary School 20'x70' parking lot crushed limestone (610) 5" thick, de-grass area and install fabric under stone so it does not sink in the ground, funded by School Food Services in the amount of $5000.00, and Maintenance Fund will cover the balance of $2,785.00.

          13.                Request for approval of the Waterford PK Curriculum Pilot at Marksville Elementary School and Lafargue Elementary School. Cost includes Professional Services: Onsite Training, three sessions at $3,273.00 each to total $9,819.00 and Professional Services: Family Engagement, two sessions at $3,273.00 each to total $6,546.00, funded by Title I.

          14.                Request to approve the renewal of our websites with SCHOOLinSITES from March 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025 for 11 websites for $12,935.00 using technology funds.

          15.                Request to approve the renewal of the Renaissance Subscription in the amount of $127,505.07, funded by Title I.

          16.                Request to approve the renewal for Incident IQ, our technology inventory system, for $12,000.00 to run from March 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025 to be paid with technology funds.

          17.                Request to approve the purchase and installation of a rollup door and two additional door motors for the other two rollup doors at the maintenance warehouse for a cost of $8,380.00. This additional door will allow for a holding spot for long-term repairs and a place to receive shipments without blocking the flow of buses in the short-term repair line. This will make our shop a much safer place by keeping the flow of forklifts, people, and deliveries out of the short-term repair line which constantly has buses moving in and out. This will be funded out of the bus reserve transportation fund.

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

ACTION ITEMS:

          18.                Recommendation to approve the auditor's report as presented by Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance.

On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board approved the auditor's report. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

          19.                Recommendation to approve the Budget Revision as presented by Mary Bonnette, Director of Finance.

On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board approved the Budget Revision. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

          20.                Recommendation to approve the School Board Members Training Resolution as presented by Superintendent Karen Tutor.

A.            Superintendent Tutor presented each Board member with their 2023 School Board Members Training Certificate.

B.            Superintendent Tutor presented the 2023 LSBA Certified School Board Member Designation to Board members Jay Callegari, Aimee Dupuy, Chris Robinson, and Latisha Small.

On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Rickey Adams, the Board approved the School Board Members Training Resolution. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

          21.                Recommendation to accept the low bid from Ross Bus Equipment Sales for used buses and to purchase ten (10) used buses for $895,000.00, funded by the Bus Reserve Fund.

On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Rickey Adams, the Board approved the low bid from Ross Bus Equipment Sales for used buses and granted approval to purchase ten (10) used buses for $895,000.00, funded by the Bus Reserve Fund. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

          22.                Recommendation to grant permission to advertise the Request for Proposal for furniture, furnishings, and services for the public school cafeterias of Avoyelles Parish.

On motion by Jill Guidry, seconded by Rickey Adams, the Board granted approval to advertise the Request for Proposal for furniture, furnishings, and services for the public school cafeterias of Avoyelles Parish. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

          23.                Board President Lynn Deloach addressed the Board to discuss the Board's monthly meeting days.

On motion by Aimee Dupuy, seconded by Robin Moreau, the Board agreed to move the Regular Board Meeting to the third Tuesday of each month on a trial basis, beginning in March. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

          24.                Board member Chris Robinson addressed the Board with a discussion on security in the schools. Representatives with Kingdom Security presented an overview of their services.

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

AVOYELLES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Lynn Deloach, President