JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

MAY 8, 2008 - Jennings, Louisiana

The Jefferson Davis Parish School Board  met in regular  session at the School Board Central Office, 203 East Plaquemine Street, Jennings, Louisiana, on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 6:00 p.m., with the following School Board members in attendance:  President, Julius G. Caraway, III, Vice-President, Malon U. Dobson, Gregory L.  Bordelon, Mark E.  Boudreaux, Sr., Jason J. Bouley,  Charles R.  Bruchhaus,  David S. Capdeville, Donald  E. Dees, Michael Heinen, Richard  R. McNabb, Robert W.  Menard and  and James E.  Segura.  Absent: Harry D. Gilbeaux.

The meeting was opened with a prayer by Mr. Heinen, followed by the pledge of allegiance to the U.S. Flag, led by Mr. Bordelon.

Upon motion by Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Menard and carried, the minutes of the April 17, 2008 School Board meeting  were accepted.

It was moved by Mr. Bouley and seconded by Mr. Dees  and carried that the Board call for a 2/3 vote to take care of items of business not listed on the original agenda,  or to change the order of topics to be addressed and to delete item number 5 under VII: New business.  

The Sales Tax report was given by J.  C.  Blank, Tax Collector/Auditor, and accepted by the Board.

FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS: The following motions were made by Mr. Dobson, Finance Committee Chairman, that the School Board:

Approve paying one-half ($4,716.00) of the 2008-2009 payment of $9,432.00 to the  LSU Ag Center as per the Cooperative Agreement to Support and Administer Louisiana Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development, the other one-half subject to review after the July, 2008 Louisiana Cooperative Extension tax millage proposal election.  Motion seconded by Mr. Bruchhaus, and carried.

Give the Superintendent permission to execute the Memorandum of Understanding  between the Jefferson Davis Parish School Board and Louisiana Technical College - Morgan Smith Campus, with no changes from the previous year.  Motion seconded by Mr. Menard, and carried.

Approve the payment of $7,375.00 to Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) for membership fees, for all parish schools, to be paid from the General Fund.  Motion seconded by Mr. Segura, and carried.

Accept the only quote received from Ebsco Subscription Services, Birmingham, AL in the amount of $11,992.41 for magazine subscriptions for all school libraries in the school district, to be paid by the General Fund.  This is the same company used last year.  Motion seconded by Mr. Boudreaux, and carried.

Permission to purchase supplies needed to set up 4 computer labs at Lake Arthur Elementary, Jennings Elementary, Elton Elementary, and Lacassine High (elementary section) from Graybar at a cost of $14,008.52, to be paid from General Fund. 

Another quote received from Global Data in the amount of $18,365.56.   These recycled labs will provide students with more computers for projects/internet access. Motion seconded by Mr. Dees, and carried.

Accept the best quotes received for band instrument repairs.  Payment is to be made from each school's maintenance account. Motion seconded by Mr. Menard, and carried.

Grant permission to give the contract bus drivers an increase of fifteen cents a mile for one-way mileage, retroactive to 04/01/08.  Motion seconded by Mr. Bouley, and carried.

Accept the best quote received from Virco Corporation in the amount of $11,375.83 for furniture items (includes tables, desks and chairs) for all parish schools, to be paid from General Fund and then charged to individual maintenance accounts.  Motion seconded by Mr. Menard, and carried.

Approve a request to reject all bids received for the covered walkways project at Lake Arthur High and to re-advertise for bids and to allow the superintendent to accept the best bid after consultation with the Lake Arthur Board Members.  Motion seconded by Mr. Bordelon, and carried.

Accept the best quote of $6,487.47 from Sylvan Special Systems, Inc., Lake Charles, LA, to furnish and install fire alarm components to upgrade the fire alarm system at James Ward  Elementary to be  paid from Maintenance #2 (James Ward Elementary) from the 2008-09 fiscal year budget.  Another  quote was received from Quality Fire & Security, Inc., Opelousas, LA in the amount of $6,775.00.  Motion seconded by Mr. Segura, and carried.

Permission for Fenton Elementary to accept $100.00 donations from Benet Augustine, Bennett Augustine, Preston Blanchard, Jr. and Paul Stark, Jr.,  to be applied towards the purchase of signage for the gymnasium.   Motion seconded by Mr. McNabb, and carried.

The Board is requested to endorse the following resolution regarding the Louisiana Cooperative Extension tax millage proposal: 

                                                                    RESOLUTION

WHEREAS the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service through the local  LSU Ag Center provides Louisiana Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development services to the youth of our parish,

And the voters of Jefferson Davis Parish will be voting on a proposed tax millage in July for the support of the LSU Ag Center including 4-H youth services to our parish schools,

BE IT RESOLVED that the Jefferson Davis Parish School Board hereby supports the Louisiana Cooperative Extension tax millage proposal in  the tax election to be held on July 19,  2008. 

Passed and adopted at Jennings, Louisiana on this 8th day of May, 2008.  

____________________________                    ________________________

Julius Caraway, President                                   Tommy L. Smith, Secretary

Motion seconded by Mr. Bouley, and carried.

NEW BUSINESS:

It was moved by  Mr. Boudreaux, seconded by Mr. Dobson and carried to approve advertising for the 2008-2009 Official Journal.

It was moved by  Mr. Capdeville, seconded by Mr.  Menard and carried to approve a request from Helen Langley, Executive Director of Jeff Davis Council on Aging, Inc., to use the entire Old  Ward Elementary School on South Cutting Avenue, from May 27, 2008 to July 31, 2008, for summer classroom  tutoring, activities, and to feed  economically deprived children. 

It was moved by  Mr. Bouley, seconded by Mr. Heinen and carried to grant permission to terminate the lease between The Jefferson Davis Parish School Board and Henrietta H.  Evans and Evans, Angelle and Broadhurst Trust for farm property that the Board has leased since 1994 at a cost of $1.00 per year, to provide Agriscience students at Hathaway High School with an experience in Production Agriculture.  The termination is due to the high production costs and a lack of students needing the property to carry out projects.  The board extends appreciation to the Evans, Angelle and Broadhurst families. 

It was moved by  Mr. Bouley, seconded by Mr. Segura and carried to approve the following out-of-state travel requests:

a.         Mary C. Hardee, FCCLA Advisor, with Hathaway High School students, to attend the National FCCLA Leadership Conference/Competition, in Orlando, Florida, from July 10 - 17, 2008.  Travel expenses to be paid according to board policy.

b.         Karen Guidry, Curriculum Technical Assistant, to attend the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), in San Antonio, Texas, from June 30 to July 2, 2008.  Conference registration fees, lodging and food to be paid by general fund according to board policy.

c.         Jennings High  Future Business Leaders student, Josh Sonnier,  to attend the National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia from Monday, June 23, 2008 to Monday, June 30, 2008.  Josh will represent Jennings High and Louisiana  and compete on the national level in Networking Concepts. Travel expenses to be paid according to board policy.           

It was moved by  Mr. Menard, seconded by Mr.  Boudreaux and carried to grant permission to declare the Epson DFX-5000+ printer as surplus and hold it for sale at the next surplus property sale, as requested by the Sales Tax Collector/Auditor.  The printer has many years of use and is no longer needed by the Tax Department.

 PERSONNEL CHANGES:         

It was moved by Mr. Segura, seconded by Mr. Capdeville and carried to approve the Superintendent's  recommendations to name Rae Daigle, Assistant Principal at Jennings High School, effective 07/01/08,  re: Tommy Campbell promotion.

It was moved by Mr. Capdeville, seconded by Mr. Boudreaux and carried  to approve the following personnel changes, by consent:

                                                                 APPOINTMENTS

A.         Vicky Hill, Welsh Elementary Special Education teacher, effective 08/08/08, re: Linda Etue retirement.

B.         Cassidy Juneau, Welsh High English teacher, effective 08/08/08, re: Florence Beard retirement.

C.         John Richardson, Jennings High World Geography/Physical Education teacher, effective 08/08/08, re: Tyrone Rubin transfer.

D.         James Estes, Jennings High Special Education teacher/coach, effective 04/18/08, re: Jared Owen transfer.

E.         Angela Constantine, Lake Arthur Elementary Paraprofessional, effective 04/21/08, re: Kelly Miller resignation.

F.         David Landry, Lake Arthur High Band Director, effective 07/01/08, re: Caroline  Fruge transfer.

G.         Ben Oustalet, Jennings High Acting Administrative Assistant, effective for the 2008-2009 school year.

                                                                    TRANSFERS

A.         Jason Flanagan, Lake Arthur High Special Education teacher to Elton High Social Studies teacher, effective 05/23/08, re: Adam Miller resignation.

B.         Elizabeth Ann Williams, James Ward Elementary Title I teacher to James Ward Board funded teacher, effective 08/08/08, re: Elizabeth Williams retirement 08/11/08.

C.         Tyrone Rubin, Jennings High Social Studies teacher to Jennings Elementary Social Studies teacher, effective 08/08/08, re: J.  Doucet reassigned.

D.         Rebekah McMillin, Lacassine High teacher to Lake Arthur High Special Education teacher, effective 07/01/08, re: Jason Flanagan transfer.

E.         Jared Owen, Jennings High Special Education teacher/coach to Jennings High Social Studies teacher/coach, effective 08/01/08, re: Tyrone Rubin transfer.

F.         Evelyn Broussard, James Ward Elementary principal to Jennings High French teacher, effective 08/01/08, re: Olga Dolejsiova transfer.

G.         Nichole Woods, James Ward Elementary Kindergarten teacher to James Ward Elementary Pre-K teacher, effective 08/08/08, re: new position.

H.         Kayla Dupuis, James Ward Elementary teacher to Welsh Elementary Librarian, effective 08/08/08, re: Brenda DeWolf retirement.

                                                            LEAVES

A.         Rebekah McMillin, Lacassine High teacher, extended medical leave, effective 04/30/08 to 04/30/08.

B.         Becky Maples, Lake Arthur Elementary teacher, extended medical leave, effective 03/12/08 to 03/26/08 and 04/21/08 to 06/02/08.

C.         Mary M.  Leger, Fenton Elementary teacher, extended medical leave, effective 04/30/08 to 04/30/08.

D.         Jolene Perkins, Jennings High teacher, extended medical leave, effective 04/03/08 to 04/30/08 and 05/01/08 to 06/19/08.

E.         Marie Laughlin, Lacassine High teacher, extended medical leave, effective 03/03/08 to 03/05/08.

F.         Jared Owen, Jennings High teacher, extended medical leave, effective 04/13/08 to 05/06/08.

G.         Soraya Owen, Jennings Elementary teacher, extended medical leave, effective 04/09/08 to 05/23/08.

H.         Carrie Leckelt, James Ward Elementary teacher, maternity leave, 11/06/08 to 12/31/08.

I.          Marie C.  Fruge, James Ward Elementary teacher, maternity leave, 08/21/08 to 10/02/08.

J.          Katie Smith, James Ward Elementary teacher, extended medical leave, effective 04/30/08 to 05/01/08.

K.         Amanda Trahan Sonnier, Welsh Elementary teacher, extended medical leave, effective 03/07/08 to 05/02/08.

L.         Teresa Daniel, Welsh Elementary teacher, extended medical leave, effective 04/23/08.

M.        Norma Duhon, Lacassine High teacher, extended medial leave, effective 03/31/08 to 05/23/08.

                                                                  RESIGNATIONS

A.         Adam Miller, Elton High teacher/coach, effective 05/23/08.

B.         Shane Curlee, Welsh High teacher/coach, effective 05/23/08.

                                                                   RETIREMENTS

A.         Lela Thomas, Welsh High 5-hour cafeteria technician, effective 05/23/08, with 28 years of service.

B.         Sondra L.  Bentley, Professional Development Technical Assistant, effective 06/13/08, with 34 years of service.

CORRECTIONS

A.         Doreen Pearson, Lake Arthur Elementary teacher, extended medical leave, effective 02/26/08 to 02/27/08 and 03/17/08.

B.         Kathy Briggs, Jennings High teacher, extended medical leave, effective 03/05/08 to 03/07/08,  03/17/08 to 03/20/08 and 03/31/08 to 05/31/08.

INFORMATION:

Condolences are extended to the families of:

a.         Alice Pearson, a teacher who retired in 1979  with 38 years of service.

b.         Corinne C.  Sam, a teacher who retired in 1970  with 33 years of service.

c.         Jacob Neely, retired coach/teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent who retired in 1976 with 30 years of service.

The 2008 National School Board Association Regional Conference  will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana from July 21 to July 23, 2008.   Please let Ms. Abshire know if you plan to attend. The School Board will pay for your conference registration fee, but each Board Member is responsible for making their own accommodations, and will be reimbursed according to Board policy.

Congratulations to seniors, Kimberly Hoeppner from Welsh High and Ashley Menard from Jennings High, who are two of fifty-five Louisiana students who are recipients of the 2008 Robert C.  Byrd Honors Scholarship Program.

Ms.  Martha Bowers, Spanish Paraprofessional at Lacassine High will be conducting an English speaking class for all Spanish speaking students in Jeff Davis Parish School System, provided there are enough interested students.  (Fifteen of these students attend Lacassine High School and three attend Lake Arthur schools).  The classes will be held at Lacassine High School every Monday in the month of June from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.   The objective of the classes will be to engage the child in English speaking skills to enhance their learning of English Language for a better transition at the beginning of the 2008 school year.

Professional Development one-half days for 2008-2009 school year will be on  the following Wednesdays: September 17, October 15, November 12 and January 14.

The 2008-2009 School Calendar has been changed only to reflect changes in testing dates, as per the State testing date amendments.

On April 28,  2008, Bruchhaus & Bruchhaus Auction, Inc. of Elton, Louisiana sold  salvage equipment declared surplus by the  Jefferson Davis Parish School Board.  School Board property sold for a total of $2,035.00, with the school board receiving  $1,637.50 and the commission being $397.50. 

At the June 19, 2008 meeting of the School Board, the Board will be considering the 2008-2009 Pupil Progression Plan.

The Catastrophic Insurance Policy for student accident coverage  for the 2008-2009 school year offered by The Maksin Group will be renewed at a cost of $2,760.00 and will be paid from the General Fund. 

Student accident coverage insurance will be available to the students by the Maksin Group at the following premiums:  Voluntary Football (Grades 9-12) $175.00, 24 hour coverage $95.00, At school coverage $23.00, Dental $10.00 and Summer Off Season Conditioning $10.00.

Leap testing results handout  by Wanda Martin, Supervisor of Instruction/Testing Coordinator.

There being no other business to come before the Board, it was moved by Mr. Boudreaux and seconded by Mr.  McNabb and carried, to adjourn.

______________________________________

/s/Julius G. Caraway, III, President

ATTEST:

______________________________________

/s/Tommy Lee Smith, Secretary/Superintendent

Note:   Items purchased by quotes or bids may be reviewed at the School Board office during normal business hours.  All policies can be reviewed at any facility under the jurisdiction of the Jefferson Davis Parish School Board.