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11-13-2007 |
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DATE, TIME, PLACE OF MEETING The Calcasieu Parish School Board met in the Conference Room of the Calcasieu Parish School Board, located at 1732 Kirkman Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 4:45 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Bryan LaRocque, President. The prayer was led by Fred Hardy; the pledge was led by Mack Dellafosse. ROLL CALL The roll was called and the following members were present: Joe Andrepont, Annette Ballard, Randy Burleigh, Mack Dellafosse, Clara Duhon, Chad Guidry, Fred Hardy, Bill Jongbloed, James Karr, Bryan Larocque, Elray Victorian, and R.L. Webb. Dale Bernard, Billy Breaux, and Jimmy Pitre were absent. MINUTES APPROVED On a motion by Mr. Andrepont and seconded by Mr. Burleigh, the Minutes of October 9, 2007 were approved. The Supplemental Agenda was approved as part of the regular agenda on a motion by Mr. Dellafosse and seconded by Mr. Webb. With no opposition, it was agreed to add item XVII to the agenda, an additional Executive Session. PRESENTATIONS Louisiana FFA State President Jacob Sittig, the State President for the Louisiana Future Farmers of America, spoke to the Board, with information about FFA and thanking the Board for their support. Louisiana Elementary Counselor of the Year James Powers, from the Career and Technical Education Department, and Mitzi Wilkinson, a counselor at Sulphur High School and President of the Calcasieu School Counselor’s Association, presented Cassandra Austin as the Louisiana Elementary Counselor of the Year. This was for the 2006-2007 school year at Combre-Fondel Elementary School. She is currently a counselor at S.J. Welsh Middle School. Bus Accident Responders Mr. Savoy, Superintendent, asked that this item be moved to later in the agenda, in order for the McNeese football players to arrive after their daily practice. The players arrived at 5:55 p.m. and were presented to the Board by Ron Hayes, Risk Manager. These players helped remove Kaufman Elementary School students from an overturned bus on October 17, 2007 and stayed with the students until help arrived. A certificate was presented to Karen Williams, Principal of Kaufman Elementary School, as she was commended for her quick response in notifying the parents of the students involved. Jim Murphy, Athletic Trainer for the McNeese team, was given a certificate of appreciation for his help in checking out each of the students and staying with them until medical help arrived. Tammy LeBlanc, a private citizen that was the first to respond to the accident, was given a certificate of appreciation and thanks by the Board. The students from the bus accident arrived to thank the players for being their “heroes.” The McNeese players that helped that day were: Kenneth Lundy Detrick Taylor LaDairus Key John Hamilton Travis Thibodeaux David Turnage Vaalyn Jackson Garren Jim Tyson Sibley John Ledet Bernardo Henry Bryant Mason Josh Ellison John Vigers Geremy Pilate Allen Nelson Brian Harvey Josh Wagner Mr. Hayes also recognized Tommy McClelland, the interim Athletic Director for McNeese and Louis Bonnette, the Sports Information Director for McNeese. PERSONNEL PACKET/EXECUTIVE SESSION On a motion by Mr. Karr and seconded by Mr. Andrepont, the Board adjourned into Executive Session at 5:10 p.m. The Board returned for the Regular Session at 5:20 p.m. Mr. Gary Anderson, Assistant Superintendent of Administration and Personnel, requested a motion supporting the recommendations as listed in the personnel packet. On a motion by Mr. Victorian and seconded by Mr. Burleigh, the motion carried.
Mr. Anderson requested a motion supporting the recommendation of Lorette Bass as Assistant Principal of Fairview Elementary School. On a motion by Mr. Victorian and seconded by Mr. Hardy, the motion carried. Mr. Anderson asked for a motion to support the renewal of the performance contract for Karl Bruchhaus, Chief Financial Officer. On a motion to approve by Mr. Dellafosse and seconded by Mr. Victorian, there was no opposition. Mr. Savoy asked for permission to advertise for the position of Curriculum Assistant at Combre-Fondel Elementary School, for the remainder of this school year. On a motion to approve by Mr. Burleigh and seconded by Mr. Webb, the motion carried. Mr. Andrepont made a motion for the Board to authorize the Superintendent to settle a portion of the American Alternative Insurance Corporation’s claim number 1002285, by contributing the School Board’s self insured retention to the settlement. Mr. Hardy seconded the motion and the motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS Budget and Fiscal Management Committee, October 16, 2007
Mr. Karr gave the following committee report, in Mr. Pitre’s absence. The Calcasieu Parish School Board Budget/Fiscal Management Committee met at 4:45 p.m., Tuesday, October 16, 2007 in the Board Room. A quorum was present. At committee, Mr. Bruchhaus presented General Fund Budget Revision #1. Revenues and other sources of funds were $248,673,073, an increase of $4,605,045, and expenditures and other uses of funds were $247,357,990, an increase of $3,289,962. The projected result of operations included a $1,315,083 surplus leaving unreserved/undesignated reserves at $38,693,224 or 15.6% of projected revenues. On behalf of the committee, Mr. Karr made a motion to accept and the motion carried. Next, staff recommended a possible one-time supplement in the amount of $1,700 to all full-time employees and ˝ of the supplement for all part-time regular employees to be combined with their paycheck on November 30, 2007. The proposed supplement would be given to employees who are actively employed at the end-of-day on November 16, 2007. The total cost of the supplement including benefit costs would be $9,938,021. On behalf of the committee, Mr. Karr made a motion to accept. Mr. Dellafosse made a substitute motion for a $500 annual salary increase and a $500 supplement for support personnel, with a $1000 supplement for teachers. Mrs. Duhon seconded his motion. Mr. Guidry asked if a raise had ever been given to just one department, without including everyone. Mr. Bruchhaus replied that if it has been done, it has not been done very often. He also said that he had met with Mr. Dellafosse regarding the information for his substitute motion, but he wanted to clarify that the staff recommendation is still the same as the original motion. Mr. Guidry asked if this is the first time that the support workers have received the same supplement as the teachers and Mr. Bruchhaus replied that it had happened once before. Mr. Guidry said that he felt the recent salary raise of $5000 for teachers and $1500 for support personnel was fair and that the same supplement is fair, but he could not vote for only one section of the people to get a raise. Mr. Dellafosse said that he knew that there had been instances of only one section getting a raise, but Mr. Bruchhaus replied that it might have been state and not local. Mr. Victorian said he remembered that the support personnel had been promised a $500 raise after the budget was presented. He said he would like to take the $1700 supplement amount for support personnel and have it changed to a $1200 supplement, with a $500 raise. He said that once it has been made public to the employees, it is extremely difficult to change. Mr. Webb said that it has already come out in the media that the teachers are getting a $1700 supplement, and then to cut it to $1000 makes it look like money is being taken from the teachers and being given to the support personnel. He said he could support a raise, but after it has gone back to the Budget Committee for a proposal. Mr. Andrepont said that he remembered that there was not a promise for a raise for support personnel, but that it would be looked at to see if it was possible if money was available. He said supplements are good because we have the money, but he does worry about recurring expenses with a raise. Mr. Karr said he was reluctant to change the staff recommendation, because he was worried about recurring expenses. Mr. Jongbloed said that when the raises were given this summer, he had asked that support personnel be given $2000 instead of $1500. He said he would certainly support a raise in the future for support personnel only. Mr. Dellafosse said that the Board should be able to make decisions, regardless of what is recommended by a committee, and exercise the right to be open minded and fair. Mr. Hardy said he could not support the substitute motion because it reduces the teacher’s supplement. Jean Johnson, President of the Calcasieu Federation of Teachers, spoke to the Board. She urged the Board to support the original motion, as it is already out to the public and everyone is very excited about receiving the supplement. She said she was very pleased that everyone was getting the same amount and there is no doubt that the support personnel need a raise. She said the supplements are a good thing, as it does count towards retirement. She said that when the budget is considered for next year, CFT would support a raise for support personnel. On a vote for the substitute motion, the yeah votes were Mr. Dellafosse and Mrs. Duhon. Mr. Victorian abstained. The motion failed. Mr. Victorian made a substitute motion to keep the entire $1700 supplement for teachers and redirect $500 of the $1700 for support personnel as a salary increase. Mrs. Duhon seconded the motion. Mr. Bruchhaus said that he still was behind the original recommendation, but if this is what the Board wanted to do, he would suggest that the support personnel be given the entire $1700 and a $500 raise be given to them starting next year. Mr. Burleigh said he could not support this motion and that he believes the support workers did not get a fair deal with the raises from the State. He said that at the beginning of the next fiscal year, this raise needs to be considered. Mr. Andrepont said that some of our programs need to be looked at and maybe eliminated. He said maybe we could turn around and reward that money to support workers, even more than the $500 that is proposed. Mr. Karr said that he is worried about large expenditures that the system might be faced with in the near future. On a vote for the substitute motion, yeah votes were Mr. Victorian and Mrs. Duhon. The motion failed. On a vote for the original motion, there were no nay votes and the motion carried. The next item presented was a recommendation by staff to fund an annual $3,000 supplement for ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists at an approximate cost of $75,000 pending funding by the State of a supplement. Mr. Karr made a motion to accept on behalf of the committee. Mr. Bruchhaus said that the State passed a law giving the supplement, but never funded the supplement. He said he feels like it will be funded next year by the legislature, but in the interim, we would fund the supplement. Susan Caldwell addressed the Board, urging their support and thanking them for recognizing them for the services that they provide. Mr. Hardy asked if we will continue to fund the supplement until the State funds it and Mr. Bruchhaus replied yes. He said the LSBA will continue to lobby for the supplement to be funded. Mr. LaRocque asked if this will be presented annually to the Board for approval. Mr. Bruchhaus said it is being presented now to be funded until the State funds it. Mr. Victorian asked if the LSBA has been notified that we would want them to continue lobbying for this funding. Mr. Webb asked when the supplement will be paid. Mr. Bruchhaus said the supplement would be put as a line item on their monthly checks for the rest of this school year. On a vote, there was no opposition and the motion carried. Mr. Karr reported that the committee discussed a potential program for recruiting highly qualified teachers to our parish. One method suggested was the offering of college scholarships to committed education majors with an agreement to work in Calcasieu Parish for a specified time as a teacher. Staff requested Board approval of the following actions:
· Authorize appropriation of $100,000 to seed trust fund. · Authorize Board President to appoint focus group to determine actual scholarship parameters. · Authorize staff to contract attorney Jim Watson to develop trust document and scholarship contract.
On behalf of the committee, Mr. Karr made a motion to approve the program for recruiting highly qualified teachers as presented. Mr. Bruchhaus said the goal is to put the $100,000 into a trust account and hope that donors will contribute to the account. The interest from the money will be used to give scholarships. Mr. Andrepont said at a later date he would like to know how many certified teachers we have outside of the classroom. On a vote to approve, there was no opposition. Mr. Karr reported on the growing concern of student medical issues in the parish and concluded that additional nurses were required in our system to meet the growing health issues. Staff requested authorization to hire 10 licensed practical nurses at an approximate annual cost of $227,200. On behalf of the committee, Mr. Karr made a motion to accept and the motion carried. At committee, Mr. Bruchhaus gave an update on current grants in the system. A list of the current grants accounted for centrally was presented with totals and salary/benefit information. Staff is working toward implementing a grant “clearinghouse” to track grants submitted to pre-determine that services are not being duplicated and that the district is not committing to obligations it can’t sustain. This item was for informational purposes and no action was taken. At committee, the staff presented expenditure information on the grant for the 21st Century Community Center – Reynaud. Source documents for expenditures are available in various business departments that handle such documents in the system. The grant is subject to an annual audit by external auditors and State monitors. This item was for informational purposes and no action was necessary. Mrs. Duhon said she would like to have a copy of the audit information and by whom and the dates of the audit. At committee, a resolution was presented for adoption authorizing continuing membership in the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority (LCDA). Mr. Bruchhaus said this is a state entity that was created to loan money to governmental bodies.
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