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MINUTES
May 25, 2004
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The Monroe City School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, May 25, 2004, at the Monroe City School Board Media Center, 2009 Auburn Avenue, Monroe, Louisiana 71201. The meeting was called to order by the President. Prayer was offered by Reverend Rodney McFarland. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.
Members Present: Dr.
George D. Cannon Mrs. Janice Bernard, State Department of Education, administrators, employees, parents, representatives from professional organizations, and the news media were in attendance. Action Item 4: Adoption of the Agenda and the Addendum: Dr. Cannon asked the Board to adopt the agenda and the addendum with the following changes: Correction: Action Item 17A (10) Heather Thibodeaux, effective leave: April 14 through May 26, 2004. Agenda Item 14 - Voith Proposal taken out of sequence to follow agenda item 11. Reverend McFarland asked that agenda item 8 concerning rezoning be tabled until another board meeting. He further stated that this will give the Board time to really look at this proposal, examine it, and have our constituents to buy into it. At this time our constituents are not buying into this proposal because they have not had time to study it and compare it with another proposal. On a motion by Reverend McFarland that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, that the Board delete agenda item 8 - Rezoning Proposal from the agenda. The motion failed for the lack of a two- thirds majority vote. Those who opposed were: Mrs. Dayton, Mr. Traweek, Mr. Cain, and Mr. Handy. Those voting in favor of the motion were: Reverend McFarland, Mrs. Shelling, and Mrs. Smith. On a motion by Mr. Traweek that was seconded by Mr. Cain, the Board adopted the agenda and the addendum as recommended by Dr. Cannon. The motion carried five to two. Reverend McFarland and Mrs. Shelling opposed. Mrs. Shelling and Reverend McFarland opposed because they were not in favor of item 8, the Rezoning Proposal, remaining on the agenda. Action Item 5: Adoption of the Minutes of April 20, 2004 On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Smith, the Board adopted the minutes as corrected. The motion carried on a unanimous vote. Report Item 6: The President's Report and Announcements: The President thanked the public, parents, and concerned citizens for their support this school year. He asked for their continued support as we move forward for the 2004-2005 academic year. Mr. Handy also stated that public input will be accepted on agenda items prior to Board discussion and action. Reverend McFarland stated: "In my agenda package I received a receipt in the amount of $ 5.61 indicating that I reimbursed the Monroe City School System for using board stationary. If I had known that I couldn't use the stationary for the purpose that I used it, I would not have requested the stationary. Forgive me if I caused any embarrassment to my fellow board members." Report Item 7: 2004-2005 Science Grant Partnership with Louisiana Tech University. Miss Maria Maggio briefed the Board on the 2004-2005 Grant Recipient A Partnership with LA Tech University. The total award for the first year is $149,230 and approximately $450,000 will be available for the three year period. This partnership is with Louisiana Tech University CATALYST K-12 Science Education Center. See addendum for additional information. Report Item 7A: Distinguished Educator's Program: Prior to the presentations, Dr. Turpin introduced Mrs. Janice Bernard from the Louisiana State Department of Education. Dr. Turpin stated that Mrs. Bernard is the administrator for the Distinguished Educator's Program. Ms. Jay Jameson, Distinguished Educator at Lincoln Elementary School, read into the record her Distinguished Educator's End-of-Year Report, a requirement from the Louisiana Department of Education. (See addendum for report.) Dr. Tammye Turpin, Distinguished Educator at Wossman High School, read into the record her Distinguished Educator's End-of-Year Report, a requirement from the Louisiana Department of Education. (See addendum for report). Action Item 7B: Superintendent Search Firm: Mrs. Flowers presented the results of the two firms that were interviewed to conduct a Superintendent Search for the Monroe City School System. Ray and Associates, Inc. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was chosen to conduct the National Superintendent Search for the Monroe City School System. On a motion by Mrs. Shelling that was seconded by Mr. Cain, the Board entered into a contract agreement with Ray and Associates, Inc. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to conduct a National Superintendent Search for the Monroe City School System. The motion carried on a unanimous vote. Discussion/Action Item 8: Rezoning Proposal: Mr. Gray presented the proposed rezoning maps and gave a summary on how the System arrived at the rezoning of students in the Barkdull Faulk School zone. Mr. Gray stated that other school zones were looked at. However, it seemed more feasible to change the Barkdull Faulk School zone because the traveling time was the same from Barkdull Faulk to Lee and Neville as it is to Carroll Junior and Carroll High Schools. The purpose for the change is to increase the declining enrollment at Carroll Junior and Senior High Schools. The Board and Mr. Gray discussed at length the following:
Mrs. Shelling asked Attorney Lawrence for his legal opinion as it relates to the Courts when students are taken out of high performing schools and placed in low performing schools. She also asked how will the Courts look at Boards taking this kind of action. In response, Mr. Lawrence advised he had concerns about the impact that the changes in student assignments would have on the racial makeup of the schools involved, as the federal desegregation case, Andrews -vs- Monroe City School Board, focused solely on the issue of race and how the racial makeup of the student body is impacted by changes in student assignment, and that there was not a component of the case that went beyond the issue of race to deal with student performance. He could not render an opinion on whether or not the decision of the school board to adopt the re-zoning plan could be successfully challenged on the basis that black students were being transferred to an underperforming school in a legal action separate from the desegregation case. Mrs. Shelling stated that when the Board submit this plan to the Justice Department she would like for Mr. Lawrence to include in the submission the performing scores of each individual school for the last four years. Mrs. Gloria Walker addressed the Board on this agenda item. On a motion by Mr. Traweek that was seconded by Mr. Cain, the Board approved the proposal for rezoning for the 2004-2005 school year as presented by Mr. Gray and recommended by Dr. Cannon. Roll Call Vote: Reverend McFarland Nay Mrs. Dayton Yea Mr. Handy Yea Mrs. Smith Nay Mr. Traweek Yea Mr. Cain Yea Mrs. Shelling Nay The motion passed on a vote of four to three. Mrs. Shelling asked that her statement be attached to the rezoning plan that will be submitted to the United Justice Department. "The schools where the students are now zoned are high performing schools and the schools they are rezoned to are low performing schools. Only the African American students are effected by the proposed rezoning plan." Action Item 9: The Revised Proposed School Calendar for 2004-2005: Mr. Gray presented the revised proposed school calendar for 2004-2005. During the presentation by Mr. Gray, Mr. Traweek asked to be excused. Prior to board discussion, Mrs. Gloria Walker addressed the Board on this agenda item. The Board discussed the Revised Proposed School Calendar for the 2004-2005 school year. Emphases were placed on the graduation dates and location. On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Smith, the Board approved the Revised Proposed School Calendar for 2004-2005. The motion carried on a five to one vote. Reverend McFarland opposed. Action Item 10: Attorney General's Opinion: On a motion by Mrs. Shelling that was seconded by Mrs. Dayton, the Board authorized the board attorney to seek the Attorney General's opinion on capital project matters. The motion carried on a unanimous vote of members present. Action Item 11: Increased Retirement Costs Resolution: On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Smith, the Board adopted a resolution joining other school districts to take legal action against the state and to ask the state to accept responsibility for increases in retirement costs. The motion carried on a unanimous vote. (See addendum for resolution). Taken out of Sequence: Action Item 14: VOITH Proposal: Attorney Lawrence presented the ordinance and briefed the Board on the purpose of this ordinance. The Board discussed and asked Mr. Lawrence for clarification on the Board's involvement in adopting this resolution. On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Dayton, the Board adopted an ordinance to amend a prior ordinance of September 3, 1968 of the Monroe City School Board and to exempt, to the extent permitted by law, from taxation service for the repair of machinery and equipment received from out of state locations for out of state customers - levied and collected under a sales and use tax authorized by a proposition approved by the voters of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana on May 25, 1968. (See addendum for Ordinance). Action Item 12: Distribution of 13th and 15th Sales Tax Checks: On a motion by Reverend McFarland that was seconded by Mrs. Smith, the Board approved the distribution of the 13th and 15th sales tax checks as presented by Mrs. Flowers and recommended by Dr. Cannon. The motion carried on a unanimous vote. (See addendum for sales tax information) Report Item 13: Status of the Principalship Openings: Mrs. Bobbie Hamilton briefed the Board on the application process for Clara Hall, Sallie Humble, and Wossman High Schools. Clara Hall Elementary School: There were nine applicants who met the certification requirements Sallie Humble Elementary School: There were six applicants who met the certification requirements Wossman High School: There were nine applicants who have met the certification requirements. The Board stated that no applicant will be interviewed if they have not completed all certification requirements. Report Item 15: District Testing: Dr. Cannon and Mrs. Smith briefed the Board on the Curriculum Committee meeting that was held on Monday, May 24, 2004 at 5:30 p.m. This meeting was held at the Media Center. Reports were given by Mrs. Teresa Foremen, District Testing, Dr. LaVargne Gunn-Ford, Elementary Education, Miss Maria Maggio, Secondary Education, and Mrs. Margie Godwin, Renaissance Program. The Curriculum Committee will meet on Wednesday, June 3, 2004 at 5:30 in the Central Office Conference Room. Report Item 16: Administrative/Staff Reassignments: Dr. Cannon announced the following transfers: Mrs. Bobbie Hamilton, supervisor of Special Education, to acting head of the Department of Human Resources, effective April 28, 2004. Mrs. Jackie Caesar, secretary from Special Education, to work with Mrs. Hamilton in this current assignment. Dr. Daphene Singleton moved to work in Grants and Research. The administration will develop contracts to be brought to the Board outlining what the duties and responsibilities are and the length and terms of these responsibilities for all of these positions. Action Items 17A - 17E, 17G - 18E: Personnel Changes: On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board approved all personnel changes as recommended by Dr. Cannon: Certified Extended Sick Leaves: Linda Kelly, Clara Hall Elementary School Alliece Scoby, Clara Hall Elementary School Jennifer Lawson, Clark Magnet Elementary School
Beverly Halsall, Lincoln Elementary School Kim Barr, Sallie Humble Elementary School Steve Mattison, Martin Luther King Middle School Roosevelt Pine, Carroll High School Margaret Roy, Carroll High School A.J. Shows, Wossman High School Heather Thibodeaux, Lexington Elementary School Sick Leaves - Using Accumulated Days: Jean Dunham, Clara Hall Elementary School Cristy Wilson Gross, Clark Magnet Elementary
School Family Medical Leave Without Pay: Ruthie Player, Lincoln Elementary School Certified Retirements: Carole Anne Greenlaw, Cypress Point University
Elementary School Clydell Jones, Lincoln Elementary School Charlotte Dante, Carroll Junior High School Diane Plum, Carroll Junior High School Evelyn Jackson, Wossman High School Certified Resignations: Pharalynn Brown, Carver Elementary School Nicole Rudolph, Martin Luther King Middle School Laura Turner, Berg Jones Elementary School Sabbatical Leaves for Professional Improvement: Beverly Hodge, Clark Magnet Elementary School Christy Dodson, Madison James Foster School Classified Extended Sick Leave: Henry Shaw, Transportation Department Family Medical Leave Without Pay: Alice Caston, Jefferson Upper Elementary School Classified Retirements: Maxine Giovingo, Berg Jones Elementary School Margie Jenkins, Berg Jones Elementary School Helen Smith, Clara Hall Elementary School Marcel Allen, Carroll Junior High School Classified Resignations: Dawn Noel, Barkdull Faulk Elementary School Junius Kelly, Cypress Point University Elementary
School Pearlie M. Jones, Alternative School Classified Applicants - Second Semester Only: Chresancio Jackson, Barkdull Faulk Elementary
School Chester Walker, Barkdull Faulk Elementary School Stacey Singleton, Cypress Point University
Elementary School Leslie England, Lincoln Elementary School Dorothy Jackson, Adult Education Center The motion carried on a unanimous vote. Action Item 17F: Junior ROTC Program: On a motion by Reverend McFarland that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board employed SFC Russell Lynn Gibson, instructor of Wossman High School Junior ROTC Program, effective May 26, 2004. The motion carried on a unanimous vote. Report Item 19: The Superintendent's Report and Announcements: Dr. Cannon made a statement in reference to the resolution that was adopted tonight. Hopefully, when all the school districts in Louisiana join in legal action as it relates to the increase in funding the Teachers and School Employees Retirement Contributions, the Courts will rule in favor of the school districts. Monday, May 24, 2004, the Board will interview National Search Firms to conduct this System's Superintendent Search. Action Item 20: Adjournment: On a motion by Mrs. Shelling that was seconded by Mr. Cain, the Board adjourned at 8:15 p.m. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.
George
D. Cannon, Ed.D., Superintendent |