Monroe City School Board
2101 Roselawn Avenue
Monroe, Louisiana 71201

The Monroe City School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, March 8, 2005, at 6:00 p.m. 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 Robby Williams, Pastor, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.

Agenda Item 4: Roll Call

Members Present:

Mr. Jessie L. Handy
Mr. Anthony "Tony" Cain
Mrs. Victoria "Vickie" Dayton
Reverend Rodney McFarland
Mrs. Brenda M. Shelling
Mrs. Stephanie S. Smith
Mr. James "Mickey" Traweek

Superintendent, Administrative Staff, and Board Attorney:

Dr. James A. Dupree
Mr. Julian Gray
Mrs. Edith Lowe-Douzart
Mrs. Vickie Irwin
Mrs. Bobbie Hamilton
Ms. Mai Bui
Mrs. Derenda Flowers
Mrs. Teresa Foreman
Attorney L. Douglas Lawrence

Administrators, parents, citizens, and the news media were in attendance.

Action Item 5:

Adoption of the Agenda:

On a motion by Mrs. Shelling that was seconded by Mr. Traweek, the Board adopted the agenda with the following additions and one change:

Additions:

Resolution 10 B - (Administrative Reorganization)
Resolution 11 A - (Rezoning of Carver/Lexington Elementary School Students)

Change: Agenda Item 14: Collective Bargaining - From Discussion - To Discussion/Action

The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Action Item 6:

Adoption of the Minutes of February 15, 2005:

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Reverend McFarland, the Board adopted the Minutes of February 15, 2005. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Report Item 7:

The President's Report and Announcements:

The President thanked the administrators, school employees, parents, citizens, and the news media for their attendance.

Report Item 8:

National School Boards Association - FRN Network Conference:

Mrs. Shelling reported to the Board on the 32nd Annual Federal Relations Network Conference that was held in Washington, D. C., January 20 - February 2, 2005. Mrs. Shelling's report included the following:

 Federal funding to local school districts
 Visit to Capital Hill to conference with congressional leaders.
 The FRN Conference included:
1. NSBA's Bill to Improve No Child Left Behind
2. Federal Funding for Education
3. Vouchers
4. Head Start
5. E-Rate

Mrs. Shelling shared copies of her report with the Superintendent and board members.

Dr. Dupree reported on the 2005 Louisiana School Boards Association Annual Convention that was held in Alexandria, Louisiana, March 3-5, 2005. The Convention was held at the Alexandria Riverfront Center and the Holiday Inn Convention Center. He announced that Mrs. Shelling is President-Elect of the Louisiana School Boards Association.

Report Item 9:

Public Discussion and Comments on Agenda Items:

Mrs. Sandie Lollie, President of Monroe Federation of Teachers and School Employees, was in attendance at the LSBA Convention in Alexandria, last week. Mrs. Lollie stated that the MFT/SE presented Mrs. Shelling with a plaque of appreciation last Thursday, March 4, 2005. The Federation congratulated Mrs. Shelling for her accomplishments with LSBA/NSBA Mrs. Lollie read the plaque that was presented to Mrs. Shelling in Alexandria.

Mrs. Shelling thanked Mrs. Lollie and the Federation of Teachers and School Employees for honoring her and she (Mrs. Shelling) stated that she is for Collective Bargaining.

Report Item 10A:

Accountability Awards:

Mrs. Teresa Foreman, Accountability Manager, briefed the Board on how the school system improved in their academic growth. The following schools received a banner and a check:

Barkdull Faulk Elementary School $ 4,064.82 Exemplary Academic Growth
Berg Jones Elementary School $ 6,891.86 Exemplary Academic Growth
Carroll High School $10,696.90 Exemplary Academic Growth
Carroll Junior High School $ 5,577.67 Exemplary Academic Growth
Lexington Elementary School $ 7,869.86 Exemplary Academic Growth
Neville High School $12,744.59 Exemplary Academic Growth
Wossman High School $11,262.31 Exemplary Academic Growth
Sallie Humble Elementary School $ 3,861.07 Recognized Academic Growth

The Superintendent and Board congratulated the schools on their accomplishments.

Resolution: Agenda Item 10B:

Reorganization Plan:

Dr. Dupree presented his Reorganization Plan that will go into effect July 1, 2005. The Board discussed and voiced their concerns as it related to the reorganization plan.

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board approved the Reorganization Plan as presented by the Superintendent.

Questions/Discussion:

Mr. Traweek stated that he could not support the plan as presented; however, he will continue to support the Superintendent. Reverend McFarland asked the Superintendent to bring to the Board the positions that are not named in the reorganization plan, prior to filling them. Mrs. Smith offered the following friendly amendment. The Superintendent will have the board attorney to research if the contracts can be on a yearly basis.
Mr. Cain accepted Mrs. Smith's friendly amendment

Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Shelling informed the public that it was discussed in the Personnel Committee meeting pay raises for classified employees. Mrs. Shelling asked Dr. Dupree to bring to the Board at the next board meeting a report of classified pay raises.

Mrs. Dayton stated that the only way the Board can hold Dr. Dupree accountable is to let him have the team that he is requesting.

Mr. Cain restated his motion to read:

I move that the Board suspend current board policy for filling these positions only, as outlined in the Superintendent's reorganization plan. This will give the Superintendent authority to implement his reorganization plan immediately. Bring back to the Board a report on job descriptions.

Mrs. Shelling offered the following friendly amendment: Suspend the rules of the Board on the positions not named and allow the Superintendent to appoint individuals for the positions, not named in the reorganization plan, and bring the recommendations back to the Board for action.

The Motion with Amendments:

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board suspended current board policy for filling positions, and allowed Dr. Dupree to fill the positions as outlined in the Superintendent's Reorganization Plan only, giving the Superintendent authority to implement his reorganization plan immediately. He will bring back to the Board a report on job descriptions.

Amendment One - Mrs. Smith:

The Superintendent will come back to the board within one year, with any necessary changes in his Reorganization Plan.

Amendment Two - Mrs. Shelling:

Suspend the rules of the Board on the positions not named and allow the Superintendent to appoint individuals for the positions, not named in the reorganization plan, and bring the recommendation to the Board for action.

Mr. Cain accepted both friendly amendments.

The motion with amendments was adopted on a vote of six to one. Mr. Traweek opposed. (See addendum for Reorganization Plan.)

Mr. Traweek, "I oppose; however, I will continue to support the Superintendent as I have in the past."

Action Item 11 A:
Rezoning of Carver/Lexington Elementary Students:

The Superintendent recommended that the Board approve the rezoning of Carver/Lexington Elementary Students and authorize the board attorney to obtain approval from the Federal Court for the zone change.

Mr. Julian Gray, Assistant Superintendent, presented the recommended zone changes for Carver and Lexington students. Approximately 74 students will be rezoned.

The Board discussed the rezoning of the students and took the following action.

On a motion by Mrs. Shelling that was seconded by Mrs. Smith, the Board tabled action on this agenda item until community meetings have been held in the Carver and Lexington school districts. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Community Meeting:

Carver Elementary School, Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Time: 5:00 p.m.

Action Item 11B:

School Calendar for 2005-2006 School Year:

On a motion by Mr. Traweek that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board adopted the 2005-2006 School Calendar as presented by Mr. Gray and recommended by Dr. Dupree. The motion carried on a unanimous vote. (See addendum for school calendar.)

Agenda Item 12:

Action Items A & B:

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Reverend McFarland, the Board approved agenda items A & B as presented by Mrs. Flowers and recommended by Dr. Dupree.

Action Item A: The Superintendent recommends that the Board grant authority to purchase a 2005 Ford 350 Truck from the Hixon Autoplex Dealership under an extension of their bid agreement with the City of Alexandria.

Action Item B: Adoption of a resolution to authorize the administration to advertise for bids for Wossman High School HVAC System to be paid out of construction funds.
The motion carried on a unanimous vote. (See addendum for additional information.)

Action Item 13

Human Resources Agenda - Items A - F:

On a motion by Mrs. Smith that was seconded by Reverend McFarland, the Board approved all personnel changes as presented by Mrs. Hamilton and recommended by Dr. Dupree. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Discussion/Action Item 14:

Collective Bargaining

Mrs. Sandie Lollie, President of Monroe Federation of Teachers and School Employees, addressed the Board asking the Board to grant permission for the appropriate school employees to vote to see if they are interested in collective bargaining.

Ms. Corie G. Williams, President, Monroe City Chapter of Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana, submitted information and a resolution in opposition of Collective Bargaining.

Reverend McFarland made a motion that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, that the Board grant permission to the appropriate school employees to vote to see if they are interested in collective bargaining.

The President called for a roll call vote:

Reverend McFarland yea
Mrs. Dayton nay
Mrs. Shelling yea
Mrs. Smith yea
Mr. Traweek nay
Mr. Cain nay
Mr. Handy nay

The motion failed for a lack of a majority vote.

Report Item 15:

Public Discussion and Comments on Non - Agenda Items:

Mrs. Odell Willis, a retired bus operator, addressed the Board in reference to back pay. Mrs. Willis will meet with Dr. Dupree Wednesday morning to discuss her request.

Mrs. Joycelyn Craft briefed the Board on the Even Start Program housed in the Anna Gray Noe Alumni Center, the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Dr. Dupree invited Mrs. Craft to meet with Dr. Linda Heard, grant writer for the System. Dr. Heard will be in the district this week working on a grant proposal.

Report Item 16:
The Superintendent's Announcements: No announcements

Action Item 17:

Adjournment:

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mr. Traweek, the Board adjourned at 7:50 p.m. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Mr. Jessie L. Handy, President                                                             
Dr. James A. Dupree, Superintendent