The Monroe City School Board met in regular session on Wednesday, October 27, 2004, 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 Rodney McFarland. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.

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
Dr. LaVargne Gunn-Ford
Mrs. Bobbie Hamilton
Mrs. Edith Lowe-Douzart
Miss Maria Maggio
Mrs. Teresa Foreman
Mrs. Vickie Irvin
Attorney L. Douglas Lawrence

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

Action Item 5:

Adoption of the Agenda and the Addendum:

On a motion by Mrs. Shelling that was seconded by Mrs. Smith, the Board adopted the agenda with the deletion and the addition of the following items to the addendum as recommended by Dr. Dupree:

Deletion: Item 12A- A.J. Shows - leave of absence.
Addition: Human Resources Agenda Items:

Resolutions: Action Item 12 A - O (3)

The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Action Item 6:

Adoption of the Minutes of September 28, 2004:

On a motion by Mrs. Smith that was seconded by Mr. Cain, the Board adopted the minutes of September 28, 2004. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Report Item 7:

The President's Report and Announcements:

President Handy thanked Mr. Julian Gray for serving as acting superintendent from August 3 through September 20, 2004. He also thanked the public for their past and present support of the system.

Report Item 8:

Report from the Superintendent:

The National School Bus Safety Week - October 17-23, 2004

Contest winners for the National School Bus Safety Week:

Jalen Smith, Clark Magnet School - First Place Elementary Level
Jesse Gullett, Lee Junior High - First Place Junior High Level
I'ashia Washington, Carroll High - First Place High School Level

Each winner received a certificate and a gift from the Superintendent and the Transportation Department.

Martin Luther King Middle School Junior Beta Club:

The Martin Luther King Middle School Junior Beta Club receive a certificate of service for raising $1,044.00 for hurricane victims. The money was donated to the Monroe Chapter of the American Red Cross. Mercedes White and Augusta Robinson were presented to the Board by their teacher Mrs. Mary Roberts. Dr. Dupree and Mrs. Blue presented the certificate to the Beta Club members.

Bell South Grant Award Winners:

Dr. Dupree presented Dr. Susan Cole, who introduced and presented Mr. George Pokorski a representative from Bell South, who awarded the three Bell South recipients their grant award in the amount of $500.00 for their class projects. These funds will be used in developing their class projects as a school activity.

Susan Cole, Nancy Farley, and Nancy Hemrick of Clark Magnet Elementary School

Nationally Certified School Psychologists:

The following school psychologists received national certification:

Rayne Adams
Robin Cohenour
Peggy Copperberg
Lisa Crumpton-Murray
Christa Haggart

Dr. Dupree congratulated the school psychologists on their accomplishments.

Action Item 9:

Pupil Progression Plan for 2004-2005:

On a motion by Mrs. Shelling that was seconded by Mr. Traweek, the Board approved the revised Pupil Progression Plan for implementation during the 2004-2005 school year as presented by Miss Maggio and recommended by Dr. Dupree. The motion carried on a unanimous vote. See addendum for the Pupil Progression Plan.

Action Item 10:

Resolution to Approve Field Trip Request:

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board approved the field trip request for Lee Junior High School to travel to Baton Rouge, November 10, 2004. See addendum for field trip request.

Action Item 11:

Resolution to Award Bid:

On a motion by Mr. Traweek that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board awarded the bid for the Sale and Removal of Surplus School Buses as indicated on the chart. The board attorney will research employees bidding and awarding of bids for school board property and report back to the Board. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.


Action Item 12A - G:

Human Resources Agenda Items:

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mr. Traweek, the Board approved all personnel changes as presented by Mrs. Hamilton and recommended by Dr. Dupree. With the deletion of 12A - A. J. Shows - certified leave of absence. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Action Item 12 H:

Upgrading of Classified Employees:

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mr. Traweek, the Board appointed the upgrading of classified employees as presented by Mrs. Hamilton and recommended by Dr. Dupree. The motion carried five to two. Reverend McFarland and Mrs. Shelling opposed..

Reverend McFarland and Mrs. Shelling stated they did not oppose the upgrading of the first five employees. The last name recommended to be upgraded was the one of which they opposed.

Action Item 12 I:

Appointment of Classified Applicants:

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board approved the appointment of classified employees as presented by Mrs. Hamilton and recommended by Dr. Dupree. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Action Item 12 J:

On a motion by Mrs. Shelling that was seconded by Mrs. Smith, the Board approved the resolution to create a 1.0 FTE JROTC Senior Army Commissioned Instructor position at Wossman High School to be funded from the general fund through June, 2005. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Action Item 12 K:
On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Smith, the Board approved a resolution to create a 1.0 FTE Grant Writer position to be funded from the general fund. The motion carried five to two. Mr. Traweek and Mrs. Shelling opposed.

Action Item 12 L:

On a motion by Mrs. Shelling that was seconded by Mr. Traweek, the Board approved a resolution to change all principalships from acting status to principalship status. (Christy Taylor, Jacqueline Matthews, and Robert Rash). The motion carried six to one. Reverend McFarland opposed.

Action Item 12 M:

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mr. Traweek, the Board approved a resolution to create the position of Year Long Professional Substitute Teacher for the 2004-2005 school year only. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Action Item 12 N:

On a motion by Mrs. Shelling that was seconded by Mr. Cain, the Board approved a resolution to change the status of TAT teachers as listed on or before September 28, 2004, Human Resources Agenda, from Professional Certified Appointments to Year-Long Professional Substitute Teachers. The rate of pay is to be the as that of a beginning teacher for the 2004-2005 school year only. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Action Item 12 O

Resolution to go into Executive Session:

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board went into executive session at 7:19 p.m. for a period of time not to exceed thirty minutes, to discuss personnel matters

The Board reconvened at 8:15 p.m. and continued with the agenda. Mr. Traweek left the meeting after the executive session.

Action Item 12 O (1)

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board deleted the resolution to authorize the scheduling of a tenure hearing, as recommended by the Superintendent, for Demetrius Tippit, a bus operator employed by the Monroe City School District. The motion carried on a unanimous vote of members present.

Action Item 12 0 (2)

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mr. Traweek, the Board approved a resolution to authorize the school board attorney to negotiate and obtain reasonable terms of settlement of the Mahan -vs- Monroe City School Board, NO. 03-0243 (4th JDC- Parish of Ouachita) litigation. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Action Item 12 O (3)

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board approved a resolution to authorize the school board attorney to negotiate and obtain reasonable terms of settlement for the Dunbar -vs- Monroe City School Board, NO. 04-3585 (4th JDC-Parish of Ouachita) litigation. Not to exceed no more than $30,000.

The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Report Item 13:

The Superintendent's Announcements:

Dr. Dupree made the following announcements.

1. The Administrators Retreat will be held on Saturday, October 30th from 7:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. at the Atrium.

2. The System will be closed on Tuesday, November 2nd, Election Day.
3. The next School Retreat will be held early in December. Board members are to give their agenda items to Mrs. Pine. The tentative dates are: December 1 & 2 (evenings)

4. The Louisiana School Boards Association Mini Conference will be held on Monday, November 15, 2004, in Baton Rouge, LA.

5. Dr. LaVargne Gunn-Ford received the award for Outstanding Business and Professional Women for 2004 from the Monroe-West Monroe Chamber of Business and Professional Women USA.

Action Item 14:

Adjournment:

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Smith, the Board adjourned at 8:33 p.m. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.


Mr. Jessie L. Handy, President

James A. Dupree, Ed.D., Superintendent