The Monroe City School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, September 28, 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
Reverend Rodney McFarland
Mrs. Brenda M. Shelling
Mrs. Stephanie S. Smith
Mr. James "Mickey" Traweek

Member Absent:

Mrs. Victoria "Vickie" Dayton

Superintendent, Administrative Staff and Board Attorney:

Dr. James A. Dupree
Mr. Julian Gray
Dr. Daphene Singleton
Dr. LaVargne Gunn-Ford
Mrs. Bobbie Hamilton
Miss Maria Maggio
Mrs. Derenda Flowers
Mrs. Teresa Foreman
Mrs. Edith Lowe-Douzart
Mrs. Vickie Irwin
Attorney L. Douglas Lawrence


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

Action Item 5:

Adoption of the Agenda:
Dr. Dupree asked that agenda items 9D and 11J be deleted and that addendum 11 N be added.

Mrs. Shelling requested that the Board add to the agenda the coaching position at Carroll High as a discussion item and possibly an action item.

On a motion by Mrs. Shelling that was seconded by Mrs. Smith, the Board added to the agenda the coaching position at Carroll High School. The motion carried four to two. Mr. Handy and Mr. Traweek opposed.

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Smith, the Board added to the agenda the addendum recommended by Dr. Dupree. The motion carried on a unanimous vote of members present.

On a motion by Mr. Traweek that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board adopted the agenda with addendums. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

The President added the coaching position at Carroll High School as agenda item 8F. The Superintendent's addendum was added as agenda item 11N.

Action Item 6:

Adoption of the Minutes of September 14, 2004:

On a motion by Mrs. Smith that was seconded by Mr. Cain, the Board adopted the minutes of September 14, 2004, as corrected and with the change in classified resignations as follows:

Change 14C (1) Resignation to Retirement:

Herbie Carter, Berg Jones Elementary School
Position: Food Technician
Years of Service: 15
Effective: August 12, 2004

Reverend McFarland asked for additional information on the bleachers for Wossman High School gymnasium. Information was given as follows:

A request for bids will be advertised on October 7, 2004
Bids will be opened on November 1, 2004
The approximate date to begin the work on installing the bleachers will be March 24, 2005. (This date was set by the principal).

The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Report Item 7:

The President's Report and Announcements:

President Handy announced that Mrs. Dayton will not be in attendance at tonight's meeting because her son was home from Iraq and will be returning to Iraq on Wednesday morning. He also thanked the parents, administrators, teachers, citizens, and the news media for their attendance.

Report Item 8:

The Report from the Superintendent:

Dr. Dupree stated that several presentations will be made tonight for many of the System's deserving employees. The presentations were as follows:

A. Chase Grants: Ms. Malissa Herrington was absent due to a prior commitment. Mrs. Susan Cole presented the five recipients:

Nancy Farley and Susan Cole - Clark Magnet Elementary School
Felicia Conway-Sledge -  Lincoln Elementary School
Jodie Moorehead -  Martin Luther King Middle School
Mary Roberts -  Martin Luther King Middle School
Barry Jones -  Sherrouse School

Each recipient received $5,000 for their class project.

B. Bell South Grants: Mr. Wynn Lawson was absent due to a prior commitment. Mrs. Susan Cole presented the three recipients:

Susan Cole - Clark Magnet Elementary School
Nancy Farley - Clark Magnet School
Nancy Hemrick - Clark Magnet School

Each recipient received $500.00 for their class project.

C. Entergy Grants: Dr. Daphene Singleton informed the Board that the school district had received funds from the Entergy Charitable Foundation in the
amount of $17,000. The schools that are involved are: Berg Jones, Carver, and Lincoln Elementary Schools.

D. Reading First Grant: Dr. Daphene Singleton gave a status report on the System's Reading First Grant. She stated that this is a three-year grant funded at approximately $799,258 per year. The grant will be funded at $2.4 million dollars over a three-year period. The schools that are involved are: Berg Jones, Carver, and Lincoln Elementary Schools.

E. Board Retreat: The Board Retreat will be held on Wednesday, October 13th and Thursday, October 14, 2004. The Retreat will be held at The Atrium, 2001 Louisville Avenue, Monroe, LA. The Retreat will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 9 p.m.

F. Carroll High School Basketball Coach: Mrs. Shelling stated that, in the Personnel Committee meeting that was held on Monday, September 27, they discussed the coaching position at Carroll High School. She further stated that the position had been advertised with an open ended date. However, Mrs. Hamilton reported to the committee that four applicants had applied for the position.

Mrs. Shelling stated, "I am asking the Board to consider bringing a resolution tonight to prevent our principals from being actively involved in coaching in addition to their responsibilities as principal."

Dr. Dupree stated that he had conference with the principal and on one other occasion had met with students and a parent, and he informed them that a coach will be in place prior to the start of basketball practice.

Mr. Cain, Mrs. Smith, and Reverend McFarland voiced their opinion in opposition to principals serving as coaches.

Mr. Traweek and Mrs. Handy voiced their opinion to let Mr. Green serve in this dual role until the Superintendent brings a recommendation to this Board for action.

Mr. Green, principal at Carroll High School, addressed the Board in reference to being allowed to continue in this dual role until Dr. Dupree brings a recommendation forward.

Dr. Dupree stated again, that a basketball coach will be in place before the basketball pre-season begins.

No action taken on this agenda item.

Action Item 9:

Chief Financial Officer:

Resolution A:

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mr. Traweek, the Board adopted the resolution to adjust millage rates for the tax year of 2004. The motion carried on a unanimous vote. See addendum for resolution.

Resolutions B & C:

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board adopted resolution B to adjust millage rates after reassessment and roll forward the millage to rates not to exceed the maximum millage for the year 2003. Resolution C was to adopt other authorized millages. The motion carried on a unanimous vote. See addendum for resolutions.

Action Item 9E:

Resolution E:

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Smith, the Board added to the agenda Resolution E. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

On a motion by Mrs. Smith that was seconded by Reverend McFarland, the Board approved the purchase of laser printers for each school off the State Contract list. Funding source will be the 2001 sales tax. See addendum for resolution.

Action Item 10:

Pupil Progression Plan for 2004-2005:

Miss Maria Maggio presented the revised Pupil Progression Plan for the 2004-2005 academic year. The Board discussed the plan as presented.

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board tabled action of said plan until the next meting of the Board. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Action Item 11 K - M:

On a motion by Mrs. Shelling that was seconded by Reverend McFarland, the Board adopted the following resolutions as recommended by Dr. Dupree:

K. Resolution to create 1.0 FTE Talented Art Teacher position at Neville High School (One Year Only) due to increase in enrollment funded from General
Fund - Special Education.

L. Resolution to create 1.0 FTE Computer Lab Technician position to be paid by Title I funds, (One Year Only).

M. Resolution to create 1.0 FTE School Technician Facilitator position to be paid by Instructional Technology Grant.

The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Action Item 11 N:

Addendum to the Agenda:

On a motion by Mrs. Smith that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board adopted the following resolutions as recommended by Dr. Dupree:
N-1: Resolution to create one Educational Facilitator position at Carroll High School. Position to be paid through Title I (One Year Only).

N-2: Resolution to create 4.0 FTE certified Elementary Physical Education Teachers for Elementary Schools Physical Education Program (1 year only). Position to be funded through Tobacco Tax.

N-3: Resolution to create 9.0 FTE certified Reading First Positions to be paid through the Reading First Grant.

- 3.0 FTE certified position at Berg Jones Elementary School (2.0 Reading Coaches and 1.0 Reading Interventionist).

- 3.0 FTE certified position at Lincoln Elementary School (2.0 Reading Coaches and 1.0 Reading Interventionist).

- 2.0 FTE certified position at Carver Elementary School (1.0 Reading Coach and 1.0 Reading Interventionist).

- 1.0 FTE certified Reading First Coordinator (District-wide)

The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Reverend McFarland asked for copies of all contracts to be given to all board members.

Action Item 11 N-4:

Resolution Tenure Hearing:

On a motion by Reverend McFarland that was seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board tabled action on the resolution to conduct a tenure hearing for a bus operator. The Board attorney will bring a resolution to the Board concerning this agenda item. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Action Item 11: A-J.

Personnel Changes:

On a motion by Mrs. Shelling that was seconded by Mrs. Smith, the Board approved all personnel changes as listed in the agenda. The motion carried on a unanimous vote. (See attachments).

Report Item 12:

The Superintendent's Announcements:

The Superintendent made the following announcements:

1. Classified employees November sales tax check will be paid the same as in the past. (1994 and 1968 sales tax).

2. Time Management System's training is on going throughout the district.

3. The Auditors for our Title I Programs , State Level, will be in the District in October.

4. The Elementary Report Cards will go out in October.

5. The Teacher-of-the-Year Reception that was held at LUM was a success.

6. The Superintendent's Reception will be held at the Monroe Civic Center Monday, October 11th beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Other:

Mr. and Mrs. Gaines asked permission to address the Board in reference to their child. The Gaines asked that this be done in an executive session.

On a motion by Mr. Cain that was seconded by Mrs. Smith, the Board added to the agenda an executive session. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

On a motion by Mrs. Shelling that was seconded by Reverend McFarland, the Board went into executive session at 9:40 p.m. to conference with Mr. and Mrs. Gaines about their child. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

The Board reconvened at 10:12 p.m. with no action taken.

Action Item 13:

Adjournment:

On a motion by Mrs. Smith that was seconded by Mr. Cain, the Board adjourned at 10:14 p.m. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Mr. Jessie L. Handy, President

James A. Dupree, Ed.D., Superintendent