The Tangipahoa Parish School Board met in regular
session on
MEMBERS PRESENT: Robert Caves, Al Link,
Carl Bardwell, Donnie Williams,
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
Dr. Leslie M. Mabry, Assistant Superintendent, gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
It
was moved by Mrs. Bailey-Simmons, seconded by Mr. Genco, to approve the Board
Minutes of
Superintendent Allen recognized Ms. Melinda Shaffett, Executive Director of TARC. Ms. Shaffett thanked the Board, Mr. Allen and his staff for their support of the TARC Program.
Mrs. Victoria Ott and Dr. Leslie M. Mabry presented awards to the 2003 Parish Level Winners of the Louisiana School Board Association Art Contest. They are as follows:
Student: Abby Earles
School: D.
C.
Art Instructor: Mellie Bodker
Grade: 3
Student: Ariel Candies
School: Martha Vinyard Elementary
Art Instructor: Mellie Bodker
Grade: 6
Student: William Hyde
School:
Art Instructor: Kitty Faulkenberry
Grade: 12
SECOND PLACE
WINNERS THIRD PLACE WINNERS
Student: Kayli
Manning Student: Kean
Williams
School: Tucker
Elementary School: Roseland Elementary
Art Instructor: Mellie Bodker Art
Instructor: Mazine Butler
Grade: 2 Grade: 1
Student: Destin Kuhn Student: Julia Taylor
School:
Art Instructor: Mellie
Bodker Art
Instructor: Denise Holly
Grade: 5 Grade: 5
Student: Jimmi Ard Student: Joseph Hamm
School:
Art Instructor: Kitty
Faulkenberry Art
Instructor: Kitty Faulkenberry
Grade: 9 Grade: 9
The Parish School Board of the Parish of Tangipahoa Louisiana, the governing authority of School Districts No.1 (Hammond), No. 106 (Champ Cooper), District No. 107(Kentwood), 108 (Ponchatoula), and No. 116 (Sumner), of the Parish of Tangipahoa State of Louisiana, at the regular meeting place of said School Board the School Board office, 313 East Oak Street, Amite, Louisiana, pursuant to notice duly posted in the manner required by law, with the following members in attendance:
Present Absent
Carl Bardwell X
Al Link X
Sandra Simmons X
Robert Potts X
Leonard Genco X
Donnie Williams, Sr.
X
The meeting was called to order and the roll
called, with the above result. Also present was Virgil Allen, Superintendent of
Schools and Secretary of the School Board.
The President then announced that
the next item on the agenda was to adopt a resolution undertaking a project to
refund general obligation bonds of School Districts No. 1, No.106, No.107, No.
108 and No. 116 of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of
It was moved by Mr. Link, seconded by Mr. Williams, to waive the rules to allow public input on the proposed resolution. Hearing no objection, the motion was unanimously adopted.
In compliance with L.R.S. 42:5.1, the
President then called for public comment on the proposed resolution introducing
a Resolution to authorize undertaking of a project to refund outstanding
general obligation bonds of School Districts School Districts No.1, No.106,
No.107, No. 108 and No. 116 of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana,
for the purpose of achieving interest rate savings, applying to the State Bond
Commission for authorization therefor, employing bond counsel, and providing
for other matters in connection therewith. Thereupon, the following Resolution
was explained by bond counsel, discussed fully by the Board and comments from
any member of the public who wished to speak were heard. At the conclusion of
the School Board's discussions and deliberations, the following Resolution was
offered by, and seconded by Mr. Richardson, and seconded by Mr. Link, and adopted by the
following vote:
Yeas: Jimmy
Richardson, Robert Potts, Leonard Genco, Al Link, Donnie Williams, Robert
Caves,
Nays: None
And the
resolution reads as follows:
A resolution receiving the reports of bond underwriters Morgan Keegan & Co., Inc. and Crews & Associates, Inc. showing substantial interest rate savings by refunding various outstanding bond issues to promptly take advantage of the historically low interest rates currently available in the market; granting to the Underwriters the exclusive right from the date of this resolution for a period of six (6) months to prepare and submit to this School Board one or more joint proposals to purchase the refunding bonds which the Board may accept or reject and negotiate with no liability to the School Board to pay any
costs or fees with respect to an issue unless a proposal to refund the issue is accepted by the Board; each proposal must provide for a reduction in debt service payments on an issue to be refunded that will meet or exceed State Bond Commission requirements and the Underwriter's discount on each such issue will not exceed three percent (3%); employing bond counsel; giving preliminary approval to the issuance of not to exceed Four Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($4,750,000) aggregate principal amount of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of School District No.1, not to exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of School District No. 106, not to exceed One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of School District No. 107, not to exceed Three Million Five Hundred Twenty-Five Dollars ($3,525,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of School District No.1 08, and not to exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of School District No. 116, all of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana; providing for certain terms of said bonds; making application to the State Bond Commission for approval of said bonds; and providing for other matter in connection therewith.
WHEREAS, Morgan Keegan & Co., Inc., and Crews & Associates, Inc. (collectively, the "Underwriters") have submitted reports of the feasibility of refunding various outstanding bonds of Tangipahoa Parish School Bonding Districts to achieve significant debt service reduction on the said bonds; and
WHEREAS, it is in the public interest that
this Board promptly take advantage of the historically low interest rates
currently available in the market by granting to the Underwriters exclusive
right to prepare and submit joint proposals to purchase the refunding bonds
which proposals the Board may accept or reject and negotiate to obtain the best
possible interest rate in the tax -exempt market; and
WHEREAS, in order to undertake the refunding program it is necessary that this resolution be adopted giving preliminary approval of the issuance of the refunding bonds; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of
Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974,
Sub-Part A, Part III, Chapter 4, Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of
1950, as amended and other constitutional and statutory authority:
1)
2)
3) School District No. 107 of the Parish of
Tangipahoa, State of
4) School District No. 108 of the Parish of
Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana has heretofore issued $3,750,000 of General
Obligation School Improvement Bonds, Series 1993B, dated July 1, 1993, and
$1,975,000 of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 1993D; and
5) School District No. 116 of the Parish of
Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana, has heretofore issued $1,350,000 of General
Obligation School Improvement Bonds, Series 1993C of; and
6) The School Board of the Parish of Tangipahoa has heretofore entered into an equipment installment purchase agreement on dated May 11, 1998, and funded June 16, 1998, in the original principal amount of $2,295,139; and
WHEREAS, in order to provide debt service
reductions, the above listed Districts (being collectively referred to as the
"Issuers") acting through the Tangipahoa Parish School Board, the
governing authority, the Issuers desire to refund the above listed bond issues
pursuant to Chapter
14-A of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended (the
"Act") and other constitutional and statutory authority, through the
issuance of its refunding bonds; and
WHEREAS, subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission, the respective Issuers desire to accomplish the refundings through the issuance, in one or more series, of not exceeding (1) $4,750,000 of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of District No.1 (Hammond) of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana; (2) $1,000,000 of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of District No.106 of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana; (3) not to exceed $1,500,000 of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of District No.107 of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana; (4) not to exceed $3,525,000 Refunding Bonds of School District No. 108 of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana; and (5) $1,000,000 of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of School District No. 116 of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana (collectively the "Refunding Bonds"), to be payable from unlimited ad valorem taxes of the respective issuers; and not exceeding $1,750,000 of Revenue Bonds, Series 2003 of the School Board Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana (the Revenue Bonds), to be secured by revenues of the Tangipahoa Parish School Board under authority of L.R.S. 39:1430; and
WHEREAS, the respective Issuers desire to make formal application to
the State Bond Commission for approval of the various refunding Bonds, and
further to employ special Bond Counsel in connection therewith;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Tangipahoa Parish School Board
(the "Governing Authority"), the Governing Authority of School
Districts No.1, No.1 06, No.1 07, No. 108, and No. 116 of the Parish of
Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana (the "Districts"), as follows:
SECTION 1. Preliminary Approval of
the Bonds. Preliminary approval is given to the issuance, in
one or more series, of not exceeding (1) $4,750,000 of General Obligation
School Refunding Bonds of District No.1 (Hammond) of the Parish of Tangipahoa,
State of Louisiana, to be issued for the purpose of refunding the outstanding
maturities of the General Obligation School Improvement Bonds, Series 1992,
issued by said School District No.1 maturing December 1, 2003, through and
including December 1, 2007, and refunding the outstanding maturities of the
General Obligation School Improvement Bonds, Series 1994A, of said School
District No.1 maturing May 1, 2006, through and including May 1, 2104; (2)
$1,000,000 of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of District No. 106 of
the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana, for the purpose of refunding the
outstanding principal balance of the General Obligation School Improvement
Bonds, Series 1993A of said School District No.106, maturing June 1, 2004,
through and including June 1, 2013; (3) not to exceed $1,500,000 of General
Obligation School Refunding Bonds of School District No. 107 of the Parish of
Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana, for the purpose of refunding the outstanding
principal balance of the General Obligation School Improvement Bonds, Series
1994B of said District No. 107 maturing February 1, 2005, through and including
February 1, 2014; (4) not to exceed $3,525,000 of General Obligation School
Refunding Bonds of School District No. 108 of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State
of Louisiana, for the purpose of refunding the outstanding principal balance of
General Obligation School Improvement Bonds, Series 1993B of said School
District No. 108 maturing July 1, 2004, through and including July 1, 2013 and
the outstanding principal balance of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds,
Series 1993D of said School District No.108, maturing December 1, 2004, through
and including December 1, 2007; and (5) $1,000,000 of General Obligation School
Refunding Bonds of School District No. 116 of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State
of Louisiana, to be issued for the purpose of refunding the outstanding
principal balance of General Obligation School Improvement Bonds, Series 1993C
of said School District No. 116, maturing July 1, 2004 through and including
July 1, 2013 (collectively the "Refunding Bonds"). The Refunding
Bonds to be payable from and secured by the unlimited ad valorem tax to be
levied by the respective Districts. The Refunding Bonds shall bear interest at
a rate or rates not to exceed six percent (6%) per annum, to be determined by
subsequent resolution of this Governing Authority at the time of the sale of
the Refunding Bonds, shall be tax-exempt and shall mature no later than the
respective maturities of the bonds being refunded.
The Refunding Bonds shall be issued in fully registered form, shall be
sold to the purchaser(s) thereof at a price to be determined by the Governing
Authority, but at a price of not less than 97% of par, plus accrued interest,
and shall have such additional terms and provisions as may be determined by
this Governing Authority. The Refunding Bonds will be issued under the
authority of Chapter 14-A of Title 39 and the Revenue Bonds will be issued
under Section 1430 of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as
amended.
SECTION 2. Appointment of Investment Banking Firms/Underwriters. Underwriters are hereby granted exclusive right for a period of six (6) months from the date of this resolution to prepare and submit to the Governing Authority joint proposal or proposals (the "Proposal") to purchase the above referenced outstanding bonds to reduce debt service payments as much as possible, but not less than the amount required by the rules of the State Bond Commission. The Underwriters' discount shall not exceed three percent (3%). The Board may accept or reject and negotiate the Proposal with no liability to the School Board to pay any costs or fees unless the Proposal is accepted in whole or in part. An official offering prospectus is authorized to be prepared by the Underwriters, printed and used by the Underwriters to submit the proposed refunding issues to bond rating agencies, bond insurance companies and Underwriters' prospective buyers.
SECTION 3. State Bond Commission. Application is
hereby made to the State Bond Commission, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for approval
of the issuance and sale of the Refunding Bonds, and for consent and authority
to proceed with the issuance and sale of the Refunding Bonds as provided above,
and Bond Counsel is directed to make application to the State Bond Commission
in accordance with the foregoing on behalf of the issuer.
SECTION 4. Employment of Bond
Counsel. The Governing Authority hereby recognizes that a
real necessity exists for the employment of special bond counsel in connection
with the issuance of the Refunding Bonds and accordingly the law firms of Foley
& Judell, L.L.P. and Benton, Benton & Benton, P .L.C. are hereby
employed as special bond counsel by the Governing Authority to do and perform
comprehensive legal and co-ordinate professional work with respect to the
issuance and sale of the Refunding Bonds. Fees to be paid to said attorneys
shall not exceed the fee provided in the Attorney General's guidelines for fees
of bond attorneys for comprehensive and coordinate legal and professional work
in the issuance of general obligation bonds, set forth in Exhibit A hereto,
plus actual out of pocket expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of
the Refunding Bonds and shall be contingent upon the sale, delivery and payment
for the issue of bonds to which the fee pertains. A certified copy of this Resolution
shall be forwarded to the Attorney General for approval of the employment
herein provided for in compliance with the provisions of La. R.S. 42:263, and
when so approved, this resolution shall constitute an employment agreement.
Bond Counsel shall assist in the solicitation of proposals from qualified
prospective purchasers of the Refunding Bonds upon consultation with the
Governing Authority if the Underwriters do not submit an offer to purchase the
Refunding Bonds. A certified copy of this resolution shall be submitted to the
Attorney General's office in accordance with L.R.S. 42:263 for approval of the
employment arrangements provided for herein.
The
foregoing resolution was adopted on the 21st day of January, 2003.
____________________________________ _________________________________
Virgil Allen,
Secretary-Treasurer
The foregoing employment is
accepted:
Morgan Keegan & Company,
Inc. Crews
& Associates, Inc.
By: By:_________________________________
John
Poche Alan
Barksdale
Foley &
Judell, L.L.P. Benton, Benton & Benton, P .L.C.
By: By:________________________________
David
I, Virgil Allen, do hereby certify that I am the duly appointed and
qualified Secretary- Treasurer of the Tangipahoa Parish School Board, the
Governing Authority of School Districts No. 1, No.106, No. 107, No. 108
and No. 116 of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of
I do further certify that the
foregoing pages constitute a true and correct of an excerpt of the minutes of a
meeting of the Governing Authority on
A
resolution receiving the reports of bond Underwriters Morgan Keegan & Co.,
Inc. and Crews & Associates, Inc. showing substantial interest rate savings
by refunding various outstanding bond issues to promptly take advantage of the
historically low interest rates currently available in the market; granting to
the Underwriters the exclusive right from the date of this resolution for a
period of six (6) months to prepare and submit to this School Board one or more
joint proposals to purchase the refunding bonds which the Board may accept or
reject and negotiate with no liability to the School Board to pay any costs or
fees with respect to an issue unless a proposal to refund the issue is accepted
by the Board; each proposal must provide for a reduction in debt service
payments on an issue to be refunded that will meet or exceed State Bond
Commission requirements and the Underwriters discount on each such issue will
not exceed three percent (3%); employing bond counsel; giving preliminary approval to the issuance
of not to exceed Four Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($4,750,000)
aggregate principal amount of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of
School District No.1, not to exceed One Million Dollars ($1, 000,000) of
General Obligation School Refunding Bonds of School District No.106, not to
exceed One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000) of General
Obligation School Refunding Bonds of School District No. 107, not to exceed
Three Million Five Hundred Twenty-Five Dollars ($3,525,000) of General
Obligation School Refunding Bonds of School District No.108, and not to
exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) of General Obligation School Refunding
Bonds of School District No. 116, all of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of
Louisiana, to be issued for the purpose of refunding an installment Lease
Purchase Agreement entered into on May 11, 1998, providing for certain terms of said bonds;
making application to the State Bond Commission for approval of said bonds; and
providing for other matters in connection therewith.
IN FAITH WHEREOF, witness my signature
and the impress of the official seal of the Tangipahoa Parish School Board on
this the 21st day of January, 2003.
______________________________
Virgil Allen, Secretary-Treasurer
And Not
More Than
More Than Fee
$ 405,000 $810,000
$6,075 +
0.90% of all over $405,000 $810,000 $1,350,000 $9,720 + 0.75% of all over $810,000
$1,350,000 $2,700,000 $13,770
+ 0.50% of al1 over $1,350,000 $2,700,000 $6,750,000
$20,520 + 0.20% of all over $2,700,000
It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Richardson, to establish an Ad Hoc Committee on Vocational Education to develop scope and sequencing of Vocational Program Offerings to Middle and High School Students. Hearing no objection, the motion was unanimously adopted.
The Board
decided to hold the Dyslexia Simulation (Walking in the Shoes of A Dyslexic) on
Mr. Link discussed the excessive amount of absenteeism among school employees. The staff will research ways to encourage employees to report to work on a regular basis.
Mr. Link discussed on-site evaluation of Tangipahoa Parish Schools and stated that he felt the staff should be involved in the school operation. He requested that Dr. Mabry prepare a plan for accomplishing this goal.
The Teacher
Advisory Committee decided that the schools would make up the needed days by
adding additional minutes to each school day beginning
The item regarding an Expulsion Appeal was cancelled.
It
was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to approve the Finance
Committee Report of
1.
Approved the Accounts Payable Check Register dated
2. Approved the RFP For Data Connections between sites for Tangipahoa Parish Schools for 2003-2004.
3. Approved The RFP for Network Upgrades and Maintenance for Tangipahoa Parish Schools for 2003-2004.
4.
Mr. John Norris made recommendations to the committee
regarding the renewal of Third Party Administrator Services. Mr. Norris
recommendation was to extend pro-rata the current contract to September 2003.
The contract expires
It was moved by Mr. Bardwell, seconded by Mr. Link, to waive the rules to consider Personnel Committee Addendum #1. Hearing no objection, the motion was unanimously adopted.
It was moved by Ms. Dixon, seconded by Mr. Potts, to approve the Personnel Committee Report of January 21, 2003, except Item #5, Line 2 (Support Personnel New Hire, Timmie Anderson ), and Addendum # 1. Hearing no objection, the motion was unanimously adopted. Following is the report as approved:
Shawn Messina, Librarian
Roslyn Lea, Teacher Hammond High,
effective
Kristy Rocquin,
Teacher Tucker Elementary, effective
Lynette Reno, Teacher Vinyard
Elementary, effective
LaShunta
Banks, Teacher Hammond Westside Upper, effective
Juanita Lee, From: Teacher
Loranger Middle, To: Teacher Vinyard Elementary, effective
3. TEACHER
RECLASSIFICATION
Andrea Laborde, From: Librarian
4. TEACHER
TRANSFER/RECLASSIFICATION
Kelli Colona, From: Teacher Regular Program
Hammond Westside Primary, To: Special Education Teacher
5. SUPPORT PERSONNEL NEW HIRE
Susan Davis, Office Assistant I School Food
Service, effective
6. SUPPORT PERSONNEL - RECLASSIFICATION
Charles McClendon, From: 9
Month Custodian Ponchatoula Jr. High, To: 12 Month Custodian Ponchatoula
Jr. High, effective
Clifford Anderson, From:
12 Month Custodian Ponchatoula Jr. High, To: 12 Month Head Custodian
Ponchatoula Jr. High, effective
Sabbatical Leaves:
Maurianna Moore, Teacher Natalbany Elementary, Medical 2nd Semester 2002-2003 School Session
Leave:
Glenn Sanchez, Teacher Vinyard Elementary, Extended Medical Leave using sick days first due to surgery undetermined, effective December 12, 2002
Brandee Kemp, Teacher Spring Creek Elementary, Extended Medical Leave using sick days first due to maternity February 2003, effective January 6, 2003
Issac Williams, Bus Driver Loranger Schools, Extended Medical Leave using sick days first due to surgery March 15, 2003, effective January 15, 2003
Dorchelle
Verdin, Contact Secretary WIA, Straight Leave
without pay due to personal reasons December 2003, effective
Retirements:
Patricia Guess, Teacher
Josephine Dyson, Teacher Kentwood
High, effective
Willard Helsel,
Bus Driver, effective
Gayland Fortenberry, Bus Driver, effective
Frances Graham, Custodian WIA,
effective
Henrietta Vernon, Special Education
Teacher Kentwood Elementary, effective
Steven Cotton, Custodian 9 months
8 hours Hammond Westside Primary, effective
Yvonne Brumfield, Janitor 9
months 7 hours Ponchatoula High, effective
Deborah Brettel, ISSP Monitor
Ponchatoula Jr. High, effective
Mandy Davoi, Custodian 12 months
WIA 20, effective
3. SUPPORT
PERSONNEL TRANSFER/RECLASSIFICATION
Jackie Tillis, From: Title 1 P.E.
Proctor Hammond Eastside Primary, To: Title 1 ISSP Monitor Hammond Eastside
Upper, effective
4. SUPPORT PERSONNEL/RECLASSIFICATION
Lamont Jackson, From: Title 1 Music
Proctor (14 hours per week)
5. LEAVES RESIGNATIONS RETIREMENTS
Sabbatical Leave
Rhonda
Davis, Teacher
Leaves:
Tara Guettler, Teacher D.C.
Reeves, Extend Extended Sick Leave due to illness
Barry Portier, Teacher
Frank Pettito, Bus Driver, Extended
Sick Leave using sick days first due to illness
Nikki Lombardo, Teacher Sumner
High, Extended Sick Leave due to maternity using sick days first undetermined,
effective
Amy Wall, Teacher Kentwood Elementary, Extended Sick Leave due to surgery using sick days first January 6, 2003, effective September 17, 2002
Tammy Gautier, Paraprofessional
Vinyard Elementary, Straight leave without pay for professional reasons
Resignations:
John Fryson, Janitor Nesom Middle, effective
Edward Richstone,
School Psychologist
Donna Kathryn Tallo,
Computer Lab Paraprofessional D.C. Reeves, effective
Victoria Showers, ISSP Monitor
Hammond Eastside Upper, effective
Karl Morse, Bus Driver, effective
Retirements:
Connie
Richardson, Janitor Ponchatoula Jr. High, effective
6. ELIMINATE POSITION OF FACILITY DESIGN
7. TEACHER RECLASSIFICATION
Daniel Williams, From:
Administrative Assistant Tucker Elementary, To: Assistant Principal Tucker
Elementary, effective
It was moved by Mr. Bardwell, seconded by Mr. Link, to waive the rules to consider an item from the Ponchatoula Board Delegation. Hearing no objection, the motion was unanimously adopted.
It was moved by Mr. Bardwell,
seconded by Mrs. Bailey-Simmons, to approve funding for two (2) Science
Computer Labs for
Mr. Bardwell discussed
the possibility of having security at Board Meetings.
Mr. Link spoke in personal privilege
and stated that some of the schools had not responded to the
It was
moved by Mr. Richardson, seconded by Mr. Williams, to
Respectfully submitted,
Virgil Allen, Secretary-Treasurer
Recorded
By: Jo-Ann L. Frazier (