TANGIPAHOA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS
June 18, 2002
The Tangipahoa Parish School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, June 18, 2002, at 6:30 p.m., in the School Board Meeting Room, School Board Office, 313 East Oak Street, Amite, Louisiana, with President Al Link, Presiding.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Tony P. Ardillo, Jr., Robert Caves, Al Link, Maxine Dixon, Carl Bardwell, Jimmy Richardson, Sandra Bailey, and Donnie Williams
MEMBERS ABSENT: Leroy Hart
Mrs. Rose Sanders, Administrative Assistant, Amite Elementary School, gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. Ardillo stated that it was a pleasure to have Mrs. Sanders as an administrator and praised her for her contributions to the students and the Tangipahoa Parish School System.
There were no requests for public input.
It was moved by Mrs. Bailey, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to approve the Board Minutes of June 4, 2002, with corrections as indicated. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent.
Mr. Ardillo announced due to his employment with the State, he was prohibited to run for re-election to the School Board. He indicated that it had been an honor and a pleasure to serve on the Board for the last eight (8) years. He stated that anything that had been accomplished had been done by all of the members of the Board.
President Link stated that Mr. Ardillos presence on the Board had made a difference for the Board and the Tangipahoa Parish School System. He thanked him for his efforts on behalf of the School System.
Mr. McCrary (representing Mr. Dan Kyle Legislative Auditors Office) presented the International Meritorious Budget Award and Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting by School Systems to the Board. This award is granted by the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) in recognition of excellence in financial reporting, and is granted only after an intensive review of financial reports by an expert panel of certified public accountants and practicing school business officials.
Mr. Gary McCrary also presented the Board and its staff with the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. This prestigious national award recognizes conformance with the highest standards for preparation of state and local government financial reports. It is awarded to only one percent of the 80,000 governmental entities within the United States. The Board (along with Mr. Kolwe and his staff) was also awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, the Award of Reporting Achievement and the Certificate for Budget Preparation. The Board and staff members were commended and congratulated for receiving these awards.
The Board discussed the item regarding establishing a policy for activities for those students not involved in the LEAP Test. It was decided that handling this situation should be left to the discretion of the individual principals. The principals will be required to submit to the Central Office their plans for handling the testing situation.
Mr. John Dahmer, Clerk of Court, gave the Board an update on the voter training on the new voting machines that will be utilized during the Loranger Bond Proposal.
Superintendent Allen expressed his gratitude to Mr. Dahmer for the efforts he and his staff made to get the students and citizens of Tangipahoa Parish educated regarding voting procedures.
It was moved by Mr. Ardillo, seconded by Mrs. Bailey, to approve the Amite Tangi Digest as the Official Journal for the Tangipahoa Parish School System.
It was moved by Mr. Caves, seconded by Ms. Dixon, to amend the original motion and substitute the Hammond Daily Star as the Official Journal for the Tangipahoa Parish School System. An electronic vote on the original motion yielded the following results: Three (3) Yeas: Mr. Ardillo, Mr. Richardson, and Mr. Link; Five (5) Nays: Mr. Caves, Ms. Dixon, Ms. Bailey, Mr. Bardwell, Mr. Williams. The motion failed. An electronic vote on the amended motion yielded the following results: Five (5) Yeas: Mr. Caves, Ms. Dixon, Ms. Bailey, Mr. Bardwell, and Mr. Williams; Three (3) Nays: Mr. Ardillo, Mr. Richardson, and Mr. Link. The motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent.
It was moved by Mr. Bardwell, seconded by Mr. Caves, to approve the Finance Committee Report of June 4, 2002. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent. Following is the report as approved.
1. Approved the Accounts Payable Check Register dated 5/1/02 5/29/02.
2. Approved the use of purchasing cards for the Maintenance Department.
3. Accepted the staff recommendation to award to the low bidder the bids listed below:
a. SFS Bid #02-19, Cafeteria Janitorial Supplies
b. SFS Bid #02-20, Small Cafeteria Equipment
c. SFS Bid #02-21, Bread and Bread Products
d. SFS Bid #02-22, Commodity Delivery
e. SFS Bid #02-23, Printing Cafeteria Forms
f. SFS Bid #02-24, Pumping/Disposal of Waste in Cafeteria Grease Traps
4. Mr. Richardson asked what was the financial impact of employee overtime on the School System. Superintendent Allen requested that the staff provide a report on this information at the next committee meeting.
5. Mr. Richardson inquired about the feasibility of cheerleader uniforms and training being provided out of athletic funds. Superintendent Allen stated that the staff would be directed to research how much money is in the football accounts and how it is utilized.
It was moved by Mr. Ardillo, seconded by Mr. Caves, to approve the Personnel Committee Report of June 12, 2002, and Addendum #1 and #2. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent. Following is the report as approved:
Other Items Discussed:
1. The Personnel Committee authorized the Personnel Director to bring an addendum to the full Board when necessary.
1. Teacher - Transfer
John Stanley, From: Teacher Ponchatoula High School, To: Teacher Crystal Academy, effective August 14, 2002, Tenured
Ron Edwards, From: Teacher Ponchatoula Jr. High, To: Teacher Ponchatoula High, effective August 14, 2002, Tenured
2. Leaves, Resignations, Retirements
Leaves
Sabbatical Leaves (2002-2003 School Session)
Kelli Colona, Teacher Hammond Westside Primary, P. & I. 1st semester
Laura Dalton, Teacher Champ Cooper Elementary, P. & I. 2 semesters
Kristi Gill, Teacher Ponchatoula High School, P. & I. 2 semesters
Rose Henry, Teacher Champ Cooper Elementary, P. & I. 2 semesters
Glenda Jones, Teacher Loranger High School, P. & I. 2 semesters
William Lambert, Teacher Sumner High School, P. & I. 2 semesters
Cindy Manton, Teacher Tucker Elementary School, P. & I. 2 semesters
Heloise Morgan, Teacher Ponchatoula High School, P. & I. 2 semesters
Monica Painting, Teacher Loranger Middle School, P. & I. 2 semesters
Carolyn Roman, Principal Roseland Elementary, P. & I. 2 semesters
Cheryl Rousseau, Teacher Tucker Elementary, P. & I. 2 semesters
Christine Terral, Teacher Tucker Elementary, P. & I. 2 semesters
Carla Van Vrancken, Teacher Tucker Elementary, P. & I. 2 semesters
Resignations
Philip Ainsworth, Teacher Amite High, effective August 2, 2002
Lance Hutson, Principal Vinyard Elementary, effective June 30, 2002
Retirement
Lorraine Smith, Custodian Loranger Middle, effective May 31, 2002
1. Teacher New Hire
Christopher Fussell, Teacher Sumner High, effective August 14, 2002
2. Teacher - Transfer
Theresa Varnado, From: Special Education Teacher Spring Creek, To: Special Education Teacher Westside Middle, effective August 14, 2002, Tenured
Rosilyn
McKneely, From: Special Education Teacher Ponchatoula High, To: Special
Education Teacher Spring Creek, effective August 14, 2002,
Tenured
Mark Gosnell, From: Teacher Ponchatoula High, To: Teacher Ponchatoula Jr.
High, effective August 14, 2002, Probationary
3. Administrative - Transfer
Patricia Williams, From: Principal D. C. Reeves Elementary, To: Administrative Coordinator of Staff Development, effective June 3, 2002
4. Support Personnel New Hire
Gerald Graham, Head Custodian Loranger High School, effective June 10, 2002
5. Leaves, Resignations, Retirements
Resignations
Harry Ledbetter, Teacher Ponchatoula High, effective May 30, 2002
Judy Williams, Teacher Roseland Elementary, effective June 11, 2002
1. School Food Service -Reclassification
Linda McDaniel, From: Billing Clerk Sumner High, To: Lunchroom Manager Sumner High, effective August 15, 2002
2. Leaves, Resignations, Retirements
Leaves
Lisa Matherne, Teacher Tucker Elementary School, Straight Leave without pay for professional reasons, effective 2002-2003 school session
Arthur Rusty Barrilleaux, Teacher Hammond High, Leave of Absence under Charter School Options, effective 2002-2003 school session
Resignations
Christopher Vaccaro, Teacher Loranger Middle, effective August 1, 2002
Chad Tate, Teacher Independence High, effective August 1, 2002
Retirements
Nancy White, Secretary Chesbrough Elementary, effective June 14, 2002
Sue Core, School Food Service Worker, Champ Cooper, effective May 30, 2002
It was moved by Mr. Richardson, seconded by Mrs. Bailey, to approve the Policy Committee Report of June 10, 2002. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent. Following is the report as adopted.
1. Approved the new policy regarding Electronic Telecommunication Devices.
NEW POLICY:
Electronic Telecommunication Devices
No employee, unless authorized by his/her immediate supervisor or designee, shall use or operate any electronic telecommunication device including any facsimile system, radio paging service, mobile telephone services, intercom, or electro-mechanical paging system in any elementary or secondary school building or on the grounds thereof or in any school bus during instructional time and/or the performance of his/her assigned duties, to include School Food Service personnel and bus operators. A violation of these provisions shall be grounds for disciplinary action.
2. Approved the revisions to Policy GBRIB: Illness.
FILE: GBRIB
Cf: EGAA, GBRI
ILLNESS
SICK LEAVE
The School Board shall grant all employees hired for the school year or longer a minimum of ten (10) days absence per year because of personal illness or other emergencies without loss of pay. Such leave, when not used, shall be allowed to accumulate to the credit of the employee without limitation. However, upon initial employment, a teacher employed by the Board shall not be allowed any sick leave until he reports for duty and actually performs work.
The minimum of ten days of sick leave for an employee shall be based on the employee beginning work at the beginning of the school year. In the case of an employee beginning work in the first month of the school year, ten days sick leave shall be allowed. If an employee begins work in the second month of the school year, nine days of sick leave shall be allowed. If an employee begins work in the third month of the school year, eight days of sick leave shall be allowed; if an employee begins work in the fourth month of the school year, seven days of sick leave shall be allowed; and the number of days of sick leave shall continue to be prorated for an employee who begins work until the eighth month of the school year, when only three days of sick leave shall be allowed. The Superintendent shall be responsible for developing and maintaining pertinent regulations and procedures governing sick leave.
An employee who is absent for six (6) or more consecutive days shall be required to present a certificate from a physician certifying such absence upon return to work.
In the case of repeated absences of less than six (6) days because of illness, the Board reserves the right to require verification of illness. Should a pattern of behavior so warrant, the employee shall be required, at the expense of the school system, to provide a certificate from a physician specified by the school system upon the request of the Superintendent or his designee.
Upon the retirement of any teacher, bus operator, or school employee, or upon the teacher's, bus operator's, or school employee's death prior to retirement, the School Board shall pay the teacher, bus operator, or school employee or his/her heirs or assigns, for any unused sick leave, not to exceed twenty-five (25) days. Such pay shall be at the daily rate of pay paid to the employee at the time of his/her retirement or death.
If an employee is absent from duty under circumstances in which he/she is not entitled to any kind of leave, such employee shall be considered to be in violation of his/her contract, and is not entitled to be paid for the days of unauthorized absence and non-performance of duties.
SICK LEAVE FOR EMERGENCIES
Emergencies for sick leave purposes shall be defined by the Board as:
1. Illness or death within the immediate family - husband, wife, children and their spouses, parents, brothers and sisters and their spouses; spouse's parents, brothers and sisters and their spouses; grandparents and grandchildren (including step-relations);
2. Weather conditions - hurricane, tornado, snowstorm, flood, accident, when approved by the Superintendent or designee;
3. Court summons; or
4. Other unusual circumstances as approved by the Superintendent or
designee.
EXTENDED SICK LEAVE
The Board shall permit each teacher and bus driver to take up to ninety (90) days of extended sick leave in each six-year period of employment which may be used for personal illness or illness of an immediate family member at any time the teacher or bus driver has no remaining regular sick leave balance at the time the extended sick leave is set to begin. Immediate family member means a spouse, parent, or child of the teacher or bus driver.
Unused days during any six-year period of employment shall not cumulate or carry forward into the next six-year period of employment. The balance of days of extended sick leave available shall transfer with the teacher or bus driver from one public school employer to another without loss or restoration of days.
Interruptions of service between periods of employment with a public school employer shall not be included in any calculation of a six-year period. Any employment with any public school employer, regardless of when it occurs, shall be included in any determination of the balance of days of extended sick leave available to the teacher or bus driver.
Any teacher or bus driver on extended sick leave shall be paid sixty-five percent (65%) of the salary paid the teacher or bus driver at the time the extended sick leave begins. In the event a one-time salary supplement is granted after the extended sick leave has commenced, compensation will be paid at fifty percent (50%) of the person's one-time salary supplement. Except for extenuating circumstances, a doctor's certificate shall be presented upon return to work.
Gainful Employment Permitted
A teacher or bus driver may undertake additional gainful employment while on extended sick leave, provided all of the following conditions are met:
1. The teacher or bus driver can demonstrate that he/she will be working not more than twenty (20) hours a week in a part-time job that the teacher or bus driver has been working for not less than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the beginning of any period of extended sick leave.
2. The physician who certifies the medical necessity of the leave indicates that such part-time work does not impair the purpose for which the extended sick leave is required.
Any violation of the provisions regarding gainful employment may require the teacher or bus driver to return to the Board all compensation paid during any week of extended sick leave in which the teacher or bus driver worked more than twenty (20) hours and to reimburse the Board all related employment costs attributable to such period as calculated by the Board, without any restoration of leave days.
Application Process
On every occasion when a teacher or bus driver uses extended sick leave, a statement from a licensed physician certifying that the leave is medically necessary for the teacher or bus driver or that the immediate family member's illness is serious and requires the presence of the teacher or bus driver shall be presented prior to extended sick leave being taken, whenever possible.
(1)
Applications for extended sick leave must be
accompanied by a medical statement by the attending physician of the
applicant. Medical statements accompanying requests for leaves for medical
purposes will may
be referred to the School Board physician to determine if leave is
warranted. A favorable report by the School Board physician must be obtained
prior to any action by the School Board to approve a leave for medical
purposes.
(2) Should the School Board physician return an opinion which disagrees with the applicant's attending physician, the matter will be referred to a third physician who will be selected from a rotating list of physicians provided by the local medical society. The opinion of the third physician will prevail.
(3) The opinion of all physicians consulted in determining medical necessity of the extended sick leave shall be submitted to the Board in the form of a sworn statement. All information contained in any statement from a physician shall be confidential and shall not be subject to the public records law.
SICK LEAVE FOR ASSAULT OR BATTERY
Any employee of the public schools who is injured and disabled while acting in his/her official capacity as a result of an assault or battery by any student or person shall receive sick leave without reduction in pay, and without reduction in accrued sick leave days while disabled as a result of such assault and battery. The employee shall be required to provide a certificate from a physician certifying such injury and incapacitation. The sick leave authorized shall be in addition to all other sick leave authorized herein, shall not be accumulated from year to year, nor shall such additional sick leave be compensated for at death or retirement, or compensated for in any manner except as set forth above.
SICK LEAVE FOR PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH A STUDENT
Any teacher or school employee, but not a bus operator, who is injured or disabled while acting in his official capacity as a result of physical contact with a student while providing physical assistance to a student to prevent danger or risk of injury to the student, shall receive sick leave for a period of up to ninety (90) days without reduction in pay and without reduction in accrued sick leave days while injured or disabled as a result of rendering such assistance. The teacher or employee shall be required to present a certificate from a physician certifying such injury or disability. The Board may extend the period of sick leave beyond ninety (90) days at its discretion.
SICK LEAVE/WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Should any teacher become injured or disabled while acting in his/her official capacity, other than by assault, the teacher shall be entitled to appropriate worker's compensation benefits and/or sick leave benefits, at the teacher's option, for the period of time while injured or disabled.
Any benefits received, however, shall not exceed the total amount of the regular salary the teacher was receiving at the time of injury or disability. The teacher shall be required to present a certificate from a physician certifying such injury or incapacitation.
VESTING OF SICK LEAVE
All sick leave accumulated by a teacher or school employee, but not a bus operator, shall be vested in the teacher or school employee by whom such leave has been accumulated. In the event of the transfer of a teacher or school employee from one school system to another in Louisiana, or upon the return of such teacher or school employee to the same school system within five (5) years or such longer period that may be approved by the Board to which the teacher or school employee returned, regardless of the dates on which the leave was accumulated or the date of transfer or return of the teacher or school employee, such vested leave shall be transferred, returned to, or continued by the Board and shall be retained to the credit of the teacher or school employee.
CODING:
Words in struck through type are deletions from
existing policy, underlined words are
additions.
3. Approved the revisions to Policy GBE: Assignment.
FILE: GBE
Cf: BH, GBU
ASSIGNMENT
It is the policy of the Tangipahoa Parish School Board that instructional personnel be assigned on the basis of their qualifications, the needs of the School District, and their expressed desires. The appropriateness of the assignment will have a significant impact on the morale of the professional staff and the effectiveness of the total educational program.
The Board shall prohibit the wife or husband, son or daughter, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, brothers and sisters and their spouses, parents, or parents of the spouse of a principal or assistant principal of a school to be hired to teach in the school of which the spouse, parent, child or sibling is principal or assistant principal. Employees (wife or husband, son or daughter, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, brothers and sisters and their spouses, parents, or parents of the spouse) may work at the same job site, but not in the same job classification.
Exceptions are cases, which were approved prior to this policy. Any future appointments or promotions will be subject to this policy.
Evaluators shall not be assigned to formally evaluate members of their immediate family.
CODING:
Words in struck through type are deletions from
existing policy, underlined words are
additions.
It was moved by Mr. Caves, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to waive the rules to consider an item from the Ponchatoula Delegation. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent.
It was moved by Mr. Caves, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to amend the budget for the Ponchatoula High School Track Resurfacing by an increase of $30,000.00 from Pay-As-You-Go Funds. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent.
It was moved by Mr. Caves, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to approve Change Order #1 remove catch basins, provide handicap ramp, rework top of catch basin, lower grade, and install two (2) 25-second clocks, in the amount of $21,214.30. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent.
It was moved by Mr. Caves, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to approve Change Order #2 Install two (2) sections of asphalt 12 ft. wide x 150 long, in the amount of $8,400.00. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent.
It was moved by Ms. Dixon, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to waive the rules to consider an item from the Capital Outlay and Maintenance Committee. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent.
It was moved by Ms. Dixon, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to authorize Mr. Jake Ragusa and Architect Michael Holly to proceed with applying for the construction and electrical grants for the Kentwood and Sumner School Districts. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent.
It was moved by Mr. Ardillo, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to authorize the engineer to advertise for replacement of the PA System for the Sumner High School Football Field, budget amount $7,700.00 from Pay-As-You-Go Funds. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent.
Mrs. Bailey spoke in personal privilege regarding the letter that Superintendent Allen sent to the Governor Foster in regard to the Legislators giving public school funds to non-public schools. Superintendent Allen stated that he thought this action was unconstitutional.
Mrs. Bailey also thanked Mr. Ardillo for all of the assistance and support that he had given her as a new Board Member.
President Link informed the Board Members that if there was anyone that they would like to have do the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, they should forward this information to him or the Board Secretary.
Mr. Caves encouraged the Board Members to visit the building site for the new Central Office Facility.
Mr. Ardillo commended the maintenance staff on the job they did to make the modifications to the loading ramps at the warehouse. He also commended the contractor, Mr. Anzalone, on the job that is being done at the building site.
Mr. Bardwell commended Mrs. Pam Lipscomb on donating her personal time and effort to Ponchatoula Jr. High School.
It was moved by Mr. Richardson, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to enter Executive Session to discuss the cases of Grant Works v. TPSB and Linda Kay Dickerson, et ux. V. Patrick R. Balisteri, et al. and consolidated cases. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent.
It was moved by Mr. Caves, seconded by Mr. Ardillo, in the case of Grant Works v. TPSB, to pay the judgment. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent.
It was moved by Mr. Caves, seconded by Mr. Ardillo, in the case of Linda Kay Dickerson, et ux. V. Patrick R. Balisteri, et al. and consolidated cases, to pay the judgment. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent.
It was moved by Mrs. Bailey, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to adjourn (8:00 p.m.). Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart absent.
Respectfully submitted,
Al Link, President
Virgil Allen, Secretary-Treasurer
Recorded By: Jo-Ann L. Frazier (6/18/02)