TANGIPAHOA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS

 

 

November 19, 2002

 

 

 

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board met in regular session on Thursday, November 19, 2002, at 6:30 p.m., in the School Board Meeting Room, School Board Office, 313 E. Oak St. Amite, Louisiana, with President Al Link presiding.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:           Jimmy Richardson, Tony Paul Ardillo, Jr., Al Link, Maxine Dixon, Carl Bardwell, Donnie Williams, and Robert Caves

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:             Leroy Hart and Sandra Bailey

                       

            Rev. Jimmy Richardson, Board Member District A, gave the invocation, and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

            Mr. Jason Ard spoke in public input regarding his personal opinion of the Board Members. Due to the negative input, the meeting was recessed for five (5) minutes and Mr. Ard was asked to leave the podium.

 

It was moved by Mr. Caves, seconded by Ms. Dixon, to approve the Board Minutes of  November 7, and November 12, 2002, with corrections as indicated. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart and Mrs. Bailey absent.

 

Mr. Louis Joseph, Assistant Superintendent, introduced Dr. Bonadelvert Suarez and Mr. Al Ferrar, representative of the St. Vincent DePaul’s Society “Uniforms for Kids” Program. The Board gave Dr. Suarez and Mr. Ferrar a plaque in recognition of their support of the students and the Tangipahoa Parish School System.

 

Dr. Suarez and Mr. Ferrar thanked the Board for having them as guests and gave them plaque indicating their appreciation of the Board’ support. 

 

The Board also recognized and thanked the Amite Junior Auxiliary, Dr. Beth Moulds, and Mrs. Jo Fairburn for their participation in the “Uniforms for Kids” Program.

 

Mr. John Norris addressed the Board regarding its Errors and Omissions Insurance Policy. It was moved by Mr. Caves, seconded by Mr. Richardson, to accept the staff recommendation regarding the Errors and Omissions Insurance Policy, accept the bid of Emery James (National Union) in the amount of $45,068.00, and increase the deductible to $50,000.00.  The Board will also be given the opportunity to review any settlement offers. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart and Mrs. Bailey absent.

 

Mr. Williams indicated that an Independence Board Delegation Meeting was held prior to the Board Meeting and the members were in agreement to purchase Uniforms for the Independence High School Band.

 

It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Richardson, to set a budget figure not to exceed $15,935.36, to be borrowed from the General Fund and to be paid back in a three (3) year period with the rate of interest being the current rate earned by the Board on its other investments. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart and Mrs. Bailey absent.

 

It was moved by Mr. Caves, seconded by Mr. Williams, to remand the item regarding allowing students to wear Athletic Letter Jackets/Band Jackets in the Classroom to the Policy Committee. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart and Mrs. Bailey absent.

 

 

It was moved by Mr. Caves, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to approve the Central Office/Maintenance Committee report of November 12, 2002. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart and Mrs. Bailey absent. Following is the report as approved.

 

1.      Mr. McDowell gave the committee an update on the progress on the Central Office Building. He indicated that the furniture would be shipped in January, with approximately thirty days to install, and a tentative moving date in March of 2003.

2.      Accepted the low bid of A. D. Wynne Co. Inc., in the amount of $413,030.92 – Furnishing for Central Office Building. 

3.      Approved a Change Order to change file units from four (4) drawer to five (5) drawer at an additional cost of $750.00, change twelve (12) Torsion chairs to Piretti Engage Chairs at an additional cost of $1,816.27, change Piretti Engage Armless Chairs to Armed Chairs at an additional cost of $550.00, total additions $3,116.27.

 

It was moved by Mr. Bardwell, seconded by Mr. Caves, to approve the Finance Committee Report of November 7, 2002. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart and Mrs. Bailey absent. Following is the report as approved.

 

1.                  Approved the Accounts Payable Check Register dated 9/27/02 – 10/29/02.

2.                  Accepted the low bids for Purchase of Electronic Equipment for 2003 as indicated: Valiant for 32” Television ($403.43), 26” Television ($263.24), 4 Head VCR ($63.72), and Camcorders ($277.85); the low bid of Solutions4Sure for Digital Camera Model MVC-FD-75 ($281.45), Digital Camera Model MVC-FD-100 ($319.00), and Digital Camera Model MVC-FD-200 ($359.00).

3.                  Accepted the low bids for office and Classroom Equipment for 2003 as indicated in the bid tabulations.

4.                  Mr. Kolwe introduced Mr. John Norris. Mr. Norris gave the delegation an explanation of the quotes for renewal of the Errors & Omissions Liability Insurance for 2002.

 

It was moved by Mr. Ardillo, seconded by Mr. Caves, to approve the Personnel Committee Report of  November 13, 2002, and Addendum  #1. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart and Mrs. Bailey absent.  Following is the report as approved:

 

November 13, 2002

 

1.         Support Personnel  New Hire

 

KaWanda Carter, Child Specific Aide – 7 hours, Tucker Elementary, effective November 4, 2002

 

2.         Teacher - Reclassification

 

Felicia Jones, From: Teacher – Hammond Westside Upper, To: 21st Century Grant Site Coordinator – Hammond Westside Upper, effective November 14, 2002

 

3.         Maintenance – New Hire

 

Charlie Kirkland, Trades Helper/Plumber – Grade 5 – Maintenance Department, effective November 20, 2002

Shayne Johnson, Grass Cutter – Grade 5 – Maintenance Department, effective November 20, 2002

 

4.         Teacher - Termination

 

            Lindy Stanga, Teacher, effective December 1, 2002

 

5.         Leaves, Resignations, Retirements

 

Leaves:

 

Lorinda Elzy, Teacher – Perrin Early Learning Center, Extended Medical Leave using sick days first due to Maternity – March 2003, effective  January 6, 2003

Renacer Francis, Paraprofessional – Hammond High, Straight leave without  pay using sick days first due to Maternity – February 2003, effective  November 12, 2002

 

Resignations:

 

Robert Spencer, Custodian – Nesom Middle, effective November 5, 2002

 

Retirements:

 

Joan Guzzardo, Transition/Coordinator – Special Education Service Center, effective December 21, 2002

 

ADDENDUM #1

 

1.         Support Personnel  New Hire

 

Carol Mott, Special Education Pre-K Paraprofessional – 7 hours, Loranger Middle, effective November 12, 2002

 

2.         Leaves, Resignations, Retirements

 

            Sabbatical Leave:

 

            Janet DeArmond, Teacher – Vinyard Elementary, Medical 2nd Semester – 2002-2003

 

            Resignations:

 

            Melissa Killebrew, Secretary – Ponchatoula High, effective December 20, 2002

 

            Retirements:

 

            Karen Tabor, Teacher – S.L.U. Lab, effective January 18, 2002

 

It was moved by Mr. Ardillo, seconded by Mr. Richardson, to approve the Amite Board Delegation report of  November 7, 2002, with the exception of Item #5 ( Purchase of Office Furniture, Mini Blinds, and Carpet for Roseland Elementary School). Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart and Mrs. Bailey absent. Following is the report as approved.

 

1.      Approved Change Order #1, Roseland Elementary Renovations in the amount of $3,212.00.

2.      Approved the substantial completion of Roseland Elementary Renovations.

3.      The architects distributed a handout and gave the delegation an update on all Amite District Construction Projects. The delegation set a start date for the football field lighting project as after the last home game of the play-offs.

4.      Approved the replacement of the Telephone System at Westside Middle School, in the amount of $6,246.20 from Pay-As-You-Go Funds.

5.      Approved the low quote of Paul Sita for carpet in the Assistant Principal’s Office at Amite Elementary School, in the amount of $1,474.00 from Pay-As-You-Go Funds.

6.      Approved Change Order #1, Amite High School Classroom Addition Project, in the amount of $1,937.00.

7.      Deferred the item regarding Change Order #2, Amite High School Classroom Addition Project.

8.      Approved Change Order #1, Amite High School Auditorium Project, in the amount of a $700.00 credit.

9.      Approved reimbursement of $2,2881.40 to Amite High School For Computer Equipment for the Assistant Principals at Amite High School.

 

It was moved by Mr. Ardillo to approve the portion of Item #5 regarding Furnishing and Installing Mini Blinds in a new classroom at a cost of $2,300.00. The motion died for lack of a second.

 

It was moved by Mr. Richardson, seconded by Ms. Dixon, to approve Item #5 (Purchase of Office Furniture, Mini Blinds, and Carpet for Roseland Elementary School, in the amount of  $9,961.00 from Pay-As-You-Go Funds. A Roll Call Vote yielded the following results:

 

YEA                                                    NAY                                        ABSENT

 

            Jimmy Richardson                                 Tony P. Ardillo             Leroy Hart

            Al Link                                                                                     Sandra Bailey

            Donnie Williams

            Robert Caves

            Maxine Dixon

            Carl Bardwell

Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart and Mrs. Bailey absent.

 

The Hammond Delegation Report was presented as a point of information. The items in the report had been previously approved at the November 7, 2002 Board Meeting.

 

It was moved by Mr. Caves seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to approve the Ponchatoula Board Delegation report of November 11, 2002. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart and Mrs. Bailey absent. Following is the report as approved.

 

1.      Approved the request of Tucker Elementary for an Ice Machine, in the amount of $21,150.00 from Pay-As-You-Go Funds.

2.      Deferred the request of Ponchatoula High School for Covers for Track and Sideline Areas.

3.      Approved the request of Ponchatoula High School for track and field equipment at an estimated cost of $25,000.00 from Pay-As-You-Go Funds.

4.      Approved the low quote of Cowart Fence, in the amount of $1,260.00 for fence modification at Ponchatoula High School football field, from Pay-As-You-Go Funds.

5.      Approved the request of D.C. Reeves for a computer in the Principal’s Office at an estimated cost of $1,200.00, from Pay-As-You-Go Funds.

6.      The delegation discussed the district needs assessment and reviewed the handout. Line items were assigned to the architect, the Director of Maintenance and appropriate staff,  as needed, with instructions to report cost estimates and options at the next delegation meeting.

7.      Increased the amount from $50,000.00 to $65,000.00 for lighting at the Ponchatoula Athletic Park, from Settlement Fund 650.

 

Mr. Bardwell requested that the Superintendent remind the principals that maintenance items should be presented to the proper staff  members and not submitted to the Board Delegations for approval. Mr. Caves suggested that Mr. James Clark attend the Board Delegation meetings in the future.

 

The Dyslexia Task Force report was deferred until the next Board Meeting when Mrs. Bailey would be in attendance.

 

Mr. Caves stated that the security situation should be addressed at football games to insure that there is no alcohol on the school grounds. Superintendent Allen stated that this situation would be addressed.

 

            Mrs. Doris Flanagan, President, Tangipahoa Federation of Teachers and Mrs. Karen Bell, Tangipahoa Association of Educators, spoke in Public Input regarding the 2002 – 2003 One-time Mid-Year Salry Adjustment.

 

            It was moved by Mr. Richardson, seconded by Mr. Caves, to approve the 2002 – 2003 One-time Mid-Year Salary Adjustment. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart and Mrs. Bailey absent.

 

It was moved by Mr. Ardillo, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to enter Executive Session. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart and Mrs. Bailey absent.

 

It was moved by Mr. Caves, seconded by Mr. To authorize Mor-Tem to proceed as recommended regarding the case of Joyce Sims vs. Tangipahoa Parish School System. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart and Mrs. Bailey absent.

 

The Board set dates for the teacher tenure hearing to be conducted during the week of December 2-6, 2002.

 

It was moved by Mr. Bardwell, and seconded by Mr. Williams, that the meeting be adjourned. (8:30 p.m.) Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Hart and Mrs. Bailey absent.

 

 

                                                                                    Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                                    Al Link, President

 

 

 

VIRGIL ALLEN Secretary-Treasurer

 

Recorded By: Jo-Ann L. Frazier (11/19/02)