Central Community Schools

 

School Board Meeting

02/13/2023 06:00 PM

Central Administrative Office

10510 Joor Road, Suite 300

Central, LA 70818

 

MEETING MINUTES

 

Attendees

Voting Members

Roxanne Atkinson, Board President

Dr. G. David Walker, Vice President

Jason Leaphart, Board Member

Nick Carmena, Board Member

Mike Davis, Board Member

Michael Hooper, Board Member

Carol Norwood, Board Member

 

1.        Call to Order

Chairperson Roxanne Atkinson called to order the Regular School Board Meeting of the Central Community School Board on Monday, February 13, 2023 at Central Administrative Office, at 6:00 P.M.

2.        Prayer

Prayer led by Ron Erickson

3.        Pledge

4.        Roll Call

Tracy Barnes conducted a roll call. The following persons were present:  Roxanne Atkinson, Nick Carmena, Mike Davis, Michael Hooper, Jason Leaphart, Carol Norwood and David Walker. A quorum was present.

 

5.        Recognitions

a.        Public Comments Policy

Ms. Atkinson read aloud the Public Comments Policy. Copies of the policy were made available to the public during the meeting.

b.       Training Hours for former board members

Former board members were recognized with certificates from the LSBA for Distinguished School Board Member Designation, Certified School Board Member Designation, and for obtaining the required training hours in 2022.

 

6.        To consider approval of the minutes from the Regular School Board Meeting held on Monday, January 9, 2023 and take appropriate action.

A motion was made by Mr. Hooper and seconded by Ms. Norwood to approve the minutes from the Regular School Board Meeting held on Monday, January 9, 2023. There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

7.        To consider approval of the minutes from the Special School Board Meeting held on Monday, January 30, 2023 and take appropriate action.

A motion was made by Ms. Norwood and seconded by Mr. Carmena to approve the minutes from the Special School Board Meeting held on Monday, January 30, 2023. There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

8.        To receive the Superintendent's report on personnel (Dr. Fountain)

Board members received a report of four (4) Resignations. This was a report only and required no action.

Board members received a report of five (5) Appointments. This was a report only and required no action.

Board members received a report of one (1) Leave Request. This was a report only and required no action.

 

9.        To receive a report from the Facilities/Equipment Committee Meeting held on Monday, January 30, 2023 and take appropriate action regarding the following:

a.        Memorandum of Understanding with BREC

The committee recommended approval to grant the staff permission to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with BREC as presented by the staff.  A motion was made by Dr. Walker to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

10.     To receive a report from the Curriculum/Instruction/Accountability/Student Services Committee Meeting held on Monday, January 30, 2023 and take appropriate action regarding the following:

a.        2023-2024 School Calendar

The committee recommended approval of Calendar A as the School Calendar for the 2023-2024 School Year as presented by the staff.  A motion was made by Mr. Carmena to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

11.     To receive a report from the Finance Committee Meeting held on Monday, January 30, 2023 and take appropriate action regarding the following:

a.        Wildcat College presentation and resolution

1)  The committee received a presentation on the Wildcat College at Central High School. This was a report only and required no action.

2)  The committee recommended approval of the Wildcat College Resolution as presented by the staff.  A motion was made by Mr. Hooper to approve the committee's recommendation.

A roll call vote was taken for the board to adopt the Wildcat College Resolution and is listed as follows:

For:  Atkinson, Carmena, Davis, Hooper, Leaphart, Norwood, Walker

Against:  None

Absent:  None

Abstain:  None

There being seven (7) votes "For", zero (0) votes "Against", zero (0) vote "Absent", and zero (0) votes "Abstain", the motion passed.

 

b.       Substitute pay and contracted services for substitutes

1)  The committee recommended approval to grant the staff permission to amend the current substitute daily rate of pay to match the substitute daily rate of pay in West Baton Rouge, which is $65/$75/$85. A motion was made by Mr. Hooper to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

2)  The committee recommended approval to grant the staff permission to sign a contract for substitute employees with Kelly Services. A motion was made Mr. Hooper to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

12.     To consider granting the Child Nutrition Department permission to advertise for bids on the necessary products for the 2023-2024 School Year. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Davis to grant the Child Nutrition Department permission to advertise for bids on the necessary products for the 2023-2024 School Year. There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

13.     To consider approval of four Out-of-State Field Trip requests and take appropriate action. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Mr. Davis and seconded by Mr. Hooper to approve the Out-of-State Field Trip requests from Tanglewood Elementary School. There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

14.     To consider rescheduling the board meeting for the month of April. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Ms. Norwood and seconded by Mr. Carmena to approve the rescheduling of the April School Board Meeting from April 10, 2023 to April 17, 2023. There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

15.     Superintendent's Report

Progress Reports were sent home last Thursday. All schools will be closed next Monday – Wednesday for Mardi Gras. Central Office staff will be moving to the new building next week. Furniture is being installed this week, and files and other office items will be moved next Monday. Therefore, beginning Tuesday, February 21st, all Central Office operations will take place in the new Central Office building. I never let the opportunity pass to, again, thank Senator Bodi White for securing $3.4 million for the new administrative building and parking. Last Friday, CHS held their 8th grade Pathways Fair. This was a great opportunity for our current 8th graders to tour the newly renovated high school, and learn about Pathway opportunities available to all students. We heard very positive feedback from students and teachers alike. Thank you to our CMS and CHS administration and staff for making this event successful. Our Student of the Year, Teacher of the Year, and Support Worker of the Year Celebration will be held at Central High School on Thursday, March 2nd. Doors will open at 5:30 and the event will begin at 6:00. Our student media team will be producing videos for the evening, the culinary class will prepare and serve hors d’oeuvres. We changed the format of the celebration last year and it was a huge success. We look forward to March 2nd celebrating the very best of our school system. Community members should be receiving our Winter Newsletter in the mail very soon. This newsletter will include the district's highlights from the last three months. Every citizen in Central should receive the mailer. February Committee Meetings will be held on Monday, February 27th at 5:15 (hopefully) in the new school board office.

 

16.     Announcements

a.        February Committee Meetings - Monday, February 27th

b.       Next Regular School Board Meeting will be held on Monday, March  13th

 

17.     To enter into Executive Session to hear from a parent regarding the appeal of an expulsion and take appropriate action.

A motion was made by Dr. Walker and seconded by Ms. Norwood for the board to enter into executive session to hear from a parent regarding the appeal of an expulsion.

A roll call vote was taken for the board to enter into executive session to hear from a parent regarding the appeal of an expulsion and is listed as follows:

For:  Atkinson, Carmena, Davis, Hooper, Leaphart, Norwood, Walker

Against:  None

Absent:  None

Abstain:  None

There being seven (7) votes "For", zero (0) votes "Against", zero (0) vote "Absent", and zero (0) votes "Abstain", the motion passed.

A motion was made by Dr. Walker and seconded by Ms. Norwood to approve the board to come out of executive session after hearing from a parent regarding the appeal of an expulsion.

A roll call vote was taken for the board to come out of executive session after hearing from a parent regarding the appeal of an expulsion and is listed as follows:

For:  Atkinson, Carmena, Davis, Hooper, Leaphart, Norwood, Walker

Against:  None

Absent:  None

Abstain:  None

There being seven (7) "For" votes, zero (0) "Against" votes, zero (0) "Absent" votes and zero (0) "Abstain" votes, the motion passed.

A motion was made by Mr. Davis and seconded by Mr. Carmena to modify the expulsion to end at the completion of the 3rd nine weeks. There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

18.     Adjourn

A motion was made by Dr. Walker and seconded by Ms. Norwood to adjourn the meeting. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.