2023-06-12

Central Community Schools

School Board Meeting

06/12//2023 06:00 PM

Central Administrative Office

11576 Sullivan Drive

Central, LA 70818

MEETING MINUTES

Attendees

Voting Members

Roxanne Atkinson, Board President

Dr. G. David Walker, Vice President

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, June 12, 2023 at the Central Administrative Office, at 6:00 P.M.

2. Prayer

Prayer led by Ms. Carol Norwood

3. Pledge

4. Roll Call

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

5. Recognitions

Two (2) students in the district were recognized for receiving straight As from 1st grade through 5th grade.

6. To consider approval of the minutes from the Regular School Board Meeting held on Monday, May 8, 2023 and take appropriate action.

A motion was made by Mr. Hooper and seconded by Mr. Carmena to approve the minutes from the Regular School Board Meeting held on Monday, May 8, 2023. There being no objections, the motion passed.

7. To consider approval of the minutes from the Strategic Planning Session held on Thursday, May 11, 2023 and take appropriate action.

A motion was made by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Davis to approve the minutes from the Strategic Planning Session held on Thursday, May 11, 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 one (1) Retirement. This was a report only and required no action.

Board members received a report of eighteen (18) Resignations. This was a report only and required no action.

Board members received a report of twenty-six (26) Appointments. This was a report only and required no action.

Board members received a report of fourteen (14) Reassignments. This was a report only and required no action.

a. Administrative Contracts

Board members received a report regarding administrative contracts. This was a report only and required no action.

9. To receive a report from the Human Resources/Policies Committee Meeting held on Monday, May 22, 2023 and take appropriate action regarding the following:

a. 1st Reading of Policy B-15 - School Board Ethics

The committee received a 1st Reading of Policy B-15 - School Board Ethics, as presented by the staff. This was a report only and required no action.

b. Approval of the following new positions:

1. EL Teacher for grades 6-12

The committee recommended approval of a new EL Teacher position for grades 6 -12, as presented by the staff. A motion was made by Ms. Norwood to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

2. Paraprofessional at Central Middle School

The committee recommended approval of a new Paraprofessional position at Central Middle School, as presented by the staff. A motion was made by Ms. Norwood to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

c. Revised Job Description for the Technology Data Specialist Position

The committee recommended approval of a Revised Job Description for the Technology Data Specialist position, as presented by the staff. A motion was made by Ms. Norwood to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

10. To receive a report from the Finance Committee Meeting held on Monday, May 22, 2023 and take appropriate action regarding the following:

a. Renewal of Property and Worker's Compensation Insurance Policies

Committee members received information on the Property and Worker’s Comp Insurance Renewal Policy as presented by the representatives from Cadence Insurance. After the committee meeting was held, the superintendent received an update regarding this policy renewal. Representatives from Cadence Insurance presented the update during the school board meeting.
A motion was made by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Hooper to approve the Workers Compensation Rewewal Policy as presented by the representatives from Cadence Insurance. There being no objections, the motion passed.
A motion was made by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Hooper to approve the Property Insurance Rewewal Policy as presented by the representatives from Cadence Insurance. There being no objections, the motion passed.

b. Renewal of the General Liability Insurance Policy

Committee members received information on the General Liability Insurance Renewal Policy as presented by the representatives from Gallagher Insurance. After the committee meeting was held, the superintendent received an update regarding this policy renewal. Representatives from Gallagher Insurance presented the update during the school board meeting.
A motion was made by Mr. Davis and seconded by Mr. Hooper to approve the General Liability Insurance Rewewal Policy as presented by the representatives from Gallagher Insurance. There being no objections, the motion passed.

c. 2022-2023 Revised General Fund Budget

The committee recommended approval of the Revised General Fund Budget for the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year, as presented by the staff. A motion was made by Mr. Hooper to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

d. 2023-2024 Original General Fund Budget

The committee recommended approval of the Original General Fund Budget for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year, as presented by the staff. A motion was made by Mr. Hooper to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

e. Bids for products to be utilized by the Child Nutrition Program for the 2023-2024 School Year

The committee recommended approval to award the bids for the products that will be utilized by the Child Nutrition Program for the 2023-2024 School Year, as presented by the staff. A motion was made by Mr. Hooper to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

f. Renewal of the Student Insurance Policy

The committee recommended approval to grant the staff permission to renew the Student Accident Insurance for the 2023-2024 School Year, as presented by the staff. A motion was made by Mr. Hooper to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

g. Funding for the following new positions:

1. EL Teacher for grades 6-12

The committee recommended approval of the funding for a new EL Teacher position for grades 6-12, as presented by the staff. A motion was made by Mr. Hooper to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

2. Paraprofessional at Central Middle School

The committee recommended approval of the funding for a new Paraprofessional position at Central Middle School, as presented by the staff. A motion was made by Mr. Hooper to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

11. To receive a report from the Curriculum/Instruction/Accountability/Student Services Committee Meeting held on Monday, May 22, 2023 and take appropriate action regarding the following:

a. Proposed changes to the Student Handbook for the 2023-2024 School Year

The committee recommends approval of changes to the Discipline Procedures in the Student Handbook by adding a procedure on Criminal Activity by Students Which Occurs Outside of School Jurisdiction. A motion was made by Mr. Carmena to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

Committee members discussed reverting to the original dress code for Skirts and Skorts for Central Middle and Central High School students, and they also discussed the length of students’ hair. Mr. Fountain presented some updates regarding these discussions.
A motion was made by Ms. Norwood and seconded by Mr. Carmenta to approve the following changes to the student dress code:
1) For CMS & CHS, a student's hair must not be longer than two inches above the knee. If hair is longer than two inches above the knee, it must be pinned up; 2) Skirts and skorts may be worn by females in all grades. Skirts and skorts must be no higher than two inches above the knee. 3) Shorts (for both males and females) must be no higher than two inches above the knee. There being no objections, the motion passed.

12. To receive a report from the Facilities/Equipment Committee Meeting held on Monday, May 22, 2023 and take appropriate action regarding the following:

a. Discussion on the use of CCSS Facilities as an Emergency Shelter

Committee members discussed the use of CCSS Facilities as Emergency Shelters as needed. This was a report only and required no action.

13. To consider the staff's recommendation to award bids for Lawncare Services and take appropriate action. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Mr. Davis and seconded by Mr. Carmena to grant the staff permission to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Lawncare Services to RCI for three (3) years. There being no objections, the motion passed.

14. To adopt a Resolution giving the superintendent the authority to execute the Unclaimed Property Form with the Louisiana Department of Treasury Unclaimed Property Division and all matters pertaining to funds or securities for the Central Community School System, and take appropriate action. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Mr. Hooper and seconded by Ms. Norwood to adopt a Resolution giving the superintendent the authority to execute the Unclaimed Property Form with the Louisiana Department of Treasury Unclaimed Property Division and all matters pertaining to funds or securities for the Central Community School System. A roll call vote was taken for the board to adopt a Resolution giving the superintendent the authority to execute the Unclaimed Property Form with the Louisiana Department of Treasury Unclaimed Property Division and all matters pertaining to funds or securities for the Central Community School System and is listed as follows:

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

Against: None

Absent: Leaphart

Abstain: None

There being six (6) votes "For", zero (0) votes "Against", one (1) vote "Absent", and zero (0) votes "Abstain", the motion passed.

15. To consider selection of the Official Journal for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Ms. Norwood and seconded by Mr. Carmena to approve The Advocate as the Official Journal for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year. There being no objections, the motion passed.

16. Superintendent's Report

We had a wonderful ending to the school year. Graduation was a huge success, and our schools held Awards Day ceremonies and created many great end-of-year activities for our students. We also ended the year with another very successful Crawfish Boil for our teachers and staff. This event truly sets our school system apart from others. There was lots of good food, plenty of laughs, and a general festive atmosphere as we wrapped up our 16th school year as a system. The summer is a very busy and active time on our school campuses. Summer School (credit recovery) began on June 5th for CMS and CHS students. Tanglewood and CIS are, again, partnering with BREC to provide a fullday summer camp for academic remediation for students. BHE and TES will hold enrichment camps this month as well. Athletic camps will be taking place all throughout the summer. Teachers will be engaging in Professional Development throughout the summer as well. Each subject-level group of teachers will plan together during the summer to prepare for the upcoming year. Our K-2 teachers will be involved with training for their new ELA curriculum – CKLA. Our teachers at CIS will be going through the Capturing Kids Heart training. I’m excited that this culture-building curriculum and processes will be utilized at CIS, CMS, and CHS. There will also be training for teachers for their curriculums. I’m excited to mention our spring football documentary that will begin airing next Monday night at the end of the WAFB 6:00 news. This 4-part documentary will chronicle our new coaching staff, the work our students put in to spring practice, and culminate with the spring game. I’ve seen the first two episodes of the documentary and it is fantastic. Once each episode airs on WAFB, we will release it on our YouTube channel the following day. So, episode 1 will air on the WAFB 6:00 news next Monday, June 19th. Then, we will release the episode the following morning. I think this documentary will have the community excited as we gear up for a new football season. June Committee Meetings will be held on Monday, June 26th.

17. Announcements

The next Regular School Board Meeting will be held on Monday, July 10th.

18. To enter into Executive Session to conduct the Superintendent's Yearly Evaluation. (Ms. Atkinson)

A motion was made by Dr. Walker and seconded by Ms. Norwood to approve the board to enter into executive session to conduct the Superintendent's Yearly Evaluation.

A roll call vote was taken for the board to enter into executive session to conduct the Superintendent's Yearly Evaluation and is listed as follows:

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

Against: None

Absent: Leaphart

Abstain: None

There being six (6) "For" votes, zero (0) "Against" votes, one (1) "Absent" votes and zero (0) "Abstain" votes, 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 to conduct the Superintendent's Yearly Evaluation.

A roll call vote was taken for the board to come out of executive session to conduct the Superintendent's Yearly Evaluation and is listed as follows:

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

Against: None

Absent: Leaphart

Abstain: None

There being six (6) "For" votes, zero (0) "Against" votes, one (1) "Absent" votes and zero (0) "Abstain" votes, the motion passed.

19. Adjourn

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