Central Community Schools

School Board Meeting

02/19/2024 06:00 PM

Central Administrative Office

11576 Sullivan Road

Central, LA 70818

MEETING MINUTES

 

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 19, 2024, at the 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.          Training Hours for Board Members

Board members were recognized with certificates from the LSBA for obtaining the required training hours in 2023. Ms. Atkinson and Mr. Hooper were also recognized for obtaining the Certified School Board Member Designation.

 

6.          To consider approval of the minutes from the Regular School Board Meeting held on Monday, January 8, 2024 and take appropriate action.

A motion was made by Ms. Norwood and seconded by Mr. Carmena to approve the minutes from the Regular School Board Meeting held on Monday, January 8, 2024. There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

7.          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 five (5) Resignations. This was a report only and required no action.

Board members received a report of eight (8) Appointments. This was a report only and required no action.

 

8.          To receive a report from the Finance Committee Meeting held on Monday, January 29, 2024 and take appropriate action regarding the following:

a.          2022-2023 Fiscal Year Audit

The committee recommended approval of the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year Audit as presented by the auditors. A motion was made by Mr. Hooper to approve the committee's recommendation and to accept the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year Audit as presented by the auditors. There being no objections, the motion passed.

b.         Update on 403(b) plan

Committee members received an update relative to the school district's 403(b) plan. This was a report only and required no action.

c.          Advertise and accept bids for products to be utilized by the Child Nutrition Program for the 2024-2025 School Year

The committee recommended approval to grant the staff permission to advertise and accept bids for products that will be utilized by the Child Nutrition Program for the 2024-2025 School Year. A motion was made by Mr. Hooper to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

d.         Issuance of Central Community School System credit  cards for administrators

Committee members discussed the issuance of Central Community School System Credit cards for use by administrators at the Central Office and each school location. This was a report only and required no action.

 

9.          To receive a report from the Human Resources/Policy Committee Meeting held on Monday, January 29, 2024 and take appropriate action regarding the following:

a.          1st Reading of the following Revised policies:

Committee members received a 1st Reading of several revised policies. This was a 1st Reading only and required no action.

1.          Policy C-5 - Administrative Records (Revised)

2.          Policy D-3.6 - Gifts and Donations (Revised)

3.          Policy E-1.1c - Use of Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and Cardiac Emergency Plan (Revised)

4.          Policy F-9.8 - Probation (Revised)

5.          Policy G-11.4 - Parent Conferences (Revised)

6.          Policy H-3.6 - Student Health Services (Revised)

7.          Policy H-3.6e - School Wellness (Revised)

b.         2024-2025 School Calendar

The committee recommended approval of Calendar A as the School Calendar for the 2024-2025 School Year 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 Facilities/Equipment Committee Meeting held on Monday, January 29, 2024 and take appropriate action regarding the following:

a.          Sale of School Board Property to the City of Central

The committee recommended approval for the sale of School Board Property, located adjacent to the Central Office, to the City of Central for the construction of a City Hall; and to authorize the Superintendent to execute the Purchase Agreement, Act of Sale, and all other necessary documentation in connection with the sale. A motion was made by Dr. Walker to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

b.         Sewer Servitude on school board property along Sullivan Road with the East Baton Rouge City-Parish

The Committee recommended approval of a Sewer Servitude on school board property along Sullivan Road with the East Baton Rouge City-Parish. A motion was made by Dr. Walker to approve the committee's recommendation. There being no objections, the motion passed.

c.          Update on the purchase for the property located at Tensas Drive (next to CIS campus) and 12345 Devall Road

Committee members received an update on purchasing 2 acres on Tensas Drive (adjacent to CIS) and purchasing the property at 12345 Devall Road. This was a report only and required no action.

d.         Update on Facility Projects

Committee members received an update on facility projects. This was a report only and required no action.

 

11.       To consider approval of a Resolution to authorize the Superintendent, Jason Fountain, to establish corporate credit cards on behalf of the Central Community School System and take appropriate action. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Hooper to adopt a resolution authorizing the superintendent, Jason Fountain, to execute all necessary documents to establish corporate credit cards with Red River Bank on behalf of the Central Community School System.

A roll call vote was taken for the board to adopt a resolution authorizing the superintendent, Jason Fountain, to execute all necessary documents to establish corporate credit cards with Red River Bank on behalf of the Central Community School System, 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) votes "Absent", and zero (0) votes "Abstain", the motion passed.

 

12.       To consider approval of granting the Superintendent permission to execute the purchase agreement for 2 acres on Tensas Avenue (adjacent to CIS) and take appropriate action. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Mr. Hooper and seconded by Ms. Norwood to grant the superintendent permission to execute the purchase agreement for 2 acres on Tensas Avenue (adjacent to CIS). There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

13.       To grant the staff permission to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for General Custodial and Maintenance Services. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Mr. Carmena and seconded by Mr. Davis to grant the staff permission to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for General Custodial and Maintenance Services. There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

14.       To consider approval of a Change Order for the Taylor Conrad Memorial Playground located at Central Intermediate School and take appropriate action. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Ms. Norwood and seconded by Mr. Leaphart to approve the Change Order for the Taylor Conrad Memorial Playground located at Central Intermediate School for the installation of two custom signs, in the amount of $2,932.12. There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

15.       To consider a request for an Out-of-State Field Trip and take appropriate action. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Mr. Leaphart and seconded by Mr. Davis to approve the Out-of-State Field Trip request from Central High School. There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

16.       Superintendent's Report

NFCU at CHS Grand Opening will be Wednesday, 2/28 at 9:30AM. We recently held our Quarterly Reviews at each school site. This is a great opportunity for us to look deeply into data and programs at each school. I truly believe that the leadership at our schools is the best it has ever been and our trajectory at each school is the best it has ever been. Our schools are doing great things! I’m excited to announce that the CHS Jazz Band will be performing at the Louisiana School Boards Association conference this year in Baton Rouge. They will perform on Monday, March 11th during the Recognition Luncheon. Progress reports were sent home last Thursday, February 15th. The CHS boy’s basketball team will host a playoff game this Friday night versus Belle Chasse High School. The tipoff time is set for 7:00PM. CHS baseball will have a special game this Saturday where they retire the #18 in honor of Caleb Easterling, who was tragically killed in a car accident last summer. There will be a community-wide tailgate at 11:00AM, followed by the game versus Franklin at 12:30. Our next Committee Meetings will be on Thursday, February 29th. Please note that his is a change to our regular monthly schedule. Our next board meeting will be on Monday, March 11th.

 

17.       Announcements

a.          The February Committee Meetings will be held on Thursday, February 29th

b.         Next Regular School Board Meeting will be held on Monday, March 11th

 

18.       To enter into Executive Session to hear from parents regarding the appeal of expulsions and take appropriate action.

A motion was made by Mr. Hooper 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) votes "Absent", and zero (0) votes "Abstain", the motion passed.

 

A motion was made by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Davis for the board to come out of the Executive Session hearing from a parent regarding the appeal of an expulsion. A roll call vote was taken for the board to come out of the Executive Session 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) votes "For", zero (0) votes "Against", zero (0) votes "Absent", and zero (0) votes "Abstain", the motion passed.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Hooper and seconded by Mr. Davis to affirm the expulsion. There being no objections, the motion passed.

 

A motion was made by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Hooper 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) votes "Absent", and zero (0) votes "Abstain", the motion passed.

 

A motion was made by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Davis for the board to come out of the Executive Session hearing from a parent regarding the appeal of an expulsion. A roll call vote was taken for the board to come out of the Executive Session 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) votes "For", zero (0) votes "Against", zero (0) votes "Absent", and zero (0) votes "Abstain", the motion passed.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Hooper and seconded by Mr. Davis to modify the expulsion to one semester. There being no objections, 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.