Central Community Schools

School Board Meeting

05/13/2024 06:00 PM

Central Administrative Office

11576 Sullivan Road

Central, LA 70818

MEETING MINUTES

Voting Members

1.       Call to Order

Chairperson Roxanne Atkinson called to order the Regular School Board Meeting of the Central Community School Board on Monday, May 13, 2024, at the Central Administrative Office, at 6:00 P.M.

2.       Prayer

Prayer led by Ms. Julie Stevens

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, and David Walker. Ms. Carol Norwood was absent. A quorum was present.

5.       Recognitions

a.       Community Based class at CHS

Students from the Community Based class at CHS were recognized.

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

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

7.       To consider approval of the minutes from the Strategic Planning Session held on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 and take appropriate action.

A motion was made by Mr. Carmena and seconded by Mr. Davis to approve the minutes from the Strategic Planning Session held on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. There being no objections, the motion passed.

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

Board members received a report of two (2) Retirements. This was a report only and required no action.
Board members received a report of ten (10) Resignations. This was a report only and required no action.
Board members received a report of one (1) Appointment. This was a report only and required no action.

9.       To receive a report from the Facilities/Equipment Committee Meeting held on Monday, April 29, 2024 and take appropriate action regarding the following:

a.       Presentation from First Student regarding the Bus Electrification Program

Committee members received a presentation from First Student regarding the Bus Electrification Program. This was a report only and required no action.

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

a.       ELA Instructional Coach position for grades 3-12

The committee recommended approval of an ELA Instructional Coach position for grades 3-12 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.

b.       Job Description and New Position of Director of Advancement

The committee recommended approval of a new job description and position of Director of Advancement 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.

c.       Proposed changes to the Employee Dress Code

The committee recommended approval of the following proposed changes to the Employee Dress Code for the 2024-2025 School Year:
a) Regarding athletic attire – leggings will not be acceptable in the workplace.
b) Employees will be allowed to wear sweatshirts and tennis shoes.
c) On approved blue jeans days, employees shall be required to wear a CCSS spirit shirt.
d) Hair color must be a natural color.
e) Tongue piercings will not be allowed.
f) All jewelry should be modest in size and style. Jewelry that is offensive or with inappropriate symbols is unacceptable.
No action was taken regarding tattoos.
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 Finance Committee Meeting held on Monday, April 29, 2024 and take appropriate action regarding the following:

a.       Bids for products to be utilized by the Child Nutrition Program for the 2024-2025 School Year

The committee recommended approval of the 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.

b.       Revised Child Nutrition Budget for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year

The committee recommended approval of the Revised 2023-2024 Child Nutrition Budget 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.

c.       Revised General Fund Budget for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year

The committee recommended approval of the Revised 2023-2024 General Fund Budget 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.       Approval of funding for the following new positions:

1.       ELA Instructional Coach for grades 3-12

The committee recommended approval of the funding for the new ELA Instructional Coach position for grades 3-12, paid through Title I funds, 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.       Director of Advancement

The committee recommended approval of the funding for the new Director of Advancement position, paid through the General Fund, 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.       Revised Other Stipends Schedule  for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year

The committee recommended approval of the Revised Other Stipends Schedule 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.

12.    To receive a report from the Curriculum/Instruction/Accountability/Student Services Committee Meeting held on Monday, April 29, 2024 and take appropriate action regarding the following:

a.       Proposed changes to the Student Handbook for the 2024-2025 School Year

The committee recommended approval of the proposed changes to the Student Handbook for the 2024-2025 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.

13.    To consider and take action with respect to adopting a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in the Central Community School System, on Saturday, April 27, 2024, to authorize the renewal of a special tax therein. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Hooper to adopt a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in the Central Community School System, on Saturday, April 27, 2024, and to authorize the renewal of a special tax therein.
A roll call vote was taken for the board to adopt a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in the Central Community School System, on Saturday, April 27, 2024, and to authorize the renewal of a special tax therein, and is listed as follows:
For:  Atkinson, Carmena, Davis, Hooper, Leaphart, Walker
Against:  None
Absent:  Norwood
Abstain:  None
There being six (6) votes "For", zero (0) votes "Against", one (1) vote "Absent", and zero (0) votes "Abstain", the motion passed.

14.    To consider adoption of a Resolution relative to the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire and take appropriate action. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Mr. Carmena and seconded by Mr. Davis to adopt a resolution relative to the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire. A roll call vote was taken for the board to adopt a resolution relative to the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire and is listed as follows:
For:  Atkinson, Carmena, Davis, Hooper, Leaphart, Walker
Against:  None
Absent:  Norwood
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 adoption of a Resolution relative to new Title IX regulations and take appropriate action. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Mr. Davis and seconded by Mr. Carmena to adopt a resolution relative to the new Title IX regulations. A roll call vote was taken for the board to adopt a resolution relative to the new Title IX regulations and is listed as follows:
For:  Atkinson, Carmena, Davis, Hooper, Leaphart, Walker
Against:  None
Absent:  Norwood
Abstain:  None
There being six (6) votes "For", zero (0) votes "Against", one (1) vote "Absent", and zero (0) votes "Abstain", the motion passed.

16.    To consider approval of two proposed Change Orders for the weight room renovation and softball locker room project at Central High School and take appropriate action. (Dr. Fountain)

A motion was made by Mr. Hooper and seconded by Mr. Leaphart to approve two (2) proposed Change Orders for the weight room renovation and softball locker room project at Central High School.  There being no objections, the motion passed.

17.    Superintendent's Report

We celebrated our Bus Drivers by hosting a luncheon on Monday, April 29th.  We are very fortunate to have amazing drivers and a great partnership with First Student.  We also celebrated our Child Nutrition employees on Friday, May 3rd for School Lunch Hero Day.  We took t-shirts around to each school and honored our Child Nutrition staff.  We are very thankful for all of our support workers.  I would like to thank the citizens of Central for passing the millage renewal on April 27th.  This ensures a base funding of our school system for the next ten years.  Thank you! We held our annual Graduation Walk today at each of our schools.  It’s a wonderful opportunity for students throughout the district, as well as teachers, to see our graduates, which is the ultimate goal for all of us.  Graduation is this Wednesday night at 7:00 at Raising Cane’s River Center.  Each of our schools will be holding Awards Days over the coming week.  We will have lots of parents and guests on campus, and we are excited to celebrate the ending of a great year.  Next Tuesday and Wednesday (21st / 22nd) will be half-days for students.  Wednesday, May 22nd is the last day of school for students.  Our teachers will have a teacher-only work day on Thursday, May 23rd, and we will hold our annual end-of-year Crawfish Boil on Friday, May 24th in the CIS / CMS cafeteria.  Our next Committee Meetings will be next Monday, May 20th.  Our next board meeting will be on Monday, June 10th.

18.    Announcements

a.       Committee Meetings will be held on Monday, May 20th

b.       Next Regular School Board Meeting will be held on Monday, June 10th

19.    Adjourn

A motion was made by Dr. Walker to adjourn the meeting. There being no objections, the motion passed.