Board Notes

Lafayette Parish Regular School Board Meeting
December 7, 2005

Board Recognizes Teacher of the Year
The Lafayette Parish School Board recognized the 2005 Teachers of the Year. The Board honored Donna Usie, of Ernest Gallet Elementary, as the Elementary Teacher of the Year; Vanessa Crow, of E.A. Martin Middle, as the Middle School Teacher of the Year; and Cindy Barry, of Lafayette High, as the High School Teacher of the Year. Three teachers received Honorable Mention: JoAnne Carey, of Broadmoor Elementary; Christy Blanchard, of N.P. Moss Middle; and Christine Hidalgo, of Acadiana High.
The Teachers of the Year selected to for this honor at each school are: Carolyne Bourque, Alice Boucher Elementary; Judy Morgan, Charles Burke Elementary; Mary Foss, Carencro Heights Elementary; Marie Lalonde, Katharine Drexel Elementary; Majorie Tallini, Duson Elementary; Crystol Prejean, Evangeline Elementary; Angel Rodrigue, J.W. Faulk Elementary; Laura Williams, J.W. James Elementary; Laurie Stengel, L.Leo Judice Elementary; Louise Twilley, G.T. Lindon Elementary; Lisa Lormand, Live Oak Elementary; Linda LeBlanc, Milton Elementary; Mary Barousse, S.J. Montgomery Elementary; Tammy Allain, Myrtle Place Elementary; Adrienne Guidry, Ossun Elementary; Cindy Floyd, Plantation Elementary; Debbie Trahan, Prairie Elementary; Gretchen Murray, Ridge Elementary; Jennifer Macip, Truman Montessori; Tracy Kibodeaux, Westside Elementary; Annette Lee, Woodvale Elementary; Rachel Tolliver, Acadian Middle; Phobe Boutte, L.J. Alleman Middle; Annette Chapman, Paul Breaux Middle; Ebony Motte, Broussard Middle; Claire Trouard, Carencro Middle; Stacey Womack, Judice Middle; Charni Dodson, Lafayette Middle; Maria Inzerella, LeRosen LAPS; Vanessa Crow, E.A. Martin Middle; Jennifer Gardner, Milton Middle; Eleanor Sullivan, N.P. Moss Annex; Christy Blanchard, N.P. Moss Middle; Parrie Lagneaux, Scott Middle; Georgetta Wood, Youngsville Middle; Christine Hidalgo, Acadiana High; Roxanne Speer, W.D. Smith Career Center; Tonya Jones, Carencro High; Phillip Daily, Comeaux High; Gregory Chiasson, Lafayette Charter High; Charles Larroque, LeRosen CAPS; and Denise Hebert, Northside High.

Board Approves Policy Changes Regarding Smoking
The Board approved revisions to Policy File: GCRJ - Tobacco Products in the Workplace. The new policy bans the use of tobacco products on all school property, including but not limited to administrative buildings and school buses. Due to the acknowledged health hazards arising from exposure to environmental tobacco products and smoke, this policy provides for a tobacco-free environment for all employees, students and visitors. In addition, adoption of this policy allows the school system to be in compliance with the Lafayette City-Parish Council ordinance providing for “Smoke Free Air.” This policy goes into effect February 1, 2006. There will no longer be designated smoking areas on any school system property.

Board Approves Changes to Pupil Progression Plan
The Board approved changes to the 2005-2006 Pupil Progression Plan in order to make promotion and retention decisions in accordance with the waiver from BESE regarding high stakes testing in grades 4 and 8 for the next school year. In light of the recent hurricanes and their effects upon school districts, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has waived the high stakes testing policy for the 2005-2006 school year only. The following changes will be made for next year only: 4th graders and 8th graders score Approaching Basic/Approaching Basic on the English Language Arts and Mathematics portions of the LEAP 21 test in order to be promoted. Students who do not achieve the AB/AB levels may enroll in and attend the summer remediation program and shall participate in the summer retest.
The 2005-2006 Pupil Progression Plan originally scheduled both 4th and 8th graders to achieve Approaching Basic/Basic in order to be promoted. That plan will be delayed until the following school year.

Board Approves Health Plan Amendment
The Board approved the recommendation by the Employee Insurance Advisory Committee to adopt Health Plan Amendment 2006-I: Retiree Vesting Amendment to be effective January 1, 2006. The amendment to the Group Health Plan mirrors a plan provision that the State Employees’ Group Benefits Plan put into effect a few years ago. The amendment allows LPSS to charge a higher premium for retirees and their dependents who, upon the employee’s retirement date, have not served at least 10 years on the plan during the time that plan member was an active employee. The retiree would be charged a premium rate in accordance with the vesting schedule, which was included in each employee’s open enrollment packet.

Board Votes to Petition for Unitary Status
The Board received information from attorney Lane Roy on the status of its desegregation suit. The last court date to consider progress on the final two Greene factors was held a year ago. The Board approved a recommendation to petition the court for unitary status based on the progress made in the Schools of Choice programs over the past year. The Lafayette Parish School System is seeking unitary status on two factors - facilities and student assignment. The four other Green factors have been ruled as unitary - teacher assignment, staff assignment, extracurricular activities and transportation.

Board Schedules Meeting on Dec. 19
The Board scheduled a budget workshop on Monday, Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. Following the workshop, at 5:30 p.m., the Board will hold a regular board to address business that needs attention before the holidays begin. The meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 21, has been cancelled.

In other action, the Board:

• approved corrections on the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of 11/16/05;
• approved corrections on the minutes of the Special Board Meeting of 12/7/05 - termination of Dan Michel, director of transportation;
• approved corrections on the minutes of the Special Board Meeting of 12/7/05 - Sandra Soileau;
• received Sales Tax Collection report for September, 2005;
• received a Curriculum Update about the Schools of Choice Fall Frenzy to be held January 7, 11 aq.m. to 3 p.m. at the Convention Center Main Exhibit Hall;
• received a status report on the hurricanes of 2005;
• received a status report on the reimbursement of bus drivers’ excess operational expenses for 2005-2006;
• received information on the General Fund Budget Revision #1, for Fiscal Year 2005-2006;
• approved personnel changes, but deferred action on hiring bus drivers and bus attendants;
• approved the low bid submitted by Vaughn Roofing, Inc. in the amount of $166,800 for the boys gymnasium roof replacement for Comeaux High School;
• approved the low bid submitted by Hahn Enterprises, Inc. in the amount of $59,616 for the gymnasium bleacher replacement for Carencro Middle School.

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