Alexandria, Louisiana
March 6, 2013
The Rapides Parish School Board of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, met in special session at 6:00 o’clock p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, 2013, at the regular meeting place of said board in the Rapides Parish School Board Office, 619 Sixth and Beauregard Streets, in Alexandria, Louisiana.
President Stephen Chapman called the meeting to order and on roll call the following members were present:
Stephen Chapman, President
Keith Breazeale, Vice President
John Allen, Member
Wilton Barrios, Member
Steve Berry, Member
Janet Dixon, Member
Julie McConathy, Member
Darrell Rodriguez, Member
Pam Webb,
District Attorney James Downs was not present for the meeting.
The Invocation was pronounced by Mrs. Julie McConathy after which Mr. Wilton Barrios led in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
(COPY OF OFFICIAL CALL WAS MAILED AND FAXED TO EACH MEMBER OF THE RAPIDES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AND TO THE MEDIA AND POSTED IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE AT THE MEETING PLACE OF SAID BOARD ON MARCH 5, 2013)
Alexandria, Louisiana
March 5, 2013
Dear Sir/Madam:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by law and by reason of the fact that it is deemed necessary, advisable, and to the public interest that the Rapides Parish School Board be called in special session; now, therefore,
I, Stephen Chapman, President, do hereby give notice that the said board will meet in special session at its domicile at 619 Sixth and Beauregard Streets in the City of Alexandria, Louisiana, at 6:00 p.m. on
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
for the purpose of considering, acting upon, deciding, and if deemed advisable, submitting the following propositions, to wit:
1. Call to order
2. Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. Motion to receive an update on Superintendent Search from the Personnel Committee Chairperson – Mrs. Janet Dixon
5. Motion to go into Executive Session to confer with a representative from McPherson and Jacobson regarding the applications for Rapides Parish Superintendent of Schools, and to discuss the qualifications of candidates as provided by R.S. 42:17(A)(1) - Mrs. Janet Dixon
6. Motion for RPSB to reconvene in Open Session – Mrs. Janet Dixon
7. Motion for Dr. Emily Weatherford to read into record the slate of candidates for the Superintendent position – Mrs. Janet Dixon
8. Motion for the RPSB by vote, to reduce field of the number of candidates to 10 for interview and consideration for the position of Rapides Parish School Superintendent – Mrs. Janet Dixon
9. Motion for Dr. Stephen Chapman to read into record the Top 10 candidates for the position of RPSB Superintendent – Mrs. Janet Dixon
10. Motion for Mr. Gerald Woodard to randomly select by drawing the “order of interview” for candidates – Mrs. Janet Dixon
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, Witness my official signature and the seal of the Rapides Parish School Board this 5th day of March 2013.
/s/Stephen Chapman
President
ATTEST:
/s/Gerald Woodard
Interim Secretary
S E A L
Public comment was solicited prior to the vote on items during this meeting.
A motion was made by Mr. John Allen and seconded by Mr. Keith Breazeale to receive an update on Superintendent Search from the Personnel Committee Chairperson. (Item 4)
Mrs. Janet Dixon gave an update at this time.
McPherson and Jacobson informed the Board that all applicants had been contacted and given the 24 hour notice and presented the waivers to the Board at this time.
A motion was made by Mr. Steve Berry and seconded by Mrs. Janet Dixon togo into Executive Session to confer with a representative from McPherson and Jacobson regarding the applications for Rapides Parish Superintendent of Schools, and to discuss the qualifications of candidates as provided by R.S. 42:17(A)(1). (Item 5)
Discussion ensued.
An amended motion was made by Mr. Steve Berry and seconded by Mr. John Allen to go into Executive Session to confer with a representative from McPherson and Jacobson regarding the applications for Rapides Parish Superintendent of Schools, and to discuss the qualifications of candidates as provided by R.S. 42:17(A)(1) and the motion must pass by a roll call vote of two-thirds of the Board members present. Additionally, each of the persons being discussed must be notified in writing at least twenty-four hours before the meeting and any of those persons may require that the discussion of that person be held at an open meeting R.S. 42:16-17.
Discussion ensued.
On roll call the vote on the amended motion was as follows:
AYE: Mr. Rodriguez, Mrs. Webb, Mr. Barrios, Mrs. McConathy, Mrs. Dixon, Mr. Berry, Mr. Allen, Mr. Breazeale, Dr. Chapman
NAY: None
ABSENT: None
THE BOARD WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
On motion by Mr. Steve Berry and seconded by Mrs. Julie McConathy, the Board voted unanimously to reconvene in Open Session. (Item 6)
THE BOARD RECONVENED IN OPEN SESSION.
A motion was made by Mr. Steve Berry and seconded by Mrs. Janet Dixon for Dr. Emily Weatherford to read into record the slate of candidates for the Superintendent position. (Item 7)
An amended motion was made by Mr. John Allen and seconded by Mr. Steve Berry for Dr. Emily Weatherford to read into record the slate of qualified candidates for the Superintendent position.
On motion by Mr. John Allen and seconded by Mr. Steve Berry, the Board voted unanimously for Dr. Emily Weatherford to read into record the slate of qualified candidates for the Superintendent position.
At this time Dr. Emily Weatherford read the slate of qualified candidates.
Aldrich, Mr. RockyAlexander, Mr. Larry W.
Authement, Mr. Nason "Tony"Bolden, Mrs. Tammie J.Brooks, Dr. Roy Gregory
Carpenter, Dr. David KarlEggleston, Dr. ReginaldGuinn, Dr. Mary
Higgins, Mr. William Frank
Hill, Mr. William
Jeter, III, Dr. Marvin H.
Johnson, Dr. Lynda Phillips
Linzay, Mrs. Rena
McNeely, Ms. MargueriteMichel, Dr. Charles
Newsome, Dr. Edward Jr.
Payne, Mr. Jerry OscarPitre-Martin, Dr. MariaPowell, Mr. Jeffery L.
Reichman, Mr. Karl
Robinson, Dr. Dinah M.
Smith-Ross, Camacia Dr.
Turpin, Dr. Tammye
Williams, Dr. Rick
A motion was made by Mr. Steve Berry and seconded by Mrs. Julie McConathy for the RPSB by vote, to reduce field of the number of candidates to 10 for interview and consideration for the position of Rapides Parish School Superintendent. (Item 8)
Discussion ensued.
An amended motion was made by Mr. Steve Berry and seconded by Mrs. Pam Webb for the RPSB by vote, to reduce field of the number of candidates to 10 for interview and consideration for the position of Rapides Parish School Superintendent and each Board member will declare verbally their selection of the Top 10 candidates.
Discussion ensued.
A second amended motion was made by Mr. Steve Berry and seconded by Mrs. Janet Dixon to reduce the field of candidates to seven for interview and consideration for the position of Rapides Parish School Superintendent and each Board member will declare verbally their selection of the Top 7 candidates.
On the second amended motion made by Steve Berry and seconded by Mrs. Janet Dixon, the Board voted unanimously to reduce the field of candidates to seven for interview and consideration for the position of Rapides Parish School Superintendent and each Board member will declare verbally their selection of the Top 7 candidates.
The voting took place at this time for the seven candidates and the following candidates made the first round.
Mr. Nason “Tony” Authement
Dr. David Karl Carpenter
Mrs. Rena Linzay
Dr. Maria Pitre-Martin
Dr. Rick Williams
A motion was made by Mrs. Janet Dixon and seconded by Mrs. Julie McConathy to enter the second round of voting for the four candidates tied for sixth and seventh place and each Board member casting two “yes” votes verbally by name.
On motion by Mrs. Janet Dixon and seconded by Mrs. Julie McConathy, the Board voted unanimously to enter the second round of voting for the four candidates tied for sixth and seventh place and each Board member casting two “yes” votes verbally by name.
The four tied listed as follows:
Dr. Mary Guinn
Dr. William Frank Higgins
Mrs. Marguerite McNeely
Mr. Jeffery Lyn Powell
The second round of voting took place at this time for the sixth and seventh place and the following candidates made the second round.
Mr. William Frank Higgins
Mr. Jeffery Lyn Powell
A motion was made by Mr. Keith Breazeale and seconded by Mr. Steve Berry for Dr. Stephen Chapman to read into record the Top 10 candidates for the position of RPSB Superintendent. (Item 9)
An amended motion was made by Mr. Steve Berry and seconded by Mrs. Pam Webb for Dr. Stephen Chapman to read into record and declare the Top 10 candidates for the position of RPSB Superintendent.
Discussion ensued.
A second amended motion was made by Mr. Steve Berry and seconded by Mr. Keith Breazeale for Dr. Stephen Chapman to read into record and declare the Top 7 candidates for the position of RPSB Superintendent.
On the second amended motion by Mr. Steve Berry and seconded by Mr. Keith Breazeale, the Board voted unanimously for Dr. Stephen Chapman to read into record and declare the Top 7 candidates for the position of RPSB Superintendent.
Dr. Stephen Chapman read into the record and declared the Top 7 candidates.
Mr. Nason “Tony” Authement
Dr. David Karl Carpenter
Mr. William Frank Higgins
Mrs. Rena Linzay
Mr. Jeffery Lyn Powell
Dr. Maria Pitre-Martin
Dr. Rick Williams
A motion was made by Mr. Steve Berry and seconded by Mrs. Janet Dixon for Mr. Gerald Woodard to randomly select by drawing the “order of interview” for candidates. (Item 10)
Mr. Gerald Woodard randomly selected by drawing names at this time.
Monday, March 11, 2013 5:00 – 6:15 p.m. Mr. Jeffery Lyn Powell
Monday, March 11, 2013 6:30 – 7:45 p.m. Mr. William Frank Higgins
Tuesday, March 12, 2013 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. Dr. David Karl Carpenter
Tuesday, March 12, 2013 3:30 – 4:45 p.m. Dr. Maria Pitre-Martin
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 5:00 – 6:15 p.m. Dr. Rick Williams
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 6:30 – 7:45 p.m. Mr. Nason “Tony” Authement
Thursday, March 14, 2013 5:00 – 6:15 p.m. Mrs. Rena Linzay
Dr. Stephen Chapman thanked McPherson and Jacobson for their help through this process.
Pursuant to motion duly carried, the Rapides Parish School Board adjourned.
/s/Stephen Chapman
President
ATTEST:
/s/Gerald Woodard
Interim Secretary
S E A L