Alexandria, Louisiana
February 18, 2014
The Rapides Parish School Board of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, met in special session at 4:45 o’clock on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at the regular meeting place of said board in the Rapides Parish School Board Office, 619 Sixth and Beauregard Streets, in Alexandria, Louisiana.
President Janet H. Dixon called the meeting to order and on roll call the following members were present:
Janet Dixon, President
Julie McConathy, Vice President
Wilton Barrios, Member
Steve Berry, Member
Keith Breazeale, Member
Stephen Chapman, Member
Darrell Rodriguez, Member
Absent: John Allen, Member
Absent: Pam Webb, Member
Mr. Nason Authement, secretary for the Board, was present for the meeting.
Attorney James Downs was present for the meeting.
The Invocation was pronounced by Mr. Keith Breazeale after which Mr. Wilton Barrios led in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
(COPY OF OFFICIAL CALL WAS MAILED 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 FEBRUARY 14, 2014)
Alexandria, Louisiana
February 14, 2014
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, Janet H. Dixon, 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 4:45 p.m. to commence on
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
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 discuss and approve an option/recommendation from the Superintendent to make up loss of instructional time for the Rapides Parish School System – Mr. Nason Authement
5. Motion to accept a donation of $10,000 from Mr. Mark E. Howard designated specifically for the purchase of “Track Equipment” at Pineville High School and authorize the Board President or Superintendent to sign any documentation related thereto – Mr. Roy Rachal and Mr. Steve Berry
Page 1
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, Witness my official signature and the seal of the Rapides Parish School Board this 14th day of February 2014.
/s/Janet H. Dixon
President
ATTEST:
/s/Nason Authement
Secretary
S E A L
Public comment was solicited prior to the vote on items during this meeting.
A motion was made by Dr. Stephen Chapman and seconded by Mr. Steve Berry to discuss and approve an option/recommendation from the Superintendent to make up loss of instructional time for the Rapides Parish School System. (Item 4)
Let the record reflect that Mr. John Allen arrived at the meeting at this time.
Superintendent Authement presented information to the Board.
Option #1
· Attend a full day of school on Monday, March 3rd and on Tuesday, March 4th
· Add 20 minutes to the school day for 32 days beginning on February 24th through April 8th
Option #2
· Attend a full day of school on Tuesday, March 4th
· Add 34 minutes to school day for 30 days beginning February 24th through April 7th
A lengthy discussion ensued.
A substitute motion was made by Dr. Stephen Chapman and seconded by Mr. Wilton Barrios to accept Option #1 to make up loss of instructional time for the Rapides Parish School System.
Discussion ensued.
A second substitute motion was made by Mrs. Janet Dixon and seconded by Mrs. Julie McConathy to accept Option #2 to make up loss of instructional time for the Rapides Parish School System.
Discussion ensued.
On roll call the vote on the second substitute motion for Option #2 was as follows:
AYE: Mrs. McConathy, Mr. Breazeale, Mr. Rodriguez, Mrs. Dixon
NAY: Mr. Barrios, Mr. Berry, Dr. Chapman, Mr. Allen
ABSENT: Mrs. Webb
THE SECOND SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILED DUE TO A TIE VOTE.
On roll call the vote on the first substitute motion for Option #1 was as follows:
AYE: Mr. Barrios, Mr. Berry, Dr. Chapman, Mr. Allen
NAY: Mrs. McConathy, Mr. Breazeale, Mr. Rodriguez, Mrs. Dixon
ABSENT: Mrs. Webb
THE FIRST SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILED DUE TO TIE VOTE.
Additional discussion ensued and with both substitute motions failing, the Board was back to the original motion.
A substitute motion was made by Mrs. Janet Dixon and seconded by Mrs. Julie McConathy to accept Option #2 to make up loss of instructional time for the Rapides Parish School System.
Discussion ensued.
On roll call the vote on the substitute motion for Option #2 was as follows:
AYE: Mrs. McConathy, Mr. Breazeale, Mr. Rodriguez, Mrs. Dixon
NAY: Mr. Barrios, Mr. Berry, Dr. Chapman, Mr. Allen
ABSENT: Mrs. Webb
THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILED DUE TO A TIE VOTE.
Additional discussion ensued and Mrs. Dixon stated that this would not be an easy fix. The Board will need to accept a plan so the students and teachers can move forward with school.
A substitute motion was made by Dr. Stephen Chapman and seconded by Mr. John Allen to accept Option #1 to make up loss of instructional time for the Rapides Parish School System.
Discussion ensued.
On roll call the vote on the substitute motion for Option #1 was as follows:
AYE: Mr. Barrios, Mr. Berry, Dr. Chapman, Mr. Allen, Mrs. McConathy, Mr. Breazeale, Mrs. Dixon
NAY: Mr. Rodriguez
ABSENT: Mrs. Webb
THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION WAS ADOPTED BY MAJORITY VOTE.
A motion was made by Mr. Steve Berry and seconded by Mrs. Julie McConathy to accept a donation of $10,000 from Mr. Mark E. Howard designated specifically for the purchase of “Track Equipment” at Pineville High School and authorize the Board President or Superintendent to sign any documentation related thereto. (Item 5)
On roll call the vote was as follows:
AYE: Mr. Barrios, Mr. Berry, Dr. Chapman, Mr. Allen, Mrs. McConathy, Mr. Breazeale, Mr. Rodriguez, Mrs. Dixon
NAY: None
ABSENT: Mrs. Webb
A motion was made by Mrs. Julie McConathy and seconded by Mr. John Allen to add to the agenda to allow non-public schools to use our schools for playoff games for adequate compensation and use our athletic buses for emergencies – Reason to add: Time sensitive. (Item 6)
Discussion ensued.
On roll call the vote to add to the agenda was as follows:
AYE: Mr. Barrios, Mr. Berry, Dr. Chapman, Mr. Allen, Mrs. McConathy, Mr. Breazeale, Mr. Rodriguez, Mrs. Dixon
NAY: None
ABSENT: Mrs. Webb
A motion was made by Dr. Stephen Chapman and seconded by Mr. Wilton Barrios to allow non-public schools to use our schools for playoff games for adequate compensation and use our athletic buses for emergencies. (Item 6)
Discussion ensued.
An amended motion was made by Mrs. Julie McConathy and seconded by Mrs. Janet Dixon to request the Superintendent and Staff to gather necessary information to allow non-public schools to use our schools for playoff games for adequate compensation and use our athletic buses for emergencies and bring back to the March Board meeting.
Discussion ensued.
On the amended motion made by Mrs. Julie McConathy and seconded by Mrs. Janet Dixon, the Board voted unanimously to request the Superintendent and Staff to gather necessary information to allow non-public schools to use our schools for playoff games for adequate compensation and use our athletic buses for emergencies and bring back to the March Board meeting.
Pursuant to motion duly carried, the Rapides Parish School Board adjourned.
/s/Janet H. Dixon
President
ATTEST:
/s/Nason Authement
Secretary
S E A L