OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
RAPIDES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Alexandria, Louisiana
December 9, 2014
The Rapides Parish School Board of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, met in special session at
5:00 o’clock p.m. on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at the regular meeting place of said board in the Rapides Parish School Board Office, 619 Sixth and Beauregard Streets, in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Vice President Julie McConathy called the meeting to order and on roll call the following members were present:
Julie McConathy, Vice President
John Allen, Member
Wilton Barrios, Member
Steve Berry, Member
Keith Breazeale, Member
Stephen Chapman, Member
Darrell Rodriguez, Member
Pam Webb, Member
Absent: Janet Dixon, President
Mr. Nason Authement, secretary for the Board, was present for the meeting.
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District Attorney Mr. James Downs was not present for the meeting.
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The Invocation was pronounced by Mr. Keith Breazeale after which Mr. Steve Berry led in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
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(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 DECEMBER 5, 2014)
Alexandria, Louisiana
December 5, 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 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 5:00 p.m. to commence on
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 direct the Superintendent and Staff to have a contractor look at the Buckeye site
regarding the track and provide to the Board an amount and to hear the facts and to include the
lights at Rapides High School and take possible action at a Special Board meeting on
December 9, 2014 and to receive a report on the balance and money available for Parish
Wide Maintenance – Mr. Wilton Barrios
5. Motion to discuss and take action to install the lights on the soccer field at the Rapides
High School – Mr. Darrell Rodriguez
Pages 1-8 Source of funding District 61 Maintenance Amount $18,000
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, Witness my official signature and the seal of the Rapides Parish School Board this 5th day of December 2014
/s/Janet H. Dixon
President
ATTEST:
/s/Nason Authement
Secretary
S E A L
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Public comment was solicited prior to the vote on items during this meeting.
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A motion was made by Mr. Wilton Barrios and seconded by Mr. Keith Breazeale to direct the Superintendent and Staff to have a contractor look at the Buckeye site regarding the track and provide to the Board an amount and to hear the facts and to include the lights at Rapides High School and take possible action at a Special Board meeting on December 9, 2014 and to receive a report on the balance and money available for Parish Wide Maintenance. (Item 4)
Discussion ensued.
A substitute motion was made by Mrs. Julie McConathy and seconded by Mr. Steve Berry to hear a report from the Superintendent and the staff concerning the Buckeye High School track.
Mr. Nason Authement and Mr. Roy Rachal presented information to the Board at this time and discussion ensued.
A second substitute motion was made by Dr. Stephen Chapman and seconded by Mrs. Pam Webb to approve the estimated proposal made by Pan American Engineers and move forward with the current specs and bid with an estimated cost of $375,000 and funding source will be District C.
Discussion ensued.
A third substitute motion was made by Mrs. Julie McConathy and seconded by Mr. Wilton Barrios to approve funding sources for site work and resurfacing of the Buckeye High School track and field event areas including a survey by engineers to determine soil base compaction. Action on this project to begin immediately and source of funding is $300,000 from District 50 Maintenance and $350,000 is Parish Wide Maintenance.
A lengthy discussion ensued.
On roll call the vote on the third substitute motion was as follows:
AYE: Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Barrios, Mr. Allen, Mrs. McConathy
NAY: Mrs. Webb, Mr. Berry, Dr. Chapman, Mr. Breazeale
ABSENT: Mrs. Dixon
THE MOTION FAILED DUE TO A TIE VOTE.
An amended motion was made by Dr. Stephen Chapman and seconded by Mrs. Pam Webb for the RPSB to move forward with the construction of a track at Buckeye High School and to charge staff to begin the process of writing specs and to submit bid proposals in the budgeted amount of $375,000 and source of funding will be District 50 Maintenance.
After a lengthy discussion, Mrs. McConathy requested that all motions be pulled and to allow the new incoming board member address the Buckeye High track. At this time, Dr. Chapman, Mrs. McConathy and Mr. Barrios pulled their motions and no action was taken on item 4.
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A motion was made by Mr. Darrell Rodriguez and seconded by Mr. Keith Breazeale to discuss and take action to install the lights on the soccer field at the Rapides High School. (Item 5)
Discussion ensued.
A substitute motion was made by Mr. Darrell Rodriguez and seconded by Mr. Keith Breazeale to approve and install the lights on the soccer field at the Rapides High School for $18,000 and funded by District 61 Maintenance.
On roll call the vote on the substitute motion was as follows:
AYE: Mr. Rodriguez, Mrs. Webb, Mr. Barrios, Mr. Berry, Dr. Chapman, Mr. Allen,
Mrs. McConathy, Mr. Breazeale
NAY: None
ABSENT: Mrs. Dixon
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Pursuant to motion duly carried, the Rapides Parish School Board adjourned.
/s/Janet Dixon
President
ATTEST:
/s/Nason Authement
Secretary
S E A L