ZACHARY COMMUNITY SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES
February 9, 2012
The Zachary Community School Board Meeting was held on February 9, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at 3755 Church Street, Zachary, Louisiana.
The Invocation was led by David Dayton.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Scott Swilley.
ROLL CALL: Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Young, Mr. Swilley, Mrs. Samuel, Mr. Mackie, Mr. Owen, Mr. Kelley, Mr. Dykes and Mr. Dayton.
MINUTES FROM JANUARY 26, 2012
Mrs. Samuel moved to approve the minutes from the January 26, 2012 meeting. Mr. Swilley seconded the motion.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: 9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Mr. Drake reported that Northwestern Middle School has 176 Outstanding Academic Accomplishments for the 7th Grade Duke University Talent Identification Program Qualifiers. Also, the 8th Grade has 186 John Hopkins Talent Identification Program participants. In order to qualify, students must score at or above the 95th percentile on a nationally standardized test. At Zachary High School, Raven Fisher, signed a Softball Scholarship with Hinds Community College in Mississippi. Ethan Downs signed a Football Scholarship with Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. Jahvez Barnes signed a Football Scholarship with Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. The Zachary High School Lady Broncos Soccer Team is the Division 1, District 4-5A Champions. The Zachary High School Boys Soccer Team is the 4-5A District Soccer Champs. Monday, February 13, 2012 is Louisiana Literacy Day. Every student and employee at Zachary High School will stop and read from 10:00 - 10:15 a.m. Zachary High School JROTC Program team competed against 11 East Baton Rouge Area Army JROTC Programs and placed first, second and third in almost every category. Major Leslie Martin and Sergeant First Class Andrew Bradford are the instructors. Tammy Wood will be visiting West Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Thursday, February 16, 2012 presenting Journey to College and Career.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE/ETJ LEGISLATION
Chip Mills, with the Zachary Chamber, Randy Olson, with Lane Regional Medical Center and Kenney Havard, State Representative District 62, talked about the following Resolution:
Whereas, State Representative, District 62 Kenny Havard and State Senator Sharon Weston Broome are proposing Extraterritorial Jurisdictional (ETJ) State Legislative action relative to the subdivision of property and land use regulations for land beyond Zachary City Limits, but within Zachary Community School District as a method of promoting orderly growth and defining future service boundaries:
Whereas, the Zachary Community School Board serves as the official governing body of the Zachary Community School District, and oversees and directs all functions of the School District, including planning and preparation for increased enrollment and capital improvements. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Zachary Community School Board supports the concept and pursuit of the Legislative action relative to Extraterritorial Jurisdiction for Zachary.
Mr. Owen moved to adopt this Resolution and Mr. Kelley seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Mrs. Rogers -Yea; Mrs. Young - Abstain; Mr. Swilley - Yea; Mrs. Samuel - Yea;
Mr. Mackie – Abstain; Mr. Owen - Yea; Mr. Kelley - Yea; Mr. Dykes - Yea; Mr. Dayton - Abstain
6 YEAS 0 NAYS 3 ABSTAIN 0 ABSENT
Mr. Swilley asked for a point of order: Mr. Swilley thanked Chip Mills for all of his hard work that he has done for the Zachary Chamber. Mr. Swilley told the board that Chip was moving to Austin, Texas.
RECOGNITION OF ZACHARY ELEMENTARY SPELLING BEE TOP SPELLERS
The board presented certificates to Second Grader, Georgia Charlet, and Third Grader, Hayden Duplantier. Georgia and Hayden won the title of Zachary Elementary Spelling Bee Top Spellers.
RECOGNITION OF DISTRICT CHAMPS – ZACHARY HIGH SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS
The board presented certificates to Zachary High School Boys and Girls Soccer Teams for being District Champs. The Girls Soccer Team Coaches are Paul Owen and Kevin Tanner. The Boys Soccer Team Coaches are Scott Delhom and Kyle Callihan.
RECOGNITION OF ZACHARY HIGH SCHOOL BETA CLUB
The board presented a certificate to Cathy Raziano for being elected State Beta Sponsor of the Year. The board presented a certificate to Deon Sumer for being elected Beta State Vice President.
REVISION OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS
Mrs. Young moved to approve the revision of job descriptions. Mr. Dayton seconded the motion.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: 9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
REVISION OF THE MAIN OFFICE ORGANIZATION CHART
Mrs. Samuel moved to approve the revision of the Main Office Organization Chart. Mr. Dykes seconded the motion.
There was no public comment. (See Attached)
VOTE: 9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
PERSONNEL MATTERS
Mr. Dayton moved to approve Personnel Matters. Mr. Mackie seconded the motion.
There was no public comment. (See Attached)
VOTE: 9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
2012 - 2012 SCHOOL CALENDAR
Mr. Mackie moved to approve the 2012-2013 School Calendar. Mrs. Samuel seconded the motion.
There was no public comment. (See Attached)
VOTE: 9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
ADVERTISE TO SELL GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS
Mrs. Young moved to approve a resolution authorizing for bids for the purchase of Fourteen Million Dollars ($14,000,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2012, of Zachary Community School District No. 1, State of Louisiana, authorized at election held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, and providing for other matters in connection therewith. Mr. Dykes seconded the motion.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: 9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
ADOPT BUDGET FOR ADA STREET PROJECT
Mr. Swilley moved to adopt budget for Ada Street Project for Six Hundred Thousand ($600,000.00). Mrs. Samuel seconded the motion.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: 9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
STUDENT EXPULSION REVIEW
Mr. Drake read the following: As provided in the Zachary Community School District’s Policy Manual, an investigation is conducted by the principal of the school based on the information gathered during the course of the investigation. The principal makes a recommendation to the Superintendent or his designee (hearing officer) Tim Jordon. The Superintendent or his designee holds an expulsion hearing. After hearing the case, the Superintendent or his designee makes a determination of whether the student is guilty of the principal’s charges and whether he is expelled from the school. In these matters, an expulsion hearing has already been conducted. The principal’s recommendation was expulsion and that is recommendation was upheld by the hearing officer. The parents have timely requested a review of the expulsion decision by the Board. If the Board votes to hear the case, the hearing will be scheduled for the next regularly scheduled meeting.
Mr. Drake asked if everyone understands the procedure? Mr. Drake explained if the Board votes to not hear the case, the Board will vote to affirm, modify or reverse the action taken by the hearing officer, or send back to the Superintendent for more information.
Mr. Drake said, “That we will handle reviews one at a time either by order the request was received or alphabetically. We will handle as they were received”.
Mrs. Rogers asked the board members if they received the Student Expulsion Review Package on Caleb Jackson. All Board Members received and reviewed information provided.
Mrs. Rogers asked for a motion to affirm, modify, or reverse the action of the Superintendent or designee, or remand back to the Superintendent or designee for more information.
Mr. Owen said, “That as a board we have to follow the policy of the board “. Mr. Owen moved to affirm the action of the Superintendent on Caleb Jackson and Mrs. Samuel seconded the motion.
There were 3 public comments as follows:
Mr. Jason Jackson, parent of Caleb Jackson, asked to speak to the board. Mr. Jackson told the board that he speaks on behalf of the families Jackson, Pace and Tunstall. He knows what these kids have done was stupid and very immature, but they are good kids that never have been in trouble before. He said,” That they have now been removed from the baseball team, kicked out of school and place in the Port Hudson Career Academy.” He apologized for the kids and asks if the board would appeal this decision.
Mrs. Rogers asked if the board had any comment.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Mrs. Rogers - Yea; Mrs. Young - Yea; Mr. Swilley -Yea; Mrs. Samuel - Yea; Mr. Mackie - Yea; Mr. Owen - Yea; Mr. Kelley - Yea; Mr. Dykes - Yea; and Mr. Dayton - Yea.
9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
Mr. Jackson left following the vote.
Mr. Tommy Pace, father of Evan Pace, asked to speak to the board. Mr. Pace told the board that the Zachary Community School District is # 1 in the state. He told the board that this is such a harsh punishment for these kids. They are good kids with good grades and they do not deserve to be put in the Port Hudson Career Academy. They need to be in their own school at Zachary High School.
Mrs. Erin Young, mother of Darian Tunstall asked to speak. She told the board that she wanted something in writing that at the end of the school semester that this would not show up in his school records. Mrs. Young told the board that these kids were treated as criminals.
Mrs. Rogers asked the board members if they received the Student Expulsion Review Package on Evan Pace. All Board Members did receive and reviewed information provided. Mrs. Rogers asked for a Roll Call Vote to affirm the action of the Superintendent on Evan Pace.
There was no Board comment.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Mrs. Rogers - Yea; Mrs. Young - Yea; Mr. Swilley - Yea; Mrs. Samuel- Yea; Mr. Mackie - Yea; Mr. Owen - Yea; Mr. Kelley - Yea; Mr. Dykes - Yea; and Mr. Dayton - Yea
9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
Mrs. Rogers asked the board members if they received the Student Expulsion Review Package on Darian Tunstall. All board members received package and reviewed information provided.
Mrs. Rogers asked for a Roll Call Vote to affirm the action of the Superintendent on Darian Tunstall.
There was no Board comment.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Mrs. Rogers - yea, Mrs. Young - Yea; Mr. Swilley - Yea; Mrs. Samuel - Yea; Mr. Mackie - Yea; Mr. Owen - Yea; Mr. Kelley - Yea; Mr. Dykes - Yea; and Mr. Dayton - Yea
9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
Following the vote both families of Evan Pace and Darian Tunstall exited the meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Facilities met on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 (See Attached)
Gaynell Young asked for a point of order: Gaynell wanted everyone to know that all kids are precious even at Port Hudson Career Academy.
Jannie Rogers asked for a point of order: Jannie wanted everyone to know that the Port Hudson School was also a Career Academy School. Everyone needs to remember that.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
None at this time.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR FEBRUARY 23, 2012
Naming the First and Second Grade School, Recognition of the National Board Certification for 2011, and policy.
February 23, 2012 - Board Meeting will be at 6:00 p.m. Work Session will be at 5:30 p.m.
Due to special program at Northwestern Middle School.
ADJOURN
Mr. Dayton moved to adjourn. Mrs. Samuel seconded the motion.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: 9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
_______________________________________ _____________________________________
Jannie Rogers, President Warren Drake, Superintendent