ZACHARY COMMUNITY SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES
October 25, 2012
The Zachary Community School Special Board Meeting was held on October 25, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at 3755 Church Street, Zachary, Louisiana.
The Invocation was led by Mr. Dayton.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Smith.
ROLL CALL: Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Young, Mr. Swilley, Mrs. Samuel, Mr. Mackie, Mr. Owen, Mr. Smith, Mr. Dykes, and Mr. Dayton
CORRECTION OF BOARD MINUTES FOR 2-9-12 BOARD MINUTES
Mr. Swilley moved to approve the correction of the Board Minutes for 2-9-12 by taking out the word "not" in the sentence that read: 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. Dykes seconded the motion.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: 9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 4, 2012 SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
Mrs. Young moved to approve the minutes from the October 4, 2012 meeting with the correction of changing no to not in the Superintendent Report. Mr. Swilley seconded the motion.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: 9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
AMEND THE AGENDA
Mrs. Rogers made the motion to move Agenda Item #12 to Agenda Item #8A after the School Performance Scores. Mr. Swilley seconded the motion.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: 9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Mr. Robertson reported that the Body Walk is currently going on at Northwestern Elementary School. Congratulations to Trey Leiva and Nicholas Maxey for being named to the LHSAA Football All-Academic Composite Team. Zachary High School was the only team in our district that had multiple players listed. They will be honored at half-time of the 5A State Championship game in Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on December 8, 2012. Our Fifth Grade students are currently going on a series of trips to Natchez, Ms. in conjunction with a unit on indigenous People of the Americas. Zachary Elementary students are going on trips to the Houston Museum of Natural History. Zachary High student Jasmine Littles, daughter of one of our employees, was selected as a 2012 Outstanding High School Volunteer student by the Greater Baton Rouge State Fair. The Community Celebration will be held on November 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bronco Stadium. We will host a ribbon cutting for the new Performing Arts Theater at Zachary High School on Wednesday, November 7 at 6:00 p.m.
SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORES
Karin Lawless, Supervisor of Academic Accountability, told the board that the district was the state's top-ranked school system for eight years in a row. The performance score for this year grew from 121.3 to 134.7. Every school in the district showed academic growth in the past school year. The Zachary Community School District is an A-rated district.
SELECTION OF SUPERINTENDENT
Mrs. Young wanted to thank all of the committees that has been involved with searching for a new superintendent. We are now down to two applicants. Each board member will receive 2 cards. You will sign your name on the applicant of your choice for Superintendent.
Mrs. Rogers read off the votes:
Mr. Jenkins: Mr. Mackie
Mr. Devillier: Mrs. Young; Mr. Swilley; Mrs. Samuel; Mr. Owen; Mrs. Rogers; Mr. Smith; Mr. Dayton; and Mr. Dykes
Mr. Mackie moved to ratify our support for Scott Devillier for our superintendent. Mr. Swilley seconded the motion.
There was no public comment.
ROLL CALL VOTE FOR SUPERINTENDENT
Mrs. Rogers - Yea; Mrs. Young - Yea; Mr. Swilley - Yea; Mrs. Samuel - Yea; Mr. Mackie - Yea; Mr. Owen - Yea; Mr. Smith - Yea; and Mr. Dayton - Yea.
9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
Mr. Jenkins thanked the board. He said," it was a great experience and I will be there to support Mr. Devillier."
Mr. Devillier thanked the board. He said that he is excited to lead this district and promised that we will work harder than anyone has ever worked to make it even better.
Mr. Owen said, he has never been prouder of this school system. All of the employees and committees have worked together during this time.
Mrs. Beth Kimmble, from the Steering Committee, wanted to thank the board for all of the great work that they have done in search of a superintendent.
PERSONNEL MATTERS
Mrs. Young moved to go into Executive Session to discuss termination of an employee. Mr. Mackie seconded the motion.
Mrs. Rogers told the board that we will go in Executive Session with our Board Attorney Ricky McDavid, Personnel Director Yolanda Williams, Superintendent Elect Scott Devillier, and Interim Superintendent Gordon Robertson.
There was no public comment.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Mrs.Rogers - Yea; Mrs. Young - Yea; Mr. Swilley - Yea; Mrs. Samuel - Yea; Mr. Mackie - Yea; Mr. Owen - Yea; Mr. Smith - Yea; Mr. Dykes - Yea; and Mr. Dayton - Yea.
9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
Mrs. Rogers moved to come back in regular meeting. Mrs. Samuel seconded the motion.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: 9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
Mr. Owen moved to approve Personnel Matters. Mr. Dykes seconded the motion.
There was no public comment. (See Attached)
VOTE: 9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
PAYROLL DATES
Mrs. Samuel moved to approve changing the pay roll dates for employees getting paid to the 15th and 30th of each month, starting in January 2013. Mr. Owen seconded the motion.
There was no public comment.
VOTE: 9 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 ABSENT
EXPULSION APPEAL
1. Mia Carter
2. Shakira A. McKinsey
Mr. Robertson 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. Robertson asked if everyone understands the procedure? Mr. Robertson explained if the Board votes to 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. Robertson said, “we will handle reviews one at a time either by order the request was received or alphabetically. We will handle as they were received”.
1. Mia Carter
2. Shakira A. McKinsey
Mrs. Rogers asked the board members if they received the Student Expulsion Review Package on Mia Carter. All Board Members received and reviewed information provided.
Mr. Mackie moved for a Expulsion Appeal on Mia Carter and Mrs. Young seconded the vote.
There were no public comment.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Mrs. Rogers – Yea; Mrs. Young – Yea; Mr. Swilley –Nay; Mrs. Samuel – Nay; Mr. Mackie – Yea; Mr. Owen – Nay; Mr. Smith – Nay; Mr. Dykes – Nay; and Mr. Dayton – Nay.
6 YEAS 3 NAYS 0 ABSENT
Mrs. Rogers asked the board members if they received the Student Expulsion Review Package on Shakira A. McKinsey. All Board Members did receive and reviewed information provided.
There was no Public Comment
Mr. Mackie asked for a point of order to affirm the board decision to not hear the case on both students.
COMMITTEE REPORTS - None at this time.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS – Facilities meeting on October 30, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR NOVEMBER 8, 2012
Accept Superintendent Contract
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 Gordon Robertson, Interim Superintendent