PROCEEDINGS OF
LAFOURCHE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
The Parish School Board of the Parish of Lafourche, State of
The Parish School Board of the Parish of Lafourche, State of
Mr. Paul Chiquet read the opening prayer.
The board then observed a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the
terrorist attacks on
President DeFelice led the board and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
At this time, President DeFelice recognized Mr. Sonny Savoie, president of the Louisiana School Boards Association, who was present in the audience.
Present for roll call were: Mr. Louis E. Thibodaux (District 1); Ms. Rhoda Caldwell (District 2); Ms. Constance T. Williams (District 3); Ms. Martha S. Zeringue (District 4); Mr. Jessie Fabiano (District 5); Mr. G. A. Rodrigue, Jr. (District 6); Dr. Judy G. Theriot (District 7); Mr. Dave J. DeFelice, Jr. (District 8); Ms. Loretta Duplantis (District 9); Mr. Dennis Jean’ Chiasson (District 10); Mr. Roy Landry (District 11); Mr. Aubrey J. Orgeron (District 12); Mr. John Danos (District 13); Mr. Paul Chiquet (District 14); Ms. Rebecca Duet (District 15).
Absent were: None.
On motion of Mr. Chiquet, seconded by Ms. Williams and unanimously carried, the
board approved minutes of the regular school board meeting held
On motion of Mr. Danos, seconded by Mr. Chiasson and unanimously carried, the
board approved minutes of the special school board meeting held
President DeFelice called on Ms. Nancy Hicks, section administrator of the Division of Special Populations, State Department of Education, who recognized Lafourche Parish School Board for having obtained exemplary performance status for the service of special education students in the regular education setting.
Next, the board recognized members of the State FFA Horse Judging Team and the State 4-H Horse Judging Team, both comprised of Lafourche Parish students, who received world recognition in the American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Horse Judging Contest, as follows:
2001 State 4-H Horse Judging Team:
They won the halter, performance, and oral reasons presentation.
President DeFelice, on behalf of the board, congratulated the students and their advisor, Mr. Danny Quebedeaux, for receiving world recognition.
President DeFelice then gave the following report of the Advisory Committee, as
per meeting held
The Advisory Committee of the Lafourche Parish School Board met at its regular
meeting place, the Parish School Board Office, located at
The following committee members were present: Chairman Dave J. DeFelice, Jr., Mr. Louis Thibodaux, Ms. Rhoda Caldwell, Mr. Dennis Chiasson, and Mr. John Danos.
There were absent: None.
Also present were the following school board members: Ms. Martha Zeringue, Ms. Loretta Duplantis, Ms. Rebecca Duet, Dr. Judy Theriot, Mr. Roy Landry, and Mr. G. A. Rodrigue, Jr. Staff members in attendance were Superintendent Elmo Broussard, Mr. Gary Babin, and Mr. Francis Hubbell. Others in attendance included Project Manager Marcel Fournet and the Clerk-of-the-Works, Mr. Ronnie Robichaux.
Chairman DeFelice called upon Mr. Fournet to report on Phase 1 of the 1997 bond
issue. Mr. Fournet called upon Mr. Skipper Holloway to give his last
report on the
Mr. Fournet reported that the final contract price for the construction and
renovation of
Mr. Fournet reported that he met with the
Mr. Fournet told the committee that the field house at
He next reported that occupancy of the new addition at
Mr. Fournet reported that the target date for moving into the new building at
The committee next reviewed agenda items for the
Mr. DeFelice next told the committee that Mr. Jessie Fabiano had requested in an email that an item be added to the agenda regarding certain issues relative to the discipline policy. Following a lengthy discussion, the committee instructed Mr. Broussard to consult with legal counsel to determine if the issue should be presented to the Policy and Procedure Committee or be added to the October 3 agenda. A motion was offered by Ms. Caldwell, seconded by Mr. Thibodaux and unanimously carried, to direct the superintendent to consult with legal counsel on the legalities of discussing certain discipline issues in executive session; and, if not permissible, to request that the matter be brought before the Policy and Procedure Committee for consideration. Mr. DeFelice further instructed Mr. Broussard to add the item to the agenda if legal counsel advised that the issue could be discussed in executive session.
Next, Ms. Duplantis asked the committee to consider adding to the agenda an appeal to reinstate prayer in our schools. Following a lengthy decision, the committee recommended that they consider the request of Ms. Duplantis to reinstate prayer in the classroom and directed Mr. Broussard to seek legal counsel regarding the matter.
Mr. Broussard next informed the committee that he received a letter from Ms. Robin Pitre requesting permission to address the board regarding the new lesson plan format. Following a brief discussion, a motion was offered by Mr. Chiasson, seconded by Mr. Thibodaux and unanimously carried, to add to the agenda Ms. Robin Pitre’s request to address the board regarding the new lesson plan format.
Next, Ms. Caldwell reminded Mr. Broussard that she did not receive the information she requested at last month’s meeting regarding the number of employees at each school. Mr. Broussard and Mr. Babin provided Ms. Caldwell and all board members with the information. Ms. Caldwell also reminded Mr. Broussard that Mr. Paul Chiquet requested a meeting to discuss payment of retired teachers through Kelly Services. Mr. Broussard said he would discuss it with Mr. Chiquet.
Next, the committee allowed Mr. Ray Barrios to address the committee regarding the new lesson plan format. He described at length the process and amount of time involved to complete the new lesson plans. He requested that the board consider reviewing the process and revise it accordingly.
Mr. Broussard next presented to the committee a request by two parents to appeal recent expulsion decisions. Following a short discussion, a motion was offered by Mr. Chiasson, seconded by Mr. Thibodaux, to conduct appeals of two recent expulsion decisions at the end of the regular school board meeting on October 3, 2001. The vote was 4-1, with Mr. Danos casting the dissenting vote.
There being no other official business, on motion of Mr. Thibodaux, seconded by Mr. Danos and unanimously carried, the committee meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
/s/Dave J. DeFelice, Jr., Chairperson
Relative to Mr. Fabiano’s request to discuss in executive session certain discipline policies, the superintendent reported that he did contact the board’s attorney, Mr. Pat Amedee, who advised that the board couldn’t go into executive session to discuss such an item. Accordingly, Superintendent Broussard stated that the item would be referred to the Policy and Procedure Committee for its review. Relative to Ms. Duplantis’ request about prayer in the schools, the superintendent stated that he also consulted with Mr. Amedee in this regard; and that Mr. Amedee advised him that approximately two years ago the Supreme Court ruled that prayer in the schools was unconstitutional. Superintendent Broussard noted that Mr. Amedee will keep abreast of court cases involving prayer in the schools and will advise the board should the Supreme Court’s ruling be reversed. On motion of Mr. Thibodaux, seconded by Ms. Duplantis and unanimously carried, the board adopted the report of the Advisory Committee, as per meeting held October 1, 2001.
(This concludes the report of the Advisory Committee and any action taken by the board in connection therewith.)
President DeFelice then called on Chairperson Williams, who reported on the Insurance Committee meetings held September 17, 20, and 27 and October 1, 2001. At the conclusion of the report, both Ms. Caldwell and Mr. Chiasson noted that they had attended the October 1 committee meeting and asked that a correction be made to the report of that committee meeting to reflect that they were in attendance at the meeting. President DeFelice noted that the correction would be made. Ms. Duet then offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Danos, to accept the recommendation of the Insurance Committee (as reflected in the October 1 report) to self-fund the Lafourche Parish School Board’s 2002 group health program. There being no discussion on the motion, a vote was then taken. The motion was unanimously carried. Ms. Williams then offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Thibodaux, to accept the recommendation of the Insurance Committee (as reflected in the October 1 report) to choose United HealthCare to provide third party administrator services for the 2002 group health program and to provide specific and aggregate insurance coverage for the program. A lengthy discussion followed regarding a fixed cost and re-insurance analysis comparison, with aggregate comparison, which was faxed by F. A. Richard to the superintendent’s office during late afternoon. Superintendent Broussard called on Mr. Ben Jones of the Jones Insurance Agency, the board’s agent of record for its group health plan for the year 2002. Mr. Jones stated that F. A. Richard’s comparison between FARA and United HealthCare indicates an approximate $689,227.00 savings with FARA in administration fees over a two-year period; however, based on the figures and information presented at the various committee meetings, including the answers from the three companies on the thirty questions he felt were important in evaluating a third party administrator, he still stands behind his original recommendation -- specifically, to choose United HealthCare. The discussion continued. Mr. Rodrigue then called for question. At this time, Ms. Williams, stating that she was uncomfortable making the motion, then withdrew her motion and suggested that someone else may want to offer it. Ms. Duet then offered the motion, seconded by Mr. Thibodaux, to choose United HealthCare to provide third party administrator services for the 2002 group health program and to provide specific and aggregate insurance coverage for the program. A brief discussion followed, at the end of which a vote was taken on Ms. Duet’s motion. The motion was unanimously carried. On motion of Ms. Caldwell, seconded by Ms. Duplantis and unanimously carried, the board adopted the report of the Insurance Committee, as per meetings held September 17, 20, and 27 and October 1, 2001, including the corrections offered by Ms. Caldwell and Mr. Chiasson to the October 1 meeting, as follows:
The Insurance Committee of the Lafourche Parish School Board met on Monday, September 17, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. in the boardroom of the central office in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
There were present: Ms. Constance Williams (Chairperson), Mr. Paul Chiquet, Ms. Rebecca Duet, Ms. Loretta Duplantis, and Mr. Jessie Fabiano.
There was absent: Mr. G. A. Rodrigue, Jr.
Also in attendance were: Mr. Dave J. DeFelice, Jr., Mr. Louis Thibodaux, Ms. Martha Zeringue, Mr. Dennis Chiasson, Ms. Rhoda Caldwell, and Mr. John Danos (School Board Members); Mr. Elmo Broussard (Superintendent); Mr. Don Gaudet (Business Manager); Ms. Angela Woods, Mr. Steven Stilts, Mr. George Babin, Mr. Shelton Mahler, and Mr. Doyle Rogers (Insurance Advisory Committee Members).
Chairperson Williams called on Mr. Ben Jones of Jones Insurance Agency to start the discussion. Mr. Jones presented to the committee a report that contained the talking points he wanted to review with the committee. He gave the committee an overview of how the insurance industry works in general and the concepts involved in insurance coverage. Mr. Jones then discussed the important issues involved in the board’s current contract with The OATH.
Mr. Jones explained that problems the board is experiencing with The OATH will be present with any other insurance company using a full insurance contract. He explained how self-funding will help the board reach solutions for the escalating cost of group health insurance, but he added there is risk involved. Mr. Jones then told the committee that in his opinion the benefits of self-funding outweigh the risk involved.
Mr. Jones then showed the committee his action plan and time schedule that will get the best coverage for the 2002 plan year with the following key dates:
September 27, 2001: Receive and discuss proposals for third party
administrator services
October 1, 2001: Determine which TPA to recommend to the board
October 11, 2001: Determine the final plan design
November 1 to December 1, 2001: Conduct open enrollment
December 28, 2001: Deliver ID cards to plan participants
After Mr. Jones completed his presentation, Ms. Williams set the following meeting schedule:
September 20, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. to review plan design issues
September 27, 2001 at 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. to receive TPA RFPs
October 1, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. to determine which TPA to recommend to the board
There being no further business, Ms. Duet offered a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Chiquet and passed without opposition. The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
/s/Constance T. Williams, Chairperson
˛˛˛˛˛
The Insurance Committee of the Lafourche Parish School Board met on Thursday, September 20, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. in the boardroom of the central office in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
There were present: Ms. Constance Williams (Chairperson), Ms. Rebecca Duet, Ms. Loretta Duplantis, and Mr. G. A. Rodrigue, Jr.
There were absent: Mr. Paul Chiquet and Mr. Jessie Fabiano.
Also in attendance were: Mr. Dave J. DeFelice, Jr., Ms. Martha Zeringue, Mr. Roy Landry and Mr. John Danos (School Board Members); Mr. Elmo Broussard (Superintendent); Mr. Don Gaudet (Business Manager); Mr. Steven Stilts, Mr. George Babin, Mr. Kyle Pelt [for Mr. John Serigny], Mr. Victor Rodrigue [for Mr. Shelton Mahler], and Mr. Doyle Rogers (Insurance Advisory Committee Members).
Chairperson Williams called on Mr. Ben Jones of Jones Insurance Agency to start the discussion. Mr. Jones reviewed some basic concepts of self-funding and then presented to the committee a series of reports. The following reports on the group's makeup were given to the committee:
Not Covered vs. Covered - by sex and type (active/retired)
Status by Age Group - by age, sex and type (active/retired)
Status by Age Group (Covered vs. Not Covered) - by age, sex, and type (active/retired)
Mr. Jones concluded that the group's makeup is a major factor in the rapidly rising cost of the plan. He also stated that the school board should look at changing the plan design to help attract healthier employees to the plan.
Mr. Jones then showed a spreadsheet that compared the current plan benefits to the benefit structures that have been proposed by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Louisiana and United HealthCare. Finally, Mr. Jones gave the committee a report that showed various benefit options that should be considered for the 2002 group plan year.
There being no further business, Ms. Duplantis offered a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Ms. Duet and passed without opposition. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
/s/Constance T. Williams, Chairperson
˛˛˛˛˛
The Insurance Committee of the Lafourche Parish School Board met on Thursday, September 27, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. in the boardroom of the central office in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
There were present: Ms. Constance Williams (Chairperson), Ms. Rebecca Duet, Ms. Loretta Duplantis, Mr. Jessie Fabiano and Mr. G. A. Rodrigue, Jr.
There was absent: Mr. Paul Chiquet.
Also in attendance were: Ms. Martha Zeringue, Mr. Louis Thibodaux, Ms. Rhoda Caldwell, and Mr. John Danos (School Board Members); Mr. Elmo Broussard (Superintendent); Mr. Don Gaudet (Business Manager); Mr. George Babin, Mr. John Serigny, Mr. Shelton Mahler, and Mr. Doyle Rogers (Insurance Advisory Committee Members).
Chairperson Williams called on Mr. Ben Jones of Jones Insurance Agency to introduce the companies that had submitted Third Party Administrator proposals. Mr. Jones first stated that he had a renewal quote from The OATH that was for a 33.85% increase or a total cost of $10,684,000, which he said he submitted for comparison purposes. Mr. Jones also gave the committee a quote from AmCare Health Plans so that the committee could see all the quotes he had, but he felt the quote had too many pre-conditions to properly evaluate.
Next, Mr. Jones gave the committee a list of thirty questions he felt should be answered by the companies wanting to be the board’s third party administrator. After this, the committee received representatives and quotes from the following companies:
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Louisiana
FARA Benefit Services
United HealthCare
Representative of the above listed companies were given about an hour to present their proposals, during which time committee members and others in attendance were allowed to ask questions. Following the presentations, Ms. Williams set the next meeting date for Monday, October 1, 2001 at 6:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to determine which company to recommend to the board.
Mr. Gaudet then informed the committee that three of the members of the Insurance Advisory Committee had either retired from the school board or asked to be replaced. Mr. Gaudet said that he would ask, by email, for volunteers to serve on the committee.
There being no further business, Ms. Duet offered a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Rodrigue and passed without opposition. The meeting was adjourned at 9:57 p.m.
/s/Constance T. Williams, Chairperson
˛˛˛˛˛
The Insurance Committee of the Lafourche Parish School Board met on Monday, October 1, 2001 at 6:30 p.m. in the boardroom of the central office in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
There were present: Ms. Constance Williams (Chairperson), Ms. Rebecca Duet, Ms. Loretta Duplantis, Mr. Jessie Fabiano and Mr. G. A. Rodrigue, Jr.
There was absent: Mr. Paul Chiquet.
Also in attendance were: Mr. Dave J. DeFelice, Jr., Ms. Martha Zeringue, Mr. Louis Thibodaux, Dr. Judy Theriot, Mr. John Danos, Ms. Rhoda Caldwell and Mr. Dennis Jean Chiasson (School Board Members); Mr. Elmo Broussard (Superintendent); Mr. Don Gaudet (Business Manager); Ms. Sylvia Landry, Mr. Steven Stilts, Mr. George Babin, Mr. Shelton Mahler, and Mr. Doyle Rogers (Insurance Advisory Committee Members).
Chairperson Williams called on Mr. Ben Jones of Jones Insurance Agency, who presented to the committee a report that contained a side-by-side comparison of the answers from the three companies of the thirty questions he felt were important in evaluating a third party administrator. After Mr. Jones read his report, Ms. Williams allowed a question and answer period that included participation from the committee and all others in attendance.
After all discussion was completed, Ms. Duet offered the following motion, which was seconded by Ms. Duplantis:
To recommend to the board that it self-fund its 2002 group health program.
The motion passed without opposition.
Ms. Duet then offered the following motion, which was seconded by Mr. Rodrigue:
To recommend to the board that it choose United HealthCare to provide third party administrator services for the 2002 group health program and to provide specific and aggregate insurance coverage for the program.
The motion passed without opposition.
There being no further business, Ms. Duet offered a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Ms. Duplantis and passed without opposition. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 pm.
The Insurance Committee submits the following recommendations to the board:
1. To recommend to the board that it self-fund its 2002 group health program.
2. To recommend to the board that it choose United HealthCare to provide third party administrator services for the 2002 group health program and to provide specific and aggregate insurance coverage for the program.
/s/Constance T. Williams, Chairperson
(This concludes the report of the Insurance Committee and any action taken by the board in connection therewith.)
Next, President DeFelice called on Chairperson Orgeron, who presented the following report on the Finance Committee meeting held September 26, 2001.
A meeting of the Finance Committee of the Lafourche Parish School Board was held on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 5:30 p.m. in the boardroom of the Lafourche Parish School Board building, located at 805 East Seventh Street, Thibodaux, Louisiana.
Members present were: Mr. Aubrey Orgeron (Chairperson), Mr. Dennis Jean’ Chiasson, Mr. G. A. Rodrigue, Jr., Ms. Martha Zeringue, and Mr. Jessie Fabiano.
Dr. Judy Theriot and Mr. Roy Landry were not in attendance.
Also in attendance were: Mr. Elmo Broussard (Superintendent), Mr. Don Gaudet (Business Manager), Mr. Dave J. DeFelice, Jr. (Board President), Mr. Louis Thibodaux and Ms. Loretta Duplantis (School Board Members).
Chairperson Orgeron called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and called upon Mr. Gaudet to proceed with the roll call. After the roll call, Mr. Orgeron explained that Mr. Landry had informed him that he was attending a business meeting in Baton Rouge and would not be available for the Finance Committee meeting tonight. Also, it was noted that Dr. Theriot was serving on an accreditation team out of state. Mr. Orgeron then called upon Mr. Don Gaudet to explain the proposed salary increases for all Lafourche Parish employees.
Mr. Gaudet explained that Mr. Orgeron had asked him to present to the committee the cost of granting a 4% salary increase to individuals paid on the Teacher Salary Schedule and a 3% salary increase to all other employees of the school system. Mr. Gaudet went on to explain that individuals paid on the Teacher Salary Schedule included all teachers, nurses, all therapists, curriculum facilitators, instructional coordinators, guidance counselors, and librarians. Mr. Gaudet explained that the cost of the salary increases would be shared by all funds presently providing salary funding for individuals, however the majority of the cost would be absorbed by the 1995 Sales Tax Fund monies, with the additional cost being derived from the General Fund (the additional 1% for individuals paid on the Teacher Salary Schedule). Mr. Gaudet stated that all funds had sufficient available funding in order to pay for the salary increases.
Mr. Orgeron then opened the floor to questions from committee members. Ms. Zeringue asked if the new 4% salary increase for teachers could possibly place some teachers earning the same or even more than some assistant principals or principals. Mr. Broussard responded that he did not think the amount would be more; however, it could quite possibly be very close to assistant principals.
In addressing Ms. Zeringue’s concern, Mr. Orgeron stated that if the 3% and 4% salary increases were approved the board still had approximately $600,000.00 remaining in the budget to address areas of inequities in the salary schedules.
Mr. Fabiano asked if any of the remaining $600,000.00 could be used to possibly increase the 3% increase to 4% also. Mr. Orgeron stated that he felt the amount of the remaining money would not be sufficient to provide an increase to all other salary schedules, and that this money would be used only to address salary schedules that are extremely out of proportion with the salary study. He reiterated that this would be a very time consuming effort, and that committee members considered providing the 4% and 3% increase at this time would assist all employees in some way.
Mr. Rodrigue suggested structuring salary schedules to inspire individuals to apply for vacancies when they become available. He stated that he felt in order to keep the present individuals employed and interested in advancing to administrative positions, incentives must be added to the administrative salary schedules.
Ms. Earline Chiasson asked a question concerning the request of the Finance Committee to the superintendent at the last meeting concerning the grouping of individuals on the salary schedules. Mr. Broussard explained that he was still working on this request and that he expected to present his completed report to the Finance Committee in approximately two weeks. Ms. Chiasson voiced her concern in the fact that if the present proposal is approved, then the board would not have sufficient funding to correct discrepancies noted in the superintendent’s report. Mr. Broussard and Mr. Orgeron stated that the remaining fund balance of approximately $600,000.00 would be used to address the discrepancies as noted.
Ms. Duplantis stated that in an effort to be fair to all employees of the school system, the committee and board felt that the proposed 4% and 3% increases would benefit all employees at the present time while the committee and board continued to address other inequities.
Mr. Orgeron asked if anyone had any other questions concerning the proposed salary increases. There being no other questions, Mr. Chiasson made a motion to grant a 4% salary increase to all employees paid on the Teacher Salary Schedule and a 3% salary increase to all other employees retroactive to July 1, 2001. Mr. Fabiano seconded the motion. Mr. Orgeron called for a vote on the motion, which passed by a vote of 3 for to 2 against. Voting for the motion were: Mr. Fabiano, Mr. Chiasson, and Mr. Orgeron. Voting against the motion were: Ms. Zeringue and Mr. Rodrigue.
There being no further business, Mr. Orgeron set the date for the next Finance Committee meeting for Wednesday, October 17, 2001 at 5:30 p.m.
A motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Fabiano and seconded by Mr. Chiasson. The Finance Committee meeting was adjourned at 5:59 p.m.
The Finance Committee offers the following motion for the board’s consideration:
To give a 4% salary increase to all employees paid on the Teacher Salary Schedule and a 3% salary increase to all other employees, retroactive to July 1, 2001.
/s/Aubrey J. Orgeron, Chairperson
On motion of Mr. Orgeron, seconded by Mr. Rodrigue and unanimously carried, the board adopted the report of the Finance Committee, as per meeting held September 26, 2001. Mr. Orgeron then offered the following motion:
To give a 4% salary increase to all employees paid on the Teacher Salary Schedule and a 3% salary increase to all other employees, retroactive to July 1, 2001.
Mr. Orgeron’s motion was seconded by Ms. Williams. A lengthy discussion followed, during which Dr. Theriot stressed the importance of increasing teachers’ salaries -- noting that, if they don’t, they will have greater difficulty in recruiting and retaining certified teachers. Dr. Theriot stated that the board has spent numerous hours trying to muddle through the salary schedule study, along with all the additional salary information given to them; and that one last request remains on the floor – that being, that the superintendent and his staff look closely at the individual positions in the various salary schedules and, if necessary, create new schedules for those positions with dissimilar job responsibilities. At this time, Dr. Theriot offered a motion to table any decision concerning salary adjustments until the time that the board receives and has had time to study the information requested from the superintendent and his staff. Dr. Theriot’s motion was seconded by Ms. Zeringue. There being no discussion, President DeFelice called for a vote on Dr. Theriot’s motion to table Mr. Orgeron’s original motion. The vote was taken, and the president declared the motion failed -- the vote being 4 in favor of the motion to 11 against the motion. Those members voting in favor of the motion were: Dr. Theriot, Ms. Zeringue, Mr. Landry and Mr. Rodrigue. President DeFelice then called for a vote on Mr. Orgeron’s original motion. A brief discussion followed regarding the administrators’ salary schedules. Mr. Orgeron called for question. A vote was then taken on Mr. Orgeron’s motion. The motion was carried, although not unanimously -- dissenting votes were cast by Dr. Theriot, Ms. Zeringue, Mr. Landry, and Mr. Rodrigue.
(This concludes the report of the Finance Committee and any action taken by the board in connection therewith.)
President DeFelice called on the board’s consultant, Mr. Richard Poche’ of South Central Planning and Development Commission (SCPDC). Mr. Poche’ presented for the board’s consideration two resolutions -- the first one, stating the board’s intent to reapportion itself based upon the decennial census, and directing that such reapportionment plan be submitted to appropriate state and federal authorities; and the second one, establishing and defining the Lafourche Parish School Board 2002 election districts in accordance with federal and state statutes. The following resolution was offered by Ms. Zeringue and seconded by Ms. Caldwell:
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION TO COMPLY WITH L.R.S. 17:71.5, RELATIVE TO REAPPORTIONMENT OF PARISH SCHOOL BOARDS, AS REQUIRED AFTER EACH DECENNIAL CENSUS.
WHEREAS, the Parish of Lafourche contains fifteen formable districts from which the Parish School Board members are elected, and
WHEREAS, an examination of reapportionment of school board districts is required after each decennial census, and
WHEREAS, the school board members have fully examined the current apportionment plan, with the assistance of fully qualified demographers and planners, and
WHEREAS, the school board has concluded that over the last decade there has been enough change in the demographics that reapportionment is necessary to afford equal and fair representation, and
WHEREAS, such reapportionment plans must be pre-cleared by the United States Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Parish School Board of Lafourche, Louisiana, that the current apportionment plan must be reapportioned and that such reapportionment plan must be submitted to appropriate State and Federal authorities.
The above resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
Yeas: Mr. Louis E. Thibodaux, Ms. Rhoda Caldwell, Ms. Constance T. Williams, Ms. Martha S. Zeringue, Mr. Jessie Fabiano, Mr. G. A. Rodrigue, Jr., Dr. Judy G. Theriot, Mr. Dave J. DeFelice, Jr., Ms. Loretta Duplantis, Mr. Dennis Jean’ Chiasson, Mr. Roy Landry, Mr. Aubrey J. Orgeron, Mr. John Danos, Mr. Paul Chiquet, Ms. Rebecca Duet;
Nays: None;
Abstain: None;
Absent: None.
And the resolution was declared adopted on this, the 3rd day of October 2001.
The following resolution was then offered by Mr. Thibodaux and seconded by Mr. Chiasson:
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH AND DEFINE THE LAFOURCHE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD 2002 ELECTION DISTRICTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL AND STATE STATUTES.
WHEREAS, every ten (10) years the Lafourche Parish School Board is required to reapportion the voting districts in accordance with the decennial census; and
WHEREAS, in an effort to expedite the process by which “reapportionment” is accomplished throughout the State, the Louisiana State Legislature, in regular session convened, passed Act 1420 of 1997, which required all parish governments to establish precinct boundaries on visible features for use in establishing the 2002 redistricting plans; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Act 1420 of 1997, the Lafourche Parish Council adopted Ordinance No. 2664 on September 8, 1998, which established all Lafourche Parish precincts on visible features, and further, established the precincts used in the creation of the District boundaries described herein; and
WHEREAS, La. Revised Statutes 17:17.3 E(2)(a) allows a School Board with a different number of members than the Parish governing authority to split up to two (2) precincts per district.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the aforementioned districts are hereby established:
I.
DISTRICT 1
Beginning at the intersection of the Terrebonne/Lafourche and Assumption/Lafourche Parish lines; thence, northeasterly along the Assumption/Lafourche Parish line to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence, easterly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with the straight line extension of St. Bernard Street, thence southerly along St. Bernard Street to its intersection with 1st Street, thence easterly along 1st Street to its intersection with Oak Lane, thence southerly along Oak Lane to its intersection with Wilton Street, thence easterly along Wilton Street to its intersection with Barbier Avenue, thence southerly along Barbier Avenue to its intersection with Leonard Street, thence westerly along Leonard Street to its intersection with St. Bernard Street, thence southerly along St. Bernard Street to its intersection with LA Hwy 3107 (Talbot Ave.), thence easterly along LA Hwy 3107 (Talbot Ave.) to its intersection with Veterans Blvd., thence southerly along Veterans Blvd to its intersection with LA Hwy 3185; thence, easterly along LA 3185 to its intersection with the Terrebonne/Lafourche Parish lines; thence, southerly and westerly along said parish line to its intersection with the Assumption/Lafourche parish line, the point of beginning.
DISTRICT 2
Beginning at the intersection of the old Southern Pacific railroad tracks and Barbier Avenue, thence northerly along Barbier Avenue to its intersection with Wilton Street, thence westerly along Wilton Street to its intersection with Oak Lane, thence northerly along Oak Lane to its intersection with 1st Street, thence westerly along 1st Street to its intersection with St. Bernard Street, thence northerly along St. Bernard Street and its straight line extension to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence, easterly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with Audubon Street, thence southerly along Audubon Street to its intersection with an unnamed drainage ditch located at 90°48’21.96W and 29°47’16.39N, thence westerly along said ditch to its intersection with and unnamed drainage canal located at 90°48’37.75W and 29°47’22.55N, thence southwesterly along said canal to its intersection with the old Southern Pacific railroad tracks, thence westerly along said tracks to its intersection with Ledet Street, thence northerly along Ledet Street to its intersection with Back Street, thence westerly along Back Street to its intersection with Tetreau Street, thence northerly along Tetreau Street to its intersection with East 12th Street; thence westerly along East 12th Street to its intersection with McCulla Street; thence, northerly along McCulla Street to its intersection with East 7th Street; thence, westerly along East 7th Street to its intersection with Canal Boulevard, thence southerly and southeasterly along Canal Boulevard to its intersection with Ridgefield Plantation Road; thence, westerly along Ridgefield Plantation Road to its intersection with Ridgefield Road; thence, northeasterly along Ridgefield Road to its intersection with Lynn Street; thence southeasterly along Lynn Street to its intersection with Ravenwood Street; thence, northeasterly along Ravenwood Street to its intersection with Himalaya Avenue; thence southeasterly along Himalaya Avenue to its intersection with Lafaye Avenue; thence easterly along Lafaye Avenue to its intersection with Ridgefield Avenue; thence northwesterly along Ridgefield Avenue to its intersection with the old Southern Pacific railroad tracks; thence westerly along the said tracks to its intersection with Henderson Avenue; thence, northerly along Henderson Avenue to its intersection with Josephine Avenue; thence westerly along Josephine Avenue to its intersection with Ridgefield Road; thence southerly along Ridgefield Road to its intersection with the old Southern Pacific railroad tracks, the point of beginning.
DISTRICT 3
Beginning at the intersection of LA Hwy 3185 and Veterans Blvd.; thence, northerly along Veterans Blvd to its intersection with LA 3107 (Talbot Avenue); thence westerly along LA 3107 (Talbot Avenue) to its intersection with St. Bernard Street; thence, northerly along St. Bernard Street to its intersection with the old Southern Pacific railroad tracks; thence easterly along said tracks to its intersection with Ridgefield Road; thence northerly along Ridgefield Road to its intersection with to its intersection with Josephine Avenue; thence, easterly along Josephine Avenue to its intersection with Henderson Avenue; thence southerly along Henderson Avenue to its intersection with the old Southern Pacific railroad tracks; thence easterly along the old Southern Pacific railroad tracks to its intersection with Ridgefield Avenue; thence southeasterly along Ridgefield Avenue to its intersection with Lafaye Avenue; thence, westerly along Lafaye Avenue to its intersection with Himalaya Avenue; thence, northwesterly along Himalaya Avenue to its intersection with Ravenwood Street; thence, westerly along Ravenwood Street to its intersection with Lynn Street; thence, northwesterly along Lynn Street to its intersection with Ridgefield Road; thence southerly along Ridgefield Road to its intersection with Ridgefield Plantation Road; thence, easterly along Ridgefield Plantation Road to its intersection with Canal Boulevard; thence, northwesterly and northerly along Canal Boulevard to its intersection with East 7th Street; thence, easterly along East 7th Street to its intersection with McCulla Street; thence, southerly along McCulla Street to its intersection with East 12th Street; thence easterly along East 12th Street to its intersection with Back Street; thence easterly along Back Street to its intersection with Ledet Street; thence southerly along Ledet Street to its intersection with the old Southern Pacific railroad tracks; thence easterly along said tracks to its intersection with Audubon Avenue; thence, southerly along Audubon Avenue to its intersection with the Terrebonne/Lafourche Parish line; thence westerly and southerly along the parish line to its intersection with LA 3185, the point of beginning.
DISTRICT 4
Beginning at the intersection the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks and an unnamed canal; thence, northerly along said canal to an unnamed drainage ditch; thence easterly along said ditch to its intersection with Audubon Avenue; thence northerly along Audubon Avenue to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence, southerly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with LA Hwy 649; thence, southerly along LA Hwy 649 to its intersection with Bayou Cut Off; thence, easterly along Bayou Cut Off to its intersection with Burma Road; thence, westerly and northwesterly along Burma Road to its intersection with the Bayou Blue By Pass Road to its intersection with the Lafourche/Terrebonne Parish line; thence, northerly and easterly along said parish line to its intersection with Audubon Avenue; thence, northerly along Audubon Avenue to its intersection with the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks; thence, westerly along said tracks to its intersection with an unnamed canal, the point of beginning.
DISTRICT 5
Beginning at the intersection of Bayou Lafourche and the Assumption/Lafourche Parish line; thence, northerly and easterly along said Parish line to its intersection with an unnamed canal; thence, southerly, easterly and southerly on the west side of LA Hwy 304 along said canal to its intersection with the 80 Arpent Canal; thence, easterly along the 80 Arpent Canal to its intersection with LA Hwy 20; thence northerly along LA Hwy 20 to its intersection with Woodland Drive; thence easterly along Woodland Drive to its intersection with Cypress Lane; thence southwesterly along Cypress Lane to its intersection with the 80 Arpent Canal; thence easterly along the 80 Arpent Canal to its intersection with the Lepines Canal; thence, southerly along the Lepines Canal to its intersection with Melodia Plantation Road; thence, easterly along Melodia Plantation Road to its intersection with and unnamed canal; thence easterly along said canal to its intersection with Bush Grove Road; thence, southwesterly along Bush Grove Road and its extension to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence, northwesterly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with the Assumption/Lafourche Parish line, the point of beginning.
DISTRICT 6
Beginning at the intersection of the 80 Arpent Canal and an unnamed drainage canal running along the west side of LA 304; thence, northerly, westerly and northerly along said canal to its intersection with the Assumption/Lafourche Parish line; thence, northerly along said Parish line to its intersection with the St. James/Lafourche Parish line; thence, easterly along said Parish line to its intersection with the St. John the Baptist/Lafourche Parish line; thence, easterly along said Parish line to its intersection with Bayou Boeuf in Lake Des Allemands; thence, southerly along Bayou Boeuf to its intersection with an unnamed pipeline; thence, southeasterly along said pipeline to its intersection with an unnamed oilfield road; thence westerly along said road to its intersection with LA Hwy 307; thence, southerly along LA Hwy 307 to its intersection with a pipeline canal; thence westerly along said canal to its intersection with Bayou Chactimahan; thence, northwesterly along Bayou Chactimahan to its intersection with Bayou Boeuf; thence, southwesterly along Bayou Boeuf to its intersection with Halpin Canal; thence, southwesterly and southerly along Halpin Canal to its intersection with the 80 Arpent Canal; thence, northwesterly along the 80 Arpent Canal to its intersection with Melodia Plantation Road; thence, northwesterly along Melodia Plantation Road to its intersection with the 80 Arpent Canal; thence northwesterly along the 80 Arpent Canal to its intersection with the extension of Cypress Lane; thence northeasterly along Cypress Lane to its intersection with Woodland Drive; thence westerly along Woodland Drive to its intersection with LA Hwy 20; thence southerly along LA Hwy 20 to its intersection with the 80 Arpent Canal; thence westerly along the 80 Arpent Canal with an unnamed drainage canal running along the west side of LA Hwy 304, the point of beginning.
DISTRICT 7
Beginning at the intersection of Bush Grove Road and Bayou Lafourche; thence, northeasterly along Bush Grove Road to its intersection with an unnamed canal thence easterly along the unnamed canal to its intersection with the Halpin Canal; thence, northerly and northeasterly along Halpin canal and Bayou Boeuf to its intersection with Bayou Chactimahan; thence, southerly along Bayou Chactimahan to its intersection with pipeline canal; thence, easterly along said canal to its intersection with LA Hwy 307; thence, northerly along LA Hwy 307 to its intersection with an unnamed oilfield road; thence, easterly along said road to its intersection with unnamed pipeline; thence, northwesterly along said pipeline to its intersection with Bayou Boeuf; thence, northerly along Bayou Boeuf to its intersection with the St. John the Baptist/Lafourche Parish line; thence, easterly along said Parish line to its intersection with the St. Charles/Lafourche Parish line; thence, southeasterly along said Parish line to its intersection with Godchaux Canal; thence, southwesterly and southerly along Godchaux Canal to its intersection with an LP&L power line; thence, southerly along said power line to its intersection with LA Hwy 654; thence, westerly along LA Hwy 654 to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence, northwesterly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with LA Hwy 3198; thence, southerly along LA Hwy 3198 to its intersection with Bayou Cut Off; thence, southeasterly along Bayou Cut Off and the 40 Arpent Canal to its intersection with Company Canal; thence, southwesterly and southerly along Company Canal to its intersection with Bayou Grand Coteau; thence, northwesterly along Bayou Grand Coteau to its intersection with the Pump Discharge Canal; thence, westerly and northerly along said canal to its intersection with Bayou Cut Off; thence, westerly along Bayou Cut Off to its intersection with LA Hwy 649 that runs along the east side of St. Charles Elementary School; thence, northerly along said road to its intersection with Bush Grove Road, the point of beginning.
DISTRICT 8
Beginning at to its intersection of LA Hwy 3198 and Bayou Cut Off; thence, northerly along LA Hwy 3198 to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence, southeasterly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with an LP&L power line; thence, southwesterly along said power line to its intersection with the 40 Arpent Canal; thence, northwesterly along the 40 Arpent Canal and Bayou Cut Off to its intersection with LA Hwy 3198, the point of beginning.
DISTRICT 9
Beginning at the intersection of LA Hwy 654 and Bayou Lafourche; thence, easterly along LA Hwy 654 to its intersection with an LP&L power line; thence, northerly along said power line to its intersection with Godchaux Canal; thence, northeasterly and northerly along Godchaux Canal to its intersection with the St. Charles/Lafourche Parish line; thence, southeasterly along said Parish line to its intersection with the western shoreline of Little Catahoula Bay at Gross Pointe; thence, southerly along the shoreline of Little Catahoula Bay to its intersection with Harvey Canal #2; thence, southwesterly along Harvey Canal #2, the Intracoastal Waterway and Canal Tisamond Foret to its intersection with Petit Bois Bayou; thence, northwesterly along Petit Bois Bayou to its intersection with an unnamed canal; thence, westerly along said canal to its intersection with Bayou Portuguese; thence, southwesterly along Bayou Portuguese to its intersection with Valentine Road; thence, continuing southwesterly along Valentine Road to its intersection with the 40 Arpent Canal thence northwesterly along the 40 Arpent Canal to its intersection with the company canal; thence southwesterly along the company canal to its intersection with an unnamed canal; thence southeasterly and southwesterly along the unnamed canal to its intersection with the old Southern Pacific railroad tracks; thence southeasterly along the old Southern Pacific railroad tracks to its intersection with Bollinger Road; thence southwesterly along Bollinger Road to its intersection with LA Hwy 308; thence northwesterly along LA Hwy 308 to its intersection with Bollinger Bridge; thence southwesterly along the Bollinger Bridge to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence, northwesterly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with School Street; thence, southwesterly along School Street to its intersection with LA Hwy 1; thence, northwesterly along LA Hwy 1 to its intersection with the northwestern corporate limits of the Town of Lockport; thence, southwesterly along the corporate limits of the Town of Lockport to the three point intersection of the northwestern corner of the corporate limits of the Town of Lockport, Company Canal and the 40 Arpent Canal; thence, northwesterly along the 40 Arpent Canal to its intersection with an LP&L power line; thence, northeasterly along said power line to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence, southeasterly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with LA Hwy 654, the point of beginning.
DISTRICT 10
Beginning at the three-point intersection of the northwestern corner of the corporate limits of the Town of Lockport. Company Canal and the 40 Arpent Canal; thence, northeasterly along said corporate limits to its intersection with LA Hwy 1; thence, southeasterly along LA Hwy 1 to its intersection with School Street; thence, northeasterly along School Street to its intersection with the northeastern corporate limits of the Town of Lockport; thence, easterly along the said corporate limits to its intersection with the most northeastern corner of the corporate limits of the Town of Lockport; thence, northeast along its extended line into Bayou Lafourche; thence, southeasterly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with the Bollinger Bridge; thence northeasterly along the Bollinger Bridge to its intersection with LA Hwy 308; thence southeasterly along LA Hwy 308 to its intersection with Bollinger Road; thence northeasterly along Bollinger Road to its intersection with the old Southern Pacific railroad tracks; thence northwesterly along the old Southern Pacific railroad tracks to its intersection with an unnamed canal; thence northeasterly and northwesterly along said canal to its intersection with the Company Canal; thence northeasterly along the Company Canal to its intersection with the 40 Arpent Canal; thence southeasterly along the 40 Arpent Canal to its intersection with Middle Bayou; thence, southerly along Middle Bayou to its intersection with Amoco Road; thence, continuing southerly along Amoco Road to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence southeasterly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with the Intracoastal Canal; thence westerly along the Intracoastal Canal to its intersection with the Hollywood Canal; thence, northwesterly along the Hollywood Canal to its intersection with the Company Canal; thence, northeasterly along the Company Canal to its intersection with the three point intersection of the northwestern corner of the corporate limits of the Town of Lockport, Company Canal and the 40 Arpent Canal, the point of beginning.
DISTRICT 11
Beginning at the intersection of the Terrebonne/Lafourche Parish line and the Bayou Blue By Pass Road; thence, northeasterly along the Bayou Blue By Pass Road to its intersection with the Burma Road; thence, southeasterly along the Burma Road to its intersection with Bayou Cut Off; thence, southeasterly along Bayou Cut Off to its intersection with an unnamed canal; thence, southwesterly along said canal to its intersection with Bayou Grand Coteau; thence, southeasterly along Bayou Grand Coteau to its intersection with the Pump Discharge Canal; thence, southerly and easterly along the Pump Discharge Canal to its intersection with Bayou Grand Coteau to its intersection with Company Canal; thence, southwesterly along Company Canal to its intersection with Hollywood Canal; thence, southeasterly along Hollywood Canal to its intersection with an unnamed canal in the Lake Long Oil and gas Field; thence, southerly along said canal to its intersection with an unnamed oilfield road; thence, southerly along said road to its intersection with LA Hwy 24; thence, westerly along LA Hwy 24 to its intersection with the Terrebonne/Lafourche Parish line; thence, northwesterly along said Parish line to its intersection with bayou blue By Pass Road. The point of beginning.
DISTRICT 12
Beginning at the intersection of Amoco Road and Bayou Lafourche; thence, northerly along Amoco Road to its intersection with Middle Bayou; thence, continuing northerly along Middle Bayou to its intersection with Valentine Road; thence, continuing northerly along Valentine road to its intersection with Bayou Portuguese; thence, northeasterly along Bayou Portuguese to its intersection with an unnamed canal; thence, northeasterly along said canal to its intersection with Petit Bois Bayou; thence, southeasterly along Petit Bois Bayou to its intersection with Canal Tisamond Foret; thence, northeasterly along Canal Tisamond Foret to its intersection with the Intracoastal Canal; thence, northeasterly along the Intracoastal Canal and Harvey Canal #2 to its intersection with Catahoula Bay; thence, northerly along the western shoreline of Catahoula Bay to its intersection with the St. Charles/Lafourche Parish line at Gross Pointe; thence, easterly along said Parish line to its intersection with Jefferson/Lafourche Parish line; thence, easterly and southerly along said Parish line to its intersection with Scully Canal in Little Lake; thence, westerly along Scully Canal to its intersection with Cloverly Farms Canal; thence, southerly along Cloverly Farms Canal to its intersection with Bayou de la Gauche; thence, southwesterly along Bayou de la Gauche to its intersection with East 23rd Street; thence, northwesterly along East 23rd Street to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence, southeasterly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with West 53rd Street; thence, southwesterly along West 53rd Street to its intersection with West Avenue A ; thence southerly along West Avenue A to its intersection with West 54th Street; thence southwesterly along West 54th Street and its extension to its intersection with Bayou Manuel; thence westerly along Bayou Manuel to its intersection with the Dresser Canal; thence, southerly along the Dresser Canal, Grand Bayou Canal and Grand Bayou to its intersection with an unnamed oilfield canal; thence, northwesterly along said canal to its intersection with an LP&L power line; thence, southwesterly along said power line to its intersection with St. Louis Canal; thence, northwesterly along St. Louis Canal to its intersection with a gas pipeline; thence, continuing northwesterly along said pipeline to its intersection with LA Hwy 24; thence, westerly along LA Hwy 24 to its intersection with an unnamed oilfield Road; thence, northerly along said road to its intersection with the St. Louis Canal; thence, easterly along the St. Louis Canal to its intersection with an unnamed canal; thence, northerly along said canal to its intersection with the Intracoastal Canal; thence easterly along the Intracoastal Canal to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence, westerly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with Amoco Road, the point of beginning.
DISTRICT 13
Beginning at the intersection of Bayou Manuel, Grand Bayou Canal; thence, easterly along Bayou Manuel to its intersection with the extension of West 54th Street; thence northeasterly along West 54th Street to its intersection with West Avenue A; thence northerly along West Avenue A to its intersection with West 53rd Street; thence northeasterly along West 53rd Street to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence, northerly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with East 23rd Street; thence, southeasterly along East 23rd Street to its intersection with Bayou de la Gauche; thence, southwesterly along Bayou de la Gauche to its intersection with an unnamed canal; thence, southerly along said canal to its intersection with East 74th Street; thence westerly along East 74th Street to its intersection with a power line thence northerly along said power line to its intersection with East 71st Street ; thence, westerly along East Street to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence, southerly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with West 112th Street; thence, southwesterly along West 112th Street to its intersection with LA Hwy 1 By Pass Road; thence, northerly along the LA Hwy 1 By Pass Road to its intersection with an unnamed canal running behind West 107th Street; thence, southerly along said canal to its intersection with Bayou Blue; thence, northwesterly along Bayou Blue to its intersection with Grand Bayou Canal; thence, northerly along Grand Bayou Canal to its intersection with the three point intersection of Bayou Manuel and Grand Bayou Canal, the point of beginning.
DISTRICT 14
Beginning at the intersection of East 71st Street and Bayou Lafourche; thence easterly along said road to its intersection with a power line; thence southerly along the power line to its intersection with East 74th Street; thence, easterly along East 74th Street to its intersection with another unnamed canal; thence, northerly along said canal to its intersection with bayou de la Gauche; thence, northeasterly along Bayou de la Gauche to its intersection with Cloverly Farms Canal; thence, northerly along Cloverly Farms Canal to its intersection with Scully Canal; thence, easterly along Scully Canal to its intersection with the Jefferson/Lafourche Parish line; thence, southeasterly along said Parish line to its intersection with the straight line extension of Brenton Canal in Little Lake; thence, southwesterly and westerly along Brenton Canal to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence, southeasterly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with the a canal that is parallel to West 205th Street; thence southwesterly along said canal to its intersection with an unnamed canal northwest of the Golden Meadow Oil and Gas Field ;thence southerly and southeasterly along said canal to its intersection with the shoreline of Catfish lake; thence around the shore line to its intersection with the Jean Plaisance Canal; thence, westerly and southerly along Jean Plaisance Canal to its intersection with an unnamed canal below Catfish Lake; thence, northwesterly along said canal to its intersection with Grand Bayou Blue; thence, continuing northwesterly along Grand Bayou Blue to its intersection with Bayou Faleau; thence, southwesterly along Bayou Faleau to its intersection with Bayou de la Valle; thence, southeasterly along Bayou de la Valle to its intersection with the western shoreline of Bay Courant; thence, southerly along said shoreline through Pass a Jean to its intersection with the western shoreline of Lake Raccourci; thence, southwesterly along said shoreline to its intersection with Grand Bayou Felicity; thence, westerly along Grand Bayou Felicity to its intersection with the Terrebonne/Lafourche Parish line; thence, northwesterly along said Parish line to its intersection with LA Hwy 24; thence, easterly along LA Hwy 24 to its intersection with a gas pipeline; thence, southeasterly along said pipeline to its intersection with St. Louis Canal; thence, easterly and southerly along St. Louis Canal to its intersection with an LP&L power line; thence, northeasterly along said power line to its intersection with an unnamed canal; thence, southeasterly along said canal to its intersection with Grand Bayou Canal thence northeasterly along Grand Bayou Canal to its intersection with Bayou Blue; thence, southeasterly along Bayou Blue to its intersection with an unnamed canal running behind West 112th Street; thence, northeasterly along said canal to its intersection with the Bayou Lafourche; thence northerly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with East 71st Street, the point of beginning.
DISTRICT 15
Beginning at the intersection of Brenton Canal and Bayou Lafourche; thence, easterly and northeasterly along Brenton Canal and its straight line extension through Bay L’Ourse and Little Lake to its intersection with the Jefferson/Lafourche Parish line; thence, southeasterly, easterly southerly, southwesterly and westerly along said parish line to its intersection with the Terrebonne/Lafourche Parish line; thence, northerly along said parish line to its intersection with Grand Bayou Felicity; thence, southeasterly along Grand Bayou Felicity to its intersection with the western shoreline of Lake Raccourci; thence, northerly along said shoreline through Pass a Jean to its intersection with the western shoreline of Bay Courant; thence, northerly along said shoreline to its intersection with Bayou de la Valle; thence, continuing northerly along Bayou de la Valle to its intersection with Bayou Faleau in Calm Lake; thence, northeasterly along Bayou Faleau to its intersection with Grand Bayou Blue; thence, southeasterly along Grand Bayou Blue to its intersection with an unnamed canal below Catfish Lake; thence, continuing southeasterly along said canal to its intersection with Jean Plaisance Canal; thence, northerly and easterly along Jean Plaisance Canal to its intersection with the shoreline of Catfish Lake and an unnamed canal northwest of the Golden Meadow Oil and Gas Field, thence northeasterly and northerly along said canal to its intersection with another unnamed canal parallel to and West 205th Street, thence proceeding northeasterly along said Canal and West 205th Street to its intersection with Bayou Lafourche; thence, northwesterly along Bayou Lafourche to its intersection with Brenton canal, the point of Beginning.
II.
Should any section, part or provision of this Resolution be declared by any court to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the resolution as a whole or any part thereof other than the part so declared to be unconstitutional or invalid.
III.
All resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict herewith or incompatible with the provisions of this resolutions are hereby repealed.
IV.
The provisions of this resolution shall become effective upon “preclearance” from the U.S. Department of Justice, as required under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1973c.
Having been submitted, the resolution was voted upon, which resulted as follows:
Yeas: Mr. Louis E. Thibodaux, Ms. Rhoda Caldwell, Ms. Constance T. Williams, Ms.
Martha S. Zeringue, Mr. Jessie Fabiano, Mr. G. A. Rodrigue, Jr., Dr. Judy G.
Theriot, Mr. Dave J. DeFelice, Jr., Ms. Loretta Duplantis, Mr. Dennis Jean’
Chiasson, Mr. Roy Landry, Mr. Aubrey J. Orgeron, Mr. John Danos, Mr. Paul
Chiquet, Ms. Rebecca Duet;
Nays: None;
Abstain: None;
Absent: None.
The above vote having been cast, the resolution was declared adopted on this, the 3rd day of October 2001.
President DeFelice called on Mr. Britt Ledet, the director of data processing and technology, who submitted the following tally of bids received on October 1, 2001, for PC to TV converters for the special education and technology departments:
BIDS—One PC to TV Converter
|
Name of Bidder |
PC to TV Converter |
|
*Mac Exchange |
$122 |
|
**CDW.G Computing Solutions |
$100 |
*Recommended Bid
**Does Not Meet Bid Specifications
Acting in line with the recommendation of Mr. Ledet, a motion was offered by Ms. Duplantis, seconded by Mr. Rodrigue and unanimously carried, accepting the bid of Mac Exchange in the amount of $122 per converter.
Next, Mr. Ledet reported on bids received on TV carts for use by the special education and technology departments. Mr. Ledet stated that only one bid was received, as follows:
Name of Bidder: CDW.G Computing Solutions
Amount of Bid: $365 per cart
Mr. Ledet, noting that the bid was twice as much as the previous bid and was way over the amount budgeted for the item, recommended that the board reject the bid and authorize readvertisement for bids for the TV carts. On motion of Mr. Chiasson, seconded by Mr. Thibodaux and unanimously carried, the board rejected the bid of CDW.G Computing Solutions and authorized readvertisement for bids, as recommended by Mr. Ledet.
Before considering Agenda Item No. 14 (relative to Ms. Robin A. C. Pitre’s address to the board regarding the new lesson plan format) President DeFelice called on the following individuals, who, in accordance with policy BCBI, Public Participation, completed speaker cards and requested to speak either in support of or in opposition to the new lesson plan format:
Ms. Sally Webre, teacher,
Ms. Mona Hatcher, media specialist, East Thibodaux Junior High School -- in opposition (did not speak).
Ms. Elaine Ezell, teacher, Galliano Elementary School -- in opposition.
Ms. Terri Chiasson, teacher, Cut Off Elementary School -- in opposition.
Mr. Ray Barrios, teacher, Central Lafourche High School, and representative of LPAE -- in opposition.
Ms. Sherryl Bourgeois, principal, Chackbay Elementary School -- in support.
Ms. Sandy Holloway, principal, St. Charles Elementary School -- in support (did not speak).
President DeFelice then called on Ms. Robin A. C. Pitre, president of the Lafourche Federation of School Employees, who addressed the board in opposition to the new lesson plan format. Ms. Pitre stated that the new lesson plan format has had a negative impact on the teachers and students in the school system and expressed her concerns in this regard. At the end of her presentation, Ms. Pitre distributed copies of a Lesson Plan Survey that she randomly conducted in the schools and asked that the board members take time to read over the teachers’ answers and comments.
At this time, Ms. Lou Anna Guidry, a teacher at Galliano Elementary School, asked to speak on the agenda item. Inasmuch as she had not filled out a speaker card, President DeFelice denied her request. Mr. Chiasson then offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Orgeron, to deviate from policy and allow Ms. Guidry to speak on the agenda item. A vote was taken and the motion was carried, although not unanimously -- one dissenting vote was cast by Ms. Zeringue. Ms. Guidry spoke in opposition to the new lesson plan format -- in particular, having to write each plan word by word.
President DeFelice then asked Superintendent Broussard for his response. The superintendent stressed that the plans do not have to be written word by word. He stated that he will make certain that the process is explained fully to all administrators and all facilitators, and he will make certain that everyone is given a clear understanding of the lesson plans. Superintendent Broussard noted that he will instruct those schools that have completed their lesson plans for the year to send him a copy; and he will have them reproduced in the print shop for distribution to each grade level. The superintendent stated that a plan is needed, and everyone has to have the same plan. Ms. Caldwell then requested that the superintendent report back to the board when this has been accomplished.
On motion of Ms. Duet, seconded by Mr. Chiquet and unanimously carried, the board granted a right-of-way to Drainage District No. 1 of Lafourche Parish on Sections 9 and 10, Township 19 South, Range 21 East, encompassing the southern boundary of the Galliano Elementary School site. Mr. Thibodaux requested that the right-of-way be recorded in the clerk of court’s office. President DeFelice assured him that it would be recorded.
On motion of Dr. Theriot, seconded by Mr. Thibodaux and unanimously carried, the board adopted the 2001 Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire, as presented by Business Manager Don Gaudet.
On motion of Ms. Zeringue, seconded by Mr. Fabiano and unanimously carried, the board authorized advertisement for bids for garbage collection and disposal at schools in the South Lafourche area (with the exception of those schools located in the Town of Golden Meadow), Central Lafourche area, City of Thibodaux and Sixth Ward area, to be effective for the calendar year 2002, with the option to renew the contract for one year.
On motion of Mr. Danos, seconded by Mr. Landry and unanimously carried, the board adopted the following resolution endorsing the renewal of a millage that will continue the operations and maintenance of the Lafourche Parish Juvenile Justice Facility:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Lafourche Parish Juvenile Justice Facility is a residential facility consisting of three individual programs: Emergency Shelter, Group Home and Detention; and its mission is to serve at-risk children and their families in order to assist in their return to their families or to provide for their long-term care, whatever is deemed in the best interest of the child; and
WHEREAS, since 1984, qualified professionals at the Juvenile Justice Facility have addressed the needs of abused, neglected or troubled children; and
WHEREAS, the Lafourche Parish School Board has had a collaborative relationship with the Juvenile Justice Facility in the delivery of services to students with challenging behaviors; and
WHEREAS, the School Board and the Juvenile Justice Facility have worked together on projects that meet the needs of both regular and special education students; and the School Board has also integrated special and regular education students placed at the Juvenile Justice Facility into classrooms in the Thibodaux area; and
WHEREAS, on October 20, 2001, voters in Lafourche Parish will be asked to renew a millage which will continue the operations and maintenance of the Juvenile Justice Facility; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that the Lafourche Parish School Board hereby expresses its strong support of the services of the Lafourche Parish Juvenile Justice Facility and endorses the renewal of this millage; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Juvenile Justice Facility so that they will be made aware of the School Board’s position on this matter.
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The board received the superintendent's annual report for the 2000-2001 fiscal year.
The board received the superintendent's quarterly report for the period July-September, 2001.
On motion of Mr. Chiasson, seconded by Mr. Chiquet and unanimously carried, the board proclaimed the following observances in Lafourche Parish schools:
a. Alpha Delta Kappa Month, October 2001
b. Fire Prevention Week, October 7 – 13, 2001
c. Teen Read Week, October 14 – 20, 2001
d. National School Bus Safety Week, October 21 – 27, 2001
e. National Family Literacy Day, Thursday, November 1, 2001
f. American Education Week, November 11 – 17, 2001
g. Education Support Professionals Day, Wednesday, November 14, 2001
h. Geography Awareness Week, November 11 – 17, 2001
i. National Children's Book Week, November 12 – 18, 2001
By general consent, the board adopted the following memorial resolutions:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, has seen fit to summon to eternal rest the spirit and soul of Mr. Milton Gouaux, retired teacher and former school board member; and
WHEREAS, his life was a record of service faithfully performed, during which he was employed by the Lafourche Parish School Board as a teacher for a total of twenty-seven years (beginning in 1956 at Larose-Cut Off High & Upper Elementary School, where he taught for three years until his resignation in 1959; was then rehired as a teacher at Larose-Cut Off High & Upper Elementary School in 1962, where he taught for four years; and, in 1966, was then transferred to South Lafourche High School, where he taught for twenty years, until his retirement on June 3, 1986); and, shortly after his retirement, was elected to serve as a member of the Lafourche Parish School Board for three four-year terms, beginning January 1, 1987 and ending December 31, 1998; and
WHEREAS, his dedicated contributions in the field of education to the people of this parish were greatly appreciated by all who knew him; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the Lafourche Parish School Board express our sorrow at the loss sustained by the death of a friend, former employee and former board member and extend to the members of his family our deepest sympathy, and bid them take consolation in the thought that his soul has been taken unto the bosom of our Merciful Savior; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this tribute of respect to the memory of Mr. Milton Gouaux be recorded on a special page of our minute book and that a copy thereof be presented to his family as evidence of our sympathy for them and as a reminder of our attachment to him in life and memory of him in death.
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RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, has seen fit to summon to eternal rest the spirit and soul of Mr. Milton Savoie, retired school bus operator; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Savoie was devoted and loyal to the school system, having faithfully and efficiently performed his duties as school bus operator for the Lafourche Parish School Board for a period of eleven years, beginning in 1975, and ending with his retirement on August 25, 1986; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the Lafourche Parish School Board express our sorrow at the loss sustained by the death of a friend and former employee and extend to the members of his family our deepest sympathy, and bid them take consolation in the thought that his soul has been taken unto the bosom of our Merciful Savior; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this tribute of respect to the memory of Mr. Milton Savoie be recorded on a special page of our minute book and that a copy thereof be presented to his family as evidence of our sympathy for them and as a reminder of our attachment to him in life and memory of him in death.
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On motion of Mr. Thibodaux, seconded by Mr. Danos and unanimously carried, the board granted a general leave of absence to Ms. Diane Bruce, paraprofessional, Larose Lower Elementary School, for the 2001-2002 school session.
On motion of Mr. Chiasson, seconded by Ms. Duet and unanimously carried, the board granted a medical sabbatical leave to Ms. Rachel Pousson, teacher (Title I Reading Recovery), Golden Meadow Lower Elementary School, effective November 28, 2001 (1/2 day) through May 31, 2002.
On motion of Mr. Chiquet , seconded by Ms. Duet and unanimously carried, the board granted extended sick leave to the following:
a. Ms. JoAnn Kliebert, guidance counselor, W. S. Lafargue Elementary School, beginning
August 31, 2001
b. Ms. Dollie Hebert, itinerant special education teacher, Lafourche Parish schools, from
August 16 through August 24, 2001
c. Ms. Susan Binnings, teacher, Thibodaux Elementary School, beginning October 10,
2001
On motion of Ms. Duplantis, seconded by Mr. Chiasson and unanimously carried, the board appointed the following personnel:
a. Ms. Shaunda Benoit, special education teacher, Chackbay Elementary School, effective August 16, 2001 through May 31, 2002
b. Ms. Tina Dantin, special education teacher, Galliano Elementary School, effective September 24, 2001 through January 14, 2002
c. Ms. Sheryl Harrison, special education teacher, Golden Meadow Middle School,
effective August 16, 2001 through January 14, 2002
d. Ms. Adrienne Viator, special education teacher, W. S. Lafargue Elementary School,
effective August 16, 2001 through May 31, 2002
e. Ms. Hilary Duggan, special education teacher, Raceland Lower Elementary School,
effective September 21, 2001 through May 31, 2002
f. Ms. Trisha Falgout, special education teacher, Raceland Lower Elementary School,
effective August 16, 2001 through January 14, 2002
g. Ms. Uneika Henderson, teacher, Raceland Upper Elementary School, effective
September 5, 2001 through January 14, 2002
h. Mr. Emile Borne, special education teacher, South Thibodaux Elementary School,
effective August 16, 2001 through May 31, 2002
i. Ms. Kristie Knight, teacher, South Thibodaux Elementary School, effective August
16, 2001 through January 14, 2002
j. Ms. Lauri Orillion, teacher, South Thibodaux Elementary School, effective September 25, 2001 through May 31, 2002
k. Ms. Cheryl Richie, special education teacher, South Thibodaux Elementary School, effective August 16, 2001 through May 31, 2002
l. Ms. Dewana Span, teacher, South Thibodaux Elementary School, effective August 16, 2001 through January 14, 2002
m. Ms. Anderia Truxillo, teacher, South Thibodaux Elementary School, effective September 18, 2001 through January 14, 2002
n. Ms. Eileen Collins-Yeates, special education teacher, South Thibodaux Elementary School, effective August 16, 2001 through May 31, 2002
o. Mr. Kevin Amedee, special education teacher, East Thibodaux Junior High School,
effective August 16, 2001 through January 14, 2002
p. Mr. Damon Robinson, special education teacher, East Thibodaux Junior High School,
effective August 16, 2001 through May 31, 2002
q. Mr. Monty Lerille, special education teacher, Golden Meadow Junior High School,
effective August 16, 2001 through May 31, 2002
r. Mr. James Clement, Jr., teacher, Lockport Middle School, effective October 1, 2001
through January 14, 2002
s. Ms. Nicole Wanko, teacher, Lockport Middle School, effective September 19, 2001
through January 14, 2002
t. Ms. Nicole Andermann, teacher, Raceland Middle School, effective September 17, 2001
through January 14, 2002
u. Ms. Jessica Plaisance, teacher, Raceland Middle School, effective August 16, 2001
through May 31, 2002
v. Mr. Shawn Whitt, special education teacher, Raceland Middle School, effective August 16, 2001 through May 31, 2002
w. Ms. Iris Bause, teacher, West Thibodaux Junior High School, effective August 16, 2001 through January 14, 2001
x. Ms. Raecheal Vizier, special education teacher, West Thibodaux Junior High School, effective August 16, 2001 through May 31, 2002
y. Ms. Nicole Florent, guidance counselor, Central Lafourche High School, effective August 31, 2001 through June 11, 2002
z. Ms. Karen McBee, teacher, Central Lafourche High School, effective September 14, 2001 through January 14, 2002
aa. Mr. Robbie Naquin, teacher, Central Lafourche High School, effective August 16, 2001 through January 14, 2002
bb. Mr. Taeger Gisclair, teacher, South Lafourche High School, effective August 16, 2001 through January 14, 2002
cc. Mr. Patrick Ghirardi, teacher, South Lafourche High School, effective September 24, 2001 through January 14, 2002
dd. Ms. Amy Crochet, teacher,
ee. Ms. Emilie Barrios, itinerant special education teacher, Lafourche Parish schools, effective September 17, 2001 through May 31, 2002
ff. Ms. Wanda Robinson, itinerant special education teacher, Lafourche Parish schools, effective August 16, 2001 through May 31, 2002
gg. Ms. Marion Harb, foreign language associate teacher, Lafourche Parish schools,
effective September 11, 2001 through May 31, 2002
hh. Ms. Christelle Lebot, foreign language associate teacher, Lafourche Parish schools,
effective August 16, 2001 through May 31, 2002
ii. Ms. Julia Usea, paraprofessional (Even Start), Lafourche Parish schools, effective
August 16, 2001 through May 31, 2002
jj. Ms. Jessica Lepine, paraprofessional, Galliano Elementary School, effective September
24, 2001 through May 31, 2002
kk. Ms. Patricia LaJaunie, special education teacher (Structured Learning Center),
ll. Ms. Marianick Elie, foreign language associate teacher, Lafourche Parish schools,
effective September 24, 2001 through May 31, 2002
President DeFelice recognized Judge John Weimer, candidate for Louisiana Supreme Court, who was present in the audience.
The president then announced that the board meeting would be in recess for ten minutes.
Upon returning to session, the board proceeded to consider Agenda Item No. 28 -- specifically, to “review the findings of the superintendent, pursuant to R. S. 17:416.C.(4), relative to the appeal of an expulsion.” The superintendent advised the board that the parent asking for the review was not present in the audience. Superintendent Broussard stated that the parent did call his office earlier during the day and asked for a continuance; however, he denied the request based on the advice of the board’s legal counsel.
Next, the board proceeded to Agenda Item No. 29 -- specifically, to “review the findings of the superintendent, pursuant to R. S. 17:416.C.(4), relative to the appeal of an expulsion.” Responding to the parents’ request for a closed hearing, Ms. Williams offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Orgeron and unanimously carried, to go into executive session. Accordingly, at 9:15 p.m., the board entered executive session to review the findings of the superintendent, pursuant to R. S. 17:416.C.(4), relative to the appeal of an expulsion.
On motion of Mr. Chiasson, seconded by Mr. Rodrigue and unanimously carried, the board returned to regular session at 9:47 p.m.
Ms. Duet offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Chiquet, to affirm the superintendent’s decision regarding the expulsion. A vote was taken on the motion, and the motion was carried, although not unanimously -- dissenting votes were cast by Mr. Landry and Mr. Fabiano.
On motion of Mr. Danos, seconded by Mr. Landry and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 9:49 p.m.
DAVE J. DEFELICE, JR. ELMO BROUSSARD
Contact Person: Elmo Broussard
Recording Secretary: Gail Rodriguez