5:30 p.m. at the School Board Office with the following members present:
James Gauthier, President; Michael Lacombe, Vice-President; Freeman Ford, Darrell
Wiley, Carlos A. Mayeux, Jr., Shelia Blackman-Dupas, Lizzie Ned, Van Kojis, and Cynthia
“Cindy” Hill.
Absent: None.
1. Board Member Darrell Wiley stated that during his tenure as Board Member he
has seen the transcription of the minutes increase in the number of pages. Mr. Wiley said that he
was of the opinion that the minutes should reflect Board action, not necessarily what was said at
the meeting. Also, Mr. Wiley suggested that the Board decrease the length of the minutes for
cost saving measures.
President James Gauthier stated that upon completion of the minutes by the
transcriptionist, he receives a copy by e-mail. Mr. Gauthier said that he reviews the minutes for
errors and contacts the Superintendent’s secretary for corrections. Mr. Gauthier said that in this
particular case regarding the minutes of June 5, 2012, there are some corrections which are
designated in bold print. Mr. Gauthier noted that these highlighted sections were added after he
had approved the minutes. He asked that the Board review these changes prior to adopting the
minutes.
A motion was offered by Van Kojis, seconded by Carlos A. Mayeux, Jr., to adopt
the minutes, as corrected, of the regular Board meeting held Tuesday, June 5, 2012, as printed
and mailed to Board members and being published in The Weekly News, official journal of the
Board.
Board Member Freeman Ford referred to Item 1 of the School Board Proceedings
of June 5, 2012. Mr. Ford stated that after reviewing his statements, he felt that the minutes were
not an accurate account. He provided the Board members with a summary of his statements and
asked that the minutes be corrected to reflect the following statements:
“Board Member Freeman Ford noted that the “Superintendent’s Report” was
never made a part of the regular minutes. In the past it has always been. Secondly, Mr. Ford
referred to Item Number 6 of the minutes and questioned why when he mentioned the
$515,000.00 compromised by the Bunkie Community and he said it was never acted upon or
addressed, nothing was mentioned by Mr. Lemoine or Mr. Foster when in fact the April 18, 2012
minutes of the “Superintendent’s Committee” stated otherwise. Mr. Ford also referred to page
10 of the May 1, 2012 minutes. A discussion ensued between Mr. Ford and Superintendent
Lemoine as to the meaning of “acted upon” or “addressed”. Mr. Ford concluded by saying a
resolution was adopted by the Superintendent’s Committee and he felt this meant it was acted
upon.”
The motion was adopted by the following vote:
Ayes: Darrell Wiley, Carlos A. Mayeux, Jr., James Gauthier, Michael Lacombe,
Lizzie Ned, Van Kojis, and Cynthia “Cindy” Hill.
Nays: Freeman Ford and Shelia Blackman-Dupas.
Mrs. Dupas stated that the reason she voted “nay” was because she was confused
about some of the personnel matters from the June 5, 2012 minutes.
2. Superintendent Dwayne Lemoine presented personnel changes for the Board’s
consideration, as follows:
PERSONNEL CHANGES
COTTONPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Resignation of Hannah Gisclair, teacher, effective
August 1, 2012; resignation of Howard Jeansonne, (retired) teacher, effective June 1, 2012; and
resignation of Evelyn Simon, food service manager, effective May 26, 2012, for the purpose of
retirement.
MARKSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Resignation of Monica Nicholson, teacher,
effective August 15, 2012.
RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Resignation of Peggy Joshua, (retired) teacher,
effective at the end of the day May 25, 2012; and resignation of Kelli Weber, R.N., school nurse,
effective at the end of the day May 25, 2012.
AVOYELLES HIGH SCHOOL: Resignation of Kimberly T. Boyd, teacher, effective at the end
of the day May 25, 2012; resignation of Bessie M. Bannister, (retired) librarian, effective at the
end of the day May 25, 2012; and resignation of Queen H. Alexander, (retired) teacher, effective
May 7, 2012.
BUNKIE HIGH SCHOOL: Resignation of Diana L. Sheppard, (retired) teacher, effective at the
end of the day May 25, 2012.
LOUISIANA SCHOOL FOR THE AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES: Resignation of Bonnie
LeDuc, (retired) teacher, effective at the end of the day May 25, 2012; resignation of Angela
Abiodun, teacher, effective at the end of the day May 25, 2012; resignation of Brittney N.
Cambridge, teacher, effective at the end of the day May 25, 2012; resignation of Danielle
Newsom, agriculture teacher, effective at the end of the day June 30, 2012; and resignation of
Alisha Williams, teacher, effective at the end day May 25, 2012.
MARKSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL: Resignation of Kimberly McCraw, teacher, effective August
1, 2012; resignation of Jessica Nosacka, teacher, effective August 1, 2012; resignation of Charles
Schurba, teacher, effective at the end of the day May 25, 2012; resignation of Susan Gremillion,
teacher, effective July 1, 2012; resignation of Ronald Roy, (retired) teacher, effective at the end
of the day May 25, 2012; resignation of Barbara Cole, (retired) teacher, effective at the end of
the day May 25, 2012; resignation of Justin Webb, teacher/coach, effective August 1, 2012;
resignation of John Gagnard, (retired) half-time guidance counselor, effective at the end of the
day June 8, 2012; resignation of Kristi M. Small, teacher, effective August 10, 2012; and
resignation of Gail Harvey, (retired) teacher, effective at the end of the day May 25, 2012.
AVOYELLES PARISH PUPIL APPRAISAL CENTER: Resignation of Connie S. Price,
Educational Diagnostician and Child Search Coordinator, effective June 11, 2012, for the
purpose of retirement.
Superintendent Dwayne Lemoine stated that it is very important that the Board
address these aforementioned personnel changes because it has an effect on retirement benefits,
etc.
On motion by Carlos A. Mayeux, Jr., seconded by Shelia Blackman-Dupas, the
Board adopted the personnel changes as presented by Superintendent Lemoine. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. President James Gauthier addressed the Board regarding Superintendent Dwayne
Lemoine’s contract.
A motion was offered by Darrell Wiley, seconded by Michael Lacombe, to renew
and extend the Superintendent’s contract for four (4) years beginning July 11, 2013, which is the
end of his current contract.
Board Member Freeman Ford stated that Revised Statute 1754 states that,
“notwithstanding the provisions of Revised Statute 42-3, each city, parish, and other local school
boards shall elect a Superintendent of Schools having such qualifications as may be fixed by the
State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for a period not to exceed four years, which
period, however, may extend no longer than two years after the expiration of the term of office
of the membership of the Board who elects the Superintendent”. Mr. Ford explained that in this
particular case, the present Board’s term ends on December 31, 2014 which means that the
Superintendent’s contract cannot be extended no longer than December 31, 2016.
Superintendent Dwayne Lemoine stated that Mr. Ford’s statement is accurate.
Mr. Lemoine said a contract cannot be extended more than two years into the term for a new
Board.
Mr. Wiley reworded his motion, as follows: A motion was offered by Darrel
Wiley to renew and extend the Superintendent’s contract beginning July 11, 2013 (which is the
end of his current contract) through December 31, 2016. The motion was seconded by Michael
Lacombe.
Board Member Freeman Ford also acknowledged House Bill Number 974 which
states in part, “The superintendent of schools shall be employed by a city, parish, or other local
public school board pursuant to a written contract. Such contract shall contain but need not be
limited to specific performance objectives. However, for the board of a local public school
system that received any variation of a school performance letter grade of “C”, “D”, or “F” such
contract shall establish performance targets at the school and district level, as follows: (1) student
achievement; (2) student achievement for schools that have received any variation of a school
performance letter grade designation of “C”,”D”, or “F”; (3) graduation rates; (4) graduation
rates for schools that have received any variation of a school performance letter grade
designation of “C”, “D”, or “F”; and (5) the percentage of teachers with an “effective” or “highly
effective” performance rating.
Mr. Ford stated that he realizes this House Bill will take effect July 1, 2012, but
he stated the bill does not specify whether this bill is grandfathered in because it is done prior to
July 1; and it does not specify whether after July 1 that this should be included in the contract.
Therefore, as a result of this information and since it involves the Superintendent’s contract, Mr.
Ford requested that Assistant Superintendent Craig Foster request a clarification from the
Board’s legal advisor as to the manner in which this is handled as relates to House Bill Number
974 (b)(i)(aa). Mr. Ford stated that he would like to know, specifically, how the
Superintendent’s contract will be affected prior to July 1, 2012 and after July 1 as relates to
House Bill Number 974. Also, Mr. Ford would like to know how this bill would affect the
Superintendent’s contract in lieu of the fact that his contract was extended on June 12, 2012 until
December 31, 2016.
Board Member Van Kojis stated that he had checked with the District Attorney
regarding the legality of renewing the Superintendent’s contract and was assured that it was
completely legal to renew his contract at this time.
The motion was adopted by the following vote:
Ayes: Darrell Wiley, Carlos A. Mayeux, Jr., James Gauthier, Michael Lacombe,
Van Kojis, and Cynthia “Cindy” Hill.
Nays: Freeman Ford and Shelia Blackman-Dupas.
Abstained: Lizzie Ned.
There being no further business, on motion by Van Kojis, seconded by Carlos A.
Mayeux, Jr., the meeting was adjourned.
AVOYELLES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
James Gauthier, President
Dwayne Lemoine, Secretary-Treasurer
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