MAY 14, 2024

DATE, TIME, PLACE

OF MEETING

The Calcasieu Parish School Board Meeting was held at 3310 Broad Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

The meeting was called to order by Eric Tarver, President. The prayer and Pledge of Allegiance were led by Desmond Wallace.

ROLL CALL

The roll was called by Superintendent LaFargue and the following members were present:

Betty Washington, Phyllis Ayo, Tony OBanion, Dean Roberts, Glenda Gay, Shawn Baumgarten, Patrick Pichon, Desmond Wallace, Damon Hardesty, Russell Castille, Karen Hardy-McReynolds, Eric Tarver, Mary Fontenot, and Billy Breaux.

Mr. Natali was absent.

APPROVAL OF

MINUTES

The Minutes of April 16 and April 30, 2024, were approved by unanimous vote on motions by Mr. Hardesty and Mr. Baumgarten.

PRESENTATIONS

A. Quiz Bowl Winners/Tonya Moak, Coordinator

Barbe High School/Julia Jiang

Iowa High School/London Frey

Sam Houston High School/Aaron Coker

Vinton High School/Mathieu Keenan

B. Recognition of Student Ambassadors for the month of May:

Brentwood Elementary School

Landon August

Bria Ellis

Royce Guillory

Jaydon John

DaKyrie Wilfred

Jazmine Norwood

Jansyn Holmes

Educators Rising/District Literacy

Barbe High School

Kairi McFarlain

Addison Cole

Hannah Newton

Eric Jones

Washington-Marion High School

Gavin Bartie

Kalei Lilly

Kashiya Pinkney

Unique Thomas

Sulphur High School

Kiersten Ceasar

Baylee Yerrick

C. Accelerated Reader Recognition/+1000 AR points/CAO, Jason VanMetre

Juan A. Gamboa Fernandez/SJ Welsh Middle

Ian Peoples Dougnac/Frasch Elementary

D. Region V Social Studies and Science Fair/ First and Second Place Winners/Heather Koonce, Middle School Science Consultant

Social Studies

Moss Bluff Elementary

Jenna Rials

Juliette Townsend

Macie Partin

Londyn Royer

Mason Vincent

Max Caldarera

Reed Partin

W.W. Lewis Middle

Amelia Oliver

Moss Bluff Middle

Devin Ellender

Henry Pipes

Jackson Tallman

Roxie Guillory

Oak Park Middle

Jayla Leslie

Yarhiamys Melendez

S.P. Arnett Middle

Caroline Harrison

F.K. White Middle

Jillian Hebert

Briley Dyson

Madelyn Broussard

Emmalynn Maricle

Western Heights Elementary

Lyla Cavanaugh

Science

F.K. White Middle

Piper Schroeder

Roberto Perez

T.S. Cooley Elementary

Lucas Carlile

Grayson Carlisle

Nathan Wang

Keerat Suchdeva

Arya Gonzalez-James

Caleigh Elliott

Emma Maylen

Jude Youssef

Logan Walker

Ethan Slobodyanyk

Aahan Chopade

Hadley Poole

Cruz Watson

Luke Robbins

Mathilda Broussard

Clara Whatley

Maplewood Middle

Blayke Lamb

Veera Patel

LaGrange High

Susanna Chiruguru

F.K. White Middle

Robert McCauley

Mackenzie Grenier

Barbe High

Gyeongyun Lily Min

Jonathan Kaluturi

Ethan Wang

Western Heights Elementary

Abbigail Stein

Combre-Fondel Elementary

Maddox Cleveland

Moss Bluff Elementary

Jenna Rials

Dusty Stevenson

Caymen Handy

Leah McDaniel

Quinn Marcantel

Finely Perron

E. Recognition of Students of the Year/Kacie Pugh, Elementary Senior Consultant

Elementary Division Winner

Macee Anne Shields/LeBleu Settlement Elementary

Elementary Division Runner-Up

Isabella Marie Rendon/Western Heights Elementary

Middle School Division Winner

Olivia Jade Alexander/S.J. Welsh Middle

Middle School Division Runner-Up

Emma Claine Stevens/LeBlanc Middle

High School Division Winner

Jylian Claire McFarlain/Sulphur High School

High School Division Runner-Up

London Caffery Frey/Iowa High School

F. Recognition of Teachers of the Year/Owen Clanton, Middle School Administrative Director

Elementary: Aunjel Thompson, Brentwood Elementary

Middle: Sandra Hayes, F.K. White Middle

High: Suresh Chiruguru, LaGrange High

G. Recognition of New Teachers of the Year/Owen Clanton, Middle School Administrative Director

Elementary: Skyler Johnson, College Oaks Elementary

Middle: Madison Pitre, F.K. White Middle

High: Tiffany Pfeifer, Washington Marion High

H. Recognition of Principals of the Year/Robert Pete, High School Administrative Director

Elementary: Melanie Brady - LeBleu Settlement Elementary

Middle: Dr. Shonna Anderson - Ray D. Molo Middle

High: Justin Mahoney - College Street Vocational Center

I. Recognition of Librarians of the Year/Jason VanMetre, CAO

Elementary Librarian of the Year/Kyandria Scott/T.H. Watkins El-ementary

Middle School Librarian of the Year/Hope Myers/Maplewood Mid-dle

High School and Overall District Librarian of the Year/Susan Gardebled/Sulphur High

J. Recognition of Counselors of the Year/Tony McCardle/Director of CTE

Elementary Counselor the Year: Emily Williams Brentwood El-ementary School

Middle School Counselor of the Year: Christy Valentine Maple-wood Middle School

High School Counselor of the Year: Terri Shaw College St Voca-tional Center

Representing CPSB at the next level: Emily Williams

SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT

l. You have each received your Head Start report:

Program Governance

Policy Council meeting was held on April 15, 2024. The following items were approved:

-March 19th Policy Council minutes

-Aprils Directors Report

-Aprils Attendance Report

-Aprils Financial Report

-Dietitian Report

-2024-25 Eligibility Criteria

-2023-2024 Self-Assessment

John F Kennedy Early Learning Center hosted Superhero Picnic with Pops. Students, fathers, and father figures showed up in costume to make the day memorable for our super students. All superheroes enjoyed delicious food, participated in games, and simply spent quality time together. The laughter and enthusiasm of adults and children was infectious. A good time was had by all!!! Students that were not accompanied by a father or father figure enjoyed time with their teacher dressed as a superhero.

Head Start and Pre-K4 students and parents participated in the monthly parent meeting and STEM activity. Parents learned about the Early Childhood Coordinated Enrollment Event, and we had multiple special guests provide information to parents about next year including registration, curriculum, and what to expect. Special guests included J.I. Wat-son Secretary Ms. Patti Tilbury, Pre-K4 teacher Mrs. Manuel and Kindergarten teacher Ms. Lee. Students and parents then engaged in a butterfly color mixing STEM activity, where they utilized markers, water, and coffee filters to display color mixing, and created butterflies to hang.

After learning about farm animals, the students of Brenda Hunter Head Start visited Almosta Ranch in Sulphur, LA. The students interacted with live farm animals in their natural habitat while teachers engaged them with higher order thinking questions such as, Why do you think the goat is eating that carrot? The students were also able to take a hayride through the ranch to enjoy a ziplining adventure.

Calcasieu Parish Early Childhood Department hosted their annual Coor-dinated Enrollment event on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Over 700 families were served during this event.

2. You have each received your school population report, reflecting the numbers from the end of March to the end of April, 2024.

3. I would like to report our April 2024 sales tax numbers for our general fund which show collections at $415,114 or 2.5 % below budget for the 10th month of the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Collections are $4,891,832 or 22.9 % below collections for the same month last year.

After 10 months, collections are $9,406.986 or 6.3 % above budget and $102,267 or 0.1 % above the same period last year.

4. Hurricane Information: The summary was included in your packet.

5. Please remember that your annual Personal Financial Report is due tomorrow, May 15th, to the Louisiana Board of Ethics. If you would like for us to upload that for you and keep the transmission report in your file, please let Peggy know.

6.The Board asked that we contact BESE about a possible waiver of BESEs minimum instructional minutes requirements. We spoke with State Superintendent, Dr. Cade Brumley and with BESE member Kevin Berken, who both indicated that because of the bad weather we have been through this spring, they support the granting of a waiver to CPSB of the instructional minutes requirement. If it is ok with everyone, we will go back to our original calendar, and this will end a lot of confusion at the school level.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. Discipline Policy Review Committee/April 24, 2024/Jason VanMetre

The proposed revisions are available for viewing at the end of this document and as a portion of the posted Minutes under www.cpsb.org/Minutes

Dr. VanMetre gave the following report:

The Calcasieu Parish School Board Discipline Policy Review Committee met Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in the Board Room, 3310 Broad Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Committee Members Present: Jeff Bankens, Jeanice Biondini; Chair-man, Catherine Chesson, Suresh Chiruguru, Jessica Crador, Alex Gil-bert, Zach Jones, Kadrienne Joseph, Chernika Leon, Eric McDonald, Amy Nugent, Patrick Pichon, and Kristi Russell.

The Discipline Policy Review Committee Meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. by Jeanice Biondini. The prayer was led by Kristi Russell and the pledge was led by Jeff Bankens. The roll was called and there was a quorum.

Jeanice Biondini, Chairman, presented the Committee with revisions to the CPSB Student Code of Conduct for the 2024-2025 school year.

There was much discussion on the subject.

On a motion by Patrick Pichon and seconded by Zach Jones, it was recommended to add more information to items 8, 9, and 27, see the explanations in yellow. The Committee also omitted item 28. On a motion by Patrick Pichon and seconded by Zach Jones, it was recommended to accept the revised revisions as presented; the motion carried on a unanimous vote.

On behalf of the committee, Dr. VanMetre offered a motion to approve the recommendations. A second was not required.

Melissa Chavez submitted a blue card to address the Board.

Mr. OBanion offered an amendment to state that we would re-move Item 8, regarding clear or mesh backpacks. Mr. Pichon seconded the motion. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

The committee recommendation to accept all changes, as amended, carried on a unanimous vote.

There being no further business to discuss, Jeanice Biondini requested a motion to adjourn at 10:43 a.m. which was made by Patrick Pichon and seconded by Zach Jones; the motion carried on a unanimous vote.

B. A&P Committee/April 30, 2024/Dean Roberts/Chair

Mr. Roberts gave the following report:

The Calcasieu Parish School Board Administration and Personnel Committee met Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in the Board Room at 3310 Broad Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. A quorum was present.

Mr. Dean Roberts called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. The prayer and Pledge of Allegiance was led by Desmond Wallace.

Present: Desmond Wallace, Shawn Baumgarten, Dean Roberts, Betty Washington, Tony OBanion, Patrick Pichon, Aaron Natali, Karen Hardy McReynolds, Russell Castille, Billy Breaux, Glenda Gay, Eric Traver.

Mr. Barrentine presented revisions to the Calcasieu Parish School Board Policies. Gifts and Donations. There were minor revisions to the language with these policies.

On a motion by Eric Tarver and seconded by Desmond Wallace, it was recommended to approve Policy DFK.

On behalf of the committee, Mr. Roberts offered a motion to accept the recommendation. A second was not required and the motion carried on a unanimous vote. This item is posted at the end of this document and as a portion of the Minutes posted at www.cpsb.org/Minutes.

Last item by Mr. Barrentine was a Transportation Request.

Staff requested that students from the Moss Bluff area who are assigned to an alternative school placement be bused to CPAS East beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.

On a motion by Billy Breaux and seconded by Eric Tarver, it was recommended to approve the Transportation Request.

On behalf of the committee, Mr. Roberts offered a motion to accept the recommendation. A second was not required and the motion carried on a unanimous vote. This item is posted at the end of this document and as a portion of the Minutes posted at www.cpsb.org/Minutes.

There being no further business to discuss, on a motion by Eric Tarver and seconded by Russell Castille the committee adjourned the meeting at 5:05 p.m.

TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION

Items A-E are posted at the end of this document and as a portion of the legal Minutes at www.cpsb.org/Minutes.

Mr. Tarver read the following:

A. Consideration of approval of grant for Head Start Program/$109,567.00

On a motion to approve by Mr. Hardesty and seconded by Mr. Roberts, the motion carried on a unanimous vote.

B. Consideration of approval of Entergy right-of-way/Merganser Road

On a motion to approve by Mr. OBanion and seconded by Mrs. Fontenot, the motion carried on a unanimous vote.

C. Consideration of approval of Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with CPPJ/Summer Feeding Program

On a motion to approve by Mr. Baumgarten and seconded by Mr. Wallace, the motion carried on a unanimous vote.

D. Discuss and Take Appropriate Action to establish deadlines, selection pro-cedures, advertising, Superintendents qualifications, salary range, and related items regarding selection of new CPSB Superintendent

Mr. Tarver, with a second by Mr. Roberts, offered a motion to approve the items as submitted. Dr. Washington, with a second by Mr. OBanion, offered an amendment to suspend plan A, regarding qualifications, and add Bulletin 741, with 10 years of experience and level 2 credentials.

The amendment failed on a roll call vote, 8 to 6.

For: Mrs. Ayo, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Castille, Mr. OBanion, Mr. Pichon, Dr. Washington

Against: Mr. Baumgarten, Mrs. Fontenot, Mrs. Gay, Mr. Hardesty, Mrs. Hardy-McReynolds, Mr. Tarver, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Wallace

Mrs. Hardy-McReynolds, with a second by Mr. Wallace, offered an amendment to state that an interim superintendent would be in place until the applications and interviews could be handled within a few months. The interim superintendent would not be able to apply.

The amendment failed on a roll call vote, 10 to 4.

For: Mr. Breaux, Mrs. Gay, Mrs. Hardy-McReynolds, Mr. Wallace

Against: Mrs. Ayo, Mr. Baumgarten, Mr. Castille, Mrs. Fontenot, Mr. Hard-esty, Mr. OBanion, Dr. Washington, Mr. Pichon, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Tarver

Mr. Castille, with a second by Mr. Breaux, offered an amendment to change the wording that only three applicants would be interviewed and that a per-centage of 50% of applicants would be interviewed, with a minimum of 3. The amendment carried on a unanimous vote.

Mr. Castille, with a second by Mr. Hardesty, offered an amendment to change the date from July 2 for interviews to July 8th and 9th, with the final selection on the 9th. The amendment carried on a unanimous vote.

Mr. Castille, with a second by Mrs. Fontenot, offered an amendment to finalize the contract on July 11th. The amendment carried on a unanimous vote.

Mr. Castille, with a second by Mr. Hardesty, asked that the advertisement for the superintendent position by place in the Lake Charles American Press, CPSB website, LinkedIn, Indeed, regular social media and at least one pro-fessional platform. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Mr. Wallace offered a motion to include the New York Times; there was no second.

Mr. Belfour suggested that PIO Holly Holland use her discretion regarding print or digital formats.

The original motion to approve the procedures, as amended, carried on a unanimous vote.

E. Consideration of Resolution in support of AG Murrill and State Superintendent Brumley regarding Title IX Final Rules lawsuit.

On a motion to approve by Mr. Roberts and seconded by Mr. Castille, the motion carried on a unanimous vote.

BID REPORTS

Mr. Tarver read the following:

A. Bid #2025-08: Bread, Produce and Paper Products/Food Services Funds. The staff recommends the lowest responsive bid from:

Bread; Awarded to Bimbo

Produce; Awarded entirely to Capitol City

Paper Products; Awarded to multiple vendors; Economical, Schneider Paper, Daxwell, and AASDEL

On a motion to approve by Mr. Roberts and seconded by Mr. Castille, the motion carried on a unanimous vote.

HURRICANE BID REPORTS FOR

RATIFICATION

Mr. Tarver read the following:

A. LCBA Hurricane Repairs/Jeremy Meyers, Architect/Keiland Construction, LLC/Base Bid $4,864,000.

On a motion to approve by Mrs. Fontenot and a second by Mr. Castille, the motion carried on a unanimous vote.

CORRESPONDENCE

Mr. Tarver read the following:

A. Recommendation of Acceptance/Administrative Area Modifications/District 23 Bond Funds/Maplewood Middle & Elementary Schools

On a motion to approve by Mr. Hardesty and a second by Mr. Baumgarten, the motion carried on a unanimous vote.

B. Change Order Number Six (6) for the project, Westwood Gymnasium District 23 Bond Funds; Barry King, AIA, Architect; K&J Development of SWLA, LLC., Contractor; Increase of forty-seven (47) days.

On a motion to approve by Mr. Hardesty and a second by Mr. Baumgarten, the motion carried on a unanimous vote.

C. Recommendation of Acceptance/Westwood Gymnasium/District 23 Bond Funds/Westwood Elementary School

On a motion to approve by Mr. Hardesty and a second by Mr. Baumgarten, the motion carried on a unanimous vote.

CONDOLENCES/

RECOGNITIONS

Mrs. Gay and Mr. Wallace asked for a letter of condolence to the family of Ms. Mary Margaret David.

Mr. Castille, Mr. OBanion, and Mrs. Ayo asked for a letter of condolence to the family of Mr. Tony Tramonte.

SCHEDULE

COMMITTEES

Budget Committee, June 4, 2024/5:00 p.m.

ADJOURN MEETING

On a motion to adjourn by Mr. Castille and a second by Mr. Roberts, the meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m.

Eric Tarver,

President

Shannon LaFargue,

Secretary

May 25 1t

1830494