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
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