001Thanks uh sorry government auditing standards. This is required because you are a Louisiana government. You're required to do an extra layer of um of audit uh where we do additional procedures to make sure that you're in compliance with the laws and regulations regarding financial matters involved in the state of Louisiana and as well as your federal awards and that that sort of thing. So, very pleased to report here no material weaknesses in internal control uh were found and no instances of non-compliance. Uh Our third report is the one that we do it's called the single audit. This is your audit of the federal expenditures uh and this year your total federal awards expended were about 7.8 million compared to about 12.8 million last year. And that changes fluctuates from year to year depending on the
002funding. You had a a large amount of um ESSER money the year before and some COVID money that kind of you know inflated that normal funding. So, we're kind of getting back to those normal levels of funding now. Um very pleased to report here. This was also a clean opinion and no material weaknesses um in internal control and no uh instances of non-compliance noted as well. On the next page because you're a school board we also are engaged to do a set of a agreed upon procedures related to BESSY. And we are pleased to report here that there were no exceptions noted to those procedures. Uh and then our fifth report is the accountants report on applying the agreed upon procedures related to the statewide agreed upon procedures. This is uh a laundry list of
003procedures that we do that the state prescribes. Um the legislature requires them and most of them have to do with basic internal controls and good best practice policies and procedures to ensure that your payroll is being done properly, your expenditures, your contracts uh those types of things and also that you're following laws [clears throat] related to ethics training, sexual harassment training um all those types of things. So, um we were able to do an abbreviated version of this year because they allowed us in odd years if you did not have any exceptions in a particular area then we did not have to do those those areas and so we were also able to reduce the fees and the cost of the school board as well. So, the areas that we did do this year we
004did not have any exceptions reported in those areas. Okay. Thank you. And then we did not have the need for a management letter to be issued this year either. So, just to start going through any questions on that so far. >> letter is you've got a management letter that Management letter would usually be like performance things or things that didn't quite rise to the level that that they would be a a formal finding or or issue in in any of those previous reports that I mentioned but might be a matter that we'd want to bring to the board and to management to discuss. All right. Thank you. Okay. So, financial results for the year your net position held very steady um which I think is a very good indication that this board and uh the
005finance department and the superintendent have a very good control over your revenues and expenditures and you're operating at that um that good you know zero balance level as I should say. Um If you'll notice the red restricted for debt service and grants section um is zero this year and that's two components. One, you did pay off all your debt uh from from the loan that you've carried for years and also in the previous year you had uh a small amount of grants that were restricted and um and that was much more timely done the the uh reimbursement process is very fast again and the state is paying faster. So, so those are all positive things to to look forward to. So, in in reality your financial uh position is is even stronger than it was
006before. Um and then you did increase your net investment in your capital assets. For total assets that did decrease a good bit um but if you notice the the orange section a large amount of those other assets were about $6 million of investments that were set aside to pay the debt and y'all had been accumulating those over the years to then make that balloon payment on the debt in 2025. So, that's the story there. So, although our assets did decrease the difference really you know is can be explained in that manner and the the overall change makes a lot of sense and you're still in a very positive position for assets. Um notably still have a strong cash position of 4.7 million. For total revenues we did have a decreased down to 36.7 million this
007year. Um a good part of that was a decrease in operating grants and as I had mentioned earlier a lot of those are those federal grants that were related to ESSERs and that money is just starting to kind of kind of dwindle off because the COVID funding is is going away. So, that makes a lot of sense. The other the other numbers are relatively pretty pretty flat or only minor decreases. Um so, your your revenue streams are still staying pretty steady considering that COVID effect. For expenditures we did have a an increase to 44 million this year. However, when we take out the 6.1 million of debt service expenditures which was the pay off of that debt which kind of inflates that number we actually had a decrease in overall expenditures of about a million
008dollars for the year. So, you know you can see that clearly that that red section of debt service inflates it a little bit but we know what was happening with that and that's just because the way that we have to account for it in your general fund is to show it as an expenditure um and so it you know kind of makes it seem different but that was related to the debt. It's not you know and you had all of the money set aside already to pay that off. All right. Next up we just we always do um a salaries and benefits percentage on the total of your your total expenditures and I I should have kind of maybe adjusted for that debt service cuz I think that is skewing that number a little bit
009but your salaries and benefits should land around that 50% mark anyway. So, you know we're kind of in that that neighborhood and kind of standing strong with that. So. Okay. Our general fund balance >> [clears throat] >> this is our unassigned portion um is down to 6.4 million but as you can see compared to back in 2021 when we were at 0.2 um it you know we've come a long way. Yes, sir. And it's still a very strong fund balance and still you know holding holding steady. And and honestly when we we start building too much that means we're not really spending >> a lot. you know everything and we want you kind of want to keep that balance of where you're you're spending what's coming in on the children and and on the thing
010on your capital and things you need to spend it on um but but want to leave enough so that if there's a hurricane And something's happening you have that contingency in place. Right. Next up is our long-term liabilities. Um and it's always great to see this decrease, so you can see that our our bright blue at the top was that $6 million debt that we have now paid off. Um and then the rest of these items are are going to be things that really are going to going to stay in place. These are basically accounting level things. That's your net pension liability. Okay. And I've explained this in in past presentations, but I want to just go over it again to make sure everybody has has heard this before. Um the net pension liability is
011not really a number that you as the board have any control over. And that is because that is is your participation in the state plans, and those state plans are the ones that make all of the decisions on the investment of those plans, and they determine what your contribution rate has to be for both what the employees pay in and what the board pays in based on a percentage of payroll. So, basically we're happy to see that decrease, but it could also increase if the market really was bad or something happened, you know, they don't do as good of a job of managing those investments, and you wouldn't you would just have to take that accounting differential and and and deal with that. Um but one of the things that the legislative auditor does when
012they're looking at your the financial health of your school board is they take that out of the number when they're looking at it first because they know that's a number that you you're not controlling. So, and same thing with bonding agencies, you know, they they know the relationship there. Um But on a on a good side is the OPEB, which is your retiree health insurance did have a decrease in that liability, which means that you're taking steps to manage the cost of that plan. So, that's a positive um because that's not a number that is as influenced by investments cuz you're not, you know, in a trust or anything like that. >> Right. So, that means that you you're truly managing the the cost of the premiums and taking steps to to monitor that and
013and not just when there's an increase say, "Okay." Right? So, um so that's that's very good. And that's all I have for you today. Any questions? So, overall, just I think help you know, the board is in a healthy position, and I encourage you as the board just to to keep it that way, obviously. Um if you ever have anything that you need from me or would like to discuss any questions that you have with the financial statements, I understand Ms. Walker's given you a book previously. Um but if there's anything that you have questions on, you can always reach me. My information is on that second page. Okay. Um you can call me or email me, and I would be happy to to meet with you or talk over the phone with you about
014any questions you have. And lastly, I just want to thank Ms. Walker and her staff. They are absolutely a joy to work with, and my staff um always just really enjoy working with them. So, appreciate it. >> Ms. Becky, thank you and your staff for what you're doing. I know it was a tedious task along with the finance committee here. We just thank you for taking that and giving this up to date where we are. Okay. Thank you. And then I just also wanted to bring your attention to I also have this required communications document. Um no surprises in here, but this just basically is our required communications in accordance with auditing standards where we have to tell you about the conduct of the audit and, you know, a lot of things about what our
015standards require. Um and just please to to note we did not have any disagreements with management, and nothing of of note in here. We did uh implement a new standard, which was the compensated absences standard, which just meant that um we had to start recording a liability for any sick leave that might be used, whereas the previous version um it would only benefit have been paid out. So, that did increase your liabilities by a little bit, but really not a substantial change there. So, but just, you know, wanted to let you know this is here, and if you have any questions on this, please let me know. Okay. Thank you. And Ms. Becky, I just want to add on um Northshore Charter is included in our report this year, but this is the last year
016that they have to be included on our report. And I did gave y'all a copy of Northshore's in your Yeah, I saw that. Thank you. And we also had a disclosure in here in the subsequent events to to make that known to the public that it would no longer be um a a component unit going forward. Okay. Thank you, Ms. Thank you. And at this time, we want to open it up to the public. Do we have anyone in the public who want to speak on our 2025 audit report, what you just heard from Ms. Becky? If not, we'll bring it back to the table. All in favor of accepting the report. Well, I didn't make a motion yet, but I'll make the motion. Got the motion. We have a motion and a second to
017accept that audit report. All in favor? I. I. Motion carried. Next item we have is number four. Receiving and consider approval of March 2026 revised budget and financial statements, general fund, food service, special revenue, and school activity. Um in your folders, you have the revised budgets for March 2026 and the financial statements. And you know, in the in the law states anytime anything is over 5% that we have to revise the budget. So, I had to go in and make some as budget specialist. >> say, Ms. Walker? I didn't hear that. We have to anything 5% over or under 5% increase in revenue or 5% decre- increase in expenditures, we have to do a budget revision. So, the budget was reflect that I did go in and make some revisions cuz it's a working document
018um every day things may change, you know, I may have higher expenditures this month in this line or the next month Right. might not be anything. So, and then some line items had zero expenditures. That may have been expended last year that we're not using this year. So, I go in and close those out, you know, close it out to zero where that budgeted item don't have to be there this year. Okay. That's what I worked on getting the budget in line. And also have our financial statement and some other budget revisions for federal programs that that's also included in your statements. All right. Thank you, Ms. Walker. Okay, at this time, we are opening it up to the public. Do we have anyone in the public want to speak on the issue? If not,
019we'll bring [snorts] it back to the table. Do we have any board committee members want to speak on this revised budget? Okay, if not, could I get a motion? I'll make the motion. I'll second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? I. Motion carried. Next we have item five. Receive and consider approval of adopted millage millage rate for 2026. Ms. Walker. Okay. The millage rate um has already been approved by the voters. That but every year revised statute tell us we have to adopt our millage rate for each year. So, that's what is included. No vote has to be taken from the public. This is as every year we have to bring it to you to get the millage rates approved. >> Approved. And I will read them out in the next
020board meeting each millage that we have cuz it's a resolution that I have to read. Okay. So, this is just a a process that we have to go through every year and it's a revised statute. And again, it changes every year depending on how much money the No, well, the the the millage don't change, but the amount is collected may change cuz you may have some people who drop off the roll. You may have some people that you that add to the roll unless um they do a reassessment here. So, but it stays the same. It's no vote to the public. This is already set. The voters already have approved these, but we just have to set up adopt our millages annually. Okay. So, I'll do that in our next meeting. I'll read off the
021resolution. Thank you, Ms. Walker. Now, we'll open it up to Do we have anyone in the public want to speak on this issue? Adopted millage. If not, we'll bring it back to the table. Could I get a motion? Motion. We have the bread and Ms. Brooks. I'll make the motion. We uh approve adopt this millage rate for 2026. I'll second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? I. Motion carried. Next we have receive and consider approval of one-time gas stipend of $500 to contract bus auto operators. Okay. What this is that cuz since gas is elevated at this time, one of my couple of my bus drivers came and asked me is there anything we can do to help them. So, I'm asking that the board approve a one-time stipend of $500
022to all bus drivers. And that's the only ones who drive their own buses cuz we own we own several buses, too. So, it would just be those that's owned by contracted. Yes, sir. Yeah, that's not a whole lot. We give them a gas card to pay for theirs. That's what it is. Let me finish my question. At this time I'm sorry. What you say? >> [laughter] >> Yeah. Well, at this time we'll At this time we'll open it up to the public. Do we have anyone want to speak on this issue? If not, we'll bring it back to the table. Could I get a motion? I motion we approve these gas cards. And I second. I have a motion and a second. At this time, all in favor? I. I. Motion carried. None opposed. And
023at this time we That's a closing of the You want to this meeting. I'll make a motion that uh motion and a second there to amend the agenda to add to our business board meeting board meeting item uh number five. Okay. Okay. To add to the agenda. >> you can't do it in this meeting. You can't do it She can I think she want to discuss it at this time. She can add on to the finance part, but in the next meeting that's where you would add that item. Okay, number one. What is that you want to add? She wants to do something on >> to discuss it. On personnel? Mhm. Yes. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, now that's coming under finance. Yes. Okay. Okay. If you look in your gold folders it's a job
024description for our uh supervisor of curriculum and instruction. As you know that we had did a um a a posting because we're going to hire in that position. And we realized there was an error because we did not update the job description prior to. So, we want to correct that and then we're going to start all over with the reposting cuz we want to do it right. Okay, as you see you have the job description before you. You have red and blue ink coloring. The red is what we're going to take out and the blue is what we're going to put in. As you see we have it already titled curriculum and instruction elementary supervisor. We're going to update that to supervisor of curriculum and instruction. Would that music include either both? >> E- Yeah.
025Okay. That makes sense. And also we want to update some of the minimum qualifications also. As you see there about maybe two months ago Dr. Cook he wanted me to revise where read United United States citizen or authorized alien. He was not happy with that wording, so he wanted to be more legal. So, we updated that wording to read must be legally authorized to work in in the United States. And also you will see the qualifications listed there in blue is what we're going to add as well as the degree level that is required for the position. Okay. And the also the outtakes Anything else that's taken out? Okay. Okay, thank you Ms. Walker. Thank you Ms. Walker. Which makes a lot of sense Yeah. They both are curriculum and so they both do the
026same thing. >> Bang bang, yeah. Right. >> They're covering both both schools, secondary and elementary. >> All you're doing is eliminating Just eliminating the name. Just cover elementary and secondary. Yes. >> Okay. All in favor after that discussion uh we can add that when we get to regular board meeting. Okay. Oh. We discussed it. So, now we would just have to add it when we get to our regular board meeting. Okay, at this time that will close out our finance committee meeting. Thank y'all for y'all patience and understanding. Next we go to building and grounds, Dr. Cook. Go to building and grounds. >> Building and grounds committee. Here. Chairman of building and grounds, there is no business concerning uh buildings or grounds. And nothing that that needs to be discussed or brought before the public,
027so I'm going to I'm going call it. What What was the last we heard of wasn't there an AC that you were looking at for replacements? Has there been any progress on that? Yes, I will It has been awarded to the contractor to start on it. He said it's a um eight four weeks eight weeks four to eight weeks. Lead time? >> Lead time, yes. To get it in. Okay. And also He ordered it today. >> And the price includes installation, everything, maintenance. Okay. And also we um I didn't mean to write it down. No, uh-uh. That's all I remember. On top of central cafeteria. I remember we talked about that. So, they got to get a lift, take it off, put the new one on. It's it's a huge project. Yeah, it's a project.
028And also we're working on the boiler at high school. You know it went out in the heating in the auditorium. And it's it's going to be very expensive. I mean the boiler is still in operation. I didn't think they had a boiler in the auditorium, but it is bought. We have central air, but they have that boiler in there. That's that's another project too on the list of We're working on with a company. We're working on that. Cuz it's running expensive close to $100,000. Right. Well, like you said, it's cuz of the location it's in. You know, it's hard to get in and out of. You know, not just anybody can do that job. >> no, cuz it's And we got other boiler situations at other schools. So, we've been working with Metro who's our
029contractor for this type of work um our maintenance. Are you getting a discount? >> on it trying to Uh I just need to ask are there other things that we can do that are not as expensive or that's the cheapest route to go? >> That's the cheapest route. What he did for me at Northside, he did an alternative to look and see if units would be cheaper than what they looking at for replacing the boiler. So, it might be cheaper what he has given to me for Northside. Because he said replacing those boilers is so old. I don't know if you ever seen that steam coming up out of the ground if you pass by Northside. It comes up. So, if we have an alternative that he has given me that we may go with.
030Yeah, they don't even make the parts for those anymore. So, I don't think he said it's so old. That school is so old. So, he had We are looking at other alternatives that to not put the actual boiler system back, but go with a something else to We might have to put a whole boiler system in Northside. Yeah, he was just talking. He He just asked the question and we really didn't have, but that's what we had discussed at the last meeting. So, I guess we need to call the building and grounds meeting to order. Roll call, please. Roll call. Dr. Williams? Here. Mr. Hughes? Here. Mr. Craig? Here. And as I initially said, since there was no new business before the committee uh and there's no nothing to be brought before the public for
031discussion meeting adjourned. Meeting adjourned. Thank you. I call them to order for our regular meeting. I ask All people would you lead us in prayer? Can we wait till exactly 4:30, please? 4:30? Okay. Give me a moment. Okay. We're waiting till 4:30. We're all ready for the meeting. Okay. We had a uh We had a regular Yeah. Okay. Yeah, we are Let's do it after the and Curry We're good. That's what you were talking >> Thank you. Let's all get together and pray. Oh heavenly father, we want to we want to thank you this afternoon. Each and every one of us is present at this Bogalusa City School Board meeting. We ask you to look down on us. We ask you to watch over us. We ask you that we run this meeting orderly and
032we ask that we go in forward with the Bogalusa School System. Father God, we just thank you for everyone here and strengthen here. We just thank you for all that you do for all of us and we thank you for what you do for the city school system in Bogalusa. We thank you in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Pledge allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I want to say something before we start. As you all know, I'm handicapped. I have handicapped signs. I have a handicapped letter from the doctor and I do not appreciate Miss Wise not standing for the prayer publicly. I don't appreciate I know
033she doesn't like us, but if she's going to come here, she's going to have to follow the rules or get out. First of all, No, I don't want to hear from you. That's said. I serve my I don't want to hear from you. No, you don't serve your country. You serve the devil. That's what you said. The devil. We have roll call, please. And you going to have to cut that out or get out and I mean it. Keep talking out like that, she's going to have to go and I'm not playing with you. Roll call. Miss Broome? Here. Miss Mitchell? Dr. Williams? Here. Mr. Keys? Here. Mr. Crill? Here. Mr. Hughes? Here. President Dr. Cook? Present. Before we get started, I would like to add I would like to make a motion and second
034that we amend the agenda to add item number five to our new business. Make a motion. Second. Motion and second. And we want anyone from the floor. Dr. Cook, can you please uh state what the amendment's going to be, what the name of the the agenda item is going to be? Item Item number five will be to consider the change the title of our job description curriculum and instruction elementary supervisor to supervisor to of curriculum and and instruction. And also to provide the minimum job requirements there. Anyone from the floor? Floor is I'll make a motion that we add to the agenda supervisor curriculum and instruction. I second that motion. I second that motion. Motion and second. >> [snorts] >> Veronica Watkins, 707 Mississippi Avenue. Was there a Excuse me? Hey Mr. Hughes. Hey Mr.
035Hughes, you have made it back. Praise God. Um was there a personnel committee meeting? What what Excuse me, I'm sorry. Chair to the chair. To the chair, could you please To the chair, could you please allow me in my time? Go ahead. Sir Sir um yes, was there a personnel committee meeting to uh to discuss the information that is being added in number five? Okay, thank you. Bring it back to the board. Roll call. Vice President Miss Broome? Here. Miss Mitchell? Dr. Williams? Here. Mr. Keys? Here. Mr. Crill? Yes. Here. Yeah. Mr. Hughes? Here. Yeah. President Dr. Cook? Yes. Look at item number B. Approval of minutes from March 26, 20 March 26, 2026 meeting board regular board meeting. I'll move that we approve the minutes of March 26, board meeting. I second that motion.
036Motion and second. Anyone from the floor? Floor is clear. Anyone from the table from the board? Board is clear. Have roll call. Roll call. Vice President Miss Broome? Here. Miss Mitchell? Dr. Williams? Yes. Mr. Keys? Yes. Mr. Crill? Yes. Mr. Hughes? Yes. President Dr. Cook? Yes. Item number C, presentations. Done on She came earlier. >> earlier. Okay. Okay. Item number D. New business. Number one, first item, consider a motion to approve of June 30, 2025 audit report. I'll move that we approve this audit report, especially coming from Miss Dolores Walker, who has won state and national awards for our school system with her awesome audit audit report. I second that motion. Motion and second. We have anyone from the floor? Floor is clear. Anyone from the Yes, I would like to congratulate Miss Walker. She
037does an excellent job. She has ever since she's been on the board and I do appreciate it. We never have financial problems. No. No. and your staff. Because I know you do a great job. Roll call. Yes, absolutely. Thank you for all you do. We have roll call. Roll call. Vice President Miss Broome? Here. Miss Mitchell? Dr. Williams? Yes. Mr. Keys? Yes. Mr. Crill? Yes. Mr. Hughes? Yes. President Dr. Cook? Yes. Item number two, consider motion to approve March 2026 revised budget and financial statement, general fund, food service, special revenue, and school activity. I'll make a motion that we approve the revised budget for 2026 financial statement. Second. Motion and second. We have anyone from the floor? Floor is clear. Anyone from the board? Board is clear. We have roll call. Roll call. Vice President
038Miss Broome? Here. Miss Mitchell? Dr. Williams? Yes. Mr. Keys? Yes. Mr. Crill? Yes. Mr. Hughes? Yes. President Dr. Cook? Yes. Item number three, adopt millage rate for 2026. I'll make that motion that we adopt the millage rate for 2026. I second the motion. Motion and second. We have anyone from the floor? I have to read the resolution, please. Go ahead. Sorry. Go ahead. Be it resolved that the following millages are hereby levied on the 2026 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by Bogalusa City School of the Parish of Washington, Louisiana. Giving additional support for construction, maintaining, operation, and improving the public light elementary and secondary schools, 22.05. Support paying salaries and benefits for all school personnel, 11.990. Constitutional tax, 6.430. Maintenance of schools, 7.750. Improving, maintaining, and operating schools, 3.110. Maintain maintenance and
039operation, 5.020. Giving additional support for the current operation of public and secondary schools, 6.4400. Be it further resolved that the proper administrative officials of the Parish of Washington, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes as hereinabove set forth upon the assessment roll of the said parish for the year 2026 and to make the collection of taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority according to the law, that the taxes herein levied shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all property subject to taxation as herein set forth and collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by the law by law. By foregoing The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called and the adoption thereof and the following votes adopted
040the resolution. Thank you, Miss Excuse me for going ahead of you. I'm sorry. Anyone from the floor? Floor is clear. Anyone from the table? Board is clear. Have roll call. Roll call. Vice President Miss Broome? Here. Miss Mitchell? Dr. Williams? Yes. Mr. Keys? Yes. Mr. Crill? Yes. Mr. Hughes? Yes. President Dr. Cook? Yes. Item number four. I consider motion to approve a one-time gas stipend of $500 to contracted bus operators. I make a motion. I second. Motion and second. Do you have anything to say on that, Ms. Warren? No, I just was As I stated earlier in the committee that since gas is so high, we wanted to help our contracted drivers who own their own buses to get them a stipend to help with gas. Thank you. Anyone from the floor? Floor is clear.
041Back to the board. Uh one question, Mr. Warren. I'm going to tell you in our previous conversation, how many contract drivers do we have? >> We have, I think it's nine. How many is that? Nine. And as I stated earlier to the board that the buses that's owned by the district, the general fund picks up their gas. 4,500? 4,500. Any other comments from the board? Roll call. Mr. President, Ms. Rowles? Yes. Ms. Mitchell? Dr. Williams? Yes. Mr. Tate? Yes. >> Mr. Creel? Yes. Mr. Hughes? Yes. >> President, Dr. Williams? Yes. Item number five, we amended two. I want to consider a motion second to change the title of job description curriculum and instruction elementary supervisor to supervisor curriculum and instructing instructions and to provide for one for the minimum job requirement thereof. Make a motion.
042Second. Motion and second. Anyone from the floor? Felicia Mingo, 734 Avenue G. How you doing? My question is, uh will this be one job or two? Are we still doing elementary and secondary supervisor or is just one job? Uh well, right now uh he just wanted Dr. Hurst wanted in just in case we don't have an elementary yet. I think they're trying to do uh uh uh one uh high school, but we don't want to have to go back and redo the job description, you know, and it's basically the same thing. So, that's why we just wanted to make it one thing. But, he's he's going to re-advertise. Okay, so it's still going to be two jobs, all right? Yes. Okay. Okay. Okay, so on the on the job description, what's going to be added?
043Does it show what's going to be added or what's going to be taken away? We didn't get those. There's some copies right here. I got a copy. Okay. It's on there. Okay. She said the uh Anything in blue? Uh uh the blue is uh what they're adding and the red is what they're taking out. Let's make sure we I'm sorry. No, there's copies over here. There's copies over here. Can you hold that Okay, so what I'm looking at here is I have to make some more. She can have mine. I'll get another, Ms. Watson. Take what you We'll get another. Yeah, but I guess We have elementary on Right. Right. Right. Right. But, then she said it's still going to be two jobs. It's going to be a elementary and a secondary. So, what I
044see as difference is the old job description says didn't have the two years experience as a school principal. So, that is what's added. Can we get some clarification why that was added? Well, I'm going to tell you Keep it Okay. Yes, Ms. Lady, Dr. Hurst. Can Can everyone hear me? Yes, sir. I I apologize. I'm going to speak on that. I'm driving. I stopped because I had to speak at the administrative meeting today. So, I'm asking the board to change the elementary supervisor to a supervisor curriculum and instruction. And the day to day, that person will uh supervise principals. So, we asking that that individual have principal experience. How can you supervise a principal and guide them in day to day operations and curriculum instruction? So, you realize that and the next make sure our
045principals have what they need, we have to put in front of them the the right personnel to support and guide them. So, those are the small changes that we're making. The other position, uh the high school position, we're going to re-evaluate that um and make some recommendations to the board at a later later date. So, we're just asking for the change to this one position. We're going to re-advertise and then move forward with that. Then we're going to look at the other position and figure out how we can best utilize that person and make some changes and come back to the board. Okay. Okay. Okay, so this really is just for the elementary person. This is not even for the secondary. It's for both. It will wind up being for both. Okay. And so now
046he's just going to only advertise for the elementary. Okay. All right, thank you so much. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. No, no, no, no, no, elementary. He's He's not going to use the elementary in the I thought I was speaking at On one job. >> One job. Okay. And I think the reason why I thought the position we're going to repurpose it after my team and I sit down and we're going to look at it and see how we can best utilize that person to help support the school. And I think the reason why he's doing that is because we have put two people in that job that didn't have the principal experience. Right. That's what he's doing now. That's why he's adding and changing this. Renika Watkins, 707 Mississippi Avenue. First, I asked the chair
047if there had been a pop a personnel committee meeting held today and the answer was yes. If there was any committee meeting, it was not noticed in 24 hours in in in in in per Louisiana statute. So, that committee could not possibly have met. It is unfair to the people to take up business that requires to hire people and have its a terms of employment, salary, and work year established by the superintendent. There is no financial information on this description. It doesn't tell us how much you plan on paying, the salary range. Um it's unclear and it's very vague if the chief academic officer has any school principal experience to be in a position to supervise people that are required to have more more academic credentials or credentials than that individual has. This There are
048two elementary schools in the city of Bogalusa, Bird Avenue and Central. You telling me you need a person to come in and supervise those people when we have a hundred and something thousand dollar chief academic officer. We deserve to have personnel meeting where this is outlined and the community has its right to give its input on what this description made and that we are holding the superintendent accountable for what parents and children need for a viable education within the city of Bogalusa. We need to stop hiring people just because and bringing in this man's friends. We need to get credible people who will Excuse me, sir. My time has been I I reclaim my time. I reclaim my time. Bogalusa City School has only seen 0.02% growth. Why do we continue to add people in
049this secretive manner? This this this should have been given to the public prior to now. There should be personnel committee meeting held. It has not been held all school year. This is wrong. Thank you. You did just make an allegation against the man. I It is a true allegation that can be proven. >> the You're away from the board. You're away from the table. That's it. That's enough. Callum McGeehee, 1309 Choctaw Drive. Is So, I'm a little confused. Is this a new position then? I mean, you renamed the two positions. You renamed You took away from what we had, which was the coordinator. I don't have a problem with any of it. I'm just saying, did you abolish that position and then come up with this position or we renaming the old position? You're renaming
050the old position to this, but you're only hiring one person for that position, correct? But, are they going to do elementary and No. Yeah, and high school? I mean, I get it get that. I think you probably could. I'm just saying it's it's not the same name as it was. So, you would have It's a new position then or the responsibilities the same? A new position. Yeah. You would you would have to probably abolish the old ones and make this the new one. Even if you brought the old one back at some point in time. What do you say? Go ahead, Dr. Hurst. You? We can hear you. We can hear you, sir. And defer to to Dr. Hurst, but I I was I'm understanding that the personnel uh situations were usually handled in the
051finance committee meeting. That's where we had it in our finance. Yes. They don't have a personnel committee any longer, I don't think. That's right. We have no personnel committee. No, it's handled in the finance committee. And how needed it is. I just wanted to clarify that. Yeah. And another thing, if I'm wrong, you all correct me, but I don't think on any job description they put the salary amount. I've never seen that. We never have. I know that what you can do, if I apply for a position and I'm interested in salary, when I go to my interview, I'm going to ask what is the salary, but I don't think it's ever been on the job description. Right. Ms. Bro, so it's already going All we're asking is to take the elementary label off and
052just make it a supervisor of curriculum instruction. It's going to still follow the supervisor pay scale. It's still a new position. already made a position. We're going to re-evaluate that, probably rename it to something else that better suits the uh schools. And we're going to I'm going to talk about it with my executive team how we can better utilize that in the business to support the schools. So, when you do that, you have to change the One change, you take the elementary off and it just will be a supervisor of curriculum and instruction and they're going to support all the schools. On the supervisor pay scale. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Then it has to be It has to be brought back to the board. Yeah. Yeah, it's going to be brought back. Thank you.
053Anyone else from the Thank you, Mr. President. Anyone from the table? No. Table is clear. Roll call. >> [clears throat] >> Roll call. Vice President, Ms. Bro. Here. Ms. Mitchell. Dr. Williams. Yes. Mr. Payne. Yes. Mr. Cril. Yes. Mr. Hughes. Yes. President, Dr. Bro. Yes. Next item is our superintendent report. And I don't know if you had Dr. Hurst, do you have anything you want to say? Uh no, just one thing, Ms. Harris presented HR report, but I just want to announce that you know, I went to the legislature today. Senator Mizell had a bill on the table to uh require all school districts to stay on the 5-day work week. Now, of course, we were grandfathered in cuz he changed the bill cuz he had some opposition the last but the some of the
054things that she said, you know, kind of contradicted what was going on in Bogalusa, so I went down and and told committee, you know, that some of the things that were mentioned were not necessarily true. And so, I was going out there to support Bogalusa City Schools, so we won't have a false narrative about what's going on. Her main concern was about kids not eating on Fridays. Right. But we offer breakfast and lunch on Fridays and at one point we were sending buses around getting all the students. All the students. Right. Right. We just have to change the parents' mindset and say, "Hey, this is a service sending kids." But as we see over time and over time, those numbers got lower and lower, so which we had to reduce the number of buses we
055were sending out and personnel. Right. So, we do offer it, um but you know, I just wanted to put it out with the committee. And another thing that she said was industry don't want to move to districts with 4-day work weeks because their employees don't have anybody to pick up uh if it was kids on Fridays. Well, and then they actually did any Have any industry asked to move to Washington Parish and said no because of a 4-day work week? She said no. So, she couldn't prove that either. So, my job was to go down there and defend Bogalusa City Schools and um and that's what I did. So, uh and that's the reason I I'm didn't make the board meeting cuz I couldn't back get back in time. We appreciate you. And I'll put
056an update. Um Ms. CC is going to give you the dates for the high school and everything that's going on for graduation, senior week, and of course, the other schools. She's going to hand that to you. And other than that, Ms. Harris can unless I have any questions from the board members, Ms. Harris can give my HR report. Thank you, Dr. Hurst, for representing us. So, again, it wasn't for lack of resources, it was just lack of participation is what you're saying. You know, we had the buses go out and try to bring people in. Right. We didn't have enough participation from families and students. Yeah, and and what's happening here is the same thing across the state who has two our schools who are 4-day work weeks. And I'm saying, "Hey, you want to
057have them Fridays or Mondays or Fridays?" School system provide that and we have a minimum amount that actually participate. And it's not just in Bogalusa. You look at other four-day school weeks, they have the same issue. Yeah. Yeah, that's what I heard at convention talking to other people that had the 4-day week, other school board members, they said basically the same thing. >> [snorts] >> So, thank you. And Ms. Harris can give you an update. All right. Can I speak on this again? May I speak on this again? This You have to vote on this job description, correct? Right. So, I'm just saying where we added where you added that you want them to have a school prince be school principal. We only have three schools, so not many people on the inside are able
058They may work with the principals, but they may not be a principal. All our supervisors don't have to have that. I mean, we have supervisors in Bogalusa City Schools right now that have never been a principal. Well, why why >> It's It's not for every supervisor position because I understand. >> the maintenance people won't have to, you know. I'm not talking about them, though. I'm just saying, you know, it's just for those people who are going to deal directly with education. I understand. Right. You're right. It's what you're saying, but they don't have the education >> but they have that. Well, then let me let me kind of expand on that because specifically, we have a young lady here at the board office that has worked with principals, has been over curriculum with principals, has
059done a lot with principals, and she doesn't qualify because she hadn't been a school principal. Have all the qualifications, did all the work as a curriculum person, but because you threw this in, so now her name can't even be in the in the bucket. And she's been here for 20 years working in the school system. I just don't feel like that's fair. Let me tell you this and you can call the state department on this. I applied for a principalship years and years ago and somebody else applied. And I They said that I needed 2 years then of you know, you had to be I mean, a supervisor. They said you needed 2 years of principalship. Well, the person they had didn't have See, but you can call the state department and you can actually
060they'll tell you exactly what the requirements are for the state of Louisiana because I had a I had a not a parent, I had a person that called me because her son was interested in that job and he has a doctorate and she didn't understand why he wasn't eligible just because he didn't have two She talked about all the other things he did do, but I told her, "What you need to do is call the state department." Right. Yeah. I know, but they can tell you No, but they can tell you what the state requires, the minimum. Yeah, they can tell you that and that's all you really have to go by. >> It's educational leadership. You got to have educational leadership and that's that's Okay. No, not not not. All right. Number F, board
061members' comments. Uh I don't have anything. I'd like to say that I I appreciate those of you who I'd like you to come up to the board meetings, I really do, so you can know for yourself what is going on and I appreciate that and I I appreciate your kindness and your respect for me and I'm going to respect you. But on the other hand, I don't like people who just come here and want to just be the devil and cause conflict and confusion, has nothing positive, has no remedies for solving whatever the problem is. All they do All they do is come here and try and tear us down. And not only do they come here, they go to the charter school, tear them down. They go to the uh city, they tear them
062down. The Some people, do you know, they need Christ, they need some help. And you know what? Those people, you cannot change. And I don't worry about it. They put on there about need Don't vote for me and all this kind of uh stuff, you know. That kind of stuff it doesn't She think it's funny. She really does. Thank you, Ms. Bro. But it's not a joke. It's sincere. This should be about the kids and what's best for these kids and that's all I want is what And if you got some suggestions, you can bring them to us so we can listen to them, but don't just always be so critical. Everything You have nothing pa- The glass is always half empty with you. Always. And that's the sign of the devil people, but I
063don't worry about it. I just pray for that person cuz God has been good to me. And whatever you do, you can believe this, you will reap what you sow. You will reap what you sow and it's not in my time and I don't ask and I don't try to get back at people. I leave it up to God, but you will reap what you sow. Anyone else from the board? These are personal attacks. Personal attacks. Anyone else from the board? Just Just one Just [clears throat] one comment. Oh, kind of to cover what Ms. McGee was saying. I mean, I understand you know, that in that position, but specifically this job description is for a person who is working directly with or supervising principals. And and the educational curriculum of educating children. So, They
064assist principals. It Right. So, I mean, it just makes sense to me that you know, he And I understand qualifications of having worked for years in association with working with principals. But if you haven't sat in that chair, How do you get to sit in the chair? By making it to be a principal. By being a principal. Well, and and I mean I mean, you know what I'm That's what I'm saying. Yeah, you're right. You're correct. Marie Marie Yeah. I mean, I I'm not talking about anybody. No, I I understand. We're We're trying to hear y'all. You want to get the understanding of the position. Of what they doing. Yes. Yeah. The person that I'm referring to is doing exactly what the job description asked for, working with the principal. She has all the all
065the qualifications except she didn't sit in that seat, but she's done everything a a curriculum person does. And she's done it and because she didn't sit in that seat, I just don't feel like it. She doesn't even get an interview. I just don't feel like it. Does anyone else board? Okay. Um as we prepare to to the I also want to thank our educators and all the students who are preparing for the students for the LEAP exam. We thank thank you all for that. If you would just get the word out [clears throat] to them I said how they would uh encouraging our kids to make sure they do well on the LEAP exam. Also, we want to thank Dr. Hurst for sitting on the board representing us as well. And also to Ms. Walker
066and to her committee for our audit report as we received no discrepancies. We thank you. That goes off to to you. And to Thank you very much. As we have Ms. Lizette Waterson here tonight who's You want to show it on the board for retirement teachers retirement? Yes. Yes. Thank you for coming and attending with us. We recognize Ms. Lizette. >> [snorts] >> Any other Any other comment? Okay. Ms. Lizette? You want to make a personal comment? No. Okay. Oh, yeah, we took that out. All right. You had it in your space. Oh, I thought you had something. Oh, okay. Okay. All right. The next time I think if you want to present present something from retirement says just put it on the agenda. We will put it on the agenda. Yes, ma'am. Closing the
067meeting. Next board meeting will be May 28th, 2026 at 5:30. Thank you.