001BCD schoolboard meeting rules of procedure. An individual speaker who appears at a school board meeting to speak on an agenda item must register prior to the meeting and will be allowed in three minutes to speak on the agenda item prior to the school board discussion on the agenda item. like to remind everybody that there is this meeting is live stream and the link is at the top. We will now call to order the Jefferson Davis Fair School Board agenda meeting. Miss Debbie, can you do roll? >> Sure. Mr. Arseno >> here. >> Mr. Borlaw here. >> Mr. Brook House. Mr. Dobson >> here. >> Mr. Dies here. >> Mr. Fry >> here. >> Miss Jones. >> Miss Paula Lern >> here. >> Miss Summer Lashern here. Mr. Patterson >> here. >> Mr. Petri >> here.
002>> Mr. Trhan >> here. Mr. Walker >> here. You do have a quorum and we have had no requests for public speaking or comments. Public comments. >> All right, we'll now stand for the prayer by Mr. Phil Arseno and the pledge of allegiance by Mr. Jaden Turnley, Welch High School senior. >> In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Father God, thank you for allowing us to assemble in your holy name. We ask that you guide us as we make the decisions for the betterment of our staff and most importantly our students. Wax these and all prayers in your holy name. Amen. >> Amen. >> You can come up to the podium. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it
003stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Hey, give us a minute right there, buddy. >> Come back. Come back. Come back. >> Want you in time out, man. Thanks for coming. Come back. >> Good job. >> This is the part J didn't know about. Okay. Your your mom and I started talking about this a while back, right? And so, uh, we wanted to surprise you. Uh, I want to brag a little bit about this high school senior, of course, 4.0. Um, uh, I mean, I can keep going on. Prom king that weightlifting, first here in the state, second in the nation, third in the world. >> Right here, Jayen B. That's that's amazing. Um um but most importantly though uh he he's I I've been knowing him since he
004was he was small and I've watched him become a man. Uh and uh the character that that he has is is just remarkable. He is well loved by everyone and uh I just wanted to to honor that. Okay. And also I wanted to give you a plaque for the uh Louisiana high school football uh all all uh all state academic. He's the only one in the state football academic all academic. So anyways I wanted to give you that >> amazing mind and the two Welsh board members come up. President I just want to get a picture and Mr. Walker he got my back. So you >> say the night [laughter] >> you in trouble. >> Oh yeah. >> Can you go in front of the sun? >> Yep. >> Get out. >> Yeah. [laughter] >>
005How you doing? >> I'm good. J. Thank you. God bless you. >> Thanks a lot. >> Solid hand. [laughter] >> I usually the one doing that. Don't get hurt. >> Third in the world. Again, y'all welcome to stay if you'all want to see the whole meeting, but it's okay if y'all want to leave too. Guys, >> be rude and be fine. >> We understand. >> Thank y'all so much. >> Congratulations to you, mama. Thank you for what? >> All right, guys. I now need a motion, a second to approve of the schoolboard minutes of the regular meeting held on March 19th. >> I got a motion by Mr. Bordon, a second by Miss Sunlejourn. Any board discussion? Hearing none, we'll now go to vote. All in favor say I. >> All opposed. Eyes have it.
006Motion passes. We will now have a presentation by Dr. Janet Pope, LSBA executive director. Thank you so much, Mr. President and school board members and Superintendent Hall for the opportunity to come and present. We just finished our 88th annual convention here in um Baton Rouge and just super excited because as you know we're going into term limits and we've recognized over 60 board members out of 330 um that have 24 plus years. And so when Superintendent Hall asked if I could come and present or one of our board of directors to come and present um these two uh plaques or paper weights, um I I was like, I'm going to do that. I'm going to leave Baton Rouge and I'm going to fly in on two wheels and go back to Lafayette at my house.
007So that's exactly what I did. Two wheels uh down Interstate 10. But I did go the speed limit. There were a lot of state troopers from Lafayette to here. I thought we had a lot from Lafayette to Baton Rouge, but boy, they were really cocking uh this way. So anyway, um I'm [snorts] going to read you the talking points that we used when um when we recognized the board members um at our conference and we are our team is splitting up and going recognize the ones who are unable to attend. So, as part of the 88th annual Louisiana School Boards Association Conference, we were honored um to recognize a special group of individuals whose services embody this year's theme. Our convention theme this year was the legacy um that you leave. Um our conference on
008March 31st, we celebrated our school board members who have dedicated 24 or more years to public education. And that kind of commitment is rare. And as you know, as we move into term limits, the most school board members will be able to serve is 12 years. So that kind of commitment, as I said, is rare. Represents decades of leadership, countless decisions made in best interest of students, and unwavering belief of the power of public schools as we shape the future and strengthen our communities and our students. So through times of challenge and change, these um individuals that we recognize have remained steadfast in their service, leaving a lasting mark not only on our districts, but on generations of our students and our families and also our educators as well. So on behalf of the Louisiana
009School Boards Association membership and our board of directors, um we were privileged and honored to to recognize uh these 60 board members. Um first I want to recognize uh Mr. Malden Dobson for his years of service. >> How many years? >> Well, 26. >> 26. So, you made it over over the line at 24. >> Exactly. My first my first year on Smith who was a superintendent >> asked me to uh run for a school board member. I said, "Oh, no. I don't I don't I'm going home. I'm retired." >> You're a retired educator. >> Yes. >> Oh, yeah. You're right. Crazy, huh? >> Principal, teacher, Taiwan. Anyway, I said, "Oh, no, no, no, no, no." So, yeah, you got to if you don't run, there's somebody going to run against you on the boat
010>> and we don't want him. [laughter] >> She's telling all this. Anyway, I said I'll do it for one year. I mean, one term and I said, "If anybody ever qualifies against me, I'm I'm running." >> And I I'm not bragging, but I've never been a vote. >> No. >> That's awesome. You should brag on that. >> I could I tell you what, there's been some changes since those days. >> Yes. >> The uh availability of certified teachers. We would used to go to recruit them magnes and the colleges to recruit certified teachers and we'd find teachers you know every position. Now you you find woman body you better sign it. Yeah. But you know that anyway um observations is changed of teachers uh and had to be observed two or three times and principal
011had to do a couple and the supervisor had to do a couple. If they got unsatisfactions a couple times, >> that's it. Go hit go the road. And uh that's one big change. >> Yeah. and uh just um uh the the or the the orientation of beginning teachers back then. If you had say six, seven new teachers coming in or those who had retired and moved, we gave them orientation for about two days, three days and paid them for it. They were not they were not in the schools but we we paid them for. finish and some things we did and they don't really do anymore. So I see them change >> and discipline that's not like it used to be respect. I might have mentioned that already but >> did you paddle back in
012the day? >> Oh no. [laughter] >> I'll keep my opinion. >> Oh yeah, I did >> back then. I I I did uh I didn't I didn't beat it. >> You did it with love. >> Yeah. Oh yes. Sounded like kept that p my desk. The first thing they see that I Okay. What' you do? Look at picture on that wall. We see >> everybody. [laughter] I don't I don't regret a minute of I met some good people locally that this group here. >> Yeah. >> I consider my friends and they may not like that. I think they're my friend. >> It's it's been a wonderful trip. >> Good. Well, we thank you for you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate it. >> And and I'm again I'm honored when Superintendent Hall asked, you know,
013uh for for me to come here and visit. It's been a while. I think it's precoid. >> Time just goes by so fast. >> Can we get a picture? I'm getting a little scenile. >> That's okay. >> I don't know what the other week it is. >> That's okay. >> You know, I got new >> What do you want to get? We going to do a media release. Right there in front of the sun. >> Right there in front of the sun. >> We'll move. >> I love it. >> Where's he coming? >> We gonna put this on social media newspaper. >> Mr. when I get the 20 years before >> I never smile in the house. >> Did he smile for the picture? >> Yeah, he did. >> I also have one for uh
014Mr. Brook House as well. I'm sure y'all can make sure that he gets it. I'm I'm sorry he missed it. Missed it. But Robin and I um the month of April and May, we we're basically traveling. So, we'll circle back on this end. I've been working closely uh with Debbie on uh assembly meetings and and getting that set up. Also, too, just to because I know a lot of board members are leaving. Again, thank you for your service um you know, with term limits. Appreciate everything you've done. I I want to brag on the state of Louisiana because when I talk to my colleagues across the country, I want to tell you Louisiana going through COVID was probably the easiest. Um I know we had some some rough spots and some hard times, but compared
015to other states, we did very very well sticking together um and and united um and and look for better days ahead after that. our student achievement is up, our ranking is up across the country, and we're definitely um waving the flag on on that as well. So, appreciate you. Thank you for everything you do and your your service. Hopefully, y'all not taping me, but you have a good person picked out that's going to come on the board. Um we are going to do new school board member training just for new school board members. We have 10 scheduled for the month of January. And I want to let you know that the Louisiana School Boards Association is ready. We live our mission every single day all day long. Leadership, service, and support for our school boards
016and our school systems. So again, thank you so much for the opportunity to come and present. And Debbie and Mr. Hall will be back. I'm going to leave this. >> All right. Thank you. Have a great guys. We will now go to our board committee reports and we'll start with finance. Miss [clears throat] Linda. >> Yes, sir. Mr. President, the finance committee met on Tuesday night. We have the following recommendations. The first one is consideration of accepting the recommendation by director of finance and superintendent to accept the report of Michael. >> I'll second that motion. >> I got a motion by Miss Bazer and a second by Mr. Phil Arsen. Any board discussion? Hearing none, we will go to a vote. All in favor say I. All oppose. >> Eyes have it. Motion passes. >>
017Number two, consideration to award bid for food service. >> I got a motion by Miss Bazer and second by Miss Summer. Do we have any board discussion? >> I want to ask the architect. So that was pretty close to what y'all estimated about. >> So 3.5 million was my actual estimate. I put 3 million to the contractors so that y'all would have the ability to reject the bid if y'all if it was a little too much for y'all. >> But 35 was my actual estimate. >> So came in right under that. >> And we've Pat Williams understand is doing the construction in Lake Arthur. >> That's correct. Yes. >> That's right. And we're going to have the same uh team I think on this project. So we've been dealing with them. They've been doing a
018good job. Good deal. Yeah. >> Very good. >> Have any more questions for Mr. Hart? Anybody? >> We'll now go to a vote. All in favor say I. >> All opposed. >> I have it. Motion passes. >> Number three, consideration of granting payment to the town of Welsh in the amount of 25,000. I got a motion by Miss Pollinger, a second by Mr. Paul Tron. Any board discussion? Hearing none, we will now go to a vote. All in favor say I. I. All opposed. Eyes have it. Motion passes. [clears throat] >> Number four, consideration of granting permission to Lake Arthur Elementary School. >> I got a motion by Miss Aller. A second by Mr. Men Dobson. Any board discussion? Hearing none. We'll now go to a vote. All in favor say I. >> All opposed?
019Eyes have. Motion passes. >> This concludes our report. >> Thank you. >> We'll now move to insurance with Mr. Blake Petri. >> No report. >> Thank you, sir. Buildings and ground committee. Mr. David Ois. >> No report, sir. >> Thank you, sir. We'll go to policy committee with Mr. Rossville Walker. >> Tuesday night, the policy policy committee met and uh that the school board consider the following policy changes recommended by Forthart Consulting and JDP. >> Second. We got a motion by Mr. Russell Walker, a second by Miss Summerleger. Any board discussion hearing? None. We will now go to a vote. All in favor say I. I. >> All opposed. I have it. Motion passes. Transportation committee. Mr. Greg. >> No report. >> 16 second section. Charles Brook House. >> No report. >> W two. Mr.
020Phil arson. >> No report. >> Thank you, sir. Legislative, Mr. Mr. Greg Bordo, >> no report. >> Long range planning, Mr. Paul, >> no report. >> And food service committee, Miss Summer Lar, >> no report. >> Thank you. >> We now turn the meeting over to our tax collector, Mr. Amber. No. >> I was reading and prepping what I wanted to say and then I was my turn. How's it going everybody? >> Good. Um for this month the schoolboard elections were 1,ion49,591 which were 56,452 over the same time last month. Last year um year to date this year we're at 9.4 million. Um 887,000 over the same time last year. But y'all remember we have that big one that came in last time. I'm still waiting to do the refund. That's not equally as big
021but pretty substantial and it'll cut that down. But um we're probably going to we're finalizing that and hopefully it'll be next month on the report or the month after. Um the new tax rate started um April 1st. We haven't had a lot of questions or anything. And the way that y'all are going to see that it won't be on next month's report because next month will be the things for um the taxes paid for March. So, it won't be until the next month after that that you'll actually see a new column and reporting on here. And what happens if um we find we start getting returns and they're not correct, we will call educate those people and send them what the calculation should be at the new rate and make send out bills to get
022it paid. But, um it's usually a couple hiccups, not a lot. So, we do expect some to be not collecting the right amount, but we will get it straight. It might take a couple months. um to get everybody on board, but just wanted to let y'all know where we're at with that. Um the state central bill was deferred. Um we had like a lot of sheriff's offices show up um the actual sheriff's sheriff's coming to there to express their displeasure and um they decided to go ahead and defer it for right now. It still could come up and we can also um inform that as long as Governor Landry is governor, he's going to bring it up every year. So, we're gonna be cognant. Um, and we're just watching everything. In the meantime, if something
023pops up, we'll be in Baton Rouge to speak on y'all's behalf. >> Thank you for your report. [clears throat] We will now move on to new business. Need a motion, a second to consider of granting permission for the following out of state travel. A sales tax collector Amber Miller to obtain the 2026. Got a motion by Mr. Phil Arsen. A second by Miss Janet Jones. Any board discussion? Hearing none, we will now go to a vote. All in favor say I. >> All oppose. Eyes have. Motion passes. Number two, consideration to approve the Welch phase 2 bid from K&J Development of Southwest Louisiana in amount of 2,48,000. Other bids from Pat Williams Construction 2,518,000. TR home construction $2,455,900 and Alfred Palmer $2,575 400 got a motion by Miss Paul >> a second by Mr. Blake
024Fro. Any board discussion hearing? None. We'll now go to a vote. All in favor say I. I. >> All oppose. I have seven. Motion passes. We have a bit offormational uh just to remind everybody about the graduation dates. Hway High School will be May 8th at 7 p.m. Elton High School will be May 12th at 7 PM. Welch High will be May 13th at 7 PM. Lacassine will be May 14th at 7 PM. Jennings High School will be May 15th at 7 PM and Lake Arthur High will be at May 15 at 7 p.m. We'll now hear from our superintendent Hall. >> Just a couple of things. Um I wanted to give a shout out to our bands here in the parish. They recently had the um Louisiana, it's called the Louisiana Music Educators Association
025um contest. And uh we had three bands that went. Lake Arthur High School uh they they got an excellent in concert band and an excellent in sight reading. Welch High School got a superior in concert band and excellent site reading. Jennings High School won something called sweep stakes. That's whenever you get the top score all the way across everything you can do in both categories. So uh Jennings uh Jennings they they call it sweep stakes. Welch band and Jennings band are going to Northwestern uh in um April the 23rd and then 24th to compete in a state competition. So uh just wanted to let them know how proud we are of them and their their accomplishments. Uh last thing um you before we built Jennings Elementary, we started conversations to with Mr. Donald Berkin. Um
026he has property right in backing back of Jenny's Elementary and we talked about uh he's landlocked. Um he has been an excellent neighbor and and friend to us. U he's worked with us when that property was being built and uh has taken care of a lot of issues for us. Um, I would like to make sure like before we leave or like before it's forgotten that we can do something to get a resolution just saying that he can have access through our north driveway to get to his his property. And that's not with tractors. It's just with his just so he can come on. Uh, so anyways, we can this in the next few months or during the summer I'll I'll just wanted to kind of get a a temperature from y'all. uh um on
027that uh he has he he watches the place for us, you know, he lets us know when things are he he's a really good neighbor to have. And so, uh >> what would that entail just real fast? Like we'd have to build like a No, I'm talking about how would he get through since it's >> a flicker? >> And then we'd have to do something in the back for him to get into his property. >> He has a ch there's a chain in the back. Oh, there is a gate there. So he we wouldn't have to give him a clicker for him to be able to open the gates and then he can >> So our our franches are on the property line, Mr. >> Yes, sir. like all the way up to right on
028the property property. >> I don't I think I think we should >> Yeah, give him access to his property somehow. >> Does it have to be him and all of his employees or is it just >> Just him. That's how it was agreed upon years ago verbally and I would like to keep it Mr. Donald Berken and he is aware of that Mr. Donald Berken and and the reason why is just because we can talk to him about I mean you know in in whenever he does need access it's always after school it's always when when no one's there and so uh that would help us with our safety issues is just being Mr. Burken and U. Miss. Honey and I could get together on on that and maybe this summer we can present something
029to you all for to look at it. >> Can I make a comment? You sure can, sir. Um, Saturday on Fenton, they're going to be having a little bill for the uh it's the backtoback len state champion. So, they're going to have at the pavilion from 2:30 to 5:30. They're going to serve food and have games. And if anybody's in area >> 2:30 to 5:30 in Benton. >> Yes. >> In words. >> School. You can't miss it. >> Can't miss school. >> Mr. Hall, are we going to honor Laxine here? >> Yeah, we've sent an invitation out already. >> Yeah. And how about our state champion swimmer from Lake Off? We still haven't done that yet. >> We know how to get a hold of him. [laughter] >> Never see him either. coaches. The coach.
030Who's the coach? They're not coaches. Real cool. >> I think we should. >> I think any state champion we ought to. Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. >> Next month. >> Pledge. >> I mean, you can maybe give him to do the pledge. I could drag him up here. >> Hey, that's a good >> Is he Is he uh Did they do the state meet yet this year? >> Yes, sir. >> How'd he do this year? >> He got state. >> So, that's two years in a row. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> Next month, Greg. >> All right. If I got if I got to call them myself, I would. >> All right, guys. Anything else before we close? Can I get a motion and a second to adjurnn? >> Motion. >> I got a motion
031by Miss Summerjourn, a second by Mr. Ry Watson. Any board discussion? Hearing none, let's vote to close, guys. All in favor? >> All opposed? Eyes have Please use your name. There someday.