ST. TAMMANY PARISH SCHOOL BOARD M I N U T E S

Transcription

1 ST. TAMMANY PARISH SCHOOL BOARD M I N U T E S February 2, 2015 T he Parish School Board of the Parish of St. Tammany, State of Louisiana, met in special session at the Parish School Board Office, 321 N. Theard Street, Covington, Louisiana on Monday, February 2, 2015 at seven (7:00) o clock p.m. (Central Standard Time) pursuant to the provisions of the following written notice given to each and every member thereof and duly posted in the manner required by law, viz: DATE: January 20, 2015 (Revised January 30, 2015) TO: All Board Members and the General Public Notice is hereby given that a special meeting of the Parish School Board of the Parish of St. Tammany, State of Louisiana, has been ordered and called and will be held at the C. J. Schoen Administrative Complex, 321 N. Theard Street, Covington, Louisiana on Monday, February 2, 2015 to begin at 7:00 p.m., for the following purposes, to-wit: 1. Declaration of vacancy in the position of St. Tammany Parish School Board Member for District 12 and issuance of Proclamation authorizing a special election to fill this vacancy in accordance with the provisions of Louisiana Revised Statute 18:402, Louisiana Revised Statute 18:583 and Louisiana Revised Statute 18:602; and 2. To have the remaining members of the St. Tammany Parish School Board appoint a person who meets the qualifications of the office to fill the vacancy in School Board District 12; and 3. Discussion of BESE action regarding PARCC testing; and 4. To consider and transact any and all other business which may be properly brought before the Parish School Board. This will be an important meeting, and all Board members are urged to attend. BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT W. L. TREY FOLSE, III Superintendent I. OPENING A. Roll Call There were present: President Stephen J. Jack Loup, III, and Board Members, Neal M. Hennegan, Elizabeth B. Heintz, Michael J. Dirmann, Charles T. Harrell, Michael C. Nation, Willie B. Jeter, Peggy H. Seeley, Sharon Lo Drucker, Ronald Ron Bettencourtt, Robert R. "Bob" Womack, Robin P. Mullett, Anthony Alfred and Mary K. Bellisario. There were absent: None. Vacancy: District 12. B. Invocation C. Pledge of Allegiance President Loup called on Mr. Nation for the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. II. PUBLIC COMMENTS A. Three Minutes Ms. Lee Barrios addressed the Board on PARCC testing.

2 2 III. AGENDA ITEMS A. Declaration of vacancy in the position of St. Tammany Parish School Board Member for District 12 and issuance of Proclamation authorizing a special election to fill this vacancy in accordance with the provisions of Louisiana Revised Statute 18:402, Louisiana Revised Statute 18:583 and Louisiana Revised Statute 18:602. It was moved by Mr. Jeter, seconded by Mrs. Drucker, to declare a vacancy in the position of St. Tammany Parish School Board District 12 and to adopt a Proclamation authorizing a special election to fill the vacancy in accordance with the provisions of Louisiana Revised Statute 18:402, Louisiana Revised Statute 18:583 and Louisiana Revised Statute 18:602. PROCLAMATION RESOLUTION DECLARING A VACANCY ON THE BOARD AND PROCLAMATION CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL THAT VACANCY FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IN DISTRICT 12, ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LOUISIANA BE IT RESOLVED by the St. Tammany Parish School Board in special session, duly convened that: I. Acting under and in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana including Louisiana Revised Statute 18:402, Louisiana Revised Statute 18:583 and Louisiana Revised Statute 18:602, the St. Tammany Parish School Board does hereby resolve and proclaim that: A. Due to the death of Mr. James Ronnie Panks, Sr., School Board Member for St. Tammany Parish School Board District 12, occurring on January 13, 2015, the St. Tammany Parish School Board does hereby declare that effective January 14, 2015, a vacancy exists in the position of member of the St. Tammany Parish School Board District 12 for the term of office running January 1, 2015 through December 31, B. As a vacancy in Membership exists as of January 14, 2015 in St. Tammany Parish School Board District 12 due to the death of Mr. James Ronnie Panks, Sr., acting pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statute 18:602 E. (2) (a) - (d) and Louisiana Revised Statute 18:402 E. (1), the St. Tammany Parish School Board does hereby order a special election to fill the vacancy of School Board member from Election District 12, St. Tammany Parish, to complete the term of office that commenced January 1, 2015 and would have run through December 31, 2018, with the special primary election to be held on October 24, 2015 and the special general election to be held, if necessary, on November 21, The qualifying period for the special primary election shall be between Tuesday, September 8, 2015 and Thursday, September 10, Such elections shall be conducted in accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana. II. III. IV. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution and proclamation be immediately published in the official journal of the St. Tammany Parish School Board. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, within twenty-four (24) hours hereof, copies of this resolution and proclamation shall be sent by certified or registered mail to the Clerk of the 22 nd Judicial District Court for St. Tammany Parish and to the Secretary of State of the State of Louisiana. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of Court, Secretary of State and all other officials having responsibilities with respect to said special election and this resolution and proclamation be requested to perform the duties incumbent upon them. President Loup asked if there were any questions from the Board or comments by the public, and there were none.

3 3 On roll call, the vote was as follows: Yeas: Mr. Hennegan, Mrs. Heintz, Mr. Dirmann, Mr. Loup, Mr. Harrell, Mr. Nation, Mr. Jeter, Mrs. Seeley, Mrs. Drucker, Mr. Bettencourtt, Mr. Womack, Mrs. Mullett, Mr. Alfred and Mrs. Bellisario. Nays: None. Absent: None. Vacancy: District 12. The Proclamation was made and the Resolution was declared adopted on the 2nd day of February, B. To have the remaining members of the St. Tammany Parish School Board appoint a person who meets the qualifications of the office to fill the vacancy in School Board District 12. President Loup said the following persons had timely submitted their letters of interest in the vacancy of School Board Member for District 12 and had been found eligible: Ms. Kristi Boudreau and Mr. Richard Hursey. Ms. Boudreau and Mr. Hursey addressed the Board. President Loup asked if there were any questions from the Board. Mr. Womack asked the candidates if they were interested in running for office in the special election to fill the vacancy in District 12. Ms. Boudreau and Mr. Hursey said they would run for office in the special election. President Loup asked for nominations for the position of School Board Member District 12. Mr. Hennegan nominated Ms. Kristi Boudreau. Mr. Womack nominated Mr. Richard Hursey. On ballot vote, the vote was as follows: Voting for Ms. Boudreau: Mr. Hennegan, Mr. Dirmann, Mr. Nation, Mr. Bettencourtt, Mrs. Mullett and Mrs. Bellisario. Voting for Mr. Hursey: Mrs. Heintz, Mr. Harrell, Mr. Jeter, Mrs. Seeley, Mrs. Drucker, Mr. Womack and Mr. Alfred. President Loup said by a vote of 7 to 6, Mr. Richard Hursey was appointed to the position of Board Member, District 12. Mr. Richard Hursey immediately took his Oath of Office, administered by Mr. David Pittman, Attorney. C. Discussion of BESE action regarding PARCC testing. President Loup said included in the meeting packet was a proposed letter to BESE and a proposed Resolution regarding PARCC testing. President Loup asked if there were any comments from the Board. Mr. Dirmann asked if the Board would be submitting both the letter and the resolution to BESE. Mr. Dirmann said he thought the resolution was more directed to the legislature and other political bodies and the letter was directed to BESE and to the Superintendent of Education.

4 4 President Loup said Mr. Dirmann was correct, the letter was directed to BESE and would be signed by the Board Members. He said copies of the resolution would be sent to state officials and the legislature. Mr. Dirmann said that both could be enacted at tonight s meeting depending on the Board s discretion. Mrs. Mullett said both the letter to BESE and the resolution to BESE and our legislators were vital. She said they were similar, and they both would send a very powerful message. Mrs. Mullett said she supported doing both. She said in the past week requests were made to board members and superintendents throughout the state to write letters, and another parish had written a resolution. Mrs. Mullett said she felt a resolution was in order. Mrs. Bellisario said she agreed because it said, we hereby request that BESE hold a special meeting and therefore it should go to BESE. Mr. Bettencourtt said he heard Mr. Roemer had declined a special meeting called for by four (4) BESE members. Mr. Bettencourtt asked if the Board should go forward and request BESE hold a special meeting. President Loup said he thought most parishes were considering sending a resolution, no matter what Mr. Roemer said at that time. Mrs. Heintz said her concern was when a resolution is sent to BESE it does not get entered into their minutes until they hold a meeting. She said if the Board does not ask BESE to hold a meeting, then sending the resolution after the fact does not make sense. Mrs. Heintz said it was important to send the letter and the letter should be sent to the BESE members at their place of business, not the BESE office. Mrs. Heintz said the BESE members should have this letter in hand and it was very important. It was moved by Mr. Harrell, seconded by Mr. Bettencourtt, to send both the letter and the resolution to the parties indicated. President Loup asked if there were any comments from the Board. Mrs. Seeley asked for a point of clarification. She said it was her understanding that the next BESE meeting would be in March and that was some time from now. Mrs. Seeley said BESE might not even acknowledge the fact that they would hold a special meeting. She said four (4) of the BESE members were firm in that they wanted a special meeting, but the president turned it down. Superintendent Folse said some of the intent of the letter was to sway some of the BESE Board members who had in the past said they were not in favor of a meeting, and to convince them in the need of having the meeting. Superintendent Folse said if the numbers grow maybe Mr. Roemer would change his mind. Mr. Dirmann asked if the Board would vote on the letter and the resolution and the content separately. He said there was a motion on the floor for both, but he wondered how the Board would handle the vote and the discussion. Mr. David Pittman, Attorney, said there was a motion on the floor for both. Mr. Dirmann said the content of the resolution was about testing and school performance scores, but the teacher evaluation component was not addressed in how the PARCC testing would impact it as well. Mr. Dirmann said the teacher evaluation component should be addressed in the resolution and what it would mean to the teachers. Mr. Dirmann asked how that component could be inserted into the resolution. Mrs. Seeley asked if the Board should wait until the next meeting to consider voting on the resolution. She said that way if any amendments or changes needed to be done, there would be time to look further into it.

5 5 Mrs. Mullett said the changes could be made tonight to add that one component with the Board s approval. Mr. Bettencourtt said it was his understanding if BESE had six (6) board members request a meeting, they would not need Mr. Chas. Roemer to change his mind. Mr. Bettencourtt said he was in favor of making the changes tonight in the wording to the resolution so the resolution could be distributed as early as possible. Mrs. Bellisario said she and Mrs. Mullett and Mr. Alfred had a suggestion. Mrs. Bellisario said after the last Whereas just add the words, and teacher evaluation. Mrs. Bellisario said and after Therefore Be it Resolved add the words, and teacher evaluation. Mrs. Bellisario said Caddo Parish left it out of their resolution because they thought the teachers were exempt this year, and they were looking at this year affecting the school performance score. Mrs. Bellisario said it could easily be added to the resolution. Mrs. Bellisario said in the last Whereas paragraph to add at the end, where there is a semicolon the following: delete the semicolon and add and teacher evaluation scores. Mrs. Bellisario said it would have to be done the same way in the paragraph beginning with Therefore. Mr. Dirmann said he agreed with the change to the resolution. Mr. Bettencourtt asked if the District could opt out. Mr. Dirmann said the problem is that the district s funding is basically 50% from the state, and if the Board looked at abandoning the state on these issues, it would not be productive. Mr. Dirmann said he felt it would be detrimental to our school system, our employees and our students. Mr. Dirmann said he did not like the actions of BESE and the Department of Education, but he felt the Board had to fight it through the necessary channels. Mr. Dirmann said he did not know if the Board had the authority to not to do this during this particular point in time. He said he would defer that to either Superintendent Folse or to legal counsel for advisement on the issues, and he said it would be a very delicate conversation. Mrs. Bellisario suggested that should be an agenda item for Thursday s Committee As A Whole meeting. Mr. Bettencourtt thanked Mr. Dirmann for his input. Mr. Bettencourtt said in a recent social media posting, Lottie Beebe, BESE Member District 3, almost asked school systems to opt out. Mr. Bettencourtt said Ms. Beebe was not actually asking systems to opt out, it was more a what if or a possibility. Mr. Bettencourtt said he wondered what would happen if nine or ten high performing school systems across the state all decided to say this is a fiasco for our students, and we are putting our foot down and we are not going to play anymore. Mr. Bettencourtt said he knew all of the ramifications. Mr. Bettencourtt said he was not saying the Board should do this, and he said he would like to hear some thoughts. Mr. Womack said St. Tammany was the first Board in the state to put a resolution together to opt out of Common Core and nothing happened then. Mrs. Mullett said she would like to discuss the changes to the Resolution. Mrs. Mullett read the last Whereas paragraph and added the words and teacher evaluation scores to the end of the paragraph. Mrs. Mullett read the next paragraph beginning with Therefore Be it Resolved and added the words and teacher evaluation scores to the end of the paragraph. President Loup asked if there were any comments from the Board. Mrs. Seeley said the Board did not really know if this was PARCC testing and asked if there was some sort of language that could be inserted that would adjust it somewhat because it had not been exposed as to what test it really is, we are calling it PARCC, and it is a concern. Mrs.

6 6 Seeley said if we were going to address it maybe the Board should add some language in there that would also address whatever is suggested at this point. President Loup said he thought John White called it PARCC testing. Mrs. Mullett asked Dr. Sanford would it be correct to put, everywhere that the resolution said PARCC test, put PARCC test or PARCC like test. Dr. Sanford said if the discussion is about grades 3-8, the booklet which was received as a testing manual has PARCC on the front. Mrs. Mullett asked if it would be proper to say any version of PARCC. Dr. Sanford said, or specify a grade level of the standardized test. Mrs. Mullett said she did not want to get that specific. Superintendent Folse suggested state identified. He said they are the ones using the term. He said, or PARCC like, either one. Mrs. Mullett said she would like to keep PARCC and suggested using state designated PARCC test. Dr. Sanford added the system would also be administering the LEAP test for science and social studies, the EOC test for high school and the ACT test also for high school. Dr. Sanford said unless you designate each one individually, and she did not know the direction of the Board, but many types of standardized tests are administered. Mrs. Mullett said she understood Mrs. Seeley s concerns, but she was confident if the Board just left it as PARCC testing, they knew exactly what the Board meant. Mr. Dirmann said he agreed with Mrs. Mullett in that they knew what the Board meant, but they could also use it as a way to wiggle. He said when Superintendent Folse said state identified test, then that basically covered everything we are having to use at this moment. Mrs. Bellisario said PARCC should be mentioned because that is what the public knows, our parents know, and teachers and administrators know. Mrs. Bellisario said she liked Superintendent Folse s state designated PARCC testing and that would cover it if John White would start calling it some other kind of PARCC right now. Mrs. Seeley agreed with Mrs. Bellisario and Mr. Folse s suggestion. Mrs. Heintz suggested that tonight the Board accept the letter and have it sent in the mail, and then a cleaned up resolution could be presented at Thursday s meeting. She said it should be read at the meeting and then voted on. Mrs. Heintz said some of the wording in the resolution bothered her and she would like to see it cleaned up a little more and sent out at the full Board meeting. It was moved by Mrs. Seeley, to address the resolution on Thursday and have it ready to go. President Loup said there was a motion on the floor presented by Mr. Harrell and it still required a vote. President Loup asked if there were any other comments from the Board on the original motion. Mrs. Bellisario said since the whole situation changes daily, she did not see any reason to wait and the Resolution looked clean and changes were made. She said it would be the discretion of the Board who would want to wait until Thursday and who would want to send it. President Loup said the motion on the floor was to send both the letter and the resolution to the parties indicated.

7 7 Mr. Harrell said he would accept a friendly amendment to bifurcate the motion. President Loup asked if there was a friendly amendment to bifurcate the motion. A friendly amendment was offered by Mr. Hennegan, seconded by Mrs. Drucker, to vote on the letter and the resolution separately. President Loup asked if there were any comments from the Board. Mrs. Bellisario said considering Thursday night was a Committee As A Whole meeting, it would still have to lay over another week. She agreed the Board could bifurcate the motion, but felt like time was of the essence. Mr. Nation asked if the Board agreed to bifurcate, then all the Board was doing was separating the motion for tonight s meeting. President Loup replied yes. President Loup asked if there were any other comments from the Board or comments from the public. Ms. Lee Barrios asked the Board to read both for public record. Ms. Barrios addressed the Board about the legality of the state withholding funding for students. President Loup called for a vote on the friendly amendment to separate the motion, and the Board voted unanimously to separate the motion. President Loup asked if there was a motion on the letter. It was moved by Mr. Nation, seconded by Mr. Harrell, to send a letter to BESE regarding PARCC testing. President Loup read the proposed letter to BESE. Dear BESE Member: It has come to our attention that you are considering the possibility of a special BESE meeting to discuss PARCC testing and the consequences to students, schools and Louisiana school systems related to opting-out of PARCC testing by Louisiana school students. As members of the St. Tammany Parish School Board, we believe the calling of this special meeting of BESE to discuss this concern is appropriate and we urge you to take the necessary action to call for the meeting. Board members and constituents are expressing concerns as to the consequences that the opting-out movement will have on our schools and school districts. We know that opting-out of PARCC testing would have multi layered negative consequences to school systems. It is the responsibility of BESE to develop protocols consistent across the state of Louisiana. Discussion of the placing of a moratorium of the assignment of letter grades for schools and school districts should be included on the agenda of the special meeting. Please call a special meeting of BESE for this discussion as this issue needs to be resolved for education stakeholders. President Loup asked if there were any questions from the Board or comments by the public. There being none, the motion carried unanimously. Mrs. Drucker said she wanted to make sure the letter would be sent to each BESE Board member.

8 8 Superintendent Folse said Board Members would need to sign the original letter to BESE following the meeting. He said the letter would be ed to each BESE member on Tuesday and they would also receive the letter in the mail. It was moved by Mrs. Mullett, seconded by Mr. Nation, to accept the resolution with the minor changes. Mrs. Mullett read the resolution. The following is the resolution as edited. R E S O L U T I O N Whereas, the St. Tammany Parish School Board Members previously submitted a resolution dated November 13, 2014 requesting that BESE and the state of Louisiana remove its agreement with the Common Core standards and the state designated PARCC testing for all students in the state; and Whereas, the St. Tammany Parish School Board has been advised that there is a growing movement by parents throughout the State opting their students out of participating in the state designated PARCC testing this year; Whereas, the St. Tammany Parish School Board has been advised that the State Department of Education has condoned the practice of parents opting their students out of participating in the state designated PARCC testing, but has advised that the School Districts will be held accountable for every student not taking the state designated PARCC test by assigning a zero (0) for every student that does not take the test; Whereas, allowing students to not take the test with no consequences, but assigning a zero (0) grade for each student that does not take the test, will have dire consequences on the school, district performance scores, school letter grades and teacher evaluation scores. Whereas, the St. Tammany Parish School Board members hereby request that BESE call a special meeting to either (1) call for a moratorium on all school districts participating in the state designated PARCC testing or (2) advise districts that any parents who receive a waiver from the State Department or a school district allowing their child to not participate in the state designated PARCC testing also be exempt from including that child in the calculation of the school and district s performance score and teacher evaluation scores. Therefore Be it Resolved that the members of the St. Tammany Parish School Board do hereby request that BESE hold a special meeting and (1) approve a moratorium on all school districts participating in the state designated PARCC testing; or (2) advise districts that any parents who receive a waiver from the State Department or a school district allowing their child to not participate in the state designated PARCC testing also be exempt from including that child in the calculation of the school and district s performance score and teacher evaluation scores. Be it further resolved that this resolution be spread upon the official minutes of the Board, with copies being sent to Governor Bobby Jindal, State Superintendent of Education John White, members of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, all members of the Louisiana Legislature, the President and Superintendent of every Louisiana School Board, the executive director of the Louisiana School Board Association, and all public education stakeholders organizations/associations. President Loup asked if there were any questions from the Board. Mr. Dirmann said he was not clear what the Board would be voting on. He asked if the Board was approving the resolution as modified and then that it was going to be sent tomorrow. He also asked if the resolution would layover to the next Board meeting.

9 9 President Loup asked for the intent of the motion. Mrs. Mullett said her motion was to accept the resolution with the changes as read, and that the resolution be sent out just like we do with every other resolution that the Board approves. Mr. Nation, as the second to the motion, was in agreement. President Loup asked if there were any further comments from the Board or comments from the public. Ms. Barrios addressed the Board regarding PARCC testing. President Loup called for a vote on the resolution. All members present voted in the affirmative, and the resolution was declared adopted. Mrs. Bellisario asked if the Resolution would also be sent to the media. Superintendent Folse replied yes. He said it was normally in the record of the meeting, but he would make sure it goes to the media and to Mr. Scott Richard, Executive Director of LSBA by tonight. IV. ADJOURN There being no further business to come before the Board, President Loup adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m. W. L. TREY FOLSE, III STEPHEN J. JACK LOUP, III Secretary President