Monroe City School Board of Education
2006 Tower Drive
Monroe, Louisiana 71201
MINUTES
The Monroe City School Board met in regular session, Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at Monroe City School District Central Office, 2006 Tower Drive, Monroe, Louisiana 71201. The meeting was called to order at 6:18 p.m. by Board President William Willson. Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance offered by Mr. Willson.
Agenda Item 1C – Roll Call
Present: Mr. Michael Sampognaro, Ms. Jennifer Haneline, Mrs. Brenda Shelling, and Mr. William Willson
Absent: Mr. Daryll Berry, Mrs. Betty Cooper Ward, and Mr. Brandon Johnson
Action Item 1D – Adoption of the Agenda
On a motion by Ms. Haneline and seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the Board approved the agenda as printed. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.
Action Item 2 – Consent Agenda
On a motion by Mrs. Shelling and seconded by Ms. Haneline, the Board approved March 21, 2023, board meeting minutes; Permission for Jefferson Upper Elementary 4-H Club travel to New Orleans and Permission for Carver Elementary 3rd grade to travel to the Capitol in Baton Rouge. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.
Agenda Item 3A – Report of the Superintendent
* Detailed financial reports can be viewed in BoardDocs.
* New playgrounds at all eleven elementary schools will start in the next week or two.
* Staff meetings have been held with very little turnover.
* Mr. Willson inquired about certification. Dr. Vidrine explained.
* Job Fair will be held Tuesday, May 2
* Student and Teacher of the Year will be held Wednesday, May 3 at the Monroe Civic Center
Ms. Haneline asked Dr. Vidrine to give an update on the safety recommendations and upgrades that were requested. Dr. Vidrine stated all elementary schools are secured, junior high is not. Ms. Haneline stated there was an assessment and recommendation specifically for the entryway at Neville Junior High. Dr. Vidrine stated if you want to secure our buildings then a fence will need to be put in place, the students are in and out the entry doors all day. Ms. Haneline stated the safety committee were told Mr. Monroe was going to look at this and start working on it back at the beginning of the school year in August. Dr. Vidrine stated the front entry door can be secured but the other doors are unsecure. Ms. Haneline asked why this hadn’t been done. Dr. Vidrine stated they will secure the front entry door.
Mr. Willson stated he would like to set up an ad hoc committee and if Ms. Haneline and Mr. Sampognao will chair coach it to make an assessment in better securing the Junior and High Schools. Ms. Haneline asked Mr. Willson how we hold our staff accountable for following through when the Board is told something is going to happen. Mr. Willson responded, he would like to revisit the items that were discussed and get a time schedule on items that are approved so they can be implemented and completed moving forward. Ms. Haneline think it will be beneficial for Mr. Sampognaro to look back at the recording of that meeting. Mr. Sampognaro asked Dr. Vidrine if a risk assessment was done in each school by an outside contractor. Dr. Vidrine responded, yes, the State Trooper Association did one about two years ago. Mr. Sampognaro requested a copy.
Agenda Item 3B – Report of Board Members
Mr. Sampognao thanked Dr. Vidrine for a copy of the pay scale for cafeteria employees. Mr. Sampognaro will meet with Mr. Hawkins this week to discuss the pay in depth and to let him know his findings and get Mr. Hawkins input. He reported he took good notes from the COSSBA conference and would like to implement some of them with Ms. Hanline on the security of the schools.
Ms. Haneline reported testing and graduation season is coming up. She encourages everyone to be safe and healthy. Ms. Haneline noted they are concerned about safety and want to be proactive as possible.
Mrs. Shelling reported on the COSSBA conference in Tampa Florida. She noted the conference was wonderful and received a lot of information from the contributors. She mentioned two speakers were very influential to her, one spoke on different generations and how to approach students. The second one, Mr. Quinones, spoke of being raised as a poor child and had to pick cotton and decided to make progress with himself and now has his own show on ABC.
Mr. Willson reported he put a detailed overview on Facebook about the COSSBA conference in Tampa. He wanted to give feedback to stakeholders and constituents on what was learned and experienced. Mr. Willson turned over his report time to a former board member, Mrs. Bryant. Mrs. Bryant voiced her concerns on curriculums and programs in the classrooms. She thinks they need to be careful of materials that go into the classrooms fit the community in which we live, parents and children we serve. She believes it’s incumbent upon the board to ensure materials used in the classrooms are truly representative of the community and suggests considering a change in policy. She believes it will protect the district and children. When software programs and curriculums are adopted for the classrooms, she asked the committee that is approving the materials include teachers, parents, and stakeholders from the community. She asked Mrs. Shelling and Ms. Haneline to look at a change or amendment to the current policy on how materials are approved and placed in the classrooms. She stated she has a prototype that she would be happy to share, amend and certainly improve it in any way. She asks for a broader group of people to approve material for the students. Mr. Willson thanked Mrs. Bryan. Mrs. Shelling stated to Mrs. Bryant she and Ms. Haneline are on the policy committee as well as the curriculum committee together. Mrs. Shelling has asked each committee to review documents in the policy handbook and bring them to her.
Mr. Sampognaro noted the State Superintendent will visit J.S. Clark on Friday, April 28 and ask the Board to be present.
Agenda Item 4 – Future Meetings
Board Meetings – May 9, 2023, and June 6, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
Action Item 5 – Recess/Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the board, on a motion by Ms. Haneline and seconded by Mr. Sampognaro, the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Bottom of Form
/William Willson/ /Brent Vidrine/
William Willson Dr. Brent Vidrine
Board President Superintendent
Note: These minutes summarize the final decisions made by the Board at the referenced meeting. This meeting was also audio recorded and that recording is available for review by contacting the board clerk at tonya.robinson@mcschools.net
