Monroe City School Board of Education
2006 Tower Drive
Monroe, Louisiana 71201
MINUTES
The Monroe City School Board met in regular session, Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at Monroe City School District Central Office, 2006 Tower Drive, Monroe, Louisiana 71201. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Board President Jennifer Haneline. Prayer was offered by Pastor Douzart, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board President Jennifer Haneline.
Agenda Item 1C – Roll Call
Present: Board President, Jennifer Haneline, Mr. Bill Willson, Mr. Daryll Berry, Mrs. Betty Ward Cooper, Board Vice President, Mr. Brandon Johnson, Mrs. Brenda Shelling.
Absent: Mr. Michael Sampognaro
Action Item 1D – Adoption of the Agenda
Ms. Haneline requested adding Renaissance DNA Curriculum (3E) On Your Mark Curriculum(3F) and Behavioral Health Coordinator position (4C) to the agenda.
It was moved by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Shelling to add the above agenda items
On a motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Cooper the Board approved adding Renaissance DNA Curriculum to consent agenda item 3E, On Your Mark Curriculum to item 3F to consent agenda and Behavioral Health Coordinator to consent items for separate consideration, agenda item 4C. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.
Agenda Item 2A – Presentation – Rev. Harold McCoy (photos taken)
Reverend Harold McCoy stated he is impressed with the work Superintendent Moore is doing. They have come together cohesively for the good of our children and community.
In recognition of the accomplishments and achievements in the field of Education. Representative Pat Moore read a plaque that was presented to Reverend Sam Moore, Superintendent of Monroe City Schools on behalf of Rev. Harold McCoy, Representative, Pat Moore, Representative Adrian Fisher, Senator Katrina Jackson Andrews and Rev. Ambrose Douzart with the NAACP
Action Item 3 – Consent Agenda
On a motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mr. Berry the board approve the board of Education Minutes July 16, 2024; Final adoption of Board Policy BBBE-R (Board Member Travel Regulations); Final adoption of Board Policy JCEA (Sexually Related Student Misconduct); and Approval of Carr Riggs & Ingram Letters of Engagement (3) authorizing audit services for the year ended June 30, 2024.
Public Comment: Mrs. Krutzer congratulated Ms. Haneline on acknowledging the school activity funds that need to be audited every year. She inquired about a statement Ms. Haneline previously made in reference to requesting a timeline for each of our schools from the CFO and Mr. Sam Moore.
Public Comment: Mrs. Day thanked the board for working with her on policy JCEA (sexually related student misconduct)
Public Comment: Mrs. Bryant inquired about the audit that we are currently entering.
Ms. Haneline stated they are pursuing the audit to ensure our fiscal accountability.
Action Item 4A – Consent Items for Separate Consideration
On a motion by Mr. Willson and seconded by Mr. Berry the board approved ACE (Charter School) request to contract school bus transportation services. The motion carried unanimously.
Action Item 4B – MCAL/Free Me Association approval of facilities use cooperative endeavor agreement
On a motion by Mr. Willson and seconded by Mr. Berry the board approved for Attorney Lawrence, Superintendent Moore, Board President Jennifer Haneline and Vice President Brandon Johnson to negotiate and then come back to the board for ratification.
Board Member Daryll Berry stated he received good feedback on what MCAL is doing for the kids in the community.
Board Member Bill Willson inquired about a deposit being made and recommended to consider refunding the deposit at the end of the year if there is no damage or anything.
Tyree Hollins, Jessica Hollins and a member of the MCAL gave insight on their program.
Mr. Willson restated his motion. It was moved by Mr. Willson and seconded by Mr. Berry to have the board represented by Ms. Haneline, Mr. Johnson, Superintendent Sam Moore, COO Dr. Watson and school board Attorney Lawrence to negotiate the contract in good faith and then seek ratification and approval with the board on an individual base via email. The motion carried unanimously.
Action Item 4C – Behavioral Health Coordinator Position (agenda item added)
On a motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Shelling the board approved the behavioral Health Coordinator Position. The motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item 5A – June 2024 Financial Reports (preliminary)
Superintendent Moore noted June 2024 preliminary summary for general fund and sales tax amounts are preliminary due to continue year ending 2023-2024. The business Department is continuing to receive revenue from 2023-2024.
* 2324 general fund the original 2324 budget estimated a deficit of $3,448,198.
* The financial department is currently working on the revised budget for 2023-2024 and more detailed information will be provided throughout the required budgetary process
* There are end of the year adjustments for the revenue 2324
* sales tax revenue increased by 2.85% for a total of $980,000 more than the prior year
* 1968 sales tax revenue had a total increase of $198,000 more than the prior year
* 1994 sales tax revenue had a total increase of $260,000 more than the prior year
* 2001 sales tax revenue had a total increase of $522,000
* It was mentioned in previous meetings the object code 500 is a t 107.61% (increase cost of insurance)
Public Comment: Mrs. Krutzer asked if the timeline for the budget will be met and out for public view before the 15 days.
Superintendent Moore stated yes.
Mr. Willson inquired about the status on the payroll withholding on the employees’ checks.
Superintendent Moore stated everyone has been contacted through email roughly six weeks ago with options.
Agenda Item 5B – Report of Superintendent
Superintendent Moore allowed Principal Montrell Marshall to speak on the MOU (memorandum of understanding) in partnership with ULM.
Mr. Marshall noted a MOU was signed yesterday at Carroll Junior High School along with ULM that focuses on academic and student support services, career exploration leadership development, and community engagement.
Mr. Moore noted plans and what’s going on
* Revise the activity fund handbooks is currently on the way
* Principals’ training forthcoming. Project aims to deliver a comprehensive update to equip principals with essential tools and knowledge to effectively manage student’s funds placing emphasis on best practices accountability and transparency. This will be in the possession of all campuses and principals once it is completed. This will be available online.
* We have received 6 of the 20 electrical buses that’s on sight right now. Some staff members have taken a tour and will invite the board to do the same.
* Mr. Moore and Dr. Bush (CWA Director) incorporating the community with getting back to “it takes a village to raise a child”
* The first session is Chat and Chew with Superintendent Moore that will be held on August 20th from 5pm to 6pm at the Johnson Carver Terrance 31 Carroll Drive in Monroe, La.
* We are not North or South, we are Monroe City Schools
Mr. Moore had a meeting with Mr. Shelby in reference to Neville High School going Charter. Mr. Moore and board Attorney Lawrence want to be transparent, have conversations with staff, answer questions they may have and get information. Superintendent Moore stated he is 100% against the type 3 Charter for Monroe City Schools. Mr. Moore is a public school educated that’s hired by Monroe City School System. Superintendent Moore wanted to go on record to say to the board members, “please don’t put me in position and ask me to do work to help foster and temp Neville going Charter. That’s not my position, that’s not the position I would take. Mr. Moore stated he is Monroe City Schools Superintendent, and he is Monroe City Schools.
Agenda Item 5C – Report of Board Members
Mr. Willson asked for the latest updates on the Neville High School investigation by the Louisiana State Legislative Auditors.
Superintendent Moore stated he has not received anything, nor has he had conversations with the auditors. They were onsite for a couple of weeks and never said anything to the Superintendent. They only spoke with the business department when they were instructed to take the next steps.
Mr. Willson inquired about some of the staff personal computers being in the possession of the auditors.
Mr. Moore responded; it is still in the auditor’s possession.
Mrs. Cooper reported the curriculum committee meeting that was held on July 31st was very productive. The Bayou Bridges social studies curriculum K-8 was approved. The National Institute for excellence in teaching contract was approved to support labeled schools that’s required by the Louisiana Department of Education.
Mrs. Shelling reported she attended a wonderful conference in Biloxi, Mississippi. The speakers were phenomenal in presenting.
Mr. Berry -No report
Board Vice President Mr. Johnson – reported it’s good to see staff and some of the head teams present at the meetings. It’s good for Superintendent Moore to be able to reference the people that are on his team to give insight on what’s going on in the Monroe City Schools. Mr. Johnsons stated he appreciates Mrs. White for hitting the ground running and making time with other duties she must deal with. He stated its refreshing to see Dr. Bush and Dr. Watson in the schools and speaking on Monroe City Schools behalf. Mr. Johnson attended the Carroll Junior High School MOU signing with ULM. Mr. Johnson appreciates Principal Marshall and staff.
Board President Jennifer Haneline thanked Superintendent Moore for visiting the schools and for visibility throughout the district. The Neville High School Multi-purpose building is open. Carroll High School band room had some irregularities in the building construction and is being investigated. They will determine the next steps. Ms. Haneline stated for the record “as an individual, as a mother as president of the school board I think that was an overreach by our legislators and we need to let our school districts and our teachers, and our administrators make the rules for work best in the classrooms”.
Mr. Johnson noted he and Dr. Bush had a conversation about cell phones and have some great ideas from other districts. They will be speaking with Mr. Moore to address this issue and bring it to the board.
Mrs. Haneline wanted to mention she found an extra 65,000 in Carroll High School’s budget that they did not spend. She stated communication needs to be better with the budget dollars. She believes there should be a work committee, now that we have a COO to see what is being utilized and underutilized in the schools. She wants all the schools to be aware of how much money they have accessible to them and supplies for their students. The state encouraged the school boards to include students in their school board meetings and to swear them in as board members but cannot vote. This is an initiative she wanted to take to help better the board of what’s going on in the schools and encourage civic engagement. This was voted down in the policy committee.
Mrs. Shelling inquired about maintenance in the schools. Dr. Watson has started doing walk-throughs in the schools.
Agenda Item 6A – Future Meetings
Board Meetings – September 10, 2024 and October 1, 2024 at 6:00p.m.
Agenda Item 7A- Executive Session – The Board will convene in executive session to receive and consider a complaint received from an administrator regarding alleged misconduct. Any necessary action will be taken after the Board reconvenes in open session
On a motion by Vice President Brandon Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Cooper the board convened in executive session at 7:23pm not to exceed 30 minutes to receive and consider a complaint received from an administrator regarding alleged misconduct. Any necessary action will be taken after the Board reconvenes in open session. The motion carried unanimously.
Reconvene in Open Session
On a motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Cooper, at 7:59 p.m. the Board reconvened in open session.
No action taken.
Action Item 6 – Recess/Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the board, on a motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Cooper the meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.
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/Jennifer Haneline/ /Sam Moore, III/
Jennifer Haneline Sam Moore, III
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.
