Monroe City School Board of Education
2006 Tower Drive
Monroe, Louisiana 71201
MINUTES
The Monroe City School Board met in regular session, Thursday, July 15, 2025 at Monroe City School District Central Office, 2006 Tower Drive, Monroe, Louisiana 71201. The meeting was called to order at 6:00p.m. by Board President Betty Ward Cooper. Chief of Operation, Dr. Harrington Watson offered prayer and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Agenda Item 1C – Roll Call
Present: Mr. Sampognaro, Jennifer Haneline, Betty Ward Cooper, Bill Willson, Mr. Daryll Berry, Brandon Johnson and Brenda Shelling
Agenda Item 1D – Adoption of the Agenda
On a motion by Board Member Haneline and seconded by Vice President Brenda Shelling the board approve the agenda as printed. The motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item 3A-C- Consent Agenda (out of sequence)
On a motion by Mr. Berry and seconded by Mr. Johnson the board approved Board of Education Minutes of June 5, 2025; Awarding of Bid #SFS26-03 School Food Products; Awarding of Bid #SFS26-04 Paper and Cleaning Supplies
Agenda Item 4A – Updated Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator Job Description
Superintendent Moore stated that we’ve had a coordinator before in the CTE program, but the job description was not updated. The job description was updated and believes this will be beneficial for our district. Mr. Cody Chase from Neville High School will be the CTE Coordinator for the district.
On a motion by Ms. Haneline and seconded by Mr. Berry, the board approved the updated CTE Coordinator job description. The motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item 4B – Ratification of property and casualty insurance program with Gallagher 2025-2026.
It was moved by Mrs. Shelling and seconded by Ms. Haneline to approve ratification of property and casualty insurance program with Gallagher 2025-2026.
On a motion by Ms. Haneline and seconded by Mrs. Shelling the board approved to remove uninsured motorist coverage for the 2025-2026 school year.
Agenda Item 4C Approval of Carr Riggs & Ingram engagement letters for FY 2025 audit services.
On a motion by Ms. Haneline and seconded by Mr. Johnson the board approved the Carr Riggs & Ingram engagement letters for FY 2025 audit services. The motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item 5A- Financial Reports
May 2025 Summary General Fund
Sales tax for July 15, 2025
Revenue is approximately $1.4M more than in May 2024.
(Previously mentioned) Object code 700 – Payment of the Lexington Playground Sail Shades and the Neville HS Batting Cage (at 106.88%). The total cost for the NHS Batting Cage was $159,980. The district received the final $52,500 reimbursement from La. Dept of Treasury in April.
Sales Taxes – Total Sales Tax revenue received in May 2025 for the March 2025 collections increased by 6.75% for a total of $217K. Sales Tax revenue has fluctuated throughout 2024-2025. As of May 2025, the overall total decrease of Sales Tax revenue is 0.42%
1968 Sales Tax
Revenues have an overall total increase of $47K, which is 77% more than the prior year overall.
1994 Sales Tax
Revenues have an overall decrease of $65K, which is 0.67% less than the prior year.
The overall increase in the total amount of expenditure is due to the MIS budget being funded through the 1994 Sales Tax (Fund 12) only, instead of a split with the 2001 Sales Tax (Fund 90) as in previous years.
2001 Sales Tax
Revenues have an overall decrease of $131K, which is 0.67% less than the prior year.
Object code 400 – The category is significantly higher due to the security camera upgrade ($2.5M) and the track repairs at all high schools ($656K). The budget amount for the security camera upgrade is in object code 300; however, the purchase order and expenditures were coded to 400. A correction will be made for the end-of-year budget revisions once all payments are processed.
Superintendent Moore noted that the federal programs team are currently reviewing projected spending allocations for Title II and Title IV to determine the best course of action for continuing essential programs to support these initiatives. This focuses on professional development for educators, enhancing classroom instruction, and promoting effective teacher practices. This investment aims to improve student outcomes and to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education.
In contrast, Title IV funding provides a broader range of support, including well-rounded educational opportunities. Effective use of technology emphasizing these areas is crucial for creating comprehensive education experience for addressing the needs of our kids and so due to the federal spending pauses the director of federal programs Dr. Shane Herron, in collaboration with our chief academic officer and himself to determine how to allocate our funds. They will have a department call and after the call tomorrow they will meet on the 17th to determine the best course of action moving forward. Esser funding is ending and there will be some cuts in certain positions that were funded by Esser and this is why we had to make necessary changes.
Mr. Moore noted this was shared with employees that once these fundings are gone, then we’ll change it. Literacy coaches, for example, our 12 literacy coaches we previously had, that were strictly funded out of our initial funding. They were able to look at some title funding to be able to bring half of those back and to create a shared situation on campuses versus all our elementary campuses having to coach themselves. He wants to continue the initiative to focus on our literacy and normalcy. Great results have been received, and he wants to manage those results and continue to move forward.
Superintendent Moore is excited for the students and our school system, that last year at Benchmark and our Dibbles testing, were at 57% in 2024. 2025, that number grew to 68% for Benchmark. This is a testament to hard work and the focus on academic excellence.
Agenda Item 2A – Point of Pride Zyon McFarland, a 5th grade student at Carver Elementary placed 4th in the nation for On-Site Art Drawing in Orlando, Florida at the Junior Beta National Convention (photos taken) out of sequence
Superintendent Moore and the Board Members recognized Zyon McFarland a 10-year-old student at Carver Elementary School, grandson of former board member Bishop Rodney McFarland. While Zyon will be going to the fifth grade, he is motivated by his family and peers who helped fuel his passion for both music and the arts.
Zyon McFarland won fourth place at the National Beta Arts in the on-site drawing competition.
David Anderson, FBLA student at Neville High School placed 5th in the Nation for Public Policy and Advocacy in Anaheim California (photos taken) out of sequence
Superintendent Moore and the Board recognized another standing accomplishment. David Anderson of Neville High School was in Anaheim, California, with FBLA and placed fifth in the nation for public policy and advocacy.
Agenda Report of Superintendent
Superintendent Moore notes on the operations department, child nutrition service are in the process of RFP to advertise for bids for our project starting that’s a long overdue. He thanked Dr. Watson and his staff, Carroll, Neville, and Wossman the next step will be to continue to utilize the funding also, to complete projects at Carroll Junior High and Neville Junior High. Dr. Watson and Mr. Moore are looking at the feasibility of possibly moving some of the custodial staff from 10 months to 9 months. He will inform the board of any changes. The contract with Brightly Solutions, the ticketing system, is in place. Attorney Lawrence, Dr. Watson and Superintendent Moore vetted a proposal that will save money. Title IX buildings at all high schools will be available at our next scheduled facility meeting. At this point the safety and needs assessments will begin. Beginning with the high schools and J.S. Clark moving forward. They are in the process of GOHSEP grants. Whenever Ms. Hanline sees a grant opportunity, she sends an email to Superintendent Moore, and he emails it to the appropriate staff members. The grants are up to $50,000 that is applied on all campuses.
Regarding the transportation needs and issues where they’re having crossover from staff members who need to drive buses, he will be looking at bringing forward some job descriptions and changes to accommodate this so that he can be certain to have tuition and bus monitoring system, for Gallagher, that was mentioned earlier. Mr. Moore reported on new appointed personnel positions, Roy Neal Shelling, Principal Shandra Naylor Smith. He recognized those who are retiring. There are two principal vacancies that will be named this week for Neville High School and Carroll High School. The final three candidates will be interviewed tomorrow.
Agenda Item 5C – Report of Board Members
Board Member Johnson recognized and thanked the leadership team, Dr. Watson, Dr. Shane Herron. He thanked Mrs. Robinson for all she does. Mr. Johnson thanked Mr. Montreal Marshall for all the input he puts into the district. He thanked Quinton McFarland and congratulated Zion on his accomplishments.
Board Member Willson noted two new buildings were added to our inventory Neville High School which was a substantial sized building. Sallie Humble, which was a very large building as well and the approved ongoing improvements at Carroll High School. Three additions to the inventory for insurance would increase coverage costs, we were able to reduce our insurance costs while adding the amount of coverage and properties, reduced to 315,000, a big part of that was competition. Mr. Willson thanked the committee and the work they are doing.
Mr. Willson requested a copy of the updated spending from July 1st to June 30th for board members.
Board Member Haneline wanted to state publicly how proud she is of Superintendent Moore for the hard work and hours that he puts in to be good stewards of the public funds that are entrusted to him but also passionate about the work.
Agenda Item 6A – Future Meetings
Board Meetings – August 5, 2025; September 9, 2025 and October 7, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Action Item 7A – Executive Session
The Board will convene in executive session to receive and canvass the results of the Superintendent’s evaluation (2025).
On a motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Shelling the board approved to enter executive session for 10 minutes. (6:38pm)
The board convened in executive session at 6:38 pm
On a motion by Ms. Haneline and seconded by Mr. Willson the board reconvened at 6:48 pm. The motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item 8 Recess/Adjourn
There being no further business to come before the board, on a motion by Ms. Haneline and seconded by Mr. Willson, the meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.Bottom of Form
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_/Betty Ward Cooper/__ _/Sam L. Moore IIII/_
Betty Ward-Cooper Sam L. Moore III
Board President Superintendent
Bottom of FormNote: 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.robinsons@mcschools.net.
