Monroe City School Board of Education
2006 Tower Drive
Monroe, Louisiana 71201
MINUTES
The Monroe City School Board met in regular session, Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at Monroe City School District Central Office, 2006 Tower Drive, Monroe, Louisiana 71201. The meeting was called to order at 6:01p.m. by Board President, Ms. Jennifer Haneline. A moment of silence was offered. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board President Jennifer Haneline.
Agenda Item 1C – Roll Call
Present: Mr. Sampognaro, Mrs. Haneline, Mr. Bill Willson, Mr. Daryll Berry, Mrs. Betty Ward Cooper, Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Brenda Shelling
Action Item 1D – Adoption of the Agenda
Ms. Haneline stated CAO Serena White requested to consider sensitive curriculum items to be added to the agenda for approval to move forward.
1. Numeracy Training Schedule and stipend
2. Contract for Instructional Support
3. Contracted services for organization companies and a list of pending contracts
On a motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Shelling the board approved to add agenda items H, I and J under new business. The motion carried unanimously.
H. Numeracy Training
I. Contract for Instructional Support
J. Contracted services for organization companies and a list of November pending contracts to perform for the district, contracts with organizations field trips education services
On a motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Cooper the board approved to adopt the agenda with the added agenda items listed above. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.
Agenda Item 2A – Point of Pride
Mr. Berry and the Board wanted to recognize Desaree Player, the Band Director at Carroll High School. Mrs. Player is a mother of three, a wife of 17 years to Timothy Player Sr. She is the first female band director at Carroll High School from 2011 to present, she’s a multiple grand champion award winner in band competitions across Louisiana and Texas. She was Carroll High School Teacher of the Year 2019 and 2020. This is the first high school band acknowledged by Superintendent Moore and the Monroe City School Board for the Point of Pride Award for Supreme win half time show for the Louisiana Saints vs Philadelphia eagles in September 2024, and the first high school band to secure state championship rings. She was a remarkable woman of the year, Carroll High School Teacher of the Year 2024-2025 and the Northeast Louisiana Association 2024 Band Director of the Year. She was congratulated by Superintendent Moore and the Monroe City School Board on the great job she’s doing. (certificates were given and pictures taken)
Agenda Item 3A – 4-H LSU Ag Center Progran Update – Bethany Corona
Unable to attend
Action Item 4 A&B Consent Agenda
On a motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Shelling the Board approve Board of Education minutes for October 1, 2024 and 2025 Board Meeting Schedule. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.
Action Item 5 – Consent for Separate consideration
None
Action Item 6A – Proposal for Extra Stipend for PBIS Coordinators
On a motion by Mr. Berry and seconded by Mr. Johnson the board approved the proposal for extra stipend for PBIS (positive behavior intervention and support) Coordinators. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.
Agenda Item 6B – Report on Type 3 Charter School application and next steps for compliance with the Louisiana Charter School law.
Superintendent Moore reported an official notice was received from Neville High School with their intentions for a type 3 charter. (some representatives were present)
Board Attorney Doug Lawrence reported on the Type 3 Charter School. The 105-page application was submitted and distributed electronically. An executive summary was included. The intent was to officially acknowledge the school district receive a type 3 application for Neville High School and what are the next steps statutory in connection with the type 3 application. Item 6C on the agenda states “to authorize the engagement of an independent evaluator of the Neville Charter Association Type 3 Charter School application received on 10.25.2024”. This is because under state law you receive this application, before you can take any final actions on the application, there must be an independent evaluation of the application. This is one of the first steps and is outlined in the executive summary. The law provides in connection with type 3 charter, the board has the right to authorize an official vote to be conducted by the staff, specifically certified staff determined by the Louisiana Department of Education. In a separate vote by the parents and the guardians of the students who are enrolled, the statue is very specific about eligibility which is covered in the executive summary. In addition to appointing an independent evaluator, the board needs to now authorize or decide about authorizing a vote of the staff and a vote of the parents and guardians. These are the two most impacted stakeholder groups. October 25th was the deadline for submitting the application. January 17, 2025 is the deadline by which the school district must make a determination regarding the application. Attorney Lawrence stated to the board that they need to move forward quickly as possible with the holidays coming up to engage the services of the evaluator and the conditions for the elections to take place. The law says that a public hearing must be held before deciding on this application. The executive summary match agenda item 6B. Agenda Item 6C, 6D and 6E relate back to the executive summary.
Public comment: Sandie Lollie stated the public does not know the difference between the types of charter schools. Attorney Lawrence explained Type 1 Charter is a brand-new school approved by the School Board; Type 2 is a brand-new school approved by the state to operate. Type 3 is an existing school in your school district that the board votes to authorize to be a charter school. Type 5 is any school that’s in recovery, type 4 is a new school that votes for the school district and vess together.
Agenda Item 6C – to authorize the engagement of an independent evaluator of the Neville Charter Association Type 3 Charter School application received on 10.25.2024.
On a motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Shelling the board approved the engagement of Mrs. Kimberly Williams, the independent evaluator for the Neville High School Charter Association. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.
Agenda Item 6D – To authorize the conducting of an official vote of the NHS staff eligible to vote in accordance with state law and LDOE guidelines on whether NHS should be converted into a Type 3 charter school & nbsp;(LDOE sample ballot for employee use & nbsp;to vote in accordance with state law and LDOE guidelines on whether NHS should be converted into a Type 3 charter school.
On a motion by Mrs. Shelling and seconded by Mr. Johnson, the Board approved
Mr. Willson asked Attorney Lawrence if he’d received information as to the criteria of how the vote was taken. Attorney Lawrence stated no, and for the record there are two statues one is title 17:3973, that’s the first mention of a vote and it’s tied directly to type 3 charter. The separate statue dealing with voting of the staff title 39 section 82 Mr. Johnson called for question.
Public Comment: Mr. Stewart Shelby stated for the records section 26:28 page 3 types of charter schools. He believes there are some inconsistencies in how that was done. Mr. Shelby read aloud section 126 Title 28.
Mrs. Shelling amended her motion by adding non-itinerate full time employees be included in the vote.
Mr. Sampognaro – in favor
Mr. Willson – opposed
Mr. Berry – in favor
Mrs. Cooper – in favor
Mr. Johnson – in favor
Mrs. Shelling – in favor
Ms. Haneline – in favor
The motion passed
Agenda Item 6E – To authorize the conducting of an official vote of & nbsp; NHS parents/guardians eligible to vote in accordance with state law and LDOE guidelines on whether the NHS should be converted into a Type 3 charter school. (LDOE sample ballot for parent/legal guardian use attached).
On a motion by Mrs. Shelling and seconded by Mr. Johnson the Board approved to authorize the conducting of an official vote of & nbsp; NHS parents/guardians eligible to vote in accordance with state law and LDOE guidelines on whether the NHS should be converted into a Type 3 charter school. (LDOE sample ballot for parent/legal guardian use attached).
Public Comment: Mr. Shelby shared the voting process that took place at Neville High School and recommended to the board, in addition to the votes that they’ve collected, give permission to authorized this go out to each parent. He strongly agrees that they agree with this application. He stated the board does not have a policy regarding this and going by the regulations of the Department of Education and being very careful to follow each step. He noted the diligence that was put in to making the application he strongly requests the board actually read the application. They are hoping to partner with Monroe City Schools as Type 3 Charter. Ms. Haneline thanked Mr. Shelby and everyone for the work that has been put into this. Ms. Haneline inquired about the parental vote. Attorney Lawrence recommended The Louisiana Department of Education and the State Charter School Association for any suggestions or recommendations. Mr. Wilson inquired about the existing votes and the date on which the voting will be held. Ms. Haneline requested an ad hoc committee that includes Mr. Willson, Mrs. Shelling, Attorney Lawrence and Superintendent Moore to determine the voting method and to add someone from the Charter application if he likes. The motion carried unanimously.
Action Item 6F – to authorize the development and solicitation of requests for proposal seeking special engagement of a financial auditor to conduct forensic/compliance audit, as directed.
On a motion by Mr. Willson and seconded by Mr. Sampognaro the Board approved to authorize the development and solicitation of requests for proposals seeking special engagement of a financial auditor to conduct forensic/compliance audit, as directed, with the understanding to bring back the specific scope in December. Mr. Willson stated for the record to superintendent Moore when he was interviewed, it was brought up about the audit and how the superintendent had never been in the top 10 audited.
Public comment: Vickie Krutzer wanted to compliment the board on being open and transparent. She complimented them on dressing the audit findings. Mrs. Krutzer thanked them for allowing the public to ask questions. As a former board member and taxpayer, Mrs. Krutzer encouraged and complimented the board to move forward to see that the funds are going in the right direction and have accountability.
The motion carried unanimously.
Action Item 6G – to adopt a resolution approving the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire responses for fiscal year ending 2024.
On a motion by Mrs. Cooper and seconded by Mrs. Shelling the board approved to adopt a resolution approving the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire responses for fiscal year ending 2024. The motion carried unanimously.
Action Item 6H – approval of the numeracy training
On a motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Cooper the Board approved the numeracy training plan. The motion carried unanimously.
Action Item 6I – Contract for Instructional Support
On a motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Shelling, the board approved the Contract for Instructional Support. The motion carried unanimously.
Action Item 6J – Contracted services for organization companies and a list of November pending contracts to perform for the district, contracts with organizations field trips education services
On a motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Shelling the Board approved contracted services for organization companies and a list of November pending contracts to perform for the district, contracts with organizations field trips education services. The motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item 7A – Report of Superintendent
* Mr. Moore participated in the State of Education on Nov. 4th at the University of Louisiana at Monroe
* Mr. Moore, Serena White, Jackie Anderson participated in a 2-day inquiry at Louisiana Superintendent Academy in Alexandria, La growing students to mastery
* They are fully engaged in the work of Attuned (strategic planning)
* School accountability scores are due to be available and released on November 20th
* Focusing on literacy and numeracy; progress monitoring the districts K-6 Lexia and Zearn
* September 2024 financial report can be located on board docs
* The state of Louisiana is in the legislative session and is revolving around taxes, Superintendents throughout the state are concerned about the potential outcome and what it can mean for our district.
* The Business department are working on transparency and addressing things in audit findings. They have worked football games at Carroll High School Homecoming on September 25th, Homecoming at Wossman High School on October 11th and Neville High School on November 1st.
* One on one training with principals is scheduled for next week
* Final usage of ESSER funding opportunities December 16th deadline
* Superintendent Moore knew coming in it was a lot of work to be done but can’t be done overnight. There are issues across the district that they are working out.
* Working with the IT department so that the schools can report and monitor things online.
* About $800,000 was paid out on the Sallie Humble project last month and expected to pay another $800, 000 this month. This project is expected to be completed mid-February on schedule. Approximately $1million remaining after that could possibly impact the general fund.
* They are in the process of waiting on TAG2 for the feasibility study that will take place after Thanksgiving break. They will know how to move forward once the risk of needs assessment is completed.
* April Temple in child nutrition has officially resigned from the district and this position has been advertised.
* Be careful and mindful of people soliciting for job positions in the district. Child nutrition Audit will take place in January and will be prepared.
* Additional lockdown training for staff will be provided at the professional development on December 13th
* You are invited to the “Get on the bus tour” that will be held in Robinson Place Subdivision on November 19th at 6pm, sharing information with parents.
Superintendent Moore thanked his staff for their hard work and dedication. Mr. Moore is looking forward to Carroll, Neville and Wossman High School football teams winning the state championship.
Agenda Item 7B – Report of the Board Member
Board Member Brenda Shelling – no report
Board Member Daryll Berry – no report
Board Member Bill Willson reported he had the honor to represent the Board at the Northeast Louisiana
Black Chamber of Commerce annual leadership legislative meeting on October 31st as well as
November 4th. He wished the football teams good luck in the playoffs
Board Member Michael Sampognaro – no report
Board Member Betty Ward Cooper – no report
Board Member Brandon Johnson thanked the supervisors for being present and for their wisdom and
knowledge and being transparent.
Board President Jennifer Haneline reported on security issues in the schools. She would like the board to consider an SRO at each Monroe City School.
Mr. Johnson voiced his concerns about SRO officers at Neville Jr High School and Neville High School. Mr. Moore stated there is an off-duty detail officer versus a full-time resource officer. Speaking with the Chief there is a personnel issue in the police department. Board President Haneline stated the district cannot share SRO particular Junior and High Schools. She stated the Marshall office is happy to step in. She would like the Board to pass a policy requiring the district to have an SRO at every school.
Ms. Haneline would like Superintendent Moore to move forward with Dr. Dewight Rhodes on what was presented to him and Mrs. White. Ms. Haneline voiced her concerns on bus issues and field trips. She stated to Superintendent Moore she is requesting to schedule a meeting next week with Mr. Stewart Shelby and Mr. Will Shelby about the money issues with softball. Ms. Haneline is requesting a public meeting on Tuesday January 7th (tentative date) regarding the Neville High School Charter (subject to change). Mr. Moore noted he would like to move forward with OIC.
Agenda Item 8A– Future Meetings
December 10, 2024 and January 21, 2025 at 6:00p.m.
Action Item 9 – Recess/Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the board, on a motion by Mrs. Shelling and seconded by Mr. Johnson, the meeting adjourned at 7:50p.m.
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________________________ _______________________
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
