Monroe City School Board of Education
2006 Tower Drive
Monroe, Louisiana 71201
MINUTES
The Monroe City School Board met in regular session, September 6, 2022 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 President Brandon Johnson. Mike Rhymes, Member of the Temple B’Nai Israel offered prayer and Principal Landon Sapp, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Agenda Item 1C – Roll Call
Present: Mr. Rick Saulsberry, Ms. Jennifer Haneline, Ms. Betty Ward Cooper, Brandon Johnson, Daryll Berry, Mr. Willson and Mrs. Sharon Neal Greer
Staff/others present: Superintendent Vidrine, Board Attorney Lawrence and public
Action Item 1D – Adoption of the Agenda
On a motion by Mr. Willson, seconded by Ms. Haneline, the Board unanimously approved the deletion of agenda items 2D and 4A from the consent agenda and the transfer of consent agenda items 2F and 2G to Section 3 of the agenda for separate consideration.
It was moved by Mr. Berry, seconded by Mrs. Cooper to approve the agenda with above mention changes. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.
Agenda Item 2 – Consent Agenda
On a motion by Mr. Berry, seconded by Mrs. Greer, the Board approved August 16, 2022 minutes board meeting minutes; Monroe City Schools Pupil Progression Plan 2022-2023; second reading approval of policies (School Board Ethics), DJED (Bids and Quotations), EDD (School Bus Scheduling and Routing), GAAA (Equal Employment Opportunity), GAMB (Employee Dress Code), JAA (Equal Education Opportunities), JBD (Student Absences and Excuses), JCDB (Student Dress Code), JD (Discipline), JDE (Expulsion), JGC (Student Health Services), JGCD (Administration of Medication), JM ( Student Voter Registration, new policy), JQA (Expectant and Parenting Students); approval for Neville High School band expansion and New Multipurpose Room; Wossman High school girls’ basketball team permission to travel to Dallas Texas for a basketball Tournament. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.
Agenda Item 3A – Consent Item for Separate Consideration of Mid-South extrusion (2022) tax exemption request (transferred item from consent agenda)
On motion of Mr. Berry, seconded by Mr. Willson, the Board approved agenda item 3A (re-designated from consent agenda item 2F), approving the Mid-South Extrusion (2022) tax exemption request.
Agenda Item 3B – Adoption of Updated Proposal to Increase Substitute Teacher Pay
On motion of Mr. Berry, seconded by Mr. Willson, the Board approved agenda item 3B (re-designated from consent agenda item 2G), approving both the proposal (as printed) to increase substitute teacher pay and the proposal (as printed) to increase/change substitute pay for other employees.
Agenda Item 4A – Adoption of Corrected Policy – JCDAF (item removed)
Agenda Item 5A – Adoption of the General Fund and Special Revenue Funds Budget Resolution – Revised Budgets for 2021-2022 and Beginning Budgets for 2022-2023
On a motion by Mr. Willson, seconded by Ms. Haneline, the Board approved adoption of the General fund and Special Revenue Funds Budget Resolution – Revised Budgets for 2021-2022 and beginning Budgets for 2022-2023. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.
Agenda Item 6A – Report of Superintendent
* Superintendent thanked the Finance committee, Davona, and her staff for a good finance committee meeting last Wednesday.
* He thanked the policy committee members
* Board notes were sent out
* There’s a drop in enrollment, we are down 32 students from last year
* Update – The decision on Prime Time has been pushed back to October 30th
* Football season has started
* volleyball season has started for Neville High School and Wossman High School
Agenda Item 6B – Report of Board Members
Ms. Haneline thanked the Board and the community for the support of including other Religions in our prayers. There are about nine additional policies that need to be addressed. She recommends the Board to look over the policies that are coming in from forethought. They are currently still working on the bullying, hazing and misconduct policy. She noted the Board travel policy will be on the next policy meeting agenda. She noted to hopefully have a policy meeting in about three weeks prior to the next board meeting.
Board president recommended Ms. Haneline to share the updated information on the policies to the full board to look over, understand what’s going on and ask questions if needed.
Mr. Saulsberry noted there will be a facility committee meeting this month, once he gets with the committee members and if there are items to be included on the agenda to send him an email.
Mr. Berry commended the Board for teachers, support staff and substitute pay raises.
Mrs. Cooper noted she is thankful for the many partnerships we have with other entities in the community. She thanked Standard Enterprises LLC and Monroe Housing Authority for donating a total of 475 clear backpacks to Madison James Foster Elementary School students. She reported the students, Assistant Principal Bowman, Principal Harris, and herself were excited and appreciative of the donation. She gave special thanks to Pat Moore, Representative of District #17 for contacting Standard Enterprise LLC. She stated when we work together, we can make a difference.
Mr. Willson is proud to announce Mr. Roy Moye, Aeronautical Engineer will be coming to Monroe to present three different music concerts for all Monroe City Schools third and fourth grade students. The presentation will last about an hour and fifteen minutes and will be held at Carroll High School, Neville High School and Wossman High School on Thursday, September 15, and Friday September 16, 2022. This show is to help students transport into STEM universe by rhythms and harmonies. STEM is the acronym for science, technology, and math. He stated this is a strong program and encourage everyone to attend if can. He noted he announced previously in a school board meeting that he is currently serving on Monroe Chamber of Commerce Board Directors for Education and government committee. Mr. Willson reported they have wrapped up the school-by-school corporate sponsor needs assessment handouts were issued to board members indicating the principals needs and wants. He’s proud of this initiative to help our schools’ principals, teachers, and staff. They are in the process of completing school banners for each of the schools. Mr. Willson noted the Finance/budget committee meeting went well overall and congratulated Mrs. Davona Howard, the CFO of Monroe City Schools, for doing an excellent job of managing our budget. He noted this year because of the state teacher pay raise and the addition to the 4% given to all the employees throughout our system along with additional raises in the previous years, the average teacher pay raise is going to be just over $58,000 which is about $3,000 over the southern regional average and will place Monroe City School System in fourth place out of 69 school’s systems in the state of Louisiana. Mr. Willson congratulated the Board, Dr. Vidrine and staff on achieving this. There will be a ribbon cutting for Martin Luther King Jr Middle School on Friday at 10:00am.
Mrs. Greer noted by visiting teachers in the schools she found out the teachers are having challenges with overcrowding classrooms. She stated a major factor that determines a child’s learning is the environment, teachers are facing discipline problems and students not getting the proper attention and interaction with their teachers, proper evaluations not possible and becomes difficult to complete the planned lessons in given time. Some teachers are stressed, and school is just beginning and there is an excessive workload. Mrs. Greer asked what impact overcrowding in the classrooms has on students’ academic performance. She asked how we can overcome the challenges in overcrowded classrooms. She noted to teachers to hang in there; this too shall pass.
Ms. Haneline noted Primary Health Service is having a uniform distribution for students. This event will be this Saturday from 10:00am to 1:00pm located at the Clinic on Desiard Street. She noted to Dr. Vidrine there are government funds available for signage. She stated the bulldog walkway looks nice.
Mr. Johnson reminded paraprofessionals and other teachers in the district of the grant that is available to take care of your schooling with a couple of stipulations. He wants the district to take advantage of the opportunity and see your principal to sign up. Mr. Johnson voiced his concern about the safety of our schools. He noted to Dr. Vidrine the district may need to see if funds are available and is aware that parents have purchased things for their kids but suggested having clear bookbags for the safety of the students and possible walk-through metal detectors at Junior and high schools. Mr. Johnson stated the Board along with the superintendent and staff need to look at the safety of the students.
Agenda Item 7 – Future Meetings
Board Meeting – October 4, 2022, and November 1, 2022, at 6:00 p.m.
Action Item 8 – Recess/Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the board, on a motion by Mr. Willson, seconded by Mrs. Haneline, the meeting adjourned at 6:32 p.m.
****
____/Brandon Johnson_____ _____/Brent Vidrine/________
Brandon Johnson 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.
