Jason Fountain

The meeting agenda covered staff recommendations, including retirements (Jeffrey Weaver), appointments of new administrative, instructional, and support staff positions (with introductions for several new hires), and several administrative reassignments, including naming a new principal for Central Middle School. The board also addressed several committee reports. The Human Resource Policy Committee reported on recommendations for new administrator and teacher positions at the discipline center and the approval of a revised job description for the Career and Technical Education Coordinator position. The Facilities Equipment Committee reported on the deferral of discussion regarding a cooperative endeavor on the Reynolds Spring property. The Finance Committee recommended approval for funding the new discipline center positions, approval of Option 1 for the Starkey lease for the central office, approval of a lease and construction cost for a discipline center, and permission for the Superintendent to approve change orders up to $125,000 for the central office construction. The Finance Committee also received reports on general liability and property/workers compensation insurance renewals. Finally, the committee recommended approval of the revised General Fund budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, and decisions were made regarding insurance deductibles, opting for a lower deductible with a higher premium for property/workers comp insurance.

The board meeting included personnel reports detailing resignations and appointments, featuring a new kindergarten teacher at Bellingrath Hills Elementary. A vote was required for a leave of absence without pay for a Child Nutrition Technician. The Human Resource Policy Committee recommended approval for a revised job description for the Director of Accountability and Federal Programs, the employee handbook for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, a personnel evaluation plan, and the organizational flowchart. First readings were held for several new and revised policies, including those on school board ethics, student conduct, and sexual harassment prevention training. The Finance Committee recommended approval for two $1,000 stipends, one for event catering with the culinary program and one for the district videographer. The Curriculum, Accountability, Student Services Committee discussed updates to discipline procedures and recommended adding these procedures to the student handbook. The board also considered audit engagement letters covering the regular audit, statewide agreed-upon procedures, and school activity funds testing for the 2022-2023 through 2024 fiscal years. Finally, change orders for the Central High School renovation project and the Central Office renovation project were discussed, with funding to be sourced from the capital outlay budget and half-cent sales tax revenue rather than the general fund.

The meeting commenced with a prayer and pledge, followed by recognition of future educators. The board addressed and approved the minutes from the Regular School Board Meeting held on August 14, 2023, and the Special School Board Meeting held on September 5, 2023. Key discussions included the Superintendent's report on Personnel and a report from the Human Resources Policies Committee, which recommended approval for several new and revised policies in the school system manual, covering areas such as school safety, attendance, and corporal punishment. The committee also recommended approval for the Operations Supervisor job description and a temporary Technology Specialist position. The Finance Committee recommended approval for the funding of the temporary technology specialist position, as well as the Child Nutrition, Capital Projects, Debt Service, State Grants, and Federal Grants budgets for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The facilities and equipment agenda was integrated into the finance committee meeting. Finally, the board approved two out-of-state field trip requests: one for the Central High School Kittens dance team to Orlando, Florida, and another for Central Middle School gifted English students to Boston, Massachusetts.

The meeting centered on the informational report regarding committee structures, noting recent changes due to board member changes and resignations, emphasizing that the process allows for value engineering discussions. The primary action item was the consideration of a resolution to approve the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of $7,119,796.65 for the planning and construction of the Central City Sports Complex infrastructure and overlay projects. Approval of this resolution was necessary to utilize state funds provided by Louisiana Facility Planning and Control (FP&C), with site work anticipated to commence shortly after state concurrence is received. Board members discussed the benefits of the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) process over traditional design-bid-build in the current volatile market. The planned improvements include a new administrative building, parking, a promenade, stadium fencing, a new concession area, and a large flag.

The meeting featured the recognition of students who presented on the meaning of public education, including receiving a check from LSBA. Key agenda items involved the approval of the minutes from the February 13, 2023, regular school board meeting. The Superintendent's report covered personnel matters such as appointments and resignations. The Finance Committee recommended the approval of the 2021-2022 fiscal year audit and the revised general fund budget for 2022-2023, as well as the revised capital projects budget for 2022-2023. The Facilities Equipment Committee recommended referring options regarding the lease of Section 16 property for hunting purposes to the board for consideration, and further discussed advertising for bids for a hunting lease, including stipulations on allowable weapons. The board also approved an out-of-state field trip for fourth-grade classes to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Mississippi. The Superintendent provided updates on the third nine-week report cards, recent award celebrations, the annual job fair, and plans for a central office open house. Recognition was also given for a clean audit and the recent selection of a former staff member as a new superintendent in another parish.