TANGIPAHOA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS

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TANGIPAHOA PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM ___________ MAY 3, 2011Department of Education. Results of this visit found that TangipahoaParish was non-compliant in providing students with a Free andAppropriate Public Education (FAPE) and non-compliant in providingstudents with appropriate Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Itwas found that students lacked the supports and services to enable themto benefit from and make progress in their educational setting. BehaviorIntervention Plans were either not provided or were not beingimplemented, and too many students with disabilities were placed onHomebound. Activities implemented and documented to correct thecitations were provided to the committee.Ms. Peco reported that the Department of Education conducted a followupcompliance monitoring visit in November 2010 to validate theeffectiveness of the March 2010 Corrective Action Plan. Results of thisvisit revealed that Tangipahoa Parish continued to be non-compliant in“IEP Content.” This resulted in Tangipahoa Parish being placed inIntensive Corrective Action. The Intensive Corrective Action Plan wassubmitted in January 2011. Activities to correct the citations are ongoingand documentation of implementation is being provided to theState Department of Education.It was moved by Mr. Link, seconded by Ms. Cohea, to approve the PersonnelCommittee report of April 28, 2011.A substitute motion was made by Mr. Dangerfield, seconded by Mr. Anderson,to send the Personnel Committee report back to the Personnel Committee in order toreview the process used for the selection of the Magnet Program teachers.Ms. Smith requested to enter into Executive Session with Ms. Arlene Guerin,Court Compliance Officer, for an explanation of her reasons for not supporting thePersonnel Committee Report.Mr. Chris Moody, Board Attorney, stated this matter was not grounds in itself toenter Executive Session.Ms. Smith requested that Ms. Guerin to come forward and explain why sherecommends holding the Personnel Committee report until after she meets with theJudge.Ms. Guerin stated that she would not discuss this in Open Session.Ms. Smith stated she was unaware of issues with the Personnel report and thatin order to act on this report, she would like to understand the Compliance Officer’srequest.Mr. Moody stated that in order to go into Executive Session to discuss Item 8.b.of the Personnel Committee report, both motions would need to be withdrawn.President Dominguez asked if it was the pleasure of the Board to withdraw bothmotions.Mr. Anderson withdrew his second on the substitute motion.Mr. Dangerfield withdrew his substitute motion.Mr. Link stated that enough time was given for publicizing this meeting in orderfor everyone to voice opposition, and neither the Compliance Officer nor the ChiefDesegregation Implementation Officer were in attendance or voiced opposition prior tothe meeting. He stated that teachers need to be trained and cannot wait any longer.Mr. Link refused to withdraw his motion and called for the question and for a roll callvote.2
TANGIPAHOA PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM ___________ MAY 3, 2011Mr. Charles Patin, Board Attorney, explained the issues at hand and that hewas aware of Ms. Guerin’s position. He stated if the magnet schools hired 46 percentblack teachers, there would not be enough black teachers for the non-magnet schools.He stated he discussed this with Ms. Guerin and the plaintiff’s counsel, who have asomewhat but not the same concern, but no one had provided a case that statesanything opposite than what he believes the law requires. He stated Ms. Guerin couldfile an objection with the Court, if desired, and he would address the matter at thattime. If the Board feels that they do not receive justice from the District Court, he willtake it to the Fifth Circuit Court. He stated, pertaining to the qualifications of teachersthat Mr. Ron Genco, Director of Human Resources, had sent the selection process toMs. Guerin and that the plaintiff’s attorney has always known our position. Herecommended moving forward and to approve the selections.Mr. Duncan requested confirmation that an objection had not been filed with theCourt.Mr. Patin stated that to his knowledge no objection had been filed at this time.He stated Ms. Guerin had indicated that she had planned to file an objection andassumes she will do so.Ms. Guerin clarified that she objected to the teacher selection process from thebeginning. She stated Mr. Patin requested her not to file anything with the Court untilafter the election. She indicated she had advised the Court of her plan to file anobjection. She stated that the Court Order states that procedures to select magnetstaff, including principals and teachers, had to be approved by the Court and that theprocedure has not been approved by the Court. Ms. Guerin said that the SchoolSystem was required to make the effort to reach the goal of placing 46 percent blackteachers in the magnet schools.Ms. Smith requested the Board wait in making a decision until after the meetingwith the Board Attorney, Ms. Guerin and the plaintiffs scheduled for Wednesday, May4, 2011.Mr. Patin stated that the Court Order provides that the Superintendent has theauthority to assign teachers to schools and he has to approve where those teachersare assigned, and that this process had been approved by the Court. He stated thishas not been about hiring new teachers but simply transferring teachers. He does notbelieve that the School System is out of compliance with the Court Order and thinksthat the Board needs to move forward.The original motion to accept the Personnel Committee report of April 28, 2011was approved, as evidenced by the following roll call vote:YEAS(6): Gail Pittman-McDaniel, Al Link, Brett Duncan, Chris Cohea,Sandra Bailey-Simmons and Rose DominguezNAYS(3): Ann Smith, Andy Anderson and Eric DangerfieldABSTAIN(0): NonePERSONNEL COMMITTEE – APRIL 28, 2011:ITEM AIt was moved by Ms. Pittman-McDaniel, seconded by Ms. Bailey-Simmons, toapprove Item A, Leaves-Resignations-Retirements, of the regular Agenda.Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted.It was moved by Ms. Bailey-Simmons, seconded by Ms. Pittman-McDaniel, toapprove the Items B through M of the regular agenda and Addendum #1, withcorrections. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted.LEAVES*RESIGNATIONS*RETIREMENTLEAVES3
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TANGIPAHOA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS

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