TANGIPAHOA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS

 

October 7, 2003

 

            The Tangipahoa Parish School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, October 7, 2003, at 6:30 p.m., in the School Board Meeting Room, School Board Office, 59656 Puleston Road, Amite, Louisiana, with President Robert Caves, Presiding.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:           Robert Caves,  Al Link,  Carl Bardwell, Sandra Bailey-Simmons, Leonard Genco, Robert Potts,  Donnie Williams, and Maxine Dixon 

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:             Jimmy A. Richardson, I

           

Superintendent Joseph introduced Cub Scout Pack #181 along with their sponsors: Mr. Jeff Blackman and Ms. Tammy DiMattia. Members of the pack gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Mrs. Sandra Bailey-Simmons, Board Member – District H, introduced Ms. Brittany Jenkins, a Ponchatoula High School graduate. Ms. Jenkins sang a patriotic song.

 

It was moved by Mr. Bardwell, seconded by Mrs. Bailey-Simmons, to approve the Board Minutes of September 23, 2003 as distributed. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, Mr. Richardson.

 

It was moved by Mr. Potts, seconded by Mr. Genco, to approve the resolution on the Rejection of Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Richardson absent.

 

 

         RESOLUTION

 

          

BE IT RESOLVED, That the Tangipahoa Parish School Board does authorize the Superintendent to sign the required Louisiana Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist form reflecting a selection of Rejection of Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage. This selection is applicable to the Commercial Automobile Coverage for the period September 7, 2003 through September 6, 2004.

 

 

CERTIFICATE

 

I, the undersigned Secretary-Treasurer of the Tangipahoa Parish School Board, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true copy of a resolution adopted at its Regular Board Meeting of October 7, 2003, at which time a quorum was present and that same is in full force and effect.

 

Dated at Amite, Louisiana

this 7th  day of October  2003.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                             ____________________________________

                                                                                   Louis L. Joseph, Secretary-Treasurer

                                                                                   TANGIPAHOA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

 

It was moved by Mrs. Dixon, seconded by Mr. Richardson, to approve the Personnel Committee Report of October 1, 2003 and Addendum #1. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Richardson absent.

 

1.         Teacher – New Hire

 

Randall Kinsey, Teacher – Independence Middle, effective September 22, 2003.

 

2.         Teacher - Transfer

 

Beryl Johnson, From: Special Education Teacher – Hammond Westside Upper To: Special Education Teacher - Loranger Elementary, effective September 22 2003

 

3.         School Food Service - Reclassification

 

Rose Robinson, From: 4 hour technician – Hammond Westside, To: 7 hour technician – Hammond Westside, effective September 12, 2003

 

4.         Transportation – New Hire

 

Stephanie Paige, Lift Bus 19 – Westside Middle, effective August 14, 2003

Franklin Morgan, 37-H – Hammond

 

5.         Transportation - Transfer

 

Tim Wells, From: Bus 37-H – Hammond, From: 21-H – Hammond

 

10.       LEAVES* RESIGNATIONS* RETIREMENTS

 

LEAVES:

 

Melissa Adams, Teacher – Independence Elementary (Extended Sick Leave due to maternity using sick days first – September 29, 2003), effective August 18, 2003

Melvin Holmes, Bus Driver – Independence (Straight Leave without pay due to personal reasons  August 2004, effective October 1, 2003

Mary Crouch, Teacher – Westside Middle (Extended Sick Leave due to illness -using sick days first – undetermined), effective September 10, 2003

 

RETIREMENTS:

 

Gwendolyn Lee, Teacher. -Ponchatoula High, effective January 20, 2003

 

11.       Substitute Teacher List

 

ADDENDUM #1

 

1.         Teacher – New Hire

 

Jessica Egle, Teacher - Hammond High, effective September 29, 2003

 

2.         Support Personnel -  New Hire

 

Yvonne Perry, Janitor – 9 months 6 hours – Amite High School, effective September 2, 2003

Jamie Cryer, Janitor – 12 months 7 hours – Amite High School, effective September 2, 2003

 

3.         Support Personnel - Reclassification

 

Albert Brown, From: 4 hour Janitor – Champ Cooper, To: 8 hour Janitor – Champ Cooper effective September 30, 2003.

 

            It was moved by Mr. Link, seconded by Mr. Williams, to approve the Policy Committee Report of September 23, 2003. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Richardson absent. Following is the report as approved.

 

 

   1.      The committee discussed revising Policy GBM – Personnel Transfer. This matter was taken under advisement.

 

2.            Approved the policies listed below.

FILE: EBC

Cf: KG

 

BUILDING AND GROUNDS SECURITY

 

 

Buildings of the Tangipahoa Parish School Board constitute one of the greatest investments of the school district. It is deemed in the best interest of the district to protect the investment adequately.

 

Security should mean not only maintenance of secure (locked) building but protection from fire hazards and faulty equipment and safe practices in the use of electrical, plumbing, and heating equipment. Access to school buildings and grounds outside of regular school hours shall be limited to personnel whose work requires it. An adequate key control system shall be established which will limit access to buildings to authorized personnel and will safeguard against the potential of entrance to buildings by keys in the hands of unauthorized persons.

 

Records and funds shall be kept in a safe place and under lock and key when required.

 

Protective devices designed to be used as safeguards against illegal entry and vandalism shall be installed when appropriate to the individual situation. Employment of watchmen may be approved in situations where special risks are involved.

 

ELECTRONIC TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES

 

            No person, unless authorized by the school principal or designee, shall use, possess, or operate any electronic telecommunication device including any facsimile system, radio paging service, mobile telephone service, intercom, or electro mechanical paging system in any elementary or secondary school building, or on the grounds thereof or in any school bus. A violation of these provisions shall be grounds for disciplinary action, including but not limited to, suspension or referral of the pupil to the juvenile court of the parish. Appropriate law enforcement agencies shall be notified of any person, other than a pupil or school employee, who violates this policy while on school property without authority and such person(s) shall be dealt with under the criminal laws of the state.

 

SEARCH OF PERSONS OTHER THAN STUDENTS

 

            Any school principal, administrator, teacher, or school security guards may search the person, book bag, briefcase, purse or other object in the possession of any person who is not a student enrolled in the school, or any school employee, while in or on school grounds. This search may be done randomly with a metal detector, or physically when there is reasonable suspicion that such person has any weapons, illegal drugs, alcohol, stolen goods, or objects in violation of School Board policy.

 

 

FIREARM-FREE ZONES

 

            The areas surrounding the school campus or within 1,000 feet of any such school campus, or within a school bus, shall be designated Firearm-Free Zones. It is unlawful for a student or non-student to intentionally possess a firearm on school property or within 1,000 feet of school property or while on a school bus. The School Board, in cooperation with local governmental agencies and the Louisiana Department of Education, shall designate and mark Fire-arm Free Zones, which surround all schools and school property.

 

DRUG-FREE ZONES

 

            The area within l,000 feet of any property used for school purposes by any school, or on a school bus, shall be designated as Drug-Free Zones. It is unlawful for anyone to use, distribute, be under the influence of, manufacture or possess any controlled substances ad defined by statute in a Drug-Free Zone. The Tangipahoa Parish School Board, in cooperation with local governmental agencies, and the Louisiana Department of Education, shall designate and mark Drug-Free Zones, which surround all schools and school property.

 

Revised:   August, 2003

 

FILE: BBBE

Cf: DJD

 

 

BOARD MEMBER COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES

 

 

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board shall provide an expense allowance and provide for expense reimbursement for its members in accordance with state law. Board members shall receive an expense allowance of $800 per month with an additional $100 stipend for the Board President. Board members may also be authorized to receive reimbursement for mileage going to and from meetings as well as reimbursement for actual travel and related expenses outside the jurisdictional boundaries of the Board while on official School Board business, all in accordance with Board policy, to the extent that expenses incurred outside the Board's jurisdictional boundaries do not exceed the limits established by state law.

 

Any action increasing the compensation for Board members shall require a two-thirds vote of the total membership. Before any action is taken, however, the Board shall advertise the time and place where the meeting is to be held to consider the expense allowance in the official journal of the Board on at least two (2) separate days during the fifteen (15) days immediately preceding such meeting.

 

Board members shall be reimbursed up to $2,000 annually for travel expenses incurred in accordance with the Board's travel regulations. Any travel that would cause the limit to be exceeded shall require Board approval prior to the travel commencing.

 

 Reimbursement for routine travel to regular meetings of the Board shall not be allowed.

 

 

Revised: March, 1985

Revised: November, 1993

Revised: February 18, 1997 Revised: May 13, 1997

Revised: August, 2003

 

 

NEW POLICY

FILE: JCDAE

Cf: JD

 

 

ELECTRONIC TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES

 

 

No student, unless authorized by the school principal or his/her designee, shall use or operate any electronic telecommunication device, including any facsimile system, radio paging service, mobile telephone service, intercom, or electro- mechanical paging system in any elementary or secondary school building, or on the grounds thereof or in any school bus used to transport public school students. A violation of these provisions may be grounds for disciplinary action, including but not limited to, suspension from school. Nothing shall prohibit the use and operation by any person, including students, of any electronic telecommunication device in the event of an emergency. Emergency shall mean an actual or imminent threat to public health or safety, which may result in loss of life, injury, or property damage.

 

For purposes of this policy, the terms use and operation shall mean whenever the electronic telecommunication device is turned on.

 

Revised: August, 2003

 

FILE: BH

Cf: ABC

 

SCHOOL BOARD ETHICS

 

 

Recognizing that as a member of a public school board and that each Board member is filling a position of public trust, responsibility, and authority endowed by the State of Louisiana, the Board, individually and collectively, shall subscribe to the principles of the Louisiana School Boards Association, by which a school board member should be guided.

 

In addition, certain actions of elected officials may be considered improper, and in some circumstances, illegal. Actions which may present a conflict of interest, acceptance of gifts, or solicitations, or gratuities, abuse of authority of office or position, and decisions regarding the employment of a family member of an official are all subject to statutory restrictions. The ethical conduct of Board members, as well as other designated officials, shall be in accordance with state law.

 

NEPOTISM

 

No member of the immediate family of an agency head shall be employed in his/her agency. No member of the immediate family of a member of a governing authority or the chief executive of a governmental entity shall be employed by the governmental entity, except that the School Board may employ any member of the immediate family of any Board member or the Superintendent as a classroom teacher provided that such family member is certified to teach. Each member of the Board which employs a member of the immediate family of a School Board member or the Superintendent shall recuse himself/herself from any decision involving the promotion or assignment of teaching location of the employee.

 

The provisions above shall not prohibit the continued employment of any public employee nor shall it be construed to hinder, alter, or in any way affect normal promotional advancements for such public employee where a member of a public employee's immediate family becomes the agency head of such public employee's agency, provided that such public

employee has been employed in the agency for a period of at least one year prior to the member of the public employee's immediate family becoming the agency head.

 

PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS

 

            Any School Board member, Superintendent, or employee is prohibited by state law, with limited exception as provided in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §42:1120, from participating in a transaction in which he/she has a personal substantial economic interest

of which he/she may be reasonably expected to know involving the governmental entity. Also, any School Board member, Superintendent, or employee is prohibited by state law, except as provided in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §42:1120, from participating in a transaction involving the governmental entity in which, to his/her actual knowledge, any of the following persons has a substantial economic interest:

 

(1)               Any member of his/her immediate family.

(2)         Any person in which he/she has a substantial economic interest of which he/she may reasonably be expected to know.

 

(3)               Any person of which he/she is an officer, director, trustee, partner or     employee.

(4)        Any person with whom he/she is negotiating or has an arrangement concerning prospective employment.

(5)        Any person who is a party to an existing contract with such public servant, or with any legal entity in which the public servant exercises control or owns an interest in excess of twenty-five percent, or who owes any thing of economic value to such public servant, or to any legal entity in which the public servant exercises control or owns an interest in excess of twenty-five percent, and who by reason thereof is in a position to affect directly the economic interests of such public servant.

 

Every public employee shall disqualify himself/herself from participating in a transaction involving the governmental entity when a violation of state law would result.

 

ABUSE OF OFFICE

 

No School Board member, Superintendent, or employee shall use the authority of his/her office or position, directly or indirectly, in a manner intended to compel or coerce any person or other public servant to provide himself/herself, any other public servant, or other person with any thing of economic value.

 

No School Board member, Superintendent, or employee shall use the authority of his/her office or position, directly or indirectly, in a manner intended to compel or coerce any person or other public servant to engage in political activity.

 

            No School Board member shall act in an individual capacity without the authorization of the School Board to use the authority of his/her office or position as a member of the! School Board, directly or indirectly, in a manner intended to compel or coerce any personnel decision, including the promotion, discipline, discharge, or assignment of work to any school employee.

 

No School Board member shall use the authority of his/her office or position as a member of the School Board, directly or indirectly, in a manner intended to compel or coerce any school employee to make any decision concerning benefits, work assignment, or membership in any organization.

 

 

TRANSACTIONS AFTER TERMINATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE

 

No former agency head or elected official shall, for a period of two (2) years following the termination of his/her public service as the head of such agency or as an elected public official serving in such agency, assist another person, for compensation, in a transaction, or in an appearance in connection with a transaction, involving that agency or render any service on a contractual basis to or for the Board.

 

No former member of the School Board shall, for a period of two (2) years following the termination of his/her public service on such Board, contract with, be employed in any capacity by, or be appointed to any position by the Board.

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Agency means a department, office, division, agency, commission, board, committee, or other organizational unit of a governmental entity. For public servants of political subdivisions, it shall mean the agency in which the public servant serves, except that for members of any governing authority and for the elected or appointed chief executive of a governmental entity, it shall mean the governmental entity.

 

Agency head means the chief executive or administrative officer of an agency or any member of a board or commission who exercises supervision over the agency.

 

Immediate family as the term relates to a public servant means his/her children, the spouses of his/her children, his/her brothers and their spouses, his/her sisters and their spouses, his/her parents, his/her spouse, and the parents of his/her spouse.

 

Public servant means a public employee or an elected official.

 

Political activity means an effort to support or oppose the election of a candidate for political office in an election.

 

Substantial economic interest means an economic interest, which is of greater benefit to the public servant or other person than to a general class or group of persons, except:

 

(a)                The interest that the public servant has in his/her position, office, rank, salary, per diem, or other matter arising solely from his/her public employment or office.

(b)        The interest that a person has as a member of the general public.

 

Transaction involving the governmental entity means any proceeding, application, submission, request for a ruling or other determination, contract, claim, case, or other such particular matter, which the public servant or former public servant of the governmental entity in question knows or should know:

 

(a)        Is, or will be, the subject of action by the governmental entity.

(b)        Is one to which the governmental entity is or will be a party.

(c)        Is one in which the governmental entity has a direct interest. A transaction involving the agency of a governmental entity shall have the same meaning with respect to the agency.

 

 

 

 

 

Revised: October, 1997

Revised: November, 1999

Revised: August, 2003

 

 

 

FILE: CEA

                                                                                                                        Cf: ABE, CE

 

SUPERINTENDENT QUALIFICATIONS

 

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board shall select a Superintendent for the school system who possesses the following minimum qualifications: has met or has been certified as meeting the requirements for superintendency certification as set by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). Additional qualifications may be stipulated by the Board.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

 

The minimum criteria required for superintendency certification are the following:

 

A.                 Hold a valid type A Louisiana Level 2  Educational Leader Certificate.

 

B.         Have had five (5) years of successful educational administration experience or equivalent, three (3) years of which must have been within the last five years; administrative or management experience in education at the level of principal or above, or experience certified as equivalent to any of these by BESE.

 

C.        Hold an earned master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. which includes courses required for state certification.

 

D.        Have completed forty-eight (48) semester hours of graduate credit, to include the following:

 

1.         Thirty (30) semester hours in educational administration and supervision of instruction;

2.         Twelve (12) semester hours in professional education; and

3.         Six (6) semester hours of electives from cognate fields outside professional education related to educational administration and supervision in business, political science, psychology, sociology, or speech.

 

E.         Satisfactorily passed the School Superintendent Assessment (SSA) as approved by BESE in keeping with state requirements.

 

Applicants for the position of Superintendent shall be required to provide assurance that certification for the position is current and valid.

 

 

 

Revised: August, 2003

 

FILE: GBRHA

 

 

SABBATICAL LEAVE

 

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board shall grant sabbatical leave for the purpose of professional or cultural improvement or for medical leave to all teaching personnel in accordance with statutory provisions- Teaching personnel shall include any person employed by the Board

who holds a valid teaching certificate issued by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and any social worker or school psychologist employed by the Board who holds a valid professional auxiliary certificate in school social work or school psychology issued by the State Department of Education.

 

MEDICAL  SABBATICAL MEDICAL LEAVE

 

A teacher may make application for medical sabbatical leave, which shall be accompanied by a statement from a licensed physician certifying that the leave is medically necessary.

 

            A teacher is eligible for sabbatical medical leave is the teacher’s regular sick leave balance is twenty-five (25) days or less at the time leave is set to begin. Applications for sabbatical leaves for medical purposes must be accompanied by a medical statement by the attending physician of the applicant. Medical statements accompanying requests for leaves for medical purposes will be referred to the School Board physician to determine if leave is warranted. A favorable report by the School Board physician must be obtained prior to any action by the School Board to approve a leave for medical purposes.

 

Should the School Board physician return an opinion which disagrees with the applicant’s attending physician, the matter will be referred to a third physician who will be selected from a rotating list of physicians provided by the local medical society.

 

If the Board, upon review of the application, questions the validity or accuracy of the certification, the Board may require the applicant, as a condition for continued consideration of the application, to be examined by a licensed physician selected by the Board. In such a case, the Board shall pay all costs of the examination and any tests determined to be necessary. If the physician selected by the Board finds a medical necessity, the leave application shall be granted.

 

If the physician selected by the Board disagrees with the certification of the physician selected by the applicant, then the Board may require the applicant, as a condition for continued consideration of the application, to be examined by a third licensed appropriate physician whose name appears next in the rotation of physicians on a list established by the local medical society for such purpose and maintained by the School Board. All costs of an examination and any required tests by a third physician shall be paid by the Board. The opinion of the third physician shall decide the issue.

 

The opinion of all physicians consulted shall be submitted to the Board in the form of a sworn statement. All information contained in any statement from a physician shall be confidential and shall not be subject to the public records law.

 

 

 

SABBATICAL LEAVE FOR PROFESSIONAL OR CULTURAL IMPROVEMENT

 

Every person on sabbatical leave for the purpose of professional or cultural improvement, shall during each semester of leave, pursue a program of study, earning at least nine (9) undergraduate credit hours, provided such hours directly improve the person's skills and knowledge as a teacher, or six (6) graduate credit hours, or be certified as a full-time student at an institution of higher learning accredited by the respective State Board of Education or territorial board in which such institution is located. If less than fifteen (15) weeks is spent as specified above, the number of weeks less than fifteen (15) shall be spent in either of the two (2) alternatives specified below:

 

(1)        Pursue a program of independent study, research, authorship or investigation which involves an approximately equivalent amount of work and which is approved by the Board.

(2)   Engage in travel which is so planned as to be of definite educational value and which has been approved by the Board.

 

 

 

ELIGIBILITY

 

Sabbatical leave may be granted on the ratio of two (2) semesters for twelve (12) or more consecutive semesters of active service within the employ of this Board or one (1) semester for six (6) or more consecutive semesters of such service.

 

At no time may more than five percent (5%) of the total number of teachers employed in a school system be on leave. Selection of employees among those who qualify for sabbatical leave must be based on years of continuous service and other criteria as specified by statute.

 

PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION

 

A.                 Application for sabbatical leave shall be made on a form provided by the Superintendent of Schools. Applications shall be sent to the Superintendent by registered mail at least sixty (60) days preceding the beginning of the semester of the scholastic year for which leave is requested, with the following exception; if a teacher or other professional employee has become sick during a semester and requests medical sabbatical leave, it shall be sufficient to mail said application to the Superintendent thirty (30) days prior to the date upon which the requested leave is to commence. The Superintendent shall inform the teacher of the approval or denial of sabbatical leave at least thirty (30) days preceding the beginning of the semester of the school year for which the leave is requested, except that, where a teacher has become sick during a semester and has requested medical sabbatical leave, the Superintendent shall inform the teacher of approval or denial of such leave as soon as possible after receipt of his/her request for leave.

 

B.         Whenever in accordance with statutory provisions some of the applications cannot be granted, from among those, which would otherwise be granted, those to be granted shall be determined in the following manner:

 

(1)        Preference in every case shall be given to the applicant who has rendered active service in the school system for the greatest number of consecutive semesters immediately preceding the period for which leave is requested.

 

(2)        Where any two (2) applicants rank equally in point of continuous service, preference in every case shall be given to the applicant who has rendered service in the school system for the greater total number of semesters.

 

(3)        Where any two (2) applicants rank equally in both points of continuous service and in point of total service, preference in every case shall be given to the applicant whose date of birth is earlier.

 

 (4)       In cases where all factors are equal, the tie shall be broken by the drawing of lots in the presence of the employees.

 

C.        Applicants whose applications are filed in the first thirty (30) days of the semester shall be given a preference over those who seek sabbatical leave under the special provision relating to sickness during a school semester.

 

D.        Every application for sabbatical leave shall specify all of the following:

 

(1)        The period for which leave is requested;

 

(2)        Whether leave is requested for the purpose of professional or cultural improvement, or for the purpose of medical leave;

 

(3)        The precise manner, in so far as possible, in which such leave, if granted, shall be spent;

 

(4)        The semesters spent in active service in the school system from which leave is requested; and

 

(5)        The date of birth of the applicant.

 

The application shall contain a statement, over the signature of the applicant, that he/she shall agree to comply with all sabbatical leave provisions.

 

COMPENSATION

 

A teacher granted sabbatical leave shall be paid compensation at the rate of sixty-five percent (65%) of the person's salary at the time the sabbatical leave begins. A teacher on sabbatical leave with pay must continue his/her retirement contribution. Time spent on such leave is considered as active service for retirement purposes.

 

CONDITIONS OF SABBATICAL

 

A.                 Each person granted sabbatical leave, as a condition of the sabbatical leave, shall prohibited from being employed during the sabbatical leave by any public or private elementary or secondary school in Louisiana or any other state.

 

B.         Every person on medical sabbatical leave shall be prohibited from undertaking any gainful employment during such leave unless all of the following conditions are met:

 

(1)        The teacher can demonstrate that he/she will be working not more than twenty (20) hours a week in a part-time job that he/she has been working for not less than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the beginning of such leave.

 

(2)        The doctor certifying the medical necessity of the leave indicates that such part-time work does not impair the purpose for which the leave is granted.

 

(3)        The Board authorizes such part-time work.

 

Violation of the part-time work provisions shall result in the medical sabbatical leave being rescinded.

 

C.        Each person granted sabbatical leave shall sign an agreement or contract as specified with the Board stipulating that, as a condition of sabbatical leave and in order to be eligible for compensation during such leave, he or she will return to service for one (1) semester for each semester of leave upon completion of the sabbatical leave. Said service shall ordinarily be performed in this School District. No person who, upon the expiration of his/her sabbatical leave, immediately begins employment with a state-operated educational agency, city, parish, or other local school board, department, school, college or university instead of returning to the school system which granted him/her such leave, shall be required to forfeit that portion of compensation paid to him/her by the State while he/she was on such leave. However, such person shall be required to reimburse the school system any salary paid to him/her by the Board while he/she was on leave, unless the Board opts to exercise the waiver provision as explained herein. As per statutory requirement, any employee taking sabbatical leave who fails to return to service in this District upon expiration of the leave as specified above for any reason other than incapacitating illness as certified by two (2) physicians, shall forfeit all salary compensation received during the leave period. The Board shall have the authority to waive this requirement in accordance with its pre- published criteria, as noted below, if it deems such to be in the best interest of the School District, provided that such a waiver shall not be of a discriminatory nature against any employee or applicant because of his or her job description, age, race, or sex.

 

D.        An employee on professional sabbatical leave shall observe the above stipulations concerning graduate or undergraduate credit hours to be earned and/or alternatives such as productive research or travel. The Superintendent shall have the authority to require written reports of work done and work to be done at any time during the period of leave, and shall apprise the Board periodically concerning such reports. In addition, written reports are required within thirty (30) days after the beginning of each semester of leave and within thirty (30) days after the end of leave.

 

  1. Any employee who fails to comply with statutory provisions may have his/her leave terminated by the Superintendent at any time.

 

  1. Every person on sabbatical leave shall notify the Superintendent of his/her intention to return to work not less than thirty (30) days prior to the beginning of the semester in which he/she expects to return.

 

An employee who has been granted sabbatical leave shall upon expiration of the leave, be returned to the same position in the same school held at the time of said sabbatical leave was granted unless otherwise agreed to by the individual.

 

GUIDELINES FOR WAIVING INTENTION TO RETURN TO SERVICE CLAUSE

 

The return to service provision, as stated in Conditions of Sabbatical, Item C above, may be waived by the Board, after careful review and recommendation of the Superintendent, in any of the following instances:

 

A.        Any person whose spouse is transferred out of the parish (job requirement not anticipated before leave) during the time the teacher is on leave or within one (1) year immediately following the termination of such leave (certification must be provided by spouse's employer).

 

B.         Any person who receives a position to the State Department of Education, to another public school system within the State of Louisiana, or to a state-operated educational agency. In such instances, the person granted sabbatical leave, upon the expiration of leave, shall be permitted to retain that portion of compensation paid by the state while he/she was on leave. However, such person shall be required to reimburse the Board any compensation paid by the Board while on leave.

 

C.        Incapacitating illness, as certified by two (2) physicians.

 

D.        Incapacitating illness of member of immediate family (mother, father, sister, brother, husband, wife, child), as certified by two (2) physicians, wherein employee must remain at home to care for said family member, within one year immediately following termination of the sabbatical.

 

E.         Whenever, in the Board's opinion, such a waiver would be in the best interest of the School District.

 

REPAYMENT OF SABBATICAL LEAVE COMPENSATION

 

When a teacher on a sabbatical leave goes to work for another state agency, the School Board is permitted to waive the person's requirement to return to work for the school system from which the leave was granted. When this happens, the person is required to return the local portion of salary to the School Board. However, if the School Board waives the requirement to return to work for any other reason, they also waive the requirement to refund any portion of salary. If a waiver is desired, the teacher shall be required to refund to the School Board the entire salary that was paid while the teacher was on sabbatical leave.

 

Revised: March, 1985                                                  Revised: June, 2001

Revised: July 15, 1997

Revised: August, 2003

Revised: March 17, 1998

Revised: December, 1999

 

FILE: DJED

 

BIDS AND QUOTATIONS

 

 
PUBLIC WORKS

 

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board shall advertise and let by contract, except in cases of extreme emergencies, all public work exceeding $100,000 or such sum as allowed by law, including labor, materials, equipment, and administrative overhead not to exceed fifteen percent (15%). The contract shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder who has bid according to the contract, plans, and specifications advertised. Public works which are estimated to cost less than the contract limit may be undertaken by the Board with its own employees.

 

As an evidence of good faith of the bidder, the Board shall require bidders for construction, improvement, repair, or other work to attach to the bid submitted, a bid bond, certified check, or cashier's check for not more than five percent (5%) of the contract work to be done. The Board may require a bid bond or certified or cashier's check of not more than five percent (5%) of the estimated price on bids taken for supplies and materials.

 

When any bid is accepted for construction or doing any public works, a written contract shall be entered into by the successful bidder and the School Board, and the successful bidder shall furnish a performance and payment bond in the full amount of the contract for contracts of $50,000 or more, for the faithful performance of his or her duties, from a company licensed to do business in Louisiana.

 

Under no circumstances shall there be a division or separation of any public work project into smaller projects, which division or separation would have the effect of avoiding the requirement that public work be advertised and let by contract to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with statutory provisions.

 

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 

All purchases of materials or supplies exceeding the sum of $l5,000 $20,000 to be paid out of public funds shall be advertised and let by contract to the lowest responsible bidder who has bid according to the specifications as advertised. In addition, purchases of materials or supplies of at least $7,500  $10,000, but not more than l5,000 $20,000, shall be made by obtaining not less than three (3) telephone or facsimile quotations. A written confirmation of the accepted offer shall be obtained and made a part of the purchase file. The Board may require a written contract or bond when purchasing the materials or supplies. If quotations are received that are lower than the quote accepted, a notation shall be entered into the file as to the reasons for rejection of the lower quotes.

 

Purchases cannot be divided by departments or by a school if the effect is to evade the state's public bid law. Purchases of commodities that are bought in small but recurring amounts through the year shall be bid on an annual basis.

 

 

EMERGENCIES

 

            In cases of extreme emergency when time is not sufficient to advertise for bids for public works or purchase of materials, the Board is permitted by law to declare that a public emergency exists and extend a contract for more than the sums mentioned without going out to bid;

however, in such cases every effort shall be made by the administration to secure competitive quotations through negotiations.

 

USE OF STATE CONTRACT

 

The School Board may make use of valid contracts put in place by the State of Louisiana Office of State Purchasing. The Board may also piggyback, or purchase materials and supplies on valid contracts of other political subdivisions.

 

BID ADVERTISEMENTS

 

All advertisements for bids for public works shall appear in the newspaper selected as the official journal for the School Board, except in extreme emergencies as may be declared by the Board. Any advertisement for any contract for public works, when published, shall appear once a week for three (3) different weeks in a newspaper in the locality and the first advertisement shall appear at least twenty-five (25) days before the opening of bids.

 

Any advertisement for any contract or purchase of materials or supplies shall be published two (2) times in a newspaper in the locality, the first advertisement appearing at least fifteen (15) days prior to the opening of bids.

 

In addition to newspaper advertisements, the School Board may also publish advertisements by electronic media available to the general public. In any advertisement, the first publication shall not occur on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.

 

The School Board shall not issue or cause to be issued any addendum modifying plans and specifications within a period of seventy-two (72) hours prior to the advertised time for the opening of bids, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and any other legal holidays; however, if the necessity arises to issue an addendum modifying plans and specifications within the seventy-two hour period prior to the advertised time for the opening of bids, then the opening of bids shall be extended at least seven (7) days, but not to exceed twenty-one (21) days, without the requirement of readvertising. The addendum shall state the revised time and date for the opening of bids.

 

OPENING OF BIDS

 

All bids shall be opened in public in the presence of one or more witnesses, at the time and place designated in the invitation for bids. Each bid, together with the name of the bidder, shall be recorded and open to public inspection. However, the School Board shall not accept or take any bids including receiving any hand delivered bids, on days which are recognized as holidays by the United States Postal Service. The Superintendent and/or other appropriate administrators shall review, summarize and report bids to the Board with recommendations for final action.

 

If the School Board proposes to disqualify any bidder, the School Board shall:

 

(1)        Give written notice of the proposed disqualification to such bidder, and include in the written notice all reasons for the proposed disqualification; and

 

(2)        Give such bidder, who is proposed to be disqualified, the opportunity to be heard at an informal hearing, at which such bidder is afforded the opportunity to refute the reasons for the disqualification.

 

 

Revised: December, 1991                                             Revised: December, 1992        

Revised: November, 1993                                            Revised: December, 1995

Revised: October, 1997                                                Revised: November, 1999

Revised: November, 2001                                            Revised: June, 2002

Revised: August, 2003

 

 

FILE: JCDAB/JGBAG

 

STUDENT ALCOHOL, DRUG, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

 

The Tangipahoa Parish Public School System recognizes that the use of alcohol and other drugs is wrong and harmful. They further recognize that problems associated with their use are becoming increasingly commonplace in our society and among our youth. It is apparent that young people using alcohol and controlled dangerous substances are not making the intellectual gains that they should and are not developing the coping skills that they need.

 

            Therefore, it is in the best interest of the community, that the school system take steps to promote, enhance, and maintain an alcohol and drug free school system and student body. Along with parents and other segments of the community the school system has a role to play in helping students remain alcohol and drug free.

 

In accordance with state law, each school in the Tangipahoa Parish Public School System shall include a program on substance abuse prevention, intervention, and follow-up to include informational, affective, and support strategies implemented by a school-based student assistance team.

 

Through the efforts of the school-based student assistance teams, the Tangipahoa Parish Public School System intends to cooperate with segments of the community in making the means of assistance available to all those individuals who develop alcohol or other drug-related problems.

 

The Board recognizes that it is wrong and harmful for students to be under the influence of alcoholic beverages, controlled substances, mood-altering chemicals or their "look alikes." The Board further recognizes that it is wrong and harmful for any student to bring, consume or have in his/her possession on a school bus, on school property, or at any school sponsored activity, any the aforementioned substances. Therefore, the use of or the possession of these substances is strictly prohibited.

 

When a student is found to be under the influence of, using, or in possession of these aforementioned substances, or in possession of related drug paraphernalia (i.e., rolling papers, roach clips, syringes, etc.), the principal/designee shall follow these steps:

 

USE

 

First Offense:    The student shall be suspended for a minimum of three (3) days.

 

1.         Inform the parent or legal guardian by phone immediately or by letter within one school day regarding the reason for suspension, procedures for reinstatement, and parish policy concerning subsequent offenses.

 

2.         The parents or guardian must obtain an assessment of the student by a state licensed drug abuse clinic, hospital or counselor.

 

3.         Written verification of this assessment must be presented to the principal/designee by the parent or guardian prior to the student returning to school.

 

4.         Membership in a support group by the student is required as a condition for his/her return to school.

 

Subsequent Offenses:    The student shall be recommended for expulsion following the provisions and guidelines set forth in state law.

 
POSSESSION OR DISTRIBUTION

 

The principal or his/her designee shall follow these steps:

 

First Offense:    The student shall be recommended for expulsion and suspended until a hearing can be conducted by the Superintendent or designee.

 

Suspension Procedures:

 

1.         Inform the School Board Child Welfare and Attendance Supervisor and DFSC staff of the offense.

 

2.         Inform the parent or legal guardian by phone immediately or by letter within one school day regarding the reason for suspension, procedures for reinstatement and parish policy concerning subsequent offenses.

 

3.            May contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.

 

4.         The parent or guardian must obtain an assessment of the student by a state licensed drug abuse clinic, hospital or counselor within five (5) days of his/her suspension.

 

5.         Written verification of this assessment must be presented to the principal/designee by the parent or guardian prior to the student returning to school.

 

Upon the rendering of a decision by the Superintendent or his/her designee, the suspended student has five (5) days to appeal to the Tangipahoa Parish School Board. Within ten (10) days of the decision by the School Board, the suspended student may appeal to the 21st Judicial District Court.

 

6.         Membership in a support group by the student is required as a condition for his/her return to school.

 

Expulsion Procedures:

 

1.         The student shall be recommended for expulsion following the provisions and guidelines set forth in state law.

 

2.         May contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.

 

At all times and under every circumstance care should be given to afford due process to all students.

 

The School System, under the leadership of the Superintendent, is committed to educating students, parents, and the community about the reality of drug abuse and sources of assistance. The Tangipahoa Parish School System has initiated student assistance teams within the schools. These student assistance teams are charged with the responsibility for providing the leadership to implement the drug prevention/intervention program.

 

State law mandates that teachers and other school employees report suspected substance abuse in our schools. These cases shall be reported to the principal/designee and the student assistance team in the school. The principal/designee may report each case of possession with intent to distribute, distributing, sales or manufacturing to the proper law enforcement authority. Any student suspected of abuse must be referred to the student assistance team, who shall evaluate the case and report their findings along with recommendation for evaluation, counseling or other appropriate action. At all times, the

student's rights to confidentiality shall be maintained in compliance with all State and Federal laws.

 

There will be a biannual review to determine effectiveness and necessary revisions of the above policy. As such, this policy will be continually updated according to Federal and State requirements.

 

 

Revised: June, 1991

Revised: March, 1992

Revised: August, 1994

Revised: March, 1999

 

 

RECODED FROM JCDAE

 

FILE: JCDAC

Cf : JCAB , JDD , JDE

 

DANGEROUS WEAPONS

 

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board shall authorize the principal of each school to automatically suspend, and recommend expulsion for, any student found in possession of a dangerous weapon on the school grounds, on school buses and/or at any school-sponsored event, at any time, during or after regular school hours, with limited exception. A dangerous weapon means any gas, liquid, or other substance or instrumentality, which in the manner used, is likely to produce death or great bodily harm. When the student is found in possession of a weapon, the Superintendent shall be immediately notified and the principal shall take appropriate disciplinary action.

 

If a student is detained for carrying, or the principal or designee confiscates or seizes a firearm or concealed dangerous weapon from a student while on school property, on a school bus, or at a school function, the principal or school official shall immediately report the detention of the student or seizure of the firearm or weapon to the police department or sheriff's office where the school is located and shall deliver any firearm or weapon seized to that agency.

 

Failure to report the detention of the student or seizure of a firearm or concealed weapon by a principal or school official to a law enforcement agency within seventy-two (72) hours may result in a misdemeanor offense with a fine of up to $500 or a sentence of up to 40 hours of community service, or both.

 

If a student is detained for carrying a concealed weapon on campus, the principal shall immediately notify the student's parents.

 

It is unlawful for a student or non-student to intentionally possess a firearm or dangerous weapon on school property at a school-sponsored function or within 1000 feet of school property or while on a school bus at any time. The area surrounding the school campus or within 1000 feet of any such school campus, or within a school bus shall be designated firearm-free zones. The School Board, in cooperation with local governmental agencies, and the State Department of Education, shall designate and mark firearm-free zones, which surround all schools and school property.

 

 

Revised: November, 1989

Revised: December, 1992 Revised:

November, 1993

Revised: October, 1994

 

 

 

FILE: JD

Cf: IDDF, JBE, JCD, JCDA

Cf: JD-R, JDD, JDE, JDF

 

DISCIPLINE

 

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board recognizes the necessity for reasonable control and discipline over the conduct of pupils under its jurisdiction. Every teacher in the public school system shall endeavor to hold each pupil to a strict accountability for any disorderly conduct in school, or on the playgrounds of the school, on the street or while going to or returning from school, or during intermission or recess. To assist the teacher, the Board shall establish regulations for the use of disciplinary measures within the schools and continually monitor and appraise their usefulness.

 

        Principals shall have both the authority and the duty to take disciplinary action whenever the behavior of any pupil(s) materially interferes with or substantially disrupts the maintenance of a proper atmosphere for learning within the classroom or other parts of the school. However, no pupil shall be disciplined in any manner by the School Board or school administrator, teacher, or other school employee for the use of force upon another person when it can be reasonably concluded that the use of such force more probably than not was committed solely for the purpose of preventing a forcible offense against the pupil or a forcible offense provided that the force used must be reasonable and apparently necessary to prevent such offense. A pupil who is the aggressor or who brings on a difficulty cannot claim the right stated above to defend himself/herself.

 

Each teacher may take disciplinary action to correct a pupil who disrupts normal classroom activities, who is disrespectful to a teacher, who willfully disobeys a teacher, who uses abusive or foul language directed at a teacher or another pupil, who violates school rules, or who interferes with an orderly education process. The disciplinary action taken by the teacher shall be in accordance with such regulations and procedures established by the Board.

 

 
STUDENT REMOVAL FROM CLASSROOM

 

A pupil may be immediately removed from a classroom by the teacher and placed in the custody of the principal or designee if the pupil's behavior prevents the orderly instruction of other pupils, poses an immediate threat to the safety of pupils or the teacher, or when a pupil exhibits disrespectful or threatening behavior toward a teacher. If removed, the student shall not receive credit for schoolwork missed.

 

A pupil removed from class in kindergarten through grade 6 shall not be permitted to return to class for at least thirty (30) minutes unless agreed to by the teacher. A pupil removed from class in grades 7 through 12 shall not be permitted to return to class during the same class period, unless agreed to by the teacher initiating the disciplinary action.

 

Upon the pupil being removed from class and sent to the principal's office, the principal or designee shall conduct a counseling session with the pupil to discuss the particular misconduct. Once removed, the pupil shall not be readmitted to the classroom until the principal has implemented one of the following disciplinary measures:

 

a.                     In-school suspension

b.                    Detention

c.         Suspension

d.         Initiation of expulsion hearings

e.         Assignment to an alternative school

f.          Requiring the completion of all assigned school and homework, which would have been assigned and completed by the pupil during the period of suspension.

g.         Any other disciplinary measure authorized by the principal with the concurrence of the teacher or building level committee.

 

 

When a pupil has been removed from a classroom, the teacher may require the parent, tutor, or legal guardian of the pupil to have a conference with the teacher in the presence of the principal or his or her designee before the pupil is readmitted. Upon the pupil's third removal from the same classroom, the teacher and principal shall discuss the pupil's disruptive behavior and contemplated disciplinary measures to be taken before the principal implements such measures. If appropriate, a referral of the matter may be made to the appropriate building level committee. In addition, a conference between the teacher or other appropriate school employee and the pupil's parent, tutor, or legal guardian shall be required prior to the pupil being readmitted. If the disruptive behavior persists, the teacher may request that the principal transfer the pupil into another setting.

 

Whenever a teacher is struck by a pupil, the pupil, in addition to any other discipline given, shall be permanently removed from the teacher's classroom, unless the teacher objects, or unless the principal, with the concurrence of the building level committee, finds the striking incident to be entirely inadvertent.

 

PARENT CONFERENCES

 

In any case where a teacher, principal, or other school employee is authorized to require the parent, tutor, or legal guardian of a pupil to attend a conference or meeting regarding the pupil's behavior, and after notice, the parent, tutor, or legal guardian willfully refuses to attend, the principal, or his designee, shall file a complaint, in accordance with statutory provisions, with a court exercising juvenile jurisdiction. "Notice" of the conference, specifying the time and date of the conference, shall be given by contacting the parent, tutor, or legal guardian by telephone at the telephone number shown on the pupil's registration card or by sending a certified letter to the address shown on the pupil's registration card.

 

REPORTS TO PRINCIPAL

 

Any teacher or other school employee may report to the principal any pupil who acts in a disorderly manner or is in violation of school rules, or any misconduct or

 

violation of school rules by a pupil who mayor may not be known to the teacher or employee. Incidents of alleged discipline violations shall be reported on two (2) forms, one form to report only school transportation-related incidents and one form to report all other incidents. The forms shall be submitted in accordance with procedures outlined by the Board, the Superintendent, and school system personnel. The principal shall review and act upon such information submitted, to determine if suspension or other disciplinary action is necessary.

 

Should the principal fail to act on any report of misconduct or school violation, he/she shall explain the reasons for doing so to the Superintendent or designee and to the teacher or school employee reporting the violation.

 

DELINQUENT STUDENTS

 

Pupils who regularly disrupt the normal school environment shall be considered as delinquent, and may be reported by appropriate school personnel to the juvenile court. Any pupil that exhibits disruptive behavior, an incorrigible attitude, or any other discipline problems in general, may be recommended by the principal for expulsion, assignment to an appropriate alternative education program, or transfer to adult education if the pupil is:

 

1.         Seventeen (17) years of age or older with less than five (5) units of credit toward graduation;

 

2.         Eighteen (18) years of age or older with less than ten (10) units of credit toward graduation; or

 

3.         Nineteen (19) years of age or older with less than fifteen (15) units of credit toward graduation.

 

 
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEES

 

All schools shall establish a Discipline Committee. The committee should be composed of administrators, counselors, regular education and special education teachers, 504 chairperson, school building level chairperson, referring teacher for no credit grade, parents and others as deemed necessary by the local committees. The purpose of the committee shall be to review the discipline policies and procedures at each school, make recommendations for changes to be considered by the local administration and serve as an appeal committee for No Credit Grades (N/C's). The committee shall in no way be involved in the day-to-day decisions of administrators regarding disciplinary actions taken.

 

A mandatory workshop for principals, assistant principals and administrative assistants should be held annually. Each principal should in-service his/her staff annually on the policies and procedures and send documentation to the Administrative Director of Administration and Pupil Services.

 

DEFINITIONS

 

In-school suspension means removing a pupil from his/her normal classroom setting but maintaining him/her under supervision of the school. Pupils participating in in-school suspension may receive credit for work performed during the in-school suspension. Any pupil who fails to comply fully with the rules for in-school suspension shall be subject to immediate suspension.

 

Detention means activities, assignments, or work held before the normal school day, after the normal school day, or on weekends. Failure or refusal by a pupil to participate in assigned detention shall subject the pupil to immediate suspension.

 

RECUSAL OF ADMINISTRATOR IN DISCIPLINE MATTERS

 

Any school administrator or administrator's designee who is required to make a recommendation, decide an issue, or take action in a matter involving the discipline of a student shall recuse himself/herself whenever a member of the immediate family of the administrator or administrator's designee is involved in any manner in the discipline matter. In case oŁ recusal, the action to be taken shall be done so by the Superintendent or an impartial designee of the Superintendent. Immediate family means the individual's children, brothers, sisters, parents, and spouse and the children, brothers, sisters, and parents of the spouse.

 

DISCIPLINE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

 

Discipline of students with disabilities shall be in accordance with policy JDF, Discipline of Students with Disabilities.

 

ELECTRONIC TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES

 

            No person, unless authorized by the school principal or designee, shall use, possess, or operate any electronic telecommunication device including any facsimile system, radio paging service, mobile telephone service, intercom, or electro mechanical paging system in any elementary or secondary school building, or on the grounds thereof or in any school bus. A violation of these provisions shall be grounds for disciplinary action, including but not limited to, suspension or referral of the pupil to the juvenile court of the parish. Appropriate law enforcement agencies shall be notified of any person, other than a pupil or school employee, who violates this policy while on school property without authority and such person(s) shall be dealt with under the criminal laws of the state.

 

TANGIPAHOA PARISH  SCHOOL SYSTEM    -            October 7, 2003                      

 

 

Revised: December, 1990                                                         Revised: August, 1996

Revised: December, 1992                                                         Revised: September, 1997        Revised: November, 1993                                                             Revised: August, 1999

Revised: June 20, 1995                                                             Revised: August, 2003

 

 

FILE: JDD

Cf: IDDG, JBC, JCDAE, JCDAC

Cf: JD, JDE, JDF

 

 

SUSPENSION

 

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board recognizes its authority to maintain good order and discipline within the schools of the school district. Therefore, the Board recognizes the principal's authority to suspend a pupil for a specified period of time in accordance with statutory provisions. The term of suspension may carry over into the next school year, when necessary, unless otherwise provided for in state statutes.

 

                In each case of suspension, the school principal, or his or her designee, shall, prior to any suspension, advise the student of the particular misconduct of which he/she is accused as well as the basis for such accusation, and the pupil shall be given an opportunity at that time to explain his/her version of the facts. The principal/designee shall contact the parent, tutor, or legal guardian of the pupil to notify them of the suspension, and establish a date and time for a conference with the principal or designee as a requirement for readmitting the pupil. Notice shall be given by contacting the parent, tutor, or legal guardian by telephone at the telephone number shown on the pupil's registration card, or by sending a certified letter to the address shown on the pupil's registration card. The principal shall promptly advise the Superintendent or designee of all such suspensions, stating the reasons for the suspensions.

 

No suspended pupil shall be allowed to leave the school premises during the school day until parent, guardian, or other proper authorities assume responsibility for him/her, unless immediate removal from school due to danger or threat of disruption to academic process is warranted. (This information moved from below)

 

If the parent, tutor, or legal guardian fails to attend the required conference within five (5) school days of notification, the truancy laws shall be effective. On not more than one occasion each school year when the parent, tutor, or legal guardian refuses to respond, the principal may determine whether readmitting the pupil is in the best interest of the pupil. On any subsequent occasions in the same school year, the pupil shall not be readmitted unless the parent, tutor, or legal guardian, court, or other appointed representative responds.

 

In any case where a teacher, principal, or other school employee is authorized to require the parent, tutor, or legal guardian of a pupil to attend a conference or meeting regarding the pupil's behavior and after notice, the parent, tutor, or legal guardian willfully refuses to attend, the principal or his/her designee shall file a complaint, in accordance with statutory provisions, with a court exercising juvenile jurisdiction.

 

When a pupil is suspended for a second time within one school year, the principal may require a counseling session be held with the parent and pupil by the school counselor. If no counselor is available, the conference may be held with all the pupil's teachers and the principal or other administrator.

 

Any pupil, after being suspended on three (3) occasions for committing any suspendable offense during the same school session, shall, on committing the fourth offense, be expelled from the public schools of the district until the beginning of the next regular school year, and the pupil's reinstatement shall be subject to review by the School Board.

 

 

The principal shall promptly advise the Superintendent or designee of all such suspensions, stating the reasons for the suspensions. No suspended pupil shall be allowed to leave the school premises during the school day until parent, guardian, or other proper authorities assume responsibility for him/her, unless immediate removal from school due to danger or threat of disruption to academic process is warranted. (This paragraph moved to page 1)

 

The principal and other appropriate personnel shall be required to file written documentation of all suspensions. Said documentation shall include the circumstances surrounding any suspension, the reason for suspension, and any other pertinent facts to the Superintendent or concerning the disciplinary action. The principal shall file copies of his/her report with the Superintendent, other appropriate personnel and the parent or guardian and retain a copy for his records.

 

Any parent, tutor, or legal guardian of a pupil suspended shall have the right to appeal to the Superintendent or his/her designee, who shall conduct a hearing on the merits. If the parent or legal guardian is not present for the hearing after having been properly notified, the hearing may proceed and the results of the hearing shall be mailed to the parent or legal guardian within three (3) school days by certified mail, return receipt requested. The decision of the Superintendent on the merits of the case, as well as the term of suspension, shall be final, reserving to the Superintendent the right to remit any portion of the time of suspension.

 

Except for in-school suspensions, any pupil suspended shall receive no credit for school work missed while suspended.

 

Upon the seizure by any teacher, principal, school security guard, or other school administrator of any firearm, knife, or other dangerous implement which could be used as a weapon or inflict injury, the principal or his or her designee shall be required to report the confiscation to appropriate law enforcement officials.

 

MANDATORY SUSPENSION

 

The principal shall be required to suspend a pupil who is found carrying or possessing a firearm a knife with a blade two (2) inches or longer, or other dangerous instrumentalities, or possesses, distributes, sells, gives, or loans any controlled dangerous substance governed by state law, in any form. Additionally, the principal shall immediately recommend the pupil's expulsion to the Superintendent, as state law has mandated expulsion for certain offenses, except in the case of a student in kindergarten through grade 5 who is found carrying or possessing a knife with a blade two (2) inches or longer, the principal may, but shall not be required to recommend the student's expulsion.

 

 A student found carrying or possessing a knife with a blade less than two (2) inches in length may be suspended by the school principal, but, in appropriate cases, at a minimum, shall be placed in in-school suspension.

 

School officials, in accordance with statutory provisions, shall have total discretion and shall exercise such discretion in imposing on a pupil any disciplinary actions authorized by state law for possession by a pupil of a firearm or knife on school property when such firearm or knife is stored in a motor vehicle and there is no evidence of the pupil's intent to use the firearm or knife in a criminal manner.

 

                Whenever a pupil is formally accused of violating state law or school disciplinary regulations by committing battery on any school employee, the principal shall suspend the pupil from school immediately and the pupil shall be removed immediately from the school premises without the benefit of required procedures, provided, however, that such procedures shall follow as soon as practicable.

 

SUSPENSION NOT APPLICABLE

 

Suspension of a student shall not apply to the following:

 

 

1.         A student carrying or possessing a firearm or knife for purposes of involvement in a school class, course, or school approved co-curricular or extracurricular activity or any other activity approved by appropriate school officials.

 

2.         A student possessing any controlled dangerous substance that has been obtained directly or due to a valid prescription or order from a licensed physician. However, such student shall carry evidence of that prescription or physician's order on his person at all times when in possession of any controlled dangerous substance, which shall be subject to verification.

 

RECUSAL OF ADMINISTRATOR IN DISCIPLINE MATTERS

 

                Any school administrator or administrator's designee who is required to make a  recommendation, decide an issue, or take action in a matter involving the discipline of a student shall recuse himself/herself whenever a member of the immediate family of the administrator or administrator's designee is involved in any manner in the discipline matter. In case of recusal, the action to be taken shall be done so by the Superintendent or an impartial designee of the Superintendent. Immediate family means the individual's children, brothers, sisters, parents, and spouse and the children, brothers, sisters, and parents of the spouse.

 

SUSPENSION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Suspension of students with disabilities shall be in accordance with policy JDF, Discipline of Students with Disabilities.

 

Revised: December 1992                                                          Revised: September, 1997

Revised: August, 1994                                                  Revised: August, 1999

Revised: December, 1995                                                         Revised: August, 2003

Revised: July, 1996

 

FILE: JDE

Cf: IDDG, JBC, JCD, JCDA

Cf: JCDAC, JCDAE, JD, JD-R, JDD, JDF

 

EXPULSION

 

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board may expel a pupil from school if an offense committed by the pupil is serious enough to warrant such action or is in violation of state law. Upon the recommendation for expulsion of a pupil by the principal, the Superintendent or designee shall conduct a hearing to determine the facts of the case and make a finding of whether or not the student is guilty of conduct warranting a recommendation of expulsion. Notification of the time, date, and place of the expulsion hearing shall be mailed to the parents. Following the hearing, the Superintendent or his/her designee shall notify the parents of the decision rendered. Upon the conclusion of the hearing and upon finding the student guilty of conduct warranting expulsion, the Superintendent  shall determine whether such student shall be expelled and the specified period of expulsion, or if other disciplinary action shall be taken. Unless otherwise stipulated by state statutes, the period of expulsion shall not be less than one school semester and may carryover into the next school year, if necessary. (This information moved below)

 

At the hearing, the principal and/or teacher concerned may be represented by any person appointed by the Superintendent and the concerned teacher shall be permitted to attend and present any relevant information. Until the hearing, the pupil shall remain suspended.

 

Upon the conclusion of the hearing and upon finding the student guilty of conduct warranting expulsion, the Superintendent  shall determine whether such student shall be expelled and the specified period of expulsion, or if other disciplinary action shall be taken. Unless otherwise stipulated by state statutes, the period of expulsion shall not be less than one school semester and may carryover into the next school year, if necessary. During expulsion, the

School Board shall lace the student in an alternative school or in an alternative school setting unless the Board is exempt as provided by law from providing such alternative school setting.

 

The parent or tutor of the pupil may, within five (5) days after the decision to expel has been rendered, request the Board to review the findings of the Superintendent or designee at a time set by the Board. After reviewing the findings of the Superintendent or designee, the School Board may affirm, modify, or reverse the action of the Superintendent or designee.

 

Any pupil who is expelled shall receive no credit for schoolwork missed while he/she is expelled.

 

MANDATORY EXPULSION

 

State law requires the Superintendent to expel a pupil for minimum periods of time if found guilty of certain offenses, as follows:

 

A.        Any student, regardless of age, who is found guilty of being in possession of a firearm on school property, on a school bus or in actual possession at a school- sponsored event, pursuant to a hearing, shall be expelled from school for a minimum period of twelve (12) calendar months and shall be referred to the district attorney for appropriate action.

 

B.         Any student, sixteen (16) years of age or older, found guilty of possession of, or knowledge of and intentional distribution of or possession with intent to distribute any illegal narcotic, drug, or other controlled substance on school property, on a school bus or at a school-sponsored event, pursuant to a hearing, shall be expelled from school for a minimum of twenty-four (24) calendar months and shall be referred to the district attorney for appropriate action unless such student has, agreed to participate and participates full-time, in a juvenile drug court program operated by a  court in Louisiana as  required by the Board. Such student may be placed by the School Board in an alternative education program for suspended and expelled students approved by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE).

 

C.        Any student who is under sixteen (16) years of age and in grades six (6) through twelve (12) and who is found guilty of possession of, or knowledge of and intentional distribution of or possession with intent to distribute any illegal narcotic, drug, or other controlled substance on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored event pursuant to a hearing shall be expelled from school for a minimum period of twelve (12) calendar months and  shall be referred to the district attorney for appropriate action  unless such student has agreed to participate and participates full-time in a juvenile drug court program operated by a court in Louisiana as required by the Board. Such student may be placed by the School Board in an alternative education program for suspended and expelled students approved by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE).

 

D.        Any case involving a student in kindergarten through grade five (5) found guilty of possession of, or knowledge of and intentional distribution of or possession with intent to distribute any illegal narcotic, drug, or other controlled substance on school property, on a school bus, or at a school- sponsored event, pursuant to a hearing, shall be referred to the Board through a recommendation for action from the Superintendent.

 

E.      Any student, after being suspended on three (3) occasions during the same school year, shall on committing the fourth offense, be expelled from all the public schools of the system until the beginning of the next regular school year, and the pupil's reinstatement shall be subject to the review and approval of the Board.

 

F.         A student shall also automatically be expelled for:

1.         Assault;

2.         Possession of a weapon with intent to use;

3.         Distribution, use or possession of alcohol.

 

Expulsion shall not apply to the following:

 

1.         A student carrying or possessing a firearm or knife for purposes of involvement in a school class, course, or school approved co-curricular or extracurricular activity or any other activity approved by appropriate school officials.

 

2.         A student possessing any controlled dangerous substance that has been obtained directly or due to a valid prescription or order from a licensed physician. However, such student shall carry evidence of that prescription or physician's order on his/her person at all times when in possession of any controlled dangerous substance, which shall be subject to verification.

 
ADDITIONAL REASONS FOR EXPULSION

 

Pupils may also be expelled for any of the following reasons:

 

1.         Any pupil, after being suspended for committing violations of any discipline policies or other rule infractions, depending on the severity of the behavior, may be expelled upon recommendation to the Superintendent by the principal and after an appropriate hearing is held by the Superintendent or designee.

 

2.         Any student who is found carrying or possessing a knife with a blade, which equals or exceeds two (2) inches in length.

 

3.         In accordance with federal regulations, a pupil determined to have brought a weapon to a school under the Board's jurisdiction shall be expelled for a minimum of one calendar year. The Superintendent may modify the expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis. A weapon, in accordance with federal statutes, means a firearm or any device which is designed to expel a projectile or any destructive device, which in turn means any explosive, incendiary or poison gas, bomb, grenade, rocket, missile, mine or similar device.

 

4.         The conviction of any pupil of a felony or the incarceration of any pupil in a juvenile institution for an act which had it been committed by an adult, would have constituted a felony, may be cause for expulsion of the pupil for a period of time as determined by the Board; such expulsions shall require the vote of two-thirds of the elected members of the Board.

 

School officials, in accordance with statutory provisions, shall have total discretion and shall exercise such discretion in imposing on a pupil any disciplinary actions authorized by state law for possession by a pupil of a firearm or knife on school property when such firearm or knife is stored in a motor vehicle and there is no evidence of the pupil's intent to use the firearm or knife in a criminal manner.

 

READMITTANCE FOLLOWING EXPULSION

 

                In each case of expulsion, the school principal, or his or her designee, shall contact the parent, tutor, or legal guardian of the pupil to notify them of the expulsion, and establish a date and time for a conference with the principal or designee as a requirement for readmitting the pupil. Notice shall be given by sending a certified letter to the address shown on the pupil's registration card. Also, additional notification may be made by contacting the parent, tutor, or legal guardian by telephone at' the telephone number shown on the pupil's registration card.

 

If the parent, tutor, or legal guardian fails to attend the required conference within five (5) school days of notification, the student may be considered a truant and dealt with according to all applicable statutory provisions. On not more than one occasion each school year when the parents, tutor, or legal guardian refuses to respond, the principal may determine whether readmitting the pupil is in the best interest of the pupil. On any subsequent occasions in the same school year, the pupil shall not be readmitted unless the parent, tutor, or legal guardian, court, or other appointed representative responds.

 

In any case where a teacher, principal, or other school employee is authorized to require the parent, tutor, or legal guardian of a pupil to attend a conference or meeting regarding the pupil's behavior and after notice, the parent, tutor, or legal guardian willfully refuses to attend, the principal or his or her designee shall file a complaint, in accordance with statutory provisions, with a court exercising juvenile jurisdiction.

 

            Any pupil expelled from school for items A, B, C, or D under Mandatory Expulsions above may be readmitted to school on a probationary basis at any time during the expulsion period on such terms and conditions as may be stipulated by the School

 

Board. Readmission to school on a probationary basis shall be contingent on the pupil and legal guardian or custodian agreeing in writing to the conditions stipulated. Any such agreement shall contain a provision for immediate removal of the pupil from school premises without benefit of a hearing or other procedure upon the principal or Superintendent determining the pupil has violated any condition agreed to. Immediately thereafter, the principal or designee shall provide proper notification in writing of the determination and reasons for removal to the Superintendent and the pupil's parent or legal guardian.

 

A pupil who has been expelled from any school in or out of state shall not be admitted to a school in the school system except upon the review and approval of the School Board following the request for admission. To facilitate the review and approval for readmittance, the pupil shall provide to the Board information on the dates of any expulsions and the reasons therefor. Additionally, the transfer of pupil records to any school or system shall include information on the dates of any expulsions and the reasons therefor.

 

A pupil that has been expelled from any school in or out of state for possessing on school property or on a bus, a firearm, knife, or other dangerous weapon, or possessing or possession with intent to distribute or distributing, selling, giving, or loaning while on school property or a school bus any controlled dangerous substance shall not be readmitted to any school until the pupil has enrolled and participated in an appropriate rehabilitation or counseling program related to the reason(s) for the expulsion. The rehabilitation or counseling programs shall be provided by such programs approved by the juvenile or family court having jurisdiction, if applicable, or by the School Board. The requirement for enrollment and participation in a rehabilitation or counseling program shall be waived only upon the pupil attesting in writing that no appropriate program is available in the area or that the pupil cannot enroll or participate due to financial hardship.

 

RECUSAL OF ADMINISTRATOR IN DISCIPLINE MATTERS

 

Any school administrator or administrator's designee who is required to make a recommendation, decide an issue, or take action in a matter involving the discipline of a student shall recuse himself/herself whenever a member of the immediate family of the administrator or administrator’s designee is involved in any manner in the discipline matter. In case of recusal, the action to be taken shall be done so by the Superintendent or an impartial designee of the Superintendent.

Immediate family means the individual's children, brothers, sisters, parents, and spouse and the children, brothers, sisters, and parents of the spouse.

 

EXPULSION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

 

Expulsion of students with disabilities shall be in accordance with policy JDF, Discipline of Students with Disabilities.

 

Revised: December, 1990                                             Revised: December, 1991

Revised: December, 1992                                             Revised: November, 1993

Revised: September, 1994                                            Revised: June 20, 1995

Revised: October, 1995                                                Revised: April, 1996

Revised: July, 1996                                                       Revised: September, 1997

Revised: August, 1999                                      Revised: August, 2003

 

FILE: JGC

 

STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES HEALTH CARE CENTERS

 

Health Care Centers

 

In order to  provide adequate health care and services to students, the Tangipahoa Parish School Board may authorize the establishment of student health care centers in the schools of the parish. Any health clinic established shall be supervised by a school nurse, who shall be licensed in accordance with state law. Health care centers shall provide services which include, but are not limited to the following: treatment of minor illness and injury, routine physical examinations, immunizations, referrals to alcohol and drug prevention program counselors, and mental health services. No student shall receive any type of service unless the Parent/Legal Guardian Consent Form has been signed, returned to school, and has been filed in the clinic.

 

HEARING AND VISION SCREENING

 

The School Board,  within the first two (2) months of school  during the first semester of the school year, or within thirty (30) days after the admission of students entering school late  in the session, shall test the sight, including color screening for all first grade students, and hearing of each and every student under their jurisdiction, except those students whose parents or guardians may object to such tests.

 

A record of such examination shall be kept and the administrators shall be required to follow up on the deficiencies within sixty (60) days, and shall notify in writing the parent or tutor of every pupil found to have any defect of sight or hearing. A written report of all such examinations shall be made to the state superintendent of education but shall not be made available to the public.

 

TESTING FOR DYSLEXIA

 

               Upon the request of a parent, student, school nurse, classroom teacher, or other school personnel who has reason  to be1ieve that a student has a need to be tested for dyslexia, that student shall be referred to the school building level committee for additional testing. The Board may provide for additional training for school nurses to aid in identifying dyslexic students.

 

For purposes of this policy dyslexia shall be defined as difficulty with the a1phabet, reading, reading comprehension, writing and spelling in spite of adequate intelligence, exposure, and cultural opportunity.

 

 

 

INTERMITTENT CATHETERIZATION  ADMINISTERING CATHETERS

 

The Board does not require any employee other than a registered nurse or a licensed medical physician to catheterize any student until all of the following conditions have been met:

 

(1)               A registered nurse or licensed medical physician, employed by the Board, has assessed the health status of the specific child in his specific educational setting. The registered nurse has determined that the procedure could be safely performed, the results are predictable and could be delegated to someone other than a registered nurse following documented training.

 

 (2)       The registered nurse or licensed medical physician shall train at least two (2) employees to catheterize the specific child in his educational setting. The employees shall be given not less than eight (8) hours of training in the area of catheterization of students.

 

(3)        Following the training provided for in #2, no catheterization may be performed unless prescribed in writing by a licensed medical physician. The employee, other than the registered nurse or licensed medical physician, shall be required to complete, under the direct supervision of a registered nurse, a minimum of five (5) catheterizations. Upon one hundred percent successful completion of these catheterizations the registered nurse or licensed medical physician and the trainee shall sign a standard form indicating that the trainee has attained the prescribed level of competency. A copy of this form shall be kept on file by the school system.

 

(4)        Individuals who are required to perform catheterizations and have been trained according to statutory provisions, may not decline to perform such service except as exempted by a licensed medical physician or a registered nurse. The reasons for such exemption shall be documented and certified by the licensed medical physician or a registered nurse within seventy-two (72) hours.

 

(5)        Any employee shall have the right to request that another School Board employee be present while catheterizing the student, to serve as a witness to the procedure. After making such a request, the employee shall not be required to catheterize a student without such a witness. The provisions of this part of the policy shall be restricted to those students who have had intermittent catheterization prescribed as a treatment for urinary or neurologic dysfunction and not for continuous bladder drainage or to obtain urine specimens for diagnostic purposes. No employee shall be requested to catheterize any student for continuous bladder drainage or to obtain urine specimens for diagnostic purposes.

 

 
 
PERFORMING NONCOMPLEX HEALTH PROCEDURES

 

The term noncomplex health procedure shall mean a task which is safely performed according to exact directions, with no need to alter the standard procedure, and which yields predictable results. It shall include the following:

 

(1)        Modified activities of daily living, which require special instruction such as toileting/diapering, bowel/bladder training, toilet training, oral/dental hygiene, lifting/positioning, and oral feeding.

 

(2)               Health maintenance procedures such as postural drainage, percussion, tracheotomy and oral pharyngeal suctioning, gastrostomy feeding and monitoring of these procedures.

(3)               Screenings such as growth, vital signs, hearing, vision, and scoliosis.

 

 

The School Board does not require any employee other than a registered nurse, licensed medical physician, or an appropriate licensed health professional to perform noncomplex health procedures until all the following conditions have been met:

 

(1)        A registered nurse or a licensed medical physician and, when appropriate, another licensed health professional employed by the Board, has assessed the health status of the specific child in his specific educational setting and has determined that, according to the legal standards of the respective licensed health professional performing such procedure, the procedure can be safely performed, the results are predictable, and the procedure can be delegated to someone other than a licensed health professional following documented training.

 

(2)        The registered nurse or the licensed medical physician and, when appropriate, another licensed health professional shall train, in his or her area of expertise, at least two (2) such employees to perform noncomplex health procedures on the specific child in his educational setting. The employees shall be given not less than four (4) hours of training in the area of noncomplex health procedures.

 

(3)        Following the training provided for in #2, no noncomplex health procedure, except screenings and activities of daily living such as toileting/diapering, toilet training, oral/dental hygiene, oral feeding, lifting, and positioning may be performed unless prescribed in writing by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of Louisiana or an adjacent state.

 

The employee, other than the registered nurse, licensed medical physician, or appropriate licensed health professional shall be required to complete, under the direct supervision or coordination of a registered nurse, a minimum of three (3) satisfactory demonstrations. Upon satisfactory completion of these noncomplex health procedures, the registered nurse, licensed medical physician, or appropriate licensed health professional and the trainee shall sign a standard form indicating that the trainee has attained the prescribed level of competency. A copy of this form shall be kept on file by the school system.

 

(4)        Individuals who are required to perform noncomplex health procedures and have been trained according to the provisions of this Section, may not decline to perform such service at the time indicated except as exempted for reasons as noted by the licensed medical physician or registered nurse. The reasons for such exemption shall be documented and certified by the licensed medical physician or a registered nurse within seventy-two (72) hours.

 

(5)        An employee shall have the right to request that another Board employee be  witness to the procedure. After making such a request, the employee shall not be required to perform noncomplex health procedures without such a witness.

 

The School Board shall provide the necessary safety equipment, materials, and supplies to each employee who performs noncomplex health procedures. Such safety equipment, materials, and supplies shall include but not be limited to gloves, anti- bacterial soaps and wipes, paper towels and masks.

 

For the purposes of this policy, employee means any appropriate member of the education staff.

 

Revised: December, 1995

Revised: December, 1997

Revised: February 17, 1998

Revised: September, 1998

Revised: March, 1999

Revised: August, 2003

           

 

It was moved by Mrs. Bailey-Simmons, seconded by Mr. Genco, to approve the Dyslexia Task Force Report of September 29, 2003. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Richardson absent. Following is the report as approved.

 

 

1.                  Discussed the Leap Tract Program. The program is $3,800.00 per kit. Mr. Joseph gave permission for two (2) additional kits to be purchased.

 

2.                  The committee discussed the Reading First Grant. This program is designed for intensive teaching of Reading (the first 120 minutes of class only reading is taught. Students not reaching benchmarks receive an additional thirty (3) minutes of instruction).

 

3.                  The committee heard an update from S.L.U. staff members detailing what is being done at S.L.U. regarding Dyslexia.

 

4.                  Discussed the low number of dyslexic students being diagnosed in the schools.

 

5.                  Discussed the State Department of Education rules regarding dyslexic students – if a dyslexic student makes a high score, they test out of the program and can no longer receive services even though they still have a problem with reading.

 

6.                  Objective: Contact the State Department of Education making changes in the    rules regarding dyslexic students.

 

7.                  Discussed  the number of teachers trained in Project Read.       

 

It was moved by Mr. Genco, seconded by Mr. Potts, to approve the Amite Board Delegation Report of September 29, 2003. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Richardson absent. Following is the report as approved.

 

1.                  Architect Michael Holly gave the committee an update on the Amite High School Auditorium Project.

2.                  Approved Change Order #5, Amite High School Classroom Addition Project, in the amount of $24,112.00.

3.                  Authorized architect to seek bids for the Amite High School Baseball Field Lighting Project.

 

         It was moved by Mr. Link, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to waive the rules to consider an item from the 16th Section Ad Hoc Committee Meeting held prior to the Board Meeting. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Richardson absent.

 

         It was moved by Mr. Link, seconded by Mr. Bardwell, to accept  the bid of Penn Virginia Oil & Gas Corporation – Bid #03-49 and #03-50, Oil, Gas, and Mineral Leases,  subject to the State Mineral Board’s approval. This will be a three (3) year lease. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Richardson absent.

 

         It was moved by Mr. Link, seconded by Mrs. Bailey-Simmons, to waive the rules to hear a presentation regarding the Reading First Grant. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Richardson absent.

 

         Mrs. Theresa Domiano, Mrs. Glenda O’Banion, and other staff members gave the Board a PowerPoint presentation on the Reading First Grant.

 

         By a joint motion and second, the Tangipahoa Parish School Board endorsed the Reading First Program. The motion was adopted, with Mr. Richardson absent.

 

 

            Mr. Buddy Bel spoke in public  input regarding his candidacy for the BESE Board in the  upcoming election.

 

            Mr. John Williams, a student at Ponchatoula High School, spoke in public input regarding same sex couples at school dances.

 

            It was moved by Mr. Genco, seconded by Mr. Williams, to enter Executive Session to discuss the cases of Michelle Thomas v. TPSB and Kevin Brown & Tyrone Parker v. TPSB. Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Richardson absent.

 

            The Board entered Executive Session.

 

            The Board returned to Open Session.

 

            No action was taken in the cases of Michelle Thomas v. TPSB and Kevin Brown & Tyrone Parker v. TPSB.

           

It was moved by Mrs. Bailey-Simmons, seconded by Mr. Genco, to adjourn (7:28 p.m.).  Hearing no objection, the motion was adopted, with Mr. Richardson absent.

 

 

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                                Robert Caves, President

 

Louis L. Joseph, Secretary-Treasurer

 

Recorded By: Jo-Ann L. Frazier (10/07/03)