Documenter name: Tracy E. Antoine

Agency holding meeting: Calcasieu Parish School Board

Date: July 11, 2023

Summary: The Calcasieu Parish School Board members voted on adopting budgets and salary schedules, project contracts, new ordinances, and hurricane repairs. Superintendent Shannon LaFargue gave a presentation on the Region 5 STEM Center Enhancement proposal, and Mayor Nic Hunter was in attendance to answer any questions regarding the Lake Charles Rebound program. 

The Scene: People talked and laughed as they entered the meeting hall. There were 37 people in the audience, including Mayor Hunter.

Notes: 

The Calcasieu Parish School Board Meeting was held on July 11, 2023. The meeting was called to order by Board President Russell Castile. Desmond Wallace gave the invocation, and Aaron Natali led the pledge of allegiance. The roll was called by LaFargue. 

The following board members were present: Phyllis Ayo, Betty Washington, Tony O’Banion, Damon Hardesty, Shawn Baumgarten, Desmond Wallace, Patrick Pichon, Dean Roberts, Karen Hardy McReynolds, Glenda Gay, Aaron Natali, Billy Breaux, Russell Castille. Eric Tarver was absent.

The approval of minutes for the June 13, 2023, meeting was passed with a motion from Damon Hardesty and seconded by Billy Breaux.

LaFargue spoke in detail about the STEM program’s expansion and its positive impact on Calcasieu parish’s workforce development and education. It will also provide equity and opportunities (especially in rural areas), family-friendly, fun activities, and an increase in tourism, he noted. The focus is on upgrading aesthetics, robotics, and drones and expanding the program into a larger part of the Calcasieu Parish community. 

The Region 5 STEM Center will be responsible for annual operating and overhead. The funding for the STEM Center enhancements would come from FEMA reallocated money for $75,000, riverboat revenue in the amount of $375,000, and between $100,000 and $50 million from the CPSB General Fund. Gay asked if the CPSB would be responsible for hiring full-time security. Pichon spoke about restricting access to certain areas to aid with security. LaFargue agreed that the center would have secured areas not open to the public. The council voted to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOU) with the city of Lake Charles. A motion was made by Breaux, seconded by Hardesty, voted on, and passed.

Superintendent’s Report: None

Executive Session: The session’s topic was a claim (CLAS12841A1) by attorney Kyle Beasley. There was a motion to adjourn into executive session at 6:01 p.m. voted on by Roberts and Breaux.

The regular CPSB meeting reconvened at 6:16 p.m.

Committee Report: None

Take Appropriate Action: The adoption of 2023 millages was approved unanimously with a motion made by Roberts and seconded by Pichon. Next on the agenda is the adoption of the 2023-2024 budgets: 1. General fund — the motion to pass was made by Roberts, seconded by Pichon, and passed by a unanimous vote. 2. Special Revenue Funds —- the motion to pass was made by Roberts and seconded by Washington. Approval for the adoption of 2023-2024 salary schedules and the approval for *E-Rate. Services and equipment for the 2024 – 2025 Fiscal Year were both approved, with motions made by Breaux and seconded by Washington, respectively.

The Long Range Planning Committee meeting date was unanimously set for September 26, 2023.

Permission to Advertise: Request for proposals (RFP) for weapon detector, funded by Stronger Connection grant. LaFargue confirmed that the grant had already been received. Hurricane bid report for ratification: J.I. Watson Elementary/hurricane repairs, Alfred Palma Construction, LLC; base bid; $1.9 million. The motion to approve was made by Hardesty, seconded by Natali, and passed unanimously.

A. Change Order Number 1: S.P. Arnett Middle School Cafeteria Renovations, funded by District 23 bond funds; Barry King, architect, Gunter Construction Inc Contractor; it will be increased by $19,749.25. 

B. Change Order Number 5: Westwood ElementaryGymnasium Rebid, project funded by District 23 bond funds; Barry King, architect; K&J Development of SWLA, LLC, contractor; to be increased by $21, 969.00 and four days.

C. Change Order Number 2: entry location addition and paved parking at Washington-Marion High School, funded by District 31 bond fund; Ellender Architects & Associates, LLC- architect; Pat Williams Construction, LLC, contractor; to be increased to $3,403.60 and 70 days.

• Recommendation to accept Barbe High School Baseball Field Turf Upgrade project.
• Recommendation to accept the Phase 3 Entry Lobby addition and New Paved Parking project at Washington-Marion High School.

LeBleu Settlement Elementary; hurricane repairs; Pat Williams Construction, contractor; $2.1 million. Motion to pass was made by Hardesty, seconded by Natali, and unanimously passed by the board.

Community Perspective: None given

The Debate

The next item on the agenda was the permission to move forward with the consulting company Lean Frog for a compensation study. Wallace asked if the study consists of a full-range study of current and past financial and payroll schedules. Gay asked, “Why is $10,000 needed to review the current salary schedule?” LaFargue stated that they want to be able to have the data necessary to move forward when dealing with supplements and salary. 

“This is not the 1st time a salary schedule change from monthly to bi-monthly has come up,” LaFargue said. ”The biggest issue, collected from survey data, shows that the pay schedule, currently once per month, would be changed to bi-weekly, but doesn’t change the salary amount. If we are to move forward with the Lean Frog, I would like to see this in the report.” 

Gay stated that she feels she does not know where this is going because most CPSB employees] will still respond to the same survey the same way. Pichon asked what would be included in the study. Ayo asked if there would be a study of the current system before the decision to use Lean Frog will be decided. Breaux made a motion to table the agenda item until more information about the scope of the study is provided. The board voted, and the motion to table the item was denied 9-5, seconded by Fontenot, to accept the Lean Frog proposal of $34,000.00 to conduct the study. The motion passed 13-1 in favor; Gay was the sole opposition.

Schedule Committees:

C & I Meeting: August 22, 2023

The meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m.

Follow-up questions:

What does Superintendent Shannon LaFargue expect to gain from this study?

Was/is there an alternative to such an expensive study?

Are Ms. Glenda Gay’s concerns founded?

*The Schools and Libraries (E-Rate) program provides funding for eligible services for schools and libraries.