Committee recommendations get green light

Seven recommendations by the Personnel, Insurance and Curriculum and Budget and Finance committees were unanimously approved as the Acadia Parish School Board made quick work of its August meeting’s agenda.
Starting with the Personnel, Insurance and Curriculum Committee’s recommendations, James Higginbotham, chair of the committee, read aloud the recommendations made by the committee last month.
First, up for discussion was the Choices’ Program. The committee recommended that the school district provide $2,000 for the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office 2015-16 Choices’ Program to be conducted in the schools during the week of Feb. 28—March 4, 2016.
Secondly, in regard to the Pupil Progression Plan for 2015-16, the board adopted its local committee’s proposal. The plan’s changes include the adoption of fourth and eighth grade promotion as well as how quality points are used in the promotion decision for all grades.
On the Budget and Finance Committee side, four recommendations were approved.
The committee first approved the recommendation to renew the excess workers’ compensation insurance coverage. The coverage with New York Marine and General Insurance at a premium of $84,125, which reflects a premium reduction of $8,545, was renewed.
Second, the Budget and Finance Committee recommended the adoption of a budget revision calendar for the fiscal year of 2015-16 and the budget preparation calendar for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
Thirdly, as required by Louisiana revised statutes, the committee recommended granting the Child Nutrition Program the permission to advertise for bids for certain equipment. As discussed at July’s committee meetings, the nutrition program may need to bid only one equipment item or three, depending on market price.
Finally, the board approved the recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee that the revenue from the sale of the old Walmart parcel of land be distributed to the teachers and schools of Acadia Parish.
Superintendent John Bourque made it clear that he had communicated the plan for fund dispersal to principals and would do so again to instructional assistants and teacher leaders in September.
Gene Daigle, who put forth the plan in July, thanked the board for choosing to go along with it.
Earlier in the meeting, the board heard comments from Greg Fruge, a candidate for the state House of Representatives. Fruge is running for the District 41 seat, being vacated by term-limited Rep. Mickey Guillory.
The board will hold its committee meetings for August on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The next meeting of the full board will be held in September – Monday, Sept. 14, to be exact due to the Labor Day holiday.