The Washington Parish School Board held its regular meeting at the R. W. Johnson Auditorium on the campus of Franklinton Primary School on Thursday, September 7.
The meeting was called to order by President Dr. John Wyble followed by the invocation and pledge. Next was the approval of minutes from the August 7 Special Board Meeting and for the August 10 Regular Meeting.
Superintendent Frances Varnado introduced the parish's newest 4-H leader, Amy Varnado. Mrs. Varnado has moved to Franklinton from Texas and was accompanied by Olivia Picard, Interim 4-H Parish Chair from St. Tammany Parish. Mrs. Varnado said she is pleased to be working in Washington Parish where there are 11 4-H clubs which had a total of 338 members for the 2022-23 school term.
President Wyble then moved to Item 12 on the agenda that addressed employee compensation.
After a walk-out on Tuesday, August 29 by bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, paraprofessionals and teachers, the board formed a Compensation Committee that met on Friday, September 1. The committee was comprised of three board members, district administrators, and representatives from each role of employment at all schools.
The board proposed a $2500 stipend for certificated employees and $1500 for all support staff except for the superintendent and assistant superintendent. This is expected to be issued to employees no later than December 2023.
Pepe Tate, representing bus drivers and other support staff, approached the microphone and asked why the $2500 was not for all employees. Dr. Wyble pointed out that Mr. Tate was on the Compensation Committee and met on September 1 and this was discussed numerous times. Dr. Wyble noted the concern and then deferred the question to Dana Knight, Director of the Business Office. She explained that this one-time stipend was being paid out of ESSER (Covid relief) funds that the Department of Education allowed to be reallocated. She added that this is money amounting to $2,164,500 is a one-time payment to local districts.
Jackie Tate then asked it included central office staff. Dr. Wyble responded that the stipend is for all employees except the two top administrators.
Board Vice-President Leslie McKinley interjected that the Compensation Committee did not have any opposition to this proposal. He feels it is a step in the right direction and asked if there was an objection, why not mention it before the board is prepared to approve the stipend amounts. He added that he hopes this is a move in the right direction-forward.
Dr. Wyble again noted that these amounts were discussed during the committee meeting on Tuesday, September 5 with no opposition.
District 1 board member Keith Giles asked again if top administrators are receiving the $2500 and for the third time Dr. Wyble confirmed that the superintendent and assistant superintendent are excluded from the stipend. The board then voted yes to approve the stipends except for Mr. Giles, who voted no.
Next was the proposal of a five percent raise in payroll which will cost the General Fund approximately 1.9 million dollars to accomplish. Dr. Wyble explained that the board is committed to working with the employee committee to have a plan that works for everyone by July 1, 2024, when the fiscal year begins. To enact these permanent increases, salary schedules of every position will be studied, and any unfairness addressed.
Dr. Wyble concluded with, "This is a four-million-dollar investment and commitment to compensate employees and there will be a plan by July 1, 2024. The board has been working with financial consultant Jim Ryan, spoke with principals at a board retreat in May, and directed Superintendent Varnado to send a memo to all employees to be transparent about the board's eagerness to provide compensation for all employees. This resulted in the stipends employees received on September 1."
Dr. Wyble noted that some in the district did not know about the email, and it became evident that depending on one's role in the system, emails might not be seen. He further noted that State Superintendent of Educat4ion Dr. Cade Brumley was in constant contact with the district the past week and worked with the board to take these federal dollars away from other places and meet the urgent need for employee compensation. The board then voted unanimously to move towards the July 1, 2024, deadline for providing employee raises.
Returning to the agenda Katie Miller was on-hand for questions about the grades 3-8 LEAP tests results that she presented at the committee meeting on Tuesday, September 5. Director Dana Knight sought questions or comments from the board concerning the July 2023 financial statement that was also presented in the committee meeting. There were no questions or comments from the board about either item. The board then voted to approve obtaining liability insurance from Bill McGehee Insurance amounting to $301,239.29. As done in the past, the board rejected uninsured motorist coverage. Mrs. Knight also asked the board to adopt the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire which is part of the annual financial audit. The board approved this standard procedure.
In other business, Maintenance and Transportation Supervisor Mike Ingran asked for approval to award a bid for asbestos abatement at Franklinton Junior High School. The bid went to JJE Contracting for $11,000. This money is being taken from ESSER funds.
Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Thomas asked the board to consider a motion to adopt revised Washington Parish School Board Policy File: BCAD-Teleconference/Remote Participation in School Board Meeting; Policy File: BCBI-Public Participation in School Board Meetings. She explained that revisions address school board members under the American Disability's Act to participate in tele-conferencing and voting if unable to physically attend a meeting. This also addresses public participation by tele-conferencing if the participant falls under the ADA criteria but requires a 72-hour notice. This was approved by the board.
Next on the agenda was the personnel report which Mrs. Thomas noted is available to the public at all regular meetings. Of note were seven resignations; five were support staff, one teacher and one counselor. Currently there are no openings for a classroom teacher.
District 8 board member Frankie Crosby paused here and asked Mrs. Thomas to confirm that the school board itself does not hire or fire employees nor does it "twist the arm" or influence in any way. Mrs. Thomas responded that Mr. Crosby was correct.
Superintendent Frances Varnado announced a meeting with Leslie Hodges on September 28 at Sugar Shack. She will be discussing a 2.3-million-dollar grant received. Mrs. Varnado reaffirmed that she, Mrs. Jennifer Thomas, and all system directors are committed to making sure everyone in the district gets what he or she needs for learning to be successful.
In final comments board member Robert Boone said that he has been an educator for 42 years, and it is the best calling to be working with students. He recognizes that support staff and teachers are not paid nearly enough for the job they do and prays that all parties can move forward in unison.
Mr. Kendall McKenzie noted that he doesn't think school employees will ever be paid enough because we are not as populated as our neighboring districts and do not have the tax base. He also noted that there has been a great deal of misinformation in the past week; however, he is on the Compensation Committee and while the board cannot provide pay like they want, he will continue to work on this issue.
Rev. Bruce Brown, who is returning from an illness, stated that he has always advocated for more pay. He feels the stipends are a good starting point, and he wants to be part of the committee moving forward. He pointed out that it takes everyone in every position to make the school system work. It is his belief that the employees were right in bringing the issue of pay to the forefront and now we can all move forward.
Mr. Keith Giles stated, "I feel your pain. I feel your pain." He claims to have seen a lot in his lifetime and God called him to come back here to Washington Parish and talk for those without a voice. He believes one should, "Take care of the bottom up, not the top down." He added, "I work for you, but with them (pointed to the board). If I don't, fire me."
Mr. Frankie Crosby applauded State Superintendent Brumley and Dr. Wyble for their work this past week. He added, "As a board, our responsibility is to hire/fire the superintendent." He feels the board has taken a lot of abuse - some true, but not all. There are cuts that must be made but Mr. Crosby is committed to a ten percent employee raise across the board.
Mr. Scott Breland said he feels he brings a new perspective to the board with two young children in school. He is excited about the future of the district and feels this meeting and approval of the December stipends is the first step.
Board vice president Mr. Lesley McKinley remembered a sermon that pointed out in life you are, "in a storm, headed to a storm, or coming out of a storm. In storms people will come together and figure things out." He feels we have all gotten in the same boat and having started rowing out of the storm. He said, “We need everyone back in their positions so that students are back in the classroom.” Mr. McKinley also stated, "Trust us!!"
Board President John Wyble congratulated Ms. Leslie Hodges who has doubled the district's seats in early childhood. He elaborated that the Department of Education took over childcare centers ten years ago, and Washington Parish is working diligently in this area.
Dr. Wyble also noted that three of the current board members are former educators who are committed to Washington Parish Schools. He believes that tonight's four-million-dollar commitment is a down payment and a future that will work transparently for more employee compensation.
On a personal note, he shared that his father worked at a custodian in another district prior to his death, and "we know where we come from." Dr. Wyble is committed to going forward. He ended the meeting by thanking Mrs. Dana Knight for her amazing work, the team that worked to put the compensation together, and finally he thanked Dr. Brumley for his constant support.
With that the meeting was adjourned.
