By Icess [email protected]
The Caddo Parish SchoolBoard has spent more than$34,000 on travel to and fromconferences so far this year inan effort to fulfill a state-man-dated continuing educationrequirement, according to re-cords obtained by TheTimes.
Among the more costly tripswas a visit to San Francisco in
Aprilto attend theNational As-sociationof School Boards con-ference. The trip has producedsome ideas in governance and
budgetary leadership, said Lil-lian Priest, board president.
“That’s a way for school boards to network and bring back ideas,”she said.
The Times gained access tothe records through an openrecords request that asked for
board travel expenses sinceJan. 1.
Althoughboardmemberssay the price tag is justified, somesay thatduring a timeof finan-cial strain the board should bemore selective with its travelexpenses.
Since January, board mem- bers have traveled to Marks- ville, BatonRouge, WashingtonD.C. and San Francisco. Regis-tration has been paid for six
board members for a trip nextweek to Ashville,N.C., for a re-gional conference.
The trip to San Franciscocost more than $17,000 forsev-en board members to attend.However, depending on the
board member, the stays in theBay-area city varied, according to documents.
The price tag included reg-istration fees, flights and hotelstay. Therewere also addition-al fees, including costs for at-tending luncheons and organi-zationalgatherings, notinclud-ed in theregistration fee.
The money was worth it,Priest said, because ideas fordealing with Caddo’s budgetcrunch, which was happening
atthe time,camefrom thecon-ference. Priest said the ideas
brought back were:Implement a spending
moratorium.Renegotiate vender con-
tracts.Look to see if the district
has over allocated staff posi-tions. Priest said Caddo didhavesome.Look at programs, organi-
zations and compensation forplacesto trim.
However, therehaven’t beenpoliciesbrought forthby boardmembers because those ideashavebeen givento district staff members to implement.
“School boards do not im-plement programs, staff bringsthem to us for approval,” shesaid.
BoardmemberCurtisHooks,who also attended the SanFrancisco conference, said hegained more than knowledgefrom the trip, he gained per-spective. He rented a car anddrove more than 30 hours to
the conference. He said he at-tended 12.5sessions.
“Sometimes you have tolearn to stand by yourself,” hesaid.“It (theconvention) mademe a stronger person. Beforegoing to San Francisco, I won-dered whether I wasdoingtheright thing.One of thesessions
brought (that) out for me.”In retrospect,he wishes few-
er people attended the confer-ence, Hooks said. As a result,he decided not to attend nextweek’s trip to Ashville.
“After laying off 300 people,I couldn’tfindit inmy hearttogo,” he said.
School board members arerequired to have a certainnumber of continuing educa-tion hours as perstatelaw. Thehours have to be completedface-to-face and can’t be doneonline, Priestsaid.
According to the law, boardmembers need to complete sixhours. Part of the hours haveto include workshops in cer-tain topics such as education-
al policy issues, leadership de- velopment and school disci-pline. In addition, boards withschools on the academical-ly unacceptable list must havetwohoursworth of workshopsdealing with school improve-ment. Priest said she had 12.5hours so far.
There isn’t a stipulation inthe law about what happens if a school board member doesnot fulfill the annual require-ment.
As part of the board’s policy,members can be reimbursedfor: hotel room, cost of mealsplus 15 percent in tips, regis-tration costs, transportationincluding a 15 percent tip andmileage. They also can takeout advances if needed. Tripsare booked months in advanceand the board president signsoff on who attends whichmeetings or conventions. Thepresident also signs off onreimbursements.
Sunday 07/10/11 •3A
DATACENTER: SEEWHO OWESCHILD SUPPORT IN LOUISIANA, shreveporttimes.com
When searching for phone numbers to help find answersto problems, the Shreveport Police Department has awealth of information on its website — http://www
.shreveportla.gov/dept/police/.Aside from 911, which must be used only during emergencies,
there is a non-emergency line for residents to call to reportcriminal activity. That number is 673-7300.
Want to do your part and turn in a suspect in a crime?There’s a contact for that, too. Try Crime Stoppers at 673-7373.Residents also can report illegal narcotics in Shreveportor Caddo Parish by sending an email to [email protected].
Here are some other helpful numbers if you need helpreporting traffic congestion, neighbors who have severalinoperable cars cluttering yards, suspicious activities or crimes,or even a police officer who may not be following the law orproper procedure.
— From Staff Reports
FIXIT: Helpful numbers for assistance The Times helps you get things done.Email [email protected]
CODE VIOLATIONS: Call Code Enforcement at 673-6200 forconcerns regarding enforcement of violations of statutes orordinances regulating public health, safety and welfare, andpublic works.
CRIME/SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY: Call general information at673-BLUE for non-emergency calls, including criminal activity,safety issues, suspicious activity and questions.
COMPLAINTS ON OFFICERS: Call the Internal Affairs Bureauat 673-6920 if there is a complaint or problem with the mannerwhich calls for police service are handled.
TRAFFIC PROBLEMS: Call the Traffic Bureau at 673-7255 forconcerns regarding violations of traffic laws and motor vehiclesafety.
Catching Up updates readers in Bossier,Caddo, DeSoto and Webster parishes onprevious stories reported in The Times.Email ideas for this column to [email protected].
Manwhoowedchild support jailedShreveporter Charles B. Cooksey was
featured in a previous edition of TheTimes as owing $153,000 in back childsupport for his son who is now 31 yearsold, according to court records.
The 66-year-old is listed among thosestatewide who contribute to an estimated$619 million in delinquent child supportowed in Louisiana. The total amountderives from more than 53,000 cases.Court records show that Cooksey tookflight from a $350-a-month child supportobligation more than 28 years ago, andnow his arrears put him at No. 2 on CaddoParish’s list of so-called “worst” deadbeatparents.
UPDATE: Cooksey has since disputedthe accusations and says he’s workingwith an attorney to clear up the matterand his name. However, he was bookedinto Caddo Correctional Center on June30 for one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and being a fugitive fromthe screening division of Caddo DistrictAttorney’s Office for the child supportmatter, according to Caddo sheriff’s office.
Cooksey is being held in CCC without abond and is set to go before a Caddo judgesoon.
Courtdate setforunionhearingAfter Caddo Parish School Board
eliminated 313 positions as part of its 2011-2012 budget process, CaddoFederation of Teachers and SupportPersonnel filed suit June 21 claiming theboard had violated state law in how itchose which positions would be placed onthe chopping block.
State law requires boards to createand follow a reduction in force policythat takes into account certification andeducation, if applicable, seniority in thesystem and tenure of employees.
Federation President Jackie Lansdalesaid the board broke the law when itchose to lay off personnel based onseniority within position rather thanseniority in the system.
Board attorney Reggie Abrams said hebelieves the board’s policy and action werein line with state regulations.
UPDATE: A request made June 27 for amotion of judgement by the school boardhas been denied by Judge Scott Crichton.A case hearing has been set for 9:30 a.m.Aug. 10 in the Caddo Parish Courthouseand has been assigned to Judge LeonEmanuel.
— From StaffReports
CATCHINGUP
Since January, the Caddo ParishSchool Board has spent more than$34,000 in trips to conventions andconferences.
School board member have to earncontinuing education hours as per statelaw. Veteran members need six hours
and new members need 16 hoursduring their first year to receive a“Distinguished School Board Member”designation.
Among some of the locations traveledby board members are San Francisco,Washington D.C., and Baton Rouge.
Board members are planning a trip forAshville, N.C. next week and Pinevillenext month.
The Board spent the most money onregistration fees and hotel stays.Expenses for the trips come from thedistrict’s general fund.
Grand total $34,789.97
$10,639Hotel
$1,805.30Other$425.60
Tips(meals/baggage)
$15,030Registration fees
$2,566.50Flights
$110Baggagefees
$1,651.33Meals
$2,562.24Mileage
Source: Times research andCaddo Parish Public Schools
TheTimes
BY THE NUMBERS
Caddo board spent $34K on travelBoard president:Spending amountcan be justified
SEE CADDO, Page 4
D o c u m e n
t : 0 S T 0 3 0 0 A 0 7 1 0
. p d f ; P a g e :
1 ; F o r m a
t : ( 2 6 6
. 7 0 x
4 5 0
. 8 5 m m
) ; P l a t e :
C o m p o s
i t e ; D a
t e :
J u
l 0 9
, 2 0 1 1 2 2 : 4
7 : 5
6 ; L o w
R e s
C M Y K
SH-1000250620
CONTACT: Velda Hunter, 459-3534 or [email protected] ONLINE: Help/Contact us at shreveporttimes.com
KEEPTHEWATCHDOGDIGGING: Got a tip for us to investigate? Send ideas to [email protected], or call our tips line: (318) 439-8000
Recommended
