Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts Board of Directors public meetings in 2024
6 substantive meetings from 2024, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts Board of Directors
The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts Board of Directors will meet to approve the 2025-2026 school calendar and new courses. The board will also consider a new privacy policy and ratify faculty and staff reimbursements. Reports will be provided by the Executive Director and various school divisions.
- Approval of 2025-2026 School Calendar
- Approval of New Courses
- Approval of LSMSA Privacy Policy
- Ratification of Foundation Faculty/Staff Reimbursements since September 2024
- Introduction of new board members: Craig, Jordan, Melerine, Miguez, Oertling, and Seabaugh
The Board of Directors approved the 2025-2026 school year calendar, a new school privacy policy, and two accelerated Chinese courses. The Board also ratified previous executive committee actions and faculty/staff reimbursements from the LSMSA Foundation.
- Approved Sept. 16, 2024, meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Approved Nov. 14, 2024, Executive Committee meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Ratified agenda items approved by Executive Committee on Nov. 14, 2024 (unanimous)
- Approved 2025-2026 School Year Calendar (unanimous)
- Approved new courses CHIN 401 and CHIN 402 (unanimous)
- Approved LSMSA Privacy Policy (unanimous)
- Ratified Foundation faculty/staff reimbursements since Sept. 16, 2024 (unanimous)
Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts Board of Directors
The Executive Committee of the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts Board of Directors will meet to consider and vote on the school's Stipend Distribution Plan. The meeting includes a call for public comment and other business items.
- Approval of LSMSA's Stipend Distribution Plan (Agenda Item 2, Exhibits 1-3)
The Executive Committee approved a plan to distribute one-time state-awarded stipends to unclassified employees. The plan ensures payments are made by the December 15 legislative deadline. These actions will be presented to the full Board for ratification in December.
- Approved LSMSA’s Stipend Distribution Plan (unanimous)
Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts Board of Directors
The LSMSA Board of Directors will vote on several financial and policy items, including the proposed FY26 funding formula, use of EEF funds for FY25, the FY25 budget, and a revised faculty/staff salary schedule. The board will also consider new and revised policies on fingerprint-based criminal history checks, nondiscrimination, and handling controversial issues. New board members, faculty, and staff will be introduced.
- Approval of FY26 Proposed Funding Formula
- Approval of FY25 Budget
- Approval of Revised Faculty/Staff Salary Schedule
- Approval of Policy: Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Record Information Checks
- Approval of Policy: Handling of Controversial Issues in the LSMSA Setting
The Board approved the FY25 budget and the FY26 proposed funding formula. Members also adopted new policies regarding criminal background checks and the handling of controversial issues related to Acts 680 and 681. The Board approved proposed legislation to help fund the faculty and staff salary schedule.
- Approved FY25 Budget of $10,110,631 (unanimous)
- Approved FY26 Proposed Funding Formula (unanimous)
- Approved use of $79,032 in EEF Funds for FY25 (unanimous)
- Approved revised Faculty/Staff Salary Schedule (unanimous)
- Approved proposed legislation to facilitate Salary Schedule funding (unanimous)
- Approved Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) Checks policy (unanimous)
- Approved revised Notice of Nondiscrimination Policy (unanimous)
- Approved Policy on Handling of Controversial Issues related to Acts 680 and 681 (unanimous)
Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts Board of Directors
The Executive Committee will vote on several policy revisions for the 2024-2025 school year, including the student handbook, Title IX and Title VII policies, employee grievance procedures, a confidentiality policy, a NARCAN policy, a children/adult guests in the workplace policy, and the employee handbook. Public comment must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. on July 29, 2024.
- Approval of revisions to Student Handbook for 2024-2025 school year
- Approval of revisions to 2020 Title IX Policy based on recent legislation
- Approval of Title VII Policy based on 2020 Regulations and recent legislation
- Approval of revisions to NARCAN Policy
- Approval of Employee Handbook
The Executive Committee unanimously approved revisions to the 2024-2025 Academic and Residential Life Handbook and the Employee Handbook. The committee also adopted several new and revised policies regarding employee conduct, grievances, and campus safety.
- Approved 2024-2025 Academic and Residential Life Handbook revisions (unanimous)
- Approved revisions to 2020 Title IX Policy for Employee Reports or Complaints of Sexual Harassment (unanimous)
- Approved Title VII Policy for Employee Reports or Complaints of Discrimination (unanimous)
- Approved revisions to Employee Grievance Policy and Procedure (unanimous)
- Approved Confidentiality Policy for LSMSA employees (unanimous)
- Approved revisions to Narcan (Naloxone) Policy (unanimous)
- Approved Policy for Minors and Adult Guests in the Workplace (unanimous)
- Approved Employee Handbook effective retroactively to July 1, 2024 (unanimous)
Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts Board of Directors
The LSMSA Board of Directors will meet to elect a Chair and Vice Chair, approve several policies including amendments to the Student Handbook, a Nondiscrimination Policy, and a Title IX Policy, and hold an executive session to discuss the annual evaluation of the Executive Director. They will also receive division reports, including a review of the 2024-2025 operating budget.
- Nomination and election of Chair and Vice Chair
- Executive session for annual evaluation of Executive Director
- Approval of proposed amendments to Student Handbook
- Approval of Nondiscrimination Policy and Title IX Policy
- Status/review of 2024-2025 Operating Budget
The Board elected Dr. Vickie Gentry as Chair and Dr. Greg Handel as Vice-Chair. Members approved updates to the Academic and Residential Life Handbook, a new Non-Discrimination Policy, and a revised Title IX Policy. The Board also ratified faculty reimbursements and approved the credentials of a new instructor.
- Elected Dr. Vickie Gentry as Board Chair (unanimous)
- Elected Dr. Greg Handel as Board Vice-Chair (unanimous)
- Approved selection of the Executive Committee (unanimous)
- Approved credentials of Michael Young, Instructor of Instrumentals, Theory and Composition (unanimous)
- Accepted 'Satisfactory' performance rating for Executive Director Dr. Horton (unanimous)
- Ratified LSMSA Foundation faculty/staff reimbursements since March 2024 (unanimous)
- Approved amendments to the 2024-2025 Academic and Residential Life Handbook (unanimous)
- Approved Non-Discrimination Policy and amended Title IX Policy (unanimous)
Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts Board of Directors
The Board will elect a Chair and Vice Chair, and vote on new courses, student handbook changes, student activity fees for 2024-2025, a contract for professional legal services, and ratification of reimbursements. They will also clarify prior action on faculty salary index and approve the process for evaluating the Executive Director. An executive session is scheduled for board personnel matters. Reports from faculty and division heads are for information only.
- Nomination and election of Chair and Vice Chair
- Approval of new courses offered
- Approval of Student Handbook changes
- Approval of Student Activity Fees for 2024-2025
- Approval of Contract for Professional Legal Services effective July 1, 2024
The Board elected Dr. Vickie Gentry as Chair and Dr. Greg Handel as Vice Chair. The Board approved new humanities courses, student handbook changes, and a legal services contract not to exceed $60,000. A resolution was also adopted to honor former board member Sharon T. Gahagan.
- Elected Dr. Vickie Gentry as Board Chair (unanimous)
- Elected Dr. Greg Handel as Board Vice Chair (unanimous)
- Approved Dec. 4, 2023, meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Awarded Sharon T. Gahagan Chair Emeritus status, an honorary diploma, and naming of the Sharon T. Gahagan Art Gallery (unanimous)
- Approved three new humanities courses: History from the Grassroots, 19th Century American Literature, and History of Religion (unanimous)
- Approved Student Handbook changes regarding college transfer codes and dual enrollment (unanimous)
- Approved 2024-2025 Student Activity Fees: $220 for Sophomores/Juniors and $260 for Seniors (unanimous)
- Approved legal services contract with Hammonds, Sills, Adkins, Guice, Noah & Perkins, LLP not to exceed $60,000 (unanimous)