PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA - Meeting of February 4, 2010

 

The Chair called the meeting to order and read the following call:

 

            HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD

            Parish of St. John the Baptist

            Dear Board Member:

           

Upon call of the President, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board will meet

in regular session at Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria, 1600 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana, on Thursday, February 4, 2010, at 6:00 p.m.

           

An agenda for the meeting is attached.

Sincerely,

s/Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D.

Superintendent/Secretary

 

 

The Chair called for a moment of silent meditation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:

 

PRESENT:        Messrs.   Madere, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Triche, Keller.

 

ABSENT:          Messrs.  Jack, Burl, Sanders, Jones, Ory.

 

There were 6 members present and 5 absent.

 

ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meeting of January 21, 2010. A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Mr. Madere, to accept the minutes of January 21, 2010 as printed and published.  There were no objections and the motion to approve the minutes carried.  Messrs. Jack, Burl, Sanders, Jones and Ory were absent.

 

Mr. Burl arrived at 6:02 p.m. and was recorded as present.

 

Mr. Ory arrived at 6:05 p.m. and was recorded as present.

 

ITEM  4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Superintendent.

 

Dr. Millet explained that the graduation information on East and West St. John High Schools has been posted on the School Board website.  She stated that this year East St. John High School’s graduation will be held at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner and the only mandatory event for both schools would be Graduation Practice.

 

Mr. Sanders arrived at 6:08 p.m. and was recorded as present.

 

Mr. Jack arrived at 6:10 p.m. and was recorded as present.

 

Mr. Lloyd LeBlanc informed the Board that a resolution  to certify the existence of a public emergency due to roof leaks at Leon Godchaux Success Academy had been drawn up to address an immediate problem.  Mr. LeBlanc stated that there would have to be a motion to waive policy in order to discuss this.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Ory, seconded by Mr. Madere, to waive policy. Upon roll call, Mr. Sanders voted yes, Mr. Burl voted no and the motion failed.

 

Mr. Burl asked the Superintendent why the Pontchartrain Center was being used for East St. John High School’s graduation.  Dr. Millet explained that due to renovations of the track at the high school, the graduation would have to be moved.  Dr. Millet further stated that the seating capacity at both the school gymnasium and the St. John the Baptist Civic Center was not adequate.

 

ITEM 5. EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS BY THE BOARD OR STAFF. a.  None

 

ITEM 6. PERSONNEL MATTERS:  Dr. Leigh Ann Beard, Director of Human Resources.

Personnel Changes (Requires action by the Board).  Dr. Beard presented the following Personnel Changes for approval:

 

I.  PROFESSIONAL

 

      A.   Extended Sick Leave

            1.  Margaret Greene, Social Worker, January 4, 2010-January 29, 2010

            2.  Theadora Dorris, Teacher, East St. John Elementary, January 4, 2010-February 12, 2010.

            3.  Linda Bailey, Teacher, West St. John High, January 13, 2010-January 18, 2010

            4.  Erica Mitchell, Teacher, GMMS, January 13, 2010-May 21, 2010

 

II.  CLASSIFIED

 

  1. Extended Sick Leave

  1. Reina Kennedy, Secretary, Lake Pontchartrain, January 5, 2010-January 25, 2010

  2. Debra King, Secretary, East St. John High, January 11, 2010-January 15, 2010

           

A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Triche, to accept the Personnel Changes as presented.  There were no objections and the motion carried.  Mr. Sanders was absent.

 

Dr. Beard stated the following:  Dear Board Members:  At our July School Board retreat, one of our goals was to have the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board policies available online by January.  Our school board policies are now available on our website through The Computer Assisted Policy Service (CAPS) Program  In order to access this program, please go to our website and look under ”Quick Links” on the left hand side.  There you will see the SJBP Policy Manual.  I have provided you with a hard copy of the table of contents for our policies.  In addition to using the table of contents, you can search the CAPS program using key words as well.   Thank you for your support and cooperation in this endeavor.

 

Mr. Sanders questioned whether this information would be available on the computer during School Board meetings and was assured that it could be by Mr. Bob Bourgeois, Coordinator of Technology.  Mr. Sanders also requested that Board members be able to access up-to-date financial information from the computer during Board meetings.  Mr. Bourgeois stated that the financial program would be installed on said computer.

 

ITEM 7. BUSINESS AND FINANCE: Mr. Felix Boughton, Executive Director of Business and Finance. 

a.  Bob Bourgeois, Coordinator Information Technology and Bonnie Dinvaut, Coordinator Educational Technology - Board Approval of District Technology Plan Recertification.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Madere to Approve the District Technology Plan Recertification as presented.  There were no objections and the motion carried.  Mr. Jones was absent.

 

Dr. Millet thanked Dr. Beard for all her work on having the School Board Policy Manual posted on the website and she also thanked Mr. Bourgeois and Mrs. Dinvaut for having worked diligently on the District Technology Plan.

 

Mr. Sanders asked Mrs. Dinvaut if it would be possible to be placed on the Technology Plan Development Team, along with members Bonnie Dinvaut-Irving, Bob Bourgeois, David Andras, Ritchie Cortez, Ryan Roppolo, Courtney Millet, Ph.D., Stacey Spies-Daley, Ph.D., Lanette Perrin, Page Eschette, Kendria Spears, and Shayla Guidry.  Mrs. Dinvaut stated that he would be a welcomed addition to the team and assured Mr. Sanders that he would be notified of the next team meeting.

 

b.  Peter Montz, Purchasing Agent - Request Board approval on Proposal 10.28 Network Wiring.  Mr. Montz stated that the proposal award recommendation is:   Network Installation-Boe Tel; Business Communications: AT&T at a total cost of $1,291,253.50.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Mr. Bacas to award Proposal 10.28 Network Wiring to Boe Tel and AT&T at a cost of $1,291,253.50.  There were no objections and the motion carried.

 

c.  Peter Montz, Purchasing Agent - Request Board approval on Proposal 10.29 Network Equipment.  Mr. Montz stated the proposal award recommendation is: Universal Data at a total cost of $1,986,102.00.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Madere, seconded by Mr. Johnson to award 10.29 Network Equipment to Universal Data at a total cost of $1,986,102.  There were no objections and the motion carried.

 

Mr. Montz stated that the entire technology package presented was dependent upon e-rate approval.

 

d. Peter Montz, Purchasing Agent - Request Board approval to solicit proposals for Gounds Maintenance - Mr. Montz explained that the current Grounds Maintenance Contract expires on March 31, 2010.  He further stated that a pre-proposal meeting will be held February 25, 2010 with proposals due March 5, 2010.  Mr. Montz stated that the contract will be for 3 years.  Mr. Sanders requested that a written timeline for this contract be forwarded to the Board members.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Mr. Jack to approve the solicitation of proposals for Grounds Maintenance.  There were no objections and the motion carried.

 

ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS.  None

 

Mr. Jones arrived at 6:25 p.m. and was recorded as present.

 

ITEM 9.  NEW BUSINESS. a.  Dr. Leigh Ann Beard, Director of Human Resources - Standing Committee Elections.  Dr. Beard stated that it is time to make the selections for Standing Committees.  The following were chosen:

 

            Finance/Auxiliary Committee

                        Parent Representative:  Melissa Phillpott

                        Representative:  Marie Jackson

                        Alternate:  Jeffery Adams

            Personnel Committee

                        Parent Representative:  Tanius Reddix

                        Teacher Representative:  Stephanie Haniford

                        Support Personnel Representative:  Herman Clayton

                        Alternate:  Kermit Duhe Sr.

            Communications/Pupil Services Committee

                        Support Personnel Representative:  Laurie Adams

                        Teacher Representative:  Libby Ducre

                        Alternate:  Belinda Bailey

                        Parent Representative:  Carol Block

 

b. Executive Session - Performance Evaluation of Superintendent and Contract [L.R. S 42:6.1A(1)

 

A motion was made by Mr. Madere, seconded by Mr. Bacas to go into Executive Session.  There were no objections and the Board went into Executive Session at 6:25 p.m.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Madere, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to reconvene in Regular Session.  There were no objections and the Board reconvened in Regular Session at 7:23 p.m.

 

Mr. Ory offered the following motion:  After a favorable evaluation at the Board retreat, I’d like to make a motion to extend the Superintendent’s contract as per the current terms and stipulations.  Such extension is to be for one year, extending until July 1, 2012.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Madere.  Upon roll call there were 10 Yeas (Jack, Sanders, Madere, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Ory, Triche, Keller) and 1 Nay (Burl) and the motion carried .

 

Dr. Millet then stated the following:  Thank you so much - I look forward to continuing to work with our administrators, principals, teachers, staff members, students and parents.  As you all know, in December we made a decision to accelerated the sale of our bonds due to the decrease in construction prices.  With the acceleration of bond sales, we have implemented an aggressive construction and renovation schedule that has us accomplishing our Facilities Master Plan one year ahead of schedule - in four years rather than five - which would put us at the end of the year 2012 completion.  It is my sincere wish to make certain the education reforms and capital improvements program begun under my administration with regards to the 46 million dollar bond renewal and the new Race to the Top initiative will be sustainable and build capacity for years to come.  I look forward to continuing to work with you towards our goals of improving academic achievement, improving organizational effectiveness and efficiency, and improving community support of the school district until July 1st of 2012.  Thank you.

 

b. Mr. Lloyd LeBlanc, Board Attorney - Legal Update.  None.

 

ITEM 10. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS: a. Committee Reports.  None.

 

ITEM 11. BOARD-RELATED ITEMS OF INTEREST.   Mr. Burl requested a report from administration that would include all contracts extended and payments to CSRS that are outside the original bond work.  Dr. Millet stated that the report would be forthcoming.  Mr. Burl also  stated that he had received a phone call from a parent concerning a child left at a store.  Dr. Millet assured Mr. Burl and the Board that she would be speaking directly to the parents assembled at the meeting to hear their concerns.

 

ITEM 12.  ADJOURNMENT:  The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Mr. Sanders offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Bacas. There were no objections.  The meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m.

 

                     /s/Gerald Keller                    

Gerald J. Keller, Ph.D., President

St. John the Baptist Parish School Board

 

                     /s/Courtney P. Millet              

Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D.Secretary/Treasurer

St. John the Baptist Parish School Board