PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
RESERVE, LA - Meeting of June 10, 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 special session at Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria, 1600 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana, on Thursday, June 10, 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. Jack, Burl, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Ory, Triche, Keller.
ABSENT: Mr. Sanders.
There were 10 members present and 1 absent.
ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None.
ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Superintendent. None
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. None.
ITEM 7a. BUSINESS AND FINANCE: Mr. Felix Boughton, Executive Director of Business and Finance
a. Recommendation for amendment to contract with ACI.
Mr. Sanders arrived at 6:06 p.m. and was recorded as present.
A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Johnson, to approve the amendment to the contract with ACI. There were no objections and the motion passed unanimously (11 Yeas, 0 Nays).
b.CSRS - Request Board approval of Facility Plan Modifications as reviewed and approved by St. John Educational Advisory Council on May 27, 2010.
Introduction of this item was made by Mr. Chris Pellegrin, CSRS.
A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Ory, to approve the Facility Plan Modifications as reviewed and approved by St. John Educational Advisory Council on May 27, 2010.
Following discussion, Mr. Burl requested that the following agenda back-up document for this item be placed in the official minutes:
Agenda Item
Approval of the Facility Master Plan Modifications
Purpose
To provide bond funding for the Fifth Ward HVAC project currently funded primarily with General Funds.
Summary
The proposed changes are scope and budget adjustments to certain projects to allow for the funding of the HVAC Upgrade and Replacement Project at Fifth Ward Elementary Facility from the $46,000,000 Bond Program rather than an allocation from the general fund There was an HVAC project scheduled for Fifth Ward Elementary School in the original facilities master plan. However, when the assessment was performed two years ago, it was determined that in order to keep the overall plan within the available funds the HVAC system could be repaired for approximately $180,000 in lieu of replacement. Since that time, the system has deteriorated more quickly than anticipated and now much of the system needs replacement at a cost of $1m000,000. The project previously approved by the board was to supplement the increased scope from the general fund; however, with the recent proposed changes to the usage of some facilities and in light of the current school system budget constraints, the program management team was asked to explore the possibility of including this project entirely in the bond program.
The recommended changes will have no impact on classroom instruction in the Pre-K – 12 programs.
Advisory Council
The SJBP Citizens Advisory Council met on May 27, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. to consider the proposed changes. The attached minutes of meeting indicate that the council was unanimous in its recommendation to the board that these changes be made to the program.
Proposed Modifications
Due to changes in the proposed use of some existing facilities as outlined by the administration, the program management team recommends the following changes in scope:
LGAP Renovation Project - This facility will be repurposed as an administration site and the educational program housed there will be phased out. The roof replacement was the most critical issue at this site and that project is underway. The remainder of the renovations at the site will be postponed to a subsequent phase with the exception of a few code issues. $75,000 will remain in the budget to address these deficiencies.
Maintenance Facility Renovation Project - The Maintenance Facility no longer houses personnel and is now a warehouse and storage facility. The roof had to be replaced to continue to function as a warehouse and that project is in progress. The remainder of the renovation budget can be eliminated as these items were only necessary if personnel were to be housed there.
Milesville Renovation Project - This facility is scheduled for closure and the budget for this project can be eliminated.
Adult Ed Center Renovation Project - Like with LGAP, the roof replacement was the most critical issue at this site and that project is underway. The remainder of the renovations at the site will be postponed to a subsequent phase with the exception of a few code issues. $63,000 will remain in the budget to address these deficiencies. Furthermore, some improvements were made to this facility with the maintenance staff last year.
Conclusion
If approved by the board, these proposed changes to the scope of work at these facilities will allow approximately $1 million to be allocated to the Fifth Ward HVAC project and negate the use of any general fund money for this project.
Mr. Sanders offered a substitute motion to amend this item, along with Item 7c to an Introductory Item. Upon roll call, there were 11 Yeas and 0 Nays and the substitute motion amending this item and Item 7c to Introduction Only, passed unanimously.
Mr. Herman Clayton requested that a member of SJAE be added to the St. John Educational Advisory Council’s membership.
Mr. Burl requested that Mr. Chris Pellegrin review the specs on the East St. John High School and West St. John High School Press Box in regards to the size of the air conditioning system.
A motion was made by Mr. Ory, seconded by Mr. Triche, to move Item 9b up at this time and to go into Executive Session. There were no objections and the Board went into Executive Session at 6:15 p.m.
A motion was made by Mr. Sanders, seconded by Mr. Johnson, to reconvene in Regular Session. There were no objections and the Board reconvened in Regular Session at 7:21 p.m.
ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS. a. Approve reduction in force plan for 2010-2011.
A motion was made by Mr. Ory, seconded by Mr. Burl, to not approve the current Reduction in Force plan for 2010-2011. Upon roll call, there were 11 Yeas, 0 Nays and the motion to not approve the current Reduction in Force plan for 2010-2011 passed unanimously.
ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS. a. Dr. Courtney P. Millet, Superintendent - Introduction of Central Office Reorganization 2010-2011. Dr. Millet stated that this item was for introductory purposes only.
b. Mr. Lloyd LeBlanc – None.
ITEM 10. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS: a. Committee Reports. None.
ITEM 11. BOARD-RELATED ITEMS OF INTEREST. Mr. Wise requested that an invitation to Mr. Paul Pastorek, State Superintendent and Ms. Linda Johnson, BESE Board Member be sent inviting them to attend the St. John School Board Meeting next Thursday, June 17, 2010 to allow the Board an opportunity to receive recommendations from them on how to continue to improve education in St. John the Baptist Parish while dealing concurrently with severe budget issues.
Dr. Keller thanked Mr. David Vitrano, L’Observateur, for the superb article he wrote on the LEAP scores recently in the newspaper and encouraged him to keep up the good work.
.
ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT: The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Mr. Ory offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Triche. There were no objections. The meeting adjourned at 7:29 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