PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA - Meeting of October 7, 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, October 7, 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, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Ory, Triche, Keller.

 

ABSENT:  Messrs. Burl, Sanders, Wise.

 

There were 8 members present and 3 absent

 

ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meeting of September 16, 2010.  A motion was made by Jones, seconded by Mr. Triche, to accept the minutes of September 16, 2010 as printed and published. There were no objections and the motion to approve the minutes carried (8 Yeas, 3 Absent).

 

ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Superintendent.   Dr. Millet read the following:

I want to thank the community, community leaders, and employees of St. John Parish Schools for the overwhelming support and vote of confidence this past Saturday. The two parishwide propositions passed overwhelming with over 65% of the vote -- both passed in all 7 precincts in the parish.

Public education plays and integral role in the overall well-being of our parish and the great state of Louisiana. We all know that good public school translate into a more productive citizenry and an overall positive social and economic impact in moving our parish and state forward.

The assistance and unselfishness of our parish’s citizens like you will enable our school district to accomplish far more than it otherwise could have. On behalf of all school-age children and all who work for the public school system, I thank you for your vote of trust and confidence. I will continue to work hard each day to better our schools.

At your places is a copy of the St. John the Baptist Parish School District’s Community Report. Special thanks go to Marathon Oil for their support in helping to sponsor the report. These reports were inserted into the L’Observateur on Saturday, September 25th, and into the Times Picayune on Thursday, September 30th.

Also at your places is a copy of the agenda from the Louisiana Leadership Summit for Superintendents held last week in Natchitoches, LA.  As you will see from reviewing page 2, I was asked to present our Motion Leadership that has been put into place in St. John Parish during the past two years. The title of the presentation was “Motion Leadership: Building Collective Capacity and Instructional Precision.” I shared with fellow superintendents how St. John Parish has improved student achievement through our district having a shared purpose, increasing school capacity, implementing school-wide best practices, and cultivating a culture of learning in all of our schools.

This year our parish received a JAG grant from the state to institute the JAG program at ESJHS. The JAG program (Jobs for America’s Graduates) provides services to youth who face multiple barriers to success—academic, employment, and personal. These services help to ensure that JAG students graduate from high school, pursue post-secondary education, and find entry-level employment. The commitment of the JAG program is “A Nation without Dropouts.” Over the 27 years that JAG has existed in the United States, the program has a record of sustained success with a graduation rate of 94%. I’d like to welcome and congratulate the newly elected officers of ESJH’s JAG program. Attending the meeting with them tonight is their JAG teacher, Mrs. Glenda Gaines, and the JAG Program District Coordinator, Heidi Trosclair. The JAG officers would like to make a short presentation to the Board.

 

Mr. Sanders arrived at 6:04 p.m. and was recorded as present.

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

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

 

Mrs. Glenda Gaines introduced herself to the Board and gave a brief overview of the JAG Program.  The following students introduced themselves to the Board:

President.................................................................................................................... Jennifer Bowers

Vice President of Leadership Development .........................................................Adriana Avalos

Vice President of Career development...................................................................Nyrika Belvin

Vice President of Social Awareness.......................................................................Jessica Walker

Vice President of Civic Awareness.........................................................................Karis Mizell

Vice President of Community Service....................................................................Bennette Joseph

Secretary.................................................................................................................... Miesha Paxton

Reporter....................................................................................................................... Lindsay Blank  

Photographer............................................................................................................. Bradley Scott

 

Dr. Millet continued:

The State Department of Education released the District and School Performance Scores today at 2:00 p.m. I am pleased to report that our district and our schools have again showed steady improvement. The powerpoint presentation I’m going to share with you will highlight the district’s sustained growth over the last few years and each school’s baseline growth.

 

ITEM 5. EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS BY THE BOARD OR STAFF.  

 

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.   Aimee champagne, Teacher – West St. John Elementary

      2.   Holly Manson, Teacher – Emily C. Watkins

B. Sabbatical

      1.   Odeal Alexis, Teacher – Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet, Fall 2010-Spring 2011

      2.   Rosetta Williams, Teacher – Redirection Center, Fall 2010

 

II. CLASSIFIED

A. Resignation

      1.   Janet Sam, Bus Attendant – Transportation, Effective September 17, 2010

B. Leave Without Pay

      1.   Davana Tripps, Lunch Technician – John L. Ory Magnet, September 22, 2010-May 23, 201         

A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to accept the Personnel Changes as presented. There were no objections and the motion carried (11 Yeas, 0 Nays).

 

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

 

a.  None

 

ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS.

 

a.  Mr. Felix Boughton – Recommendation on bus mechanic contract.

 

Mr. Boughton stated that the current contract with 2 bus mechanics will expire December 31, 2010.  Mr. Boughton stated that the Finance Committee recommends that Proposals are accepted.  Mr. Boughton asked the board to allow administration to seek proposals in an effort to save money on these contracts.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Johnson to allow administration to advertise for proposals on bus maintenance.

 

A substitute motion was made by Mr. Burl, seconded by Mr. Jack, to reduce the current contract by 10% and offer it to the current mechanics for a 1 year period, ending December 31, 2011.  Upon roll call there were 10 Yeas (Jack, Burl, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Ory, Triche, Keller) and 1 Nay (Wise) and the motion carried.

 

ITEM 9.   NEW BUSINESS. 

 

a.  Mr. Russ Wise, Board Member – Review of Board Policy for election of officers.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Wise to hold the election of officers every year as opposed to the current 2 year cycle.  This motion failed due to the lack of a second.

 

Dr. Millet stated  that the current field trip policy states that field trips are taken on Saturdays only.  Dr. Millet requested that the Board waive policy to discuss permission to allow 3 field trips to take place during the week at East St. John High School. 

 

A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Mr. Ory, to waive policy and discuss 3 weekday field trips at East St. John High School.  There were no objections and the motion to waive policy passed unanimously.

 

Dr. Millet further stated that due to the fact that East St. John High School’s had been released from correction action by the State, Title I funds dedicated to supplemental services has been freed up, and she is asking permission to 1) allow these field trips to take place during the week; and 2) use the Title I funds, only if necessary, to pay for bus drivers to make double runs.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Mr. Ory, to allow administration to approve 3 weekday field trips at East St. John High School until the next Board meeting with the understanding that the Finance Committee will make a recommendation on field trips for all schools.  There were no objections and the motion passed unanimously.

 

b.  Mr. Lloyd LeBlanc – None.

 

ITEM 10. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS:

 

a. Committee Reports. None.

 

ITEM 11. BOARD-RELATED ITEMS OF INTEREST.  Mr. Burl requested that administration make contact with the bus mechanics regarding the Board’s offer to extend their contract for 1 year at a 10% reduction the next morning.  Mr. Burl also requested that administration look into offering firefighting classes at the high schools.  Dr. Keller stated that one of our former students at East St. John High School will be inducted into the Nicholls State University Athletics Baseball Hall of Fame.  He congratulated Mr. Rondon Anderson for this accomplishment.  Mr. Bacas requested that all Board members be provided with a copy of all athletic schedules for all schools.   Dr. Keller stated that he would like feedback on a field trip for Board members to local businesses, including Natco and possibly the Crystal Hot Sauce factory on October 14, 2010.

ITEM 7A

 

a.    Mr. Elton Oubre, Director of Safe and Drug Free Schools – Item #1011-01-1007 – Appeal of Expulsion.  Dr. Keller stated that the parent requested a closed hearing.  A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Ory, to go into closed session.  There were no objections and the board went into closed session at 6:51 p.m.

The President called the meeting back to order at 8:16 p.m.  A motion was made by Mr. Bacas, seconded by Mr. Jones, to reconvene in open session.  There were no objections (9 Yeas, 2 Absent:  Wise, Ory) and the meeting reconvened in open session. 

Dr. Keller stated that regarding Item #1011-01-1007, the Board would take no action and the parties involved would negotiate with administration.  The Board directed that the student return to East St. John High School on November 8, 2010, in the event that no other agreement is made prior to that date.

 

ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT: The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Mr. Johnson offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Bacas. There were no objections. The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.

                                   

________________________________

Gerald J. Keller, Ph.D., President

__________________________________

Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Secretary