PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA - Meeting of October 14, 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 14, 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, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Wise, Bacas, Triche, Keller.

 

ABSENT:  Messrs. Johnson, Ory.

 

There were 9 members present and 2 absent

 

ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None.

 

Dr. Keller offered condolences to the family of Daphne Triche, Board member Clarence Triche’s niece.

 

ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Superintendent.   Dr. Millet reported to the Board that a great learning experience is open to all fourth graders on Thursday, October 28th, known as Ag Day. The purpose of this event is to educate the students about the importance of agriculture and how it affects our daily lives. Students will visit a variety of booths and exhibits that are not only engaging, but also full of fun at the Fast Food Farm in Gramercy. I would like to invite all Board members to share a very unique field trip opportunity with the fourth graders of St. John Parish as a volunteer. The day begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. You would share in valuable hands-on experiences with the students and help them really learn what agriculture means to them.  This learning experience is being funded by a grant from Capital One, written by Ms. Page Eschette.

 

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.   Kelly Arnett, Teacher, LaPlace Elementary, October 6, 2010-November 16, 2010

B. Sabbatical

      1.   Rosetta Williams, Teacher, Redirection Center, Spring 2010

C. New Hire

      1.  Diane Steller, Teacher, Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet

 

II. CLASSIFIED

 

A. New Hire

      1.   Sanovia Nelson, Paraprofessional, LaPlace Elementary School (Rehire)

B. Retirement

      1.   Eloise Dixon, Lunch Technician, East St. John High, July 26, 2010

C. Extended Sick Leave

      1. Brigitte Price, Paraprofessional, LaPlace Elementary, September 29, 2010-October 8, 2010

      2. Sharon Early, Janitor, Fifth Ward Elementary, September 22, 2010-January 7, 2011

           

A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Jones, to accept the Personnel Changes as presented. There were no objections and the motion carried (9 Yeas, 2 Absent).

 

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

 

a.  Revise salary schedule to allow field trips during school days.  Mr. Boughton stated that as a cost cutting measure, a policy was put in place to allow field trips only on Saturdays.  The biggest cost for field trips are the additional bus driver stipends or the payment of substitute drivers needed when field trips are taken on a week day. However, Mr. Boughton stated that the funding source for this additional potential cost would be to allocate $25,000 of the $1,750,000 allocated to St. John from the EduJobs fund. 

 

A motion was made by Mr. Bacas, seconded by Mr. Triche, to revise the salary schedule to allow field trips during school days. 

 

Dr. Keller invited public participation.  Ms. Batiste stated that SJAE had a meeting with administration that afternoon and would prefer if the Board held off making this decision until a later date.

 

Following discussion on this item, a substitute motion was made by Mr. Sanders, seconded by Mr. Wise, to allow field trips on weekdays, to reserve $25,000 of the EduJobs funds, and to ensure that the issue would be brought before the Finance Committee before these funds are allocated.  Upon roll call, there were 9 Yeas (Jack, Burl, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Wise, Bacas, Triche, Keller) and 2 Absent (Johnson, Ory) and the motion carried.

 

Dr. Keller invited public participation.  Ms. Jennifer Fizzell, parent, asked that board members monitor all budgeted items more closely.  Mr. Sanders asked Mr. Boughton to inform the board members of `how much money is in the budget for field trips.

 

b. Budget Report 2010-2011.  Mr. Boughton stated that it is reflected in this report that expenses were actually under budget for this quarter.  He stated that this is due to close monitoring of expenses.  This item was for informational purposes only.

 

c.  Mr. Hugh Martin – To consider and take action with respect to adopting a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, October 2, 2010, to authorize the renewal of special taxes herein.  Mr. Martin congratulated the board and administration for the overwhelming victory at the polls in regard to the bonds passing.

 

A motion was made by the entire board to adopt a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, October 2, 2010, and authorize the renewal of special taxes herein, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                      

 

Mr. Burl asked Mr. Martin if we could sell the bonds early.  Mr. Martin replied that we are already in the process of doing so and we are currently waiting on the state, all of our preparation is done and we are ready to go.  Dr. Millet stated that she received notice by e-mail that St. John the Baptist Parish would have first priority.  Mr. Wise asked how much money would be saved by going to sale early.  Mr. Martin replied approximately three to five percent, which translates to three to five million dollars saved over the life of the bond.

 

Mr. Martin congratulated St. John the Baptist Parish administration, teachers, and staff on the excellent scores that were released recently.

 

d. CSRS – Monthly Progress Update on the Master Plan and Program Management Services provided by CSRS, Inc.  Mr. Floyd Luster and Mr. Todd Mann gave updates on all ongoing projects including the Child Development Center, East St. John Elementary, East St. John High, Fifth Ward Elementary, Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet, Leon Godchaux, LaPlace Elementary, All Roofing Packages, and School Board Office.

 

ADDENDUM ITEM 7d.  Recommendation by insurance committee to authorize administration to accept proposals on health insurance.  Mr. Boughton explained that Blue Cross had recently provided him with the January 1, 2011 renewal information and it reflected a 17.6 percent increase in premiums and due to this increase, he is asking the board to authorize administration to accept proposals on health insurance. 

 

A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Mr. Wise, to authorize administration to accept proposals on health insurance.  There were no objections and the motion carried (9 Yeas, 2 Absent).

 

ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS. a.  None

 

ITEM 9.   NEW BUSINESS.  a. Mr. Lloyd LeBlanc – None.

 

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

 

ITEM 11. BOARD-RELATED ITEMS OF INTEREST.  Mr. Jones requested that administration please inform the Board members as soon as a decision is made in reference to restoring any or part of any employee furlough days.  Also Mr. Jones, on behalf of the School Board, stated that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and wanted to announce it publicly.

 

Mr. Burl stated that although prayer was taken out of schools, there is a Louisiana State Law that allows silent prayer/meditation in public schools and he would like administration to inform all principals of this.  He also requested that administration survey parents to find out how many would be interested in sending their children to West St. John High School and possibly speak to the Justice Department about instituting an “open, cross enrollment” between the high schools.

 

ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT: The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Mrs. DeFrancesch offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Bacas. There were no objections. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

                       

________________________________

Gerald J. Keller, Ph.D., President

__________________________________

Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Secretary