PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA - Meeting of March 17, 2011

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, March 17, 2011, 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, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders.

ABSENT: DeFrancesch.

There were 10 members present, 1 absent.

DeFrancesch arrived at 6:03 p.m. and was recorded as present.

ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meeting of March 1, 2011.  A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Dr. Keller, to accept the minutes of March 1, 2011 as printed and published. Upon roll call, there were 8 Yeas (Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Triche, Sanders) and 3 Nays (Jack, Burl, Nicholas) and the motion to approve the minutes carried.

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

TESTING INFORMATION

We will begin our state high stakes testing very soon.  There will be two phases of state testing this year:  Phase 1 will be the written portion of the LEAP and GEE tests which will be administered on Tuesday, March 22^nd.

CONSORTIUM OF SCHOOL NETWORKING

St. John the Baptist Parish will be showcasing our district’s technology initiatives along with 7 other parishes from across the state.  Louisiana and Texas will be the host states, showing off their best and most talented in this high tech showcase event called the Best of the Bayou and the Talent from Texas session at the 2011 CoSN (Consortium of School Networking)  Conference in New Orleans.  This international technology conference has never been in Louisiana before and the main focus is to empower K-12 school district technology leaders to use technology strategically to improve teaching and learning.  Bonnie Dinvaut-Irving, Coordinator Education Technology and Shayla Guidry, Master Technology Teacher have been selected to showcase our districts efforts to go paperless by completing observation forms on mobile devices. The district is using the Pronto Form application to automate, mobilize and manage its on-line forms and data that is used in the classroom observation process. Educational leaders will learn how to use the Pronto Forms Application to conduct evaluations of interactive whiteboard usage and informal observations of daily classroom instruction.

RPEI GRANT AWARD RECIPIENTS

2010-2011 River Parish Educational Initiative ~ Teacher Grants for Parent, Family and Community Involvement

St. James submitted 0

St. John submitted 11 and 4 were approved

St. Charles submitted 6 and 1 was approved

Mr. Burl stated that he will donate $500.00 to Garyville Mt. Airy Magnet School.

SALAD BAR GRANT

Great news!  John L. Ory has added a salad bar to the lunch program, thanks to a grant written by Mrs. Bernetta Ambres.  Whole Foods Grocery supplies the salad bar unit if the district agrees to provide a daily salad to students and staff.  Salads are offered to students in grades 4-8 for the same price as a regular meal. We’ve just been informed that Emily C. Watkins has been awarded a Salad Bar Grant also.

FOOTBALL  SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS RECOGNIZED

The following high school student athletes have received football scholarships and I would like to recognize them at this time.

Cailin Cola (WSJH) signed with Nichols State University

Darzil Washington (WSJH) signed with Texas A&M University

Ronnie Feist, a junior at WSJH, has committed to sign a scholarship with LSU. Ronnie has been invited to participate in the Team USA National Team.  The National Team Trials will take place from Saturday May 28^th through Monday 30^th 2011 and will feature an estimated 250 of the best high school football prospects from around the country.  All participants will be competing for a roster spot on next year’s 2012 Team USA. 

Dhaquille Williams (ESJH) signed with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Dathan Thomas (ESJH) signed with Trinity Community College

Labaron Sylvester, (ESJH) has yet to make a college decision but has been offered full scholarships by over 40 highly selective and prestigious liberal arts schools for his combined academic-athletic performance. The combined value of these scholarships is in excess of $7 million.  All of the colleges Labaron has been accepted by are listed in both US News & World Report  and Forbes magazine as America's Top 150 Colleges. 

MR. CHARLES DUHON

We also would like to recognize Mr. Charles Duhon tonight for his gracious generosity to the students of St. John the Baptist Parish!  His tireless efforts and donation of time to supply sweatshirts to our students is greatly appreciated.

Mr. Duhon was present and addressed the Board.  He thanked the Board and stated that if anyone would like to help with “Warm a Child’s Heart”, donations could be sent to:  3 Murifield, LaPlace, LA  70068 or donations would be accepted at the School Board Office.  Dr. Keller donated $100 to this cause and Mr. Wise committed to do the same.

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.  Monna Green, Teacher, East St. John Elementary, February 17-19, 2011

II.  CLASSIFIED

      A. Resignations

            1.  Kyan Jenkins, Bus Driver, March 1, 2011

            2.  Teresita Morgan, Bus Driver, June 1, 2011

            3.  Ruben Morgan, Bus Driver, June 1, 2011

      B.  Retirement

            1.  Donnell Favorite, Janitor, West St. John High, November 24, 2010

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 passed unanimously (11 Yeas, 0 Nays).

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

a.  Accept report on school activity fund – Mr. Phillip Rebowe introduced this item, explaining to the board that the overall findings have improved steadily. 

A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mr. Johnson, to accept the report on school activity fund.  There were no objections and the motion to accept the report on school activity fund passed unanimously (11 Yeas, 0 Nays).

b.  Ondena Farlough, Coordinator – Request approval of Head Start 2011-2012 Continued Refunding Grant Application (Cycle 2).  A motion was made by Mr. Burl, seconded by Mr. Jones, to approve the Head Start 2011-2012 Continued Refunding Grant Application (Cycle 2). There were no objections and the motion passed unanimously (11 Yeas, 0 Nays).

c.  Mrs. Lorraine Jackson, Director of Child Nutrition – Request board approval to solicit bids for the school year 2011-2012 for Bread, Processed Foods, Frozen Foods, Meat/Meat Products, Cleaning Supplies, Paper Supplies, Large and Small Equipment for cafeterias.

A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to approve solicitation of bids for the school year 2011-2012 for Bread, Processed Foods, Frozen Foods, Meat/Meat Products, Cleaning Supplies, Paper Supplies, Large and Small Equipment for cafeterias.  There were no objections and the motion passed unanimously (11 Yeas, 0 Nays).

d.  CSRS – Monthly Progress Update on the Master Plan and Program Management Services.  Mr. Floyd Luster gave the board an update on all ongoing projects including West St. John High School, Child Development Center, LaPlace Elementary School, and East St. John High School.  Mr. Luster reported to the board that all contractors have been informed that construction must cease during LEAP testing so as not to disrupt the students’ testing.

ADDENDUM ITEM 7e.  CSRS – Request board approval to award contract to apparent responsible low bidder for the East St. John High School General Renovations Project upon low bidder meeting all LA Public Bid Law and Contract Document Requirements.  Mr. Luster reported that Volute, Inc. from Houma, LA was the apparent responsible low bidder, however, the bid was approximately $600,000 higher than the amount available for construction.  Mr. Luster stated that CSRS was recommending the board accept the bid due to time constraints in completing the work which must be done during the summer months to avoid disrupting school operations. 

A motion was made by Mr. Bacas, seconded by Mr. Jack, to award the contract for the East St. John High School General Renovations Project to Volute, Inc. for $3,280,000.

Mr. Chris Pellegrin, CSRS, stated that the recommendation is to accept the low bidder contingent upon a deductive change order being signed to bring the total project cost within the current budget.  Dr. Keller asked Mr. LeBlanc, Board Attorney, if there would be any legal problems if the board accepted the bid as is, and then commencing a deductive change order immediately.  Mr. LeBlanc explained that the board has the right to either accept the bid contingent upon the deductive change order or reject all the bids due to all bids being over budget, but if they rejected all bids, the whole process would have to be restarted.

A substitute motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Triche, to table this item for a week to give the Board members time to discuss it.  Upon roll call, there were 8 Yeas (Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Triche, Sanders) and 3 Nays (Jack, Bacas, Nicholas) and the substitute motion to table this item carried.

The President called a Special Meeting for next Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. to revisit this item.

ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS. a.  Courtney P. Millet, Superintendent – Request approval of school calendar for 2011-2012 school year.

A motion was made by Mr. Bacas, seconded by Mr. Jones, to approve the School Calendar for 2011-2012 school year as presented. There were no objections and the motion carried (11 Yeas, 0 Nays).

b. Mr. Albert Burl, Board Member – Discussion of Board Approval of Pilot Programs.

A motion was made by Mr. Burl that any agreement that St. John Parish School Board makes with the Louisiana Department of Education or BESE Board, that is not mandated, be first brought to the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board for approval, including all Pilot Programs, Race to the Top, Experimental Programs, etc.

A substitute motion was made by Mr. Wise to include the fact that St. John School Board will not participate in any programs without the approval of the Board.

Dr. Millet asked for clarification of this item . Mr. Burl replied that his motion was to include all programs regardless how small the impact.

A substitute motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Dr. Keller, to table this item until a later date.  Upon roll call, there were 10 Yeas (Jack, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders) and 1 Nay (Burl) and the motion to table passed.

The President stated that Item 9a would be heard at this time.

ITEM 9a.  OJ Breech – Report on the River Regions Multicultural Chamber of Commerce “Yes We Can 21” Century Community Learning Center Programs.

Ms. Breech gave an overview of the River Regions Multicultural Chamber of Commerce “Yes We Can 21” Century Community Learning Center Programs.  Dr. Millet thanked Ms. Breech for going above and beyond for the students in our parish.  Rev. Nicholas, Mr. Jones, Mr. Jack, Mr. Burl, Mr. Wise and Mr. Sanders also thanked Ms. Breech for all that she’s done for our students.

ITEM 8c.  Executive Session – Discussion of Duhon vs Tatje, Civil Action No. 90-1669.

A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Ms. DeFrancesch, to go into Executive Session.  There were no objections and the board convened in Executive Session at 8:08 p.m.

A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Dr. Keller, go reconvene in Regular Session.  There were no objections and the board reconvened in Regular Session at 8:30 p.m.

 ITEM 9.   NEW BUSINESS. 

b.  Mr. Lloyd LeBlanc – None.

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

ITEM 11. BOARD-RELATED ITEMS OF INTEREST. 

Rev. Nicholas asked administration to look into some unacceptable behavior at the St. John Alternative School that he witnessed in the past week.

Mr. Jones asked for clarification from the President that he did indeed call a Special Meeting next Thursday, March 24, 2011, at 6:00 p.m.  Mr. Sanders re-stated that he did call a Special Meeting for next Thursday, March 24, 2011, at 6:00 p.m.  Mr. Jack asked the president to discuss with SJAE about hearing the grievances that had been postponed by SJAE at previous meetings.

ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT: The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Mr. Bacas offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Johnson. There were no objections. The meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m.

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Patrick H. Sanders, President

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Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Secretary