PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

EDGARD, LA - Meeting July 7, 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 West St. John Elementary School, 2555 LA Hwy. 18, Edgard, Louisiana, on Thursday, July 7, 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, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders.

 

ABSENT:  None.

 

There were 11 members present, 0 absent.

 

ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meetings of June 9, 2011 and June 16, 2011.  A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mr. Triche, to accept the minutes of June 9, 2011 and June 16, 2011 as printed and published.

 

Mr. Burl requested that the minutes of June 9, 2011 be amended as follows:

 

At the June 9, 2011 meeting, Mr. Burl asked Dr. Leigh Ann Beard what percentage of teachers hired were uncertified.  Dr. Beard replied that currently there were no uncertified teachers hired.

 

There were no objections and the motion to approve the amended minutes carried.

 

ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Superintendent.  None.

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

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

 

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

 

I.    PROFESSIONAL

 

      A.   New Hires

 

  1. Ben Ardoin, Teacher - Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet

  2. Casey Burnham, Teacher - Emily C. Watkins Elementary

  3. Renata Carter, Teacher - Fifth Ward Elementary

  4. Lashunda Coleman, Teacher - East St. John High

  5. Veronica Davis, Teacher - East St. John High

  6. Sonia Fields, Teacher - Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet

  7. Gregory Gathers, Teacher - East St. John High

  8. Jasmin Green, Teacher - Lake Pontchartrain Elementary

  9. Alicia Harris, Teacher - East St. John High

  10. Demecca Jones, Counselor - East St. John High

  11. Monica Keller, Teacher - West St. John Elementary

  12. Jenny Kelly, Teacher - LaPlace Elementary

  13. Jessica Krattinger, Teacher - West St. John High

  14. Dawn Landry, Teacher - West St. John Elementary

  15. Dennis Lorio, Teacher - East St. John High

  16. Thomas Lorio, Teacher - East St. John High

  17. Melissa May, Teacher - West St. John Elementary

  18. Dominique McKnight          , Teacher - Lake Pontchartrain Elementary

  19. Sharon Menefee, Teacher - West St. John Elementary

  20. Kim Moliere, Teacher - Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet

  21. Angela Perez, Teacher - Emily C. Watkins Elementary

  22. Debbie Perkins, Teacher - Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet

  23. Rajean Populus, Teacher - Emily C. Watkins Elementary

  24. Nikki Sewell, Teacher - Fifth Ward Elementary

  25. Nathaniel Sowell, Teacher - East St. John High

  26. Raven Veal, Teacher - East St. John High

  27. Shannon Wegener, Teacher - East St. John Elementary

  28. Melissa Whiteside, Teacher - East St. John Elementary

  29. Lacria York, Teacher - West St. John Elementary

 

      B.   Extended Sick Leave

 

  1. Doris Gerhart, Assistant Principal - LaPlace Elementary, April 1 & 4, 2011

  2. Heather Stewart, Teacher  - Redirection Center, May 16 - 19, 2011

  3. Yussef Jasmine, Teacher - East St. John High, May 16, 2011

 

      C.   Retirement

 

  1. Douglass Lawson, Social Worker - Milesville, June 7, 2011

  2. Gloria Brown, Teacher - East St. John Elementary, August 1, 2011

 

      D.   Resignation

 

  1. Brian Darrow, Teacher - East St. John High (TFA - Commitment Complete), May 20, 2011

  2. Eve Crusto, Teacher - Fifth Ward Elementary (TFA - Commitment Complete), May 20, 2011

  3. Warner Thomas, Teacher - Emily C. Watkins  (TFA - Commitment Complete), May 20, 2011

  4. Cassandra Williams, Educational Diagnostician - Milesville, June 8, 2011

  5. Kelli Joseph, Principal, Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet,     June 10, 2011

  6. Kate Esposito, Teacher-Fifth Ward Elementary (TFA-Commitment Complete), May 19, 2011

 

      E.   Sabbaticals

 

  1. Tara Cox, Teacher - East St. John High, Fall 2011

 

II.    CLASSIFIED

 

      A.   New Hires

 

  1. Michelle Dennis, Bookkeeper - Fifth Ward Elementary

  2. Chanda Waguespack, Bookkeeper - Emily C. Watkins Elementary

 

      B.   Resignations

 

  1. Sharon Early, Custodian - Fifth Ward Elementary, June 6, 2011

  2. Chevelle Richard, Paraprofessional - Emily C. Watkins Elementary, June 27, 2011

 

      C.   Extended Sick Leave

 

  1. Wesley Stevenson, Bus Driver - Transportation, August 3 - November 11, 2011

 

A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Triche, to accept the Personnel Changes as presented. Upon roll call, there were 10 Yeas (Jack, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders) and 1 Nay (Burl) and the motion carried.

 

ADDENDUM ITEM 6b.  Recommendation to fill the vacant position of Assistant Principal.  Dr. Beard stated that the following applicants were interviewed for the position of Assistant Principal:

 

            Ms. Gail Brazile

            Ms. Karen Cherry

            Ms. Sherell Parker

            Mr. Jason Beber

            Ms. Shandra Clark

            Ms. Joni Miller

Dr. Shelly Chauvin

Dr. Michelle Taylor

            Ms. Venus Simms

            Ms. Meshell Hill

            Ms. Ariana Magee

            Ms. Chantel Walker

            Ms. Averil Sanders

 

Dr. Beard stated that as a result of the interviews, the committee recommended Mr. Jason Beber for the position of Assistant Principal.

 

Following discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to accept the recommendation of Mr. Jason Beber for the position of Assistant Principal.  Upon roll call there were 7 Yeas (Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Triche), 3 Nays (Burl, Nicholas Sanders), and 1 Abstention (Jack) and the motion carried.

 

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

 

a.  CSRS - Monthly Progress Update on the Master Plan and Program Management Services.  Mr. Floyd Luster gave an update on all ongoing projects.

 

b. CSRS - Request for Change Order Approval for West St. John Elementary School Additions and Renovations Project.  Mr. Luster stated that this change order is to relocate an existing sanitary sewer line running from the existing building across the courtyard under the new addition at a cost of $40,782.34.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Jack, seconded by Mr. Bacas to approve the Change Order for West St. John Elementary School Additions and Renovations Project at a cost of $40,782.34.  There were no objections and the motion passed unanimously.

 

c.  CSRS - Request Board approval to award contract to Architectural Design firm for the St. John Alternative School - Code Upgrades Project.  Mr. Luster  stated that the Architectural firm recommended is Remson, Haley, Herpin Architects at a cost of $7793.00. 

 

A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Wise, to award the contract for the Architectural Design firm for the St. John Alternative School - Code Upgrades Project to Remson, Haley, Herpin Architects at a cost of $7793.00.  There were no objections and the motion passed unanimously.

 

ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS. a.  None

 

ITEM 9.   NEW BUSINESS.  a.  Dr. Gerald Keller, Board Member - Review of redistricting plan by/for St. John the Baptist Parish School Board.  Dr. Keller requested that the Executive Committee locate a company for the redistricting and have a report for the Board by August 7, 2011.

 

b. Mr. Albert Burl,  Board Member - Discussion for adequate representation as far as gender based issues for girls at West St. John Elementary School.  Dr. Millet respectfully requested that this item be held over until either the next Board meeting or until after the planned Executive Session later in this meeting.  Mr. Burl asked that the item be addressed following the Executive Session at this meeting.

 

c. Mr. Albert Burl, Board Member - Discussion for revenues for next fiscal year.  Mr. Boughton addressed the Board regarding the possibility of rededicating 2 mills from debt service to the general fund.

 

d.  Mr. Felix Boughton - Executive Session - Update on Negotiations.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Dr. Keller, to go into Executive Session.  There were no objections and the Board convened in Executive Session at 6:42 p.m.

 

A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mr. Jones, to reconvene in regular session.  There were no objections and the Board reconvened in regular session at 7:36 p.m.

 

e.  Lloyd LeBlanc - None.

 

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

 

ITEM 11. BOARD-RELATED ITEMS OF INTEREST.  Mr. Burl requested that administration find out if, in accordance with the consent decree, students from the east bank could attend West St. John High School.

 

Mr. Sanders announced that the July 2011 School Board Retreat would be held at the Port of South Louisiana, in the Guest House at the end of July.

 

ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT: The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Mr. Jones offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Bacas. There were no objections. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

 

________________________________

Patrick H. Sanders, President

 

__________________________________

Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Secretary