PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
LAPLACE, LA - Meeting August 4, 2011
ITEM 1. 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 in the library at Emily C. Watkins Elementary School, 944 La. 628, LaPlace, Louisiana, on Thursday, August 4, 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.
ITEM 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:
PRESENT: Messrs. Jack, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders.
ABSENT: Jones.
There were 10 members present, 1 absent.
In the absence of the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent Herbert Smith was seated as Secretary.
Mr. Smith asked that we remember Yolanda Joseph and Kitty Goudia, two of our employees whose father passed away recently.
ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meetings of July 7, 2011 and July 21, 2011. A motion was made by Rev. Nicholas, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to accept the minutes of July 7, 2011 and July 21, 2011 as printed and published.
There were no objections and the motion to approve the amended minutes carried (10 Yeas, 1 Absent).
ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Superintendent.
Mr. Smith (seated for Dr. Millet) reminded the Board and public of these important dates:
August 8 – First day for 1st-12th Grade Students (Except incoming 9th graders at ESJH)
August 9 – First day for 9th Graders at ESJH
August 11 – First day for Kindergarten & Pre-Kindergarten Students
August 22 – First day for HeadStart Students
Mr. Jones arrived at 6:03 p.m. and was recorded as present.
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
Lauren Ballam, Teacher - Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet
Leah Christiani, Teacher - Fifth Ward Elementary
Cindy Coffey, Teacher - East St. John Elementary
Reanna Crouts, Teacher - Fifth Ward Elementary
Anna Dallis, Teacher - Fifth Ward Elementary
Christopher Hymel, Teacher - LaPlace Elementary
Jamie Knight, Teacher - Lake Pontchartrain Elementary
Shamika Mitchell, Teacher - East St. John High
Kaelan O'Sullivan, Teacher - Fifth Ward Elementary
Glenda Rush, Teacher - LaPlace Elementary
Quantrell Toval, Athletic Trainer - East St. John High
Michelle Taylor, Teacher - Fifth Ward Elementary
B. Resignations
Eric Aufderhar, Teacher, St. John Alternative School, July 21, 2011
Jenny Dye, Teacher - LaPlace Elementary, July 25, 2011
Sonia Fields, Teacher - Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet, May 19, 2011
Candace Robertson, Teacher - Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet, August 3, 2011
Jennifer Roussel, Teacher - Lake Pontchartrain Elementary, July 19, 2011
C. Retirement
Sonya Howard, Teacher - East St. John Elementary, July 28, 2011
D. Extended Sick Leave
Precious Joseph, Director - Adult Education, July 1 - September 30, 2011
E. Sabbatical
Denis Courderies, Teacher - East St. John High, Fall 2011 - Spring 2012
II. CLASSIFIED
A. Extended Sick Leave
Jeanette Ursin, Lunch Technician - John L. Ory Elementary, August 3 - November 7, 2011
Christy Heltz, 12 month secretary – Milesville, August 12 - November 11, 2011
B. Retirement
Josephine Cureau, Bus Driver – Transportation, 20, 2011
C. Resignations
1. Joyce LeBlanc, Paraprofessional - LaPlace Elementary, May 20, 2011
D. New Hire
Sanovia Nelson, Paraprofessional - LaPlace Elementary
ADDENDUM ITEM 6b. Personnel Changes
I. PROFESSIONAL
A. New Hires (Pending Courderies Professional Sabbatical approval)
Amber Cancienne, Teacher – East St. John High School
A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Triche, to approve the Personnel Changes, both 6a and 6b in globo. There were no objections and the motion passed unanimously (11-0).
Mr. Wise requested that a summary of the teacher exit interviews be presented to the Board annually. Mr. Jack requested that an emergency Personnel Committee Meeting be held.
ITEM 7. BUSINESS AND FINANCE: Mr. Felix Boughton, Executive Director of Business and Finance
a. Reject proposal from First Student, Inc. and re-advertise for maintenance of busses.
A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Mr. Wise, to reject the proposal from First Student, Inc. and re-advertise for maintenance of busses. Upon roll call, there were 8 Yeas (DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders), 3 Nays (Jack, Burl, Keller) and the motion carried.
b. Update on budget for 2011-2012. Mr. Boughton stated that administration is still meeting with SJAE, therefore he did not have an update.
c. Adopt resolution to exempt school systems from the State Excise Tax on fuel.
A motion was made by the entire board to adopt the resolution to exempt school systems from the State Excise Tax on fuel. There were no objections and the motion passed unanimously.
RESOLUTION PETITIONING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
AN EXEMPTION FROM FUEL EXCISE TAXES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS
WHEREAS, each and every gallon of fuel, whether gasoline or diesel, used by Louisiana Public School Systems is burdened by a State Excise Tax imposed at the rate of 20 cents per gallon;
WHEREAS, Governor Jindal has adamantly and energetically opposed any form of taxation as an insidious expansion of government fatal to jobs, opportunity for the State’s citizens, and the development of business;
WHEREAS, Governor Jindal has fought to shield the cigarette industry from the renewal of taxes intended to reduce the debilitating impact of smoking and to ameliorate the cost of healthcare for victims of tobacco use;
WHEREAS, any State official so protective of implements of illness and death must surely oppose the continuation of a tax imposed upon school children doing their best to get to school and secure an education;
WHEREAS, the public school systems in Louisiana have been sufficiently penalized by the State’s oppressive imposition of unfunded mandates and unrelenting erosion of funding for elementary and secondary education;
WHEREAS, siphoning more money out of the pockets of school children by exacting taxes for their transportation to school undermines their efforts to pursue educational opportunity;
NOW THEREFORE, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board hereby resolves, petitions, begs and implores Governor Jindal and the State Legislature to create an exemption from fuel excise taxes in favor of the public school systems of the State and thereby relieve elementary and secondary school children, through their school boards, from the burden of State taxation upon school transportation;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be provided to Governor Jindal and the elected representatives of this Parish together with a plea for relief from the continuation of unwarranted and unwise taxation;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board President and the Parish Superintendent be and they are hereby directed to dedicate themselves to the eradication of the fuel excise tax as it impacts public school systems.
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CERTIFICATE
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board in regular session duly convened on August 4, 2011 and that same has not been rescinded or repealed.
RESERVE, LOUISIANA, this 4th day of August, 2011
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Patrick H. Sanders, President Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Superintendent
St. John the Baptist Parish School Board St. John the Baptist Parish School Board
d. CSRS – Request Board approval of scope, budget, and funding source for repairs to Emily C. Watkins Elementary School. This item will be heard in Executive Session at a later date.
e.CSRS – Request Board approval of Chenevert Architects as the architect for the repairs to Emily C. Watkins Elementary School. This item will be heard in Executive Session at a later date.
The chair declared a five minute recess at 7:01 p.m.
A motion as made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mrs. DeFrancesch, to reconvene in regular session. There were no objections and the Board reconvened in regular session at 7:07 p.m. Messrs. Jones and Mr. Jack were not seated.
ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS. a. Mrs. Lanette Perrin – Request approval of Pupil Progression Plan 2011-2012.
A motion as made by Mr. Bacas, seconded by Mr. Wise, to approve the Pupil Progression Plan for 2011-2012. There were no objections and the motion carried 9-2. Messrs. Jones and Mr. Jack were not seated.
Pupil Progression Plan 2011 – 2012
Summary of Changes
The basic format was changed by the LDE to simplify the document. Therefore, the order of the plan is completely different from last year.
Green font is the LDE’s policies, rules, and information.
Black font contains the requested information from the school district.
Blue font contains the local policies.
New grading policy created by the LDE; page 16.
A: 100-93
B: 92-85
C: 84-75
D: 74-67
F: 66-0
High school subjects will have at least 3 formal and 6 informal grades per marking period; page 21.
Half-Unit courses – will have 2 marking periods. In each marking period a teacher will give a minimum of 4 formal assessments and 5 informal assessments. A cumulative exam will be one of the 4 formal assessments during the second grading period; page 21.
Grades 1-2 - Math weights have been changed to 70% comprehensive assessments and 30% informal assessments; page 22.
7th – 12th grades will not have a mid-term exam grade on the report card. This formal assessment will be averaged into the 2nd grading period. Each marking period will be weighted as 20% and the final exam/EOC will be weighted as 20% on the report card; pages 26-27.
Early high school graduation barriers have been removed; pages 47- 48.
Connections is a one-year process for over-age students to receive targeted instruction and accelerated remediation; pages 57 – 59.
ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS. a. Mr. Elton Oubre, Sr./CWA Director - Update School Wellness Policy to comply with the provisions of the School Putting Prevention to work (SPPW) Grant. Mr. Oubre stated that the $12,000 grant was from Southeast Dairy Industry Association. Following a short video promoting healthy choices and physical activity, Mr. Bacas thanked his daughter, Erin Remondet, who teaches physical education, for initiating and promoting the “Let’s Move It” program at Emily C. Watkins.
School Wellness Policy
Purpose
The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Child Nutrition and Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires that each local educational agency (LEA) participating in the National School Lunch Program establish a local school Wellness Policy by July 1,2006.
The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board recognizes that schools should play a vital role in promoting student health, preventing childhood obesity, and combating problems associated with poor nutrition and physical inactivity. The School Board shall promote a healthy school environment by supporting and emphasizing student wellness, good nutrition, and regular physical activity and making these an integral part of the total learning environment.
Schools have a responsibility to help students learn, establish, and maintain patterns of nutrition and physical activity that facilitate a healthy environment. Well-planned and effectively implemented school nutrition and fitness programs serve to enhance a student’s overall health, as well as their behavior and academic achievement. The School Board shall require that all foods made available on school campuses should offer children nutritious choices, and physical activity should be incorporated into the school day as often as possible.
The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board shall develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive plan, including both short-term and long-term objectives, to encourage healthy eating and physical activity in all public schools of St. John the Baptist Parish. The plan shall make effective use of school and community resources and equitably serve the needs and interests of all schools and staff.
SPECIFIC WELLNESS GOALS
Nutrition Education
School-based nutrition education includes traditional classroom lessons and behavioral change programs based on social learning theory and marketing. Using all venues is recommended for optimal impact. Nutrition is not a stand-alone course. It is taught in health education and science classes and can be integrated into core content area of instruction across the curriculum. A planned, sequential curriculum where the lessons are aligned with standards, benchmarks, and grade-level expectations is essential to impact knowledge, attitude, and behavior. Behavior change can be enhanced through social learning theory and marketing, as well. Social learning theory may include a parent component for younger students and peer involvement for older students. School activities such as Family
Nutrition Night can promote the social learning theory. Additionally, the cafeteria can be used as part of the total educational system for modeling behavior.
The school district will:
Promote and implement nutrition education that promotes lifelong healthful eating practices.
Use lessons that are age-appropriate, with behaviorally focused content that is developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant.
Use lessons that are sequential and are correlated with standards, benchmarks, and grade level expectations.
Provide hands-on activities that are fun.
Provide repeated opportunities for students to taste foods that are low in fat, sodium and added sugars and high in vitamins, minerals and fiber.
Focus on positive aspects of healthful eating behaviors.
Promote social learning techniques such as role modeling, providing incentives, developing social resistance skills, overcoming barriers to behavioral changes and goal setting.
School Meals
Foods and beverages sold or served at school will meet the nutrition requirements as outlined in Bulletin 1196, Louisiana Food and Nutrition Programs, Policies of Operations. Qualified Child Nutrition Program professionals will provide students with access to a variety of affordable, nutritious, and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students; will accommodate the religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the student body in meal planning; and will provide clean, safe, and pleasant settings and adequate time for students to eat.
The District will:
Offer a school lunch program with menus that meet the meal patterns and nutrition standards established by the USDA Child Nutrition Program and the Louisiana Department of Education, Office of School and Community Support.
Provide school breakfast and snack programs (where approved and applicable) with menus that meet the meal patterns and nutrition standards established by USDA and the Louisiana Department of Education, Office of School and Community Support.
Encourage students, school staff, and families to participate in school meal programs (Nutrition and meal pamphlets will be available in the cafeteria for parent access.)
Strive to operate all Child Nutrition Programs with school foodservice staff who are qualified according to current professional standards.
Provide professional development opportunities for food service staff.
Ensure that food safety and sanitation are followed throughout the school, including providing facilities to wash hands before preparing and eating food.
Ensure that the food service permit is current for the Food Service school site.
Offer whole and enriched grain products that are high in fiber, low in added fats and sugars, and served in appropriate portion sizes that are consistent with the current USDA standards.
Offer fresh, frozen, canned or dried fruits and vegetables using healthy food preparation techniques and 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice. Offer nonfat, reduced-fat, low-fat, and plain and/or flavored dairy products.
Offer whole-grain breads and cereals.
Use healthy food preparation techniques for lean meat, poultry, and fish, such as baking.
Encourage that all foods brought into the cafeteria meet the USDA Child Nutrition Guidelines.
Ensure that school meals are accessible to all students with a variety of delivery strategies. Alternate eating sites will be encouraged to increase meal participation.
Ensure that students receive adequate time to eat breakfast and lunch, encouraging the recommended 30 minute seat time for lunch.
Provide a cafeteria atmosphere that is conducive to a positive dining experience, encouraging socializing among students and between students and adults; encouraging supervision of eating areas by adults who model proper conduct and voice level and who model healthy habits by eating with the students. Cafeterias will provide adequate supplies of hand washing soap, water and disposable towels for use at each facility.
Foods and Beverages Offered Outside of the Child Nutrition Programs
An effective Wellness Program addresses foods and beverages sold and served on campus outside of the USDA Child Nutrition Programs. Nutrition education is more effective if the foods and beverages sold and offered are healthful and consistent with what is taught in the classroom. Foods and beverages sold outside the USDA Child Nutrition Programs include vending machines, concession stores, school parties, fundraising events, and rewarding/bribing students with food.
Vending Machine and Concession Store Laws
Foods and beverages must meet specific nutritional criteria if on the grounds at any time during a period beginning one-half hour before the start of the school day and ending one-half hour after the end of the school day. These criteria were developed as a result of the approval of Senate Bill No. 146, Act 331 passed during the Louisiana Legislature's Regular Session in 2005.
a. < 150 calories
b. < 35% of total calories from fat
c. < 10% to total calories from saturated fat
d. < 30 grams of sugar
e. < 360 milligrams of sodium
A list of foods meeting these criteria is provided in the "Vending List for Schools", provided and maintained by Pennington Biomedical Center, www.pbrc.edu .
In addition, the criteria for beverages offered for sale in public high schools was amended as a result of the passage of HB 767 / Act 306 passed by the Louisiana Legislature during its 2009 Regular Session. Except for items sold as part of the school food program, the food and beverages must meet the following criteria per serving:
In high schools, beverages shall include:
a. Bottled water
b. No-calorie or low-calorie beverages that contain up to 10 calories per eight
ounces
c. Up to 12 ounce servings of beverages that contain 100 percent fruit juice with
no added sweeteners and up to 120 calories per eight ounces.
d. Up to 12 ounce servings of any other beverages that contains no more than 66
calories per eight ounces,
e. At least 50% of non-milk beverages shall be water and no-calorie or low-
calorie options that contain up to 10 calories per eight ounces
f. Low-fat milk, skim milk, and non-dairy milk.
Physical Activity
The school district will:
Promote and implement quality physical education programs that emphasize and promote participation in lifelong physical activities and reaching a health enhancing level of physical fitness among all students.
Provide students in grades K-8 with a minimum of 150 minutes per week of health and physical education.
Ensure that students in grades K-8 participate in planned, organized, and moderate to vigorous physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes each school day.
Strive toward having qualified, certified physical education teachers guide physical activity instruction in all elementary grades as well as in middle and high school physical education classes.
Provide staff development on standards implementation for physical education instructors.
Ensure that all the physical education lessons should be aligned with standards, benchmarks, and grade-level expectations.
Other School-Based Activities
The school district will:
Offer classroom health education that complements physical education by reinforcing the knowledge and self-management skills needed to maintain a physically active lifestyle and to reduce time spent on sedentary activities.
Recognize that daily physical activity is essential to student welfare and academic performance.
Encourage physical activity during recess for elementary students, intramural programs, integration in the academic curriculum, and clubs, as well as in physical education programs.
Encourage parents and guardians to support students’ participation in physical activities, to be physically active role-models, and to include physical activities in family plans.
Provide parents a list of foods that meet the Board’s snack standards and ideas for health celebrations/parties, rewards and fundraising activities.
Encourage school staff to participate in physical activities to serve as role models.
Support community-based physical activity programs.
Encourage the use of a recognized instrument or program to evaluate students’ physical fitness.
Nutrition Guidelines
Student’s lifelong eating habits are greatly influenced by the types of foods and beverages available in their daily environment. In addition to ensuring that reimbursable school meals meet all requirements of the Nutritional School Lunch Program outlined in federal and state regulations, the School Board shall develop and maintain specific nutritional guidelines to address all food and beverages sold or served to students, including those items made available to students outside of the school meal programs.
Employee Tobacco Use - Free School Policy
Because tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death, disease, and disability, the St. John the Baptist School Board shall provide a 100% Smoke Free Campus (Louisiana Smoke Free Air Act-Act 815) and Tobacco-Free school environment (Louisiana’s 100% Tobacco School Policy – the Department of Health and Hospitals Tobacco Control Program).
Smoking, or possessing any other form of smoking objects or devices, or possessing any lighted tobacco products (e.g. smoke, smokeless, spit, spitless, etc.) on any school campus, school vehicle, or parish school board property are prohibited.
School campus includes the elementary or secondary school building and buildings on that campus.
School Board property shall include any portable buildings, field houses, stadiums, equipment storage areas, vacant land, or any property owned, operated, or leased by the board.
This prohibition on smoking, tobacco, and smoking object/devices shall also apply to all visitors and contractors that enter on school board property.
All tobacco products are also prohibited at school-sponsored functions (e.g. field trips, athletic events, proms, dances, promotional activities, etc.) including those away from school property.
Smoking and Tobacco advertising is also prohibited on school board property.
STUDENT TOBACCO USE
Smoking, or possessing any other form of smoking objects or devices, or possessing any tobacco products (e.g. smoke, smokeless, spit, spitless, etc.) on any school campus, school vehicle, or parish school board property are prohibited.
School campus includes the elementary or secondary school building and buildings on that campus.
School Board property shall include any portable buildings, field houses, stadiums, equipment storage areas, vacant land, or any property owned, operated, or leased by the board.
All tobacco products are also prohibited at school-sponsored functions (e.g. field trips, athletic events, proms, dances, promotional activities, etc.) including those away from school property.
Smoking and Tobacco advertising is also prohibited on school board property. Parental permission to smoke does not exempt a student from this policy. Violations shall subject the student to appropriate disciplinary action.
Compliance and Enforcement
“Smoke Free/Tobacco-Free” signs shall be displayed on school property. Notice of this policy shall be posted at the entrances to the grounds of each school and school building, and within school vehicles.
Notice of this policy shall be given to students, all school staff, parents or families through dissemination of the student handbook every year and posted signage at each campus. The community shall be made aware of the policy by signage and handbooks as needed.
In addition to disciplinary action, those students who are found in violation of this policy shall be referred to the school’s health provider (Nurse, Health Center, or Social Worker) for a tobacco intervention. The school’s health provider shall have the option of referring the student to the Fax to Quit Louisiana Program, coordinated by The Department of Health and Hospitals Tobacco Control Program, which refers the student to the Louisiana Quit-line, a free counseling service done over the phone for tobacco cessation.
School employees who violate the 100% Smoke Free and Tobacco-Free School Policy shall, in addition to disciplinary action, also be referred to the Louisiana Quit-Line (1-800-QuitNow) which is a free counseling service for tobacco cessation.
Communication
At the beginning of each school year the Wellness Committee will share a summary of the Wellness Policy with all school principals. Updates to the Policy may be highlighted and discussed. School principals will then communicate this information to school staff, faculty, students, and parents through various faculty and parent meetings, as well as through the student handbooks provided at each school. Any special events that the Wellness Policy Committee plans to achieve should be shared with everyone affected and the School Health Advisory Council.
Visitors and contractors shall also be informed of the 100% Smoke Free and Tobacco-Free School Policy through posted signs at the entrances to the grounds of each school and school buildings, and within school vehicles.
MONITORING AND POLICY REVIEW
Monitoring
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall be responsible for assuring compliance with established district-wide nutrition and physical activity wellness policies. In each school, the principal or designee will ensure compliance with those policies in his/her school and shall report on the school’s compliance to the Superintendent or his/her designee.
School food service staff, at the school or district level, shall assess compliance with nutrition policies within school food service areas and report on this matter to the Superintendent (or if done at the school level, to the school principal).
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall develop a summary report at least annually on compliance with the district’s established nutrition and physical activity wellness policies, based on input from schools within the district. The report shall be provided to the School Board, the district’s School Health Advisory Council (SHAC), and also distributed to the schools, parent/teacher organizations, school principals, and school health services personnel throughout the parish.
Policy Review
Assessments shall be taken annually to help review policy compliance, assess progress, and determine areas in need of improvement. As part of that review, the School Board and staff shall review all nutrition and physical activity policies; provision of an environment that supports healthy eating and physical activity; and nutrition and physical education policies and program elements using the Louisiana Department of Education Wellness Policy Evaluation tool and share these results with the School Health Advisory Council (SHAC). The School Board and individual schools within the district shall, as necessary, revise the wellness policies and develop work plans to facilitate their implementation.
New Policy: April, 2006
Revised: December 2, 2010
Ref: PL 108-265 (Section 204, Child Nutrition and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004) 42 USC 1751 et seq. (Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act) 42 USC 1771 et seq. (Child Nutrition Act of 1966) 7 CFR 210 (National School Lunch Program)7 CFR 220 (School Breakfast Program) Board minutes, 6-15-06, 12-2-10
b. Mr. Felix Boughton – Executive Session – Update on Negotiations. This item was postponed until after administration meets with the SJAE.
e. Lloyd LeBlanc – None.
ITEM 10. ADMINSTRATIVE MATTERS: a. Committee Reports. None.
ITEM 11. BOARD-RELATED ITEMS OF INTEREST. None.
ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT: The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Mr. Bacas offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Wise. There were no objections. The meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.
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Patrick H. Sanders, President
__________________________________
Herbert Smith, Secretary