PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
RESERVE, LA - Meeting of September 1, 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 at Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria, 1600 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana, on Thursday, September 1, 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. Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders.
ABSENT: Jack, Jones.
There were 9 members present, 2 absent.
ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meetings of August 18, 2011.
A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Mr. Johnson, to accept the minutes of the August 18, 2011 meeting as printed and published.
There were no objections and the motion to approve the amended minutes carried. (9 Yeas, 2 Absent)
ADDENDUM ITEM 3a. Resolution to the family of Albertine Etienne. Mr. Sanders read the following resolution and presented a plaque to the family.
RESOLUTION ~ ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
RESERVE, LA
WHEREAS, Albertine Etienne served the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board for over 40 years as an employee, and
WHEREAS, Ms. Etienne served the schools, faculties and staff of this parish, the worthiness of her service will always be remembered; and
WHEREAS, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board recognizes her dedication and commitment, this is a resolution of sympathy forwarded to the members of her family; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that this school district desires to send a copy of this Resolution to her surviving relatives in total recognition of the value and the love this system has for her and wishes her family well in their bereavement and that this Resolution be made part of the official record on this date, September 1, 2011, subscribed therein.
ADDENDUM ITEM 3b. Resolution to the family of Claudette Vicks. Mr. Sanders read the following resolution and presented a plaque to the family.
RESOLUTION ~ ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
RESERVE, LA
WHEREAS, Claudette Vicks served the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board for 35 years as an employee, and
WHEREAS, Ms. Vicks served the schools, faculties and staff of this parish, the worthiness of her service will always be remembered; and
WHEREAS, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board recognizes her dedication and commitment, this is a resolution of sympathy forwarded to the members of her family; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that this school district desires to send a copy of this Resolution to her surviving relatives in total recognition of the value and the love this system has for her and wishes her family well in their bereavement and that this Resolution be made part of the official record on this date, September 1, 2011, subscribed therein.
ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Superintendent. Dr. Millet read the following important dates:
OPEN HOUSES
St. John Child Development Center September 8th @ 6:00 p.m.
St. John Alternative School September 14th @ 6:00 p.m.
Emily C. Watkins Elementary School September 22nd @ 6:00 p.m.
John L. Ory Magnet School September 22nd @ 5:30 p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: September 2, 2011
West St. John High at St. James @ 7:00 p.m.
East St. John High at Carencro @ 7:00 p.m.
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
Cynthia Guerin, Teacher - Fifth Ward Elementary
Lawanda James, Teacher - St. John Alternate School
Lucas Santos, Teacher - Fifth Ward Elementary
Thomas Walters, Teacher - West St. John High
Anya Williams, Teacher - Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School
B. Resignations
James Minge, Teacher - West St. John High, August 18, 2011
II. CLASSIFIED
A. New Hires
Aisha Mealey, Bond PK Para - East St. John Elementary
Pamela Taylor, Bond PK Para - Lake Pontchartrain Elementary
B. Extended Sick Leave
Joyce Lewis, Lunch Technician - Emily C. Watkins Elementary, August 17 - November 8, 2011
C. Leave Without Pay
Trenitta Mitchell, Receptionist - Central Office, March 24 - November 7, 2011
Lionel Comeaux, Custodian - LaPlace Elementary, August 23 - May 24, 2012
Zelia Brooks, Paraprofessional - East St. John High, September 12 - December 16, 2011
A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mrs. DeFrancesch, to approve the Personnel Changes as presented in globo. Upon roll call, there were:
8 Yeas (Keller, DeFrancesch, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders)
1 Nay (Burl)
2 Absent (Jack, Jones)
The motion carried.
Mr. Jones arrived at 6:09 p.m. and was recorded as present.
Mr. Jack arrived at 6:10 p.m. and was recorded as present.
b. Recommendation for approval of new job description. Dr. Beard stated that the job description of Coordinator of Curriculum/Assessment/Instruction (Secondary) is being recommended for adoption. This coordinator job description will be replacing the supervisor job description. Dr. Beard stated that the Personnel Committee had met and recommended approval. Ms. Carolyn Batiste, SJAE, spoke in opposition of this job description.
A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to approve the new job description of Coordinator of Curriculum/Assessment/Instruction (Secondary).
Following discussion, a substitute motion was made by Mr. Burl, seconded by Mr. Nicholas, to table this item. Upon roll call, there were:
3 Yeas (Jack, Burl, Nicholas)
8 Nays (Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Triche, Sanders).
The motion to table failed.
Upon roll call on the original motion to approve the new job description, there were:
10 Yeas (Jack, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders)
1 Nay (Burl)
The motion carried.
ITEM 7. BUSINESS AND FINANCE: Mr. Felix Boughton, Executive Director of Business and Finance
a. Approval of Comprehensive Budget for 2011-2012.
A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Mr. Johnson, to approve the Comprehensive Budget for 2011-2012 as presented.
Following discussion, a substitute motion was made by Rev. Nicholas, seconded by Mr. Burl, to approve the budget with no cuts to high school athletics.
Following further discussion, Mr. Wise called for question. A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Jones, to end discussion on the budget. Upon roll call, there were:
10 Yeas (Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders)
1 Nay (Jack)
The motion carried.
Upon roll call on the substitute motion to approve the Comprehensive Budget for 2011-2012 with no cuts to high school athletics, there were:
4 Yeas (Jack, Burl, Nicholas, Sanders)
7 Yeas (Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Triche)
The motion failed.
Upon roll call on the original motion to approve the Comprehensive Budget for 2011-2012, there were:
7 Yeas (Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Triche)
4 Nays (Jack, Burl, Nicholas, Sanders)
The motion carried.
b. Approve Salary Schedule for 2011-2012. Mr. Boughton stated that the salary schedule is being presented with one change from the originally presented salary schedule. The original salary schedule allowed one out-of-state conference per employee, per year. The amended salary schedule to be adopted excludes all out-of-state conferences.
A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Jones to approve the amended Salary Schedule for 2011-2012 as presented. There were no objections and the motion passed unanimously.
c. Mr. Peter Montz, Purchasing Agent - Request Board approval on Proposal 12.25 General and Fleet Liability Insurance.
A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Jones, to approve Proposal 12.25 General and Fleet Liability Insurance. There were no objections and the motion passed unanimously.
d. CSRS - Quarterly Progress Update on the Master Plan and Program Management Services provided by CSRS, Inc. Mr. Floyd Luster presented a PowerPoint on all ongoing projects.
e. CSRS - Approval of funding source for the ”r;Repairs to Emily C. Watkins Elementary School” project. Mr. Todd Mann stated that the Advisory Committee had convened this past Tuesday and recommended that the entire remaining balance of the covered play areas be used to cover this cost. He further stated that there is approximately $265,000 left in the Pre-K furniture budget and the Advisory Committee had recommended that this money be used to complete repairs to Emily C. Watkins. When opened for public discussion, Mr. Harris asked if this money would be replaced. Mr. Mann replied that he was aware of pending litigation but had no idea how long it would take for settlement, but in the event that there was a monetary recovery, then the covered play areas would be a top priority.
A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Triche, to approve the funding sources for Repairs to Emily C. Watkins Elementary School. There were no objections and the motion carried.
f. CSRS - Approval of minor additions to Master Plan. Mr. Todd Mann stated that many projects have been completed, and there is a list of requests that had been made using contingency funds at various sites, including funding the tech lab and athletic weights at WSJH, repairs to the gym floor at Garyville Mt. Airy Magnet School, repairing and adding a scoreboard at Garyville Mt. Airy Magnet School, and renovating West St. John Elementary locker rooms.
A motion was made by Mr. Burl, seconded by Mr. Jones to approve the minor additions to the Master Plan. There were no objections and the motion carried.
Mr. Jones stated that he would like to publicly thank the members of the Advisory Committee.
ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS. a. None.
ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS. a. Mr. Russ Wise, Board Member - Motion to reject participation in the School Based Budgeting pilot program. Mr. Wise stated that in the interest of time, he would carry this item over to the next meeting. Dr. Millet stated she had received information on this topic on Tuesday and this information had been placed at each board member’s place.
b. Mr. Russ Wise, Board Member - Motion to create a committee to develop a method of parental accountability. Mr. Wise stated that this item would be carried over to the next meeting.
c. Lloyd LeBlanc, Board Attorney - Legal Update. Mr. LeBlanc stated that he had been asked to give a legal opinion on whether part-time teaching contracts must to brought before the Board for approval or not. He read the letter as his update:
TEM 10. ADMINSTRATIVE MATTERS: a. Committee Reports. None.
ITEM 11. BOARD-RELATED ITEMS OF INTEREST. Mr. Sanders stated that the regularly scheduled Board meeting of September 15, 2011 has been changed to September 22, 2011. The meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m.
Mr. Sanders also stated that the Executive Committee will meet Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.
ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT: The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Mr. Triche offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Bacas. There were no objections. The meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m.
_____________________________ _____________________________
Patrick H. Sanders, President Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Secretary