PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA - Meeting of November 3, 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, November 3, 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.  

In the absence of the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent Herbert Smith was seated as Secretary.

ITEM 2.  ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:

PRESENT: Messrs. Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders.

ABSENT:  Jack, DeFrancesch.

There were 9 members present, 2 absent.

ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meetings of October 20, 2011. 

A motion was made by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Triche, to accept the minutes of the October 20, 2011 meeting as printed and published. There were no objections.

The motion carried.

9 Yeas - Jack, Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders

2 Absent - Jack, DeFrancesch

ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Superintendent.  Mr. Herbert Smith, Asssistant Superintendent stated that the Grand Opening of West St. John Elementary School would be held Friday, November 4, 2011 at noon and the public was invited to attend. 

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

Ms. DeFrancesch arrived at 6:05 p.m. and was recorded as present.

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.   Sabbatical

1. Sybil Burns, Teacher, East St. John High School.  Fall 2011

      B.   Extended Sick Leave

1. Elma Saul, Teacher, West St. John Elementary, Oct. 28-February 17, 2011

2. Rachel Chaney, Teacher, Emily C. Watkins Elementary, November 1-December 16, 2011

II.    CLASSIFIED

      A.   Extended Sick Leave

1. Felix Dumas, Jr., Bus Driver, Sept. 15-30, 2011

2. Hope Tregre, 10 Month School Secretary, East St. John High, Nov. 4-December 16, 2011

3. Jeannette Ursin, Lunch Technician, East St. John High, November 8-December 16, 2011

A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Triche, to approve the Personnel Changes as presented in globo.  There were no objections.

The motion carried.

10 Yeas - Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders.

1 Absent - Jack

Mr. Jack arrived at 6:11 and was recorded as present.

ITEM 7.  BUSINESS AND FINANCE:  a. Mr. Peter Montz - Introduce amendment to school rental policy requiring all users to provide proof of and maintain $1,000,000 of general liability insurance.

Mr. Montz stated that this item would be deferred to the next scheduled meeting.

b. Reject all proposals on transportation fleet mechanic and authorize administration to advertise for bids.

A motion was made by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Triche, to table this item until after the finance committee meets.  Upon roll call, there were:

6 Yeas - Jack, Keller, DeFrancesch, Johnson, Bacas, Triche.

4 Nay - Burl, Jones, Nicholas, Sanders.

1 Abstention - Wise

The motion carried.

Following discussion, Mr. Jack stated that he would like to change his vote to a ”r;Nay” and asked Mr. Lloyd LeBlanc, Board Attorney, if this was allowed.  Mr. LeBlanc stated that it was the decision of the president.  Mr. Wise stated that if Mr. Jack was allowed to change his vote, then he would change his vote as well, to a ”r;Yea”.  The resulting vote was:

6 Yeas - Keller, DeFrancesch, Johnson, Bacas, Wise, Triche.

5 Nays - Jack, Burl, Jones, Nicholas, Sanders.

The motion carried.

The president allowed Ms. Berline Williams to address the board on this item.  Dr. Keller objected to allowing the public to speak on an item that has been tabled.  Dr. Keller also stated that he wanted his objection as part of the record and that allowing someone to speak on an item that has been tabled was out of order.

c.  Mr. Peter Montz, Purchasing Agent - Request Board approval to declare 14x40 classroom trailer at St. Joan of Arc School as surplus and authorize administration to advertise for bids for its disposal.

A motion was made by Mr. Bacas, seconded by Mr. Jones to declare a 14x40 classroom trailer at St. Joan of Arc School as surplus and authorize administration to advertise for bids for its disposal.  There were no objections.

The motion carried.

11 Yeas - Jack, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders.

ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS.  a. Mr. Patrick Sanders, Board President - Request approval of School Board Meeting Calendar for 2012.

A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to approve the School Board Meeting Calendar for 2012. There were no objections.

The motion carried.

11 Yeas - Jack, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders.

St. John the Baptist Parish ~ School Board Meeting Dates

January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012

b. Mr. Albert Burl, Board Member - Redirection Admission Policies.  Mr. Herbert Smith handed out the written admission policies to Board members.  Mr. Burl stated that he would like to table this item so that he could have time to go over the information and if he had any questions, he would speak to administration.

c.  Mr. Albert Burl, Board Member - Schedule a seminar for children with disabilities, behavioral problems and children referred to the Redirection Center to be informed of their rights.  This seminar will be conducted by the State Department of Education.  Mr. Herbert Smith stated that administration has contacted the state department and they have agreed to come in and conduct a seminar, but the state department has not given administration a date at this time.

ITEM 9.   NEW BUSINESS.  a.  Executive Session - Pending litigation; superintendent’s contract; school board’s legal representation.

A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to convene in Executive Session.  There were objections and the board convened in Executive Session at 6:30 p.m.

A motion was made by Mr. Bacas, seconded by Mr. Triche, to reconvene in regular session.  There were no objections and the board reconvened in regular session at 7:17 p.m.

b.  Mr. Patrick Sanders, Board President - Resolution:  Ms. Lydia Ricard. 

A motion was made by the entire board, to adopt the Resolution in recognition of Ms. Lydia Ricard.

The motion carried.

Mr. Sanders read the following resolution into the record:

RESOLUTION

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA

WHEREAS,     Lydia Ricard served the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board for 35 years as an employee, and  

WHEREAS,     Ms. Ricard served the schools, faculties and staff of this parish, particularly in the capacity of principal at Fifth Ward High School, and 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 recognition; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,  that this school district desires to send a copy of this Resolution to Ms. Lydia Ricard in total recognition of the value and the love this system has for her and wishes her well in the future and that this Resolution be made part of the official record on this date, November 3, 2011, subscribed therein.

  /s/  Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Superintendent

/s/ Patrick H. Sanders, Board President

c.  Rev. Rodney Nicholas, Board Member - Update on Redistricting.  Rev. Nicholas asked when the deadline for getting the redistricting finished. Mr. Wise stated that the deadline for completion is December of 2012. Mr. Sanders stated that the board plans on beginning the process in January of 2012.

d.  Rev. Rodney Nicholas, Board  Member - East St. John High/West St. John High Ticket Sales.  Rev. Nicholas stated that East St. John High School is currently charging $9.00 for admission to the football games.  He stated that he would like to see a reduced rate for students and children under a certain age.  Mr. Smith asked that Rev. Nicholas allow administration to meet with East St. John High administration towards a solution.

e.  Rev. Rodney Nicholas, Board Member - ”r;Request for Proposals” and ”r;Sealed Bids”.  Rev. Nicholas stated that this item will be reviewed by the Finance Committee, but he would like the Finance Committee to consider accepting only Sealed Bids in the future.

f.  Rev. Rodney Nicholas, Board Member - School Board ”r;personnel records”. 

A motion was made by Rev. Nicholas, seconded by Mr. Jack, that the superintendent’s contract come up for review and negotiations annually in July and be printed on the School Board Agenda for the July meeting.

A substitute motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Dr. Keller, to have the superintendent’s contract brought before the Executive Committee and the recommendation from the Executive Committee is brought before the entire Board when the president calls the meeting.  Upon roll call, there were:

6 Yeas - Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Wise, Bacas, Triche

4 Nays - Jack, Burl, Nicholas, Sanders

1 Abstention - Johnson

9g.  Jennifer Frizzell, Parent - Emily C. Watkins.  Mr. Sanders stated that the board has been advised by legal counsel to inform the public that the system has dedicated $1.4 million to repairs at Emily C. Watkins and presently over $100,000 has been allocated to look into the problems at the school. Furthermore, we are under pending litigation and the board, in its entirety, has been advised not to discuss this at a public forum. Mr. Sanders continued, stating that meetings will scheduled with SJAE, the school’s PTA and the matter will be discussed with the parents in the near future.

h. Mr. Elton Oubre, Director of CWA/Hearing Officer - Appeal Hearing:  1112-02-1103.  Parents request a closed hearing.  Mr. Sanders declared a closed hearing at 7:37 p.m.

A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Mrs. DeFrancesch, to reconvene in regular session. There were no objections and the board reconvened in regular session at 8:18 p.m.

A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Dr. Keller, to uphold administration’s recommendation for expulsion in the matter of 1112-02-1103.  Upon roll call there were:

9 Yeas - Jack, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Triche

2 Absent - Nicholas, Sanders

The motion carried.

h. Mr. Elton Oubre, Director of CWA/Hearing Officer - Appeal Hearing:  1112-03-1103.  Mr. Oubre stated that the parents/student did not show.  The hearing was not conducted.

j.  Lloyd LeBlanc, Board Attorney - Legal Update. None.

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

ITEM 11. BOARD-RELATED ITEMS OF INTEREST.  Rev. Nicholas encouraged board members to attend the Head Start Management Training for Board members on November 10, 2011 at 12 Noon in the Media Center.

ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT: The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Dr. Keller offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Rev. Nicholas. There were no objections. The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.

________________________________                                        ________________________________

Mr. Herbert Smith, Secretary                                                      Patrick H. Sanders, President