PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA - Meeting of March 15, 2012

 

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, Reserve, Louisiana, on Thursday, March 15, 2012, 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.  Mr. Sanders asked that we remember two St. John School Board employees that recently passed away: Ms. Susan Satterlee and Mr. Wesley Stevenson.

 

ITEM 2.  ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:

 

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

 

ABSENT:  Nicholas.

 

There were 10 members present, 1 absent.

 

ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meetings of February 14, 2012 and February 16, 2012. 

 

A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mrs. DeFrancesch, to accept the minutes of the February 14, 2012 and February 16, 2012 meetings as printed and published. There were no objections.

 

The motion carried.

 

10 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Triche, Sanders.

1 Absent –Nicholas.

 

ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Superintendent.

 

a.  Recognition of Associated Terminals:  Dr. Millet stated the following:

 

In 1997, the employees of Associated Terminals formed a non-profit company named Associated Efforts with the objective of providing charitable assistance to persons or organizations in need. For the past 14 years, one of its primary accomplishments has been to provide Christmas presents for children and families.  Forty-four students were surprised to receive new bicycles and helmets this Christmas as a result of Associated Terminal’s employees donating their time and money to the annual “Digging for Kids” fund raiser. As a result of their team members “digging deep” into their pockets, this year’s program delivered bicycles and helmets to children in each of our elementary schools.

 

We are so grateful for their generosity. I would like to personally thank Ms. Joycelyn Himel, Executive Assistant, who is here with us tonight. On behalf of St. John the Baptist Parish school board and school district employees, I express the utmost gratitude to you for bringing Christmas joy to so many students of St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools.

 

b.  Testing Information:  Phase 1 of the state high stakes testing will take place on March 20th.  Phase I consists of the writing and constructed response portions of the LEAP test. We are asking parents to make sure that their child is well-rested, on time and present at school every day.  Parents can assist their child in preparing for his/her LEAP, iLEAP, or GEE test using the resources at the following websites: www.louisianapass.org and www.louisianaeagle.org.  Please tune to RTC Channel 70 and our district website for more details.  If you have any questions, please contact Danny Hymel, our district test coordinator.

 

c.  Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60:  Congratulations to Mrs. Lorraine Jackson, Mr. Elton Oubre, and our entire Child Nutrition Department for securing two additional $2,000 grants for our schools:  East St. John Elementary and East St. John High School.  These funds will be used for purchasing nutrition-education materials and we are excited about our plans for creating healthier students and healthier schools with Fuel Up to Play 60!

 

Dr. Millet added that the 2nd Annual District Awards Night was held on March 14, 2012 in the gymnasium at East St. John High School and over 200 distinguished students who were the district and regional winners of the Social Studies Fair, Science Fair and Spelling Bee were honored.  She thanked Mr. Glen Chenier and the faculty and staff of Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School and Ms. Sylvia Bailey and the faculty and staff of Lake Pontchartrain Elementary for their work in making these fairs so successful.

 

Dr. Millet also stated that Ms. Susan Satterlee had recently passed away.  Ms. Satterlee was a long time St. John the Baptist Parish employee  that worked for our parish for 20 years before retiring and then returning to work for us for another 18 years.  Ms. Satterlee taught almost every grade level at the elementary and middle school level and she taught ELS most recently.  She worked at Leon Godchaux, the Redirection Center, Lake Pontchartrain Elementary, East St. John Elementary, and LaPlace Elementary.  Ms. Satterlee touched many lives in St. John the Baptist Parish.  She gave so much of herself to our schools and students, she gave her time, and she gave her resources.  She will be greatly missed.

 

Rev. Nicholas arrived at 6:08 p.m. and was recorded as present.

 

ITEM 5. EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS BY THE BOARD OR STAFF. 

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.       Taschica Hansley, Teacher - Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet 

2.        

      B.   Extended Sick Leave (Medical)

 

1.       Melia Wood, Teacher - LaPlace Elementary, January 25 - February 10, 2012

2.       Delvikia Mitchell, Teacher - East St. John Elementary, February 3, 6, 8, 14, 17, 27 - May 8, 2012

3.       Nancy Burns, Teacher – Milesville, February 15, 2012

4.       Monna Green, Teacher - East St. John Elementary, February 16 & 17, 2012

5.       Sarah Valenzuela, Teacher - Emily C. Watkins Elementary, March 2 - 5, 2012

6.       Trudy Cupstid, Teacher - East St. John Elementary, March 14 - May 24, 2012

 

      C.   Professional Sabbatical

 

1.       Melia Wood, Teacher - LaPlace Elementary, Fall 2012 and Spring 2013

 

      D.   Resignation

 

1.       Tara Johnson, Teacher - Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet

 

      E.   Retirement

 

1.       Gloria Anderson, Teacher - LaPlace Elementary, May 24, 2012

2.       Gerald Anderson, Teacher - LaPlace Elementary, May 25, 2012

3.       Ronald Theriot, Teacher - East St. John High, May 25, 2012

                 

II.    CLASSIFIED

 

      A.   Extended Sick Leave (Medical)

 

1.       Conchata Lewis, Custodian - St. John Alternative School, October 12 - November 1, 2011

2.       Madeline Vicknair, Para - East St. John High, February 7 - 10, 2012 & February 17, 2012

3.       Margie Johnson , Bus Driver – Transportation, March 7 - May 5, 2012

4.       Jesstina Allen, Bus Driver – Transportation, March 6 - April 9, 2012

5.       Felicia Simms, Para - Emily C. Watkins, April 9 - May 20, 2012

 

      B.   Retirement

 

1.       Jeannette Ursin, Lunch Technician - East St. John High, November 17, 2011

2.       Eria Taylor, Lunch Manager - East St. John Elementary, May 25, 2012

 

      C.   Personal Leave without Pay

 

1.       Christy Mitchell, Lunch Tech - Lake Pontchartrain Elementary, March 5 - March 16, 2012

 

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

 

The motion carried.

 

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

0 Absent.

 

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

 

a. Mr. Felix Boughton and Mr. Hugh Martin – To consider and take action with respect to adopting a resolution giving preliminary approval to the issuance of not exceeding $4,500,000 of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, of School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana; making application in to the State Bond Commission for approval of said Bonds; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.  (Requires action by the Board)

 

A motion was made by the entire board, to consider and take action with respect to adopting a resolution giving preliminary approval to the issuance of not exceeding $4,500,000 of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, of School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana; making application in to the State Bond Commission for approval of said Bonds; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.  There were no objections.

 

The motion carried.

 

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

0  Absent.

 

The following resolution was offered and seconded unanimously:­

 

                                                                       RESOLUTION

 

A resolution giving prelimi­nary approval to the issuance of not exceeding ­ ­Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,500,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, of School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana;  ­­making application to the State Bond Commis­sion for approval of said Bonds; and provid­ing for other matters in connec­tion therewith.

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974, Sub-Part A, Part III, Chapter 4, of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana (the "Issuer") has heretofore issued (i) $3,690,000 of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 2001, dated April 1, 2001 (the "Series 2001 Bonds") and (ii) $5,000,000 of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2002, dated October 1, 2002 (the "Series 2002 Bonds"); and

 

WHEREAS, in order to provide debt service savings to the taxpayers of School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of ­Louisiana,  the Issuer desires to refund all or any portion of the callable maturities of the Issuer=s outstanding Series 2001 Bonds and/or Series 2002 Bonds, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 14-A of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority (the "Act"), through the issuance of its refunding bonds; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Act, and subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission, the Issuer desires to accomplish the refunding by authorizing the issuance of not exceeding Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,500,000) of its General Obligation School Refunding Bonds (the "Bonds"), to be payable from unlimited ad valorem taxes; and

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer desires to make formal application to the State Bond Commission for approval of the issuance of the Bonds;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Parish School Board of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana  (the AGoverning Authority@), acting as the governing authority of School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana (the AIssuer@), that:

 

SECTION 1.  Preliminary Approval of the Bonds.  Preliminary approval is given to the issuance of not exceeding Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,500,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds (the "Refunding Bonds"), of the Issuer, to be issued for the purpose of refunding all or any portion of the callable maturities of the Issuer=s outstanding Series 2001 Bonds and/or Series 2002 Bonds, and paying the costs of issuance of the Refunding Bonds, said Refunding Bonds to be payable from and secured by unlimited ad valorem taxes now being levied and collected annually in excess of all other taxes on all the property subject to taxation within the territorial limits of the Issuer.  The Refunding Bonds shall bear interest at a rate or rates not to exceed four percent (4%) per annum, to be deter­mined by subsequent resolution of this Governing Authority at the time of the sale of the Refunding Bonds, and shall mature in annual installments due no later than March 1, 2022.  The Refunding Bonds shall be issued in fully registered form, shall be sold to the purchasers thereof at a price of not less than 97% of par, plus accrued interest, and shall have such additional terms and provisions as may be determined by this Governing Authority.

SECTION 2. Employment.  This Governing Authority finds and determines that a real necessity exists for the employment of special counsel in connection with the issuance of the Bonds, and accordingly, Foley & Judell, LLP, of New Orleans, Louisiana, as Bond Counsel, is hereby employed to do and perform work of a traditional legal nature as bond counsel with respect to the issuance and sale of said Bonds.  Said Bond Counsel shall prepare and submit to this Governing Authority for adoption all of the proceedings incidental to the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of such Bonds, shall counsel and advise this Governing Authority as to the issuance thereof and shall furnish their opinions covering the legality of the issuance of the Bonds.  The fee of Bond Counsel for each series of said bonds shall be fixed at a sum not exceeding the fee allowed by the Attorney General's fee guidelines for such bond counsel work in connection with the issuance of each such series of revenue bonds and based on the amount of said bonds actually issued, sold, delivered and paid for, plus "out-of-pocket" expenses, said fees to be contingent upon the issuance, sale and delivery of said bonds.  That pursuant to instruc­tions from the Superintendent, Bond Counsel (in conjunction with Fiscal Services, Inc., of New Orleans, Louisiana, with respect to the compilation of statistical information) shall cause to be prepared an official statement with respect to the sale of the Bonds and the costs of the preparation and printing of said official statement shall be paid from the proceeds of the issue for which it has been prepared.  Said Official Statement may be submitted to one or more of the nationally recognized bond rating service or services, together with a request that an appropriate rating be assigned.  Payment for all ratings shall be made by the Superintendent upon presentation of appropriate statements from the particular rating service furnishing the ratings.  A certified copy of this resolution shall be submitted to the Attorney General of the State of Louisiana for his written approval of said employment and of the fees herein designated, and the Superintendent is hereby empowered and directed to issue vouchers in payment for the work herein provided for upon completion of the work herein specified and under the conditions herein enumerated.

SECTION 3.  State Bond Commission.  Application is hereby made to the State Bond Commission, Baton Rouge, Louisi­ana, for approval of the issuance and sale of the Refunding Bonds and for consent and authority to proceed with the issuance and sale of the Refunding Bonds as provided above, and Bond Counsel is directed to make application to the State Bond Commission in accordance with the foregoing on behalf of the Governing Authority.

By virtue of applicant/issuer=s application for, acceptance and utilization of the benefits of the Louisiana State Bond Commission=s approval(s) resolved and set forth herein, it resolves that it understands and agrees that such approval(s) are expressly conditioned upon, and it further resolves that it understands, agrees and binds itself, its successors and assigns to, full and continuing compliance with the AState Bond Commission Policy on Approval of Proposed Use of Swaps, or other forms of Derivative Products Hedges, Etc.@, adopted by the Commission on July 20, 2006, as to the borrowing(s) and other matter(s) subject to the approval(s), including subsequent application and approval under said Policy of the implementation or use of any swap(s) or other product(s) or enhancement(s) covered thereby.

This resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:

 

School Board Members

Yea

Nay

Absent

Abstaining

Russell Jack, Jr.

X

 

 

 

Albert “Ali” Burl

X

 

 

 

Gerald J. Keller

X

 

 

 

Patrick H. Sanders

X

 

 

 

Sherry DeFrancesch

X

 

 

 

Keith Jones

X

 

 

 

Phillip Johnson

X

 

 

 

Russ Wise

X

 

 

 

Lowell Bacas

X

 

 

 

Rodney B. Nicholas

X

 

 

 

Clarence Triche

X

 

 

 

 

 

And the resolution was declared adopted on this, the 15th day of March, 2012.

 

 

                     /s/ Courtney P. Millet                                                     /s/ Patrick H. Sanders

                             Secretary                                                                      President

 

 

STATE OF LOUISIANA

PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

 

I, the undersigned Secretary of the Parish School Board of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of ­Louisiana, do hereby certify that the foregoing pages constitute a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted by the Parish School Board of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana, on March 15, 2012, giving prelimi­nary approval to the issuance of ­not exceeding Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,500,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, of School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana; making application to the State Bond Commis­sion for approval of said Bonds; and provid­ing for other matters in connec­tion therewith.

IN FAITH WHEREOF, witness my official signature on this, the 15th day of March, 2012.

 

              _______________________________________

Secretary

                                            

 

b.  Mrs. Lorraine Jackson – Request board approval to advertise for bids for the School Year 2012-2013 for Bread, Processed Foods, Frozen Foods, Meat/Meat Products, Milk, Cleaning Supplies, Paper Supplies, Large and Small Equipment for Cafeterias.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to approve the request to advertise for bids for the School Year 2012-2013 for Bread, Processed Foods, Frozen Foods, Meat/Meat Products, Milk, Cleaning Supplies, Paper Supplies, Large and Small Equipment for Cafeterias. There were no objections.

 

The motion carried.

 

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

0  Absent.

 

 c.  CSRS – Monthly Progress Update on the Master Plan and Program Management Services provided by CSRS, Inc.

 

Mr. Sanders stated that this item will be deferred to the next meeting.

 

d.  CSRS – Request Board approval to award contract to apparent responsible low bidder for the Emily C. Watkins Elementary School Repairs Project contingent upon low bidder meeting all LA Public Bid Law and Contract Document Requirements.

 

Mr. Luster stated that J.F. Juge Construction Company, Inc., from Prairieville, LA was the apparent responsible low bidder with a bid of $1,145,000 for the base and Alternate 1 and Alternate 2.  Mr. Jones asked if there were any local companies that bid on this project.  Mr. Luster replied that there were not.  When asked when the project would be completed, Mr. Luster stated that there are 2 phases of construction, one on-site and one off-site.  He stated that the off-site construction would begin March 19, 2012, with the on-site construction beginning May 18, 2012.  Completion date is set for July 31, 2012.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Mr. Jones, to accept J.F. Juge Construction Company, Inc., from Prairieville, LA as the apparent responsible low bidder with a bid of $1,145,000 for the base and Alternate 1 and Alternate 2 on the Emily C. Watkins Elementary School Repairs Project. There were no objections.

 

The motion carried.

 

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

0  Absent.

 

ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS.  a. None

 

ITEM 9.   NEW BUSINESS.

 

a.  Mrs. Bonnie Dinvaut and Mr. Bob Bourgeois -  Request approval of St. John the Baptist Parish School District Technology Plan for 2012-2014.

 

A motion was made by the entire board to approve the St. John the Baptist Parish School Districft Technology Plan for 2012-2014 as presented.  There were no objections.

 

The motion carried.

 

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

0  Absent.

 

b. Mr. Peter Montz, Purchasing Agent – Information on Request for Proposal 12.30, Redistricting Services.

 

This item was for informational purposes only.

 

c. Lloyd LeBlanc, Board Attorney – Legal Update.  None.

 

ADDENDUM ITEM 9d. Mr. Elton Oubre, Director of CWA/Hearing Officer – Appeal Hearing:  1112-11-0314.  Parent is appealing expulsion decision of February 8, 2012.  Open or closed.  Mr. Oubre stated that the parents requested a closed hearing.  The president declared the hearing closed at 6:34 p.m.

 

A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to reconvene in regular session.  There were no objections and the meeting reconvened in regular session at 7:47 p.m.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to uphold the decision of administration in Appeal Hearing 1112-11-0314.

 

A substitute motion was made by Mr. Jack, seconded by Mr. Burl, to reduce the decision from 24 months to 12 months, on the following conditions: 

 

The student must:

 

·        Attend FINS

·        Agree to return under contract (to be drawn up by Mr. Elton Oubre)

·  Enter rehabilitation

 

The conditions also include the fact that the decision would revert back to 24 months if the student is written up while under contract.

 

Upon roll call on the substitute motion, there were:

 

8 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Nicholas, Sanders

3 Nays – Wise, Bacas, Triche

 

The motion carried.

 

ADDENDUM ITEM 9c.  Mr. Elton Oubre, Director of CWA/Hearing Officer – Appeal Hearing:  1112-12-0314.  Parent is appealing expulsion decision of February 17, 2012.  Open or closed. Mr. Oubre stated that the parents requested a closed hearing.  The president declared the hearing closed at 7:55 p.m.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Triche, seconded by Rev. Nicholas, to reconvene in regular session.  There were no objections and the meeting reconvened in regular session at 8:40 p.m.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Triche, to uphold the decision of administration in Appeal Hearing 1112-12-0314.  Upon roll call, there were:

 

10 Yeas – Jack, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche, Sanders

1 Nay – Burl.

 

The motion carried.

 

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

 

ITEM 11. BOARD-RELATED ITEMS OF INTEREST. 

 

Mr. Sanders announced that there will be a special board meeting on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.

 

ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT: The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Mr. Jones offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Dr. Keller. There were no objections. The meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.

                                   

________________________________                                        ________________________________

Courtney P. Millet, Ph.D., Secretary                                            Patrick H. Sanders, President