PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA - Meeting of October 18, 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, October 18, 2012, at 6:00 p.m.

An agenda for the meeting is attached.

Sincerely, s/Herbert Smith

Superintendent/Secretary

The Chair called for a moment of silent meditation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  

In the absence of President Patrick Sanders, Vice-President Clarence Triche, was seated as Chair.

In the absence of Superintendent Smith, Ms. Heidi Trosclair was seated for Administration.

ITEM 2.  ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:

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

ABSENT:  DeFrancesch, Sanders.

There were 9 members present, 2 absent.

ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:Meeting of October 4, 2012. 

A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Nicholas, to accept the minutes of October 4, 2012 meeting as printed and published.  

The motion carried.

9 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche.

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Sanders.

ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT.  Mr. Herbert Smith, Superintendent.

Ms. Trosclair stated that CSRS would give an update on the hurricane recovery. 

Mr. Frank Lacourse, CSRS, gave the board a renovation timeline option by using a “risk vs reward” summary:

1.  Re-open January 2013

1. 3 Shift Design and Construction Schedule

2. Start Remediation Immediately

            Risks:

1.     No pre-agreement on eligible scope with FEMA

2.     FEMA funding not in place at time of design or construction

3.     Excess cost due to compressed schedule is not FEMA eligible

4.     High rate of change orders not FEMA eligible

5.     Excess manufacturing costs for long lead items

6.     Excessive cost share

7.     Audit Risk

Rewards:

1.     Back in the building sooner

B.     Re-open Fall 2013

Risks:

1.     Additional Temporary Transportation Costs

Rewards:

1.     Maximum Funding Negotiated with FEMA

2.     Funding in Place Prior to Contracting

3.     Agreed Upon Scope of Work with FEMA

4.     Reduced Change Order Risk

5.     Lower Board Cost Share

6.     Cost will be Considered Reasonable by FEMA

7.     Time to Evaluate Funding Options

Following discussion by board members on the reasons things don’t seem to be moving fast enough, Mr. Lacourse stated that a decision on which way the board wants to go needs to be made soon so that preparations can be made to proceed.  He further stated that next week, a final cost should be available, as meetings with the insurance companies and FEMA will take place early next week.

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. Medical Extended Sick Leave

      1.  Trieonne Jones, Counselor - John L. Ory Magnet, September 11 - November 2, 2012

      2. Melissa Cortez, Teacher - Fifth Ward Elementary, September 17, 2012 - January 20, 2013

      3. Kim Reulet, Teacher - Fifth Ward Elementary, September 27 - December 31, 2012

      4. Clare Fernandez, Teacher - Lake Pontchartrain Elementary, October 24 - December 11, 2012

      5. Stacie Stein, Speech Therapist – Milesville, November 13, 2012 - January 3, 2013

   B. Medical Sabbatical

      1. Marie Toney, Assistant Principal - East St. John High, Fall 2012 - Spring 2013 (cancel professional sabbatical approved by board May 17, 2012 and requesting medical sabbatical)

   C. Medical Leave Without Pay

      1. Trieonne Jones, Counselor - John L. Ory Magnet, November 7 - November 16, 2012

II.    CLASSIFIED

   A. Medical Extended Sick Leave

      1. Tywanna Roussell, Janitor - Emily C. Watkins Elementary, October 4, 2012 - January 4, 2013

      2. Amanda Whitlock, 12-month School Secretary - GMMS, October 30, 2012 - January 15, 2013

A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr. Jones, to approve the personnel changes as presented. There were no objections.

The motion carried.

9 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche.

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Sanders.

ITEM 6b.  Request approval of policies to be adopted by the Board:  ABB; ABD; BD; BE; CED; CEF; GAMC; GBA; GBAA; GBB; GBC; GBD; GBE; GBG; GBI; GBJ; GBK; GBL; GBM; GBN; GBO; GBRC; GBRHA; GBRIB; GBRIBB; GBRJ; GCA; GCL.

A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mr. Jones to approve policies ABB; ABD; BD; BE; CED; CEF; GAMC; GBA; GBAA; GBB; GBC; GBD; GBE; GBG; GBI; GBJ; GBK; GBL; GBM; GBN; GBO; GBRC; GBRHA; GBRIB; GBRIBB; GBRJ; GCA; GCL.  There were no objections.

The motion carried.

9 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche.

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Sanders.

ITEM 6c.  Introduction to the Revised Reduction of Personnel Policy.  This item was for introduction only.  SJAE requested to be on record as stated that there is a procedure already in place and that they opposed the changes.

ITEM 6d.  Introduction of Personnel Evaluation Plan to be adopted by the board. This item was for introduction only.

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

ITEM 7a. Mr. Phillip Johnson, Board Member – Authorize insurance committee to accept proposals on health insurance.

Mr. Johnson stated that Blue Cross/Blue Shield was asking for a 20.2% increase on health insurance and the insurance committee was asking to accept proposals for this reason.

A motion was made by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to authorize the insurance committee to accept proposals on health insurance.  There were no objections.

The motion carried.

9 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche.

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Sanders.

ITEM 8.  OLD BUSINESS. 

ITEM 8a.   Ms. Heidi Trosclair – Request approval of Revised School Calendar.

A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Rev. Nicholas, to approve the revised school calendar.  There were no objections.

The motion carried.

9 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche.

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Sanders.

St. John the Baptist Parish School System

School Calendar 2012 – 2013

Approved by Board on February 16, 2012

Revised October 18, 2012             

ITEM 8b.  Mrs. Lanette Perrin – Request approval of Addendum of Pupil Progression Plan 2012-13 (East St. John High School Only).

A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Dr. Keller, to approve the Addendum to the Pupil Progression Plan 2012-13 as presented.  There were no objections.

The motion carried.

9 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche.

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Sanders.

ITEM 8c.  Dr. Leigh Ann Beard – Request approval of revised job description. 

A motion was made by Mr. Bacas, seconded by Mr. Jack, to approve the Addendum to the Pupil Progression Plan 2012-13 as presented.  There were no objections.

The motion carried.

9 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche.

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Sanders.

ITEM 8d.  Mr. Russell Jack, Board Member – Follow-up on the possibility of implementing a local business preference for awarding professional service contracts and request approval to direct School Board attorney to research this implementation.

This item was carried over to the next board meeting.

ITEM 9.  NEW BUSINESS.  a. Lloyd LeBlanc/Mr. Orenthal Jasmin, Board Attorneys – Legal Update.  None.

ITEM 9b.  Executive Session – Mr. Kevin Klibert – Pending Litigation.

The board convened in Executive Session at 6:57 p.m.

A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to reconvene in regular session.  There were no objections and the board reconvened in regular session at 7:30 p.m.

A motion was made by Rev. Nicholas, seconded by Mr. Wise, to waive policy to discuss assisting teachers at East St. John High and Lake Pontchartrain in replacing items lost in the flood.  There were no objections.

Rev. Nicholas stated that the board was advised by the legal counsel to not allow anyone in the damaged buildings.

A motion was made by Rev. Nicholas, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to implement a mechanism to reimburse each teacher at East St. John High and Lake Pontchartrain to help replace items in their classrooms that were lost in the flood.

Dr. Michael Walker-Jones stated that teachers want to go into the classrooms to see what is salvageable.  Ms. Carolyn Batiste stated that the $200 is a slap in the face compared to what the teachers lost.  Several teachers from Lake Pontchartrain and one parent of Lake Pontchartrain students spoke in favor of allowing teachers into the building to retrieve personal items.

Rev. Nicholas withdrew his motion.

Mr. Burl asked that the attorney for the board, Mr. Kevin Klibert meet with the union early next week to determine if there is a way for the teachers to retrieve their items.

ITEM 10. ADMINSTRATIVE MATTERS:  

ITEM 11. BOARD-RELATED ITEMS OF INTEREST. 

 Mr. Bacas stated that Ms. Crystal Vicknair, a former bus driver for St. John Schools, is in need of a transplant and Oschner Blood Bank will be at Bailey’s Andoille in LaPlace on October 24^th from 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. to benefit her. He asked anyone who is interested in helping her, to please go out and donate.

ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT:The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Dr. Keller offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Bacas. There were no objections. The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

________________________________                                        ________________________________

Heidi Trosclair, Secretary                                                           Clarence Triche, Vice-President