PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA - Meeting of November 1, 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, November 1, 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.  

ITEM 2.  ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:

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

ABSENT:  Wise, Triche.

There were 9 members present, 2 absent.

At 6:04 p.m., the President declared a 5 minute recess due to technical difficulties with the camera.

A motion was made by Mrs. DeFrancesch, seconded by Rev. Nicholas, to reconvene in regular session.  There were no objections and the Board reconvened in regular session at 6:09 p.m.

ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:Meeting of October 18, 2012. 

A motion was made by Rev. Nicholas, seconded by Dr. Keller, to accept the minutes of the October 18, 2012 meeting as printed and published.  There were no objections.

The motion carried.

9 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Sanders.

2 Absent - Wise, Triche.

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

Mr. Smith stated that the MFP enrollment count is down by 405 students.  The scholarship recipients make up 214 of the 405 students and the rest were lost due to the hurricane and families being displaced.  He also stated that School Performance Scores were released by the state recently.  He stated that St. John Schools District Performance Scores increased for the 6^th year in a row.  Last year, we were rated a “D” and we have now earned a “C” rating.  He asked Mrs. Heidi Trosclair to please give a full report on the scores.

Mrs. Trosclair share the following information.

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

None.

Dr. Keller left the meeting and was recorded as absent at 6:20 p.m.

ITEM 6. PERSONNEL MATTERS: Dr. Leigh Ann Beard, Director of Human Resources.  

ITEM 6a.  Request approval of Revised Reduction of Personnel Policy. 

A motion was made by Mrs. DeFrancesch, seconded by Rev. Nicholas, to approve the Revised Reduction of Personnel Policy.

Dr. Michael Walker-Jones (SJAE Representative), stated that the union is requesting that this item be tabled until further negotiations could take place.  Mr. Jones asked Dr. Beard to explain the changes that the Board would be adopting.  Dr. Beard stated that the language for the recall information is changing, but the change is based on Act 1 to follow the law and the bus drivers’ dismissal policy is being moved from one section to another with no language change.  Dr. Beard stated that administration strongly recommends adoption.

A substitute motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Rev. Nicholas, to table this item.  There were no objections.

The motion carried.

8 Yeas – Jack, Burl, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Sanders.

3 Absent – Keller, Wise, Triche.

ITEM 6b.  Request approval of Personnel Evaluation Plan.

A motion was made by Mr. Bacas, seconded by Mrs. DeFrancesch, to approve the Personnel Evaluation Plan as presented.  There were no objections.

The motion carried.

8 Yeas – Jack, Burl, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Sanders.

3 Absent – Keller, Wise, Triche.

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

ITEM 7a. Quarterly Budget Report 2012-2013.

Mr. Boughton stated that the only positive thing in this report is that sales tax is up by about one million dollars.  He warned the Board that the cost of insurance is going up, retirement benefits are going up, we’ve lost about $1.5 million in MFP monies due to the state scholarship program, another $1 million in MFP due to students leaving after the hurricane and now we are faced with our portion of the damages at our schools, which equates to roughly $9.5 million.  Mr. Boughton stated that the Board has to be extra careful about spending money in the next year.  Rev. Nicholas asked what would happen if we could not meet budget.  Mr. Boughton replied that the possibility of laying off 100+ positions is very real.  Mr. Boughton stated that he would have another report on the budget in January.

ITEM 7b.  CSRS – Review the scope of the warranty items for the LaPlace Elementary School Building.

Mr. Todd Mann, CSRS, stated that CSRS had met with the principal of LaPlace Elementary, administration, Mr. Jessie Oubre, Mr. Peter Montz, and others to discuss items of concern at LaPlace Elementary.  He stated that it was a very productive meeting and will have a written report for board members of all items of concern.  He said that the contractor is very amicable in taking care of these warranty items.

ITEM 7c.  CSRS – Hurricane Isaac Disaster Recovery Update.

Mr. Frank Lacourse, CSRS stated that the final numbers for damages have been calculated.  He shared the following information:

Mr. Lacourse stated that we have just received approval from FEMA for the temporary campus at Leon Godchaux for the high school.  Mr. Bacas asked if it was possible to create a temporary campus at Lake Pontchartrain as well.  Mr. Lacourse stated that because the students had been “absorbed” at alternative sights, FEMA will not approve setting up a temporary campus at LPE. Because the high school students cannot receive the required instructional minutes, FEMA has agreed to the temporary trailers so they can resume a day-long schedule for all students.  Mr. Lacourse stated that since all the analysis and costs are in, board workshops will be held by CSRS on Monday and Tuesday of next week so that all board members understand all the options on repairs and can make some decisions.  He stated that CSRS needs direction on what the next course of action will be.  He asked that a special board meeting be held next week so the board can vote on the direction the system will take.

A motion was made by Mr. Burl, seconded by Mr. Jack, to waive policy in order to vote on CSRS’s contract.  This motion failed due to a nay vote being cast. (A unanimous vote is necessary to waive policy.)

ITEM 8.  OLD BUSINESS. 

ITEM 8a.   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.

A motion was made by Mr. Jack, seconded by Rev. Nicholas, to establish a local preference when awarding professional service contracts.  There were no objections.

The motion carried.

8 Yeas – Jack, Burl, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Sanders.

3 Absent – Keller, Wise, Triche.

ITEM 9.  NEW BUSINESS.

ITEM 9a. Mr. Patrick Sanders, Board President – Introduction of School Board Meeting Calendar 2013.

Mr. Keith Jones asked that we change the meeting place of the August 1, 2013 and December 5, 2013 meetings to Emily C. Watkins Elementary School.

ITEM 9b.  Executive Session – Legal – Pending Litigation.

A motion was made by Mr. Bacas, seconded by Mrs. DeFrancesch, to convene in Executive Session.  There were no objections.  The board convened in Executive Session at 7:30 p.m.

A motion was made by Mr. Bacas, seconded by Mr. Jones, to reconvene in regular session.  There were no objections and the board reconvened in regular session at 8:00 p.m.

ITEM 10. ADMINSTRATIVE MATTERS:  Mr. Johnson stated that proposals were sent out for health insurance and only 1 proposal came back and that was Blue Cross/Blue Shield.  The insurance committee will meet next week and will bring their recommendation to the board for approval at the special meeting.

ITEM 11. BOARD-RELATED ITEMS OF INTEREST. 

Rev. Nicholas stated that he asked for and received board approval for the development of a diversity policy.  He stated that as of this date, he has not seen it and asked administration to corroborate with Dr. Beard on this.

Mr. Sanders stated that there will be a special meeting held next week.  He stated that the redistricting maps had been complete and will be on display for the public at the School Board Office, the LaPlace library and the Edgard library.  There will be a public hearing held next Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in the Board Room.

ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT:The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Mr. Bacas offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Rev. Nicholas. There were no objections. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

 ________________________________                                        ________________________________

Herbert Smith, Secretary                                                            Patrick Sanders, President