PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA - Meeting of May 16, 2013

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, May 16, 2013, 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, KELLER, JONES, JOHNSON, WISE, BACAS, NICHOLAS and TRICHE.

ABSENT:  Messrs. BURL, SANDERS and Mrs. DeFRANCESCH.

There were 8 members present, 3 absent.

ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meeting of May 2, 2013. 

A motion was made by Jones, seconded by Bacas, to accept the minutes of the May 2, 2013 meeting as printed and published. There were no objections.

The motion carried.

Yeas – 8 – JACK, KELLER, JONES, JOHNSON, WISE, BACAS, NICHOLAS and TRICHE.

Nays – None.

Absent – 3 – BURL, SANDERS and DeFRANCESCH.

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

a.     Recognition of Outstanding School Support Employees of the Year; Elementary Teacher of the Year; Middle School Teachers of the Year; High School Teachers of the Year and Principals of the Year.

Our schools nominated leading teachers to compete for district teacher of the year in the categories of elementary, middle, and high school grades.  The Teachers of the Year at the school level are:

Elementary Teachers of the Year

Erin Remondet..................................... Emily C. Watkins Elementary

Chantelle Epperly................................. Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School

Sue Miller............................................. John L. Ory Magnet School

Raquel Pigee....................................... LaPlace Elementary

Melissa Billings.................................... Lake Pontchartrain Elementary

Shannon Tobias................................... West St.John Elementary

Nikki Sewell……………          …………...Fifth Ward Elementary

Middle School Teachers of the Year

Rachel Chaney..................................... Emily C. Watkins Elementary

Taschica Hansley................................. Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School

Gerard Simms...................................... John L. Ory Magnet School

Keila Joseph........................................ LaPlace Elementary

Tracy Naquin........................................ Lake Pontchartrain Elementary

Bridget Colly……………           ………….West St. John Elementary

Michelle Laurent…………          ………....Fifth Ward Elementary

High School Teachers of the Year

Deneisha Adams.................................. East St.John High

Deanna Edenfield................................. West St.John High

Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the Year for St. John the Baptist Parish is:

Ms. Melissa Billings of Lake Pontchartrain Elementary

Outstanding Middle School Teacher of the Year for St. John the Baptist Parish is:

Ms. Tracy Naquin of Lake Pontchartrain Elementary

Outstanding High School Teacher of the Year for St. John the Baptist Parish is:

Ms. Deana Edenfield of West St. John High

Outstanding School Support Employee of the Year for St. John the Baptist Parish is:

Mrs. Patricia “Patty” Rodrigue of East St. John High

Outstanding Elementary Principal of the Year for St. John the Baptist Parish is:

Mrs. Serina Duke of West St. John Elementary

Outstanding Middle School Principal of the Year for St. John the Baptist Parish is:

Mrs. Teri Noel of John L. Ory Magnet School

Outstanding High School Principal of the Year for St. John the Baptist Parish is:

Mrs. Patricia Triche of East St. John High

Mr. Sanders and Mrs. DeFrancesch arrived at 6:10 p.m. and was recorded present.

Mr. Burl arrived at 6:13 p.m. and was recorded present.

Chair called for a 5 minute recess.  There being no objections, board went into recess at 6:19 p.m.

Motion was made by Dr. Keller to go back into regular session.  Motion was seconded by Rev. Nicholas.  There being no objections, motion passed, board went back into regular session at 6:24 p.m.

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

a.  Heaven Mamou, 2013-14 State Ambassador for the NFL’s Fuel Up to Play 60 Program.

Mrs. Terry Charles, Program Director of Fuel Up to Play 60 program for the Louisiana Dairy and Health Professional Organization recognized Ms. Heaven Mamou, a seventh-grader of Garyville/Mt. Airy Math and Science Magnet School who was chosen to represent the state of Louisiana as the 2013-14 State Ambassador for the NFL’s Fuel Up to Play 60 program.

The program selects one student per state to serve as a State Ambassador based on their initiative to promote healthy eating and physical activity among their classmates.

Heaven will attend the 2013 Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Ambassador Summit in Charlotte, N.C., in July, where she will develop skills in leadership, communication, fitness, healthy eating and strategy development to bring back to her school.

Also attending the summit will be Ms. Debbie Perkins, the Fuel Up to Play 60 program advisor at Garyville Magnet, who has been selected as the 2013-14 State Program Advisor of the Year.

Each year, the Fuel Up to Play 60 program selects one outstanding program advisor from each state who encourages students to get active, eat healthy and make a difference.

Ms. Perkins was awarded a $1,000 gift certificate to purchase items from the Fuel to Play 60 website to increase the program at Garyville Magnet.

ITEM 6. PERSONNEL MATTERS: Dr. Leigh Ann Beard, Director of Human Resources.  None.

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

a. Mr. Hugh Martin - To consider and take action with respect to adopting a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, May 4, 2013, to authorize the incurring of debt and issuance of bonds therein.

A motion was made by the entire board to adopt a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, May 4, 2013, to authorize the incurring of debt and issuance of bonds therein. There were no objections.

The motion carried.

Yeas – 11 (JACK, BURL, KELLER, SANDERS, DEFRANCESCH, JONES, JOHNSON, WISE, BACAS, NICHOLAS and TRICHE.

Nays – None.

Absent – None.

ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS.  None.

ITEM 9.   NEW BUSINESS.

a.     Mr. Russ Wise, Board Member – Ms. Chiho Okuizumi, Save the Music Foundation.

Mr. Wise requested Ms. Chiho Okuizumi, from VH1 Save the Music Foundation to explain the program and grant process.  Ms. Okuizumi explained that the foundation would donate $30,000 to a K-8 public school to start an instrumental program.  To start a class the school district would be required to hire a certified music educator and have a classroom with autistics.   The school will encounter approximately $300 instrument maintenance yearly.

Superintendent Smith informed the board members that Emily C. Watkins Elementary School has been identified as the school in St. John Parish that will apply for the grant for the 2013-2014 school year.  Emily C. Watkins Elementary School was built with a band room, which would require no remodeling cost to the district.

b. Mr. Orenthal Jasmin, Board Attorney – Legal Update

ITEM 10. ADMINSTRATIVE MATTERS.

Rev. Nicholas made a motion to waive policy to speak about the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI).  The motion was second by Mr. Jones.  There being no objections, motion passed to waive policy to speak about CNI.

Rev. Nicholas explained that St. John the Baptist Parish Housing Authority’s Planning Grant Application for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative for the LaPlace Housing Development and the surrounding neighborhoods. 

Mr. Jones read the following resolution:

See resolution

A motion was made by Rev. Nicholas to accept the resolution read Mr. Jones to authorize St. John Parish School System to work collaborative with St. John the Baptist Parish Government, the St. John the Baptist Parish Housing Authority, the University of New Orleans, the South Central Planning Commission, FEMA, and other stakeholders on the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative.

The motion was seconded by the entire board.  There being no objections, the motion passed.

Superintendent Smith informed the board that CSRS is negotiating with FEMA representatives from Dallas on our recovery efforts.  There will be a need to have a special school board meeting next week to discuss results of this meeting. 

Mr. Smith went on further to said that he will present several options administration is considering about housing for Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School for next school year at the special school board meeting next week.

Dr. Keller requested that the Superintendent share with the board the options and cost estimate for each option prior to the special board meeting.

Dr. Keller requested the status of grass cutting.  Mr. Montz stated that he is working on the specs and plans to begin advertising on Wednesday. 

Dr. Keller made a motion to waive policy to discuss grass cutting.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Burl.  There being no objections, motion passed.

Dr. Keller made a motion for administration to work with board attorney on the legalities of getting local proposals.  Motion was seconded by Rev. Nicholas.

Board Attorney, O. J. Jasmin, stated that as long as the state requirements are meet, along with certification and performance bonds, and that he recommends written proposals.

There being no objections, motion passed.

ITEM 11. ADJOURNMENT: The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Rev. Nicholas offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Wise. There were no objections. The meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m.

________________________________                                        ________________________________

Herbert Smith, Secretary                                                            Clarence Triche, President