PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
RESERVE, LA - Meeting of May 23, 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 special session at Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria, Reserve Louisiana, on Thursday, May 23, 2013, at 5:00 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, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche.
ABSENT: Messrs. DeFrancesch, Wise
There were 9 members present, 2 absent.
ITEM 3. CSRS – Update on Hurricane Isaac recovery process.
Mr. Frank Lacourse, CSRS gave the board an update on all hurricane recovery efforts.
A motion was made by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Sanders to waive policy. There was an objection to the motion. (Burl)
The motion failed. (Unanimous vote is needed to waive policy.)
A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Rev. Nicholas, to waive policy to discuss the vandalism at East St. John High School. Upon roll call, there were:
10 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche.
0 Nays
1 Absent – Wise
The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Smith asked legal counsel if administration would be within their legal right to discuss pending expulsions. Mr. Orenthal Jasmin stated that under normal circumstances, the board should not hear argument on a pending expulsion, because ultimately the case could be brought to the board on appeal.
A motion was made by Rev. Nicholas, seconded by Mr. Jones, to recess for 5 minutes. There were no objections. The board recessed at 5:41 p.m.
A motion was made by Mr. Sanders, seconded by Rev. Nicholas, to reconvene in regular session. There were no objections. The board reconvened in regular session at 5:55 p.m.
Vice President Keith Jones was seated as Chair.
Following the recess, Mr. Orenthal Jasmin, Board Attorney, stated that although this is a time-sensitive subject, he would advise the board to follow the same procedure as always concerning the pending expulsions at East St. John High School. He advised the board to not have discussion on this subject tonight.
Mr. Burl requested that the expulsion hearings be done by Monday and have a board meeting on Tuesday. Mr. Sanders requested that administration do a school-level investigation on the behavior of the adults at East St. John High School.
A motion was made by Mr. Burl, seconded by Rev. Nicholas, to waive policy and discuss the campus of Lake Pontchartrain for the 2013-14 school year. There were no objections. Upon roll call, there were:
10 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche.
0 Nays
1 Absent – Wise
The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Herbert Smith stated that administration’s recommendation for Lake Pontchartrain Elementary, is to build a partial temporary campus on the site of East St. John Elementary School. The two schools would share the cafeteria. The cost for this temporary campus would be approximately $2.6 million and would put all Lake Pontchartrain students at one site.
Following discussion, the chair opened the floor for public participation.
Ms. Brenda Anderson, ESJE Paraeducator, introduced herself and spoke strongly in opposition of sharing the East St. John Elementary site with Lake Pontchartrain Elementary.
Ms. Angela Thompson, bus driver and parent of a student at LPE spoke in favor of and thanked administration and the board for this recommendation. She strongly favored having all LEP students at one site.
A motion was made by Mr. Burl, seconded by Rev. Nicholas to give administration the go-ahead to spend $2.6 million of bond money to begin the temporary campus of Lake Pontchartrain Elementary at the East St. John Elementary School site. Upon roll call, there were:
10 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche.
0 Nays
1 Absent – Wise
The motion passed unanimously.
The chair stated that there will be a Special Board Meeting next Tuesday, May 28, 2013. The 2 items on the agenda will be:
1. Executive Session – pending litigation; and
2. Situation at East St. John High School
ITEM 4. ADJOURNMENT: The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Dr. Keller offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Mrs. DeFrancesch . There were no objections. The meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
________________________________ ________________________________
Herbert Smith, Secretary Clarence Triche, President