2013-08-01

PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

EMILY C. WATKINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LAPLACE, LA

Meeting of August 1, 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 Emily C. Watkins Elementary School, LaPlace, Louisiana, on Thursday, August 1, 2013, at 6:00 p.m.

An agenda for the meeting is attached.

Sincerely, s/Kevin R. George

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, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche

ABSENT: Mr. Burl

There were 10 members present, 1 absent.

ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meeting of July 11, 2013.

MOTION BY: Mr. Sanders

SECOND BY: Dr. Keller

MOTION: To approve the minutes from the meeting of July 11, 2013.

No objections.

The motion carried.

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

0 Nays

1 Absent – Burl

Mr. Burl arrived at 6:04 p.m. and was recorded as present.

ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Mr. Kevin R. George, Superintendent.

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

Mr. Wise stated that the newly-hired music teacher at Emily C. Watkins as present and wanted to introduce himself. Mr. Howard Gauley introduced himself and showed the board and audience an few examples of instruments that were recently bought with the VH-1 Save the Music Grant. He thanked the board for the opportunity to teach music to our young students.

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

a. Mr. Kevin George, Superintendent - Request approval of Superintendent’s recommendation of appointment of Assistant Superintendent, effective August 5, 2013.

MOTION BY: Mr. Jones

SECOND BY: Mr. Bacas

MOTION: To rescind ITEM 6a at this time.

No objections.

The motion carried unanimously.

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

0 Nays

0 Absent

Mr. George announced the following personnel changes: Ms. Page Eschette, Interim Director of Human Resources; Mrs. Lanette Perrin, Interim Coordinator of Title I; Mrs. Shannon Smith, Interim SIS/Testing Coordinator; and Ms. Holly Manson, Coordinator of Title II Professional Development.

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

ITEM 7a. Mr. Peter Montz – Mr. Peter Montz – Review of Grounds Maintenance Contract

Mr. Montz stated that due to our grounds not being maintained, administration is requesting that the board place Maxon’s Lawn Service on notice that by August 9, 2013, he have all campuses cut and grounds maintained as specified in the contract. If the work is not accomplished by that time, then the board could perhaps go in a different direction.

MOTION BY: Mr. Wise

SECOND BY: None

MOTION: To allow Maxon’s Lawn Service until the close of business on August 8, 2013 to have all campuses cut and grounds maintained as specified in the contract.

No objections.

The motion failed due to the lack of a second.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY: Mr. Jones

SECOND BY: Mr. Wise

MOTION: To allow Maxon’s Lawn Service until the close of business on August 9, 2013 to have all campuses cut and grounds maintained as specified in the contract.

AMENDMENT TO MOTION BY: Mr. Sanders

SECOND BY: Dr. Keller

MOTION: To allow administration to make a decision on August 9, 2013 instead of bringing it back to the board.

Mr. Maxon addressed the board.

Following discussion, the Chair called for question.

Upon roll call on the call for question, there were:

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

1 Nay – Burl

1 Abstention – Jack

The president called for a roll call on the original motion to allow Maxon’s Lawn Service until the close of business on August 8, 2013 to have all campuses cut and grounds maintained as specified in the contract. An amendment was added to allow administration to make a decision on August 9, 2013 instead of bringing this back to the board for a decision. Following discussion, this motion was pulled by the motion-maker, Mr. Jones.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY: Mr. Jones

SECOND BY: Mr. Burl

MOTION: To give Maxon’s Lawn Service 30 days from today to have the grounds completed.

SUBTITUTE MOTION BY: Mr. Bacas

SECOND BY: Dr. Keller

MOTION: To support administration’s recommendation to give Maxon’s Lawn Service until the close of business on August 8, 2013 to have all campuses cut and grounds maintained as specified in the contract.

Upon roll call on the motion to give Maxon’s Lawn Service until the close of business on August 8, 2013 to have all campuses cut and grounds maintained as specified in the contract, there were:

4 Yeas – Keller, Wise, Bacas, Triche

6 Nays – Burl, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Nicholas

1 Abstention – Jack

The substitute motion failed.

Upon roll call on the motion to give Maxon’s Lawn Service 30 days from today to have all grounds complete and in order, there were:

9 Yeas – Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Nicholas, Triche

1 Nay – Wise

1 Abstention – Jack

The motion carried.

Dr. Keller stated that the contract calls for mulching and care of the flower beds and it is expected by the board for all work to be done in the 30 days.

Mr. Jones asked that administration get in touch with Mr. Maxon tomorrow to go over the responsibility and possibly walk each site with principals if this has not been done. Mr. Montz stated that he has a meeting scheduled for tomorrow at 9 a.m. to discuss the outcome of tonight’s meeting. Dr. Keller asked when the performance bond is due. Mr. Montz stated that by Aug. 7^th we should have a performance bond in hand.

ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS

ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS

ITEM 9a. Mrs. Lanette Perrin – Introduction to Pupil Progression Plan 2013-14

This item was for introduction only.

ITEM 9b. Update from Hammerman and Gainer

Mr. Orenthal Jasmin stated that HGI is not present and as the board’s attorney, he recommends and requests that the board go into Executive Session to discuss the Cease and Desist Order issued by the State Licensencing Board. The board agreed to go into Executive Session with Item 9d, following the other items on the agenda.

ITEM 9c. Rev. Rodney Nicholas – Request Board approval to authorize that the Superintendent be delegated the authority to sign contractual agreements only after they have been approved by a majority vote of the Board.

The Chair stated that this item requires a change in policy, therefore this item was for introduction only.

ADDENDUM ITEM 9f. Rodney B. Nicholas – Adopt resolution requesting at least half of all community block grant funds allocated to St. John Parish be allocated to St. John School Board.

Rev. Nicholas read the following Resolution into the record:

RESOLUTION

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA

WHEREAS, Our Founding Fathers of our nation believed that a quality public education was essential for democracy to grow and thrive, and recognized that a quality education was one of the core values vital to the development of a free democratic society.

WHEREAS, we believe that the St. John the Baptist Parish Council will recognize that a quality public education for the more than 6,500 children in our district; is vital to economic empowerment, community-cultural enrichment, crime prevention, workforce development and the economic stimulation of business and industry in our community.

WHEREAS, According to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs.

WHEREAS, In response to the Hurricane Isaac disaster, Congress has appropriated funding for the CDBG as Disaster Recovery grants to rebuild the most highly affected areas and provide crucial seed money to start the recovery process.

WHEREAS, CDBG Disaster Recovery assistance “may fund a broad range of recovery activities,” that can help communities and neighborhoods that otherwise might not recover due to limited resources.

WHEREAS, Eligible activities must meet at least one of three program national objectives: benefit persons of low and moderate income, aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight, or meet “other urgent community development needs because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health and welfare of the community” where other financial resources are not available.

WHEREAS, HUD generally requires grantees “must use” at least half of Disaster Recovery funds for activities that principally benefit low-and moderate-income persons. These can be either activities in which all or the majority of people who benefit have low or moderate incomes or activities that benefit an area or service group in which at least 51 percent of the populous are of low and moderate-income;

WHEREAS, St John the Baptist Parish public school district services 80% low income and impoverished children as indicated by a majority receiving free and reduced lunches.

WHEREAS, St. John Parish School Board, despite the devastation caused by Hurricane Isaac, still has the responsibility to provide a public education to St John the Baptist Parish students, and

WHEREAS, the preliminary assessment figures exceed $65,000,000 of which only portions are covered by flood insurance and FEMA reimbursements, and

WHEREAS, the difference between the Board’s damages and all disaster funding will possibly exceed $ 37,000,000

WHEREAS, the St. John the Baptist Parish School District was unequivocally the hardest hit in respect to infrastructure and received the greatest damage to community buildings directly related to Hurricane Isaac;

BE IT RESOLVED that the St. John Parish School Board does hereby request that St. John the Baptist Parish Council and the Parish President allocate at least one half of the Community Block Grant to be dedicated to help fund the recovery efforts in the rebuilding of public schools in St. John Parish.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent to Parish President Natalie Robottom, Councilman Lucien J. Gauff, Councilman Art Smith. Council Rainey Wilson, Councilman Lennix Madere, Councilman Marvin Perrilloux, Councilwoman Cheryl Millet, Councilman Larry Snyder, Council Michael Wright, and Councilwoman Jaclyn Hotard.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution will be public record that St. John School System may not be able to fully rebuild its facilities without at least half of the Community Block Grant Funding allocated to St. John the Baptist Parish.

MOTION BY: Entire Board

MOTION: To adopt the aforementioned resolution.

No objection.

The motion carried unanimously.

ADDENDUM ITEM 9d. Mr. Charles Patin, Attorney – Executive Session - Follow up on St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, Et Al v. State of Louisiana, Et Al

MOTION BY: Dr. Keller

SECOND BY: Mr. Jones

MOTION: To convene in Executive Session to discuss the HGI Contract/Cease and Desist Order and the follow up on the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, Et Al v. State of Louisiana, Et Al

No objection.

The Board convened in Executive Session at 7:02 p.m.

MOTION BY: Mrs. DeFrancesch

SECOND BY: Mr. Bacas

MOTION: To reconvene in Regular Session.

No objection.

The Board reconvened in Regular Session at 7:57 p.m.

MOTION BY: Dr. Keller

SECOND BY: Mr. Bacas

MOTION: The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board will comply with the Cease and Desist Order issued by the State Licensing Board.

No objections.

The motion carried unanimously.

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

0 Nays

0 Absent

MOTION BY: Dr. Sanders

SECOND BY: Mr. Wise

MOTION: To have HGI turn over to the School Board all documentation related to Lake Pontchartrain Elementary and East St. John High School by the end of workday tomorrow.

No objections.

The motion carried unanimously.

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

0 Nays

0 Absent

ITEM 9e. Mr. Orenthal Jasmin, Board Attorney – Legal Update – None.

Mr. Jasmin gave a summation to the Board of the facts and timelines pertaining to the contract with HGI.

ITEM 10. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

ITEM 11. BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST

Mr. Triche stated that there will be a special board meeting for clarification of the contract with HGI on Tuesday at 6 p.m. This was later changed to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 6, 2013.

Mr. Jones stated that there would be a Back to School Supply Giveaway at Regala Park this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT - The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a

MOTION BY: Mr. Wise

SECOND BY: Mr. Bacas

MOTION: Motion for adjournment.

There were no objections.

The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.

________________________________ ________________________________

Kevin R. George, Secretary Clarence Triche, President