PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
RESERVE, LA – MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 19, 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, 1600 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana, on Thursday, September 19, 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, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Triche.
ABSENT: Mr. Burl, Jones, Nicholas.
There were 8 members present, 3 absent.
ITEM 3a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meeting of September 5, 2013.
MOTION BY: Mr. Bacas
SECOND BY: Mrs. DeFrancesch
MOTION: To approve the minutes from the meeting of September 5, 2013.
No objections.
The motion carried.
8 Yeas - Jack, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Triche
0 Nays
3 Absent – Burl, Jones, Nicholas.
Mr. Jones arrived at 6:02 p.m. and was recorded as present.
Mr. Nicholas arrived at 6:05 p.m. and was recorded as present.
ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Mr. Kevin R. George, Superintendent.
Mr. George gave the following report:
Disaster Recovery Update
September 19, 2013
1. Temporary Campus: Tonight, I will present the board with 3 architects based on the LPE Temporary RFQ. All companies have indicated they will be able to complete this work by early January. Exact dates are difficult to predict at this time, but they know our expectation which is to start the Spring Semester at the Temporary Site.
2. The RFP and RFQ for the major renovations of ESJHS and LPE began advertising yesterday, September 18th. I am in the process of creating a committee of architectural, engineering and facility planning personnel that will review the proposals and qualifications on or about November 5th. I will recommend to the Board on December 5th the companies to complete this work. By law, the period to advertise is regulated, thus the aforementioned timeline.
3. Common question I have been asked: Why can’t we begin work with the Bond Monies that we have thus far and complete the work as we go?
a. It is best practice and fiscally responsible to bid out the entire package as one project.
b. We have issued a temporary contract to All-South, which is an engineering firm. Their job is as follows:
i. Verify what FEMA has currently captured in the CEFs (Cost Estimating Format)
ii. Identify any additional scope FEMA has missed
iii. Identify any required code upgrades that may be triggered by repairs
iv. Determine if additional investigation of a particular element is needed.
v. Develop a preliminary disposition for each building (Does the scope match the funds available to begin repairs?)
c. We cannot begin the bidding process until All-South has completed the tasks noted above. Their estimated time of completion is December 25th.
d. We do not have a company under contract to begin this work. This will be settled on December 5th.
4. We have agreed to participate in the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013. I have attached the article that was run after our last board meeting. We will know by February 20th, 2014 FEMA’s response to our Alternate Proposal. We anticipate an answer prior to then, but this is what I know: The Act requires an answer by February 20th. All-South estimates they will submit our proposal prior to the Christmas Holidays. If this is the case, I anticipate an answer towards the beginning of February.
5. All-South is conducting visits to both sites with their last visit occurring on Wednesday, September 18th. They are attending a training session with GOHSEP & FEMA on Friday, September 20th regarding the Pilot Program.
6. All-South and FEMA will visit both sites on Tuesday, September 24th.
7. Once a firm is hired on December 5th, they will prepare bids and do as much pre-work as possible. When FEMA renders a decision, they (and we) can hit the ground running. This will be the last class at ESJHS to finish at the Leon Godchaux Campus. Although they may not begin classes there in August, they will finish there in the Spring of 2015.
District Will Apply to Sandy Pilot Program to Expedite Hurricane Repairs
In order to expedite repairs to two schools flooded during Hurricane Isaac and return students to their campuses as soon as possible, the St. John the Baptist Parish Public School District will apply to a program developed in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy instead of appealing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s decision on funding for the two schools.
The Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to streamline the process of receiving funding from FEMA.
The School Board voted at its meeting on Sept. 5 to follow the recommendation of the district’s administration and All South Consulting Agency, the firm hired to handle the district’s appeal to FEMA, and apply to the program.
“The School District has decided not to pursue an appeal for either the East St. John High School or Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School at this time. We instead are submitting an application to FEMA’s Alternative Procedures Pilot Program, which FEMA developed as a result of Super Storm Sandy,” Superintendent Kevin George said. “This program will allow the School Board to maximize the available FEMA funding, while giving us the flexibility to repair these facilities in a manner best suited for the district’s post-Isaac needs. We believe this process is best suited to repair these schools and will result in a more timely return to normal operations.”
The school district had been working on an appeal to FEMA after the agency’s reimbursement amount fell short of the district’s assessment of the cost of the repairs. For East St. John High School, which will be the first school submitted to the program, the amount offered by FEMA is approximately $12.5 million short of what the district estimates is needed to fix the school.
An appeal to FEMA would have taken approximately six months. If FEMA denied the appeal, arbitration would have taken another six to 12 months.
“You’re appealing to the agency that turned you down in the first place so it’s likely you won’t succeed and will have to go through arbitration,” George said. “So you’re looking at a year and a half before a decision would be made.”
The Alternative Procedures Pilot Program, however, allows the district to work with GOHSEP and FEMA to agree upon the cost of a plan and the flexibility to move funding between projects as needed. It requires FEMA to make a decision on that plan by mid-February.
The advantages of the Alternative Procedures Pilot Program are:
· It maximizes available FEMA funding and promotes a timely return to normal operations
· It allows greater efficiency and flexible use of funds, with an abbreviated FEMA construction review
· It allows cost under-runs on specific scope items to be used on other construction activities
· It creates a clear path forward that is endorsed by GOHSEP and should be agreeable to FEMA
· It demonstrates a good faith effort to FEMA to begin construction within FEMA’s timelines
Meanwhile, the district is moving ahead with plans to establish a temporary campus for Lake Pontchartrain Elementary. The district is currently going through the RFQ process for architects for the work, which consists of erecting portable buildings on the East St. John Elementary School campus. The district plans to move Lake Pontchartrain into its temporary campus during the Christmas break and have students and teachers reunited as one school when they return in January. Those teachers and students are currently distributed among three campuses.
Mr. George also stated that there would be 2 parent meetings to explain, discuss and answer questions about the Common Core State Standards and all parents are invited to attend:
1. Tuesday, October 1st at West St. John Elementary School – beginning at 5:00 p.m.
2. Wednesday, October 2nd at LaPlace Elementary School – beginning at 5:00 p.m.
ITEM 5. EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS BY THE BOARD OR STAFF
ITEM 6. PERSONNEL MATTERS
ITEM 7. BUSINESS AND FINANCE
ITEM 7a. Mr. Felix Boughton – Insurance committee – RFP’s for supplemental benefits (Cancer, Critical Illness, Accident, Group Life, Dental)
Informational only. No action required.
ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS
ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS
ITEM 9a. Mr. Kevin R. George – Select an architect firm for Lake Pontchartrain Elementary Temporary Campus
Mr. George stated his administration had been instructed to present the board with the top three firms for the board’s consideration. The top three firms are: Broadmoor Design Group, Chasm and Fusion Architecture, and Holly & Smith Architects.
MOTION BY: Mr. Sanders
SECOND BY: Dr. Keller
MOTION: To select Chasm & Fusion Architecture as the architect for the Lake Pontchartrain Elementary Temporary Campus.
Mr. Wise objected to this motion, stating that he would abstain from voting on it, based on the fact that he had not been afforded the chance to question the firms.
Mr. Cliff Turner, parent, stated that it was his hope that administration had done the “homework” on this firm before proceeding.
Mr. Nicholas called for question.
MOTION BY: Mr. Nicholas
SECOND BY: Dr. Keller
MOTION: To end discussion.
10 Yeas – Jack, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche.
0 Nays –
1 Absent – Burl
The motion to end discussion carried.
Brad Guerin, Chasm & Fusion Architecture, stated that there were two timeline schedules the board could follow:
1. The board could declare it an emergency, allowing the firm to circumvent the public bid law process; or
2. The firm could proceed on a normal schedule.
Dr. Keller asked for the board attorney, Mr. Orenthal Jasmin for his opinion on the matter.
Mr. Jasmin advised the board that because of a previous Attorney General’s Opinion out of Orleans Parish, an emergency declaration should be used for public health and safety concerns only and that he does not feel our situation rises to that level and he would caution the board against declaring an emergency.
Following discussion, upon roll call on the original motion to select Chasm & Fusion Architecture as the architect for the Lake Pontchartrain, there were:
9 Yeas – Jack, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche.
1 Abstention – Wise
1 Absent – Burl
The motion carried.
ITEM 9b. Mr. Elton Oubre – Expulsion Hearing – Appeal #1314-01-0919 (Open or Closed Hearing)
Mr. Elton Oubre stated that this case has been postponed.
ITEM 9c. Mr. Orenthal Jasmin, Board Attorney – Legal Update
ITEM 10. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Mr. George stated that there are two resolutions that he is asking the board to consider for adoption. The first one is a Resolution to Amend Accountability Bonus Points for Non-Proficient Super Subgroup:
A MOTION was made by the Entire Board to Adopt the Resolution to Amend Accountability Bonus Points for Non-Proficient Super Subgroup.
No objections.
The motion carried.
Resolution to Amend Accountability Bonus Points for Non-Proficient Super Subgroup
WHEREAS, Louisiana schools, school districts and school boards are accountable for the academic growth of all students and receive school performance point credit for demonstrating significant growth among lowest-performing students; and
WHEREAS, elementary and middle schools can earn up to a maximum of 10 performance points for students identified as non-proficient on state English language arts or math exams and who in turn, exceed growth expectations; and
WHEREAS, high schools can earn up to 10 performance points for students who are identified as non-proficient on state English language arts or math exams and who exceed growth expectations on ACT tests; and
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana has designated that in order for a school to receive bonus points credited to school performance, a subgroup of students identified as non-proficient on state English language arts or math exams must consist of a minimum of ten students; and
WHEREAS, the non-proficient super subgroup is provided with intensive targeted remediation, additional after school programs, and ongoing progress monitoring of formative assessment data; and
WHEREAS, the calculation of bonus points does not include members of the super subgroup who reach the goal of proficiency but instead focuses on students who grow but still remain non-proficient; and
WHEREAS, the current accountability policy discounts the accelerated achievement of individual students in the super subgroup who have worked diligently to attain proficiency by rewarding equal accountability points to students who remained proficient; and
WHEREAS, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board considers the achievement of each student as an integral component to the collective success of the district, but also recognizes the considerable effort necessary to reach proficiency from the super subgroup;
NOW LET IT THEREFORE BE RESOLVED that the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board requests that the Louisiana accountability bonus point formula include genuine recognition and celebration of the achievement of each and every non-proficient student from the original super subgroup who exceeds growth expectations.
THUS DONE AND SIGNED AT Reserve, LOUISIANA, on this, the 19th day of September, 2013.
/s/Clarence Triche, President /s/Keith Jones, Vice-President
St. John the Baptist Parish School Board St. John the Baptist Parish School Board
Mr. George stated that the second Resolution is a Resolution Expressing Appreciation for Legislative Action Providing Additional Funding for Public Education.
A MOTION was made by the Entire Board to Adopt the Expressing Appreciation for Legislative Action Providing Additional Funding for Public Education.
No objections.
The motion carried.
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
WHEREAS, for years there has been a provision in the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) for a 2.75% increase in the per pupil amount of State funding for K-12 public education;
WHEREAS, for several years prior to 2013-14 K-12 public education in Louisiana has experienced no increase in State funding;
WHEREAS, during those years of flat State funding, K-12 public education in Louisiana has endured cuts in federal funding;
WHEREAS, throughout the years of flat State funding and reduced federal funding, the cost of providing K-12 public education has steadily increased, while the demands for performance expected from and unfunded mandates imposed on local public school systems have increased;
WHEREAS, in the 2013 Regular Session, the Legislature rejected 2013-14 MFP formula adopted by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), which formula continued the flat funding of public education in Louisiana;
WHEREAS, in May of 2013 the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that the 2012-13 MFP formula, which also had included flat funding for public education, was null and void;
WHEREAS, the rejection of the proposed 2013-14 MFP formula and the nullification of the 2012-13 formula left in place the 2011-12 MFP formula;
WHEREAS, the 2011-12 formula includes a provision for an increase of 2.75% in the Level 1 per pupil amount;
WHEREAS, a 2.75% increase in the per pupil amount of $3,855 would equal approximately $69,000,000;
WHEREAS, the State faced a significant projected budget deficit for the State’s 2013-14 fiscal year;
WHEREAS, despite the projected budget deficit, the Legislature, by an overwhelming margin, adopted provisions for an additional $69,000,000 from the State General Fund budget for Louisiana public schools;
WHEREAS, the Legislature then, by an overwhelming margin, adopted HCR 188 memorializing BESE to include the 2.75% increase in the proposed 2014-15 MFP formula and to propose a Level 1 per pupil funding amount of not less than $3,961;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board commends and expresses its great appreciation to the Louisiana Legislature for providing the first meaningful increase in education funding in over half a decade;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board commends and expresses its great appreciation to the Louisiana Legislature for memorializing BESE to continue the increased funding in the 2014-15 MFP formula;
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board expresses such commendation and gratitude specifically to Representatives Greg Miller (District 56), Randall Gaines (District 57), Clay Schexnayder (District 81), and Senators Troy Brown (District 2) and Gary Smith (District 19) for their support of the additional $69,000,000 in funding for K-12 public education;
FINALLY BE IT RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be provided to each member of the Legislative delegation of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board in expression of its deep gratitude.
CERTIFICATE
We, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board in regular session duly convened on August 1, 2013 and that the same has not been rescinded or repealed. Reserve, Louisiana.
/s/Clarence Triche, President /s/Keith Jones, Vice-President
ITEM 11. BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST
Administration was asked to make sure the Disaster Updates are updated on the website.
ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT - The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a
MOTION BY: Mr. Bacas
SECOND BY: Mrs. DeFrancesch
MOTION: Motion for adjournment.
There were no objections.
The meeting adjourned at 6:28 p.m.
________________________________ ________________________________
Kevin R. George, Secretary Clarence Triche, President