PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
RESERVE, LA – MEETING OF OCTOBER 24, 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, October 24, 2013, at 10:00 a.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, Burl, Keller, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche
ABSENT: Messrs. Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones
There were 8 members present, 3 absent.
ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meeting of October 17, 2013.
MOTION BY: Mr. Johnson
SECOND BY: Dr. Keller
MOTION: To approve the minutes from the meeting of October 17, 2013.
No objections.
The motion carried.
8 Yeas - Jack, Burl, Keller, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche
0 Nays
3 Absent – Messrs. Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones
ITEM 4. Mr. Peter Montz – Request board approval on Bid 14.27 Purchase of Modular Classroom Buildings.
Mr. Montz stated that Mr. Brad Guerin with Chasm & Fusion would present the information for this item. Mr. Guerin stated that the lowest responsible bid was received from Satellite Shelters, Inc. with a base bid of $1,153,711 and Alternate No. 1 of $114,695 for a total construction cost of $1,268,406.
Mr. DeFrancesch arrived at 10:04 a.m. and was recorded as present.
Mr. Sanders arrived at 10:05 a.m. and was recorded as present.
Mr. Jones arrived at 10:08 a.m. and was recorded as present.
MOTION BY: Mr. Wise
SECOND BY: Mr. Nicholas
MOTION: To award Bid 14.27 Purchase of Modular Classroom Buildings to the lowest responsible bid, received from Satellite Shelters, Inc. with a base bid of $1,153,711 and Alternate No. 1 of $114,695 for a total construction cost of $1,268,406.
No objections.
The motion carried.
11 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche
0 Nays
0 Absent
ITEM 5. TABLED ITEM: Request board action on Redistricting.
Dr. Keller stated that he is hearing conflicting information regarding this item. Mr. Cedric Floyd has stated that the district has nothing to worry about and that the Board does not have to get the okay from the state to implement this plan and on the other hand, the Secretary of State’s Office has sent the board a letter stating that the plan, as presented, cannot be implemented. Dr. Keller asked legal counsel to state his position regarding this item. Mr. Jasmin stated that on September 19, 2013, the board received a letter from the Secretary of State’s Office stating, in no uncertain terms, that the plan, as submitted, cannot be implemented. He further stated that Mr. Floyd has communicated to him that he (Mr. Floyd) feels that he has completed the job and is now waiting on South Central Planning to “sew” up the precincts. Mr. Jasmin stated that his recommendation, based on the lack of addition information from the Secretary of State’s Office, is to take whatever steps the board deems necessary to get the districts correct and the plan acceptable to the Secretary of State’s Office. He stated that as of the last correspondence from the Secretary of State’s Office, the board is not in compliance with state law.
Following extensive discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Burl, seconded by Mr. Nicholas, to direct the board attorney to seek an Attorney General’s Opinion to find out if the current plan can be implemented or if it must be redone.
An addendum was offered to this motion by Mr. Nicholas, and seconded by Mr. Sanders. The addendum read: To wait until January, 2014 before asking Mr. Floyd to redraw the lines.
Board Attorney Orenthal Jasmin stated that the board’s directive for legal counsel to request an Attorney General’s Opinion must be in the form of a resolution and that if the motion passes, he would draft said resolution.
Following further discussion, a substitute motion was offered by Mr. Bacas, seconded by Mrs. DeFrancesch, to redo the districts at no additional cost, to comply with state law and redraw the lines for the board members who are unhappy with the current lines.
Following further discussion, the chair called for question, thus ending discussion.
Upon roll call on the substitute motion to redo the districts at no additional cost, to comply with state law and redraw the lines for the board members who are unhappy with the current lines, there were:
2 Yeas – Bacas, Triche
7 Nays – Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Johnson, Nicholas
2 Abstentions – Jones, Wise
0 Absent
The motion failed.
Upon roll call on the addendum to the original motion, to add the words: To wait until January, 2014 before asking Mr. Floyd to redraw the lines, there were:
5 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Sanders, Johnson, Nicholas
4 Nays – Keller, DeFrancesch, Bacas, Triche
2 Abstentions – Jones, Wise
0 Absent
The motion failed.
Upon roll call on the original motion to direct the board attorney to draft a resolution seeking an Attorney General’s Opinion to find out if the current plan can be implemented or if it must be redone, there were:
10 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche
1 Nay – Wise
0 Absent
The motion carried.
ITEM 6. BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST
Mr. Nicholas asked administration to draft a resolution asking the state to consider giving some of the $163 million surplus to St. John Parish School System in light of all the devastation and flooding that occurred in the wake of Hurricane Isaac.
ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT - The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a
MOTION BY: Dr. Keller
SECOND BY: Mr. Jones
MOTION: Motion for adjournment.
There were no objections.
The meeting adjourned at 11:11 a.m.
________________________________ ________________________________
Kevin R. George, Secretary Clarence Triche, President