2014-02-06

PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA – MEETING OF FEBRUARY 6, 2014

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, 1600 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana, on Thursday, February 6, 2014, 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, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche.

ABSENT:

There were 11 members present, 0 absent.

ITEM 3. Approval of Minutes – Meeting of January 30, 2014.

MOTION BY: Dr. Keller

SECOND BY: Mr. Nicholas

MOTION: To approve the minutes of the meeting of January 30, 2014.

No objections.

The motion carried.

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

0 Nays

0 Absent

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

Mr. George shared a PowerPoint with the following information:

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

a. Recognition of Principal of the Year

b. Recognition of the Teachers of the Year

Ms. Page Eschette gave the following report, while Superintendent George presented the recipients with plaques.

It is an awesome honor to recognize that these great teachers are critical to our student’s success in the classroom and in to their future endeavors. Our most exceptional teachers are here tonight at this annual event providing us the opportunity to focus public attention on teachers who are implementing rigorous instructional practices that are aligned to Compass and the Common Core State Standards. Each of our Principals in collaboration with their Leadership Teams and faculty members selected their school’s TOY. In making their selection student progress under each teacher’s instruction was a key criteria for the making their TOY selection.

Please join me in recognizing the following teachers:

Mr. Thomas Becnel WSJE Middle School TOY

Ms. Carlina Blossom LPE Elementary TOY

Ms. Robyn Boudoin ESJE Middle School TOY

Ms. Renata Carter FWE Elementary TOY

Ms. Viola Carter WSJE Elementary TOY

Ms. Gwenesta Fenroy GMMS Middle School TOY

Ms. Ava Jackson JLO Elementary TOY

Ms. Tamara Jackson Holland JLO Middle School TOY

Ms. Keila Joseph LES Middle School TOY

Ms. Candice Murphy WSJH Middle School TOY

Ms. Jasmin Porter FWE Middle School TOY

Ms. Lisa Thomas ESJE Elementary TOY

Ms. Kelley Thompson LPE Middle School TOY

Ms. Heidi Tomeny LES Elementary TOY

Ms. Sarah Valenzuela ECW Elementary TOY

Ms. Markquelyn Vital-Ursin SJAS Middle School TOY

Mr. Brett Zimmerman WSJH High School TOY

The final three teachers who we are about to recognize not only were selected by their schools as the school site’s TOY, but were selected by a panel of judges to serve as our District Teachers of the Year.

Ms. Angela Davis GMMS Elementary TOY and

SJBP Elementary TOY for 2014

Dr. Brandy Vaughn ECW Middle School TOY and

SJBP Middle School TOY for 2014

Ms. Yong Suk Lowery ESJH High School TOY and

SJBP High School TOY for 2014

At this time I would like to also announce our District’s Principal of the Year for SJBP. Ms. Phyllis Clark, who is unable to be with us tonight, but will be recognized at a future meeting.

The President called for a recess at 6:30 p.m.

MOTION BY: Dr. Keller

SECOND BY: Mr. Jones

MOTION: To reconvene in regular session.

No objections

The motion carried – the Board reconvened in regular session at 6:39 p.m.

ITEM 6. PERSONNEL MATTERS

ITEM 7. BUSINESS AND FINANCE

ITEM 7a. Executive Session - Mr. Charles Patin – Update on MFP Lawsuit

A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mr. Wise to convene in Executive Session to discuss Item 7a. There were no objections to this motion and the board convened in Executive Session at 6:40 p.m.

A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mrs. DeFrancesch, to reconvene in regular session. There were no objections and the board reconvened in regular session at 6:49 p.m.

ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS

ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS

ITEM 9a. Mrs. Lanette Perrin - Request Board approval of an addendum to pupil progression.

MOTION BY: Dr. Keller

SECOND BY: Mr. Wise

MOTION: To approve the addendum to pupil progression.

No objections.

The motion carried.

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

0 Nays

0 Absent

ITEM 9b. Mr. Peter Montz/Mr. Bob Bourgeois – Request Board approval on Proposal 14.29, Web Hosting

MOTION BY: Dr. Keller

SECOND BY: Mr. Bacas

MOTION: To approve Proposal 14.29, Web Hosting as presented.

No objections.

The motion carried.

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

0 Nays

0 Absent

ITEM 9c. Mr. Felix Boughton – Adopt resolution employing the firm of Rainer, Anding, Talbot & Mulhrean.

ITEM 9d. Mr. Felix Boughton – Adopt resolution employing the firm of Stutes & Lavergne.

ITEM 9e. Mr. Felix Boughton – Adopt resolution employing the firm of Savoie and Savoie.

ITEM 9f. Mr. Felix Boughton – Adopt resolution employing the firm of Patrick Amedee.

MOTION BY: Dr. Keller

SECOND BY: Mr. Jones

MOTION: To adopt the resolutions in ITEMS 9c, 9d, 9e and 9f.

Following discussion, there was a

SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY: Mr. Burl

MOTION: To award the contracts to Rainer, Anding, Talbot & Mulhrean and Savoie and Savoie (accept ITEM 9c and ITEM 9e).

This motion failed due to the lack of a second.

Upon roll call on the original motion to adopt the resolutions in ITEMS 9c, 9d, 9e and 9f, there were:

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

1 Nay – Burl

0 Absent

The motion carried.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARlSH SCHOOL BOARD

Reserve, LOUISIANA

RESOLUTION EMPLOYING

RAINER ANDING TALBOT & MULHEARN

Attorneys at Law

AS SPECIAL TAX COUNSEL TO THE

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARlSH SCHOOL BOARD

The following resolution was offered by _________ , and seconded by

___________ , at a meeting of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board held

on the ___ day of _______ , 2014, in Reserve, Louisiana.

WHEREAS, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board ("School Board" hereafter), pursuant to an agency agreement with ACI St. John, LLC (an Assured Compliance, Inc. company) administers the sales and use tax ordinances in effect in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, and the Uniform Local Sales Tax Code (ULSTC) adopted as Act 73 of2003 and other laws, and is the single collector of sales and use taxes for all local taxing authorities within the Parish, and

WHEREAS, it is necessary that the School Board retain special counsel with expertise in sales and use tax law to represent it and provide general legal advice, consultation and representation in lawsuits and other sales and use tax issues as the need may arise from time to time in the future and as assigned by the School Board through ACI St. John, LLC, and

WHEREAS, because of the specialized nature of the above captioned ordinances and other laws and the specialized nature of sales and use tax litigation, a real necessity exists for the employment of special counsel to represent the School Board, and, in turn, the other local taxing authorities within St. John the Baptist Parish, and

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the School Board to retain the law firm of Rainer Anding Talbot & Mulhearn of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ("Law Firm" hereafter) as a law firm that has special expertise and experience in prosecuting and defending sales and use tax cases and in providing local sales and use tax legal advice to local taxing authorities such as the School Board and the taxing authorities it represents, and to retain the services of the said Law Firm pursuant to the applicable provisions of the sales and use tax statutes of the State of Louisiana and the

above referred to ordinances in effect in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, and NOW THEREFORE BE ITRESOLVED that the Law Firm be and is hereby employed by the School Board as special counsel to the School Board with reference to the above cited sales and use tax statutes and ordinances to provide legal representation to the School Board and to undertake the prosecution and/or defense of any legal proceedings involving sales and use tax matters as may be brought from time to time against the School Board, or any of the taxing authorities they represent, and to undertake the defense of any legal proceedings involving sales and use tax filed against any of the same, as may be required from time to time, and for providing general legal advice and consultation to the School Board in the administration of the above referred to statutes and ordinances as the need may arise from time to time as assigned by the School Board, and that the fee of said Law Firm is to be that as provided by the applicable provisions of the sales and use tax statutes and ordinances, including the Uniform Local Sales Tax Code administered by the School Board, in accordance with law, or the sum of$175.00 per hour, or such other hourly rate as may be established by the Louisiana Attorney General, to be paid monthly, together with all reasonable expenses incurred by said Law Firm in connection with the providing of such legal services, the specific fee arrangement to be decided on a case by-case basis, jointly by the School Board, through ACI St. John, LLC, and the Law Firm in

advance of such legal services being rendered.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that neither the School Board nor the Law Firm shall have the authority to discontinue, dismiss, compromise, or otherwise dispose of a sales and use tax claim against a taxpayer doing business in St. John the Baptist Parish, or a claim brought by a taxpayer doing business in said Parish, against the School Board without the concurrence of the School Board, through ACI St. John, LLC and the Law Firm.

THE FOREGOING having been submitted to a vote, and a quorum being present, and by majority vote in favor thereof, the foregoing resolution was declared adopted.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Reserve, Louisiana, on this ___ day of _______ , 2014.

_____________________________________________

Secretary

_____________________________________________

Superintendent

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARlSH SCHOOL BOARD

Reserve, LOUISIANA

RESOLUTION EMPLOYING

STUTES & LAVERGNE

Attorneys at Law

AS SPECIAL TAX COUNSEL TO THE

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

The following resolution was offered by _________ , and seconded by___________ , at a meeting of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board held on the ___ day of _______ , 2014, in Reserve, Louisiana.

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the School Board to retain the law firm of Stutes & Lavergne of Lake Charles, Louisiana, ("Law Firm" hereafter) as a law firm that has special expertise and experience in prosecuting and defending sales and use tax cases and in providing local sales and use tax legal advice to local taxing authorities such as the School Board and the taxing authorities it represents, and to retain the services of the said Law Firm pursuant to the applicable provisions of the sales and use tax statutes of the State of Louisiana and the above referred to ordinances in effect in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Law Firm be and is hereby employed by the School Board as special counsel to the School Board with reference to the above cited sales and use tax statutes and ordinances to provide legal representation to the School Board and to undertake the prosecution and/or defense of any legal proceedings involving sales and use tax matters as may be brought from time to time against the School Board, or any of the taxing authorities they represent, and to undertake the defense of any legal proceedings involving sales

and use tax filed against any of the same, as may be required from time to time, and for providing general legal advice and consultation to the School Board in the administration of the above referred to statutes and ordinances as the need may arise from time to time as assigned by the School Board, and that the fee of said Law Firm is to be that as provided by the applicable provisions of the sales and use tax statutes and ordinances, including the Uniform Local Sales Tax Code administered by the School Board, in accordance with law, or the sum of $200.00 per

hour for an attorney and $ 85 for a paralegal, or such other hourly rate as may be established by the Louisiana Attorney General, to be paid monthly, together with all reasonable expenses incurred by said Law Firm in connection with the providing of such legal services, the specific fee arrangement to be decided on a case by-case basis, jointly by the School Board, through ACI St. John, LLC, and the Law Firm in advance of such legal services being rendered.

THE FOREGOING having been submitted to a vote, and a quorum being present, and by majority vote in favor thereof, the foregoing resolution was declared adopted.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Reserve, Louisiana, on this ___ day of _______ , 2014.

_____________________________________________

Secretary

_____________________________________________

Superintendent

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARlSH SCHOOL BOARD

Reserve, LOUISIANA

RESOLUTION EMPLOYING

Savoie and Savoie Law Firm, LLC

Attorneys at Law

AS SPECIAL TAX COUNSEL TO THE

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARlSH SCHOOL BOARD

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the School Board to retain the law firm of Savoie and Savoie Law Firm of New Orleans, Louisiana, ("Law Firm" hereafter) as a law firm that has special expertise and experience in prosecuting and defending sales and use tax cases and in providing local sales and use tax legal advice to local taxing authorities such as the School Board and the taxing authorities it represents, and to retain the services of the said Law Firm pursuant to the applicable provisions of the sales and use tax statutes of the State of Louisiana and the above referred to ordinances in effect in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, and

hour or such other hourly rate as may be established by the Louisiana Attorney General, to be paid monthly, together with all reasonable expenses incurred by said Law Firm in connection with the providing of such legal services, the specific fee arrangement to be decided on a case by-case basis, jointly by the School Board, through ACI St. John, LLC, and the Law Firm in advance of such legal services being rendered.

THE FOREGOING having been submitted to a vote, and a quorum being present, and by majority vote in favor thereof, the foregoing resolution was declared adopted.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Reserve, Louisiana, on this ___ day of _______ , 2014.

_____________________________________________

Secretary

_____________________________________________

Superintendent

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARlSH SCHOOL BOARD

Reserve, LOUISIANA

RESOLUTION EMPLOYING

Patrick M. Amedee, LLC

Attorneys at Law

AS SPECIAL TAX COUNSEL TO THE

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARlSH SCHOOL BOARD

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the School Board to retain the law firm of Patrick M. Amedee of New Orleans, Louisiana, ("Law Firm" hereafter) as a law firm that has special expertise and experience in prosecuting and defending sales and use tax cases and in providing local sales and use tax legal advice to local taxing authorities such as the School Board and the taxing authorities it represents, and to retain the services of the said Law Firm pursuant to the applicable provisions of the sales and use tax statutes of the State of Louisiana and the above referred to ordinances in effect in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, and

hour for attorney and $50 per hour for paralegal services, limited to 10% per collection claim, or such other hourly rate as may be established by the Louisiana Attorney General, to be paid monthly, together with all reasonable expenses incurred by said Law Firm in connection with the providing of such legal services, the specific fee arrangement to be decided on a case by-case basis, jointly by the School Board, through ACI St. John, LLC, and the Law Firm in advance of such legal services being rendered.

THE FOREGOING having been submitted to a vote, and a quorum being present, and by majority vote in favor thereof, the foregoing resolution was declared adopted.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Reserve, Louisiana, on this ___ day of _______ , 2014.

_____________________________________________

Secretary

_____________________________________________

Superintendent

ITEM 9g. Mr. Felix Boughton – Quarterly Budget Report

This item was for informational purposes only.

GENERAL FUND REVENUES
Code	Type		Original	Revised		Difference
Appropriation					Budget
01	Local revenues		$30,853,541	$31,120,201		$266,660
02	State revenues		$28,371,340	$30,488,595		$2,117,255
04	Other revenues		$2,323,300	$2,332,300		$9,000
Total Revenues		$61,548,181			$63,941,096		$2,392,915
GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES
Code	Type		Original	Revised		Difference
Appropriation					Budget
11	Regular Education		$26,282,228	$26,781,591		$499,363
12	SpeCial Education		$9,024,540	$9,022,661		-$1,879
13	Vocational Ed		$1,654,476	$1,635,186		-$19,290
14	Other Instruction		$2,015,689	$1,923,744		-$91,945
15	Special Programs		$928,317	$741,880		-$186,437
21	Pupil Support		$4,919,533	$4,860,633		-$58,900
22	Instructional Staff		$640,954	$680,971		$40,017
23	General Admin		$1,580,555	$1,685,394		$104,839
24	School Adm		$5,133,487	$5,205,628		$72,141
25	Business Adm		$651,787	$722,471		$70,684
26	Maintenance		$7,471,288	$7,855,634		$384,346
27	Transportation		$4,129,036	$4,448,749		$319,713
28	Central Services		$923,508	$1,067,814		$144,306
50	Other		$70,495	$70,495		$0
$65,425,893					$66,702,851		-$1,276,958
Beginning Fund Balance $5,955,542 $5,955,542 Ending Fund Balance $2,077,830 $3,193,787

ITEM 9h. Mr. Felix Boughton – Accept audit report for June 30, 2013 as a public document

MOTION BY: Dr. Keller

SECOND BY: Mr. Jones

MOTION: To accept the audit report for June 30, 2013 as a public document. (Available for viewing at www.stjohn.k12.la.us)

No objections.

The motion carried.

ITEM 9i. Mr. Felix Boughton – Authorize administration to accept bids on alligator lease and egg collection – Section 16^th Property – East and West Bank.

Rev. Nicholas asked for an explanation of this item. Mr. Boughton stated that many years ago, St. John the Baptist Parish School Board was given 640 acres of land on the East Bank and 640 acres of land on the West Bank. The hope was that some type of mineral(s) would be located on this land and would support the school system financially. At this time, the alligator lease and egg collection is the only source of income that has been found relative to this property.

MOTION BY: Mr. Wise

SECOND BY: Mr. Jones

MOTION: To authorize administration to accept bids on alligator lease and egg collection – Section 16^th Property – East and West Bank.

No objections.

The motion carried.

ITEM 9j. Mr. Albert Burl – Removal of Clarence Triche as President of the Board.

Mr. Burl requested to table this item.

ITEM 10. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

ITEM 11. BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST

MOTION BY: Rev. Nicholas

SECOND BY: Mr. Wise

MOTION: To waive policy to allow a parent to speak.

No objections.

The motion carried.

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

0 Nays

0 Absent

Mr. Cliff Turner, parent, stated that for the first time in ESJH history, there are enough students to create 3 baseball teams. The baseball budget is only $2500, there are only 2 coaches for 3 teams and fields are in disrepair. The Board asked Mr. George to look into possible solutions to Mr. Turner’s concerns.

Mr. Jack asked that an item be placed on the next agenda to have administration give a report on how much it would cost to pave the road at West St. John High School.

Mr. Jones stated that February is Black History Month and asked the Superintendent to ask all principals to please forward any program information to board members.

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

MOTION BY: Mr. Wise

SECOND BY: Dr. Keller

MOTION: Motion for adjournment.

There were no objections.

The meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.

______________________________ _____________________________

Kevin R. George, Secretary Clarence Triche, President