PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA – MEETING OF NOVEMBER 6, 2014

At 5:00 p.m. on November 6, 2014, a PUBLIC HEARING was called by the Land and Facilities Committee to give the Board and public an opportunity to view the Schematic Design of Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School and to offer opinions.  Roll was called.  Present were:  Dr. Keller, Mr. Burl, and Mr. Wise.  Absent were:  Mr. Sanders and Mrs. DeFrancesch.  With 3 present and 2 absent, there was a quorum and the hearing was opened by Committee Chairman Albert Burl, III.  There was some public comment.  Following discussion, a motion was made by Dr. Keller, second by Mr. Burl to adjourn.  There were no objections.  The hearing adjourned at 5:35 p.m.

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 Tuesday, November 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 the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 

ITEM 2.  ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:

PRESENT:  Jack, Burl, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche

ABSENT:  Keller, DeFrancesch, Wise

There were 8 members present, 3 absent.

ITEM 3.  Approval of Minutes – Meeting of October 16, 2014.

MOTION BY:    Mr. Jones

SECOND BY:   Mr. Bacas

MOTION:          To approve the minutes of the meeting of October 16, 2014.

No objections.

The motion carried.

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

ITEM 5a.  Mr. Russell Jack, Board Member – Resolution to declare the week of November 17, 2014 as Ram Week.

Two WSJH students – Sydney Harrison and Michael Sanders both addressed the audience with stories about being students at West St. John High School.

MOTION BY:    Mr. Jack

SECOND BY:   Entire Board

MOTION:          To adopt the resolution to declare the week of November 17, 2014 as Ram Week as presented.

No objections.

The motion carried.

8 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche

0 Nays  

3 Absent – Keller, DeFrancesch, Wise

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ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD                                        

STATE OF LOUISIANA

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, West St. John High School in Edgard, Louisiana has received national recognition by receiving a ranking of 50 out of 500 schools in Newsweek Magazine’s “2014 Beating the Odds: America’s Top High Schools for Low-Income Students List”; 

WHEREAS, In determining this ranking, Newsweek Magazine took into account such factors as performance on state standardized tests, enrollment data, graduation rates, advanced placement, college admission test scores, and counselor-to-student ratios;

WHEREAS, West St. John High School also received the Gold Star designation, which recognized schools where economically disadvantaged students performed better that the state average for all students in reading and mathematics;

WHEREAS, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board is tremendously proud of this accomplishment and would like to recognize West St. John High for it achievement by designating the week of November 17, 2014 as “Ram Week”.

THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED, That the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board on Behalf of our Superintendent, administrators, faculty, staff, and students proclaims the week of November 17, 2014 as “Ram Week” in the St. John the Baptist Parish public Schools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution, suitably engrossed, be placed in the minutes, the archives, and official records of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board on this 6^TH day of November in the year of our Lord 2014.",

The vote, in open meeting, on the resolution was as follows:

YEAS: __________

NAYS:__________

ABSENT:__________

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Mrs. DeFrancesch arrived at 6:15 p.m. and was recorded as present.

ITEM 5b.  Ms. Heidi Trosclair – School Performance Scores

Ms. Trosclair shared the following information with the board and public:

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

a. Dr. Brian Riedlinger, School Leadership Center – 5 Year Plan

ITEM 5c .  Mrs. Shannon Smith – Jump Start Presentation

Mrs. Smith explained that the Jump Start Program is the state’s new program for school districts, colleges and business to collaborate in providing career courses and workplace experiences to high school students, certifying them for the career field most likely to lead them to high-wage jobs.   Jump Start will be an elective path for students pursuing a university-preparatory diploma, and a required path for students pursuing a Career Diploma.

ITEM 6.  PERSONNEL MATTERS

ITEM 7.  BUSINESS AND FINANCE

ITEM 8.  OLD BUSINESS

ITEM 9.  NEW BUSINESS

ITEM 9a.  Mr. Phillip Johnson – Health Insurance Recommendation

MOTION BY:    Mr. Johnson

SECOND BY:   Mr. Bacas

MOTION:          To accept  the Insurance Committee’s recommendation to remain with Blue Cross Blue Shield, at no additional cost or change in coverage, for the health insurance provider.

No objections.

The motion carried.

9 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche

0 Nays 

2 Absent – Keller, Wise

ITEM 9b.  Mr. Bob Bourgeois – Request Board Permission to solicit RFPs for District Wireless LAN

MOTION BY:    Mr. Nicholas

SECOND BY:   Mr. Sanders

MOTION:          To approve the solicitation of RFPs for District Wireless LAN

No objections.

The motion carried.

9 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche

0 Nays 

2 Absent – Keller, Wise

ITEM 9c. Mr. Albert Burl, Land & Facilities Committee Chairman – Recommendation of Amendment to Professional Services Agreement / Broadmoor Design Group

Mr. Burl stated that it is the recommendation of the Land and Facilities Committee that this amendment be approved and offered the following explanation: 

·                Amendment #3 caps the air monitoring costs for mold and asbestos during East St John High School’s construction.  It is a modification to Broadmoor’s Contract Amendment #1. 

·                Broadmoor’s original contract was for basic architectural services. During the design phase, Amendment #1 was written to add electrical testing, HVAC testing and environmental testing and monitoring of the mold and asbestos remediation.

·                The Aims Group provided a lump sum for the environmental testing during the design phase and hourly rates for the air monitoring services during construction.  They could not provide a lump sum for the construction phase because the scope of work they would perform was dependent upon the means and methods the contractor would use during construction. Instead, they provided hourly rates upon which to base a lump sum amount in a future amendment.

·                The air monitoring was included in the original design specifications and the project cost estimate was $100,000.

·                After Lincoln Builders was selected, Aims Group worked with them to determine how to perform the air monitoring during construction.  This Amendment uses the hourly rates in Amendment #1 and caps that work at a Not to Exceed Amount of $88,800.

MOTION BY:    Mr. Burl

SECOND BY:   Mr. Jones

MOTION:          To approve the amendment to the Professional Services Agreement / Broadmoor Design Group.

No objections.

The motion carried.

9 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche

0 Nays 

2 Absent – Keller, Wise

ITEM 9d.  Mr. Albert Burl, Land & Facilities Chairman – Recommendation of Schematic Design for Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School

Mr. Burl stated that it is the recommendation of the Land and Facilities Committee to approve the Schematic Design for Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School.

MOTION BY:    Mr. Burl

SECOND BY:   Entire Board

MOTION:          To approve the Schematic Design for Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School.

No objections.

The motion carried.

9 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, Nicholas, Triche

0 Nays 

2 Absent – Keller, Wise

ITEM 9e.  Mr. Kevin George – Introduction of the School Board Meeting Calendar.

This item was for introduction only.

St. John the Baptist Parish

School Board Meeting Dates

January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015

ITEM 10.  ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

ITEM 10a.  Mr. Kevin R. George – Executive Session – Sales Tax Negotiation and PILOT Program

MOTION BY:    Mr. Nicholas

SECOND BY:   Mr. Sanders

MOTION:   To convene in Executive Session to discuss ITEM 10a.

No objections.

The motion carried.

The Board convened in Executive Session at 7:23 p.m.

MOTION BY:    Mr. Sanders

SECOND BY:   Mr. Johnson

MOTION:   To reconvene in Regular Session.

No objections.

The motion carried.

The Board reconvened in Regular Session at 7:56 p.m.

ITEM 11.  BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST

Mr. Jones reminded the Board and public that the December 11, 2014 meeting will be held at Emily C. Watkins.

Mr. Jack invited the public to the celebration at West St. John High School next Friday, November 14, 2014 to celebration RAM Week and their accomplishments.

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

MOTION BY:    Mr. Johnson

SECOND BY:   Mr. Jones

MOTION:          Motion for adjournment.

No objections.

The meeting adjourned at 7:57 p.m.

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Kevin R. George, Secretary                 

 ________________________________

Clarence Triche, President