PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
RESERVE, LA – MEETING OF OCTOBER 15, 2015
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, September 17, 2015, 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, Keller, Sanders, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche, Jones
ABSENT: DeFrancesch
There were 10 members present, 1 absent.
ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
ITEM 3a. Meetings of September 17, 2015
MOTION BY: Nicholas
SECOND BY: Triche
MOTION: To approve the minutes of the meeting of September 17, 2015.
No objections.
The motion carried.
ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
ITEM 4a. Supt. George stated that over the last couple of meetings, he has turned his report over to principals of our schools in an effort to “introduce” the administrative teams at each school, as well as highlight what’s going on at their individual schools. This week will focus on the remaining 4 schools to introduce themselves and their team:
West St. John High Elementary School: Ms. Chantell Walker
Fifth Ward Elementary School: Ms. Kendria Spears
Emily C. Watkins Elementary School: Ms. Antoinette Robinet
East St. John Elementary School: Mr. Stacy Bradford
ITEM 4b. BESE District 2 Candidate (Introductions)
BESE Candidates introduced themselves to the Board: Ms. Kara Tamara Washington and Ms. Kira Orange-Jones
ITEM 4c. Mr. Elton Oubre – Enrollment Updates
Mr. Oubre shared the following information with the Board:
Mr. Clarence Triche stated that he is reviving the Gold & Silver Card Program for this school year as an incentive to students to do well in school.
ITEM 5. EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS BY THE BOARD OR STAFF
ITEM 5a. Mrs. Patricia Triche - 2014-15 Head Start PIR Report / September Update / CLASS Observations
Mrs. Patricia Triche presented the Board with the 2014-15 Head Start PIR Report, along with an update for September and the CLASS Observations.
ITEM 6. PERSONNEL MATTERS
None
ITEM 7. BUSINESS AND FINANCE
ITEM 7a. Mr. Felix Boughton – Request approval of resolution for Community Development Block Grant Funding
Mr. Boughton stated that this money will be used to procure 20 new buses.
MOTION BY: Nicholas
SECOND BY: Entire Board
MOTION: To approve the resolution for Community Development Block Grant.
No objections.
Upon roll call, there were:
10 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche, Jones
0 Nays
1 absent – DeFrancesch
The motion carried.
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ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
STATE OF LOUISIANA
A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT AND AUTHORIZE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD’S ACCESS TO AND USE OF HURRICANE ISAAC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) RECOVERY FUNDS
WHEREAS, St. John the Baptist Parish Council has set aside $5,000,000 in Hurricane Isaac Community Development Block Grant funds to assist with Hurricane Isaac damages incurred by the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board;
WHEREAS, in anticipation of the St. John the Baptist Parish Council passing a resolution at its October 27, 2015 council meeting, authorizing and allowing the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board to expend funds on the procurement of school buses, FEMA cost share and other eligible expenses related to recovery activity as a result of Hurricane Isaac, as reflected in the Isaac Recovery Proposal being submitted to the Louisiana Office of Community Development-Disaster Recovery Unit, which is required in order to document the impact of Hurricane Isaac on the school system and identify priority projects eligible under Isaac CDBG regulations that will address the recovery needs of the St. John Parish School Board; and
WHEREAS, St. John the Baptist Parish School Board must enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) with the Louisiana Office of Community Development – Disaster Recovery Unit in order to have a contractual relationship for the expenditure of these funds within the regulatory, compliance and policy guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the State of Louisiana;
THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED, that the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board authorizes Superintendent Kevin George to sign and submit the Hurricane Isaac Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Recovery Proposal, the subsequent Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) with the Louisiana Office of Community Development – Disaster Recovery Unit and any and all related documents, as may be required, on behalf of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board.
The vote, in an open meeting on October 15, 2015, on the resolution was as follows:
YEAS: __________
NAYS: __________
ABSENT: __________
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ITEM 7b. Mr. Felix Boughton – Authorize administration to advertise and accept sealed bids on 20 new buses, contingent on approval of Community Development Block Grant funds
MOTION BY: Nicholas
SECOND BY: Burl
MOTION: To approve Proposal 16.26 General and Fleet Liability Insurance.
No objections.
10 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche, Jones
0 Nays
1 absent – DeFrancesch
The motion carried.
ITEM 7c. Mr. Felix Boughton – Quarterly Budget to Actual Report
This item was for informational purposes only. Mr. Boughton stated that he would discuss this in greater detail at the Financial Workshop next Tuesday.
ITEM 7d. Mr. Felix Boughton – Recommendation on Design/Construction Management Professional for Synthetic Turf
Land and Facilities Committee Recommenation: To recommend to the full board to accept Civil and Environmental Consulting for the Design/Construction Management Professional for Synthetic Turf
MOTION BY: Burl
SECOND BY: Sanders
MOTION: To accept Civil and Environmental Consulting for the Design/Construction Management Professional for Synthetic Turf.
No objections.
Upon roll call, there were:
10 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche, Jones
0 Nays
1 absent – DeFrancesch
The motion carried.
ITEM 7e. Mr. Felix Boughton – Recommendation on Health Insurance
Mr. Boughton stated that Blue Cross/Blue Shield offered an extension for another year without rate increases.
MOTION BY: Burl
SECOND BY: Sanders
MOTION: To accept the extension offered by Blue Cross/Blue Shield for health insurance.
No objections.
Upon roll call, there were:
10 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche, Jones
0 Nays
1 absent – DeFrancesch
The motion carried.
ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS
ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS
ITEM 9a. Ms. Cindy Janecke – Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School Demolition Substantial Completion
MOTION BY: Burl
SECOND BY: Sanders
MOTION: To accept substantial completion on Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School Demolition as of September 4, 2015.
No objections.
10 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche, Jones
0 Nays
1 absent – DeFrancesch
The motion carried.
ITEM 10. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Rev. Nicholas stated that Mr. Ryan Perrilloux was in the audience and wanted to recognize him.
ITEM 11. BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST
Dr. Keller asked if the Board would waive policy to discuss the insurance recovery(fire) at East St. John Elementary School.
MOTION BY: Keller
SECOND BY: Sanders
MOTION: To waive policy to discuss the insurance recovery (fire) at East St. John Elementary School.
No objections.
Upon roll call, there were:
10 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche, Jones
0 Nays
1 absent – DeFrancesch
The motion carried.
Dr. Keller stated that he was concerned about the amount of time it is taking to get an insurance settlement for ESJE to begin repairs from the recent fire. He further stated that he feels that since we are under an Emergency Declaration, we could go ahead and award the work and get a head start. Mr. Orenthal Jasmin, School Board Attorney, stated that the Emergency Declaration was made to get the students back in class as soon as possible. The repair work had been done to the Leon Godchaux Campus under the Emergency Declaration. The students are back in school, therefore, we are no longer under a “state of emergency”.
Mr. George stated that first we must secure an insurance settlement from the insurance company, which he anticipates in the next week. Before that happens, there’s really nothing administration can do to speed up the process.
ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT - The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a
MOTION BY: Burl
SECOND BY: Sanders
MOTION: Motion for adjournment.
No objections.
The meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
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Kevin R. George, Secretary
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Keith A. Jones, President