PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
RESERVE, LA – MEETING OF NOVEMBER 17, 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 special session at Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria, 1600 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana, on Tuesday, November 17, 2015, at 12:00 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, led by Mr. Peter Montz.
ITEM 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:
PRESENT: Jack, Burl, Keller, Johnson, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche, Jones
ABSENT: Sanders, DeFrancesch, Wise
There were 8 members present, 3 absent.
ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
ITEM 3a. Meetings of November 5, 2015
MOTION BY: Wallace
SECOND BY: Burl
MOTION: To approve the minutes of the meeting of November 5, 2015.
No objections.
The motion carried.
Mr. Wise arrived at 12:04 p.m. and was recorded as present.
ITEM 4. Mr. Felix Boughton – Announce intent to call a special election to levy and increase ad valorem property taxes
Mr. Boughton stated that this is a formal announcement that the Board must make in the event the Board decides to levy and/or increase ad valorem property taxes and / or sales tax.
MOTION BY: Burl
SECOND BY: Johnson
MOTION: To announce: Notice is hereby given that at its meeting to be held on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at the West St. John Elementary School, 2555 La. Hwy. 18, Edgard, Louisiana, the Parish School Board of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana, plans to consider adopting a resolution ordering and calling an election to be held in School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist to authorize the levy of ad valorem taxes or sales taxes.
No objections.
Upon roll call, there were:
8 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Jones
0 Nays
1 Abstention - Triche
2 Absent – Sanders, DeFrancesch
The motion carried.
ITEM 5. Mr. Peter Montz – Request Board approval to solicit bids for the installation of Synthetic Field Turf at Joe Keller Stadium and Rudolph G. Dinvaut Stadium
MOTION BY: Burl
SECOND BY: Wallace
MOTION: To approve the solicitation of bids for the installation of synthetic turf fields at Joe Keller and Rudolph Dinvaut Stadiums.
No objections.
Upon roll call, there were:
9 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche, Jones
0 Nays
2 Absent – Sanders, DeFrancesch
The motion carried.
ITEM 6. Mr. Peter Montz – Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School Bid Recommendation
MOTION BY: Triche
SECOND BY: Keller
MOTION: To accept Lincoln Builders of Baton Rouge as low bidder for the Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School and to accept their bid of $20,995,000, along with the Add Alternate (Gym) at $2,300,000 – for a total of $23,295,000.
Upon roll call, there were:
7 Yeas –Keller, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche, Jones
1 Nays - Burl
1 Abstention - Jack
2 Absent – Sanders, DeFrancesch
The motion carried.
Discussion:
Mr. Burl asked the record to show that he objects to accepting Lincoln Builders based on the problems with West St. John Elementary and East St. John High School’s change order percentage. He stated that the average change order percentage is 5%, but the percentage on ESJH’s recent renovation with Lincoln Builders was 16%. He also stated that the Land and Facilities Committee’s recommendation is to approve this item, however, he did not vote in favor of the recommendation.
Dr. Keller stated that the change orders are approved by the board and also pointed out that most of the change orders for ESJH was directed by the board for enhancements.
Mr. Wise asked the attorney if there is a legal way to not accept a low bidder based on the unsatisfactory work performed by that particular company. Mr. Wise continued by saying that he would like to see other companies have the opportunity to work in St. John Parish. Mr. Jasmin stated that he is asking the Board for a formal request (by way of motion and vote) so that he could do the research and present an opinion to the Board.
MOTION BY: Wise
SECOND BY: Burl
MOTION: To waive policy to discuss requesting the Board attorney to research whether the Board can reject a low bidder based on the Board’s dissatisfaction on previous work done.
No objections.
Upon roll call, there were:
9 Yeas –Jack, Burl, Keller, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche, Jones
0 Nays
2 Absent – Sanders, DeFrancesch
The motion carried.
MOTION BY: Wise
SECOND BY: Nicholas
MOTION: To request the District Attorney’s Office to research and determine if there are any alternatives to accepting a low bidder based on the Board’s dissatisfaction of previous work.
No objections.
Upon roll call, there were:
9 Yeas –Jack, Burl, Keller, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche, Jones
0 Nays
2 Absent – Sanders, DeFrancesch
The motion carried.
ITEM 7. Mr. Peter Montz – Notice to Proceed on East St. John Elementary School Design (Option 3 or 4)
MOTION BY: Triche
SECOND BY: Wise
MOTION: To give Notice to Proceed to Yeates and Yeates Architects on East St. John Elementary School Design Phase on Option 4.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY: Wise
SECOND BY:
This motion failed due the lack of a second.
Upon roll call on the Original Motion, there were:
9 Yeas – Jack, Burl, Keller, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche, Jones
0 Nays
2 Absent – Sanders, DeFrancesch
The motion carried.
ITEM 8. Board Items of Interest
Mr. Nicholas asked that the April 21, 2016 Board meeting be held at LaPlace Elementary School.
Mr. Wise stated that Mr. Olynick with United Way asked that he let the Board know that St. John United Way is not affiliated with Common Core in any way.
Dr. Keller asked when the SJAE Contract would be printed. Mr. George stated that Ms. Eschette had just received the corrected copy and it has been uploaded to the website.
ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT - The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a
MOTION BY: Triche
SECOND BY: Burl
MOTION: Motion for adjournment.
No objections.
The meeting adjourned at 1:09 p.m.
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Kevin R. George, Secretary
________________________________
Keith A. Jones, President