PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

LAPLACE, LA – MEETING OF NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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 Hwy. 44, Reserve, LA  at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.

An agenda for the meeting is attached.

Sincerely, s/Kevin R. George

Superintendent/Secretary

ITEM 1.  CALL TO ORDER, INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

The Chair called for the invocation, led by Pastor Joyce Brown, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Ma’chai Johnson.

ITEM 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:

PRESENT:        Keller, Sanders, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

ABSENT:          Holden, DeFrancesch, Jones

There were 8 members present and 3 member absent.

ITEM 3a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meetings of October 19, 2017, October 30, 2017, and November 9, 2017.

Dr. Keller asked that the minutes reflect a correction for November 9, 2017:  Page 2 reflects a vote of Nay for Clarence Triche.  The vote for Clarence Triche should reflect an abstention.

MOTION BY:    Sanders

SECOND BY:    Triche

MOTION:  To approve the minutes from the meetings of October 19, 2017, October 30, 2017, and November 9, 2017 with correction.

No objections.

The motion carried.

The Chair announced that Item 5a would be addressed first.

ITEM 5a.  EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS – Dr. Juanita Hill – Recognition of 800 Plus Students

The following students were recognized for obtaining an 800+ on the LEAP test.

The Chair declared a 5 minute recess

At 6:26 p.m., the Board reconvened in Regular Session.

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

a.  Recognition of Principals Showing Growth

b.  Recognition of Schools Showing Exemplary Growth

c.  Recognition of Top Gains School

Mr. George presented plaques to the following principals:

Christal Sylvain – John L. Ory Magnet School – Exemplary Student Growth

Antoinette Robinet – Emily C. Watkins Elementary School – Exemplary Student Growth

Claude Hill – West St. John High School – Exemplary Student Growth

Terran Perry – Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School – Advancing to a “C” School

Stacy Bradford – East St. John Preparatory School – Advancing to a “B” School

Jason Beber – Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School – 2017 Top Gains School – State of Louisiana

Keith Jones arrived at 6:21 p.m. and was recorded as present.

Charo Holden arrived at 6:42 p.m. and was recorded as present.

Dr. Stephen Zafirau – Dr. Zafirau shared the following information:

Majority of SJBP Schools Show Growth in 2016-2017

District Performance Score:

• We have the highest District Performance Score of any district that serves a student population where at least 83 percent are classified as economically disadvantaged.

• We continued to increase the number of students scoring Mastery and above on state assessments, and we were among the top 10 districts in the state for growth in students scoring Mastery and above on Science assessments.

• Strong subcomponents included our High School EOC Index (+3.5 points) and Dropout Credit Accumulation Index (+2.8 points).

• We earned the maximum of 10 Progress Points, which are awarded to districts that make a significant difference in improving the scores of students who previously Approaching Basic or Unsatisfactory.

School Performance Scores:

• Two schools improved a letter grade: ESJE (now a “B”) and GMMS (now a “C)

• Six schools increased their SPS:

• • ECW, ESJE, GMMS, JLO, LPE, WSJH.

• Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School was designated a Top Gains School.  LPE had the highest growth among schools in the district, increasing its school performance score by 10.1 points.

• John L. Ory Communication Arts Magnet School maintained its “A” grade for a sixth consecutive year, increasing its score even further by 1.2 points to a 104.9.

• School Leadership Teams have been analyzing their results since the summer and have been working all semester to improve their SPS:

• • Working to implement the TAP system at their schools.

  • Identifying student weaknesses and gaps from the data and providing interventions.

  • Strengthening the use of top, Tier 1 curriculum so that students are engaged in challenging learning. 

  • Stronger tracking systems to track high school students to ensure they graduate within 4 years.

  • Increased ACT-prep offerings and multiple opportunities to take the ACT/WorkKeys assessments.

  • More students attempting CLEP and AP assessments for college credit

ITEM 5.  EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS – Dr. Juanita Hill – Recognition of 800 Plus Students

This item was address first in the meeting.

b. Mr. Cory Butler – Overview of St. John the Baptist Parish Alternative Program

Mr. Butler shared the following information:

ITEM 6.  PERSONNEL MATTERS a. Serina Duke – Teacher Certification Report

Mrs. Duke shared the following information:

Dr. Keller requested that the Personnel Changes be printed in the official minutes and asked legal to research whether it would be ok to have that done.

ITEM 7.  BUSINESS AND FINANCE

ITEM 7a.  Mr. Peter Montz – Request Board approval to solicit proposals for Property Insurance..

MOTION BY:    Wise

SECOND BY:    Johnson

MOTION:  To approve the solicitation of proposals for Property Insurance. 

Upon roll call, there were:

9 Yeas –  Holden,  Keller, Sanders, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

1 Absent – DeFrancesch

1 Not Seated - Jones

The motion carried.

ITEM 7b.  Mr. Peter Montz – Recommendation on Bid 18.29 Lake Pontchartrain Contents.

MOTION BY:    Sanders

SECOND BY:    Wallace

MOTION:  To approve the recommendation on Bid 18.29 Lake Pontchartrain Contents. 

Upon roll call, there were:

8 Yeas –  Holden, Sanders, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

1 Absent – DeFrancesch

2 Not Seated – Keller, Jones

The motion carried.

ITEM 7c. Mr. Felix Boughton – To consider and take action with respect to adopting a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, October 14, 2017, to authorize the renewal of a special tax therein.

MOTION BY:    Entire Seated Board

SECOND BY:   

MOTION:  To adopt a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, October 14, 2017, to authorize the renewal of a special tax therein. 

Upon roll call, there were:

8 Yeas –  Holden, Sanders, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

1 Absent – DeFrancesch

2 Not Seated – Keller, Jones

The motion carried.

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                  The following resolution was offered by ______________________________ and seconded by ____________________________________:

RESOLUTION

A resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the special election held in School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, October 14, 2017, to authorize the renewal of a special tax therein.

                  BE IT RESOLVED by the Parish School Board of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana, that:

                  SECTION 1.  Canvass.  This Governing Authority does now proceed in open and public session to examine the official tabulations of votes cast at the special election held in School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana, on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2017, to authorize the renewal of a special tax therein, and said Governing Authority does further proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the special election.

                  SECTION 2.  Procès Verbal.  A Procès Verbal of the canvass of the returns of said election shall be made and a certified copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who shall record the same in his office; another certified copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Recorder of Mortgages in and for the Parish of St. John the Baptist, who shall record the same in the Mortgage Records of said Parish; and another copy thereof shall be retained in the archives of this Governing Authority.

                  SECTION 3.  Promulgation of Election Result.  The re­sult of said election shall be promulgated by publication in the manner provided by law.

                  This resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:

MEMBERS:                        YEAS:       NAYS:        ABSENT:      ABSTAINING:

Charo Holden                                                                                         

Albert “Ali” Burl, III                                                                                  

Gerald J. Keller                                                                                      

Patrick H. Sanders                                                                                 

Sherry DeFrancesch                                                                               

Keith Jones                                                                                            

Phillip Johnson                                                                                       

Russ Wise                                                                                             

Shawn Wallace                                                                                      

Nia Mitchell                                                                                            

Clarence Triche                                                                                      

                And the resolution was declared adopted on this, the 16^th day of November, 2017.

                              /s/ Kevin R. George                                                                               /s/ Albert A. Burl, III                

                             Secretary                                                             President

PROCÈS VERBAL AND PROCLAMATION OF THE CANVASS OF THE VOTES CAST AT THE SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1 OF THE PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, STATE OF LOUISIANA, ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2017.

            BE IT KNOWN AND REMEMBERED that on Thursday, November 16, 2017, at six o'clock (6:00) p.m., at its regular meeting place, the Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria, 1600 Hwy. 44, Reserve, Louisiana, the Parish School Board of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana (the "District"), and being the authority ordering the special election held therein on Saturday, October 14, 2017, with the following members present:

_______________________________________________________________

There being absent: ______________________________________________;

did, in open and public session, examine the official certified tabulations of votes cast at the said election, and did examine and canvass the returns of the said election, there having been submitted at said election the following proposition, to wit:

PROPOSITION

(MILLAGE RENEWAL)

Shall School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana (the “District”) levy a special tax of eight (8) mills on all property subject to taxation within the District (an estimated $3,418,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2019 and ending with the year 2028, for the purpose of providing additional support to public elementary and secondary  schools in the District, dedicating one (1) mill to pay the  District’s unfunded obligations for health benefits for retired employees and to establish a trust fund for said purpose to the extent permitted by law; dedicating four (4) mills to pay salaries and benefits of teachers and other employees; and dedicating three (3) mills to implement a  written plan for academic school improvements, a copy of which is on file with the Secretary of the Parish School Board?

            There was found by said count and canvass that there was a total of 2,138 votes cast IN FAVOR OF the Proposition and a total of 1,302 votes cast AGAINST the Proposi­tion, as hereinabove set forth, and that there was a majority of 836 votes cast IN FAVOR OF the Proposition as hereinabove set forth.

            Therefore, the Governing Authority did declare and proclaim and does hereby declare and proclaim in open and public session that the Proposition as herein­above set forth was duly CARRIED by a majority of the votes cast by the qualified electors voting at the said special election held in the District on Saturday, October 14, 2017.

            Results by precinct are available from the Secretary of this Governing Authority during regular business hours or via the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website (voterportal.sos.la.gov).

            Exhibit "A" attached hereto and made a part of this Procès Verbal is a copy of the Notice of Special Election and prpublication thereof.

            THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Reserve, Louisiana, on this, the 16^th day of November, 2017.

ATTEST:                                                                                                     /s/ Albert A. Burl, III        

                                                                                                        President

                     /s/ Kevin R. George                    

                             Secretary

EXHIBIT "A"

NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION

                  Pursuant to the provisions of a resolution adopted by the Parish School Board of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana (the "District"), on April 20, 20176, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special election will be held within the District on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2017, and that at the said election there will be submitted to all registered voters in the District qualified and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution of the United States, the following proposition, to-wit:

PROPOSITION

(MILLAGE RENEWAL)

Shall School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana (the “District”) levy a special tax of eight (8) mills on all property subject to taxation within the District (an estimated $3,418,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2019 and ending with the year 2028, for the purpose of providing additional support to public elementary and secondary  schools in the District, dedicating one (1) mill to pay the  District’s unfunded obligations for health benefits for retired employees and to establish a trust fund for said purpose to the extent permitted by law; dedicating four (4) mills to pay salaries and benefits of teachers and other employees; and dedicating three (3) mills to implement a  written plan for academic school improvements, a copy of which is on file with the Secretary of the Parish School Board?

                  The said special election will be held at the following polling places situated within the District, which polls will open at seven o'clock (7:00) a.m., and close at eight o'clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 18:541, to-wit:

                  The polling places set forth above are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said election, and the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively, shall be those persons designated according to law.

                  Notice is further given that a portion of the monies collected from the tax described in the Proposition shall be remitted to certain state and statewide retirement systems in the manner required by law.

                  The said special election will be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 5 and Chapter 6-A of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, and the officers appointed to hold the said election, as provided in this Notice of Special Election, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accordance with La. R.S. 18:1287, will make due returns thereof to said Governing Authority, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Governing Authority will meet at its regular meeting place, the Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria, 1600 Hwy. 44, Reserve, Louisiana, on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017, at SIX O'CLOCK (6:00) P.M., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the said special election.  All registered voters of the District are entitled to vote at said special election and voting machines will be used.

                  THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Reserve, Louisiana, on this, the 20^th day of April, 2017.

ATTEST:                                                                                                     /s/ Albert A. Burl, III        

                                                                                                        President

                     /s/ Kevin R. George                    

                             Secretary

PROCLAMATION

                  I, the undersigned President of the Parish School Board of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana, the governing authority of School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana (the "District"), do hereby declare, proclaim and announce that the proposition submitted at the special election held in the District on Saturday, October 14, 2017, was CARRIED by a majority of the votes cast at the said special election, all as described and set out in the above Procès Verbal.

                  THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Reserve, Louisiana, on this, the 16^th day of November, 2017.

                                                                                                                  /s/ Albert A. Burl, III        

                                                                                                        President

STATE OF LOUISIANA

PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

            I, the undersigned Secretary of the Parish School Board of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), the governing authority of School District No. 1 of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana (the "District"), do hereby certify that the foregoing pages constitute a true and correct copy of the proceedings and Procès Verbal made by said Governing Authority on Thursday, November 16, 2017, providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the special election held in the District on Saturday, October 14, 2017, to authorize the renewal of a special tax therein.

            IN FAITH WHEREOF, witness my official signature at Reserve, Louisiana, on this, the 16^th day of November, 2017.

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ITEM 7d.  Mr. Felix Boughton – Approve Contract with ACI, Inc. for Sales/Use Tax and Hotel/Motel Tax collection services.

MOTION BY:    Wise

SECOND BY:    Mitchell

MOTION:  To approve the contract with ACI, Inc. for Sales/Use Tax and Hotel/Motel Tax collection services.

Upon roll call, there were:

8 Yeas –  Holden,  Keller, Sanders, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche

1 Nay – Burl

1 Absent – DeFrancesch

1 Not Seated - Jones

The motion carried.

ITEM 7e.  Mr. Felix Boughton - Introduce protest procedure policy

This item was for introduction only.

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Protest Procedures for Request for Proposals (RFP) and Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

      I.         General: Failure of a prospective offeror or prospective contractor (hereinafter “protesting party”) to comply with these underlying protest procedures will render a protest inadequate and untimely and will result in the rejection of the protest. In no event shall a protest be considered if all submittals are cancelled, rejected, or after a contract has been executed.

     II.         Who May File a Protest: Only the protesting party who is aggrieved in connection with the RFP or RFQ or award of the contract may file a protest.

   III.         Time for Filing: A protesting party who is considering filing a protest must file the official written protest within five (5) work days after administration notifies the protesting party of the recommendation. If the protesting party fails to file a protest or files an untimely protest, the party has waived its right to protest the solicitation or award of the contract in any forum.

   IV.         Notice of Protest: The protest shall be in writing and addressed to the superintendent. The protest shall state all grounds that the protesting party asserts the RFP or RFQ contractor selection recommendation is improper.

     V.         Content of Protest: The protest must be complete at the time of submittal; the RFQ/RFP protest may not be supplemented after submittal. The protest must identify the notice inviting requests for proposals/qualifications being protested by name and number. The protest must identify the grounds for the protest and must state all factual and legal grounds for the protest. The protest must identify any available exhibits, evidence, or documents supporting the protest. An individual or entity may not submit more than one RFP/RFQ protest for a notice inviting request for proposals/qualifications.

   VI.         Committee to Review Protest: The superintendent shall select a committee of three (3) members to review the protest. The committee shall contain at least one nonemployee/non contractor member. These three (3) committee members shall be completely independent from the RFP and RFQ process.

  VII.         Protest Hearing: The committee will schedule a protest hearing within five (5) working days of receipt of the protest. The protesting party will be allowed an opportunity to state all grounds that form the basis of the protest.

VIII.         Committee Recommendation: The committee will recommend to the superintendent whether or not the recommendation for contractor selection is proper or if the protest has merit. The committee will issue its recommendation within five (5) working days of the hearing. The time period may be extended by consent of the committee and the protesting party.

   IX.         Actions by Superintendent: If the committee recommendation is that the contractor selection recommendation is proper, then the recommendation to award goes to the board. If the committee recommendation is that the protest has merit, then the recommendation will be made to the board to either award the contract to the next responsible proposer/qualifier using the RFQ/RFP scoring system, or in the event that there is a defect in the RFP or RFQ, re-advertise. 

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ITEM 8.  OLD BUSINESS

None

ITEM 9.  NEW BUSINESS

ITEM 9a.   Mr. Albert Burl, III – Introduction to 2018 School Board Meeting Calendar

This item was for introduction only.

St. John the Baptist Parish

School Board Meeting Dates

January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018

ITEM 9b.  Mrs. Patricia Triche – Head Start Director’s Reports

This item was for informational purposes only.  The Board Members were provided with printed copies of all reports.

Mrs. Triche stated that the Coordinated Funding was now open for Public Comment.

There was no public comment.

ITEM 10.  ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS                              

ITEM 11.  BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST

Ms. Gabrielle McKarry introduced herself to the Board as the new central office clerk and assistant to Asst. Superintendent Heidi Trosclair.

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

MOTION BY:    Wise

SECOND BY:    Keller

MOTION:          Motion for adjournment.

There were no objections.

The meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m.

________________________________                 ________________________________

Kevin R. George, Secretary                                 Albert A. Burl, III, President