PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

LAPLACE, LA – MEETING OF DECEMBER 13, 2018

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 Emily C. Watkins Elementary School, 938 La. Hwy. 628, LaPlace, Louisiana, on Thursday, December 13, 2018 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.  He called for a moment of silent meditation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Tracy Hypolite.

ITEM 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS: The Chair called for Public Comment.

PRESENT:       Holden, Keller, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

ABSENT:          DeFrancesch, Wise

There were 9 members present and 2 member absent.

ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Chair called for Public Comment.

ITEM 3a.  Approval of Minutes of the Meeting of Meeting of November 15, 2018 and Town Hall Meeting of November 27, 2018

MOTION BY:    Sanders

SECOND BY:   Jones

MOTION:  To approve the minutes from the meeting of November 15, 2018 and Town Hall Meeting of November 27, 2018.

No objections.

The motion carried.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas - Holden, Keller, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Wise

Mr. Sanders asked that the minutes of the meeting of November 15, 2018 be amended to include his request for the superintendent to give the Board a report on test scores and the status from this point forward.  He would like this report to include what changes will take place to show what direction the district will be going.

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

ITEM 4a.  Public Comment.  Mr. Kevin George – Recognition of Christmas Card Winners

Mr. George announced the following winners of this year’s Christmas Card Contest and presented them with plaques:

1^st -4^th Grade Category:  Hailee Sanders, Emily C. Watkins Elementary School, 3^rd  Grade

5^th-8^th Grade Category:  Emani Payne, ESJH STEM Magnet High Program, 8^th Grade

9^th-12^th Grade Category:  Saja Nicholas, ESJH STEM Magnet High Program, 9^th Grade

The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue.

ITEM 4b.  Mrs. Patricia Triche – Coordinated Funding Request (Presented for public comment)

The floor was opened for public comment on this item. There was none.

The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue.

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

ITEM 5a.  Public Comment.  Dr. Juanita Hill – Recognition of ACT Elite Students

Dr. Hill recognized the following students for their achievement:

ITEM 5b.  Public Comment.  Mrs. Serina Duke – Recognition of Teachers of the Year

Ms. Serina Duke recognized the following Teachers of the Year and Principal of the Year.  They were presented with gifts, a candy bouquet, and a gift card from RTC.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2018-2019 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR!

NAME                                                                          SCHOOL SITE

Bridget Cirior                                                                Emily C Watkins

Michelle Laurent                                                           Emily C Watkins

Billie Duncan                                                                East St John High

Gwenseta Fenroy                                                          East St. John Prep

Sara Beber                                                                   Garyville Mt. Airy

Samuel Mamou                                                             Garyville Mt. Airy

Alison Duhone                                                              Fifth Ward Elementary

Kimberly Poullard                                                          John L Ory

Demetrise Charles                                                        John L Ory

Musette Harding                                                           LaPlace Elementary

Amy Sagona                                                                 LaPlace Elementary

Denia Guidry                                                                Lake Pontchartrain

Kelley Thompson                                                          Lake Pontchartrain

Phillip Smith                                                                 STEM Program

Bertina Richard                                                             West St. John Elem

Deedra Spurlock                                                           West St. John Elem

Rochelle Darville                                                           West St. John High

Echerica Claiborne                                                        West St. John High

2018-2019 PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR

Chantell Walker

West St. John Elementary School

The Chair declared a recess at 6:29 p.m.

MOTION BY:    Triche

SECOND BY:   Mitchell

MOTION:  To reconvene in Regular Session

The motion carried.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas - Holden, Keller, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Wise

The Board reconvened in Regular Session at 6:39 p.m.

ITEM 5c.  Public Comment.  Mr. Patrick H. Sanders - Resolution of Appreciation: Board Member Russ Wise

Mr. Sanders read the following Resolution into the record and was signed by all current Board members:

Resolution of Appreciation

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA

WHEREAS,        Mr. Russ Wise served the St. John the Baptist Parish community for 18 years as a School Board Member; and

WHEREAS,        Mr. Wise’s tenure as a Board Member demonstrated vision, integrity, and guidance as he served the State of Louisiana and the Parish of   St. John the Baptist; and

WHEREAS,        the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board recognizes his dedication and commitment to the students, employees and community, and his efforts in advancing education in St. John the Baptist Parish; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that this school district extends our best wishes for continued success and good health, and our appreciation for his leadership, as well as his friendship, and that this Resolution be made part of the official record on this date, December 13, 2018,  thus done and  subscribed therein.

The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue.

ITEM 6.  PERSONNEL MATTERS

ITEM 6a.  Public Comment. Mrs. Serina Duke – Request approval of Revised Job Description: Supervisor of External Programs Fiscal Officer

MOTION BY:    Sanders

SECOND BY:   Holden

MOTION:  To table.

The motion carried.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas - Holden, Keller, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Wise

The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue.

ITEM 6b.  Public Comment.  Mrs. Serina Duke – Request approval of Revised Policy:  Bulletin 130

MOTION BY:    Keller

SECOND BY:   Triche

MOTION:  To table.

The motion carried.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas - Holden, Keller, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Wise

The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue.

ITEM 6c.  Public comment.  Mrs. Serina Duke – Request approval of New Job Description:  Full time Early Childhood Program Assistant

MOTION BY:    Sanders

SECOND BY:   Jones

MOTION:  To approve New Job Description:  Full time Early Childhood Program Assistant

The motion carried.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas - Holden, Keller, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Wise

The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue

ITEM 7.  BUSINESS AND FINANCE

ITEM 7a.  Public comment.  Felix Boughton – Monthly Budget to Actual

The following information was shared:

The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue.

ITEM 7b.  Public Comment.  Mr. Felix Boughton – Request Board approval on Proposal 19.28 Substitute Staffing Services

Mr. Boughton stated that Administation is recommendation is to reject all proposals and continue with the current month-to-month contract with Kelly Services for Substitute Staffing.

MOTION BY:    Sanders

SECOND BY:   Mitchell

MOTION:  To reject all proposals and continue with the current month-to-month contract with Kelly Services for Substitute Staffing.

No objections.

The motion carried.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas - Holden, Keller, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Wise

The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue.

ITEM 7c.Public Comment.  Mr. Felix Boughton – Authorize administration to do a request for proposals for the SOC report for ACI

MOTION BY:    Triche

SECOND BY:   Wallace

MOTION:  To authorize administration to do a request for proposals for the SOC report for ACI.

No objections.

The motion carried.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas - Holden, Keller, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Wise

District Attorney’s Office:  The School Board’s currently sales and use tax collection contract mandates the following:  “Service Organization Control (SOC) reports shall be prepared and generated by a School Board selected, independent third-party accounting firm or company, with at least five (5) years of qualified knowledge and experience with auditing and collection processes for local government sales and use and Hotel-Motel tax collection services.  The cost of the SOC report will be paid by the School Board.”

ITEM 8.  OLD BUSINESS

ITEM 8a.  Public Comment. Mr. Kevin R. George/Mr. Albert Burl, III – Request Approval of 2019 School Board Meeting Calendar

MOTION BY:    Wallace

SECOND BY:   Triche

MOTION:  To approve the 2019 School Board Meeting Calendar

No objections.

The motion carried.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas - Holden, Keller, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Wise

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St. John the Baptist Parish

School Board Meeting Dates

January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019

Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria:  1600 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana

West St. John Elementary School:  2555 LA Hwy. 18, Edgard, Louisiana

Emily C. Watkins Elementary School:  944 La. Hwy. 628, LaPlace, Louisiana

Lake  Pontchartrain Elementary School:  3328 Hwy. 51, LaPlace, Louisiana

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The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue.

ITEM 8b.  Public Comment.  Ms. Iman Montgomery – Remove from the table and Request Approval of Collective Bargaining Agreement with SJAE

MOTION BY:    Sanders

SECOND BY:   Holden

MOTION:  To approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement with SJAE for 3 years.

No objections.

The motion carried.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas - Holden, Keller, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Wise

The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue.

ITEM 8c.  Public Comment.  Ms. Iman Montgomery – Ms. Iman Montgomery – Request Approval of 19.29 Group Life Insurance

MOTION BY:    Sanders

SECOND BY:   Jones

MOTION:  To approve 19.29 Group Life Insurance (Option 2)

No objections.

The motion carried.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas - Holden, Keller, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Wise

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The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue.

ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS.  ITEM 9a.  Public Comment.  Ms. Iman Montgomery - Request Recommendation of Lease of the former Godchaux Grammar School Site

MOTION BY:    Sanders

SECOND BY:   Jones

MOTION:  To approve the Lease of the former Godchaux Grammar School Site

No objections.

The motion carried.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas - Holden, Keller, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Wise

The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue.

ITEM 9b.  Public Comment.  Ms. Iman Montgomery – Request Recommendation of Lease of Sixth Ward Elementary School Site

MOTION BY:    Keller

SECOND BY:   Johnson

MOTION:  To approve the Lease of Sixth Ward Elementary School Site, contingent upon the TIPIN Group providing their plan to take over the site.

No objections.

The motion carried.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas - Holden, Keller, Sanders, Jones, Johnson, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Wise

The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue.

ITEM 10.  ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

The Chair called for Public Comment.

ITEM 11.  BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST

The Chair called for Public Comment.

Mr. Sanders clarified with the Superintendent what his intentions were when asking for the report earlier in the meeting.  He reiterated that he wants to see what direction this district is heading and what plan Mr. George has to get us there.

Dr. Keller asked that a resolution to the family of Mr. Sydney Sanders be presented at the next Board meeting.

Mr. Wallace thanked Ms. Robinet for the use of her school for the Board meeting.

Dr. Keller asked that Mr. George report to the Board what he learns when travelling to conferences.  Mr. George stated that he currently has been invited to present at 2 national conferences.

ITEM 12.  ADJOURNMENT

The Chair called for Public Comment.

The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a

MOTION BY:    Sanders

SECOND BY:   Mitchell

MOTION:         Motion for adjournment.

There were no objections.

The meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.

________________________________                                 ________________________________

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