PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
LAPLACE, LA – MEETING OF APRIL 25, 2019
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, April 25, 2019 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 Dr. Gerald Keller.
ITEM 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS: The Chair called for Public Comment.
PRESENT: Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Sanders
ABSENT: Holden, DeFrancesch, Mitchell
There were 8 members present and 3 members absent.
ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Chair called for Public Comment.
Ms. Carolyn Batiste stated that she searched but could not find in any minutes that there was a public meeting regarding the Charter School before the Board approved Charter.
ITEM 3a. Approval of Minutes of the Meeting of April 4, 2019
MOTION BY: Burl
SECOND BY: Jones
MOTION: To approve the minutes from the meeting of April 4, 2019.
No objections.
The motion carried.
Roll Call:
8 Yeas – Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Sanders
3 Absent – Holden, DeFrancesch, Mitchell
ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Mr. Kevin R. George, Superintendent.
ITEM 4a. Public Comment - Mr. Kevin R. George – Update on Strategic Planning
Superintendent Kevin George shared a PowerPoint:
ITEM 4b. Public Comment – Mr. Kevin R. George – Rudolph G. Dinvaut 15th Annual Golf Tournament
Mr. George announced that due to the recent deluge of rain, the location has changed for the 15th Annual Rudolph G. Dinvaut Golf Tournament. The tournament will now take place at Riverlands Country Club.
ITEM 5. EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS BY THE BOARD OR STAFF
ITEM 5a. Public Comment. Mrs. Monica Brown - Yale 2019 Symposium on Music in Schools
Ms. Rebecca Holmes was recognized for being one of 5 teachers nominated to attend the Yale 2019 Symposium on Music in Schools.
TEM 5b. Public Comment. Mr. Glen Chenier - Recognition of Hamilton Education Program Students
This item will be carried over to the next Board meeting.
ITEM 6. PERSONNEL MATTERS
ITEM 7. BUSINESS AND FINANCE
ITEM 7a. Public Comment. Mr. Felix Boughton – Monthly Budget to Actual
Mr. Boughton presented the following information to the board. He informed the Board that this will be the last Monthly Budget to Actual for this fiscal year, as the full budgets will be introduced beginning next month.
ITEM 7b. Public Comment – Mr. Felix Boughton – Adopt resolution levying millages for the 2019 tax roll
MOTION BY: Entire Board
SECOND BY:
MOTION: To adopt the resolution levying millages for the 2019 tax roll
No objections.
The motion carried.
Roll Call:
9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Sanders
2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Mitchell
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RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED, that the following millage(s) are hereby levied on the 2019 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by St. John the Baptist School Board:
MILLAGE
School Constitutional 3.65 mills
School Maintenance 4.33 mills
School Salaries 3.26 mills
School Retiree Benefits .99 mill
School Academic Improvement 2.98 mills
School Salaries 3.98 mills
School Salaries/Health Care 10.12 mills
School Bonds 11.00 mills
Total Mills 40.31 mills
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proper administrative officials of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes, as hereinabove set forth, upon the assessment roll of said Parish for the year 2019, and to make the collection of the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority, according to law, and that the taxes herein levied shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all property subject to taxation as herein set forth, and collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law.
The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes:
YEAS: 0
NAYS: 0
ABSTAINED: 0
ABSENT: 0
CERTIFICATE
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of the resolution adopted at the board meeting held on April 25th, 2019, at which meeting a quorum was present and voting.
Laplace, Louisiana, this 25th day of April 2019.
________________________________________
Patrick H. Sanders, Board President
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The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue. However, it should be noted that there are notice requirements under La. Constitution Art. 7§23 (C) and La. R.S. 42:19.1. The notice requirements under La. Constitution Art. 7§23 are not applicable to millages required to be levied for the payment of general obligation bonds. Administration should ensure compliance with these laws as applicable.
ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS
ITEM 8a. Public Comment – Mr. Patrick H. Sanders – Request Removal from table and approval of the site location for Louisiana Premier Charter School that has been added to the Operating Agreement; Site Location: LAPC (344 and 348 Railroad Ave., Reserve, LA 70084)
In the absence of the Vice-President, a vote must be taken to name a temporary Chair, allowing Mr. Sanders to present his item:
MOTION BY: Schum
SECOND BY: Holden
MOTION: To waive policy to vote on naming a temporary Chair for Item 8a.
No objections.
The motion carried.
Roll Call:
9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Sanders
2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Mitchell
MOTION BY: Wallace
SECOND BY: Holden
MOTION: To nominate Mr. Keith Jones as temporary Chair for Item 8a.
No objections.
The motion carried.
Roll Call:
9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Sanders
2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Mitchell
MOTION BY: Sanders
SECOND BY: Johnson
MOTION: To remove this item from the table.
No objections.
The motion carried.
Roll Call:
9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Sanders
2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Mitchell
Public Comment: Carolyn Batiste stated that she attempted to visit the proposed site, but there are no numbers on the building, so she was not able to determine which buildings would actually house the Charter School. She stated that it is her opinion that there is no need for a charter school in St. John the Baptist Parish.
Andre Washington: Stated that he is the current Board President of LAPC. He stated yesterday he spoke with Supt. George in regards to some concerns. He intended to meet with Mr. George privately before discussing these concerns publicly. He stated that he still intends to do so. He handed a folder to Supt. George with the information requested and thanked the Board for adding this item to the agenda.
Dana James: Is a resident of SJBP and stated that it is her opinion that it shouldn’t matter where the charter school is located, it should just be all about the children and what’s best for them. Her children attend Riverside and she is in favor of the charter being located on the Riverside Campus.
Public comment was closed.
Mr. Ty Manieri stated that he would give a history of what has transpired and then would give the Board his recommendation on this item.: In August 2018, there was a 99% complete agreement with LAPC (all terms required by law, leaving the location open). In January 2019, there still was no word from LAPC about a site location. In late January, LAPC contacted Mr. Manieri regarding a policy that they needed created and passed by the St. John School Board in order to be eligible for a grant for “start up funds”. SJBP School Board promptly drafted said policy and was passed by the SJBP Board. At that time, they informed Mr. Manieri that a site had been chosen and it was Riverside Academy’s campus on Railroad Avenue. Immediately upon that notification, concerns were raised regarding this site location. Concerns such as the desegregation order and the impact it may have on getting the school site approved, as well as comingling public funds with a private school. It was Mr. Manieri and the Board’s belief that these concerns were not insurmountable and could be worked out. At this time, several requests for information have been made. In the 2 ½ months that passed since the request was made on February 6, 2019, there has been little to no communication from LAPC and none of the requested documents have been turned over to SJBP School Board, and the “concerns” have actually been expanded. Information that has not been addressed by LAPC: $500,000 annual lease is concerning, as the original proposed lease amount in the initial application was $210,000 annually (at Lifehouse Church). Not only is the amount concerning, but the fact that in Year 5, the lease more than doubles at over $1 million dollars annually is even more alarming. There has been no evidence of a “site location study” that LAPC reported they had done, naming Riverside Academy campus as the most viable option. Also, the crossover of employees from Riverside to LAPC Board is strictly prohibited by Louisiana State Law. Several LAPC Board members are possibly employees of Riverside Academy and that is a problem. Another very concerning factor is the fact that a school grade configuration has not been set. The grade configuration has changed from originally K-12 (675 students). Last August, LAPC asked to amend that configuration to open as a K-9 school (525 students) and growing to a K-12 school (750 students). On April 11, 2019 at the Executive Committee meeting, Mr. Neary presented a grade configuration of K-8. At this time, the School Board still has no clear grade configuration. Yet another concern is that these decisions are being made outside of LAPC Board meetings, because there is no clear evidence that the LAPC Board met when these grade configuration decisions were presented to Mr. Manieri. (No evidence of LAPC Board Agendas or Board Minutes being posted can be found). Additional documents required by law that have not been disclosed by LAPC: All Board Ethics Training Forms and Financial Disclosure Forms.
It is because of all these concerns that Mr. Manieri recommended St. John School Board do not approve this charter contract nor this site.
Mr. Andre Washington was allowed to speak a second time. He stated that he is not an employee at Riverside Academy, but he is a volunteer for the school’s football program.
Mrs. Schum stated that it is not reasonable to ask the Board to vote tonight on information that was received at this meeting and presented to the Superintendent. She further stated that one of her main concerns is the financial unsteadiness. She stressed how important the financial aspect is, as one of the key reasons charter schools fail is not having a sound financial background. The $500,000 4-year annual lease, evolving into $1 million + annually in the 5th year are among the critical issues that must be addressed before this Board can act.
MOTION BY: Sanders
SECOND BY: Johnson
MOTION: To table this item.
No objections.
The motion carried.
Roll Call:
9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Sanders
2 Absent – DeFrancesch, Mitchell
The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue. The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted or asked to review any materials related to this issue.
****The motion to remove from the table is undebatable pursuant to Robert Rules of Order******
ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS.
ITEM 10. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
ITEM 11. BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST
Ms. Holden reminded everyone of the West Bank Civic Association Honor Roll Banquet, which will take place May 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
Dr. Keller noted that the Board Notification of Personnel Changes for the month of March did not include the recent resignation of Dr. Stephen Zafirau.
ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT
The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a
MOTION BY: Sanders
SECOND BY: Triche
MOTION: Motion for adjournment.
There were no objections.
The meeting adjourned at 7:02 p.m.
________________________________ ________________________________
Kevin R. George, Secretary Patrick H. Sanders, President