PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
LAPLACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, - LAPLACE, LA
MEETING OF JUNE 11, 2020
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 LaPlace Elementary School, 393 Greenwood Drive, LaPlace, Louisiana, on Thursday, June 11, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
An agenda for the meeting is attached.
Sincerely,
Cory Butler
Interim 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 and asked that the family of George Floyd continue to be kept in our prayers, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
ITEM 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS: The Chair called for Public Comment.
PRESENT: Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Sanders
ABSENT: Mitchell
There were 10 members present and 1 members absent.
ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Chair called for Public Comment.
MOTION BY: DeFrancesch
SECOND BY: Triche
10 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Sanders
1 Absent – Mitchell
The motion carried.
ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Mr. Cory Butler, Interim Superintendent.
Mr. Butler stated that West St. John High School will hold a graduation ceremony Saturday, June 13th at Rudolph G. Dinvaut Stadium. East St. John High School will hold a graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 27th at Joe Keller Stadium.
He stated that the district has now moved into Phase 2 of the reopening plan. All 10 and 12 month employees have returned to work. Temperature checks are done upon entry and every individual employee will keep a running log of their screenings.
MOTION BY: Jones
SECOND BY: Burl
10 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Sanders
1 Absent – Mitchell
The motion carried.
ITEM 6. PERSONNEL MATTERS
ITEM 6a. Public Comment. Mrs. Serina Duke – Introduction of Revised Job Descriptions: 1. Accounting Supervisor; 2. Television Production Specialist
This item was pulled from the agenda.
Ms. Mitchell arrived at 6:12 p.m. and was recorded as present.
ITEM 7. BUSINESS AND FINANCE
ITEM 7a. Public Comment. Ms. Terry Charles – Request approval on bid awards for the School Year 2020-2021 for the following: Small Equipment; Bread/Bread Products; Frozen Foods; Meat/Meat Products; Processed Foods; Paper Supplies; Milk/Milk Products
MOTION BY: Triche
SECOND BY: Keller
MOTION: To approve the bid awards for the School Year 2020-2021 for the following: Small Equipment; Bread/Bread Products; Frozen Foods; Meat/Meat Products; Processed Foods; Paper Supplies; Milk/Milk Products
No objections.
Roll Call:
11 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Sanders
The motion carried.
ITEM 7b. Public Comment- Request Board approval to reject all submittals and to solicit new proposals for Cleaning Supplies
Ms. Charles stated the reason for the request to reject is that a major item was left off the original proposal.
MOTION BY: Holden
SECOND BY: DeFrancesch
MOTION: To reject all submittals and to solicit new proposals for Cleaning Supplies.
No objections.
Roll Call:
11 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Sanders
The motion carried.
ITEM 7c. Public Comment. Mrs. Janice Gauthier – Request Board approval on the following bids/extensions: Bid 21.15 – Plumbing Supplies; Bid Extension 20.09 – Copier/Computer Paper; Bid Extension 20.10 – Office Supplies; Bid Extension 20.18 – Award Items
MOTION BY: Keller
SECOND BY: Johnson
MOTION: To approve the following bids/extensions: Bid 21.15 – Plumbing Supplies; Bid Extension 20.09 – Copier/Computer Paper; Bid Extension 20.10 – Office Supplies; Bid Extension 20.18 – Award Items
No objections.
Roll Call:
11 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Sanders
The motion carried.
ITEM 5. EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS BY THE BOARD OR STAFF
ITEM 5a. Public Comment. Dr. Juanita M. Hill – Recognition of ESJH and WSJH Class of 2020 Top Ten
Dr. Hill recognized the Top Ten students of the Class of 2020:
ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS
ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS
Vice President DeFrancesch assumed the Chair for the following 2 Items:
ITEM 9a. Public Comment. Mr. Patrick H. Sanders – Request approval of Local Sales Tax Collection Resolution
Mr. Sanders read the Resolution and asked the Board for approval.
MOTION BY: Entire Board
MOTION: To approve Model Resolution for Sales & Use Tax Collection and Administration.
No objections.
Roll Call:
11 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Sanders
The motion carried.
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MODEL RESOLUTION
SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTION AND ADMINSTRATION
WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 3 of the Louisiana Constitution provides that local sales and use taxes are to be collected by a single collector in each parish;
WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 3 also provides for the use of a parish commission or one of the local political subdivisions to serve as the single parish collector of local sales and use taxes;
WHEREAS, the authority to “collect” local sales and use taxes has been determined by the Courts to include the authority to administer the collection, including making decisions as to when to audit persons or businesses thought to be unlawfully evading taxation or, in some cases, collecting sales taxes on transactions and failing to fully remit them to the local collector;
WHEREAS, School Boards serve as the single parish collector of local sales and use taxes in over thirty (30) parishes, including the Parish of St. John the Baptist;
WHEREAS, there are interest groups that desire to amend the LA Constitution to allow the Legislature to repeal or impair the authority of local governments to control the collection of local sales taxes and place that authority with the State, a concept referred to as State Central Collection;
WHEREAS, State Central Collection could have the State taking possession of local tax revenues, withholding an administrative fee, then disbursing the balance back to the School Board or other local taxing authority;
WHEREAS, State Central Collection poses too great a risk that local education tax dollars will not be promptly disbursed or that the administrative fee withheld by the State may become a means of resolving State fiscal issues;
WHEREAS, the risks of State Central Collection are magnified as our School District tries to recover from the loss of sales tax revenue and the increased expenses related to the COVID19 pandemic;
WHEREAS, repealing or diminishing the Constitutional authority for local collection of local sales and use taxes will impair the ability of local collectors to perform the necessary function of auditing vendors to ensure compliance with the legal obligation to collect and remit local sales taxes;
WHEREAS, given the vital role that the proper, effective, and efficient collection of local sales and use taxes plays in the operation of school districts and the education of children, the Louisiana School Boards Association opposes any efforts to repeal, reduce, or constrain the authority of the local collector to collect local sales and use taxes, regardless of who has offered the proposal;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, by action of its duly elected governing authority, does hereby urge and request the Louisiana Legislature, and in particular the Legislative Delegation of St. John the Baptist Parish to oppose any Legislative effort that repeals, reduces, or constrains the authority of the local collector to collect and administer the collection of local sales and use taxes;
FINALLY, BE IT RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be provided to each member of the Legislative Delegation of St. John the Baptist Parish, and the Governor of the State of Louisiana.
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ITEM 9b. Public Comment. Mr. Patrick H. Sanders – Request approval of State Superintendent Resolution
Mr. Sanders read the Resolution and asked the Board for approval.
MOTION BY: Entire Board
MOTION: To approve the State Superintendent Resolution.
No objections.
Roll Call:
11 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Sanders
The motion carried.
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MODEL RESOLUTION
COMMENDING BESE MEMBERS FOR
THE ELECTION OF THE NEW
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION
WHEREAS, for the first time in almost a decade, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BSE) has elected a new State Superintendent of Education;
WHEREAS, BESE elected Dr. Cade Brumley as the new State Superintendent on May 20, 2020;
WHEREAS, Dr. Brumley is imminently qualified, having successfully led both the DeSoto Parish School System and Jefferson Parish School System;
WHEREAS, BESE showed commitment to public education and to the people of Louisiana by electing Dr. Brumley;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, expresses it sincere gratitude to Honorable Kira Orange-Jones and Honorable Sandy Holloway for supporting the selection of Dr. Brumley;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board commends Honorable Kira Orange-Jones and Honorable Sandy Holloway for having the courage to put candidate qualifications and public opinion expressed in the survey commissioned by BESE ahead of the urgings of powerful political forces.
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Mr. Sanders resumed the role of Chair.
ITEM 10. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
ITEM 10a. Public Comment. Mr. Shawn Wallace – Update on Graduation Plans with Phase 2 Opening
Mr. Wallace stated that this item was addressed in the Superintendent’s Report.
ITEM 10b. Public Comment. Mr. Shawn Wallace – Update on the sanitizing and cleaning of the school buildings
A complete update was given on all sanitization efforts on behalf of the School Board.
ITEM 10c. Public Comment. Mr. Patrick H. Sanders/R.V. Allmon, JD Consulting – Update on Superintendent Search
Mr. Allmon updated the Board on the Superintendent Search:
Recruitment was for 5 weeks. 35 applications were received and 29 applicants completed the On-Demand Interviews. The company narrowed the candidates to the Top 10 applicants. The Board will choose up to 5 candidates tonight that they would like to see interviewed. Based on the number of votes a candidates receive, any candidate who receives at least 6 votes tonight, will be scheduled for an interview. Interviews will take place sometime between June 15th and June 30th. Following extensive discussion, during which both Mr. Jones and Mr. Wallace stated they felt like the process is being rushed, the Board chose their Top 5 and announced their choices.
The Top Ten Applicants are: Dr. Jawan Brown Alexander, Dr. Dana Arreola, Bernard Chandler, Dr. Jermaine Dawson, Dr. TOSHA Downey, Dr. Lynett Hookfin, Dr. Marcus Jackson, Dr. Kelli Joseph, Dr. Elizabeth Duran Swinford, Antwan Wilson
The Board votes are as follows:
Holden: Dr. Jawan Brown-Alexander, Bernard Chandler, Dr. Lynett Hookfin, Dr. Kelli Joseph, Dr. Elizabeth Duran Swinford.
Burl: Dr. Jermaine Dawson, Dr. Marcus Jackson, Dr. Kelli Joseph, Dr. Elizabeth Duran Swinford
Keller: Dr. Jawan Brown-Alexander, Dr. Dana Arreola, Bernard Chandler, Dr. Lynett Hookfin, Dr. Kelli Joseph
Sanders: Dr. Jawan Brown-AlexanderDr. Tosha Downey, Dr. Lynett Hookfin, Dr. Marcus Jackson, Dr. Kelli Joseph
DeFrancesch: Dr. Jawan Brown-Alexander, Bernard Chandler, Dr. Jermaine Dawson, Dr. Lynett Hookfin, Dr. Elizabeth Duran Swinford
Jones: Dr. Jawan Brown-Alexander, Bernard Chandler, Dr. Lynett Hookfin, Dr. Kelli Joseph, Dr. Elizabeth Duran Swinford
Johnson: Dr. Jawan Brown-Alexander, Bernard Chandler, Dr. Tosha Downey, Dr. Marcus Jackson, Dr. Kelli Joseph
Schum: Dr. Jawan Brown-Alexander, Bernard Chandler, Dr. Jermaine Dawson, Dr. Lynett Hookfin, Dr. Elizabeth Duran Swinford
Wallace: Dr. Jawan Brown-Alexander, Bernard Chandler, Dr. Jermaine Dawson, Dr. Lynett Hookfin, Dr. Marcus Jackson, Dr. Kelli Joseph
Mitchell: Dr. Jawan Brown-Alexander, Bernard Chandler, Dr. Jermaine Dawson, Dr. Lynett Hookfin, Dr. Kelli Joseph
Triche: Dr. Kelli Joseph
The final tally:
Dr. Jawan Brown-Alexander – 9
Dr. Dana Arreola – 1
Bernard Chandler – 7
Dr. Jermaine Dawson – 5
Dr. Tosha Downey – 2
Dr. Lynett Hookfin – 8
Dr. Marcus Jackson – 4
Dr. Kelli Joseph – 9
Dr. Elizabeth Duran Swinford – 5
Antwan Wilson – 1
The following candidates will be offered interviews: Dr. Jawan Brown-Alexander, Bernard Chandler, Dr. Lynett Hookfin, and Dr. Kelli Joseph.
The Board then discussed possible times for the Interviews. It was decided that Round 1 Interviews would be no longer than 90 minutes, with 2 on Wednesday, June 17th, beginning at 4:30 p.m. and 2 on Thursday, June 18th, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Round 2 (if needed), will take place with the final 2 candidates on Wednesday, June 24th, beginning at 4:30 p.m., and the final decision will be made at a Special Meeting on Thursday, June 25, 2020.
Mr. Triche left the meeting at 8:34 and was recorded as absent.
ITEM 11. BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST
ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT
The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a
MOTION BY: Mitchell
SECOND BY: DeFrancesch
MOTION: Motion for adjournment.
There were no objections.
11 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Sanders
The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m.
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Cory Butler, Interim Superintendent/Secretary Patrick H. Sanders, President