2021-02-11

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, February 11, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.

The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. She called for a moment of silent meditation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

PRESENT: Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Sanders

10 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Mitchell

*Mr. Burl asked to be on the record with a strong objection to any advertisement of contracts until a Chief Financial Officer and Purchasing Director is hired.

Mrs. Patricia Triche read the following: School counselors are the first line of support for students. Students can’t achieve academically when they can’t cope with social and emotional problems. School counselors help guide students in their journey through childhood and adolescence. They are called a school counselor because super, amazing, multitasking, lifesaving, and miracle worker are not job titles. These counselors all became counselors because our students’ lives are worth their time. They may not be able to fix every child’s problems, but we can be assured with a counselor around they won’t have to face them alone. We thank you for your service to our parish.

Dr. Hookfin stated that she will be bringing information to the board regarding assistance in supporting our scholars and staff members in a different way, i.e. a type of employee assistance program. We are moving through unprecedented and unchartered times and this would be a way to mentally support our staff and scholars.

Dr. Hookfin reported the following: LAPC signed an agreement on January 19, 2021 which was emailed to LAPC Board President Andre Washington. St. John the Baptist Parish School Board has done everything on our part and a timeline is available to the Board in the packet.

Der. Hookfin stated the following: Proposals were received on February 2019. There was only one responder on the feasibility study (South Central Planning). The board voted to accept the proposal. Notice to proceed was never given for work to begin.

Dr. Juanita Hill stated that the first district wide senior parent night. Parents were allowed to listen and interact with all 3 principals and assist parents with what is needed with their child in regards to graduation. All topics were covered including FASFA, ACT testing, ACT assessments, and destination after graduation. Parents were given a checklist to help them keep track of what their child needed to complete. Each principal presented on their school:

Dr. Hookfin reported that we are now back to Hybrid status in our schools with those choosing 100% Virtual continuing to do so. All information regarding the transition due to COVID and COVID numbers, can be found on our website under RESOURCES.

Currently, St. John Parish is 9.5% positivity rate. Dr. Hookfin thanked all the janitors for their continuous cleaning and deep cleaning and sanitizing. School personnel is in Tier 2 and we have worked with Ochsner to secure vaccines for our employees once they become available to Tier 2. Communications have been sent to all employees.

Dr. Hookfin stated that this insurance is necessary and we will meet all statutory requirements. Our Risk Management is working with the Third Party Administrator for workers compensation.

Dr. Hookfin stated that the grant amount is $3.7 million and we are working with All South to get it approved, but it is a 1-2 month process. Extensive discussion was held regarding this item.

Dr. Hookfin stated that we still have the CFO position open as well as the Purchasing Director. We have employed P&N to assist us until we get these positions filled. Mr. Tommy Naquin (P&N) was present to report on the status of their work. He stated that W-2s were sent out on time, but were incorrect. The W-2s with the corrected information will be mailed soon. Mr, Naquin stated that they are working to complete the AFR to comply with state requirements.

Mr. Sanders stated that employees are hearing rumors regarding payroll and asked Mr. Naquin if he could tell the Board, after looking at the numbers, where we are with payroll being met. Mr. Naquin stated that he feels some hard decisions will have to be made because revenue has taken some huge hits and the budget was way over-budgeted with regards to sales/property taxes. Mr. Sanders stated that a finance meeting needs to be called to talk about the decisions, as the employees have the right to know what’s going on. Mr. Burl asked if the P&N contract was a new one. Mr. Naquin stated that it is an extension of the existing contract via an addendum, authorized by the Superintendent. Mr. Jones asked Mr. Naquin if employees have already filed their taxes and are charged a penalty because the W-2s were incorrect, will P&N cover the penalty cost. Mr. Naquin replied no. Mr. Sanders asked Dr. Hookfin if employees were informed about a date for the TAP payout money. Dr. Hookfin stated that her administration has never put a date out there and as soon as she had the date, she would inform the employees, Mr. Sanders asked the superintendent to please put it in writing to the employees.

Carol	Mills	Fifth Ward/Counselor	53
Nedra	Harper	GMMS/CDC/Para	38
Antoinette	Robinet	ECW/ Principal	35
Davis	Lumar	Central/Drayage	35
Heidi	Trosclair	Central/Asst Super	32
Joyce	Zeno	GMMS/CDC/Para	32
Felix	Boughton	Central/CFO	31
Rosann	Hymel	ESJH/Asst Principal	31
Anne	Hoffman	Milesville/	30
Joycelyn	Joseph	Central/Custodian	29
Peter	Montz	Central/Purchase Dir	29
Jennifer	Galloway	Milesville/	27
Bonnie	Grows	GMMS/	26
Bridgette	Alvarez	Milesville/	26
Freddie	Populis	TRANS/Bus Driver	26
Mary	Palmer	GMMS/Lunch Tech	26
Melissa	Gray	LPE/	26
Deborah	Guion	TRANS/Bus Driver	25
Elma	Saul	WSJE/Teacher	23
Sarah	Joseph	WSJH/	23
Willa	Gordon	WSJE/Head Custodian	23
Katherine	Norsworthy	LES/	22
Angerean	Harris	ESJP/	19
Cynthia	Blouin	ECW/Nurse	17
Letitia	Graham	ESJH/	17
Geraldine	Sandle	Central/Truancy	15
Julie	Martin	Fifth Ward/Cust	15
Viola	Carter	WSJH/Teacher	15
Darlinda	Bourgeois	LPE/	14
Debra	Burns	ESJH/Asst Prin	14
Frederick	Giangrosso	TRANS/Bus Driver	13
Leroy	Melton	LES/Teacher	13

ITEM 7a. Public Comment. Dr. Lynett Hookfin – Request Board approval to accept Proposal for Property Insurance as submitted by LA Insurance Services

MOTION: To accept the Proposal for Property Insurance as submitted by LA Insurance Services ($1,493,577.16)

10 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Mitchell

ITEM 9a. Mr. Courtney Joiner – Request Board approval of list of Disciplinary Hearing Officers as required by LA RS 17:443

10 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Mitchell

LIST OF HEARING OFFICERS: Patrick Amadee, Lana Ourso Chaney, Wayne Landry, Lloyd LeBlanc, Angie Peraza

ITEM 9b. Public Comment. Mr. Patrick Sanders – Discuss potential for entering into a right of way or servitude agreement with Entergy for the purposes of placing power lines on the Leon Godchaux site

MOTION: To ask the District Attorney’s Office to review all documents submitted (including agreement that was made at the WSJH site) to determine if this would be legal and if so, to write a servitude agreement as it relates to this item.

10 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Mitchell

ITEM 9c. Public Comment. Motion to suspend the rules to reconsider in order to request Board approval to advertise for Grounds Maintenance

MOTION: To suspend the rules to reconsider in order to request Board approval to advertise for Grounds Maintenance.

ITEM 9d. Public Comment. Dr. Lynett Hookfin – Request Board approval to advertise for Grounds Maintenance

MOTION: To give approval to administration to advertising for Grounds Maintenance.

Upon roll call on the original motion to advertise for Grounds Maintenance, there was:

ITEM 9e. Public Comment. Dr. Lynett Hookfin – Motion to suspend the rules to reconsider in order to request Board approval to advertise for Fleet Mechanic

MOTION: To suspend the rules to reconsider in order to request Board approval to advertise for Fleet Mechanic.

There was a substitute motion by Mrs. Schum to table, but it failed due to the lack of a second.

Upon roll call on the original motion to suspend the rules to reconsider in order to request Board approval to advertise for Fleet Mechanic, there was;

10 Nays - Holden, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Mitchell

ITEM 9f. Public Comment. Dr. Lynett Hookfin – Request Board approval to advertise for Fleet Mechanic

10 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Mitchell

ITEM 9i. Public Comment. Mr. Garrette Trosclair (SJAE) – Grievance Hearing: LAE/St. John Association of Educators (Compensation Issues) LAE File #2021-2

Mr. Courtney Joiner addressed the Board and stated that both parties have come to an amicable solution and are asking that this item be removed from the agenda. Mr. Blackwell asked that Mr. Joiner read the text from him. Mr. Joiner read the following text message on behalf of Brian Blackwell: “I have discussed SJAE’s grievance with its attorney ad provided various salary schedules to him this evening. Based upon his review of those salary schedules, SJAE and its attorney have requested that the grievance be removed from tonight’s agenda. I will provide counsel for SJAE a copy of the salary schedules and corresponding minutes within the next 10 days, along with a certification that they are true and correct copies of the records of the Board.”

Attorney Joiner stated that the following must be collected by him within 10 days (10 days beginning after the Mardi Gras Holidays - February 17^th): Copies of minutes where the Salary Schedule was approved from both Board Meetings and Finance Committee Meetings for the following years: 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010.

ITEM 9g. Public Comment. Mr. Jeffery Diez – Executive Session – Lakesha Holder v. St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, 67354, Division A, 40^th Judicial District Court

ITEM 9h. Public Comment. Mr. Jeffery Diez – Executive Session – Rosalyn Fizer v. St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, 67024, Divisions A, 40^th Judicial District Court

MOTION: To convene in Executive Session to address: Item 9g - Lakesha Holder v. St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, 67354, Division A, 40^th Judicial District Court and Item 9h - Rosalyn Fizer v. St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, 67024, Divisions A, 40^th Judicial District Court

10 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Mitchell

9 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Mitchell

MOTION: To grant authority to Attorney Jeffrey Diez to negotiate a settlement agreement in Lakesha Holder v. St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, 67354, Division A, 40^th Judicial District Court

9 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Mitchell

MOTION: To grant authority to Attorney Jeffrey Diez to negotiate a settlement agreement in Rosalyn Fizer v. St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, 67024, Divisions A, 40^th Judicial District Court)

9 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Mitchell

Mr. Jones asked for an update on the open CFO and Purchasing Director positions. Dr. Hookfin stated that there were 6 applicants for the Purchasing Director position, and we will be re-advertising and there are currently 2 applicants for the CFO position.

Dr. Keller stated that Mr. Robert Schaff had been named the Louisiana Assistant Principal of the Year and would like him to be recognized at the next Board Meeting.

Land & Facilities: Albert Burl, Patrick Sanders, Charo Holden, Sherry DeFrancesch, Gerald Keller

Mrs. Holden asked that the Board be given a list of surplus properties owned by the School Board.

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

9 Yeas - Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche