PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
SPECIAL MEETING OF DECEMBER 20, 2021
GODCHAUX GRAMMAR CAFETERIA – RESERVE, LA
The Chair called the meeting to order and read the following call:
HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD
Parish of St. John the Baptist
Upon call of the President, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board will meet in special session at Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria, 1600 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana, on Monday, December 20, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
The agenda for the meeting is attached.
ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER, INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:11 a.m. She called for a moment of silent meditation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
ITEM 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:
PRESENT: Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Triche, Mitchell-Williams
ABSENT: Holden, Burl, Sanders, Johnson, Wallace
There were 6 members present and 5 members absent.
ITEM 3. Approval of Minutes: Meeting of December 9, 2021
MOTION BY: Jones
SECOND BY: Triche
MOTION: To approve the Minutes: Meeting of December 9, 2021
Roll Call:
6 Yeas – Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Triche, Mitchell-Williams
5 Absent - Holden, Burl, Sanders, Johnson, Wallace
The motion carried.
ITEM 4. Mrs. Janice Gauthier – Request Board approval to award a contract to the most qualified and responsive proposer for Fiscal Auditors
MOTION BY: Keller
SECOND BY: Triche
MOTION: To award the contract for Fiscal Auditors to LaPort CPAs and Business Advisors
Following discussion, Dr. Keller withdrew his original motion and offered a Substitute Motion to Table this item. This Substitute Motion failed due to the lack of a second.
Mrs. Gauthier stated that there was 1 proposal, but it was considered non-responsive because it was emailed as opposed to being mailed or uploaded to Central Auction. She reached out to the DA’s Office via email to inquire if we could award the contract to the sole vendor that did submit a proposal, and received this reply: “…I have reviewed the Request for Proposal (RFP) with respect to the Fiscal Auditor. The RFP contains mandatory language with respect to proposal submittals. Based upon what you disclosed, the vendor failed to comply with the outlined mandatory procedures of the proposal package. Nevertheless, given that this competitive selection process involves a RFP for a professional services contract as opposed to a Public Works project (Bid), the Board has some discretion to dispense with the formalities associated with public bid law. However, while the Board may utilize its discretion and award the contract to the sole vendor here, if there were another proposer that met the requirement of the RFP, this hypothetical entity could protest the award to the vendor that failed to meet the requirements. Ultimately, in this set of circumstances (one proposer), the Board may use its discretion and award the contract. However, if there were another vendor, this award could present an issue for the Board. Thus, it is best to exercise caution when awarding a contract to vendors that fail to meet the requirements of the proposal.”
Following further discussion, there was a
MOTION BY: Jones
SECOND BY: DeFrancesch
MOTION: To award the contract for Fiscal Auditors to LaPort CPA’s and Business Advisors.
Roll Call:
6 Yeas – Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Triche, Mitchell-Williams
5 Absent - Holden, Burl, Sanders, Johnson, Wallace
The motion carried.
ITEM 5. Mr. Blaine Robertson – Request Board approval to Revised School Calendar to include December 22-23, 2021 as Asynchronous Learning Days
Public Comment: Mr. Derron Cook, VP of SJAE stated that SJAE does approve of the additional 2 days of asynchronous learning days and the teachers have worked to include the additional 2 days of work being sent home for these days.
Mrs. Schum stated that she has a problem with this item because parents have the old calendar and have not been informed of these additional learning days. She further stated that our students have already missed 45 days and the teachers need as many days with their students as possible. Mrs. Mitchell-Williams concurred with this statement.
MOTION BY: DeFrancesch
SECOND BY: Triche
MOTION: To approve the Revised School Calendar to include December 22-23, 2021 as Asynchronous Learning Days.
Roll Call:
2 Yeas – DeFrancesch, Triche
4 Nays – Keller, Jones, Schum, Mitchell-Williams
5 Absent – Holden, Burl, Sanders, Johnson, Wallace
The motion failed.
ITEM 6. Mr. Tom Hook, ACI – Executive Session to discuss pending litigation: St. John the Baptist Parish School Board vs Emeris J. Laborde, Jr. et al. Docket #75822, Division A
This item was withdrawn from the agenda, as there was no representative from ACI present.
ITEM 7. Mrs. Nia Mitchell-Williams – Request Board approval of a resolution to appoint special counsel for matters involving actual or potential disputes between the School Board and the Superintendent.
Mrs. Mitchell-Williams read the resolution aloud and stated that this item is being presented for approval in the event that there is a dispute regarding the Superintendent’s contract. The Superintendent’s counsel has sent a letter to the Board with concerns regarding the contract and the Board has not been able to respond thus far because all current legal counsel is shared and has advised both the Board and the Superintendent, and it would create a conflict.
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St. John the Baptist Parish School Board RESOLUTION TO EMPLOY SPECIAL COUNSEL
WHEREAS, a real necessity exists for the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board to retain conflict counsel to represent the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board in actual or potential disputes between the St. John the Baptist Parish School and the Superintendent of Schools; and,
WHEREAS, through their past experience handling school law issues including special education, school personnel matters, public bid law and general school board policy matters involving compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, including due process hearings, tenure hearings, misconduct investigations and the handling of administrative hearings and litigation in state and federal courts, the attorneys of Grant & Barrow, PLC have the experience, training and expertise to represent the St. John Parish School Board should a dispute arise between the school board and the Superintendent of Schools; and,
WHEREAS, Grant & Barrow, PLC shall be paid for services at hourly rates not to exceed that set by the Louisiana Attorney General of the State of Louisiana for Special Counsel with like years of experience and to be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket expenses for document duplication, expert witness fees, court reporter fees, printing costs, travel expenses, and other expenses incurred as a result of the legal services provided to and for the Board; and
WHEREAS, this resolution shall take effect immediately.
THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED, by the St. john the Baptist Parish School Board pursuant to La.
R.S. 42:262, does hereby retain and employ Grant & Barrow, PLC as special counsel as described herein; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Grant & Barrow, PLC law firm shall keep itemized records for presentation to the Superintendent of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board with respect to the services rendered at said hourly rates with the fees and charges, and the Superintendent is hereby authorized and directed to pay the same upon submission and receipt thereof; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be submitted to the Attorney General for the State of Louisiana for approval.
The resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote was as follows:
YEAS:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
NOT VOTING:
Whereupon, the resolution was declared adopted by the St. John the Baptist Parish School on the _____ day of December 2021.
I, the undersigned Secretary-Treasurer of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true copy of a resolution adopted by said Board at its Board Meeting held on December 2021, at which time a quorum was present, and the same has not been revoked, rescinded or altered in any manner, and is in full force and effect.
Witness my hand this day of December 2021.
______________________________________________
Lynett Hookfin, Secretary-Treasurer
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
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MOTION BY: Schum
SECOND BY: Triche
MOTION: To approve a resolution to appoint special counsel for matters involving actual or potential disputes between the School Board and the Superintendent.
Roll Call:
6 Yeas – Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Triche, Mitchell-Williams
5 Absent - Holden, Burl, Sanders, Johnson, Wallace
The motion carried.
ITEM 8. Board Items of Interest
Mrs. Schum asked if the Retreat dates have been set. Dr. Mitchell-Williams stated that no, it has not been set but we will have a date by next week and we are looking to have it outside of St. John Parish. Mr. Jones stated that he agrees with having it outside of St. John because of confidentiality purposes.
Dr. Hookfin gave the following updates regarding our buildings: Some LES scholars will move back to their campus following the holidays. Also, the ECW Pre-K Scholars will move to the LES campus. Families of our Pre-K Scholars and LES scholars will receive information from the school sites regarding the move soon.
Dr. Keller wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
ITEM 9. ADJOURNMENT
The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a
MOTION BY: DeFrancesch
SECOND BY: Triche
MOTION: Motion for adjournment.
Roll Call:
6 Yeas – Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Schum, Triche, Mitchell-Williams
5 Absent - Holden, Burl, Sanders, Johnson, Wallace
The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
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Dr. Lynett Hookfin, Secretary Nia Mitchell-Williams, President