PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA – MEETING OF AUGUST 18, 2022

 

 

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 (Board Meeting Room), 1600 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana, on Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.

           

An agenda for the meeting is attached.

 

Sincerely, s/Rebecca Johnson

Interim Superintendent/Secretary

 

ITEM 1.  CALL TO ORDER, INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

Vice President Shawn Wallace was seated as Chair.

 

The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. and called for a moment of silence (Mr. Triche led the Lord’s Prayer), followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mr. Johnson.

 

ITEM 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:

 

PRESENT:       Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

ABSENT:          Holden, Burl, Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

 

There were 7 members present and 4 members absent.

 

ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

 

ITEM 3a.  Public Comment.  Meeting of July 21, 2022 (Special) and August 4, 2022

 

MOTION BY:    Jones

SECOND BY:   Johnson

MOTION:  To approve the minutes from the meeting of: July 21, 2022 (Special) and August 4, 2022

Roll Call:

7 Yeas – Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

4 Absent – Holden, Burl, Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

 

Mr. Burl arrived at 6:04 p.m. and was recorded as present.

 

ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

 

Mrs. Johnson gave the following report:

 

·        The ¼ cents sales tax will be paid on Friday, August 26, 2022.  The team is verifying the payment roster for accuracy.  The estimated payout will be between $1,300 and $1,500.  I will notify you of the exact amount by next week once the payment roster is verified. 

·        Busses: The Finance and Transportation team will meet on Monday to finalize the purchase of new busses. We have 15 new busses budgeted in ESSER. We will be able to order and purchase 8 busses initially and when reimbursed from ESSER funding, we will order the remaining 7. It takes approximately 90 days to receive a new bus once ordered and approximately 2-3 weeks for reimbursement once the bus is received.

·        Busses:  The transportation department is working on verifying bus rosters.  With the increase in car riders, we are in the process of verifying bus riders and car riders. A survey will go out to parents on Friday to verify each student’s mode of transportation to and from school.  We will then work with JCampus to use their bus routing system to improve the efficiency of routes.  

·        Enrollment:  Please see handout

·        ESJH air:  The part for the 400 building will be in next week.  Once installed, we will remove the temporary air. 

·        WSJH air: One unit in the gym has been repaired and is working at 100%.  The 2nd unit is waiting on new coils.  We have contacted Bernhard for an estimated arrival.  Temporary air is still in place.

WSJE air:  Temporary Units are still in place in the gym until the 2 systems are replaced.

 

 

This year's Truancy/"No-SHOW" process was for teachers to call Day 1 and Day 2, counselors called Day 3 of school.  Mr. Schaff sent out EdConnect messages to parents explaining to parents the importance of reporting immediately and regularly to school and consequences for not reporting.  The message also contained verbiage informing them to reach CWA staff if they needed any support to get their child in school.  Messages were sent out by him on August 9th and CWA staff sent text/emails to all NO-SHOW parents on August 11th and 12.  Tomorrow CWA staff will be going to every school to pick up the "NO-SHOW" forms that indicate the efforts of the homeroom teacher and counselors of the school.  Audits will be conducted in JCAMPUS to ensure teachers and counselors made calls.  CWA staff will be calling and looking for all "NO SHOWS" by phone, and, where necessary through home visits.

 

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

 

ITEM 6.  PERSONNEL MATTERS.   

 

ITEM 6a.  Public Comment.   Dr. Curt Green – Introduction to Revised Policy BCB:  School Board Meeting Procedures

 

This item was for introduction only.

 

 

**********************************************

BCB:  SCHOOL BOARD MEETING PROCEDURES

 

 

 

 

Deleted from the policy

New changes to the policy

Moved to a section within the policy

 

The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board has adopted the following Rules of Procedure in order to facilitate the conduction of School Board business:

 

  1. TIME, PLACE AND AGENDA OF REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS

 

A.     The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board has the authority to hold as many School Board Meetings per month as the School Board deems necessary, but is required by state law to conduct at least one meeting per month to consider those items contained on the agenda prepared for that meeting, and each meeting shall be conducted in accordance with School Board policy.

B.     Except as otherwise provided in these Rules of Procedure, all meetings of the School Board shall be held at its domicile and offices at 104 West 10th Street, Reserve, Louisiana.  Once every six (6) months, however, regular meetings shall be held at a West Bank school site.  (Last meeting in January and last meeting in July.)  Upon School Board approval a change to the venue of any regular scheduled meeting can be made.

C.     A regular meeting of the School Board may be cancelled, or time and place thereof changed, upon written public notice given no later than twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, before any regular or re-scheduled meeting.  Notice of such change and notice of the agenda for any regular School Board meeting shall be given by:

 

1.      Posting a copy of the notice, and agenda, on the front door of the School Board office; or by publication of same in the official journal of the School Board no less than twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, before the meeting; and,

2.      Electronically mailing a copy of the notice, and agenda, to any member of the news media who requests notice of such meetings; any such member of the news media shall be given notice of all meetings in the same manner as is given to members of the School Board.

3.      Providing notice and a copy of the agenda on the School Board’s official website no less than twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, immediately preceding the meeting.

 

D.     At any regular meeting of the School Board, no business may be transacted which does not come within the purpose or purposes set forth in the agenda for the meeting, except upon unanimous approval of the members of the School Board present at that meeting.  The motion to add an item not on the agenda shall identify the item with reasonable specificity, including the purpose for the proposed addition to the agenda, and shall be entered into the minutes.  In keeping with state law and School Board policy, prior to any vote to add an item to the agenda, there shall be an opportunity for public comment on the motion.

 

  1. SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE BOARD

 

A.     Special meetings of the School Board may be called only by the President or by a majority of the entire School Board except that, when the President is out of the parish, ill, or otherwise unavailable, the Vice President of the School Board may call a special meeting of the School Board.

B.     No special meeting may be called except upon written notice to the members of the School Board, Superintendent, and public or by a motion adopted at an official School Board meeting.  Such written notice must be signed by the President, Vice President, or a majority of the members of the entire School Board, as the case may be.  Such written notice must be electronically mailed at least twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, prior to the time of such special meeting.  In the event that electronic mail is not available, other options of delivery include:  United States mail (postage prepaid) or hand delivery; additionally, the Superintendent shall attempt to contact all School Board Members by telephone.  Such written notice shall also be posted on the front door of the School Board office and forwarded to any member of the news media who has requested to be sent copies of such notice.

C.     The written notice required herein, or the motion adopted at an official School Board meeting, shall state the date, time and place of such special meeting and shall specify the matters to be considered at such meeting.  No matter or item not stated in the agenda for the special meeting shall be considered by the School Board at such meeting except upon unanimous approval of the members of the School Board present at that meeting.  The motion to add an item not on the agenda shall identify the item with reasonable specificity, including the purpose for the proposed addition to the agenda, and shall be entered into the minutes.  In keeping with state law and School Board policy, prior to any vote to add an item to the agenda, there shall be an opportunity for public comment on the motion.

D.     In cases of extraordinary emergency (Acts of God), the time and notice requirements of this Section shall not be required; provided, however, that the person or persons calling such special meeting shall give such notice thereof as they deem appropriate and circumstances permit, including notice to the news media in the same manner as notice is given to School Board members, and provided further that the existence of an extraordinary emergency and waiver of the time and notice requirements must be approved by a favorable vote of a majority of the total School Board at such special meeting.

E.     STUDENT HEARINGS - All review hearings on student expulsions and early readmittances shall be held during regular scheduled Board Meetings.

F.     TENURE HEARINGS - All tenure and other hearings shall be held in accordance with La. R.S. 17:443.

G.    SCHOOL BOARD RETREATS – School Board shall conduct two (2) retreats per year.

 

  1. QUORUM AND VOTE NECESSARY FOR AFFIRMATIVE

 

A.     No meeting of the School Board may be officially convened and conducted unless a quorum (simple majority of the total membership of the School Board) is present.

B.     Except as provided in Sections II(C), V(A), (G) and (H), VI(A), (C) (D), VII, IX(B), X(E), and XII hereof, any motion, resolution or other action of the School Board shall be deemed valid only upon a favorable vote of a majority of the members of the total School Board taken at a properly called regular or special meeting of the School Board which is open to the public accordance with Sections 11-28 of Title 42 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, as such statute may be now or hereafter amended.

C.     Should a quorum cease to be present after a meeting has been officially convened, the presiding officer shall recess the meeting for such time as is deemed appropriate to attempt to re-establish a quorum and may thereafter declare the meeting adjourned if such presiding officer determines that quorum cannot be obtained within a reasonable time.

 

  1. VOTING PROCEDURE AND REQUIREMENTS

 

A.     All voting shall be by voice or by the use of an electronic voting board which will reflect simultaneously a "yes," "no," or "abstain" vote for each and all members present. When the voting board does not correctly reflect the voting intent of a member of the School Board, that member may correct his/her vote by immediately advising the presiding officer of such error prior to announcement of the vote by the presiding officer. A roll call vote may be requested by any member and/or ordered by the President, with the vote of each member recorded in the minutes. On voice votes, the name of each voting "nay" shall be recorded in the minutes.

B.     When the voting board is not available, the vote may be taken by roll call of the members present at the discretion of the presiding officer. Each School Board Member must be present in his/her seat in the School Board meeting room in order to have his/her vote counted on the voting board or otherwise; and no School Board Member or other person may cast a vote, in any manner, for another member of the School Board.

C.     There shall be no voting by proxy and no voting by secret ballot.

D.     In determining whether a particular motion, resolution or action of the School Board has received the requisite number of "yea" votes, an "abstention" shall not be counted and that member shall be considered as not voting.  This rule shall apply regardless of whether the required number of favorable votes must be of the total membership of the School Board, of those members present, or, of those members present and voting.

 

  1. SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AGENDA

 

A.     The Superintendent with the approval of the President, shall prepare a written agenda for each regular School Board meeting which shall list the specific items of business for which School Board action is required and, except for "Administrative Matters" as described in Section VIII hereof, no matter may be considered by the School Board which has not been listed on such agenda except after a motion to suspend these rules to consider a specific item has been adopted by unanimous approval of the members of the School Board present at that meeting.  The person requesting suspension of the rules must include in such motion the specific matter or item to be considered and the action being requested of the School Board for such motion to suspend the rules to be properly before the School Board for vote. In keeping with state law and School Board policy, prior to any vote to add an item to the agenda, there shall be an opportunity for public comment on the motion.

B.     No business, item or matter may be placed upon the agenda for any School Board meeting except at the discretion of a member of the School Board or the Superintendent, and no business matter or item not listed on such agenda may be considered by the School Board or discussed at the meeting without a suspension of the rules as provided hereinabove.

C.     The agenda for any particular meeting of the School Board shall be considered as closed as of 4:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. on the Friday Thursday immediately preceding such School Board meeting and the Superintendent is hereby specifically prohibited from placing any item, with the exception of items under "Administrative Matters," on the agenda after that time regardless of who makes the request.  The agenda shall not be changed less than twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, prior to the scheduled time of the meeting.

D.     Upon the agenda being closed, the Superintendent shall immediately prepare the written agenda and forward the same by electronic mail to each member of the School Board, the Superintendent, the School Board's General Counsel, and all newspapers and television and radio stations who have submitted a written request for such notification and agenda.  The Superintendent shall, at the same time, post a copy of the agenda on the front door of the School Board office building, and on the School Board’s official website, and have copies available for interested citizens.  In the event that electronic mail is not available, other options of delivery to School Board members include:  United States mail (postage prepaid) or hand delivery.

E.     Each item on the agenda shall be listed separately and described with reasonable specificity.  Before the School Board may take any action on the agenda item, the presiding officer shall read aloud the description of the item.

F.     Any citizen or organization may request consideration by the School Board of an item concerning matters within the jurisdiction of the Board at a particular School Board meeting by submitting such request in writing to the Superintendent, together with a brief explanation of the subject matter and the action requested of the School Board, by 4:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. on the Friday Thursday immediately preceding the week in which consideration is requested.  Within twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after the written request is received, the Superintendent shall notify the citizen or organization making such request as to whether or not the Superintendent has placed such item on the agenda.

G.    The written agenda prepared by the Superintendent shall list the business of the board for a particular meeting in the following order:

AGENDA FOR REGULAR MEETING OF _____________.

 

1.      Call to order, invocation and pledge of allegiance.

2.      Student presentation on individual school.

3.      Roll call for determination of a quorum present.

4.      Approval of minutes.

5.      Educational presentations and recognitions by the School Board or staff.

6.      Superintendent's Report.

7.      Personnel Matters.

8.      Unfinished Business.  Under unfinished business will be listed items from previous agendas which were not completed and/or which were specifically deferred to this particular meeting.  These items shall be listed exactly as they appear on the previous agenda.

9.      New Business.  Recommendations of the Superintendent and/or School Board Committees.  Under the Item "New Business" shall appear those items requested for the agenda by the Superintendent, a member of the School Board, or a School Board Committee prior to the closing of the agenda.  The Superintendent's recommendations and reports and recommendations of the School Board Committees shall be listed first, followed by other items that are requested.  All agenda items dealing with the following cannot be voted on at the meeting they are introduced:  1) curriculum changes; 2) budget adoptions or revisions - all; 3) student attendance zones; 4) School Board member district lines or changes; 5) teacher allotments; 6) bond issues; 7) tax proposals; and 8) major policy changes in School Board policy -- example, the way the School Board operates.  They will be submitted for a vote at the subsequent meeting.  All material covering these items will be distributed at or before the meeting they are introduced.  Any change in policy must be done by the motion to waive policy and by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the School Board.  The School Board reserves the right to waive policy at its discretion.  All agenda items requiring action by the School Board must be stipulated following each item - example, (Requires action by the School Board).

10.   Administrative Matters.  Matters under this item are limited to those presented by the Superintendent believes should be brought to the attention of the School Board and/or matters which have come to his/her attention after the agenda for that meeting was officially closed and which he/she believes need immediate action by the School Board.  Any items under “Administrative Matter” which require School Board action may be considered only after suspension of the rules by a favorable vote of two-thirds of the total membership of the School Board.

11.   School Board Related Items of Interest

12.   Adjournment.  Meetings of the School Board may be adjourned on motion of the presiding officer or any member of the School Board and will carry unless objections are raised.  In the event objection to the adjournment is raised, a vote shall be taken on the motion to adjourn, without need of a second to the motion, and the meeting shall be adjourned on the vote of majority of the members present and voting.

 

No matter, item, business or subject which is not specifically listed on the agenda of a particular meeting may be considered or discussed at a School Board meeting except after a motion to suspend the rules to consider such matter has been duly made, seconded and carried by upon unanimous approval of the members of the School Board present at that meeting.

 

H.     Subject to the exceptions listed below, no item, matter, subject or business which has been considered and voted on at a previous School Board meeting, regardless of the nature of the motion voted upon and regardless of the outcome of the vote, may be considered at a subsequent School Board meeting until after the expiration of the sixty (60) days from such vote, unless a motion to suspend the rules to reconsider such item has first been duly made, seconded and carried by the favorable vote of two-thirds of the total membership of the School Board.  This prohibition shall not apply where the previous motion was to defer action on the item for a specific period of time or until a specific School Board meeting or where the previous motion was to refer the matter to staff personnel or to a committee of the School Board for further study.  This prohibition shall also not apply to consideration of items supplemental to an item previously acted upon, but shall apply only where the purpose of the item is to change previous School Board action.

 

  1. CONDUCT OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

    The purpose of School Board meetings is to allow the duly elected representatives of the people to consider and act upon matters of importance to the operation of the school system which are within the jurisdiction and authority of the School Board.  It is in the best interests of the citizens of this parish that such meetings be conducted in an orderly and expeditious manner which permits full presentation of information and viewpoints by interested citizens, followed by thorough discussion among the School Board, the Superintendent and designated members of the staff, and concluded with debate and final decision by the School Board on those items of business listed on the agenda.  To that end, the following rules shall govern the conduct of all meetings of the School Board and its committees and sub-committees.

 

A.     The President of the School Board, or in his/her absence, the Vice President of the School Board, shall serve as the presiding officer until a temporary chairman for that meeting has been elected by a majority vote of those School Board members present and voting.

B.     After the call to order, invocation, pledge of allegiance, student presentation, roll call, and action on the minutes of any previous meeting, the presiding officer shall call, in the order listed on the agenda, first the items under new business, and shall recognize first the Superintendent or the School Board member who caused such item to be placed on the agenda.  The Superintendent or School Board member shall then explain the item, and make or recommend, as the case may be, such motion as he/she shall desire.

The presiding officer shall allow public comment, no more than five (5) minutes for any one individual, at any meeting of the School Board prior to taking any vote. The comment period shall be for each agenda item and shall precede each agenda item. The presiding officer shall, with the approval of the School Board, set a time limitation on an agenda item.  At the conclusion of public input, the presiding officer shall recognize any members of the School Board, the Superintendent and members of the staff designated by the Superintendent, who wish to be heard on that item, in the order the presiding officer deems advisable.  Each School Board member shall be allowed ten (10) minutes to express his/her initial views on any agenda item, motion, substitute motion, or amendment related to each agenda item and five (5) minutes for further comment.  No member of the School Board or staff shall speak without first being recognized by the presiding officer.

Items of business not on the agenda may not be suggested from the floor for discussion except by unanimous approval of the members present at a meeting.  The motion to add an item not on the agenda shall identify the item with reasonable specificity, including the purpose for the proposed addition to the agenda, and shall be entered into the minutes.
 In the event that the Board should add an item to its agenda after the Board meeting begins, the presiding officer shall orally request of the audience whether anyone in attendance would like to speak on the added agenda item. Each person indicating a desire to do so shall be given an opportunity to address the Board on each agenda item added. The Board shall delay deliberations on that agenda item until such time as all interested members of the public have had an opportunity to speak.

C.     After discussion by the member of the School Board and the Superintendent has been completed, the presiding officer shall call for the vote upon the pending motion or any amendments or substitute motions which may have been made.  During School Board discussion of any agenda item, any School Board member, at any time, may move the question on any pending motion, substitute motion, amending motion, etc. and thus conclude further discussion of same, provided there is an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting on the motion for the previous question.

D.     The presiding officer of any meeting shall conduct such meeting in accordance with the School Board policy and procedure and shall have authority to make rulings or interpretation of School Board policy and procedure and any other matter or question which may arise with regard to conducting the meeting, including recognition of speakers, whether a speaker is out of order, etc.  The decision of the presiding officer shall be final, unless appealed by a School Board member to the entire School Board as set forth hereinbelow.

E.     Any member of the School Board who disagrees with a decision by the presiding officer may appeal such decision to the total School Board.  Such appeal may be taken by a statement to that effect and no second is required.  The presiding officer shall immediately call for a vote on the question of whether or not the ruling of the presiding officer shall be sustained.  Upon a favorable vote of a majority of those School Board members present and voting, including the presiding officer, the rules of the presiding officer shall have been sustained.

F.     In the conduct of meetings of the School Board any question not covered by these Rules of Procedure shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, Revised.

 

  1. ORDER AND DECORUM AT SCHOOL BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS

    It is in the public interest, and the public demands, that meetings of the School Board or its committees, in handling the public's business, be conducted in an orderly and dignified manner.  To this end, the following rules are established for the conduct of all persons, including School Board members and staff members, attending a meeting of the School Board or its committees:

 

A.     No signs, posters, placards, etc. shall be affixed to the walls, doors, etc. of the School Board office building or any room therein, except by the School Board staff in connection with School Board business and then only with permission of the Superintendent.  No sign, placard, or poster which is carried by hand shall be permitted in the School Board office building or any of its rooms.

B.     All persons attending meetings of the School Board or of its committees must be recognized by the presiding officer before speaking.  In return, the presiding officer and other School Board members shall courteously receive the comments made by such persons.

C.     Any person who fails or refuses to obey the rulings and directions of the presiding officer, or otherwise disrupts the meeting in any manner, shall be requested by the presiding officer to leave the meeting room for the remainder of the meeting.  If any person refuses to follow the directions of the presiding officer, the presiding officer shall cause such person to be removed from the meeting as may be authorized by applicable laws of the State of Louisiana.

 

  1. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

    Administrative matters shall be limited to matters of administration which the Superintendent believes should be brought to the attention of the School Board and/or matters which have come to his attention after the agenda for that meeting was officially closed and which he believes need immediate action by the School Board.  Any items under "Administrative Matters" which require School Board action may be considered only after suspension of the rules by a favorable vote of two-thirds of the total membership of the School Board.

 

  1. OPEN MEETINGS AND EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

 

A.     All meetings of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, all committees of the School Board, and/or any other body created or established by the School Board shall be open to the public and shall be held in accordance with the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§42:11 - 42:28 of the Louisiana Open Meetings Law, and these Rules of Procedure.

B.     The School Board, its committees and other bodies created or established by it may go into Executive Session by a vote of two-thirds of the members present for the purposes permitted by, and in accordance with, the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§42:11-42:28 of the Louisiana Open Meetings Law.  The School Board may go into Executive Session at any time and regardless of whether the matter to be discussed in Executive Session is listed on the agenda.  No person, other than a General Counsel, shall be admitted to an Executive Session of the School Board without permission of the School Board President.

 

  1. COMMITTEES OF THE SCHOOL BOARD

 

A.     All committees of the School Board, whether standing committees, and all other bodies created or established by the School Board, preferably should not hold their meetings during the weeks that the School Board is not having a of regularly scheduled School Board Meetings, with the exception of the Finance Committee and the Land and Facilities Committee, who may find it necessary to convene the week of the regularly scheduled School Board Meeting.  The time and place of such committee meetings may be changed after due notice and in accordance with these Rules of Procedure.

B.     If a committee goes into executive session in accordance with these Rules of Procedure, no person other than a School Board member, the Superintendent, and the General Counsel shall be admitted to such executive session without permission of the committee chairman.

C.     In the absence of a quorum of committee members, the School Board President shall be allowed to participate as a voting member of the committee.

D.     The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board is accountable to the community and values and promotes open communications with the residents of the school community.  The School Board’s work is to facilitate comprehensive discussions of school district matters.

School Board Standing Committees

School Board appointments to the School Board Standing Committees shall be made by the School Board President at the direction of the School Board.

Standing committees shall be guided by the following Rules and Procedures:

 

1.      All committees of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, whether standing committees and all other bodies created by the Board, shall hold their meetings at the domicile and office of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board at 118 West 10th Street, Reserve, Louisiana.  The time and place of such committee meetings may be changed after due notice.

2.      Committee meetings shall be announced in the same manner as regular or special meetings and should be governed by provisions of the Open Meetings Law.

3.      Within the Louisiana Public Records Act, committees may have access to school personnel and District information.  However, all access to personnel and information shall be coordinated with the Superintendent.

4.      Committees shall report to the School Board on a regular basis.  Each report shall be in written form with a copy for each School Board member and the Superintendent.  A copy of the minutes of each meeting should be forwarded to the Superintendent’s office for filing.

5.      In order to encourage free and open exchange of thoughts and ideas, committee meetings shall be conducted as informally as possible.  Committees are subject to the following:

 

a.      The chairperson of each committee shall begin the committee meetings by calling on the person who placed an item on the agenda and asking him/her to explain the item and the action or recommendation sought from the committee.

b.      Following a motion and second to that effect, the members of the committee shall discuss the motion and any substitute or amending motions made in connection with that item.

c.      Following such committee discussion, and immediately prior to any vote on that item, the committee chairperson shall inquire of the audience if there are person(s) who wish to be heard on that agenda item and/or any motions under consideration by the committee.

d.      Chairperson may limit discussion of an item on the basis of time.

e.      Each person appearing before a committee shall be required to first identify themselves and the group or organization that he/she represents, if any.

f.       After all such persons have presented their comments to the committee; the committee chairperson shall ask if there are any committee members who would like to make additional comments.

g.      If amendments or substitute motions are proposed by members of the committee, the chairperson shall again provide opportunity for public input as to such amendments or substitute motions.

h.      At the conclusion of all comments by the audience and committee members, a voice vote of the members present should be made on the motion (s) before the committee.

i.        simple majority of the membership present at the meeting is needed for a motion to pass or fail.

j.        For those items stipulated as requiring two-thirds majority, the concurrence of members present is required.

k.      Any motion for action must be initiated by a committee member and subsequently seconded by a committee member.

 

6.      The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board Personnel, and Communication/Pupil Services Standing Committees shall be composed of seven (7) members.  A quorum is required for these committees to take action and is composed of four (4) members.  The Finance/Auxiliary Standing Committee shall be composed of seven (7), with a quorum of four (4) members required for this committee to take action.

7.      Standing committees include the following membership:

 

a.      Two appointed School Board members;

b.      School Board President or School Board designee;

c.      School Superintendent’s designee;

d.      Two employees;

e.      One parent or community member;

 

8.      School Board Appointments

 

a.      The term of office for each School Board standing committee is two (2) years.  The term begins in January of even numbered years.

b.      School Board member chairs each committee meeting and he/she will be selected by the majority vote of the committee membership.

 

9.      School Board Agenda Items

 

a.      An agenda must be established for each meeting of each committee and public notice thereof.  The agenda for each committee meeting shall be closed at noon on the last Friday prior to the week in which the committee is meeting and only School Board members, committee members, the Superintendent or his/her designee may place an item on the agenda for any committee meeting of the proposed agenda item and the action on that item which is being sought.

b.      No item or matter which is not on the official agenda of a committee for a particular meeting of that committee may be discussed or considered at such meeting except after unanimous approval of the membership present and voting to suspend the rules to consider such items.

c.      The Superintendent, or his/her designee assigned to a particular committee, shall be responsible for seeing that any committee recommendation requiring action by the School Board is placed on the agenda for the next School Board meeting with a brief explanation of the subject matter of the item.

d.      No item considered by a committee shall be placed on the agenda for a School Board meeting unless the committee is requesting action by the School Board on such item or the committee specifically votes to place such item on the School Board agenda for School Board discussion.  However, this provision shall not be construed in such a manner as to limit the right of an individual School Board member, or the School Superintendent, to place an item on the School Board agenda that he/she so desires.

 

10.   School Board Standing Committee Elections

 

a.      To qualify for service on the Finance/Auxiliary, Personnel or Communication/Pupil Services Committees, an employee in the appropriate category (teacher or support personnel) must:

 

                                                             i.          Have three (3) years successful work experience in the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board System

                                                            ii.          Be currently employed full-time by the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board

                                                          iii.          Sign an official nominating ballot indicating his/her understanding of the responsibilities if elected to represent his/her peers

                                                          iv.          Agree to serve on the committee to which he/she will be assigned

 

11.   Teacher category (regular and special education): classroom teacher, guidance counselor, speech therapist, disciplinarian, curriculum coordinator, pupil appraisal

12.   Support personnel category: maintenance workers, bus drivers, bus aides, secretaries, food service personnel, custodians, warehouse workers, teacher aides

13.   Parents or community members wishing to serve on a committee must:

 

a.      Be a voting resident of St. John the Baptist Parish

b.      Cannot be an employee of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board

c.      Sign an official nominating ballot indicating his/her understanding of the responsibilities if elected to represent his/her peers

d.      Agree to serve on the committee to which he/she will be assigned

 

14.   School administrators are not eligible to serve on any standing committees

15.   Standing Committee Election Process

 

a.      Each principal and site base administrator must distribute nomination ballots to all parents

b.      Nomination ballots will be delivered by District email to all employees

c.      Principals and site base administrators are to forward nomination ballots to the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board Personnel Department.

d.      Ballots are to be distributed the first Wednesday of December and must be returned by the third Wednesday of December.  No nomination ballots will be accepted after 4:00 p.m.

e.      An official ballot will be compiled and distributed to employees by the second week of January.

f.       Ballots will be color coded and distributed to individuals in each category (teachers-blue; support personnel-yellow; parent-community-white) and returned to the Personnel Department.

 

16.   School Board Committee Replacements

 

a.      Attendance at School Board committee meetings is essential

b.      If a committee member misses over fifty percent (50%) of the meetings over a six-month period, or misses three (3) meetings in a row without a valid excuse, that committee member forfeits his/her seat on that standing committee and will be replaced

c.      Replacement will come from the list of candidates who qualified for the election ballot via a random selection process

d.      In the event that there are no remaining replacement ballots, the replacement shall be recommended by the Superintendent for School Board approval

 

17.   The respective School Board standing committees shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

FINANCE/AUXILLIARY COMMITTEE (7 MEMBERS)

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

·        Review and report on accounting and purchasing procedures;

·        Recommend the annual budget schedule;

·        Represent the School Board during the various budget preparation states;

·        Represent the School Board in public meetings where public matters are discussed;

·        Monitor the cafeteria and transportation programs;

·        Develop and recommend a maintenance and replacement schedule for buildings and grounds;

·        Conduct periodic inspection of school facilities and report to the School Board; and

·        Recommend studies and provide School Board liaison to administration on matters pertaining to transportation, security, space, and community use of facilities.

 

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE (7 MEMBERS)

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

·        This committee deals with all matters related to personnel such as:

 

o   Assisting in the establishment of new positions and aid in the development of job descriptions

o   Assisting in the development of personnel policies

o   Reviewing of policies, procedures, or action affecting personnel

o   Reviewing of implementation of federal and state mandates regarding personnel

o   Reviewing of budgetary (salary) recommendations

 

COMMUNICATION/PUPIL SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

·        Conduct or coordinate curriculum studies undertaken by the School Board

·        Report to the School Board on the status of the curriculum and suggest areas in need of study

·        Periodically study and report on student progress and on standardized test results

·        Study and recommend textbook usage

·        Evaluate curriculum in view of school population trends

·        Recommend budget changes in view of curriculum developments

·        Assume responsibilities for extra-curricular and co-curricular activities

·        Encourage the formation and growth of community groups concerned with the District and provide the School Board liaison with these groups

·        Advise on behalf of the School Board the public relations policy adopted by the School Board

·        Advise School Board liaison on matters pertaining to public relations

·        Advise and recommend School Board action on public relations program of the administration including the continuing education program

 

18.   Board Committees

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

·        Develop a consensus-based vision of what the school district can be

·        Create working environment that equips and sustains progress toward the vision

·        Articulate common values to guide decision-making and problem solving

·        Demonstrate leadership that supports shared responsibility, decision-making, and problem solving

·        Establish motivational conditions that ensure growth in community, system, school and interpersonal capacities

 

Membership:  The Strategic Planning committee shall be composed of five (5) members of the School Board, approved from recommendations of the President. This committee shall have a chairperson from its membership, who shall be elected by the members of the committee.  The term of appointment shall be for a period of two (2) years or the remaining term of the member, whichever is shorter.  Nothing herein shall prevent membership on a committee for consecutive terms.

 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (3 MEMBERS)

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

·        Review and develop the Superintendent’s contract

·        Assist in the annual Superintendent’s evaluation

·        Review the School Board’s policy manual of operation and make recommendations on policies to the full School Board for approval

 

Membership: School Board President, Vice-President, and School Board President’s appointment

 

LANDS AND FACILITIES COMMITTEE (5 MEMBERS)

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

·        Develop and recommend a maintenance and replacement schedule for building, grounds, and major mechanical systems;

·        Review periodic inspection reports of school facilities and report to the School Board;

·        Recommend studies and serve as the liaison to administration on matters pertaining to facilities, security, space and community use of facilities;

·        Monitor all matters involving procurement, public bid, construction projects, awarding of contracts, awarding of leases and right of ways, 16th Section Land issues;

·        Receive project status reports from the School Board’s engineers and architects on all public works projects.

 

Membership:  The Land and Facilities committee shall be composed of five (5) members of the School Board, approved from recommendations of the President. This committee shall have a chairperson from its membership, who shall be elected by the members of the committee.  The term of appointment shall be for a period of two (2) years or the remaining term of the member, whichever is shorter.  Nothing herein shall prevent membership on a committee for consecutive terms.

 

19.   School Board SJAE Contract Committees

INSURANCE COMMITTEE

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

·        Provide input into the selection process for determining the providers for the employee’s medical, prescription drugs, life insurance, vision, and dental insurance plans

·        Review quotes for medical plans for school employees

·        Receive and analyze school insurance reports

 

Membership: Five (5) members appointed by the St. John Association of Educators and five (5) members appointed by the School Board.

 

CALENDAR COMMITTEE

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

·        Shall meet no later than March 1 of each school year for the purpose of constructing a school calendar applicable to the following school year

·        The tentative calendar should be submitted to all employees for comments and the final draft of the school calendar should be submitted to the school board for adoption

 

Membership:  Fifty percent (50%) of the membership should be appointed by the St. John Association of Educators and the remainder should be designated by the Superintendent.

 

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

·        Review programs now in progress

·        Identify problems relating to curriculum development

·        Stimulate studies and research

·        Assist in finding consultant help when needed

·        Make recommendations based upon the results of study and research

·        Make recommendations based upon the results of study and research

·        Make recommendations on the adoption of textbooks, library books, and other instructional materials

 

Membership:  Three (3) teachers appointed by the St. John Association of Educators; two (2) administrators appointed by the School Board; one (1) parent/community member; and one (1) School Board member.

 

20.   State Mandated Committee

DISCIPLINE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

·        Review all School Board discipline policies and make recommendations to the School Board for appropriate revisions to such policies

·        Review and recommend changes of student dress code

 

Membership:  16 members as follows:

 

·        Five (5) classroom teachers to be elected by their peers with at least one teacher each representing elementary, middle or junior high, and high school

·        One (1) special education teacher to be elected by their peers

·        Two (2) guidance counselors to be elected by their peers

·        Two (2) principals to be elected by their peers, one representing an elementary school and one representing a high school

·        One (1) school bus operator to be elected by their peers

·        One (1) child welfare and attendance supervisor

·        One (1) School Board member to be elected by their peers

·        The local Superintendent or his/her designee

·        Two (2) parents to be appointed by a method as provided by rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

 

  1. OFFICERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD:  ELECTION THEREOF

 

A.     Pursuant to La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:54, the School Board, at its first meeting in January of odd numbered years, shall elect a President and a Vice President from its membership for a term of two (2) years, or expiration of his/her term in office, whichever is shorter.  The term of office of such officers shall terminate upon the election of their respective successors.  The officers may be removed during their term of office by a majority vote of the total School Board.

B.     The elections of these officers shall be conducted in the following manner:

 

1.      The office of President of the School Board shall be filled first from nominations by other School Board members, which nominations do not require a second.

2.      If more than one person is nominated for the office of President, a vote shall be taken after nominations are closed.  All School Board members, including the nominees, may vote but may vote for only one nominee.

3.      If a nominee receives the votes of a majority of the members of the total School Board on the first ballot, that nominee shall be declared elected.

4.      If no nominee receives a majority of the votes of the total School Board on the first ballot, a second vote shall be taken between the two nominees receiving the most votes.  If there is a tie vote between more than two candidates for the highest number of votes, or between two or more candidates for the second highest number of votes, all such candidates shall be included in the run-off election.

5.      In the run-off election, the nominee receiving the greatest number of votes shall be declared elected, provided, however, that such nominee must have received the vote of a majority of the total School Board.

6.      In the event of a tie vote, or in the event of no nominee receiving the favorable vote of a majority of the total School Board, voting shall continue until a nominee receives the vote of the majority of the total School Board.

 

C.     After the office of President has been filled, the office of Vice President shall be filled in the same manner as set forth above.

 

REPEAL OR SUSPENSION OF RULES OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETING PROCEDURES

 

Rules of Procedure

 

Procedures for the conducting of meetings of the School Board and its official committees may not be repealed or amended except by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the School Board.

 

SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision, item, section, paragraph, clause or phrase of this act, or the application thereof, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision, item, section, paragraph, clause, phrase or application of these Rules of Procedure which can be given effect without the invalid provisions, items, section, paragraphs, clauses, phrases or applications, and to this end the provisions of these Rules of Procedure are hereby declared to be severable.

 

Revised:  September, 1985

Revised:  November 6, 2008

Revised:  February, 1989

Revised:  March, 2009

Revised:  June, 1989

Revised:  March 21, 2013

Revised:  June, 1991

Revised:  September 4, 2014

Revised:  January, 1992 

Revised:  October, 2014

Revised:  March, 1995

Revised:  April 1, 2015

Revised:  April, 1995

Revised:  July, 2016

Revised:  July, 1998

Revised:  September 8, 2016

Revised:  June, 2004

Revised:  October 19, 2017

Revised:  September, 2007

Revised:  July 19, 2018

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 42:11, 42:12, 42:13, 42:14, 42:15, 42:16, 42:17, 42:18, 42:19, 42:20, 42:21, 42:22, 42:23, 42:24, 42:25, 42:26, 42:27, 42:28

Jackson v. Assumption Parish School Board, App. 1 Cir. 1995, 652 So2d 549, 1994-0901 (La. App. 1 Circ. 3/3/95)

Board minutes, 11-8-84, 8-8-85, 2-1-89, 2-28-91, 10-17-91, 12-18-94, 2-16-95, 5-7-98, 3-18-04, 8-16-07, 11-6-08, 12-4-08, 3-21-13, 9-4-14, 9-18-14, 4-1-15, 9-8-16, 10-19-17, 7-19-18

 

St. John the Baptist Parish School Board

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ITEM 6b.  Public Comment.  Dr. Curt Green – Introduction of Policy BE:  School Board Ethics.

 

This item was for introduction only.

 

 

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BE:  School Board Ethics

 

 

 

 

Deleted from the policy

New changes to the policy

Moved to a section within the policy

 

 

Recognizing that as a member of a public School Board and that each St. John the Baptist School Board member is filling a position of public trust, responsibility, and authority endowed by the State of Louisiana, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, individually and collectively, shall subscribe to the principles of the Louisiana School Boards Association, by which a School Board member should be guided.

 

In addition, certain actions of elected officials may be considered improper, and in some circumstances, illegal. Actions which may present a conflict of interest, acceptance of gifts, or solicitations, or gratuities, abuse of authority of office or position, and decisions regarding the employment of a family member of an official are all subject to statutory restrictions. The ethical conduct of School Board members, as well as other designated officials, shall be in accordance with state law.

 

ETHICS EDUCATION AND TRAINING

 

All School Board members and employees shall be required to receive a minimum of one

(1) hour of education and training on the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics annually. Education and training shall be provided by employees of the Louisiana Board of Ethics or others authorized to provide such training by the Louisiana Board of Ethics, and shall be administered through seminars or via the Internet.

 

 

GIFTS

 

Acceptance of personal gifts by any School Board member or employee of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board from persons or firms doing business with the School Board, or any department or school thereof, is prohibited. Reduced cost and/or free travel expenses are also defined as gifts with regard to this policy provision. This policy provision does not preclude acceptance of food, drinks, or refreshment of a social nature or participation in a social event, provided the value of the food, drink, or refreshment does not exceed that amount permitted under state law. It also shall not preclude the acceptance of campaign contributions for use in meeting campaign expenses by any employee or School Board member who is or becomes a candidate for election to any public office.

 

NEPOTISM

 

No member of the immediate family of an agency head shall be employed in his/her agency. No member of the immediate family of a member of a governing authority or the chief executive of a governmental entity shall be employed by the governmental entity, with limited exception as outlined below.

 

The provisions above shall not prohibit the continued employment of any public employee nor shall it be construed to hinder, alter, or in any way affect normal promotional advancements for such public employee where a member of a public employee's immediate family becomes the agency head of such public employee's agency, provided that such public employee has been employed in the agency for a period of at least one year prior to the member of the public employee's immediate family becoming the agency head.

 

Exceptions

 

Any School Board member or Superintendent whose immediate family member is employed, or who may be employed, as excepted below shall recuse himself from any decision involving the promotion or assignment of teaching or service location of such employee.

 

1.              Any member of the immediate family of any School Board member or the Superintendent may be employed as a classroom teacher provided that such family member is certified to teach or is temporarily authorized to teach while pursuing certification.

 

2.              For any School Board in a parish having a population of fewer than sixty thousand (60,000) according to the latest federal decennial census, any member of the immediate family of any School Board member or of the Superintendent may be employed as a special education related services professional provided that such family member is licensed in an appropriate field for special education related services and such family member is the only applicant who meets the qualifications for the position who has applied for the position after it has been advertised for at least thirty days in the official journal of the School Board. A special education related services professional shall include the following when employed to provide special education services: a social worker, occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech therapist/pathologist, teacher of hearing impaired students, teacher of visually impaired students, or nurse.

 

3.              Any immediate family member of a member of the School Board or the Superintendent who is employed pursuant to paragraphs 1 or 2 above may be promoted to an administrative position, provided that such family member has the appropriate qualifications and certifications for the promotional position. For the purposes of such promotions, the term certifications shall not include any temporary or provisional certification or certifications.

 

4.              An immediate family member of an athletic director of a school may be employed as a coach at such school.

 

5.              Any member of the immediate family of any School Board member or of the Superintendent may be employed as a school bus operator provided that such family member is certified as a school bus operator.

 

6.              ABUSE OF OFFICE

 

No School Board member, Superintendent, or employee shall use the authority of his/her office or position, directly or indirectly, in a manner intended to compel or coerce any person or other public servant to provide himself/herself, any other public servant, or other person with anything of economic value.

 

No School Board member, Superintendent, or employee shall use the authority of his/her office or position, directly or indirectly, in a manner intended to compel or coerce any person or other public servant to engage in political activity.

 

No School Board member shall act in an individual capacity to use the authority of his/her office or position as a member of the School Board in a manner intended to interfere with, compel or coerce any personnel decision, including the hiring, promotion, discipline, demotion, transfer, discharge, or assignment of work to any school employee.

 

No School Board member shall use the authority of his/her office or position as a member of the School Board in a manner intended to interfere with, compel, or coerce any school employee to make any decision concerning benefits, work assignment, or membership in any organization.

 

TRANSACTIONS AFTER TERMINATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE

 

No former agency head or elected official shall, for a period of two (2) years following the termination of his/her public service as the head of such agency or as an elected public official serving in such agency, assist another person, for compensation, in a transaction, or in an appearance in connection with a transaction, involving that agency or render any service on a contractual basis to or for the School Board.

 

No former member of the School Board shall, for a period of two (2) years following the termination of his/her public service on such School Board, contract with, be employed in any capacity by, or be appointed to any position by the School Board, except that the School Board may employ a former member for any classroom teaching position which requires a valid Louisiana teaching certificate or a school psychologist with a valid certificate in school psychology, provided the former School Board member holds such a certificate.

 

No former School Board employee shall, for a period of two (2) years following the termination of his/her employment, assist another person, for compensation, in a transaction, or in an appearance in connection with a transaction in which such former public employee participated at any time during his/her public employment and involving the School Board by which he/she was formerly employed, or for a period of two (2) such years following termination of his/her employment, render any service which such former public employee has rendered to the School Board during the term of his/her public employment on a contractual basis, regardless of the parties to the contract, to, for, or on behalf of the School Board with which he/she was formerly employed.

 

FEDERAL GUIDELINES:  CONFLICT OF INTEREST

 

In addition to other ethics provisions, in receiving federal funds the School Board shall ensure compliance with federal guidelines covering conflict of interest and governing the actions of officers and employees engaged in the selection, award and administration of contracts. No employee, officer, or agent shall participate in the selection, award, or administration of a contract supported by federal funds if a real or apparent conflict of interest would be involved. Such a conflict may arise when the employee, officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial or other interest in, or a tangible personal benefit from a firm considered for a contract. The officers, employees, and agents of the School Board shall neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors or parties to contracts.

 

Employees and volunteers shall be required to report any actual, possible, or perceived conflict of interest which they or others have, or may have, to their immediate supervisor as soon as they become aware of the conflict. A School Board member shall report the perceived conflict of interest to the Superintendent and School Board attorney.

 

Anyone who engages in activities that violate these provisions, including failure to disclose a conflict of interest, may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment, and/or other appropriate sanctions.

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Agency means a department, office, division, agency, commission, board, committee, or other organizational unit of a governmental entity. For public servants of political subdivisions, it shall mean the agency in which the public servant serves, except that for members of any governing authority and for the elected or appointed chief executive of a governmental entity, it shall mean the governmental entity.

 

Agency head means the chief executive or administrative officer of an agency or any member of a board or commission who exercises supervision over the agency.

 

Immediate family as the term relates to a public servant means his/her children, the spouses of his/her children, his/her brothers and their spouses, his/her sisters and their spouses, his/her parents, his/her spouse, and the parents of his/her spouse.

 

Public servant means a public employee or an elected official.

Revised: November, 1999

Revised: August, 2003

Revised: September, 2006

Revised: April, 2009

Recoded: January, 2010

Revised: December 2, 2010

Revised: September 22, 2011

Revised: October 18, 2012

Revised: March 17, 2016

Revised: June, 2016

Revised: February 15, 2017

 

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ITEM 6c.  Public Comment.  Dr. Curt Green – Introduction of Policy ABC:  Board Member Legal Status

 

This item was for introduction only.

 

 

 

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ABC:  BOARD MEMBERS LEGAL STATUS

 

 

 

 

Deleted from the policy

New changes to the policy

Moved to a section within the policy

 

 

The legal status of each duly appointed or elected member of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board is that of a public official who cannot be removed from his/her office except as provided by state law. The legal obligations pursuant to each School Board member shall not commence until he/she has been duly elected or appointed and officially taken office. His/her official capacity as a School Board member shall continue until the expiration of his/her term in office, unless otherwise vacated.

 

Such status does not authorize said member to act for or bind the School Board individually. The powers and duties vested in the School Board shall only be exercised by action of the School Board as a whole at duly called and organized meetings. In this respect, no motion or resolution shall be declared adopted without the concurrence of a simple majority of the School Board present and voting, unless otherwise stipulated.

 

While School Board members may enjoy a degree of immunity from damage suits, individual School Board members are not absolutely free from liability. The members may not be immune from liability, especially civil rights cases, if actions taken were presumed to be legal and resulted in deprivation of rights, or if they knew or reasonably should have known that their actions taken were unconstitutional, or if such actions were taken with malicious intent to cause a deprivation of rights. Moreover, liability may be equally applicable, not just from policies, ordinances, regulations, or decisions officially adopted by the School Board, but also for a custom or standard practice or procedure, even though such a custom, practice or procedure has not received formal School Board approval.        ·

 

OATH OF OFFICE

 

Each member of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board shall take the oath of office as prescribed by the state constitution at the time of his/her election or as soon thereafter, but not later than thirty (30) days after receipt of his/her commission certificate. The person administering the oath shall certify said commission. Said oath shall be deposited and recorded in the office of the Louisiana Secretary of State. Said oath shall also be recorded in the St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court's office.

 

 

New policy: April, 2016

Ref:     Constitution of Louisiana, Art. VIII, Sec. 9; Art. X, Sec. 30; La. Rev. Stat. Ann.

§§17:51, 17:52, 17:61, 17:81; Wood v. Strickland, 95 S. Ct. 992 (1975); Monell v. Department of Social Services of New York, 98 S. Ct. 2018, 2035-36 (1978); Owen

v. City of Independence. No., 98 S. Ct. 3318 (1978).

 

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ITEM 6d.  Public Comment.  Dr. Curt Green – Introduction of Policy CE:  School Superintendent

 

This item was for introduction only.

 

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CE:  School Superintendent

 

 

 

 

Deleted from the policy

New changes to the policy

Moved to a section within the policy

 

The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board shall delegate to the Superintendent the authority and responsibility for the efficient administration of the school system. The Superintendent shall perform his/her administrative functions in accord with the policies adopted by the School Board. The execution of all decisions made by the Board concerning the internal operation of the school system shall be delegated to the Superintendent.

 

The Superintendent shall be the chief executive officer and educational advisor of the School Board and shall discharge his/her duties as prescribed by the Constitution and statutes of the State of Louisiana, as well as Board policies. As the instructional leader of the school district and its chief executive officer, the Superintendent shall have primary responsibility for personnel actions in the district. The Superintendent shall also be the secretary and treasurer of the School Board.

 

While retaining ultimate responsibility, the Superintendent shall be authorized to delegate certain duties to other members of his/her administrative staff. This shall include, as appropriate, any administrative or supervisory employee.

 

The School Board shall appoint the Superintendent for a period not to exceed four (4) years, which period, however, may extend no longer than two years after the expiration of the term of office of the membership of the Board electing the Superintendent. The salary, vacation, and other benefits of the Superintendent shall be determined by the Board upon his/her appointment. The Superintendent need not reside in the St. John the Baptist Parish School District.

 

OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT

 

The Superintendent shall maintain his/her office in the School Board office during regular office hours Monday through Friday, except on designated holidays, to receive the reports of teachers and others and to transact the business required of him/her, except during the time he/she is visiting schools or attending to his/her duties elsewhere.

 

 

Revised: June, 1998

Revised: August, 2005

Approved: October 15, 2009

Revised: November, 2010

Ref:      La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:54, 17:81, 17:90; Board minutes, 10-15-09.

 

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ITEM 6e.  Public Comment.  Dr. Curt Green – Introduction of Policy CED:  Employment of Superintendent

 

 

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CED:  EMPLOYMENT OF SUPERINTENDENT

 

 

 

 

Deleted from the policy

New changes to the policy

Moved to a section within the policy

 

 

The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board shall employ the Superintendent pursuant to a written contract for a period not to exceed four (4) years, which period, however, may extend no longer than two (2) years after the expiration of the term of office of the members of the Board electing the Superintendent. The election of the Superintendent shall require a favorable vote of a majority of the entire membership of the School Board.

 

Such contract shall contain, but need not be limited to, specific performance objectives/performance targets as required by La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:54. In case of a discrepancy between the contract and any policy, the contract provisions shall prevail.

 

The School Board shall submit to the State Superintendent of Education a copy of any executed, negotiated, or renegotiated employment contract with the Superintendent.

 

The Superintendent may choose not to enter into a subsequent contract and may either terminate his/her employment or, if he/she has acquired permanent status as a teacher, resume employment as a teacher.

 

The School Board shall negotiate and offer the Superintendent a new contract at the expiration of each existing contract unless a majority of the Board membership votes at least ninety (90) days prior to the termination of the existing contract against offering a new contract. For new or extended contracts entered into after July 1, 2012, the School Board shall notify the Superintendent of termination of his/her contract not less than thirty

(30) days prior to contract termination.

 

If the Superintendent is found incompetent, unworthy, or inefficient, or is found to have failed to fulfill the terms and performance objectives of his/her contract or to comply with School Board policy, then the Superintendent shall be removed from office prior to the expiration of his/her contract by the concurring vote of at least two-thirds (½) of the membership of the entire School Board at any regular or special meeting after due notice. Before the Superintendent can be removed during the contract period, he/she shall have the right to written charges and a fair hearing before the Board after written notice.

 

A School Board may place a Superintendent on paid administrative leave prior to the expiration of his/her contract:

 

1.                For the purpose of investigating cause for termination.

2.              Without cause during the final three (3) months of the term of his/her contract when the School Board has voted not to extend a new contract offer.

3.             At a time as agreed by the Superintendent. as provided for in his/her contract.

Paid administrative leave shall be subject to the following:

 

1.           Approval of a maiority of the membership of the School Board.

2.          A three (3) month time limit within a six (6) month period.

3.          All compensation afforded under the terms of the existing contract.

 

The School Board shall notify the State Superintendent of Education any time it terminates or fails to renew its employment contract with the Superintendent, along with the reasons therefor.

 

INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT

 

The School Board may, by a majority vote of its membership, select a person to serve as the interim Superintendent in the event of the death, resignation, or termination of the Superintendent or his/her being placed on paid administrative leave in accordance with this policy.

 

An interim Superintendent shall have the same authority as a Superintendent. If at any point in the final three (3) months of a Superintendent's contract he/she has been placed on notice that the School Board has voted not to offer him/her a new contract and an interim Superintendent has been selected in accordance with State law, the authority delegated to the Superintendent by the School Board for hiring and placement of all school personnel shall extend to the interim Superintendent without action of the School Board.

 

The election of an interim Superintendent is not subject to the School Board's policy applicable to the process of selection or employment of a Superintendent or to the requirement or content of a contract.

 

A School Board shall not employ an interim Superintendent for longer than six (6) months in any given twelve (12) month period unless the appointment is made during the final year of the term of the majority of members.

 

Approved: October 15, 2009

Revised: November, 2010

Revised: October 18, 2012

Revised: August, 2020

 

 

Ref:     La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:54; Board minutes, 10-15-09, 10-18-12.

 

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ITEM 6e.  Public Comment.  Dr. Curt Green – Introduction of Policy IDFAB:  Sports Injury Management and Concussions

 

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IDFAB:  SPORTS INJURY MANAGEMENT AND CUNCUSSIONS

 

 

 

 

Deleted from the policy

New changes to the policy

Moved to a section within the policy

 

COMPREHENSIVE SPORTS INJURY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

 

The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board shall require each high school that sponsors or sanctions any athletic activity and which requires a participating student to regularly practice or train and compete to implement a sports injury management program. The injury management program shall:

 

1.               Establish a set of injuries to be classified as "serious sports injuries" for the purposes of the program and define the signs and symptoms of suoh injuries comprehensive emergency action plan for each sport located on the school's campus.

 

A.                      The emergency action plan shall be reviewed annually prior to each sport season with all appropriate personnel who are designated by the athletic director's office.

 

8. The comprehensive emergency action plan shall follow the best practices of the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

 

2.               Require that any coach, game official, on-field licensed health care provider, or licensed athletic trainer remove a student from practice, training, or competition if any of the following circumstances occur:

 

A.                      The student reports any defined sign or symptom of a serious sports injury.

8.  The coach or licensed athletic trainer determines that the student exhibits any defined sign or symptom of a serious sports injury.

C.             The coach is notified that the student has reported or exhibited any defined sign or symptom of a serious sports injury by any of the following persons:

 

(1)       A licensed, registered, or certified medical practitioner operating within their respective scope of practice.

(2)       A licensed athletic trainer.

(3)       Any other licensed, registered, or certified individual whose scope of practice includes rthe recognition of symptoms associated with serious sports injuries.

(4)       An official responsible for judging or supervising the athletic competition.

3.               Ensure that any student who, in accordance with statutory provisions is safely removed from practice, training, or competition:

 

A  Shall, as soon as practicable after reporting or exhibiting any sign or symptom of a serious sports injury, be examined by a health professional duly licensed in Louisiana to provide health care services or medical treatment.

 

B. May be allowed to return to practice, training, or competition only after the student provides to the coach and aR licensed athletic trainer written authorization from a health professional duly licensed in Louisiana to provide health care services or medical treatment.

 

4.              Require that for the purpose of serving the students, school, community, and protecting public safety, each coach or official in school sponsored or school sanctioned athletic actii.iities certified by the Coaches Education and Certification Program receive annual documented training regarding the nature and risks of serious sports injuries in accordance with the National High School Coaches Association and the Louisiana High School Coaches Association.

 

5.              Subject to availability of financial resources and supply of the necessary workforce, rely to the greatest possible extent on athletic trainers licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners to provide athletic health care at high school athletic competitions.

 

6.               Require that each school participating in interscholastic athletics. follow best practices for any activity that does not occur in a climate-controlled facility. These practices shall follow the modified guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Athletic Trainers' Association regarding the heat acclimatization and wet bulb globe temperature policy. These policies shall occur on all school campuses where summer conditioning, pre-season practices or games, or fall or spring sports take place. or when a coach is present.

 

Heat acclimatization means a series of changes or adaptations that occur in response to heat stress in a controlled environment over the course of seven to fourteen days. These adaptations are beneficial to exercise in the heat and allow the body to cope with heat stress.

 

Wet bulb temperature globe means a measure of the heat stress in direct sunlight which takes into account temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle. and solar radiation.

 

7.               Include a protocol for licensed athletic trainers. if utilized by the school or school system, to be available for practices or games to assist in the management of emergency and nonemergency care for participants.

 

The school shall ensure that before a student is allowed to participate in any school­ sponsored or school-sanctioned athletic activity, the student and the parent or guardian of the student shall document that they have viewed information provided in written or verifiable electronic form by the school or school district, regarding risks of serious sports injuries.

 

The sports injury protocols outlined above do not apply to concussions, the protocols of which are outlined below, in accordance with the Louisiana Youth Concussion Act of 2011, La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§40:1089.1-40:1089.5.

 

CONCUSSIONS

 

Prior to beginning of each athletic season, the School Board shall provide pertinent information to all coaches, officials, volunteers, youth athletes, and their parents or legal guardian which informs of the nature and risk of concussion and head injury, including the risks associated with continuing to play after a concussion or head injury. Each youth athlete and his or her parents or legal guardian shall be required to sign a concussion and head injury information sheet which provides adequate notice of the statutory requirements which must be satisfied in order for an athlete who has or is suspected to have suffered a concussion or head injury to return to play.

 

Each coach, whether such coach is employed or a volunteer, and every official of a youth athletic activity that involves interscholastic play shall be required to complete an annual concussion recognition education course which is in accordance with the statutes.

 

Removal from and Return to Play

 

A coach who is required to complete concussion recognition education shall immediately remove any youth athlete from a game, competition, or practice if any of the following occurs:

 

1.               The youth athlete reports any defined sign.or symptom of a concussion and is reasonably suspected of having sustained a concussion.

 

2.               The coach, athletic trainer, or official determines that the youth athlete exhibits any defined sign or symptom of a concussion and he/she reasonably suspects that the youth athlete has sustained a concussion.

 

3.               The coach or official is notified that the youth athlete has reported or exhibited any defined sign or symptom of a concussion and is reasonably suspected of sustaining a concussion by any of the following persons:

A. A licensed, registered, or certified medical health care provider operating within their respective scope of practice. The medical health care provider performing an evaluation upon a youth athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion or brain injury may be a volunteer.

 

B. Any other licensed, registered, or certified individual whose scope of practice includes the recognition of concussion symptoms. The individual performing an evaluation upon a youth athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion or brain injury may be a volunteer.

 

If a youth athlete is removed from play and the signs and symptoms cannot be readily explained by a condition other than concussion, the coach shall notify the athlete's parent or legal guardian and shall not permit the youth athlete to return to play or participate in any supervised team activities involving physical exertion, including games, competitions, or practices, until the youth athlete is evaluated by a health care provider and receives written clearance from the health care provider for a full or graduated return to play.

 

After a youth athlete who has sustained a concussion or head injury has been evaluated and received clearance for a graduated return to play from a health care provider, an organization or association of which a school or school district is a member, a public school, or an athletic league may allow a licensed athletic trainer with specific knowledge of the athlete's condition to manage the athlete's graduated return to play.

 

New policy: September 22, 2011

Revised: June, 2014

Revised: August, 2020

  \Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§40:1087.1, 40:1089.1, 40:1089.2, 40:1089.3, 40:1089.4,

40:1089.5; Board minutes, 9-22-11.

 

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ITEM 7.  BUSINESS AND FINANCE

 

ITEM 7a.  Public Comment.  Mr. Patrick Amadee – Executive Session to discuss pending litigation in St. John the Baptist Parish School Board vs Nalco, La. Board of Tax Appeal No. L00253

 

MOTION BY:    Triche

SECOND BY:   Jones

MOTION:  To convene in Executive Session to discuss pending litigation in St. John the Baptist Parish School Board vs Nalco, La. Board of Tax Appeal No. L00253

Roll Call:

8 Yeas – Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

3 Absent – Holden, Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

 

The Board convened in Executive Session at 6:12 p.m.

 

Mrs. Holden arrived at 6:12 p.m. and was recorded as present.

 

MOTION BY:    Triche

SECOND BY:   Jones

MOTION:  To reconvene in Regular Session

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

2 Absent – Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

 

MOTION BY:    Keller

SECOND BY:   Jones

MOTION:  To grant settlement authority to Attorney Patrick Amadee in St. John the Baptist Parish School Board vs Nalco, La. Board of Tax Appeal No. L00253

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

2 Absent – Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7b.  Public Comment.  Mr. David Andras - Permission to file and accept all required documents and forms for the 2023-2024 E-Rate Grant for Priority 1 and 2 items.

 

MOTION BY:    Keller

SECOND BY:   Triche

MOTION:  To grant permission to file and accept all required documents and forms for the 2023-2024 E-Rate Grant for Priority 1 and 2 items.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

2 Absent – Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7c.  Public Comment.  Mr. David Andras - Permission to file an RFP for 2.5-5 Gigabit access switches to support a 2.5-5 Gigabit  network at each site to all classrooms.

 

MOTION BY:    Jones

SECOND BY:   Triche

MOTION:  To grant permission to file an RFP for 2.5-5 Gigabit access switches to support a 2.5-5 Gigabit  network at each site to all classrooms.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

2 Absent – Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7d.  Public Comment.  Mr. David Andras - Permission to file RFP for internal wireless access points or renew existing contract if needed.

 

MOTION BY:    Jones

SECOND BY:   Burl

MOTION:  To grant permission to file RFP for internal wireless access points or renew existing contract if needed.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

2 Absent – Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7e.  Public Comment.  Mrs. Janice Gauthier – Request Board approval to award a contract to the most qualified responsive proposer for Emergency Disaster Restoration Maintenance Service Group

 

MOTION BY:    Burl

SECOND BY:   Holden

MOTION:  To award the Emergency Disaster Restoration Maintenance Service Group to the most qualified responsive proposer, Guarantee Restoration.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

2 Absent – Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7f.  Public Comment.  Mrs. Janice Gauthier – Request Board approval to advertise for a Janitorial Supplies Vendor

 

MOTION BY:    Triche

SECOND BY:   Holden

MOTION:  To grant approval to advertise for a Janitorial Supplies Vendor.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

2 Absent – Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 8.  OLD BUSINESS

 

ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS. 

 

ITEM 9a.   Public Comment. Mrs. Cindy Janecke – Request Board approval for GeoSport to install via change order the same LED stadium lighting at Joe Keller Stadium that was installed at Rudy Dinvaut Stadium

 

MOTION BY:    Jones

SECOND BY:   DeFrancesch

MOTION:  To grant approval for GeoSport to install via change order the same LED stadium lighting at Joe Keller Stadium that was installed at Rudy Dinvaut Stadium.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

2 Absent – Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 9b.   Public Comment.  Mrs. Cindy Janecke – Request Board approval to award contract to the low responsive bidder for John L. Ory Roofing

 

MOTION BY:    Triche

SECOND BY:   DeFrancesch

MOTION:  To award contract to the low responsive bidder for John L. Ory Roofing, Rycars Construction LLC

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

2 Absent – Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 9c.   Public Comment.  Mrs. Cindy Janecke – Request Board approval to award contract to the low responsive bidder for Central Office Exterior, Roofing and Interior Repair

 

MOTION BY:    Keller

SECOND BY:   Triche

MOTION:  To award contract to the low responsive bidder for Central Office Exterior, Roofing and Interior Repair, Pivotal Engineers.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

2 Absent – Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 9d.   Public Comment. Mrs. Cindy Janecke – Request Board approval to award contract to the low responsive bidder for West St. John High Exterior and Roofing Repair

 

MOTION BY:    Holden

SECOND BY:   Schum

MOTION:  To award contract to the low responsive bidder for West St. John High Exterior and Roofing Repair, CDX Construction, LLC at a cost of $450,000

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

2 Absent – Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 10.  ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

 

ITEM 11.  BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST

 

Mrs. Schum reminded all that the Education Foundation’s Meet and Greet will be held on August 22nd, from 6-7:30 at the Sheriff’s Training Center on Cambridge Drive.

 

ITEM 12.  ADJOURNMENT

 

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

 

MOTION BY:    Jones

SECOND BY:   Holden

MOTION:         Motion for adjournment.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Schum, Wallace, Triche

2 Absent – Sanders, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 7:13 p.m.

 

 

 

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Rebecca Johnson, Secretary                                                     Nia Mitchell, President