PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

GODCHAUX GRAMMARCAFETERIA ~ RESERVE, LA

BOARD WORKSHOP OF OCTOBER 5, 2022 ~ 4:45 p.m.

 

 

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 for a Board Workshop at Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria, 1600 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana, on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at 4:45 p.m.

 

The agenda for the workshop is attached.

 

Sincerely,

Nia Mitchell-Williams

Board President

 

ITEM 1.  Call to Order, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance

 

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:53 p.m. She called for a moment of silent meditation and the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Dr. Keller.

 

ITEM 2. Roll Call of Members:

 

PRESENT:         Keller, Sanders, Jones, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Mitchell-Williams

ABSENT:            Holden, Burl, DeFrancesch, Johnson

 

There were 7 members present and 4 members absent.

 

ITEM 3. Public Comment. Mrs. Debra Schum – Discussion regarding the Superintendent Search Timeline

Public Comment was received from:  Annette Houston, Eliza Eugene, Sylvia Taylor

 

Mrs. Schum stated that she wanted to clarify for the public, the following:  RS 17:54 states, in part, that “Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 42:3, each city, parish, and other local public school board shall elect a superintendent of schools, having such qualifications as may be fixed by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, for a period not to exceed four 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.”   Mrs. Schum further stated that there are several reasons that a permanent leader needs to be chosen sooner rather than later.  One of which is that the Bond Commission is asking for the Board’s plan for a permanent leader.  Without stability in the Superintendent’s position, there is a great possibility that our interest rate will be significantly higher.  Furthermore, we have a Strategic Plan being created, with the first-year plan due in March.   Whoever is chosen as our leader may or may not agree with that Strategic Plan and we stand a good chance of having to start that process all over again.  Also, she stated that the Board should not halt everything because there is an election ongoing.  She continued that she feels we need to choose a Superintendent and we need do not need to wait to choose a leader.  Mrs. Mitchell-Williams stated that she agrees with Mrs. Schum that it is this Board’s obligation to find a permanent leader.  Mr. Wallace also agreed and added that this district needs stability and move forward with this school district.  He further stated that the staff members deserve to be shown that this Board is working to give them stability and continuity. Mrs. Mitchell-Williams agreed that the staff and students deserve a permanent leader.  Mr. Sanders asked what the timeline is that we are discussing.

 

Mr. Courtney Joiner stated that the requirements for hiring a Superintendent is the following:

1.      Advertise 2 times in the official journal at least one week apart; and once in the nearest newspaper with a large subscription base (The Advocate); and

2.      Accept applications for a set period of time; and

3.      Not hire a Superintendent until 30 days have expired beyond the application period.

 

Mr. Jones stated that JG Consultants was the firm that was hired to perform the last Superintendent Search.  He stated that there was a clause in that contract that stated that if the candidate did not remain with the district for 24 months, their company would engage in a new search at no charge.  He asked President Mitchell-Williams to inquire regarding the guarantee that was in their contract in an effort to save the district money.  He further stated that he has no problem with moving forward with hiring a Superintendent, but wants to find out if we can save money first. 

 

Ms. Holden stated that her concern is that children are suffering because of decisions the Board has delayed making and she doesn’t want to delay that any longer in choosing a Superintendent.  Mr. Wallace asked the clerk to forward the contract with JG Consulting to Mr. Jones and President Mitchell-Williams.

 

Mr. Sanders asked the reason for this workshop and why timelines are not being presented. Mrs. Mitchell-Williams stated that Mr. Jones asked for this workshop at the last Board meeting so the Board could share their thoughts with regard to the timeline of hiring a permanent leader.   Following extensive discussion, Mrs. Mitchell-Williams clarified what the Board is asking her to do:  The Board would like for her to hold separate discussions with Board members this week (via Zoom, small groups, if necessary) to create 2 specific timelines to be presented to the Board at the October 13th Board meeting to vote on.

 

Mr. Wallace stated that his concern is for the students and staff not having consistency and stability and does not want to delay this process any longer. 

 

ITEM 4.  Board Items of Interest

 

ITEM 5.  Adjournment

 

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

 

MOTION BY:    Jones

SECOND BY:   Wallace

MOTION:         Motion for adjournment.

Roll Call:

8 Yeas – Holden, Keller, Sanders, Jones, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Mitchell-Williams

3 Absent – Burl, DeFrancesch, Johnson

The motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 6:06 p.m.

 

________________________________                                 ________________________________

Rebecca Johnson, Secretary                                                     Nia Mitchell, President