PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA - Meeting of March 21, 2013

 

ITEM 1:  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, 1600 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana, at 6:00 p.m., on Thursday, March 21, 2013.

           

An agenda for the meeting is attached.

Sincerely,

s/Herbert Smith

Superintendent/Secretary

 

The Chair called for a moment of silent meditation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance which was led by Mr. Sanders.

 

ITEM 2:  ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:

 

PRESENT: Messrs.  Jack, Keller, Sanders, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Triche and Ms. DeFrancesch

 

ABSENT:  Messrs. Burl, Jones and Nicholas

 

There were 8 members present and 3 members absent.

 

ITEM 3:  APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  Meeting of March 7, 2013.

 

A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mr. Wise, to accept the minutes of the March 7, 2013 meeting as printed and published.  There were no objections.  The motion carried.

 

3 Absent – Burl, Jones and Nicholas.

 

Dr. Keller asked to recognize Dr. Henry Yale Harris in the audience.  Dr. Harris is a pioneer of education in St. John the Baptist Parish.

 

ITEM 4:  SUPERINTENDENT’S REPPORT:  Mr. Herbert Smith

 

Capital One Bank and The Heart of America Foundation selected East St. John Elementary School to receive a library makeover.  Volunteers from these two organizations will create a newly-renovated reading corner in the school library along with 250 new library books.  At the Grand Opening event, being planned in May, each student will receive 2 books of their own to take home.

 

Mr. Keith Jones arrived at 6:04 p.m. and was recorded present.

 

Mr. John Olynick, St. John United Way’s Community Impact Manager gave an update on the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.  To date, St. John has had 636 children, age range 0 – 5 years of age, participate in the program.

 

Rev. Rodney Nicholas arrived at 6:07 p.m. and was recorded present.

 

Mr. Smith requested Felix Boughton, Executive Director of Business and Finance and O. J. Jasmine, Board Attorney, to explain to the board and community a meeting with Mr. Ben Plyer, legal counsel for GOHSEP (Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness) on awarding of the Disaster Management Contract to CSRS and HCI.  Mr. Jasmine informed the board and community that the school board was not in compliance with FEMA regulations and this would jeopardize FEMA reimbursement.  There were two items in question:  1. Failure to have a written selection procedure, which is in direct violation of FEMA Federal Statue Regulations 44CFR13.36 Section C3.  2.  A RFQ process was completed instead of a RFP process.  Mr. Plyer provided a sample of an RFP that GOSHEP uses.  A discussion took place.

 

Dr. Keller requested that Item 9c. be discussed at this time to assist with current discussion.

 

ITEM 9c.  Dr. Gerald Keller – Motion to suspend the 60-day rule to re-consider, and if necessary to take action.  (Requires action).

 

A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mr. Jones to suspend the 60-day rule to re-consider, and if necessary to take action.  There were no objections, motion carried.

 

Mr.  Boughton presented a sample of a RFP, recommended by GOSHEP, for board review and come back before Wednesday, March 27th and adopt this RFP as your RFP so advertising for Disaster Management can begin on March 27th for three weeks.

 

Mr. Wise made a motion to review information provided to the board and come back at the discretion of the president on Monday or Tuesday in the evening to continue discussion. 

 

Mr. Boughton informed the board that once the RFP is approved, the board cannot deviate from its own policy.

 

Motion was seconded by Mrs. DeFrancesch.

 

Much discussion took place. 

 

Mr. Wise called for point of order.   Chair did allow one more audience member to speak. More discussion took place.

 

Mr. Wise called for point of order.  Called for point of order was seconded by Mr. Jones.

 

Roll Call on Point of Order:  7 Yeas (Keller, Sanders, Defrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Bacas, and Triche. 4 Nays (Jack, Burl, Wise and Nicholas.

 

Chair called for original motion.

 

Mr. Wise made a motion to review information provided and for the board to come back at the discretion of the president on Monday or Tuesday afternoon.

 

Chair called for recess at 6:47 P.M.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Sanders to back in regular session.  Motion seconded by Dr. Keller.  There being no objections, board went back into regular session at 6:58 P.M.

 

O. J. Jasmine, Board Attorney, explained to the board the difference between call to order and call of question. 

 

Chair called for recess at 7:01 P.M.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Sanders to back in regular session.  Motion seconded by Rev. Nicholas.  There being no objections, board went back into regular session at 7:08 P.M.

 

Roll Call on original motion:  9 Yeas (Keller, Sanders, Defrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise Bacas, Nicholas and Triche.  1 Nay (Burl) and 1 Abstention (Jack).  Motion carried.

 

Dr. Keller requested that Item 9b be moved up on the agenda.  There being no objections, Item 9b was presented.

 

ITEM 9b.  Mr. Felix Boughton/Mr. Orenthal Jasmin – Approval of lease with Second Ward High Cultural Community, Inc., for Second Ward property (Requires Action)

 

A motion was made by Mr. Jack, seconded by Rev. Nicholas, to approve the lease of Second Ward property to Second Ward High Cultural Community, Inc.   There were no objections, motion carried. 

 

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

 

ITEM 6:  PERSONNEL MATTERS:  Dr. Leigh Ann Beard, Director of Human Resources -

 

Request approval of policies to be adopted: BCB; DFM; EBBH; FDC; GAE; GAE-P; GAMIA; GBA; GBDA; IDDG; IEG; EFBGA; IHAD; JBCBB; JCD; JCDAF; JD; JDD; JDE; JGCD; JGCE.

 

A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mr. Jones, to adopt policies BCB; DFM; EBBH; FDC; GAE; GAE-P; GAMIA; GBA; GBDA; IDDG; IEG; EFBGA; IHAD; JBCBB; JCD; JCDAF; JD; JDD; JDE; JGCD; JGCE as presented.  There were no objections.  The motion carried. 

 

ITEM 7:  BUSINESS AND FINANCE:  Mr. Felix Boughton, Executive Director of Business and Finance - Request approval of Salary Schedule for fiscal year 2013 – 2014 (Requires action).

 

See budget pages

 

A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Bacas, to approve the Salary Schedule for fiscal year 2013 – 2014.  There were no objections.  The motion carried.

 

ITEM 8:  OLD BUSINESS:  Ms. Pamelyn Smith, Principal, St. John Child Development Center.

Request Approval of Head Start 2013-14 Refunding Grant Application-Cycle I (Requires action).

 

A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mr. Sanders, to approve the Head Start 2013 – 2014 Refunding Grant Application – Cycle I.  There were no objections.  The motion carried.   

 

ITEM 9:  NEW BUSINESS:

ITEM 9a.  Mr. Russ Wise – St. John the Baptist Parish Government presentation of upcoming community event.  Mr. Wise requested, Rev. August to speak to the board in reference to the Citizen Advocacy Group.  This group is working with the parish government along with FEMA to help rebuild St. John Parish.  Rev. August requested the support of the school system by having representation at its meetings held at the St. John Parish Library in LaPlace on Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m.

 

ITEM 9d.  Mr. Albert Burl, III – Action to conduct an in-house Superintendent Search.  (Requires action)

Mr. Burl made a motion to conduct a Superintendent Search in-house, seconded by Mr. Jack.  A substitute motion was made by Rev. Nicholas to re-consider hiring a consulting firm to do the Superintendent Search, seconded by Dr. Keller. 

 

Mr. Wise offered up a motion to waive policy on the 60 day rule, seconded by Mr. Jack.

Roll call:  10 Yeas (Jack, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas and Triche with 1 Abstention (Burl).

 

After much discussion by the board and community, Rev. Nicholas restated his motion to read as follows:  Reconsider hiring a consulting firm to do a Superintendent Search and hire HYA.

 

There were no objections, motion carried.

 

ITEM 9e.  Mr. Elton Oubre, Director of Safe & Drug Free Schools – Truancy Report.

 

Mr. Oubre presented an attendance comparison for the last 6 years; an enrollment comparison for the last 2 years; and the count of truancy intervention completed to date.

 

ITEM 9f.  Ms. Page Eschette, Coordinator of Federal & State Programs – Introduction of the 2013-2014 School Calendar. 

 

Mrs. Lanette Perrin, Coordinator of Title II presented the proposed school calendar for introduction purposes with adoption to take place at the April 11, 2013 meeting.

 

ITEM 9g.  Mr. Orenthal Jasmin, Board Attorney – Legal Update - None

 

ITEM 10:  ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

 

Rev. Nicholas requested that administration contact HYA on tomorrow to get the Superintendent Search under way.

 

Rev. Nicholas requested that administration look into a virtual school for Redirection students.

 

Mr. Jack informed the board that the West St. John Civic Association will recognize the West St. John High School Girls Basketball team on Sunday, March 24th at 2:00 p.m.

 

Mr. Smith informed the board that Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School will conduct a Family Math & Reading Night on April 3, 2013 at 6:00 P.M. at East St. John Elementary School.

 

The West St. John High School Girls Basketball team will be recognized at the next school board meeting to be held on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

 

ITEM 11:  ADJOURNMENT

The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, Dr. Keller offered a motion for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Bacas.  There were no objections.  The meeting adjourned at 8:06 P.M.

 

________________________________               __________________________________

Herbert Smith, Secretary                                   Clarence Triche, President