PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA – Special Meeting of April 18, 2013

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 special session at Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria, 1600 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana, at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, April 18, 2013.

An agenda for the meeting is attached.

Sincerely,

Clarence Triche, Board President

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

ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:

PRESENT:        Messrs. Jack, Burl, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas and Triche

ABSENT:          Messrs. Keller and Sanders.

There were 9 members present and 2 members absent.

ITEM 3.  Mr. Felix Boughton, Executive Director of Business and Finance, Select Committee for Disaster Management Services (requires action)

Mr. Wise made a motion that we stay with the original selection committee that we created.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Jones.

Mr. Burl made a substitute motion to have 5 members of the school board included on this committee.  The motion was seconded by Rev. Nicholas.

Much discussion took place on school board members being included on the committee.  Mr. Wise called for Point of Order – denied by Chair, discussion continued.

After a lengthy discussion, Mr. Jones Call for Question.

Roll Call on Question:  5 YEAS (Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas and Triche), 4 NAYS (Jack, Burl, DeFrancesch, and Nicholas), and 2 ABSENT (Keller and Sanders).  Motion Failed – Discussion continued.

Mr. Jones requested the Board Attorney, Mr. O. J. Jasmin, his opinion on the original selection committee status.  Is this item redundant, as we did not take action to dissolve this committee – we need clarity from our attorney and administration?

Mr. Jasmin’s opinion is that the selection committee was not dissolved.  Mr. Herbert Smith, School Superintendent, stated that the committee was not formally dissolved.

Dr. Keller arrived at 10:22 A.M. and was recorded present.

Mr. Jasmin informed the board to set-up a process and follow the process.  After a lengthy discussion, the Chair called for Question and roll call on substitute motion.

Roll Call:  3 YEAS (Jack, Burl, and Nicholas) 6 NAYS (Defrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas and Triche), 1 ABSTENTION (Keller), and 1 ABSENT (Sanders).  Substitute motion failed.

Mr. Jack requested clarification

Chair called for 5 minute recess at 10:30 A.M.

Dr. Keller made a motion at 10:41 A.M. to go back into regular session.  Mr. Bacas seconded the motion.  There being no objections; the board went back into regular session at 10:41 A.M. with 1 ABSENT (Sanders).

Mr. Jasmin informed the board in accordance with Robert’s Rule once a question is imitated this cuts off further debate, thus going into a vote.

ROLL CALL on original motion:  6 YEAS (DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas and Triche), 4 NAYS (Jack, Burl, Keller, and Nicholas), and 1 ABSENT (Sanders).  Motion Passed.

Dr. Keller requested that Item 6 be moved up.

Mr. Jones directed administration to contact selection committee members to see if the original members are available and interested to continue to be on the selection committee, if not, contact appropriate board member to reassign another member.

Mr. Wise asked legal counsel to determine whether the entire board needs to approve new members.

ITEM 6.  Rev. Rodney Nicholas, Suspend Rule to Reconsider Grass Cutting Contract (requires action).

Rev. Nicholas made a motion to suspend rule to reconsider grass cutting contract.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Wise.

ROLL CALL:  10 YEAS (Jack, Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas and Triche. 1 ABSENT (Sanders).  Motion to suspend rule passed.

Rev. Nicholas made a motion to take administrations’ recommendation to hire Hymel for their section of the contract and go back for new proposals for the second section.  This motion was seconded by Mr. Bacas

Mr. Wise asked for clarification of 1^st section to 2^nd section.

Mr. Peter Montz, Purchasing Agent/Interim Director addressed the board.  Hymel Inc. will take care of athletic fields and inactive sites, while other sections are defined as active school sites.

ROLL CALL:  9 YEAS (Burl, Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, and Triche), 1 ABSTENTION (Jack), and 1 ABSENT (Sanders).  Motion passed.

Mr. Hymel addressed the board.

Superintendent Smith asked the board for clarification on how to proceed with getting proposals. Administration needs direction on what the board wants to do.

ITEM 4:  Mrs. Lorraine Jackson, Lunch Bids (requires action).

Mr. Wise made a motion to advertise for bids for the School Year 2013 – 2014 for Bread, Processed Foods, Frozen Foods, Meat/Meat Products, Milk, Cleaning Supplies, Paper Supplies, Small and Large Equipment for cafeterias.  This motion was seconded by Mr. Jones.  There being no objections and 1 ABSENT (Sanders), motion passed.

ITEM 5.  Mrs. Lanette Perrin, Approval of School Calendar for 2013 – 2014 (requires action).

Superintendent Smith requested the board to approve the school calendar for 2013 – 2014 school year.  At the last school board meeting, this item was tabled due to concerns by the union involving Head Start teachers.

Mr. Wise made a motion to approve the 2013 – 2014 school calendar presented.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Bacas.

Mr. Jack asked if the union came into agreement with administration.  Superintendent Smith stated that no agreement has been made; however, the head start teacher issue does not affect the start date for the school year.

ROLL CALL:  8 YEAS (Keller, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Bacas, Nicholas, and Triche), 2 NAYS (Jack and Burl) 1 ABSENT (Sanders).  Motion passed.

ITEM 7.  Mr.  Elton Oubre, Appeal Hearing – 1213-07-0418 (Open or Closed Hearing). 

Mr. Oubre informed the board the parent has requested a closed hearing.  The board went into closed session at 10:57 A.M.

Mr. Jones made a motion for the board meeting to go back into regular session at 12:24 P.M.  Motion was seconded by Mr. Bacas.  There being no objections, 2 ABSENT (Sanders and Keller), board meeting went back into regular session.

Rev. Nicholas made a motion that student 1213-07-0418 be given the option of home schooling or attend Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School, with stipulations that the student cannot return to LaPlace Elementary School for the rest of this school year.  Motion seconded by Mr. Wise.

ROLL CALL:  7 YEAS (Jack, Burl, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, and Nicholas), 2 NAYS (Bacas and Triche), 2 ABSENT (Keller and Sanders), motion carried.

ITEM 8.  Mr. Felix Boughton, Executive Session – Update on Negotiations.

Mr. Bacas made a motion for the board to go into Executive Session to receive update on negotiations.  Motion was seconded by Rev. Nicholas.  There being no objections, 2 ABSENT (Keller and Sanders) the board went into Executive Session at 12:27 P.M.

Mr. Jones made a motion for the board to go back into regular session at 1:22 P.M.  Motion was seconded by Mr. Bacas.  There being no objections, 4 ABSENT (Jack, Keller, Sanders and DeFrancesch), the board went back into regular session.

ITEM 9.  Adjournment

A motion was made by Mr. Jones and seconded by Mr. Bacas to adjourn.  There were no objections; Jack, Keller, Sanders, and DeFrancesch were absent; the meeting adjourned at 1:22 P.M.

________________________________                 __________________________________

Herbert Smith, Secretary                                      Clarence Triche, President