PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
EDGARD, LA – MEETING OF JANUARY 15, 2015
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 special session at West St. John Elementary School, 2555 LA Hwy. 18, Edgard, Louisiana, on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 6:00 p.m.
An agenda for the meeting is attached.
Sincerely, s/Kevin R. George
Superintendent/Secretary
The Chair called for a moment of silent meditation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
ITEM 1a. Swearing in of School Board Members
The Honorable Judge Madeline Jasmine, Honorable Judge Sterling Snowdy, and Honorable Judge Mary Becnel administered the Oath of Office to all Board Members.
ITEM 1b. Election of Officers
The Chair opened the floor for nominations for President.
Dr. Keller nominated Mr. Keith Jones for President.
There being no other nominations, Mr. Keith Jones was elected President.
Mr. Jones opened the floor for nominations for Vice President.
Mr. Nicholas nominated Mr. Ali Burl for Vice President.
There being no other nominations, Mr. Ali Burl was elected Vice President.
ITEM 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:
PRESENT: Messrs. Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche.
ABSENT: Mr. Johnson
There were 10 members present, 1 absent.
ITEM 3a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meetings of December 11, 2014.
MOTION BY: Mr. Nicholas
SECOND BY: Mr. Sanders
MOTION: To approve the minutes from the meetings of December 11, 2014.
No objections.
The motion carried.
10 Yeas - Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche
0 Nays
1 Absent – Mr. Johnson
ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Mr. Kevin R. George, Superintendent.
a. Louisiana School Board Association’s Continuing Learning Units – Credit Hours Earned
Mr. George read the following report:
The Louisiana School Board Association recognizes any school board member that attains twenty (20) or more continuing learning units of training in the calendar year as a Certified Board Member. This year, I am pleased to announce that every one of our board members achieved that goal for 2014. These credit hours must be recorded in the official record of the School Board, therefore, I will announce the total credit hours for each of our board members.
Mr. Russell Jack, District 1
– 26 Credit Hours – LSBA CERTIFIED BOARD MEMBER
Mr. Albert Burl, District 2
– 25.75 Credit Hours – LSBA CERTIFIED BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Gerald Keller, District 3
– 38 Credit Hours – LSBA CERTIFIED BOARD MEMBER
Mr. Patrick Sanders, District 4
– 23.75 Credit Hours – LSBA CERTIFIED BOARD MEMBER
Mrs. Sherry DeFrancesch, District 5
– 39 Credit Hours – LSBA CERTIFIED BOARD MEMBER
Mr. Keith Jones, District 6
– 44.75 Credit Hours – LSBA CERTIFIED BOARD MEMBER
Mr. Phillip Johnson, District 7
– 29 Credit Hours – LSBA CERTIFIED BOARD MEMBER
Mr. Russ Wise, District 8
– 55.75 Credit Hours – LSBA CERTIFIED BOARD MEMBER
Mr. Lowell Bacas, District 9
– 35.5 Credit Hours – LSBA CERTIFIED BOARD MEMBER
Rev. Rodney Nicholas, District 10
– 37.75 Credit Hours – LSBA CERTIFIED BOARD MEMBER
Mr. Clarence Triche, District 11
– 36.5 Credit Hours – LSBA CERTIFIED BOARD MEMBER
ITEM 5. EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS BY THE BOARD OR STAFF
ITEM 6. PERSONNEL MATTERS
ITEM 7. BUSINESS AND FINANCE
ITEM 7a. Mr. Felix Boughton – Approve Trinity Capital as municipal advisor for sales tax debt refinancing
MOTION BY: Mr. Wise
SECOND BY: Dr. Keller
MOTION: To approve Trinity Capital as municipal advisor for sales tax debt.
No objections.
The motion carried.
10 Yeas - Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche
0 Nays
1 Absent – Mr. Johnson
ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS
ITEM 8a. Rodney Nicholas – Qualifying for the DBE Certification: To partner with the City of New Orleans’ Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) and the State and Local Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (SLDBE) Certification Program as the means for certifying/qualifying DBEs.
MOTION BY: Mr. Nicholas
SECOND BY: Mr. Jack
MOTION: To partner with the City of New Orleans’ Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) and the State and Local Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (SLDBE) Certification Program as the means for certifying/qualifying DBEs.
No objections.
The motion carried.
10 Yeas - Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche
0 Nays
1 Absent – Mr. Johnson
ITEM 8b. Rodney Nicholas – For St. John School Board to enter into contract with DBE Certification Agent/Monitor” who will be St. John the Baptist Parish School Board’s authorized agent to manage the DBE Certification Application Intake and Verification process.
MOTION BY: Mr. Nicholas
SECOND BY: Mr. Jack
MOTION: To enter into contract with DBE Certification Agent/Monitor” who will be St. John the Baptist Parish School Board’s authorized agent to manage the DBE Certification Application Intake and Verification process.
Rev. Nicholas added an amendment to his motion to include: that the board contract with Eliza Eugene Enterprises as the DBE Policy Agent/Monitor and allow the Superintendent to enter into contract negotiations with Ms. Eugene.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY: Mr. Wise
SECOND BY: Dr. Keller
MOTION: To solicit a Request for Proposals for a DBE Certification Agent/Monitor.
Mr. Jack called for question.
10 Yeas - Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche
0 Nays
1 Absent – Johnson
The call for question carried and discussion was ended.
The President called for a roll call vote on the substitute motion to solicit a RFP for a DBE Certification Agent/Monitor.
Upon roll call, there were:
7 Yeas - Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Wise, Wallace, Triche
3 Nays – Jack, Nicholas, Jones
1 Absent – Johnson
The motion carried.
ITEM 8c. Board Mandate that the St. John the Baptist Parish DBE Policy component is implemented into all RFP’s (proposals) and Contracts (including LPE); and that firms that respond to bid proposals or enter into a contract agreement with St. John School Board be required to name qualified DBE’s in the RFP or contract to demonstrate the 25% DBE compliance with the Board’s DBE Policy, effective immediately.
Mr. Nicholas stated that the agenda item had been amended by the Board’s attorney and himself. His motion will read as follows:
MOTION BY: Mr. Nicholas
SECOND BY: Mr. Burl
MOTION: Board Mandate that the St. John the Baptist Parish DBE Policy component is implemented into all construction contracts (including LPE) as applicable; and that firms that respond to bid proposals or enter into a contract agreement with St. John School Board be required to name qualified DBE’s in the RFP or contract to demonstrate a good faith effort to accomplish the 25% DBE participation goal in compliance with the Board’s DBE policy, effective immediately.
The motion carried.
10 Yeas - Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche
0 Nays
1 Absent – Johnson
ITEM 7b. Mr. Peter Montz – Request Board approval to solicit bids for the demolition of Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School
MOTION BY: Mr. Wise
SECOND BY: Entire Board
MOTION: To approve the solicitation of bids for the demolition of Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School.
Mr. Nicholas expressed concern about soliciting bids before a DBE Compliance Coordinator is in place. However, if the board delays the demolition, it could delay the entire construction policy. Following discussion, the Superintendent stated that, at the direction of the Board, administration could create and release a “mini” RFP so that a DBE Compliance Coordinator would be in place before the opening of the bids for the demolition.
AMENDMENT TO MOTION: Motion to include that administration would create and release a “mini” RFP for a DBE Compliance Coordinator so that a DBE Compliance Coordinator would be in place prior to the opening of the bids for the demolition.
Upon a roll call vote on the amended motion, there was:
10 Yeas - Jack, Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Wise, Wallace, Nicholas, Triche , Jones
0 Nays
1 Absent – Johnson
The motion carried.
ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS
ITEM 9a. Mr. Felix Boughton – Executive Session – Update on Negotiations
ITEM 9b. Mr. Felix Boughton – Executive Session – Sales Tax Lawsuit
ITEM 9c. Mr. Charles Patin – Executive Session – Update on MFP Lawsuit
A motion was made by Mr. Nicholas, seconded by Mr. Jack to convene in Executive Session and to include ITEMS 9a, 9b, and 9c in Executive Session. There were no objections to this motion and the board convened in Executive Session at 7:27 p.m.
A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mr. Nicholas, to reconvene in regular session. There were no objections and the board reconvened in regular session at 8:01 p.m.
ITEM 10. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Superintendent George stated that the Board Retreat would be held at the Embassy Suites in Baton Rouge on January 27th and 28th.
Also, Superintendent George asked all Board Members to please send information to his office regarding anyone they are aware of that should receive the RFP for the DBE Compliance Coordinator. He stated that the link would be on the School Board website, as well as advertised in the local newspaper.
ITEM 11. BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST
Mr. Jones stated that there will be two Martin Luther King Day parades on Monday: 9:00 a.m. on the East Bank and also one beginning at noon on the West Bank.
ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT - The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a
MOTION BY: Mr. Wise
SECOND BY: Mr. Burl
MOTION: Motion for adjournment.
There were no objections.
The meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
________________________________
Kevin R. George, Secretary
________________________________
Keith Jones, President