PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
RESERVE, LA – MEETING OF MARCH 17, 2016
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 Hwy. 44, Reserve, Louisiana, on Thursday, March 17, 2016, at 6:00 p.m.
An agenda for the meeting is attached.
Sincerely, s/Kevin R. George
Superintendent/Secretary
The Chair called for the invocation, led by Clarence Triche, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by 8th Grade District Student of the Year Jenna Necaise.
ITEM 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:
PRESENT: Burl, Keller, Sanders, Johnson, Wallace, Triche, Jones
ABSENT: Jack, DeFrancesch, Wise, Nicholas
There were 7 members present, 4 absent.
ITEM 3a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meetings of March 3, 2016.
MOTION BY: Johnson
SECOND BY: Burl
MOTION: To approve the minutes from the meetings of March 3, 2016.
No objections.
The motion carried.
Roll Call:
7 Yeas - Burl, Keller, Sanders, Johnson, Wallace, Triche, Jones
0 Nays
4 Absent – Jack, DeFrancesch, Wise, Nicholas
ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Mr. Kevin R. George, Superintendent.
Mr. George stated the following: “The Louisiana Department of Education lists 81.93 percent of students in St. John Parish Public Schools as “economically disadvantaged.” No other listed school district with at least 80 percent of the student body categorized as economically disadvantaged performed better, and only one (Jefferson Parish) matched St. John with a B rating. No other school system with a higher poverty rate performs better than we do. That means we are doing the best job with the kids with the greatest needs.”
Mrs. DeFrancesch arrived at 6:18 p.m. and was recorded as present.
ITEM 5. EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS BY THE BOARD OR STAFF
a. Ms. Page Eschette - Students of the Year
The following students were recognized:
|
Student |
School |
Grade level |
|
5th Grade |
||
|
Tayah Cook |
East St. John Elementary |
5th |
|
Charles Harris |
Emily C. Watkins Elementary |
5th |
|
Emani Payne |
Fifth Ward Elementary |
5th |
|
Lori Lennix |
Lake Pontchartrain Elementary |
5th |
|
Aleyda Gonzalez |
LaPlace Elementary School |
5th |
|
Tobore Takpor |
John L. Ory Magnet School |
5th |
|
Skylar Edwards |
West St. John Elementary |
5th |
|
Carlo Travis |
Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School & 5th Grade District Winner |
5th |
|
8th Grade |
|
|
|
Madison Duhe |
Emily C. Watkins Elementary |
8th |
|
Myles Gauthier |
West St. John High |
8th |
|
Mai'Ron Carter |
East St. John Elementary |
8th |
|
Kyra Thomas |
Fifth Ward Elementary |
8th |
|
Tahyri Bolden |
Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School |
8th |
|
Ravyn Bazile |
LaPlace Elementary School |
8th |
|
Ka'Meryal Kelly |
Lake Pontchartrain Elementary |
8th |
|
Jenna Necaise |
John L. Ory Magnet School & 8th Grade District Winner |
8th |
|
12th Grade |
|
|
|
Lamore Boudoin |
West St. John High |
12th |
|
Lori Chen |
East St. John High & 12th Grade District Winner |
12th |
The Chair declared a recess at 6:22 p.m.
A motion was made by Dr. Keller, seconded by Mr. Burl, to reconvene in Regular Session. There were no objections and the Board reconvened in Regular Session at 6:29 p.m.
ITEM 6. PERSONNEL MATTERS
ITEM 7. BUSINESS AND FINANCE
a. Mr. Felix Boughton – Announcement of public meeting to levy sales tax.
MOTION BY: Keller
SECOND BY: DeFrancesch
MOTION: To accept the Announcement of public meeting to levy sales tax.
No objections.
Upon roll call, there were:
8 Yeas – Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Johnson, Wallace, Triche, Jones
0 Nays
3 Absent - Jack, Wise, Nicholas
The motion carried.
The following was read into the record by Mr. Jones:
Notice of Public Meeting
Notice is hereby given that in the event the voters approve the levy of a 1/4% sales and use tax at the April 9, 2016 election, at its meeting on Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at the Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria, 1600 Hwy. 44, Reserve, Louisiana, the Parish School Board of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana (the “School Board”), acting as the governing authority of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana, for school purposes, (the “Parish”), plans to consider adopting an ordinance providing for the levy of said sales and use tax in the Parish pursuant to said voter authorization.
*********************************
ITEM 8a. Ms. Page Eschette – Request approval of New/Modified Policies: BE School Board Ethics, EBBG Hazardous Substances, GAMFA Employee Communicable Diseases, JGCC Student Communicable Disease, IH Academic Achievement, JCDB Dress Code, JDD Suspension, JDE Expulsion, JBD Student Absences, JBCC Student Assignment, JBCD Student Transfer and Withdrawal.
Ms. Eschette stated that policy JBCD Student Transfer and Withdrawal would be pulled from consideration.
MOTION BY: Burl
SECOND BY: Triche
MOTION: To approve New/Modified Policies: BE School Board Ethics, EBBG Hazardous Substances, GAMFA Employee Communicable Diseases, JGCC Student Communicable Disease, IH Academic Achievement, JCDB Dress Code, JDD Suspension, JDE Expulsion, JBD Student Absences, JBCC Student Assignment.
Upon roll call, there were:
8 Yeas – Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Johnson, Wallace, Triche, Jones
0 Nays
3 Absent - Jack, Wise, Nicholas
The motion carried.
ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS
ITEM 9a. Ms. Heidi Trosclair – Introduction of 2016-2017 School Calendar.
This item was for introduction only.
St. John the Baptist Parish School System
School Calendar 2016 - 2017
|
August |
|
|
4 - 5 |
Professional Development Days |
|
8 |
Teacher Work Day |
|
9 |
First Day of School for Students |
|
16 |
First Day for Kindergarten / Universal PreK / LA4 / Model Early Students |
|
22 |
First Day for Head Start Students |
|
|
|
|
September |
|
|
5 |
Labor Day Holiday |
|
19 |
Professional Development Day – No School for Students |
|
|
|
|
October |
|
|
10 - 11 |
Fall Break Holiday |
|
14 |
End of First Nine Weeks |
|
|
|
|
November |
|
|
7 |
Professional Development Day – No School for Students |
|
8 |
Election Day – No School |
|
21 - 25 |
Thanksgiving Holidays |
|
|
|
|
December |
|
|
20 |
End of Second Nine Weeks |
|
21 – 30 |
Christmas Holidays |
|
|
|
|
January |
|
|
2 |
New Year’s Holiday |
|
3 |
Professional Development Day – No School for Students |
|
4 |
Students Return to School |
|
16 |
Martin Luther King Holiday |
|
|
|
|
February |
|
|
6 |
Professional Development Day – No School for Students |
|
27 - 28 |
Mardi Gras Holidays |
|
|
|
|
March |
|
|
1 - 3 |
Mardi Gras Holidays |
|
16 |
End of Third Nine Weeks |
|
|
|
|
April |
|
|
10 - 17 |
Easter Holidays |
|
18 |
Students Return to School |
|
|
|
|
May |
|
|
25 |
Last Day for Students / End of Fourth Nine Weeks |
|
26 |
Records’ Day |
ITEM 9b. Mrs. Patricia Triche – Head Start Grant Renewal Application.
MOTION BY: Keller
SECOND BY: Triche
MOTION: To approve the Head Start Grant Renewal Application as presented.
Upon roll call, there were:
8 Yeas – Burl, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Johnson, Wallace, Triche, Jones
0 Nays
3 Absent - Jack, Wise, Nicholas
The motion carried.
All Board members were given a copy of the Renewal Application. A copy of the application, in its entirety, can be viewed at the Child Development Center, 117 Stebbins Road, Garyville, LA 70051 or St. John the Baptist Parish School Board Office, 118 West 10th St., Reserve, LA 70084. To request a copy by email, please call 985-536-1106.
ITEM 10. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
ITEM 10a. Use of Facility Policy Discussion (Policy KG)
Mr. George stated that upon review of the current Use of Facility Policy, it was realized that the Board needn’t take any action on this as it relates to The Mission Church’s rental of LaPlace Elementary School. Mr. Burl asked that The Mission Church (Pastor Peppo) be informed that they will be allowed to rent LaPlace Elementary School’s Cafeteria for the purposes of holding their church services each Sunday for one calendar year, at which time the rental will be reviewed and possibly renegotiated.
ITEM 10b. Executive Session – Update on Negotiations
MOTION BY: Keller
SECOND BY: DeFrancesch
MOTION: To convene in Executive Session to discuss the SJAE Negotiations.
No objections.
The motion carried. 6:39 p.m.
MOTION BY: Johnson
SECOND BY: DeFrancesch
MOTION: To reconvene in Regular Session.
No objections.
The motion carried. 7:05 p.m.
ITEM 11. BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST
Dr. Keller announced that on April 4, 2016 at 12:30 p.m., Mr. A.J. Duhe (who played in a Superbowl with the Miami Dolphins) will be honored for receiving a golden football from the NFL. The event will take place at East St. John High School.
ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT - The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a
MOTION BY: Burl
SECOND BY: Triche
MOTION: Motion for adjournment.
There were no objections.
The meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m.
________________________________ ________________________________
Kevin R. George, Secretary Keith Jones, President