PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

LAPLACE, LA – MEETING OF AUGUST 17, 2017

 

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 Emily C. Watkins Elementary School,  938 La. Hwy. 628, LaPlace, Louisiana, on Thursday, August 17, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.

 

An agenda for the meeting is attached.

 

Sincerely, s/Kevin R. George

Superintendent/Secretary

 

ITEM 1.  CALL TO ORDER, INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.

 

The Chair called for a moment of silent meditation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Kennedy Miller.

 

 

ITEM 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:

 

PRESENT:        Holden, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

ABSENT:         

 

There were 11 members present and 0 members absent.

 

ITEM 3a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meetings of July 20, 2017 and Board Retreat Minutes of July 31-August 1, 2017

 

MOTION BY:    Jones

SECOND BY:    Wallace

MOTION:  To approve the minutes from the meetings of July 20, 2017 and Board Retreat Minutes of July 31-August 1, 2017.

No objections.

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Mr. Kevin R. George, Superintendent.

 

Supt. Kevin George shared the following information:

·       Beginning of school went very smoothly – WVUE showed a feature of ESJE and the fun that was had on the first day.

·       Enrollment count:  2017 Day 6 – we are up 170 students as compared to day 6 of last year.  Total: 5694 students enrolled

·       An attendance flyer went home with all students on the first day of school, encouraging parents to send their children to school and also the importance of attendance.

·       Solar Eclipse:  Glasses were ordered and distributed to teachers who requested them (students in grades 6th-12th) , as well as legal waivers that must be signed by parents.

·       Pastor’s Luncheon:  Tuesday, Aug. 22nd, 11:30 a.m. at Avis’s Kitchen on Hwy. 51

·       Schoolwide Goals will be presented at the September 21st meeting

 

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

 

ITEM 5a.  Resolution:  Carl Baloney, Sr.

 

The following resolution was read aloud and recorded in the minutes.  The family was presented a plaque with the resolution.

 

RESOLUTION

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA

 

 

WHEREAS,      the St. John the Baptist Parish community lost a strong, forward-thinking leader and generous and knowledgeable mentor on Monday,  June 12, 2017, with the death of Carl Baloney, Sr., and

 

WHEREAS,      Carl Baloney, Sr., a native of Garyville, Louisiana, was educated in the St. John the Baptist Parish School System, and

 

WHEREAS,      Carl Baloney, Sr., was duly elected to serve and did in fact serve on the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board at the age of 24, being the youngest elected official in the State of Louisiana at the time, and

 

WHEREAS,      During his tenure on the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, Carl Baloney, Sr., founded the first Black History Month Program, which is still recognized to this day, and

 

WHEREAS,      With this Memorial Resolution to be issued to the family of Carl Baloney, Sr., St. John the Baptist Parish School Board hereby recognizes his dedication and commitment to the children and the families of this Parish,

 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this school district, on behalf of its members, recognizes the significant contributions of Carl Baloney, Sr., over the course of his distinguished career and mourns his death; and this Resolution shall be made part of the official record of this School Board on this 27th day of August, 2017, thus done and subscribed therein.

 

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ITEM 6.  PERSONNEL MATTERS

 

ITEM 6a.  Mrs. Serina Duke – Mrs. Serina Duke – Request Approval of Revised Job Description:  Behavior Interventionist

 

MOTION BY:    Wise

SECOND BY:    Sanders

MOTION:  To approve Revised Job Description:  Behavior Interventionist

Upon roll call, there were:

10 Yeas – Holden, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

0 Absent  -

1 Not Seated:  Jones

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 6b.  Mrs. Serina Duke – Request Approval of Policy:  Bulletin 130 – Regulations for the evaluation and assessment of school personnel

 

MOTION BY:    Wise

SECOND BY:    Sanders

MOTION:  To approve Revised Job Description:  Behavior Interventionist

Upon roll call, there were:

9 Yeas – Holden, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

0 Absent  -

2 Not Seated:  Keller, Jones

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7.  BUSINESS AND FINANCE

 

ITEM 7a.  Mr. Peter Montz – Mr. Peter Montz – Request Board approval to Grounds Maintenance Contract

 

Ms. Eliza Eugene spoke in opposition of approval of this contract.

 

MOTION BY:    DeFrancesch

SECOND BY:    Sanders

MOTION:  To approve a 3 year contract with the current vendors for Grounds Maintenance.  The contract reflects a 10% reduction of the original contract amount for both vendors:  3H Enterprise and Hymel’s.

Upon roll call, there were:

8 Yeas –  Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

2 Abstention – Holden, Burl

1 Not Seated:  Jones

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7b.  Mr. Peter Montz – Request approval for RFQ for Engineering & Architects.

 

MOTION BY:    Triche

SECOND BY:    Keller

MOTION:  To award Meyer Engineers, LTD a 3 year contract for FEMA events.

Upon roll call, there were:

11 Yeas – Holden, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Bur

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7c.  Mr. Peter Montz – Recommendation on Proposal 18.21 Emergency Construction of Building Components and/or Grounds.

 

MOTION BY:    Keller

SECOND BY:    Mitchell

MOTION:  To reject the one submittal and re-advertise for proposals.

Upon roll call, there were:

 

SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY:       Sanders

SECOND BY:    Wallace

MOTION:  To reject the one submittal for 18.21 and re-advertise for proposals and based on information provided at the L&F Committee Meeting, to award a contract to include other incidentals (excluding FEMA declared emergency work) to the only company that bid on this contract, The Luster Group.

Upon roll call, there were:

10 Yeas –  Holden, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

1 Nay – Wise

The substitute motion carried.

 

ITEM 7d.  Mr. Felix Boughton – Approve agreement with McLiney and Company for Qualified Zone Academy Bond Program (QZAB)

 

MOTION BY:    Wise

SECOND BY:    Wallace

MOTION:  To approve the agreement with McLiney and company for Qualified Zone Academy Bond Program.

Upon roll call, there were:

11 Yeas –  Holden, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

0 Nays

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7e.  To consider and take action with respect to adopting a resolution giving preliminary approval to the issuance of Taxable Limited Tax Revenue Bonds (Qualified Zone Academy Bond), in one or more series, of the Parish School Board of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana; and providing for other matters in connection therewith

 

MOTION BY:    Entire Board

SECOND BY:

MOTION:  To adopt a resolution giving preliminary approval to the issuance of Taxable Limited Tax Revenue Bonds (Qualified Zone Academy Bond), in one or more series, of the Parish School Board of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

Upon roll call, there were:

11 Yeas –  Holden, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

0 Nays

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7f.  Mr. Felix Boughton – Approve contract with ACI for sales/hotel tax collection

 

This contract automatically renewed for one year, so no action needed to be taken at this time.

 

ITEM 8.  OLD BUSINESS                                                       

 

ITEM 9.  NEW BUSINESS

 

ITEM 9a.   Mrs. Shanna Beber – Request Approval to  Recommended Changes to the Pupil Progression Plan 2017-2018

 

MOTION BY:    Keller

SECOND BY:    Triche

MOTION:  To approve the recommended changes to the Pupil Progression Plan 2017-2018.

Upon roll call, there were:

11 Yeas –  Holden, Keller, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Jones, Johnson, Wise, Wallace, Mitchell, Triche, Burl

0 Nays

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 9b.  Mr. Kevin George - Introduction of Central Office Reorganization Plan for 2017-2018 School Year

 

Mr. George shared the Reorganizational Plan for 2017-2018 with the Board.

 

ITEM 10.  ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS                              

 

Mr. George stated that he has been asked by several people how the School Board can make such important decisions so quickly.  He wanted to let the public know that there are many School Board Committees that meet regularly and most, if not all, decisions are discussed in these committee meetings.  He also stressed that the public is invited to attend these meetings.

 

ITEM 11.  BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST

 

Mr. Jones thanked Ms. Robinet for the use of her school for the Board meeting.

 

ITEM 12.  ADJOURNMENT - The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a

 

MOTION BY:    Sanders

SECOND BY:    Mitchell

MOTION:          Motion for adjournment.

There were no objections.

The meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m.

 

 

 

________________________________                     ________________________________

Kevin R. George, Secretary                                     Albert A. Burl, III, President