PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
RESERVE, LA – SPECIAL MEETING OF JULY 31, 2023
The Chair called the meeting to order and read the following call:
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, on Monday, July 31, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER, INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and called for the invocation (led by Pastor Laurie Adams), followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
ITEM 2a. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:
PRESENT: Burl, Triche, Morris, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
ABSENT: Holden, DeFrancesch
There were 9 members present and 2 member absent.
ITEM 3. Public Comment. Mr. Shawn Wallace – Board approval of the resignation and severance agreement of Superintendent Rebecca Johnson as recommended by the Executive Committee
Public Comment: Alvin Scioneaux, Linda Boudoin, Ann Harvey, Stacy Millet, Latunya Dykes-Creecy, Stefanie Aubert
MOTION BY: Schum
SECOND BY: Vicknair
MOTION: To accept the resignation and approve the severance agreement of Superintendent Rebecca Johnson, as recommended by the Executive Committee
Following discussion, Mr. Burl made the following substitute motion: Due to Mrs. Johnson’s resignation being effective on August 10th, which is after July 1st, the compensation is limited to accrued balance before the incoming school year. The substitute motion failed, due to the lack of a second.
Following discussion, the Chair called for a Roll Call on the original motion to accept the resignation and approve the severance agreement of Superintendent Rebecca Johnson, as recommended by the Executive Committee:
Roll Call:
9 Yeas – Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
1 Nay – Burl
1 Absent – Holden
The motion carried.
ITEM 4. Public Comment. Appointment of Interim Superintendent
Public Comment: Linda Bodoin, Ann Harvey, Delores Soraparu, Derron Cook, Alvin Scioneaux, Sylvia Taylor, Latunya Dykes-Creecy, Yevette Scioneaux
The President opened the floor for nominations:
- Kendria Spears was nominated by Lindsey Vicknair and Patricia Triche
- Juanita Hill was nominated by Albert Burl, III
There being no other nominations, the Chair closed the floor to nominations.
The Board members were asked to state their candidate of choice for President when their name was called:
Holden – Absent
Burl – Hill
Triche – Spears
Morris – Spears
DeFrancesch – Spears
Frizzell – Spears
Mamou – Hill
Schum – Spears
Mitchell-Williams – Spears
Vicknair – Spears
Wallace – Spears
With 8 votes for Kendria Spears, and 2 for Juanita Hill, and 1 absent, Mrs. Kendria Spears was appointed Interim Superintendent. Mrs. Spears addressed the Board and thanked them for their confidence in her.
ITEM 4. BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST
Mr. Wallace recognized Mr. Tweet Madere in the audience.
Board members congratulated Mrs. Spears and thanked the faculty and staff at all schools, who have been preparing to welcome our students back to school next week.
ITEM 5. ADJOURNMENT
The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a
MOTION BY: Mitchell-Williams
SECOND BY: Triche
MOTION: Motion for adjournment.
Roll Call:
10 Yeas – Burl, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
1 Absent – Holden
The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m.
________________________________ ________________________________
Kendria Spears, Secretary Shawn Wallace, President