PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA – MEETING OF MARCH 7, 2024

 

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 (Board Meeting Room), 1600 Highway 44, Reserve, LA, on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

 

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

 

The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and called for a prayer, led by student Clyde Stewart, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mr. Mamou

 

ITEM 2a. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:

 

PRESENT:        Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Vicknair, Wallace

ABSENT:          Holden, Burl, Triche, Mitchell-Williams

 

There were 7 members present and 4 members absent.

 

ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

 

ITEM 3a.  Public Comment.  Meetings of: February 8, 2024 and Public Hearings of:  January 30, 2024, January 31, 2024 and February 1, 2024

 

MOTION BY:  DeFrancesch

SECOND BY:   Mamou

MOTION:  To approve the minutes from the meeting of: February 8, 2024 and Public Hearings of:  January 30, 2024, January 31, 2024 and February 1, 2024

Roll Call:

7 Yeas – Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Vicknair, Wallace

4 Absent - Holden, Burl, Triche, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

 

Mrs. Mitchell-Williams arrived at 6:11 p.m. and was recorded as present.

 

ITEM 4.  SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

 

ITEM 4a.  District Updates

 

Dr. Perry gave an update on the following:  Our “Why”:  Dylan Graffeo, a student at Fifth Ward Elementary, is a finalists for the State Student of the Year.

New Faces/New Places:  Dr. Jaimee Williams, Chief of Academics; Dr. Kimberly Johnson, Chief of Staff; Mr. George Anthony Miller, Chief of Operations; Mr. Alvarez Herzcock III, J.D., Director of Risk Management; Dr. Stacey Spies, Director of Compliance in Special Ed; Ms. Drenean Brown, Director of Special Education; Ms. Scherell Lumar, Director of Student Services; Mr. Robert Schaff, Supervisor of Transportation; Ms. Johnika Gayden, Supervisor of Secondary Education (6-12); Ms. Michelle Seymour, Supervisor of Elementary Education (K-5); Mr. Marlon Harris, Coordinator of Safety and Security.

Other updates:

 

·         Currently working with TransformEd to create the 30-, 60-, 90-day plan.

·         February 28th – Administration engaged with Student Council

·         Attended the Career and Technical Night at ESJHS

·         March 4-8 – Read Across America Week – Central Office visited and read to classrooms across the district

·         February 23-26 – Engaged in rigorous organizational chart staffing

·         Certifications:  Dr. Johnson’s office processed 16 applications

·         88% of 1st Semester observations completed – shout out to Fifth Ward Elementary and Garyville Magnet for having 100% of their observations complete.

·         67 applicants applied for jobs posted on the website

·         HR will host a New Hire Orientation

·         Finance Department is currently conducting on-site school visits to assist in budgeting

·         Surplus items will be uploaded for auction on March 6th

·         Bus Operators Appreciation Breakfast was held on February 26th

·         2 Doors were added to Central Office to increase security

 

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

 

ITEM 5a.   Dr. Kim Johnson – Recognition of Staff

 

Dr. Johnson recognized the substitutes from Kelly Services.  Certificates and a token of appreciation were presented to the substitutes.

 

MOTION BY:  Mitchell-Williams

SECOND BY:   Holden

MOTION:  To waive policy to amend the agenda to add an item.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

MOTION BY:  Mitchell-Williams

SECOND BY:   Schum

MOTION:  To add a presentation to the agenda on Aviation at ESJH and STEM.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

Dr. Johnson and Dr. Williams recognized the students in the Aviation and Drone class at ESJH and STEM.  Ms. Beverly Reed, teacher of this class, thanked the Board for the opportunity to teach this class.  ESJH has turned out 7 certified Drone pilots.  Last year, we had 2 students that were picked up on a Black Pilot Association scholarship and went to Houston, TX.  Laila Johnson has been offered a scholarship this summer.  Our students will be featured next month in the “AviNation”, which is a magazine in airports nationwide and abroad.

 

The following students were recognized:  Donovan Green-Lewis; Armand Ward; Vivian Cases; Emery Nicholas; Keith Larche; Laila Johnson; Brandon Fernandez; Cameron Dunams; Chase Storey; Connor Storey Isaac Collins and Adrian Gallegos.

 

The Chair declared a short recess.

 

MOTION BY:  Frizzell

SECOND BY:   Schum

MOTION:  To reconvene in regular session

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 6.  PERSONNEL MATTERS.

 

ITEM 7.  BUSINESS & FINANCE. 

 

ITEM 7a.  Public Comment.  Mrs. Melissa Watson/Mrs. Eshonna Lane - Request Board approval of the 2024-2025 Head Start Application and Cost Allocation Plan

 

MOTION BY:  Frizzell

SECOND BY:   Holden

MOTION:  To approve the 2024-2025 Head Start Application and Cost Allocation Plan

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7b.  Public Comment.  Request Board approval of the Head Start Self-Assessment and Community Assessment

 

MOTION BY:  Frizzell

SECOND BY:   Mamou

MOTION:  To approve the Head Start Self-Assessment and Community Assessment

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7c.  Public Comment.  Ms. Terry Charles – Request Board approval to advertise for the School Year 2024-2025 for Bread, Milk, Processed Foods, Frozen Foods, Meat/Meat Products, Cleaning Supplies, Paper Supplies, Large and Small Equipment for cafeterias and transporting USDA Commodities to all cafeterias 

 

MOTION BY:  Mitchell-Williams

SECOND BY:   Morris

MOTION:  To authorize administration to advertise for the School Year 2024-2025 for Bread, Milk, Processed Foods, Frozen Foods, Meat/Meat Products, Cleaning Supplies, Paper Supplies, Large and Small Equipment for cafeterias and transporting USDA Commodities to all cafeterias

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7d.  Public Comment.  Mr. Anthony Miller – Request Board approval to enter into a one-year staffing service agreement with AM-PM (maintenance, clerks and custodians)

 

MOTION BY:  Mitchell-Williams

SECOND BY:   Vicknair

MOTION:  To authorize administration to enter into a one-year staffing service agreement with AM-PM (maintenance, clerks and custodians)

 

Following discussion, there was a

 

SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY:  Frizzell

SECONDE BY:  Mamou

MOTION:  To table

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7e.  Public Comment.  Mr. Anthony Miller – Request Board approval to advertise for demolition of Old Woodland Elementary School in LaPlace, LA

 

MOTION BY:  Morris

SECOND BY:   Mitchell-Williams

MOTION:  To table

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7f.  Public Comment.  Mr. Anthony Miller – Request Board approval to award a one-year supplier contract to the lowest responsive bidder for Bus Parts

 

MOTION BY:  Frizzell

SECOND BY:   Vicknair

MOTION:  To award a one-year supplier contract to the lowest responsive bidder for Bus Parts (Auto Parts and Supply)

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7g.  Public Comment.  Mr. Anthony Miller – Request Board approval to renew engagement letter with Fiscal Auditor (Laporte)

 

MOTION BY:  DeFrancesch

SECOND BY:   Morris

MOTION:  To renew the engagement letter with Fiscal Auditor (Laporte)

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7h.  Public Comment.  Mr. Anthony Miller – Request Board approval to award a one-year contract to the lowest responsive bidder for General Maintenance Supplies

 

MOTION BY:  Morris

SECOND BY:   Mitchell-Williams

MOTION:  To approve a one-year contract to the lowest responsive bidder for General Maintenance Supplies (Fisher Ace Hardware)

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7i.  Public Comment.  Mr. Anthony Miller – Request Board approval to award a one-year contract to the lowest responsive bidder for Award/Incentive Items/T-Shirts

 

MOTION BY:  DeFrancesch

SECOND BY:   Morris

MOTION:  To award a one-year contract to the lowest responsive bidder for Award/Incentive Items (Tri-Parish Trophies / T-Shirts (Advanced Marketing “AMP”)

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7j.  Public Comment.  Mr. Anthony Miller – Request Board approval to issue a month-to-month Purchase Order to maintain Grounds Maintenance at the Old Lucy School Property

 

MOTION BY:  Holden

SECOND BY:   Vicknair

MOTION:  To authorize administration to issue a month-to-month Purchase Order to maintain Grounds Maintenance at the Old Lucy School Property

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7k.  Public Comment.  Mr. Anthony Miller – Request Board approval to advertise for Temporary Staffing Service for the upcoming school year (teachers, clerks, paraprofessionals and food techs)

 

Public Comment:  Yvette Scioneaux; Alvin Scioneaux

 

MOTION BY:  Morris

SECOND BY:  Vicknair

 

Following discussion, there was a

 

SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY:  Frizzell

SECOND BY:   Vicknair

MOTION:  To authorize administration to advertise for a temporary staffing service for the upcoming school year with a comprehensive list of all positions that could potentially need a substitute, so as not to exclude a company for not being able to fill ALL positions.

Roll Call:

8 Yeas – Holden, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

3 Absent – Burl, Triche, Morris

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7l.  Public Comment.  Mr. Anthony Miller – Request Board approval to advertise for a Health Insurance Broker

 

MOTION BY:  Vicknair

SECOND BY:   Mitchell-Williams

MOTION:  To authorize administration to advertise for a Health Insurance Broker

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7m.  Public Comment.  Mr. Anthony Miller – Request Board approval to advertise for an Electrical Supplies Vendor

MOTION BY:  Morris

SECOND BY:   Mamou

MOTION:  To authorize administration to advertise for an Electrical Supplies Vendor

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7n.  Public Comment.  Mr. Anthony Miller – Request Board approval to advertise for a Plumbing Supplies Vendor

 

MOTION BY:  Morris

SECOND BY:   Mamou

MOTION:  To authorize administration to advertise for a Plumbing Supplies Vendor

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7o.  Public Comment.  Mr. Anthony Miller – Request Board approval to advertise for an Air Conditioning Parts Vendor

 

MOTION BY:  Holden

SECOND BY:   DeFrancesch

MOTION:  To authorize administration to advertise for an Air Conditioning Parts Vendor

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7p.  Public Comment.  Mrs. Dominique Miller – Request Board approval to pay $750 effectiveness pay to all teachers using a combination of differentiated compensation and general fund, to be paid on or before April 30, 2024

 

MOTION BY:  Mitchell-Williams

SECOND BY:   Schum

MOTION:  To authorize administration to pay $750 effectiveness pay to all teachers using a combination of differentiated compensation and general fund, to be paid on or before April 30, 2024

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 7q.  Public Comment.  Mrs. Dominique Miller – Request Board approval to move forward with a designation of a separate account for the repayment of the $30,000,000 loan, into which all FEMA and insurance proceeds will be deposited.

 

MOTION BY:  Mitchell-Williams

SECOND BY:   Morris

MOTION:  To authorize administration to move forward with a designation of a separate account for the repayment of the $30,000,000 loan, into which all FEMA and insurance proceeds will be deposited

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 8.  OLD BUSINESS

 

ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS

 

ITEM 9a.  Public Comment. Dr. Jaimee Williams – Introduction of School Calendar for School Year 2024-2025

 

MOTION BY:  Holden

SECOND BY:   Mamou

MOTION:  To waive policy to amend the agenda to reflect this item as introduction only.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

MOTION BY:  Holden

SECOND BY:   Mitchell-Williams

MOTION:  To allow the introduction of the School Calendar for School Year 2024-2025

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

ITEM 9b.  Public Comment.  Mr. Raydel Morris – Update on Video and Audio Systems

 

Mr. Miller stated that the all the components have been received to upgrade the audio and video systems in the Board Room will be completed by the end of the month.

 

ITEM 10.  ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

 

ITEM 11.  BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST

 

Mamou – Thanks to Ms. Beverly Reed for a great job with the students in our aviation program; asked for a number of students on track to graduate and ask that the transcripts are audited before May to ensure students have all credits needed to graduate

Holden – Congrats to ESJH Aviation Program and would love it if this program could come to the West bank; congratulated her son, Gala Holden, II as the Regional Science Fair Winner and will compete at Nicholls State.

Frizzell – Asked for an Update on LEAP Tutoring;  Also, St. John Parish is hosting the Special Olympics on Friday, March 22, 2024 at Joe Keller Stadium with approximately 100 special education students participating.

Mitchell-Williams – Shout out to ESJH for allowing her and Mrs. Schum to mentor students in the Micro-engineering class, and thanked Ms. Scioneaux for inviting them.

DeFrancesch – Reminded seniors that it is time to fill out applications for the SJBP Educational Foundation’s scholarship.

Vicknair – Thanked administration for having the students present the prayer and pledge.

Schum – The Educational Foundation is giving away three $10,000 scholarships to ESJH students and three $10,000 scholarships to WSJH students;  Also, Nathan P Stein Scholarship will be giving away one $5,000 scholarship and one $2,500 scholarship to both WSJH and ESJH graduates;  She asked that we plan the first Strategic Committee (Holden, Frizzell, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Schum) for March 25-28

 

Mr. Wallace announced that the Workshop scheduled for Marh 21, 2024 will be cancelled and there will be a Special Board Meeting held on March 26, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

 

ITEM 12.  ADJOURNMENT

 

The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a

 

MOTION BY:    Holden

SECOND BY:   Mitchell-Williams

MOTION:           Motion for adjournment.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Triche

The motion carried.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m.

 

 

 

________________________________                                      ________________________________

Dr. Cleo Perry, Secretary                                                           Shawn Wallace, President