PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

RESERVE, LA – SPECIAL MEETING OF MARCH 26, 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 Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

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

The Chair called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. and called for a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

ITEM 2a. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:

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

ABSENT:          Burl, Mitchell-Williams

There were 9 members present and 2 members absent.

ITEM 3. Public Comment.  Request Board Approval to Award a Contract to a Responsive, Qualified ERATE Internet Service Provider

MOTION BY:  Frizzell

SECOND BY:   Triche

MOTION:  To award the ERATE Internet Service Provider Contract to Uniti Fiber.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent - Burl, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

ITEM 4.  Mrs. Debra Schum – Determine and Prioritize the Phase 2 Capital Projects List

MOTION BY:  Vicknair

SECOND BY:  Holden

MOTION:  To create the 2^nd Tier of Capital Projects.

Following extensive discussion regarding the Phase 2 Capital Projects List, there was a

SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY: Triche

SECOND BY:  Schum

MOTION:  To approve moving the following list (shown below) of Capital Projects to the Phase 2 List to allow the projects to move forward at this time.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent - Burl, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

The Board will decide on the ESJH Visitor Side Seating and Joe Keller Parking once an estimate is presented to the Board.  Also, the Board will allocate appropriate funds to HVAC Upgrades district-wide once the assessment report is received.  Also, following receipt of the Traffic Study at JLO, funds will be allocated to alleviate the traffic problems at that site.

ITEM 5.  Mr. Shawn Wallace – Request approval of a Resolution expressing opposition to state legislation establishing Education Savings Accounts

MOTION BY:  Wallace

SECOND BY:  Entire Seated Board

MOTION:  To approve the Resolution expressing opposition to state legislation establishing Education Savings Accounts.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent - Burl, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

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RESOLUTION

A Resolution expressing opposition to state legislation establishing Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), including House Bill 745 which creates the LA GATOR Scholarship Program, that provide public dollars for private school tuition and educational expenses and to urge the St. John the Baptist Parish legislative delegation to vote NO on any bill proposing an Education Savings Account, and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

WHEREAS, there is a renewed and concerted effort at the legislature to pass bills that will give public funds directly to parents to be used for private school tuition and other educational expenses with little to no oversight; and

WHEREAS, for the past 20 years, the state has failed to adequately fund K-12 public education; and

WHEREAS, during that same period the state has continuously placed new accountability demands on both our students and our schools; and

WHEREAS, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board provides free public K-12 education to any student who resides in our school district within the guidelines set by both the state and federal government; and

WHEREAS, diverting public dollars to private schools and other programs through Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) without fully funding public schools disadvantages our students and schools; and

WHEREAS, providing public dollars to ESAs without requiring the same state accountability testing imposed on public school students is irresponsible public policy.

THEREFORE, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board does hereby express its OPPOSITION to legislation creating and/or funding Education Savings Accounts.

FURTHER, the  St. John the Baptist Parish School Board directs the superintendent of the  St. John the Baptist Parish School System to deliver a certified copy of this Resolution to each member of the legislative delegation of  St. John the Baptist Parish.

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ITEM 6.  Board Items of Interest

Mamou –  Asked that Administration schedule a tour of the schools for the Board before the end of school.

Frizzell – Stated that she was stopped at ESJHS last week by security and thanked administration for the safety measures being put into place at our schools.  Also thanked everyone for their part in making the Special Olympics such a huge success.

Triche – Thanked maintenance for the hard work on the remodel of the Board room.

Holden – Recognized the State Science Fair participants from St. John:  Gala Holden, Charli Avirtello, Kendall Griffin

Wallace – Asked that the welding students be recognized at the next Board meeting.

Morris – If we close a school, he would like to see us convert one to a technical school.

Dr. Perry – Thanked Mr. Miller for the renovations to the Board Room.

ITEM 12.  ADJOURNMENT

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

MOTION BY:    Frizzell

SECOND BY:   Triche

MOTION:           Motion for adjournment.

Roll Call:

9 Yeas – Holden, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Vicknair, Wallace

2 Absent – Burl, Mitchell-Williams

The motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 6:13 p.m.

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Dr. Cleo Perry, Secretary                                                           Shawn Wallace, President