PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
RESERVE, LA – MEETING OF MAY 9, 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, May 9, 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 Mr. Mamou, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by student Sarai Gaines.
ITEM 2a. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS:
PRESENT: Holden, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
ABSENT: Burl, Schum
There were 9 members present and 2 members absent.
ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
ITEM 3a. Public Comment. Meetings of: April 25, 2024; and April 11, 2024
MOTION BY: Mamou
SECOND BY: Morris
MOTION: To approve the minutes from the meeting of: April 25, 2024 and April 11, 2024
Roll Call:
9 Yeas – Holden, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
2 Absent – Burl, Schum
The motion carried.
ITEM 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
ITEM 4a. District Updates
Dr. Perry gave an update on the following:
Dr. Perry wished a Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week. He shared the following quotes that are relevant to this week:
· Teachers are the only people who lose sleep over other people’s children.
· There are 3 good reasons to be a teacher: June, July, and August.
· If you must put someone on a pedestal, put teachers. They are society’s heroes.
· Education is not filling a pot, but lighting a fire.
He also shared that the administration took part in the Autism Walk, as well as the 5th Annual Aviation Awareness Day in St. John Parish. He also shared that he took part in the Alternate Assessment Prom and that this was a wonderful event for the students.
Dr. Perry shared that the “Listening Forums” were a huge success. There was a plethora of information that was shared with administration by community stakeholders, where real-time data was collected. As expected, there was both positive and negative feedback. What’s next? We will now move into Phase II of the Listening and Learning approach. This phase will include strategic planning for all departments. All departments will identify a vision for their departments, craft a theory of action plan and develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the particular departments. There will be multiple professional development opportunities for our faculty and staff this summer, in an effort to accommodate the various schedules of our employees. Met with students to discuss the next steps for ESJH and STEM, and also met with the counselors to ensure graduation audits are being done. We’ve also been working with Compliance in the Special Ed Department to make SBLC more robust.
Tomorrow, Friday, May 10th, we will host our annual Honor Roll Roundup and gave a special thanks to Ms. Julianne Young and Stacey Waller for organizing this event. Also upcoming, we will have the 120 day Superintendent’s Plan.
ITEM 5. EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS BY THE BOARD OR STAFF
ITEM 5a. Recognition of: ESJHS Girls’ Track Team
Coach Danielle Johnson stated that this is the first time in recent history that an ESJH Girl’s Track Team excelled at this level. The girls’ track team made it to State and were Regional Champs this year, and Zhanell Francois – Louisiana Runner-up in the Triple Jump. The following team members were recognized: Journey McBride, Zhanell Francois, Brooke Howard, Briyah Paul, Ni’Jaiya Dennis, Aja Creecy, and Hannah Jackson.
ITEM 5b. Recognition of: 4-H District Winners (Xavier Bell, 4-H Asst. Extension Agent)
Mr. Xavier Bell recognized the following students for their accomplishments at the 2 State Level Competitions:
· Matthew Bocage (Aqueous) – Participation – 2024 Louisiana 4-H SeaPerch Challenge - St. John STEM Magnet
· Mariah Holmes (Wolfpack Robotics Team Energy) – 3rd Place Middle School Stock Class Mission Course – 2024 Louisiana 4-H SeaPerch Challenge – Garyville/Mt. Airy
· Aubrey Ranson (Wolfpack Robotics Team Energy) – 3rd Place Middle School Stock Class Mission Course – 2024 Louisiana 4-H SeaPerch Challenge – Garyville/Mt. Airy
· Christian McGee (Wolfpack Robotics Team Fueled) – 3rd Place Middle School Stock Class Mission Course – 2024 Louisiana 4-H SeaPerch Challenge – Garyville/Mt. Airy
· Elias Dickson (Wolfpack Robotics Team Fueled) – 3rd Place Middle School Stock Class Mission Course – 2024 Louisiana 4-H SeaPerch Challenge – Garyville/Mt. Airy
· Kyla Bergeron (Wolfpack Robotics Team Driven) – 3rd Place Middle School Stock Class Mission Course – 2024 Louisiana 4-H SeaPerch Challenge – Garyville/Mt. Airy
· Carlen Lewis (Wolfpack Robotics Team Driven ) – 3rd Place Middle School Stock Class Mission Course – 2024 Louisiana 4-H SeaPerch Challenge – Garyville/Mt. Airy
· Christian McGee (Wolfpack Robotics Team Fueled) – Resiliency and Grit Specialty Award – 2024 Louisiana 4-H SeaPerch Challenge – Garyville/Mt. Airy
· Elias Dickson (Wolfpack Robotics Team Fueled) – Resiliency and Grit Specialty Award – 2024 Louisiana 4-H SeaPerch Challenge – Garyville/Mt. Airy
· Taylor Smith (Mermaids) – 1st Place High School Stock Class Obstacle Course – 2024 Louisiana 4-H SeaPerch Challenge – St. John STEM Magnet
· Destyni Watson (Mermaids) – 1st Place High School Stock Class Obstacle Course – 2024 Louisiana 4-H SeaPerch Challenge – St. John STEM Magnet
· Marshaye Willis (Mermaids) – 1st Place High School Stock Class Obstacle Course – 2024 Louisiana 4-H SeaPerch Challenge – St. John STEM Magnet
· Sarai Gaines – Division 3 Grand Champion – 2024 Louisiana 4-H Food Challenge – East St. John High
· Di’Ayre Brown – Division 3 Grand Champion – 2024 Louisiana 4-H Food Challenge – East St. John High
· Journey McBride – Division 3 Grand Champion – 2024 Louisiana 4-H Food Challenge – East St. John High
· Demetrise Charles – Garyville/Mt. Airy – Coach (SeaPerch)
· Dr. Kara Lawson – Garyville/Mt. Airy – Coach (SeaPerch)
· Raphael Neal – Garyville/Mt. Airy – Coach (SeaPerch)
· Kwame Smith – St. John STEM Magnet/Coach (SeaPerch)
· Johnika Gayden-Gaines – Volunteer (Food Challenge)
ITEM 5c. Recognition of: Support Personnel of the Year
Mr. Alvarez Hertzock recognized the following Support Personnel:
· Marissa Price, LES
· Delawnn Lawrence, GMMS
· Yvette Poirrier, ESJP
· Martha Ross, JLO
· Patrina Tobias, FWE
· Patronella Williams, ECW
· Beverly Louis, WSJH
· Louise Jones, WSJE
· Latoya Julien, LPE
· Gaynell James, ESJH
· Yolanda Brown, SJAP
· Sherry Winfield, Early Childhood
· Roxanne Grover, STEM
The Chair declared a short recess at 6:29 p.m.
MOTION BY: Triche
SECOND BY: Vicknair
MOTION: To reconvene in Regular Session
Roll Call:
10 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Vicknair, Wallace
1 Absent – Mitchell-Williams
The motion carried.
The Board reconvened in regular session at 6:35 p.m.
ITEM 6. PERSONNEL MATTERS.
ITEM 6a. Public Comment. Mr. Alvarez Hertzock – Introduction to Revised Policy: IDBB – Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug and Substance Abuse Education Program
This item was for introduction only.
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IDBB: ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, DRUG, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATION PROGRAM
The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board shall require a comprehensive alcohol, tobacco, drug, and substance abuse prevention education program be incorporated into every school of the parish that shall include grade appropriate programs on the education, prevention, and counseling of alcohol, tobacco, drug, and substance abuse.
Such programs shall be included in the school program so that every student in grades kindergarten through nine (9) is involved for a minimum of sixteen (16) contact hours every school year, and every student in grades ten (10) through twelve (12) is involved for a minimum of eight (8) contact hours every school year. The required minimum contact hours shall be incorporated into a comprehensive school health program.
As part of the alcohol, tobacco, drug, and substance abuse program, substance abuse counselors shall be appointed who shall visit every school regularly for the purpose of counseling students who have been identified as having an alcohol, drug, or substance
abuse problem.
Any student enrolled in school who is identified as having a substance abuse problem, including manufacture or distribution, shall be required to participate in the school drug counseling program, or an equivalent approved by the Board.
Each school shall have a substance abuse prevention team, whose membership shall be in accordance with statutory provisions that shall investigate, research, and report on all instances or reports of possession of controlled dangerous substances or alcoholic beverages. The team shall adequately report its findings in writing and make appropriate recommendations for treatment, counseling, or other appropriate action to the principal of the school.
DRUG FREE ZONES
It is unlawful for anyone to use, distribute, be under the influence of, manufacture or possess any controlled substances as defined by statute on or around school property or an area within 2,000 feet of any property used for school purposes by any school, or on a school bus. These areas shall be designated as Drug Free Zones. The School Board, in cooperation with local governmental agencies, and the Louisiana Department of Education, shall designate and mark Drug Free Zones which surround all schools and
school property.
Revised: October, 1994 Revised: Novembe r, 2010
Revised: November, 1999
Revised: March, 2001
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ''14:403.1, 17:154, 17:402, 17:403, 17:404, 17:405, 17:416.
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ITEM 6b. Public Comment. Mr. Alvarez Hertzock – Introduction to Revised Policy: IFA – Instructional Materials
This item was for introduction only.
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IFA: INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board strongly encourages the utilization of a wide variety of materials and equipment in the instructional program. The selection of media shall be determined by the objectives of the course and the experiences and activities to be provided to meet such objectives. Instructional personnel shall keep abreast of the types of materials and equipment which can contribute toward meeting the goals and objectives of courses. Instructional personnel shall also assist the administration in the selection and purchase of such materials and equipment for the school.
The School Board believes that appropriate personnel and materials must be available for each student. It shall be the policy of the School Board that available system resources be allocated in a manner to ensure equivalence among schools of a similar
type and enrollment in: (1) teachers, administrators and auxiliary personnel; and (2) curriculum materials and instructional supplies.
PARENTAL ACCESS TO INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
A parent of a child attending a public elementary or secondary school shall be entitled to access to instructional materials as provided by law. A parent shall be entitled to:
1. Review instructional materials used by or administered to the parent's child.
2. Review any survey before the survey is administered or distributed by a school to a student.
The Superintendent and/or his/her designee shall develop and maintain pertinent administrative regulations and procedures governing parental access to instructional materials. At a minimum, such regulations and procedures shall specify reasonable hours for review, that instructional materials shall be provided upon reasonable request of the parent, and reasonable and customary fees for copying of material(s) requested.
Nothing shall prohibit or interfere with the parent making his/her own copies on school premises using any mobile or other device.
For the purpose of this policy:
Instructional materials means content that conveys the knowledge or skills of a subject in the school curriculum through a medium or a combination of media for conveying information to a student. It also includes any nonsecure test, nonsecure assessment, or survey administered to a student. The term also includes books, supplementary materials, teaching aids, computer software, magnetic media, DVD, CD-ROM, computer courseware, online material, information, or services, or an electronic medium or other means of conveying information to the student or otherwise contributing to the learning process. Parent means the parent or legal guardian of a child. Survey means any evaluative instrument or questionnaire that is not an assessment of academic knowledge, skills, or abilities, administered as part of a state, national, or international assessment or by itself.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION
Responsibility for the purchase of library and instructional materials is vested legally in the School Board. The School Board delegates to the appropriate instructional staff the responsibility of developing final recommendations for purchase. The actual selection of materials shall be the responsibility of professionally trained personnel who are familiar with the courses of study, the methods of teaching, and the individual needs of students. The appropriate instructional staff, aided by suggestions from the school administrators, the school faculties, students and parents, make the final selection. The individual school faculty shall be responsible for the final evaluation and selection of materials based on the needs of the school. The selection of media shall be
determined by the objectives of the course and the experiences and activities to be provided to meet such objectives.
PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING CRITICISM OF MATERIAL
Criticism of specific materials should be handled by the principal whenever possible. If the criticism cannot be resolved by the principal to the satisfaction of the complainant, then the following procedures shall be followed.
1. The criticism shall be presented in writing and directed to the principal and shall include specific information as to author, title, publisher, and the reason for the criticism, giving specific examples of objectionable aspects or sections of the book.
2. The statement must be signed and identified so that a reply may be given.
3. The material shall be reviewed in the light of the objections by a committee appointed by the Superintendent or his/her designee.
4. The report of the special committee shall be forwarded to the Superintendent for action as rapidly as possible. The Superintendent may choose to refer the problem to the School Board.
5. The decision of the Superintendent and/or the School Board shall be sent in writing to the complainant. Copies of the decision shall also be sent to all staff personnel affected by the decision.
New Policy: May 7, 2015 Revised: November, 2015
Ref: Constitution of Louisiana, Art. VII, '13; La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:355; Board minutes, 5-7-15.
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ITEM 6c. Public Comment. Mr. Alvarez Hertzock – Introduction to New Policy: IFAA – Textbook Selection & Adoption
This item was for introduction only.
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IFAA: TEXTBOOK SELECTION AND ADOPTION
The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board shall authorize the Superintendent to develop and maintain an appropriate process for evaluating and recommending to the School Board for adoption all textbooks and other instructional materials that support the needs of students. Textbooks and other materials may be selected from a list provided by the Louisiana Department of Education, or the School Board may select textbooks or materials not on the list, provided those textbooks or materials have been reviewed by committee(s) appointed by the Superintendent, composed of classroom teachers or other educators who are employed in Louisiana public schools, parents of Louisiana public school students, and other persons in Louisiana who have an interest or knowledge of the curriculum or subject matter under consideration. The School Board shall provide an opportunity for parents and patrons to review and provide input of textbooks and materials under consideration prior to adoption by the School Board.
New policy: November, 2015
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ITEM 6d. Public Comment. Mr. Alvarez Hertzock – Introduction to Revised Policy: IDCH – Home Study Program
This item was for introduction only.
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IDCH: HOME STUDY PROGRAM
Students of the St. John the Baptist Parish School District may be permitted to have their educational skills developed through a home study program, or in an in-home private school program, if such a program offers a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to that offered by public schools at the same grade level. The parent or legal guardian shall submit an application to the Louisiana Department of Education for approval together with a copy of the child's birth certificate. An initial application shall be made within fifteen (15) days after commencement of the home study program. A renewal application shall be submitted to the Louisiana Department of Education by October 1 of the school year, or within twelve (12) months of approval of the initial application, whichever is later.
Any child eligible by law to attend elementary or secondary school shall be eligible to participate in a home study program.
Secondary students who are home schooled shall not earn a regular high school diploma unless they return to an approved school and meet all the necessary credits and requirements needed for high school graduation. Home study students shall be eligible to take the General Educational Development (GED) high school equivalency test upon completion of the home study program, upon proper application.
TEXTBOOKS
The School Board may shall supply textbooks and other instructional materials, as available, to home study students who have been approved by the Louisiana Department of Education, if extra copies are available. children enrolled in a state-approved home study program. Textbooks and any materials supplied shall be returned when the student has completed the applicable coursework. A deposit equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the replacement costs shall be required. Such deposit shall be returned when the books are returned. No refunds shall be made for lost or damaged textbooks. If books are not returned or paid for, the parent or legal guardian shall not be eligible to continue participation in the textbook rental program until all textbook debts have been cleared.
Textbooks should be issued from the school of the student's assigned attendance zone for no longer than the length of the current school term. Principals may require periodic inspection of the textbooks.
READMISSION
Students seeking admission or readmission to the St. John the Baptist Parish public schools shall be required to fulfill such screening and evaluation requirements as the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and/or the School Board may establish, including the taking of tests and diagnostic instruments used to determine appropriate grade levels or Carnegie units. The requirements and procedures for admission or readmission shall be made a part of the School Board’s Pupil Progression Plan. In addition, students in grades 5 and 9 transferring to the public school system shall be required to take the 4th and 8th grade LEAP 21 tests in order to determine the appropriate grade levels.
ACHIEVEMENT TESTING
A parent of a child in home study may request the Superintendent to permit the child to be administered the LEAP 21 tests. Such tests shall occur on the date of the test as determined by the Superintendent. The examination shall be administered with the same
restrictions and under similar conditions as provided to students enrolled in public schools with a certified teacher administering the test. The parent shall be provided the student’s score and whether the student passed the examination and met the state performance standards.
A testing fee of up to thirty-five dollars ($35) may be charged to cover actual costs of administering, scoring, and reporting the results of the tests.
New policy: April, 2008
Revised: November, 2015
Revised: June, 2016
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ''17:236, 17:236.1, 17:236.2, 17:351.1; Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, State Textbook Adoption Policy and Procedure Manual, Bulletin 1794, Louisiana Department of Education; Board minutes, 7-15-08.
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ITEM 6e. Public Comment. Mr. Alvarez Hertzock – Introduction to Revised Policy: EE – Child Nutrition Program Management
This item was for introduction only.
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EE: CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board believes the school district should have a sound child nutrition program and that the child nutrition program should be an integral part of the total educational program. The School Board also believes that the highest possible sanitation standards should be maintained and that every effort should be made to make it possible for every child to participate in the child nutrition program without regard to race, color, disability, national origin, sex, or age.
GUIDELINES
The School Board shall administer a Food and Nutrition Program in accordance with federal and state standards and requirements as outlined by the Louisiana Department of Education, Bulletin 1196, Louisiana Food and Nutrition Programs, Policies of Operation, including that only products that have met all state certification requirements shall be utilized in child nutrition facilities. The School Board, as the recognized child nutrition program authority for the school district, shall annually approve the national school lunch program, school breakfast program, U.S.D.A school commodity programs and any other related programs. The approved agreement shall meet all specifications mandated by the Louisiana Department of Education's Division of Nutrition Assistance Support. Guidelines of the Louisiana Sanitary Code shall be strictly followed in the preparation,
serving, and cleaning of all child nutrition programs and facilities.
Each school shall abide by state and federal guideline restrictions on the operation of concessions, canteens, snack bars, vending machines or other food and beverage sales. No supplies or foods, including leftovers, shall be removed from the child nutrition department by any employee of the school system unless he/she has been authorized to transfer the items to another school location. Disciplinary action may result for unauthorized food removal.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Special events should not interfere with the preparation and service of school lunch, breakfasts, or snacks. School functions involving the use of the cafeteria shall be arranged through the principal and approved by the child nutrition supervisor. Whenever the cafeteria is used by the school, one or more of the child nutrition employees shall be in charge to ensure control over child nutrition foods and to ensure proper use and care of equipment and facilities. A Special Event form must be completed and sent to the supervisor of child nutrition at least two (2) weeks in advance of the event. Events that occur at scheduled times during the school year can be handled by sending in one notice listing all of the dates.
PAYMENT FOR MEALS
Meals may be paid for daily, weekly, monthly, or annually. Those students not eligible for free meals must pay for their meals at the prices established for full price and reduced price students. Those students not eligible for free meals who have not paid for a scheduled meal may have that meal withheld.
In elementary schools, prior to withholding a meal, the school shall:
1. Provide actual notification to the child's parent or legal guardian as to the date and time after which meals may be denied, the reason for such denial, any action that may be taken by the parent or legal guardian to prevent further denial of meals, and the consequences of the failure to take appropriate actions to prevent such denial, including that the school governing authority shall contact the office of community services within the Department of Social Services upon the third instance of such denial during
a single school year.
2. Verify with appropriate school staff that the child does not have an Individual Education Plan that requires the child to receive meals provided by the school to ensure that neither the child's health nor learning ability will be negatively affected by denying the child meals during school hours. If the school denies a scheduled meal to a child, the school shall provide a sandwich or
a substantial and nutritious snack item to the child as a substitute for the meal denied. Upon the third (3rd) instance during a single school year of the same elementary school child being denied a meal during school hours, the School Board shall contact the office of community services within the Department of Social Services to report the failure of the parent or guardian to pay for meals which has resulted in repeated denials of meals during school hours.
The School Board shall document each instance that a child is denied a meal in an elementary school.
Charitable funds donated by school employees or other charitable funds may be used to pay for a child's meal in the event that he/she is subject to the denial of a meal during school hours.
No discrimination against any individual shall occur because of his/her inability to pay, nor shall the School Board or any nutrition service provider publish or permit to be published the names of any individual unable to pay for the food.
Any public school employee who discloses the name of any individual unable to pay for such food, either orally or in written form, except as reasonably necessary in the conduct of his/her official duties, shall be subject to the penalties provided in state law. No employee shall disclose such information to any student for any reason.
FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEAL APPLICATIONS
Eligibility for participation of students in the free and reduced meal program shall be determined by family meal application or direct certification of participation in migrant, runaway, or homeless education programs. A multi-child, family application to apply for school meal benefits shall be sent to the parents or guardians of each student within the first week of school. Parents shall be requested to complete an application listing all students enrolled in St. John the Baptist Parish public schools and return it to the determining official for review. The applicant should be made aware that deliberate misrepresentation on the application may subject him or her to prosecution under applicable state and federal criminal statutes. Such applications (approved and
disapproved) and documentation of the action taken shall be maintained for three (3) years after the end of the fiscal year to which they pertain.
State guidelines allow for the limited disclosure of information about free and reduced price meal eligibility without consent of the parent. The information may be used only for the purpose authorized and may not be shared with any other parties for any reason. Aggregate information that does not identify individuals continues to be permitted without parental consent. Under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) National School Lunch Act (NSLA), the release of a child's eligibility status is permitted to persons directly connected with and who need to know a child's free and reduced price meal eligibility status in order to administer and enforce the Title I requirements under the NCLB carry out an activity specifically authorized by the NSLA. The statute, however, does not allow the disclosure of any other information obtained from the free lunch application form or obtained through the direct certification information received from the food stamp office.
Revised: October, 1997 Revised: June, 2014
Revised: August, 2005 Revised: December, 2017
Approved: October 15, 2009
Revised: December 2, 2010
Revised: October 17, 2013
Ref: No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB); 42 USC 1751 et seq. (School Lunch Programs); 42 USC 1771 et seq. (Child Nutrition); 7 CFR 210 (National School Lunch Program); 7 CFR 220 (School Breakfast Program); La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:82, 17:191, 17:192, 17:192.1, 17:195, 17:196, 17:197.1, 17:198, 17:199, 39:2101, 40:4; Louisiana Food and Nutrition Programs, Policies of Operation, Bulletin 1196, Louisiana Department of Education; Louisiana Sanitary Code, La. Dept. of Health and Hospitals; Board minutes, 10-15-09, 12-2-10, 10-17-13.
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ITEM 7. BUSINESS & FINANCE.
ITEM 7a. Public Comment. Mr. Anthony Miller – Request Board decision regarding the sale of the old Leon Godchaux site to St. John the Baptist Parish Government and give authority to the Superintendent to execute a Letter of Intent
MOTION BY: Triche
SECOND BY: Morris
MOTION: To give authority to the Superintendent to execute a letter of intent to sell regarding the old Leon Godchaux site to St. John the Baptist Parish Government.
Roll Call:
10 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
1 Absent – Schum
The motion carried.
Mr. Miller stated that the last appraised value for insurance purposes, was $21,769,762 (based on an appraisal done in 2019), but he is working to have the property appraised and has reached out to 3 appraisers for this purpose.
Mr. Burl asked that administration research whether the Board has the batture rights to the property or not.
ITEM 7b. Public Comment. Mr. Anthony Miller – Request Board approval to readvertise for the bond project: West St. John Elementary School and Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet Gymnasium Improvements
MOTION BY: Triche
SECOND BY: Holden
MOTION: To approve readvertising for the bond project: West St. John Elementary School and Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet Gymnasium Improvements.
Roll Call:
10 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
1 Absent – Schum
The motion carried.
Mr. Miller stated that at the last minute, the low bidder withdrew his bid, due to some unforeseen conditions that could drive the price up. The next lowest responsive bidder was actually $1.6 million over the budget, therefore we are asking to readvertise this project and combine this package with 2 other small project packages to hopefully receive a better price.
ITEM 7c. Public Comment. Ms. Terry Charles – Request Board approval of Bid Award for Bread/Bread Products
MOTION BY: Triche
SECOND BY: Morris
MOTION: To approve awarding the contract for Bread/Bread Products to Flower’s Baking of New Orleans (4 items).
Roll Call:
10 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
1 Absent – Schum
The motion carried.
ITEM 7d. Public Comment. Ms. Terry Charles – Request Board approval of Bid Award for Frozen Food
MOTION BY: Mitchell-Williams
SECOND BY: Triche
MOTION: To approve awarding the contract for Frozen Food to Pon Food Corporation (71 items).
Roll Call:
10 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
1 Absent – Schum
The motion carried.
ITEM 7e. Public Comment. Ms. Terry Charles – Request Board approval of Bid Award for Meat/Meat Products
MOTION BY: Triche
SECOND BY: Mamou
MOTION: To approve awarding the contract for Meat/Meat Products to Pon Food Corporation (73 items).
Roll Call:
10 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
1 Absent – Schum
The motion carried.
ITEM 7f. Public Comment. Ms. Terry Charles – Request Board approval of Bid Award for Processed Food
MOTION BY: Triche
SECOND BY: Vicknair
MOTION: To approve awarding the contract for Processed Food to Pon Food Corporation (183 items).
Roll Call:
10 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
1 Absent – Schum
The motion carried.
ITEM 8. OLD BUSINESS
ITEM 8a. Public Comment. Mr. Albert Burl, III - Per L&F Committee, Request Board approval of a 2-Year renewal of the original grass maintenance contract (ending in August 2024), and to advertise a RFP for maintenance of the athletic fields that will begin upon a successful bid process and ending the same date at the grass contract (August 2026)
MOTION BY: Triche
SECOND BY: Morris
MOTION: To approve a 2 year extension of the grass maintenance contract, but advertise for the athletic field maintenance.
Following discussion, there was a
SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY: Holden
SECOND BY: Mamou
MOTION: To renew the entire contract for 2 years, without the athletic field maintenance at GMMS (field will be maintained as regular grass maintenance).
Roll Call:
10 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
1 Absent – Schum
The motion carried.
ITEM 8b. Public Comment. Atty. Bob Hammonds – Request to enter into Executive Session, pursuant to La. R.S. 42:17(A)(2), to discuss strategy and ongoing litigation in the case of Kathy Duhon et al. v. St. John the Baptist Parish School Bd., Doc. No. 90-1669 (Eastern District of Louisiana) (Judge Jay Zaney)
MOTION BY: Morris
SECOND BY: Vicknair
MOTION: To convene in Executive Session
Roll Call:
10 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
1 Absent – Schum
The motion carried.
The Board convened in Executive Session at 7:16 p.m.
MOTION BY: Vicknair
SECOND BY: Triche
MOTION: To reconvene in Regular Session
Roll Call:
9 Yeas – Holden, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
2 Absent – Burl, Schum
The motion carried.
The Board reconvened in Regular Session at 7:49 p.m.
MOTION BY: Mitchell-Williams
SECOND BY: Triche
MOTION: On the advise of legal counsel, to keep Fifth Ward Elementary open for the 2024-2025 school year and develop a comprehensive plan for all of our school sites moving forward.
Roll Call:
9 Yeas – Holden, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
2 Absent – Burl, Schum
The motion carried.
ITEM 8c. Public Comment. Request Approval to consolidate Fifth Ward Elementary School and East St. John Preparatory School at the ESJP site.
Public Comment: Sylvia Taylor
MOTION BY: Triche
MOTION: To approve consolidating Fifth Ward Elementary School and East St. John Preparatory School at the ESJP site.
The motion failed due to the lack of a second.
ITEM 9. NEW BUSINESS
ITEM 9a. Public Comment. Dr. Cleo Perry, Jr. – Disposition of Employee Grievance
Atty. Bob Hammonds read the language in the policy regarding this agenda item. He read, “Step 4 of the Grievance Procedure: after reviewing the transcript of the grievance hearing, and the recommendation of the Superintendent or designee, the Board shall dispose of the grievance.” For that reason, the Superintendent made arrangements to get the transcript of the grievance hearing before each of you and hopefully each board member had the opportunity to read through the information, along with his written recommendation and it is in the Board’s hands now to dispose of the grievance. The Board now needs a motion to agree with the Superintendent’s recommendation or disagree with the recommendation and that is the action the Board should take.
Public Comment: Derron Cook, Brian Blackwell, Pamela Burns
Mrs. Mitchell-Williams asked administration several questions:
1) How much is the average teacher salary in St. John Parish? Administration answered: about $56-57,000 depending on experience level
2) How much was paid for extra runs in the last 12 months? Administration answered: $193,387.00 ($96,000 over budget)
3) What’s the average number of drivers that are receiving the extra runs? Administration answered: Average 49 drivers
Mrs. Triche asked what the highest salary paid to a bus driver last year? Administration answered: $70,540.75
MOTION BY: Triche
SECOND BY: DeFrancesch
MOTION: To agree and support the Superintendent’s recommendation to dispose of the employee grievance.
Roll Call:
8 Yeas – Holden, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
1 Nay – Burl
1 Abstention – Mamou
1 Absent – Schum
The motion carried.
ITEM 10. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
ITEM 11. BOARD ITEMS OF INTEREST
Triche – Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week & also Happy Nurses’ Day
Mamou - Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week\
Burl - Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
Holden - Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
Frizzell – Asked that principals to avoid scheduling school events on Board meeting nights – Also Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation
Mitchell-Williams – May is Mental Health Month, please check on those you love. Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week to all our employees
Vicknair - Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
Morris - Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
Wallace - Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week to everyone in the district. Your work is appreciated. He thanked administration for including the Board with the Staff Appreciation gift.
ITEM 12. ADJOURNMENT
The agenda having been completed, and there being no further business, there was a
MOTION BY: Holden
SECOND BY: Vicknair
MOTION: Motion for adjournment.
Roll Call:
10 Yeas – Holden, Burl, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Mitchell-Williams, Vicknair, Wallace
1 Absent – Schum
The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.
________________________________ ________________________________
Dr. Cleo Perry, Secretary Shawn Wallace, President