ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

NOVEMBER 2, 2005

BREAUX BRIDGE, LOUISIANA

MINUTES

The St. Martin Parish School Board convened on this day at 5:00 P.M. at the Breaux Bridge Instructional Center with the following members present: Messrs.,  

Mark Hebert, President, Floyd Knott, Steve Fuselier, Anthony Wiltz, James Blanchard, Richard Potier, Rodney Ledoux, Frederic Stelly, Paulma Johnson, and Mrs. Barbara Latiolais.

            ABSENT:        None

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Mark Hebert, President.  Superintendent Haaga opened the meeting with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Ken Murdock, a Energy Education representative, presented the district with its Energy Excellence Award for achieving $1,015,447 in cost savings in four (4) years since forming a strategic alliance with the national energy conservation company.

On the motion of Mr. Fuselier, seconded by Mrs. Latiolais , and unanimously carried, the Board went into Executive Session.

On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mrs. Latiolais, and unanimously carried, the Board came out of Executive Session.

On the motion of Mr. Blanchard, seconded by Mrs. Latiolais, and unanimously carried, the Board authorized Attorney Jackson Burson to appeal the trial courts decision to the 3^rd Circuit Court of Appeal in the case of Wayne Watkins vs. St. Martin Parish School Board.

On the motion of Mr. Blanchard, seconded by Mr. Potier, and carried, the Board approved the following minutes:

            a)         Regular Meeting of October 5, 2005

            b)         Special Meeting of October 19, 2005

            ABSTAINED:              Mr. Wiltz

On the motion of Mr. Potier, seconded by Mr. Stelly, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the November Sales Tax Salary supplement in the amount of $1000 to professional employees and $714 to paraprofessional employees.

On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to accept the information regarding the preliminary assessment of educational facilities and future needs.

Mr. Keith Johnson, Health Plus Consultant, gave a brief overview of Medicare Part D.  On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Knott, and carried, the Board approved the following proposed benefit changes effective January 1, 2006:

            a)         Durable Medical Equipment Calendar Year Maximum

            b)         Prosthetics Calendar Year Maximum

            c)         Pre-Admission Testing Deductible

            d)         Routine Wellness Care (Age 2 and up)

            e)         Non-Network Out of Pocket Maximum

            f)          Network

            g)         Affiliated Health Network

            h)         Morbid Obesity Coverage

            i)          Coordination of Benefits

            ABSTAINED:              Mr. Johnson

On the motion of Mr. Wiltz, seconded by Mr. Knott, and carried, the Board agreed to allow the administration to handle the situation involved with the placement of liens for delinquent taxpayers.

            ABSTAINED:              Mr. Johnson, Mr. Stelly, and Mr. Potier

A motion was made by Mrs. Latiolais and seconded by Mr. Potier to approve a change to the salary schedule for Family Involvement Coordinators.

Mrs. Latiolais withdrew her motion.

On the motion of Mr. Potier, seconded by Mr. Blanchard, and carried, the Board approved a change to the salary schedule for Family Involvement Coordinators.

            RECUSED:      Mrs. Latiolais

A motion was made by Mr. Potier and seconded by Mr. Blanchard to approve a salary schedule for a Bus Driver/Mechanic.  The motion was then voted on and tied.  The President exercised his right to vote and voted in opposition to the motion.  The motion failed as follows:

            FOR:    Mr. Wiltz, Mr. Blanchard, Mrs. Latiolais, Mr. Potier, and Mr. Johnson

            OPPOSED:      Mr. Knott, Mr. Fuselier, Mr. Ledoux, Mr. Stelly, and Mr. Hebert

On the motion of Mr. Knott, seconded by Mr. Stelly, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the request for waiver of sales tax penalty for Amerigas Propane.

On the motion of Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Knott, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the recommendation of the administration for the acceptance of bids on tires in the amount of $215,736.96 to Wingfoot Commercial Tire.

On the motion of Mr. Knott, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved a revision of the General Fund Budget, transferring $571,027 from the General Fund Budget to the Capital Improvements Fund.

On the motion of Mr. Knott, seconded by Mr. Ledoux, and unanimously carried, the Board approved revisions to the 2005-06 Pupil Progression Plan, including a modification on the High Stakes Testing Policy for Grades 4 and 8 LEAP 21.

On the motion of Mr. Knott, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the revised Acceptable Use Policy (for students).

On the motion of Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Ledoux, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following proclamation declaring November 13-19, 2005 as American Education Week:

Whereas, public schools are the backbone of our democracy, providing young people with the tools they need to maintain our nation's precious values of freedom, civility, and equality; and

Whereas, by equipping young Americans with both practical skills and broader intellectual abilities, schools give them hope for, and access to, a productive future; and

Whereas, education employees — be they teachers, counselors, librarians, cafeteria, custodians or bus drivers — work tirelessly to serve our children and communities with care and professionalism; and

Whereas, school boards work with the schools and communities, bringing together educators and parents, adults and children, business leaders and elected officials in a common enterprise for quality American education;

Now, therefore, the St. Martin Parish School Board does hereby proclaim November 13-19 as the 84th annual observance of American Education Week.

On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to amend the school zoning policy allowing students denied by the committee to appear before the Board for an appeal.

A motion was made by Mr. Ledoux and seconded by Mr. Johnson to eliminate all zoning boundaries with the approval of the federal judge.  The motion was then voted on and failed as follows:

            FOR:    Mr. Potier, Mr. Ledoux, Mr. Stelly, and Mr. Johnson

            OPPOSED:      Mr. Knott, Mr. Fuselier, Mr. Wiltz, Mr. Blanchard, and

                                    Mrs. Latiolais

A motion was made by Mr. Potier and seconded by Mr. Johnson to advertise for a Superintendent and not renew the current Superintendent’s contract.

A substitute motion was made by Mr. Wiltz and seconded by Mr. Blanchard to table action on the Superintendent’s contract until the December Board meeting.  The substitute motion was then voted on and carried.

            ABSTAINED:              Mr. Johnson

On the motion of Mr. Stelly, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and carried, the Board approved the following Professional Personnel Changes:

APPOINTMENTS:

Bonhomme, Beverly, Master Teacher, Cecilia Primary; effective November 7, 2005. (Certified)

                Duhon, Sheila, Mild/Moderate, St. Martinville Junior High; effective October 25, 2005. (TAT)

                Gary, Kristin, Mild/Moderate, St. Martinville Senior High; effective October 20, 2005. (TAT)

                Hotard, Tricia, 5^th grade, Teche Elementary; effective October 27, 2005. (PL)

                Martel, Kimberly, Mild/Moderate, Parks Primary; effective October 31, 2005. (TAT)

                Ward, Caroline, Special Education, Parks Primary; effective October 31, 2005. (PL)

MEDICAL LEAVE:

            Culpepper, Laura, Physical Education, Breaux Bridge Elementary; effective October 10, 2005.

RESIGNATION:

            Hawkins, Chanel, Mild/Moderate, Parks Primary; effective October 24, 2005.

RETIREMENT:

            Bonhomme, Beverly, Master Teacher, Cecilia Primary; effective November 4, 2005.

            ABSTAINED:              Mr. Johnson

On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following Paraprofessional Personnel Changes:

APPOINTMENT:

Batiste, Ulysses, Custodian, Breaux Bridge Junior High; effective November 3, 2005.

MEDICAL LEAVES:

Bourda, Kathy, Bookkeeper, Instructional Center; effective November 3, 2005 through November 25, 2005.

Castille, Michael, Bus Driver, Breaux Bridge area; effective August 30, 2005.

Charles, Larry, Custodian (part-time), Early Learning Center; effective September 15, 2005 through October 31, 2005.

EXTENDED MEDICAL LEAVE:

            Latiolais, Malinda, Bus Driver, St. Martinville area; effective October 10, 2005 through October 21, 2005.

RESIGNATIONS:

            Champagne, Lisa, Teacher Aide, Teche Elementary; effective October 28, 2005.

            Williams, Albert, Bus Driver, Cecilia area; effective November 1, 2005.

RETIREMENTS:

            Charles, Larry, Custodian (part-time), Early Learning Center; effective November 1, 2005.

            Huval, Judy, Bus Driver, Cecilia area; effective November 18, 2005.

            Savoy, Margaret, Cafeteria Manager, St. Martinville Primary; effective January 10, 2006.

On the motion of Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Knott, and unanimously carried, the Board approved a change in funding source for the Adult Education and Family Literacy Program.

On the motion of Mr. Blanchard, seconded by Mr. Wiltz, and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned.

__________________________                    _________________________________

SECRETARY                                                 PRESIDENT