ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

NOVEMBER 7, 2007

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., James Blanchard, President, Floyd Knott, Steve Fuselier, Mark Hebert, Richard Potier, Rodney Ledoux, Frederic Stelly, and Mrs. Barbara Latiolais and Ms. Wanda Babin.

ABSENT:        Mr. Aaron Flegeance

The meeting was called to order by Mr. James Blanchard, President.

Superintendent Lavergne opened the meeting with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Board President James Blanchard indicated that School Board Member Aaron Flegeance has successfully completed the six hours of training, as required by La. Rev. Stat. 17:53, Act 66, on October 11, 2007.

Mr. Troy Hebert, a candidate for State Senate in District 22, introduced himself to the Board. 

On the motion of Mr. Fuselier, seconded by Mr. Ledoux, and carried, discussion of electrical work on the lights at the baseball park in St. Martinville was added to the agenda.

OPPOSED:      Mr. Hebert

ABSENT:        Mr. Flegeance

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mrs. Latiolais, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the minutes of the following meetings:

a)                  Regular Meeting of October 3, 2007

b)                  Finance Committee Meeting of October 17, 2007

ABSENT:        None

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved a recommendation of the Finance Committee of October 17, 2007 regarding changes in the Summer Coaching Pay Program.

A motion was made by Mr. Ledoux and seconded by Mr. Stelly to approve a recommendation of the Finance Committee of October 17, 2007, to withdraw one (1) million dollars from the Capital Fund and divide it by pupil and transfer one (1) million dollars from the Surplus to the Capital Projects Fund to fix the roofs and cover the major jobs.

Mr. Hebert made a substitute motion, seconded by Mr. Stelly, to approve the recommendation of the administration, which involves withdrawing one (1) million dollars from the Capital Fund and divide it by pupil and table action on transferring one (1) million dollars from the Surplus to the Capital Projects Fund to fix the roofs and cover the major jobs, including two (2) new dugouts and a clubhouse concession stand at the Cecilia High School baseball field, covered walkways and seats for St. Martinville Junior High, purchasing new lights for the football fields at the three (3) high schools, and electrical work on the lights at the baseball park in St. Martinville, until further research is conducted on the matter.  The substitute motion was then voted on and carried as follows:

FOR:     Mr. Fuselier, Mr. Flegeance, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Potier, Mr. Ledoux, Mr. Stelly, Ms. Babin, Mr. Blanchard

OPPOSED:      Mr. Knott and Mrs. Latiolais

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

Mr. Jeff Landry, a candidate for State Senate in District 22, introduced himself to the Board. 

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the request for waiver of sales tax penalties, as recommended by administration, for Impressions Print Design & Marketing.

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the recommendation of the administration for the acceptance of bids on tires to Area Wholesale Tire in the approximate amount of $54,744.07.

On the motion of Mr. Knott, seconded by Mr. Hebert, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the agreement for contracted services of School Resource Officers with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, effective for a period of one year, from August 1, 2007 to July 31, 2008.

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the Hurricane Educator Assistance Program (HEAP) Grant Proposal.

On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved changes to the St. Martin Parish Drug Screening Policy for athletes.

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Stelly, and unanimously carried, the Board approved renewal of the campsite leases in the Stephensville-Belle River and the Henderson area.

On the motion of Mr. Potier, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to accept the donation of the building (formerly the Tiny Tot Daycare) from the Savoy’s and to lease the building to Ms. Marie Broussard.

A motion was made by Mr. Ledoux and seconded by Mr. Fuselier to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Louisiana Technical College, including a statement indicating that if the campus should shut down, the property would revert back to the St. Martin Parish School Board.

Mr. Stelly made a substitute motion to sell the property for the appraisal value to the Louisiana Technical College, Evangeline Campus and the funds will be used for St. Martin Parish School Board’s Career Center.  The substitute motion died for lack of a second.

The original motion was then voted on and unanimously carried.

On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Stelly, and unanimously carried, the Board approved Option 1 regarding the School Bus Replacements, as follows:

The oldest model year buses in the fleet would be the sole factor to consider for replacement.  The pool of drivers currently driving the oldest models would be awarded the new buses based on the driver’s time of service in the parish system.

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the renewal of the following contracts with Poché Prouet Associates:

a)                  Fire Marshal Assistance and Record Plans 2007-2008

b)                  Mechanical System Maintenance Program 2007-2008

c)                  Department of Environmental Quality Issues and Requests during 2007-2008

d)            Asbestos Testing and Abatement during 2007-2008

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following proclamation declaring November 11-17, 2007 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 11-17 as the 86th annual observance of American Education Week.

The Board discussed issues relative to allowing a trusty crew contracted between the School Board and the Sheriff Department to work one day a month with the KSMB Liter Blitz Program under the supervision of the Sheriff Department.  No action was taken.

Mr. Knott expressed concerns regarding designing additional classrooms.  The Board recommended that the administration submit a proposal to the Board.

A motion was made by Mr. Knott and seconded by Mr. Flegeance to work with SMEDA to acquire acreage along the proposed frontage road between Henderson and Breaux Bridge for future School Board needs.  The motion failed as follows:

FOR:      Mr. Knott, Mr. Flegeance, Mr. Potier, Ms. Babin

OPPOSED:      Mr. Fuselier, Mrs. Latiolais, Mr. Ledoux, Mr. Stelly, Mr. Blanchard

ABSENT:        Mr. Hebert      

On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board went into Executive Session.

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

ABSENT:        None

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to authorize Attorney Mark Boyer to negotiate settlement for the pending litigation entitled Cara Leslie Alexander vs. St. Martin Parish School Board, Docket No. 71729, 16^th Judicial District Court.  

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mrs. Latiolais, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following Professional Personnel Changes:

APPOINTMENT:

Pipkins, David, Band Director, Breaux Bridge Senior High; effective October 15, 2007.

MEDICAL LEAVE:

Guidry, Carol, In-School Suspension, St. Martinville Junior High; effective December 10, 2007 through January 6, 2008.

DROP/RETIREMENT PROGRAM:

Fiest, Gloria, Reading, St. Martinville Junior High; effective November 1, 2007.

RESIGNATIONS:

Harris, Natalie, Psychologist, Special Services; effective October 16, 2007.

Hollis, Terin, Band Director, Breaux Bridge Senior High; effective October 8, 2007.

Jean-Jean, Christophe, Foreign Associate Teacher, Stephensville Elementary; effective October 10, 2007.

RETIREMENTS:

Bodin, Laura, Part-time Tutor, Early Learning Center; effective November 1, 2007.

Vidrine, Margaret, Kindergarten, Cecilia Primary; effective January 1, 2008.

On the motion of Mrs. Latiolais, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following Paraprofessional Personnel Changes:

TRANSFER:

Torkowski, Robin, from 8g Pre-School Aide to Special Education Aide at Cecilia Primary; effective October 10, 2007.

MEDICAL LEAVES:

Guidry, Jackie, Bus Driver, Parks area; effective October 11, 2007 through October 29, 2007.

Sieber, Irene, Teacher Aide, Early Learning Center; effective October 16, 2007 through November 1, 2007.

RESIGNATION:

Lawrence, Jarrell, Custodian, St. Martinville Junior High; effective October 22, 2007.

DROP/RETIREMENT PROGRAM:

Landry, Virgie Mae, Teacher Aide, Breaux Bridge Primary; effective December 21, 2007.

RETIREMENT:

Roberts, Verlie, Painter, Maintenance; effective January 1, 2008.

On the motion of Mr. Flegeance, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the request for extra employment pay for Regina Guidry, Angela Toncrey, Catherine Guidry, Kimberly Charles, and Theresa Blankenship for the Parks Primary After-Care Program for the month of September.

On the motion of Mrs. Latiolais, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned.

____________________________              ____________________________

SECRETARY                                                        PRESIDENT