ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

JANUARY 9, 2008

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, Mark Hebert, Floyd Knott, Steve Fuselier, Aaron Flegeance, Richard Potier, Rodney Ledoux, Frederic Stelly, and Ms. Wanda Babin.

                ABSENT:               Mrs. Barbara Latiolais

 

                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 opened the floor for nominations for President of the Board. 

 

                On the motion of Ms. Babin, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and carried, Mr. James Blanchard was nominated for President.

                OPPOSED:             Mr. Knott

                ABSENT:               Mrs. Latiolais

 

                Mr. James Blanchard was re-elected President of the St. Martin Parish School Board for the year 2008.

 

Board President James Blanchard opened the floor for nominations for Vice President of the Board.

 

On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, Mr. Mark Hebert was nominated for Vice President.

ABSENT:               Mrs. Latiolais

Mr. Mark Hebert was re-elected Vice President of the St. Martin Parish School Board for the year 2008.

 

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board Member’s request regarding the discussion of letters and letters to the editor which have possible misinformation in some situations was removed from the agenda.

ABSENT:               Mrs. Latiolais

 

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

a)                   Regular Meeting of December 5, 2007

b)             Special Meeting of December 19, 2007

ABSENT:               Mrs. Latiolais

 

On the motion of Mr. Potier, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved disbursement of the January Sales Tax Salary Supplement in the amount of $420 to professional employees and $300 to paraprofessional employees.

ABSENT:               None

 

Board President James Blanchard made the following appointments:

                                Richard Potier, Finance Committee Chairman

Barbara Latiolais, Education Committee Chairman

Frederic Stelly, Maintenance Committee Chairman

Wanda Babin, Insurance Committee Chairman

Steve Fuselier, Transportation Committee Chairman

 

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the audit report from Kolder, Champagne, Slaven & Company for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.

 

On the motion of Mr. Knott, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved $0.44 per mile reimbursement for employee travel effective for business miles traveled after December 31, 2007.

 

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the advertisement for Director of Administration and Operations effective the 2008-2009 school year.  

 

On the motion of Mr. Knott, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the revised policies for inclusion in the St. Martin Parish School Board Policy Manual:

a)                   GBRA, Employee Conduct

b)                   JGCE, Child Abuse 

 

On the motion of Mr. Knott, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the request for proposal – Wide Area Network and Internet Service Provider:

a)                   Ratify the staff’s issuance of requests for proposals for wide area network and internet service provider

b)                   Staff recommendation on RFP for wide area network and internet service provider

 

On the motion of Mr. Flegeance, seconded by Mr. Stelly, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following resolutions:

a)                   Authorizing President and Vice-President to conduct transactions for and on behalf of the School Board

 

WHEREAS, Mr. James Blanchard has been elected President of the St. Martin Parish School Board, and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mark Hebert has been elected Vice-President of the St. Martin Parish School Board.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the banks in the Parish be notified of these appointments.

b)                   LEAP Remediation Program

                WHEREAS, high quality remedial instruction provide opportunities for students to achieve at high academic levels.  State legislation requires that students who fail to meet the minimum achievement level necessary to be fully promoted to the 5th or 9th grade shall be offered supplemental educational programs designed to improve student achievement in the grade appropriate skills and that these programs shall comply with regulations adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (SBESE); and,

                WHEREAS, State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education policy requires that supplemental remedial instruction shall be offered in English Language Arts and Mathematics to eligible 4th and 8th grade students as summer remediation as well as intervention/remediation provided throughout the school year; and,

                WHEREAS, the remedial instruction shall be designed to assist students to overcome their educational deficits identified as a result of the State’s criterion-referenced testing program; and,

                WHEREAS, the district shall offer locally developed supplemental intervention/remedial instruction during the school year supported by local funds; and

                WHEREAS, the supplemental funds appropriated for LEAP remediation are

insufficient to fund both the LEAP Summer Remediation and the LEAP Tutoring Programs.  The district needs to use the full 2007-2008 LEAP remediation grant award to supplement the cost of their summer program; now,

                THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the St. Martin Parish School Board understands that some students may need additional tutorial instruction to increase student performance; and,

                BE, IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Louisiana School Boards Association, to the Governor of Louisiana, members of the St. Martin Parish School Board, to the State Superintendent of Public Education, to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and to all Superintendents throughout the State.   

         

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

 

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

 

                On the motion of Mr. Knott, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to follow the recommendation of the administration relative to the threat of litigation regarding the loss tax revenues.

 

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

 

APPOINTMENTS:

Duplechien, Logan, Physical Education/Coach, Cecilia Senior High; effective January 7, 2008.

                LeBlanc, Chantel, 1st grade, Breaux Bridge Primary; effective January 7, 2008.

McHugh, Sylvia, 3rd grade, Catahoula Elementary; effective February 19, 2008.

ONE SEMESTER APPOINTMENT:

Landry, Velma, from Physical Education to Special Education, Cecilia Senior High; effective January 7, 2008 through May 23, 2008.

TRANSFERS:

Dehrab, Lavern Rachelle, from long-term substitute to a permanent employee status at St. Martinville Junior High; effective August 8, 2007.

Peterson, Brandi, from part-time to full-time 3rd grade at Stephensville Elementary; effective January 7, 2008.

O’Brien, Kevin, from Special Education/GED to Social Studies at St. Martinville Senior High; effective January 7, 2008.

MATERNITY LEAVES:

Faulk, Kristy, 4th grade, Teche Elementary; effective April 23, 2008 through May 23, 2008.

Laneaux, April, Math, Cecilia Senior High; effective March 4, 2008 through April 28, 2008.

MEDICAL LEAVES:

Allemond, Holly, Special Education, Cecilia Senior High; effective February 15, 2008 through May 23, 2008.

Burbank, Angel Huval, Supervisor of Kids in Crisis, JCEP; effective December 6, 2007 through December 31, 2007.

RESIGNATIONS:

                Morgan, Victoria, 1st grade, Breaux Bridge Primary; effective December 5, 2007.

Paradee, Era Jane, part-time 3rd grade, Stephensville Elementary; effective December 21, 2007.

DROP/RETIREMENT PROGRAM:

                Averitt, Stuart, Social Studies, Cecilia Junior High; effective December 22, 2007.

Robertson, Deirdre, Homebound, Breaux Bridge Elementary; effective December 24, 2007.

RETIREMENTS:

Cassel, Richard, Social Studies, St. Martinville Senior High; effective December 22, 2007.

Cormier, Eddie, Supervisor of Math, Instructional Center; effective January 20, 2008.

                McHugh, Sylvia, 3rd grade, Catahoula Elementary; effective  February 18, 2008.

 

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

APPOINTMENT:

        Antoine, Ethel, Bus Driver, Breaux Bridge area; effective January 10, 2008.

PERMANENT FULL-TIME SUBSTITUTE APPOINTMENT:

        Tyler, Barbara, Full-time Substitute Bus Driver, Breaux Bridge area; effective January 10, 2008.

TRANSFER:

        Johnson, Florence, from a Special Education Aide at St. Martinville Junior High to St. Martinville Primary; effective November 9, 2007.

MEDICAL LEAVES:

        Case, Patricia, Food Services Technician, St. Martinville Junior High; effective December 10, 2007 through February 1, 2008.

        Riser, Leola, Secretary, Parks Middle; effective December 21, 2007 through January 14, 2008.

DROP/RETIREMENT PROGRAM:

                Lanclos, Bessie, Custodian, Cecilia Senior High; effective April 1, 2008.

        Melancon, Jean, Bus Driver, Breaux Bridge area, January 2, 2008.

RETIREMENT:

        Lindon, Norma Sue, Part-time Food Services Technician, St. Martinville Junior High; effective May 24, 2008.

 

                On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the request for payment for Anthony Derouselle for assistance with Breaux Bridge Senior High Football.

 

                On the motion of Mr. Flegeance, seconded by Mr. Hebert, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the request for payment for Corita Andrus, Beverly Bonhomme, Brenda Davis, and Mary Jo Franciol for Cecilia Primary’s After-Care Program.

 

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

 

                On the motion of Mr. Fuselier, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board appointed Benjamin Toups and Darius Rivera as PC Technicians.

 

                On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the advertisement for a Bookkeeper II.

 

                A motion was made by Mr. Hebert and seconded by Mr. Ledoux to vote on the renewal of Administrative Contracts individually.

 

                Mr. Knott made a substitute motion, seconded by Ms. Babin, to table all administrative contract renewals until the February School Board meeting.  The substitute motion was then voted on and failed as follows:

 

                FOR:                       Mr. Knott, Mr. Potier, Mr. Stelly, and Ms. Babin

                OPPOSED:             Mr. Fuselier, Mr. Flegeance, Mrs. Latiolais, Mr. Hebert, and Mr. Ledoux

                The original motion was then voted on and unanimously carried.

                ABSENT:               Mr. Knott

 

                The Board voted on and approved a two-year renewal on the following administrative contracts, effective July 1, 2008:

Annette Baudoin, Principal, Catahoula Elementary – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Allen Blanchard, Supervisor of Elementary Education – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Robin Chance, Assistant Principal, Cecilia Senior High – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Joy Cormier, Assistant Principal, Breaux Bridge Primary – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Gail Dalcourt, Director of Curriculum and Instruction – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Denise Frederick, Principal, St. Martinville Junior High – carried

OPPOSED:  Ms. Babin

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Mozella Gonsoulin, Supervisor of Child Welfare/Attendance – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

William Greig, Supervisor of Secondary Education – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Wanda Guidry, Principal, Cecilia Primary – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Leah Hebert, Supervisor of Special Services – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Michael Hebert, Supervisor of Special Services – carried

RECUSED:  Mr. Hebert

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Redell Louis, Supervisor of Technology/Libraries – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Pennye Huval, Principal, Breaux Bridge Primary – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Kara Meaux, Assistant Principal, Breaux Bridge Senior High – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Angela McFaul, Supervisor Early Childhood (Title I) – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Anthony Polotzola, Principal, Cecilia Senior High – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Charee Theriot, Principal, St. Martinville Primary – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Bonnie Thibodeaux, Principal, Parks Primary – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Frederick Wiltz, Assistant Principal, St. Martinville Junior High – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Samuel Wininger, Supervisor of Operations – unanimously carried

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Mary Wyble, Principal, Stephensville Elementary – carried

OPPOSED:  Mr. Hebert

ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

 

Dianetta Young, Principal, Cecilia Junior High – carried

OPPOSED:  Mr. Ledoux and Mr. Hebert

                ABSENT:  Mr. Knott

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned

_______________________               ________________________

SECRETARY                                              PRESIDENT