ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

NOVEMBER 5, 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 and Mrs. Barbara Latiolais.

                ABSENT:               None

                The meeting was called to order by Mr. James Blanchard, President.  Superintendent Lavergne opened the meeting with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. 

The following St. Martin Parish Teachers/Principals of the Year were honored:

                Anthony Polotzola, Cecilia High, Principal of the Year

                Patti Guidry, Teche Elementary, Principal of the Year

Catherine Guidry, Parks Primary, Parish Teacher of the Year

                Jhansi Calais, Cecilia Junior High, Parish Teacher of the Year

                Angela Watson, Cecilia High, Parish Teacher of the Year

                Melissa Narcisse-Wiltz, Breaux Bridge Primary

                Kenya Jones Goodie, Breaux Bridge Elementary

                Karla Courville, Early Learning Center

                Hailey Poche, St. Martinville Primary

                Ginger Huval, Cecilia Primary

                Dorothy Latiolais, Teche Elementary

                Brandie Peterson, Stephensville Elementary

                Cheryll Domec, Breaux Bridge Junior High

                Neil Armstead, St. Martinville Junior High

                Michelle Richard, Catahoula Elementary

                Jade Thomas, Parks Middle

                Louis Blanchard, Breaux Bridge High

Robert Ziegler, St. Martinville Senior High

                The Board recessed for five minutes.

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to amend the Finance Committee recommendation relative to the drainage at Cecilia High School to read consider and/or approve the Finance Committee recommendation for improvements for the drainage for Cecilia High School baseball field. The Board also approved to add to the agenda a presentation by  Mr. Paulma Johnson regarding the Turn on the Lights Program. 

                A motion was made by Mr. Hebert and seconded by Ms. Babin approving the following:

a)             Regular Meeting of October 1, 2008  (unanimously carried)

b)            Finance Committee Meeting of October 29, 2008 

(Recused:  Mr. Fuselier)

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to create a proclamation for the Turn on the Lights Program.

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mrs. Latiolais, and unanimously carried, the Board approved a recommendation of the Finance Committee to develop a plan for a new bond issue and the property tax renewal in 2009.

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved a recommendation of the Finance Committee to appoint Apple Adjusters, Inc. as a Third-party Administrator for Worker’s Compensation and General Liability.

On the motion of Mrs. Latiolais, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved a recommendation of the Finance Committee for improvements for the drainage for Cecilia High School baseball field. 

                On the motion of Mr. Flegeance, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the recommendation of the administration for the acceptance of bids on tires to Southern Tire Mart in the amount of $83,107.

On the motion of Mr. Potier, seconded by Mr. Hebert, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the recommendation of the administration for the acceptance of bids on the Breaux Bridge Primary Bus Canopy to Glendale Enterprises in the amount of $34,591.

 On the motion of Mr. Fuselier, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved rejection, new specifications, and re-bid on the Refrigerated Van.

On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mrs. Latiolais, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the Change Order for the JCEP Re-Roofing of the Classroom Building.

On the motion of Mrs. Latiolais, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the Change Order for the Special Services Re-roofing.

On the motion of Mr. Fuselier, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved Substantial Completion for the following projects:

a)                   Electrical Modifications for Computers at 3 High Schools

b)                   Special Services Re-roofing  

 On the motion of Mr. Flegeance, seconded by Mr. Ledoux, and unanimously carried, the Board approved Boyer and Hebert for Legal Services.

On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and carried, the Board approved limited administrative authority to settle claims, as follows:

Settlement authority for the Chief Financial Officer up to $5,000 and settlement authority for the Superintendent up to $20,000.  Amounts in excess of $20,000 would be brought to the Board for consideration.  The Board must be informed prior to any action taken.

OPPOSED:             Ms. Babin

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

IHAD, Parent Conferences

JB, Attendance

JBCC, Student Assignment

JBD, Student Absences and Excuses

JBE, Truancy

JCD, Student Conduct

JDE, Expulsion

JG, Student Welfare

JGFB, Supervision of Students

KB, Public Information Program

KE, Public Concerns and Complaints

BC, Meetings

BCBD, Agenda Preparation and Dissemination

BCBI, Public Participation in School Board Meetings

GBD, Employment of Personnel

GBRA, Employee Conduct

GBRIB, Sick Leave

On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following proclamation declaring November 16-22, 2008 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 substitute educators, custodians, teachers, bus drivers, or librarians, work tirelessly to serve our children and communities with care and professionalism; and

Whereas, schools are community linchpins, bringing together adults and children, educators and volunteers, business leaders, and elected officials in a common enterprise. 

Now, therefore, the St. Martin Parish School Board does hereby proclaim November 16-22 as the 87^th annual observance of American Education Week.

                On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Ms. Babin, 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.

                On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to follow the recommendation of the administration regarding the following items discussed in Executive Session:

a)                   Threat of Litigation involving E.J. Express Trucking Company

b)                   Settlement negotiations involving litigation entitled Dwayne Eaglin vs. SMPSB, Docket No. 72718 of Division H, 16^th Judicial District Court

c)             Negotiations and potential settlement involving the litigation entitled Judy Poirier vs. St. Martin Parish School Board, Docket No. 07-00616 of District 04 of the OWC

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

MEDICAL LEAVE:

                Miller, Robin, Kindergarten, Breaux Bridge Primary; effective October 1, 2008 through December 19, 2008.

SABBATICAL LEAVE:

                Miller, Robin, Kindergarten, Breaux Bridge Primary; effective January 5, 2009 through May 26, 2009.

RETIREMENTS:

                Bordelon, Montez, Pre-School Facilitator, Special Services; effective January 1, 2009.

                Dauphine’, Connie, English, Cecilia Senior High; effective January 9, 2009.

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

APPOINTMENT:

                Robin, Betina, Instructional Aide/LPN, Parks Primary; effective November 6, 2008.

TRANSFER:

                Knott, Laurie, from LPN/Aide at Parks Primary to Cecilia Primary; effective November 6, 2008.

FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE:

                Dugas, Virginia, Teacher Aide, Parks Primary; effective October 24, 2008.

DROP/RETIREMENT PROGRAM:

                Berard, Belinda, Food Services Manager, Cecilia Senior High; effective January 8, 2009.

                Huval, Dayne, Bus Operator, St. Martinville area; effective November 1, 2008.

Thibodeaux, Nancy, Food Services Technician, Breaux Bridge Senior High; effective November 23, 2008.

                OPPOSED:             Mr. Ledoux and Mr. Stelly

On the motion of Mrs. Latiolais, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the request for extra employment pay for Regina Smart, Angela Toncrey, Catherine Guidry, Theresa Blankenship, Crissy Frederick, and Julie Laviolette for the Parks Primary After-Care Program for the month of September.

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

_____________________________            _________________________________

SECRETARY                                                 PRESIDENT