ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

JANUARY 7, 2009

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, Richard Potier, Rodney Ledoux, Frederic Stelly, and Ms. Wanda Babin and Mrs. Barbara Latiolais.

                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 opened the floor for nominations for President of the Board.  On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, Mr. Mark Hebert was nominated for President.

                ABSENT:               Mr. Flegeance

                On the motion of Mr. Knott, seconded by Mr. Ledoux, and unanimously carried, the nominations for the office of President were closed.

                ABSENT:               Mr. Flegeance

                Mr. Mark Hebert was elected President of the St. Martin Parish School Board for the year 2009.

                The newly-elected President of the St. Martin Parish School Board, Mr. Mark Hebert, called for the acceptance of nominations for Vice-President of the Board.  On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Stelly, Mr. Aaron Flegeance was nominated for the office of Vice-President.

                ABSENT:               Mr. Flegeance

                On the motion of Mr. Potier, seconded by Mr. Blanchard, and unanimously carried, the nominations for the office of Vice-President were closed.

                ABSENT:               Mr. Flegeance

                Mr. Aaron Flegeance was elected Vice-President for the St. Martin Parish School Board for the year 2009.

Board President Mark Hebert made the following appointments:

                                James Blanchard, Athletic Committee Chairman

                                Frederic Stelly, Maintenance Committee Chairman

                                Steve Fuselier, Transportation Committee Chairman

                                Aaron Flegeance, Education Committee Chairman

                                Floyd Knott, Finance Committee Chairman                    

Nineteen Ed Leadership Academy Graduates were recognized and honored.  The meeting was recessed for ten minutes for refreshments. 

ABSENT:               None

The item relative to the audit report from Kolder, Champagne, Slaven & Company was tabled.

The following items were removed from the agenda:

a)                   Consider and/or approve policy change in regards to the number of drivers needed and additional pay for these drivers to bring students to out-of-parish schools

b)                   Board Member’s request to discuss students sent to JCEP

On the motion of Mr. Blanchard, seconded by Mr. Ledoux, and unanimously carried, consider and/or approve the placement of an additional JROTC Instructor at Breaux Bridge High School was added to the agenda.

A motion was made by Mr. Knott and seconded by Mr. Blanchard approving the following:

a)                   Regular Meeting of December 3, 2008 (unanimously carried)

b)                   Special Meeting of December 17, 2008 (carried, abstained:  Mr. Fuselier and Mr. Stelly)

On the motion of Mr. Fuselier, seconded by Mr. Knott, and carried, the following items were postponed:

a)                   Consider and/or approve reconfiguration of grade levels in the Cecilia and St. Martinville area schools

b)                   Consider and/or approve a resolution for a new bond issue to fund a construction and capital projects program as described in the resolution

OPPOSED:             Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Potier, and Ms. Babin

On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Blanchard, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the renewal of the current tax millages for maintenance and operation of schools (attached as Exhibit A).

A motion was made by Mr. Ledoux and seconded by Mr. Flegeance to approve implementation of the following plan to avoid overpayment of annual salaries:

Recover all funds over the remaining months during which salaries for the current year will be paid.  Accrual employees have 7 remaining checks (January – July); the monthly amount to be recovered is $77.38 monthly, for a total of $541.67 for professionals and $60.48 monthly, for a total of $423.33 for paraprofessionals.

                A substitute motion was made by Mr. Blanchard and seconded by Mrs. Latiolais to recover the funds over a 7 month period, but for totals of $500 for professionals and $400 for paraprofessionals.  The substitute motion was then voted on and unanimously carried.

                On the motion of Mr. Knott, seconded by Mr. Stelly, and unanimously carried, the Board approved Substantial Completion for the Cecilia Junior High Re-roofing.

                On the motion of Ms. Babin, seconded by Mr. Blanchard, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the St. Martin Parish High Stakes Test Security Policy.

                On the motion of Mrs. Latiolais, seconded by Mr. Blanchard, and unanimously carried, the Board denied the request by Marie Grace Jeffrion to purchase the two acre tract of land that once held the Bayou Chene School.

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

                BBBC, Board Member Continuing Education

                DE, Debt Limitation

                EBC, Buildings and Grounds Security

                JCDB, Student Appearance

                EDC, Student Transportation Safety Program

                FDC, Naming of Facilities

                IFBGA, Computer Access and Use

                IDDF, Education of Students with Exceptionalities

                JBA, Compulsory School Attendance Ages

                JBCD, Student Transfer and Withdrawal

                JCGB, Immunizations

                On the motion of Mr. Blanchard, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following resolution authorizing the President and Vice-President to conduct transactions for and on behalf of the School Board:

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

WHEREAS, Mr. Aaron Flegeance 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.

                On the motion of Mr. Blanchard, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the placement of an additional JROTC Instructor at Breaux Bridge High School for the spring semester.

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

                On the motion of Mr. Blanchard, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board came out of Executive Session.

                On the motion of Mr. Flegeance, seconded by Mr. Potier, and carried, the Board approved to affirm the Superintendent’s recommendation relative to the threat of litigation regarding the alleged violation of labor laws and board policy. 

                ABSTAINED:                       Mr. Ledoux

                A motion was made by Mr. Flegeance and seconded by Mr. Blanchard to follow the Superintendent’s recommendation in regard to the personnel issues concerning the performance of a school board employee.

                A substitute motion was made by Mr. Potier and seconded by Mr. Ledoux that no action be taken.  The substitute motion was then voted on and failed, as follows:

                FOR:                       Mr. Fuselier, Mr. Potier, and Mr. Ledoux

                OPPOSED:             Mr. Knott, Mr. Flegeance, Mrs. Latiolais, Mr. Blanchard, and

Mr. Stelly

ABSTAINED:       Ms. Babin

The original motion was then voted on and carried.

OPPOSED:             Mr. Potier

ABSTAINED:       Mr. Ledoux and Mr. Fuselier

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

a)                   Professionals

APPOINTMENTS:

                Ater, Dana, Social Worker, Special Services; effective January 5, 2008. 

                Carter, Erasmus, JROTC Instructor, Breaux Bridge Senior High; effective January 8, 2009.

                Dauphine, Elizabeth, Special Education, Parks Middle; effective January 12, 2009.(Certified)              

                Lewis, Marquita, English, Breaux Bridge Senior High; effective January 5, 2009. (Certified)

                Walker, Jason, Barber Board/Hairstyling Instructor, SMP Technology Building/Cecilia; effective January 5, 2009.

                ONE SEMESTER APPOINTMENTS:

                John, Betty, Math, Breaux Bridge Junior High; effective December 12, 2008 through May 26, 2009.(Certified)

                Molbert, Maureen, English, Breaux Bridge Junior High; effective January 5, 2009 through May 26, 2009. (Certified)

TRANSFERS:

                Domec, Cheryl, from English at Breaux Bridge Junior High to Social Studies at Cecilia Junior High; effective January 5, 2009.

                Friedman, Susan, from English at Breaux Bridge Senior High to English at Breaux Bridge Junior High; effective January 5, 2009 through May 26, 2009.

MEDICAL LEAVES:

                Batiste, Roxanne, Science, Parks Middle; effective November 21, 2008 through January 2, 2009.

                Cormier, Shala, 4^th grade, Teche Elementary; effective November 25, 2008 through December 15, 2008.

                Reed, Anna Belle, 6^th grade, Breaux Bridge Elementary; effective January 5, 2009 through April 5, 2009.

MATERNITY LEAVES:

                Broussard, Lori, Reading, Breaux Bridge Junior High; effective April 26, 2009 through May 26, 2009.

                Castille, Misty, 3^rd grade, Breaux Bridge Primary; effective April 3, 2009 through May 26, 2009.

                Maugein, Laure, French Teacher (FAT), Catahoula Elementary; effective February 26, 2009 through April 10, 2009.

DROP/RETIREMENT PROGRAM:

                Jolivette, Genelle, Physical Education, Breaux Bridge Junior High; effective May 25, 2008.

RESIGNATIONS:

                Dorrough, Richard, Math, Breaux Bridge Junior High; effective December 1, 2008.

                Hinnekens, Marjorie, French (FAT), Teche Elementary; effective January 22, 2009.

                McNemar, Krystal, Social Worker, Special Services; effective January 2, 2009.

RETIREMENTS:

                Dauphine, Elizabeth, Special Education, Parks Middle; effective January 9, 2009. (one day retirement)

                Jackson, Edmonia, Supervisor, School Board Office; effective January 31, 2009.

                Lastrapes, Juilette, Teacher, JCEP; effective May 1, 2009.

b)                   Paraprofessionals

RETIREMENT:

Huval, Gayle, Teacher Aide, Teche Elementary; effective February 1, 2009.

c)                   Request for extra employment pay for Regina Smart, Angela Toncrey, Catherine Guidry, Theresa Blankenship, and Crissy Frederick for the Parks Primary After-Care Program for the month of November.

d)                   Coaching stipend for Anthony Derouselle for assisting with Breaux Bridge Senior High Football

e)                   Coaching stipend for Kasey Melancon for assisting with Cecilia Senior High Football

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

__________________________            ____________________________

SECRETARY                                                 PRESIDENT