ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
MARCH 4, 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., Mark Hebert, President, Floyd Knott, Steve Fuselier, James Blanchard, 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. Mark Hebert, President. Superintendent Lavergne opened the meeting with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Board honored the 2008-2009 Students of the Year. Parish winners were:
Tate Courville, Catahoula Elementary, Grade 5
Camille Quebodeaux, Catahoula Elementary, Grade 8
Linda Nguyen, Cecilia High, Grade 12
Ms. Karen Dupont, Breaux Bridge High School English teacher, was recognized as the Taylor and Sons February Employee of the Month.
Superintendent Lavergne recognized Mr. Grant Schlueter as the new Bond Attorney for the St. Martin Parish School System.
On the motion of Mr. Blanchard, seconded by Mrs. Latiolais, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the minutes of the following meetings:
a) Finance Committee Meeting of February 4, 2009
b) Regular Meeting of February 4, 2009
c) Special Meeting of February 18, 2009
On the motion of Mr. Fuselier, seconded by Mr. Stelly, and carried, the Board approved the request for waiver of sales tax penalties, as recommended by administration, for Lafayette MSA Limited Partnership.
OPPOSED: Mr. Flegeance
On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Blanchard, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the date of February 16, 2009 as ”r;Substantially Complete” for the canopy projects of Breaux Bridge Primary and Cecilia High School.
On the motion of Mrs. Latiolais, seconded by Mr. Ledoux, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the call for bids for grazing rights on Section 16 in Belle River.
On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the ULL Picard Center.
On the motion of Mr. Potier, seconded by Mr. Knott, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following proclamation declaring March 30-April 3, 2009 as Attendance Awareness Week:
WHEREAS, the children of our parish, state and nation are our most valued resource;
and
WHEREAS, the Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance, the International Association for Truancy and Dropout Prevention, and School Social Workers are cognizant of the need for children to attend school regularly in order to develop educationally, emotionally and socially; and
WHEREAS, all the people of St. Martin Parish join with the teachers, administrators, and local and parish school officials in encouraging our students to attend school regularly.
NOW, THEREFORE, the St. Martin Parish School Board does hereby proclaim the week of March 30-April 3, 2009 as
ATTENDANCE AWARENESS WEEK
in the St. Martin Parish Schools, and encourage all schools to plan and develop activities to recognize the thousands of students who attend school regularly.
A motion was made by Mr. Knott and seconded by Ms. Babin to approve the reconfiguration of grade levels in the Cecilia area schools at the Superintendent’s discretion to delay implementation for one year, no later than 2010, if necessary.
An amendment to the motion was made by Mr. Blanchard and seconded by Mr. Ledoux to table the reconfiguration. The amendment was then voted on with a result as follows:
FOR: Mr. Blanchard, Mrs. Latiolais, Mr. Ledoux, and Mr. Stelly
OPPOSED: Mr. Knott, Mr. Fuselier, Mr. Flegeance, Mr. Potier, and Ms. Babin
The President exercised his right to vote and voted in favor of the amendment. The vote was then tied and therefore defeated.
The original motion was then voted on and carried, as follows:
FOR: Mr. Knott, Mr. Fuselier, Mr. Blanchard, Mrs. Latiolais, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Flegeance, Mr. Potier, and Ms. Babin
OPPOSED: Mr. Ledoux and Mr. Stelly
Board Member Floyd Knott discussed the following items:
a) Area gyms to be funded with Bond Issue
b) Proposed new Instructional Center
The item relative to building a new elementary school in the Cecilia area was removed from the agenda.
No action was taken on allowing the superintendent to obtain a proposal from Mike Heffner to provide demographics for the Cecilia area.
Mr. Knott discussed the possibility of eliminating one supervisor position.
A motion was made by Mr. Blanchard and seconded by Mrs. Latiolais to rescind and amend the item relative to the parish football field lights to approve lights for the Cecilia and Breaux Bridge High football fields and the equivalent dollar amount be awarded to St. Martinville High for football concession.
Mr. Flegeance made a substitute motion, seconded by Mrs. Latiolais, to table the item until a later date and research. The substitute motion was then voted on and unanimously carried.
On the motion of Mr. Ledoux, seconded by Mr. Stelly, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to amend the resolution regarding possible changes in the laws affecting School Board members, eliminating the establishment of a minimum education requirement to qualify for board membership (at least a high school diploma or its equivalent), as follows:
WHEREAS, educational issues are a priority for all citizens of St. Martin Parish; and
WHEREAS, The St. Martin Parish School Board supports and encourages positive, constructive educational reform; and
WHEREAS, accountability at all levels is an important and necessary component of educational reform and improvement; and
WHEREAS, proposed legislation presently under consideration by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education affecting Louisiana School Boards is of great concern to the St. Martin Parish School Board; and
WHEREAS, the St. Martin Parish School Board, in principle, and in part because of the complete lack of clarity and specificity, strongly opposes the draft legislation for the 2009 legislative session presently under consideration by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The issues include the following proposals:
· Establish term limits for local school board members
· Eliminate salaries and only have per diem with a cap
· Refine the nepotism statute
· Require a supermajority to terminate superintendents
· Strengthen professional development requirements with consequences for failure to comply
· Authorize superintendents to make appointments and terminations without board approval
· Establish provisions for removal from office for dereliction of duty (Malfeasance in Office) if the Department’s Legal Division determines that such statutory provisions do not currently exist; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the St. Martin Parish School Board does hereby strongly oppose the draft legislation under consideration by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding Louisiana School Boards, as noted above; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent to Honorable Bobby Jindal, Governor, State of Louisiana; Mr. Paul Pastorek, State Superintendent of Schools; Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Louisiana School Boards Association, the local Legislative Delegation and the news media.
On the motion of Mr. Potier, seconded by Mr. Blanchard, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following Personnel Changes:
a) Professionals
APPOINTMENT:
Olivier, Jennifer, Barber/Hairstylist Instructor, SMP Technology Building/Cecilia; effective February 2, 2009.
RESIGNATIONS:
John, Mary Joyce, Exploratory, Breaux Bridge Junior High; effective February 11, 2009.
Walker, Jason, Barber/Hairstylist Instructor, SMP Technology Building/Cecilia; effective January 30, 2009.
RESCINDED APPOINTMENT:
Carter, Erasmus, JROTC Instructor, Breaux Bridge Senior High; effective January 5, 2009.
MEDICAL LEAVES:
Champagne, Teresa, Renaissance, Breaux Bridge Elementary; effective February 16, 2009 through April 3, 2009.
Forman, Rosa Leah, Instructional Interventionist, Teche Elementary; effective February 2, 2009.
Guillory, Beverly, English/Language Arts, St. Martinville Junior High; effective January 22, 2009 through March 8, 2009.
Williams, Shirley, 3rd grade, St. Martinville Primary; effective February 9, 2009 through March 16, 2009.
RETIREMENT:
Mingo, James, Supervisor Computer Services, Instructional Center; effective July 1, 2009.
b) Paraprofessionals
MEDICAL LEAVES:
Boudreaux, Michelle, Food Services Manager, Breaux Bridge Junior High; effective February 2, 2009.
Breaux, Jeanne, Bus Driver, JCEP; effective January 1, 2009.
Huval, Gayle, Teacher Aide, Teche Elementary; effective February 2, 2009.
DROP/RETIREMENT PROGRAM:
Blanchard, Marshall, Custodian, Catahoula Elementary; effective July 1, 2009.
Savoy, Rodney, Delivery, School Food Services; effective May 1, 2009.
RETIREMENTS:
Chavis, Sue, Secretary, Maintenance/Bus Shop; effective April 30, 2009.
Lanerie, Jacqueline, Food Services Manager, Cecilia Primary; effective June 1, 2009.
Theriot, Agnes, School Secretary, St. Martinville Senior High; effective June 10, 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 January, 2009.
d) Coaching stipend for Scotty Borel for assisting with girls’ basketball at Breaux Bridge Senior High.
e) Coaching stipend for Greg Devillier for assisting with boys’ baseball at Breaux Bridge Senior High.
On the motion of Mrs. Latiolais, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned.
_____________________________ _________________________________
SECRETARY PRESIDENT