ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

FEBRUARY 2, 2011

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, Mark Hebert, Aaron Flegeance, Russel C. Foti, Steve Fuselier, Richard Potier, Robert E. Hollier, Frederic Stelly, and Ms. Wanda Babin.

 

                ABSENT:               None

 

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

 

Ms. Mona Lewis, Math Teacher at Cecilia High School, was recognized as the Taylor and Sons January Employee of the Month.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Potier and seconded by Mr. Flegeance to add to the agenda consider and/or approve appointment of custodian at Breaux Bridge High School (unanimous vote needed to add an item to the agenda).  The motion failed.

 

OPPOSED:             Mr. Hebert

 

The Board Member’s request regarding an assistant for the Supervisor of Transportation was removed from the agenda.

 

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the consent agenda items, excluding the Insurance/Finance Committee recommendations:

 

  1. Minutes of the following meetings:

     

     

  2. Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Louisiana Community and Technical System (Acadiana Technical College Evangeline Campus)

     

  3. Harassment/Bullying/Cyberbullying/Intimidation/Hazing Policy

 

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

 

APPOINTMENT:

 

Adkins, Gary, Physical Education/Head Football Coach, St. Martinville Senior High; effective June 3, 2011.

                 

ONE SEMESTER APPOINTMENTS:

 

Pherson, Elizabeth, Kindergarten, Breaux Bridge Primary; effective January 11, 2011 through June 1, 2011. (Certified)

Shepherd, Robin, GED, St. Martinville Senior High; effective January 26, 2011 through June 1, 2011. (Certified)

 

                MEDICAL LEAVES:

 

Aubry, Jessica, Math, St. Martinville Junior High; effective January 20, 2011 through March 20, 2011.

Berard, Lee Anna, 2nd grade, Cecilia Primary; effective January 11, 2011 through February 15, 2011.

LeBouef, Stacey, Psychologist, Special Services; effective January 6, 2011 through February 21, 2011.

Raymond, Linda, Teacher, JCEP; effective January 20, 2011 through April 21, 2011.

Robertson, Deirdre, Special Education, St. Martinville Senior High; effective January 8, 2011 through March 4, 2011.

Schetele, Bryan, Teacher/Coach, St. Martinville Junior High; effective January 5, 2011 through May 5, 2011.

 

MATERNITY LEAVE:

 

Jordan, Chana, Physical Education/Coach, Breaux Bridge Senior High; effective January 12, 2011 through May 20, 2011.

 

FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE:

 

Lasseigne, Andy, Business Math, St. Martinville Senior High; effective January 18, 2011 through February 11, 2011.

 

RETIREMENTS:

 

Billeadeaux, Elizabeth, 5th grade, Teche Elementary; effective October 25, 2010.

Castille, Brenda, Social Studies, St. Martinville Junior High; effective June 2, 2011.

Durand, Charlotte, Librarian, Early Learning Center; effective June 2, 2011.

 

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

 

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

 

The Board discussed the current updates of the pending petition in the matter of U.S. and Thomas et. al v. St. Martin Parish School Board, 6:65-cv-11314-RFD (W.D.La.) by Jack Burson, Legal Counsel.  No action was necessary.

 

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the recommendation of the administration in the matter entitled Paughnee Sam vs. SMPSB, Docket No. 10-02936, District 9, Office of Workers’ Compensation.

 

On the motion of Mr. Fuselier, seconded by Ms. Babin, and carried, the Board approved the recommendation of the administration to schedule a tenure hearing for the employee discussed in Executive Session.

 

OPPOSED:             Mr. Potier

 

On the motion of Mr. Fuselier, seconded by Mr. Hollier, and carried, the Board approved to follow the recommendation of the administration regarding the employee discussed in Executive Session and terminate his employment.

 

OPPOSED:             Mr. Potier

ABSTAINED:       Ms. Babin

 

On the motion of Mr. Flegeance, seconded by Mr. Stelly, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to adopt a resolution providing for the opening and tabulation of the sealed and electronic bids received for the purchase of $10,000,000 of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2011, of St. Martin Parish School District, Louisiana (attached as Exhibit A).

 

On the motion of Mr. Potier, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to adopt a resolution accepting the best bid received for the purchase of $10,000,000 of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2011, of St. Martin Parish School District, Louisiana (attached as Exhibit B).

 

On the motion of Mr. Potier, seconded by Mr. Foti, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to adopt a resolution authorizing the incurring of debt and issuance of $10,000,000 of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2011, of St. Martin Parish School District, Louisiana; and providing for other matters in connection therewith (attached as Exhibit C).

 

A motion was made by Mr. Hebert and seconded by Mr. Hollier to approve the Insurance/Finance Committee recommendation to increase the Group Health Plan by 30% for the Board and 34% for the member, effective July 1, 2011.

 

A substitute motion was made by Mr. Potier to increase the Group Health Plan for the Board to match the member at 34%.  The substitute motion died for lack of a second. 

 

The original motion was then voted on and carried, as follows:

 

FOR:       Mr. Fuselier, Ms. Babin, Mr. Flegeance, Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Foti, Mr. Hollier, Mr. Stelly, and Mr. Hebert

 

OPPOSED:             Mr. Potier

 

ABSTAINED:       Mr. Knott

 

A motion was made by Mr. Knott, and seconded by Mr. Hebert, to approve the Insurance/Finance Committee recommendation to maintain block scheduling at the high schools and cut one teacher at each school in the parish.

 

A substitute motion was made by Mr. Fuselier and seconded by Ms. Babin to maintain block scheduling at the high schools and keep all teachers.

 

A second substitute motion was made by Mr. Potier to table this item.  The second substitute motion died for lack of a second.

 

The first substitute motion was then voted on and tied.  The president exercised his right to vote and voted in opposition to the motion.  The motion failed, as follows:

 

FOR:                       Mr. Fuselier, Ms. Babin, Mr. Flegeance, Mr. Potier, Mr. Stelly
 

OPPOSED:             Mr. Foti, Mr. Hollier, Mr. Knott, Mr. Hebert, and Mr. Blanchard

 

The original motion was then voted on and carried.

 

FOR:                       Ms. Babin, Mr. Flegeance, Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Foti, Mr. Hollier, Mr. Stelly,       Mr. Knott, and Mr. Hebert

 

OPPOSED:             Mr. Fuselier and Mr. Potier

 

On the motion of Mr. Stelly, seconded by Mr. Hebert, and carried, the Board approved awarding Teche Elementary New Classrooms to Bulliard Construction Co., Inc.

 

OPPOSED:             Mr. Potier

 

Ms. Judy Broussard, Poche Prouet Associates, reviewed the 2009 Bond Program Project Status Report.

 

Ms. Rachel Tauzin, parent from Cecilia area, appeared before the Board to participate in the discussion to add soccer in St. Martin Parish High Schools.  The Board recommended forming a committee to discuss the requirements.  The committee should include 2 parents from each area, 3 Athletic Directors, 3 High School Principals, Board Members:  Mark Hebert,    Robert Hollier, and Richard Potier.

 

Board Member Floyd Knott discussed the following:

 

  1. SRO’s at Junior High Schools

     

  2. Public Participation and debate at Board Meetings

 

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following Personnel Changes, excluding the appointment of Shop Foreman:

 

  1. Paraprofessionals

     

    APPOINTMENTS:

     

    Boyd, James, Shop Foreman, Bus Shop; effective February 3, 2011.

    Lalonde, Sommer, LPN Aide, Cecilia Primary; effective February 3, 2011.

     

    MEDICAL LEAVES:

     

    Bourda, Kathy, Bookkeeper, Instructional Center; effective January 31, 2011 through February 14, 2011.

    Charles, Hilda, Food Services Manager, Early Learning Center; effective January 18, 2011 through March 7, 2011.

    Filer, James, Custodian, St. Martinville Primary; effective January 5, 2011 through June 1, 2011.

    Jones, Craig, Bus Driver, St. Martinville area; effective January 13, 2011 through February 13, 2011.

    Melancon, Jean, Bus Driver, Breaux Bridge area; effective January 7, 2011 through April 7, 2011.

     

    FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE:

     

    Huval, Irma, Special Education Aide, Breaux Bridge Junior High; effective December 6, 2010 through December 24, 2010.

     

    RETIREMENTS:

     

    Broussard, Aileen, Teacher Aide, Early Learning Center; effective June 2, 2011.

    Landry, Floyd, Custodian, Cecilia Senior High; effective July 1, 2011.

    Russo, Cynthia, Teacher Aide, Parks Primary; effective June 2, 2011.

    Wiltz, Leola, Food Services Technician, Cecilia Primary; effective September 3, 2010.

     

    DROP/RETIREMENT PROGRAM:

     

    Prade, Claudia, Secretary, St. Martinville Primary; effective February 14, 2011.

     

  2. Request for extra employment pay for Corita Andrus, Cabrini Benoit, Dana Broussard, Rhonda Broussard, Brenda Davis, Mary Jo Franciol, Dawn Frederick, and Niki Thibodeaux for Cecilia Primary’s After-Care Program for month of December, 2010

     

  3. Request for extra employment pay for Theresa Blankenship, Trisha Chauvin, Catherine Guidry, Debbie Guillory, and Angela Toncrey for the Parks Primary After-Care Program for the month of December, 2010

     

  4. Payment for Breaux Bridge High Assistant Football Coaches

     

  5. Payment for Breaux Bridge High Assistant Volleyball Coach

 

Superintendent Lavergne informed the Board Elridge Stelly was his recommendation for the position of Shop Foreman.  A motion was made by Mr. Knott to appoint Elridge Stelly as Shop Foreman.  The motion died for lack of a second.

 

Superintendent Lavergne informed the Board James Boyd was his second recommendation for the position of Shop Foreman.   On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Potier, and carried, the Board appointed Mr. James Boyd as Shop Foreman.

 

OPPOSED:             Mr. Stelly and Mr. Blanchard

 

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

 

_____________________________                            _________________________________

SECRETARY                                                                        PRESIDENT