ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

JANUARY 11, 2017

BREAUX BRIDGE, LOUISIANA

MINUTES

            The St. Martin Parish School Board convened on this day at 5:00 P.M. at the Administrative Office with the following members present:  Messrs. Mark Hebert, President, Steve Fuselier, Aaron Flegeance, Burton Dupuis, James Blanchard, Russel C. Foti, Richard Potier, Frederic Stelly, Floyd Knott, and Ms. Wanda B. Vital.

            ABSENT:          None

            The meeting was called to order by Mark Hebert, President.  Dr. Lottie P. Beebe, Superintendent, opened the meeting with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance.

            Board President Mark Hebert opened the floor for nominations for President of the Board.  A motion was made by Mr. Knott and seconded by Mr. Flegeance to nominate Burton Dupuis for the office of President.

            A substitute motion was made by Mr. Blanchard and seconded by Mr. Flegeance to nominate Russel C. Foti for the office of President.

            The motions were then voted on and the original motion carried, as follows:

            FOR:    Mr. Flegeance, Mr. Dupuis, Mr. Potier, Mr. Stelly, Mr. Knott, and Mr. Hebert

            OPPOSED:          Mr. Fuselier, Ms. Vital, Mr. Blanchard, and Mr. Foti

            The nominations for the office of President were closed unanimously.

            Mr. Burton Dupuis was elected President of the St. Martin Parish School Board for the year 2017.

            Board President Burton Dupuis called for the acceptance of nominations for Vice-President of the Board.  A motion was made by Ms. Vital and seconded by Mr. Flegeance to nominate Russel C. Foti for the office of Vice-President.

            A substitute motion was made by Mr. Knott to nominate Mr. Aaron Flegeance. Mr. Flegeance respectfully declined.  Mr. Knott nominated Mr. Richard Potier for the office of Vice-President.  Mr. Potier declined.  

                        The nominations for the office of Vice-President were closed unanimously.

            Mr. Russel C. Foti was elected Vice-President of the St. Martin Parish School Board for the year 2017.

Board President Burton Dupuis made the following appointments:

          Aaron Flegeance, Education Committee Chairman

          Russel C. Foti, Finance and Insurance Committee Chairman

          Steve Fuselier, Transportation Committee Chairman

          Frederic Stelly, Maintenance Committee Chairman

Dr. Beebe presented plaques to Mr. Mark Hebert and Mr. Russel C. Foti for their services as Board President and Vice-President.

Ms. Bernice Darby, Secretary of Curriculum and Instruction, was recognized as the December Employee of the Month sponsored by Southern Scripts.

On the motion of Mr. Flegeance, seconded by Mr. Foti, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following consent agenda items:

a)     Minutes of the following meetings:

1)              Finance Committee Meeting of December 7, 2016

2)              Regular Meeting of December 7, 2016

b)              Request for waiver of sales tax penalties for the following:

1)           Tiger Rentals Ltd.

2)           St. Martin Hospital, Inc.

c)              Memorandum of Understanding with the Eckerd Kids for the 2016-2017 school year

d)              Purchasing lockers for St. Martinville High School athletics

e)              Purchasing equipment and furniture for the new St. Martinville High School Athletic building

f)               Policy revisions for inclusion in the St. Martin Parish School Board Policy Manual:

DJA, Authorized Signatures

JBC, School Admission

JBCC, Student Assignment

JCDAC, Dangerous Weapons

JGCD, Administration of Medication

JQA, Expectant and Parenting Students

g)                Request for waiver of liability insurance and $200 deposit for the 2017 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration

h)                Resolutions:  (attached as Exhibit A)

1)              Expressing the condolences of the entire school system to the families of Lionel Potier and John Richard, Jr.

2)              Louisiana School Board Recognition Month, January 2017

3)              Certifying President and Vice-President to conduct transactions for and on behalf of the School Board

i)                Personnel Changes:

1)              Request for extra employment pay for Lisa Alexander, Karen Anderson, Cedric Theyard, Angela Watson, and Catherine Wesley for Teche Elementary’s After-Care Program for the months of November & December, 2016

2)              Request for extra employment pay for Corita Andrus, Cabrini Benoit,  Ashley Breaux, Brenda Davis, Anne-Laure Dijoux, Ashley Melancon, Grace Sloane, and Brooke Thibodeaux for Cecilia Primary’s After-Care Program for the months of November and December, 2016

3)              Request for extra employment pay for Tina Prejean, Kayla Menard, Kimberly Sullivan, and Monique Arceneaux for Breaux Bridge Elementary’s After-Care Program for the month of November, 2016

4)              Request for extra employment pay for Kate Gary, Theresa Blankenship, Regina Smart, Catherine Guidry Meche, Trisha Chauvin, and Cherie Foti for Parks Primary’s After-Care Program for the month of November, 2016

Mr. Russell Champagne with Kolder, Champagne, Slaven & Company presented the audit report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.  On the motion of Mr. Foti, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the audit report from Kolder, Champagne, Slaven & Company for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

On the motion of Mr. Blanchard, seconded by Mr. Hebert, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the change order at Parks Middle for moisture remediation in the slab of the new building.

On the motion of Mr. Flegeance, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and carried, the following 2013 Bond projects were postponed:

a)              BBJH – Allowing the Superintendent to accept the low quote for BBJH Library AC project if the quote comes in within the budget of $150,000.  Project is being funded by 2013 Bond Parishwide HVAC Funds.

b)              SMJH – Allowing the Superintendent to accept the low quote for SMJH ERV-1 Replacement project if the quote comes in within the budget of $150,000.  Project is being funded by 2013 Bond Parishwide HVAC Funds.

OPPOSED:       Mr. Knott

On the motion of Mr. Blanchard, seconded by Mr. Hebert, and carried, the following 2016 Bond project was postponed:

a)              JCEP – Allowing Architectural Solutions to proceed through Contract Documents and Advertising on JCEP Upgrades and Miscellaneous Demolition (contingent upon Superintendent and Project Manager approval at each phase).  Project will be funded by 2016 Bond JCEP Construction Funds.

OPPOSED:       Ms. Vital

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

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

No action was necessary for the pending litigation, Thomas v. St. Martin Parish School Board, Civil Action No. 11314 (W.D.La.).

On the motion of Mr. Potier, seconded by Mr. Foti, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the proposed settlement of the matter entitled “Della Picard et al vs. St. Martin Parish School Board, Docket No. 82796-D, 16^th Judicial District Court, Parish of St. Martin, State of Louisiana.” 

Board Member James Blanchard expressed concerns regarding the following:

a)              Bus drivers doing field trips

b)              Incident that occurred on School Board property (hunting lease)

The Board heard a Citizen’s Request by Dean Guidry regarding the policy for hunting on School Board properties.

A motion was made by Mr. Blanchard and seconded by Mr. Flegeance to suspend policy and vote on the Board Member’s request regarding the additional instructional minutes being added to the remainder of the fiscal year (2/3 vote required).  The motion was then voted on and failed, as follows:

FOR:    Mr. Fuselier, Ms. Vital, Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Foti, Mr. Stelly, and Mr. Hebert       

OPPOSED:       Mr. Flegeance, Mr. Dupuis, and Mr. Knott

ABSTAINED:                 Mr. Potier

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

_____________________________                              _________________________________

SECRETARY                                                                PRESIDENT