ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
OCTOBER 3, 2018
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. Burton Dupuis, President, Steve Fuselier, Aaron Flegeance, James Blanchard, Russel C. Foti, Richard Potier, Frederic Stelly, Floyd Knott, and Mark Hebert.
ABSENT: Mrs. Wanda B. Vital
The meeting was called to order by Burton Dupuis, President. Mr. Allen Blanchard, Jr., Interim Superintendent, opened the meeting with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance.
Joey Benoit, Operations Secretary, was recognized as the September Employee of the Month sponsored by Southern Scripts.
Mrs. Pam Cormier, a candidate for School Board Member District 8, introduced herself to the Board.
On the motion of Mr. Foti, seconded by Mr. Stelly, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following consent agenda items:
a) Minutes of the following meetings:
1) Finance Committee Meeting of September 5, 2018
2) Regular Meeting of September 5, 2018
3) Special Meeting of September 6, 2018
4) Special Meeting of September 11, 2018
b) Waiver of Sales Tax Penalties:
1) Approval of Waiver
2) Denial of Waiver
3) Partial Waiver Approval
c) Renewal of Memorandum of Understanding between the Community Development Institute (CDI) and St. Martin Parish School Board
d) Jean Day to help support the 16th Judicial District’s CASA Program for abused and neglected children
e) Policy revisions for inclusion in the St. Martin Parish School Board Policy Manual:
1) IFBGA, Student Technology Acceptable Use and Internet Safety
2) JCDAF, Bullying and Hazing
3) JCDAG, Threats of Terrorism or Violence (New Policy)
f) Proclamation designating October 21-27, 2018 as Red Ribbon Week (attached as Exhibit A)
g) Resolution expressing the condolences of the entire school system to the families of Paisley Cowens and Milton Potier (attached as Exhibit B)
h) Request for extra employment pay for Corita Andrus, Ashley Breaux, Ashley Dale, Brenda Davis, Brooke Champagne, Ashley Melancon, and Grace Sloan for Cecilia Primary’s After-Care Program for the month of August, 2018
i) Payment for St. Martinville Senior High’s Ticket Sellers, Assistant Coaches, Cafeteria & Custodial Workers for the 2018/2019 school year
j) Request for extra employment pay for Tina Prejean, Kayla Webb, Kimberly Bourque, and Monique Arceneaux for Breaux Bridge Elementary’s After-Care Program for the month of August, 2018
k) Request for extra employment pay for Kate Gary, Regina Smart, Catherine L. Meche, and Trisha Chauvin for Parks Primary’s After-Care Progam for the month of August, 2018
l) Request for extra employment pay for Angela Watson, Cedric Theyard, Lisa Alexander, Catherine Wesley, Cora Clement, and Latonia Cretian for Teche Elementary’s After-Care Program for the month of August, 2018
ABSENT: Mrs. Vital
On the motion of Mr. Blanchard, seconded by Mr. Hebert, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following Finance Committee recommendations:
a) Authorizing Angelle Architects to proceed with advertising on ELC Campus Additions & Renovations project. The project is being funded by 2013 SM District Funds and 2016 ELC Construction Funds.
b) Authorizing Poche Prouet to proceed with Contract Documents and Advertising on JCEP Campus Asbestos Abatement project. The project is being funded by 2016 ELC Construction Funds.
c) Awarding Breaux Bridge High Baseball Field Drainage Repairs project to the low quoter, Southern Constructors, in the amount of $55,000. Quotes were received September 13, 2018. The project is being funded by 2016 BBHS Construction Funds.
d) Awarding Cecilia High HVAC Upgrades Phase II (Gym) project to the low bidder, Air Plus, in the amount of $370,000. Bids were received September 26, 2018. The project is being funded by 2016 Parishwide HVAC Construction Funds.
e) Awarding Breaux Bridge High, St. Martinville Jr. High and St. Martinville High Equipment Room Upgrades project to the low bidder, Guy Thibodeaux, in the amount of $347,700. Original bid amount was over budget and negotiated to be within the project budget of $350,000. Contractor will submit formal letter stating negotiated amounts removed to total $347,700. Bids were received September 25, 2018. The project is being funded by 2016 Parishwide HVAC Construction Funds.
f) CCRC Renovations and Improvements project was awarded to the low bidder, Master Builders & Specialist, in the amount of $1,568,900. Bids were received on September 12, 2018. The 2016 Bond campus budget is $2,400,000 with the architect's project estimate of $1,791,320. The low bid was within budget. The project is being funded by remaining 2013 Bond Career Center Funds and 2016 Parishwide CCRC Construction Funds.
g) Reconsidered authorizing Poche Prouet to proceed with contract documents and advertising on JCEP Campus Asbestos Abatement project and recommended authorizing the Superintendent to approve if under $150,000.
h) Awarding Substantial Completion for the following:
1) BBHS – Breaux Bridge High School Waterproofing/Exterior Upgrades
2) CE – Catahoula Additions and Renovations
3) CCRC – College and Career Center Asbestos Abatement
ABSENT: Mrs. Vital
On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Stelly, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the ratification of the appointment of Mr. Allen Blanchard, Jr., Interim Superintendent, effective September 5, 2018, and a $2,000 per month salary increase.
ABSENT: Mrs. Vital
On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the ratification of actions taken by Mr. Allen Blanchard, Jr., Interim Superintendent, effective September 5, 2018.
ABSENT: Mrs. Vital
On the motion of Mr. Blanchard, seconded by Mr. Hebert, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to amend the Field Trip Policy, as follows:
“The Superintendent, the District Athletic Director or Supervisor of Transportation may authorize the use of the buddy system for an athletic trip when a bus operator substitute is unavailable.”
ABSENT: Mrs. Vital
On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Stelly, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the purchase of property adjoining Cecilia Junior High School for future expansion.
ABSENT: Mrs. Vital
On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Blanchard, and unanimously carried, the Board approved advertising for an Assistant Principal at Parks Middle School due to the increase in student enrollment.
ABSENT: Mrs. Vital
The Board heard a Citizen’s Request by Sonny Weber, Beau Weber, Madison Breaux, Gabrielle Bauman, Drake Taylor, and Brian Bauman regarding soccer lines on the new turf stadium at Cecilia High School.
A motion was made by Mr. Fuselier and seconded by Mr. Potier to add to the agenda consider and/or approve soccer lines on the new turf stadium at Cecilia High School (unanimous vote needed to add an agenda item). The motion was then voted on and failed, as follows:
FOR: Mr. Fuselier, Mr. Flegeance, Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Foti, Mr. Dupuis, Mr. Potier, and Mr. Knott
OPPOSED: Mr. Stelly and Mr. Hebert
ABSENT: Mrs. Vital
On the motion of Mr. Blanchard, seconded by Mr. Flegeance, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to add consider and/or approve soccer lines on the new turf stadium at Cecilia High School to the November School Board meeting agenda.
ABSENT: Mrs. Vital
On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Knott, and carried, the Board approved the advertisement for the unfilled maintenance supervisor position.
FOR: Mr. Fuselier, Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Foti, Mr. Potier, Mr. Stelly, Mr. Knott, and Mr. Hebert
OPPOSED: Mr. Dupuis and Mr. Flegeance
ABSENT: Mrs. Vital
Board Member Floyd Knott discussed the following:
a) Salary Supplement for all employees for January, 2019
b) Changing policy for Board Members to add and vote on agenda items
On the motion of Mr. Knott, seconded by Mr. Potier, and unanimously carried, the Board suspended policy and approved leasing the unused building in Cecilia to the nonprofit organization (2/3 vote required).
ABSENT: Mrs. Vital
A motion was made by Mr. Blanchard and seconded by Mr. Potier to approve a $200 supplement for the 10 months that the employees do not receive at the present time provided that the funds are available.
A substitute motion was made by Mr. Foti and seconded by Mr. Hebert to postpone until the November meeting. The substitute motion was then voted on and carried, as follows:
FOR: Mr. Fuselier, Mr. Flegeance, Mr. Foti, Mr. Dupuis, Mr. Stelly, Mr. Knott, and Mr. Hebert
OPPOSED: Mr. Blanchard and Mr. Potier
ABSENT: Mrs. Vital
Board Member James Blanchard discussed employee sick leave and personal days.
The presentation by with consideration and/or approval for Homeland Security to demo cameras and metal detectors at St. Martinville Primary and St. Martinville Sr. High was removed from the agenda.
On the motion of Mr. Foti, seconded by Mr. Blanchard, and carried, the Board approved the resolution for the contractual dispute between the St. Martin Parish School Board and Dr. Lottie P. Beebe.
OPPOSED: Mr. Hebert
ABSENT: Mrs. Vital
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. Foti, seconded by Mr. Blanchard, and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned.
_____________________________ _________________________________
SECRETARY PRESIDENT