ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
JANUARY 6, 2021
BREAUX BRIDGE, LOUISIANA
MINUTES
The St. Martin Parish School Board convened on this day at 4:35 P.M. at the Administrative Office with the following members present: Messrs. Russel C. Foti, President, Steve Fuselier, Jimmy Durio, Mike Clay, Richard Potier, Frederic Stelly, Floyd Knott, Mark Hebert, Mrs. Wanda B. Vital, and Ms. Edna M. Johnson.
ABSENT: None
The meeting was called to order by Russel C. Foti, President. Mr. Allen Blanchard, Jr., Superintendent, opened the meeting with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance.
Board President Russel C. Foti opened the floor for nominations for President of the Board. A motion of Mrs. Vital and seconded by Mr. Knott to nominate Richard Potier for the office of President and Steve Fuselier for the office of Vice-President.
A substitute motion was made by Mr. Clay and seconded by Mr. Stelly to nominate Russel C. Foti for the office of President.
The original motion was then voted on and carried, as follows:
FOR: Mr. Fuselier, Mrs. Vital, Ms. Johnson, Mr. Durio, Mr. Potier, Mr. Knott, and Mr. Hebert
OPPOSED: Mr. Foti, Mr. Clay, and Mr. Stelly
The nominations for the offices of President and Vice-President were closed unanimously.
Mr. Richard Potier was elected President and Mr. Steve Fuselier was re-elected Vice-President for the St. Martin Parish School Board for the year 2021.
Board President Richard Potier made the following appointments:
Wanda B. Vital, Finance and Insurance Committee Chairman
Edna Johnson, Education Committee Chairman
Steve Fuselier, Maintenance Committee Chairman
Jimmy Durio, Transportation Committee Chairman
Ms. Adrienne Huval, Coordinator of the St. Martin Parish School-Based Health Centers and School Nurse Program, was recognized as the December Employee of the Month sponsored by Southern Scripts.
The Board Member’s request regarding the discussion of Thomas vs. St. Martin Parish
School Board in public was moved to Executive Session.
On the motion of Mr. Knott, seconded by Ms. Johnson, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following consent agenda items:
a) Minutes of the following meetings:
1) Finance Committee Meeting of December 2, 2020
2) Regular Meeting of December 2, 2020
3) Special Meeting of December 10, 2020
b) Request for waiver of sales tax penalties, as follows:
1) Approval of Waiver
c) Policy revisions for inclusion in the St. Martin Parish School Board Policy Manual:
1) BCAD, Teleconference Participation in Meetings
2) GBRIB, Sick Leave
d) Code of Conduct recommended by LSBA
e) Resolutions: (attached as Exhibit A)
1) Louisiana School Board Recognition Month, January 2021
2) Certifying President and Vice-President to conduct transactions for and on behalf of the School Board
f) Extra pay for Breaux Bridge High’s Assistant Football Coaches (T. Lopex, J. Latiolais, A. Louviere)
On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Clay, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following Finance Committee recommendations:
a) Take over the Early Head Start facility located at 501 S. Martin Luther King Drive, St. Martinville
b) Amendment to the Group Health Plan to be in compliance with Act 32, resultant from Senate Bill No. 15 of the Second Extraordinary Legislative Session of 2020
c) Awarding the Breaux Bridge High School Girls Softball and Boys Baseball Field fence demolition and replacement project to the low bidder, Mike Breaux, Inc., in the amount of $74,240.00. The funding source is Breaux Bridge area bond funds.
d) Awarding the St. Martinville Sr. High Campus Improvements project to the low bidder, Acadiane Renovations LTD, in the amount of $234,950.00
Mr. Russell Champagne with Champagne & Company presented the audit report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.
A motion was made by Ms. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Vital to follow the recommendation of the administration to approve a one-time $500 supplement for all employees in January, 2021.
A substitute motion was made by Mr. Knott and seconded by Mrs. Vital to suspend the May supplement and give professionals $285 and paraprofessionals $235 each month from January – June, 2021.
A second substitute motion was made by Mr. Foti and seconded by Mr. Durio to give a $500 supplement in January to professional and paraprofessional employees, suspend the May supplement, and give $200 to professional and paraprofessional employees each month from February – June, 2021.
Mr. Knott and Mr. Foti withdrew their substitute motions.
The original motion was then voted on and unanimously carried.
Mr. Stelly discussed amending the grading scale to a ten point system for the second semester of the 2020-2021 school year.
The Board Member’s request regarding Poche Prouet Associates fees for the 2013 and 2016 bond will be discussed in Executive Session.
On the motion of Mrs. Vital, seconded by Ms. Johnson, and unanimously carried, the Board went into Executive Session.
On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mrs. Vital, and unanimously carried, the Board came out of Executive Session.
On the motion of Mr. Clay, seconded by Mr. Durio, and carried, the Board approved an Offer of Settlement made by Poche Prouet & Associates relative to the 2013 and 2016 bond programs.
OPPOSED: Mr. Hebert
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. Durio, seconded by Mr. Hebert, and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned.
_____________________________ _________________________________
SECRETARY PRESIDENT