ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

MARCH 3, 2021

BREAUX BRIDGE, LOUISIANA

MINUTES

 

            The St. Martin Parish School Board convened on this day at 4:45 P.M. at the Administrative Office with the following members present:  Messrs. Richard Potier, President, Steve Fuselier, Jimmy Durio, Russel C. Foti, Mike Clay, Frederic Stelly, Floyd Knott, Mark Hebert, Mrs. Wanda B. Vital, and Ms. Edna M. Johnson.  

            ABSENT:          None   

 

            The meeting was called to order by Richard Potier, President.  Mr. Allen Blanchard, Jr., Superintendent, opened the meeting with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance. 

 

            Mrs. Wanda Johnson and Mrs. Denise Angelle, Operations Department Secretaries, were recognized as the February Employees of the Month sponsored by Southern Scripts.

 

            The Board Member’s request to discuss the salary concern was removed from the agenda.

 

            On the motion of Mr. Hebert, 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 February 3, 2021

2)    Regular Meeting of February 3, 2021

b)    Request for permission to call for bids on the following:

1)    Janitorial Products

2)    Grocery

3)    Milk & Milk Related Products

4)    Meat & Frozen Food Products

5)    SN Small Equipment & Supplies

6)    SN Paper & Chemicals

c)     Renewal of board resolution to conduct and negotiate contracts with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Louisiana Clinical Services, United Way of Acadiana, all Medicaid health plans, and all commercial health insurance plans

d)    Allowing only testers to report for ACT testing on March 9 and non-testing students to receive substantive virtual instruction for that single day

e)    Amending the 2020-2021 school calendar to make May 7, 2021 a full day due to the cancellation of the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival

f)      Changes to the job description for the Migrant Recruiter/Homeless Advocate position

g)    Proclamations/Resolutions:  (attached as Exhibit A)

1)    Designating April 4-10, 2021 as National Library Week

2)    Designating April 12-16, 2021 as Violence Prevention Week

3)    Designating April 21-27, 2021 as Attendance Awareness Week

 

On the motion of Mr. Foti, seconded by Mr. Clay, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the following Finance Committee recommendations:

a)    Highest rated bids as the providers for the E-Rate Category 2 equipment and networking for HeadStart Centers managed by the St. Martin Parish School Board, dependent upon grant funding

b)    Accepting the Proposal for Services to Perform 2020 Reapportionment Plan from Geographic Planning & Demographic Services, LLC

c)     Additional IT Technician Position

d)    Job description for tutors for the Real Time Grant

 

On the motion of Mr. Fuselier, seconded by Mr. Foti, and carried, the Board suspended policy and approved to compensate two (2) bookkeepers for their level of education (professional pay) in addition to making the manager of maintenance a supervisor of maintenance and to do a study related to the work load of the Head Start Program (2/3 vote required).

 

            OPPOSED:       Mr. Stelly and Mr. Knott

 

            On the motion of Mr. Clay, seconded by Mr. Foti, and carried, the Board approved the Head Start Policy Council recommendations:

a)    HS Employee Dress Code

b)    School Readiness Program Goals

c)     Coordinated Enrollment Plan

d)    Criteria for Recruitment, Selection, and Enrollment

e)    Job Descriptions/Salary Scales for Head Start RN and LPN, HS Janitor, HS Custodian, HS Floater

f)      HS Supplement Budget

g)    Quorum Criteria

h)    Prorated calculation method by SMPSB Bookkeeping Department using the number of days worked for the remainder of this year to base salaries on prorated annual salary

 

ABSTAINED:            Mr. Hebert

OPPOSED:       Mr. Knott and Mr. Stelly

 

A motion was made by Mr. Hebert and seconded by Mr. Stelly to approve Option 2 as the 2021-2022 School Calendar for St. Martin Parish Schools.

 

            A substitute motion was made by Mrs. Vital to approve Option 3 as the 2021-2022 School Calendar for St. Martin Parish Schools.  The substitute motion died for lack of a second.

 

            The original motion was then voted on and carried.

            OPPOSED:       Mrs. Vital

 

            On the motion of Mrs. Vital, seconded by Mr. Durio, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the lease requested by Mr. Morgan Landry in the Belle River area.

 

            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. Foti, and unanimously carried, the Board came out of Executive Session.

 

On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Clay, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to follow the recommendation of the attorney regarding the proposed settlement in the matter entitled “Joseph Guidroz vs. St. Martin Parish School Board, Docket No. 88354 A, 16th Judicial District, State of Louisiana.

 

            No action was necessary for the following items:

a)    Pending litigation, Thomas v. St. Martin Parish School Board, Civil Action No. 11314 (W.D.La.)

b)    Discussion and action regarding contractual dispute and litigation involving St. Martin, Lafayette, Community Action Agency, Inc.

 

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

 

_____________________________                               _________________________________

SECRETARY                                                                     PRESIDENT