ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

APRIL 14, 2021

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. 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. 

 

            The Board honored the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 Students of the Year.  Parish winners were:

            2019-2020

            Tallulah LeBlanc, Teche Elementary, 5th Grade

            Kayden Price, St. Martinville Jr. High, 8th Grade

            Alec Latiolais, St. Martinville Sr. High, 12th Grade

 

            2020-2021

            Addie Martin, Teche Elementary, 5th Grade

            Albany Demouchet, Parks Middle, 8th Grade

            Bowen Vincent, Breaux Bridge High, 12th Grade

 

            Mrs. Nicole Angelle, Supervisor of Early Childhood and Parent and Family Engagement, was recognized as the March Employee of the Month sponsored by Southern Scripts.

 

            On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Durio, and unanimously carried, consider and/or approve request for waiver of sales tax penalties was added to the consent agenda.

 

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

a)    Minutes of the following meetings:

1)    Finance Committee Meeting of March 3, 2021

2)    Regular Meeting of March 3, 2021

b)    Request for permission to call for bids on School Nutrition Fresh Produce

c)     Recommendation of administration for the acceptance of bids on the following:

1)    Janitorial Products – Economical Janitorial and Veritiv

2)    Tires – Southern Tire Mart in the approximate amount of $55,348.36

3)    Grocery – Lamm Food Service and Lacassgnes

4)    Milk & Milk Related Products – Borden Dairy Company of Louisiana

5)    Meat & Frozen Food Products – Lamm Food Service and Lacassgne’s

6)    SN Small Equipment & Supplies – Economical Janitorial Supply, Lafayette Restaurant, and Sam-Tell & Son, Inc.

7)    SN Paper & Chemicals – Economical Janitorial Supply, Vertiv, and AutoChlor

d)    Request for Industrial Tax Exemption for Cargill, Inc.

e)    New contracts for the Chief Financial Officer, School-Based Health Center Coordinator and The Sales Tax Supervisor

f)      Revisions to the Retirement Policy

g)    Advertising for the sale of alligator tags to the highest bidder for a five (5) year period

h)    Resolution designating May 3-7, 2021 as Teacher Appreciation Week  (attached as Exhibit A)

i)      Request for waiver of sales tax penalties

 

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

a)    Insurance proposal submitted by Brown and Brown of Louisiana, LLC including general liability, property, flood, etc.

b)    Awarding the Department of Administration Generator project to the low bidder, CCD Electrical, with a base bid of $59,995, alternate #1 of $11,600, and alternate #2 of $2,800, for a total bid of $74,395. 

c)     Acceptance of the furniture proposal for Parks Middle Library from Louisiana School Equipment Co., LLC in the amount of $45,578.50.  Funding source is reallocated funds to the Parks area.

d)    Awarding the Teche Reroofing project to the low quoter, Atchafalaya Builders, LLC, in the amount of $70,000.  Funding source is 2016 Contingency funds for Teche Elementary.

e)    Allocating $100,000 from 2013 Parishwide Funds for doors & hardware

f)      Increasing the hourly wage to $30/hour for after school tutoring and summer learning programs funded by ESSER I, II or III

 

On the motion of Mr. Foti, seconded by Mr. Durio, and unanimously carried, the Board approved to adopt the millage rates for the tax year 2021.

 

            The following items were removed from the agenda:

a)    Consider and/or approve artificial turf for the infield of the Breaux Bridge High School baseball field

b)    Consider and/or approve appointing Albert Menard as the Maintenance Manager in the Maintenance Department

 

On the motion of Mr. Knott, seconded by Mr. Foti, and unanimously carried, the Board approved donating unused or discarded welding equipment to Father Champagne for his continuing education programs.

 

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

a)    HS Budget Amendment

b)    HS Supplement Budget

c)     Recommendations for Early Head Start Teachers at Cecilia Head Start Academy

d)    Recommendations for Janitors at Breaux Bridge Head Start Academy, Cecilia Head Start Academy, St. Martinville Early Head Start Academy

e)    Recommendation for Custodian at St. Martinville Head Start Academy and Head Start Admin Building

f)      Passenger Seat Safety Program

g)    Immunization Policy

h)    Attendance Policy

i)      Policy/Procedure Manuals for Head Start Academy Program (Bulleting 137 Licensing requirements)

j)      Family Handbook

 

RECUSED:       Mr. Potier

 

Board Member Floyd Knott discussed changing the names for HeadStart Schools.

 

            The Board Member’s request to increase all employees’ salaries by 1% was postponed.

 

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

 

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

 

            On the motion of Mr. Foti, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the recommendation of the administration regarding the employee salary concern.

 

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. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned.

 

_____________________________                               _________________________________

SECRETARY                                                                    PRESIDENT