ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

MAY 5, 2021

BREAUX BRIDGE, LOUISIANA

MINUTES

            The St. Martin Parish School Board convened on this day at 4:30 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. 

            Ms. Rhonda Broussard, Curriculum Coordinator at Cecilia Primary, was recognized as the April Employee of the Month sponsored by Southern Scripts.  

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

a)    Minutes of the following meetings:

1)    Finance Committee Meeting of April 14, 2021

2)    Regular Meeting of April 14, 2021

b)    Request for permission to call for bids on School Nutrition Equipment (Phase II)

c)     Highest bid for the sale of alligator tags and alligator eggs from Mr. Micah Meche

d)    Letter of Assurance of Continued Employment as envisioned by ACT 745 of 1977

e)    ESports teams at the high school level

f)      New contract with MTS/LGH Therapy Services LLC

g)    Amending contract between Dr. Ben Degatur/St. Martin Hospital and St. Martin Parish School-Based Health Centers to add a twelfth month for the 2020-2021 school year

h)    Recommendations for the Virtual Academic Summer School professionals

i)      Recommendation to hire a paraprofessional at the Virtual Learning Center

j)      Advertisement of the Extended School Year Services (ESYS) Summer of 2021

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

a)    Combining remaining 2016 construction and contingency funds with reallocated area funds

b)    Awarding the tree trimming and tree removal project to the low quoters, Acadian Tree Service, Inc. and Trees Unlimited, with a total cost of $61,750

c)     A one-time supplement to employees from ESSER funds in the amount of $1500 for professionals and paraprofessionals, contingent upon the Department of Education’s approval

d)    Increasing the hourly wage for after school tutoring and summer learning programs funded by ESSER I, II or III

e)    The purchase of two (2) vehicles for the IT Department.  The cost of the vehicle is $22,822, with a total cost of $45,644.  The vehicles will be funded through the IT 2020-2021 budget.

f)      The Student Accident Insurance renewal proposal in the amount of $127,187 submitted by Bollinger Specialty Group

g)    Offering an Aflac Short Term Disability Policy

A motion was made by Mr. Durio and seconded by Mr. Clay to approve the artificial turf for the infield of the Breaux Bridge High School baseball field.  The motion was then voted on and failed, as follows:

            FOR:    Mr. Durio, Mr. Clay, and Mr. Potier

            OPPOSED:       Mr. Fuselier, Mrs. Vital, Ms. Johnson, Mr. Foti, Mr. Stelly, and Mr. Hebert

ABSTAINED:          Mr. Knott

On the motion of Mr. Foti, seconded by Mr. Hebert, and unanimously carried, the Board approved advertising for the Sales Tax Bookkeeper position that is currently vacant due to medical leave and pending retirement.

            On the motion of Mr. Foti, seconded by Mr. Fuselier, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the relocation plan proposal for St. Martinville Head Start Academy.

            On the motion of Mr. Fuselier, seconded by Mr. Foti, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the HeadStart COLA Supplement.

            On the motion of Mr. Hebert, seconded by Mr. Stelly, and unanimously carried, the Board Member’s request for waiver of liability insurance and $200 deposit for the New Day Basketball Team was tabled until the next meeting.

            The Board discussed the item regarding the left over maintenance funds remaining at the schools and not going back into the General Fund.  

            On the motion of Mrs. Vital, seconded by Mr. Knott, and carried, the Board approved amending or reclassifying Albert Menard’s job description from Supplies/Equipment Warehouseman to Maintenance Foreman.

            FOR:    Mrs. Vital, Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Durio, Mr. Clay, and Mr. Potier

            OPPOSED:       Mr. Foti, Mr. Stelly, and Mr. Hebert

            ABSTAINED:          Mr. Fuselier and Mr. Knott

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

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

No action was necessary for the following items discussed in Executive Session:

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

b)    Ongoing dispute with St. Martin Iberia Lafayette Community Action Agency

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

_____________________________                               _________________________________

SECRETARY                                                                    PRESIDENT