Notice

Publication Date

2022-11-21

Subcategory

Miscellaneous Notices

8079280 11/21/22

Regular School Board Meeting

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

1. Opening of Meeting

Procedural: A. Call to Order

Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM

Procedural: B. Invocation by Mr. Henry J. Lafont, Jr., District 12

Procedural: C. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

Procedural: D. Roll Call

Members present

Tina Babin, Robin A Bell, Cheryl Thomas, Marian Fertitta, Richard J Bouterie, Dr Dennis Guillot (entered 6:09 p.m), Valerie Bourgeois, Brenda Dardar-Robichaux, Randy Schouest, Barry Plaisance, Clyde Duplantis, Henry Lafont, Al Archer, Ray Bernard, Harold J Adams

Others present

Kenny Delcambre, Jimi Encalade, Dean Guidry, Tiffany Guy, Ann Hodson, Daphne Jones, Robby Lee, Evan Plaisance, Jennifer Tobias

2. Awards/Recognition

A. Introduce New Administrator

W. S. Lafargue Elementary School: Celeste Plaisance, Assistant Principal

B. LPSD Student, Staff, and Group Recognitions

3. Approval of Board Consent Agenda

Action (Consent): A. Approval of Board Consent Agenda Items

Motion to approve board consent agenda items

Motion by Marian Fertitta, second by Randy Schouest.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Yea: Tina Babin, Robin A Bell, Cheryl Thomas, Marian Fertitta, Richard J Bouterie, Dr Dennis Guillot, Valerie Bourgeois, Brenda Dardar-Robichaux, Randy Schouest, Barry Plaisance, Clyde Duplantis, Henry Lafont, Al Archer, Ray Bernard, Harold J Adams

Action (Consent), Minutes: B. Minutes of Regular Board Meeting held Wednesday, October 5, 2022

4. Approval of Finance Committee Recommendations, as per meeting held Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Action: A. To award the lowest most responsible bidder, CNB Computers, for refurbished laptop and desktop computers.

To award the lowest most responsible bidder, CNB Computers, for refurbished laptop and desktop computers.

Motion by Richard J Bouterie, second by Dr Dennis Guillot.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Action: B. To adopt a resolution ordering and calling special elections to be held in (i) the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana, for school purposes, to authorize the levy of a sales and use tax therein and (ii) Consolidated School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana, to authorize the rededication and extension of an ad valorem tax therein; making application to the State Bond Commission; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

RESOLUTION

A resolution ordering and calling special elections to be held in (i) the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana, for school purposes, to authorize the levy of a sales and use tax therein and (ii) Consolidated School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana, to authorize the rededication and extension of an ad valorem tax therein; making application to the State Bond Commission; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

BE IT RESOLVED by the Parish School Board of the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of (i) the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana, for school purposes and (ii) Consolidated School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana (the "Parish and District"), that:

SECTION 1. Election Call. Subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission, and under the authority conferred by the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974, including Article VI, Sections 29 and Article VIII, Section 13(C) Third thereof, the applicable provisions of the Louisiana Election Code, and other constitutional and statutory authority, special elections are hereby called and ordered to be held in the Parish and District on SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2023, between the hours of seven o'clock (7:00) a.m. and eight o'clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 18:541, and at the said elections there shall be submitted to all registered voters qualified and entitled to vote at the said elections under the Constitution and laws of this State and the Constitution of the United States, the following propositions, to-wit:

CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1 PROPOSITION (MILLAGE REDEDICATION & EXTENSION)

Shall Consolidated School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana (the District), be authorized to rededicate and extend the levy and collection of a special tax of four (4) mills (the Tax) originally approved by voters on May 2, 2015 on all property subject to taxation within the District (an estimated $3,750,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2023 and ending with the year 2032, for the purpose of providing additional support to public elementary and secondary schools in the District, in particular to fund salaries and benefits of employees in the public school system within the parishwide jurisdiction of the District and to fund the Districts comprehensive safety and security program for students and staff (including, but not limited to, creating single-point entry at schools, additional security cameras, alarm systems, capital improvements and School Resource Officers, and staff to address bullying/cyberbullying and student/related services)?

PARISHWIDE PROPOSITION (SALES TAX)

Shall the Lafourche Parish School Board (the School Board), be authorized to levy and collect a sales and use tax of 0.40% (the Tax) in accordance with Louisiana law, commencing July 1, 2023 and continuing in perpetuity (an estimated $7,000,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from levy of the Tax for an entire year), with the proceeds of the Tax to be dedicated and used solely to fund salaries and benefits for employees of the School Board, such authorization to be contingent upon voter approval of the 0.30% reduced sales and use tax proposition of Sales Tax District No. 4 of the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana, presented contemporaneously herewith?

SECTION 2. Publication of Notice of Elections. A Notice of Special Elections shall be published in the official journal of the School Board once a week for four consecutive weeks, with the first publication to be made not less than forty-five (45) days nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the elections, which Notice shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as "Exhibit A" and incorporated herein by reference the same as if it were set forth herein in full.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the publication of the Notice of Elections, the Secretary of the Governing Authority is authorized and directed to make any amendments to the foregoing propositions that may be required to comply with any state or federal regulatory agencies.

SECTION 3. Canvass. This Governing Authority shall meet at its regular meeting place, the Parish School Board Office, Board Room, 805 E. Seventh Street, Thibodaux, Louisiana, on WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2023, at SIX O'CLOCK (6:00) P.M., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the said special elections.

SECTION 4. Polling Places. The polling places for the precincts set forth in the Parish and District are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said elections, and the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively, will be the same persons as those designated in accordance with law.

SECTION 5. Election Commissioners; Voting Machines. The officers designated to serve as Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners pursuant to Section 4 hereof, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accordance with La. R.S. 18:1287, shall hold the said special elections as herein provided, and shall make due returns of said elections for the meeting of the Governing Authority to be held as provided in Section 3 hereof. All registered voters in the Parish and District will be entitled to vote at the special elections, and voting machines shall be used.

SECTION 6. Authorization of Officers. The Secretary of the Governing Authority is hereby empowered, authorized and directed to arrange for and to furnish to said election officers in ample time for the holding of said elections, the necessary equipment, forms and other paraphernalia essential to the proper holding of said elections and the President and/or Secretary of the Governing Authority are further authorized, empowered and directed to take any and all further action required by State and/or Federal law to arrange for the elections.

SECTION 7. Furnishing Election Call to Election Officials. Certified copies of this resolution shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State, the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Parish Custodian of Voting Machines of Lafourche and the Registrar of Voters of Lafourche, as notification of the special elections, in order that each may prepare for said elections and perform their respective functions as required by law. 3

SECTION 8. Application to State Bond Commission. Application is made to the State Bond Commission for consent and authority to hold the special elections as herein provided, and in the event said elections carry for further consent and authority to continue to levy and collect the special tax and the sales and use tax provided for therein.

A certified copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to the State Bond Commission on behalf of this Governing Authority, together with a letter requesting the prompt consideration and approval of this application.

To adopt a resolution ordering and calling special elections to be held in (i) the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana, for school purposes, to authorize the levy of a sales and use tax therein and (ii) Consolidated School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana, to authorize the rededication and extension of an ad valorem tax therein; making application to the State Bond Commission; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

Motion by Richard J Bouterie, second by Randy Schouest.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

5. Approval of Land & Facilities Management Committee Recommendations, as per meeting held Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Action: A. To accept a change order request for 8 additional days to the new Thibodaux Middle School contract due to inclement weather for the month of September, 2022.

To accept a change order request for 8 additional days to the new Thibodaux Middle School contract due to inclement weather for the month of September, 2022.

Motion by Barry Plaisance, second by Valerie Bourgeois.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Action: B. To accept a change order request to demolish and rebuild the Canopy at Larose/Cut Off Middle School for the total amount of $74,521.00.

To approve a change order request to demolish and rebuild the Canopy at Larose/Cut Off Middle School for the total amount of $74,521.00.

Motion by Barry Plaisance, second by Henry Lafont.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Action: C. To accept a change order request for Security Upgrade Phase 6 for an additional $945.00 for cost of materials.

To approve a change order for additional $945.00 for cost of paint and waterproofing materials, and bricks for bullet resistive receptionist window.

Motion by Barry Plaisance, second by Randy Schouest.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Action: D. To accept the bid of $550.00 annually from Rowdy Danos for camp-site lease on Section 16, Township 19S, Range 22E (Bayou Raphael).

To accept the bid of $550.00 annually from Rowdy Danos for camp-site lease on Section 16, Township 19S, Range 22E (Bayou Raphael).

Motion by Barry Plaisance, second by Robin A Bell.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Action: E. To accept the bid of $500.00 annually from KRHC, L.L.C. for camp-site lease on Section 16, Township 19S, Range 23E (Kings Ridge).

To accept the bid of $500.00 annually from KRHC, L.L.C. for camp-site lease on Section 16, Township 19S, Range 23E (Kings Ridge).

Motion by Barry Plaisance, second by Tina Babin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Action: F. To accept the low bid from Freetown Builders, LLC in the amount of $597,000.00 for the Hurricane Ida Permanent Repairs to W.S. Lafargue Elementary School.

To accept the low bid from Freetown Builders, LLC in the amount of $597,000.00 for the Hurricane Ida Permanent Repairs to W.S. Lafargue Elementary School.

Motion by Barry Plaisance, second by Marian Fertitta.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Action: G. To accept the low bid from Tasch, LLC in the amount of $440,000.00 with and Alternate No. 1 in the amount of $40,000.00 for Hurricane Ida Repairs for The Professional Learning Center and Tip Central.

To accept the low bid from Tasch, LLC in the amount of $440,000.00 with and Alternate No. 1 in the amount of $40,000.00 for Hurricane Ida Repairs for The Professional Learning Center and Tip Central.

Motion by Barry Plaisance, second by Henry Lafont.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Action: H. To accept the low bid from Foret Contracting Group in the amount of $103,500.00 for the Vertical Lift at Thibodaux Elementary School.

To accept the low bid from Foret Contracting Group in the amount of $103,500.00 for the Vertical Lift at Thibodaux Elementary School.

Motion by Barry Plaisance, second by Randy Schouest.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

6. New Business

Action: A. To consider approving the 2022-2023 Personnel Evaluation Program.

To approve the 2022-2023 Personnel Evaluation Program.

Motion by Valerie Bourgeois, second by Harold J Adams.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Action: B. To consider a request from Hi-5 to waive rental fees for the use of the Thibodaux High School Auditorium for the "Get H.Y.P.E." event.

To approve a request from Hi-5 to waive rental fees for the use of the Thibodaux High School Auditorium for the "Get H.Y.P.E." event.

Motion by Dr Dennis Guillot, second by Tina Babin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Action: C. To consider a request from LA6 Volleyball League to waive the fees for the use of the Bayou Blue Middle School Gymnasium.

To approve a request from LA6 Volleyball League to waive the fees for the use of the Bayou Blue Middle School Gymnasium for practice.

(LA6 will offer a one time donation of $1200)

Motion by Valerie Bourgeois, second by Barry Plaisance.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Abstain: Harold J Adams

Action: D. To consider a change order request at the new Thibodaux Middle School to change the existing fiberglass insulation located in the Gym areas of the building to a Closed-cell Spray Foam insulation in the amount of $74,796.00.

To approve a change order request at the new Thibodaux Middle School to change the existing fiberglass insulation located in the Gym areas of the building to a Closed-cell Spray Foam insulation in the amount of $74,796.00.

Motion by Randy Schouest, second by Tina Babin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Action: E. To review addendum-2 to the Standard Form of Agreement between Lafourche Parish School Board and Freetown Builders, LLC and take appropriate action.

To review addendum-2 to the Standard Form of Agreement between Lafourche Parish School Board and Freetown Builders, LLC and to accept the updated terms.

Motion by Barry Plaisance, second by Harold J Adams.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Action: F. To consider adopting a Resolution expressing support for the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents (LASS) proposal to reimagine the Louisiana public school accountability system and urge LA Department of Education State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley, and the Board of Secondary and Elementary Education (BESE) to adopt their proposal instead of the current proposal presented by the BESE Accountability Working Group in August 2022, and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

SUPPORT OF LASS ACCOUNTABILTIY PROPOSAL

A Resolution expressing support for the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents (LASS) proposal to reimagine the Louisiana public school accountability system and urge LA Department of Education State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley, and the Board of Secondary and Elementary Education (BESE) to adopt their proposal instead of the current proposal presented by the BESE Accountability Working Group in August 2022, and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

WHEREAS, last year the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education began conducting an Accountability Working Group to propose changes to the public education accountability system; WHEREAS, those meetings sought and accepted very little input from public education stakeholders such as teachers, superintendents and school boards, but rather focused primarily on the input from the LA Department of Education (LDOE) and a few self-proclaimed education reform organizations, some led by former LDOE staff from the Supt. John White administration;

WHEREAS, the publicly stated goal of the Accountability Working Group was to lower the number of high schools earning letter grades of A or B under the current system that has, in its core principles, been in place since the John White administration;

WHEREAS, the LDOE and the self-proclaimed reformers used the mantra that Louisiana high schools and school boards were gaming the system to inflate high school letter grades;

WHEREAS, the evidence they cited was: 1. the proportion of A & B high schools was higher than the proportion of A & B elementary schools, and those proportions should be the same; and 2. TOPS bound high school students were also taking career and technical classes and the WorkKeys exam and those students should not be given that choice.

WHEREAS, the result was a proposal that reverse engineered the high school accountability formula to deny points for high school students merely being proficient in high school content and graduating on time;

WHEREAS, the reverse engineered formula was then overly weighted on high school students doing post-secondary (high school) work as the only way for a high school to earn an A;

WHEREAS, the reversed engineered formula would result in only a hand-full of select academic admissions high schools earning an A;

WHEREAS, when BESE undertook the new formula at its August meeting it faced significant push back that the proposal was bad for students, parents, teachers, and communities; WHEREAS, in response to the opposition, and despite the chiding of the self-proclaimed reformers BESE urged the LDOE to go back and seek more input from educators;

WHEREAS, the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents (LASS), with the assistance of the Louisiana School Boards Association (LSBA), created a proposal to reimagine and completely rework the defective accountability system, not just for High School but also for Elementary and Middle School; WHEREAS, the LASS Accountability proposal focuses on student proficiency of grade level content;

WHEREAS, the LASS Accountability proposal uses a pre- and post-test model similar to that being successfully used in Florida, where in students are tested in the beginning of the year and then at the end of the year to evidence how far that individual student grew toward proficiency of that grade level content;

WHEREAS, the LASS Accountability proposal aligns TOPS, WorkKeys and, for the first time ever, ASVAB, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, so that whether High School graduates move on to college or a skilled trade or the military, they will all be considered successful.

WHEREAS, the LASS Accountability proposal uses a simple 100 point grading scale, familiar to students, parents, and the general public instead of the arbitrary 200, 150 and newly proposed 125 point scales that have been the hallmark of the past and current accountability system;

WHEREAS, the LASS Accountability proposal also limits testing to that mandated by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), noting that Louisiana over-tests our students;

WHEREAS, the LASS Accountability proposal also recognizes successes that are ignored in the current and BESE proposed system: Special Education students learning the basic life and commercial skills that will allow them to enter the workplace, students who continue to strive and earn their high school diploma beyond the expected 4-year window;

WHEREAS, the LASS Accountability proposal has resisted running simulations to see what the letter grade distribution would be, as the system was designed to focus on student achievement and not to reverse engineer a result.

THEREFORE, the Lafourche Parish School Board does hereby endorse and express its support for the LASS Accountability proposal;

FURTHER, the Lafourche Parish School Board urges the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to set the discussion and consideration of the LASS Accountability proposal on the October agenda of the BESE Academic Goals and Instructional Improvement Committee and the full BESE meeting set for October 10 and 11, 2022, respectively.

FURTHER, the Lafourche Parish School Board urges the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and specifically BESE Member, Mrs. Sandy Holloway, to support the adoption of the LASS Accountability proposal and take such actions as are necessary to move toward implementation of the proposal.

FINALLY, the Lafourche Parish School Board directs the Superintendent of the Lafourche School System to deliver a certified copy of this Resolution to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, each elected and appointed member thereof, Superintendent Cade Brumley, Governor John Bel Edwards, Senator Cleo Fields, Representative Lance Harris, and each member of the Legislative delegation of Lafourche Parish.

To adopt a Resolution expressing support for the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents (LASS) proposal to reimagine the Louisiana public school accountability system and urge LA Department of Education State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley, and the Board of Secondary and Elementary Education (BESE) to adopt their proposal instead of the current proposal presented by the BESE Accountability Working Group in August 2022, and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

Motion by Dr Dennis Guillot, second by Valerie Bourgeois.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

7. Memorial Resolutions

Action: A. Ms. Patti Mims - Retired Teacher

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, has seen fit to summon to eternal rest the spirit and soul of Ms. Patti Mims a retired teacher; and

WHEREAS, her life was a record of service faithfully performed, during which she worked in Lafourche Parish schools for a total of thirty-eight years, having first been employed on August 26, 1960; as a teacher at Thibodaux Elementary School. Ms. Mims retired on June 3, 1998; and

WHEREAS, her dedicated contributions in the field of education to the people of this parish were greatly appreciated by all who knew her; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Lafourche Parish School Board, express our sorrow at the loss sustained by the death of a friend and former employee and extend to the members of her family our deepest sympathy, and bid them take consolation in the thought that her soul has been taken unto the bosom of our Merciful Savior; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this tribute of respect to the memory of Ms. Patti Mims be recorded on a special page of our minute book and that a copy thereof be presented to her family as evidence of our sympathy for them and as a reminder of our attachment to her in life and memory of her in death.

Action: B. Ms. Myra St. Pierre - Retired Teacher

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, has seen fit to summon to eternal rest the spirit and soul of Ms. Myra St. Pierre a retired teacher; and WHEREAS, her life was a record of service faithfully performed, during which she worked in Lafourche Parish schools for a total of twenty-three and one-half years, having first been employed on January 3, 1977; as a teacher at Golden Meadow Middle School. On August 22, 1985, Ms. St. Pierre transferred to Golden Meadow Upper Elementary School where she remained until her retirement on May 23, 2000; and

WHEREAS, her dedicated contributions in the field of education to the people of this parish were greatly appreciated by all who knew her; now, therefore,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this tribute of respect to the memory of Ms. Myra St. Pierre be recorded on a special page of our minute book and that a copy thereof be presented to her family as evidence of our sympathy for them and as a reminder of our attachment to her in life and memory of her in death.

Action: C. Mr. Claude LeCompte - Former School Board Member

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, has seen fit to summon to eternal rest the spirit and soul of Mr. Claude LeCompte, a former member of the Lafourche Parish School Board; and WHEREAS, his life was a record of service faithfully performed, during which he was elected to serve on the Lafourche Parish School Board. Mr. LeCompte began his term on January 1, 1983 and served a 4 year term which ended on December 31, 1986.

WHEREAS, his dedicated contributions in the field of education to the people of this parish were greatly appreciated by all who knew him; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Lafourche Parish School Board, express our sorrow at the loss sustained by the death of a friend and former board member and extend to the members of his family our deepest sympathy, and bid them take consolation in the thought that his soul has been taken unto the bosom of our Merciful Savior; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this tribute of respect to the memory of Mr. Claude LeCompte be recorded on a special page of our minute book and that a copy thereof be presented to his family as evidence of our sympathy for them and as a reminder of our attachment to him in life and memory of him in death.

8. Superintendent's Update

Information: A. To receive an update from Superintendent Martin on the current operations within the district.

Superintendent Martin provided a brief update on the current operations throughout the district.

9. Tentative Dates of Future Meetings

Information: A. Policy & Procedure Committee, Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Information: B. Transportation Committee, Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Information: C. Academics Committee, Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Information: D. Insurance Committee, Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Information: E. Finance Committee, Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Information: F. Land & Facilities Management Committee, Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Information: G. Advisory Committee, Monday, December 5, 2022

Information: H. Regular Board Meeting, Wednesday, December 7, 2022

10. Adjournment

Procedural: A. Adjourn the Meeting

The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

/s/ Ray C. Bernard, President

/s/ Jarod W. Martin, Secretary