2016-11-01

PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF EAST FELICIANA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 1, 2016

October 31, 2016

REVISED

PROPOSED AGENDA FOR

EAST FELICIANA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Central Office Board Room, located at

12732 Silliman Street, Town of Clinton, Louisiana

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016 - 5:00 P.M.

1. Call to order

2. Roll Call

3. Approval of the agenda

4. Approval of the minutes of October 4, 2016 regular meeting

5. Special Recognitions

A. Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent presentation Volunteer of Month, October, 2016

B. Presentation of Students scoring Advanced on LEAP, Excellent on EOC and Highest ACT Scorers

C. Ronald R. Thompson, Board Member presentation on Veterans

6. Communications/Reports

Expression of sympathy to the Family of Robert Rainer, Sales Tax Attorney, in his passing on Sunday, October 9, 2016

A. Sales Tax Collections Report

B. Superintendent's Report

(1) Receive authorization for minute entry to reflect La. Board of Ethics Training Certificate, as follows:

(a) Mitchell Wayne Harrell Dated: October 22, 2016

(b) Michael Ray Bradford Dated: October 28, 2016

(2) Receive authorization for minute entry to reflect La. Board of Ethics Campaign Finance Disclosure Certificate, as follows:

(a) Ronald R. Thompson Dated: October 27, 2016

(3) Receive 2017 LSBA Annual Conference information scheduled for February 9^th - 11^th, 2017 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Two Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

(4) Receive 2017 NSBA Annual Conference information scheduled for March 25^th - 27^th, 2017, Denver, Colorado. Additionally, request authorization for out-of-state travel by Board Members and/or Superintendent Sam

(5) Request Board authorization for Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent, to use his discretion on behalf of the East Feliciana Parish School Board; in receipt and distribution of various gift card donations from the Orleans Parish School Board Superintendent, Henderson Lewis, Jr., Ph.D., Students, Parents and Staffers designated to East Feliciana Parish School Board Employees and Staff Members impacted by the Historic Flood of August, 2016.

(6) Receive announcement from Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent of Families Helping Families In-services being held at the East Feliciana Professional Learning Center, 9414 Plank Road, Clinton, LA, entitled “Communicating with your Child’s Teacher” scheduled for Monday, November 7^th, 2016 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. and “ Pathways to Graduation for Students with Disabilities” scheduled for Wednesday, January 11, 2017 from 10 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

(7) Receive update regarding Capital Area United Way Grants from DeShonda Coleman, Supervisor

(8) Receive presentation from Patrice Pujol, President, National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) on TIF 5 Grant Partner East Feliciana Parish School District

(9) Personnel Matters (FOR INFORMATION ONLY)

(10) Operations and Maintenance Report (FOR INFORMATION ONLY)

7. Old Business

A. Receive and review written request from William “Bill” Dart, Agent, Dart Insurance Agency to be declared “Agent of Record” for the East Feliciana Parish School Board

8. New Business

A. Policy Review Committee Report

B. Finance Committee Report

C. Adoption of 2016-2017 Pupil Progression Plan submitted by Dr. Kim Germany, Executive Director and Latrice Smith, Director

D. Receive presentation from Drew Talbot, Sales Tax Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of La. R.S. 42:19, matters not included on the agenda posted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting will not be considered unless the school board members present vote unanimously to add the item to the agenda.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance, please contact Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent at (225) 683-8277, describing the assistance that is necessary.

There were present: School Board Members Rhonda Matthews, Richard Terrell, Ronald R. Thompson, Joyce A. Kent, Michael Bradford, Mitchell Harrell, Paul Kent, Timothy Corcoran, Melvin L. Hollins, Elizabeth Dawson and Derald Spears, Sr. Board Member absent: Edward Brooks, Jr. Other Attendees: Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent, Irma Lee Bendily, Confidential Asst., Scott Lazarone, C.P.A., Representative of Faulk & Winkler LLC and William “Bill” Dart, Agent, Dart Insurance Agency.

Board President Michael Ray Bradford opened and chaired the meeting and asked Board Member Derald Spears, Sr., to open the meeting with prayer. Board President Bradford then lead reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag in unison.

The Parish School Board of the Parish of East Feliciana, State of Louisiana, was duly convened as the governing authority of said Parish for school purposes by Michael Ray Bradford, Board President, who announced the purposes of said meeting in accordance with the aforesaid written notice thereof. Board President Bradford stated the Board was ready for transaction of business.

Item 2. Board President Bradford called for an attendance roll call, as follows:

Present: Matthews, Terrell, Thompson, J. Kent, Bradford, Harrell, P. Kent, Corcoran, Hollins, Dawson and Spears

Absent: E. Brooks, Jr.

Item 3. Board President Bradford called for a motion to approve the above agenda.

Motion by Mr. P. Kent to approve the above revised agenda, including Old Business as Item 7.B. Test Scores and School Ranking Grades.

Motion seconded by Mrs. J. Kent.

Board President Bradford related that to add an item to the agenda, it takes all votes to approve or vote for it. Okay. Are we good. Board President Bradford proceeded with a roll-call vote as follows:

Yeas:

Nays: Matthews

Abstained from voting:

Absent and not voting: Brooks

Board President Bradford related the original motion failed and called for a substitute motion to approve the above revisedagenda.

Motion by Mrs. Joyce Kent, seconded by Mrs. Dawson to approve the above revised agenda.

Board President Bradford then asked for any public questions or comments before a vote is taken on this motion.

Board Member P. Kent questioned are you sure it takes the whole Board to be unanimous?

Board President Bradford related yes, to add an item to it, you have to call a week before for an item, but to add an item during the meeting, it takes the full Board...

Vice-President Harrell related right.

Board Member Dawson related yes.

Board President Bradford then proceeded with the vote on the original agenda. All yeas. The motion carried. Absent: E. Brooks, Jr.

Board Member P. Kent then asked the Superintendent to make a note to put it on the Agenda for next month.

Board President Bradford related that is fine.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related sure.

Board Member P. Kent related thank you.

Item 4. Motion by Mr. Terrell, seconded by Mrs. J. Kent, to approve the minutes of October 4, 2016 regular meeting, as published in the official journal.

Board President Bradford then asked for any public questions or comments before a vote is taken on this motion. Receiving none, Board President Bradford then proceeded with the vote. All yeas. The motion carried. Absent: E. Brooks, Jr.

Items 5.A. Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related to Board Members present that we have our Special Recognitions tonight and I want to start with Item 5.A. He related we have a young man who is a former member of the, I shouldn’t say of the East Feliciana Community; but he is a member of the East Feliciana Community who really stepped up to the plate. As all of your know we have a shortage of Teachers in particular Areas, in particular we have a shortage of Music Teachers and at the beginning of this School Year, the Music Teacher or Band Director that was hired, obviously did not stay with us very long and we had someone from the Community who stepped up and said I will serve as your Band Director in a Volunteer capacity, full-time. And obviously, not knowing who he was and his ability, if you have been to a Football Game recently, you will see that we have a very active Band. And I am very proud of our Band and very proud of this young man for the work that he has done and I am going to say single handedly for the last few weeks. So without out further a due, I would like to have Mr. Derrick Jackson stand and we give him applause for his work. After the applause subsided, Superintendent Sam continued and Mr. Jackson I want to personally thank you on behalf of this Board and on behalf of the Community for all of the services that you have provided to, or that you are providing and will continue to provide as long as I am Superintendent.

Mr. Derrick Jackson related you are welcome.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related thank you Mr. Jackson.

Board President Bradford related thank you sir.

Item 5.B. Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent turned the floor over to Dr. Kim Germany for her presentation.

Dr. Kim Germany, Executive Director then presented Board Members, Superintendent Sam and Audience the Student scoring Advanced on LEAP, Excellent on EOC and Highest ACT Scores. Each School Administrator then presented their Students and their Parent who are in attendance this evening with Certificates and Medals for their Academic Achievements, as follows:

Clinton Elementary 2

Jackson Elementary 2

Slaughter Elementary 11

East Feliciana Middle School 2

Slaughter Community Charter School 24

East Feliciana High School 12

Item 5.C. Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Board Member Ronald R. Thompson.

Board Member Ronald R. Thompson asked Board Member Beth Dawson to join him at the podium. He related to Board Members present that he had asked Carlos, last week at one of our Committee Meetings, if I could present something about Veterans’ since Veterans’ Day is Friday week I believe, I know it is on November 11^th and the first person I thought of one of the biggest Veterans’ Supporters that we have is Beth, my fellow Board Member. And secondly, having served in the Military and many of us have and many of us have not; it is not about Veterans’ it is about Country. Because if you are a Veteran, you are a Veteran of the Country that you Serve and so I put together a little homily mainly for Pam Lockwoods’ Father in Slaughter, Brother Harvey Lockwood who was wounded in WWII in the Pacific and Beths’ Father who was in the Pacific also and part of the Bataan, did I say it right?

Board Member Dawson related that is right.

Board Member Thompson continued so this is mine and Beths’ presentation to honor our Veterans for Veterans’ Day:

“I am a Veteran, at 11:00 Hours on November the 11^th our 11^th Month in 1918, at the end of World War I an Armistice was signed between the Allied Nations and Germany. PEACE! I am a Veteran. Each day I am thankful for the service of all Veterans. I am a Veteran. My Oath and my obligation to defend and support the U.S. Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, never ends. I am a Veteran. I have faith and trust in the United States of America, my God, my Country and my Government. I am a Veteran. My hope, my duty is the preservation of Liberty and Justice for all in this greatest Nation on Earth. I am a Veteran. All Veterans love Peace and our Country. God loves us all and his World. I am a Veteran so help me God. Thank you.”

Item 6. Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related to Board Members present the expressions of sympathy to the Family of Robert Rainer, Sales Tax Attorney, I should say long time Sales Tax Attorney for East Feliciana Public Schools; in his passing on Sunday, October 9, 2016.

Board President Bradford then called for a moment of silence. Amen.

Item 6.A. Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent turned the floor over to Scott Lazarone, C.P.A., Representative of Faulk & Winkler LLC.

Scott Lazarone, C.P.A., Representative of Faulk & Winkler LLC related good evening, so you have the Sales Collection Report in front of you. As you can see for the Month of September, 2016, collections a little over $284,016.81, a pretty big increase from where you were last September, a little over $30,000.00 or about 12½%. Looking at year-to-date amounts you are just under $726,000.00 year-to-date, compared to about $718,000.00 at this point last year, so you are up about $8,000.00 there year-to-date from where you were at this point last year. Looking at where you are versus Budget, we did have an increase this year in the Budget, from $2.9 to $3.0 Million and you are at about 24% of Total Budget. So really tracking right along with where should be against Budget, so that is certainly positive.

Board President Bradford questioned what caused the increase?

C.P.A. Lazarone related if you look at it, it is sort of been everywhere, I mean if you look at back in July you were down $20,000.00 and then last month you were down $5,000.00 and now you up $30,000.00, so it is sort of hard to say. If you look at the last few years, none of the Months have really been all that consistent.

Board Member P. Kent related Mr. Scott, if it is that good this Month, maybe you need to come back and leave Tommy somewhere else!

C.P.A. Lazarone related I will let him know that you said that!

Board President Bradford called for any more questions. Receiving none, Board President thanked C.P.A. Lazarone and proceeded with the Agenda.

Items 6.B.(1) and 6.B.(2) Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related to Board Members present if it is the Boards pleasure to go over Items 6.B.(1) and 6.B.(2), both of those Items as you can see are relative to the Board of Ethics Training Certificates.

Motion by Mr. Terrell, seconded by Mrs. J. Kent to authorize minutes entries as set out below:

(1) Receive authorization for minute entry to reflect La. Board of Ethics Training Certificate, as follows:

(a) Mitchell Wayne Harrell Dated: October 22, 2016

(b) Michael Ray Bradford Dated: October 28, 2016

(2) Receive authorization for minute entry to reflect La. Board of Ethics Campaign Finance Disclosure Certificate, as follows:

(a) Ronald R. Thompson Dated: October 27, 2016

Items 6.B.(3) and 6.B.(4) Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related to Board Members present that Items 6.B.(3) and 6.B.(4), both of those Items are related to conferences:

(3) Receive 2017 LSBA Annual Conference information scheduled for February 9^th - 11^th, 2017 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Two Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

He noted that Mrs. Bendily has put on your or I should say near your area, information regarding whether or not you are going to attend or not attend. If you would fill that out tonight or in the very near future, so we can meet all the necessary deadlines and not get dinged for any late fees, if you are planning on traveling, get those back to Mrs. Bendily as soon as possible as it relates to the conferences.

Item 6.B.(5) Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related to Board Members present that Item 6.B.(5) we have very graciously received from my predecessor, Dr. Henderson Lewis, various gift cards in the total amount of $1,000.00, $25.00 per gift card, Wal-Mart Gift Cards. He noted these Gift Cards are intended for Victims, or I should say Employees who were Victims of the Flood.

Motion by Mr. Terrell, second by Mrs. J. Kent to authorize Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent, to use his discretion on behalf of the East Feliciana Parish School Board; in receipt and distribution of various gift card donations from the Orleans Parish School Board Superintendent, Henderson Lewis, Jr., Ph.D., Students, Parents and Staffers designated to East Feliciana Parish School Board Employees and Staff Members impacted by the Historic Flood of August, 2016.

Item 6.B.(6) Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related to Board Members present that he is going to ask Miss Smith to share with use information about some upcoming Community, or I should say Parent Meetings and turned the floor over to Miss Latrice Smith to share with the Board information about these meetings.

Latrice Smith, Director related to Board Members present that we have a Partnership with Families Helping Families and on November 9^th, 2016 Families Helping Families will be doing Parent Trainings at the Professional Development Center from 10 A.M. until Noon. She noted Topics that they will be talking about is how to Build Better Relationships with Teachers as well as how to Document you know Conferences and also how to you know find ways how to help the Teacher. She noted Cynthia Chesterfield is the Contact Person, there is no Registration for this Event and we also will have another Training in January, 2017 on Act 833. This is to better inform Parents on the New Law Act 833, where High Students with Disabilities can receive Diplomas.

Board President related thank you. Go ahead Mr. Minton, what do you got back there?

James Minton, Reporter for The Advocate Newspaper related the printed agenda says November 7^th, 2016...

Director Smith related I am sorry, that is exactly what it is November 7^th, I am sorry Monday. Thank you.

Board Member Dawson requested going back to and ask a question about the last Item?

Board President Bradford related alright, go ahead.

Board Member Dawson questioned who we gave those to?

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related we have not given them to anybody yet. They are sitting right here, I just wanted to make sure the Board would ratify them. The intent is to go to we about 35 Employees who were impacted and so the intent is for those Employees to receive the $25.00 Gift Cards, basically on behalf of the Orleans Parish School Board.

Board Member Dawson related okay, thank you.

Vice-President Harrell related one other thing...

Board President Bradford related yes, sir.

Vice-President Harrell continued can we send something, a Thank You to him, for from this Board?

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related we have, that letter is written and ready to go, after tonight we have drafted a letter to Thank he and his entire Board for their gracious donations. I would be glad to send you guys a copy, if you want a copy of the letter.

Item 6.B.(7) Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related to Board Members present that Item 6.B.(7) as you all are aware, I have been talking to you very much about the Capital Area United Way Grants that we received and we just wanted to kind of give you an update and let you know that we are getting ready to execute the work as it relates to these Grants. He noted one of the Grants is related to an After-School Tutorial Program and the other one is a Parental Involvement Program and so Mrs. Coleman will share with us time lines and dates related to this Grant information.

DeShonda Coleman, Supervisor directed Board Members present to her handout entitled “East Feliciana Public Schools CAUW Update on Grants Tiger PRIDE & EF POP” dated 11-01-16, I would like to present to you the update of the Grants that we received through Capital Area United Way. She noted the first Grant we received is entitled Tiger PRIDE, it is comprehensive After-School Program for high needs students. If you recall we received $60,000.00 per year for up to 3-Years, to offer a unique After-School Program, it will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 90 minutes each day. The Students will participate in 45 minutes of Tutoring in either Reading and/or Math. The second 45 minutes of the day on Tuesday and Wednesday, will include an Enrichment Program, the School will either focus on Literacy, Science, Technology and/or Math and then on that Thursday, the second half of the day the Students will be involved in Clubs. The Clubs will either be an extension to the Clubs that they already have on their Campus, or either New Club that they have created on their Campus. The first day will be November 9th at Clinton Elementary, Jackson Elementary and East Feliciana Middle in Grades 3 through 8, the time is from 3:15 to 4:45 P.M. We will provide Transportation and Snacks for those Students. Supervisor Coleman related the second Grant we received is EF POP, which stands for East Feliciana Preparing our Parents. On that Grant we received about $25,000.00 each year, for up to 3-Years, it will allow us to have Monthly 2-Hour Workshops for Parents or Guardians. The Workshop Topics will be centered around the National Standard for Family School Partnerships. Those Workshops will begin on November 15th, 2016, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. The Parents will receive free resources they can use at home, it will be either some type of tangible material or maybe we will go through different on-line resources that are available for them to use, so it will be “hands on”. So instead of just giving them a List of Resources, we will actually show them how to go through the process of using those. We will have fun activities for children, so for any Parents who don’t have or who are not able to come because they need someone to keep their kids, we will actually hire a Teacher or two to be able to provide activities for them. Refreshments will be provided and then on the Applications the Parents will be asked if they need Transportation and if so I have funds set aside to run a Bus to pick those Parents up. So at the end of the Year, we will have a EF POP Certification for those Parents or Guardians, so as we move forward they will be able to take the lead on those Workshops. So Phase I of the Grant has already started, so effective immediately, if you have access to an I-phone or any type of Smart phone or Smart phone device, you can actually download our App. One of those areas that we were focusing on is a Communication Tool for all Families. So we now have a District App and a School App that everyone will have access to. So you can access our App through either an App Store, if you have an I-phone or the Google Play or any other type of web device. If you search East Feliciana Public Schools, you will find our Logo, once the Logo is downloaded, once you click on it you will have to go to the Menu button which is those three bars in the top right corner and you will actually click on the access Menu and then you click on My Schools and you can add a School and/or the District. So for every, just keep in mind the Principals will have someone on their Campus that they will designate that will actually send these notifications out. So for every School that you add, your notification is automatically turned on, so you will get notifications from them. So if you download the District App, I have already sent out a couple applications, so we have access to our Board Agenda, it is already on there. So everything will be at the finger tips of our Parents. So we know that many homes and many Families may not have access to Computers, but a large percent of them have access to some type of Smart Device. So now this is just another Communication Tool that we have already purchased that our Families will have at their finger tips. So part of that for this group of Parents that we are going to work with through these Workshops, we have access to download Documents and other Resources, so not only will those particular Families get them but they will accessible to all of the Parents in our District and that is it.

Board Member Joyce A. Kent questioned Mrs. Coleman...

Supervisor Coleman related yes, ma’am.

Board Member Joyce A. Kent continued Slaughter Elementary is not included in none of this?

Supervisor Coleman related let me tell you what happened when we first applied for Tiger PRIDE, we were told by the United Way that the sky was the limit, that we didn’t have a Budget, so we initially applied for almost ½ Million Dollars for all 3 Years to put in every School. Well when they came out for the Site Visits, they asked us to cut back and we did, we cut back to $115,000.00 per year and we tried to still include all Schools, well they cut us back again. So we only got $60,000.00, so we told them that we would put it in the Highest Needs Schools, so those three (3) Schools were the Schools that we had the lowest Academic Achievement in so that is why they were selected. So even there we had to cut back, we wanted to provide services to 240 Students but ½ of that to about 120, so we have about 60 kids per campus, well 180 and we have 60 kids per campus that we are able to provide services to.

Board Member Paul Kent questioned Mrs. Coleman, so are you still working on Grants, I mean up here?

Supervisor Coleman questioned other Grants, or this presentation?

Board Member Paul Kent related just this presentation.

Supervisor Coleman related no, sir. I am finished.

Board Member Paul Kent related let me ask you a question about the Grants. Do we every write Grants for or to help the Teachers get Technology stuff into their Classrooms and I am going to tell you why. Principal McClurry...

Laron McCurry, Principal, East Feliciana Middle School related McCurry.

Board Member Paul Kent related McCurry.

Principal McCurry related yes, sir.

Board Member Paul Kent related you have got a Teacher at your School that is asking for money and I don’t know how she can get it other than through the Board or through a Grant or what. But she wants to put and I think it is, do you have a Miss Edwards there?

Principal McCurry related I do.

Board Member Paul Kent continued I think it is her, don’t hold me to that, but I think that was the name that I remember...

Principal McCurry related yes, sir.

Board Member Paul Kent continued but she wanted three (3) I-pads or something to let her kids use in class to help them and I just thought it was a wonderful idea, she has got it all written out, but she had to put it on Facebook just to get it noticed and I just happened to, let me rephrase that, my Wife just happened to pick it up! I am not too good on the Facebook stuff.

Principal McCurry related okay.

Board Member Paul Kent continued and she showed it to me and Mrs. Coleman I just think that we need to try to work something in. It was a Program that she was working with Principal...

Principal McCurry related Go Fund Me, maybe.

Board Member Paul Kent related what?

Board Member Hollins related probably Go Fund Me.

Principal McCurry related Go Fund Me.

Board Member Paul Kent related yes, okay that is where she was on Facebook, I guess. But anyway, if there is anyway that we can help this Teacher, because her Plan was great. I read it the Plan and everything and she listed everything she needed and how much she needed, she needed $1,900.00, for the whole thing...

Principal McCurry related yes.

Board Member Paul Kent continued I don’t know if you talked to her about it...

Principal McCurry related well with Go Fund Me, if you don’t mind, they or East Feliciana has never applied for one, other than the School Teachers so they said the 1^st Teacher applied for one no matter what it was they would match it if it was awarded. So she or that was just something that we gave out to all of the Teachers and it was something that we pushed in August, for all for them. So for at least someone to apply, because it was Guaranteed that they would match it if it was the 1^st Person that did it...

Board Member Paul Kent related okay.

Principal McCurry continued so that would just be one of many Teachers that may have applied and that is done in Schools throughout the United States.

Board Member Paul Kent related oh, it is a ton that is on Facebook that needs, that evidently needed it, you know needed some money somewhere. But wasn’t there a deadline on that Principal?

Principal McCurry questioned what?

Board Member Paul Kent questioned was there a deadline on that Program?

Principal McCurry related it was Donor’s Choice, not Go Fund Me, Donor’s Choice or Donor’s Choose, something like that.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related so Mr. McCurry, let me ask you a question. Is this something that the Teacher did on her own?

Principal McCurry related this right here was sent to all of the Schools in East Feliciana.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related okay. In other words or is she the one who initiated it?

Principal McCurry related she is the one that I know of that did...

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related okay.

Principal McCurry continued I am not sure about anyone else that did.

Board Member Paul Kent related yeah, I didn’t see anyone else.

Board President Bradford related well Mr. McCurry, you are aware of it and you are supportive of it, right?

Principal McCurry related I was aware of that, yes and I was supportive of it. I actually made announcements about this, because they said it was Guaranteed.

Board President Bradford related okay.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related yes, because it was something that you want to support, obviously...

Principal McCurry related most definitely.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent continued because it is going to bring resources to the District.

Board Member Paul Kent related we I think it would be great.

Principal McCurry related it is going to bring resources to the School, I know plenty of people that have done it and not just saying...

Jonathan Loveall, Assistant Principal, Jackson Elementary related we have a number of Folkes in our Building who have done Donor’s Choose Grants over the years.

Board Member Paul Kent related is that right.

Board President Bradford related so basically it is nothing new that this Teacher just popped up with.

Principal McCurry related no, this wasn’t anything new or anything like that, it was just a e-mail that was sent out to the Schools that said the 1^st Person in East Feliciana that applied was Guaranteed to get their Project started or their Project Funded.

Board President Bradford related so what you are telling me, what is positive going on at that School and a Teacher brings it to you, you are behind it.

Principal McCurry related if it is positive and it promoting Children First, then yes, sir.

Board President Bradford related it sounds good.

Board Member Hollins related I think he is just asking as a District have we applied for Grants for maybe all of the Schools to get Classroom Sets of I-pads or whatever they needed.

Board Member Paul Kent related yes and I think it would be great. I mean anything to help the Kids as far as Technology and stuff.

Board Member Hollins questioned we have?

Board President Bradford thinks all of our Schools should be doing all they can to apply for Grants.

Supervisor Coleman related and with United Way, they have particular Guidelines that we had to go through...

Board Member Paul Kent related yes, I understand these Grants, I do.

Supervisor Coleman continued and the reason why that particular Grant came to me was because of a previous connection I had with United Way. But as far as anything in particular for that particular item, I haven’t...

Board Member Paul Kent related you know maybe we should go out to those Schools and ask those Teachers what kind of stuff they need. You see, this Lady took it on her own to do this Program or whatever, but you wouldn’t believe what those Teachers are asking for on that website or whatever it is.

Board President Bradford related also as a School District it is good to Apply for Grants, but eventually we have got to kind of step up our own selves and being able to provide things our Teaches and our Employees need. Would ya’ll agree, Grants can only go so far.

Board Member Paul Kent related thank you Mrs. Coleman. Thank you Principal McCurry.

Item 6.B.(8) Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related to Board Members present that we have in our presence tonight the former Superintendent of Ascension Parish Schools and now President of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET). So we want to welcome Dr. Patrice Pujol to our District and ask her to come forward and tell us great news about a big Grant that we have acquired with a Partnership with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET).

Patrice Pujol, Ed.D., President, National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) related thank you so much Superintendent Sam and I so pleased to be here with all of you this afternoon to give you this great news. She related every year for the past several years, there have been numerous opportunities where the Federal Government has given these big Teacher Incentive Fund Grants and the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) has applied for Grants through the years and have been very successful with getting them. I am very pleased to say that we have applied for a Grant from the Teacher Incentive Fund Grant (TIF 5) from the Federal Government and we received $50 Million Dollars to work with School Districts throughout the State of Louisiana. So we will be working with Six (6) School Districts and One (1) Charter School Association in New Orleans and East Feliciana is one of the School Districts with whom we will be working. She noted East Feliciana has a long standing history of working with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET). Our work began with the TAP System, which I know there were TAP Schools here in East Feliciana for some time and then our work progressed from that one system to really figuring out what are the best practices around Educator Effectiveness. Because at the end of the day the most important element in a Students Education is the Teacher in the Classroom. And so for us as a Non-Profit, we are a National Non-Profit, our Mission is Advancing Educator Effectiveness. What the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) wants to assure is that there is a High Quality, Well Compensated, Highly Motivated Teacher in every Classroom in America and we are starting here in the State of Louisiana, with this Grant working with Partners around the State. What we will be able to do is to provide Personnel, Master Teachers if you will, in each School in your District and we will be here with Superintendent Sam, with the Teachers, Leaders in providing Training, providing Support and really helping every Teacher in East Feliciana to continue to improve his or her practice, his or her instructional approaches as they work with the Students here in your School System. Across the Nation, Schools that have Partnered with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) have shown tremendous results with Student Achievement. Our Schools out perform similarly matched Schools tremendously when our System our Educator Effectiveness Practices are well implemented. So we are excited about the Partnership, we are excited to here and to be working in your Schools with you. Superintendent Sam remarked that I am the former Superintendent in Ascension Parish and I will tell you that when you think about Ascension Parish, some people think of it as having a lot of resources and that is true. But Ascension Parish serves not just Schools that have a lot of Resources, but they serve some Communities and some Schools that are tremendously under resourced, where there are lots of Students who do not have all that they need in order to come to School ready to receive a Great Education. And I was successful there in using these Practices to close the Achievement Gap and to really make a tremendous difference in the lives of Students in our most impoverished Communities. So I am very passionate about this work, I am very excited about what can happen and really pleased to be a Partner with you in continuing on your Journey of Improvement for your Teachers and for your Students here in East Feliciana. We will be meeting with Superintendent Sam and his Team in the coming Weeks in order to really create a strong Implementation Plan and really work through the details of what the Grant will provide for you and what the Commitments are that you are making and of course I know that Superintendent Sam had given you some information about this when you were applying for the Grant this Summer. And just very pleased that we have been awarded this Grant, we have the opportunity to bring these resources into our Communities here in Louisiana and excited about the work ahead, excited about getting together with the Team here and really starting to lay out our plan for how we can best utilize these Dollars to assure that we continue to improve the Quality of Teaching in the Classroom throughout your Classrooms here in the District. I would be happy to take any questions that you might have.

Board President Bradford called for any questions.

Board Member P. Kent questioned did you say how many years, or what is the timeline on this Grant?

Dr. Pujol related yes, it is a 5-Year Grant...

Board Member P. Kent related oh, 5-Year. Okay.

Dr. Pujol continued 5-Year Grant, so we will start this year with planning and starting some implementation. And you already do some things here, you already use the NIET Instructional Rubric throughout your District. So your Teachers will not be unfamiliar with some of the things that we do. What this will allow us to do is come with a much deeper Implementation, stronger Training around the standards, Teaching Standards and Support for your Teachers throughout the District.

Board Member P. Kent questioned will this Grant put resources in the Classroom?

Dr. Pujol related it will put Training in the Classroom and it will also provide for the Teachers a Training Portal that they can do Training Electronically as well as we in person Training.

Board President Bradford questioned Mr. Sam are you on top of this?

Board Member Corcoran questioned what about Retention?

Dr. Pujol questioned Retention of Teachers?

Board Member Corcoran related yes, say they go through this and they get Certified and they are now Top of the Line and we have them all, what keeps them here?

Dr. Pujol related we have found that the Schools with whom we work ...

Board Member Corcoran related I am sorry, Mr. Bradford you had something?

Board President Bradford related no, you go ahead.

Board Member Corcoran related okay.

Dr. Pujol continued the Schools with whom we work and the Districts with whom we work have higher Retention Rates. One of the things that happens, when we come in and provide this kind of support for Teachers in the Classroom, is the Retention Rates go up. That is what our Data shows.

Board President Bradford called for any more questions.

Board Member Corcoran related no, I am good.

Board President Bradford questioned are you sure?

Board Member Corcoran related yes.

Board President Bradford related thank you young lady.

Dr. Pujol related thank you, looking forward to it.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related thank you very much Dr. Pujol.

Item 6.B.(9) Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent on Personnel Matters, I am going to give you the Report tonight, as you can see we have currently two (2) Vacancies, Band Director Position is a Particular Vacancy and we have one (1) Child Nutrition Clerk Vacancy. He noted we had two (2) Resignations at the High School, those Positions have since been filled and of course the Child Nutrition Clerk Resignation is not filled at this time and we are working on filling the Child Nutrition Clerk Position. Any questions, I would be glad to answer.

Board Member P. Kent questioned are you saying we filled the Band Director.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related no, no that is still a Vacancy.

Board Member P. Kent related I thought Mr. Jackson was the Band Director.

Board Member Dawson related he is Volunteering, he is strictly not getting paid anything.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related he is a Volunteer.

Board Member P. Kent related it sounds like he needs to be the Band Director to me.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related we have had some conversations about you know whether or not he wants to be an Employee or not...

Board Member Dawson related he doesn’t want to be an Employee for the Year, but he would like to stay for the rest of the Year.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related absolutely and we want him to stay for the rest of the Year.

Board President Bradford related very good, what else you got Superintendent Sam?

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related that is all we have on this report.

Item 6.B.(10) Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related the next report is going to include Mr. Bell and the Maintenance Report, Mr. Bell.

James Bell, Jr., Supervisor related to Board Members present good evening, it is my pleasure to give a brief Maintenance Report. He noted at the Jackson School Complex we have replaced some Temporary Lighting, we have strategically went through the Facility at night and added some Lighting to the Facility. As you know the Complex has had lighting trouble for the last 10 Years and we have not had the Funding to make Repairs, preliminary Estimates range any where from $12,000.00 to $26,000.00, depending upon the Repairs. As you already might be, or may be aware, we are going to be replacing that Lighting with our Energy Efficiency Contract, where we will be switching to LED Lighting. Right now we are just trying to bridge that gap to keep everyone safe until that Contract comes through.

Board Member Dawson related Mr. Bell you just mentioned something that is very important about that is Safety. Because when I went the other night, it was no lights and it didn’t look safe at all to me.

Supervisor Bell related yes, ma’am. What we have actually done is in the corner of the lot, we have two (2) 1,000 Watt Lights that are supplied by Entergy and then also in the Main Areas where Individuals walk, we have provided lighting to that specific area. We are going to put one (1) other 1,000 Watt light fixture right there by the Steps and that will be or what we will have at that given point and time...

Board Member Dawson related okay.

Supervisor Bell continued until the Energy Efficiency Contract...

Vice-President Harrell related but that thing will blind you, in that right corner of that lot, it will blind you.

Supervisor Bell related yes, it is fairly bright, yes, sir.

Board Member Dawson related I would rather that than being in the dark.

Vice-President Harrell related and I agree, I went up there to, it will blind you.

Supervisor Bell related yes, sir, it is fairly bright. Also, the hot water circulatory pump at the Complex is down, that hot water circulatory pump provides hot water for our kitchen and we have already corrected it. It was temporarily down, we have put a patch on it, we have patched it with duct tape as of right now. So just being facetious, it is running right now, total Repairs for that is approximately $4,000.00 for the Pump itself and probably an additional $3,000.00 for the Labor. But we were able to take some measures to get the pump up and running and right now it holding firm. It is also slated to be replaced in the Energy Efficiency Contract, to where we are going to Hot Water On Demand, to where we don’t utilize those two (2) 2,000 Gallon Hot Water Storage Tanks and that 2,000 BTU Boiler that we currently have in place right now.

Vice-President Harrell questioned what kind of pump is that?

Supervisor Bell related it is a Bell and Gossett Pump, it is a 2 Hp, 3 Phase. Basically what we did was, we had another Unit that had previously failed at Clinton Elementary School, so we got one of the Contractors, got some bearings, took the staider off and pressed the bearings on that other staider and put the pump in. The bearings are not the particular right size, but it is holding right now. So that is all we could do to get it up and going.

Vice-President Harrell questioned what did we do with the old pump?

Supervisor Bell related we still have it, we actually took it by Ace Armature, the old pump that we had and Ace Armature said that it was too bad with the impellers and bearings all that stuff had messed up, with the shavings, too far gone for repair. So they could not rebuild it.

Vice-President Harrell related okay.

Supervisor Bell related we also checked with Hydriodic Technologies down in New Orleans and there wasn’t nothing they could do with it, it was a custom built pump.

Board President Bradford questioned is that it?

Supervisor Bell related yes, sir.

Board Member Spears questioned Mr. Bell, what ever happened with the Chiller, are we still missing a Chiller?

Supervisor Bell related yes, sir. We are still on that Chiller, right now we have been going through with that specific Chiller, they do believe that it was a lightning strike that messed up the Chiller. It knocked out several of the frequency drives and also messed up the e-prompt board in that specific Chiller. So we are going through, we got it up and going, it ran for a little while, we ran some tests, we ran some other stress tests, we put some even though it is kind of cool right now, the ambient temperature outside is you know 75 to 72 degrees. So we stressed it by putting artificial heat load on it and it failed, so we are going back through and looking at that e-prompt board. I just got a Quote on that today, that board itself is around $6,000.00 to be replaced, all total more than likely it is going to be about $17,000.00 to $18,000.00 by the time we get through working with that specific...

Board Member Spears questioned Mr. Bell, but that is on the Insurance, was it covered?

Supervisor Bell related our Insurance Deductible is $50,000.00, so we are responsible for the first $50,000.00, of the specific repairs. So we are going through that and have been working with Mr. Dart, Dart Insurance, we have been working with Mr. Ray Bishop and we has also been talking with the Superintendent in regards to getting that Unit up and running. But as of right now, it is or we are just working our way specifically through the Chiller point by point, to make sure that everything is in line and everything functions as it should.

Board President Bradford related okay, and called for any more questions.

Board Member Corcoran related yes, Mr. Bell to your knowledge do we have enough working bathrooms at Slaughter Elementary to serve the Kids there?

Supervisor Bell related to my knowledge, I am not sure, I know that DHH comes out and DHH, I am not sure what that Ratio is, but I know DHH gives a Ratio of Students to Restroom Facilities and then we, when I ran that Report last year, I think it was somewhere around 480 or 500 and we did have enough Restrooms. So as of right now, I don’t know if we have some that need to be repaired, I haven’t seen those as of yet.

Board President Bradford questioned do we have enough restrooms for all of the Schools, not just Slaughter, Mr. Bell?

Supervisor Bell related at our other Restrooms, our Restrooms, we are meeting DHH Guidelines. But to answer you question, Board Member Corcoran we will check and I will get with the Superintendent if we are below that minimum threshold.

Board Member Corcoran related I thank you very much.

Supervisor Bell related yes, sir.

Vice-President Harrell questioned Kim are we having problems with bathrooms at Slaughter?

Kimberly Glascock, Principal, Slaughter Elementary related well the ones we have are working, we just don’t have enough. I don’t know if that is DHH that says we don’t have enough, that is Kim Glascock saying we don’t have enough!

Supervisor Bell related right, it is listed in the Department of Health and Hospitals in their Sanitation Code, that is readily available to any and everybody.

Vice-President Harrell related well how about we talk to the Principal, instead of DHH and see if we need you know more Bathrooms. Because I mean if the Principal says we need more Bathrooms, we probably do.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related let me address this, to my knowledge, I have not gotten anything from the Principal, Mrs. Glascock or from Mr. Bell and I would expect both of those Individuals to tell me, first ...

Vice-President Harrell related I agree.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent continued if there is a need for you know for additional, so let me just make that clear for Mr. Bell or Mrs. Glascock, if you guys have had discussions, you haven’t shared it with me, tell me. Okay...

Principal Glascock related it has been an on-going issue Mr. Sam for a long time...

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent continued and I understand that and what I am saying to you is this, I have a lot of experience working in Schools, I had a School with over 1,000 Kids with two (2) Bathrooms. I know exactly what you are going through. Okay, and the Gym was too small, the Cafeteria was too small and then you have to alter all kinds of Schedules, we couldn’t have Programs unless we had it at each Grade Level. I get that, but what I am saying is this, if we have a need for anything in our Buildings, I don’t care if it is Bathrooms or what it is and Staff is having discussion about it, it has got to bubble up to the Superintendent. Okay, once it bubbles up to me, then I bring it to my Boss and these twelve (12) people right, I tell them hey I need thus and so or thus and so and this is how we get the Resources in the Schools. Okay, I just want to make sure it is clear, that if we are having a discussion about a need for any Resource at the Schools, bring it to my attention and then I will bring it to the attention of this Board.

Vice-President Harrell related he is like Mr. Bradford that we need to make sure our Kids got Bathrooms at every School...

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related that is right.

Vice-President Harrell continued and that is not something that we need to go to DHH or anywhere else...

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related no.

Vice-President Harrell continued if we have an issue, we need to address those as Bathrooms for our Children.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related right.

Supervisor Bell related and for the record, I have not had any discussions with Mrs. Glascock or anyone else, that was just on my own looking at the needs.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related absolutely.

Board President Bradford called for any more questions. That is it Mr. Bell?

Supervisor Bell related yes, sir.

Board President Bradford related thank you Mr. Bell.

Supervisor Bell related yes, sir. Thank you.

Item 7.A. Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related our next item is Old Business, Mr. President?

Board President Bradford related it looks like it going to be Mr. Dart.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related yes, receive and review written request from William “Bill” Dart, Agent, Dart Insurance to be declared “Agent of Record” for the East Feliciana Parish School Board. Mr. Dart do you want to come and present your Proposal to the Board?

William “Bill” Dart, Agent, Dart Insurance Agency related yes, sir I do. He related to Superintendent Sam, President Bradford and Board Members there is an old saying that “There is strength in numbers,” so I brought with me Will Andrews that does a lot of the grunt work in my office. You might recall last month that I presented to the Board in conversation, an idea for ya’ll to consider allowing Dart Insurance Agency to be your Agent of Record for Insurance.

Vice-President Mitchell Harrell left the meeting at this time.

Agent Dart related there are a number of reason for that and I will go into that in just a few minutes. But just to give you a little background history, I have been the Insurance Agent for the School Board since 1975, with the exception of 3-Years, so I am not just some Individual here that is trying to pull the wool over your eyes. I have a vested interest in the School Board and I have done it for a long time and I want you to know that I do really appreciate your Business. What we are talking about basically is about two (2) Main Policies, if you think about it every Spring I bring to you all a Representative from LWCC and we present ya’ll with a Dividend Check, for the last two (2) years those Dividend Checks have exceeded $100,000.00. Because I think it is easy to consider that we would remain with LWCC for your Workers’ Compensation Carrier throughout, it would be foolish to try to even venture to move to anybody else. That one (1) Policy alone exceeds 50% of your Insurance Portfolio. So what we are talking about really is two (2) Policies, your Package Policy which covers General Liability, Auto and School Leaders Liability and your Property Coverage. And if I might make mention to Mr. Spears when he was talking with Mr. Bell a few minutes ago about the Chiller, sometimes we fail to toot our own horn and I am going to take this opportunity to toot my horn if I will. Three (3) Years ago you all had a $100,000.00 Deductible on your Property Coverage, many of ya’ll probably don’t even remember that...

Vice-President Mitchell Harrell rejoined the meeting at this time.

Agent Dart continued through my efforts I squeezed our Underwriter and told her that I needed something better, she could not make a price consideration and she said well Mr. Dart I tell you what I will do, I will reduce the Deductible from $100,000.00 to $50,000.00 and we won’t change the Premium. I never let anybody know that and I should have, but that is the kind of Service that feel as though we provide to you all and the kind of Service that I would like to continue to provide for you. What it does is it gives me the leeway to discuss with an Underwriter the fact that they may have a shot at two (2) Years, which is what we are asking for to coincide with your Term of Office, a two (2) Year Program and they would probably give us better Pricing Considerations and/or Deductible Considerations, or Coverage Considerations when they would be faced with the possibility of having a longer Term to write the Coverage for. It also saves the Superintendent and his Staff and especially Tommy LeJeune from Completing Applications for other Agents and digging out that Information that I already have. I complete those Applications and basically shotgun it to a number of Companies, that is not to say that we would consider one (1) Company only; we would continue to shoot Applications to the Markets that are out there. There are not that many Markets, let’s face it; ya’ll may get one (1) mine and one (1) other Quote on Insurance and yet you send it out to any number of different Agencies. There are just a handful of Companies that Write Coverage for Public Entities, especially School Boards of this size. So if you send it out to 100 different Agents, we are all trying to access those three (3) or four (4) Companies that will even consider it. Which makes it kind of foolish because you have got to complete a Separate Application for each one of those Agencies that it goes through it. So it would be a lot less work on your School Board Staff and upon Mr. LeJeunes’ Staff. And if I might play on the Local Agent consideration, many years ago one of your School Board Members Jerry Nettles passed a Resolution with the Board, that in an effort to try to support local businesses if a Local Business was within 5% of any competing Business that was out of Town, you would try to go with that Local Business. I hope that I am not 5% more, I hope that I am actually more Competitive and equal to or less than other competing Businesses. But be that in mind, I would hope and I would choose to believe that the Board would like to keep this Business here locally, where any money that comes to us as a profit is generally spent here and returns back to the Taxing Authority, with which ya’ll are a part of. Rather than go to some out-of-town entity, which doesn’t spend anything here. That almost concludes my presentation, with the exception that if it would help, my Kids need shoes for Christmas!

Board President Bradford questioned how long have you been doing our Insurance Mr. Dart, how long have you been our Agent?

Agent Dart related since 1975.

Board President Bradford related that is a long time.

Agent Dart related yes, sir.

Board President Bradford questioned so why the two (2) years now, Mr. Dart, why the extra you want an extra year, am I correct?

Agent Dart related well actually it is only going to be one (1) more year, Mr. Bradford. Because we have renewed these Policies for this current year...

Board President Bradford related okay.

Agent Dart continued so all we are talking about is the Policy Period 2017/2018, it is only one (1) more year.

Board President Bradford questioned so why do we want to do 17/18, we haven’t gotten to that area, does that make sense?

Agent Dart related again for the reasons that I just outlined earlier, it would give me more access to my Underwriters to pressure them to get a better deal for you guys. It would be less work for you...

Vice-President Harrell related it helps him and it helps us also.

Motion by Mrs. Dawson, seconded by Mr. Paul Kent to authorize William “Bill” Dart, Agent, Dart Insurance Agency to be declared “Agent of Record” for the East Feliciana Parish School Board for the next two (2) years, through the 2017/2018 Policy Period.

Agent Dart related and you can rescind it at any time.

Board President Bradford how much you do this for Mr. Dart, who wants to do the two (2) years for?

Board Member P. Kent related we are already into, or he is already into...

Board President Bradford related we did one (1) already, so what you are asking for is to give the other year before it even comes due am I right?

Agent Dart related to give me the Authority on your behalf to Apply to Insurance Companies to get Quotations for your behalf and then make that presentation or those Quotations to the Insurance Committee and then for them to make a recommendation of the various Quotations that I turn into them.

Board President Bradford asked Superintendent Sam, what do you think about this?

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related let me just guide with your or quite frankly, I am on the fence, we are only giving him one (1) more year. So he is phrasing it as a two (2) year contract, but he is in one (1) year of the two (2), so you are giving him another year...

Vice-President Harrell related he has already gotten one (1).

Board President Bradford related I don’t care about one (1)...

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent continued what I have said to Mr. Dart is if the Board did agree to the two (2) years, I would support him in his efforts and my Staff would support him in his efforts and I asked him not to ask for more than two (2) years. Because this would be a change in how we normally do Business and I did not want him to ask for you know a three (3) or a five (5) year term. Let us get comfortable with a two (2) year term, if that is what the Board wanted to do and so he is, because I think he wanted more than two (2) years and I said let’s not stretch it. Let’s go with two (2) years, because in essence he would only have one (1) more year left and keep in mind he is the Agent, which means that he is going out and getting Quotes from Underwriters, it would save some time and effort on the part of Staff and on the part of the Committee to I guess keep the flow of the work...

Board President Bradford questioned what do you mean save some efforts on time? What was that Superintendent Sam?

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent continued what I mean, well let me say this, what I am saying is this...

Board President Bradford related go ahead.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent continued we have incidents, we have had incidents where um I guess other Agents have come into the Board Room and we have had some spats over the process...

Board President Bradford related that is called Competition Superintendent Sam, that is the way it goes...

Board Member Rhonda Matthews left the meeting at this time.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related I understand, I don’t disagree with that...

Board President Bradford continued that is the American Way.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related that is right, that is right, I am not a Voting Member Mr. Dart. Okay, I am just trying to give the Board as much information as possible so you guys can make an informed decision. I will support the Board either way. Okay, if you decide that we are not going to give Mr. Dart a two (2) year deal, then hey we put forth all the effort to make sure that we get the best competitive price for our Insurance Premiums.

Board President Bradford related right. So basically you are saying it is up to us. Mr. Dart let me ask you a question, do you this for the Police Jury, do you get two (2) year contracts, or anyone else you get two (2) year contracts?

Agent Dart related the Rapides Parish Water District, I have five (5) years with them, I do it for the Water District here, I have three (3) years with them. It is not an uncommon practice Mr. Bradford for Public Entities to...

Board President Bradford related he is not saying it is uncommon, but what about the Police Jury?

Agent Dart related I have written the Police Jury’s Insurance since 1977.

Board President Bradford questioned do you get a two (2) year, three (3) year contracts with them?

Agent Dart related they are next on my list.

Board Member Spears related this is my view point on this, when we did it for the Contract, it was for one (1) year. So after you get the Contract and the other who ever else bided, whatever Companies, they assumed that the Contract was for one (1) year, but if you come back within the mist of that Contract and get a New Contract, it is an unfair advantage to those that bided, because they would assume it was a one (1) year. If it was a two (2) year, they may have given us a better Bid. So if you come back in the middle of the Contract, they assumed it was one (1) year and you get a new renewal for two (2) years and they are at a disadvantage because they don’t have a Contract.

Board President Bradford related so Mr. Spears so what you are saying is when we bid it...

Board Member Spears related it should have been for two (2) years and then everybody would have had a chance to put their Bids out based on two (2) years. But we are into the year and then you are giving an additional year within that Contract length.

Agent Dart related let me clarify that...

Board President Bradford related hold on Mr. Dart. Mr. Terrell you had a question?

Board Member Rhonda Matthews rejoined the meeting at this time.

Board Member Terrell related my concern was basically where are we legally, in reference to the Bids and Contract...

Board Member Spears related yes.

Board Member Terrell continued I think that is where you are going right?

Board President Bradford related would you answer that Mr. Dart.

Agent Dart related let me clarify that if I will, Mr. Spears. What you are doing is not giving me the authority to Write the Insurance, what you are giving me the authority to contact on your behalf ...

Board President Bradford related out Agent.

Agent Dart continued Insurance Companies to Accept Quotations for your Insurance Proposal, that does not mean that you don’t have the right to reject them. Also, in my letter to you I mentioned to you, if you don’t care for what we are doing, you have the right to Rescind that at any time. So all you are doing is allowing me to contact those Companies that are interested in Writing Business for Small School Boards on your behalf and then present those Quotations, multiple Quotations if you will; to the Insurance Committee for their review for presentation to the full Board...

Board President Bradford related okay.

Agent Dart continued and it keeps and I didn’t really want to get into this, but I would like to now that we have gotten here. What happens in the Insurance Market a lot of times is that Insurance Agents will “Block Markets” and by “Blocking Markets” what I mean is that they will send Applications to Insurance Companies with no Intention of Writing Business for that Insurance Company. Once that Application is received by that Insurance Company, then they have to honor the Quotation, for that Agent only. They will not give it to any other Agent, so what we find ourselves in is a scramble, who can get the Application in the earliest to lock down that Market Place. So now I am trying to do it 6-Months in advance, well it gets ridiculous, how far in advance do I need to send out Applications in order to protect the Market on my behalf from an outsider coming in to get those Market Places. The other part to that is, that every time that you have got another Agent, with an Application then he has got to get that Information from the School Board, its Staff or this last time from Mr. LeJeune and he ended up dedicating an Employee to answer the Questions particularly from one (1) Agent, so that he could get that Application in and it took forever. So you know if that is what you all would like to do, that is fine. I am still willing to Quote on a one (1) year basis. I don’t mind doing that, I mean obviously I have been successful...

Board President Bradford related you sure have, I don’t see what the difference, you have been doing good with one (1) year.

Agent Dart related it makes my job easier, Mr. Bradford, it makes the School Boards job easier, but I will do whatever ya’ll would like us to do.

Board President Bradford good and turned the floor over to Mr. Harrell.

Vice-President Harrell related and I understand what you are saying, if he was a fly-by-night and we had not had him since 1975, that would be one thing. But I mean he is here every year and it has been the same person every year since 1975, I just don’t see a big issue with it.

Board Member Dawson related I don’t either.

Board Member Spears related with Contracts, I am always concerned where (1) is legal and (2) is it ethical...

Vice-President Harrell related oh we have to make it...

Board Member Spears continued it has to be legal and it has to be ethical. So when we gave the Contract out we told those guys that Bid it, it was for one (1) year, so to switch it to two (2) years in another contract, so those that Bid it will say...

Board President Bradford questioned there is no rush is it Mr. Dart?

Agent Dart related the Policy would not be for, or it would not Extend the Policy for another year; this would in essence give me the ability at Renewal to send the Application to the various Companies that are interested in Quoting the School Board Business. So it would not Extend that Policy, I can’t Quote a Premium for two (2) years in a row. I an only Quote it one (1), just like the price of bread or gas...

Board President Bradford related yes.

Agent Dart continued I can’t tell you what that price is going to be.

Board President Bradford related and basically you don’t have to worry about this every two (2) years now, instead every one (1) year?

Agent Dart related it also allows me to work with the Underwriter and say hey we have got a Customer that interested, that will look at this thing possibly on a two (2) year; give me your best deal and they would be more than willing to do that.

Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Mr. Terrell.

Board Member Terrell questioned I just want to make sure that we have the information correct. So in other words we continue to do what we have done, we get Information from you...

Agent Dart related you just send that...

Board Member Terrell continued as well as other Agents...

Agent Dart related you would not send it to other Agents...

Board President Bradford related no.

Agent Dart continued you would send me the Request to Bid the Renewal, I would then go out and search the Market Place and I would get those Quotations on your behalf. It gives me, if I am the Agent of Record, it doesn’t mean that you are going to Write the Insurance with me. It just allows me to go ahead and contact those other Companies and get them to Quote through me to you all. And this would end, in my letter I mentioned, this would end unless ya’ll renewed it with the 2018 Policy.

Board Member Dawson related well we do have a motion on the floor and a second.

Board President Bradford related well Superintendent Sam had a question.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent questioned Mr. Dart...

Agent Dart related yes, sir.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related okay, we have a timeline, in other words there are two (2) opportunities during the School Year that you are basically coming to the Insurance Committee. Can you help the Board understand that timeline?

Agent Dart related yes, sir. We have other than Workers’ Compensation, because I am just going to assume that everybody understands why we would renew with them automatically at this point, I think that is easily understood. There are two (2) Periods of time when the School Board has coverage that are significant (1) your Policies Renew in July and (2) your Package Policy Renews in October. So this first time that this would come into play would be with your Property Coverage in July and then the next time would be on the Policy that you just renewed last month, which is your Package Policy and that is your General Liability, your Auto and your School Leaders and Liability Policy. So those Policies are now in place, they have been agreed to, I don’t even know if you have paid me, I am embarrassed to say. But anyway, they have been agreed to, so what we would be looking at is this coming July for the Property and next October for the Package Policy.

Board President Bradford related okay. I think Mr. Dart is doing a great job, but I do agree with Mr. Spears, if you are going to Bid it, whatever you are going to Bid it to start with, Bid it like that right then. Don’t Bid it for one (1) year, wait a few months, come back in the game and then go extra. Is that what you are saying Mr. Spears?

Board Member Spears related right...

Board Member Dawson related that is not what he is doing.

Board President Bradford related I am sorry, what?

Board Member Spears continued if I am an Insurance Agent and I made a Bid...

Board President Bradford continued why is that?

Board Member Spears continued and you gave the Bid to him and then within that Bid you said you are going to give him an extra year to be the Insurer Agent for our Board, I would think that would be unfair to me because you did not explain that in the Bid Process that you have got to be on board with that Bid.

Board President Bradford related unless we re-bid it....

Board Member P. Kent related let me say this, we had absolutely no other Bids, other than Mr. Darts’ this past, this year. Okay, that is how hard it is...

Board President Bradford related I understand that...

Board Member P. Kent continued to get Insurance Companies to cover that...

Board President Bradford continued yes, sir. We can understand that, it don’t take the fact that someone else may not Bid in the future.

Vice-President Harrell called for a vote.

Board President Bradford proceeded with a roll-call vote, as follows:

Yeas: Matthews, Thompson, J. Kent, Harrell, P. Kent, Corcoran, Hollins and Dawson

Opposed: Bradford and Spears

Abstained from voting: Terrell - stated for the record only because I need some legal directives

Absent and not voting: E. Brooks, Jr.

Board President Bradford announced by a majority vote of 8 to 2, with 1 abstention and 1 absent and not voting; the motion carried.

Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Mr. Dart.

Agent Dart related thank you very much.

Board Member P. Kent related thank you Mr. Dart.

Item 8.A. Board President Bradford proceeded with the next Item 8.A. and turned the floor over to Mr. Joyce A. Kent.

Joyce A. Kent, Chairperson of the Policy Review Committee related a Policy Review Committee Meeting was held on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 1:30 P.M. and called for a motion on Agenda Item 8.A.(1).

Motion by Vice-President Harrell, seconded by Mr. P. Kent to accept the Policy Review Committee recommendation in connection with Item 8.A.(1) to approve proposed revisions, additional and/or deletions to Board Policy File: JR, entitled “Student Records” as it pertains to Destruction of Special Education Records. Further waiving the 1^st and 2^nd Reading requirements and submission of same for adoption of same as Policy, effective date: November 1, 2016.

Board President Bradford asked is that it Mrs. J. Kent?

Chairperson J. Kent related that is it.

Board President Bradford related thank you so much.

Item 8.B. Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent turned the floor over to Scott Lazarone, C.P.A. to give the Finance Report.

Scott Lazarone, C.P.A., Representative of Faulk & Winkler, LLC related to Board Members present that he would keep it brief. He noted you have got the Informational Packet and the Graphs right in front of you, not anything real significant, just to highlight real quick. He noted the Cash Position looks good, up about $100,000.00 from where you were at this point last year, this is as of August 31^st, by the way. He noted Revenues you can see down a little, but that is Sales Tax related, which was just July and August, as we looked at September earlier, September picked back up. So I would expect when you look at these Graphs next Month, you are sort of back in line with where you were. He noted Expenses, some minor timing differences, but year-to-date you are right in line with where have been in prior years and where you are or where you need to be versus Budget, so not any real concerns there. He related just a few of the Items that have fluctuated if you flip over to the last page, as you can see again this is as of August 31st, you can see total Revenues is down a little like I mentioned and is related to Sales Taxes and little bit of MFP. He related the Expenses are pretty much in line, some minor timing differences versus Charter School Payments, Transportation Contracts and things like that. But overall things are in line with the Budget and sort of tracking where we expect you to be at this point. Any questions?

Board President Bradford called for any questions? Receiving none, Board President Bradford related thank you.

C.P.A. Lazarone related thank you.

Item 8.C. Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related Item 8.C. is Adoption of the 2016-2017 Pupil Progression Plan and asked Dr. Germany to give a brief synopsis of the Plan.

Dr. Kim Germany, Executive Director related the Pupil Progression Plan that you have in front of you meets the requirements set forth by the State, the changes that were required were highlighted in yellow. We followed the Guidelines and made the necessary changes and was accepted by the Pupil Progression Plan Committee and we are asking for your approval tonight so we can formally submit it to the State.

Motion by Vice-President Harrell, seconded by Miss Rhonda Matthews to adopt the 2016-2017 Pupil Progression Plan submitted by Dr. Kim Germany, Executive Director and Latrice Smith, Director.

Board President Bradford related thank you so much young lady.

Item 8.D. Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Superintendent Sam.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related the last Item Mr. President and Members of the Board is a consideration from Mr. Drew Talbot to serve as our Sales Tax Attorney. He has provided us with a Resolution to Employ him for your consideration and I will ask Mr. Talbot to please come forward and give us a review comment related to consideration.

Drew Talbot, Attorney related thank you Mr. Sam and Members of the Board, I would first like to extend my thanks and gratitude that you recognized Mr. Rainer and held a moment of silence for him. I appreciate that and I will pass that along to his Widow and to his Family, I know that will mean a lot to them. Representing East Feliciana meant a lot to Mr. Rainer and over the 10 Years that I was with him and we worked together on a lot of cases for East Feliciana and I enjoyed it very much and although I think that he has gone a little too soon, I do look forward to the responsibility that comes with inheriting his Practice and carrying on his Legacy and I hope to do that up to the Standards that he did for so many years for East Feliciana and about 40 other Parishes. As part of this process I have gotten reacquainted with all 40 of our Clients Statewide and I have had the pleasure of attending a lot of School Board Meetings such as this. I have made similar presentations to this one and it has been very gratifying to me that all of the Clients that had Employed Mr. Rainer for so many years have chosen to continue with our Firm through me as a contact point. I believe this Board is familiar with the work that I have done for it over the past 10 Years, I plan to continue to do it in the same way which is the best that I can give. One little Addendum to your Sales Tax Report and your Finance Report, I know that I have presented to this Board in Executive Session a number of times about a particular Settlement that we are working on, I am happy to that on my drive up here this evening I got a phone call that agreement is almost complete and this Board can accept or will look forward to accepting a check of $125,000.00 about November 15th. I think the School Board portion of that check is 40% and 60% goes to the Police Jury. But we are just about a signature away from getting that deal done and I do look forward if it is the Boards pleasure to continue on for some of the other Pending Litigation that I hope will yield even larger funds in the future. With that I will answer any questions that you would ask me, I am happy to answer for you.

Board President Bradford turned the floor over to Mr. Harrell.

Vice-President Harrell related since we were Mr. Rainers’ favorite Client, that means you are going to cut fees right!

Attorney Talbot related well I can tell you the one thing he impressed on me and I think about everyday is that we have to provide Value for our Clients. So, if you are going to spend, if I am going to spend an hours worth of time, then I am going to bill you for that. I am going to make sure that what I tie that back to provides more in real Dollar Terms than that one Hour Costs you...

Vice-President Harrell related right.

Attorney Talbot continued and that guides me in how I practice and that is...

Vice-President Harrell related Mr. Rainer was a good man.

Attorney Talbot continued how I give advice to Boards.

Vice-President Harrell related Mr. Rainer was a good man.

Attorney Talbot related thank you.

Motion by Vice-President Harrell, seconded by Mrs. Dawson to adopt a resolution employing Rainer, Anding & Talbot through Drew M. Talbot, Attorney at Law, L.L.C. as Special Tax Counsel to the East Feliciana Parish School Board.

Board Member Corcoran questioned do we have or are we under Contract with this Firm?

Attorney Talbot related what we have is a standing resolution that authorizes the School Board on a case-by-case basis to assign matters, what the Attorney General Office requires is that a resolution be adopted that states there is a special need that exists for you to not use your local District Attorney. What has been standard practice throughout the State is that in Speciality Areas of the Law like Sales Tax Litigation and the unique Substantiative Law and Procedural Law that involves that is a Special Need, should one exist. So it is a standing resolution that authorizes the School Board to employ our Firm is only on a case-by-case basis and when requested by the School Board. This just gives you the authorization or whomever with the School Board Office, gives them the authorization to pick up the phone and call me and say we need help on a particular matter.

Board Member P. Kent questioned so you are asking to approve your resolution correct?

Attorney Talbot related that is correct.

Attorney Talbot related thank you.

Carlos J. Sam, Superintendent related before you hit the gavel and adjourn the meeting, I just want to take a point of personal privilege to recognize Mr. Michael Bradfords’ Birthday on October 29^th and also recognize Mrs. Beth Dawsons’ Birthday on November 6^th.

Board President Bradford related that is very unnecessary.

Board Member Dawson related that is really unnecessary, welcome though.

There being no further business to come before the Board, a motion for adjournment by Vice-President Harrell, seconded by Mrs. Dawson, prevailed until the next regular meeting unless called into special session by the President.

CARLOS J. SAM, SUPERINTENDENT MICHAEL RAY BRADFORD,

SECRETARY-TREASURER BOARD PRESIDENT