TANGIPAHOA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS

 

October 21, 2003

 

            The Tangipahoa Parish School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, October 21, 2003, at 6:30 p.m., in the School Board Meeting Room, School Board Office, 59656 Puleston Road, Amite, Louisiana, with President Robert Caves, Presiding.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:           Robert Caves,  Al Link,  Carl Bardwell, Sandra Bailey-Simmons, Leonard Genco, Robert Potts,  Donnie Williams, Jimmy A. Richardson, I and Maxine Dixon 

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:             None   

           

Mrs. Sandra Bailey-Simmons, Board Member – District H, introduced Colonel Ken Kimberly and the Hammond High School Army Jr. R.O.T.C. Members of the R.O.T.C. gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

It was moved by Mr. Genco, seconded by Mr. Richardson, to approve the Board Minutes of  October 7, 2003 as distributed. Hearing no objection, the motion was unanimously adopted.

 

            Ms. Maxine Dixon, Board Member – District G, introduced Dr. LaVanner Brown and Ms. Marquita Jackson. Dr. Brown and Ms. Jackson gave a PowerPoint Presentation on the TRIO/Gear Up Program.

 

The Parish School Board for the Parish of Tangipahoa, the governing authority of School District No. 39A of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana met in regular session, at 6:30 o'clock  p.m., Tuesday, October 21, 2003, at the regular meeting place of said School Board, the School Board office, 59656 Puleston Road, Amite, Louisiana pursuant to notice duly posted in the manner required by law, with the following members in attendance:

 

Present                                     Absent

 

Robert Caves, President                                   ___X___                                 _______

 

Carl Bardwell                                                   ___X___                                 _______

 

AI Link                                                            ___X___                                 _______

 

Sandra Simmons                                               ___X___                                 _______

 

Maxine Dixon                                       ___X___                                 _______

 

Robert Potts                                                     ___X___                                 _______

 

Leonard Genco                                                ___X___                                 _______

 

Jimmy Richardson                                             ___X___                                 _______

 

Donnie Williams, Sr.                                         ___X___                                 _______

 

 

The meeting was called to order and the roll called, with the above result.

 

Also present were Louis Joseph, Superintendent of Schools and Secretary-Treasurer of the School Board, and Mark Kolwe, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Support Services.

 

The President then announced that the next item on the agenda was to adopt a resolution calling an election in School District No. 39A (Independence) of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana, on a proposition to issue $3,200,000 of general obligation school improvement bonds for the purpose of paying the cost of acquiring land within said District and renovating, constructing and acquiring additions and improvements to the Independence Middle School as part of a school building improvement program, applying to the State Bond Commission for


authorization therefore, employing bond counsel, and providing for other matters in connection therewith. Thereupon, the president called for public comment on the said resolution in compliance with L.R.S. 42: 5.1. After everyone wishing to speak had been heard and full discussion had by the School Board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Genco, seconded by Mr. Richardson and adopted by the following vote:

 

YEAS:             Mr. Richardson, Mr. Potts, Mr. Genco, Mr. Link, Mr. Williams, Mr. Caves, Ms. Dixon, Mrs. Bailey-Simmons, and  Mr. Bardwell

 

NAYS:             None

 

ABSENT:        None

 

RESOLUTION

 

A resolution to extend the school building improvement program in School District No. 39A (Independence) of the Parish of Tangipahoa. State of Louisiana, by calling a special election to be held in the said District to authorize the incurring of debt and the issuance of bonds, making application to the State Bond Commission for authorization therefor, and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

 

WHEREAS, the school buildings in School District No. 39A (Independence) of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana (the "District") are now, and have been for a number of years, inadequate to provide for the increasing numbers of public school students of the District; and

 

WHEREAS, after careful study and review J and after receiving and considering public input) it has been determined that the master plan for the improvement of the school buildings and facilities in school District No. 39A (Independence) should include additions, improvements, renovations and expansions of the buildings and facilities of Independence Middle School; and

 

WHEREAS the cost of acquiring land within the District and the cost of the proposed additions, improvements, renovations and expansions to Independence Middle School and the equipment and furnishings therefore are estimated to be in excess of $3,200,000, of which amount a portion will be paid from the District's share of existing sales tax and other revenues and the remainder should be financed by the issuance, sale and delivery of not to exceed $3,200,000 of general obligation bonds of the District; and

 

WHEREAS, this School Board has determined that the $3,200,000 general obligation school improvement bond issue can be sold pursuant to competitive bidding at a favorable rate, and should

be initiated by the adoption of this resolution calling a special election to issue the said bonds, as

hereinafter provided;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Parish School Board for the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of School District No. 39A (Independence) of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana (the “District”), that:

 

SECTION 1, Election Call. Subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission and under the authority conferred by Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974, Sub-Part A, Part III, Chapter 4 of Title 39, and the applicable provisions of Chapter 5, Chapter 6-A and Chapter 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, a special election is hereby called and ordered to be held in the District on Saturday, January 17, 2004, between the hours of six o’clock (6:00) a.m. and eight o'clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of L.RS. 18:541 and at the said election there shall be submitted to all registered voters in the District who are qualified and entitled to vote under the Constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution of the United States, the following proposition, together with a simple, unbiased,

and concise summary in easily understood language, which sets forth the substance of the proposition, as required by L.R.S. 18:1284, as follows:

 

 

PROPOSITION

 

SUMMARY: AUTHORITY TO ISSUE $3,200,000 20-YEAR, GENERAL OBLIGATION SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT BONDS OF SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 39A OF THE PARISH OF TANGIPAHOA, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING THE COST OF ACQUIRING LAND WITHIN SAID DISTRICT AND PAYING A PORTION OF THE COST OF RENOVATING, CONSTRUCTING AND ACQUIRING ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL, TOGETHER WITH OTHER SCHOOL RELATED FACILITIES, AND EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS THEREFOR.

 

Shall School District No. 39A (Independence) of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana (the "District"), incur debt and issue bonds in the amount of $3,200,000 to run twenty (20) years from the date thereof with interest at a rate not to exceed eight percent (8%) per annum, for the purpose of paying the cost of acquiring land within the District, and paying a portion of the cost of renovating, constructing and acquiring additions and improvements to Independence Middle School, together with all the necessary equipment and furnishings therefore, title to which shall be in the public, which bonds shall be general obligations of the District and will be payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by Article VI,  Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974 and statutory authority supplemental thereto?

 

SECTION 2. Publication of Notice of Election. A Notice of Election shall be published once a week for four (4) 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 fixed for the election. in the Hammond Daily  Star, a newspaper published daily in the City of Hammond, State of Louisiana, and having a general circulation throughout the District, and being the official journal of the Governing Authority, which Notice of Election shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit  “A” and incorporated herein by reference as if it were set forth herein in full.

 

SECTION 3. Polling Places. The polling places set forth in the aforesaid Notice of Election are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold said election, and the Commissioners-in- Charge and Commissioners, respectively I will be the same persons as those designated in accordance with law.

 

SECTION 4. Election Commissioners: Voting Machines. The officers designated to serve as Commissioners-in-Charge and the Commissioners pursuant to Sections 3 and 4 hereof, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accordance with L.R.S. 18:1287, shall hold the said special election as herein provided. and make due returns of said election for the meeting of the Governing Authority to be held Tuesday, January 20,  2004, as provided in Section 4 hereof. All registered voters in the District are entitled to vote in the said special election and voting machines will be used therefore.

 

SECTION 5. Authorization  of  Officers. The Secretary-Treasurer of the Governing Authority is hereby empowered, authorized and directed to arrange for the said special election and to furnish to the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners in ample time for the holding of said election. the necessary equipment. forms and other paraphernalia essential to the proper holding of said election. as provided by the Louisiana Election Code, and the President and/or Secretary-Treasurer 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 election, including but not limited to appropriate submission to the Federal Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended.

 

SECTION 6. Furnishing Election Call to Election Officials. Certified copies of this resolution shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State the Commissioner of Elections of the State

of Louisiana, and the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Custodian of Voting Machines in and for the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana,  and the Chairperson of the Board of Election Supervisors for the Parish of Tangipahoa, and the Registrar of Voters in and for the Parish of Tangipahoa, as notification of the special election herein called in order that each may prepare for said election and  perform their respective functions as required by law.

 

SECTION 7. Application to the State Bond Commission. Application is hereby made to the State Bond Commission for consent and authority to hold the aforesaid election as herein provided, and in the event said proposition carries, for further consent and authority to issue, sell and deliver the bonds as provided for herein, and a certified copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to the State Bond Commission on behalf of the Governing Authority, together with a letter requesting prompt consideration and approval of this application.

 

SECTION 8. Employment of Bond Counsel. A real necessity exists for the employment of qualified bond counsel to assist the Governing Authority in the conduct of the election, and if the election carries, the issuance of the aforesaid bonds, at the lowest cost and interest rate possible, and Foley & Judell. L.L.P.  and Benton, Benton & Benton P. L.C. are qualified to perform such services, and accordingly are hereby employed as co-bond counsel and requested to do and perform comprehensive legal and coordinate professional services, for a fee not to exceed the amount provided in Exhibit "B," based on the amount of bonds actually issued, sold, delivered and paid for. If the election fails to carry, no fee shall be due. A certified copy of this resolution shall be submitted to the Attorney General of the State of Louisiana for his written approval of the employment herein authorized and the fee herein designated, and the Secretary-Treasurer is hereby empowered and directed to make payment of the fee to said co-bond counsel, plus reimbursement of out of pocket expenses. This section constitutes an employment agreement when accepted by the attorneys as provided for below.

 

            And the resolution was declared adopted on this the 21st day of  October, 2003.

 

TANGIPAHOA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

 

____________________________                            ________________________________

Louis Joseph, Secretary-Treasurer                                            Robert Caves, President

 

 

Employment Accepted:

 

Foley & Judell, L.L.P.                                      Benton, Benton & Benton P.L.C.

 

By:________________________                               By:_____________________________

David E. Henderson                                                           Fred G. Benton, Jr.

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, pursuant to the provisions of a resolution adopted by the Parish School Board of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of School District No. 39A (Independence) of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana (the “District”), on October 21, 2003, a special election will be held within the District on SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2004, and at the said election there will be submitted to all registered voters in the District qualified and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution of the United States, the following proposition, together with a simple and unbiased, concise summary of the proposition, in easily understood language, which sets forth the substance of the proposition as required by L.R.S. 18: 1284, as follows;

 

 

 

 

PROPOSITION

 

SUMMARY: AUTHORITY TO ISSUE $3,200,000, 20-YEAR, GENERAL OBLIGATION SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT BONDS OF SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 39A OF THE PARISH OF TANGIPAHOA, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING THE COST OF ACQUIRING LAND WITHIN SAID DISTRICT AND PAYING A PORTION OF THE COST OF RENOVATING, CONSTRUCTING AND ACQUIRING ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL, TOGETHER WITH OTHER SCHOOL RELATED FACILITIES, AND EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS THEREFOR.

 

Shall School District No. 39A (Independence) of the Parish of Tangipahoa. State of Louisiana (the “District”), incur debt and issue bonds in the amount of $3,200,000 to run twenty (20) years from the date thereof, with interest at a rate not to exceed eight percent (8%) per annum, for the purpose of paying the cost of acquiring land within the District, and paying a portion of the cost of renovating, constructing and acquiring additions and improvements to Independence Middle School, together with all the necessary equipment and furnishings therefore, title to which shall be in the public, which bonds shall be general obligations of the District and will be payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974 and statutory authority supplemental thereto?

 

The said special election will be held in the following polling places situated within the District, which polls will open at six o'clock (6:00) a.m., and close at eight o'clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of L.R.S. 18:541, and the polling places are as follows:

 

  

   Precinct                                Precinct Name                                   Precinct Location             

017 (part)                     Amite City Hall                         212 E. Oak Street, Amite

026                              Independence Middle School                145 W. Second St., Independence

027                              Independence City Hall             473 W. Railroad, Independence                 

028                              Independence Elementary School          221 Tiger Ave., Independence

            Gym

11 (part)                       Amite Library                                       739 W. Oak St., Amite

111A (part)                  Independence Middle School                145 W. Second St., Independence

115B (part)                  Independence Middle School                145 W. Second St., Independence

117 (part)                     Independence Elementary School          221 Tiger Ave., Independence

Gym

119 (part)                     Independence Elementary School          221 Tiger Ave., Independence

                                    Gym

121 (part)                     Midway Elementary School                  48405 Hwy. 51, Natalbany

 

Registered voters in the in Precincts 017, 111, 111A, 115B, 117, 119 and 121 referred to above and marked “(part),” and who reside within the limits of the District will be eligible to vote on the proposition, and registered voters in the said precincts who do not reside within the limits of the District will not be eligible to vote on the proposition. All registered voters in all other precincts referred to above are eligible to vote on the proposition.

 

The polling places set forth above are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said election, and the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively, shall be those persons designated according to law.

 

The said special election will be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of  Chapters 5, 6-A and 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, and the officers appointed to hold the said election as provided in this Notice of Special Election, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and

designated in accordance with L.R.S. 18:1287, will make due returns thereof to said Governing Authority.

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Governing Authority will meet at its regular meeting place, the School Board Office, 59656 Puleston Road, Amite, Louisiana, on TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2004,  at 6:30 0' clock p.m., and will then and there, in open and public session, proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the said special election. All registered voters in the District are entitled to vote at said special election and voting machines will be used therefor.

 

 

            THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Amite, Louisiana, on this 21st day of October, 2003.

 

PARISH SCHOOL BOARD OF THE PARISH OF TANGIPAHOA, STATE OF LOUISIANA

 

 

 

______/s/ Louis Joseph ________                             _________/s/RobertCaves____________

Secretary-Treasurer                                                      President

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Maximum fees for comprehensive legal and coordinate professional work in the issuance of General Obligation Bonds:

 

                                                AND NOT

MORE THAN                     MORE THAN                                         FEE

 

$ 405,000                                $ 810,000                    $6,075 + 0.90% of allover $405,000

$ 810,000                                $ 1,350,000                 $9,720 + 0.75% of allover $810,000

$ 1,350,000                             $ 2,700,000                 $13,770 + 0.50% of all over $1,350,000

 

STATE OF LOUISIANA

 

PARISH OF TANGIPAHOA

 

I, Louis Joseph, do hereby certify that I am the duly appointed and qualified Secretary-Treasurer of the Parish School Board for the Parish of Tangipahoa. (the "Governing Authority"),  the governing authority of School District No. 39A of the Parish of  Tangipahoa. State of Louisiana.

 

I do further certify that the foregoing pages constitute a true and correct copy of an excerpt of the minutes of a meeting of the Governing Authority held October 21, 2003, and of a resolution entitled:

 

A resolution to extend the school building improvement program in School District No. 39A (Independence) of the Parish of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana, by calling a special election to be held in the said District to authorize the incurring of debt and the issuance of bonds, making application to the State Bond Commission for authorization therefor, and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

 

IN FAITH WHEREOF. witness my official signature and the impress of the official seal of the Governing Authority at Amite, Louisiana, on this the 21st day of October, 2003.

 

_________________________________

Louis Joseph, Secretary-Treasurer

 

 

            Mr. Thomas Bellavia, Assistant Superintendent recognized Ms. Jenna Bellina, Tangipahoa Parish School System's Elementary Teacher of the Year for 2003-2004. Ms. Bellina received a plaque and a certificate from the Tangipahoa Parish School Board.

 

            It was moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Genco, to approve the Finance Committee Report of  October 7, 2003. Hearing no objection, the motion was unanimously adopted. Following is the report as approved.

 

1.                  Approved the Accounts Payable Check Register dated 8/27/03 – 9/29/03.

2.                  Accepted the low bid of Pon Foods for Bid #03-48,  SFS Meat, Fish, and Poultry (#2).

3.                  Assistant Superintendent Mark Kolwe and Mr. Bret Schnadelbach, Transportation Supervisor, discussed adjustments to Contract Drivers’ Operational Allowances. The 2003-2004 Tangipahoa Parish School System’s bus routes mileage reports reflected a reduction of 398.4 paid miles. This reduction in paid mileage amounts to an estimated savings of $131,500.00. The following recommendations were made:

a.                   Establish 20.0 as minimum mileage amount. Sixty-six drivers would benefit from this change at an annual amount of $85,000.00.

b.                  Increase the parish’s fixed portion of the current operation allowance schedule from $640.00 to $800.00 annually. This increase would benefit all drivers at an annual cost of $34,300.00.

c.                   The expected savings realized from the lower total mileage would offset the cost of the above programs.

 

Approved the staff recommendations regarding revisions to the Bus Drivers’ Operational Allowance, retroactive to the beginning of the 2003-2004 school year.

 

4.         Mr. John Norris discussed costs involved in transferring the claims from Mor-tem to Trinity for Third Party Administrator Services.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Dixon, seconded by Mr. Richardson, to approve the Personnel Committee Report of October 15, 2003 and Addendum #1. Hearing no objection, the motion was unanimously adopted. Following is the report as approved.

 

1.         Teacher – New Hire

 

Lisa Pankey, Teacher – Chesbrough Elementary, effective October 6, 2003

Larry Sylvest, Teacher – Sumner High, effective October 15, 2003

Amanda Foy, Special Education Teacher – Hammond Westside Primary, effective October 13, 2003