St. John the Baptist Parish School Board approves personnel and operational policies, insurance renewal and vendor awards

The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board on Dec. 12 approved a series of personnel, records and operational policies and took several procurement actions affecting district operations.

The board voted to adopt a revised sick-leave policy (GBRIB) and a related maternity and adoptive-leave policy (GBRIC). GBRIB sets a minimum of 10 sick days for employees hired for the school year, allows unused sick leave to accumulate, and defines an extended-sick-leave program that permits up to 90 days of extended sick leave within a six-year employment period (extended leave paid at 65% of salary while in effect). The policy also requires physician or clinician certification for absences of six or more consecutive days and establishes procedures for independent medical review when the validity of a certification is questioned. The motion to approve GBRIB passed on a roll call of 9 yeas (Burl, Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Mamou, Schum, Vicknair, Wallace) with two members absent.

The board also approved GBRIC, which frames maternity leave as a "reasonable time" based on medical certification, allows use of accumulated sick leave for pregnancy-related disability, and permits up to 30 days of extended sick leave for maternity or adoptive purposes within the six-year extended-leave window defined in GBRIB. That motion likewise recorded nine yeas with two absent.

Other policy actions included approval of revised Administrative Records policy (CI), which clarifies public access, custodial duties of the Superintendent or designee, confidentiality categories (including limits on duplication of privileged personnel and pupil records) and retention/disposal procedures; adoption of a new Donations and Gifts policy (DFG) that prohibits acceptance of certain gifts that create conflicts and requires documentation and public disclosure of donations; and approval of an updated AED and Cardiac Emergency Plan policy (EBBH) directing AED placement, training requirements and coordination with local emergency services. Each of those items was approved by roll call as shown in the official minutes.

On procurement and financial matters the board voted to renew the Excess Workers' Compensation policy with Gallagher for one year (10 yeas, 1 absent) and to award the Third-Party Administrator (TPA) contract to LOCA (10 yeas, 1 absent). The board also approved advertising an RFP for MIST licensing. The minutes record public comment on several items prior to votes, including comments from Mr. Anthony Miller and other community members on surplus property and procurement items.

In separate action the board declared multiple district properties and older equipment items as surplus after public comment; the motion carried with a 9-1-1 roll call. Several agenda items (including a requested increase to a fleet-mechanic contract) were pulled at the request of the presenter.

The meeting packet lists statutory references for policy provisions (for example, La. Rev. Stat. Ann. chapters cited in the policy appendices); specific policy texts adopted are included in the board packet and in the minutes.

The board adjourned at 8:19 p.m. The actions above are based on the roll-call motions recorded in the official meeting transcript and minutes.