St. John the Baptist Parish School Board approves multiple policies, contracts and project change orders after divided vote on PR contract

At a regular meeting Aug. 21 at Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria in Reserve, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board approved a package of policy updates, authorized procurement actions and accepted construction change orders affecting district facilities and operations.

The board approved minutes for the July 24 and Aug. 7 meetings by recorded roll calls. Multiple policy actions recommended during public comment by Mr. Edrius Stagg were approved under old business, including Policy ABCB (Qualifications for School Board Members), Policy BCBB (Notification of School Board Meetings), GBRA (Employee Conduct), EBA and GAMA (tobacco- and smoking-related employee and school policies), JCDAA (student smoking/tobacco/marijuana use) and JBE (truancy). Those motions were moved and seconded as shown in the record and carried on roll-call votes with the tallies recorded in the minutes.

In new-business actions, staff member George Miller requested authority to advertise for general liability and fleet insurance; the board voted to approve advertising. The board tabled a request to advertise for a chiller maintenance contract and likewise tabled deliberation on whether to advertise for a transportation fleet mechanic or extend the current contract with an increase. The board approved a one-year extension of the custodial cleaning supplies contract.

A proposed public-relations (PR) contract drew division. A substitute motion to recommend a six-month PR contract failed on a 5-5 split; a subsequent motion to approve the PR contract passed on a 7-2 roll call (Triche, Morris, DeFrancesch, Frizzell, Wallace, Mitchell-Williams and Schum in favor; Burl and Vicknair opposed; Holden absent). The transcript records the votes but does not record the contract vendor name or the contract dollar amount.

Ryan Smith of engineering firm Volkert presented capital-project items. The board tabled acceptance of Change Order 1 for LaPlace Elementary School HVAC upgrades (a credit of $18,000 and no additional days) and accepted Change Order 3 for West St. John Elementary School HVAC upgrades for $16,517.46 and two additional calendar days, funded from the 2022 Capital Improvement Bond. The board also approved a 30-day extension to the JLO HVAC bid period to determine project viability.

Dr. Jaimee Williams introduced the district2025-2026 Pupil Progression Plan; no vote on the plan was recorded at this meeting. Dr. Kimberly Gales-Johnson requested and the board approved replacing inactive members of the Finance and Curriculum committees via random drawing and/or appointment.

The board announced an upcoming retreat at the Reserve library on Aug. 28 and an Insurance Committee meeting on Aug. 27. With business concluded, the meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m.; minutes were signed by Dr. Cleo Perry, Secretary, and Debra Schum, President.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes (July 24, 2025): Motion carried; roll call recorded 8 or 10 yeas as noted in minutes.
- Approve Policy ABCB (Qualifications for School Board Members): 10 yeas, 1 absent; approved.
- Approve Policy BCBB (Notification of School Board Meetings): 10 yeas, 1 absent; approved.
- Approve Policy GBRA (Employee Conduct): 10 yeas, 1 absent; approved.
- Approve Policy EBA (Tobacco-Free Schools/Employee smoking): 10 yeas, 1 absent; approved.
- Approve Policy GAMA (Tobacco-Free Schools/Employee smoking): 9 yeas, 2 absent; approved.
- Approve Policy JCDAA (Student smoking/tobacco/marijuana): 9 yeas, 2 absent; approved.
- Approve Policy JBE (Truancy): 10 yeas, 1 absent; approved.
- Advertise for general liability and fleet insurance: 10 yeas, 1 absent; approved.
- Table chiller maintenance contract advertisement: 10 yeas, 1 absent; approved (tabled).
- Table transportation fleet mechanic advertising/contract extension: 10 yeas, 1 absent; approved (tabled).
- Extend custodial cleaning supplies contract one year: 10 yeas, 1 absent; approved.
- Public-relations contract: substitute six-month recommendation failed (5-5); final motion to approve PR contract passed 7-2, 1 absent.
- Table Change Order 1 (LaPlace Elementary HVAC): tabled (vote recorded as carried to table).
- Accept Change Order 3 (West St. John Elementary HVAC): approved; 1 recorded no vote on at least one roll call as noted.
- Extend JLO HVAC bid by 30 days: approved (10 yeas; absentees noted).

What the record does and does not show

The transcript records motions, movers, seconders and roll-call tallies for each voting item; it does not include the PR contract vendor name, contract dollar amounts for the PR contract, or the full PowerPoint content from the superintendents report. Where the minutes omit specific contract vendor or dollar-amount details, the article reports that those items were not specified in the meeting record.

Next steps

Several policy items were introduced for future consideration; the Pupil Progression Plan was only introduced and will require further board action to adopt. The board will also meet for a retreat on Aug. 28 and hold an Insurance Committee meeting on Aug. 27 as announced in the session.