School board adopts revised vacation policy, authorizes USDA transport bids and schedules demolition meeting; hiring-freeze lift tabled
July 18, 2026 | St. John the Baptist Parish, School Boards, Louisiana
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At its June 17 meeting, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board approved several nonfiscal and personnel items and took procedural steps on facilities and procurement.
The board adopted Revised Policy GBRK (Vacation Leave) with amendments after discussion about floating holidays for 260-day employees. Garrette Trosclair, president of SJAE, told the board that the two floating holidays are part of the 260-day employees’ calendar and noted concerns if those days were removed. The substitute motion to approve the revised policy with amendments carried (motion by Sanders; second by Wallace).
On procurement, the board voted to advertise for bids to transport USDA commodities to all cafeterias for the 2021–22 school year (motion by Sanders; second by Triche). The motion carried with eight yeas recorded.
Mr. Albert Burl, III announced a Special Board Meeting on June 29 to approve contractors to begin demolition work at Leon Godchaux Grammar School.
On staffing and hiring policy, Mrs. Nia Mitchell-Williams moved to lift the hiring freeze to ensure compliance with state requirements by LDOE; Mrs. Schum seconded. A substitute motion by Mr. DeFrancesch to table the hiring-freeze lift (second by Mr. Holden) carried, effectively postponing the lift. Dr. Hookfin said staffing details would be rolled out to principals starting with teacher categories.
The board then convened in executive session at 8:36 p.m. to discuss the professional competencies of Superintendent Dr. Lynett Hookfin; the board reconvened in regular session at 10:01 p.m. and adjourned at 10:04 p.m.
Public commenters raised several operational concerns during the meeting: maintenance worker Miguel Ortis reported inconsistent overtime pay during the pandemic period, and public commenter Yvette Scioneaux requested paid leave for employees who contract COVID-19; Dr. Stacey Spies explained current positivity rates and leave guidance. The board said it would seek guidance from the Legislative Auditor on certain pandemic compensation questions.
The board adopted Revised Policy GBRK (Vacation Leave) with amendments after discussion about floating holidays for 260-day employees. Garrette Trosclair, president of SJAE, told the board that the two floating holidays are part of the 260-day employees’ calendar and noted concerns if those days were removed. The substitute motion to approve the revised policy with amendments carried (motion by Sanders; second by Wallace).
On procurement, the board voted to advertise for bids to transport USDA commodities to all cafeterias for the 2021–22 school year (motion by Sanders; second by Triche). The motion carried with eight yeas recorded.
Mr. Albert Burl, III announced a Special Board Meeting on June 29 to approve contractors to begin demolition work at Leon Godchaux Grammar School.
On staffing and hiring policy, Mrs. Nia Mitchell-Williams moved to lift the hiring freeze to ensure compliance with state requirements by LDOE; Mrs. Schum seconded. A substitute motion by Mr. DeFrancesch to table the hiring-freeze lift (second by Mr. Holden) carried, effectively postponing the lift. Dr. Hookfin said staffing details would be rolled out to principals starting with teacher categories.
The board then convened in executive session at 8:36 p.m. to discuss the professional competencies of Superintendent Dr. Lynett Hookfin; the board reconvened in regular session at 10:01 p.m. and adjourned at 10:04 p.m.
Public commenters raised several operational concerns during the meeting: maintenance worker Miguel Ortis reported inconsistent overtime pay during the pandemic period, and public commenter Yvette Scioneaux requested paid leave for employees who contract COVID-19; Dr. Stacey Spies explained current positivity rates and leave guidance. The board said it would seek guidance from the Legislative Auditor on certain pandemic compensation questions.
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