Committee approves LSBA code of conduct and meeting calendar; personnel appointments noted

The St. Bernard Parish School Board committee on Jan. 14 took three formal items: it adopted the Louisiana School Boards Association (LSBA) code of conduct for board members, approved a resolution setting committee and regular meeting dates for 2025 (with three calendar exceptions), and recorded personnel changes that included naming Maggie Roussell as principal of Merrill Elementary and welcoming Natalie Albers as personnel director.

Code of conduct: The committee voted 8–0 to adopt the LSBA code of conduct. The motion was made by Missus Dysart and seconded by Missus Creason; the clerk recorded the tally as 8–0 in favor. The committee did not debate the code in detail after a brief presentation by Missus Phelps, who noted the LSBA encourages boards to adopt the code as a set of guiding principles.

Meeting calendar resolution: The committee voted 8–0 to approve a resolution setting committee meetings for the second Tuesday of each month and regular meetings for the fourth Tuesday, with three exceptions: the regular meeting in February will occur on the third Tuesday (because of the State School Board Association meeting), the November meeting will be held Nov. 18 (instead of the fourth Tuesday) because of Thanksgiving, and the Dec. 9 committee meeting will be followed immediately by the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Motion to pass the resolution was recorded as made by Missus Creason and seconded by Missus White; the vote was 8–0 in favor.

Personnel items: The committee packet included routine personnel changes and a memorial note for Jonathan Perez, a Chalmette High School teacher who recently died; committee members offered condolences to Perez’s family. The committee welcomed Natalie Albers in her new role as personnel director and announced the appointment of Maggie Roussell as principal of Merrill Elementary. Committee materials described Roussell’s background: she is a St. Bernard Parish product who participated in the district’s Teach St. Bernard certification program, served as a teacher leader and literacy coach, and had been assistant principal at Merrill for two years; speakers said she helped the school achieve a B letter grade in the most recent rating cycle.

Votes at a glance: - Adopt LSBA code of conduct for Louisiana school board members — Motion by Missus Dysart; seconded by Missus Creason; outcome: passed, 8–0. - Adopt resolution setting committee and regular meeting dates for 2025 (with specified exceptions) — Motion by Missus Creason; seconded by Missus White; outcome: passed, 8–0.

The committee did not take separate roll-call votes for the personnel appointments during the committee item as recorded; personnel actions were presented and acknowledged by the board during the personnel segment.