St. Mary Parish School Board approves job-description change, roofing closeouts and maintenance funds; policies advanced

The St. Mary Parish School Board voted on a package of personnel, facilities and policy items at its Dec. 12 regular meeting in Franklin, approving a revised chief financial officer job description, closeout change orders for reroofing work at Franklin Senior High School, and a District 3 maintenance recommendation to provide up to $70,000 for new track equipment.

The board’s action came after committee reports and staff presentations describing the items. The board approved the consent agenda and several individual motions by voice vote; roll-call tallies were not recorded in the meeting transcript.

Why it matters: The board’s decisions finalize payments and accounting for recent facilities projects at Franklin Senior High and allocate local maintenance funds to replace deteriorated track equipment. Policy updates approved by the board will be circulated following attorney review for most items and sent back to the board for final adoption where noted.

What the board approved and discussed - Minutes and consent agenda: The board approved minutes from the Nov. 14 regular meeting and the consent agenda (which included revised job descriptions, field trips and proclamations). Miss Griffin moved to approve the minutes; Miss Jones seconded. Mr. Mancuso moved to approve the consent agenda; Miss Dennis seconded. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Revised chief financial officer (CFO) job description: The board approved a revision that, as presented, shortens the qualifications section to read "bachelor's degree in the field of accounting and MBA/CPA preferred" and deletes a prior phrasing referencing certification. Miss Anselm made the motion; Miss Griffin seconded. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Franklin Senior High School reroofing closeouts (phase 1 and phase 2): The board approved closeout change orders that issue credits for unused allowances on two reroofing phases at Franklin Senior High School. A district representative and a project contractor explained that original allowances covered anticipated deck replacement and protective coverings for occupied spaces; work done during summer months and lower-than-expected decking repairs reduced those allowances. - Phase 1: the project was described as an $888,000 job with a credit of $8,000. The presenter noted uncertainty about an exact revised total during the discussion. - Phase 2: district staff reported a larger credit of about $138,000 due to lower-than-anticipated decking replacement and less required protective covering. - Motion to approve the closeout change orders for both phases was made by Miss Brent and seconded by Miss Anselm. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- District 3 maintenance recommendation: The District 3 maintenance committee recommended up to $70,000 from District 3 maintenance funds to purchase new track equipment for Morgan City High School stadium after committee members reported the existing equipment was unusable and the track’s lane widths differ from other parish facilities. The committee’s recommendation was placed in the form of a motion and approved (voice vote).

- Certificate of substantial completion for Phase 1 reroofing: The board approved the project architect’s recommended certificate of substantial completion for Phase 1, which included a list of outstanding punch-list items. The maintenance committee had recommended approval. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Policy committee recommendations: The policy committee recommended revisions to a package of district policies (items labeled a–j in committee materials) and the board voted to approve those policies with the attorney’s suggested revisions. Two policies (items k and l) were tabled for additional legal review and potential action at the January meeting. Outcome: items a–j approved; k and l tabled.

- Executive session: The board voted to go into executive session; the motion was made by Mr. Mancuso and seconded by Miss Jones. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

Discussion vs. formal action: Several items were explained by staff or committee chairs prior to votes. For the roofing projects, a contractor and project architect described why allowances were not fully used; for the maintenance funding the District 3 committee explained the equipment needs and lane-width issue. The board’s votes memorialized approvals and closeouts rather than authorizing new design or construction work.

What was not decided or remains pending: Two policy items (k and l) were sent back for additional legal review; the transcript does not record final dollar totals after the phase 1 credit was applied, only the amounts of the original project and the credit as stated by the presenter.

Lesser items: The board recognized district students and employees of the month and announced that some recognitions will be presented in January; those ceremonial recognitions were not part of the board’s formal action items.

Next steps: The board will consider the tabled policies (k and l) at the January regular meeting and will record any further financial reconciliation for the roofing projects as needed.