St. James Parish School Board approves state aid agreements, payments, tutoring stipends and multiple contracts

The St. James Parish School Board on Nov. 12 voted to approve a set of routine business items that included authorization for the superintendent to finalize a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) with the Louisiana Department of the Treasury for three state appropriations, a certificate of payment for architectural work at Lutcher High School, salary-schedule amendments for mentor stipends and high-dosage tutors, and several contracts and facility-use arrangements.

The board approved a resolution allowing the superintendent to execute the CEA once the online paperwork is finalized. According to the presentation, the district received three separate appropriations: $100,000 for the Salute First program, $200,000 for an intern and cosmetology program, and $100,000 for a Saint James High media studio project. "We're required to have this resolution which allows Mister Kimball to sign off on the CEA with the Department of Treasury," the presenter told the board. The motion to adopt the resolution was made and seconded and carried on a voice vote.

The board also approved one certificate of payment to Marie Architects, $50,731.14, to cover design work through the construction-document phase for the Lutcher High School gymnasium renovation. The presenter noted the project will be bid later in the week and asked the board to approve the payout for the design phase; the board approved the payment on motion.

On personnel compensation, the board approved two targeted amendments to the salary schedule funded by state grants rather than the general fund. Kelly Cook described the first amendment as a mentor/mentee stipend structure: mentors will receive $40 per hour and mentees $35 per hour for work performed outside the regular workday, with a stated maximum of two hours per month per mentor and mentee. The second amendment authorizes payment to high-dosage tutors funded by state literacy dollars; the presenter described the stipend as $1,050 per tutoring cycle, delivered in 30-minute sessions (the presentation equated the cycle to roughly 15 total hours in typical scheduling). The board voted to approve the salary-schedule changes.

The board granted permission to issue an RFP for copiers and printers to replace the district's five-year contract that expires in March, seeking multiple vendor options in compliance with procurement laws. It also approved an agreement to contract school psychology services with Sunbelt to cover a vacancy at no additional cost, an updated job description for the payroll supervisor (broadening qualifications to a bachelor's in accounting or equivalent experience), continuation of a NIET contract to support statewide evaluation rollout (funded via Title I), and an ESL interpreter contract following a provider change.

Facility and program items approved included allowing Trinity Bay Construction to use space at Saint Louis Academy for office use a few days per week in exchange for district services. The superintendent was authorized to sign an agreement containing standard requirements — insurance, background checks and a cost to Trinity Bay — subject to available rooming constraints cited by the principal.

On student-safety policy, Jarvis Shanklin asked the board to add an infraction for possession of a knife with a blade under 2.5 inches into the district discipline matrix after legal counsel recommended folding the standalone knife rule into the matrix; the board approved the amendment.

The board entered executive session to discuss pending tax-appeals litigation (Atalco Gramercy LLC f/k/a Gramercy Holdings LLC v. St. James Parish School Board) before the Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals (docket numbers listed on the record). After returning to open session, the board moved to approve the recommendations presented by legal counsel; the motion carried by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.

Votes at a glance: All actions described above were approved on voice votes when motions were made and seconded; recorded movers and seconders where provided included Marty Fauci (mover) and Raymond Grohl (seconder) for minutes approval, Diana Cantillo as mover on the CEA resolution, Tim D'Atelier and Raymond Grohl listed as seconder or mover on several items, and multiple unanimous committee recommendations reported by committee chairs. Specific vote tallies were not recorded on the transcript beyond voice 'aye' responses.

What it means: The board approved funding-handling steps, vendor and contracting decisions, and targeted pay for teacher supports funded by state grants rather than the general fund. The executive session concerned active tax-appeal litigation; the board approved counsel's recommendations on that matter and returned to open session.

Next steps: The superintendent will sign the CEA when final paperwork is available, the district will proceed with procurement and project bidding where noted, and staff will implement the revised salary schedule and contracts as approved.