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St. John the Baptist board OKs foundation setup, Head Start budgets and accounting contract; superintendent cites vaccine event and return to in-person learning
Summary
Trustees approved an engagement with JonesWalker to create a district foundation (with a $10,000 Marathon donation), multiple Head Start budget and program items, acceptance of an excess workers' comp proposal and a contract with accounting firm Postlewaite & Netterville; the superintendent reported a March 5 vaccine event and that full in-person learning resumed March 11.
The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board on March 11 approved a package of administrative and programmatic items, including authorization to engage law firm JonesWalker to set up a foundation to support students and teachers, several Head Start program approvals for 2021–22, acceptance of an excess workers' compensation proposal and a contract for accounting services.
Superintendent Dr. Lynett Hookfin told trustees a district-wide vaccination event was held at the Ochsner facility in LaPlace on March 5 and that administration was working with Ochsner to schedule another clinic. Hookfin also announced the district returned to 100% in-person learning on March 11, 2021.
On the foundation, Hookfin said the engagement with JonesWalker would establish a foundation to help provide "excellent education" supports; she told the board Marathon had donated $10,000 to cover foundation set-up costs. Public commenter Yvette Scioneaux asked about the foundation’s purpose and expectations for students and staff; Hookfin responded that the foundation’s sole purpose is to support students and teachers. The board approved the engagement agreement (motion by Sanders; second Schum).
The board approved a series of Head Start items presented by Patricia Triche: the Head Start Narrative and Budget for 2021–2022; the Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Plan for 2021–2022; a 2021–2022 COLA funding adjustment; the 2020–2021 Head Start self-assessment; and the Head Start Cost Allocation Plan. Each Head Start item passed on roll-call votes as recorded.
The board accepted an Excess Workers’ Compensation Policy proposal (noted in the meeting as $100,000 annually) and approved a contract with Postlewaite & Netterville (P&N) for accounting services for the 2020–2021 year while the district seeks a permanent chief financial officer; Mr. Naquin of P&N told the board the firm had corrected and submitted the AFR and completed bank reconciliations for 2019–2020. The P&N contract was approved after discussion over whether to add a 30-day termination clause.
Trustees also used the meeting to recognize district principals and to read a tribute to principals' pandemic leadership. Board member Patricia Triche read of principals' "steadfast, dedicated, and compassionate" leadership and recognized Robert Schaff of John L. Ory Communication Arts Magnet School as Louisiana Assistant Principal of the Year.
Votes at a glance (recorded at meeting): approval to engage JonesWalker for foundation set-up (approved, motion by Sanders); Head Start Narrative and Budget 2021–2022 (approved); Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Plan 2021–2022 (approved); Head Start COLA adjustment (approved); Head Start self-assessment 2020–2021 (approved); Head Start Cost Allocation Plan (approved); acceptance of Excess Workers’ Compensation proposal (approved); contract with Postlewaite & Netterville for accounting services (approved).
Next steps: administration will proceed with the foundation engagement, present any requested implementation details on Head Start and accounting transitions, and coordinate further vaccine clinics with Ochsner as available.
