OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE

RICHLAND PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Regular Session

 

The Richland Parish School Board met at the Richland Parish School Board Office, Rayville, Louisiana, on January 9, 2018, at 6:00 p.m.

 

Agenda

Item 1         Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.

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Agenda     

Item 2        Members present: Mr. Eugene Young, Jr., Mr. Kevin Eppinette, Ms. Alece Copeland, Mr. Billy Calvert, Mr. Chris Pruitt, Mr. Moses Wilkins, Ms. Marie Lewis

                  Members absent: Mr. James Hough, Mr. Joe Chapman

 

 

The board approved the amending of this agenda to add the word draft to item #7.

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Agenda       

Item 3         Mr. Eppinette moved, seconded by Mr. Calvert to approve the December 12, 2017, Regular Session Minutes before publishing in the Official Journal.

                   

            VOTE:   Yeas: All          Nays: None        Absent:       Mr. Hough, Mr. Chapman

 

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Agenda     

Item 4        Mr. Calvert moved, seconded by Mr. Eppinette to approve changing the place of the regular board meeting scheduled for February 13, 2018, from the Board Room at 411 Foster Street, Rayville, LA to Rayville Rosenwald/Eula D. Britton Alumni Center at 103 Cotton Street, Rayville, LA;

 

            VOTE:   Yeas: All          Nays: None        Absent:       Mr. Hough, Mr. Chapman

 

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Agenda     

Item 5         The Board recognized the Christmas Card Contest winners from Rayville High School.

                                   

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Agenda       

Item 6         Mr. Eppinette moved, seconded by Mr. Young to table recognizing post and district level winners of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Competition;

                   

            VOTE:   Yeas: All          Nays: None        Absent:       Mr. Hough, Mr. Chapman

 

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Agenda       

Item 7         Mr. Eppinette moved, seconded by Ms. Copeland to approve the draft of the 2017-2018 Pupil Progression Plan.

 

            VOTE:   Yeas: All          Nays: None        Absent:       Mr. Hough, Mr. Chapman

 

 

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Agenda       

Item 8          Mr. Eppinette moved, seconded by Mr. Young to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement by and between State of Louisiana and Louisiana Department of Economic Development and Eagle Solar Group, LLC; Resolution as follows:

 

RESOLUTION

A RESOLUTION OF THE RICHLAND PARISH SCHOOL BOARD APPROVING LA5 RICHLAND, LLC FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE INDUSTRIAL TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM LOCATED IN RICHLAND PARISH, LOUISIANA

 

WHEREAS, Article 7, Section 21(F) of the Louisiana Constitution provides for the Board of Commerce and Industry (“BCI”), with the approval of the Governor, to approve contracts for the exemption of ad valorem taxes of a new manufacturing establishment or an addition to an existing manufacturing establishment, on such terms and conditions as the board, with the approval of the Governor, deems in the best interest of the state; and

 

WHEREAS, LA5 Richland, LLC has applied for an Industrial Tax Exemption (“ITE”) and seeks approval of the BCI and the Governor for a contract granting that exemption; and

 

WHEREAS, Governor Edwards, through Executive Order JBE 16-73, has set forth  the conditions for his approval of ITE contracts, and affirmed that those conditions are in the best interest of the state of Louisiana; and

 

WHEREAS, Executive Order JBE 16-73 provides  that ITE contracts should  be premised upon job and payroll creation at  new or expanded manufacturing plants or establishments and that the percentage of exemption from ad valorem taxes, and length of the contract for such exemption, may vary depending upon the nature of the project and its economic development benefit in accordance with guidance received from the Secretary of Economic Development and concurred in by the  appropriate parish and/or Richland Parish School Board, Police Jury, and sheriff; and

 

WHEREAS, Executive Order JBE 16-73  mandates that each exemption contract  approved by the Governor shall include  as Exhibit “A”  a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement for the ITE between the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, and the applicant for the ITE contract, which provides  for the creation or retention of jobs, and provides  for the exercise of the option in the Louisiana Constitution for the term or percentage of the parish ad valorem tax exemption granted in the contract, and provides for the reduction or loss of the exemption based upon the applicant’s compliance with the contract.

 

WHEREAS,Executive Order JBE 16-73 further requires that this Richland Parish School Board together with the other required local governmental entities signify consent to the terms of the exemption by resolution and the sheriff of this parish shall signify consent to the terms of the exemption by letter. Executive Order JBE 16-73 further provides that the resolutions of approval and the sheriff’s approval shall be attached as Exhibit “B” to the ITE contract between the BCI and LA5 Richland, LLC; and

 

WHEREAS, LA5 Richland, LLC and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development  have advised that certain terms and conditions forming Exhibit “A” to the Industrial Tax Exemption Contract pending  approval before the Louisiana Board of Commerce and Industry have been reached and have conveyed the same to this Richland Parish School Board, and  thus this matter is now ready for a determination  of approval of this Richland Parish School Board as required by Executive Order JBE 16-73,

 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,  upon consideration of the foregoing and the public discussion held this day, that this Police Jury approves the terms of the Industrial Tax Exemption contract  based on the inclusion of the following terms and conditions  into Exhibit “A” ( the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, and LA5 Richland, LLC) to the Industrial Tax Exemption contract between the Board of Commerce and Industry and LA5 Richland, LLC with respect to its manufacturing plant located on approximately 2,000 acres on parcel 0200784200A and multiple other contiguous parcels on New Ground Rd, Rayville, Louisiana at 32°32'8.50"N  91°37'1.37"W.

 

___2_____   New Direct Permanent Jobs at the Manufacturing Establishment

_80,000__    Payroll (annually)

___5 years   Term of Initial Exemption Contract

_100%____ Percentage of Initial Exemption Contract

___3 years _Term of Renewal Exemption Contract

___80%____Percentage of Renewal Exemption Contract

___No_____Reduction/Loss of Exemption for non-compliance

 

This Richland Parish School Board further authorizes the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, on behalf of the Board of Commerce and Industry, to include this resolution in Exhibit “B” to the Industrial Tax Exemption Contract between the Board of Commerce and Industry and LA5 Richland, LLC,

 

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by this Richland Parish School Board that a copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to Board of Commerce and Industry and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development.

 

THE FORGOING RESOLUTION WAS READ, AND, AFTER PUBLIC DISCUSSION, THE ROLL WAS CALLED ON THE ADOPTION THEREOF AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS:

 

YEAS: Ms. Lewis, Ms. Copeland, Mr. Young, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Wilkins, Mr. Eppinette, and Mr. Pruitt

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Mr. Chapman and Mr. Hough

ABSTAIN: None

 

AND the resolution was declared adopted on this JANUARY 9TH, 2018.

 

 Sheldon Jones

_______________________________

Secretary and Treasurer

RICHLAND PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

 

                         ROLL CALL VOTE:            

                         Yeas:              Mr. Young, Ms. Copeland, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Pruitt, Mr. Wilkins, Mr. Eppinette, Ms. Lewis

                          Nays:             None

                         Abstain:         None

                         Absent:          Mr. Chapman, Mr. Hough

 

                                                            Motion Carried

 

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Agenda       

Item 9          The Board recognized the outgoing Board President, Mr. Kevin Eppinette, for his services.

 

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Agenda      

Item 10       Mr. Young moved, seconded by Mr. Pruitt to approve the following revised and new policies:

 

                  FILE:         DFN – Sale of Buildings and Land

                                    ECA – Authorized Use of Equipment

                                    GBC – Recruitment

                                    GBRIB – Sick Leave

 

 

            VOTE:   Yeas: All                  Nays: None        Absent:     Mr. Hough, Mr. Chapman

 

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Agenda        

Item 11        The board received the following revised policies:

                     FILE:       EE – Child Nutrition Program Management

                                    IDCJ – Supplemental Educational Services (DELETE)

                                    IDDH -  English Learner Program

                                    IFDA – Parental Rights/Student Rights of Privacy

                                    JR – Student Privacy and Education Records

 

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Agenda      

Item 12    Mr. Young moved, seconded by Mr. Wilkins to approve the personnel chart;

 

NAME

R/S

POSITION

ASSGN

EFFECTIVE

RETIREMENT:

 

 

 

 

Crawford, Cheryl

WF

Sp. Ed. Spvsr.

CO

1/8/18

MEDICAL SABBATICAL:

 

 

 

 

Bennett, Katherine

WF

Psychologist

CO

1/8/18 – 4/3/18

EXTENDED SICK LEAVE:

 

 

 

 

Davidson, Shirley

WF

Bus Operator

SES

12/1/17-12/15/17

LEAVE WITHOUT PAY:

 

 

 

 

Banks, Howard

BM

Paraprofessional

RHS

12/1/17

Cardin, Jennifer

WF

Teacher

RJH

12/12/17 – 12/15/17

Cleveland, Lee Dell

BM

Bus Operator

HRE

12/1/17 – 12/15/17

Jackson, Dana

WF

Paraprofessional

RES

12/1/17, 12/14/17 .79, 12/15/17

Webb, Rosa

BF

Custodian

SES

12/1/17 – 12/15/17

Worsley, Rise’

WF

Teacher

DES

2/13/18 – 2/15/18

NEW HIRES:

 

 

 

 

Daniels, David

WM

Custodian

CO

1/22/18

Reese, Glenda

BF

Custodian

RHS

1/10/18

TRANSFER:

 

 

 

 

Stanley, Mary

WF

Title 1 Para to

Sp. Ed. Para

HRE

1/11/18

Meeks, Constance

WF

Clerk @ SES to

Scrtry/Bkkpr

CO

1/10/18

CORRECTION:

 

 

 

 

Rieger, Doris  (Retirement)

WF

Paraprofessional

HRE

1/8/18

 

 

                                                                                   

            VOTE:   Yeas: All          Nays: None                   Absent:     Mr. Hough, Mr. Chapman

           

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Agenda     

Item 13      The Board received monthly financial reports:

                 a) School Lunch                                                                                      

                  b) Sales Tax Monthly Receipts                                                   

                  c) Financial - General Fund

 

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Agenda     

Item 14     The Board received information on upcoming school district events.

 

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Agenda     

Item 15      Mr. Eppinette moved, seconded by Mr. Wilkins to enter into executive session to discuss litigation entitled United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Richland Parish School Board, Defendants, CV86-1053 filed August 7, 1986, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Monroe Division.

 

            VOTE:   Yeas: All          Nays: None                   Absent:     Mr. Hough, Mr. Chapman

 

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 ~~ Upon reconvening, Mr. Eppinette moved, seconded by Mr. Young to adjourn the meeting ~~

 

            VOTE:   Yeas: All          Nays: None             Absent:           Mr. Hough, Mr. Chapman

 

 

 

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SHELDON JONES, SECRETARY                                MARIE LEWIS, PRESIDENT

RICHLAND PARISH SCHOOL BOARD                       RICHLAND PARISH SCHOOL BOARD