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
____________________________________ ____________________________________
SHELDON JONES, SECRETARY MARIE LEWIS, PRESIDENT
RICHLAND PARISH SCHOOL BOARD RICHLAND PARISH SCHOOL BOARD