OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE

RICHLAND PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Regular Session

 

The Richland Parish School Board met at its offices in Rayville, Louisiana, on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at 6:00 p.m.

 

Agenda       Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance;

Item 1

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Agenda      

Item 2         Members present: Rev. Eugene Young, Jr., Mr. Joe Chapman Dr. Georgia Ineichen, Mr. Chris Pruitt, Ms. Marie Lewis, Mr. Billy Calvert, Mr. James Hough, Mr. Moses Wilkins

                  Members absent: Mr. Kevin Eppinette

 

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Agenda      

Item 3         Mr. Chapman moved, seconded by Mr. Wilkins to approve the March 1, 2019, regular session minutes before publishing in the Official Journal;

 

                  VOTE:   Yeas: All              Nays: None            Absent: Mr. Eppinette

 

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Agenda        

Item 4         Rev. Young moved, seconded by Dr. Ineichen to approve the agenda; with the addition of Item 7 – Consider request for extension of lease contract for 16th Section property located at W6516T16MR5E to Lannie Philley/Delta Land & Farm Management Company, Inc. for five additional years in the amount of $25,500.00 per year;

 

                  VOTE:   Yeas: All              Nays: None            Absent: Mr. Eppinette

 

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Agenda      

Item 5         Mr. Wilkins moved, seconded by Rev. Young to Table Agenda Item 5 until May 14, 2019 recognizing the Delhi High School Powerlifting Team as 2019 LHSAA Division V State Champions;

 

                  VOTE:   Yeas: All              Nays: None            Absent: Mr. Eppinette

 

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Agenda      

Item 6         The Board recognized the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Voice of Democracy, Patriot’s Pen, and Americanism Award Winners;

 

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Agenda        

Item 7         Mr. Hough moved, seconded by Mr. Pruitt to approve request for extension of lease contract 16th Section property located at W6516T16NR5E to Lannie Philley/Delta Land & Farm Management Company, Inc. for five additional years in the amount of $25,500.00 per year;

 

                  VOTE:   Yeas: All              Nays: None            Absent: Mr. Eppinette

 

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Agenda       The Board received report on Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) Grant;

Item 8        

 

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Yeas: All                       Nays: None                              Absent: Mr. Eppinette

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agenda

Item 11       The Board received notice and read aloud that at its meeting to be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Parish School Board Office, 411 Foster Street, Rayville, Louisiana, the Parish of Richland, State of Louisiana, plans to consider adopting a resolution ordering and calling an election to be held within School District No. 1 of the Parish of Richland, State of Louisiana to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds;

               

                       VOTE:   Yeas: All                      Nays: None        Absent: Mr. Eppinette

 

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Agenda       The following resolution was offered by Rev. Eugene Young and seconded by Mr. Calvert:

Item 12

 

RESOLUTION

 

A resolution declaring the intention of the Parish School Board of theParish of Richland, State of Louisiana, that certain expenditures made in connection with capital school projects be reimbursed with the proceeds of tax-exempt borrowings; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

 

WHEREAS, the Parish School Board of the Parish of Richland, State of Louisiana (the "School Board"), acting as the governing authority of School District No. 1 of the Parish of Richland, State of Louisiana (the "District") is proposing to undertake various projects (collectively, the "Project") which consist of improvements to school facilities and other capital expenditures forschool purposes; and

 

                  WHEREAS, the cost of the Project is anticipated to be funded by tax-exempt obligations of the District (the "Bonds"); and

 

WHEREAS, it is anticipated that the School Board may make certain expenditures in connection with the Project prior to the proceeds being available from the Bonds;

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the Parish School Board of the Parish of Richland, State of Louisiana, acting as the governing authority of School District No. 1 of the Parish of Richland, State of Louisiana, that:

 

SECTION 1. Declaration of Official Intent. Prior to the delivery of the Bonds, the Issuer anticipates that it may pay a portion of the costs of the Project from the General Fund. The Project consists of improvements to school facilities and other capital expenditures for school purposes and paying the costs incurred in connection with the issuance of Bonds therefor. Upon the issuance of the Bonds, the Issuer reasonably expects to reimburse any such expenditures of other available funds from a portion of the proceeds of the Bonds. Any such allocation of proceeds of the Bonds for reimbursement will be with respect to capital expenditures (as defined in Reg. 1.150-1(b)) and will be made upon the delivery of the Bonds and not later than eighteen months after the later of (i) the date such expenditure was paid or (ii) the date on which the Project was placed in service, but in no event more than three years after the expenditure was paid. This Section is intended to be a declaration of official intent within the meaning of Reg. 1.150-2.

 

                  SECTION 2. Employment of Bond Counsel. This Governing Authority finds and determines that a real necessity exists for the employment of special counsel in connection with the issuance of the Bonds, and accordingly, Foley & Judell, L.L.P., of New Orleans, Louisiana, as Bond Counsel, is hereby employed to do and perform work of a traditional legal nature as bond counsel with respect to the issuance and sale of said Bonds. Said Bond Counsel shall prepare and submit to this Governing Authority for adoption all of the proceedings incidental to the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of such Bonds, shall counsel and advise this Governing Authority as to the issuance and sale thereof and shall furnish its opinions covering the legality of the issuance of the Bonds. The fee of Bond Counsel for each series of bonds shall be fixed at a sum not exceeding the fee allowed by the Attorney General’s fee guidelines for such bond counsel work in connection with the issuance of general obligation bonds and based on the amount of said Bonds actually issued, sold, delivered and paid for, plus "out-of-pocket" expenses, said fees to be contingent upon the issuance, sale and delivery of said Bonds. The Business Manager is hereby authorized and directed to execute, and this Governing Authority hereby agrees to and accepts the terms of, the engagement letter of Bond Counsel appended hereto. A certified copy of this resolution shall be submitted to the Attorney General of the State of Louisiana for his written approval of said employment and of the fees herein designated, and the Business Manager is hereby empowered and directed to provide for payment of the work herein specified upon completion thereof and under the conditions herein enumerated without further approval of this Governing Authority********

 

SECTION 3. Employment of Municipal Advisor. The Issuer hereby retains Argent Advisors, Inc., of Ruston, Louisiana, Registered Municipal Advisors, to act as its Municipal Advisor (“MA”) pursuant to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the rules promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Issuer hereby acknowledges that it is represented by the MA and will rely upon the advice of the MA with respect to the Bonds. The fee to be paid the MA shall be payable solely from the proceeds of the Bonds when and if issued, and the amount thereof shall be subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission. The Superintendent and/or Business Manager is hereby authorized and directed, in their discretion, to execute any contract the MA may require with respect to the engagement.

 

                 SECTION 4. Effective Date. This resolution shall be effective upon adoption.

 

This resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:

MEMBERS:                              YEAS:     NAYS:           ABSENT:         ABSTAINING:

 

Billy Calvert                                             √

Eugene Young Jr.                        √      

Moses Wilkins                                             √    

James Hough                                                            √

Georgia Ineichen                         √      

Marie Lewis                                             √

Joe Chapman                                          √        

Kevin Eppinette                                                                            √

Chris Pruitt                                  √

                       

And the resolution was declared adopted on this, 9th day of April, 2019.

                 

/s/ Sheldon Jones                                               /s/ Marie Lewis

Secretary                                                        President

 

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Agenda

Item 13       Dr. Ineichen moved, seconded Mr. Hough the adoption of resolution in support of Minimum Foundation Program proposed by the Board of Secondary and Elementary Education;

 

                  VOTE:   Yeas: All                          Nays: None                  Absent:  Mr. Eppinette

 

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Agenda     Mr. Hough moved, seconded by Mr. Chapman to approve a Sabbatical Leave Request;

Item 14

 

                  VOTE:   Yeas: All                          Nays: None                  Absent:  Mr. Eppinette

                                   

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Agenda    The Board received the monthly financial reports:

Item 15      a) School Lunch

                   b) Sales Tax Monthly Receipts

                   c) Financial – General Fund

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Agenda      The Board received information on upcoming school district events;

Item 16

           

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Agenda       The Board received a report from The Youth Initiative of Louisiana, Inc.;

Item 17

 

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Agenda

Item 18       Dr. Ineichen moved, seconded by Mr. Calvert to approve the Superintendent’s written recommendation of termination;

 

                  VOTE:   Yeas: All                  Nays: None                  Absent:  Mr. Eppinette

 

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Agenda

Item 19       Dr. Ineichen moved, seconded by Mr. Chapman approving the Board entering into executive session concerning pending litigation at 7:42PM;

 

                  VOTE:   Yeas: All                  Nays: None                  Absent:  Mr. Eppinette

 

                  Dr. Ineichen moved, seconded by Mr. Pruitt to reconvene from executive session at 8:23PM;

 

                  VOTE:   Yeas: All                  Nays: None                  Absent:  Mr. Eppinette

 

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Agenda       Mr. Hough moved, seconded by Rev. Young to adjourn the meeting

Item 20

 

                  VOTE:   Yeas: All                  Nays: None                  Absent:  Mr. Eppinette

 

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SHELDON JONES, SECRETARY                                 MARIE LEWIS, PRESIDENT

RICHLAND PARISH SCHOOL BOARD              RICHLAND PARISH SCHOOL BOARD