Harlan Kirgan
Instead of approving two job contracts presented by Superintendent Patrick Jenkins, the School Board’s Executive Committee voted to have them reviewed by legal counsel and advertised.
Jenkins apparently was prepared to sign contracts for a construction manager and communication specialist that he presented to the board’s executive committee on March 27.
Committee action must be approved by the full board, which meets April 6.
The proposed construction manager was Don Simpson, a civil engineer of Zachary, who Jenkins said he worked with before becoming St. Landry Parish superintendent in October 2016.
The construction manager was to be contracted at a $400 daily rate and a maximum of three days a week for a maximum of $62,400 a year.
Kyle Boss, a south St. Landry Parish board member, asked, “We don’t have anybody in our parish or in our school system?”
And, Hazel Sias, an Opelousas board member, said, “...I’m like Mr. Boss, I don’t think we advertised for the job and we may have somebody in this area who may be retired and could fill that position.”
Jenkins wanted to contract Simpson to work with existing projects and assess facilities in anticipation of a launching a $90 million bond issue in 2018.
A facility assessment could cost $100,000 of contracted separately, Jenkins said in pointing out the cost-savings in contracting Simpson.
Jenkins said he did not advertise the construction manager or communication specialist jobs because they are contract positions.
Sias said, “Any time we pay any kind of money we should, whether it is salary or not, be advertised.”
Jenkins said the construction manager contract would be paid out of an existing $10 million bond issue that has paid for Leonville Elementary construction and new roofs at several facilities.
Candace Gerace, a north St. Landry Parish Board member, made Jenkins declare the construction manager would not be paid for driving from Zachary to St. Landry Parish.
Gerace also urged Jenkins to hire within the parish if possible.
Jenkins never clarified to board members whether the construction manager would replace, Poche’ Prouet Associates, Ltd., which is working on the flood repairs at Plaisance Elementary.
Jenkins ran into similar objections for the communication specialist contract, which named a former KATC sales staff employee who resides in Lafayette Parish.
Jenkins said the position would pay $33 an hour with 30 hours a week maximum to promote a positive image for the school system.
If the communications specialist worked 52 weeks, the maximum contracted pay would be $62,400. Jenkins pointed out there would be holiday weeks in which the person would not work.
Gerace estimated the annual payout would be $51,500 for the communications job with holidays.
The pay compares to a $38,000 annual salary for certified teachers. A Level 25 certified teacher earns $48,900, according to salary information presented at a School Board retreat in January.
The communication specialist contract would be paid out of the general fund, but Jenkins said it is possible the contract would be paid for by donations.
Sias said, “...I get the feeling we are not thinking about our children because I have not heard anything of what we are going to do with out children.”
Jenkins said there has been discussions about academics and facilities have an impact on learning.
He defended his plan for a communications specialist as a way to define the school system’s message.
The executive committee also:
— Approved the superintendent to enter preliminary discussions with demographer Michael Hefner for a zoning study.
— Students will have to commit for the year when making a school choice selection. Students in F or D schools are allowed to choose a C, B or A school. The district will not provide transportation.
Transportation is ending for majority to minority transfers.
Students who have been in majority to minority transfers are being allowed to complete the highest grade level in the school they are attending.
There are 129 students in school choice and 392 in majority to minority transfers.
The Building, Lands and Sites Committee:
— Approved a $67,000 bid from First Planning Solutions for bus routing development and route management
William Thibodeaux, supervisor of transportation, said there are 163 bus routes this year. Ending transportation for school choice and majority to minority transfers will eliminate 17 drivers. There are 30 substitute drivers driving full time routes and their number will be cut in half, he said. Thibodeaux said 20 bus routes will be eliminated.
— Repairs at Plaisance Elementary, which flooded in August 2016, should be completed before the next school year.
The Administrative and Finance Committee:
— Approved millage rates of 11.78 for salaries; 4.37 for constitution tax; and 4.37 for maintenance tax.
— The House Bill 1 supplement pay for teachers will be $345 this year compared to $542 last years. Last year, 960 employees received the supplement from the state.
— Learned of a $908,101 refund in bond payments in February. Tressa Miller, finance director, said the payment represents overpayment of a bond issued in 2011.
— The School Board’s general fund at the end of February had a balance of $17.5 million.