ST. TAMMANY PARISH SCHOOL BOARD M I N U T E S January 08, 2018 The Parish School Board of the Parish of St. Tammany, State of Louisiana, met in special session at the C. J. Schoen Administrative Complex, 321 N. Theard Street, Covington, Louisiana, on Monday, January 8, 2018, at four (4:00) o clock p.m. (Central Standard Time) pursuant to the provisions of the following written notice given to each and every member thereof and duly posted in the manner required by law, viz: DATE: December 21, 2017 TO: All Board Members and the General Public Notice is hereby given that a special meeting of the Parish School Board of the Parish of St. Tammany, State of Louisiana, has been ordered and called and will be held at the Parish School Board Office, 321 North Theard Street, Covington, Louisiana, on Monday, January 8, 2018 to begin at 4:00 p.m., for the following purposes to-wit: 1. To hold a tenure hearing in accordance with LA R.S. 17:493 to determine whether or not an employee should be dismissed or other disciplinary action should be taken; and 2. To consider and transact any and all other business which may be properly brought before the Parish School Board. This will be an important meeting, and all Board members are urged to attend. BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT W. L. TREY FOLSE, III Superintendent I. OPENING A. Roll Call There were present: Board President Robin P. Mullett and Board Members Neal M. Hennegan, Elizabeth B. Heintz, Michael J. Dirmann, Stephen J. Jack Loup, III, Charles T. Harrell, Willie B. Jeter, Sharon Lo Drucker, Ronald "Ron" Bettencourtt, and Richard Rickey Hursey, Jr. There were absent: Michael C. Nation, Peggy H. Seeley, Robert R. Bob Womack, Dennis S. Cousin and Mary K. Bellisario. B. Invocation C. Pledge of Allegiance President Mullett called on Mrs. Heintz for the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. II. PUBLIC COMMENTS A. Three Minutes None. III. AGENDA ITEMS A. Conduct a tenure hearing in accordance with the provisions of LA R.S. 17:493 which may be in Executive Session President Mullett said the employee had requested a closed hearing. Mr. Manieri asked the parties to make their appearances for the purpose of record before the Board convened in Executive Session, and they did as follows: Mr. David Pittman,
2 representing Superintendent W. L. Trey Folse, III; Mr. Ty Manieri, representing the St. Tammany Parish School Board and Mr. Larry Samuel, representing the employee. It was moved by Mr. Bettencourtt, seconded by Mrs. Drucker, to convene in Executive Session pursuant to the provisions of LA R.S. 17:493 President Mullett asked if there were any questions from the Board or comments by the public, and there were none. Drucker, Mr. Bettencourtt, Mr. Hursey, and Mrs. Mullett. Nays: None. The motion carried. A closed hearing for Employee A was held in Executive Session. It was moved by Mr. Jeter, seconded by Mrs. Heintz to return to open session. President Mullett asked if there were any questions from the Board and there being none, the motion carried. President Mullett said the Board was now in Open Session. Mr. Hammonds said the Board would vote on the charges in the order that they were presented. Mr. Manieri addressed the Board, with regard to Charge No. 1. Charge 1. (a) Do you find that the Superintendent has demonstrated with substantial alleged in Charge 1? Charge 1. (b) Do you find that Charge 1, as proven, constitutes willful neglect of duty on Mr. Manieri addressed the Board, with regard to Charge No. 2. Charge 2. (a) Do you find that the Superintendent has demonstrated with substantial alleged in Charge 2?
3 Charge 2. (b) Do you find that Charge 2, as proven, constitutes willful neglect of duty on Mr. Manieri addressed the Board, with regard to Charge No. 3. Charge 3. (a) Do you find that the Superintendent has demonstrated with substantial alleged in Charge 3? Charge 3. (b) Do you find that Charge 3, as proven, constitutes willful neglect of duty on Mr. Manieri addressed the Board, with regard to Charge No. 4. Charge 4. (a) Do you find that the Superintendent has demonstrated with substantial alleged in Charge 4? Charge 4. (b) Do you find that Charge 4, as proven, constitutes willful neglect of duty on
4 Mr. Manieri addressed the Board, with regard to Charge No. 5. Charge 5. (a) Do you find that the Superintendent has demonstrated with substantial alleged in Charge 5? Charge 5. (b) Do you find that Charge 5, as proven, constitutes willful neglect of duty on Mr. Manieri addressed the Board, with regard to Charge No. 6. Charge 6. (a) Do you find that the Superintendent has demonstrated with substantial alleged in Charge 6? Charge 6. (b) Do you find that Charge 6, as proven, constitutes incompetence on the part of the employee? Mr. Manieri addressed the Board, with regard to Charge No. 7. Charge 7. (a) Do you find that the Superintendent has demonstrated with substantial alleged in Charge 7?
5 Charge 7. (b) Do you find that Charge 7, as proven, constitutes incompetence on the part of the employee? Mr. Manieri said the Board has found the employee guilty of each of the seven offences and found the first five to constitute willful neglect of duty and the last two constitute incompetency. He said that at this point in the proceedings, the Board needs to determine what disciplinary action, if any, it considers to be appropriate for Employee A. Mr. Manieri said court decisions in Louisiana have concluded that School Board Members should be advised that termination is not the only disciplinary action which can be taken against an employee. Other types of disciplinary action that can be against an employee include letters of reprimand, placing an employee on probation, stripping an employee of tenure, suspending an employee with or without pay, and any other types of disciplinary actions, short of termination. Of course, termination is also an option by the Board. It was moved by Mr. Loup, seconded by Mrs. Mr. Hursey, to accept the Superintendent s recommendation for termination and to terminate Employee A effective immediately. The motion carried. IV. ADJOURN There being no further business to come before the Board, President Mullett adjourned the meeting at 8:51 p.m. on Monday, January 8, 2018. /s/ /s/ W. L. "TREY" FOLSE, III ROBIN P. MULLETT Secretary President