By Rebecca Burk / L’Observateur / February 11, 1998

RESERVE – The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board voted last monthto buy video cameras over five years to monitor students and drivers for all of the parish’s school buses.

Two board members didn’t vote for it because there was no plan as to how much money would be spent. One of those board members was GeraldKeller.

Keller presented a proposal last week requesting that all financial items voted upon by the St. John School Board have a cost estimate and a sourceof funding attached. Keller made a motion to accept the proposal, whichwas seconded by Aleitha Bardell.

Board member James Madere, the other board member who didn’t vote to purchase the video cameras, made an amendment to the motion adding that if the board must go over the set cost, the amount must be stated and a reason must be given as to why the amount was exceeded.

“This is the most fiscally responsible thing we can do, having just gotten ourselves out of a rather deep hole,” board member Russ Wise said. “Wedon’t want to trip and fall back into that hole.”The board voted to accept the motion 11-0, but not before board member Dowie Gendron spoke up.

“I’m all for it, but wonder how many times this has been done and how many times it has been violated,” he questioned.

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