By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish School Board member Russ Wise’s long-awaited resolution concerning school board representatives’ monthly salary finally came to vote Thursday.

The resolution, which stated that board salaries would be reduced from $800 to $200 per month, was narrowly defeated by a five-to-five vote.

In introducing the resolution, which would not have taken effect until after elections in November, Wise said, “I think we need to make the biggest sacrifice.”

He added, “We are the least important people in the school system.”

The resolution could not have gone into effect until after elections because school board members are not allowed to alter their salaries while serving out their term. According to the wording of the resolution, it also would have remained in effect “until such time as the original salaries and pay scales of School Board employees return to the level of the original 2009-2010 salary schedule and the School Board’s General Fund returns to a surplus equal to that shown at the start of the 2009-2010 budget year.”

Before the vote was taken, board attorney Lloyd LeBlanc explained, “There are certain guidelines the board will have to meet to raise salaries. … I just want you to be made aware of that.”

Albert Burl III, Sherry DeFrancesch, Wise, Matthew Ory and Gerald Keller voted in favor of the measure, while Patrick Sanders, Keith Jones, Phillip Johnson, Lowell Bacas and Clarence Triche voted against it. Russell Jack was absent.

After the meeting, Wise said he would see that the resolution was placed on the next meeting agenda. He said in the case of a vote as close as that one, items can be reintroduced without alteration.

Wise first introduced the issue at a June meeting, when he originally asked for board members to reduce their salaries to $1 per month.

Of course, the whole reason the issue came to light in the first place was the budget problems that ensnared the district for the past few months, but with Felix Boughton presenting a budget plan for the 2010-11 school year Thursday, the board may soon put that problem behind them for the time being.

An agreement reached last week between the administration and the St. John Association of Educators managed to plug a gap in the budget while eliminating the need for the layoffs that were part of the original plan that was presented in June.

There will be a public hearing on the budget on Aug. 19, and the board is expected to vote on the plan the same day.

The state requires local school boards to have a balanced budget in place by Sept. 15.

In other business, Director of Human Resources Leigh Ann Beard presented the board with personnel changes. During her presentation, board members asked how many teachers in the district are still uncertified.

She said as of now only six teachers remain uncertified. She said at the start of the school year 99 percent of St. John’s teachers will be certified compared to 96 percent last year.

Wise asked, “How close are we to getting those other six certified?”

“Very close,” Beard replied. “We could have 100 percent certification before the end of the semester.”

Purchasing Agent Peter Montz updated the board on the progress being made on a turning lane in front of Emily C. Watkins Elementary School.

“The construction has finally commenced for the turn lane, “ he said.

He said the driveway has been excavated, culverts have been replaced and drainage work has begun. The construction should be complete by mid-September, but anyone who needs to report a problem should call either the school or the central office.

Lastly, the board approved the 2010-11 Pupil Progression Plan. Among the major changes to the plan are the state-mandated career-track diploma for high school students and the option for students to take classes at accredited summer schools to alleviate their class load during the regular school year.