2020-04-27 SP

The Parish School Board of Many, Louisiana, Sabine Parish, while operating under a Declaration of Public Emergency for the COVID-19 event, met in public session on April 27, 2020, for a special called Board Meeting at 12:00 p.m. via tele-conferencing under a Quorum Resolution Certification.

At 12:00 p.m. the special called meeting of the board began with the Call to Order by President, Terrell D. Snelling. Dr. Sara P. Ebarb offered the Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance was rendered.

Mr. Snelling prompted a roll call with the following members answering present: Daron Chandler, Donald Garcie, Spencer Faust, Terrell Snelling, Donald Remedies, Dr. Leah V. Byles and Genevieve Gordon. Absent: Dale Skinner.

On motion by Donald Garcie and seconded by Genevieve Gordon, it was carried to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

B. Approve and adopt the March 17, 2020 Emergency Board Meeting Minutes as signed;

A. On motion by Genevieve Gordon and seconded by Donald Remedies, it was carried to approve the Independent Auditor’s Report for Fiscal Year End June 30, 2019 as presented.

B. Missy Flowers and Ron Williams updated the Board regarding present District technology situations, plans and strategies. No action was taken. Information only.

C. On motion by Daron Chandler and seconded by Donald Remedies, it was carried to authorize Administration to sign Temporary Access Road Agreement as presented.

D. On motion by Donald Remedies and seconded by Genevieve Gordon, it was carried to adopt and approve a Resolution providing for the reduction of the interest rates on the callable maturities of the General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2010 of Zwolle School District No. 61 of Sabine Parish, Louisiana.

The following resolution was offered by Donald Remedies and seconded by Genevieve Gordon:

A resolution providing for a reduction of the interest rates on the callable maturities of the General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2010, of Zwolle School District No. 61 of Sabine Parish, Louisiana, providing for the employment of bond counsel and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

WHEREAS, Zwolle School District No. 61 of Sabine Parish, Louisiana (the “Issuer”), issued its General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2010, in the principal amount of $1,000,000 (the “2010 Bonds”), with the outstanding 2010 Bonds maturing March 1 of the years 2021 through 2030 being subject to redemption on March 1, 2020 (the “Bonds”), pursuant to the resolution adopted by the Parish School Board of the Parish of Sabine, State of Louisiana, the governing authority of the Issuer, on September 7, 2010 (the “Resolution”); and

WHEREAS, Sabine State Bank & Trust Company (the “Bank”), the registered owner of the Bonds, has agreed to reduce the interest rate on the Bonds upon the terms and conditions set forth in the commitment letter attached as Exhibit A hereto; and

WHEREAS, the provisions of the Resolution have heretofore not been revised or amended; and

WHEREAS, it is the wish of this School Board to accept and agree to the interest rate reduction and to provide for other matters in connection therewith;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Parish School Board of the Parish of Sabine, State of Louisiana (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of the Issuer, that:

SECTION 1. Interest Rate Reduction. The reduction of the interest rates on the callable maturities of the General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2010, of the Issuer, effective May 1, 2020, is as follows:

Accordingly, the commitment letter of the Bank annexed as Exhibit A is hereby accepted and approved.

SECTION 2. Qualified Tax-Exempt Obligations. The Bonds are hereby designated “qualified tax-exempt obligations” pursuant to Section 265 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, such designation to be effective upon the reduction of the interest rate on the Bonds.

SECTION 3. Bonds are Non-Callable. As a result of the interest rate reduction, the outstanding maturities of the Bonds are non-callable.

SECTION 4. Effect on Resolution. Except as herein expressly provided with respect to the reduction of the interest rates and the Bonds being non-callable, all other provisions of the Resolution are in full force and effect.

SECTION 5. Bond Counsel. In order to consummate the interest rate reduction set forth in this Resolution and in Exhibit A hereto, it is hereby recognized, found and determined that a real necessity exists for the employment of Bond Counsel to the Issuer to render the opinions referred to in the Exhibit attached hereto and provide legal services of a traditional nature. Accordingly, Foley & Judell, L.L.P. (“Bond Counsel”) is hereby retained by the Issuer to render the opinions referred to in Exhibit A and provide such legal services. The fee of said Bond Counsel shall be contingent upon the completion of the interest rate reduction and shall not exceed 35% of the Attorney General's Bond Counsel Fee Schedule and other guidelines for comprehensive, legal and coordinate professional work in the issuance of general obligation bonds applied to the remaining principal amount of the Bonds, together with reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.

The President 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, a copy of which is on file with the Secretary of the Governing Authority.

SECTION 6. Authorization of Officers. The President and the Secretary of this School Board are hereby further authorized and directed on behalf of the Issuer to do all things necessary, on the advice of said Bond Counsel, to effectuate and implement this resolution, including, but not limited to, executing a tax compliance certification and executing and filing the IRS Form 8038-G.

SECTION 7. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption.

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

Member	Yea	Nay	Absent	Abstain
Daron Chandler	X
Leah Byles	X
Spencer Faust	X
District 4 Vacant			X
Genevieve Gordon	X
William D. Garcie	X
Terrell Snelling	X
Donald H. Remedies	X
Dale Skinner			X

I, the undersigned Secretary of the Parish School Board of the Parish of Sabine, State of Louisiana, do hereby certify that the foregoing pages constitute a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted on April 27, 2020, providing for a reduction of the interest rates on the callable maturities of the General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2010, of Zwolle School District No. 61 of Sabine Parish, Louisiana, providing for the employment of bond counsel and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

IN FAITH WHEREOF, witness my official signature and the impress of the official seal of said Issuer at Zwolle, Louisiana, on this, the 27th day of April, 2020.

E. On motion by Donald Garcie and seconded by Spencer Faust, it was carried to Approve Declaration of Financial Exigency due to COVID-19 pandemic.

F. On motion by Daron Chandler and seconded by Donald Remedies it was carried to Approve New Policy, Employee Compensation During Emergencies and Crisis, on First Reading as presented.

G. On motion by Genevieve Gordon and seconded by Daron Chandler, it was carried to approve and adopt revision to page 2 of the existing Salary Schedule as presented.

H. On motion by Spencer Faust and seconded by Genevieve Gordon, it was carried approve and adopt Declaration of Vacancy and Proclamation for Special Election School Board Member, District 4, Sabine Parish School Board as presented.

WHEREAS, due to the resignation of Roderick Davis on March 31, 2020, a vacancy now exists in the office of School Board Member, District 4, Sabine Parish School Board.

WHEREAS, Louisiana Revised Statute 18:602 requires that the Sabine Parish School Board formally declare the vacancy in its membership and appoint an individual to fill the vacancy until a special election is conducted.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Sabine Parish School Board does hereby declare and proclaim as follows:

SECTION 1: The School Board hereby declares that, due to the resignation of Roderick Davis, the office of School Board Member, District 4, Sabine Parish School Board, is vacant.

SECTION 2: A special election shall be held for the purpose of electing a qualified individual to fill the vacancy in the office of School Board Member, District 4, Sabine Parish School Board.

SECTION 3: Any qualified person desiring to become a candidate for the office shall file a notice of candidacy, accompanied by a qualifying fee or a nominating petition, as required or authorized by law, with the appropriate election official in the manner and form and under the procedures and conditions set forth in the Louisiana Election Code during the period commencing July 15, 2020 and ending at 4:30 p.m. on July 17, 2020.

SECTION 4: The special election shall be held and conducted under the applicable provisions of the Louisiana Election Code.

SECTION 5: The primary election shall be held on November 3, 2020 and the general election, if necessary, shall be held on December 5, 2020, at the times and places and in the manner prescribed by law.

SECTION 6: The Secretary of State, Commissioner of Elections, Parish Board of Election Supervisors, Clerk of Court, Registrar of Voters and all other persons charged with any power, function, right, duty or responsibility in conducting elections in the jurisdiction of the vacant position described herein are hereby authorized, requested, directed and empowered to exercise every lawful function and to do every act necessary to conduct the special election, to cause the returns to be made, to canvass and promulgate the results and to perform all related and incidental functions.

SECTION 7: Superintendent Sara Ebarb (or her designee) will take all action necessary to immediately publish this proclamation in the School Board’s official journal.

SECTION 8: Superintendent Sara Ebarb (or her designee) will send a copy of this proclamation to the Clerk of Court for the 11th Judicial District and the Secretary of State by registered or certified mail no later than twenty-four (24) hours after this proclamation is issued.

RESOLVED by the Sabine Parish School Board at a special board meeting on the 27th day of April, 2020.

I. A vote on the four applicants was taken with Kowonno Greene receiving the majority of votes. On motion by Donald Garcie and seconded by Dr. Leah V. Byles, it was carried to appoint Interim School Board Member for District 4. After selection process, adopt formal resolution attached.