Many, LA 71449
March 22, 2021
1. Meeting Opening
The Parish School Board of Many, Louisiana, Sabine Parish, met in public session on March 22, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. at the regular meeting place of said Board, with the following members present: Terrell Snelling, Board President; Dr. Leah Byles, Board Vice President; Daron Chandler, Spencer Faust, Donald Garcie, Genevieve Gordon, Kowonno Greene, and Donald Remedies.
Absent: Dale Skinner
At 5:30 p.m. the regular meeting of the board began with a Call to Order by President Terrell D. Snelling. Spencer Faust gave the Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance was rendered.
2. Recognition of Visitors
No visitors were recognized.
3. Consent Agenda
On motion of Donald Garcie and seconded by Kowonno Greene, Consent Agenda Items 3A – 3F were approved as follows:
a. Approve and adopt the Regular Board Meeting Minutes of February 8, 2021;
b. Approve the Ready Start Networks Budget 2020-2021;
c. Adopt and approve Line Item Transfer of $15,000 from Ebarb B&E (Fund 11) to Ebarb Discretionary B&E (Fund 111);
d. Authorize Food Service to seek bids for the 2021-2022 School Year;
e. Approve and adopt the following policies (first reading):
1. GBQ – Retirement;
f. Approve Consent Agenda Items 3A – 3F.
A. On motion of Daron Chandler and seconded by Dr. Leah Byles, it was carried to approve and adopt the following policies (second reading):
1. JBH – Attendance Reports for Student Drivers
2. JGC – Student Health Services
B. On motion by Donald Garcie and seconded by Genevieve Gordon, it was carried to suspend policy to have two readings and adopt GBRIBC – Emergency Family and Medical Leave (EFMLA) and Emergency Paid Sick Leave (COVID-19 Pandemic) on first reading.
C. On motion by Genevieve Gordon and seconded by Spencer Faust, it was carried to adopt and approve a resolution giving preliminary approval to the issuance of not exceeding Twelve Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($12,250,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, in one or more series, of Many School District No. 34 of Sabine Parish, State of Louisiana, making application to the State Bond Commission for approval of said Bonds; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
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The following resolution was offered by Genevieve Gordon and seconded by Spencer Faust:
RESOLUTION
A resolution giving preliminary approval to the issuance of not exceeding Twelve Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($12,250,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, in one or more series, of Many School District No. 34 of Sabine Parish, State of Louisiana, making application to the State Bond Commission for approval of said Bonds; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974, Sub-Part A, Part III, Chapter 4, of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, Many School District No. 34 of Sabine Parish, Louisiana (the "Issuer"), has heretofore issued $17,225,000 of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2014 (the “Series 2014 Bonds”); and
WHEREAS, to provide debt service savings to the taxpayers of the Issuer, this Parish School Board wishes to refund all or a portion of the callable maturities of the Issuer’s outstanding Series 2014 Bonds, pursuant to the provisions of Part II of Chapter 4 of Subtitle II of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, including Section 531 therein, and other constitutional and statutory authority (the "Act"), through the issuance of its refunding bonds; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Act, and subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission, the Issuer wishes to accomplish the refunding by authorizing the issuance of not exceeding Twelve Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($12,250,000) of its General Obligation School Refunding Bonds (the "Bonds") to be payable from unlimited ad valorem taxes; and
WHEREAS, the Issuer wishes to make application to the State Bond Commission for approval of the issuance of the Bonds:
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 Many School District No. 34 of Sabine Parish, Louisiana, that:
SECTION 1. Preliminary Approval of the Bonds. Preliminary approval is given to the issuance of not exceeding Twelve Million Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($12,250,000) of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds (the “Bonds”) of the Issuer, in one or more series, to be issued for the purpose of refunding all or any portion of the Issuer’s outstanding General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2014, maturing March 1 of the years 2025 to 2034 (the “Refunded Bonds”), and paying the costs of issuance of the Bonds, said Bonds to be payable from and secured by unlimited ad valorem taxes now being levied and collected annually in excess of all other taxes on all the property subject to taxation within the territorial limits of the Issuer. The Bonds shall bear interest at a rate or rates not to exceed four percent (4%) per annum, maybe issued as taxable or tax exempt, to be determined by subsequent resolution of this Governing Authority at the time of the sale of the Bonds, and shall mature no later than March 1, 2034. The Bonds shall be issued in fully registered form and shall have such additional terms and provisions as may be determined by this Governing Authority.
SECTION 2. State Bond Commission. Application is hereby made to the State Bond Commission, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for approval of the issuance and sale of the Bonds and for consent and authority to proceed with the issuance and sale of the Bonds as provided above, and Bond Counsel is directed to make application to the State Bond Commission in accordance with the foregoing on behalf of the Governing Authority.
By virtue of applicants/issuer’s application for, acceptance and utilization of the benefits of the Louisiana State Bond Commission’s approval(s) resolved and set forth herein, it resolves that it understands and agrees that such approval(s) are expressly conditioned upon, and it further resolves that it understands, agrees and binds itself, its successors and assigns to, full and continuing compliance with the “State Bond Commission Policy on Approval of Proposed Use of Swaps, or other forms of Derivative Products Hedges, Etc.”, adopted by the Commission on July 20, 2006, as to the borrowing(s) and other matter(s) subject to the approval(s), including subsequent application and approval under said Policy of the implementation or use of any swap(s) or other product(s) or enhancement(s) covered thereby.
SECTION 3. Employment of Bond Counsel. This Governing Authority finds and determines that a real necessity exists for the employment of special counsel in connection with the issuance of the Bonds, and accordingly, Foley & Judell, L.L.P., of New Orleans, Louisiana, as Bond Counsel, is hereby employed to do and perform work of a traditional legal nature as bond counsel with respect to the issuance and sale of the Bonds. Said Bond Counsel shall prepare and submit to this Governing Authority for adoption all of the proceedings incidental to the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of such Bonds, shall counsel and advise this Governing Authority as to the issuance and sale thereof and shall furnish its opinion covering the legality of the issuance of the Bonds. The fee of Bond Counsel for each series of Bonds shall be fixed at a sum not exceeding the fee allowed by the Attorney General's fee guidelines for such Bond Counsel work in connection with the issuance of general obligation bonds and based on the amount of the Bonds actually issued, sold, delivered and paid for, plus "out-of-pocket" expenses, said fee to be contingent upon the issuance, sale and delivery of the Bonds. The Superintendent 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 appended hereto. A certified copy of this resolution shall be submitted to the Attorney General of the state of Louisiana for his written approval of said employment and of the fees herein designated, and the Superintendent is hereby empowered and directed to provide for payment of the work herein specified upon completion thereof and under the conditions herein enumerated without further approval of this governing Authority.
SECTION 4. Appointment of Municipal Advisor. The Issuer hereby retains Argent Advisors, Inc., of Ruston, Louisiana to act as its Municipal Advisor (“MA”) pursuant to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the rules promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Issuer hereby acknowledges that it is represented by the MA and will reply upon the advice of the MA with respect to the Bonds. The fee to be paid the MA shall be payable solely from the proceeds of the Bonds when and if issued, and the amount thereof shall be subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission. The Secretary and/or Director of Finance are hereby authorized and directed, to execute any contract the MA may require with respect to the engagement.
SECTION 5. Appointment of Underwriters/Placement Agent. Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana (the “Underwriter”), is hereby appointed as underwriter/placement agent in connection with refunding the Refunded Bonds, any compensation to be subsequently approved by the Issuer and to be paid from the proceeds of the Bonds and contingent upon the issuance of the Bonds; provided that no compensation shall be due to said underwriter/placement agent unless the Bonds are sold and delivered.
SECTION 6. Sale of Bonds. The Bonds are hereby authorized to be sold to the Underwriter, and the Superintendent, President and/or Director of Business and Operations is hereby authorized to execute a Bond Purchase Agreement with the Underwriter (or a Commitment Letter, privately placed), in form and substance satisfactory to Bond Counsel to the Issuer, provided the sale of the Bonds produces minimum net present value savings (after payment of all costs) in excess of the Minimum Present Value Savings to Refund guidelines of the State Bond Commission.
The foregoing resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
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Member |
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Yea |
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Nay |
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Absent |
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Abstain |
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Daron Chandler |
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X |
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Dr. Leah Byles |
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X |
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Spencer Faust |
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X |
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Kowonno Greene |
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X |
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Genevieve Gordon |
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X |
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Donald Garcie |
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X |
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Terrell Snelling |
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X |
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Donald H. Remedies |
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X |
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Dale Skinner |
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X |
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And the resolution was declared adopted, on this, the 22nd of March, 2021.
/s/ Sara P. Ebarb /s/ Terrell Snelling _______
Secretary President
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D. On motion of Daron Chandler and seconded by Kowonno Greene, it was carried to declare vehicle (1994 Chevy Pickup – Florien High School) as surplus and authorize disposal process to occur.
E. On motion by Dr. Leah Byles and seconded by Daron Chandler, it was carried to award RFP and authorize administration to sign necessary paperwork for Sabine Parish School Board ERATE for 2021-2022 School Year. The contracts for CHS, EHS, FHS, MES, MHS, MJHS, NHS, ZHS, ZES, SPARK and Central Office were awarded to AT&T. The contract for PHHS was awarded to Skyrider Communications.
F. On motion by Dr. Leah Byles and seconded by Genevieve Gordon, it was carried to approve revision to District Technology Support Services Coordinator job description, evaluation and salary schedule.
G. Missy Flowers, Technology Director, presented the Sabine Online Committee Recommendations for 2021-2022 to the Board. Information only. No action was taken.
H. Debra Lee, Director of Federal Services, presented the SOAR program (Summer School) to the Board. Information only. No action was taken.
5. Superintendent’s Report
Informational only.
6. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
_______________________
Terrell Snelling, President
ATTEST:
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Sara P. Ebarb, EdD, Superintendent