6,847

 

Port Allen, Louisiana

July 23. 2014

 

A regular meeting of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board was held this date with the following membership:

 

Present:            Jason P. Manola, President, Craig Sarradet, Dr. Atley D. Walker,Sr., Ronald P. LeBlanc, Leon Goudeau,Sr., Thelma L. Pattan, G. Alden Chustz,Jr.,

Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron,

Absent:             Toby Sarradet

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the members of the board.

 

The Invocation was presented by Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr.

 

The next item was approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on June 18, 2014

 

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Chustz:

 

Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on June 18, 2014, be   approved as presented.

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr., Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Pattan, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Mr. Toby Sarradet

 

The next item was Educational Presentations. Brief history and presentation of the board’s newly awarded BESE grant, “WBR’s one on one middle school technology initiative” Superintendent Corona/Dr. Tammy Seneca.  Dr. Seneca presented a power point on the middle school technology initiative and explained that the grant was providing funds to purchase 875 Chrome books - i Achieve is the name of the grant. The Chrome books will be used at BMS, DMS, and PAMS during class hours and will be left at the school at the end of the school day.  Mr. Corona commended the following individuals that were responsible for applying for the grant:  Cindy Ourso, Dawn Henry, Crystal Leon, Dr. David Strauss, Dr. Tammy Seneca, Mary Arrasmith, Heidi Grissom.

 

The next item was the Superintendent’s report. a) Mr. Corona requested a resolution of condolences for the family of Mrs. Ruth Schofield, retired bus operator, and for the family of Mrs. Willie Mae Payne, retired teacher.

 

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:

                                                           

Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mrs. Ruth Schofield their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many  years of dedicated and devoted service rendered by Mrs. Schofield to the students in the West Baton Rouge Parish School System, and

 

Be It Further Resolved, That the board does hereby offer its sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mrs. Schofield.

 

Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mrs. Willie May Payne their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated and devoted service rendered by Mrs. Payne to the students in the West Baton Rouge Parish School System, and

 

Be It Further Resolved, That the board does hereby offer its sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mrs. Payne.

 

The above resolutions were adopted by the following vote:

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Pattan, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Mr. Toby Sarradet

 

Superintendent’s Report:  b) Mr.Corona informed the board that Jared Gibbs, Supervisor of Business Services, was invited to be a member of the LARMA Board of Trustees which will be finalized at the October meeting of LARMA.  c) Update on moving of temporary buildings from BES campus – the last one will be moved to Chamberlin this week.

 

Mr. Corona announced that it was time for him to move on and he was appointing Mr. Wes Watts as his designee for the remainder of the meeting. He expressed his appreciation to members of the board and members of his staff.  He further stated, “that his time with the WBR School System was the best 10 professional years of his life.” He asked the board to give Mr. Watts the same autonomy that they had given him.  He also told the board that they were noted for being a professional board because they did not get involved in the day-to-day activity of the school operations which helps because it keeps the politics out of things.  He asked the board to do the same thing for Wes and his team and things will continue to progress.

 

Mr. Manola credited the board’s unity to Mr. Corona.  He also stated that under Mr. Corona’s leadership the board had come together.  Mr. Manola expressed his appreciation on behalf of the children of West Baton Rouge Parish for moving the system forward and for the progress the system had made under Mr. Corona’s leadership.  The full board expressed their appreciation to Mr. Corona.

 

Mr. Manola presented Mr. Corona with a pewter tray engraved with the dates Mr. Corona had served as Superintendent.

 

The next item was introduction of the following items on the Consent Agenda:

 

 7.        Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial report/Jared Gibbs (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 7/8/14)

 8.        Consideration of request for approval to adopt Budget Amendment #1 for the 2013-14 fiscal year as presented by Jared Gibbs (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 7/8/14)

 9.        Consideration of approval of request to move the July 16th board meeting to July 23, 2014/Jason Manola (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 7/8/14)

10.           Consideration of approval of the request by Ms. Katie Gunter to establish an Alumni Association at Port Allen High School under the guidance of Mr. James Jackson, Principal of Port Allen High School (Academics Committee Report/7/8/14)

                                                                                                                       

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

 

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Pattan and seconded by Mr. Craig Sarradet:

 

Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt Consent agenda items #7, #8, #9, #10 as presented.

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Pattan, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Mr. Toby Sarradet

 

(A report of the meeting of the School Board Buildings, Equipment, and Maintenance Committee on July 8, 2014, is included in the minutes. The agenda item was a tour of the new wing at Brusly Elementary School, Dean Hotard, Architect.) No action was taken.

 

The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #11: Report on bid compilation for milk products for the 2014-15 school year/Vivian Landry.

 

Whereupon, Mrs. Vivian Landry presented the following compilation for milk products for bids submitted by Borden, Inc. and Brown’s Dairies.

 

Borden,Inc.                   $1.37                            Brown’s Dairies   $1.52

 

Mrs. Landry requested that the board accept and approve the low bid of Borden, Inc. to provide milk and milk products for the 2014-15 school year.

 

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

 

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Craig Sarradet and seconded by Mr. Goudeau:

 

Be It Resolved, That the board accept and approve the low bid of Borden, Inc. to provide milk and milk products for the 2014-15 school year.

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Pattan, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Mr. Toby Sarradet

 

The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #12: Authorize the President of the Board to sign off on Superintendent’s contract/Jason Manola.

 

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:

 

Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby authorize Mr. Jason Manola, President of the Board, to sign off on the Superintendent’s contract.

 

The contract shall be entered into on the 24th day of July, 2014 by and between the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board, a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana, located in West Baton Rouge Parish in the State of Louisiana, and hereinafter represented by its President, Jason Manola, duly-authorized to act herein by action of the board found in the official minutes of the Board meeting held July 23, 2014, and Wesley Watts (hereinafter “Superintendent”), a major resident of the Parish of East Baton Rouge.

 

The contract shall commence on August 1, 2014 and terminate at midnight on December 31, 2016. 

 

The Superintendent shall be paid an annual minimum base salary of $118,000 in addition to monthly allowances as stipulated in his contract for travel/automobile expenses incurred in the performance of his duties, health care coverage and other insurance related cost, vacation/sick leave, organization dues. (Specific details of the above are defined in the written contract.)

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Pattan, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Mr. Toby Sarradet

 

The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #13: Strategy session and/or action concerning pending litigation*.  *There may be an executive session to discuss this litigation, which is entitled Deshotel v. West Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al and bears Civil Action No.11-00053 on the docket of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.

 

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

 

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Chustz:

 

Be It Resolved, That the board declare itself in Executive Session for the following reason:

 

“Strategy session and/or action concerning  pending litigation, which is entitled Deshotel v. West Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al and bears Civil Action No.11-00053 on the Docket of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.

 

                                                                                                                                               

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Pattan, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Mr. Toby Sarradet

 

Upon termination of the Executive Session, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:

 

Be It Resolved, That the board declare itself in Open Session.

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Pattan, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Mr. Toby Sarradet

                                                                                                                                   

No action was taken on End of Consent Agenda Item #13.

 

The next item was End of Consent Agenda item #14: Committee meeting date: August 12, 2014, and board meeting date: August 20, 2014.

 

There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Mr. Craig Sarradet:

 

Be It Resolved, That the meeting be adjourned.

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Pattan, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Mr. Toby Sarradet

 

 

__Jason Manola___

Jason Manola

President