6,900
Port Allen, Louisiana
May 20, 2015
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, Toby Sarradet, Ronald P. LeBlanc, Rose A. Lee Roche’, G. Alden Chustz, Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron
Absent: Dr. Atley D. Walker,Sr., Leon Goudeau,Sr.
The students being honored this date led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Invocation was presented by Superintendent Wes Watts.
The next item was approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on April 15, 2015.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mrs. Roche’:
Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on April 15, 2015, be approved as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was educational presentations. Whereupon, Superintendent Watts introduced the following students:
a) Recognition of Monica Gordon, Port Allen High School student, recipient of a Gates Millennium Scholarship
b) Recognition of Dimond Decuir and Jordan Morgan, Port Allen High School students, winners of the Youth Tour Essay competition for an All-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June, 2015, sponsored by Pointe Coupee Electric
c) Recognition of Brusly High School State Literary Rally Winners: Logan Berthelot, 1st Place World Geography; Dara Badon, 3rd Place English I; Kayla Haydel, 4th Place Nutrition & Food; Savannah Landry, 4th Place, Family & Consumer Science
d) Recognition of Students of the Year: Elementary: Jeanette Coco/LUES; Middle: Erin Stephens/BMS; High: Rhea Lee/PAHS e) Recognition of Telson Allen, Port Allen High, 15th Nationally ranked high jump champion and 1st Place in State Class 3A High Jum; Ishmael Lane, Port Allen High, named to play on All State Basketball Team
President Manola expressed sincere congratulations on behalf of the members of the Board and Superintendent Watts, to all students recognized today for their outstanding accomplishments and honors.
The next item was the Superintendent’s Report: a) Presentation of dividend check from LWCC by Jody Horton, Special Risk Business Unit Manager and Charlie Landry, Senior Vice President, Regions Insurance, Inc.; b) Resolution of condolences for the family of Leona Mayeux, retired teacher; c) Introduction of retirees for 2014-15 school year.
Whereupon, Superintendent Watts recognized Mr. Jody Horton and Mr. Charlie Landry.
Mr. Landry presented a report on the history of the dividends paid to the Board since 2003. He informed the board that the dividend check for 2014 was the largest amount paid to the Board. Mr. Jody Horton presented Mr. Manola a dividend check for 2014 in the amount of $166,387.
The next item was a resolution of condolences for the family of Leona Mayeux, retired teacher.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mr. Craig Sarradet:
Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mrs. Leona Mayeux, their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated and devoted service rendered by Mrs. Mayeux in the West Baton Rouge Parish School System, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the Board do hereby offer their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mrs. Mayeux.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Roche, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was recognition of retirees for the 2014-15 school year.
Superintendent Watts presented certificates to the following retirees:
Mrs. Wanda Coots Paraprofessional/Port Allen Elementary School
Paulette Johnson School Food Service Manager/Port Allen Middle School
Dexter Allen Custodian/Lukeville Upper Elementary School
Rebecca Butler Teacher/Brusly High School
Other Retirees Not Present at the Meeting:
Dr. Amy Westbrook Principal/Chamberlin Elementary School
Sandra Duhon Administrative Assistant/Central Office
Tanya Berthelot Math Interventionist/Cohn Elementary School
Superintendent Watts reported that DOW Louisiana Operations had committed $200,000 to the West Baton Rouge Parish School System to establish its own Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Academy this Fall (STEM) Education. The money is to be used over the next three (3) years for the STEM Program. The programs will be offered at Brusly High School and Port Allen High School starting in August 2015. The school system is taking applications for this Fall’s inaugural classes on both campuses. Approximately 25 students will be selected for each school STEM Program and these students will have to meet certain behavioral and academic standards.
The next item was presentation of the Consent Agenda:
8. Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for March and April, 2015/Jared Gibbs (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 5/12/15)
9. Consideration of request for approval of the bid submitted by the WSJ to serve as the official journal of the board from 7/01/15 to 6/30/16/Jared Gibbs (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 5/12/15)
10. Consideration of request for approval to fund from the Contingency Fund, the continuance of the 1:1 Initiative by purchasing Chromebooks & Carts for both high schools for the 2015-16 school year for a total cost of $321,000 to include cost of WiFi Improvements. (The agreement is to purchase 20 carts with 30 Chromebooks in each cart – 10 carts at each high school.) Superintendent Watts (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 5/12/15)
11. Consideration of request for approval to declare May 10-16, 2015, WBR Child Abuse Prevention Week/Dr. David Strauss, Supervisor of Special Education (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 5/12/15)
12. Consideration of request to declare 4 certain school activity buses as surplus property/ Superintendent Watts (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 5/12/15)
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mr. Craig Sarradet:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt Consent Agenda items #8, #9, #10, #11, and #12 as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was End of Consent Agenda item #13: Consideration of request for approval to amend the school start times beginning with the 2015-16 school year. (The start time for all elementary schools and Devall Middle School will be 7:30 A.M. The start time for the high schools and the remaining middle schools will be 8:05 A.M.)
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Mrs. Roche’:
Be It Resolved, That End of Consent Agenda item #13 be approved and adopted as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was End of Consent Agenda item #14: Adoption of the following 2015 Millage rates to be levied on the 2015 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board:
Constitutional Tax 4.39 mills
Special Tax 15.0 mills
Salaries Tax 12.0 mills
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED, that the following millage(s) are hereby levied on the 2015 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by West Baton Rouge Parish School Board:
MILLAGE
Geneal Support – Constitutional Millage 4.390 mills
(Tax for: e.g. General Alimony, Library, Maintenance)
General Support – Special Millage 15.000 mills
(Tax for: e.g. General Alimony, Library, Maintenance)
Salaries & Benefits – Special Millage 12.000 mills
(Tax for: e.g. General Alimony, Library, Maintenance)
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proper administrative officials of the Parish of West Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes, as hereinabove set forth, upon the assessment roll of said Parish for the year 2015, and to make the collection of the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority, according to law, and that the taxes herein levied shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all property subject to taxation as herein set forth, and collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law.
The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes:
YEAS: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Ronald P. LeBlanc, Ms. Rose Roche, Mr. G. Alden Chustz, Mr. Michael Maranto, Ms. Teri Bergeron, Mr. Jason Manola
NAYS: None
ABSTAINED: None
ABSENT: Dr. Atley D. Walker, Mr. Leon Goudeau
The next End of Consent Agenda item was the date of the committee meeting on June 9, 2015, and the board meeting on June 17, 2015.
The next End of Consent Agenda item was any other business unanimously approved by the board for consideration.
There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
___________________ _________________
Wes Watts Jason P. Manola
Secretary-Treasurer President