6,936

Port Allen, Louisiana

December 16, 2015

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

Jason P. Manola, President, Craig Sarradet, Toby Sarradet, Dr. Atley D. Walker,Sr., Ronald P. LeBlanc, Leon N. Goudeau, Rose A. Lee Roche’, G. Alden Chustz,Jr., Michael A. Maranto,Teri Bergeron

Kenyon Morgan, Cohn Elementary School student, Azaria Jackson, Port Allen Elementary School student, and Maci Williams, Brusly Elementary School student, lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

The next item was approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on November 18, 2015.

Whereupon, on motion of Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Goudeau, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on November 18, 2015, be approved as presented.

The next item was educational presentations.  Whereupon, Superintendent Watts introduced Mrs. Claudette Purnell, Director of the WBR All Parish Choir.  Mrs. Purnell introduced the members of the choir.  The Choir’s performance was a medley of Christmas songs.  Mr. Manola and members of the board thanked Mrs. Purnell and the members of the Choir for their beautiful Christmas musical presentation.

The next item was recognition of the Brusly High School Girls Volleyball Team/District Champions and recognition of the individual winners on the Brusly High School Swim Team.  Mr. Manola and members of the board congratulated the BHS Girls Volleyball Team and the individual winners on the BHS Swim Team for their outstanding accomplishments.

The next item was the Superintendent’s Report: a) Introduction of Ms. Elizabeth Engolio, Candidate for Judge, representing Iberville Parish and West Baton Rouge Parish.  b) Resolution of condolences to the family of Mrs. Gladys Walker, retired Cafeteria Manager/ Cohn Elementary School.

Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Goudeau and seconded by Mr. Chustz, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mrs. Gladys Walker their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated and devoted service rendered by Mrs. Walker to the students at Cohn Elementary School, and

Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby offer their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mrs. Walker.

The next item was presentation of the following item on the Consent Agenda:

8.     Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports/Jared Gibbs (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 12/8/15)

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron, the following Resolution was unanimously adopted:

Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt Consent Agenda item #8 as presented.

The next item was End of Consent Agenda item #9: Consideration and action with respect to adopting a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the special election held in Parishwide School District No. 3 of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, on Saturday, November 21, 2015, to authorize the renewal of a special tax therein/David Henderson/Foley & Judell.

Mr. David Henderson presented the resolution and informed the board that he would forward all required copies of the resolution to the Secretary of State, WBR Clerk of Court, and the West Side Journal, the official journal of the board. (to be published December 31, 2015 in the West Side Journal.)

Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mrs. Roche’, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

Be It Resolved, That the board adopt the resolution presented by Mr. David Henderson, Foley & Judell. (original resolution attached to the minutes in the official minute book.)

The next item was End of Consent Agenda item #10: Consideration of approval to hire a firm to perform facilities assessment/Wes Watts.  The following firms were interviewed at the December committee meeting.  Tipton Associates, Volkert,Inc., Bani, Carville & Brown

Whereupon, the members of the board discussed the various firms relative to experience with school facilities and price quotes.

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

Be It Resolved, That the board approve contracting the services of Volkert, Inc. (price quoted by Volkert,Inc. ranged from $50,000 - $75,000)

Whereupon, the following substitute motion was offered by Mr. Craig Sarradet and seconded by Mr. Chustz:

Be It Resolved, That the board approve contracting the services of Tipton Associates (price Quoted $35,000).

The substitute motion failed by the following vote:

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Manola

Nay:                 Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron

Whereupon, the board voted on the original resolution offered by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Dr. Walker:

Be It Resolved, That the board approve contracting the services of Volkert, Inc. (price quoted by Volkert, Inc. ranged from $50,000 - $75,000)

The original resolution failed by the following vote:

Aye:                 Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron

Nay:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Manola

Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Craig Sarradet and seconded by Mr. Chustz, the following resolution was unanimously adopted by the following roll call vote:

Be It Resolved, That the board approve contracting the services of Tipton Associates to conduct a facilities needs assessment for the price of $35,000 quoted by the above firm.

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            None

The next End of Consent Agenda item was #11: Consideration of Expulsion Appeal/Executive Session.

Whereupon, Mr. Jason Manola, President of the Board, informed the board members that the individuals requesting the expulsion appeal failed to appear this date as notified and had not contacted Mrs. Charlotte Blanchard, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, or the School officials to say that they would not be here for the meeting today.

The next nonagenda item was Organizational Items: Committee Meeting Date: January 12, 2016 and regular board meeting date: January 20, 2016.

There being no further business to come before the board, on motion of Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Mr. Craig Sarradet, the meeting was adjourned.

__Wesley Watts___                                                      Jason Manola

Wesley Watts                                                                Jason Manola

Secretary-Treasurer                                                      President