6,951
Port Allen, Louisiana
May 18, 2016
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 Goudeau,Sr., Rose A. Lee Roche’, G. Alden Chustz,Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron
Dr. Atley D. Walker,Sr., Vice President, chaired the meeting.
The students being honored this date led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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 April 20, 2016.
Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Goudeau and seconded by Mr. Toby Sarradet, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on April 20, 2016, be
approved as presented.
The next item was educational presentations. Whereupon, Superintendent Watts introduced the following students:
a) Recognition of a) Maranda Patin and Kori Clopton, Port Allen High School students, winners of the Youth Tour Essay competition for an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June, 2016, sponsored by Pointe Coupee Electric Membership Corporation
b) Recognition of Brusly High School State Literary Rally Winners: Kollene Bradley, 2nd Place Family & Consumer Science; Madeline Landry, 2nd Place Parenthood Education
c) Miss Jumyria Jones, PAHS student, Miss Black West Baton Rouge 2016
d) Boys State – selected and sponsored by the McKinley Bourg American Legion Post 160 of Port Allen: Jonathan Conaway, PAHS student; Alraize Murphy,PAHS student/ Girls State – selected and sponsored by the McKinley Bourg American Legion Post 160 of Port Allen Auxiliary: Hailey LeJeune, PAHS student
e) BP Oil Youth Leadership Program-selected and sponsored by BP (British Petroleum) Oil Company: Gabrielle Mitchell and Jakoby Martin PAHS students
f) Camp RYLA Leadership Program-selected and sponsored by the Port Allen Rotary Club: Audrey Arrasmith and Makayla Lacy PAHS students g) World Affairs Seminar-Wisconsin-selected and sponsored by the Port Allen Rotary Club:Payson Swarner PAHS student
h) PAHS Girls Power Lifting Team: Breanna Lee, State Champion 148 Weight Class; Lakeisha Wheeler, State Runner-Up 165 Weight Class; Jermyrie Mitchell, State Runner-Up 114 Weight Class i) BHS Girls Track Team: State Champions 4x200 Relay: Alarice Stevens, Ta’la Spates, Nia LeJeune, Taylor Shaw; State Champion 100 Meter Dash Taylor Shaw and State Runner Up-Ta’la Spates, State Runner Up 400 Meter Dash Ta’la Spates; State Champion 200 Meter Dash Taylor Shaw
Dr. Walker 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: Whereupon, Superintendent Watts recognized:
a) Ms. Brandi Cummins, VP Sales & Service, Neighbors Federal Credit Union, to give a presentation on a proposed new program for students at PAHS.
b) Mrs. Paige Fitzgerald for being named Chemistry Teacher of the Year in the Baton Rouge area.
The next item was a report from Community Committees/Agencies.
Whereupon, Mrs. Roche’ announced that “Stuff the Bus” would be held on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at the Port Allen Wal Mart on LA 1.
The next item was presentation of the Consent Agenda:
8. Consideration of request for approval to conduct a phone poll relative to teacher pay and the condition of school buildings in West Baton Rouge Parish. The poll will be paid for by the Political Action Committee with no school board funds being used to conduct the poll. (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 5/10/16)
9. Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for April 2016/Jared Gibbs (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 5/10/16)
10. Consideration of request for approval of the bid submitted by the WSJ to serve as the official journal of the board from 7/01/16 to 6/30/17/Jared Gibbs (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 5/10/16)
11. Consideration of request to schedule the board retreat for Friday, May 20, 2016, starting at 1:00 p.m. in the board room of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board Office/Wes Watts (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 5/10/16)
12. Consideration of request to approve moving the date of the June 15th board meeting to June 22, 2016/Jason Manola (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 5/10/16)
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, Mr. Maranto requested to pull Consent Agenda #8.
Whereupon, on motion of Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Mr. Manola, the following resolution was unanimously adopted
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt Consent Agenda items #9, #10, #11, and #12 as presented.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, Mrs. Roche’ commented on the number of students that were recognized at the board meeting today for their outstanding accomplishments and honors. She asked that the minutes reflect the following statement:
“The West Side Journal needs to have a reporter here at the meetings to report the good things that are happening in the West Baton Rouge Parish School System.”
The next item was End of Consent Agenda item #8: Consideration of request for approval to conduct a phone poll relative to teacher pay and the condition of school buildings in West Baton Rouge. The poll will be paid for by the Political Action Committee with no school board funds being used to conduct the poll. (Personnel & Finance Committee Report 5/10/16)
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, Mr. Maranto expressed his concern with the clarity of some of the questions which were asked in the phone poll. He also expressed that the poll was too long and some of the information in the poll was not clear.
Mr. Manola informed the board that Mr. Trey Ourso, Attorney, would be at the Board Retreat and present more information on the results of the poll.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Manola and seconded by Mr. Toby Sarradet, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That Consent Agenda item #8 be approved and adopted as presented.
The first End of Consent Agenda item was: The date of the committee meeting on June 14, 2016, and the board meeting on June 22, 2016.
The next End of Consent Agenda item was Consideration of Expulsion Appeals/Executive Session.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Manola and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the board declare itself in Executive Session to review Expulsion Appeal #1.
Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Goudeau and seconded by Mr. Toby Sarradet, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the board declare itself in Open Session.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
President Manola announced that no further action was taken by the board on the recommended Expulsion Case #1 Appeal, therefore, the board upholds the expulsion as recommended by the Principal and Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.
Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Manola and seconded by Mr. Toby Sarradet, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the board declare itself in Executive Session to review Expulsion Appeal #2.
Whereupon, on motion of Mrs. Roche’ and seconded by Mr. Manola, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the board declare itself in Open Session.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
President Manola announced that no further action was taken by the board on the recommended Expulsion Case #2 Appeal, therefore, the board upholds the expulsion as recommended by the Principal and Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.
There being no further business to come before the board, on motion of Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mr. Manola, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the meeting be adjourned.
Wes Watts Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr.
Wes Watts Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr.
Secretary-Treasurer Vice-President