Port Allen, Louisiana 

July 19, 2017

                                                                                                           

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

 

Present:           Craig Sarradet, Toby Sarradet,  Ronald P. LeBlanc, Leon Goudeau,Sr., Rose A. Lee Roche’, G. Alden Chustz,Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron

Absent:            Jason Manola, President, Dr. Atley D. Walker, Vice President

 

In the absence of Mr. Manola, President of the Board, and Dr. Walker, Vice President of the Board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:

 

Be It Resolved, That Mr. Ronald P. LeBlanc be appointed by the members of the Board to Chair the meeting in the absence of the President and Vice President.

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Mr. Manola, Dr. Walker

 

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

 

The next item was approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on June 21, 2017.

 

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

 

Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on June 21, 2017, be approved as presented.

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Mr. Manola, Dr. Walker

 

The next item was educational presentations.  Whereupon, Superintendent Watts recognized the following 2017 AP Scholars from BHS and PAHS:

                                                                                                                                               

2017 AP SCHOLARS FROM BHS & PAHS

 

BHS

Connor Achee/IPAD

Robert DeSoto/IPAD

Max Gauthreaux/IPAD

Katheryn Gonzalez/IPAD

Jacob Kershaw/IPAD

Kayla LeBlanc/IPAD

Claire Williams/IPAD

Haylee Tibitts/IPAD

Caleb Kent/Macbook

Shayla LeBlanc/Macbook

 

PAHS

Dillon Smithson/IPAD

 

The next item was the Superintendent’s Report: Update on “Stuff the Bus” by Mrs. Bergeron and Mrs. Roche’. a) The contributions were as much as last year’s event.   b) There was also a good turnout of volunteers. c) School supplies will be distributed on July 29th.  d) The uniform distribution will be on July 28th for needy school children attending school in West Baton Rouge.  Mrs. Bergeron and Mrs. Roche’ expressed their appreciation to the sponsors, volunteers, and to everyone that contributed to the event this year.

 

The next item was presentation of the Consent Agenda:

 

7.         Consideration of approval of the request to adopt a resolution authorizing Wesley S. Watts, Superintendent, to negotiate on terms and conditions that he may deem advisable, a contract with the Capital Area Human Services District, and to execute said documents on behalf of the WBR Parish School Board. (Finance Committee Report 7/11/17)

 

8.         Consideration of the adoption of the following amendment to the Merit Pay/ Stipend for certified employees for the 2017-18 School Year as presented by Superintendent Watts: a) That the merit pay/stipend for teachers deemed to be highly effective(4) be changed from $200 to $150.  b) That the merit pay/ stipend for teachers deemed to be effective(3)proficient be changed from $125 to $100.  c) That the merit pay/stipend for teachers deemed effective emerging(2) be changed from $75 to $0.  d) Certified positions eligible for the merit pay/stipend include: teachers (including Head Start teachers) counselors, librarians, school administrators and speech therapists. (Finance Committee Report 7/11/17)

 

9.         Consideration of the request to accept the low bid of Kleinpeter Farms Dairy to provide milk and milk products for the WBR Child Nutrition Program for the 2017-18 school year as recommended by Vivian Landry, Child Nutrition Consultant. (Finance Committee Report 7/11/17)

 

10.       Consideration of request to approve and adopt the WBR Parish Schools Student Handbook for 2017-18 as presented by Mrs. Charlotte Blanchard, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance (Academics Committee Report 7/11/17)

 

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

                                                                                                                                               

Mrs. Bergeron requested that Consent Agenda item #8 be pulled for clarification before voting.

                                                                                                                                               

Whereupon, Mrs. Bergeron questioned why the nurses weren’t included for merit pay.

 

Mrs. Barbara Burke, Human Resource Director, explained that nurses are not evaluated on the Compass Ruberic.  She further explained that an individual must teach a class to qualify for the merit pay/stipend.  The amendment to the policy is effective the 2017-18 school year.

 

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

 

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

 

Be It Resolved, That the board approve and adopt Consent Agenda Items #7, #8, #9, and #10 as presented.

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Dr. Walker, Mr. Manola

 

The next item was presentation of the End of Consent Agenda Item #11:

 

11.       Building Project Update/Mr. Earl Kern, Program Manager

 

Mr. Earl Kern, Program Manager, presented a detailed explanation of all of the projects throughout West Baton Rouge Parish, with timelines for all of them.  He presented a power point on the Cohn Renovation and the multipurpose building, the Brusly Elementary School multipurpose building, and Port Allen High School renovations and the Performing Arts Theatre.

 

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

 

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mr. Toby Sarradet:

 

Be It Resolved, That the board approve changing the name of the new school (combining Chamberlin Elementary School and Devall Middle School) the Erwinville K-8 School.

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. LeBlanc

Nay:                 Mr. Maranto

Absent:            Dr. Walker, Mr. Manola

 

The next item was End of Consent Agenda item #12:

 

12.       Organizational Items: Committee meeting: 8/8/17 Regular Board Meeting: 8/16/17   EFID Meeting:8/16/17 (after regular board meeting)

 

The next End of Consent Agenda item was #13: 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. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:

 

Be It Resolved, That the meeting be adjourned.

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Dr. Walker, Mr. Manola

 

 

Wes Watts                                           Ronald P. LeBlanc

Wes Watts                                           Ronald P. LeBlanc

Secretary-Treasurer                             Acting Chairman

                                                            (President & Vice President absent)