Port Allen, Louisiana
August 16, 2017
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, Dr. Atley D. Walker,Sr., Ronald P. LeBlanc, Leon Goudeau,Sr., Rose A. Lee Roche’, G. Alden Chustz, Sr., Teri Bergeron
Absent: Michael A. Maranto
President Jason Manola led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The next item was approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on July 19, 2017.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Goudeau:
Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on July 19, 2017, be approved as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Maranto
The next item was Educational Presentations: a) Introduction of Mrs. Kim Eckert, Louisiana State Teacher of the Year b) Introduction of Elementary teachers, newly hired for the 2017-18 school year c) Report on receipt of the Exxon Mobil Contribution Grant in the amount of $5,000/ Mrs. Sharon Lair, Associate Superintendent of Instruction.
Mrs. Lair reported that Mrs. Jessica Major, Principal of Port Allen Middle School, wrote a grant to be used to purchase six (6) 3D Printers to be used in the classrooms.
The next item was the Superintendent’s Report. a) Whereupon, Superintendent Watts gave an update on the opening of schools. He informed the board that the opening had been smooth with very few problems. b) Resolution of Condolences to the family of Mr. James S. Olinde, retired Supervisor of Business Services (served from 9/1/49 – 7/1/79)
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:
Whereas, Mr. James S. Olinde, served as the Supervisor of Business Services in the West Baton Rouge Parish School System from September 1, 1949 until his retirement on July 1, 1979, and
Whereas, In addition to his responsibilities in managing the board’s finances, Mr. Olinde was also responsible for preparing minutes for all school board committee and board meetings, assigning bus routes each year, and delegating duties for the maintenance department’s daily operations, and
Whereas, His dedication and initiative in serving as the Supervisor of Business Services was characterized by his wisdom in the management of the board’s funds, now therefore
Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mr. James S. Olinde, their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated service rendered by Mr. Olinde in the West Baton Rouge Parish School System, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the Board do hereby express their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mr. James S. Olinde.
Whereupon, the above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Maranto
The next item was presentation of the Consent Agenda:
7. Consideration of approval of the request to grant the Superintendent or his designee the authority to, without any additional Board approval, advertise, reject any and all bids for just cause, accept the low bids meeting specifications, and/or make the award of and execute a contract on behalf of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board for all Vision 2020 construction projects, including, but not limited to, Brusly High School-New School, Chamberlin/Devall-New School, Cohn Elementary School-Additions/Renovations, Port Allen High School-Additions/Renovations, Lukeville Elementary School-Additions/ Renovations, Port Allen Middle School-Additions/Renovations, Brusly High School to Middle School Conversion, Brusly Elementary School-Addition, Brusly Middle School-Renovations, Port Allen Elementary School-Additions/Renovations, in accordance with the Louisiana Public Bid Law, Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 38, Chapter 10.
(Finance Committee Report 8/8/17)
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mr. Toby Sarradet:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt Consent Agenda item #7 as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Maranto
The next item was presentation of the End of Consent Agenda:
8. Consideration of request to approve setting the following date and times:
Public Hearing for the proposed Consolidated Budget for 2017-18 on September 12, 2017, at 4:50 P.M. in the meeting room of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board Office and the Special Board meeting to approve the proposed Consolidated Budget for 2017-18 shall be set for September 12, 2017, immediately following the Public Hearing at 4:50 P.M. and preceding the Finance Committee meeting at 5:00 P.M. on September 12, 2017.
9. Announcement of Public Hearing for the proposed Consolidated Budget for 2017-18 at 4:50 P.M. on September 12, 2017, and Special Board meeting to approve the proposed Consolidated Budget for 2017-18 on September 12, 2017 immediately following the Public Hearing at 4:50 P.M. and preceding the Finance Committee meeting at 5:00 P.M. on September 12, 2017.
10. Review and consideration of LSU AG Center Annual Cooperative Agreement/Wes Watts
11. Any other business unanimously approved by the board for consideration.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Craig Sarradet:
Be It Resolved, That the Board does hereby approve End of Consent Agenda items # 8 and #9 as presented by Jared Gibbs, Supervisor of Business Services.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Maranto
The next End of Consent Agenda item was #10: Review and consideration of the LSU AG Center Annual Cooperative Agreement/Wes Watts. Whereupon, Mr. Watts introduced Mr. Elliott Scroggs, Associate Extension Agent 4-H Youth Development. Mr. Scroggs presented an overview of the various programs offered to students. Mr. Scroggs informed the board that the cost of the services to the schools was $5,800 annually for several years, but due to recent budget cuts the proposal for 2017-18 would increase to $18,000 annually. It was the consensus of the members of the board that this item be referred to the Finance Committee for further consideration at the committee meeting on September 12, 2017.
The next End of Consent Agenda item was #11: Any other business unanimously approved by the board for consideration.
Whereupon, Superintendent Watts informed the board that Cinclare had committed to selling the board 25 acres of land for the new Brusly High School. The board has to submit a Plat Plan to Cinclare – a cost for the land has not been determined as of this date. He also reported that the air conditioning project in the Port Allen Middle School Gym is completed and work on air conditioning the Brusly Middle School Gym will start shortly.
The next End of Consent Agenda item was announcement of the dates of the following meetings:
Public Hearing for the proposed Consolidated Budget for 2017-18 on September 12, 2017, at 4:50 P.M. in the board room and a Special Board Meeting to approve the proposed Consolidated Budget for 2017-18 on September 12, 2017, immediately following the Public Hearing at 4:50 P.M. and preceding the Finance Committee meeting at 5:00 P.M. on September 12, 2017.
Regular Board Meeting: September 20, 2017 @ 5:00 P.M.
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, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Maranto
Wesley S. Watts Jason P. Manola
Secretary-Treasurer President