7,083 

Port Allen, Louisiana

February 21, 2018

 

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

 

Present:    Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr., Vice-President, Craig Sarradet, Ronald. P. LeBlanc, Leon Goudeau, Sr., Rose A. Lee Roche’, G. Alden Chustz, Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron

Absent:     Jason P. Manola, President, Toby Sarradet

 

Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr., Vice-President, chaired the meeting in the absence of Jason P. Manola, President.

 

The Invocation was offered by Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr.

 

The following students led the Pledge of Allegiance: Layni Taylor, DMS, Jonah Bryant, LUES, and Shelby Johnson, BMS.

 

The next item was the following resolution offered by Mr. Goudeau and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc:

 

Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on January 25, 2018, be approved as presented.

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

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

Nay:                None

Absent:            Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Manola

 

The next item was Educational Presentations:

a)   Introduction of Students of the Year

b)   Presentation of the Head Start Director’s Reports for November and December, 2017/Crystal Leon, Director

 

Whereupon, Mrs. Charlotte Blanchard, Supervisor of Child Welfare & Attendance, introduced the following WBR District Student of the Year Winners for 2017 and 2018:

 

2017 WBR District Student of the Year Winners:

 

Elementary School                    Beau Rabalais              LUES 

Middle School                           Bailey Richardson         BMS

High School                              Shayla LeBlanc             BHS

 

2018 WBR District Student of the Year Winners:

 

Elementary School                    Arin Primus                  LUES

Middle School                           Alayah Gedward           BMS

High School                              Dara Badon                  BHS

 

                                                                                                                                   

Individual School Winners for 2018:

 

ELEMENTARY:            Layni Taylor/ DMS, Arin Primus/LUES, Jacie Pattan/COHN

MIDDLE SCHOOL:       Alayah  Gedward/BMS, Timea Frazier/PAMS, Lucas Rioux/DMS

HIGH SCHOOL:            Dara Badon/BHS, Makayla Lacy/PAHS

 

Dr. Walker commended the students for their dedication and hard work.

 

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

 

The next Educational Presentation was b) Presentation of Head Start Director’s Reports for November, 2017 and December, 2017/Crystal Leon, Director.

 

The next item was the Superintendent’s Report:

a)   Introduction of Mr. Tom Acosta, Candidate for Judge, District B.

b)   Resolution of condolences to: family of Mrs. Sue Jarreau, retired bus operator, and the family of Mr. Charley Payne, retired teacher. 

 

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

 

Whereupon, the following resolutions were offered by Mr. Craig Sarradet and seconded by Mrs. Teri Bergeron:

 

Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mrs. Sue Jarreau their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated service that Mrs. Jarreau rendered to the students 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 Mrs. Sue Jarreau.

 

Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mr. Charley Payne their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated service that Mr. Payne rendered to the students 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. Charley Payne.

 

The above resolutions were adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Manola

 

Mr. Watts continued his Superintendent’s Report with the following announcements:

 

c.)   Kim Eckert is working with State Superintendent of Education John White and the State Department of Education launching a campaign to encourage high school and college students to become teachers; “Be Irreplaceable, Be A Teacher”

d.)   Cassie Brou named the WBR Parish Principal of the Year.

e.)   National School Counselor’s Week February 5-9, 2018

                                                                                                                                               

The next item was consideration of the following items on the Consent Agenda:

 

7.         Consideration of a request for approval and adoption of the School Calendar for 2018-19.

            (Academics Committee Report 2/6/18)

8.         Consideration of a request for approval of the 2017-18 Pupil Progression Plan.

            (Academics Committee Report 2/6/18)

9.         Consideration of request for approval of the DOW-WBR Early College High School MOU with LCTCS/Mary Arrasmith

            (Academics Committee Report 2/6/18)

10.       Consideration of a request for approval of the 2016-17 Annual Audit Report as presented by Mr. Rodney Combs, Audit Director, Postlethwaite & Netterville  

            (Finance Committee Report 2/6/18)

11.       Consideration of request by Mr. Steve Oubre to renew his present lease of the 16th Section  Hunting Property for five (5) years for an annual fee of $24,640

            (Finance Committee Report 2/6/18)

12.       Consideration of approval and adoption of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for January, 2018/Jared Gibbs

             (Finance Committee Report 2/6/18)           

13.       Consideration of request that the board’s legal advisor review the Memorandum of Agreement-Arbor Family Health, a Division of Innis Community Health Center, Inc. and the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board for the Brusly and Port Allen School Based Health Clinics for 2018-19 before final approval by the board.

             (Finance Committee Report 2/6/18)

 

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

 

Mr. Watts informed the board that he did not have the report from the board’s legal advisor relative to Consent Agenda Item #13.

 

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Roche’ and seconded by Mr. Chustz:

 

Be It Resolved, That no action be taken at this time on Consent Agenda Item #13 until the board receives the report from Hammonds & Sills, legal advisors for the board.

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Manola

 

Mr. Craig Sarradet questioned Consent Agenda Item #11 regarding the renewal of the lease on  the 16th Section Hunting property without advertising for bids. 

 

Mr. Jared Gibbs, Supervisor of Business Services, reported that the Legislature had approved a bill that allowed renewal of a lease without advertisement.

                                                                                                                                                       

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

 

Be It Resolved, That the Board does hereby approve and adopt Consent Agenda items #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, and #12 as presented this date, and

 

Be It Further Resolved, That the West Baton Rouge Parish School System (“WBR SCHOOLS”) will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Baton Rouge Community College to begin the process of planning for the Pathways in Technology Early College High School Program.

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Manola

 

The next item was announcement of the committee meeting date of March 13, 2018 and the regular board meeting date of  March 21, 2018.

 

There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by  Mrs. Roche and seconded by Mr. Maranto.

 

Be It Resolved that the meeting be adjourned.

 

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Manola

 

                                                           

Wesley Watts                                      Dr. Atley D. Walker,Sr.

Wesley Watts                           Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr.

Secretary-Treasurer                 Vice-President