7,087

Port Allen, Louisiana

March 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, Toby Sarradet, Ronald P. LeBlanc, Leon Goudeau, Sr., Rose A. Lee Roche’, G. Alden Chustz, Jr., Teri Bergeron

Absent:          Jason P. Manola, President, Michael Maranto

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: Demarion Favorite/BES and Julian Washington/Cohn Elementary School.

The next item was the following resolution offered by Mr. Goudeau and seconded by Mrs. Roche’:

Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on February 21, 2018 be approved as presented.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

 Nay:                None

Absent:            Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto

The next item was Educational Presentations:

a)   Recognition of Placid Refining Company/ of Mr. Patrick Hobbins representing Placid Refining Company/Wes Watts

b)   Recognition of students selected to represent WBR and WBR Healthy Communities Coalition at the 28^th Annual National Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. sponsored by Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and recognition of Mrs. Toddie Milstead, Coordinator, WBR Drug Free Communities Project: Students: Jazmin Domingue/PAHS, Kaleb Saizan/PAHS, Mya Pitre/BHS, Jonathan Veal/BHS

c)    Presentation of the Head Start Director’s Report for January, 2018/Mrs. Crystal Leon

Superintendent Watts presented a plaque of appreciation from the board to Placid Refining Company for their help in starting the Robotics Class at Port Allen Middle School and their Assistance in other programs at Port Allen Middle School.   Superintendent Watts expressed his appreciation on behalf of the board to Placid and Dow for their participation in the STEM Programs and their assistance in other programs at the schools in the parish.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

The next item was the Superintendent’s Report:

a)   Introduction of Ms. Kevin LaBelle Celestine James, Attorney, Candidate for Judge, District B.

b)   Request by Jared Gibbs, Supervisor of Business Services, that the board authorize Superintendent Watts to withdraw $15,000.00 out of the EEF Investment Trust Account And transfer these funds to the EEF Grant for the 2017-18 School Year as directed by the LA Department of Treasury.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Bergeron and seconded by Mrs. Roche”

(Resolution attached for approval to withdraw $15,000.00 out of the EEF Investment Trust Account and transfer these funds to the EEF Grant for the 2017-18 School Year.)

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto

Mrs. Roche’ reported that she had received calls regarding concerns about school safety.

Mr. Watts informed the board that this issue had been discussed and he was preparing a report to present at a later date.

The next item was a report from Community Committees/Agencies. 

Whereupon, Dr. Walker recognized Mr. Brian Doucet, representing the WBR Parish Sheriff’s Posse.  Mr. Doucet presented a request for permission to tear down an existing barn on the property leased from the board in order for them to construct a new building to replace it.  This project would be paid for by the WBR Sheriff’s Office at no cost to the WBR School Board.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby authorize the WBR Sheriff’s Posse to tear down an existing barn on the property leased from the board, and

Be It Further Resolved, That the Board does hereby grant permission for the Posse to construct another building to replace the barn at no cost to the WBR School Board.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto

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

7.         Consideration of a request to approve the Eraate Category 1 Contract for Internet Service Provider (ISP) services awarded to AT&T:

            a)   36 month contract

            b)   2 GBs of Internet service originating at the source, Central Office, and then distributed to the schools from the main data center.

           c)    1 time charge of $750 to upgrade to a 10 GB backbone for needed upgrades during the life of the contract. Monthly rate with managed routers: $3,947.56 (Note: By putting in a 10 GB Backbone, if more “internet” is needed beyond the 2 GBs in the next three (3) years, it just involves increasing the bandwidth with AT&T.) Tammy Seneca

            (Finance Committee Report 3/13/18)

8.         Consideration of a request for approval to advertise for Food Service bids for the 2018-19 School Year/Jared Gibbs

            (Finance Committee Report 3/13/18)

9.        Consideration of request for approval and adoption of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for February, 2018/Jared Gibbs

           (Finance Committee Report 3/13/18)1019     

10.       Consideration of request that the Board approve the following recommendations relative to the purchase of the land from Harry L. Laws & Company/Cinclare:

1)     That the Board agree with the appraised purchase price of the land as outlined in the appraisal dated January 31, 2018, conducted by Right of Way Services, Inc. and submitted to the board by Harry L. Laws & Company, Inc./Cinclare:  $1,594,421.00 plus the additional cost of $99,480.70 for payment of the lost revenue for sugar cane stubble;sugar/molasses.

2)     That the Board agree to authorize the seller to proceed with drafting a purchase agreement with consideration to negotiate on the “List of Servitudes” which included eight items.

(Finance Committee Report 3/13/18)

11.       Consideration of request that the board adopt the resolution to develop a Louisiana Task Force on Teacher Shortage to secure a stronger educator workforce in the State/Mrs. Barbara Burke, Human Resource Director

            (Academics Committee Report 3/13/18)

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

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

Be It Further Resolved, That the board adopt the following resolution to develop a Louisiana Task Force on Teacher Shortage to secure a stronger educator workforce in the State as requested by Mrs. Barbara Burke, Human Resource Director:

(Resolution Attached)

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto

The next item was End of Consent Agenda item #12: Executive Session for an Expulsion Appeal.

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

Be It Resolved, That the board declare itself in Executive Session for an Expulsion Appeal.  The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

Upon termination of the Executive Session, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc:

Be It Resolved, That the board declare itself in Open Session.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto

Dr. Walker, Chairman, stated no action taken, therefore there is no further recommendation relative to the Expulsion of a certain student as recommended by the school officials .

The next item was announcement of the committee meeting date of April 10, 2018 and the regular board meeting date of  April 18, 2018.

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

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. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mrs. Bergeron, Dr. Walker

Nay:                 None

Absent:           Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto

Wesley Watts                                                 Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr.

Secretary-Treasurer                                       Vice-President/Acting Chairman