7, 095
Port Allen, Louisiana
May 16, 2018
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 N. Goudeau, Rose A. Lee Roche’, G. Alden Chustz, Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron
The Invocation was offered by Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr.
A group of students representing Brusly High School and Port Allen High School who were being recognized for achieving State honors led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The next item was approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on April 18, 2018.
Whereupon, on motion of Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Goudeau, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on April 18, 2018, be approved as presented.
The next item was Educational presentations. Whereupon, the following student athletes were presented certificates of recognition from the Board:
Brusly High School: Ta’la Spates/Class 3A State Champion in 400 meter dash and Runner-Up in the 100 meter dash. Hannah Pedigo/Class 3A State Runner-Up in the pole vault
Coach: Trent Ellis
Port Allen High School: Girls Powerlifting 2017-18 State Champions:
Elani Antoine, Destynee Calvey, Mariah Charles, J’Laycia Grevious, Tiara Jones, Makayle Kress, Rickia Lenoir, Jermyrie Mitchell, Emily Nichols, Aryanna Porter, Kaya Ross, Madelyn Williams, Nyjala Williams, Destiny Winfield, and Jordan Domingue/Manager
Head Coach: Brian Bizette Assistant Coaches: Richelle George, Chris Conaway
Coach/Athletic Director: John Williams
Treveon Scott/Discus, Emily Nichols/Discus and Shot Put Runner-Up, Rickia Lenoir/Shot Put,
Attylaka Follins/Triple Jump
4x100m Relay: Attylaka Follins, Kristian Wicker, Tremeisha Moore, Allysaa Miller
Wheel Chair Division: Gold Medal Winner/Aryana Porter: Discus, Javelin, Shot Put
Academic All State Winner:Alyssa Williams/4.0
Mr. Manola expressed sincere congratulations, on behalf of the members of the WBR School Board and Superintendent Watts, to all coaches and students recognized today for their outstanding accomplishments and honors. He also thanked the parents for their cooperation and support of the athletic programs.
The next item was the Superintendent’s Report: a) Introduction of Outstanding School Support Employees:
Elementary School Award: Yashica Flowers/Para Professional - Port Allen Elementary School
Middle School Award: Michelle Pinkston/Secretary – Brusly Middle School
High School Award: Kim Collins/Food Service Technician – Brusly High School
Mr. Manola expressed sincere congratulations, on behalf of the members of the WBR School Board and Superintendent Watts, to the recipients of the Outstanding School Support Employee Awards.
Superintendent’s Report: Item b) Presentation of certificates to School Board members for 2017 Continuing Learning Units (Six hours mandatory requirement by the Louisiana State Legislature with one unit of Ethics required annually as part of the six hours.)
Item c) Head Start Director’s Monthly Report/Crystal Leon, Director of Head Start Program-
Report is included in each board member’s packet.
The next item was a report from Community Committee/Agencies: Red & White Day at the WBR School Board/Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,Inc./Rose Roche’:
Mrs. Roche’ introduced Mrs. Joann H. Glasper, Chapter President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and other chapter members present at the board meeting. Miss Dara Badon, 2018 graduate of Brusly High School, was recognized as the recipient of the sorority’s $1500 Scholarship for 2017-18. Miss Badon will be attending college at Harvard University.
Mr. Manola expressed sincere congratulations to Miss Badon on behalf of the board members and Superintendent Watts. He also thanked the members of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority for their interest and support of the students enrolled in the West Baton Rouge Parish School System.
The next item was introduction of the following items on the Consent Agenda:
CONSENT AGENDA
Consideration of the request to approve a resolution for CORTEC, LLC, to participate in the Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP) WBR Chamber (Finance Committee Report 5/8/18)
Consideration of request to approve the payment in the amount of $22,480.16 to Sugar West, Inc., for the loss of future net returns on the 29 acres of second year sugar cane stubble which would be harvested in 2018. (located on the site leased by Sugar West,Inc., which is the site of the new Northside School.) (Finance Committee Report 5/8/18)
Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mrs. Roche’, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve Consent Agenda Items #1 and #2, as presented, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the board does hereby adopt the following resolution approving
CORTEC,LLC for participation in the Industrial Tax Exemption Program at 2900 LA Highway North, Port Allen, Louisiana, West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana 70767.
(RESOLUTION ATTACHED)
The next item was consideration of End of Consent Agenda items #10, #11, #12, #13, #14.
The first End of Consent Agenda item was #10: Further discussion relative to the proposed agreement for the purchase of the land from Harry L. Laws & Company, Cinclare (site of new Brusly High School) (action deferred from Finance Committee Report 5/8/18)
Mr. Watts informed the members of the Board that a copy of the Purchase Agreement was in their packet of information. The members of the Board reviewed and discussed the Purchase Agreement document.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Dr. Walker, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the purchase of the tract of land located in Section 12, T8S, R12E, Parish of West Baton Rouge, Louisiana, containing approximately 25 acres as depicted in the attached “Purchase Agreement” Document, for the purchase price of the property will be one million five hundred ninety-four thousand four hundred twenty one and no/100 dollars ($1,594,421.00) to be paid in cash at the closing as defined in the attached “Purchase Agreement”:
The next End of Consent agenda item to be considered was #11:
Consideration of a resolution authorizing the incurring of debt and issuance of not exceeding Eleven Million Dollars ($11,000,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2018, of Parishwide School District No. 3 of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana; prescribing the form, terms and conditions of said Bonds; designating the date, denomination and place of payment of said Bonds; providing for the payment thereof in principal and interest; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
Mr. David Henderson, Bond Attorney, Foley & Judell, LLP, presented the legals relative to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the incurring of debt and issuance of not exceeding Eleven Million Dollars ($11,000,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2018, of Parishwide School District No. 3 of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.
Mr. Henderson recognized Mr. Toby Cortez, Underwriter, Stifel, Nicolaus and Company, and Mr. Jim Ryan, the board’s Municipal Advisor, Government Consultants, Inc. Mr. Ryan complimented the board for their A+ Rating and informed them that the Superintendent had been authorized by the board to sign for the sale of bonds.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Maranto and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby adopt the following resolution authorizing the incurring of debt and issuance of not exceeding Eleven Million Dollars ($11,000,000) of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2018, of Parishwide School District No.3 of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana; prescribing the form, terms, and conditions of said Bonds; designating the date, denomination and place of payment of said Bonds; providing for the payment thereof in principal and interest; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.
(The entire resolution was published in the May 24, 2018, issue of the West Side Journal, the official journal of the board, and a signed copy is attached to these minutes in the official minute book.)
(RESOLUTION)
The next End of Consent Agenda item to be considered was #12: Public Notice: The West Baton Rouge Parish School Board will hold a public meeting at the regular meeting place, the Board Meeting Room of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board Office located at 3761 Rosedale Road, Port Allen, Louisiana 70767, on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. to adopt the millage rates for the 2018 Tax Year.
Mr. Jared Gibbs, Supervisor of Business Services, informed the board that this public notice of the board’s intent to adopt the millage rates for the 2018 Tax Year was required.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, on motion of Mrs. Roche’ and seconded by Mr. Craig Sarradet, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve the public notice to adopt the millage rates for the 2018 tax year at the June 20, 2018, regular meeting of the board, as presented by Mr. Jared Gibbs, Supervisor of Business Services.
The next End of Consent Agenda item to be considered was #13: Consideration of request for approval of the bid submitted by the West Side Journal to serve as the official journal of the board from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019/Jared Gibbs.
Mr. Gibbs presented the following bid from the West Side Journal:
May 7, 2018
“As allowed by Louisiana State Law, the charge will be $6.00 per legal square and shall include, but not be limited to, minutes, resolutions, ordinances and special elections. Display advertising for public notices will be charged at $7.00 per column inch.
The deadline to submit legal advertising shall be one week (noon Thursday) prior to publication. Requests for certificates of Publication should be made at the time legal advertising is submitted. A cost of $12.00 will be charged per Certificate of Publication.”
(signed: George Jenne, Publisher, West Side Journal)
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby accept and approve the bid submitted by the West Side Journal to serve as the official journal of the board from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.
Mrs. Rose Roche’ requested that the following statement be a part of the official minutes of this meeting:
“Where is the West Side Journal?” “There is not enough publicity relative to the recognition of students and employees.”
The next End of Consent Agenda item to be considered was #14: Discussion relative to Northside School/Michael A. Maranto.
Mr. Maranto stated that he had been contacted by parents, faculty and staff members from both schools, and concerned members of the community relative to renaming the school. Some of the points brought out by faculty members and parents were the geographical location and that cane was the predominant crop produced in that area. They felt like Northside was not an appropriate name for the school and preferred naming it Caneview Community School. The board members did not like “community” because it sounded more like a charter school name than the name of a public school. Mrs. Laree Taylor, Principal of Devall Middle School, informed the board that the “community” had been included in the name because it was going to be a K-8 school encompassing a large group of students.
Whereupon, on motion of Mrs. Roche’ and seconded by Dr. Walker, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the board defer action on this item until the June 12th committee meeting.
The next item was #15: Organizational Items: Committee meeting date: 6/12/18 and Board meeting date: 6/20/18.
There being no further business to come before the board, on motion of Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the meeting be adjourned.
Jason P. Manola Wesley Watts
President Secretary-Treasurer