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Port Allen, Louisiana
June 20, 2018
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, Dr. Atley D. Walker,Sr., Ronald P. LeBlanc, Leon Goudeau,Sr., Rose A. Lee Roche’, G. Alden Chustz,Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron
Absent: Toby Sarradet
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Manola, President of the Board.
The Invocation was presented by Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr.
The next item was approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on May 16, 2018.
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 May 16, 2018, be approved as presented.
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, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Toby Sarradet
The next item was educational presentations. Superintendent Watts announced that he did not have any presentations for this meeting.
The next item was the Superintendent’s Report:
a) Update on National Recognition of Kim Eckert, State Teacher of the Year, and certain students from BHS.
b) Update on Andre Hal, former football player and graduate of PAHS; professional player for the Houston Texans. He was recently diagnosed with Hodgkins’s Lymphoma and is presently undergoing testing at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
The next item was Agenda Item #6: Report from Community Committees/Agencies.
Whereupon, Mrs. Rose Roche’ announced that “Stuff The Bus” will be held at Wal Mart in Port Allen on Wednesday, July 18, 2018, from 6:00 A.M. to 6:30 P.M.
The next item was presentation of the following items on the Consent Agenda:
CONSENT AGENDA
8. Consideration of request for approval to require all coaches to be CDL Certified
(Academics Committee Report 6/12/18)
9. Consideration of request for approval to require that all Advanced Placement Scholar Awards shall be purchased using the State contract prices.
(AcademicsCommittee Report 6/12/18)
10. Consideration of request to approve Caneview K-8 as the official name of the new school in the North end of the Parish.
(Academics Committee Report 6/12/18)
11. Consideration of request to authorize Superintendent Watts to sign the MOU for the school based Family Medical Clinics to be housed at BHS and PAHS. (pending final approval by the board’s legal advisor.)
(Academics Committee Report 6/12/18)
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Mr. Maranto requested that Consent Agenda item #10 be pulled before the vote on the Consent Agenda items.
President Manola announced that Consent Agenda item #10 would be pulled as requested by Mr. Maranto prior to the vote on the Consent Agenda items.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Roche’ and seconded by Mr. Chustz:
Be It Resolved, That Consent Agenda items #8, #9, and #11 be approved, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the board pay for the CDL certification for coaches.
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, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Toby Sarradet
President Manola recognized Mr. Maranto to address the board relative to Agenda Item #10 which was pulled by Mr. Maranto prior to the vote on the Consent Agenda items.
Mr. Maranto informed the board members, citizens of the community and school personnel representing the Chamberlin Elementary School and Devall Middle School, that he was unable to attend the last meeting due to a family emergency. He stated that he thought the name Caneview K-8 was good and appropriate for the area and that he wanted to offer the motion to approve Consent Agenda Item #10 relative to naming the new school Caneview K-8.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
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 Item #10:
Consideration of request to approve Caneview K-8 as the official name of the new school in the North end of the Parish, and
Be It Further Resolved, That this board does hereby go on record this date officially naming the new school in the North end of the Parish Caneview K-8.
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, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Toby Sarradet
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #12:
Consideration of approval of the Food Service bids for 2018-19 (action deferred from Finance Committee meeting on 6/12/18 due to lack of a quorum.) All board members received a packet of the individual bids on June 12, 2018.
Whereupon, the following Final Bid Summary for Food Service Bids for the Child Nutrition Program for the School Year 2018-19 was presented:
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby accept and approve the final bid summary for the Food Service bids for the Child Nutrition Program for the 2018-19 School Year as presented.
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, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Toby Sarradet
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #13:
Consideration of approval of the April and May monthly expenditures and financial reports (action deferred from Finance Committee meeting on 6/12/18 due to lack of a quorum.)
Whereupon, Mr. Jared Gibbs, Supervisor of Business Services, presented the April, 2018 and May, 2018 expenditures and financial reports.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Dr. Walker:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt the April, 2018 and May, 2018 expenditures and financial reports as presented by Mr. Jared Gibbs.
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, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Toby Sarradet
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The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #14:
Update on Building Program/Wes Watts/Earl Kern
Superintendent Watts informed the board that renovations and additions across the parish are progressing despite inclement weather at times. All schools are included in the building program.
Mr. Kern presented a power point of the construction currently underway at the parish campuses and presented the following update on projects:
Brusly Elementary School and Cohn Elementary School renovations and additions are scheduled to be complete in August, as well as the interior renovations to Port Allen High School. The main canopy across the front of Port Allen High School has been taken off. The gym and theater additions at Port Allen High School are scheduled to be completed by April, 2019. A band classroom will be included in the new 452 seat theater. Renovations at Port Allen High School which will be completed when the new school year begins are: an upgraded Media Center, new Administrative area, new intercom system, improvements to classrooms, a more secure entrance, replacement of the fire alarm and upgrades to technology and security systems. The more than 7,000 square foot Brusly Elementary School addition will consist of Head Start classrooms, multi-purpose and administration for Head Start. The almost 9,000 square foot addition to Cohn Elementary School will be a multi-purpose and administrative building. The additions will eliminate temporary buildings on these campuses. Renovations to Cohn will also include updated student restrooms. The existing administrative area will be converted to be used to house the school nurse and for guidance counseling services. An upgraded vent hood, a new freezer and new cooler will be installed in the cafeteria. Caneview K-8, the new Head Start through eighth-grade school which is a combination of Chamberlin Elementary School and Devall Middle School, has passed Phase 1 of the environmental study and is presently under construction. The land for the new Brusly High School has been secured from Harry L. Laws & Company/Cinclare, and soil testing on this land will be the next step before the bidding process in November. The new Brusly High School project is scheduled to be complete in August 2020. Upon completion of the new school, the current Brusly High School campus will become a middle school campus for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders and the current middle school campus will be used for fourth and fifth graders. Renovations for Brusly Middle School, Lukeville Upper Elementary School, Port Allen Elementary School and Port Allen Middle School are in the design phase of the building program.
Mr. Kern will present another update before the start of the school year.
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The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #15:
Consideration of a resolution recognizing and approving the execution of the Bond Purchase Agreement and Official Statement regarding the issuance and sale of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2018, of Parishwide School District No. 3 of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana./Jared Gibbs
Mr. David Henderson, Bond Attorney, Foley & Judell, LLP, presented the legals relative to the execution of the Bond Purchase Agreement and Official statement regarding the issuance and sale 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. Cortez informed the board relative to the number of different investors buying into the board’s bonds. Mr. Ryan informed the board that there was a “phenomenally low” interest rate on the bond. He further stated: “This is a credit to your policies and procedures, your financial management of the school district, the great use of your assets and your tax dollars and the implementation of those procedures by Superintendent Watts and Mr. Jared Gibbs, Supervisor of Business Services for the WBR School District.”
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:
(RESOLUTION)
(The entire resolution will be published in the West Side Journal, the official journal of the board, on July 5, 2018, and included in these minutes in the official minute book.)
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The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #16:
Adoption of millage rates for the 2018 Tax Year/Jared Gibbs
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, 3761 Rosedale Road, Port Allen, Louisiana on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. to adopt the millage rates for 2018 Tax Year
Whereupon, Mr. Gibbs presented the proposed resolution for the millage(s) rates to be levied on the 2018 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by the West Baton Rouge Parish School
Board.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Roche’ and seconded by Mr. Craig Sarradet:
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The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #17:
Review and approval of the WBR Parish Schools 2018-19 Student Handbook/Charlotte Blanchard, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.
Whereupon, Mrs. Blanchard presented the following changes to the WBR Student Handbook for 2018-19:
Updated lists of school personnel, updated school calendar, updated the PAHS Semester dates
STUDENT ABSENCES AND EXCUSES
Page 18-Amended the following sentence to include the bolded wording: (underlined since all print is bolded in minutes) The parent or guardian of a student with excessive absences for which no doctor’s excuses have been provided may be referred to the District Attorney’s office for the charge of failure to supervise a minor.
Page 19-Added the following sentence under letter A: Parents of students with excessive non-exempt excused absences may be referred to the District Attorney’s office.
Page 20-Amended the heading to Tardiness/Checkouts and included the following statement:
Except in cases of medical emergency, students are not allowed to check out of school within thirty minutes of dismissal. Students may only be checked out of school by a parent or legal guardian, or other person noted on the Emergency Information Form.
Student Dress Code and Grooming – Added the sentence “Trench coats are not allowed.”
Expulsion Policies and Procedures – Added terrorizing
Criminal Activity Which Occurs Outside of School Jurisdiction: If a student is charged with a felony, whereby the charge would impact the health and safety of students, the Superintendent or designee shall make a determination as to recommended expulsion or the student’s placement. Examples of such charges include, but are not limited to aggravated battery, dangerous controlled substance, firearms or other weapons, and terrorizing.
Curriculum and Instruction – Updated the information to agree with the Pupil Progression Plan voted in as policy during the 17-18 school year.
Regulations Governing Instructional Services Provided To Homebound/Hospitalized Children –
This section was updated by the school nurses to stay in compliance with changes in state and federal law.
Mr. Manola requested that Mrs. Blanchard add the following information to the handbook relative to School Safety:
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SAFETY (ALL GRADE LEVELS)
Student safety on campus, at school-related events, and on district vehicles is a high priority of the West Baton Rouge Parish School District. Although the district has implemented safety procedures, the cooperation of students is essential to ensuring school safety. A student is expected to:
· Avoid conduct that is likely to put the student or others at risk.
· Follow the behavioral standards in this handbook and the Student Code of Conduct, as well as any additional rules for behavior and safety set by the principal, campus behavior coordinator, teachers or bus drivers.
· Remain alert to and promptly report to a teacher or the principal any safety hazards, such as intruders on campus or threats made by any person toward a student or staff member.
· Know emergency evacuation routes and signals.
· Follow immediately the instructions of teachers, bus drivers, and other district employees who are overseeing the welfare of students.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Dr. Walker:
Be It Resolved, That the WBR Parish Schools 2018-19 Student Handbook be approved as presented by Mrs. Charlotte Blanchard, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.
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, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Toby Sarradet
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #18:
Review of Expulsion Appeal (student enrolled in Port Allen Middle School) Charlotte Blanchard, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc:
Be It Resolved, That the board declare itself in Executive Session to review an expulsion appeal of a certain student enrolled in Port Allen Middle School.
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, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Toby Sarradet
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Upon termination of the Executive Session, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Bergeron and seconded by Dr. Walker:
Be It Resolved, That the board declare itself in regular open session.
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, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Toby Sarradet
Whereupon, Mr. Jason Manola, President of the Board, recognized Mrs. Charlotte Blanchard, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, to make the following statement to the student and the student’s parents:
“I have reviewed the facts of this incident and discussed the situation with the administration of Port Allen Middle School. I have also listened carefully to the appeal of both the student and his parents. Upon careful consideration of all of this information, I have decided to modify the expulsion such that the student may possibly be allowed to return to regular classes on a probationary basis at the end of the first 9 week period – which will be the end of the first semester at PAHS, as long as he meets the criteria for such.”
The expulsion hearing decision letter will be amended to include the following statement:
“Possibility of Probationary Placement – Your child may be allowed to return to regular classes on a probationary basis on October 12, 2018. Should your child commit a suspendable offense while on probation, he/she will be returned to the Alternative Program to complete his/her expulsion period. Any consideration of probationary placement is contingent upon the student following all rules and completing assigned work in the Alternative setting.”
Charlotte K. Blanchard, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance
Mr. Jason Manola, President of the Board, stated that no action would be taken by the board and upheld the recommendation of Mrs. Charlotte Blanchard, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.
The next End of Consent Agenda Item was #19: Organizational Items: Committee meeting date and board meeting date for July, 2018.
Whereupon, Mr. Jason Manola, President of the Board, requested that the board consider moving the date of the July 10th committee meeting to July 17th and the date of the July 18th board meeting date to July 25, 2018.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
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Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Roche’ and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:
Be It Resolved, That the date of the July committee meeting be moved to July 17th and the date of the July board meeting be moved to July 25th.
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, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Toby Sarradet
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #20: Any other business unanimously approved by the board for consideration.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc 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, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Toby Sarradet
Wesley Watts Jason Manola
Wesley Watts Jason Manola
Secretary-Treasurer President