Port Allen, Louisiana

October 17, 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 Manola, President, Toby Sarradet

Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr., Vice President, conducted the meeting in the absence of Jason Manola, President of the Board.

Khloe’ S. Johnson, Lukeville Upper Elementary School student and Jayden Netter, Devall Middle School student, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on September 19, 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: Superintendent Watts announced that October is National Head Start Awareness Month.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby acknowledge that October has been proclaimed National Head Start Awareness Month in West Baton Rouge Parish.

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 the Superintendent’s Report: Resolution of Condolences to the family of Mrs. Cecile Purnell, retired teacher.

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

Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mrs. Cecile Purnell their feelings of sincere appreciation for the years of dedicated service to the students of Cohn Elementary School and Port Allen Elementary School rendered by Mrs. Cecile Purnell, and

Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the Board do hereby express their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mrs. Cecile Purnell.

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 a report from Community Committees/Agencies:

Whereupon, Mrs. Rose Roche’ introduced Reverend Morris, Pastor of Rosehill West Church and Deacon Jared Joseph.  Rosehill West Church adopted Cohn Elementary School and one of the many services provided by the members of the church was a uniform drive prior to the opening of school.  Reverend Morris reported that the church had recently purchased another building to use as a Resource Center to provide tutoring for students.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board hereby express their appreciation to Reverend Morris, Pastor of Rosehill West Church, Deacon Jared Joseph, and members of the congregation, for expressing their interest in the education of the children in West Baton Rouge Parish by adopting Cohn Elementary School and providing services to these students.

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 presentation of the following items on the Consent Agenda:

8.         Consideration of request for approval to adopt the updated Data Backup Policy to be effective the end of October, 2018/Dr. Tammy Seneca (Academics Committee Report- 10/9/18)

9.         Consideration of request for approval of the job description for the new position of Lead Speech Pathologist , a ten month position. (Academics Committee Report 10/9/18)

10.       Consideration of request to:

a) Approve and adopt the Hearing Procedures for the Employee Discipline Policy submitted by Barbara Burke, Human Resource Director.

            b) Approve and adopt the list of Hearing Officers submitted by Barbara Burke, Human Resource Director. (Academics Committee Report 10/9/18)

11.       Consideration of approval of the request to approve and adopt the updated West Baton Rouge School District Emergency Operations Plan/Warren LeJeune (Academics Committee Report 10/9/18)

12.       Consideration of approval of the request declaring Election Day, 11/06/18, a holiday for WBR public schools/Wes Watts (Academics Committee Report 10/9/18)

13.       Consideration of approval of the request by Crystal Leon to submit the Head Start Continuation Grant for the period February 2019 to January 2020. (Academics Committee Report 10/9/18)

14.       Consideration of approval of the request by Charlotte Blanchard to adopt the Proclamation declaring October 22, 2018-October 26, 2018, Red Ribbon Week in West Baton Rouge Parish Schools (Academics Committee Report 10/9/18)

15.       Consideration of approval of the recommendation that at the bid opening for the new Brusly High School, Mr. Earl Kern, Program Manager, will read the Design Team’s “Opinion of Probable Cost” prior to opening the bids. (Finance Committee Report-10/9/18)

16.       Consideration of a request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for August, 2018 presented by Jared Gibbs, Supervisor of Business Services, (Finance Committee Report 10/9/18)

17.       Consideration of a request for approval of the annual renewal of the Policy360, (which combines the Policy Updating Service and the updating service for CAPS, Computer Assisted Policy Service) and inclusion of school board minutes/James Prescott, Jr., Forethought Consulting, Inc., for the period November 1, 2018 through October 31, 2019, for the annual cost of $9,100 (Finance Committee Report 10/9/18)

18.       Consideration of approval of the request to adopt the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire 2017-18 Audit (for audit engagements of Government agencies) Jared Gibbs (Finance Committee Report 10/9/18)

19.       Consideration of request that Superintendent Watts present a revised policy for Use of School Facilities and a revised Facilities Usage Fee Schedule at the Finance Committee Meeting on November 13, 2018. (Finance Committee Report 10/9/18)

20.       Consideration of a request for approval by Mr. Jason Manola, President, to move the date of the regular board meeting in November from November 21, 2018 (the day before Thanksgiving which is November 22, 2018) to November 28, 2018 (Finance Committee Report 10/9/18)

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt Consent Agenda items #8,#9,#10,#11,#12,#13,#14,#15,#16,#17,#18,#19,#20 as presented this date.

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 to be considered was End of Consent Agenda Item #21:

Consideration of report from Board Counsel regarding potential legal action related to allegations of inappropriate electronic communications and social media usage by a School Board employee. The Board reserves the right, upon majority vote of the membership, to address this item in an Executive Session in conformity with the requirements of La.R.S. 17:11-28, the Louisiana Open Meetings Law.

Whereupon, Dr. Atley D. Walker,Sr., Vice President and Chairman of the Board meeting this date in the absence of Board President Jason Manola, announced that the Board needed to adopt a resolution to declare itself in Executive Session to address End of Consent Agenda Item #21, a report from the Board Counsel, in an Executive Session in conformity with the requirements of La.R.S.17:11-28, the Louisiana Open Meetings Law.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That the board declare itself in Executive Session to consider a report from the Board Counsel regarding potential legal action relative to allegations of inappropriate electronic communications and social media usage by a School Board employee. The Board reserves the right, upon majority vote of the membership, to address this item in an Executive Session in conformity with the requirements of La.R.S. 17:11-28, the Louisiana Open Meetings Law.

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

Upon termination of the Executive Session, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Mrs. Roche’:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Manola

No action taken on End of Consent Agenda #21.

The next item to be considered was End of Consent Agenda Item #22: Review of Expulsion Appeal/Executive Session.

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

Be It Resolved, That the board declare itself in Executive Session to review an Expulsion Appeal.

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

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

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Manola

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

Whereupon, Dr. Atley D. Walker,Sr., Chairman of the meeting in the absence of Jason Manola, Board President, stated that no action would be taken by the Board and upheld the expulsion recommendation of Mrs. Charlotte Blanchard, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.

The next item was announcement of the committee meeting date of November 13, 2018, and the regular board meeting date of  November 21, 2018, was moved to November 28, 2018.

There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz 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. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Dr. Walker

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Manola

Wesley Watts                             Atley D. Walker,Sr.

Wesley Watts                           Atley D. Walker,Sr.

Secretary-Treasurer                    Vice-President