Port Allen, Louisiana

January 16, 2019

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, Toby Sarradet, Atley D. Walker, Sr., Ronald P. LeBlanc, Chareeka Grace, G. Alden Chustz, Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron

Absent:            Leon Goudeau

Reagan Primus, Brusly Middle School student and Daylon Spears, Port Allen Middle School student, lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

The next item was approval of the board minutes for the regular board meeting held on December 19, 2018 and the minutes for the special board meeting held on January 8, 2019.

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:

Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on December 19, 2018 and the minutes of the special board meeting held on January 8, 2019 be approved as presented.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Mr. Goudeau

The next item was educational presentations. 

a)    Recognition of Teachers of the Year, Principal of the Year, and Students of the Year for 2018-19  

b)    Head Start Director’s Reports for November and December 2018.

Whereupon the following representatives for each school’s Teacher of the Year and Student of the Year for 2018-19 and WBR School District Winners were recognized:

STUDENTS OF THE YEAR

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Khylen Wright                           LUES  (WBR SCHOOL DISTRICT WINNER)

Eva Zavaleta                             DMS

Christopher Collins                    COHN

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Tia Anderson                            BMS

Rachel Daigle                           DMS   (WBR SCHOOL DISTRICT WINNER)

Elizabeth Tullier                        PAMS

HIGH SCHOOL

Caleb Dunn                               BHS

Emily Nichols                            PAHS  (WBR SCHOOL DISTRICT WINNER)

TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

Brusly Elementary School                     Mandy Landry

Chamberlin Elementary School              Lacy Behl    (WBR SCHOOL DISTRICT WINNER)

Cohn Elementary School                       Hannah Parsons

Lukeville Upper Elementary School        Amber Vlahos

Port Allen Elementary School                Haley Fitzgerald

Brusly Middle School                            Delaney Alwosaibi

Devall Middle School                             Amber Brown (WBR SCHOOL DISTRICT WINNER)

Port Allen Middle School                       Kristina Domingue

Brusly High School                               Karin Gill         (WBR SCHOOL DISTRICT WINNER)

Port Allen High School                          Kaci Ernest

PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR

Jessica Major, Principal, PAMS

President Manola and members of the Board commended and congratulated the Teachers of the Year, Principal of the Year, and the Students of the Year for their accomplishments.

Educational Presentations: b) Head Start Director’s Reports for November and December, 2018 were included in each board member’s packet of agenda items.

The next item was the Superintendent’s Report:

a) Mr. Watts reported that the Medical Clinics at both high schools are almost ready to open for full operation. 

b) Update on project at Port Allen Elementary School – Temporarily delayed by orders of the Corps of Engineers due to the high water level in the Mississippi river at this time.

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

8.    Consideration of request by the Louisiana School Boards Association that all School Boards adopt the Louisiana School Boards Association Updated Code of Conduct for Louisiana School Board Members at the regular board meeting in January, 2019.  (Recommendation at the Academics Committee Meeting 12/11/18)

9.      Consideration of request by the Louisiana School Boards Association that all  School Boards across the State of Louisiana declare January, 2019 “School Board Member Recognition Month” and adopt the resolution prepared by the Louisiana School Boards Association at the regular board meeting in January, 2019. (Recommendation at the Academics Committee meeting 12/11/18)

10.   Consideration of request to adopt the following resolutions:

a)     A resolution of the WBR Parish School Board approving Industrial Tax Exemption Application #20180413-ITE for Graham Packaging Company,L.P. at 1844 Commercial Drive, Port Allen, LA – 70767 (Finance Committee Report – January 8, 2019)

b)      A resolution of the WBR Parish School Board approving Industrial Tax Exemption Application #20161915-ITE for Exxon Mobil Corporation-Port Allen Lubes Plant located at 2239 Hwy 1 North, Port Allen, LA  70767 (Finance Committee Report-January 8, 2019)

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt the following Consent Agenda items #8, 9, and  #10a) and b) as presented.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Mr. Goudeau

Consent Agenda Item #8:

LSBA CODE OF CONDUCT FOR LOUISIANA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

As a member of the School Board I will endeavor to meet and adhere to the following LSBA Code of Conduct:

• Represent the constituents, parents and students of the district which I serve, while remembering that my overarching concern must be the educational welfare of all of the students of the District.

• Respect and uphold the laws and Constitution of the United States, the State of Louisiana, and the policies adopted by the School Board.

• Respect and treat with professionalism and courtesy my fellow School Board Members, the Superintendent, staff, educators, parents and students of the District.

• Maintain decorum and professionalism in my communications with and about my fellow School Board members, the Superintendent, staff, educators, parents or students of the District, no matter the forum.

• Recognize that my authority is that of a member of the School Board, acting through the process of the School Board, and that I do not have, nor will I attempt to exert, any authority, as an individual, over the Superintendent, staff, educators, parents or students of the District.

• Respect and adhere to the decisions of the School Board, while retaining the right to respectfully seek reconsideration of decisions with which I, individually, disagree.

• Guide and direct the concerns, complaints and questions of constituents, parents and students to the Superintendent for consideration and action, in accordance with School Board policy.

• Conduct my personal and professional life in a manner befitting an elected representative of the people and in accordance with the laws of the United States and State of Louisiana.

• Refrain from using the position as an elected School Board member to pursue personal financial gain or aggrandizement.

• Make a concerted effort to attend the meetings of the School Board to which I am called and be prepared to discuss and deliberate on the matters that are scheduled to be before me.

• Respect and maintain the confidentiality of information to which I may become privy, in accordance with State and Federal laws and the fiduciary obligation that I owe to the District.

• Affiliate with the Louisiana School Boards Association and avail myself of the continuing education opportunities offered thereby toward meeting my obligations for annual continuing education as provided by law.

Consent Agenda Item #9:  Louisiana School Board Recognition Month-January, 2019

Whereas, the education of Louisiana’s school-aged children is the foundation upon which the economic, social and intellectual capital of our state is built; and

Whereas, locally elected school boards play an important and vital role in a representative democracy, and decisions made by local boards of education directly influence instruction in Louisiana’s public schools; and

Whereas, these decisions affect the present and future lives of children, and also set direction to prepare all students to be competitive in a local, state, national, and global 21^st century economy; and

Whereas, local school board members work with parents, businesses, education professionals, all elected officials and other community members to create the educational visions we want for our students; and

Whereas, this year’s theme – SCHOOL BOARDS MATTER! – reflects the relevance of local school board members as they advocate for public education with local, state, and federal leaders; and

Whereas, School Board Recognition Month provides an opportunity to build stronger relationships between the thousands of people in Louisiana who champion the mission of public education and school board members; now, therefore

Be It Resolved, the Louisiana School Boards Association recognizes the contributions of the state’s local school boards to the academic success of its public school students and expresses its sincerest recognition to the local school board members for their focus on the well-being and achievement of children throughout the state; and

Be It Finally Resolved, the Louisiana School Boards Association declares January 2019 as School Board Member Recognition Month and encourages local school districts and community leaders to appropriately recognize our state’s dedicated school board members.

Consent Agenda #10 a) ITEP Resolution approving Graham Packaging Company, L.P. and ITEP Resolution approving Exxon Mobil Corporation-Port Allen Lubes Plant

The next item was End of Consent Agenda item #11: Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for October, 2018 and November, 2018/Jared Gibbs, Supervisor of Business Services

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That the monthly expenditures and financial reports for October, 2018 and November, 2018 be approved and adopted as presented by Mr. Jared Gibbs, Supervisor of Business Services.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Mr. Goudeau

The next item was End of Consent Agenda item #12: Committee Meeting Date: February 12, 2019 and board meeting date: February 20, 2019.

The next End of Consent Agenda item was #13: Any other business unanimously approved by the board for consideration.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

Whereupon, Superintendent Watts presented certificates of appreciation to the members of the board honoring them for Louisiana School Board Member Recognition Month designated by the Louisiana School Boards Association as January, 2019.

There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Craig Sarradet 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, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Mr. Goudeau

Wesley Watts                                                                           Jason Manola

Secretary-Treasurer                                                                    President