Port Allen, Louisiana

February 20, 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, Dr. Atley D. Walker,Sr., Ronald P. LeBlanc, Chareeka Grace, G. Alden Chustz,Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron

Absent:             Leon Goudeau

 

Mallory Lake, Devall Middle School student, and Carly Freeman, Lukeville Upper Elementary School student, lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

The next item was approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on January 16, 2019.

 

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

 

Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on January 16, 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

 

President Manola recognized Mr. Gary Spillman, Candidate for Representative, who requested a few minutes on the agenda to address the board regarding his candidacy in the upcoming election.

 

President Manola announced that the next item was Election of Officers. He called for a roll call vote to open the floor for nomination of officers.

 

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

 

Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby open the floor for nomination of officers.

 

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

 

Whereupon, Dr. Walker, Vice President, declared the floor open for nomination of President of the Board.

 

Mr. Toby Sarradet nominated Mr. Jason Manola for President of the Board, and the nomination was seconded by Mrs. Teri Bergeron.

 

There being no further nominations for President of the Board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:

                                                                                                                                               

Be It Resolved, That the nominations for President of the Board be closed, and

 

Be It Further Resolved, That Mr. Jason Manola be declared President of the Board by acclamation.

 

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

 

Mr. Manola expressed his appreciation to the members of the Board for re-electing him to serve as President of the Board and thanked them for their cooperation and support.  He informed the board that committee assignments would be presented at the regular board meeting in March.

 

President Manola opened the floor for nominations for Vice President of the Board.

 

Mr. LeBlanc nominated Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr., for Vice President of the Board, and the nomination was seconded by Mr. Craig Sarradet.

 

There being no further nominations for Vice President of the Board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Mr. Craig Sarradet:

 

Be It Resolved, That the nominations for Vice-President of the Board be closed, and

 

Be It Further Resolved, That Dr. Atley D. Walker,Sr., be declared Vice-President of the Board by acclamation.

 

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

 

Dr. Walker expressed his appreciation to the members of the Board for re-electing him to serve as Vice-President of the Board.

 

The next item was Educational Presentations:

a)     Recognition of Mrs. Lacy Behl, Elementary Teacher at Chamberlin Elementary School, winner of the NSTA Maitland P. Simmons, Memorial Award for New Teachers.  Award will be presented at a national conference in St. Louis, Missouri and all of Mrs. Behl’s expenses will be paid as a winner of the award.

b)     Recognition of BHS Division III Individual State Wrestling Champions introduced by Coach Jimmy Bible: Andrew Trahan and Calep Balcuns and State Runner Up: Kaden Gillikin

c)     Recognition of PAHS Girls Basketball Team, District 8-2A Champions, and Coach Kim Cox, District Coach of the Year

                                                                                                           

The next item was the Superintendent’s Report:

a)     Resolution of condolences to the family of Mrs. Mammie Louis, retired Food Service Technician, and the family of  Ms. Jo Firmin, retired Art Teacher at Devall Middle School.

b)     Head Start Director’s Report for January, 2019 is included in the board member’s packet of information.

     

Whereupon, the following resolutions were offered by Mrs. Bergeron and seconded by Mr. Maranto:

                                                                                                                       

Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mrs. Mammie Louis, retired Food Service Technician,  in the West Baton Rouge School System, their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated service rendered by Mrs. Louis in the West Baton Rouge School System, and

 

Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby offer their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mrs. Louis.

 

Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Ms. Jo Firmin, retired Art Teacher, in the West Baton Rouge School System, their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated service rendered by Ms. Firmin in the West Baton Rouge School System, and

 

Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby offer their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Ms. Firmin.

 

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 presentation of the following items on the Consent Agenda:

 

8:         Consideration of request for approval of the 2017-18 Annual Audit Report by Postlewaite & Netterville, Rodney Combs (Finance Committee Report 2/12/19)

9.         Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial Reports for December, 2018 and January, 2019/Jared Gibbs (Finance Committee Report 2/12/19)

10.       Consideration of request to approve the stipend in the amount of $1,500 for Cody Sarradet, IT Department Data Specialist, for completion of additional computer-based certification. (Finance Committee Report 2/12/19)

11.       Update on Construction Projects/Earl Kern (Finance Committee Report 2/12/19)

12.       Consideration of request to approve and adopt the proposed 2019-20 School Calendar as presented by Superintendent Watts. (Academics Committee Report 2/12/19)

 

Consent Agenda items #10 and #11 were pulled to be considered separately.

 

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

 

Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt Consent Agenda items #8, #9, and #12 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

 

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

 

Be It Resolved, That Consent Agenda item #10 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 to be presented was Consent Agenda Item #11: Update on Construction Projects/Earl Kern (Finance Committee Report 2/12/19 - requested that Mr. Kern present an update on construction projects at the regular board meeting on 2/20/19)

 

Mr. Kern presented the following update on progress of construction projects:

1)     Project Close-out meetings in progress at Brusly Elementary School and Cohn Elementary School.

2)     Caneview School – Contractor working very hard to move construction along despite the recent rain causing a delay until standing water drains and ground dries out.

3)     Port Allen High School – Theatre for Performing Arts: Interior studs are installed, bricks will be installed on exterior very soon and installation of roof is in the works now.  Work on the Auxiliary Gym is moving on schedule. The aluminum letters for PAHS have come in but they have to be painted before installation.  Gym entrance to be brightened up.  Science labs are arriving and some of the cabinets have been delivered.

4)      Lukeville Upper Elementary School: Ground breaking February 14th.

5)          Port Allen Elementary School: Waiver from U.S. Corps of Engineers – river had to drop below 15 feet. Hoping to be able to pour the slab next week.  Ground breaking February 14th.

6)     Port Allen Middle School: Will advertise for bids in April.  Listed on National Register so have to be careful in process for renovations.

7)     Brusly Middle School: Conversion process later.

8)     New Brusly High School: Areas had to complete settlements – most of site settled but north side of the building just cleared Monday and taking surcharge off site. Very pleased with the contractor.  Weather has been a set-back. Test pilings called “Load Up” and have to wait 14 days.

 

Mr. Kern will present a “visual report” on the Construction Projects at the March 20th board meeting.

 

Mr. Watts and Mr. LeJeune brought up the question relative to School Zone signs to be installed on Section Road and McLin Road.

 

                                    END OF CONSENT AGENDA

 

The next item was introduction of item #13 on the End of Consent Agenda:

Organizational Items: Committee meeting date: March 12, 2019 and regular board meeting date:

March 20, 2019.

 

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

 

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