Port Allen, Louisiana
August 21, 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,Sr.
Miss Maddie LaPrairie led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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 July 17, 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 July 17, 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) Introduction of newly hired middle and high school teachers for the 2019-20 school year. b) Presentation of AP Scholar Awards for BHS and PAHS students. c) Introduction of Jonathan Loveall, Candidate for District 8 BESE Representative.
a) Introduction of newly hired middle and high school teachers for the 2019-20 school year.
Whereupon, Superintendent Watts recognized the individual Principals to introduce the newly hired staff members at their school.
b) Presentation of AP Scholar Awards for BHS and PAHS students.
Superintendent Watts recognized Mr. Walt Lemoine, to introduce the AP Scholar Award winners from BHS and Mr. James Jackson to introduce the AP Scholar Award winners from PAHS:
BHS
AP Scholar Graham Campbell
AP Scholar Sebastian Dexter
AP Scholar Caleb Dunn
AP Scholar Matthew Jones
AP Scholar Brooke Bourgoyne
AP Scholar Clay Gauthreaux
AP Scholar Braxton Michel
AP Scholar Sylvie Songe
AP Scholar Ta’La Spates
AP Scholar with Honor Lacey Budd
AP Scholar with Honor Michelle Denova
AP Scholar with Honor Cameryn Gauthe
AP Scholar with Honor Maria Osorio
PAHS
AP Scholar Kennedy Temple
AP Scholar Emily Nichols
AP Scholar with Honor Heber Saravia
Mr. Manola commended the students for their hard work and congratulated them for the distinction of receiving AP Scholar Awards. The members of the board and Superintendent Watts extended their congratulations to the students and their parents.
c) Introduction of Mr. Jonathan Loveall, Candidate for District 8 BESE Representative.
The next item was the Superintendent’s Report:
Resolution of condolences to: a) the family of Mrs. Exine Grantham, retired bus operator, b) the family of Mrs. Mary Louise H. Gray, retired teacher, c) the family of Mrs. Peggy H. Bernard, former payroll accountant in the Central Office.
Whereupon, the following resolution was 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. Exine Grantham, retired bus operator, their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated and devoted service rendered by Mrs. Grantham in the West Baton Rouge Parish School System, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the Board do hereby offer their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mrs. Exine Grantham.
Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mrs. Mary Louise H. Gray, retired teacher, their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated and devoted service rendered by Mrs. Gray in the West Baton Rouge Parish School System, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the Board do hereby offer their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mrs. Mary Louise H. Gray.
Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mrs. Peggy H. Bernard, former payroll accountant in the Central Office, their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated and devoted service rendered by Mrs. Bernard in the West Baton Rouge Parish School System, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the Board do hereby offer their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mrs. Peggy H. Bernard.
The above resolutions of condolence were 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 item on the Consent Agenda:
7. Consideration of request to approve the disposition and the donation/transfer for no value, the vacant modular building located at William & Lee Park, to the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Department. (Finance Committee Report/August 13, 2019)
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc:
Be It Resolved, That the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the disposition and the donation/transfer for no value, the vacant Head Start modular building located at William & Lee Park, to the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Department as requested by Sheriff Mike Cazes.
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
Upon the conclusion of the Board’s consideration of the Consent Agenda, Mr. Manola introduced End of Consent agenda items #8 and #9 concerning Superintendent Watts’s recommendation of disciplinary actions for two employees.
#8. Consideration of Superintendent’s recommendation to terminate ‘Employee A’ pursuant to Policy GBN. (The Board reserves the right to deliberate on this item in executive session pursuant to La.R.S.42:17 (A)(1) unless the affected employee requests that any such deliberations be conducted in open meeting.
#9. Consideration of Superintendent’s recommendation to terminate ‘Employee B’ pursuant to Policy GBN. (The Board reserves the right to deliberate on this item in executive session pursuant to La.R.S.42:17 (A)(1) unless the affected employee requests that any such deliberations be conducted in open meetings.)
Mr. Toby Sarradet offered and Mrs. Bergeron seconded a motion for the Board to enter into an executive session pursuant to La. R.S. 42:17 (A)(1) to consider the Superintendent’s disciplinary recommendations.
The motion to enter into executive session 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
Following the Board’s discussion of agenda items #8 and #9 in executive session, Mr. Toby Sarradet offered and Mr. Chustz seconded a motion for the Board to return to open session.
The motion to return to open session 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 declared the floor open to public comment on agenda item #8. There was none.
Mr. Chustz offered and Mr. Toby Sarradet seconded a motion for the Board to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation to terminate ‘Employee A’ pursuant to Board Policy GBN.
The motion to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation 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 declared the floor open to public comment on agenda item #9. There was none.
Mr. Toby Sarradet offered and Mr. Craig Sarradet seconded a motion for the Board to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation to terminate ‘Employee B’ pursuant to Board Policy GBN.
The motion to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation 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 End of Consent Agenda item was #10: Organizational Items:
Committee meeting: 9/10/19 Regular Board Meeting: 9/18/19
The next End of Consent Agenda item was #11: Any other business unanimously approved by the board for consideration.
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, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Goudeau
__________________ _________________
Wes Watts Jason P. Manola
Secretary-Treasurer President