8,115
Port Allen, Louisiana
December 18, 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, Toby Sarradet, Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr. Ronald P. LeBlanc, Chareeka Grace, G. Alden Chustz,Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron
Absent: Craig Sarradet, Leon Goudeau
Aubrey White and Jarreat Grant, Port Allen Elementary School students, and Cameron Jordan, Port Allen Middle School student, lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
The next item was approval of the minutes of the November 20, 2019 regular board meeting.
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 November 20, 2019 be approved as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was educational presentations. Whereupon, Superintendent Watts introduced Mrs. Claudette Purnell, Director of the WBR All Parish Choir. Mrs. Purnell introduced the members of the choir, and Mr. Jim Barnett, Keyboard Accompanist. The Choir’s performance was a medley of Christmas songs. Mr. Manola and members of the board thanked Mrs. Purnell, Mr. Barnett, and the members of the Choir for their beautiful Christmas musical presentation.
The next item was the Superintendent’s report. a) Head Start Director’s Monthly Report for November, 2019/Crystal Leon b) Resolution of Condolences for the family of Mrs. Sadie Collins, retired Cafeteria Technician/Port Allen High School.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Mr. Chustz:
Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mrs. Sadie Collins, retired Cafeteria Technician/Port Allen High School, their feelings of sincere appreciation for the years of dedicated service to the students rendered by Mrs.
Collins, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the Board do hereby express their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mrs. Sadie Collins.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was a Report from Community Committees/Agencies. Mrs. Teri Bergeron, Chairman of Santa’s Helpers, reported that applications had been approved for 98 families and 267 children had received toys and other items this Christmas. Mrs. Bergeron expressed her appreciation to all volunteers who had assisted in this year’s distribution.
The next item was presentation of the following items on the Consent Agenda:
Whereupon, Mr. Manola requested that the Board approve moving Mr. Jim Ryan, Government Consultant, representing the Board, from Consent Agenda Item #10 to Item #8 because Mr. Ryan had another meeting scheduled this afternoon that he had to attend.
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 board does hereby approve the request by Mr. Manola, President of the Board, to move Consent Agenda Item #10 to Item #8: Consideration of request to approve the sale of the remaining 4½ million dollars from the 2016 Tax Election pending information from Jim Ryan, Government Consultant representing the Board. (Finance Committee Report 12/10/19) to be considered first.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
AMENDED CONSENT AGENDA
#8. Consideration of request to approve the sale of the remaining 4 ½ million dollars from the 2016 Tax Election pending information from Jim Ryan, Government Consultant, representing the Board. (Finance Committee Report 12/10/19)
#9. Consideration of request for approval and adoption of the new policy: Special Education Advisory Council; FILE:IDDFA, in accordance with Act 274 (SB 158) of the 2019 Louisiana Legislative Session, enacts R.S. 17:1944.1, which mandates the creation of a Special Education Advisory Council by every school district and charter school, no later than January 1, 2020. (Academics Committee Report 12/10/19)
#10. Consideration of request to approve the extension of the contract with Kern Consulting Firm as stipulated in the Finance Committee meeting on 12/10/19. (Finance Committee Report 12/10/19)
#11. Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports Jared Gibbs (Finance Committee Report 12/10/19)
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
The next item was presentation of Consent Agenda Item #8:
Whereupon, Mr. Manola recognized Mr. Jim Ryan, Government Consultant, to present additional information relative to the sale of the remaining 4 ½ million dollars from the 2016 Tax Election. (Finance Committee Report 12/10/19)
Mr. Ryan reported that the sale of the remaining 4 ½ million dollars from the 2016 Tax Election would not increase the amount of the millage rates needed to pay down all of the bonds sold for all of the construction projects in West Baton Rouge. He complimented the members of the Board and the staff for their great fiscal management. Mr. Ryan advised the board approve the sale of the remaining 4 ½ million dollars from the 2016 Tax Election.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mr. Maranto:
Be It Resolved, That the Board approve the sale of the remaining 4 ½ million dollars from the 2016 Tax Election and adopt the official resolution, to be prepared by the Board’s Bond Counsel, at a Special Board Meeting on January 14, 2020, authorizing the incurring of debt and issuance of said bonds.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was presentation of the following items on the Consent Agenda:
#9. Consideration of request for approval and adoption of the new policy: (SB 158) of the 2019 Louisiana Legislative Session, enacts R.S. 17:1944.1, which mandates the creation of a Special Education Advisory Council by every school district and charter school, no later than January 1, 2020. (Academics Committee Report 12/10/19)
#10. Consideration of request to approve the extension of the contract with Kern Consulting Firm as stipulated in the Finance Committee meeting on 12/10/19. (Finance Committee Report 12/10/19)
#11. Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports/Jared Gibbs (Finance Committee Report 12/10/19)
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 approve and adopt Consent Agenda items #9, #10, and #11 as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #12: Review of the Board’s Residency Policy as requested by Mr. Maranto, board member.
Mr. Maranto reported that he found out that a lot of kids in the parish schools were attending schools and parents were providing false addresses. Some of them were previously attending parish schools and moved out of parish but wanted to continue attending schools in West Baton Rouge Parish. Some of the students are from surrounding parishes.The Board members discussed the existing residency policy and expressed their views relative to time lines for dropping students. It was the consensus of the board members that Mrs. Charlotte Blanchard and Officer Jason Fontenot attend the committee meeting on January 14, 2020 to discuss the residency issues.
The next item was presentation of End of Consent Agenda Item #13: Executive Session for a personnel matter.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Dr. Walker:
Be It Resolved, That the Board does hereby go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter./Wes Watts
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
Upon completion of the Executive Session, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Mrs. Grace:
Be It Resolved, That the Board return to Open Session.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
The next End of Consent agenda item was presentation of #14: Committee Meeting date: January 14, 2020; move date of regular board meeting from January 15, 2020 to January 22, 2020.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Mr. Toby Sarradet:
Be It Resolved, That the meeting be adjourned.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
Wesley Watts Jason Manola
Wesley Watts Jason Manola
Secretary-Treasurer President