8,133
Port Allen, Louisiana
March 18, 2020
A regular meeting of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board was held this date with the following membership:
Present: Jason P. Manola, President, Ronald P. LeBlanc, Chareeka Grace, G. Alden Chustz, Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron
Absent: Craig Sarradet, Toby Sarradet, Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr., Leon Goudeau
Mr. Manola led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The next item was approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on February 19, 2020.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Ms. Bergeron:
Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on February 19, 2020 be approved as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote
Aye: Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was Educational Presentations: Head Start Director’s Report/Crystal Leon
Mr. Watts informed the members of the board that the report for February 29, 2020 was included in their packet of information.
The next item was the Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Watts gave an overview of how the transition was going for the switch to at home work, for both students and employees, due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Things have been different, but the transition is working.
Mr. Watts asked for an item to be added to the agenda, to declare a State of Emergency, due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The added agenda item, was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Ms. Bergeron:
The above agenda item was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
The Declaration of a State of Emergency, was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Ms. Grace:
The above Declaration of a State of Emergency was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was presentation of the Consent Agenda:
7. Consideration of request for approval and adoption of the resolution approving Reliant Technologies, Inc., for participation in the Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP 2.0) at 2933 Highway 1 North, Port Allen, LA 70767 West Baton Rouge Parish. (Finance Committee Report 3/11/20)
8. Consideration of request for approval and adoption of the resolution approving Air Liquide Large Industries US, LP for participation in the Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP 2.0) at 2111 Blacksmith Road, Port Allen, LA 70767 West Baton Rouge Parish. (Finance Committee Report 3/11/20)
9. Consideration of request for approval and adoption of the resolution approving Exxon Mobil Corporation-Port Allen Lubes for participation in the Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP 3.0) at 2239 Highway 1 North, Port Allen, LA 70767 West Baton Rouge Parish, contingent upon approval by the WBR Parish Council at the meeting of the Parish Council on March 12, 2020. (Finance Committee Report 3/11/20)
10. Consideration of the request that Mr. Charles Hardie, Attorney, attend the board meeting on March 18, 2020, to update the board relative to guidelines for leasing Chamberlin Elementary School and Devall Middle School properties. (Finance Committee Report 3/11/20)
11. Consideration of request for approval that the board declare all modular buildings as surplus property to be advertised for bids separately. (The modular buildings on the Chamberlin Elementary School site shall be excluded.) (Finance Committee Report 3/11/20)
12. Consideration of request for approval that the board approve the monthly expenditures and financial reports for February 2020. (Finance Committee Report 3/11/20)
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, it was requested by a member of the board to pull Consent Agenda item #10 for further discussion.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Mr. Chustz:
Be It Resolved, That Consent Agenda Item #10 be pulled to be considered separately, and
Be It Further Resolved, That Consent Agenda #7, #8, #9, #11, and #12, be approved as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was presentation of Consent Agenda Item #10.
Mr. Charles Hardie, Attorney, gave the board information relative to the legal options and guidelines for the sale or lease of the Chamberlin Elementary School and Devall Middle School property. There was no action taken on this item.
The next item was presentation of the following items on the End of Consent Agenda:
13. Consideration of request to adopt a resolution recognizing and approving the execution of the Bond Purchase Agreement and Official Statement regarding the issuance and sale of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2020, of Parishwide School District No. 3 of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. (Mr. Tommy Hessburg, Bond Counsel)
Whereupon, Mr. Hessburg presented the Bond Purchase Agreement and Official Statement for adoption. He mentioned that the timing was right to sell the bonds, to allow the School Board to take advantage of the current low interest rate environment.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Ms. Bergeron:
Be It Resolved, That the board approve and adopt the Bond Purchase Agreement and Official Statement as presented by Mr. Tommy Hessburg, Bond Counsel.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was presentation of End of Consent Agenda item #14:
14. Review of Expulsion Appeal of a certain student enrolled in Brusly Middle School. (Charlotte Blanchard)
The following item was rescheduled to May 2020, upon the resolution offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Ms. Bergeron:
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was presentation of End of Consent Agenda Item #15:
15. Review of Expulsion Appeal of a certain student enrolled in Port Allen High School. (Charlotte Blanchard)
The following item was rescheduled to May 2020, upon the resolution offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Mr. Chustz:
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was introduction of item #16 on the End of Consent Agenda:
Organizational Items: Committee meeting date: April 14, 2020 and regular board meeting date: April 22, 2020.
There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded Mr. LeBlanc:
Be It Resolved, That the meeting be adjourned.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
Wesley S. Watts Jason P. Manola
Wesley Watts Jason Manola
Secretary-Treasurer President