8,137

Port Allen, Louisiana

May 20, 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, Craig Sarradet, Toby Sarradet, Ronald P. LeBlanc, G. Alden Chustz, Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron

Absent:             Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr., Leon Goudeau, Chareeka Grace

Mr. Watts led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The next item was deferral of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on March 18, 2020.

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

Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on March 18, 2020 be deferred to the June 17, 2020 regular board meeting.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarrader, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Ms. Grace

The next item was Educational Presentations: Mr. Watts gave the board an update on the Covid-19 school closure academic progress.  Mr. Watts mentioned overall things were going good, in the transition time of at-home learning.

The next item was the Superintendent’s Report:  Mr. Watts gave an overview of the Graduation Ceremonies for both Port Allen High School and Brusly High School, the new Principals and Leadership Teams for the 2020-2021 school year, the summer schedules for the district that will take place from May 26 through July 31, 2020, along with the 1:1 technology plan for students in the 2020-2021 school year.  This 1:1 technology plan is being funded by the CARES Act, from the Department of Education.

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

7.         Consideration of request that the board approve the DS Bus South contract renewal.

Mr. Watts gave an overview of the contract, which will be in effect for the 2020-21 school year, through the 2024-25 school year.

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 the DS Bus South contract renewal.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Ms. Grace

The next item was presentation of End of Consent Agenda item #8:

8.         Consideration of request that the board approve a resolution to move the Election Polling location from Chamberlin Elementary School to Caneview K-8 School.

After a brief discussion, The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That the board approve the resolution moving the Election Polling location from Chamberlin Elementary School to Caneview K-8 School.     

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:            Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Ms. Grace

The next item was presentation of End of Consent Agenda Item #9:

9.         Consideration of request that the modular buildings at Chamberlin Elementary be declared surplus property.

After a brief discussion, The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That the board approve the request that the modular buildings at Chamberlin Elementary be declared surplus property.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Ms. Grace

The next item was presentation of End of Consent Agenda Item #10:

10.        Consideration of request for disposition of the Chamberlin and Port Allen Elementary Head Start modular buildings. (Crystal Leon)

After a brief discussion, The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That the board approve the request for disposition of the Chamberlin and Port Allen Elementary Head Start modular buildings.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Ms. Grace

The next item was presentation of End of Consent Agenda Item #11:

11.        Update on building projects from Kern Consulting. (Mr. Watts)

Mr. Earl Kern, Owner of Kern Consulting, LLC, gave an overview of the various projects going on at various schools in West Baton Rouge Parish.  Mr. Kern also gave a recommendation for a set amount of liquidated damages on the Caneview K-8 School project, with the assistance of Bryon Hume, Architect for Tipton Associates.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That the board approve the update on the building projects from Kern Consulting.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Ms. Grace

The next item was presentation of End of Consent Agenda Item #12:

12.        Review of Residency Policy pertaining to proofs of residency. (Charlotte Blanchard)

Ms. Blanchard gave an overview of the currently policy for proofs of residency to attend West Baton Rouge Parish Schools.  After further discussion, the board approved to move this item to the June Committee Meeting, to give time to receive more information from Hammonds & Sills, Attorneys, on the legality side on the documentation required for proofs of residency.

The next item was presentation of End of Consent Agenda Item #13:

13.        Consideration of request for approval to participate in Titles I, II, III, IV, V and IDEA B and Pre-School flow through funds for 2020-2021. (Jared Gibbs)

After a brief discussion, The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That the board approve to participate in Titles I, II, III, IV, V and IDEA B and Pre-School flow through funds for 2020-2021.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Ms. Grace

The next item was presentation of End of Consent Agenda Item #14:

14.      Consideration of approval of the Final Food Service Bid Summaries for the 2020-2021 school year. (Jared Gibbs on behalf of Vivian Landry)

After a brief discussion, The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That the board approve to Final Food Service Bid Summaries for the 2020-2021 school year.                       

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Ms. Grace

The next item was presentation of End of Consent Agenda Item #15:

15.        Consideration of request that the board approve the monthly expenditures and financial reports for March and April 2020.

After a brief discussion, The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That the board approve the monthly expenditures and financial reports for March and April 2020.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Ms. Grace

The next item was introduction of item #16 on the End of Consent Agenda:

Organizational Items: Committee meeting date: June 9, 2020 and regular board meeting date:

June 17, 2020.

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

Nay:                 None

Absent:             Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Ms. Grace

Wesley S. Watts                                    Jason P. Manola

Wesley Watts                                        Jason Manola

Secretary-Treasurer                                President