8,142
Port Allen, Louisiana
June 17, 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, Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr. Ronald P. LeBlanc, Chareeka Grace (Arrived at 5:12 p.m.), G. Alden Chustz, Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron
Absent: Leon Goudeau
Ms. Charlotte Blanchard led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The next item was approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on March 18, 2020, and May 20, 2020.
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 March 18, 2020, and May 20, 2020, be approved as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace
The next item was Educational Presentations: Mr. Watts introduced Mr. Devin Zito, of General Informatics. His company works on the selling and installation of thermal scanning stations at many various businesses. Mr. Zito presented two different options of thermal scanning stations that could be purchased, to take temperature checks, upon students entering school campuses. The machines are highly accurate, within + or – 1 degree Fahrenheit of accuracy. Mr. Watts relayed to the board that a majority of the parental surveys received said that the parents would feel better sending their children to school with temperature checks. Mr. Watts also mentioned he was meeting with another company that provides these services on Monday. WBR will check with FEMA to see if these machines are a reimbursable cost, or if the CARES Act will cover these costs.
Whereupon, after discussion, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Craig Sarradet and seconded by Dr. Walker
Be It Resolved, That the board authorize Mr. Watts to take action on the purchase of temperature scanning stations, as long as the purchases stay under the limit of Public Bid Law, for the State of Louisiana.
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 the Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Watts gave an update that the roof will need to be replaced on the main building of Port Allen High School. Mr. Jeff Kershaw, Maintenance Director, is getting quotes from roofing companies on the cost of this project. Mr. Watts also gave an update on school reopening for the 2020-2021 school year. He should have more clarity by the end of the month, on where things will be for reopening. If Louisiana goes back to phase I, all schools will start the year virtual. Phase II will be grades Head Start through Grade 5 returning to school campuses, and virtual school for Middle and High school. Phase III will be everybody at school, with the virtual option for others. School districts will have flexibility with guidance that will be coming from the Louisiana Department of Education. The district is also looking to get more nurses at schools to start the year. Board members made the suggestion to check with local clinics for availability for nurses to help with the start of the school year, and to check with the local fire chief, to help better understand the new guidelines coming out for the start of school.
The next item was presentation of the Consent Agenda:
8. Consideration of request for approval of the Handbook Updates for the 2020-2021 School Year. (Academics Committee Report 6/9/20)
9. Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for May 2020 presented by Jared Gibbs. (Finance Committee Report 6/9/20)
10. Consideration of the request for approval of the bid submitted by the West Side Journal to serve as the official journal of the board from 7/1/20 to 6/30/21. (Finance Committee Report 6/9/20)
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Bergeron and seconded by Mr. Chustz:
Be It Resolved, That Consent Agenda items #8, #9, and #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 was presentation of the following items on the End of Consent Agenda:
11. Discussion on the Perfect Attendance Stipend for the 2019-2020 School Year.
Whereupon, discussion took place on what to do for the Perfect Attendance Stipend for the 2019-2020 school year, due to the school year being closed on March 13, 2020.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
The board declared to move this item to the July 14, 2020 Finance Committee meeting to receive more information, before making a determination on this stipend.
The next item was introduction of item #12 on the End of Consent Agenda:
Organizational Items: Committee meeting date: July 14, 2020 and regular board meeting date:
July 22, 2020. The Board Meeting date is being moved due to the Board Meeting being on back to back days in July 2020, with the Committee Meetings.
The next item was presentation of End of Consent Agenda item #13 & #14:
13. Review of Expulsion Appeal of a certain student enrolled in Brusly Middle School. (Charlotte Blanchard)
14. Review of Expulsion Appeal of a certain student enrolled in Port Allen High School. (Charlotte Blanchard)
Ms. Blanchard explained to the board that both parents passed on appeals on the expulsions, but the items could not be taken off of the agenda due to the Sunshine Laws of Louisiana. There was no action that needed to be taken on these two agenda items.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
No action was taken on the items #13 & #14, due to the parents passing on the expulsion appeals.
There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Bergeron and seconded Mr. Chustz:
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 S. Watts Jason P. Manola
Wesley Watts Jason Manola
Secretary-Treasurer President