8,145

Port Allen, Louisiana

July 22, 2020

                                   

A regular meeting of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board was held this date with the following membership:

 

Present:           Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr., Vice President, Craig Sarradet, Toby Sarradet, Ronald P. LeBlanc, Chareeka Grace, G. Alden Chustz, Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron

Absent:             Leon Goudeau, Jason Manola, President

 

Dr. Walker gave the Invocation

 

Ms. LeBlanc led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

The next item was approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on June 17, 2020.

 

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

 

Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on June 17, 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, Ms. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron,

Nay:                 None

Absent: Mr. Goudeau, Mr. Manola

 

The next item was Educational Presentations & Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Watts gave a further update on the opening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year.  Things have not changed from previous presentations, which have been given to the board.  The temperature kiosks will all be installed at schools for August 4th.  Mr. Watts is meeting with local medical officials to help with a safe opening of schools.  The Virtual Academy enrollment has grown to over 700 students.  WBR Parish School Board teachers will be teaching in the academy, there will be no outside parties teaching the students of WBR.  If the Virtual Academy is selected, the student has to stay in the academy for the first semester of school.  The student will also not be allowed to play sports, if he is a middle or high school aged student.  Mr. Watts also is changing the date of the opening of schools to August 10 and 11, 2020.  These two days will be soft openings, meaning that the schools will have half their students on campus August 10th and half the remaining students on campus August 11th.  These half days are being done to help the students adapt to the new ways schools will operate, for the time being.

 

The next item was a Report from Community Committees/Agencies: Board Member Teri Bergeron gave an update on the Stuff the Bus.  There is a wish list on Amazon.com, and on the WBR Schools website, of the school supplies needed for the start of the school year.  People may purchase these items on Amazon, and they will be delivered to the WBR School Board Office.  Donations may also be sent to WBR Schools, for the Stuff the Bus Program.

 

The next item was presentation of the Consent Agenda:

8.         Consideration of request for approval of the WBR Technology Plan for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023. (Academics Committee Report 7/14/20)

9.         Consideration of request for approval of the WBR Security Plan. (Academics Committee Report 7/14/20)

10.       Consideration of request for approval of the WBR Schools Chromebook Handbook. (Academics Committee Report 7/14/20)

11.       Consideration of request for approval of the WBR 1:1 Chromebook and Galaxy Tablet Acceptance Use Policies. (Academics Committee Report 7/14/20)

12.       Consideration of request for approval on the Perfect Attendance Stipend for the 2019-2020 School Year. (Finance Committee Report 7/14/20)

13.       Consideration of request for approval of Budget Amendment #1 for the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year. (Finance Committee Report 7/14/20)

 

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 Consent Agenda items #8, #9, #10, #11, #12 and #13 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

Nay:                 None

Absent: Mr. Goudeau, Mr. Manola

                                                                                                                                   

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

14.       Public Announcement:  The West Baton Rouge Parish School Board will be voting to approve the Roll Forward of Millage Rates at its regularly scheduled School Board Meeting on August 19, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.  This is a requirement of the Legislative Auditors’ Office whenever rolling forward, and this item was for informational purposes.

 

The next item was introduction of item #15 on the End of Consent Agenda:

15.       Consideration of request for approval of the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Capital Area Human Service District, as provided by Mr. Bert Allain, LCSW.

 

Mr. Gibbs & Mr. Watts gave an overview of the Coping Skills Grant Program, which Mr. Allain provides for the elementary schools in the parish.  The Program has been very beneficial for the schools in the parish, and would like to see the program continue in our schools.

 

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

           

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

 

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

Nay:                 None

Absent: Mr. Goudeau, Mr. Manola

 

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

16.       Consideration of adoption of policies EBBI, EBBD, GAMFC, and JGCC from Forethought Consulting.  Updates of Bulletin 741 – Chapter 4 – Public Health Emergency.

 

Mr. Watts gave a brief overview of the updates to the policies to the board.  They are required updates, due to the public health emergency that the State of Louisiana is currently under.  These policies have also been reviewed by Hammonds, Sills, Adkins & Guice, General Counsel for the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board.

 

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

           

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

 

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

Nay:                 None

Absent: Mr. Goudeau, Mr. Manola

 

Organizational Items: Committee meeting date: August 11, 2020, regular board meeting date:

August 19, 2020, and EFID Annual Meeting date: August 19, 2020 (immediately following the regular board meeting). 

There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc 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

Nay:                 None

Absent: Mr. Goudeau, Mr. Manola

                       

 

Wesley S. Watts                                   Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr.

Wesley Watts                                       Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr.

Secretary-Treasurer                              Vice President