8,148

Port Allen, Louisiana

August 11, 2020

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

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

Absent: Toby Sarradet, Leon Goudeau

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the members of the board.

Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Chustz and seconded by Ms. Bergeron, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

Be It Resolved, That approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on July 22, 2020, be deferred.

The next item was the Superintendent’s Report:  Mr. Watts gave an update to the board on the opening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year.  The “soft openings” have been good throughout the school system.  Students have been doing their parts adhering to the social distancing and masks guidelines.  There have been some bus issues, but the district is working hard with DS Bus to get these issues solved.  Over 1,000 students will be in the Virtual Academy for the 1^st semester of school, and around 660 students will be provided meals in the virtual program.  These meals will qualify for reimbursement through the School Food Service Program.  The 1:1 initiative and the Virtual Academy have been hard work to get started; there will be issues to start with, but the school system will work diligently to see that this academy is a success.  Orientation took place on Monday night for all of the V.A. students.  Mr. Watts also informed the board that enrollment is up for this school year.  Current enrollment is over 4,000 students from Head Start through 12^th Grade, and could possibly increase.  Mr. Watts also wanted to proclaim on the excellent job everyone in the system has done to make sure school got started in West Baton Rouge Parish.

The next item was Consent Agenda Item #7: Consideration of request for approval of the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy (Policy JAAA), Sexually Related Student Misconduct (Policy JCED), Equal Employment Opportunity (Policy GAAA), Non-Title IX Complaints and Grievances (Policy GAE), Title VII Employee Sexual Harassment (Policy GAEAA), and Investigations (Policy GAMC), as recommended by Forethought Consulting along with Hammonds, Sills, Adkins & Guice, General Counsel of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board.

The board had just discussed these policies in the Finance Committee Meeting, and were ready to approve at the Special Board Meeting, due to time constraints.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, That Consent Agenda items #7 be approved as presented.

The resolution was adopted by the following vote:

Aye:                 Mr. Craig Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Ms. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Ms. Bergeron, Mr. Manola

Nay:                None

Absent:             Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau           

Organizational Items: Regular board meeting date: August 19, 2020, with a Public Hearing for the Roll Forward at 4:55, preceding the board meeting, and EFID Annual Meeting date: August 19, 2020 (immediately following the regular board meeting).   

There being no further business to come before the board, on motion of Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Dr. Walker, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

Be It Resolved, That the meeting be adjourned.

Wesley S. Watts                                               Jason P. Manola

Wesley Watts                                                   Jason Manola

Secretary-Treasurer                                          President