8,151
Port Allen, Louisiana
August 19, 2020
A regular meeting of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board was held this date with the following membership:
Present: Jason Manola, President, Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr., Vice President, Craig Sarradet, Toby Sarradet, Ronald P. LeBlanc, Chareeka Grace (Arrived at 5:08), G. Alden Chustz, Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron
Absent: Leon Goudeau
Dr. Walker gave the Invocation
Mr. Chustz led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The next item was approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on July 22, 2020.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc:
Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on July 22, 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, Ms. Grace
The next item was Educational Presentations & Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Watts wanted to give recognition to the Central Office Supervisors for the work done for getting schools underway for the 2020-2021 school year.
Mr. Maranto offered a resolution to recognize the Central Office Supervisors for the work done to get the school year underway and was seconded by Mr. LeBlanc.
Be It Resolved, That the Board recognize the Central Office Supervisors for the work done getting the 2020-2021 school year underway, in these times.
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, Ms. Grace
Mr. Watts also passed out enrollment numbers to all board members, and announced that 1,030 students are enrolled in the Virtual Academy. The district is working through the kinks for virtual learning, which are mainly hardware and software issues. These are the growing pains for starting a totally new program, but they are being worked through. The district is also waiting for Cradle Points for families without WiFi/Internet access. All districts are seeing these issues with virtual learning, and WBR will make sure all things work when other districts start coming online with their virtual programs.
The next item was a Report from Community Committees/Agencies: Mr. Jeremy LaCombe was coming to give a presentation on last year’s Legislative Session, but could not attend. He was called to the Legislature for a special meeting. He will try to reschedule for the September Board Meeting.
The next item was presentation of the Consent Agenda:
8. Consideration of request for approval of the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant for the Head Start/Early Childhood Department. (Finance Committee Report 8/11/20)
9. Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for June 2020. (Finance Committee Report 8/11/20)
10. Consideration of request for approval for the advertisement for bids to replace the roof at Port Allen High School. (Finance Committee Report 8/11/20)
The policies approved on the Finance Committee Report are not listed here, because they were approved at the Special Board Meeting on August 11, 2020.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Ms. Bergeron:
Be It Resolved, That Consent Agenda Item #10 be pulled to be considered separately, and
Be It Further Resolved, That Consent Agenda Items #8 & #9, 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 Consent Agenda Item #10.
Mr. Watts mentioned that Mr. Dean Hotard, Architect, dropped his amount for architect fees from 9% to 7% for the reroofing project at Port Allen High School. It is estimated the project could cost around $614,000.00, and will be able to be funded through the Construction Fund. The Board asked Mr. Jeff Kershaw, Maintenance Director, how he feels about all of the other roofs on the schools throughout the parish. Mr. Kershaw doesn’t see any major roofs needing repairs in the near future.
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 and adopt Consent Agenda Item #10 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. Consideration of request for approval of the Westside Advocacy Group Lease for Devall Middle School.
Mr. Watts wanted to table this item due to courtesy for the Devall Family, to discuss with the family what the board’s intentions are for the property. Mr. Watts was also going to have Hammonds, Sills, Adkins & Guice, General Counsel for West Baton Rouge Parish School Board, involved in this discussion. The board decided to give the authority to Mr. Watts to get the lease started with the Westside Advocacy Group, to not delay the process further, while also meeting separately with the Devall Family. The Westside Advocacy Group will be required to cover all insurance and maintenance of the facilities while leasing the property.
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 starting the lease for Devall Middle School with the Westside Advocacy Group.
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 introduction of item #12 on the End of Consent Agenda: Consideration of the quotes for the Board’s General Liability & Workers’ Compensation insurance renewal coverage for the period 10/01/20-10/01/21 presented by Andre’ Comeaux, CPCU, Senior Vice-President of McGriff Insurance Services/Jared Gibbs.
Mr. Andre’ Comeaux presented the following premium summary quotes:
LARMA Package (Auto Liability, Medical Payments, General Liability, Crime Coverages, School Leaders E & O)
Total LARMA Package $120,722.00
LWCC/Workers’ Compensation 246,585.00
Total LARMA & W/C Packages: $367,307.00
The insurance renewals were split up this year, due to the length of going over everything at once, and some renewals were ready earlier and could be bounded sooner than normal. Property insurance, along with Boiler & Machinery will be renewed at the September Board Meeting.
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 the Board accept and approve the quotes in the amount of $367,307.00 for the LARMA Package and LWCC/Workers’ Compensation for the period beginning 10/01/20-10/01/21 for 2 of the Board’s insurance renewal coverages as presented this date by Mr. Andre’ Comeaux, Agent/McGriff Insurance Services.
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 End of Consent Agenda Item #13: Consideration of request to adopt a resolution authorizing the Superintendent to sign the form rejecting uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily insurance coverage/Andre’ Comeaux, Agent, McGriff Insurance Services.
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 does hereby authorize the Superintendent to sign the required form rejecting uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage for the period October 1, 2020 to October 1, 2021, as requested by Mr. Andre’ Comeaux, Agent, McGriff Insurance Services.
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 End of Consent Agenda Item #14: Adopt the adjusted millage rates for the tax year 2020.
Whereupon, on motion of Dr. Walker and seconded by Ms. Bergeron, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: (Adjusted millage rate resolution attached after typed minutes)
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #15: Set for the the adjusted millage rates and roll forward to millage rates not exceeding the maximum authorized rates for the tax year 2020.
Whereupon, on motion of Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Mr. Maranto, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: (Roll forward millage rate resolution attached after typed minutes)
Organizational Items: Committee meeting date: September 8, 2020, regular board meeting date:September 16, 2020.
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #17: Any other business unanimously approved by the board for consideration.
Mr. Watts had information for the board about bus issues with DS Bus South. They are having issues, and the district is working hard with DS Bus to get them fixed. DS Bus is having a driver shortage issue, due to the times. They are doing a large search for drivers, in the general area, and have also recruited over a dozen drivers out of Acadia Parish to work the WBR area routes and help get new drivers trained for the WBR routes. Mr. Watts is also looking into issues to fix drop off routes with the carpool lines and bus drop offs at various schools. The main area for this issue is at Brusly High School and Brusly Middle School, since the schools are next to each other.
There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded Ms. Bergeron:
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, Ms. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Ms. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Goudeau
Wesley S. Watts Jason P. Manola
Wesley Watts Jason P. Manola
Secretary-Treasurer President