8,170
Port Allen, Louisiana
November 18, 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, Ronald P. LeBlanc, G. Alden Chustz, Jr., Michael Maranto, Teri Bergeron
Absent: Craig Sarradet, Toby Sarradet, Leon Goudeau, Chareeka Grace,
Dr. Walker gave the Invocation.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Manola.
The next item was approval of the Regular School Board meeting minutes held on October 21, 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 October 21, 2020 be approved as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace
The next item was Educational Presentations: Mr. Watts announced to the board that Ms. Crystal Leon has the Head Start Director’s Report for the board’s review. It was also mentioned that the board members took part in a Head Start training that took place on November 10, 2020, before the Committee Meetings.
The next item was the Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Watts recognized Ms. Jan Watts, Assistant Principal of Caneview K-8 school, to give a presentation and award to the 2020 Bus Driver of the Year, Ms. Winnie Harris, D.S. Bus South, LLC.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Ms. Bergeron:
Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend their congratulations to Ms. Winnie Harris, School Bus Operator for D.S. Bus South, LLC, for being named 2020 Bus Driver of the Year.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace
Next, Mr. Watts presented Ms. Jamie Hanks, Ex. Director of the WBR Chamber, and Ms. Sandra Hughes, Chairperson of the WBR Chamber, to introduce and present awards to the 2020 Teachers of the Year in West Baton Rouge Parish; Dereka Duncan, Elementary Teacher of the Year, Emily Domingue, Middle School Teacher of the Year, and Jill Edwards, High School Teacher of the Year.
Resolution of condolences to the family of Mr. Percy Murphy, retired School Bus Operator, and the family of Ms. Wilhemenia Decuir, retired Librarian at Port Allen High School.
Whereupon, the following resolutions were offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Maranto:
Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mr. Percy Murphy, retired School Bus Operator, in the West Baton Rouge School System, their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated service rendered by Mr. Murphy in the West Baton Rouge School System, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby offer their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mr. Murphy.
Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Ms. Wilhemenia Decuir, retired Librarian, in the West Baton Rouge School System, their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated service rendered by Ms. Decuir in the West Baton Rouge School System, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby offer their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Ms. Decuir.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace
The next item was Report from Community Committees/Agencies: Ms. Teri Bergeron gave a presentation about the Santa’s Helpers Program for West Baton Rouge Parish. Ms. Bergeron stated that 277 children from 109 families will be receiving gifts for Christmas, which will be distributed around December 12, 2020. There will also be a toy drive held by Shell, Exxon Mobil, Holy Family, XPO Logistics, along with Port Allen High School and Brusly High School, leading up to this event. Any donations are appreciated by Santa’s Helpers.
The next item was presentation of the following items on the Consent Agenda:
8. Consideration of request to approve a 13th Check (supplemental payment) for employees to be paid in December. (Finance Committee Report 11/10/20)
9. Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for September 2020. (Finance Committee Report 11/10/20)
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 and adopt Consent Agenda Items #8 and #9.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #10: Organizational Items: Committee meeting date: December 8, 2020 and regular board meeting date: December 16, 2020.
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #11: Any other business unanimously approved by the board for consideration.
a) Mr. Watts informed the board that the Discipline Policy Committee was meeting on December 1, 2020, at 4:30 p.m. in the Board Room. They will also have another meeting in either May or June 2021, which will be focused on discipline policy for virtual schooling.
b) Bids have been received for the reroofing project at Port Allen High School. Only two bids were submitted, and the low bidder was Roof Technologies, Inc. for $670,007.00. The other bidder was Roofing Solutions, LLC for $708,300.00.
c) The Brusly Middle School Wrestling Building conversion should be completed by the end of December, and ready for classroom use when students return from the Christmas Break.
d) Information was presented to the board about the LASS’s (Louisiana Association of State Superintendents) plan on Priorities for Improving School Outcomes across the State of Louisiana.
e) Mr. Watts gave an update on Covid-19 in the schools of West Baton Rouge Parish. Mr. Watts is requesting that the board approve an agenda item to allow schools to be closed Friday, November 20, 2020, for the Thanksgiving Holidays, to help with the Covid-19 numbers. This extra day will hopefully allow everyone to come out of quarantine, for November 30, 2020, and be ready for the 3 week push of schools leading up to the Christmas Break, which will occur on December 18, 2020.
Mr. Manola asked for a motion and a roll call vote to add all of the above items to the agenda, and that it had to be unanimous.
A motion was made by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Dr. Walker to add the items to the agenda.
The above motion was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace
Next, a motion was made by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Ms. Bergeron to approve items a), b), c), d), and e), as presented by Superintendent Watts.
The above motion was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace
There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc:
Be It Resolved, That the meeting be adjourned.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace
_______________________ _______________________
Wesley Watts Jason Manola
Secretary-Treasurer President