8,174
Port Allen, Louisiana
December 16, 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, Toby Sarradet, Ronald P. LeBlanc, Chareeka Grace (arrived at 5:07 p.m.), G. Alden Chustz, Jr., Michael Maranto, Teri Bergeron
Absent: Craig Sarradet, Leon Goudeau
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 November 18, 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 November 18, 2020 be approved as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
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. Mr. Watts also presented all Board Members with their 2019 Training Certificates from the Louisiana School Boards Association (LSBA). The following Continuing Learning Unit Hours were earned by the Members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board: Teri Bergeron – 8 hours, G. Alden Chustz – 6 hours, Leon Goudeau – 1 hour, Ronald “Blue” LeBlanc – 8.5 hours, Jason Manola – 6.5 hours, Michael Maranto – 8.5 hours, Chareeka Grace – 13 hours, Craig Sarradet – 2 hours, Toby Sarradet – 6 hours, Dr. Atley Walker – 8 hours.
The next item was the Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Watts recognized Ms. Gwile Freeman, Taylor & Sons Insurance and Financial Services, who gave a presentation and award to Mr. Watts for being named the Louisiana Region II Superintendent of the Year. Mr. Watts then announced that Ms. Cassy Brou, Cohn Elementary School, has been named the 2020-2021 Principal of the Year in West Baton Rouge Parish. Mr. Watts also announced that there will be a transition at D.S. Bus South, and that there will be a new manager at the WBR site in the near future. Mr. Russell Lanclos, Division General Manager for D.S. Bus South, will be filling in as the manager of the WBR site until a replacement manager is hired.
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #8: Consideration of request for approval of the Discipline Review Committee Meeting for the 2020-2021 school year (Meeting held December 1, 2020).
Mr. Watts informed the Board that the Committee did meet on December 1st, and mainly discussed the virtual side of instruction before the full committee. It was determined that all virtual students will agree to follow all rules of the WBR Student Handbook. The full committee will meet again in April 2021 and will do a full review of the discipline policy that is being implemented within West Baton Rouge Parish Schools. The date of said meeting has yet to be determined.
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 the board does hereby approve and adopt the Discipline Review Committee Meeting for the 2020-2021 school year (Meeting held December 1, 2020):
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #9: Consideration of request for approval of the Advanced Placement Awards recommendation for students in West Baton Rouge Parish Schools. AP Award - $300.00, AP Scholar - $400.00, AP Scholar with Honors - $600.00 and AP Scholar with Distinction - $800.00.
Mr. Watts informed the Board that it is very hard to purchase electronic devices for students who have won these awards in the past. It was recommended that the students receive a monetary award, such as a gift card to a Best Buy or a different tech store, where the award can be used by the student to purchase the best electronic device they need upon enrolling into the college of their choice. Mr. Watts checked with Board Counsel, and this is an acceptable way to award students for their accomplishments.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Dr. Walker:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt the Advanced Placement Awards recommendation for students in West Baton Rouge Parish Schools:
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #10: Consideration of request for approval of the following new and/or revised Policies: CED (Employment of Superintendent), BC (School Board Meetings), EFC (Business Continuity & Technology Disaster Recovery) and GBDB (Employment of Retired Personnel) proposed by Mr. Jim Prescott, Forethought Consulting, along with Hammonds, Sills, Adkins & Guice, WBR School Board General Counsel.
Mr. Watts and Mr. Manola informed the Board that the above policies were sent to all members for review, and also have been thoroughly reviewed by both Mr. Prescott and Mr. Hammonds, before presentation to the Board for approval.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt all of the following new and/or revised policies as listed above:
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #11: Consideration of request for approval of a resolution of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board approving Industrial Tax Exemption Application 20180514-ITE for Exxon Mobil Corporation – Port Allen Lubes Plant at 2239 Hwy. 1 North, Port Allen, LA 70767.
Mr. Watts recognized Ms. Jamie Hanks, Executive Director WBR Chamber of Commerce, along with members of the staff of the Exxon Mobil Corporation – Port Allen Lubes Plant. A short presentation was given about the ITEP Exemption requested by Exxon Mobil Corporation. Ms. Hanks stated that the ITEP Exemption is an 80% exemption over the first 10 years of assessed property taxes.
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 does hereby approve and adopt ITEP Application 20180514-ITE for Exxon Mobil Corporation – Port Allen Lubes Plant at 2239 Hwy. 1 North, Port Allen, LA 70767:
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #12: Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for October 2020.
After a brief discussion of the financials, The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt the monthly expenditures and financial reports for October 2020, as presented by Mr. Jared Gibbs:
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #13: Review of Expulsion Appeal for a certain student enrolled at Port Allen High School (possible Executive Session).
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by
Dr. Walker:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve to go into Executive Session, at 6:11 p.m., to review the Expulsion Appeal for a certain student enrolled at Port Allen High School:
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby declare itself in Open Session following the Executive Session, at 6:28 p.m., review of the Expulsion Appeal for a certain student enrolled at Port Allen High School:
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
The Board made no motion to overturn the expulsion appeal, therefore the original expulsion was upheld.
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #14: Organizational Items: Committee meeting date: January 12, 2021 and regular board meeting date: January 20, 2021.
The next item was any other business unanimously approved by the board for consideration.
Whereupon, Mr. Watts requested permission to present updates on certain informational items.
Whereupon, it was unanimously approved by the members of the board present, to allow Superintendent Watts to present updates on certain items in accordance with his request:
a) Star Communications wants to work with WBR Schools to help secure a grant for Wi-Fi access for rural communities, through the USDA. Star is possibly looking at using the Library at Devall as a place for a “Community Center” where residents can come to get access to internet in the community. This is just in the beginning stages, and there will be more information coming out at a later date.
b) Mr. Gibbs and Mr. LeBlanc met with Ms. Tina Roper, Louisiana Workforce Commission, to discuss the possibility of hiring more custodial service workers, through a Workforce Commission Grant, that is available for WBR Schools.
c) The sale of the Chamberlin Elementary School Property will be advertised in the West Side Journal starting on December 24, 2020, and bid opening will take place on January 29, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.
There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Dr. Walker:
Be It Resolved, That the meeting be adjourned.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Goudeau
______________________ _______________________
Wesley Watts Jason Manola
Secretary-Treasurer President