8,179
Port Allen, Louisiana
January 20, 2021
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 (called in at 5:02 p.m.), G. Alden Chustz, Jr., Michael Maranto (arrived at 5:05 p.m.), Teri Bergeron
Absent: Leon Goudeau,
Dr. Walker gave the Invocation.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Manola.
The next item was deferral of the Regular School Board meeting minutes held on December 16, 2020. The Board will approve these minutes, along with the Regular School Board meeting minutes held on January 20, 2021 at the February 17, 2021 Regular Meeting of the Board.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Ms. Bergeron:
Be It Resolved, That the approval of minutes of the regular board meeting held on December 16, 2020 be deferred as requested by Mr. Gibbs.
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 Educational Presentations: Mr. Watts announced to the board that Ms. Crystal Leon has the Head Start Director’s Report for the board’s review. Ms. Leon was also available to give an update on the repurposing of the Head Start Building, behind Port Allen Middle School. The School Board has decided to change its mind on the repurposing, so Ms. Leon is working with other Head Start agencies, around the storm damaged areas of Southwest Louisiana, to see if the building can be utilized for Head Start Programs in this area.
The next item was the Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Watts recognized all West Baton Rouge Parish School Board Members and presented each member with a plaque and a gift for their hard work and dedication to their duties of helping educate the students of West Baton Rouge Parish. Mr. Watts was very appreciative of the fact that it has been an honor to work with all members of the Board of West Baton Rouge Schools.
The next item was a Resolution of condolences to the family of Ms. Arlean Tillman, Payroll and Benefits Accountant of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board’s Central Office.
Mr. Watts stated it was a shocking loss, the sudden passing of Ms. Arlean Tillman. Ms. Tillman was a 34 year employee of West Baton Rouge Parish Schools and had worked in many different positions within the district. She was currently the Payroll & Benefits Accountant, working out of the Central Office. She was a very caring and joyful person; will be deeply missed by all employees of the West Baton Rouge School System.
Whereupon, the following resolution were offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Dr. Walker:
Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Ms. Arlean Tillman, Payroll & Benefits Accountant, in the West Baton Rouge School System, their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated service rendered by Ms. Tillman 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. Tillman.
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
DS Bus South donation to the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board: Mr. Watts recognized Mr. Russell Lanclos, Division General Manager of DS Bus South, and Ms. Betina Mitchell, Safety & Training Manager of DS Bus South. Mr. Lanclos & Ms. Mitchell were very glad to be here to present to the School Board a check of $7,500.00 as an annual donation, that can be utilized for any purpose deemed essential by the system. The Board expressed their appreciation for this donation, and will utilize it in a proper fashion.
Mr. Lanclos then gave the Board updates on bus transportation services upgrades going on throughout the DS Bus South location, based in West Baton Rouge Parish, that he feels will make things a lot better for bus transportation to all of the schools throughout West Baton Rouge Parish. The Board thanked Mr. Lanclos for the updates.
The next item was presentation of the following items on the Consent Agenda:
8. Consideration of request for approval of a New Cingular Wireless Small Cell Lease proposal. (Academics Committee Report 1/12/21)
9. Consideration of request for the adoption of a resolution from the Louisiana School Boards Association declaring January 2021 School Board Member Recognition Month across the State of Louisiana. (Finance Committee Report 1/12/21)
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 the board approve and adopt Consent Agenda Items #8 and #9.
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
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #10: Consideration of the updated Louisiana School Boards Association Code of Conduct for Louisiana School Board Members to accompany Policy BH in board policy manuals.
Mr. Manola recognized Mr. Gibbs to inform the Board that he did some research and found out that the Code of Conduct policy had not changed from past years, and that the LSBA likes for Boards to renew approving the Code of Conduct every year in January.
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 approve and adopt the updated Louisiana School Boards Association Code of Conduct for Louisiana School Board Members to accompany Policy BH in the board’s policy manual:
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 #11: Consideration of request for approval on updates to the Covid-19 Sick Leave Policy.
Mr. Watts presented the Board with the Covid-19 Sick Leave Policy that was discussed at the Finance Committee Meeting on January 12, 2021. After discussion with other district Superintendents, they are all utilizing the same policy as discussed at the Finance Committee Meeting, and will look at it again after March 31, 2021.
Mr. Manola recognized Ms. Kristi Gregoire, WBR Representative for the Louisiana Association of Educators and Teacher at Brusly High School. Ms. Gregoire wanted to let the Board and Mr. Watts know that the teachers of West Baton Rouge Parish are thankful that Mr. Watts is updating the Covid-19 Policy, and thinking about teachers and all employees of the parish who have or will miss time from school due to Covid-19.
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 approve the updates to the Covid-19 Sick Leave Policy.
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 #12: Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for November 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. Chustz and seconded by
Dr. Walker:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt the monthly expenditures and financial reports for November 2020, as presented by Mr. Jared Gibbs:
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: Organizational Items: Committee meeting date: February 9, 2021 and regular board meeting date: February 17, 2021.
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #14: Any other business approved by the board for consideration.
Dr. Walker asked to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter related to the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board. The individual is aware of the Board going into Executive Session, and knows no action will be taken while in Executive Session.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Mr. Bergeron:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve to go into Executive Session, at 6:07 p.m., to discuss a personnel matter related to the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board:
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
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby declare itself in Open Session following an Executive Session, at 6:31 p.m., to discuss a personnel matter related to the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board:
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 Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
The Board took no action on the matter discussed in Executive Session.
Under any other business, Mr. Watts asked the Board if they would approve declaring February 9, 2021 a day of no school for students in West Baton Rouge Parish. Mr. Watts is wanting to have a full-day Teacher In-Service for Professional Development throughout the parish on this day.
Mr. Manola asked for a motion and a roll call vote to add the above item to the agenda, and that it had to be unanimous.
A motion was made by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Ms. Grace to add the item to the agenda.
The above motion 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
Next, a motion was made by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mr. Maranto to approve February 9, 2021 to be a day of no school for students and a Teacher In-Service Day for Professional Development, as presented by Superintendent Watts.
The above motion 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
Also under any other business, Mr. Watts informed the Board that he would bring new projects to the Board for approval at the February Committee Meeting. These extra projects are being funded by reserve funds remaining in the Construction Fund, which paid for all of the building projects that have taken place in West Baton Rouge Parish.
There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Dr. Walker:
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, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Goudeau
______________ ______________
Wesley Watts Jason Manola
Secretary-Treasurer President