8,198
Port Allen, Louisiana
May 19, 2021
A regular meeting of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board was held this date with the following membership:
Present: Jason Manola, President, Toby Sarradet, Ronald LeBlanc, Chareeka Grace, G. Alden Chustz, Jr., Michael Maranto, Teri Bergeron
Absent: Craig Sarradet, Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr., Vice President, Leon Goudeau
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Manola
The next item was approval of the Regular School Board Meeting minutes held on April 21, 2021.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Mr. Chustz:
Be it Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on April 21, 2021 be approved as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc, Ms. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Ms. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was Educational Presentations: Head Start Directors Monthly Report: Mr. Watts presented the Head Start Directors monthly report on behalf of Ms. Crystal Leon, Head Start Director.
Mr. Watts also presented the Board the approval of extra funding the Head Start program received in their 2021-2022 grant year, from the Office of Head Start. Mr. Watts then requested that the board consider a request for approval to use the extra Head Start grant funds to add new playground equipment at Brusly Elementary School and Port Allen Elementary School.
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 Mr. Maranto to add the item to the agenda.
The above motion was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc, Ms. Grace, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Ms. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
Next item on the Agenda was to approve the extra Head Start grant funds be utilized to buy new playground equipment for Brusly Elementary School and Port Allen Elementary School.
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 approves the extra grant money to buy new playground equipment for Brusly Elementary School and Port Allen Elementary School.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Ms. Grace, Mr. Maranto, Ms. Teri Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was the Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Watts recognized a Port Allen High School Senior who was awarded the Gates Millennium Scholarship, a highly recognized national scholarship. The Board asked the individual questions and congratulated her on all of her current and future successes. Mr. Watts then recognized Ms. Brenda Byrd, a West Baton Rouge Parish Schools employee with 40+ Years of outstanding service as this will be her last year working at Caneview. Ms. Laree Taylor, Principal of Caneview, and Ms. Jan Watts, Assistant Principal of Caneview, were then recognized and spoke about all that Ms. Byrd has done for the school and let her know she will be truly missed by the staff of Caneview.
Mr. Watts then updated the Board on the Baton Rouge Parents Magazine, that is recognizing and publishing the activities that are taking place in the schools of West Baton Rouge Parish. Mr. Watts finally presented the Board with their 2020 Training Certificates from the Louisiana School Board Association (LSBA). The following Continuing Learning Unit Hours were earned by the Members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board: Teri Bergeron - 10 hours, G. Alden Chustz, Jr. - 7 hours, Leon Goudeau - 1 hour, Chareeka Grace - 15 hours, Ronald “Blue” LeBlanc - 7 hours, Jason Manola - 6.5 hours, Michael Maranto - 7 hours, Craig Sarradet - 7 hours, Toby Sarradet - 2 hours, Dr. Atley Walker - 11 hours.
The next item was presentation of the following items on the Consent Agenda:
#8 Consideration of approval WBR/Kelly Staffing Agreement (Finance Committee Report 5/11/21)
#9 Consideration of request for approval of the following new Policy: GBCA (Protection of Criminal Background Information) proposed by Mr. Jim Prescott, Forethought Consulting along with Hammonds, Sills, Adkins & Guice, WBR School Board General Counsel. (Finance Committee Report 5/11/21)
#10 Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for March 2021. (Finance Committee Report 5/11/21)
#11 Approval for the Superintendent to negotiate a Lease with S & S Behavioral Services for use of the Devall Property. The Lease will be presented for approval to the Board at a future meeting. (Finance Committee Report 5/11/21)
#12 Consideration of request for approval of the bid submitted by the West Side Journal to serve as the Official Journal of the Board from 7/1/21 - 6/30/22. (Finance Committee Report 5/11/21)
#13 Consideration of request for approval of the annual $10,000 donation to the WBR Foundation for Academic Excellence. (Finance Committee Report 5/11/21)
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 approves and adopt consent Agenda Items #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, and #13
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Ms. Grace, Mr. Maranto, Ms. Teri Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
The next item was End of Consent Agenda item #14 Organization Items: Committee Meeting date June 8, 2021 and Regular Board Meeting date June 16, 2021. The Committee Meeting will be held at the WBR Convention and Visitors Bureau in Port Allen.
There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolutions were offered by Ms. Bergeron and seconded by Mr. Maranto:
Be it Resolved, That the meeting be adjourned
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Ms. Grace, Mr. Maranto, Ms. Teri Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau
__________________ _______________
Wesley Watts Jason Manola
Secretary-Treasurer President