8,208
Port Allen, Louisiana
July 21, 2021
A Regular Meeting of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board was held this date with the following membership:
Present:
Jason Manola, President (arrived at 5:08p.m.), Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr., Vice President, Craig Sarradet, Toby Sarradet, Ronald LeBlanc (arrived at 5:07p.m.), Leon Goudeau, Chareeka Grace, Michael Maranto, Teri Bergeron
Absent:
G. Alden Chustz Jr.
Dr. Walker gave the Invocation.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Maranto
The next item was approval of the Regular School Board meeting minutes held on June 16, 2021.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Craig Sarradet and seconded by Mr. Goudeau:
Be it Resolved, That the approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on June 16, 2021 be approved as presented.
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron,
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Chustz, Mr. Manola, Mr. LeBlanc
The next item was Education Presentations: Mr. Watts presented the Head Start Director’s Monthly Reports, as prepared by Ms. Crystal Leon, which is included in the Board’s individual packets.
Whereupon the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mrs. Teri Bergeron:
Be it Resolved that the Board approve the Head Start Monthly Report.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron,
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Manola
The next item was the Superintendent Report: Mr. Watts presented the Board with information about the RKM Primary Care School Clinic that is on site at Port Allen High School, which is receiving positive feedback in the school district. Mrs. Bergeron asked about how many visits has the clinic received? Mr. Watts informed the Board the clinic received about 1200 visits last school year. Mr. Watts also presented the Board with the Covid plan for the start of the new school year. Mr. Watts also informed Board Members that the School Buses will remain at 75% capacity, for the upcoming school year.
The next item was a Resolution of condolences to the Family of Mrs. Mary Misuraca, former employee of West Baton Rouge Parish School System.
Where upon the following resolution was offered by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Mr. Toby Sarradet:
Be it Resolved that, members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby offer their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mrs. Misuraca.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron,
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Manola
The next item on was the Report from Community Committees/Agencies
Mrs. Bergeron updated the Board on Stuff the Bus Benefit and the plan on how the day was going to go with WBRZ and the community.
The next item on the agenda was Unfinished Business:
Mrs. Grace mentioned Port Allen Middle School’s color change, and the possible moving of PAMS green and gold colors to Cohn Elementary School. There were community members in the audience that mentioned they would like to come up with a solution to represent the Green and Gold, which are the original colors of Cohn High School. This item will be on the Agenda for the August 2021 Committee Meetings.
The next item was presentation of the Consent Agenda:
#9 Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for May 2021. (Finance Committee Report 7/13/21)
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc:
Be it Resolved, that the board does hereby approve and adopt Consent Agenda Item #9
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Chustz
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item # 10 Adoption of the Millage Rates for the 2021 Tax Year (Jared Gibbs)
Whereupon, Mr. Gibbs presented the proposed resolution for the millage(s) rates to be levied on the 2021 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Manola and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc:
BE IT RESOLVED, That the following millage(s) are hereby levied on the 2021 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board:
MILLAGE
General Support - Constitutional Millage 4.390 mills
General Support - Special Millage 15.000 mills
Salaries & Benefits - Special Millage #1 12.000 mills
Salaries & Benefits - Special Millage #2 12.000 mills
Debt Service - Special Millage 12.450 mills
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the proper administrative officials of the Parish of West Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes, as hereinabove set forth, upon the assessment roll of said Parish for the year 2021, and to make the collection of the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority, according to law, and that the taxes herein levied shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all property subject to taxation as herein set forth, and collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law.
The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and resolution was adopted by the following votes:
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Mr. Chustz
The next item was End of Consent Agenda item #11 Organization Items: Committee Meeting date August 10, 2021, Regular Board Meeting date: August 18, 2021, and EFID Meeting August 18, 2021 (To start after the completion of the Board Meeting.)
The next item was End of Consent Agenda item #12: Review of Expulsion Appeal of a certain student enrolled at Brusly Middle School.
Dr. Walker asked to go into Executive Session to discuss personal matters related to an Expulsion appeal of a certain student enrolled at Brusly Middle School.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Manola and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:
Be it Resolved that the board does hereby approve to go in to Executive Session, at 5:50 p.m., to discuss an Expulsion appeal 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. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Chustz
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Mr. Goudeau:
Be it Resolved, that the board does hereby declare itself in Open Session following an Executive Session, at 6:40 p.m., to discuss an expulsion appeal:
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Chustz
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
The Board took no action on this matter discussed in the Executive Session.
The next item was any other business unanimously approved by the board for consideration
Mr. Watts informed the Board that Ms. Kimberly Eckert will now be Teaching at Brusly High School and overseeing the Educators Rising Program of West Baton Rouge Parish Schools.
This was an informational item, no action necessary.
There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Mr. Manola:
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. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Chustz
__________________ _______________
Wesley Watts Jason Manola
Secretary-Treasurer President