8,296

Port Allen, Louisiana

May 18, 2022

A Regular Meeting of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board was held this date with the following membership:

Present:

                  G. Alden Chustz, Jr., President, Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr., Vice President, Craig Sarradet, Toby Sarradet, Ronald LeBlanc, Leon Goudeau, Chareeka Grace (arrived at 5:03 p.m.), Jason Manola, Michael Maranto, Teri Bergeron

Absent:      

                  None

Dr. Walker gave the Invocation.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Chustz.

The next item was approval of the Regular School Board Meeting minutes held on April 20, 2022.

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:

Be it Resolved, That the approval of the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting, held on April 20, 2022 be approved as presented.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

Aye:     Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz

Nay:     None

Absent:            None

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. Manola and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc:

Be it Resolved that the Board approve the Head Start Director’s Monthly Report.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

Aye:     Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz

Nay:     None

Absent:            None

The next item was the Superintendent’s Report:  Mr. Watts informed the Board that the Port Allen High School Girls Powerlifting Team are State Champions in Class 2A.  Mr. Watts turned things over to Head Coach Brian Bizette who then introduced his team to the Board Members and the audience.  The Board congratulated the team on their great accomplishment, and requested that the team keep up the good work.  Mr. Watts then recognized our Support Employee Award Winners, along with each principal from our 10 schools recognizing their Teacher of the Year Award Winner.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment

Information Item no action necessary.      

The next item was presentation of the Consent Agenda:

#9        Consideration of a request for approval of naming the Brusly High Baseball Stadium in honor of Mr. L.J. Dupuy for his contributions to baseball in West Baton Rouge Parish over the years.  (Finance Committee Report 5/10/22)

#10       Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for March 2022. (Finance Committee Report 5/10/22)

#11       Consideration of request for approval to participate in Titles I, II, III, IV, V and IDEA B and Preschool Flowthrough funds for 2022-2023 school year. (Academic Committee Report 5/10/22)

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Bergeron and seconded by Mr. Toby Sarradet:

Be it resolved that the Board does hereby approve and adopt the Above Consent Agenda Items #9 ,#10 and #11.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

Aye:     Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz

Nay:     None

Absent:            None

The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #12 Consideration of the adoption of a resolution at the Regular Board Meeting on May 18, 2022, ordering and calling a special election to be held in Parishwide School District Number Three of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, November 8, 2022, to continue the levy of a ten year, 15 mil property tax for purpose of providing additional support to the public elementary and secondary schools in said district presented by Tommy Hessburg representing the law firm of  Butler Snow, LLP.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

Whereupon the following resolution was offered by Ms. Grace and seconded by Mr. Maranto.

Be it resolved, That the Board approve the Consideration of request for approval at the Regular Board Meeting on May 18, 2022,  ordering and calling a special election to be held in Parishwide School District Number Three of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, November 8, 2022, to continue the levy of a ten year, 15 mil property tax for purpose of providing additional support to the public elementary and secondary schools in said district presented by Tommy Hessburg representing the law firm of  Butler Snow, LLP.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

Aye:     Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz

Nay:     None

Absent:            None

The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #13 Consideration of request for approval of the bid submitted by the West Side Journal to serve as the Official Journal of the Board from 7/1/22-6/30/23, as presented by Jared Gibbs, Supervisor of Business Services.

Mr. Gibbs went over the pricing with the Board and let them know there weren't any changes from the previous year’s bid.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

Whereupon the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Ms. Grace.

Be it resolved that the Board approves of the bid submitted by the West Side Journal to serve as the Official Journal of the Board from 7/1/22 - 6/30/23

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

Aye:     Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz

Nay:     None

Absent:            None

The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #14  Organizational Items: Committee Meeting Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 and Regular Board Meeting Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

The Next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #15 Any other business unanimously approved by the board for consideration:

Mr. Chustz wanted to add an item to the agenda, to approve Interim Superintendent David Corona’s contract.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

Whereupon the following resolution was offered by Mr. Manola and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron.

Be it resolved that the Board add agenda item #15 to approve Interim Superintendent David Corona’s contract.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

Aye:     Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz

Nay:     None

Absent:            None

The Next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #15 To approve Interim Superintendent David Corona’s Contract.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

Whereupon the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mr. Manola.

Be it resolved, That the Board approves Interim Superintendent David Corona’s contract.

The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:

Aye:     Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz

Nay:     None

Absent:            None

There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:

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, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Manola, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz

Nay:     None

Absent:            None

__________________                                                      _______________

Wesley Watts                                                                          G. Alden Chustz Jr.

Secretary-Treasurer                                                              President