8,364
Port Allen, Louisiana
January 18, 2023
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, Burke Fiscus, Hayley Clouatre, Ronald LeBlanc, Sonceria Evans, Chareeka Grace, Matt Daigrepont, Michael Maranto, Teri Bergeron
Absent: None
Dr. Walker gave the Invocation.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ms. Grace.
The next item was approval of the Regular School Board Meeting minutes held on December 14, 2022.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc:
Be it Resolved, That the approval of the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting held on December 14, 2022 be approved as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Fiscus, Mrs. Clouatre, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Daigrepont, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz
Nay: None
Absent: None
The next item was Education Presentations: Mr. Corona 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. Maranto 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. Fiscus, Mrs. Clouatre, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Daigrepont, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz
Nay: None
Absent: None
The next item was the Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Corona informed the board that Dr. Raven Dunlap, School Counselor at Caneview just received her Doctorate degree. Mr. Corona wanted to congratulate her and recognize her on all the hard work she does for our kids. Mr. Corona also recognized 7 officers that helped in an incident at Brusly Upper Elementary School. Mr. Corona then asked for everyone to keep the Dunn and Gill families in their prayers as they go through these difficult times. Finally, Mr. Corona recognized Mr. Chad Fontenot, Maintenance Supervisor of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board, who gave the Board an update on maintenance projects throughout the parish. The Port Allen High School baseball and softball locker rooms should be completed for the upcoming seasons. The Port Allen Middle School pavilion is complete. For Port Allen Elementary School, they have ordered new windows and are working to remodel some of the bathrooms in the original building. At Brusly High
School, they are working on the new track locker rooms. Finally, Brusly Upper Elementary and Caneview have two fences that are being installed.
This was an informational item, No action was taken.
The next item was Unfinished Business: Mr. Chustz appointed Dr. Walker as Chairman of the Academic Committee and Ms. Grace as Second Chairman. Then Mr. Chustz appointed Mr. LeBlanc as Finance Committee Chairman and Mr. Maranto as Second Chairman.
This was an informational Item, No action was taken.
The next item was presentation of the Consent Agenda:
#9 Consideration of the adoption of a resolution from the Louisiana School Board Association declaring January 2023 School Board Member Recognition Month across the State of Louisiana (Academic Committee Report 1/10/23)
#10 Consideration of request for approval of revision pof policy GAE (Grievance) as recommended by Forethought Consulting, Inc. (Academic Committee Report 1/10/23)
#11 Consideration of request for approval of the annual Self Assessment and Program Improvement Plan (Academic Committee Report 1/10/23)
#12 Consideration of request for approval of the Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment and Attendance (ERSEA) Policy. (Academic Committee Report 1/10/23)
#13 Notification of Focus Area 2 Federal Review: February 6-10, 2023 (Academic Committee Report 1/10/23)
#14 Notification of CLASS Video Pilot Group 3 Monitoring review: February 20 to March 16, 2023. (Academic Committee Report 1/10/23)
#15 Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for November 2022. (Finance Committee Report 1/10/23)
#16 Adoption of a resolution giving preliminary approval to the issuance of not exceeding Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($9,500,000) of limited Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 2023, of the Parish School Board of the Parish of West Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in one or more series: providing certain terms of said bods; making application to the State Bond Commission for approval of said bonds; and providing for other matters in connection therewith. (Finance Committee Report 1/10/23)
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Bergeron and seconded by Mr. Daigrepont:
Be it resolved that the Board does hereby approve and adopt the Above Consent Agenda Items #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, and #16.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Fiscus, Mrs. Clouatre, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Daigrepont, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz
Nay: None
Absent: None
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item # 17 Discussion of Superintendent Search Process. (Bob Hammonds)
Mr. Hammond started off by discussing the first question of business was to decide how many applicants did the board want to interview.
Mrs. Teri Bergeron made a motion to interview 5 candidates. Which was seconded by Mr. LeBlanc.
Then we had a Subsidiary Motion by Dr. Walker to interview all 8 Candidates which was seconded by Mr. Maranto.
Mr. Hammonds then said we will ask for public comment on the Subsidiary Motion and do a vote first on the Subsidiary Motion.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
There were a few comments from the public that the board members addressed.
Whereupon, the following motion was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Maranto:
Be it resolved that the Board does not approve and adopt the above end of consent agenda Item #17a.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Dr. Walker, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Maranto
Nay: Mr. Fiscus, Mrs. Clouatre, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Daigrepont, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz
Absent: None
The motion failed by a 4-6 vote.
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item 17b: Superintendent Search
So we will come back to the original motion to interview 5 candidates the motion was made originally by Mrs. Bergeron and seconded by Mr. Leblanc:
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following motion was offered by Mrs. Bergeron and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc:
Be it resolved that the Board does hereby approve and adopt the Above End of Consent Agenda Item #17b.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Fiscus, Mrs. Clouatre, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Daigrepont, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz
Nay: Dr. Walker, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Maranto
Absent: None
The motion passes by a 6-4 vote
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #17c Superintendent Search:
Mr. Hammonds explains to the board that we have a ballot for each Board Member that they must print their name and sign. Then check off 5 of their choices for the Superintendent search. Once each board member completes their ballot it will then be turned into Board President Chustz who will read aloud the ballots.
Teri Bergeron: Troy Bell, Charlotte Blanchard, Patrick Jenkins, Tammy Seneca, Chandler Smith.
Dr. Atley Walker: Charlotte Blanchard, Patrick Jenkins, Cleo Perry, Jr., Tammy Seneca, James Stroder.
Matt Daigrepont: Troy Bell, Charlotte Blanchard, Patrick Jenkins, Tammy Seneca, Chandler Smith.
Burke Fiscus: Charlotte Blanchard, Patrick Jenkins, Cleo Perry, Jr., Tammy Seneca, Chandler Smith.
Hayley Clouatre: Troy Bell, Charlotte Blanchard, Cleo Perry, Jr., Tammy Seneca, Chandler Smith.
Ronald LeBlanc: Troy Bell, Charlotte Blanchard, Patrick Jenkins, Tammy Seneca, Chandler Smith.
Mike Maranto: Troy Bell, Charlotte Blanchard, Paul Nelson, Cleo Perry, Jr., Chandler Smith.
Alden Chustz: Troy Bell, Charlotte Blanchard, Patrick Jenkins, Tammy Seneca, Chandler Smith.
Sonceria Evans: Troy Bell, Patrick Jenkins, Paul Nelson, Cleo Perry, Jr., Chandler Smith.
Chareeka Grace: Charlotte Blanchard, Patrick Jenkins, Paul Nelson, Tammy Seneca, Chandler Smith.
We then tallied up the results and Mr. Hammonds presented the outcome:
Troy Bell: 7
Charlotte Blanchard: 9
Patrick Jenkins: 8
Paul Nelson: 3
Cleo Perry Jr: 5
Tammy Seneca: 8
Chandler Smith: 9
James Stroder: 1
Mr. Hammonds then asked to do a random draw to see the order of the interviews. Mr. David Coron did the drawing out of the hat. The order of the drawing was as followed:
Troy Bell, Patrick Jenkins, Tammy Seneca, Chandler Smith, and Charlotte Blanchard.
Mr. Hammonds then discussed when the interview will be conducted? Mr. Hammonds suggested that each interview will last about an hour a piece; he also said no more than 3 interviews a night. The board discussed doing 2 interviews a night so we would need three nights consecutively. Mr. Hammonds looked at his calendar and suggested January 30, 31 and
February 1, 2023. The board collaborated to make sure those dates worked for everyone.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following motion was offered by Mrs. Bergeron and seconded by Dr. Walker:
Be it resolved that the Board does hereby approve and adopt the Above End of Consent Agenda Item #17c that the board conducts the day 1 interviews on January 30, 2023 at 5:00pm and 6:00pm. Then day 2 on January 31, 2023 at 5:00pm and 6:00pm. Then day 3 on February 1, 2023 at 5:00pm
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Fiscus, Mrs. Clouatre, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Daigrepont, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz
Nay: None
Absent: None
The next item was End of Consent Agenda item #17d: Superintendent Search on how the interview will be formatted.
Mr. Hammonds suggested that each applicant can be given a 10 minute opportunity to have an opening statement of his/her qualifications and background. Then School Board members will then have about 40 minutes for interviewing the applicants and each board member will have 3 different questions ready to ask each night. After the questions are finished the applicant will have the opportunity to make a final statement not to exceed 10 minutes. It is anticipated that the Board will meet again on Tuesday February 7, 2023 and will likely go into executive session to discuss the interviews.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following motion was offered by Mr. Daigrepont and seconded by Ms. Grace:
That the suggested format that Mr. Hammonds discussed for the interviews be approved.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Fiscus, Mrs. Clouatre, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Daigrepont, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz
Nay: None
Absent: None
The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #18 Organizational Items: Special Board Meetings: Monday January 30, 2023, Tuesday January 31, 2023, and Wednesday February 1, 2023. Committee Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2023, Special School Board Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2023 and Regular Board Meeting Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
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. Fiscus, Mrs. Clouatre, Dr. Walker, Mr. LeBlanc, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Grace, Mr. Daigrepont, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz
Nay: None
Absent: None
__________________ _______________
David Corona G. Alden Chustz Jr.
Secretary-Treasurer President