8,406

Port Allen, Louisiana

April 19, 2023

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

Present:           Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr., Vice President, Burke Fiscus, Hayley Clouatre, Ronald LeBlanc, Sonceria Evans, Chareeka Grace, Matt Daigrepont, Michael Maranto

Absent:     G. Alden Chustz, Jr., President, Teri Bergeron

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 March 22, 2023 along with the Special Board Meeting Minutes for March 2, 2023.

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Grace and seconded by Mrs. Clouatre:

Be it Resolved, That the approval of the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting held on March 22, 2023 along with the Special Board Meeting Minutes held on March 2, 2023 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

Nay:     None

Absent:            Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz

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. LeBlanc and seconded by Mr. Maranto:

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

Nay:     None

Absent:            Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz

The next item was the Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Corona informed the board that Cohn Elementary is having a roof issue. That we need to move forward with making a decision so that it can be fixed over the summer. Star would also be able to come in and help with the air quality once the new roof is put on.

This was an informational item, No action was taken.

The next item was presentation of the Consent Agenda:

#9        Consideration of approval of the Head Start COLA and Quality Improvement Grant Applications and Budgets for FY 2023.  (Academics Committee Report 4/12/23)

#10   Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports for February 2023. (Finance Committee Report 4/12/23)

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Fiscus and seconded by Mrs. Clouatre.

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

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

Nay:     None

Absent:            Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz

The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item # 11 Approval of the low bid for the New Brusly Middle School Building. (David Corona and Dean Hotard)

Whereupon, Dean Hotard presented the bid compilation for bids received on  April 11, 2023. The low bidder was Blount General Contractors, LLC, $1,978,000 (with the addition of 1 alternate +$43,000) for the total contract amount of $2,021,000.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Daigrepont and seconded by Mr. LeBlanc.

Be It Resolved, that the Board approves and accepts the lowest “legal bidder” as of 10:00 A.M. April 11, 2023, and

Be It Further Resolved, That the board does hereby authorize G. Alden Chustz, Jr., President of the Board, to sign the contract for the lowest “legal Bidder”

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

Nay:     None

Absent:            Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz

The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item # 12  Approval of the low bid for the New CTE building. (David Corona and Dean Hotard)

Whereupon, Dean Hotard presented the bid compilation for bids received on April 13, 2023.  The low bidder was J Reed Constructors, $6,585,000(with the addition of 1 alternate +$70,000) for the total contract amount of $6,655,000.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

Be It Resolved, that the Board approves and accepts the lowest “legal bidder” as of 10:00 A.M. April 13, 2023, and

Be It Further Resolved, That the board does hereby authorize G. Alden Chustz, Jr., President of the Board, to sign the contract for the lowest “legal bidder”

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

Nay:     None

Absent:            Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz

The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item # 13  Notice is hereby given that at the board meeting on Wednesday April 19, 2023 5:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board, 3761 Rosedale Road, Port Allen, Louisiana, the Parish School Board of the Parish of West Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, plans to adopt resolutions relative to Parishwide School District Limited Tax Revenue Bonds which will authorize the incurrence of debt and issuance of not exceeding Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($9,500,00) of Limited Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 2023 of Parishwide School District of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. (Tommy Hessburg, Butler Snow, LLP, Mr. Corona and Jared Gibbs)

Bond Resolution was published in the West Side Journal on April 27, 2023.

The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.

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

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

Nay:     None

Absent:            Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz

The next item was End of Consent Agenda Item #17 Organizational Items:  Committee Meeting Date: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 and Regular Board Meeting Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2023.

There being no further business to come before the board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. LeBlanc and seconded by Mr. Daigrepont:

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

Nay:     None

Absent:            Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Chustz        

__________________                                                _______________

Chandler Smith, Ed.D                                                        G. Alden Chustz Jr.

Secretary-Treasurer                                                            President