REGULAR MEETING OF THE
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014
5:00 P.M.
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board met at the School Board Office at 1050 South Foster Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 5:00 p.m. on this the twentieth day of March 2014, in regular-session convened. The President called the meeting to order with the following members present:, Mr. David Tatman, President; Mr. Tarvald A. Smith, Vice-President; Mr. G. Thomas “Jerry” Arbour; Mrs. Connie Bernard; Ms. Jill C. Dyason; Mr. Craig Freeman; Mrs. Barbara Freiberg; Mr. Randy Lamana; Ms. Vereta T. Lee; Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith; and Ms. Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Others present were: Dr. Bernard Taylor, Jr., Superintendent; Mr. Michael Haggen, Deputy Superintendent for Innovation and Reform; Ms. Diane Atkins, Associate Superintendent for Instructional Support and Pupil Services; Mr. Carlos Sam, Associate Superintendent; Dr. Herman Brister, Associate Superintendent for Student Support Services; Ms. Catherine Fletcher, Chief Business Operations Officer; Ms. Millie Williams, Interim Executive Director of Human Resources; Ms. Lizabeth Frischhertz, Chief Officer of Accountability, Assessment and Evaluation; and Mr. Domoine Rutledge, General Counsel.
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School Board Member, Randy Lamana, gave the invocation. Cadet Sergeant Paulette Kourouma, Broadmoor High School, accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Stewart, Senior Army Instructor, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Approval of Minutes of the February 20, 2014, School Board Meeting, and the March 6, 2014, Committee of the Whole meeting
By Vice-President Smith
Resolved, that, the reading of the minutes of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Meeting of February 20, 2014, and the March 6, 2014, Committee of the Whole meeting, be dispensed with and that they be approved as published in the Official Journal.
Seconded by Mr. Arbour
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, Mr. Freeman, Ms. Lee, and Ms. Ware-Jackson were absent.)
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Adoption of Resolution Proclaiming April 2014 as “Parliamentary Law Month”
By Mrs. Bernard
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby adopt a resolution proclaiming the month of April 2014 as “Parliamentary Law Month.” (A copy of the Resolution has been marked “Official Copy” and placed in the files of the Board.)
Seconded by Mr. Lamana
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason was absent.)
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Adoption of Resolution Proclaiming April 2014 as “School Library Month” and April 13-19, 2014, as “National Library Week”
By Ms. Ware-Jackson
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby adopt a resolution proclaiming April 2014 as “School Library Month” and April 13-19, 2014, as “National Library Week.” (A copy of the Resolution has been marked “Official Copy” and placed in the files of the Board.)
Seconded by Mrs. Freiberg
Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.
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Adoption of Resolution Proclaiming March 2014 as “Professional School Social Worker” Month
By Ms. Dyason
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby adopt a resolution proclaiming March 2014 as “Professional School Social Worker” month. (A copy of the Resolution has been marked “Official Copy” and placed in the files of the Board.)
Seconded by Mr. Lamana
Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.
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Approval of Consent Agenda Items, Excluding Items #10 and #12
By Mr. Freeman
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the Consent Agenda items, excluding items #10 and #12.
Seconded by Mrs. Freiberg
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Mr. Arbour was absent.)
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The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda:
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Items approved by the Committee of the Whole for recommendation to the Board:
Approval of the 2014 Proposed East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Budget for Adult Education Services for the period of January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014.
Approval of the recommendation of Mr. Domoine Rutledge, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Orinda Robertson, Individually and on behalf of the estate of Darron Robertson vs. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board d/b/a East Baton Rouge Parish School System; Suit No.: 542,151, Section 27; 19th JDC.
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END OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
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Authorization to Negotiate with Vendors
By Vice-President Smith
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby give authorization to allow staff to negotiate with vendors to obtain pricing for textbooks and resource selections as recommended.
Seconded by Mr. Freeman
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (9) Mr. Arbour, Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, Mr. Freeman, Mrs. Freiberg, Mr. Lamana, Vice-President Smith, President Tatman, and Ms. Ware-Jackson
Nays: (0) None
Abstained: (2) Ms. Lee and Dr. Nelson-Smith
Absent: (0) None
The motion was declared adopted.
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Approval of Proposed 2014-2015 Academic School Year Calendar
By Mr. Lamana
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the proposed 2014-2015 Academic School Year Calendar, as amended.
Seconded by Mrs. Bernard
Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.
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Approval to Renew a Contract
By Mr. Arbour
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby give approval to
renew the contract with Spradley and Spradley, Inc.
Seconded by Vice-President Smith
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (9) Mr. Arbour, Mr. Freeman, Mrs. Freiberg, Mr. Lamana, Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, Vice-President Smith, President Tatman, and Ms. Ware-Jackson
Nays: (1) Ms. Dyason
Abstained: (0) None
Absent: (1) Mrs. Bernard
The motion was declared adopted.
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Authorization for Superintendent, With Approval of Board Leadership, to Contract Professional Services Related to Development and Implementation of a Corrective Action Plan (CAP)
By Vice-President Smith
Resolved, that,the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby give authority to the Superintendent, with the approval of Board leadership, to enter into a contract for professional services related to the development and implementation of a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) that addresses the findings in the Louisiana Department of Education’s (LDOE) audit and to provide for related matters.
Seconded by Ms. Lee
Discussion followed.
The following substitute motion was offered.
By Ms. Dyason
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby give authority to the Superintendent, with the approval of Board leadership, to enter into a contract for professional services related to the development and implementation of a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) that addresses the findings in the Louisiana Department of Education’s (LDOE) audit and to provide for related matters. Following a full review and which provides recommendations for processes, procedures and policies that ensure academic integrity, and that the Board itself engage the service of an independent and outside auditor charged with providing a full and thorough investigation and review of all findings as related to the Louisiana Department of Education’s (LDOE) most recent audit, and bringing these findings back directly to the Board for full transparency with the public we serve. Further, the East Baton Rouge Parish School System will fully comply and cooperate with any and all ongoing investigations to the fullest extent of the law.
Seconded by Mrs. Bernard
Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.
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There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
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Dr. Bernard Taylor, Jr.,
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board