EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

 

5:15 P.M.

 

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole met at the School Board Office at 1050 South Foster Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 5:15 p.m. on the fifth day of June 2014, in regular-session convened The Vice President called the meeting to order with the following members present: Mr. Tarvald A. Smith, Vice President; Mr. David Tatman, President; Mrs. Connie Bernard; Ms. Jill C. Dyason; Mr. Craig Freeman; Mrs. Barbara Freiberg; Mrs. Mary Lynch; Ms. Vereta T. Lee; Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith; and Ms. Evelyn Ware-Jackson.  Mr. G. Thomas “Jerry” Arbour was absent.

 

Others present were: Dr. Bernard Taylor, Jr., Superintendent; Mr. Michael Haggen, Deputy Superintendent for Innovation and Reform; 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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The following items were presented to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole by the Superintendent and staff:

Contract

 

By Mrs. Freiberg

 

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item:  approval of a proposed contract as it relates to a platform for a new assessment scan and score of the district’s tests. 

 

            Seconded by President Tatman

 

Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present.  (Mr. Arbour was absent.)

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Proposed Amendments to Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook & Discipline Policy

 

By Mrs. Freiberg

 

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item: approval to add proposed amendments as part of the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook & Discipline Policy, when amended. 

 

            Seconded by President Tatman

 

The vote on the motion was as follows:

                                                    

Yeas: (7)                       Mrs. Bernard, Mr. Freeman, Mrs. Freiberg, Dr. Nelson-Smith, Vice President Smith, President Tatman, and Ms. Ware-Jackson

 

Nays: (0)                       None

 

Abstained: (0)               None   

 

Absent: (2)                    Mr. Arbour and Ms. Lee

 

Ms. Dyason and Mrs. Lynch did not vote.

 

The motion was favorably recommended to the full Board.

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Contract

 

By Ms. Ware-Jackson

 

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item:  approval of a contract for professional services (Non-Public Programs, Title II) between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and ABC, 123, Inc. in the amount of $24,900.00 for professional development sessions focusing on student achievement, engagement and learning climate with increased rigor, and relevance and relationships in classrooms.  (Funding Source:  Title II Funds). 

 

            Seconded by President Tatman

 

Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present.  (Mr. Arbour and Ms. Lee were absent.)

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Contract

 

By Mrs. Freiberg

 

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item:  approval of a contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and City Year for 2014-2015 in the amount of $680,000.00.  (Funding Source:  Pending Tobacco Funds and Title Funds).    

 

            Seconded by Mrs. Bernard

Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present.  (Mr. Arbour and Ms. Lee were absent.)

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Property and Casualty Insurance Program Policy Renewal Package

 

By Mrs. Freiberg

 

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item:  approval to authorize the administration to approve the most effective Property and Casualty Insurance Program Policy Renewal package for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. 

 

Seconded by Mrs. Bernard

 

Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present.  (Mr. Arbour was absent.)

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Resolution

 

By Mrs. Bernard

 

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item:  approval of a Resolution authorizing the Board President and Superintendent to execute and sign all documents to reject Uninsured Motorist Coverage in connection with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s automobile liability coverage and its Self-Insured Retention Program for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. 

 

            Seconded by Mrs. Freiberg

 

Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present.  (Mr. Arbour was absent.)

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Contract

 

By Mrs. Freiberg

 

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item:  approval of the contract renewal with Humana for 2015 and the Proposed 2015 East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s health care plan premium rates for all Medicare-eligible retirees. 

 

            Seconded by Mrs. Bernard

 

Discussion followed.

 

The following “friendly” amendment was offered by Mrs. Bernard and accepted by the originator:

 

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby refer the following item to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board without a recommendation:   approval of the contract renewal with Humana for 2015 and the Proposed 2015 East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s health care plan premium rates for all Medicare-eligible retirees.

 

The vote on the motion was as follows:

                                                    

Yeas: (9)                       Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, Mr. Freeman, Mrs. Freiberg, Ms. Lee,  Mrs. Lynch, Dr. Nelson-Smith, Vice President Smith, and Ms. Ware-Jackson

 

Nays: (0)                       None

 

Abstained: (0)               None   

 

Absent: (2)                    Mr. Arbour and President Tatman

 

The motion was referred to the Board without a recommended.

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Extension of Current Fiscal Agent Contracts

 

By Mrs. Freiberg

 

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item:  approval of the extension of the current East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s Fiscal Agent Contract with Capital One Bank and Neighbors Federal Credit Union for a period of two years beginning October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2016, including all current provisions and rates. 

 

            Seconded by Mrs. Lynch

 

Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present.  (Mr. Arbour and President Tatman were absent.)

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Revised 2013-2014 General Fund Budget

 

            By Mrs. Freiberg

 

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item:  approval of the Revised 2013-2014 General Fund Budget for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. 

 

            Seconded by Mrs. Bernard

 

Discussion followed.

 

The following substitute motion was made.

 

            By Ms. Lee

 

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby refer the following item to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board without a recommendation:  approval of the Revised 2013-2014 General Fund Budget for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. 

 

            Seconded by Dr. Nelson-Smith

 

The substitute motion was referred to the Board without a recommendation by a vote of the members present.  (Mr. Arbour was absent.)

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Items #10 Through #14 In Globo

 

            By Mrs. Bernard

 

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably

recommend the following items: 

 

(10).      approval of the Revised 2013-2014 Adult Education Local Budget;

(11).      approval of the Revised 2013-2014 and the Proposed 2014-2015 Elementary School Summer Opportunity for Academic Remediation (SOAR) budget;

(12).      approval of the Revised 2013-2014 and the Proposed 2014-2015 Middle School Summer Budget;

(13).      approval of the Revised 2013-2014 and the Proposed 2014-2015 High School Summer Budget;

(14).      approval of the Actual December 2013 Semi-Annual Financial Tax Plan update and the Revised 2013-2014 Tax Plan Budgets for Propositions 1, 2, and 3.            

 

            Seconded by Mrs. Freiberg

 

The vote on the motion was as follows:

                                                    

Yeas: (7)                       Ms. Dyason, Mr. Freeman, Mrs. Freiberg, Mrs. Lynch, Vice President Smith, President Tatman, and Ms. Ware-Jackson

 

Nays: (2)                       Ms. Lee and Dr. Nelson-Smith

 

Abstained: (0)               None   

 

Absent: (2)                    Mr. Arbour and Mrs. Bernard

 

The motion was favorably recommended to the full Board.

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Items #15 Through #23 In Globo

 

            By Mr. Freeman

 

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following items: 

 

(15).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 No Child Left Behind Consolidated Application Budgets;

(16).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 Budget and Grant Application for Title X McKinney-Vento funds;

(17).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 Child Nutrition Program Budget for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System;

(18).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 Radio Training Program (RTP) Budget;

(19).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 Budget for Vocational Education – Carl Perkins Basic Grant;

(20).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 Adult Education Local Budget;

(21).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 Tax Plan Budgets for Propositions 2 and 3;

(22).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 I CARE Budget and Alcohol/Drug Abuse Prevention Program (ADAPP) Budget;

(23).      approval of the Revised 2013-2014 Textbook Fund Budget and the Proposed 2014 - 2015 Curriculum Textbook/Digital Media Support Fund Budget.             

 

            Seconded by Mrs. Freiberg

 

Discussion followed.

 

The following “friendly amendments” were offered by Dr. Nelson-Smith and Ms. Lee request that Item #23 be removed and voted on separately, and Ms. Lee requested Item #21 be removed and voted on separately.  This was accepted by the originator and seconder.

 

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following items:

  
(15).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 No Child Left Behind Consolidated Application
Budgets;

(16).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 Budget and Grant Application for Title X McKinney-Vento funds;

(17).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 Child Nutrition Program Budget for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System;

(18).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 Radio Training Program (RTP) Budget;

(19).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 Budget for Vocational Education – Carl Perkins Basic Grant;

(20).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 Adult Education Local Budget;

(22).      approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 I CARE Budget and Alcohol/Drug Abuse

Prevention Program (ADAPP) Budget;

            

Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present.  (Mr. Arbour and Mrs. Bernard were absent.)

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Proposed 2014-2015 Tax Plan Budgets for Propositions 2 and 3

 

            By Mrs. Freiberg

 

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby refer the following item to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board without a recommendation:  approval of the Proposed 2014-2015 Tax Plan Budgets for Propositions 2 and 3. 

 

            Seconded by Dr. Nelson-Smith

 

The motion was referred to the Board without a recommendation by a vote of the members present.  (Mr. Arbour and Mrs. Bernard were absent.)

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Revised 2013-2014 Textbook Fund Budget and Proposed 2014-2015 Curriculum Textbook/Digital Media Support Fund Budget            

 

            By Mrs. Freiberg

 

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following items:  approval of the Revised 2013-2014 Textbook Fund Budget and the Proposed 2014-2015 Curriculum Textbook/Digital Media Support Fund Budget.            

 

            Seconded by President Tatman

 

The vote on the motion was as follows:

                                                    

Yeas: (8)                       Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, Mr. Freeman, Mrs. Freiberg, Mrs. Lynch, Vice President Smith, President Tatman, and Ms. Ware-Jackson

 

Nays: (0)                       None

 

Abstained: (1)               Dr. Nelson-Smith         

 

Absent: (1)                    Mr. Arbour

 

Ms. Lee did not vote.

 

The motion was favorably recommended to the full Board.

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Professional Services

 

            By Mr. Tatman

 

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item:  approval to negotiate a professional services agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Atlantic Education Partners (Acceleration Academy) in the amount of $5,000.00 per student plus shared space (not to exceed 100 students), or AMI Kids in the amount of $8,908.00 per student (not to exceed 100 students).

 

            Seconded by Ms. Ware-Jackson

 

Discussion followed.

 

The following substitute motion was made.

 

            By Ms. Lee

 

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item:  approval to negotiate a professional services agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and AMI Kids in the amount of $8,908.00 per student (not to exceed 100 students).

            Seconded by Mrs. Bernard

 

Discussion continued.

 

A “friendly” amendment was offered to the substitute motion by the originator and seconder.

 

By Mrs. Bernard

 

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following items:  approval to negotiate a professional services agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and AMI Kids in an amount not to exceed $9,500.00 per student (not to exceed 100 students).

 

            Seconded by Dr. Nelson-Smith

 

The amended substitute motion was favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present.  (Mr. Arbour was absent.)

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Deny Charter School Applications

 

            By President Tatman

 

Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School does hereby accept the recommendation of the third party evaluator to deny the following charter school applications. 

 

(1).       Boys’ LIFE Preparatory Academy

(2).       Scholar Academy for Technical Education

(3).       Greater Educational Opportunities

(4).       LA Achievement Charter Academies

(5).       The Crossover House

(6).       Timbuktu ASCEND         

 

            Seconded by Mr. Freeman

Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present.  (Mr. Arbour and Ms. Lee were absent.)

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Resolution

 

            By Ms. Ware-Jackson

 

Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School does hereby adopt a Resolution pledging support for the Council of Great City Schools’ “Males of Color” Initiative.

 

            Seconded by Mrs. Lynch

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present.  (Mr. Arbour and Ms. Lee were absent.)

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There being no further business, the Committee of the Whole adjourned by acclamation.

 

______________________________                   

Dr. Bernard Taylor, Jr.

Secretary/Treasurer to the East Baton

Rouge Parish School Board

Committee of the Whole