REGULAR MEETING OF THE
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 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 eighteenth day of September 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; Mrs. Barbara Freiberg; Mrs. Mary Lynch; Ms. Vereta T. Lee; and Ms. Evelyn Ware-Jackson. Mr. Craig Freeman and Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith were 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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School Board Member, Barbara Freiberg, gave the invocation. Cadet Major Me’Kiah S. Julian, Scotlandville Magnet High School, accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel Dana Mangham, Senior Army Instructor, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Approval of Minutes of the August 21, 2014, School Board Meeting, and the September 4, 2014, Committee of the Whole Meeting
By Ms. Ware-Jackson
Resolved, that, the reading of the minutes of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meetings of August 21, 2014, School Board, and the September 4, 2014, Committee of the Whole, be dispensed with and that they be approved as published in the Official Journal.
Seconded by Vice-President Smith
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Mr. Freeman and Dr. Nelson-Smith were absent.)
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Point of Information
Announcement of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board members who have successfully completed annual training for 2013 mandated by La. R.S. 17:53 and the total credit hours received: Jerry Arbour (13.75 hours), Connie Bernard (22.5 hours), Jill Dyason (16.5 hours), Craig Freeman (9.5 hours), Barbara Freiberg (33.5 hours), Randy Lamana (15 hours), Vereta Lee (31 hours), Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith (20 hours), Vice President Tarvald Smith (38.5 hours), Board President David Tatman (23.5 hours), and Evelyn Ware-Jackson (27 hours).
The Louisiana School Boards Association (LSBA) has recognized the following East Baton Rouge Parish School Board members who have qualified for Distinguished Board Member designation. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board members received 16+ hours in 2011, 6+ hours in 2012, 6+ hours in 2013, and 6+ hours in 2014. They are as follows: Jerry Arbour, Connie Bernard, Barbara Freiberg, Vereta Lee, Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith, and Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
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Approval of Consent Agenda Items
By Mrs. Lynch
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the Consent Agenda items.
Seconded by Mrs. Freiberg
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Mr. Freeman and Dr. Nelson-Smith were 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:
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Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Teach for America in the amount of $28,000.00 (8 teachers x $3,500) - Funding Source: General Fund/Human Resources and $9,600.00 (8 teachers x $1,200) - Funding Source: Federal Programs.
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Soliant Health in the amount of $30,000.00 for audiological services to students in the district. (Funding Source: General Fund).
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Prestige Home Care in an amount not to exceed $54,000.00 for nursing services for ESS students. (Funding Source: IDEA-Part B).
Approval of request for renewal of a license agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and ESchool Solutions, Inc., in the amount of $22,172.75 for an Electronic Registration Online (ERO) subscription. (Funding Source: General Fund/Professional Development)
Acceptance of the Innovation Through Design Thinking Program grant in the amount of $27,500.00.
Approval of a Services Agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $260,000.00 per year for two (2) Blue Buses.
END OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
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Acceptance of Recommendation
By Mrs. Bernard
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby accept the Manual Forestry, LLC, recommendation to perform timber thinning and regenerating harvesting on the Section 16 property located on the Northeast High Tract and the Baywood Tract. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board also authorizes General Counsel and the Superintendent to negotiate a contract with Manual Forestry, LLC, and bring the contract back to the Board at the Committee of the Whole on October 2, 2014. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board also gives authorization for staff and the consultant to advertise, accept the high bid meeting specifications, and make the award of contracts for the timber thinning project or reject any and all bids for just cause in accordance with the Louisiana Public Bid Law.
Seconded by Mrs. Lynch
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Mr. Arbour, Mr. Freeman and Dr. Nelson-Smith were absent.)
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Approval of School Board Policy Revisions
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the following School Board policy revisions and related matters: BD, DFK, GAJ, GAMC, GBI, GBK, GBKA, GBRI, GBL, and GBRIB.
Seconded by Ms. Ware-Jackson
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (7) Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, Mrs. Freiberg, Mrs. Lynch, Vice-President Smith, President Tatman, and Ms. Ware-Jackson
Nays: (0) None
Abstained: (1) Ms. Lee
Absent: (3) Mr. Arbour, Mr. Freeman, and Dr. Nelson-Smith
The motion was approved.
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Authorization for Staff to Create a “Virtual Drop Back In” Program
By Mrs. Freiberg
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby authorize staff to create a “Virtual Drop Back In” live, online instructional program for Grades 9-12.
Seconded by Mrs. Bernard
Discussion followed.
The motion was withdrawn by the originator and seconder.
Discussion continued.
The following motion was made.
By Mrs. Bernard
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby defer voting on “Virtual Drop Back In” live, online instructional program for Grades 9-12, until a Special meeting on October 2, 2014, following the Committee of the Whole.
Seconded by Mrs. Lynch
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Mr. Arbour, Mr. Freeman and Dr. Nelson-Smith were absent.)
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Approval of an Agreement
By Mrs. Freiberg
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) LA Gear Up Agreement to provide funds in the amount of $176,841.60 to support the following schools for the 2014-2015 school year: Broadmoor High, Glen Oaks High, Tara High, and Scotlandville Magnet High Schools.
Seconded by Mrs. Bernard
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Mr. Arbour, Mr. Freeman and Dr. Nelson-Smith were absent.)
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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