REGULAR MEETING OF THE

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

5:25 P.M.

            The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board met at the School Board Office at 1050 South Foster Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 5:25 p.m. on this the fifteenth day of January 2015, in regular-session convened.  The President called the meeting to order with the following members present: Mr. David Tatman, President; Mrs. Barbara Freiberg, Vice-President; Mr. Mark Bellue; Mrs. Connie Bernard; Ms. Jill C. Dyason; Ms. Vereta T. Lee; Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith; Mr. Tarvald A. Smith;; and Ms. Evelyn Ware-Jackson. 

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; and Mr. Domoine Rutledge, General Counsel.

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Approval of School Board Minutes of the December 18, 2014 (Regular Meeting)

By Mrs. Bernard

Resolved, that, the reading of the minutes of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Meeting of December 18, 2014, (regular meeting), be dispensed with and that they be approved as published in the Official Journal. 

Seconded by Mr. Bellue

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.

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Approval of Proposed Test Security Policy

            By Mrs. Bernard

            Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the proposed test security policy for 2014-2015.

            Seconded by Vice-President Freiberg

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.

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Mrs. Bernard requested Item #10(a), (b), and (c) be voted on individually.  There was no objection by the Board.

Approval of Recommendations Regarding Charter Schools

By Mrs. Bernard

            Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the following recommendations regarding Thrive Charter School:

(a)  extend the duration of the contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and Thrive Charter School for a maximum initial term of five (5) years.

            Seconded by Ms. Dyason

The vote on the motion was as follows:

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

Nays: (0)           None

Abstained: (1)   Dr. Nelson-Smith

Absent: (0)        None   

The motion was declared adopted.

By Mrs. Bernard

Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the following recommendations regarding Inspire Charter Academy, Inc.:

(b) renew the contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and Inspire Charter Academy, Inc., for a period of three (3) years, effective July 1, 2015.

            Seconded by Ms. Ware-Jackson

The vote on the motion was as follows:

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

Nays: (0)           None

Abstained: (1)   Dr. Nelson-Smith

Absent: (0)        None   

The motion was declared adopted.

By Vice-President Freiberg

Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the following recommendations regarding Helix Network of Educational Choices and Helix Network of Educational Choices (Mentorship Academy of Digital Arts):

(c) accept the written request from Helix Network of Educational Choices; thereby, terminating the original contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and the Helix Network of Educational Choices at the close of the 2014-2015 school year, and renew the contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and Helix Network of Educational Choices (Mentorship Academy of Digital Arts) for a period of three (3) years, effective July 1, 2015.   

            Seconded by Ms. Ware-Jackson

The vote on the motion was as follows:

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

Nays: (0)           None

Abstained: (1)   Dr. Nelson-Smith

Absent: (0)        None   

The motion was declared adopted.

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There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.

Dr. Bernard Taylor, Jr.,

Secretary/Treasurer to the Board