SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015
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 fifteenth day of January 2015, in special-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. Mark Bellue; Mrs. Connie Bernard; Ms. Jill C. Dyason; Mrs. Barbara Freiberg; 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; 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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School Board Member, Barbara Freiberg, gave the invocation. Cadet Private Braedon D. Smith, Brookstown Middle Magnet Academy, accompanied by MSG Reginald Gosserand, JCC Instructor, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Approval of Updates to School Board Policy BBA
By Ms. Lee
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the
following changes to School Board Policy BBA: Delete the phrase “at its annual meeting”; the term
of the President and Vice-President be changed from two (2) years to one (1) year.
Seconded by Dr. Nelson-Smith
Discussion followed.
The following “friendly amendment,” was offered by Vice-President Smith and agreed upon by the originator and seconder.
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the
following changes to School Board Policy BBA: Delete the phrase “at its annual meeting”; the term
of the President and Vice-President be changed from two (2) years to one (1) year. Board members
serving will be limited to two (2) consecutive terms in any one (1) office.
Discussion continued.
The following substitute motion was made.
By Mrs. Bernard
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the
following changes to School Board Policy BBA: Delete the phrase “at its annual meeting”; the term
of the President and Vice-President shall be for a time specific.
The substitute motion failed for lack of a second.
Discussion continued.
Vice-President Smith withdrew his “friendly amendment,” and it was agreed upon by the
originator and seconder.
The vote on the original motion was as follows:
Yeas: (8) Mr. Bellue, Mrs. Bernard, Mrs. Freiberg, Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, Vice-President Smith, President Tatman, and Ms. Ware-Jackson
Nays: (1) Ms. Dyason
Abstained: (0) None
Absent: (0) None
The original motion was declared adopted.
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Election of School Board President
Dr. Bernard Taylor, Jr., Superintendent of Schools, Chair, opened the floor for nominations for President of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board.
Mrs. Bernard nominated Mr. Tatman.
Ms. Lee nominated Mr. Smith.
Superintendent Taylor closed the floor for nominations.
The vote was as follows:
Mr. Smith: (3) Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, and Mr. Smith
Mr. Tatman: (6) Mr. Bellue, Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, Mrs. Freiberg, Mr. Tatman, and Ms. Ware-Jackson
Mr. Tatman was elected as the President of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board.
Election of Vice-President
Dr. Bernard Taylor, Jr., Superintendent of Schools, Chair, opened the floor for nominations for Vice-President of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board.
Dr. Nelson-Smith nominated Mr. Smith.
Mrs. Bernard nominated Mrs. Freiberg.
Superintendent Taylor closed the floor for nominations.
The vote was as follows:
Mrs. Freiberg: (6) Mr. Bellue, Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, Mrs. Freiberg, Mr. Tatman, and Ms. Ware-Jackson
Mr. Smith: (3) Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, and Mr. Smith
Mrs. Freiberg was elected as Vice President.
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There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
Dr. Bernard Taylor, Jr.,
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board