EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2015
5:00 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 5:00 p.m. on the second day of July 2015, in regular-session convened. The Vice President called the meeting to order with the following members present: Mrs. Barbara Freiberg, Vice President; Mr. David Tatman, President; Mr. Mark Bellue; Mrs. Connie Bernard; Ms. Vereta T. Lee; Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith; Mr. Tarvald A. Smith; and Ms. Evelyn Ware-Jackson. Ms. Jill C. Dyason was absent.
Others present were: H. Warren Drake, Jr., Superintendent; Dr. Michelle Clayton, Associate Superintendent for Support Services; Ms. Catherine Fletcher, Chief Business Operations Officer; Ms. Millie Williams, Executive Director of Human Resources; Ms. Lizabeth Frischhertz, Chief Officer of Accountability, Assessment and Evaluation; and Mr. Domoine Rutledge, General Counsel.
------
School Board Member, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, gave the invocation. School Board Member Mark Bellue, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
------
The following items were presented to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole by the Superintendent and staff:
By President Tatman
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby delete the following item from the agenda: a lease extension between J.E. Sumrall & Sons, Inc., and East Baton Rouge Parish School Board to house a discipline center at 9974 Greenwell Springs Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the period of July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2020.
Seconded by Ms. Ware-Jackson
Item #1 was deleted by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason and Mr. Smith were absent.)
------
By Mrs. Bernard
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby delete the following item from the agenda: a lease extension between Thein Truong, d/b/a Eagle First, LLC, and East Baton Rouge Parish School Board to house a discipline center at 1097 Flannery Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the period of July 2, 2015, through June 30, 2020.
Seconded by Ms. Ware-Jackson
Item #2 was deleted by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason was absent.)
------
By Mrs. Bernard
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item: approval of granting a sales and use tax exemption for custom computer software pursuant to the provisions of LSA-R.S. 47:305.52. This would include the two percent (2%) portion of the school system tax with approval of the Oversight Committee, if necessary.
Seconded by Mr. Bellue
Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason was absent.)
------
By President Tatman
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item: approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Manners of the Heart in the amount of $352,852.00 to implement the program at 15 schools and provide training to teachers. (Funding Source: General Fund and Donations)
Seconded by Mr. Smith
Discussion followed.
A “friendly amendment” was offered by Mrs. Bernard and accepted by the originator and seconder.
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item: approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Manners of the Heart in the amount of $352,852.00, less the donated amount of $50,000.00, for a new total of $302,852.00, to implement the program at 15 schools and provide training to teachers. (Funding Source: General Fund and Donations)
Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason was absent.)
------
By Mrs. Bernard
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item: approval of a request for renewal of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the Douglas Manship, Sr., Theater Complex Holding, Inc., (Manship Theatre) in the amount of $80,000.00 to provide arts experiences for students and teachers. (Funding Source: General Fund)
Seconded by Ms. Ware-Jackson
Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason was absent.)
------
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 request for renewal of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge in the amount of $70,000.00 to implement arts training for teachers and arts integration experiences for students. (Funding Source: General Fund)
Seconded by Mr. Smith
Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason was absent.)
------
By Dr. Nelson-Smith
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item: approval of a request for renewal of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge in the amount of $20,450.00 to implement the School Readiness Through the Arts program. (Funding Source: Magnet Funds)
Seconded by Ms. Ware-Jackson
Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason was absent.)
------
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 professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Kids’ Orchestra, Inc., in the amount of $10,000.00 to implement an after-school program for elementary-age students. (Funding Source: General Fund)
Seconded by Dr. Nelson-Smith
Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason was absent.)
------
By Dr. Nelson-Smith
Request to take Items #6-#13 In Globo.
There was no objection to the request.
Items #6 - #13 In Globo
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following items In Globo:
(a). approval of professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Dr. Kashunda L. Williams, Sundry Behavioral Services, in an amount not to exceed $30,000.00 to provide applied behavior analysis training to ESS personnel, (Funding Source: IDEA - Part B)
(b). renewal of an extern agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Louisiana State University in an amount not to exceed $114, 240.00 to provide school psychological externs to assist Pupil Appraisal Services with testing of students, (Funding Source: IDEA – Part B)
(c). renewal of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Sherilyn Macaluso in an amount not to exceed $31,000.00 to provide interpreting services to eligible students with disabilities, (Funding Source: IDEA – Part B);
(d). renewal of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Chase Healthcare in an amount not to exceed $48,500.00 to provide nursing services to eligible students with disabilities, (Funding Source: IDEA – Part B);
(e). renewal of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Healing Hands Home Health in an amount not to exceed $210,000.00 to provide nursing services to eligible students with disabilities, (Funding Source: IDEA – Part B);
(f). renewal 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 to provide nursing services to eligible students with disabilities, (Funding Source: IDEA – Part B);
(g). renewal of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Pediatric Services of America, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $305,000.00 to provide nursing services to eligible students with disabilities, (Funding Source: IDEA – Part B);
(h). renewal of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Deaf Resources Center in an amount not to exceed $80,000.00 to provide interpreter services to eligible students with disabilities. (Funding Source: IDEA – Part B).
Seconded by Mrs. Bernard
Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason was absent.)
------
By President Tatman
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item: approval of the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire as required for the 2014-2015 financial audit of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.
Seconded by Mrs. Bernard
Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason was absent.)
------
By President Tatman
Request to take Items #15-#34 In Globo.
There was no objection to the request.
Items #15 - #34 In Globo
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following items In Globo: approval of the following budgets:
(a). revised 2014-2015 and Proposed 2015-2016 Pre-K – Tuition Fund Budgets;
(b). revised 2014-2015 and Proposed 2015-2016 Exceptional Student Services (ESS) - Extended School Year (ESYS) Budgets;
(c). revised 2014-2015 and Proposed 2015-2016 Exceptional Student Services (ESS) - State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) Budgets;
(d). revised 2014-2015 Exceptional Student Services (ESS) - Positive Behavior Interventions and Support Program (PBIS) Budget;
(e). revised 2014-2015 Exceptional Student Services (ESS) – High Cost Services Round 1;
(f). revised 2014-2015 Exceptional Student Services (ESS) – High Cost Services Round 2;
(g). revised 2014-2015 Believe and Prepare – Cohort 2 Budget;
(h). revised 2014-2015 21st Century Community Learning Centers Budget;
(i). revised 2014-2015 and Proposed 2015-2016 Pre-K (8g) Budgets;
(j). revised 2014-2015 Pre-K Early Childhood Community Networks – Cohort 2 Childcare and Development Fund (CCDF) and Cohort 2 State Budgets;
(k). revised 2014-2015 and Proposed 2015-2016 Pre-K Cecil J. Picard LA4 Budgets;
(l). revised 2014-2015 and Proposed 2015-2016 Pre-K Cecil J. Picard TANF Budgets;
(m). revised 2014-2015 TANF – Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Budget;
(n). revised 2014-2015 Adult Education State Funds Budget;
(o). revised 2014-2015 Adult Education EL Civics Budget;
(p). revised 2014-2015 Adult Education Federal Funds Budget;
(q). revised 2014-2015 Adult Education Federal Leadership Funds Budget;
(r). revised 2014-2015 Education Excellence Funds (EEF) Budget;
(s). revised 2014-2015 Advanced Placement Test Fee Program Budget;
(t). revised 2014-2015 Elementary School Summer Opportunity for Academic Remediation (SOAR) Budget
Seconded by Mr. Smith
Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason was absent.)
------
By Mrs. Bernard
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby favorably recommend the following item: approval of the Students Rights & Responsibilities Handbook and Discipline Policy for the 2015-2016 school year for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System with noted changes. The Superintendent and General Counsel will finalize the document making any changes needed to comply with state and federal laws.
Seconded by Mr. Smith
Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason was absent.)
------
Settlement of a Law Suit
By Mr. Smith
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Committee of the Whole does hereby accept the recommendation of Mr. Domoine Rutledge, General Counsel, East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, in the matter of: Susan Fulkerson v. EBRPSB and Sylvia D. Bob; Suit No: 617,509; Division D; 19th JDC, Parish of East Baton Rouge.
Seconded by Ms. Lee
Favorably recommended to the full Board by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason was absent.)
------
There being no further business, the Committee of the Whole adjourned by acclamation.
______________________________
H. Warren Drake, Jr.,
Secretary/Treasurer to the East Baton
Rouge Parish School Board
Committee of the Whole