REGULAR MEETING OF THE
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
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 the twenty-first day of January 2016, in regular-session convened. The President called the meeting to order with the following members present: Mrs. Barbara Freiberg, President; Ms. Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Vice-President; Mr. Mark Bellue; Mrs. Connie Bernard; Ms. Jill C. Dyason; and Ms. Vereta T. Lee. Dr. Jacqueline Mims, Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith, and Mr. David Tatman were absent.
Others present were: H. Warren Drake, Jr., Superintendent; Dr. Michelle Clayton, Deputy Superintendent; Mr. Domoine Rutledge, General Counsel; Ms. Adonica Pelichet-Duggan, Chief of Communication and Public Relations; Ms. Millie Williams, Chief Officer of Human Resources; Mr. Gary Reese, Chief of Student Support Services; and Mr. Adam Smith, Associate Superintendent.
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School Board Member Vice-President Evelyn Ware-Jackson gave the invocation. Colonel Fulton Johnson, Senior Army Instructor, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Approval of Minutes of the December 17, 2015, School Board Meeting, the January 7, 2016, Special School Board Meeting, and the January 7, 2016, Committee of the Whole Meeting
By Ms. Lee
Resolved, that, the reading of the minutes of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meetings of December 17, 2015, January 7, 2016 Special meeting, and the January 7, 2016, Committee of the Whole 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 the members present. (Dr. Nelson-Smith, Dr. Mims, and Mr. Tatman were absent.)
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Adoption of a Resolution Proclaiming the Month of March as “Music in our Schools Month”
By Mrs. Bernard
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby adopt a Resolution proclaiming the month of March, 2016 as “Music in our Schools Month.”
Seconded by Ms. Dyason
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Dr. Nelson-Smith, Dr. Mims, and Mr. Tatman were absent.)
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Adoption of a Resolution Proclaiming February 1-5, 2016, as “School Counseling Week”
By Ms. Dyason
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby adopt a Resolution proclaiming February 1-5, 2016, as “School Counseling Week.”
Seconded by Mrs. Bernard
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Dr. Nelson-Smith, Dr. Mims, and Mr. Tatman were absent.)
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Approval of Consent Agenda Items
By Mr. Bellue
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the Consent Agenda items.
Seconded by Mrs. Bernard
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Dr. Nelson-Smith, Dr. Mims, and Mr. Tatman 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:
Approval of the following grants:
(a) Patterson Partnership Library Grant in the amount of four thousand dollars ($4,000). This grant will be used to purchase library books for the Broadmoor Middle School Library.
(b) Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Evangeline Section Science Education Grant in the amount of six thousand eight hundred fifty dollars ($6,850). The SPE awarded ten (10) educators in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. There will be eighteen (18) schools positively impacted by the award.
(c) Louisiana Department of Education Building Pathways to High School Diplomas for Students with Disabilities Grant in the amount of ninety-one thousand two hundred dollars ($91,200). This grant will provide tools and resources to assist ACT 833 Eligible Students attending Arlington Preparatory Academy in the successful completion of a Jump Start career education pathway, and all high school students with Disabilities in the obtainment of a silver status on the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate.
(d) Target Field Trip Grants Program at Sherwood Middle School in the amount of seven hundred dollars ($700). This grant will assist with cost for twenty-four (24) French I students and teacher to travel to Vermilionville in Lafayette, LA to experience the many traditions the Acadian French contributed to south Louisiana.
(e) Quality Science & Mathematics Grant Program (QSM) in the amount of seven thousand nine hundred forty dollars ($7,940). This grant will provide materials and equipment to eleven (11) mathematics and science public school teachers within our district.
(f) U.S. Soccer Foundation and Program Grant Agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and U.S. Soccer Foundation for one (1) year in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).
Approval of the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy (SRCL) Program budgets: Birth to Five, Grade K-5, Grade 6-8, and Grade 9-12. The overarching goal of the SRCL Program is to increase literacy achievement for all students from birth through twelfth grade by targeting pre-literacy skills, reading, and writing.
Approval of the recommendation from Mr. Domoine Rutledge, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Natachia G. Washington, Individually and on behalf of her minor child, “Jane Doe,” vs. EBRPSB, et al; Suit No. 610,043; Division D; 19th JDC; Parish of East Baton Rouge.
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END OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
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Approval to Amend Professional Services Contracts
By Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby give approval to amend the following professional services contracts to provide nursing services to additional students: (a) Pediatric Services of America (PSA) in the amount of $69,000.00 for two new students; and (b) Healing Hands Home Health in the amount of $116,000.00 for two new students. (Funding Source: IDEA – Part B).
Seconded by Ms. Lee
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (5) Mr. Bellue, Mrs. Bernard, President Freiberg, Ms. Lee, and Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Nays: (0) None
Abstained: (1) Ms. Dyason
Absent: (3) Dr. Nelson-Smith, Dr. Mims, and Mr. Tatman
The motion was declared adopted.
Approval of a Capital Repair Policy
By Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the Capital Repair Policy and related matters. The Board also authorizes Superintendent Drake to finalize the document.
Seconded by Ms. Lee
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Dr. Nelson-Smith, Dr. Mims, and Mr. Tatman were absent.)
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There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
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Warren Drake, Jr.,
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board