SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 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-fifth day of May, 2016, in special-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. Dawn Chanet Collins; Ms. Jill C. Dyason; Ms. Vereta T. Lee; Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith; and Mr. David Tatman.
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. Catherine Fletcher, Chief Business Operations Officer; 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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Reverend Montrell Henderson, Assistant Pastor at St. Joseph Baptist Church, gave the invocation. School Board member, Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Mr. Bellue requested that all the applicants be discussed and voted on individually; being no objection from any Board Member, the Board agreed.
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Acceptance of Recommendation of the Superintendent to Deny Charter Request
By Dr. Nelson-Smith
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby accept the recommendation of the Superintendent to deny the following charter school applications:
Baton Rouge Bridge Academy, Inc.
Seconded by Ms. Lee
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (8) Mr. Bellue, Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Collins, Ms. Dyason, Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, Mr. Tatman, and Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Nays: (0) None
Abstained: (0) President Freiberg
Absent: (0) None
The motion was declared adopted.
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By Dr. Nelson-Smith
Athlos Academy East Baton Rouge.
Seconded by Ms. Collins
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (7) Mr. Bellue, Ms. Collins, Ms. Dyason, Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, Mr. Tatman, and Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Nays: (1) Mrs. Bernard
Abstained: (1) President Freiberg
Absent: (0) None
The motion was declared adopted.
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By Dr. Nelson-Smith
Baton Rouge College Prep.
Seconded by Ms. Lee
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (7) Mr. Bellue, Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Collins, Ms. Dyason, Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, and Mr. Tatman
Nays: (0) None
Abstained: (2) President Freiberg and Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Absent: (0) None
The motion was declared adopted.
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By Ms. Collins
Baton Rouge University Preparatory Elementary
Seconded by Vice-President Ware-Jackson
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (8) Mr. Bellue, Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Collins, Ms. Dyason, Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, Mr. Tatman, and Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Nays: (0) None
Abstained: (1) President Freiberg
Absent: (0) None
The motion was declared adopted.
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By Mr. Tatman
Collegiate Academies
Seconded by Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.
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By Mrs. Bernard
Greater Baton Rouge Hope Academy, Inc.
Seconded by Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.
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Acceptance of Recommendation of the Superintendent to Approve Charter School Request
By Mrs. Bernard
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby accept the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the following charter school applications:
IDEA Public School Louisiana.
Seconded by Ms. Dyason
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (6) Mr. Bellue, Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, President Freiberg, Mr. Tatman, and Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Nays: (3) Ms. Collins, Ms. Lee, and Dr. Nelson-Smith
Abstained: (0) None
Absent: (0) None
The motion was declared adopted.
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By Mr. Tatman
Inspire NOLA Charter Schools
Seconded by Mrs. Bernard
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (6) Mr. Bellue, Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, President Freiberg, Mr. Tatman, and Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Nays: (0) None
Abstained: (3) Ms. Collins, Ms. Lee, and Dr. Nelson-Smith
Absent: (0)
The motion was declared adopted.
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Acceptance of Recommendation of the Superintendent to Deny Charter School Request
By Mr. Tatman
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby accept the recommendation of the Superintendent to deny the following charter school applications:
Oaks of Mamre Academy.
Seconded by Mr. Bellue
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (8) Mr. Bellue, Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Collins, Ms. Dyason, President Freiberg, Dr. Nelson-Smith, Mr. Tatman, and Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Nays: (0) None
Abstained: (1) Ms. Lee
Absent: (0) None
The motion was declared adopted.
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By Mr. Bellue
Pathways In Education
Seconded by Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Discussion followed.
The following substitute was made.
By Mr. Bellue
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the following charter school applications: Pathways In Education. The Board requests that the Superintendent review the application to see if there is a way to work with Pathways In Education and reach an agreement.
There was no second to the substitute motion. Substitution motion was withdrawn.
Discussion continued.
Original motion was unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, 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