REGULAR MEETING OF THE
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 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 sixteenth day of June 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. 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. 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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Elder Barbara Carter, Kingdom Life Family Center, gave the invocation. School Board member, Mark Bellue, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Approval of Minutes of the May 19, 2016, School Board Meeting, May 25, 2016, Special Meeting, and the June 2, 2016, Committee of the Whole Meeting
By Mr. Tatman
Resolved, that, the reading of the minutes of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meetings of May 19, 2016, School Board, May 25, 2016, Special meeting, and the June 2, 2016, Committee of the Whole meeting, be dispensed with and that they be approved as published in the Official Journal.
Seconded by Mrs. Dyason
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Vice-President Ware-Jackson was absent.)
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President Freiberg requested that Item #28 be taken out of order. There was no objection from the Board members.
Naming of New Lee High School
By Mrs. Bernard
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve officially naming Robert E. Lee High School as Lee High School.
Seconded by Mr. Bellue
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (5) Mr. Bellue, Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, President Freiberg, and Mr. Tatman
Nays: (4) Ms. Collins, Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, and Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Abstained: (0) None
Absent: (0) None
The motion was declared adopted.
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Public Hearing/School Board Workshop for the Adoption of the 2016-2017 General Fund Budget and the 2016-2017 Salary Schedules
The President called the Public Hearing/School Board Workshop 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 C. Collins; Ms. Jill C. Dyason; Ms. Vereta T. Lee; Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith; Mr. David Tatman; and Ms. Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Discussion was held on the 2016-2017 General Fund Budget and the 2016-2017 Salary Schedules.
The Public Hearing/School Board Workshop was declared held and adjourned. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board resumed the Regular Board meeting of June 16, 2016.
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Approval of the Proposed 2016-2017 General Fund Budget, the Budget Resolution, and the 2016-2017 Salary Schedules
By Mrs. Bernard
Resolved, that, East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the Proposed 2016-2017 General Fund Budget, the Budget Resolution, and the 2016-2017 Salary Schedules.
Seconded by Mr. Bellue
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Lee and Dr. Nelson-Smith were absent.)
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Approval of Consent Agenda Items, Excluding Items #12, #13, #20, #24 and #26
By Ms. Collins
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the Consent Agenda items, excluding items #12, #13, #20, #24, and #26.
Seconded by Mr. Tatman
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Dr. Nelson-Smith was 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 to authorize administration to approve the most effective Property and Casualty Insurance Program policy renewal package for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for the 2016-2017 fiscal year.
Approval of the attached Resolution authorizing the Board President and Superintendent to execute and sign all documents to reject Uninsured Motorist Coverage in connection with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s automobile liability coverage and its Self-Insured Retention Program for the 2016-2017 fiscal year.
Approval for staff to award the East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s Fiscal Agent contract to Capital One Bank and Neighbors Federal Credit Union for a period of two years beginning October 1, 2016, through September 30, 2019, with an optional two-year extension.
Approval for staff to be given authority to select The Advocate as the Official Journal of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for the 2016-2017 school year, which will be used for the publication of the Board proceedings, financial statements, legal advertisements, and any other advertising requirements.
Approval for staff to be given the authority through June 2017 to advertise, receive, and award bids for materials, supplies, and/or services to the lowest responsible bidder meeting specifications and all requirements of the Invitation to Bid.
Approval of the following revised job description: Speech Therapist.
Approval of the following budgets:
a. Proposed 2016-2017 No Child Left Behind Consolidated Application
b. Proposed 2016-2017 Title X Education of Homeless Children and Youth
c. Proposed Carl Perkins Basic Grant for Career and Technical Education (CTE)
d. Proposed 2016-2017 Math and Science Partnership Grant - Consolidated
e. Proposed 2016-2017 I CARE Budget and Alcohol/Drug Abuse Prevention Program (ADAPP)
f. Proposed 2016-2017 Adult Education - Local
g. Proposed 2016-2017 Radio Training Program (RTP)
h. Proposed 2016-2017 Child Nutrition Program for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System
i. Proposed 2015-2016 Semi-Annual Financial Tax Plan update and the Revised 2015-2016 Tax Plan budgets for Propositions 1, 2, and 3
j. Proposed 2016-2017 budgets for Propositions 2 and 3
k. Proposed 2016-2017 8(g) Early Childhood Program
Approval of the following grants:
a. Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation 2016 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant in the amount of $3,100.00 to purchase gardening supplies for a school learning garden at Magnolia Woods Elementary School.
b. Allstate Foundation’s “A Helping Hands in the Community” grant in the amount of $1,000.00 to assist Park Forest Middle School Marching Band.
Approval to renew the following contracts:
a. City Year in the amount of $537,600.00 (Funding Source: Education Excellence Fund and Title I).
b. Manners of the Heart in the amount of $182,937.75 (Funding Source: General Fund).
Louisiana Resource Center for Educators in the amount of $30,000.00 (Funding Source: General Fund).
c. Volunteers in Public Schools: a) Partners in Education in the amount of $47,000.00; b) Everybody Reads in the amount of $30,000.00, and c) Everyone Counts in the amount of 10,000.00. (Funding Sources: General Fund and Title 1 - $25,000.00 for volunteer management).
d. Follett School Solutions in an amount not to exceed $200,000.00 (Funding Source: General Fund – Textbook Budget).
Approval to renew the following contract:
a. AMIkids Baton Rouge, Inc., in the amount of $713,850.00 (Funding Source: Tax Plan).
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) for a College Readiness Program at Woodlawn High School.
Approval of the PACE (Providing Accelerated Curriculum Early) Program.
Approval of an employment contract for the Deputy Superintendent.
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END OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
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Approval of Contract Renewal With Humana
By Mr. Bellue
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the contract renewal with Humana for 2017 health care coverage for Medicare-eligible retirees and their dependents.
Seconded by Mr. Tatman
Discussion followed.
Item #13 was included in the discussion: Approval is given for the proposed 2017 East Baton Rouge Parish School System self-funded health care premium rates for active employees, non-Medicare, and Medicare-eligible retirees.
Mrs. Bernard asked that Items #12 and #13 be voted in globo. There was no objection.
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the contract renewal with Humana for 2017 health care coverage for Medicare-eligible retirees and their dependents. Approval is also given for the proposed 2017 East Baton Rouge Parish School System self-funded health care premium rates for active employees, non-Medicare, and Medicare-eligible retirees.
Discussion continued.
The following substitute motion was made.
By Mr. Bellue
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the contract renewal with Humana for 2017 health care coverage for Medicare-eligible retirees and their dependents.
Seconded by Mrs. Bernard
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (6) Mr. Bellue, Mrs. Bernard, President Freiberg, Ms. Lee, Mr. Smith, and Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Nays: (0) None
Abstained: (1) Ms. Dyason
Absent: (2) Dr. Nelson-Smith and Mr. Tatman
The motion was declared adopted.
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Defer Item #13
By Ms. Lee
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby defer Item #13 approval for the proposed 2017 East Baton Rouge Parish School System self-funded health care premium rates for active employees, non-Medicare, and Medicare-eligible retirees, to July 21, 2016 Regular School Board meeting.
Seconded by Mrs. Bernard
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Dr. Nelson-Smith and Mr. Tatman were absent.)
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Approval of Items #20 and #24 In Globo
By Mrs. Bernard
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby give approval to renew the following professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board (Exceptional Student Services) and:
a. Healing Hands Home Health, Inc., in the amount of $385,000.00 (Funding Source: IDEA Part B).
b. Soliant Health in the amount of $12,500.00 (Funding Source: IDEA Part B).
c. Deaf Resources Center of Greater Baton Rouge, LLC in the amount of $80,000.00 (Funding Source: IDEA Part B).
d. Sundry Behavioral Services/Dr. Kashunda L. Williams in the amount of $30,000.00 (Funding Source: IDEA Part B).
e. Pediatric Services of America, d/b/a PSA Healthcare in the amount of $$414,000.00 (Funding Source: IDEA Part B).
and approval of a Cooperative Agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Capital Area Human Services District Baton Rouge Mental Health Center/Children’s Behavioral Health Services for 2016-2017.
Seconded by Ms. Lee
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (6) Mr. Bellue, Mrs. Bernard, President Freiberg, Ms. Lee, Mr. Smith, and Vice-President Ware-Jackson
Nays: (0) None
Abstained: (1) Ms. Dyason
Absent: (2) Dr. Nelson-Smith and Mr. Tatman
The motion was declared adopted.
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Approval of Moving EBR Readiness
By Mrs. Bernard
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve moving EBR Readiness to a location to be determined by the Superintendent.
Seconded by Mr. Bellue
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Dr. Nelson-Smith, Mr. Tatman and Vice-President Ware-Jackson were absent.)
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Approval to Purchase Software
By Mrs. Bernard
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby give approval to purchase the software package of “GoSignMeUp.” This software purchase will replace Electronic Registrar On Line (ERO), which is used for Continuing Learning Units (CLU) and training management.
Seconded by Mr. Bellue
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, and Mr. Tatman were absent.)
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Approval to Cancel July Committee of the Whole
By Mrs. Bernard
Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby give approval to cancel the July 7, 2016, Committee of the Whole meeting.
Seconded by Ms. Collins
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