REGULAR MEETING OF THE

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

 

 

             The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board met at the School Board Office at 1050 South Foster Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, immediately following the Public Hearing/Meeting, 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; Ms. Dawn Chanet Collins; Ms. Vereta T. Lee; Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith; and Mr. David Tatman.  Mrs. Connie Bernard and Ms. Jill C. Dyason 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 Communications and Public Relations; Ms. Catherine Fletcher, Chief Business Operations Officer; Ms. Millie Williams, Chief Officer of Human Resources; and Mr. Gary Reese, Chief of Student Support Services.

 

Approval of Minutes

 

There were no minutes for approval.

 

President Freiberg requested that Item #17 be taken out of order.  There was no objection.

 

Adopt the Adjusted Millage Rates for the Tax Year 2016

 

             By Vice-President Ware-Jackson

            

             Adopt the adjusted millage rates for the tax year 2016; Set forth the adjusted millage rates after Reassessment and roll forward the millage to rates not to exceed the prior year’s maximum millage for the tax year 2016.

 

             Seconded by Dr. Nelson-Smith

 

The vote on the motion was as follows:

 

Yeas:  (7)                       President Freiberg, Vice-President Ware-Jackson, Mr. Bellue, Ms. Lee, Ms. Collins, Dr. Nelson-Smith, and Mr. Tatman

 

Nays:  (0)                       None

 

Abstained:  (0)              None

 

Absent:  (2)                   Mrs. Bernard and Ms. Dyason

 

The motion for Resolution #1 was declared adopted.

 

 

By Dr. Nelson-Smith

 

Adopt the adjusted millage rates for the tax year 2016; set forth the adjusted millage rates after Reassessment; and roll forward the millage to rates not to exceed the prior year’s maximum millage for the tax year 2016.

 

Seconded by Ms. Lee

 

The vote on the motion was as follows:

 

Yeas:  (6)                       President Freiberg, Vice-President Ware-Jackson, Ms. Lee, Ms. Collins, Dr. Nelson-Smith, and Mr. Tatman

 

Nays:  (1)                       Mr. Bellue

 

Abstained:  (0)              None

 

Absent:  (2)                   Mrs. Bernard and Ms. Dyason

 

The motion for Resolution #2 was declared adopted.

 

 

Approval of Consent Agenda Items, Excluding Items #12 and 14:

 

By Mr. Tatman

 

Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the Consent Agenda, excluding Items #12 and 14.

 

Seconded by Mr. Bellue

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present.  (Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, Ms. Dyason, and Mrs. Bernard were absent.)

 

 

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:

 

Approve the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire as required for the 2015-2016 financial audit of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.

 

Approve the following budgets:  a) Revised 2015-2016 and Proposed 2016-2017 East Baton Rouge Parish Kick-Off Classic (Football Jamboree); b) Revised 2015-2016 and Proposed 2016-2017 Elementary School Summer Opportunity for Academic Remediation (SOAR); c) Revised 2015-2016 and Proposed 2016-2017 Middle School Summer School; d) Revised 2015-2016 and Proposed 2016-2017 High School Summer School; and e) Proposed 2016-2017 Cecil J. Picard LA4/TANF State and Federal.

 

Approval of the following professional service contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and:  a) Academic Resources, LLC, in the amount of $17,229.00 to provide tutoring services to students at Jehoval Jireh Christian Academy for the period of August 22, 2016, through June 30, 2017; b) Moving Forward N’ Education, LLC, in the amount of $41,674.00 to provide a reading and math tutorial program for Hosanna Christian Academy for the period of August 31, 2016, through June 30, 2017; and c) Superior Educational Consulting, LLC, in the amount of $11,454.00 to provide coaching/modeling for teachers of Title I students at Angles Academy for the period of August 17, 2016, through June 30, 2017.

 

Approval of a license agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Neighbors Federal Credit Union, at no cost to the district, to offer mascot debit cards to faculty, staff, and high school students to promote financial literacy and serve as a fundraiser for schools.

 

Approval of the recommendation from Mr. Domoine Rutledge, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of:  William Simoneaux vs. EBRPSB, Deborah Ayo and Berkley Insurance Co., Suit No:  627,943; Section 22; 19th JDC; Parish of East Baton Rouge.

 

 

END OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

 

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Renewal of Contracts for Employee Benefits Coverage

 

             By Mr. Tatman

 

             Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the renewal of the following contracts as it relates to employee benefits coverage:  a) Lincoln Financial Group for Group Basic and Voluntary Life/AD&D, Group Voluntary Short Term Disability, and Group Voluntary Long Term Disability for the period of January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2019; and b) Optum with United Behavioral Health for the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for the period of July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2019.

 

             Seconded by Mr. Bellue

 

The vote was as follows:

 

Yeas:  (4)                       President Freiberg, Vice-President Ware-Jackson, Mr. Bellue, and Mr. Tatman

 

Nays: (1)                        Ms. Collins

 

Abstained: (0)               None

 

Absent:  (4)                   Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, Ms. Lee, and Dr. Nelson-Smith

 

The motion failed.

 

Motion to Hear Item #12 Again

 

             By Mr. Tatman

 

             Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the renewal of contracts for the following employee benefits coverage:  a) Lincoln Financial Group for Group Basic and Voluntary Life/AD&D, Group Voluntary Short Term Disability, and Group Voluntary Long Term Disability for the period of January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2019; and b) Optum with United Behavioral Health for the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for the period of July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2019.

 

             Seconded by Mr. Bellue

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present.  (Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, Ms. Lee, and Dr. Nelson-Smith were absent.)

 

Approval to Delete Item #14

 

             By Mr. Tatman

 

             Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, does hereby give approval to delete Item #14:  Consideration of a request for approval to declare Wyandotte as surplus property.

 

             Seconded by Vice-President Ware-Jackson

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present.  (Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, Ms. Lee, and Dr. Nelson-Smith were absent.)

 

Approval of Budget

 

             By Mr. Bellue

 

             Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the budget for Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Program in the amount of $141,533.30:  funding from the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) – Louisiana for Broadmoor ($50,000.00) and Glen Oaks ($50,000.00) High Schools, with the balance of $41,533.30 from the General Fund, Broadmoor ($20,766.65) and Glen Oaks ($20,766.65) High Schools.

 

             Seconded by Vice-President Ware-Jackson

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present.  (Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, Ms. Lee, and Dr. Nelson-Smith were absent.)

 

Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with Southern University

 

             By Mr. Tatman

 

             Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and Southern University and A&M College regarding dual enrollment courses.

 

             Seconded by Mr. Bellue

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present.  (Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, Ms. Lee, and Dr. Nelson-Smith were absent.)

 

Approval of a Professional Services Contract with Reliance Communications, LLC

 

             By Mr. Tatman

 

             Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and Reliance Communications, LLC, in the amount of $63,000.00 for the renewal of School Messenger Complete, a 12-month unlimited district call out/notification system.

 

             Seconded by Vice-President Ware-Jackson

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present.  (Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, Ms. Lee, and Dr. Nelson-Smith were absent.)

 

Approval of a Resolution Declaring Existence of Public Emergency

 

             By Vice-President Ware-Jackson

 

             Resolved, that, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby adopt a resolution declaring the existence of a public emergency and granting the Superintendent of Schools additional authority to provide for the safe and orderly operation of the school system, to repair and ready facilities, and to provide for related matters resulting from a weather-related emergency.

 

             Seconded by Mr. Bellue

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present.  (Mrs. Bernard, Ms. Dyason, Ms. Lee, and Dr. Nelson-Smith were absent.)

 

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             There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.

 

_________________________________

Warren Drake, Jr.,

Secretary/Treasurer to the Board