REGULAR MEETING OF THE
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

January 19, 2017

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 nineteenth day of January 2017, in regular-session convened.  The Vice President called the meeting to order with the following members present: 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; Mr. Adam Smith, Associate Superintendent of Academics.

               School Board Member, Mark Bellue, gave the invocation. Cadet Captain Briana Coleman, Scotlandville Magnet High School accompanied by Major Oscar Mays, Senior Army Instructor led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Appointment to Temporarily Fill Vacancy in District 7

Motion to reopen nominations with no objections.

Candidates Brian Adams, Belinda Creel Davis, Karen Duffy, Michael Gaudet, and William Minton addressed the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board.

Dr. Nelson-Smith nominated Dr. Belinda Creel Davis

Mrs. Bernard nominated Mr. Michael Gaudet

Vice President Ware-Jackson nominated Mr. Brian Adams

Motion to close the nominations:

             By Mr. Tatman

             Seconded by Mrs. Bernard

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.

The votes on the nominees were as follows:

Mr. Brian Adams                         2

Ms. Belinda Creel Davis              3                       

             Mr. Michael Gaudet                     3

A second vote on the nominees were as follows:

Ms. Belinda Creel Davis              3                       

             Mr. Michael Gaudet                     5

Mr. Gaudet was elected to fill the temporary vacancy in District 7.

Election of School Board President

Mr. Warren Drake, Superintendent of Schools, Chair, opened the flood for nominations for President of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board.

Mr. Bellue nominated Ms. Ware-Jackson

Ms. Collins nominated Dr. Nelson-Smith

Motion to close the floor for nominations

             By Mr. Tatman

             Seconded By Mrs. Bernard

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all members.

The vote for President was as follows:

Ms. Ware-Jackson: (6)                Mr. Bellue, Ms. Ware-Jackson, Ms. Dyason, Mr. Gaudet, Mrs. Bernard, Mr. Tatman

Dr. Nelson-Smith: (3)                  Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, Ms. Collins

Ms. Ware-Jackson was elected as the President of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board.

Election of Vice-President

             President Ware-Jackson opened the floor for nominations for Vice-President of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board.

             Mr. Bellue nominated Mrs. Bernard

             Ms. Lee nominated Mr. Tatman, who declined the nomination

             Ms. Collins nominated Dr. Nelson-Smith

Motion to close the floor for nominations

             By Mr. Tatman

             Seconded By Mrs. Bernard

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all members.

The vote for Vice-President was as follows:

Mrs. Bernard: (6)                         Mr. Bellue, Ms. Ware-Jackson, Ms. Dyason, Mr. Gaudet, Mrs. Bernard, Mr. Tatman

Dr. Nelson-Smith: (3)                  Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, Ms. Collins

Mrs. Bernard was elected as Vice-President

Approval of the School Board minutes of December 15, 2016 Regular Board meeting

By Mr. Tatman 

Resolved, that the reading of the minutes of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meetings of December 15, 2016, School Board, be dispensed with and that they be approved as published in the Official Journal. 

         Seconded by Ms. Lee

The vote on the motion was as follows:

Yeas: (8)                        Mr. Bellue, Ms. Lee, Dr. Nelson-Smith, Ms. Collins, President Ware-Jackson, Ms. Dyason, Vice-President Bernard, Mr. Tatman

Nays: (0)                        None

Abstained: (1)                 Mr. Gaudet       

Absent: (0)                     None   

The motion was declared adopted.

Approval of Resolution

               By Mr. Tatman

               Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve a Resolution proclaiming the month of January as “School Board Member Recognition Month.” 

               Seconded By Mrs. Bernard

Approval of Resolution

               By Dr. Nelson-Smith

               Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve a Resolution proclaiming February 6-10, 2017, as “School Counseling Week.”

               Seconded By Mrs. Bernard

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all members.

Approval of Resolution

               By Mrs. Bernard

Consideration of the adoption of a Resolution proclaiming February as “National Magnet Schools Month.”  

               Seconded By Mr. Gaudet

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all members.

Approval of Consent Agenda Items

             By Ms. Collins

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the Consent Agenda items.

Seconded by Ms. Dyason

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.

The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda:

Authorization to adopt a Resolution ordering and calling a special election to be held in Consolidated School District No. 1 of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, on April 29, 2017, to renew the levy and collection of special taxes therein; making application to the State Bond Commission; and providing for other matters in connection therewith. 

Approval of sub-recipient budgets and related Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) School Safety research grant in the amount of $172,000.00, of which $62,000.00 will be provided in year one.

Approval of the following grant:  Network Mentor in the amount of $2,000.00 to provide teachers from Broadmoor and Glen Oaks High Schools with resources and training regarding the Nepris System.

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Turner, LLC, Nursing in an amount not to exceed $385,000.00 to provide LPN nursing services at five (5) schools for the 2016-2017 school year. (Funding Source:  IDEA Part B Funds).

Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding to be executed between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Type 2 charter schools in order to meet the requirements of Act 480 of the 2016 Regular Legislative Session as it relates to student enrollment and attendance.

END OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

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

_____________________________________                

Warren Drake, Jr.,

Secretary/Treasurer to the Board