REGULAR MEETING OF THE
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
OCTOBER 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 October, 2017, and convened in regular session. The Vice-President called the meeting to order with the following members present: Mr. Mark Bellue; Ms. Vereta T. Lee; Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith; Ms. Dawn Chanet Collins; Ms. Evelyn Ware-Jackson, President; Mr. Michael Gaudet; Mrs. Connie Bernard, Vice-President, and Mr. David Tatman. Ms. Jill C. Dyason entered after roll call.
Others present were: Mr. Warren Drake, Superintendent; Mr. Domoine Rutledge, General Counsel; Mr. Adam Smith, Associate Superintendent; Mr. Ben Necaise, Associate Superintendent; Dr. Quentina Timoll, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction; Mrs. Andrea O’Konski, Chief Officer for Accountability and Assessments; Mr. James Crochet, Chief Officer for Business Operations; Mrs. Millie Williams, Chief Officer for Human Resources; Mr. Gary Reese, Chief Officer for Student Support Services; and Mr. Richard Ellis, Chief Officer for Technology.
Vice-President Connie Bernard gave the invocation. Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Shane Harris led the Pledge of Allegiance accompanied by Colonel Eric Keys, Senior Army Instructor.
Approval of the School Board Minutes for the Regular School Board Meeting ofSeptember 21, 2017, and Committee of the Whole Meeting of October 5, 2017
By Vice-President Bernard
Resolved, that the reading of the minutes of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Regular meeting of September 21, 2017, and Committee of the Whole meeting of October 5, 2017, be dispensed with and that they be approved as published in the Official Journal.
Seconded By Mr. Gaudet
Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Ms. Dyason was absent.)
Approval of Resolution Proclaiming the Month of October 2017 as “I CARE Red Ribbon Month”
By Mr. Gaudet
Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby adopt a resolution proclaiming the month of October 2017 as “I CARE Red Ribbon Month.”
Seconded by Ms. Dyason
Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.
Approval of Resolution Proclaiming the Month of October 2017 as “National Principals’ Month”
By Dr. Nelson-Smith
Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby adopt a resolution proclaiming October 2017 as “National Principals’ Month.”
Seconded By Ms. Lee
Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.
Approval of Resolution Proclaiming October 16-20, 2017, as “School Bus Safety Week” and “School Bus Driver Appreciation Week”
By Mr. Tatman
Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby adopt a resolution proclaiming October 16-20, 2017, as “School Bus Safety Week” and “School Bus Driver Appreciation Week.”
Seconded By Vice-President Bernard
Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.
Board Received Personnel Changes for Information Only
Board Received Monthly Financial Report for Information Only
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 Mr. Tatman
Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.
The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda:
Approval of the following grants:
a) Magnet Schools Assistance Grant (MSAP) in the amount of $14,931,594.00 for a five-year period to implement magnet programs at Park Forest Elementary, Villa del Rey Elementary, Park Forest Middle, and Belaire High Schools.
b) Dollar General Literacy Foundation Youth Literacy Grant in the amount of $7,656.00 to support literacy programs at Magnolia Woods and Woodlawn Elementary Schools.
c) Cox Charities Innovation in Education Grant in the amount of $5,823.00 to provide direct service classroom projects at the following schools: BR Center for Visual and Performing Arts (MakerSpace Robotics), Bernard Terrace Elementary (Cooperative Learning Garden), and Northdale Superintendent’s Academy (Science Explore Program).
d) Scholastic Book Clubs and James Patterson Partnership Giveaway Grant in the amount of $500.00 and an additional 500 bonus points to spend on a fifth grade ELA/Science classroom library at The Dufrocq School.
e) Batters Up USA Equipment Grant in the amount of $408.00 to provide baseball and softball equipment for Istrouma Middle Magnet School.
f) LOSFA Field Outreach Services (LFOS) State Grant and Louisiana Gear Up (LGU) Federal Flow-Through Grant in the amount of $370,516.00 to provide financial and programmatic support to participating middle and high schools in building a college-readiness culture.
g) Good Sports Equipment Grant in the amount of $16,091.00 and Donation/Release Agreement to provide girls’ and boys’ track, football, soccer, and baseball equipment for Istrouma High School.
h) Math and Science Partnerships Federal Flow-Through Grant renewal and budget in the amount of $338,713.00 to provide professional development to the Grade 5 cohort of math and science teachers.
Approval of the following budget: 2017-2018 Homeless Children and Youth in the amount of $167,060.00.
Approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:
a) FACTS Educational Solutions, LLC, in the amount of $45,000.00 for professional development for teachers in the areas of literacy and mathematics. (Title I – Non-Public)
b) City of Baton Rouge in the amount of $134,110.00 to allow the EBRPSS Department of Adult and Continuing Education to continue providing adult education classes and HiSET testing for inmates at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison from January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018.
c) Learning.com products: EasyTech, Inquiry, Curriculum Publisher, and Professional Development in the amount of $98,250.00 to provide web-delivered technology literacy curriculum that integrates technology into the core instruction for K-8.
Authorization for staff to advertise, accept the low bid meeting specifications and make the award of a contract for flood repairs at Greenbrier Elementary School, or reject any and all bids for just cause in accordance with the Louisiana Public Bid Law; Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 38; Chapter 10.
Authorization for staff to advertise, accept the low bid meeting specifications and make the award of a contract for flood repairs at Montgomery Center, or reject any and all bids for just cause in accordance with the Louisiana Public Bid Law; Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 38; Chapter 10.
Approval to create a priority zone in the magnet student selection process for Mayfair Laboratory School.
Approval of the following:
a) Create a magnet pathway at Istrouma High School to align with the programs at Istrouma Middle Magnet School, which includes broadcast communications and an Honors Academy.
b) Explore the possibility of an aviation/aeronautics program for Istrouma Middle and Istrouma High Schools, as funding permits, not to exceed $500,000.00 for both programs.
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, MetroMorphosis, and Urban Congress regarding the Gradu8 initiative (no cost to the district).
Authorization for the Superintendent to issue a Request for Proposals for website auditing services and to negotiate and execute a contract for said services.
Approval of a recommendation from Mr. Domoine Rutledge, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Patrick and Lesley Hammond, Individually and on behalf of minor child, Imari Hammond, vs. EBRPSB and Allison Taylor, Suit No. 629,243, Section 26; 19th JDC, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana.
Approval of the Revision to the Compensation and Expenses Policy
By Mr. Tatman
Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the revision to the Compensation and Expenses Policy. Revised policy will eliminate the additional $5,000.00 allotted for Board Leadership or designee to attend special events, and increase individual cap from $5,000.00 to $5,500.00. The overall budget will be decreased by $500.00.
Seconded By Vice-President Bernard
Discussion followed.
Call the Question
By Vice-President Bernard
Discussion followed.
Seconded By Mr. Bellue
The vote on “Call the Question” was as follows:
Yeas: (7) Mr. Bellue, Ms. Lee, President Ware-Jackson, Ms. Dyason, Mr. Gaudet, Vice-President Bernard, and Mr. Tatman
Nays: (1) Dr. Nelson-Smith
Abstained: (1) Ms. Collins
Absent: (0) None
“Call the Question” was approved by majority vote.
The vote on the motion was as follows:
Yeas: (8) Mr. Bellue, Ms. Lee, Ms. Collins, President Ware-Jackson, Ms. Dyason, Mr. Gaudet, Vice-President Bernard, and Mr. Tatman
Nays: (1) Dr. Nelson-Smith
Abstained: (0) None
Absent: (0) None
The motion was declared adopted.
Approval of Contract with LOSFA Field Outreach Services
By Vice-President Bernard
Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve a contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and LOSFA Field Outreach Services as it relates to the state grant and the Louisiana Gear Up federal flow-through grant with the Louisiana Board of Regents.
Seconded By Mr. Tatman
Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
_________________________________
Warren Drake
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board