REGULAR MEETING OF THE

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

 

FEBRUARY 15, 2018

 

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 fifteenth day of February 2018, convened in regular session.  The President called the meeting to order with the following members present: Mr. David Tatman, President; Mrs. Connie Bernard, Vice- President; Mr. Mark Bellue; Ms. Vereta T. Lee; Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith; Ms. Dawn Chanet Collins; Ms. Evelyn Ware-Jackson; Ms. Jill C. Dyason; and Mr. Michael Gaudet.                              

 

 Others present were: Mr. Warren Drake, Superintendent; Mr. Domoine Rutledge, General Counsel; Mr. Adam Smith, 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 Second Lieutenant Song Dam led the Pledge of Allegiance accompanied by LTC Michael Stewart, Senior Army Instructor.

 

Approval of the School Board Minutes for the Regular School Board Meeting ofJanuary 18, 2018, and Committee of the Whole Meeting of February 1, 2018

 

By Vice-President Bernard

 

Resolved, that the reading of the minutes of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Regular meeting of January 18, 2018, and Committee of the Whole meeting of February 1, 2018, be dispensed with and that they be approved as published in the Official Journal. 


Seconded By Ms. Dyason

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.

 

Approval of a Resolution Proclaiming the Month of March as “Music in our Schools Month”

 

By Ms. Collins

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby adopt a resolution proclaiming the month of March as “Music in our Schools Month.” 

 

Seconded By Ms. Ware-Jackson

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.

 

Approval of a Resolution Proclaiming the Month of February as “Black History Month”

 

By Dr. Nelson-Smith

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby adopt a resolution proclaiming the month of February as “Black History Month.” 

 

Seconded By Ms. Lee

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.

 

Approval of Resolution Proclaiming March 4-10, 2018, as “National School Social Worker Week” 

 

By Ms. Dyason

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby adopt a resolution proclaiming March 4-10, 2018, as “National School Social Worker Week.” 

 

Seconded By Mr. Bellue

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.

 

Approval of Resolution Proclaiming the Month of February as “National Magnet School Month” 

 

By Mr. Gaudet

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby adopt a resolution proclaiming the month of February as “National Magnet School Month.” 

 

Seconded By Ms. Ware-Jackson

 

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 Excluding Item #12

 

By Ms. Lee

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the Consent Agenda items, excluding item #12.

 

Seconded By Mr. Bellue

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members.

 

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

 

Approval of the 2018-2019 School Year Calendar. 

 

Authorization for staff to advertise, accept the low bid meeting specifications, and make the award of a contract for construction of the New Park Elementary School as specified in A Plan to Improve Facilities/Technology, Discipline, and Compensation in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (the “Plan”) as revised through January 17, 2008, 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 construction of the Facility Improvements at Audubon Elementary School as specified in A Plan to Improve Facilities/Technology, Discipline, and Compensation in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (the “Plan”) as revised through January 17, 2008, 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 bids meeting specifications, and make the award of a contract for construction of the Flood Repair at Prescott Middle 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 construction of the Facility and Athletic Improvements at Belaire High 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. 

 

Ratify action taken in the matter of East Baton Rouge Parish School Board vs. Mapp Construction, LLC, et al, Suit No. 665299, Section 23, 19th JDC, Parish of East Baton Rouge and to provide for related matters.

 

END OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

 

Approval of Addendums to Board Approved Professional Services Contracts

 

By Vice-President Bernard

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve addendums to Board-approved professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and (a) Pediatric Services of America (PSA) in the amount of $11,000.00 for two (2) new students, and (b) Turner, LLC, in the amount of $110,000.00 for seven (7) new students, to provide nursing services.  (Funding Source:  IDEA) 

 

Seconded By Dr. Nelson-Smith

 

The vote on the motion was as follows:

 

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

 

Nays: (0)                      None

 

Abstained: (1)  Ms. Dyason     

 

Absent: (0)                  None   

 

The motion was declared adopted.

 

 

Authorization for Staff to Advertise, Accept the Low Bids

 

By Dr. Nelson-Smith

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby authorize staff to advertise, accept the low bids meeting specifications, and make the award of a contract for construction of the Classroom Addition at Shenandoah Elementary School as specified in A Plan to Improve Facilities/ Technology, Discipline, and Compensation in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (the “Plan”) as revised through January 17, 2008, or reject any and all bids for just cause in accordance with the Louisiana Public Bid Law; Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 38; Chapter 10.       

 

Seconded By Ms. Collins

 

Discussion followed.

 

A substitute motion was offered.

 

By Ms. Dyason

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board defers the authorization for staff to advertise, accept the low bids meeting specifications, and make the award of a contract for construction of the Classroom Addition at Shenandoah Elementary School as specified in A Plan to Improve Facilities/ Technology, Discipline, and Compensation in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (the “Plan”) as revised through January 17, 2008, or reject any and all bids for just cause in accordance with the Louisiana Public Bid Law; Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 38; Chapter 10 to the March Committee of the Whole.

 

Seconded By Mr. Gaudet

 

The vote on the motion was as follows:

 

Yeas: (4)                      Mr. Bellue, Ms. Ware-Jackson, Ms. Dyason and Mr. Gaudet

 

Nays: (4)                      President Tatman, Vice-President Bernard, Ms. Lee, and

Dr. Nelson-Smith

 

Abstained: (1)  Ms. Collins     

 

Absent: (0)                  None   

 

The substitute motion failed.

 

The vote on the original motion was as follows:

 

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

 

Nays: (0)                      None   

 

Abstained: (1)  Ms. Collins     

 

Absent: (0)                  None

 

The original motion was declared adopted.   

 

Professional Services Contract

 

By Vice-President Bernard

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Cox Business in the amount of $1,123,372.20 for the district’s Wide Area Network (WAN) and Local Area Network (LAN) internet service.  (Funding Source:  E-Rate – 90% and General Fund) 

 

Seconded By Dr. Nelson-Smith

 

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