REGULAR MEETING OF THE

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD


MARCH 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 March 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; Ms. Dawn Chanet Collins; Ms. Evelyn Ware-Jackson; and Ms. Jill C. Dyason. Dr. Kenyetta Nelson-Smith was absent. Mr. Michael Gaudet came in after roll call.

 

Others present were: 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; and Mrs. Millie Williams, Chief Officer for Human Resources.

 

School Board Member Mark Bellue gave the invocation. Cadet Corporal Mose Kee led the Pledge of Allegiance accompanied by LTC Michael Stewart, Senior Army Instructor.                   

 

Approval of the School Board Minutes for the Regular Board Meeting of February 15, 2018, Special Board Meeting of February 22, 2018, EFID Board of Directors’ Meeting of February 22, 2018, and Committee of the Whole Meeting of March 8, 2018

 

By Vice-President Bernard

 

Resolved, that the reading of the minutes of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Regular meeting of February 15, 2018, Special Board meeting of February 22, 2018, EFID Board of Directors’ meeting of February 22, 2018, and the Committee of the Whole meeting of March 8, 2018,be dispensed with and that they be approved as published in the Official Journal. 


Seconded By Ms. Collins

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of the members present. (Dr. Nelson-Smith and Mr. Gaudet were absent.)

 

Board Received Personnel Changes for Information Only

 

Board Received Monthly Financial Report for Information Only

 

Approval of Consent Agenda Items, Excluding Items #18 and #19

 

By Ms. Dyason

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve the Consent Agenda items, excluding items #18 and #19.

 

Seconded By Mr. Bellue

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members present. (Dr. Nelson-Smith was absent.)

 

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

 

Approval to name The Dufrocq School’s Media Center as the “George Rodrigue Media Center.” 

 

Approval of the district’s Pupil Progression Plan for 2017-2018.

 

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and LEAD Training Resource Group in the amount of $30,000.00 for professional development services in the areas of leadership, coaching, organizational effectiveness, management strategies, and interventions.  (Funding Source:  Title II) 

 

Approval of the following grants: 

a)     Louisiana Department of Education – Office of Student Support grant in the amount of $6,500.00 to provide Compass FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) coordinators to work with school level personnel to support students and families in completing the FAFSA graduation task at Belaire High and Glen Oaks High Schools.

b)     Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry grant in the amount of $536.61 to purchase garden tools and supplies to maintain the Wildwood Elementary School Gardens. 

 

Approval of Actuarial Services from Fontenot Benefits & Actuarial Consulting (FBAC) in the amount of $10,000.00 to provide necessary actuarial calculations as required by the published GASB 75.  (Funding Source:  General Fund) 

 

Authorization for staff to advertise, accept the low bid meeting specifications, and make the award of a contract for the flood repairs at Howell Park 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. (Funding Source:  Partially funded through FEMA Reimbursement Program) 

 

Authorization to increase the project budget, accept the low bids meeting specifications, and make the award of a contract for the stadium lighting replacement at Broadmoor 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.  (Funding Source:  Phase 3/Year 9, 2017-2018 Facility Modifications and Maintenance Improvement Fund) 

 

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Emerald Data Solutions, Inc., in the amount of $10,000 (one-time installation and training fee of $1,000.00 and $9,000.00 for one-year commitment) to purchase the BoardDocs Pro Document Management System for the use of its software to drive paperless Board meetings. 

 

Approval of the recommendation from Mr. Domoine Rutledge, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of Alvin Thomas vs. Cynthia Domino and the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, Suit 637,244; Section 27; 19th JDC, Parish of East Baton Rouge, and to provide for related matters.

 

END OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

 

Approval to Utilize “Public Comment” Cards

 

By Mr. Gaudet

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby give approval to utilize “Public Comment” cards for future School Board meetings. 

 

Seconded By Mr. Bellue

 

The vote on the motion was as follows:

 

Yeas: (6)                         President Tatman, Vice-President Bernard, Mr. Bellue, Ms. Collins, Ms. Dyason, and Mr. Gaudet

 

Nays: (0)                         None

 

Abstained: (2)                 Ms. Lee and Ms. Ware-Jackson          

 

Absent: (1)                     Dr. Nelson-Smith        

 

The motion was declared adopted.

 

 

Approval of Cell Tower Lease at Glen Oaks High School

 

By Mr. Gaudet

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does herebypermit the Superintendent to execute an agreement for a cell tower at Glen Oaks High School.

 

Seconded By Ms. Lee

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members present. (Dr. Nelson-Smith was absent.)

 

 

Authorization for Staff to Advertise, Accept the Low Bid

 

By Ms. Collins

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does herebyauthorize staff to advertise and accept the low bid meeting specifications and execute the contract for the renovation work at the Valley Park School site. 

 

Seconded By Ms. Ware-Jackson

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members present. (Dr. Nelson-Smith was absent.)

 

 

Approval of a Resolution Implementing a Tax Plan Communications Strategy

 

By Ms. Lee

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby undertake certain actions regarding the implementation of a Tax Plan Communications Strategy.

 

Seconded By Mr. Gaudet

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members present. (Dr. Nelson-Smith was absent.)

 

 

Authorization for Superintendent and General Counsel to Seek Judicial Determination Regarding Appropriateness of Certain Tax Plan Expenditures

 

By Mr. Gaudet

 

Resolved, that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby authorize the Superintendent and General Counsel to seek a judicial determination regarding the appropriateness of certain Tax Plan expenditures. 

 

Seconded By Ms. Collins

 

Unanimously adopted by a vote of all the members present. (Dr. Nelson-Smith was absent.)

 

 

_______________________________

Warren Drake

Secretary/Treasurer to the Board