EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Members present
Mark Bellue, Vereta Lee, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Vice-President Connie Bernard, and President David Tatman
Meeting called to order at 5:00 PM
Meeting Opening
Call to Order
Invocation led by School Board Member Vereta Lee, and Pledge of Allegiance led by Cadet 2LT Cor'Nisha Alexander accompanied by Sergeant Master Louis Thomas, Army Instructor.
Roll Call
Dr. Nelson-Smith was absent.
Others present were: Mr. Warren Drake, Superintendent; Mr. Domoine Rutledge, General Counsel; 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.
Minutes
Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board minutes of the March 15, 2018, Regular Board meeting, and the April 12, 2018, Committee of the Whole meeting, as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Mark Bellue, Vereta Lee, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, David Tatman
Recognitions
Resolution Regarding "Teacher Appreciation Week"
Approval of a Resolution proclaiming May 7-11, 2018, as "Teacher Appreciation Week."
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Mark Bellue, Vereta Lee, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, David Tatman
Resolution Regarding "Administrative Professionals Week"
Approval of a Resolution proclaiming April 22-28, 2018, as "Administrative Professionals Week."
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Vereta Lee.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Mark Bellue, Vereta Lee, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, David Tatman
Information Only
Personnel Changes
Monthly Financial Report
Consent Agenda
Consent Vote
The following items to be approved as part of the Consent Agenda, excluding Pre-K School Expansion Grant MOU (4) and Professional Services Contracts (5).
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Mark Bellue, Vereta Lee, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, David Tatman
Grants
Approval of the following grants: (a) 2017-2018 Believe and Prepare Formula Transition Grant in the amount of $3,000.00 to provide supplemental resources that support student academic achievement in Pre-K and K-12; (b) The Hartford - Fire Safety Education Grant in the amount of $10,000.00 to be used for the district’s fire safety education and programming; (c) National Scholastic Athletics Foundation Grant in the amount of $700.00 for Tara High School Track and Field uniforms and equipment, and (d) approval to work collaboratively with Baton Rouge Community College and Louisiana State University on a proposal for a National Science Foundation Grant entitled "Computer Science for All" in the amount of one million dollars.
Postlethwaite & Netterville Proposal for Auditing Services
Approval to accept the proposal from Postlethwaite & Netterville to provide auditing services for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for three years, with an additional two-year renewal option at a cost of $152,000.00 for 2018, $155,298.00 for 2019, and $158,668.00 for 2020. (Funding Source: General Fund)
MOU - Residency Teacher Education Program
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Southern University School of Education for a residency teacher education program.
Cooperative Agreement - EBRPSB, BRCC, IBM
Authorization for Superintendent and staff to negotiate and execute a Cooperative Agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC), and the International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) for the creation and administration of a P-TECH, Grade 9-14 School, at Tara High School beginning August 2018.
Community School for Apprenticeship Learning
Approval to increase enrollment at the Community School for Apprenticeship Learning (CSAL) and to extend the current lease on the property located at 1555 Madison Avenue.
Lease Agreement - Bon Carre Business Center
Approval to enter into a lease agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Latter & Blum to utilize storage space for receiving, setup, and delivery of all Chrome Books, computers, and other IT equipment at the Bon Carre Business Center II, LLC, with an annual cost of $21,000.00 and an option to extend the term of the lease for a one (1) year period. (Funding Source: Department of Technology).
Positive Pay
Approval to implement a pilot program in three schools for Positive Pay for three months to help prevent check fraud and, if successful, it will be implemented into all 76 schools in the district at an annual cost of $28,300.00. (Funding Source: General Fund)
END OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
Pre-K School Expansion Grant MOU
Approval of the 2018-2019 Pre-School Expansion Grant School-Center Memorandum of Understanding between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board (“Lead Agency”) and “Center Partner” in the amount of $1,451,800.00. (Funding Source: Federal)
Motion by Jill Dyason, second by Connie Bernard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Mark Bellue, Vereta Lee, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, David Tatman
Professional Services Contracts
Approval of the following professional services contracts between the EBRPSB and: a) FACTS Education Solutions, LLC, in the amount of $199,750.00 for summer professional development – “Increasing Rigor and Relevance for all Teachers” for non-public teachers. (Funding Source: Title II) b) Bell Creek Consulting, LLC, in the amount of $22,000.00 to implement components of the ESSA School Redesign Plan. (Funding Source: Title I) c) Bell Creek Consulting, LLC, in the amount of $44,000.00 to implement components of the ESSA School Redesign Plan. (Funding Source: General Fund - Curriculum and Instruction)
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Mark Bellue, Vereta Lee, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, David Tatman
Stand Alone Items
Inspire Charter Academy
Consideration of a request for approval to renew the charter school agreement with Inspire Charter Academy and provide for related matters.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Mark Bellue.
Discussion followed.
A friendly amendment was offered to authorize the Superintendent to negotiate a contract with Inspire Charter.
Discussion continued, and accepted by the originator, but not by the seconder.
Approval to renew the charter school agreement with Inspire Charter Academy and provide for related matters.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Mark Bellue, Vereta Lee, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, David Tatman
Nay: Evelyn Ware-Jackson
Abstain: Dawn Collins
Lease Agreement - Old Istrouma Site
Consideration of a request to authorize the Superintendent to negotiate and execute a lease agreement for the Old Istrouma site.
Motion by Dawn Collins, second by Vereta Lee.
Discussion followed.
Substitute Motion was offered to postpone consideration of the lease agreement of the Old Istrouma site, and place back on the agenda under the direction of the superintendent.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Mark Bellue, Vereta Lee, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, David Tatman
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
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Warren Drake
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board