Regular Meeting
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Members present
Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, David Tatman
Meeting Opening
Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 5:00 PM by School Board Vice President Tramelle Howard.
Invocation by School Board Member Mark Bellue, and Pledge of Allegiance led by Cadet PFC Jala Shaffer of Tara High School and accompanied by COL Fulton Johnson, Senior Army Instructor.
Roll Call
Others present were: Mr. Warren Drake, Superintendent; Mr. Gwynn Shamlin Jr., 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; Mrs. Stacey Dupre, Chief Officer for Support and Special Projects; Mr. Richard Ellis, Chief Officer for Technology; and Mrs. Taylor Gast, Director of Communications and Public Relations.
Minutes
Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board minutes of the April 25, 2019, Regular Board meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by David Tatman, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, David Tatman
Information Only
Monthly Financial Report
Personnel Changes
Consent Agenda
Consent Vote
The following items approved as part of the Consent Agenda excluding Items G3, G5, G7, G8, and G10.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Dawn Collins.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, David Tatman
Grant
Acceptance of the Jr. League of Baton Rouge Community Assistance Fund Grant to be used for the BRFLAIM Foreign Language Reading Program.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and MetroMorphosis from the GRADU8 initiative through the Innovation Network.
Professional Services Contracts (ESSA School Redesign)
Approval of the following professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following: a) Teachers College Columbia University (Urban Education Leaders Collaborative-UELC) in the amount of $80,000 to provide UELC leadership professional development from June 3-6, 2019. b) Teachers College Columbia University (Urban Education Leaders Collaborative-UELC) in the amount of $20,000 to provide UELC leadership professional development from July 22-23, 2019.
Revised 2018-2019 General Fund Budget
Approval of the Revised 2018-2019 General Fund Budget for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.
Indefinite Delivery Recommendation
Approval of the 2019 Selection Committee's recommendation of architectural, mechanical, electrical, civil, structural, and landscape engineering services for Tax Plan and district projects.
RFQ for Superintendent Search Firm
Authorization for Board Leadership and Staff to issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to seek proposals to provide for the solicitation of firms or other entities to facilitate the hiring of a new superintendent.
2019-2020 Board Meeting Schedule
Approval of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meeting schedule for the 2019-2020 school year.
Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Mr. Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Kentrell Nettles v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al. Docket No: 633,050; Section: 26; 19th Judicial District Court; Parish of East Baton Rouge and to provide for related matters.
End of the Consent Agenda
Appointment of Committee-Renaming Polk Elementary
Authorize the Superintendent, in compliance with district policy and Louisiana State law, to appoint a committee to explore the renaming of Polk Elementary School.
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Dawn Collins.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, David Tatman
Professional Services Contract Renewals (Exceptional Student Services)
Approval to renew the following professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge School Board and the following:
a) Turner, LLC in the amount of $621,000.00 to provide LPN Nursing Services.
b) Sundry Behavioral Services in the amount of $60,000.00 for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
c) Adaptive Solutions in the amount of $20,000.00 to provide Assistive Technology Assistance Services to ESS students for the 2019-2020 school year.
d) Chase Healthcare in the amount of $87,000.00 to provide LPN Nursing Services.
e) Deaf Resources Center of Greater Baton Rouge in the amount of $80,000.00 to provide Sign Language Interpreting Services.
f) D. S. Sullivan, LLC in the amount of $20,000.00 to provide Orientation and Mobility Evaluations and training services to ESS students.
g) Pediatric Services of America, Inc. d/b/a PSA Healthcare ($ 483,000.00) to provide LPN Nursing Services.
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Dawn Collins.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, David Tatman
Recuse: Jill Dyason
Cooperative Agreement
Approval of a Cooperative Agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Capital Area Human Services District Baton Rouge Mental Health Center/Children's Behavioral Health Services.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Yea: Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, David Tatman
Recuse: Dawn Collins, Jill Dyason
Motion offered to move item to the June Regular Meeting to consider the request for approval of a Cooperative Agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Capital Area Human Services District Baton Rouge Mental Health Center/Children's Behavioral Health Services.
Motion by David Tatman, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, David Tatman
Resolution
Approval of a resolution authorizing the Superintendent to engage in services related to appraisal, purchase and survey in relation to the acquisition of land for the development of schools in the 2019 Tax Plan.
Motion by David Tatman, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Substitute motion to amend the language of the resolution authorizing the Superintendent to engage in services related to appraisal, purchase and survey in relation to the acquisition of land for the development of schools in the 2019 Tax Plan.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason
Nay: David Tatman
East Baton Rouge Healthcare Plans and Ancillary Benefit Plans
Approval/authorization of the following:
a) Proposed 2020 Healthcare Rates and Plan design changes for active employees, non-Medicare and Medicare eligible retirees participating in the BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana administered district program and a 3rd medical option with the Community Blue Narrow Network.
b) Contract renewal with Unum for dental and vision and the proposed 2020 rates.
c) Authorize the Superintendent and staff to negotiate and execute the contract renewal with WageWorks for flexible spending/Cobra administration.
d) Contract renewal with Ochsner Health System for the 2019 benefits fair biometric screenings.
e) Contract renewal with Lincoln for life and disability insurance.
f) Authorize the Superintendent to negotiate and execute the 2020 contract for stop loss insurance coverage.
g) Implement Express Scripts Rare Conditions Care Value safeguard program to proactively monitor certain future high costs specialty drugs at no additional cost.
h) Contract approval of Express Scripts pharmacy audit to be conducted by Mercer and reimbursed by Express Scripts.
i) Authorize the Superintendent to negotiate and execute an amendment to the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Administrative Services Agreement to provide for the administration of the 3rd medical plan option.
j) Propose a one month employee, retiree, and employer health insurance premium holiday to be provided in December 2019 contingent upon the availability of funds in the Health Insurance Fund.
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Dawn Collins.
Substitute Motion to move item to the June Regular Meeting.
Motion by Dawn Collins, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason
Not Present at Vote: David Tatman
New Business
Professional Services Contract
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Teaching Lab in the amount of $14,000.00 for professional development coaching and support.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason
Not Present at Vote: David Tatman
Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Mr. Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Dr. Calvin Nicholas v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. Docket No: 2017-CA-1594; Court of Appeal, First Circuit Of Appeal from the 19th JDC for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, and related matters.
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason
Not Present at Vote: David Tatman
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
___________________________
Warren Drake, Jr.,
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board