East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Meeting Opening
Meeting called to order at 5:00 PM by President Michael Gaudet.
Invocation by School Board Member Jill Dyason, and Pledge of Allegiance led by Cadet Jakiya Hanford of Broadmoor High School accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Stewart, Senior Army Instructor
Roll Call
Members present:Mark Bellue, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, David Tatman
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; 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 August 15, 2019, Regular Board meeting, and the September 5, 2019, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Information Only
Monthly Financial Report
Personnel Changes
Consent Agenda
Consent Vote
The following items to be approved as part of the Consent Agenda, excluding item #12.
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by David Tatman.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Grants
Acceptance of the following grants: a) Unum Charitable Giving Grant in the amount of $5,000.00 to be used to provide funding for district-wide ELL Parent and Family Engagement events at Tara High, Villa Del Rey Elementary, Westminster Elementary, and Woodlawn Middle Schools. b) Starmount-Unum Grant in the amount of $15,000.00 to provide supplies and materials for innovative classroom projects for fifteen teachers (each teacher receives $1,000.00). c) Ready Start Network Cohort 2 Grant in the amount of $100,000.00 from the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to pilot new strategies to increase access to and improve the quality of publicly funded early childcare and education. d) 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant in the amount of $1,400,900.00 over three years from the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide funding of after school programming at Capitol Elementary, Capitol Middle, McKinley High, and IDEA Innovation. e) Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Corporate Sponsorship Grant in the amount of $12,123.29 to provide EVERFI Prescription Drug Safety Course and Mental Wellness Basics Course curricula.
Professional Services Contracts-Fine Arts
Approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and following: a) Kids Orchestra, Inc. in the amount of $40,000.00 for the purpose of after school enrichment music, academics, mentoring and performances. b) Manship Theater in the amount of $72,000.00 for the purpose of enrichment theater arts, academics, mentoring and performances. c) Arts Council in the amount of $70,000.00 for the purpose of art education programs in schools.
Professional Services Contract-Federal
Approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following: a) TaJu Educational Solutions, LLC in the amount of $40,000.00 for teacher training at LaBelle Aire Elementary and Wildwood Elementary. Funding Source: Title III b) Rubicon International in the amount of $54,000.00 for Atlas Training for Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Funding Source: Title II c) Volunteers in Public Schools in the amount of $25,000.00 and $58,000.00 respectively for the EveryBody Reads and EveryOne Counts Program. Funding Sources: Title I and General Fund
Professional Services Contacts-General Fund
Approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following: a) Manners of the Heart in the amount of $73,709.00 for one (1) year. Funding Source: General Fund b) Teach for America in the amount of $4,500.00 annual fee and $1,200.00 per teacher (not to exceed 8 teachers) to assist with teacher candidate recruitment, selection, and hiring. Funding source: EEF
Professional Services Contracts-Grant Funded
Approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following: a) Teaching Lab in the amount of $48,000.00 for ELA Tier 1 professional development. Funding Source: ESSA School Redesign Grant b) Teaching Lab in the amount of $25,000.00 for Louisiana Guidebooks curriculum implementation support. Funding Source: SPDG Diverse Learners’ Grant
Construction of Glen Oaks High School Athletic Upgrades and Facility Modifications
Authorization for staff to advertise, to accept the low bids meeting specifications and to make the award of a contract for construction of the Glen Oaks High School Athletic Upgrades and Facility Modifications or reject any and all bids for just cause in accordance with the Louisiana Public Bid Law, Louisiana Revised Statute, Title 38; Chapter 10. Funding Source: Tax Plan - Proposition 1
HVAC Professional Services Contracts Renewal
Renewal of the professional service contracts with Star Services and Corporate Mechanical as HVAC providers for the East Baton Rouge Parish School District.
RFQ-Architectural Design Consulting Services for Buchanan/University Terrace Elementary School
Authorization for staff to issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to seek proposals to provide architectural design consulting services for the new Buchanan Elementary/University Terrace Elementary School (on the University Terrace site).
Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU)-Career Compass
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Career Compass to provide coaching services to six schools. Funding Source: In-kind Grant/Title I School-wide
Rouzan Retention Pond Project
Resolution: Consideration of a request authorizing the Superintendent to negotiate a contract with Engquist-Rouzan Residential Developmental, LLC for the design and installation of a retention pond/project on Glasgow Middle School property with final contract terms to be approved by the Board.
Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Mr. Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Daniel Jackson vs. The EBRPSB, Berkley Insurance Company, and Ricarda Fuselier, Suit No. 637,492; Sections:27; 19th JDC and to provide for related matters.
End of the Consent Agenda
"Statement of Principles"
Adoption of an East Baton Rouge Parish School Board “Statement of Principles” and related matters.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Stand Alone
Resolution-Appraisals
Consideration of a recommendation to pull the request to adopt a Resolution authorizing the Superintendent to engage in services related to the appraisal of the following properties: Arlington, Eden Park, Capitol High School, Wyandotte Center, Istrouma Middle School lots (old school site), Park Elementary (old school site), Goodwood Center, McAuliffe Center, Montgomery Center, and Highland Elementary, and allow the working group to come back to the Board with a recommendation.
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Jill Dyason.
Discussion followed.
Friendly amendment of the motion to amend the current item and give the Superintendent the authorization to engage services to appraise all East Baton Rouge Parish School System properties.
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Connie Bernard.
Motion Fails
Yea: Bellue, Collins, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet
Main Motion
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Mark Bellue, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, David Tatman
Nay: Dawn Collins, Connie Bernard
New Business
Grant
Acceptance of a grant/partnership between LSU/East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and National Science Foundation CSforALL (Computer Science for ALL) 3 year grant of $1,000,000.00 for the project BRBYTES (Bringing Youth Technology, Education, & Success). This computer science pathway will target high quality computer courses from grades 7th - 10th through faculty training, teacher recruitment, and equity-based course development. LSU will manage all funds - no budget needed.
Motion by David Tatman, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Collins, Bernard
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
___________________________
Warren Drake, Jr.,
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board