East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Committee of the Whole
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Meeting Opening
Meeting called to order at 5:00 PM by Vice President Tramelle Howard
The Invocation was led by School Board Member Dadrius Lanus and the Pledge of Allegiance by School Board Member Connie Bernard.
Roll Call
Members present: Mark Bellue, Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, David Tatman
Others present were: Warren Drake, Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Adam Smith, Associate Superintendent; Ben Necaise, Associate Superintendent; Quentina Timoll, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction; Andrea O’Konski, Chief Officer for Accountability and Assessments; Stacey Dupre, Chief Officer for Support and Special Projects; Taylor Gast, Director of Communications and Public Relations, Daphne Donaldson, Interim Director for Human Resources; and Amy Jones, Director-Management for Information Technology.
Items for Consideration
Grants
Approval of the following grants:
a) Special Olympics of Louisiana Grant in the amount of $5,000.00 to provide funding to build and expand inclusive programming at Audubon Elementary and Sherwood Middle Schools.
b) Sprint: 1 Million Project Grant in the amount of $61,000.00 to provide reliable home high-speed internet access through hot spot devices checked out from schools.
c) Teaching Tolerance Future Voters Grant in the amount of $1,000.00 for Istrouma High School Senior Beta Club to conduct a voter registration drive community service project.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by David Tatman.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Professional Services Contract
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana (A+PEL) in the amount of $189,000.00 for lifetime access of 400 EBR teachers/employees to a nine module course, supplementary assessment preparation sessions and their corresponding assessment cost related to the Louisiana Department of Education's Mentor Teacher Certification. (Funding Source: Federal Funding)
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)-Early College Academy (ECA)
Approval of a MOU between Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC), and the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board to establish an Early College Academy (ECA).
Motion by Jill Dyason, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
2020-2021 School Year Calendar
Approval of the 2020-2021 School Year Calendar.
Motion by Dawn Collins, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Jefferson Terrace Attendance Zone
Approval of the recommendation for modifications to the attendance zone for the new Jefferson Terrace Academy.
Motion by David Tatman, second by Connie Bernard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Dyason
Banks Elementary Land Sale
Amended motion was offered to send to the full Board without recommendation the consideration of the request to authorize the Superintendent and staff to negotiate and execute the sale of the Banks Elementary School facility and grounds to IDEA Public Schools pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statute 17:3982 B.
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by David Tatman.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Louisiana Recovery School District Facilities Return
Approval of the following requests:
a) To authorize the Superintendent to accept the return of the Crestworth Middle School and Glen Oaks Middle School facilities by the Louisiana Recovery School District and BESE.
b) To authorize the use of the North Banks Middle School facility by Redesign Schools Louisiana (currently housed at the Glen Oaks Middle facility).
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by David Tatman.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Jane Doe et al vs. Carolyn Grimes and The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, Suit No: C-646711; Section: 26; 19th JDC; Parish of East Baton Rouge and to provide for related matters.
Motion by David Tatman, second by Dawn Collins.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
There being no further business, the Committee of the Whole adjourned by acclamation.
_____________________________
Warren Drake
Secretary/Treasurer to the East Baton
Rouge Parish School Board
Committee of the Whole