East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting (Virtual)
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Meeting Opening
Meeting called to order at 5:00 PM by President Michael Gaudet.
Notice and Instructions
This notice is in reference to The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board's Certification Pursuant to Gubernatorial Proclamation JBE 2020-30 regarding board member participation by telephone or video conference as it relates to the School Board Meetings.
Please be advised that, due to the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the “Stay at Home” orders issued by President Trump and Governor Edwards, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board may, for the duration of this emergency, conduct Board meetings and committee meetings electronically via telephone and/or video conference.
Accordingly, the Regular meeting scheduled for April 21, 2020 scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. will be streamed live via Microsoft Teams Events. A link to watch the meeting can be found on the School Board’s website (https://ebrschools.org/), at the bottom of the homepage under events, so that members of the public may view the meeting. Simply click on the word BoardDocs, and you will be directed to the meeting.
A period for written public comment will be provided before the meeting as well as before each action is taken by the Board on an action item. Individuals wishing to make a public comment about any of the posted action items will need to click on the agenda item in BoardDocs, and submit via the highlighted public comment hyperlink on the agenda item details. Upon the closing of the comments, Board President will read in to the record the public comments that have been submitted.
Invocation and Pledge
The Invocation was led by School Board Member Evelyn Ware-Jackson, and the Pledge of Allegiance by School Board Member Dadrius Lanus.
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; 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.
Minutes
Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board minutes of the February 20, 2020, Regular Board meeting, March 5, 2020 and March 23, 2020, Special Board meeting, and the March 5, 2020, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by David Tatman, second by Connie Bernard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Information Only
Monthly Financial Report
Unfinished Business
Banks Elementary Land Sale
Motion was offered to delay to a date not determined for 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 Dadrius Lanus, second by Connie Bernard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Consent Agenda
Consent Vote
The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by David Tatman.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
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.
Louisiana Recovery School District Facilities Return
a) 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) Authorize the use of the North Banks Middle School facility by Redesign Schools Louisiana (currently housed at the Glen Oaks Middle facility).
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.
End of Consent Agenda Items
New Business
Grant
Approval of the Ready Start Preschool Development Grant in the amount $89,840.00 from the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for materials and resources for high quality publicly funded early childhood care and education.
Motion by Jill Dyason, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Professional Services Contract-Graduation Alliance
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Graduation Alliance to provide a comprehensive dropout recovery program. Friendly amendment offered to add specific language to section C1 “c) And, has missed at least ten (10) days or withdrawn from East Baton Rouge Parish School System.”
Motion by David Tatman, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Pupil Progression Waiver
Approval of a waiver from local pupil promotion and retention criteria for students in grades K-8 for the 2019-2020 school year due to COVID 19 school closures.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Superintendent Search Virtual Interviews
Approval to proceed with virtual interviews for round 1 of the Superintendent Search Process.
Motion by Tramelle Howard, second by David Tatman.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
_______________________________
Warren Drake, Jr.,
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board