East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

Regular Meeting (Virtual)

Thursday, August 20, 2020

 

 

Notice

Notice and Instructions

 

Meeting Opening

Meeting called to order at 5:00 PM by School Board President Michael Gaudet.

 

Invocation and Pledge

The Invocation was led by School Board Member Jill Dyason, and Pledge of Allegiance was led by School Board Member Connie Bernard.

 

Roll Call

Members present: Mark Bellue, Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Evelyn Ware Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard,

Dawn Collins and David Tatman came in after roll call.

 

Others present were: Leslie Brown, Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Adam Smith, Associate Superintendent; Ben Necaise, Associate Superintendent; Andrea O’Konski, Chief Officer for Accountability and Assessments; Stacey Dupre, Chief Officer for Support and Special Projects; James Crochet, Chief Business Operations Officer; Taylor Gast, Director of Communications and Public Relations, Daphne Donaldson, Director for Human Resources; Amy Jones, Director-Management for Information Technology; Sharmayne Rutledge, Executive Director for School Leadership, and Kelly Lopez, Chief Financial Officer.

 

Minutes

Meeting Minutes

Approval of the School Board minutes of the July 16, 2020, Regular Board meeting, August 6, 2020, Special Board meeting, and the August 6, 2020, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.

 

Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Tramelle Howard.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard

 

Information Only

Monthly Financial Report

 

Personnel Changes

 

Receive as Information  

                                                                                               

Update(s) from the Superintendent

 

Return to School Criteria Discussion

 

Dialogue on Race

 

Items for Consideration

Consent Vote

The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda.

 

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard

Not Present at Vote: Tatman

*Mr. Tatman was present, but due to technical difficulty was unable to vote.

 

Grants

Approval of the Cox Charities Innovation in Education Grant in the amount of $12,688.00 to provide direct service classroom projects.

 

Budgets

Approval of the following budgets: a) Strong Start-GEERF (Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund) in the amount of $765,000.00 b) 2020-2021 Believe & Prepare Formula Transition Budget in the amount of $5,000.00.

 

Professional Services Contracts

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following: a) Nearpod in the amount of $17,984.62 to provide Social and Emotional Learning Software. Funding Source: Strong Start

b) Career Compass in the amount of $290,000.00 to provide individual college and career coaching. Funding Source: Strong Start

c) ExcEL Connections, LLC in the amount of $40,000.00 to provide coaching and professional learning. Funding Source: Title III

d) Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College on behalf of its Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LASARD) in the amount of $50,000.00 to provide specialized supports for educators to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities. Funding Source: IDEA

e) Baton Rouge Children's Advocacy Center in the amount of $40,00.00 to provide professional learning and support. Funding Source: Strong Start

f) School Specialty in the amount of $17,153.70 to provide professional development and support. Funding Source: School Redesign

g) The AVID Center in the amount of $65,506.00 to provide support and professional learning. Funding Source: School Redesign

h) Illuminate Education, Inc in the amount of $123,378.00 to provide FastBridge Assessment System Annual subscription.

i) Illuminate Education, Inc in the amount of $20,00.00 to provide The Horizon (ACT) College Readiness Package.

j) City Year, Inc. in the amount of $180,000.00 to provide youth development and education support services.

k) Instructure in the amount of $32,658.60 to provide Canvas Cloud Subscription for faculty. Funding Source: Technology

 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)-Dual Enrollment

Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following: a) ULM (University of Louisiana at Monroe) to provide dual enrollment courses for the 2020-2021 school year.

b) Southern University to provide dual enrollment courses for the 2020-2021 school year.

c) BRCC to provide dual enrollment courses for the 2020-2021 school year.

d) Southeastern Louisiana University to provide dual enrollment courses for the 2020-2021 school year.

e) LSU to provide dual enrollment courses for the 2020-2021 school year. Funding Source: Supplemental Course Academy (SCA)

 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)-Pre-K

Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board ("Lead Agency") and select "Center Partners" via the following grants: a) Preschool Development Grant (PDG) for the expansion of the three (3) year old program with a per pupil allocation of $5,780.04 not to exceed $450,843.12.

b) LA4/Cecil J. Picard Grant to participate in the annual Pre-K 4 program with a per pupil allocation of $4,580.00 not to exceed $458,000.00.

 

Policies and Policy Revisions

Approval of the following School Board Policies/Policy Revisions and related matters: JAAA Title IX Grievance Procedures, JCEA Student Sexual Misconduct, GAMC Investigations, GAEAA Sexual Harassment, GAAA Equal Opportunity Employment, and GAE Complaints and Grievances.

 

End of The Consent Agenda Items

 

Athletic Training Service Agreement-Ochsner

Approval of the renewal of an agreement between East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Ochsner Clinic Foundation in the amount of $60,000.00 to provide athletic training services.

 

Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason

Nay: Bernard

Recuse: Gaudet

Not Present at Vote: Tatman

*Mr. Tatman was present, but due to technical difficulty was unable to vote.

 

Contracts-Charter

Approval of contract between East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:

a) HCS Baton Rouge d/b/a Helix Aviation School operators.

b) HCS Baton Rouge d/b/a Mentorship Legal Academy operators.

 

Motion by Tramelle Howard, second by Mark Bellue.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard

Not Present at Vote: Tatman

 

Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook & Discipline Policy

Approval of the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook & Discipline Policy for the 2020-2021 school year for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System with noted changes.

 

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard

Not Present at Vote: Tatman

 

New Business

Children's Charter Surrender

Accept the surrender of a charter by the Children’s Charter School Board.

 

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Dawn Collins.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard

Not Present at Vote: Tatman

 

There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.

 

_______________________________               

Leslie M. Brown,

Secretary/Treasurer to the Board