East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

Regular Meeting

Thursday, September 17, 2020

Notice and Instructions

Notice

Meeting Opening

Call to Order

Meeting called to order immediately following the Public Hearing/Meeting by School Board President Michael Gaudet.

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: Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Adam Smith, Associate Superintendent; Ben Necaise, Associate Superintendent; Mrs. Andrea O’Konski, Chief Officer for Accountability and Assessments; Mrs. Stacey Dupre, Chief Officer for Support and Special Projects; Mrs. Taylor Gast, Director of Communications and Public Relations; Daphne Donaldson, Director for Human Resources; Sharmayne Rutledge, Executive Director for School Leadership, and Kelly Lopez, Chief Financial Officer.

Minutes

Meeting Minutes

Approval of the School Board minutes of the August 20, 2020, Regular Board meeting, and the September 3, 2020, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.

Motion by Tramelle Howard, second by Mark Bellue.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Howard, Collins, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman

Not present at vote: Lanus, Ware-Jackson

Information Only

Monthly Financial Report

Personnel Changes

Unfinished Business

Pupil Progression Plan-BASIS Baton Rouge

Consideration of a request for the approval of the BASIS Baton Rouge's Pupil Progression Plan for the 2020-2021 school year.

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

A substitute motion was offered to postpone approval until such time as an Attorney General opinion has been rendered regarding whether a charter school board is a city or parish school board under the definition of state law for the purpose of adoption of the BASIS Pupil Progression Plan, and further authorize General Counsel the authority to seek an Attorney General opinion on an expedited basis.

Motion by Dawn Collins, second by Tramelle Howard.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Bernard, Tatman

Nay: Bellue, Lanus, Dyason, Gaudet

Consent Agenda

The following items to be approved as part of the Consent Agenda.

Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, 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) Benedict Explorations Grant in the amount of $2,500.00 to provide funding for the Roman Technology Project at Glasgow Middle. b) Deborah Rochelle/Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Foundation in the amount of $25,000.00 to provide funding for the Geaux Get Connected Project for Hotspots. c) UNUM Charitable Giving Grant in the amount of $18,000.00 to provide funding for Geaux Get Connected Project for Hotspots.

Professional Services Contracts

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following: a) International Institute for Restorative Practices in the amount of $30,292.00 to provide professional learning training for schools implementing Restorative Practices. Funding Source: Tax Plan

b) Art Council of Greater Baton Rouge in the amount of $29,500.00 to provide Arts Integration and Education, Residencies/Performances for Park Elementary. (Funding Source: General Fund

c) Douglas Manship, Sr. Theater Complex Holding, Inc. (Manship Theater) in the amount of $15,000.00 to provide virtual services for EBR teachers and students. Funding Source: General Fund

d) Kids' Orchestra in the amount of $20,000.00 to provide after school enrichment for K-5 students. Funding Source: General Fund

e) Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) in the amount of $25,000.00 and $58,000.00 respectively for the EveryBody Reads and EveryOne Counts Programs. Funding Sources: Title I and General Fund

Pupil Progression-East Baton Rouge Parish School System

Approval of the district's Pupil Progression Plan for the 2020-2021 school year.

End of The Consent Agenda

Stand Alone Items

Professional Services Contract

Approval of a professional service contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Simpson Education Consulting, LLC in the amount of $90,000.00 over a two-year period ($45,000.00 per year) to provide instructional support per the 21st Century Grant. Funding Source: 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant

Motion by David Tatman, second by Connie Bernard.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

New Business

Resolution: Adjusted Millage Rates

Adoption of a resolution to adjust millage rates for the tax year 2020.

Motion by Jill Dyason, second by Dawn Collins.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Nay: Bernard, Tatman

Resolution: Roll Forward Millage

Consideration of a request to adopt a resolution to set forth the adjusted millage rates after reassessment and roll forward the millage to rates not to exceed the prior year’s maximum millage for the tax year 2020. (James Crochet)

Motion by Tramelle Howard, second by Dawn Collins.

A substitute motion was offered to not roll forward the millage.

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Connie Bernard.

A friendly amendment to the substitution motion to defer to a Special Meeting to be held in October.

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Connie Bernard.

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.

___________________________

Leslie M. Brown

Secretary/Treasurer to the Board