East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Notice and Instructions
Notice
Meeting Opening
Meeting called to order at 5:00 PM by School Board President Michael Gaudet.
Invocation was led by School Board Member Connie Bernard. The Pledge of Allegiance by Cadet Command Sergeant Major Cheyenne Miller and accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Shirley Sutton, Senior Army Instructor.
Roll Call
Members present:Mark Bellue, Tramelle Howard, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard
Dadrius Lanus, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, and David Tatman came in after roll call.
Others present: Adam Smith, Associate Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Ben Necaise, Associate Superintendent; 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, 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 September 17, 2020, Regular Board meeting, and the October 1, 2020, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Jill Dyason, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Howard, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard
Recognitions
Resolution: I CARE
Adoption of a Resolution proclaiming October "I CARE Red Ribbon Month" and October 23-31, 2020, as "National Red Ribbon Week."
Motion by Tramelle Howard, second by Connie Bernard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Howard, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard
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 #2.
Motion by Tramelle Howard, second by Connie Bernard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Family Engagement Lab
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Family Engagement Lab to provide web-based family engagement services. Funding Source: LA Department of Education
Revised 2019-2020 High School Summer School Budget
Approval of the Revised 2019-2020 High School Summer School Budget.
Construction of LaBelle Aire Building Addition
Authorize staff to advertise, accept the low bids meeting specifications, and make the award of a contract for construction of the LaBelle Aire Elementary School Building Addition, or reject any and all bids for just cause in accordance with the Louisiana Public Bid Law; Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 38; Chapter 10. Funding Source: Phase 4 Tax Plan - Proposition 1
Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Trina C. King v. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, Docket No: 674176 Section 26, 19th Judicial District Court; Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana and to provide for related matters.
End of the Consent Agenda
Professional Services Contracts
Approval of the professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:
a) The Achievement Network in the amount of $125,000.00 to provide professional development and support. Funding Source: School Redesign
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Mark Bellue.
Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Collins
Approval of the professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:
b) Savvas Learning Company, LLC in the amount of $19,950.00 to provide professional development and support. Funding Source: School Redesign
c) The Writing Revolution in the amount of $114,884.00 to provide professional development and support. Funding Source: School Redesign
d) The Writing Revolution in the amount of $93,648.00 to provide professional development and support. Funding Source: Title II
e) PresenceLearning, Inc. in the amount of $70,000.00 to provide online teletherapy and tele-assessment training sessions for employees of Exceptional Student Services. Funding Source: CARES Act-Strong Start
f) Humanities Amped in the amount of $33,200.00 over a two year period ($16,600.00 per year) per the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant for McKinley High School. Funding Source: 21st Century Grant
g) Louisiana Workforce Commission to provide a JAG-LA sSpecialist at Glen Oaks High, McKinley High, Tara High, and Glen Oaks Middle. Funding Source: Louisiana Workforce Commission
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Dawn Collins.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
New Business
Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Linda Vessel v. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al.; Docket No: 19-07001; District:05; Office of Workers' Compensation, and to provide for related matters.
Motion by David Tatman, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Superintendent Resignation
Acceptance of the resignation and the approval of the resignation agreement from Mrs. Leslie Brown.
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Resolution: Superintendent Search
Friendly amendment to consider the approval of a resolution to advertise for and select a superintendent, and consider the sole finalist Dr. T. Nakia Towns for the position of Superintendent.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Fails
Yea: Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson
Nay: Bellue, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Advertising for Superintendent Position
Authorization to advertise for the position of Superintendent.
Motion by David Tatman, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Superintendent Search Firm
A friendly amendment to authorize JG Consulting to conduct the search for Superintendent as soon as practical.
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by David Tatman.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, David Tatman
Nay: Howard, Collins
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
Appointment of an Interim Superintendent
Motion to appoint Mr. Adam Smith as Interim Superintendent for a time not to exceed six months.
Motion by Dawn Collins, second by Tramelle Howard
Substitute motion to remain with the current leadership as is and concentrate on the main focus of the ultimate goal of hiring new Superintendent.
Motion by Jill Dyason, second by Michael Gaudet.
Motion withdrawn.
Substitute motion to appoint Mr. Warren Drake as Interim Superintendent for a time not to exceed six months.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Mark Bellue.
Motion Fails
Yea: Bellue, Gaudet
Nay: Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Bernard, Tatman
Motion to appoint Mr. Adam Smith as Interim Superintendent for a time not to exceed six months.
Motion by Dawn Collins, second by Tramelle Howard.
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.
___________________________
Adam Smith
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board