East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting
Thursday, April 22, 2021
Notice and Instructions
Notice
Meeting Opening
Call to Order, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 pm by School Board President David Tatman.
The Invocation was led by School Board Member Mark Bellue.
Roll Call
Members present:Mark Bellue, Dadrius Lanus, Dawn Collins, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, and David Tatman
Tramelle Howard and Evelyn Ware-Jackson came in after roll call.
Others present were: Dr. Sito Narcisse, Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Caron Smith, Chief of Staff; Dr. Michael Robinson, Chief Academic Officer; Frank Chester, Chief Operations Officer; Sharon Williams, Chief of Schools; Alex Stubbs, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and Communication/Parent Engagement; Adam Smith, Associate Superintendent; Ben Necaise, Associate Superintendent; Andrea O’Konski, Chief Officer for Accountability and Assessments; James Crochet, Chief Officer for Business Operations; 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; Dr. Sharmayne Rutledge, Executive Director for School Leadership; Kelly Lopez, Chief Financial Officer, Barbara Lashley, Director of Reading, John McCann, Executive Director.
Minutes
Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board Minutes of the March 18, 2021, Regular Board meeting, as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Dawn Collins.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Collins, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Information Only
Monthly Financial Report
Personnel Changes
Receive As Information
Update from Superintendent
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Cadet Private Jeremiah Campbell, Liberty High School JROTC.
Unfinished Business
Revised 2021-2022 School Year Calendar
Motion offered to approve the revised 2021-2022 School Year Calendar further identified as option 1a. Funding Source/Cost Projection: Cares Act/Approximately 4.4 Million
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Tatman
Nay: Collins, Bernard
Crestworth Middle School Attendance Zone
Approval of the recommendation for modifications to the attendance zone for the reopening of the Crestworth Middle School site with the start of the 2021-2022 school year and related matters.
Motion by Tramelle Howard, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Forest Heights Expansion
Approval of the recommendation to the Oversight Committee to modify "A Plan to Improve Facilities/Technology, Discipline, and Compensation" in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System "Tax Plan" to allow for the construction of a middle school component at the Forest Heights Academy of Excellence.
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 to be approved as part of the Consent Agenda.
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Grants
Approval of the following grants: a) American Association for Employment in Education (AAEE) in the amount of $500.00 to provide AAEE membership and funding for EBRPSS Community Connections Project. b) Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) in the amount of $6,500.00 to support the Pre-Educator Pathway for the 2021-22 school year.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): BREC-Istrouma High Track
Approval of Memorandum of Understanding between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and BREC for the joint use of the Istrouma High School Track and facility.
Professional Services Contract
Approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and School Leadership Center of New Orleans in the amount of $51,150.00 for professional development for the Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Schools. Funding Source: Title II Non-Public Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Schools
Invitation for Bid (IFB): Walk-in Cooler/Freezer
Resolution: Consideration of a request authorizing the Superintendent and staff to issue an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for the replacement freezer/cooler at Crestworth Elementary School to be relocated to Crestworth Middle School campus for the 2021-2022 school year. Funding Source: Child Nutrition
Request for Proposal (RFP): District Financial System
Authorize staff to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to seek proposals for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.
Contract: Early Childhood
Approval to renew the interagency contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and the Louisiana Department of Education to allow an Early Childhood Guide to approve families for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Funding Source: State Funds allocated by the LDOE
End of the Consent Agenda
One-Time Supplement
Approval of a $1,300.00 one-time supplement to those who qualify to be distributed during the 2021-2022 school year. Funding Source/Cost Projection: General Fund/Approximately $9,000,000.00
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Professional Services Contracts: Accountability and Assessment
Approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and the following:
a) Achievement Network (ANET) in the amount of $346,391.00 to provide grades 3-8 benchmark assessments, professional development, and support. Funding Source: CARES Act
b) Achievement Network (ANET) in the amount of $104,214.60 to provide grades 9-11 benchmark assessments. Funding Source: General Fund
c) Achievement Network (ANET) in the amount of $55,000.00 to provide professional development. Funding Source: General Fund
d) Illuminate Education Inc. in the amount of $196,890.00 to provide a virtual management tool to house data. Funding Source: Cares Act
e) Illuminate Education Inc. in the amount of $7,500.00 to provide professional development. Funding Source: General Fund
f) Amplify Education Inc. in the amount of $762,817.00 to provide assessments, screeners, and professional development. Funding Source: CARES Act
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Mark Bellue.
Substitute motion to postpone the consideration of the request for the approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and the following:
a) Achievement Network (ANET) in the amount of $346,391.00 to provide grades 3-8 benchmark assessments, professional development, and support. Funding Source: CARES Act
b) Achievement Network (ANET) in the amount of $104,214.60 to provide grades 9-11 benchmark assessments. Funding Source: General Fund
c) Achievement Network (ANET) in the amount of $55,000.00 to provide professional development. Funding Source: General Fund
d) Illuminate Education Inc. in the amount of $196,890.00 to provide a virtual management tool to house data. Funding Source: Cares Act
e) Illuminate Education Inc. in the amount of $7,500.00 to provide professional development. Funding Source: General Fund
f) Amplify Education Inc. in the amount of $762,817.00 to provide assessments, screeners, and professional development.
to the full Board meeting in May. Funding Source: CARES Act
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Motion Fails
Yea: Collins, Bernard
Nay: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Tatman
Return to original motion.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Tatman
Nay: Collins, Bernard
Naming of New School at University Terrace Site
Approve the proposed recommendation for the naming of the new school to be located at the University Terrace Site as McKinley Elementary.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Consolidate and Move School Sites
Approval of the following:
a) Consolidate Brookstown Middle School and Capitol Middle School students at the Capitol Middle School Site for the 2021-2022 school year.
b) Move EBR Readiness (9-12) to the Brookstown Middle School Site for the 2021-2022 school year.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Mark Bellue.
Substitute motion to delay the consideration of the request for the approval of the following:
a) Consolidate Brookstown Middle School and Capitol Middle School students at the Capitol Middle School Site for the 2021-2022 school year.
b) Move EBR Readiness (9-12) to the Brookstown Middle School Site for the 2021-2022 school year to a date not certain.
Motion by Jill Dyason, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Motion Fails
Yea: Ware-Jackson, Dyason
Nay: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Gaudet, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
Return to the original motion.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Tatman
Nay: Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)
Approval of a contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) in the amount of $152,000.00 to provide district-wide social emotional learning coordination and support. Funding Source: CARES Act
Motion by Dawn Collins, second by Tramelle Howard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
Job Positions and Descriptions
Approval of the following job positions and descriptions:
a) Deputy Chief of Policy
b) Director of Equity & Diversity
c) Chief of Literacy
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet
Nay: Collins, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
New Business
Resolution: Adoption of 2021 Millage
Adoption of a resolution, as required by law, for the Office of the Assessor, no later than June 1, 2021, for the purpose of levying Millages effective on the 2021 Assessment Roll.
Motion by Dawn Collins, second by Tramelle Howard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
_______________________________
Dr. Sito Narcisse,
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board