East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Notice and Instructions
Notice
Meeting Opening
Call to Order, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance
Meeting called to order at 5:00 PM by School Board President David Tatman.
The Invocation was led by School Board Member Michael Gaudet, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Kiara N. Spiller, Istrouma High JROTC accompanied by MAJOR Brian Mumfrey, Senior Army Instructor.
Roll Call
Members present: Mark Bellue, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, and David Tatman.
Dadrius Lanus came in after roll call.
Tramelle Howard was absent.
Others present: Sito Narcisse, Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Caron Smith, Chief of Staff; Michael Robinson, Chief Academic Officer; Frank Chester, Chief Operations Officer; Sharon Williams, Chief of Schools; Alex Stubbs, Chief Communication/Public Relations; Andrea O’Konski, Chief Officer for Accountability and Assessments; Amy Jones, Chief Technology Officer; Stacey Dupre, Chief Officer for Support and Special Projects; Barbara Lashley, Chief of Literacy.
Minutes
Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board minutes of the April 22, 2021, Regular Board meeting, and the April 15, 2021 and May 6, 2021 Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Not present at vote: Lanus
Information Only
Monthly Financial Report
Personnel Changes
Receive As Information
Update from Superintendent
Presentations
Facilities Plan Update
Stand Alone Items
Resolution Regarding "Teacher Appreciation Week"
Approval of a Resolution proclaiming May 3-7, 2021, as "Teacher Appreciation Week”
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Unfinished Business
Budgets: ESSER
Approval of the following budgets:
a) ESSER II (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund) in the amount of $32,181,911.00
b) ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund) in the amount of $28,919,383.00
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Collins
Revised 2020-2021 General Fund Budget
Approval of the Revised 2020-2021 General Fund Budget for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Professional Services Contracts: Federal (ESSER)
Approval of the professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and the following:
a) Insight Education Group in the amount of $189,750.00 to align strategies and provide embedded support to facilitate educator growth and positively impact student growth. Funding Source: ESSER III
b) TNTP in the amount of $16,211.00 to provide professional development to support the building knowledge, skills, and mindsets around strong literacy and instruction June 22, 2021-June 23, 2021.
c) TNTP in the amount of $249,611.00 to provide professional development to support the building knowledge, skills, and mindsets around strong literacy and instruction for 2021-2022. Funding Source: ESSER III
d) Rethink in the amount of $175,000.00 to provide for social emotional learning and mental health support and professional development. Funding Source: ESSER III
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Connie Bernard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Consent Agenda
Consent Vote
The following items are to be approved as part of the Consent Agenda.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Abstain: Dyason
Grants
Approval of the following grants: a) The Hartford-Fire Safety Education grant in the amount of $5,000.00 to provide district fire safety education and programming. b) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency DERA school bus rebate 2020 grant in the amount of $250,000.00 to replace ten older model busses to reduce diesel emissions and exposure in East Baton Rouge Parish. c) Project Lead the Way DOW/Southern University grant in the amount of $40,000.00 ($10,000.00 per school for four schools) to provide STEM training, project-based lessons, and materials.
Grant: Jobs for ESS Students Initiative (JESSI)
Approval of grant/agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services for Jobs for ESS Students Initiative (JESSI). Funding Source: Louisiana Rehabilitation Services
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and Baton Rouge Community College to provide field experience placement for BRCC students.
Professional Services Contracts: Exceptional Student Services
Approval to renew the following professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and the following:
a) A New Beginning Personal Care, LLC. in the amount of $90,000.00 to provide LPN nursing services.
b) Pediatric Services of America, LLC. dba Aveanna Healthcare in the amount of $483,000.00 to provide LPN nursing services.
c) Chase Healthcare in the amount of $87,000.00 to provide LPN nursing services.
d) Turner, LLC. in the amount of $621,000.00 to provide LPN nursing services.
e) Adaptive Solutions and Sherry Hollingsworth in the amount of $20,000.00 to provide assistive technology assistance services.
f) Audio Optical Systems of Austin, Inc. (Kurzweil 3000) in the amount of $47,892.00 to provide comprehensive, text-to-speech integrated literacy solution.
g) Dr. Kashunda L. Williams, LP, BCBA-D, NCSP, Sundry Behavioral Services in the amount of $60,000.00 to provide applied behavior analysis (ABA) services.
h) The Lighthouse for the Blind in New Orleans, Inc. in the amount of $20,000.00 to provide orientation and mobility services. Funding Source: IDEA-Part B
Professional Services Contracts: REAL Grant
Approval of the professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and the following:
a) Smartie Pants, LLC in the amount of $108,925.00 to provide tutoring support. Funding Source: Real-time Early Access to Literacy (REAL) Grant
b) Canopy ED in the amount of $108,925.00 to provide tutoring support. Funding Source: Real-time Early Access to Literacy (REAL) Grant
EBR Virtual School Grade Level Expansion
Approval of the expansion of the EBR Virtual Academy to provide for grades Pre-K through 12th.
Consolidation of Schools
Approval of the consolidation of Claiborne Elementary and Howell Park Elementary students at the Claiborne Elementary site for the 2021-2022 school year.
Board Meeting Calendar
Approval of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meeting schedule for the 2021-2022 school year.
End of The Consent Agenda
New Business
RFQ-Architectural Design Consulting Services for South Baton Rouge Property
Approval of an RFQ (Request for Qualifications) to seek proposals to provide architectural design consulting services for the new school in the southern portion of the East Baton Rouge Parish School district.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
_______________________________
Dr. Sito Narcisse,
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board