East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Notice and Instructions
Notice
Meeting Opening
Call to Order, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance
The Invocation was led by School Board Member Jill Dyason, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Cadet Captain Quincey Brady of Tara High School and accompanied by Colonel Fulton Johnson, Senior Army Instructor.
Roll Call
Members present were Mark Bellue, Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, and David Tatman.
Dadrius Lanus came in after roll call.
Others present were 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; Alexandra Stubbs, Chief Communication/Public Relations; Andrea O’Konski, Chief Officer for Accountability and Assessments; Amy Jones, Chief Technology Officer; Barbara Lashley, Chief of Literacy, and Stacey Dupre, Chief Officer for Support and Special Projects.
Minutes
Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board Minutes of the December 16, 2021, Regular Board meeting, January 13, 2022, Special Board meeting, and the January 13, 2022, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Tramelle Howard, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Stand Alone
Election of President of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Superintendent Narcisse opened the floor for nominations for the position of President of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board.
David Tatman was nominated by Connie Bernard.
A motion was offered to close nominations for the position of President of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
David Tatman was elected as the East Baton Rouge School Board President.
Votes For: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Election of Vice-President of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Superintendent Narcisse opened the floor for nominations for the position of Vice-President of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board.
Dawn Collins was nominated by Connie Bernard.
Dadrius Lanus was nominated by Michael Gaudet.
A motion was offered to close nominations for the position of Vice-President of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
The votes on the nominees were as follows:
Dawn Collins 7
Votes For: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Bernard, Tatman
Dadrius Lanus 2
Votes For: Gaudet, Dyason
Dawn Collins was elected as the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Vice-President.
Resolution "National School Counseling Week"
Adoption of a Resolution proclaiming February 7-11, 2022, as “School Counseling Week.”
Motion by Tramelle Howard, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
Resolution "Louisiana School Board Recognition Month"
Adoption of a Resolution proclaiming January 2022, as “Louisiana School Board Recognition Month.”
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Howard, 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
Consent Agenda
Consent Vote
The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda excluding items #2- Focus Choice School Partnership with Baton Rouge General Medical Center, #3- Focus Choice School Partnership with LSU and the Water Institute, and #10- Policy Revisions: CG, DJE, and DJED.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
Grants
Approval of the following grant and grant application:
a) Quality Science and Math Council (QSM) Grant in the amount of $1,499.41 to provide robots for the "Introduction to Robotics" course at Broadmoor High School. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
b) National Science Foundation Computer Science for ALL grant application in partnership with LSU in the amount of $2,000,000.00 to provide continued design, study, and support for computing courses for grades 7-10.
Professional Contract Services
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Rethink Autism in the amount of $160,000.00 to provide specialized professional development. Strategic Alignment: Employee Development/Funding Source: ESSER III, Action 2
Contract
Approval to renew a contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the City of Baton Rouge not to exceed $134,110.00 to allow the EBRPSS Department of Adult and Continuing Education to continue providing adult education classes and HiSET testing for inmates at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison from January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022. Funding Source: City of Baton Rouge Grant
Bid: Forest Heights Contractor
Authorize staff to design, advertise, and accept the low bid meeting specifications, and award a contract for the construction of the Forest Heights 6-8 grade visual and performing arts middle school facility on the Forest Heights Academy of Excellence property project as specified in the "A Plan to Improve Facilities/Technology, Discipline, and Compensation in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System" (the "Plan") as revised through February 22, 2018 or reject any and all bids for just cause in accordance with the Louisiana Public Bid Law; Louisiana Revised Statute, Title 38; Chapter 10.
RFP: Facility Master Plan
Authorize staff to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to create a Facility Master Plan to include recommendations for efficient utilization of assets, comprehensive review of facility and systems assessment, and fiscal sustainability of current and proposed operational efficiency. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: General Fund
RFQ: Architectural Design-Conservatory School
Authorize staff to issue an RFQ (Request for Qualifications) to provide architectural design consulting services for the new visual and performing arts conservatory school. Strategic Alignment: Operational
End of the Consent Agenda Items
Focus Choice School Partnership with Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Authorize the Superintendent to enter into a partnership between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the Baton Rouge General Medical Center to establish a Focus Choice School specializing in medical studies serving grades Pre-K-8 at Park Elementary School. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Tramelle Howard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Collins
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
Focus Choice School Partnership with LSU and the Water Institute
Consideration of a request authorizing the Superintendent to enter into a partnership between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, LSU and The Water Institute to establish a Focus Choice School specializing in environmental and coastal studies serving grades 6-12 at the Eva Legard Learning Center. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund
A friendly amendment was offered to consider the request authorizing the Superintendent to enter into a partnership between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, LSU and The Water Institute to establish a Focus Choice School specializing in environmental and coastal studies serving grades 6-12. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Connie Bernard.
Discussion followed.
Substitute motion to consider the request authorizing the Superintendent to enter into a partnership between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, LSU and The Water Institute to establish a Focus Choice School specializing in environmental and coastal studies serving grades 6-12 at the Eva Legard Learning Center. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Jill Dyason.
Motion Fails
Yea: Bellue, Dyason, Gaudet, Tatman
Nay: Howard, Collins, Bernard
Abstain: Ware-Jackson
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
A friendly amendment to authorize the Superintendent to enter into a partnership between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, LSU and The Water Institute to establish a Focus Choice School specializing in environmental and coastal studies serving grades 6-12. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Gaudet
Policy Revisions: CG, DJE, and DJED
Approval of the following School Board policy revisions and related matters: CG-Administrative Records, DJE-Purchasing, and DJED-Bids and Quotations.
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Connie Bernard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
_______________________________
Sito J. Narcisse, ED.D
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board