East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Notice and Instructions
Notice
Meeting Opening
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:13 PM by School Board President David Tatman.
Roll Call
Members present were Mark Bellue, Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, and David Tatman
Others present were Sito Narcisse, Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Caron Smith, Chief of Staff; Michael Robinson, Chief Academic Officer; Arcelius Brickhouse Jr., Interim Chief of Schools; Alexandra Stubbs, Chief Communication/Public Relations; Andrea O’Konski, Chief Officer for Accountability and Assessments; Amy Jones, Chief Technology Officer, and Stacey Dupre, Chief Officer for Support and Special Projects
Minutes
Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board minutes of the February 17, 2022, Regular Board meeting, March 3, 2022, Special Board meeting, and March 3, 2022, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Recognitions
Resolution "Art in our Schools"
Adoption of a Resolution proclaiming March 2022, as "Arts in our Schools" month.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Information Only
Monthly Financial Report
Personnel Changes
Public Records Request Monthly Report
Receive As Information
Update from Superintendent
Unfinished Business
2022-2023 School Year Calendar
Approval of the 2022-2023 School Year Calendar.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Consent Agenda
Consent Vote
The following items are to be approved as part of the Consent Agenda excluding item #6-Professional Services Contracts Renewals.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Connie Bernard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Bid: Freezer-Southeast Middle
Approval to bid for the purchase and installation of a 253 square foot walk-in freezer unit at Southeast Middle School. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: Child Nutrition Program
Grants: Federal
Approval of the following grants: a) ESSER II-Incentive, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Grant in the amount of $4,102,672.00 to support learning loss recovery. b) ESSER II-School Choice, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Grant in the amount of $500,000.00 to fund data driven initiatives to support learning loss. c) ESSER III-Incentive, American Rescue Plan Grant in the amount of $1,791,092.00 to fund data driven initiatives to support learning loss. d) Title III Set Aside Grant in the amount of $10,000.00 to provide academic support for English Learners (ELs). e) Homeless ARP I Grant in the amount of $163,131.00 to implement instructional strategies in the classroom. f) Homeless ARP II Grant in the amount of $556,117.00 to implement instructional strategies in the classroom. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement, Exemplary Customer Service, Operational Excellence, and Employee Development
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the Baton Rouge General Medical Center to provide a school health clinic at Claiborne Elementary. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: N/A
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) to support COVID-19 testing. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: NA
Professional Services Contract
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and School Leadership Center of Greater New Orleans in the amount of $50,400.00 to provide professional development for the Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Schools. Funding Source Title II Non-Public
Professional Services Contract-Compensation Plan Study
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and SSA Consultants in the amount of $88,948.00 to provide for a compensation plan study. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: ESSER III
RFQ-Architectural Design Consulting Services for Brownfields Elementary
Authorizing staff to issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to seek proposals to provide architectural design consulting services for the new Brownfields Elementary School. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: Tax Plan-Phase 4
RFP-Transportation Software
Authorize of the Superintendent and staff to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a comprehensive transportation software package collaboration between the Transportation Department, the Finance Department, the Human Resources Department, the Purchasing Department, and the Technology Department to ensure that proposed software provides efficient interfaces with new systemwide software anticipated to be installed in the next two years. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: General Fund: General Fund
Summer Part Time Rate Increase
Approve the amend the Summer 2022 salary schedule to approve a forty percent increase in compensation of specified Summer part-time employees. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement, Exemplary Customer Service, and Operational Excellence/Funding Source: General Fund & Grants
Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Henry C. Brown Jr. vs. Canithia Thomas and the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, Docket No. 695000, Section 24, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana and to provide for related matters.
End of Consent Agenda Items
Professional Services Contracts Renewals
Approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:
a) Amplify in the amount of $22,200.00 to provide professional development and support to implement state mandated literacy screeners. Strategic Alignment: Academic Achievement/Funding Source: ESSER II, Action 2.
b) ANET in the amount of $115,794.00 to provide benchmark assessments for grades 9-11. Strategic Alignment: Academic Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund
c) ANET in the amount of $390,492.24 to provide benchmark assessments for grades 3-8 and professional development support. Strategic Alignment: Academic Achievement/Funding Source: Federal Funds-Redesign Grant and/or Educational Excellence Fund
c) Illuminate in the amount of $199,018.00 to provide a virtual management tool to house data. Strategic Alignment: Academic Achievement/Funding Source: ESSER II, Action 2
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Collins
New Business
Charter School Application: Louisiana Rebirth Blended Learning Academy
Motion to accept the recommendation to deny the Louisiana Rebirth Blended Learning Academy School application and related matters.
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Bernard, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Gaudet
Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Idella Corley vs. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Docket: 20-00022; District 5.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Resolution: Adjusted Millage Rates
Consideration and adoption of the resolution to adjust millage rates for the tax year 2022.
Motion by Tramelle Howard, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard
Nay: Tatman
Resolution: Roll Forward Millage
Adoption of 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 2022.
Motion by Tramelle Howard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Redistricting: Map Selection
Discussion and consideration of the removal from consideration of any of the 19 maps/plans that fail to meet the following criteria:
a) All election districts must have populations within 5% above or below the ideal population; and
b) The number of majority-white (voting-age) districts must not exceed the number of majority-black (voting-age) districts. (Ms. Collins)
Motion by Dawn Collins, second by Tramelle Howard.
Final Resolution: Motion Fails
Yea: Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson
Nay: Bellue, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Redistricting: Process
Approval of a process to adopt and publish a single redistricting plan for later ratification, and related matters.
Motion by Dawn Collins, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson
Nay: Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Presentations
Redistricting Update
Organizational Items
Announcement of Meetings
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
_______________________________
Sito J. Narcisse, Ed.D.
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board