East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Meeting Opening
Call to Order/Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 5:45 PM by School Board President David Tatman.
Members present were Mark Bellue, Dadrius Lanus, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, and David Tatman.
Tramelle Howard was absent.
Others present were Sito Narcisse, Superintendent (virtually); Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Caron Smith, Chief of Staff; Michael Robinson, Chief Academic Officer; Frank Chester, Chief Operations 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 March 17, 2022, Regular Board meeting, April 7, 2022, Special Board meeting, and the April 7, 2022, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Recognitions
Resolution: "Parliamentary Law Month"
Adoption of a Resolution proclaiming April 2022, as "Parliamentary Law Month".
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, 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
Facility Management Services
Motion to select and approve ABM as the facility management services provider. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: General Fund
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Dawn Collins.
Substitute motion to accept the recommendation of the selection committee to select and approve HES as facility management services provider. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: General Fund
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Lanus, Collins, Ware-Jackson
Consent Agenda
Consent Vote
The following items are to be approved as part of the Consent Agenda excluding items #2-Demolition of Jefferson Terrace Elementary and #3-Professional Services Contracts: Exceptional Student Services 2021-2022.
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
Professional Services Contracts: Exceptional Student Services 2022-2023
Approval of the professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:
a) Pediatric Services of America d/b/a Aveanna Healthcare in the amount of $552,000 to provide LPN nursing services as directed by the student's Individual Education Plan(IEP). Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: IDEA Part B
b) Chase Healthcare in the amount of $87,000 to provide LPN nursing services as directed by the student's Individual Education Plan(IEP). Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: IDEA Part B
c) Turner, LLC in the amount of $621,000 to provide LPN nursing services as directed by the student's Individual Education Plan(IEP). Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: IDEA Part B
d) Audio Optical System of Austin, Inc. in the amount of $74,892 to provide a comprehensive, text-to-speech integrated literacy solution that will benefit EBR students that have difficulty independently accessing their curriculum materials. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: IDEA Part B
e) Adaptive Solutions and Sherry Hollingsworth in the amount of $20,000 to provide assistive technology assistance services to EBR students that display severe communication deficits. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: IDEA Part B
f) Dr. Kashundra L. Williams, LP, BCBA-D, NCSP, Sundry Behavioral Services in the amount of $60,000 to provide applied behavior analysis (ABA) services to EBR students that display severe autistic behavioral issues as well as training for ESS staff and teachers. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: IDEA Part B g) Deaf Resources Center of Greater Baton Rouge, LLC in the amount of $80,000 to provide sign language interpreter services to students with disabilities-hearing impairment. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: IDEA Part B
Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: a) Shawynda Spears v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al., Docket No. 699344, Section 23, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana.
b) Elizabeth Flores v. Berkley Insurance Company, et al., Docket No. 691862, Section 25, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana.
End of Consent Agenda Items
Demolition of Jefferson Terrace Elementary
Consideration of a request for the authorization for staff to advertise, accept the low bids meeting specifications, and make the award of contract for demolition of Jefferson Terrace Elementary School 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.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Substitute motion to delay for one month authorizing staff to advertise, accept the low bids meeting specifications and make the award of contract for demolition of Jefferson Terrace Elementary School 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.
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second NONE.
Substitute motion failed for a lack of a second.
Authorize staff to advertise, accept the low bids meeting specifications, and make the award of contract for demolition of Jefferson Terrace Elementary School 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.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Collins, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Ware-Jackson
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
Professional Services Contracts: Exceptional Student Services 2021-2022
Approval of the professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:
a) Egan Health Care Corporation d/b/a Egan-Ochsner HCBS River Parishes in the amount of $11,000 to provide LPN nursing services to EBR students as directed by the student's IEP. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: IDEA Part B
b) Pediatric Services of America d/b/a Aveanna Healthcare (amendment) in the amount of $29,000 to provide additional LPN nursing services. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: IDEA Part B (Ms. Chapman/Dr. Robinson)
Motion by Dawn Collins, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Bernard, Tatman
Recuse: Gaudet
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
New Business
ITEP Non-Compliance: Stupp Bros., Inc. dba Stupp Corporation
Motion to approve a resolution providing written notice to the Board of Commerce and Industry outlining the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board's recommendation regarding Stupp Bros., Inc. dba Stupp Corporation's non-compliance with the Industrial Tax Exemption Program Contract to take no action regarding the noncompliance.
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Collins
Not Present at Vote: Lanus, Ware-Jackson
Student Expulsion
No motion to hear the appeal, so the recommendation of the Superintendent stands.
Presentation
Redistricting
No report was given.
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