East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, May 19, 2022
Meeting Opening
Call to Order, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM by School Board Vice-President Dawn Collins.
The Invocation by School Board Member Michael Gaudet, and Pledge of Allegiance led by Cadet Second Lieutenant Lillian Millican, Glen Oaks High School accompanied by Senior Army Instructor, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Ronald T. Mahomes.
Roll Call
Members present were Mark Bellue, Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard
David Tatman was absent.
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; Arcelius Brickhouse Jr., Interim Chief of Schools; 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 April 21, 2022, Regular Board meeting, May 5, 2022, Special Board meeting, and the May 5, 2022, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Tramelle Howard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Gaudet, Bernard
Information Only
Monthly Financial Report
Personnel Changes
Public Records Request Monthly Report
Receive As Information
Update from Superintendent
Presentation-Comprehensive Staffing Model
EXCELL
Consent Agenda
Consent Vote
The following items are to be approved as part of the Consent Agenda excluding items #'s 3-Professional Services Contracts-Reimagine, 4-Cooperative Agreement, 6-Healthcare and Ancillary Benefits Plan, 7-Revised 2021-2022 General Fund Budget, 8-Board Meeting Calendar: 2022-2023, 9- Contract Renewal-Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation d/b/a The Emerge Center, Inc., 12- Policy-EFAA.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Tramelle Howard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
Grants: Pre-K
Approval of the following 2022-2023 Pre-K grants:
a) Cecil J. Picard Early Childhood (LA4) in the amount of $5,404,400
b) Nonpublic Schools Early Childhood Development (NSECD) in the amount of $668,680
c) Birth to 3-Year-Old Seats (B-3 Seats) in the amount of $2,005,960
d) Believe in the amount of $1,350,750 Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
Enterprise Financial Management Solution and Human Resources Management Software
Selection and approval of an Enterprise Financial Management Solution and Human Resources Management Software. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: General Fund/ESSER
Contract Renewal: General Counsel
Renewal of the General Counsel’s employment contract.
Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: a) Laquitta Thomas, et al. v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, al., Docket No. 690525, Section 26, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, and to provide for related matters.* b) Christian Kelly v. Margret Fort, et al., Docket No. 691492, Section 24, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, and to provide for related matters.
End of The Consent Agenda Items
Professional Services Contracts-Reimagine
Approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following: a) Empower Schools in the amount of $18,750 to provide support and resources for innovative plans. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Reimagine-Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts
b) Empower Schools in the amount of $18,750 to provide support and resources for innovative plans. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Reimagine-Baton Rouge Foreign Language Academic Immersion Magnet
c) Empower Schools in the amount of $18,750 to provide support and resources for innovative plans. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Reimagine
d) Empower Schools in the amount of $18,750 to provide support and resources for innovative plans. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Reimagine
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Tramelle Howard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet
Nay: Collins
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
Cooperative Agreement
Approval of a Cooperative Agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Capital Area Human Services District Baton Rouge Mental Health Center/Children's Behavioral Health Services. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: NA
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Tramelle Howard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Gaudet
Recuse: Collins, Dyason
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
Healthcare and Ancillary Benefits Plans
Consideration of a request for the approval/authorization of the following:
a) Proposed 2023 Healthcare rates for active employees, non-Medicare and Medicare-eligible retirees participating in the BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana administered medical plans for Core, Buy-Up, and Community Blue.
b) Proposed pharmacy contract with Express Scripts for pharmacy benefit management services for 2023-2025. This includes the implementation of alternative funding solutions for specialty medications.
c) Proposed contract with United Healthcare to replace existing Humana Medicare Advantage program for 2023-2025. This includes eliminating the HMO plan option and replacing it with a single PPO plan offering.
d) Proposed contract with Metlife to replace existing AlwaysCare/Unum dental and vision products for 2023.
e) Proposed contract with AFLAC/Zurich to replace existing Lincoln life and disability products for 2023.
f) Proposed contract with AFLAC to replace existing Metlife critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity products for 2023.
g) Authorize the Superintendent to negotiate and execute the 2023 contract for stop loss insurance coverage.
h) Proposed contract with Ochsner for 2022-23 wellness initiatives.
i) Proposed contract renewal with Selerix to continue HRIS system administration of all benefits for active, non-Medicare, and Medicare eligible retirees for 2023. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding: Various
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Mark Bellue.
Substitute motion to bifurcate the item to consider e) Proposed contract with AFLAC/Zurich to replace existing Lincoln life and disability products for 2023 separate from a-d and f-i.
Motion by Jill Dyason, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Motion Fails
Yea: Bellue, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason
Nay: Lanus, Howard, Gaudet
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
Approval/Authorization of the following:
a) Proposed 2023 Healthcare rates for active employees, non-Medicare and Medicare-eligible retirees participating in the BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana administered medical plans for Core, Buy-Up, and Community Blue.
b) Proposed pharmacy contract with Express Scripts for pharmacy benefit management services for 2023-2025. This includes the implementation of alternative funding solutions for specialty medications.
c) Proposed contract with United Healthcare to replace existing Humana Medicare Advantage program for 2023-2025. This includes eliminating the HMO plan option and replacing it with a single PPO plan offering.
d) Proposed contract with Metlife to replace existing AlwaysCare/Unum dental and vision products for 2023.
e) Proposed contract with AFLAC/Zurich to replace existing Lincoln life and disability products for 2023.
f) Proposed contract with AFLAC to replace existing Metlife critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity products for 2023.
g) Authorize the Superintendent to negotiate and execute the 2023 contract for stop loss insurance coverage.
h) Proposed contract with Ochsner for 2022-23 wellness initiatives.
i) Proposed contract renewal with Selerix to continue HRIS system administration of all benefits for active, non-Medicare, and Medicare eligible retirees for 2023. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding: Various
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Gaudet
Recuse: Dyason
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
Revised 2021-2022 General Fund Budget
Approval of the Revised 2021-2022 General Fund Budget for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet
Nay: Collins
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
Board Meeting Calendar: 2022-2023
Approval of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meeting schedule for the 2022-2023 school year with the amendment to change the Committee of the Whole to September 8th and the Regular Meeting to September 15th.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
Contract Renewal-Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation d/b/a The Emerge Center, Inc
Approval to renew a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation d/b/a The Emerge Center, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $250,000 to provide Speech-Language and Occupational Therapy.
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Dyason, Gaudet
Nay: Collins
Abstain: Ware-Jackson
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
Policy-EFAA
Motion to defer the consideration of the request for the approval of district policy EFAA-Employee Use of Social Media to the Committee of the Whole in July 2022.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
New Business
Student Expulsion
No motion to hear the appeal, so the recommendation of the Superintendent stands.
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