East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Special Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 9, 2022
Meeting Opening
Call to Order, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance
The meeting was called to order at 5:07 PM by School Board President David Tatman.
The Invocation was led by School Board Member Mark Bellue, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by School Board President David Tatman.
Roll Call
Members present were Mark Bellue, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, and David Tatman.
Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, and Vice-President Dawn Collins were 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; Letrece Griffin, 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.
Items for Consideration
Job Description
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of a job description for a School Resource Officer or a School Safety Officer to the full Board without recommendation.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Updated/Revised Job Descriptions
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of the following updated/revised job descriptions to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022:
a) Accounting Specialist
b) Army Military Property Specialist
c) Budget Specialist II
d) ESS Data Specialist
e) Leap Specialist
f) Operations Specialist
g) Systems Analyst
h) Network Specialist
i) Marketing and Media Specialist
j) I-Care Prevention Specialist
k) Budget Specialist
l) Grant Specialist
m) Coordinator of Retention and Employee Accountability
n) Career and Technical Education Program Coordinator
o) Work-based Learning Coordinator
p) Supervisor of Employee Benefits
q) Coordinator of Homeless
r) Human Resources Supervisor
s) Supervisor of Payroll
t) Supervisor of Health, Programs, and Athletics
u) Director of Risk Management
v) Administrative Director of Federal Programs
w) Director of Fine Arts
x) Administrative Director of Transportation
y) Director of Procurement and Warehouse Services
z) CNP Manager
aa) CNP Assistant Manager
ab) Finance Specialist III- Retirement
ac) Benefits Specialist I
ad) Payroll Specialist II
ae) Finance Specialist III- Grants
af) Student Data Registration Specialist
ag) Finance Specialist- Payroll Benefits
ah) Electrical Technician
ai) Executive Director of Early Childhood Programs
aj) Human Resources Specialist
ak) School-wide Program Monitor
al) Director of Assessment and Accountability
am) CNP Assistant Director
an) Director for Human Resources
ao) CNP Assistant Cook
ap) CNP Cook
aq) CNP Regional Supervisor
ar) CNP Data Specialist
as) CNP Warehouse Supervisor
at) CNP Computer Specialist
au) ESL Instructional Specialist
av) Truancy Officer
Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Ware-Jackson
Eliminated Job Descriptions
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval to eliminate the following obsolete job descriptions to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022.:
a) Assistant to the Administrative Director of Facilities
b) Assistant to the Director of Transportation
c) Chief Officer of Student Support Services
d) ESS Hotline Specialist
e) Adolescent Literacy Coordinator
Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
New Job Descriptions
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of the following new job descriptions to the full Board without recommendation:
a) ESL Bilingual Community Ambassador
b) Community Ambassador
c) Homeless Ambassador
d) Mental Health Professional
e) Academic Program Coordinators
f) ADA Compliance Officer
g) School Resource Officer
h) Director of Mental Health Services
i) Director of Labor Relations
j) Youth Development Specialist
k) Chief of Plant Operations
l) Digital Press Operator
m) Large Format Production Operator
n) Screen Printing Press Operator
o) Production Finishing Assistant
p) Assistant Director of Facilities
q) Assistant Director of Transportation
r) Regional Chef
s) Coordinator for Student Activities
t) Academic Program Supervisor
Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence (Ms. Hall/Mr. Chester)
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Mark Bellue, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, David Tatman
Grade Configurations-Schools in the South
A motion was offered to send the request to the consent agenda with a friendly amendment to send the consideration of a request for the approval for the following grade configurations to the full Board without recommendation:
a) The new elementary school in the southern part of the district as a PK-8th grade.
b) The new high school in the southern part of the district as a 6-12th grade. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Grade Configuration-Kenilworth
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval for a PK-8th grade configuration at Kenilworth school conditioned upon it's return to EBRPSS to the full Board without recommendation. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Ware-Jackson
Grant-Teacher Project
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of the Neighbors Federal Credit Union Project Grant in the amount of $21,477.29 to provide funding for six teacher projects to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Mark Bellue, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Connie Bernard, David Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Michael Gaudet
Grant-Louisiana Department of Education
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of the Lead Agency Grant in the amount of $358,050 to assist with coordinated enrollment and support services for childcare centers, charter schools, private schools, Head Start, and Early Head Start to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement.
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
Professional Services Contract-Seamless
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Seamless in the amount of $12,455 to provide a digital work-based experience platform to document student work-based experience and coordinate business partnerships to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Career Development Funds (CDF)
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
2022-2023 Property and Casualty Insurance Program Policies
Motion to send the consideration of a request to authorize the administration to approve the most cost effective Property and Casualty Insurance Program Policy Renewal package for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for the 2022-2023 fiscal year and to provide for related matters to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022, with the directive to staff to issue an RFP for the 2023-2024 school year.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Resolution: Reject Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of the resolution authorizing the Board President and the Superintendent to execute and sign all documents to reject Uninsured Motorist Coverage in connection with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System's automobile liability coverage and its Self-Insured Retention Program for the 2022-2023 fiscal year to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022.
Motion by Jill Dyason, second by Connie Bernard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Advertising in Official Journal FY 2022-2023
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval to select "The Advocate" as the Official Journal (newspaper advertising) of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for FY 2022-2023 to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022.
Motion by Jill Dyason, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Advertising of Bids for FY 2022-2023
Motion to send the consideration of a request to authorize staff to advertise, receive, and award bids for materials, equipment, supplies, and services, through June 30, 2023, to the lowest responsible bidder/proposer meeting specifications and all state and federal requirements for quotes and formal invitations to bid to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
REAL Program Part-time Teacher Rate Increase
Motion to send the consideration of a request to amend the REAL-Time salary schedule to approve a forty percent increase in compensation for the REAL program part-time employees to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: REAL-Time Early Access to Literacy (REAL) Grant
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Connie Bernard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Professional Services Contracts-Federal
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of the professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:
a) City Year in the amount of $360,000 to provide support services. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Title I
b) Achieve3000, Inc. in the amount of $1,391,090 to provide professional development and student web-based activities. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: ESSER II, Action 2
c) CASEL in the amount of $50,000 to provide support services. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement & Employee Development/Funding Source: ESSER II, Action 1
d) National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) in the amount of $454,000 to provide support and professional development on school improvement best practices. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Redesign
e) National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) in the amount of $120,000 to provide support and professional development on school improvement best practices. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Title II
f) Rethink in the amount of $175,000 to provide for social emotional learning and mental health support services to the full Board without recommendation. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement & Employee Development/Funding Source: ESSER II, Action 1
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of MOU between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Southern University at New Orleans to provide Millie Charles School of Social Work students an opportunity for practical experiences in the area of social work to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Professional Services Contract-LSU & Agricultural & Mechanical College
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and LSU & Agricultural & Mechanical College in the amount of $123,891 to provide staff and program support at the Eva Legard Learning Center to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund-Magnet
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Ware-Jackson
Semi Annual Financial Tax Plan Update
Motion to send the consideration of a request for approval of the Actual December 2021 Semi-Annual Financial Tax Plan Update and the 2021-2022 Revised Budgets for propositions 1, 2, and 3 to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Ware-Jackson
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)-Pre-K Expansion
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of the MOU template for childcare centers, charter schools, and private schools in the EBR Community Network for the expansion of Pre-K 3 and pre-K 4 student seats to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: LA4, NSECD, ESSER II, B-3
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Policy: BBD
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of School Board policy BBD-School Superintendent Relations to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022. Strategic Alignment: Exemplary Customer Service
Motion by Jill Dyason, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Fails
Yea: Dyason, Bernard, Tatman
Nay: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Gaudet
Stipend
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of the amendment of the Board approved stipend to include all employees that utilized approved Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave for the 2021-2022 school year to the consent agenda of the regular meeting of the Board on June 16, 2022.
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Expenditures: Pathways to Bright Futures
A motion was offered to send the request to the consent agenda with a friendly amendment to send the consideration of the approval of the Pathways to Bright Futures expenditures to the full Board without recommendation.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Bernard
Next Meeting Dates/Announcements
Announcement of Meetings
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
_______________________________
Sito J. Narcisse, Ed.D.
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board