East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, July 21, 2022
A. Meeting Opening
1. Call to Order, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance
The meeting was called to order at 5:06 PM by School Board Vice-President Dawn Collins.
The Invocation was led by School Board member Evelyn Ware-Jackson and the Invocation was led by Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Lailah Collins of McKinley High School, and accompanied by Senior Army Instructor, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Kenneth D. Copple.
2. Roll Call
The members present were Mark Bellue, Dadrius Lanus, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Michael Gaudet, and Connie Bernard.
David Tatman was absent.
Tramelle Howard and Jill Dyason came in after roll call.
Others present were Sito Narcisse, Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Michael Robinson, Chief Academic Officer; Monique Scott-Spaulding, Interim 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; Barbara Lashley, Chief of Literacy, and Stacey Dupre, Chief Officer for Support and Special Projects.
B. Minutes
1. Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board minutes of the June 16, 2022, Regular Board meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard
C. Information Only
1. Monthly Financial Report
2. Personnel Changes
3. Public Records Request Monthly Report
D. Receive As Information
1. Update from Superintendent
E. Reports from Board Appointees to Committees/Agencies
1. Board Appointees
F. Unfinished Business
1. Professional Services Contract: Arizona State University Prep Digital (ASU)
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Arizona State University Prep Digital. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard
Nay: Collins
G. Consent Agenda
1. Consent Vote
The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda excluding items G8 and G10.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Tramelle Howard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard
2. School Grade Relocation: Buchanan Elementary School
Approval to move Buchanan Elementary School grades 4 and 5 to University Terrace Elementary (housed at Eva Legard Learning Center) for the 2022-2023 school year.
3. School Grade Relocation: University Terrace Elementary
Approval to move University Terrace Elementary School grades 2 and 3 to the Buchanan Elementary School site for the 2022-2023 school year.
4. School Relocation: Brownfields Elementary
Approval to relocate and house Brownfields Elementary School at the Whitehills Elementary School site for the 2022-2023 school year.
5. 2022-2023 Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook & Discipline Policy
Approval of the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook and Discipline Policy for the 2022-2023 school year for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System with noted changes.
6. Professional Services Contract-LSU & Agricultural & Mechanical College
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. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund-Magnet
7. Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire
Approval of the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire as required for the 2020-2021 financial audit of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.
9. Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSS, in the matter of Sofia Hunt v. Kristy L. Woods, East Baton Rouge Parish School System, and Berkley Insurance Company, Docket No. 700231, Section 25, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana and to provide for related matters.
End of the Consent Agenda Items
G 8. Charter Contract Renewal: Helix Mentorship
Approval to renew the charter school agreement with Helix Mentorship and provide for related matters.
Motion by Tramelle Howard, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard
G 10. Policy: BCB
A friendly amendment to approve Policy BCB-School Board Meeting Rules of Procedure with the provision to insert the words "concise and efficient" in section 5 A.
Motion by Tramelle Howard, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Substitute motion to defer the consideration of a request for the approval of Policy BCB-School Board Meeting Rules of Procedure to the August COW.
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second NONE
The motion dies for a lack of a second.
Return to the main motion.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard
Nay: Ware-Jackson
H. New Business
1. Adoption/Ratification of Redistricting Plan
A motion offered to defer the discussion/consideration for the approval of a resolution for the adoption and ratification of the Ware/Collins Plan 1-11 Redistricting plan to the August 18th Regular meeting.
Motion by Evelyn Ware-Jackson, second by Dawn Collins.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet
Abstain: Bernard
2. ITEP: International Mezzo Technologies Inc
Motion to approve the application from International Mezzo Technologies, Inc. (20210001-ITE) for an Industrial Tax Exemption and related matters.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard
Not Present at Vote: Ware-Jackson
3. Teacher Sign-On Bonus
Approve an allocation from the ESSER II, Action 2 budget ($500,000) and ESSER III, Action 2 budget ($572,500) stipend line items for the payment of a one-time sign-on bonus of $7,500 for new teacher hires for the 2022-2023 school year.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Michael Gaudet.
Discussion followed.
Motion to call the question.
Motion by Connie Bernard
Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard
Nay: Ware-Jackson
Approve an allocation from the ESSER II, Action 2 budget ($500,000) and ESSER III, Action 2 budget ($572,500) stipend line items for the payment of a one-time sign-on bonus of $7,500 for new teacher hires for the 2022-2023 school year.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard
Abstain: Collins
I. Updates
1. Redistricting Report
J. Organizational Items
1. Announcement of Meetings
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
_______________________________
Sito J. Narcisse, Ed.D.
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board