East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes
Thursday, February 2, 2023
A. Meeting Opening
1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The Invocation was led by School Board Member Shashonnie Steward, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by School Board Member Katie Kennison.
2. Call to Order and Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM by School Board Vice President Carla Powell.
Members present were Mark Bellue, Carla Powell, Shashonnie Steward, Cliff Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Katie Kennison, and Patrick Martin.
Dadrius Lanus came in after roll call.
Others present were Sito Narcisse, Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Caron Smith, Chief of Staff; Michael Robinson, Chief Academic Officer; Monique Scott-Spaulding, Chief Operations Officer; Arcelius Brickhouse Jr., Chief of Schools; Letrece Griffin, Chief Communication/Public Relations; Andrea O’Konski, Chief Officer for Accountability and Assessments; Amy Jones, Chief Technology Officer; Shenoa Warren, Interim Chief of Literacy, Stacey Dupre, Chief Officer for Support and Special Projects; Kelly Lopez, Chief Financial Officer; James Crochet, Chief Business Operations Officer; and Randy Morales II, Chief of Plant Operations.
B. Receive as Information
1. Update(s) from the Superintendent
C. Items for Consideration
1. Request for Proposal (RFP): EBR Magazine Publication
Authorize staff to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP), for custom magazine publication. Strategic Alignment: Exemplary Customer Services/Funding Source: General Fund (Advertising)
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
2. Grant: The Lion Electric Company
Accept the donation of 19 electric buses and charging stations from the Lion Electric Company provided funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant award. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence
Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
3. Professional Services Contract Addendum
Approval of an addendum to the professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and Amplify to add 4th grade DIBELS assessment licenses and related materials to the scope of work in order to meet the recently changed requirements of BESE 1566. Strategic Alignment: Academic Achievement/ Funding Source: ESSER II
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
4. Resolutions: Special Counsel
Approval of resolutions regarding the retention of the special counsel between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and a) Phelps Dunbar, LLP and b) Hammonds, Sills, Adkins, Guice, Noah, & Perkins LLP.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
5. Stipend: Special Education & English as a Second Language Teachers
Approval of one-time stipends for the following: a) $2,500 for new teachers teaching in the critical need teaching area, ESS/Special Education.
b) $1,000 for teachers teaching in the critical need teaching area, English as a Second Language. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence and Exemplary Customer Service/Funding Source: ESSER
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
D. Next Meeting Dates/Announcements
1. Announcement of Meetings
There being no further business, the Committee of the Whole adjourned by acclamation.
___________________________________
Sito J. Narcisse, Ed.D.
Secretary/Treasurer to the East Baton
Rouge Parish School Board
Committee of the Whole