East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, February 16, 2023
A. Meeting Opening
1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The Invocation was led by School Board Member Mark Bellue, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Cadet Staff Sergeant Christopher Johnson, Liberty Magnet High School accompanied by Senior Army Instructor, Colonel (Retired) Jona M. Hughes.
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 wereMark Bellue, Carla Powell, Shashonnie Steward, Cliff Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Katie Kennison, Patrick Martin
President Lanus was absent.
Others present were Sito Narcisse, Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Caron Smith, Chief of Staff; Monique Scott-Spaulding, Chief Operations Officer; Letrece Griffin, Chief Communication/Public Relations; Andrea O’Konski, Chief Officer for Accountability and Assessments; Amy Jones, Chief Technology Officer; Stacey Dupre, Chief Officer for Support and Special Projects; Kelly Lopez, Chief Financial Officer; James Crochet, Chief Business Operations Officer;
B. Minutes
1. Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board minutes of the January 19, 2023, Regular Board meeting, January 25, 2023, Special Board meeting, and the January 12, 2023 and February 2, 2023, Committee of the Whole meetings as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
C. Information Only
1. Monthly Financial Report
2. Personnel Changes
3. Public Records Request Monthly Report
4. Point of Information
D. Receive As Information
1. Update from Superintendent
2. Council of the Great City Schools: English Language Learners Audit Report
E. Resolutions
1. Resolution: "National School Social Work Week"
Adoption of a resolution proclaiming March 5-11, 2023 as East Baton Rouge Parish School Board School Social Work Week.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
2. Resolution: "Social Emotional Learning Week"
Adoption of a resolution proclaiming March 6-10, 2023 as East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Social Emotional Learning Week and March 10, 2023, as Social Emotional Learning Day.
Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
Nay: Rust
3. Resolution: Black History Month
Adoption of a resolution proclaiming February as "Black History Month"
Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Nathan Rust.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Steward
4. Resolution: "National Magnet Schools Month"
Adoption of a resolution proclaiming February as "National Magnet Schools Month."
Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Lewis
F. Reports from Board Appointees to Committees/Agencies
1. Board Appointees
G. Consent Agenda
1. Consent Vote
The following items are to be approved as part of the Consent Agenda excluding item #6.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
2. Request for Proposal (RFP): EBR Magazine Publication
Resolution: Consideration of a request to authorize staff to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP), for custom magazine publication. Strategic Alignment: Exemplary Customer Services/Funding Source: General Fund (Advertising)
3. Grant: The Lion Electric Company
Resolution: Consideration of a request to 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
4. Professional Services Contract Addendum
Resolution: Consideration of a request for the 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
5. Resolutions: Special Counsel
Resolution: Consideration of a request for the 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.
End of the Consent Agenda Items
6. Stipend: Special Education & English as a Second Language Teachers
A friendly amendment to bifurcate the consideration of a request for the 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 Michael Gaudet, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
Approval of one-time stipends for the following: a) $2,500 for new teachers teaching in the critical need teaching area, ESS/Special Education.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin
Nay: Kennison
Approval of one-time stipends for the following:
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 Mark Bellue, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
H. New Business
1. Unclaimed Property
Authorize the Superintendent and staff to work cooperatively with the Louisiana Department of Treasury to provide, with EBRPSS employee authorization via an opt in process, an opportunity to obtain unclaimed property. (Ms. Hall)
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin
Nay: Kennison
2. Inter-Governmental Agreement
Approve an Inter-Governmental Agreement with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office to provide for a School Resource Officer Administrator.
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet
Nay: Kennison, Martin
I. 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