East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes
Thursday, March 2, 2023
A. Meeting Opening
1. 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, Dadrius Lanus, Carla Powell, Shashonnie Steward, Cliff Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Katie Kennison, and Patrick Martin
Others present were Sito Narcisse, Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Monique Scott-Spaulding, Chief Operations Officer; Arcelius Brickhouse Jr., Chief of Schools; Letrece Griffin, Chief Communication/Public Relations; 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. Items for Consideration
1. School Relocation: BRCVPA
Approval to relocate Baton Rouge Center of Visual and Performing Arts to the Kenilworth Middle School site for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Nathan Rust.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
2. Capitol High
Accept the Superintendent’s recommendations regarding Capitol High School, such recommendation to begin in the 2023-2024 school year and to include the following:
a) Setting an attendance/priority zone.
b) Setting a grade configuration of grades 9 through 12.
c) Creating a program that includes a hybrid traditional and focus choice school.
d) Authorizing staff to apply for a site code with the Louisiana Department of Education.
e) Authorizing staff to enroll any students currently enrolled in the current charter school located at Capitol High School.
Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
3. J.K. Haynes
Accept the Superintendent’s recommendations regarding J.K. Haynes School, such recommendation to begin in the 2023-2024 school year and to include the following:
a) Setting a grade configuration of Pre-Kindergarten through 12.
b) Creating a focus choice school program for a teacher academy in partnership with Louisiana State University and Southern University (additional contractual documents to be approved by the Board).
c) Authorizing staff to apply for a site code with the Louisiana Department of Education.
d) Authorizing staff to enroll any students currently enrolled in J.K. Haynes Charter School.
e) Authorizing the location of J.K. Haynes School at its current site.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin
Nay: Kennison
Not Present at Vote: Steward
4. BR FLAIM Classroom Expansion
Approval of the design and construction of a four-classroom expansion at BR FLAIM. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund (Operations Budget)
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin
Nay: Kennison
Not Present at Vote: Steward
5. Agreements: Graduations
Approval of an agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following: a) Southern University in the amount of $34,175 for the rental of FG Clark Activity Center for high school graduations.
b) Louisiana State University in the amount of $66,600 for the rental of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for high school graduations. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: General Fund
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison
Abstain: Martin
Not Present at Vote: Steward
6. Policy Revisions
Consideration of a request for the approval of the following School Board Policy Revisions and related matters:
a) GBRIBC-COVID Leave (Mr. Rust)
b) GBRIBB-Sick Leave Bank (Mr. Bellue)
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Substitute motion to bifurcate the request for the approval of the following School Board Policy Revisions and related matters: a) GBRIBC-COVID Leave b) GBRIBB-Sick Leave Bank
into two separate items.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Katie Kennison.
Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Steward
Approval of the following School Board Policy Revisions and related matters:
a) GBRIBC-COVID Leave
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Patrick Martin.
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Steward
Consideration of a request for the approval of the following School Board Policy Revisions and related matters:
b) GBRIBB-Sick Leave Bank
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Substitute motion to consider the request for the approval of the following School Board Policy Revisions and related matters: b) GBRIBB-Sick Leave Bank to the full Board without recommendation.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Katie Kennison.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Steward
7. Resolution: Community School Model
Consideration of a request for the adoption of a resolution to establish a Sustainable Community Schools Model.
Motion by Katie Kennison, second NONE.
Motion dies for a lack of a second.
C. 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