East Baton Rogue Parish School Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, March 16, 2023
A. Meeting Opening
1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The Invocation was led by School Board Member Cliff Lewis, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Cadet Private First Class Olivia Barrouquere, Liberty Magnet High School, accompanied by Senior Army Instructor Colonel (Retired) Jona M. Hughes.
2. Call to Order and Roll Call
President Dadrius Lanus called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM.
Members present were Mark Bellue, Dadrius Lanus, Carla Powell, Shashonnie Steward, Cliff Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Katie Kennison, Patrick Martin
Others present were Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Caron Smith, Chief of Staff; Michael Robinson, Chief Academic Officer; Monique Scott-Spaulding, Chief Operations Officer; 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. Minutes
1. Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board minutes of the November 17, 2022, Regular Board meeting (revised), February 16, 2023, Regular Board meeting, and the March 2, 2023, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
C. Information Only
1. Monthly Financial Report
2. Personnel Changes
D. Receive As Information
1. Update from Superintendent
E. Resolutions
1. Resolution: "Art In Schools Month"
Adoption of the Resolution proclaiming March 2023 as "Arts in our Schools" month.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Katie Kennison.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
2. Resolution: "National School Breakfast Week"
Adoption of the Resolution proclaiming March 6-10, 2023, as "National School Breakfast Week."
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
3. Resolution: "National Women's History Month"
Adoption of the Resolution proclaiming March 2023 as "National Women's History Month."
Motion by Carla Powell, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
G. Unfinished Business
1. Policy Revision
Consideration of a request for the approval of the following School Board Policy Revisions and related matters: GBRIBB-Sick Leave Bank
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Patrick Martin.
Substitute motion for the approval of the following School Board Policy Revisions and related matters: GBRIBB-Sick Leave Bank striking #5 & 7 under the recipient eligibility section.
Motion by Katie Kennison, second by Nathan Rust.
Motion Fails
Yea: Rust, Kennison, Martin
Nay: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Gaudet
Approval of the following School Board Policy Revisions and related matters: GBRIBB-Sick Leave Bank
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
H. Consent Agenda
1. Consent Vote
The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda, excluding items 3, 4, and 6.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
2. 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.
5. 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)
7. Policy Revision
Approval of the following School Board Policy Revisions and related matters: a) GBRIBC-COVID Leave
End of the Consent Agenda Items
3. Capitol High
Consideration of a request to 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 Michael Gaudet, second by Cliff Lewis.
Substitute motion to consider a request to 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.
Excluding c) Creating a program that includes a hybrid traditional and focus choice school.
Motion by Katie Kennison, second by Patrick Martin.
Motion Fails
Yea: Kennison
Nay: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin
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.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin Nay: Kennison
4. J.K. Haynes
Accept the Superintendent’s recommendations regarding J.K. Haynes Charter 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. (Dr. Narcisse)
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Carla Powell.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin
Nay: Kennison
6. 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 Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison
Abstain: Martin
I. New Business
1. Policy: JCDAE, KGA, GAMK
Consideration of a request for the approval of the following School Board Policies and Policy revisions and related matters:
a) GAMK-Violence Free Workplace
b) JCDAE-Electronic Telecommunication Devices
c) KGA- Public Conduct on School Property
Motion to bifurcate the consideration of a request for the approval of the following School Board Policies and Policy revisions and related matters:
a) GAMK-Violence Free Workplace
b) JCDAE-Electronic Telecommunication Devices
c) KGA- Public Conduct on School Property into three separate items.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Katie Kennison.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
I.1.a-Policy: GAMK
Approval of the following School Board Policies and Policy revisions and related matters:
a) GAMK-Violence Free Workplace
Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Shashonnie Steward.
2. Extend the Meeting
Motion to extend the meeting by 30 minutes.
Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
Return to item I.1.a-Policy: GAMK
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
I.1.b.- Policy: JCDAE
Consideration of a request for the approval of the following School Board Policies and Policy revisions and related matters:
b) JCDAE-Electronic Telecommunication Devices
Motion to defer the consideration of a request for the approval of the following School Board Policies and Policy revisions and related matters:
I.1.b.- Policy: JCDAE-Electronic Telecommunication Devices to the April Committee of the Whole.
Motion by Carla Powell, second by Michael Gaudet.
The meeting adjourned due to the expiration of time.
The remaining items
I.1.b-JCDAE-Electronic Telecommunication Devices
I.1.c-KGA- Public Conduct on School Property will be moved to the next Regular meeting.
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
_______________________________
Sito J. Narcisse, Ed.D.
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board