East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Committee of the Whole Minutes
Thursday, April 6, 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, and Michael Gaudet.
Katie Kennison and Patrick Martin came in after the 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; Nichola Hall, Chief of Human Resources; Kelly Lopez, Chief Financial Officer; James Crochet, Chief Business Operations Officer; and Randy Morales II, Chief of Plant Operations.
B. Information Only
1. BASIS Materra Charter School Report
2. South Baton Rouge Charter Academy Report
3. IDEA Innovation Public Schools Report
4. IDEA Bridge Public Schools Report
5. The Emerge School For Autism Report
C. Items for Consideration
1. 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
Consideration of a request for the approval of the 2023-2024 School Year Calendar.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Mark Bellue.
Substitute motion to defer the approval of the 2023-2024 School Year Calendar to the May COW.
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Patrick Martin.
Board member Katie Kennison made a friendly amendment to the substitute motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of the 2023-2024 School Year Calendar to the full Board without recommendation to allow for additional planning of middle school recess time.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
Nay: Lewis
2. Grants
Approval of the Special Olympics Louisiana Funding Unified Champion Schools Grant in the amount of $20,500 to build and expand inclusive programming for ESS students.
Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
3. Summer Compensation Modification
Approval to amend the Summer 2023 salary schedule to approve a forty percent increase in compensation of specified Summer part-time employees. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: Federal & General Fund
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Katie Kennison.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
4. Summer Compensation Modification: Child Nutrition Program
Approval to amend the Summer 2023 Child Nutrition Program (CNP) salary schedule to approve CNP employees' regular hourly 9-month rate. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence & Exemplary Customer Service/Funding Source: Child Nutrition Program
Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Katie Kennison.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
5. Comprehensive Summer Program: Memorandums of Understanding(MOU)/ Professional Services Contracts
Approval of the following complimentary Memorandums of Understanding(MOU) and Contracts for the comprehensive summer program between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:
a) Big Buddy Program MOU
b) Boys and Girls Club Metro Louisiana MOU
c) YMCA of the Capital Area MOU and professional services contract not to exceed $94,080 to provide summer enrichment programming.
d) BREC MOU and professional services contract not to exceed $76,800 to provide summer recreational programming. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Title I
Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
6. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): BRAYN
Approval of an MOU between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and BRAYN (Baton Rouge Area Youth Network) to implement a model to strengthen school and community partnerships.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Nathan Rust.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
7. Naming of Capitol High School Site
Motion to approve the recommendation of the naming committee to name the new school located at the Capitol High Site as Capitol High School.
Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Nathan Rust.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
8. Request for Qualifications: Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts
Authorize staff to issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to seek proposals to provide Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) services for the Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts tax plan project. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: Tax Plan
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
9. Architect Selection: Baton Rouge Center Visual and Performing Arts (BRCVPA)
Approval of the Architectural Selection Committee’s recommendation of RHH/Tipton to provide architectural design consulting services for the Baton Rouge Center of Visual and Performing Arts Project. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: Tax Plan
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Steward
10. Professional Services Contract: Great Minds PBC
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Great Minds PBC in the amount of $22,200 to provide professional development sessions in the Eureka Math Squared Algebra I curriculum. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement & Employee Development/Funding Source: ESSER II Math Incentive
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Katie Kennison.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Steward
11. Professional Services Contract: Literacy
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) in the amount of $231,000 to develop a standard operating process for analyzing district data, improving instructional strategies, and building the capacity of educators. Strategic Alignment: Employee Development/Funding Source: Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant (CLSD)
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
12. Contract: Centegix
Consideration of a request for the approval of a contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Centegix in the amount of $2,345,450, over a three year period, to provide an emergency response system for classroom and schoolwide security. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: ESSER/General Fund
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Michael Gaudet.
Substitute motion to defer the request for the approval of a contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Centegix in the amount of $2,345,450, over a three year period, to provide an emergency response system for classroom and schoolwide security to a meeting following the approval of the budget.
Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Katie Kennison.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Powell, Steward, Lewis, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
Nay: Bellue, Lanus, Rust
13. Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the following matters:
a) Vedia Hawkins v. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Suit No: C-689,380; Section: 23; 19th JDC; Parish of EBR and to provide for related matters.
b) Randolph v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al.; MDLA Docket No. 15-654.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
14. Resolution: Magnet Enrollment Application
Consideration of a request for the adoption of a resolution instructing the Superintendent to conduct a parent/guardian satisfaction survey regarding the magnet enrollment application process beginning with the recently closed 2023-2024 school year.
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Cliff Lewis.
A substitute motion to ask the Superintendent to conduct a voluntary anonymous survey in April 2023 open to all parents/guardians of students in EBRPSS. The survey should, minimally, collect input on the following areas: are you currently enrolled in a magnet program; did you apply for a magnet seat for the 2023-2024 school year; if not, why not; if you applied, what is the current status of your application, satisfaction with the district and school-level application processes; difficulty/ease navigating the district process; difficulty/ease navigating the school-level process; the number of schools applied to, difficulty/ease in technical access to the application; assistance that would have been helpful; etc. Results of the survey, along with a review of our magnet programs, including enrollment and demographic information for 2023-2024, to be presented to the Board at a future public meeting as determined by the Board President.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second NONE.
Motion fails due to a lack of a second.
Discussion followed.
A substitute motion to ask the Superintendent to conduct a voluntary anonymous survey in April 2023 open to all parents/guardians of students in EBRPSS. The survey should, minimally, collect input on the following areas: are you currently enrolled in a magnet program; did you apply for a magnet seat for the 2023-2024 school year; if not, why not; if you applied, what is the current status of your application, satisfaction with the district and school-level application processes; difficulty/ease navigating the district process; difficulty/ease navigating the school-level process; the number of schools applied to, difficulty/ease in technical access to the application; assistance that would have been helpful; etc. Results of the survey along with a review of our magnet programs, including enrollment and demographic information for 2023-2024, to be presented to the Board at a future public meeting as determined by the Board President.
Motion by Katie Kennison, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Fails
Yea: Bellue, Gaudet, Kennison
Nay: Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Martin
Adoption of a resolution instructing the Superintendent to conduct a parent/guardian satisfaction survey regarding the magnet enrollment application process beginning with the recently closed 2023-2024 school year.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
15. Resolution-Safety and Culture Survey
Adoption of a resolution authorizing a district-wide safety and culture survey.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin
Nay: Kennison
Not Present at Vote: Powell
16. Meeting Extension
A motion to extend the meeting to 9:30 PM.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Katie Kennison
Final Resolution: Motion Fails
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Kennison, Martin
Nay: Gaudet
Not Present at Vote: Powell
17. Moratorium
Consideration of a request to impose a six-month moratorium on all ceremonial resolutions of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board expressing appreciation or honors or having no declarative legal effect, and to request a recommendation from counsel on an alternative method for the adoption of such future ceremonial resolutions.
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Fails
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Lewis, Rust
Nay: Steward, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Powell
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