East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, May 18, 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 Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Jeremiah Harrison of Istrouma High School, accompanied by Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Steven W. Johnston.
2. Call to Order and Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM by School Board President Dadrius Lanus.
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; 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. Minutes
1. Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board minutes of the April 20, 2023, Regular Board meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Michael Gaudet, Katie Kennison, Patrick Martin
C. Information Only
1. Monthly Financial Report
2. Personnel Changes
3. Public Records Request Monthly Report
D. Receive As Information
1. Update from Superintendent
F. Unfinished Business
1. Oversight
Approval of Tax Plan Proposition 1 - Budget Supplement Recommendation which was approved by the Tax Plan Oversight Committee on May 1, 2023.
Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Michael Gaudet, Katie Kennison, Patrick Martin
2. Bid: BRFLAIM
Accept the low bid from Sienna Construction for the BRFLAIM four-classroom addition project. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund (Physical Plant)
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Michael Gaudet, Katie Kennison, Patrick Martin
G. Consent Agenda
1. Consent Vote
The following items are approved as part of the Consent Agenda, excluding items 3, 8, and 11.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Nathan Rust.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Michael Gaudet, Katie Kennison, Patrick Martin
2. Attendance Zone: High Schools
Approval of a change in the attendance zones for incoming 9th graders for SY 23-24, and thereafter, for Broadmoor High School, Istrouma High School, and Tara High School as a result of the required attendance zone for incoming 9th grade students at Capitol High School.
4. Revised Budget
Approval of the Revised 2022-2023 General Fund Budget for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.
5. Postlethwaite & Netterville Proposal Auditing Services
Approval to accept the proposal from Postlethwaite & Netterville to provide auditing services for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for three years, with an additional two-year renewal option at the cost of $163,000 for 2023, $167,000 for 2024, and $171,000 for 2025. (Funding Source: General Fund)
6. Resolution-Millage
Adopt the Resolution for the purpose of levying millages effective on the 2023 Assessment Roll as required by law by June 1, 2023.
7. Naming of the JK Haynes Site
Accept the committee recommendation for the naming of the new school to be located at JK Haynes Site.
9. Contract: Otis Elevator
Approval of a contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Otis Elevator in the amount of $45,300 per year for five years for maintenance and repairs on district elevators. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Source: General Fund (Operations)
10. Professional Services Contracts: Exceptional Student Services
Approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following: a) Dr. Kashudra L. Williams, LP, BCBA-D, NCSP, Sundry Behavioral Services, in the amount of $60,000, to provide applied behavior analysis services.
b) Adaptive Solutions and Sherry Hollingsworth in the amount of $20,000 to provide assistive technology assistance services.
c) Deaf Resource Center of Greater Baton Rouge, LLC, in the amount of $80,000 to provide qualified sign language interpreter services to students.
d) Audio Optical Systems of Austin, Inc. in the amount of $51,684 to provide a comprehensive, text-to-speech integrated literacy solution.
e) Allied Instructional Services, LLC, in the amount of $25,000, to provide orientation and mobility services to students.
f) Turner, LLC, in the amount of $847,000, to provide nursing services to students with disabilities.
g) Chase Healthcare in the amount of $77,000 to provide nursing services to students with disabilities.
h) Pediatric Services of America, LLC d/b/a Aveanna Healthcare in the amount of $539,000 to provide nursing services to students with disabilities.
i) Egan Healthcare Corporation d/b/a Egan-Ochsner HCBS River Parishes in the amount of $166,000 to provide nursing services to students with disabilities. Funding Source: IDEA Part B/Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
12. Professional Services Contract: ANET
Approval of the professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following: a) ANET in the amount of $93,478.40 to provide benchmark assessments for grades 9-11. Funding Source: General Fund
b) ANET in the amount of$192,678.40 to provide benchmark assessment for grades 3-8. Funding Source: Federal Funds
13. 2023-2024 Board Meeting Calendar
Approval of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meeting schedule for the 2023-2024 school year.
14. Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the following matter: a) Ryeshia Washington v. Cynthia Anderson and East Baton Rouge School Board, Docket No. 703574, Section 22, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana and related matters.* b) Trish Trang Huynh v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al, Suit No. 639052, Section 27, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana and related matters.
End of the Consent Agenda Items
3. McKinley Elementary
Consideration of a request for the approval of the following:
a) Closure of University Terrace Elementary
b) Closure of Buchanan Elementary
c) Opening of McKinley Elementary with a new attendance zone encompassing the combined area of the former attendance zones for Buchanan Elementary and corrected to University Terrace Elementary Schools.
Motion by Carla Powell, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Michael Gaudet, Katie Kennison, Patrick Martin
8. Bid-CTEC Culinary
Authorize staff to advertise, accept the low bids meeting specifications and make the award of a contract for the construction of CTEC Culinary Kitchen or reject any and all bids for just cause in accordance with the Louisiana Public Bid Law; Louisiana Revised Statute, Title 38; Chapter 10. Strategic Alignment: Exemplary Customer Service/Funding Source: General Fund (Facilities/CTEC)
Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Michael Gaudet, Katie Kennison, Patrick Martin
11. Professional Services Contract: Non-Public
Approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:
a) Catapult Learning in the amount of $30,000 for the 2023 Catholic Schools Teacher Summer Institute.
b) Inspir-ED Consulting, LLC, in the amount of $64,000 for the 2023 Diocese of Baton Route Summer Leadership Summit. Funding Source: Title II Non-Public
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Michael Gaudet, Katie Kennison, Patrick Martin
H. New Business
1. Revised Board Meeting Calendar
President Lanus asked to pull the item.
2. Student Expulsion
Discussion/Consideration of a request to appeal a student expulsion.
Motion by Katie Kennison, second by Patrick Martin.
The appeal will be heard at the June Regular Meeting.
3. Litigation
approve the execution of an agreement authorizing the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board’s participation in the Johnson and Johnson Louisiana opioid settlement.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Michael Gaudet, Katie Kennison, Patrick Martin
I. Presentations
1. BRBYTES: LSU/EBRPSS and USDOE/NSF Grant Partnership Update
No presentation was provided at this time.
J. 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