East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes

Thursday, June 1, 2023

A. Meeting Opening

Call to Order and Roll Call

The Meeting was called to order at 6:18 PM by 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; Caron Smith, Chief of Staff; 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; Michael Robinson, Chief Academic Officer and Randy Morales II, Chief of Plant Operations.

B. Unfinished Business

1. Policy: JGBA-Recess

Motion to defer the consideration of the request for the approval of policy JGBA-Recess to the full Board without recommendation subject to the requested changes.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin

C. Items for Consideration

1. Advertising of Bids: 2023-2024

Authorize staff to advertise, receive, and award bids for materials, equipment, supplies, and services, through June 30, 2024, to the lowest responsible bidder/proposer meeting specifications and all state and federal requirements for quotes and formal invitations to bid.

Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Mark Bellue.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin

2. Advertising in Official Journal: 2023-2024

Approval to select "The Advocate" as the Official Journal (newspaper advertising) of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for the fiscal year 2023-2024.

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin

3. 2023-2024 Risk Management Program

Consideration of a request to approve the following Risk Management Program recommendations:

a) authorize the administration to approve the most cost effective Property and Casualty Insurance Program Policy Renewal package for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for the 2023-2024 fiscal year and to provide for related matters.

b) approve a resolution authorizing the Board President and the Superintendent to execute and sign all documents to reject Uninsured Motorist Coverage in connection with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System's automobile liability coverage and its Self-Insured Retention Program for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Shashonnie Steward.

A friendly amendment by Mr. Gaudet to approve the following Risk Management Program recommendations:

a) authorize the administration to approve the most cost effective Property and Casualty Insurance Program Policy Renewal package for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for the 2023-2024 fiscal year and to provide for related matters.

b) approve a resolution authorizing the Board President and the Superintendent to execute and sign all documents to reject Uninsured Motorist Coverage in connection with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System's automobile liability coverage and its Self-Insured Retention Program for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Adding c) authorize the district staff to issue an RFQ for an independent third-party review of our entire risk management program to be completed by December 31, 2023. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin

4. Early Childhood Grade Expansion

Approval of the following:

a) Crestworth and Westminster Microcenter expansion to serve infants to two-year-olds.

b) Open a microcenter at Northeast Elementary School to serve infant to 3-year-old students in partnership with high-performing, licensed childcare providers in the EBR Early Childhood Community Network.

Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Michael Gaudet.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin

Nay: Kennison

5. Grants: Early Childhood

Approval of the following 2023-2024 Pre-K grants:

a) Cecil J. Picard Early Childhood (LA4) in the amount of $7,248,420.

b) Nonpublic Schools Early Childhood Development (NSECD) in the amount of $814,680.

Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin

6. RFP Selection: Blended Learning Software

Accept the recommendation from the RFP committee and authorize the Superintendent and staff to execute the contract with Imagine Learning – Edgenuity. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Patrick Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin

Nay: Kennison

7. Professional Services Contract: Achieve 3000

Consideration of a request for the approval of the professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Achieve 3000 in the amount of $1,391,090 to provide a literacy web-based supplemental program and professional development. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: ESSER III, Action 2

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Michael Gaudet.

Friendly amendment by Mr. Lewis to send without recommendation to the full Board the consideration of a request for the approval of the professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Achieve 3000 in the amount of $1,391,090 to provide a literacy web-based supplemental program and professional development and request additional supporting data. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: ESSER III, Action 2

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin

Nay: Kennison

8. Professional Services Contract: Amplify

Consideration of a request for the approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Amplify in the amount of $22,200 to support the implementation of DIBELS assessments and related services for 2023-2024. Strategic Alignment: Academic Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund

Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Nathan Rust.

A friendly amendment by Mr. Gaudet to send without recommendation to the full Board the consideration of a request for the approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Amplify in the amount of $22,200 to support the implementation of DIBELS assessments and related services for 2023-2024 and to request a presentation. Strategic Alignment: Academic Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Martin

Nay: Kennison

Not Present at Vote: Lewis

9. Professional Services Contract: AVID

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and AVID Center in the amount of $76,591 to provide Individual Graduation Planning support and professional learning opportunities. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement & Employee Development/Funding Source: Redesign

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Martin

Nay: Kennison

Not Present at Vote: Lewis

10. Professional Services Contract: Dreambox

Approval of a professional services contract in the amount of $544,000 to provide a digital mathematics program. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: ESSER III, Action 2

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Michael Gaudet.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Martin

Nay: Kennison

Not Present at Vote: Lewis

11. Professional Services Contract: National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET)

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and NIET in the amount of $427,500 to provide Professional development on school improvement best practices. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Redesign

Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Patrick Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Martin

Nay: Kennison

Not Present at Vote: Lewis

12. Professional Services Contracts: Workforce Development

Consideration of a request for the approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:

a) Defined Careers in the amount of $250,650 to provide a digital work-based learning platform that supports student career exploration lessons, activities, and experience reflections in grades 4-12. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Career Development Funds (CDF)

b) YouScience Seamless WBL in the amount of $24,734.20 to provide a digital work-based experience platform to document student work-based experience and coordinate business partnerships. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Career Development Funds (CDF)

Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Nathan Rust.

A friendly amendment by Mr. Lanus to send without recommendation to the full Board the consideration of a request for the approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:

a) Defined Careers in the amount of $250,650 to provide a digital work-based learning platform that supports student career exploration lessons, activities, and experience reflections in grades 4-12. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Career Development Funds (CDF)

b) YouScience Seamless WBL in the amount of $24,734.20 to provide a digital work-based experience platform to document student work-based experience and coordinate business partnerships. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Career Development Funds (CDF)

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Martin

Nay: Kennison

Not Present at Vote: Lewis

13. Contract Renewal: Unemployment Compensation Control Systems, LLC

Approval of the contract renewal between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Unemployment Compensation Control Systems, LLC (UCCS) in the amount of $144,000 per year for a period of three (3) years beginning July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence/Funding Sources: Disbursement Clearing Fund

Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Martin

Nay: Kennison

Not Present at Vote: Lewis

14. Contract Agreement: Beable

Approval of a two-year contract renewal between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Beable Education, Inc. in the amount of $121,652 for a career-based literacy platform for the following MSAP schools: Villa del Rey  Elementary, Park Forest Elementary, Park Forest Middle, and Belaire High schools. Strategic Alignment/Funding Source: MSAP Grant

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Mark Bellue.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Rust, Martin

Nay: Kennison

Not Present at Vote: Lewis and Gaudet

15. Policy: DJED-Bid & Quotations

Approval of policy DJED-Bid & Quotations.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Martin

Nay: Kennison

Not Present at Vote: Lewis

16. Semi Annual Financial Tax Plan Update

Approval of the Actual December 2022 Semi-Annual Financial Tax Plan Update and the 2022-2023 Revised Budgets for Propositions 1, 2, and 3. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin

Not Present at Vote: Lewis

17. Bid-Woodlawn High Classroom Addition

Authorize staff to design, advertise, accept the low bid meeting the contract documents, and to make the award of a contract for construction of the Woodlawn High School Classroom Addition & Renovation project as specified in the A Plan to Improve Facilities/Technology, Discipline, and Compensation in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (the “Plan”) as revised through February 22, 2018 or reject any and all bids for just cause in accordance with the Louisiana Public Bid Law; Louisiana Revised Statute, Title 38; Chapter 10.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin

Not Present at Vote: Lewis

18. Agreement: Fusion Architects

Motion to defer the matter to a date undetermined to allow for additional study and discussion.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin

Not Present at Vote: Lewis

19. Litigation

Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Traian Bowie, Individual, and o/b/o the minor child (name redacted) v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, et al Docket No. 705,665, Section 29, 19th JDC.

Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Patrick Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin

Not Present at Vote: Lewis

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