East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes
Thursday, July 6, 2023
A. Meeting Opening
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 6:38 PM by 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; Caron Smith, Chief of Staff; 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 of 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. Unfinished Business
1. Policy: KF-Use of School Facilities
Consideration of a request for the approval of policy KF-Use of School Facilities (Mr. Rust)
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Nathan Rust.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
C. Items for Consideration
1. Superintendent Contract Negotiation
Authorize the Board President to begin discussions with Dr. Narcisse and negotiating attorney regarding the terms of a contract to replace the current contract that exists between Dr. Narcisse and the EBR School Board upon its expiration. Further, this motion also authorizes the Board President to appoint a group of up to four (4) Board members to review all details of the contractual negotiations prior to the final vote for approval. Such contractual review by the committee may only begin after the holding of a Board Workshop, the purpose of which is to come to a set of priorities, including annual and long-term performance objectives for the Superintendent, to be contained in such a contract proposal. The Board Workshop shall be held at any time at the pleasure of the Board President, but no later than August 5, 2023. Although the group may begin its review of all contractual details with Dr. Narcisse, no recommendations regarding a proposed contract shall be made to the Board until final approval of the 2023-2024 General Fund Budget and 2023-2024 Special Fund Budget by the Board.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Mark Bellue.
Substitute motion to defer the consideration of a request to authorize the Board President to begin discussions with Dr. Narcisse and negotiating attorney regarding the terms of a contract to replace the current contract that exists between Dr. Narcisse and the EBR School Board upon its expiration. Further, this motion also authorizes the Board President to appoint a committee of up to four (4) Board members to review all details of the contractual negotiations prior to the final vote for approval. Such contractual review by the committee may only begin after the holding of a Board Workshop, the purpose of which is to come to a set of priorities, including annual and long-term performance objectives for the Superintendent, to be contained in such a contract proposal. The Board Workshop shall be held at any time at the pleasure of the Board President, but no later than August 5, 2023. Although the committee may begin its review of all contractual details with Dr. Narcisse, no recommendations regarding a proposed contract shall be made to the Board until final approval of the 2023-2024 General Fund Budget and 2023-2024 Special Fund Budget by the Board for 60 days with an evaluation during that time.
Motion by Katie Kennison, second NONE.
Motion failed for a lack of a second.
Return to the main motion.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin
Nay: Kennison
2. Grants: Early Childhood
Approval of the following 2023-2024 Early Childhood grants:
a) Student Enhancement Block (8g) in the amount of $388,235.
b) Community Network Lead Agency in the amount of $408,181.43
c) Believe! in the amount of $732,154
d) Ready Start Networks in the amount of $522,412
e) Early Childhood Guides in the amount of $200,000
Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Kennison
3. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Early Childhood (B-3)
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board ("Lead Agency") and the following
a) Kidz Karousel at Crestworth Elementary in the amount of $195,000
b) London Bridge at Westminster Elementary in the amount of $63,000
c) Little Dreamers at Northeast Elementary in the amount of $63,000to expand early childhood seats. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Preschool Development Grant (PDG), Birth to 3 (B-3), Seats Bridge Funding
Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Kennison, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Gaudet
4. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Early Childhood (LA4)
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board ("Lead Agency") and the following:
a) South Baton Rouge (SBR) Charter Academy in the amount of $223,200
b) Impact Charter School in the amount of $111,600
c) Juz Us Childcare of Baton Rouge in the amount of $111,600
d) Greater Bridge Academy Childcare in the amount of $111,600
e) God's Little Angels Childcare in the amount of $55,800
f) Little Dreamers Academy Childcare in the amount of $50,220 to expand early childhood seats. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Preschool Development Grant (PDG), Birth to 3 (B-3), Seats Bridge Funding
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
5. Healthcare and Ancillary Benefits Plans
Approval/Authorization of the following:
a) Proposed 2024 Healthcare rates for active Employees, non-Medicare, and Medicare-eligible retirees participating in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana administered medical plans for Core, Buy-Up, and Community Blue.
b) Proposed $0 Primary Care Physician (PCP) copay incentive added for active, non-Medicare, and Medicare-eligible retirees participating in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana administered medical plans for Core, Buy-Up, and Community Blue effective October 1, 2023 (estimated 90 day implementation after Board approval by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana).
c) Authorize the Superintendent to negotiate and execute the 2023 contract for stop loss insurance coverage.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
Meeting Extension
Motion to extend the meeting to 9:30 PM.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Kennison, Martin
7. Alternative Schools
Consideration of a request to approve the following modifications to the alternative education program:
a) Close EBR Readiness Middle School at the Beechwood campus.
b) Expand the EBR Readiness Elementary School grade configuration from K-5 to K-7.
c) Expand the EBR Readiness High School grade configuration from 9-12 to 8-12. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Mark Bellue.
Friendly amendment by Mr. Lewis to defer the consideration of the request to approve the following modifications to the alternative education program to the full Board without recommendation:
a) Close EBR Readiness Middle School at the Beechwood campus.
b) Expand the EBR Readiness Elementary School grade configuration from K-5 to K-7.
c) Expand the EBR Readiness High School grade configuration from 9-12 to 8-12 to the full Board without recommendation. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Kennison
Movement of Items
Motion to send items 7-10 (7-Professional Services Contracts: Empower, 8- Professional Services Contract: Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS), 9-Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire, 10-Litigation) to the Special Meeting July 13th.
Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Kennison
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