East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 5, 2023
A. Meeting Opening
1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The Invocation was led by School Board Member Nathan Rust and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by School Board Member Cliff Lewis.
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, Shashonnie Steward, Cliff Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Emily Chatelain, and Patrick Martin.
Carla Powell Lewis came in after roll call.
Others present were Sito Narcisse, Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Caron Smith, Chief of Staff; Arcelius Brickhouse Jr., Chief of Schools; Andrea O'Konski, Chief of Accountability and Assessments; Amy Jones, Chief Technology Officer; Shenoa Warren, Chief of Academics and 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; Randy Morales II, Chief of Plant Operations; Vickey Silas, Deputy Chief of Policy and Implementation; and Ben Lemoine, Administrative Director-Communications Division.
B. Items for Consideration
1. Grant: Joe Burrow Foundation-DO GOOD
Acceptance of the Joe Burrow Foundation's DO GOOD Grant in the amount of $14,856 for a tutoring program at Twin Oaks Elementary targeting 3rd and 4th grade students. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
2. Grant: Louisiana Department of Education-CCAP-B-3
Acceptance of the 2023-2024 Louisiana Department of Education CCAP B-3 grant in the amount of $4,353,360 to expand access to early childcare seats for infants to three-years-old. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
3. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Early Childhood
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with selected Type III early learning centers to expand seats for infants to age three children with the Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP) Birth to 3 grant. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: CCAP-B-3/Louisiana State General Funds
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Nathan Rust.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
4. Professional Services Contract: Louisiana Association of the Deaf/Deaf Focus
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Louisiana Association of the Deaf d/b/a Deaf Focus in the amount of $30,000 to provide sign language services. Strategic Alignment: Exemplary Customer Service/Funding Source: General Fund
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
5. Professional Services Contract: Instructure, Inc.
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Instructure, Inc. (Canvas) in the amount of $34,768 to provide an instructional technology platform for professional development and resources. Strategic Alignment: Employee Development/Funding Source: General Fund
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
6. Professional Services Contract: Attuned Education Partners, LLC
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Attuned Education Partners, LLC, in the amount of $120,000 to create a multi-year strategic plan for IDEA Public Schools. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Strong School Systems Strategic Planning Initiative
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
7. Professional Services Contract: Baton Rouge Youth Coalition
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Baton Rouge Youth Coalition (BRYC) in the amount of $1,500,000 for students to participate in career readiness programs.
Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
8. Contract: Ethics
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Ethics in the amount of $30,960 to provide athletic shoes and apparel to select schools.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
9. Property Appraisal-Woodlawn High
Authorize the Superintendent and staff to purchase an appraisal of property adjacent to Woodlawn High.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Nathan Rust.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
10. New Job Descriptions
Approval of the following new job descriptions as referenced in the document " New Job Positions." Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Michael audet, Chatelain, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
11. Policy and Policy Revisions
Consideration of a request for the approval of the following new policies and policy revisions:
a) BCBK – Executive Sessions
b) DC – Annual Operating Budget
c) EBBC –Emergency/Crisis Management
d) DID – Audits
e) EBBI – Public Health Emergency
f) EBCB – Video/Audio Monitoring of School Board Property
g) GBRIB – Sick Leave
h) GBRIC – Maternity and Adoptive Leave Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Cliff Lewis.
A friendly amendment was made by Mr. Rust to take each policy item separately.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Approval of the policy revision a) BCBK – Executive Sessions.
Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
Consideration of a request for the approval of the policy revision b) DC – Annual Operating Budget to the full Board without recommendation.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Cliff Lewis.
A friendly amendment by Mr. Rust to send the request for the approval of the policy revision b) DC – Annual Operating Budget to the full Board without recommendation.
Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
Consideration of a request for the approval of policy revision c) EBBC –Emergency/Crisis Management
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Mark Bellue.
A friendly amendment by Mr. Martin to send the request for the approval of policy revision c) EBBC –Emergency/Crisis Management to the full Board without recommendation.
Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Approval of policy revision revision d) DID – Audits.
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Nathan Rust.
Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
Consideration of a request for the approval of policy revision e) EBBI – Public Health Emergency to the November Committee of the Whole
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Shashonnie Steward.
A friendly amendment by Mr. Martin to defer the consideration of a request for the approval of policy revision e) EBBI – Public Health Emergency to the November Committee of the Whole.
Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Approval of the following policy revision f) EBCB – Video/Audio Monitoring of School Board Property.
Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Nathan Rust.
Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
Motion to send the request for the approval of policy revision g) GBRIB – Sick Leave to the full Board without recommendation.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Approval of the following policy revision h) GBRIC – Maternity and Adoptive Leave.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Nathan Rust.
Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
12. Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Gregory Payne vs. The EBRPSB, Berkley Insurance Company, and Lance L. Paterson, Suit No: 637,114; Division: D; 19th JDC; Parish of EBR.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Nathan Rust.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
13. Litigation
Motion to send the consideration of a request for the approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Dr. James C. Finney v. Dr. Sito J. Narcisse, et al, Docket No. 733531, Section 24, 19th JDC, State of Louisiana to the full Board without recommendation.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Lanus
C. 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. Dadrius Lanus, M.Ed. JD
Secretary/Treasurer to the East Baton School Board President
Rouge Parish School Board
Committee of the Whole