East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, December 14, 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 Cadet First Lieutenant Juan Hernandez-Pedreros of Belaire High School, accompanied by Army Instructor First Sergeant (Retired) William C. Alsobrook Jr.
2. Call to Order and Roll Call
The Meeting was called to order at 5:05 PM by President Dadrius Lanus.
Members present were Mark Bellue, Dadrius Lanus, Carla Powell Lewis, Shashonnie Steward, Cliff Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Emily Chatelain, 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; 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; Vickey Silas, Deputy Chief of Policy and Implementation.
B. Minutes
1. Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board minutes of the November 16, 2023, Regular Board meeting, December 7, 2023, Special Board meeting, and the December 7, 2023, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Powell Lewis
C. Information Only
1. Monthly Financial Report
2. Personnel Changes
3. 2022-2023 Audit Results
D. Receive As Information
1. Update from Superintendent
F. Unfinished Business
1. Professional Services Contract
Motion to defer the consideration of a request to forgo the RFQ and authorize the Superintendent to negotiate and execute a contract with the Council for Great City Schools to provide for budget consulting services to a date not certain.
Motion by Carla Powell Lewis, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
2. Cooperative Endeavor Agreement: YWCA
Motion to defer the consideration of a request for the approval of a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the YWCA of Greater Baton Rouge in the amount of 1,500,000 to provide support services for students to a date not certain. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: ESSER III
Motion by Carla Powell Lewis, second by Mark Bellue.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Abstain: Lewis
3. Professional Services Contract: Lexia Learning Systems LLC
Approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:
a) Lexia Learning Systems, LLC in the amount of $138,697 to provide services to improve literacy development. Funding Source: Education Excellence Fund (EEF)
b) Lexia Learning Systems, LLC in the amount of $160,000 to provide services to improve literacy development. Funding Source: Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) K-5
c) Lexia Learning Systems, LLC in the amount of $52,323 to provide services to improve literacy development. Funding Source: Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) UIN K-5
Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement & Employee Development
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
Not Present at Vote: Steward
4. Professional Services Contract: Line4Line
Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Line4Line in the amount of $16,000 to support 21st Century grant after school programming initiatives. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: 21st Century Grant
Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Emily Chatelain.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
5. Contract Renewal: City of Baton Rouge (Adult Education-EBR Prison)
Approval to renew a contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the City of Baton Rouge in the amount of $134,110 to allow the EBRPSS Department of Adult and Continuing Education to continue providing adult education classes and HiSET testing for inmates at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024. Funding Source: City of Baton Rouge Grant
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
6. Land Sale
Accept the appraisal of parcels 7-2, 13-1 and 13-1-C-1 as identified in “Appraisal Report – Form C – City Parish Project Number 12-C-HC-0060” and to authorize the Board President and General Counsel to execute all documents related to a final sale of the identified parcels. Strategic Alignment: Exemplary Customer Service
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
7. Memorandum of Understanding
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Junior Achievement of Greater Baton Rouge in the amount of $90,500 to provide support services for students. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: General Fund
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
8. Stipend
Consideration of a request to accept the LDOE Differentiated Compensation allocation and approve the one-time nonrecurring teacher stipend. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Cliff Lewis.
Substitute motion to defer the consideration of a request to accept the LDOE Differentiated Compensation allocation and approve the one-time nonrecurring teacher stipend to the January Regular Meeting. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence
Motion by Carla Powell Lewis, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
9. Resolution
Friendly amendment by Ms. Steward to authorize the General Counsel to correct the dates as needed and approve the request for the approval of a resolution regarding the retention of DeCuir, Clark & Adams, LLP as special counsel for the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and related matters.
Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Chatelain, Martin
G. Organizational Items
1. Announcement of Meetings
H. Adjournment
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
_______________________________ _______________________________
Sito J. Narcisse, Ed.D. Dadrius Lanus, M.Ed. JD
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board School Board President