East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 25, 2024
A. Meeting Opening
1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The Invocation was led by School Board Member Mark Bellue, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Landon Blache, Bravo Flight Commander, Helix Mentorship Academy, accompanied by Sergeant Webb, Airforce JROTC Instructor.
2. Call to Order and Roll Call
The Meeting was called to order at 5:01 PM by School Board President Carla Powell Lewis.
Members present were Mark Bellue, Carla Powell Lewis, Cliff Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Emily Soulé, and Patrick Martin.
Dadrius Lanus and Shashonnie Steward came in after the roll call.
Others present were Adam Smith, Interim Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Andrea O'Konski, Chief of Accountability and Assessments; Shenoa Warren, 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; Randy Morales II, Chief of Plant Operations; Marlon Cousin, Interim Administrative Director-Communications and Public Relations; and John McCann, Interim Chief Operations Officer.
B. Minutes
1. Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board minutes of the March 21, 2024, Regular Board meeting, April 11, 2024, Special Board meeting, and the April 11, 2024, Budget & Finance Committee, Operations Committee, and the Academics, Accountability, Curriculum, Instruction & Student Services Committee meetings as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Cliff Lewis.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
C. Information Only
1. Monthly Financial Report
2. Personnel Changes
3. Fiscal Transparency Report
D. Receive As Information
1. Recognition: Historical Desegregation Award
2. Update from Superintendent
3. Budget Presentation
4. Superintendent Search Update
The update was given prior to H1- Solicitation.
F. Unfinished Business
1. School Relocation: JK Haynes Teacher Prep & Leadership Academy
Motion to defer the request to relocate and house JK Haynes Teacher Prep & Leadership Academy at the Scotlandville Pre-Engineering Magnet Academy site for the 2024-2025 school year to the Operations Committee with a date not certain.
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
G. Consent Agenda
1. Consent Vote
The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda, excluding G3, G4, and G9.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Dadrius Lanus.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
2. Summer Part-time Rate
Amend the Summer 2024 salary schedule approving a forty percent increase in compensation of Summer part-time employees specified.
5. BRFLAIM Early Childcare
Approval of the conversion of the Type III Early Learning Center/Microcenter at BRFLAIM to a Type III Early Childcare provider. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: CCAP B3/Reduced Tuition
6. BRCVPA Early Childcare
Approval of the conversion of the Type III Early Learning Center/Microcenter at BRCVPA to a Type III Early Childcare provider. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: CCAP B3/Reduced Tuition
7. Capitol Elementary Childcare
Approval of the conversion of the Type III Early Learning Center/Microcenter at Capitol Elementary to a Type III Early Childcare provider. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: ECE Funds
8. Contract Agreement: Program Management Services
Approval of a contract agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and CSRS/Tillage for program management services in the amount of $6,762,196.45 over a 5-year period.
10. RFP: Data Aggregation Project-School Facilities
Authorize the Superintendent and staff to issue a Request For Proposals for a Data Aggregation Project as Phase I of a broader intended Facilities Master Plan, such Data Aggregation Project to be completed by August 15, 2024, and incorporating existing information regarding the following: • Enrollment and demographic data from all publicly available sources, as well as other recently conducted local studies; • An updated facilities inventory that includes building condition, and an analysis of both capacity and utilization; • An update on ongoing and completed tax plan projects. In addition, the Project should also: • Develop and document, for recommendation to the Board, guidelines for optimal school facility characteristics; • Establish standards for ranking facilities plan priorities. The Operations Committee Chair and Co-Chair are authorized to review submitted responses to the RFP and make a recommendation for acceptance to the Board Leadership with final approval at a regular meeting of the Board.
End of the Consent Agenda Items
3. New Job Descriptions
Consideration of a request for the approval of the following new job descriptions as referenced in the document " New Job Descriptions." Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Cliff Lewis.
Mr. Lewis withdrew his second.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Lanus.
Substitute motion to defer the request for the approval of the following new job descriptions as referenced in the document " New Job Descriptions" to the Budget & Finance Committee with a date not certain.
Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Nathan Rust.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Lanus, Powell Lewis, Lewis, Rust, Martin
Nay: Bellue, Gaudet, Soulé
4. Amended Job Descriptions
Consideration of a request for the approval of the following amended Job Descriptions:
a) Administrative Director
b) Registered School Nurse
Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence
Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Cliff Lewis.
Substitute motion to defer the request for the approval of the following amended Job Descriptions:
a) Administrative Director
b) Registered School Nurse
to the Budget & Finance Committee with a date not certain.
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Patrick Martin
The substitute motion was withdrawn.
Substitute motion to bifurcate the request for the approval of the following amended Job Descriptions:
a) Administrative Director
b) Registered School Nurse
into two separate items.
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
Motion to defer the request for the approval of the amended Administrative Director Job Description to the Budget and Finance Committee with a date not certain.
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Patrick Martin.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
Approval of the amended Registered School Nurse Job Description.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Nathan Rust.
Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
9. School Closure and Relocation
Approval of the following:
a) Closure of White Hills Elementary.
b) Relocation of Brownfields Elementary to 11615 Ellen Dr. with a new attendance zone encompassing the combined area of the former attendance zones for White Hills and Brownfields Elementary Schools and maintaining the Brownfields Elementary site code.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Nathan Rust.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Soulé, Martin
Superintendent Search Update
H. New Business
1. Solicitation
Consideration of a request for the authorization for Board Leadership and staff to obtain a minimum of three quotes to provide for the solicitation of firms or other entities to facilitate the hiring of a new superintendent with a recommendation from Board Leadership to the Board at a Special Meeting of the Board on May 9, 2024 or earlier.
No motion was received.
2. Resolution
Motion to adopt a resolution expressing opposition to the proposed Louisiana State Constitutional Amendment, which would allow funding, through the Minimum Foundation Program AND possible new taxes, of new public school districts WITHOUT any vote by the local parents and taxpaying citizens impacted by the creation of a new district, as detailed in Louisiana House Bill 6 by State Representative Emily Chenevert, District 66 of the 2024 regular session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Gaudet
Nay: Bellue, Rust
Abstain: Soulé, Martin
3. Student Expulsion
Discussion/Consideration of a request to appeal a student expulsion.
No motion was received; therefore, the expulsion will be upheld.
4. Student Expulsion
Discussion/Consideration of a request to appeal a student expulsion.
No motion was received; therefore, the expulsion will be upheld.
5. Student Expulsion
Discussion/Consideration of a request to appeal a student expulsion.
Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Cliff Lewis.
The appeal will be heard at the May Regular Board Meeting.
6. Student Expulsion
Discussion/Consideration of a request to appeal a student expulsion.
Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Emily Soulé.
The appeal will be heard at the May Regular Board Meeting.
7. Student Expulsion
Discussion/Consideration of a request to appeal a student expulsion.
Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Patrick Martin.
The appeal will be heard at the May Regular Board Meeting.
8. Student Expulsion
Discussion/Consideration of a request to appeal a student expulsion.
No motion was received; therefore, the expulsion will be upheld.
I. Organizational Items
1. Announcement of Meetings
J. Adjournment
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
_______________________________ _______________________________
Adam Smith Carla Powell Lewis, M.Ed.
Interim Secretary/Treasurer to the Board School Board President