East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes

Thursday, June 6, 2024

A. Meeting Opening

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 7:12 PM by School Board Vice-President Patrick Martin.

Members present were Mark Bellue, Carla Powell Lewis, Shashonnie Steward, Cliff Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Emily Soulé, and Patrick Martin.

Dadrius Lanus was absent.

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; Kelly Lopez, Chief Financial Officer; James Crochet, Chief Business Operations Officer; John McCann, Interim Chief Operations Officer; Randy Morales II, Chief of Plant Operations; and Marlon Cousin, Interim Administrative Director-Communications and Public Relations.

B. Information Only

1. Fiscal Transparency Report

C. Items for Consideration

1. Advertising in Official Journal: 2024-2025

Approval to select "The Advocate" as the Official Journal (newspaper advertising) of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for the fiscal year 2024-2025.

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

2. Advertising of Bids: 2024-2025

Authorize staff to advertise, receive, and award bids for materials, equipment, supplies, and services, through June 30, 2025, to the lowest responsible bidder/proposer meeting specifications and all state and federal requirements for quotes and formal invitations to bid.

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Cliff Lewis.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

3. Semi Annual Financial Tax Plan Update

Approval of the Actual December 2023 Semi-Annual Financial Tax Plan Update and the 2023-2024 Revised Budgets for propositions 1, 2, and 3. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Abstain: Lewis

4. 2024-2025 Property and Casualty Insurance Program Policies

Motion to defer the consideration of a request to 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 2024-2025 fiscal year and to provide for related matters to the full Board without recommendation.

Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

5. Resolution: Reject Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Approval of the 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 2024-2025 fiscal year.

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

6. Professional Services Contracts: Exceptional Student Services

Approval of professional services contracts between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:

a) Deaf Resource Center of Greater Baton Rouge, LLC, in the amount of $80,000 to provide qualified sign language interpreter services to students. Funding Source: IDEA 611
b) Dr. Kashunda L. Williams, LP, BCBA-D, NCSP, Sundry Behavioral Services in the amount of $60,000, to provide applied behavior analysis services. Funding Source: IDEA 611
c) Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College on behalf of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in the amount of $78,450 to provide professional development and specialized support for students with disabilities. Funding Source: Redesign IDEA 611
d) Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College on behalf of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in the amount of $84,000 to provide professional development and specialized support for autism services. Funding Source: Redesign IDEA 611
e) Egan Healthcare Corporation d/b/a Egan-Ochsner HCBS River Parishes in the amount of $198,000 to provide nursing services to students with disabilities. Funding Source: IDEA 611
f) Chase Healthcare in the amount of $93,200 to provide nursing services to students with disabilities. Funding Source: IDEA 611
g) Turner, LLC, in the amount of $1,211,600, to provide nursing services to students with disabilities. Funding Source: IDEA 611
h) Pediatric Services of America, LLC d/b/a Aveanna Healthcare in the amount of $932,000 to provide nursing services to students with disabilities. Funding Source: IDEA 611
Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement

Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Mark Bellue.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Soulé, Martin

Recuse: Gaudet

7. Grants: Early Childhood

Approval of the following 2024-2025 Early Childhood Grants:

a) Early Childhood Workforce Planning Grant in the amount of $100,000 for workforce planning.
b) Early Childhood Ready Start Network Grant in the amount of $100,000 for the Ready Start Initiative.
c) Early Childhood Community Network Lead Agency (CNLA) grant in the amount of $356,475 to support the EBR Early Childhood Community Network. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement.

Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

8. 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) Baton Rouge Ochsner Discovery in the amount of $223,200
b) God's Little Angels Childcare in the amount of $55,800
c) Greater Bridge Academy Childcare in the amount of $111,600
d) Impact Charter School in the amount of $111,600
e) Juz Us Childcare of Baton Rouge in the amount of $111,600
f) Kiddoscope in the amount of $55,800
g) Little Dreamers Academy Childcare in the amount of $111,600
h) South Baton Rouge (SBR) Charter Academy in the amount of $223,200
i) Second Baptist Christian Academy in the amount of $55,800
to expand early childhood seats. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Cecil J. Picard LA4 Grant

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

9. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Early Childhood Microcenters

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
b) Kidz Karousel at Baton Rouge Foreign Language Academic Immersion Magnet (BR FLAIM)
c) London Bridge at Westminster Elementary
d) London Bridge at Baton Rouge Center Visual & Performing Arts (BRCVPA)
e) Little Dreamers at Northeast Elementary
to expand early childhood seats. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Emily Soulé.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

10. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Early Childhood Microcenter (Louisiana's Early Childhood)

Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board ("Lead Agency") and the YWCA at Capitol Elementary in the amount of $309,770 to expand early childhood seats. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Louisiana's Early Childhood Grant

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Emily Soulé.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

11. Contract: Genuine Parts Company (d/b/a NAPA Auto Parts)

Approval of a contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Genuine Parts Company d/b/a NAPA Auto Parts to purchase automotive parts and services at a discounted rate.

Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

12. Litigation

Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Tremaine M. Sanders v. Emma Davis, et al., Docket No. 690192, Section 21, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana.

Motion by Michael Gaudet, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

D. Next Meeting Dates/Announcements

1. Announcement of Meetings

E. Adjournment

There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.