East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

Regular Meeting Minutes

Thursday, July 18, 2024

A. Meeting Opening

1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

The Invocation was led by School Board Member Nathan Rust, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Cadet First Lieutenant Sabria Price, Scotlandville Magnet High School, accompanied by Army Instructor, Sergeant First Class (Retired) Ronald Kennedy.

2. Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM by School Board President Carla Powell Lewis.

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

Emily Soulé 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; James Crochet, Chief Business Operations Officer; and John McCann, Interim Chief Operations Officer.

B. Minutes

1. Meeting Minutes

Approval of the School Board minutes of the June 20, 2024, Regular Board meeting; the June 18, 2024; June 28, 2024; and July 11, 2024, Special Board meetings; and the July 11, 2024, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.

Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Patrick Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

C. Information Only

1. Monthly Financial Report

2. Personnel Changes

E. Unfinished Business

1. Amended Job Descriptions

Approval to amend teachers' job descriptions to add the duties as specified in the attached memo. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence

Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

2. Healthcare and Ancillary Benefits Plans

Approval of the following:

a) Proposed contract renewal with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana for administrative services of the health plan for 2025-2027.
b) Proposed 2025 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.
c) Proposed contract renewal with Express Scripts for pharmacy benefit management services for 2025-2027.
d) Proposed contract renewal with Metlife for dental insurance for 2025.
e) Authorize the Superintendent to negotiate and execute the 2025 contract for Medicare Advantage with United Healthcare.
f) Authorize the Superintendent to negotiate and execute the 2025 contract for stop-loss insurance coverage. Strategic Alignment: Operational Excellence and Employee Development

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Patrick Martin

3. Grants: Early Childhood

Acceptance of the following Louisiana Department of Education grants:

a) 2024-2025 Early Childhood Guides and At Home Learning Initiative Grant in the amount of $52,000 to ensure Early Childhood guide assistance is available for families and related matters.
b) CCAP B-3 Grant in the amount of $1,517,613 to provide access to early care and education seats for at-risk infants, toddlers, and three year olds and related matters.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Mark Bellue.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

4. Memorandums of Understanding (MOU)-Dual Enrollment

Approval of Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the following:

a) Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC) to provide dual enrollment courses and technical coursework as a renewal of the existing Early College Academy agreement for the 2024-2025 school year.
b) Louisiana State University (LSU) to provide dual enrollment courses for the 2024-2025 school year.
c) Louisiana State University at Alexandria (LSUA) to provide dual enrollment courses for the 2024-2025 school year.
d) Southern University to provide dual enrollment courses for the 2024-2025 school year.
e) Southeastern University (SELU) to provide dual enrollment courses for the 2024-2025 school year.
f) Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University to provide dual enrollment courses for the 2024-2025 school year.
Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: SCA

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Michael Gaudet.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Nathan, Michael

Recuse: Martin

5. Professional Services Contract: AVID Center

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and AVID Center in the amount of $77,233 to provide individual graduation planning support and professional learning opportunities. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement & Employee Development/Funding Source: Redesign

Motion by Cliff Lewis, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

6. Professional Services Contract: National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET)

Approval of a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) in the amount of $419,250 for support and professional development on school improvement best practices. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: Redesign

Motion by Mark Bellue, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

7. RFP Selection: OLOL/Health Care Centers in Schools Inc.

Accept the recommendation of the RFP committee and to authorize the Superintendent and staff to execute the contract with OLOL/Health Care Centers in Schools Inc. to supply a qualified physician to provide medical oversight for the school nursing program.

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Nathan Rust.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Patrick Martin

8. Contract Renewal-Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation d/b/a The Emerge Center, Inc

Approval to renew a professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation d/b/a The Emerge Center, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $250,000 to provide Speech-Language and Occupational Therapy.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Patrick Martin

9. 2024-2025 Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook & Discipline Policy

Approval of the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook and Discipline Policy for the 2024-2025 school year for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System with noted changes.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Patrick Martin

10. Hourly Rate-University Students

Discussion/Consideration of a request to approve a maximum hourly rate of $20.00 for university students seeking professional credentials in areas of employment working extended day school-based programs.

The motion was made by Patrick Martin, and the second was by Nathan Rust.

Substitute motion to defer the discussion/consideration of a request to approve a maximum hourly rate of $20.00 for university students seeking professional credentials in areas of employment working extended day school-based programs to the August Committee of the Whole.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Motion to Suspend the rules and extend the meeting to 9:30 PM.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Rust, Gaudet, Marti

11. Litigation

Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Vivian Fields vs. Berkley Insurance Company, The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and Sharon D. Roberts, Suit No. 723046, Section 23, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana and to provide for related matters.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

F. New Business

1. Appeal Hearing-Student Expulsion

Appeal hearing for a student expulsion.

Motion to enter into executive session to consider appeal.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Motion to affirm the expulsion recommendation.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Nathan Rust, Michael Gaudet, Patrick Martin

2. Appeal Hearing-Student Expulsion

Appeal hearing for a student expulsion.

Motion to enter into executive session.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Motion to affirm the expulsion recommendation and to provide the family support.

Motion by Nathan Rust, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Not Present at Vote: Steward

3. Appeal Hearing-Student Expulsion

Appeal hearing for a student expulsion.

Motion to enter into executive session.

Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Michael Gaudet.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Motion to suspend the rules to extend the meeting not to exceed 10:30 PM.

Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Michael Gaudet.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Motion to modify the expulsion recommendation to a long-term suspension.

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Patrick Martin.

Motion Carries

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

4. Selection of the Superintendent

Motion to defer the discussion/consideration of the appointment of the Superintendent of Schools and related matters to a Special Meeting the week of July 22nd when all Board Members can be in attendance.

Motion by Patrick Martin, second by Nathan Rust.

A friendly amendment to the motion to defer the discussion/consideration of the appointment of the Superintendent of Schools and related matters to a Special Meeting to occur Wednesday, July 24th.

Substitute motion to appoint Interim Superintendent Adam Smith on a 30-day contract that will end upon selection of a new Superintendent.

Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Shashonnie Steward.

Friendly amendment to the substitute motion to appoint Interim Superintendent Adam Smith on a 90-day contract with a cancelation notice on the first day.

Final Resolution: Motion Fails

Yea: Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis

Nay: Bellue, Rust, Gaudet, Martin

Return to the main motion.

A friendly amendment to the motion to defer the discussion/consideration of the appointment of the Superintendent of Schools and related matters to a Special Meeting to occur Wednesday, July 24th.

Motion to suspend the rules to extend the meeting.

Motion by Shashonnie Steward, second by Dadrius Lanus.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis, Gaudet

Nay: Rust, Martin

Return to the friendly amendment to the main motion.

Final Resolution: Motion Fails

Yea: Bellue, Rust, Gaudet, Martin

Abstain: Lanus, Powell Lewis, Steward, Lewis

H. Organizational Items

1. Announcement of Meetings

I. Adjournment

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